Czech redress for detained Indians

Brussels (INEP): The Czech Republic has been ordered by the European Court of Human Rights to pay Rs 3.7 lakh each to two Indians as compensation for unlawfully jailing them for two-and-a-half years on charges of aiding illegal immigration.

Balbir Singh and Bakhschisch Singh were arrested in the Czech Republic in November 1996, where they were residing lawfully, and were prosecuted for assisting others in crossing the border illegally.

But the European court in Strasbourg awarded the compensation 6,500 Euros ? 5,000 Euros for non-pecuniary damage and 1,500 Euros for cost and expenses ? to the two.

The court said on April 9, 1998, a Prague court had sentenced them to 21 months? imprisonment. After serving their terms, they were detained, pending deportation from August 11, 1998, on the ground that it was impossible to deport them immediately as they did not have passports.

The two applied for release and refugee status twice but their appeals were dismissed.

They were released on February 11, 2001, and were subsequently issued travel documents enabling them to leave Czech territory.

Cop?s wife abducted, robbed

Lucknow (PTI): The wife of a senior police official was ?kidnapped? on Thursday and set free after she was robbed of her jewellery, police said.

Prabhawati Devi, wife of inspector-general of police (vigilance) Rathi Ram, was walking home from the market in Vikas Nagar area when three men pulled her into a van and sped away. They looted her jewellery and other valuables and set her free near the Sardar Patel hostel of the King George?s Medical University.

Senior officials rushed to the spot and were investigating the case, the police added.

Gangrape accused held

Ahmedabad (PTI): Three persons were arrested for the gangrape of a 15-year-old on Thursday in Odhav area on the city?s outskirts.

The three accused, aged between 18-25 years, were arrested on the basis of the complaint lodged by a relative of the victim, Odhav police said. The girl was lured to an isolated spot in Khodiyarnagar area and raped.

Custody death

Hyderabad (PTI): A man was found dead in police custody in Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh. Eshwaraiah of Akutotapalli, was taken away to Etukalapalli police station on Wednesday for interrogation in connection with a murder case. Relatives of the deceased staged a dharna on Friday, demanding suspension of the sub-inspector of the police station.

Poison drink

Sitapur (PTI): Three persons have died and as many have fallen seriously ill after consuming some ?poisonous drink? on Thursday in Deori Khurd village in Uttar Pradesh. The victims used to work in Lucknow and had bought the drink there, police said, adding that the ill were admitted to a primary health centre.

Election attack

Srinagar (PTI): Militants on Thursday attacked the house of an Independent candidate contesting the municipal elections in Baramulla district. The militants fired a rifle grenade at the house of Pervez Ahmad Bulaki at Sangrampora in Sopore, official sources said. Bulaki and his family escaped unhurt. A portion of the house was damaged in the attack, they said. Bulaki is contesting from Sopore town.

Mela mishap

Allahabad (PTI): A man was killed and five were injured as a tent, set up for the ongoing Magh mela at the Sangam, collapsed due to strong winds. The deceased was a sadhu from Madhya Pradesh. The injured were hospitalised and the condition of one is stated to be serious, police said.

Amitabh Bachchan will release a book penned by actor Milind Gunaji, on Saturday in Mumbai. The 100-page Chanderi Bhatkanti, is both a travelogue and a compilation of Gunaji?s shooting experiences at various locales.