HC direction for steps on forums

Patna: The high court division bench of Justice Navin Sinha and Justice Vikash Jain on Thursday directed the government to file an affidavit, giving information about the steps taken to improve the infrastructure facilities at the state consumer forum and district consumer forums. It should also have information about initiatives taken to appoint permanent employees for these bodies.

The bench was hearing a PIL filed by one Prashant Kumar Sinha that highlighted the pitiable conditions of the state and district consumer forums, which, in turn, affected the disposal of the cases.

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the government must take steps to improve the infrastructure facilities and create a regular cadre of employees for these forums.

Varsity death surrender

Muzaffarpur: Shambhu Singh, an accused in the murder of JD(U) student leader Mohammad Shamim, surrendered in the court of the chief judicial magistrate, S.P. Singh, in Muzaffarpur on Thursday. Shamim was gunned down on August 1 on the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University campus. Another accused in the case, Anil Ojha, is still at large, police said.

Power agitation

Patna: Several associations of engineers and employees of the energy department would hold a statewide demonstration at the headquarters of Bihar State Power (Holding) Company on Friday to press for a seven-point charter of demands. The spokesperson of one of the associations, Ashwini Kumar, said the engineers and employees would go on an indefinite strike from September 25 if their demands, including that of the removal of North Bihar Power Distribution Company managing director Sanjay K. Agrawal for alleged misbehaviour, were not met.

Ammo haul

Patna: Rohtas police seized illegal arms during an operation against alleged Maoists on Thursday. Rohtas superintendent of police Vikas Burman said two countrymade rifles, one sten gun, magazines and live cartridges were recovered in the raid on suspected hideouts of the Maoists under the jurisdiction of Nauhatta police station in the district. Nobody was arrested.

Arrest

Patna: A special team headed by deputy superintendent of police (law and order) Mamta Kalyani arrested four chain snatchers from the Hardinge Park area on Thursday. The men were arrested based on a tip-off. A countrymade pistol, two live cartridges, two knives and three cellphones were recovered.

Extortion call

Patna: One Siyaram Pandit, the sarpanch of the Gwasa Sheikhpura block in Patna rural, complained of receiving an extortion call to senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaj on Thursday. He complained at the SSP’s janata durbar that he received a call on Wednesday in which a person threatened him with dire consequences if he did not pay Rs 1 lakh.

Protest

Motihari: Sixty Integrated Child Development Scheme supervisors posted in different parts of East Champaran district protested against the district administration not extending their service period beyond March this year. They, however, have been working since then without pay. The supervisors also formed a district-level union to press for their demands.