J&K cop flees

Srinagar, Jan. 16: A constable, posted as the personal security officer to a deputy superintendent of police in Kashmir, escaped with four AK-47 rifles last night, possibly to join the militants.

Shakoor Ahmad was on guard when Bijbehara DSP Irshad Ahmad Bhat was wounded in a militant attack last month. Shakoor later posted his picture on social networking sites with the rifles hanging around his body. Bijbehara is the hometown of the late chief minister, Mufti Mohommad Sayeed.

Bank fraud

Chandigarh (PTI): A bank employee was suspended after he was found allegedly withdrawing Rs 6.50 lakh from the "dormant" account of late Haryana chief minister Bansi Lal and transferring the money into a fake one.

Peter plea

Mumbai (PTI): The CBI on Saturday opposed former media baron Peter Mukerjea's bail plea in Sheena Bora case on the ground that he was part of the murder conspiracy and had concealed information about the victim's disappearance from his son Rahul. Special CBI judge H.S. Mahajan adjourned the hearing on the bail plea till January 30.

US holidays

Washington (PTI): A US school district has unanimously voted to add Diwali, Id and Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve in the holiday calendar for the first time in the school system's history.

Goa circular

Panaji (PTI): The Goa government on Saturday banned foreign tours of all its ministers and officers till the budget and asked all the departments to concentrate on revenue-generating activities. It has also set a limit to the departments to hold state-funded workshops and seminars till the new budget is in place.

Pongal crash

Cuddalore (PTI): Eight students were killed and one was injured when their car rammed into a roadside tree near Cuddalore on Saturday. The group was proceeding to attend a Pongal event in a Tamil Nadu village. Selvam, 27, who was driving the car lost control and it crashed into the tree, police said.