Police claim lead on vicar killers

Tezpur/Guwahati: Assam police on Sunday claimed to have identified “some” members of the group that killed the vicar-general of the Tezpur diocese on Friday night, but said they might take up to four more days to arrest any of the killers, reports our correspondent.

“We have identified a few persons whom we suspect are behind the killing. But we would not like to divulge their identities at this juncture,” Sonitpur superintendent of police Apurba Jiban Baruah said.

Baruah, who rushed back to Tezpur last night from a New Delhi conference of superintendents and deputy commissioners of police, said the investigation team would require at least three more days “before we can nab the culprits”.

Father Mathew Nellickal, 65, was found dead with multiple stab wounds inside a storeroom at Bishop’s House in Tezpur on Saturday.

RTDC drops outsourcing bid

Jaipur (PTI): The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation has dropped the idea of outsourcing some services of the Palace on Wheels to the Taj group.

The RTDC found the sole bid “non-profit making and against the interest of the corporation”, its managing director Rakesh Saini said.

The RTDC used to spend Rs 11,016 per week per passenger while the Taj bid crossed Rs 35,000.

Saini said there was no pressure from the employees’ union, which had gone to court on the issue.

The move to invite outsourcing proposals had triggered a spate of protests from the RTDC employees’ union which threatened to stop the train, rated among the world’s most expensive luxury trains, on September 10.

Temple clash

Akola (PTI): Following clashes between Dalits and upper caste Hindus, at least 100 CRPF personnel have been deployed and prohibitory orders clamped in Belkhed village of Maharashtra.

Violence flared on Saturday over taking control of a temple in the village. At least 20 houses were set on fire and 15 people were injured. Police have detained 32 people for rioting.

Cop remanded

Jammu (PTI): An IPS officer and his wife, who surrendered in connection with the murder of their son-in-law, have been remanded in police custody for five days. Karnail Singh, a senior superintendent of police posted at Rajauri, Satya Devi, four personal security officers and a civilian were booked for murdering Nitin Sharma.

Provogue case

Mumbai (PTI): Police on Monday will file a chargesheet against Provogue co-owner Salil Chaturvedi, arrested for allegedly possessing cocaine at his house and conspiring to supply drugs. Three vials of cocaine were found in his washroom in August.

The central and Uttar Pradesh governments plan to make Agra a “city of gardens” and take up infrastructure development. The area around the Taj will be beautified at a cost of Rs 38 crore.