Missing girl sparks killer python hunt

Lucknow: Forest officials and locals are on the lookout for a python that allegedly devoured a 17-year-old girl of Garha village in Unnao district on Thursday, reports our correspondent.

The alleged culprit and his victim remain untraced despite a frantic search. Instead, angry villagers set upon a 10-feet long python and beat it to death. However, the reptile appears to have been innocent for no signs of the girl, Guddi, could be found inside it.

“The killed python did not have the body bulge. To swallow a teenager girl, it would have taken six hours to complete the process and traces of the victim would have remained inside as it takes 15 to 20 days before the body dissolves,” Uttar Pradesh chief conservator of forests, K. Prasad, said.

Villagers say Guddi and her 12-year-old sister, Rajo Devi, went to collect firewood outside their village, about 55 km from here on Thursday evening. Some time later, Rajo ran back screaming and told her father Rampal Singh that a huge python had emerged from a burrow, dragged Guddi away and swallowed her. Rampal rushed to the spot, found the Guddi’s slippers and scarf near the burrow and raised an alarm.

Villagers dug a three-meter deep pit near the burrow with the help of police and forest officials, found a python and beat it to death. Some python eggs were found inside the burrow.

Sheila gets choice cabinet

New Delhi: Sheila Dikshit will be sworn in chief minister of Delhi for the second consecutive year on Monday, reports our special correspondent.

Though the swearing-in may have been delayed due to internal bickering in the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, she is reportedly successful in getting a cabinet of her choice. All the six members of the cabinet — A.K. Walia, Haroon Yusuf, Raj Kumar Chauhan, Mangat Ram Singhal, Yoganand Shastri and Arvinder Singh Lovely — belong to her camp.

Lt governor Vijai Kapoor will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the chief minister and her cabinet colleagues in Raj Niwas at 11.30 on Monday morning.

Party sources said the ceremony was supposed to take place today but had to be postponed till Monday.

The portfolios will be allocated after the oath-taking ceremony.

Man chewing tobacco held

Akola (PTI): A man found violating a ban on chewing of tobacco in the sessions court premises was taken into custody, police said on Saturday. This is the first incident of its kind here.

Jafarkhan Shabirkhan was caught chewing tobacco near the chamber of additional sessions judge S.. Sardesai on Friday and charged under various sections of Bombay Police Act, they said. Sardesai asked police to take legal action against Shabirkhan as he had ignored warnings all over the premises banning spitting, chewing of tobacco and smoking.

Doctors’ strike

Hyderabad (PTI): The indefinite strike by house surgeons and postgraduates in all 10 medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh entered its second day on Saturday even as the government urged calling off the strike within two days. Over 9,000 doctors went on strike protesting a reported move to privatise medical education and healthcare.

Jaya letter to PM

Chennai (PTI): Chief minister Jayalalithaa has asked the Centre to “immediately” request the Malaysian government to provide relief to 16 Tamil and Telugu youths who are in a state of “despair and helplessness” in that country. In her letter to the Prime Minister and external affairs minister, she said she had got information about the plight of the youths who had gone there in search of jobs.

Badal appearance

Ropar (PTI): Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, his wife and son, charged with amassing wealth disproportionate to their sources of income, appeared in a court here. The court adjourned hearing in the case till January 17.

Armyman suicide

Srinagar (PTI): An army junior commissioned officer allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service revolver in Baramulla district. The reason for the suicide is not known.

Cops suspended

Hisar (PTI): Six cops of Haryana police were suspended for dereliction of duty. They had gone to purchase soap leaving a criminal alone in the police vehicle.

A Rajasthan University professor, Ashok Kumar, has been honoured with a Japanese Health Foundation award for his paper on anti-cancer research. Over 500 delegates from various countries, including Japan and the US, had participated in this meet.