Wiki hoax article

London, Jan. 6 (PTI): Wikipedia has removed an article detailing the 17th century Bicholim Conflict — a clash between Portugal and India’s Maratha empire — after it emerged such a war never occurred and the piece and references included were fictional, the Daily Mail reported.

Wikipedia editors had labelled the piece a “good article” two months after its creation in July 2007. A user who found the deception had nominated the article for removal.

Women plight

New Delhi (PTI): Close to 1,500 cases of violence against women by their husbands or relatives were registered in the capital during 2011, a Union home ministry report showed. The data, covering six cities, revealed 1,355 such cases had been registered in Hyderabad, 557 in Calcutta and 458 in Bangalore.

Teaser slap

Akola (PTI): A man was allegedly beaten up by a 20-year-old girl on Saturday when he tried to harass her while she was returning home from a shop, Maharashtra police said. The girl slapped Vikas Nage and lodged a complaint. He was later arrested.

MP eco-zones

Bhopal (PTI) The Madhya Pradesh government has identified 17 eco-sensitive zones around its wildlife sanctuaries and parks where illegal commercial activities, including mining, will be prohibited. The state has eight national parks and 25 wildlife sanctuaries.

Saffron catch

New Delhi (PTI): A man has been held at Delhi’s international airport for trying to smuggle in branded saffron weighing 125kg worth around Rs 3.12 crore. Sanjay Kumar Gupta was intercepted on arrival from Dubai. Customs officials said this was the largest saffron catch at the airport.

Kamal plea

Chennai (PTI): Kamalahasan has lodged a complaint with police that he has been receiving threats that his soon to be released Vishwaroopam would be pirated and power supply to theatres screening it would be suspended. The actor is releasing the film on DTH format on January 10, a day before its release in theatres.

3 dead in clashes

Mumbai, Jan. 6 (PTI): Three persons died when police fired at a mob after clashes broke out between two communities at Dhule town in north Maharashtra today.

The violence began after four persons were beaten up over non-payment of a hotel bill. The men returned with a large group resulting in the clashes. Over 50 people, mostly policemen, were injured.

IOC fire probe

Surat (PTI): The Union minister for petroleum and gas, Veerappa Moily, on Sunday visited the IOC terminal at Hazira, near Surat, where a fire had broken out in a tank the day before, killing three persons. A probe has been ordered and a report is expected by January 20, he said. The fire was doused after a 21-hour operation.

Cop penalty

New Delhi (PTI): A policeman should be suspended immediately if he refuses to register a complaint, Union home secretary R.K. Singh has suggested. “Not registering a complaint is a violation of the law,” he told the state police chiefs at a conference on Friday.

Navy suicide

Mumbai: A 23-year-old Indian Navy sailor died on Saturday after shooting himself on board INS Talwar frigate. Melvin Raj’s relatives alleged he was being harassed by seniors and that he was upset over leave cancellation. The navy has ordered an inquiry. Raj had been posted in Mumbai for over two years.

Mine blast

Raipur (PTI): A deputy superintendent of police and two constables were injured in a landmine blast triggered by Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Gariyaband district on Sunday. The injured were initially admitted to a district hospital but later flown to Raipur for treatment, an officer said.

Power fine

New Delhi (PTI): Power distribution firm BSES Rajdhani has been directed by a consumer forum to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation to a former customer for handing him a bill against his disconnected power meter. The forum held the firm guilty of deficiency in service.