Chhattisgarh

Two of the 48 people who lost their vision after botched cataract operations at a government health camp at Balod in Durg district last month succumbed to infection following lack of post-surgery medical care.

Following the order of Chief Minister Raman Singh, who is on a business tour to the United States, the Health Department last night

suspended six people, including four doctors and two para-medical personnel, for their alleged negligence, on the basis of a preliminary inquiry report submitted by Durg District Collector Reena Kangale.

Three personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) were killed and one grievously injured in a landmine explosion triggered by Maoists who targetted an 11-vehicle convoy proceeding along National Highway-16 near Geedam, about 50 km from here today.

"The vehicles were conveying SSB personnel towards Raipur from Dantewada district's Karli where they struck camp after a two-year-long presence," the force's Deputy Inspector-General Chiranjeev Prasad said.

The sheer force of the blast - that took place between Ayatupara and Bagmundi in Bastanar tehsil - blew the convoy's fourth vehicle apart and created an approximately six-feet deep crater.

The Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) today said it would provide a $ 750 million loan for power transmission systems that will help India efficiently transfer electricity to regions where the need is greatest, spurring growth and poverty reduction.

Chhattisgarh's "Tiger boy" Chendru, whose amazing friendship with a tiger in the jungle of Bastar prompted noted Swedish filmmaker Arne Sucksdorff to make a movie "A Jungle Tale" on his true-life story way back in 1960, has been hospitalised following a severe paralytic stroke.

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel was killed after Naxalites ambushed a search party comprising about 20 personnel from 168 CRPF today in the Murdunda forest in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, 10 km from Awapalli on the border with Andhra Pradesh, police said.

The rebels fled after an additional force reached the spot. The body of the jawan, Shivnath Mandal, who hailed from Assam, will be flown to his native place this evening, the sources added.

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Seven students of the Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) located in New Raipur were suspended from the University hostel and fined for ragging four of their juniors.

Five people, including four members of a family, were killed on the spot when a cement-laden truck collided head-on with a car at Lawan in Kasdol police station limits, about 75 km from here, this morning, police said.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter with 14 defence personnel on board made an emergency landing at Koda Tarai airstrip, about 12 km from Raigarh, due to inclement weather.

Police sources said all the IAF officials and jawans on board the chopper were safe. The helicopter was on a routine sortie from Ranchi to Raipur.

As Raigarh was experiencing heavy downpour since this morning, the pilot decided to make emergency landing at Koda Tarai at around 1040 hrs.

The airstrip was reportedly closed for over five years, the sources said, adding that the chopper would take off for Raipur only after the weather condition improves.

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With the death of two security personnel this morning, the toll in yesterday's Naxalite attack in Bastar Division's Bijapur district has gone up to 13.

Inspector General of Police T J Langkumer said, "As the helicopter could not arrive due to heavy downpour in the area, four critically injured police personnel -- who were in Bhadrakali Police Station -- could not be admitted to hospital."

He said two constables of state police Basant Korram and Wasim Toppo succumbed due to lack of treatment.

In all 12 security personnel and a civilian were killed in the ambush. Two injured constables Dhananjay Singh and Tikeshwar Singh are still lying in the police station.

The personnel martyred yesterday were identified as Special Police Officer Basant Kusram, head constables of state police -- Devraj and Rajendra Singh, constables Rajesh Patel, Shailuram Bhagat, Harendra Prasad, Mangal Bhagat, Gendlal Gawde, Rajendra Kumar Kerketta, Ghanshyam Kanaujia -- and tractor trolley driver Kursam Sammiya.

According to a police personnel, communication with other police stations could not be established as wireless sets in the Bhadrakali solice station remained defunct as batteries could not be charged due to power failure in the area for the last five days. The bodies of the victims were still lying in the police station.

The ambush was staged by Maoists when a 45-member patrol party was returning to Bhadrakali base camp at around 1830 hours yestrday evening.

About 100 Maoists were involved in the attack which took place barely four km away from the Bhadrakali police station.

A grain-laden tractor trolley was helping convey the personnel from Bhopalpatnam back to the camp. As their vehicle neared Meltacheru, the ultras -- concealed behind trees -- opened indiscriminate fire at the personnel, police said.

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A CBI court in Ahmedabad has convicted Ravjibhai Manubhai Pawar of the murder of his Indian employer and four other members of his family in Dubai in 1992 and sentenced him to death.

A press release from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that its investigations had shown that Pawar, while working as a domestic servant in Dubai, had kileld Mr Ramesh K Sagar and four others of Mr Sagar's family on January 4, 1992.

He was also accused of rape and of stealing household articles, including clothes, ornaments and cash.

Pawar feld from Dubai on January 5 and came to India. On the basis of an Interpol alert, he was nabbed on January 10 by the Gujarat police and a first information report (FIR)was registered.

Since the accused was an Indian national and the offence took place outside India, the case was entrusted to the CBI. The Dubai Police had also registered an FIR and collected evidence, which was used by the CBI during investigation and trial of the case, the release said.

The chargesheet was filed on January 23, 1992 in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chikhli. The trial court found him guilty and convicted him.

The case was registered by the CBI, Ahmedabad (now Gandhinagar) Branch on April 27, 1992 on the basis of the request and consent of the Government of Gujarat for futher investigation of the case filed at the Chikhli Police Station, the release added.

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At least 11 security personnel were killed and four hurt when Naxalites ambushed a 45-member patrol returning to Bhadrakali Base Camp at about 1830 hrs today in Bastar Division's Bijapur district bordering Andhra Pradesh, police said.

About 100 Maoists staged the ambush merely four km away from Bhadrakali Police Station. A grain-laden tractor trolley was helping convey the personnel from Bhopalpatnam back to the camp, police said.

According to reports reaching the state police headquarters, the deceased comprised personnel of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and the district police.

As their vehicle neared Meltacheru, the ultras, concealed behind trees, opened indiscriminate fire at the personnel who returned fire, neutralising four rebels.

Additional reinforcements were rushed to the spot.

Chief Minister Raman Singh held an emergency meeting with Home Minister Nankiram Kanwar, Director General of Police Anil Navaney, Chief Secretary P Joy Oommen and other top officials at his residence here to take stock of the situation.

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The Chhattisgarh government has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the killing of a minor tribal girl in an alleged "fake encounter" by the police in Sarguja district.

Chief Minister Raman Singh ordered the CBI enquiry after he met the people of Karch village and the victim's parents during his visit to Sarguja yesterday.

The girl's parents had disputed the police claim that the 16-year-old, who was killed in police firing in an encounter on the intervening night of July 5 and 6, was a Naxalite.

Following allegation of sexual assault of the girl before she was shot dead by the police in a "fake encounter," the Chief Minister had earlier ordered transfer of seven policemen pending a magisterial inquiry in additional to an investigation by the CID (Crime).

The deceased's family was also given a compensation of Rs 2 lakh after Dr Singh had a meeting with Home Minister Nankiram Kanwar and the then Director General of Police Vishwa Ranjan on the incident.

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