Lights scam order

Patna: A high court division bench on Friday directed principal secretary of panchayati raj department to conduct a probe into the purchase of solar streetlights.

The district magistrates, deputy development commissioners and block development officers, in Vaishali, Bhojpur and Buxar during 2005-11 were allegedly involved. The order was passed during a hearing of a PIL filed by Nagrik Adhikar Manch alleging over Rs 1,000 crore scam. The case would come up for hearing on February 23.

Gaya blasts

Patna: Special NIA court judge Anil Kumar Singh on Friday framed charges against Haider Ali, Muzbullah and Taufiq in connection with the Bodhgaya serial blasts.

Name plate

? Patna: Some PMC ward councillors allegedly pasted additional municipal commissioner Shrisat Kapil Ashok's name over the name plate bearing municipal commissioner Kuldip Narayan's name in front of his chamber at PMC's headquarters (in Telegraph picture) on Friday. Sources said those to blame have been identified through CCTV footage and necessary action would be taken.

Fire loss

? Muzaffarpur: Assets worth Rs 2 crore in around 35 shops were gutted in fire at Mina Bazaar in the early hours of Friday.

Bandh

? Gaya: Traders downed shutters of their establishments in support of the Gaya bandh called by Nagrik Sangharsh Morcha in protest against the arrest of tilkut trader Dhirendra Kesri.

Tech centres

? Patna: State Bank of India on Friday launched the tech learning centres for its customers.

Girls traced

? Patna: Police on Friday said the three girls who went missing from Patliputra had been traced in RK Puram in New Delhi but not yet recovered.