Briefly Nation

50 injured in Bihar train dacoity

PATNA: Over 40 armed dacoits looted the New Delhi-bound Howrah-Delhi Lal Quila Express at a halt near Kiul station under Lakhisarai early on Friday. The robbers took passengers valuables worth Rs 5 lakh at gun point and injured over 50 passengers who tried to resist. A Government Railway Police jawan,one of four unarmed escorts,was shot at by the robbers.

Jkhand panchayat polls before year-end

NEW DELHI: The government on Friday said that the first-ever panchayat elections in over 30 years in Jharkhand will be held before the end of this year. Several members have raised the issue of panchayat elections in Jharkhand. The state government is committed to hold the Panchayat elections by the end of this year. Necessary amendments in the state Panchayati Raj Act are being moved in the current session of the Parliament, Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena said.

Honour for Dasmunsi,Joshi,Mohan Singh

NEW DELHI: Former Union minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi,senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi and senior SP leader Mohan Singh will be conferred the Outstanding Parliamentarian award by the President. While Congress leader Dasmunsi has been chosen for the award for 2007,Singh and Joshi will get it for 2008 and 2009,respectively. President Pratibha Patil will give away the awards at a function here on August 18.