Quicktakes — President’s amnesty to Jathedar

NEW DELHI: President K R Naryanan has granted remission of the remaining sentence of Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh, accepting the p...

NEW DELHI: President K R Naryanan has granted remission of the remaining sentence of Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh, accepting the petition submitted on his behalf by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). A missive of the Union Ministry said here today that considering various aspects of the case, including his conduct in jail, the President was pleased to commute the sentence.

Jawans’ tragic end

SRINAGAR: Tragedy struck a bus-load of home-bound jawans as 12 of them died and 26 were injured when their speeding vehicle crashed 200 feet down a gorge at 2 pm near Lower Munda close to the Jawahar tunnel. Seven of them are in a precarious condition. The soldiers were deployed with the 19 Infantry Division in the forward Uri area.

Shoes withdrawn

LONDON: Britain’s leading shoemakers Clarks have taken off from store display two brands of ladies boots named after Hindu gods Vishnu and Krishna following strong protests from the country’s one million-strong Hindu community. The two brands of ladies long boots “have been taken off the shelf,” a spokesman for the Clarks said.

PWG attack

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HYDERABAD: Naxalites of the outlawed People’s War Group blasted the house of ruling Telugu Desam Party legislator in Mahabubnagar, Andhra Pradesh, last night. No one was injured, police said. The attack carried out by the Panagal Guerrilla Dalam’ of the PWG extremists was allegedly in protest against fake police encounters. Three ultras barged into the house of K Madhusudhan Rao, of Kollapur assembly constituency, and blew it up with powerful explosives.

Tripura killings

AGARTALA: The Tripura Government has requested the Centre for five additional battalions of army and paramilitary forces in view of the tense situation prevailing in Gandacherra sub-division following the killing of 20 people, including nine BSF personnel, were killed in yesterday’s blast by suspected National Liberation Front of Tripura ultras in Dhalai district.

Lalit threatenedMUMBAI: LALIT Prasad of the Bollywood music director-duo Jatin-Lalit has received threatening calls from a person claiming to be a Chhota Rajan gang member, asking for an extortion amount of Rs 50 lakh. According to police station, where the complaint has been lodged, Lalit’s wife received threatening calls during the last couple of days. The caller, identifying himself as a Chhota Rajan aide asked for a ransom of Rs 50 lakh. Similar calls were also received at Lalit’s office.