Quicktakes — 22 feared drowned in bus mishap

LUCKNOW, July 19: At least 22 persons were feared drowned when a bus fell into a flooded river at Merauni in Lalitpur district today, a pre...

LUCKNOW, July 19: At least 22 persons were feared drowned when a bus fell into a flooded river at Merauni in Lalitpur district today, a preliminary report said here. The mishap occurred when the bus dashed against the railing of the bridge and fell into the river, the report said. The exact number of passengers travelling in the ill-fated bus was not known, the report added.

Mufti’s house

SRINAGAR: Militants attacked the ancestral house of Mufti Mohammad Syed, former Union home minister while seven people, including five militants were killed in Kashmir Valley since last evening. An unspecified number of militants fired at the ancestral house of Syed, at Bijbehara, 50 kms from here on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway last evening, sources said here today. Police guards posted at the Mufti’s house returned the fire but there was no loss of life, the sources said.

Fodder scam bail

PATNA: A special court today rejected the regular bail petition of a fodder scam accused and retired IAS official, Phoolchand Singh, in connection with a conspiracy angle case of the scam. The designated judge, S K Lal, rejected the petition saying “there appears to be prima facie involvement of Singh in the conspiracy angle of the case”.

Curfew continues

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AHMEDABAD: Indefinite curfew remained in force in Keshod town of Junagadh district of Gujarat for the second day today after four persons were killed and three injured in police firing during group clashes yesterday. Meanwhile, the traders have given a call for bandh in Upleta, Morbi and Junagadh towns of the district today to protest the violence in Keshod, police said.

Hawala hearing

NEW DELHI: The United Lawyers’ Association passed a resolution on Thursday condemning the “blatant attempt at interfering with the administration of justice in the hearing of the Jain diary hawala case”. The association also requested the Chief Justice to “take firm steps at an appropriate time to curb these pernicious trends and punish those indulging in them”.

IPC amendment

NEW DELHI: Provisions under the Indian Penal Code dealing with cases of rape under section 376 will be made more stringent. The Union Cabinet today cleared a proposal to amend section 376, sub-section 1 and 2 of the IPC. This will take care of the aspersions cast by the defence on the character or reputation of the rape victim.