Road rage singes Patna, next town

Patna: Spasms of anger swept the streets of Bihar’s capital city and an adjoining town after two schoolboys were run over in back-to-back accidents, reports our special correspondent.

Ravi Shankar, 12, was run over by a truck in Biharsharief town at 10.20 on Saturday morning as he was walking down the road near the main market on his way to school. Provoked by the sight of the boy’s mutilated body, a 200-strong mob went on a rampage, torching some vehicles and smashing others passing by.

As police tried to intervene after about 10 vehicles had been damaged, they began hurling stones at the force. In self-defence, the police fired in the air.

The crowd scattered, but surged back with a vengeance. Four policemen were injured as they tried to disperse the mob. Later in the day, district police superintendent Amit Lodha said the situation was under control.

Even as police battled the mob at Biharsharief, anger poured forth on the streets of Ashiana Nagar in Patna when eight-year-old Sanjay Kumar, a Class VI student returning from school at Sheikhpura, was run over by a bus on Bailley Road around 12 noon. He was hit while trying to cross the road near a hospital.

Angry residents first sat on a dharna on the main road and then targeted the police and passing cars, shouting slogans and hurling stones. Traffic was disrupted for at least three hours.

The police brought the situation under control after firing tear gas shells and a baton charge.

Army officer jumps to death

New Delhi (PTI): A junior commissioned officer of the army on Saturday allegedly ended his life by jumping from the fifth floor of the army headquarters here, police sources said.

Subedar Joginder Pal Singh, 35, allegedly took the step around 9.20 am and died before reaching hospital, they said.

According to preliminary details, Singh arrived at the Sena Bhavan around 9 am with a jawan. The two went up to the fifth floor of the A-wing building and opened a room there. While Singh went inside, the jawan left. Police said a few minutes later, Singh was found on the ground below.

Posted in the artillery division, Singh had served in the army for about 17 years, army sources said.

The reasons that might have provoked him to take the step were not immediately known. An inquiry has been initiated by the army.

Anu Malik hurt in car accident

Jaipur (PTI): Music director Anu Malik escaped with minor injuries when the car in which he was going to Ajmer dargah got involved in a multi-vehicle collision on the Jaipur-Ajmer road, 20 km from here.

The accident took place near Bagru on Saturday morning. A truck hit a car which collided with Malik’s Ambassador. Under the impact, Malik’s car hit a tanker. Malik only suffered some bruises on his hand.

Tejpal reprieve

New Delhi (PTI): A Delhi court has dismissed a criminal defamation complaint filed by Samata Party leader Jaya Jaitly against Tehelka newsportal CEO Tarun Tejpal for allegedly linking her name to the defence deal scandal. “No case is made out against the accused and the proceedings against the accused are dropped,” metropolitan magistrate Gulshan Kumar said.

IIT convocation

Kharagpur: Graduate, post-graduate and doctorate degrees were conferred on 912 students at the 49th annual convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology on Saturday, reports our correspondent. The ceremony was presided over by the director-general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Mangala Rai. Haldia Petrochemicals promoter Purnendu Chatterjee, himself an IIT alumni, was among four persons to receive a “life fellowship”. Chatterjee said he was yet to see entrepreneurship developing among young Bengalis. IIT director Sisir Kumar Dube announced that from next year, the 10 most innovative projects drawn up by final-year undergraduate students would fetch an award of Rs 50,000 each.

Housewife murder

Calcutta: Shikha Pramanik, a 23-year-old housewife, was killed during an altercation with her brother-in-law Ashok at Banerjeepara in the southern fringes of the city. Ashok was arrested after he confessed to killing her with a sharp weapon.

Mahant treatment

Lucknow (PTI): The condition of Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas president Mahant Ramchandradas Paramhans, who had suffered two heart attacks, was stable, but he would be given psychiatric treatment for “behavioural problems”, doctors said.

As many as 125 mayors from various countries are expected to attend a two-day South Asian Mayor’s Conference in Indore beginning July 26 in an effort to evolve “a common understanding”. The meet has been organised by the All India Mayor’s Council.