New Delhi: Petrol pumps across the country will shut down their shutters from midnight, in protest against the non-implementation of the accord signed between them and the government. Petroleum dealers have also threatened to go on an indefinite strike from July 18, in case the government failed to implement the accord, signed four years back, and increase their commission from the present 1.59 percent to five percent. They have said that the 'accord' signed between the dealers and the government was the point of discord between the two parties, and it was because of this that dealers have decided to go on a day's strike, adding that today's strike was on two points, namely the 'non implementation' of the accord and the increase in the commission percentage. "If today's one-day 'token strike' fails to move the government we'll be going on an indefinite strike from the 18th of next month to force the government to respect the pact it made with us," said Delhi Petrol Dealers Association President Saran Sarna. "We just want the government to honour its word on the accord. Regarding increasing commission we can give it a grace period of few months but at least the move should be made," he added.

Orissa continues to reel under heatwave, death toll 73 (Go To Top)

     Bhubaneswar: With five more people dying from the scorching heat wave, the death toll in Orissa has risen to 73. The high mercury levels have prompted the state government to extend summer vacation in schools by another week. Talcher, which baked at an unprecedented 50 degrees celsius on Friday, recorded a high of 48.5 degrees on Saturday. In Bhubaneswar, mercury dipped slightly thanks to afternoon drizzle. The maximum mid-day temperature on Saturday was 45.8 degrees celsius against Fridays 46.2 degrees. With the South-West monsoon yet to strike Orissa, mercury hovered between 42 and 45 degrees celsius in many towns and cities.

Pataudi's police remand extended by one day (Go To Top)

     Kilodh village (Jhajjar): The police remand of former Indian cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, has been extended by one more day. Pataudi was presented before the court at 11 AM today as his one day police remand ended. Earlier, he was taken to Kilodh village near Jhajjar, where he and his associates allegedly killed an endangered black buck and two rabbits. Jhajjar Superintendent of Police Hanif Qureshi said "Yes, we have taken him to the hunting spot in the village." Pataudi had surrendered in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Sudhir Jiwan on Saturday after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Among the seven accused in the case evading arrest, he was the only person to surrender. On Friday, the Haryana Police had decided to constitute more teams and intensify raids to apprehend Pataudi and his co-accused in the black buck poaching case in the event of him deciding not to surrender before the law. Jhajjar Police Chief Hanief Qureshi had then said that the police had constituted three teams, all of whom were conducting raids at Pataudi's possible hideouts in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Gurgaon. Saturday's surrender came after Punjab and Haryana High Court Vacation Judge Rajive Bhalla rejected Pataudi's plea for anticipatory bail. Vacation Judge Justice Rajive Bhalla also dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Pataudi's co-accused Shashi Singh after hearing the arguments from a battery of lawyers representing them, the state of Haryana, Wildlife Trust of India, All India Bishnoi Mahasabha and Peoples for Animals for over two hours. "Sorry gentlemen. The petition is dismissed," the judge said adding that the detailed order would be available later as "minor corrections are required."

     Pataudi`s counsel Anand Chibber said that the next course of action would be decided after getting the final order. Earlier, the state of Haryana presented the entire record, including the post mortem report of the black buck, pertaining to the case in the court. Pataudi and seven others have been booked under various sections of the Wildlife Act following the recovery of the carcasses of a black buck and two rabbits from their vehicle near a wildlife sanctuary in Jhajjar on June 6. While one accused, Madan Singh was arrested and subsequently granted bail, the other seven, including Pataudi, named in the FIR, attempted to evade arrest despite three summons issued by the Jhajjar police asking them to join the probe. If found guilty they face a jail term up to seven years and a fine of Rs 25,000. Animal rights activist Naresh Kumar Kadyan against whom the Haryana police had registered a case for exhuming the carcass of black buck was present in the court.

Police arrest Babbar Khalsa militant in Delhi blasts case (Go To Top)

     Hoshiarpur: Punjab Police have arrested another Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) militant suspected to be involved in the Delhi twin blasts case. Police officials said that the militant named Ashwani Dadwal, alias Sonu, was an ISI trained militant, and was a close associate of Jaspal Singh, alias Raja, who had masterminded the two blasts at the two cinema halls in New Delhi. Police said that they also recovered one kg RDX and two detonators from him following his interrogation. SSP Hoshiarpur, Lok Nath Angra, further said that Dadwal had also visited Australia, Cyprus and Thailand and got trained by the ISI in Pakistan in July 2002. The training, he said included firing with automatic weapons like AK-47, telescopic rifles and use of RDX and other explosive materials. "Dadwal came in contact with the BKI militants in Australia who allured him with promises of a luxurious life on the condition he joined them. Dadwal got intensive training along with Jaspal Singh and one more BKI man at the ISI camp in Pakistan in July 2002," said Angra. Angra further said that Dadwal also met BKI chief Wadhawa Singh in Pakistan, who assured him with a secured life abroad, if he worked for the BKI.

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