Maoists killed in encounter

Hyderabad (PTI): Three Maoist rebels were killed in an encounter in the Nallamalla forest area bordering Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday.

Police and the rebels exchanged fire twice during combing operations between Malakondapenta and Racherla villages of Giddalur mandal and at Darabylupenta in Eragondapalam mandal in the district, the police said.

The unidentified Maoists, including a woman, were killed in the first encounter while others escaped, they said.

The Maoists allegedly fired rockets at the police during the second fighting but there was no casualty at the police side, superintendent of police Balasubramaniam said.

Thirty wireless sets, three grenades, two country-made rifles, seven CDs and Rs 10,081 were found at the site of the first encounter, the police said.

IAF doctor gets dowry bail

New Delhi (PTI): A Delhi court has granted anticipatory bail to an air force doctor and his parents in a dowry harassment case filed by his wife, also a medical practitioner with the air force.

Additional sessions judge S.P. Garg, allowing the anticipatory bail pleas of Squadron Leader Sumesh Kaistha and his parents Lt Colonel S.L. Kaistha and Madhu Kaistha, ordered their release, if they are arrested, on furnishing a personal bond and surety of Rs 20,000 each with a deposit of Rs 2.5 lakh in court.

“There is now controversy between the parties regarding the amount to be paid by the accused parties to the complainant... No purpose would be served by denying the anticipatory bail to the accused persons,” it said.

Damages rap

New Delhi (PTI): A consumer court has asked Indian Airlines (now called Indian) to pay a passenger Rs 50,000 in damages, 12 years after a fire in a plane reduced his luggage to ashes.

The court rejected the airlines’ claim that it had adequately compensated him by paying Rs 18,500.

Editor molested

Mumbai (PTI): The editor of a newspaper has lodged a complaint against a ward-level president of the Samajwadi Party, a journalist and an owner of a newspaper for allegedly molesting her.

Riot skeleton

Ahmedabad (PTI): Gujarat police will exhume the skeletal remains of a post-Godhra riot victim at Lunawada in Panchmahals district in response to an application filed by his widow, officials said on Sunday. Maksudabibi Sheikh said her husband Yusuf was killed by an armed mob in February 2002 along with others and their bodies buried.President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was given the experience of a simulated temblor when he visited the Philippines Institute of Volcanic and Seismological Studies in Manila on Sunday.