Bombs found in plastic balls

Ahmedabad (PTI): A crude bomb packed in a plastic ball exploded in a garbage dump in the Sarangpur area on Monday, injuring a 20-year-old ragpicker.

Police found 10 more such bomb-stuffed balls from the spot.

“An alert has been sounded in all police stations after the recovery was made as this is the first time that crude bombs stuffed into plastic balls have been recovered. It is either an apparent bid by unknown persons to lure children or they dumped the whole bundle fearing a police crackdown,” a police official said.

Combing operations will be increased with Janmashthami being celebrated on Tuesday, sources said.

A case has been registered at Kalupur police station and a bomb disposal squad and a forensic team have joined the investigation, the police added.

The ragpicker, Haribhai, who was injured in his right hand, has been taken to the civil hospital.

Teachers’ quota for widows

Jaipur (PTI): The Rajasthan government on Monday announced 10 per cent reservation for widows and separated women in jobs in the education department, especially in teaching.

“This will be in addition to the women’s quota in regular recruitment of teachers,” education minister G.S. Tiwari told reporters after a meeting of the state cabinet.

As the first step, 2,800 jobs will be open to widows and separated women. An ordinance on this will be issued soon, Tiwari added.

The women recruited under this quota will have to complete either their B Ed degree or STC within five years of recruitment, the education minister said.

The recruitment drive for 25,000 teachers’ posts, which is already on, will not be affected by the decision.

A screening committee headed by education department officials will be set up to work out the modalities of the recruitment drive, Tiwari added.

The minister also announced that three new universities, including Rajasthan University of Health Science and Rajasthan Technical Education University, will be set up with a primary budget of Rs 1.5 crore each in the current financial year. A university in the private sector will also be allowed on government conditions in the state, he added.

SC asks for riot papers

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked for the case papers of over 13 trials relating to the post-Godhra riots to decide whether they should be transferred outside Gujarat for hearing.

The court said the papers should be handed over to the amicus curiae in the case, senior counsel Harish Salve, who will argue on the merits and demerits of shifting the case out of the state.

Deities on dress

Durban (PTI): The Hindu community in South Africa is up in arms over the use of deities on a dress worn by a model during a recent fashion show. The outfit, named Marilyn wrap, is a red halter-neck top adorned with badges depicting Hindu deities.

Two electrocuted

Jammu (PTI): Two minor girls were electrocuted when they stepped on a wire in a field in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, sources said. Jyoti, 11, and her 10-year-old sister Pooja died on the spot, they said. The bodies were recovered by police and were handed over to the girls’ parents after post-mortem.

Priest in prison

Ghaziabad (PTI): A priest of a Jain temple has been sent to jail after a .315 country-made pistol was found in his room. Police said Manoj Jain used to buy arms from Meerut and sell them here.

Bus robbers held

Kochi (PTI): Police have arrested 11 persons, involved in a recent Rs 10-lakh robbery in a state transport bus. Police said another member of the gang is at large and will be caught soon. Around Rs 4 lakh has been recovered from the arrested, the police added.

Sena ransack

Karad, Maharashtra, (PTI): A mob of about 30 Shiv sainiks on Sunday ransacked the office of a private construction company and injured the staff in the Koyananagar area of Patan taluka in Satara district, police said.

A group of 18 girls from Kargil are on a 15-day tour, sponsored by the Indian Army, that will take them to Srinagar, Jammu, Chandigarh and Delhi.