Factory attacked after gas leak

vadodara (PTI): Residents living near Gujarat Fluoro Chemicals Limited in Panchamahal district of Gujarat became panicky and attacked factory officials following leak of oleum gas from a tanker.

Ten officials were injured in the incident on Wednesday, police said, and the management has ordered closure of the factory.

The company said in a complaint the tanker skidded and fell into a pit outside the factory premises that led to the breaking of its safety valve and the subsequent leak.

A thick cloud of black gas had soon covered the area and the villagers thought the leak had occurred at the factory.

MTNL officers booked

new delhi: The CBI has registered three corruption cases against eight officials of Mahanagar Nigam Telephone Limited (MTNL), Delhi, and two persons belonging to private construction companies.

They prepared bogus bills for civil works supposed to be carried out at three telephone exchange buildings at Tis Hazari, Idgah and Rohini, the agency alleged.

CBI sources said the bills amounting to Rs 53.39 lakh, Rs 50.81 lakh and Rs 80.12 lakh were made though no work was carried out.

The CBI conducted searches at the offices and residences of two executive engineers, three assistant engineers, a junior engineer and an accounts officer on Thursday and recovered incriminating documents.

Tejas test

bangalore (PTI): The Prototype Vehicle-II (PV-II) of indigenously designed and developed light combat aircraft Tejas made a successful maiden flight here on Thursday.

After the 26-minute flight, pilot Wing Commander Vikram Singh said it was on expected lines.

Monica plea

hyderabad (PTI): A court here has posted the orders on Monica Bedi’s bail plea for December 9. The judicial custody of the girlfriend of extradited don Abu Salem, now in Chanchalguda jail in a passport forgery case, was earlier extended till that day.

Journalist dead

Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Eminent journalist K.C. John died at a hospital in Kottayam, family sources said. John, 82, is survived by his wife and five children. A close observer of Kerala politics from 1950s to mid-1990s, John’s reports were known for their analytical quality.

About 25 lakh landline telephone connections were surrendered in the running financial year till October 31. The figure includes 23.02 lakh BSNL and 1.92 lakh MTNL customers.