Insurance rap

New Delhi, April 27 (PTI): A consumer court has directed New India Assurance to pay Rs 4.7 lakh to a stolen vehicle’s owner and termed its rejection of his theft claim unjustifiable.

Uday Singh, whose Tata dumper was stolen from his house three years back, had apparently used the vehicle in Delhi in violation of the insurance policy’s terms. Singh said the vehicle had been brought to Delhi because of a mechanical defect.

Forest fire

Hoshiarpur (PTI): A raging fire in the Shivalik range of the Himalayas have destroyed a 22km forest stretch, official sources said on Sunday. The blaze, which broke out on Friday, has charred acres of pine, bamboo and sheesham trees. Local residents, NGOs and forest committes were trying to contain the fire.

Australia visa

Melbourne (PTI): Good news for Indian students in Australia: their visa will now grant them automatic right to work part time. Immigration minister Chris Evans said all international students would be allowed to work up to 20 hours a week.

Pak prisoners

New Delhi (PTI): Islamabad has granted consular access to 436 Indian fishermen, raising hopes of their early release from jail. The consular access, a crucial step before repatriation by which nationality and other antecedents of a prisoner are ascertained, is expected to begin on Monday.

Tikait case

Muzaffarnagar (PTI): The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has served summons on Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Mahendra Singh Tikait in connection with caste- related remarks against Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayavati. Tikait allegedly made the remarks while addressing a rally.

Cyber crime

New Delhi (PTI): Hackers have defaced 612 websites in March, a two-fold rise in such crimes compared with February, according to the Computer Emergency Response Team statistics.