Briefly Nation

Probe on into self-immolation

KAPURTHALA: The magisterial probe into the self-immolation of a protesting teacher earlier in the week has begun with recording statements of eyewitnesses. The probe,by Dasuya SDM Mohammad Tayab,will look into all aspects of the incident,including what the police could have done to prevent it. Sources said police officials present on the spot that day have been asked to explain why proper action was not taken to prevent the incident. Kiranjeet Kaur,who was among the teachers demanding a degree under the Elementary Teachers Training programme,burnt herself after climbing a water tank with four others Sunday evening.

Cong loses 3 posts to cross-voting

JAIPUR: Due to cross-voting and internal bickering in the party,the Congress lost three Pramukh posts despite getting clear majority in 27 out of 33 Zila Parishads in panchayat polls in Rajasthan,an official spokesman said on Thursday. Incharges of the district units including state women Congress chief Mamta Sharma were served show-cause notices asking them about their dubious role in the elections which gave an edge to the rival BJP,sources said. Congress has got clear majority in 122 panchayat samitis.

Utsav’s bail hearing today

CHANDIGARH: A district court adjourned for Friday the bail plea of Utsav Sharma who attacked former Haryana DGP S P S Rathore outside the court complex earlier this week. In the bail petition,the defence counsel of the 29 year old accused has said that Utsav was a brilliant student and comes from a good family and since there is nothing to be recovered from him,he should be granted bail.

J&K considering metro services

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir government is planning to start Metro rail services in Jammu and Srinagar,Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said. The proposal is being considered to ease traffic congestions because of increasing expansion of both the cities,Abdullah said at a review meeting of Jammu District Development board here on Wednesday. Initially traffic analysis will be done through RITES and later Delhi Metro Railway Corporation will be approached to prepare detailed reports.

Cap abandoned borewells: SC

NEW DELHI: SC Thursday ordered district collectors across the country to personally monitor construction of new borewells and cap the abandoned ones to prevent frequent incidents of children falling into these wells. The court recorded an undertaking by the Centre that it would make it necessary for land owners to take prior permission for digging of borewells.

Grenade explodes at firing range,kills child

RANGIYA (ASSAM): Barua Momin,14,was killed and Marcos Marak,12,seriously injured when a grenade “thrown accidentally” exploded at Assam Police’s Mandakata firing range in Kamrup district Thursday. The boys had gone to the firing range to collect spent shells. An inquiry had been ordered into the incident,sources said.

Gujarat opposes shifting lions to MP

NEW DELHI: Gujarat Thursday opposed in the Supreme Court the Centre’s proposal to shift the Gir Asiatic lions sanctuary to Kuno tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh. The state government told SC that relocating the lions from Gir was fraught with “irreparable damage to the sociology of lions” and asserted that MP could not manage the relocation as it had failed to protect its own tiger sanctuary.

Road rage: Police to quiz Nooriya’s friends

MUMBAI: With Nooriya Haveliwala testing positive for drugs,police have decided to question her friends,with whom “she spent the day drinking”. “On 29 February,whole day she had drunk and then along with her friends had gone to pub Ghetto in Breach Candy. The next day around 1.30 am,she killed two persons by ramming her car into a bike and a police jeep,” a police officer said. “Her friends may throw some light as far as drug consumption is concerned. They might be knowing from where she would have procured drugs. We would summon them to police station.”

MPs demand early Pennagaram bypoll

NEW DELHI: Irked by the alleged delay in conducting bypoll at Pennagaram Assembly constituency,several MPs from Tamil Nadu,led by DMK MP T R Baalu,met CEC Navin Chawla in New Delhi Thursday. The MPs “expressed surprise at EC not announcing dates for bypolls to the constituency”. “We requested the CEC to hold the polls to the constituency by the end of March,” Baalu said.