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| Friday,
August 15, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Newsreader enacts suicide drama atop tower
New Delhi, August 14 Bhaskar Bora, a casual newsreader in the Assamese news section, got down after about four hours of high drama and persuasion, leading to an assurance from the Minister. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi), Mr Manoj Lall, said the man was first spotted on the tower at around 9 am. Immediately, police and fire brigade officials reached the spot. As the man paced up and down the tower and sought advice from his colleagues, a large crowd and mediapersons gathered at Akashwani Bhawan, located in the vicinity of Parliament, to witness the drama. The police also tried to communicate with him through a mobile phone he was carrying. However, Bora refused to heed to the police request to come down and threatened that he would jump to death from the tower as soon as the Prime Minister began his Independence Day speech tomorrow at the Red Fort. He sent down as many as 20 letters listing his demands, including regularisation as a news reader, increase in the remuneration of newsreaders and its timely payment. In one of the notes, Bora wrote that he was not a terrorist but a frustrated casual employee of the AIR whose services had not been regularised despite working there for more than 14 years. Soon after Bora came down from the 200-feet-high tower, he was taken away in an ambulance to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for a medical checkup. Senior police official said a decision was yet to be taken on whether a case should be filed against him. ‘’The matter is pending before the IB Ministry and we are awaiting a response,’’ he said. However, the man’s ascent to the tower has put a major question mark over the security arrangements at the AIR headquarters. Akashawani Bhawan is under threat from terrorist groups and security in and around the building is enhanced during Independence Day and Republic Day functions. It needs to be probed how the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawans, who are responsible for the protection of the building, failed to detect the man while he was climbing up. In fact, no security personnel present in the building noticed him climbing and the first information to the police was based on the input provided by the staff members and passersby. Mr Lall said the security inside the building was not with the Delhi Police and hence it should not be blamed for the lapse. ‘’It is the job of the CISF,’’ he stressed. |
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Cops look the other way as dogs feast on corpse Ghaziabad (Hapur), August 14 At about 8 am, information was received that an unidentified body had been lying since the previous night on the national highway near the Bhim Nagar police post (Hapur). This is the spot where policemen can be seen chasing straw laden trucks day in and day out. At a little distance from this horrendous sight, policemen were sitting in a jeep. When they saw press correspondents and lensmen clicking away, the cops had the audacity to demand: “Who informed you so early in the morning about this?” Later, the policemen admitted to having known about the body lying there since the previous night. They said they could not find anybody to remove the body. “Now, we shall have it removed”, they promised. “But the man did not die here. Somebody has dumped the body here after killing him in the jurisdiction of another police station”, the cops said with contrived innocence. A person had reportedly died near the temple on Railway Road under the Kotwali police station area the previous evening. The body had remained there for a considerable time, it is learnt. Later, some citizens had covered it with a cloth. When someone informed the Kotwali police, the cops’ reaction was: “It must have been a beggar”. Hapur citizens have now performed the last rites of the unfortunate man. |
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Another
transformer blast needed to rouse HVPN? Panipat, August 14 In fact, the authorities seem to have failed to learn a lesson from the tragedy. A visit to several areas revealed that sparking in the transformers was a routine affair. Repeated representations to the Power Department had fallen on deaf ears with the result that the people had resigned themselves to their fate. To top it all, the inquiry committee constituted by the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) in the wake of the blast has failed to submit its report. One of its members, Mr J. P. Singh, Chief Engineer of the HVPN, has since retired on July 31. The inquiry is reportedly being conducted by Mr S. K. Diwan, Director, Maintenance, and no one has any idea when the report is likely to be submitted. The only achievement of the HVPN had been that the Nigam
managing Director, Mr Alok Nigam, had suspended four employees allegedly for dereliction of duty. On July 18, the transformer in he Old Subzi Mandi area was blown off in a powerful blast. The authorities had failed to act in time despite being informed of the sparking in the transformer well in advance. Sources told NCR Tribune that following the retirement of Mr J. P. Singh the inquiry was likely to be delayed. It may be recalled that such inquiries have never yielded any fruitful results in the past. Even when the probe reports are submitted the follow-up action is rare with reports just gathering dust. Only an odd tragedy provokes the administration into initiating remedial measures. However, this tragedy, too, seems to have failed to awaken the authorities from their deep slumber. It seems the inquiry was not a priority with the HVPN even as the safety of thousands of residents was in jeopardy. |
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RAGGING
CASE New Delhi, August 14 He added, “ We are still waiting for Prakash to identify the students. A team from the IIT was sent to his residence yesterday and today we met him again. We are seeking his cooperation in identifying the culprits who ragged him”. In spite of Prakash not having divulged any names the Delhi Police have registered a case and are questioning a large number of students and officials to establish the identity of those who were involved. The case was registered after Prakash Rajpurohit, a first year student of the Delhi IIT, made a statement before the police that he was sexually harassed by his seniors and showed his willingness to identify the culprits. Though he is yet to name anyone he has told the police that he can identify them if they are brought before him. The police have begun questioning Prakash’s classmates and his roommates in the hostel to get the details of the incident. The IIT authorities have promised “the strictest possible action against those involved”. Meanwhile, the Human Resource Development Minister, Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, has also directed the institute authorities to take action against those guilty. It was pointed out that the ministry might even go to the length of closing down the hostel. |
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I-DAY
EVE FRACAS
Panipat, August 14 When Mr Ran Singh said it would take some time for the schoolchildren to clear the ground, the SP allegedly flew into a rage and asked his gunman to thrown the erring instructor out. Thereafter, the instructor was assaulted. Resentment prevailed among the teaching community and some of them have threatened to boycott the function At this point, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr M. R. Anand, intervened and the matter was sorted out. Engineering student drowned Faridabad:
A 22-year-old student of an engineering college here got drowned in a pond in the Surajkund area yesterday. Identified as Nitin Singh, the victim had gone to the area on a picnic. It is reported that he and his three classmates decided to swim in a water body formed between two hills. His friends, who saw him drowning, could not save him.
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11 Delhi Police officers get President’s Medal New Delhi, August 14 This year’s President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services has been awarded to Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern Range) Ranjit Narayan. Narayan, an 1978 batch IPS (AGMU) cadre officer had been posted in various sensitive postings. As SP, Pondicherry in 1981, he first got exposed to the LTTE activities and did excellent work. He also exposed the Fr. Peats sex scandal in Goa, where young schoolchildren were sexually harassed and photographed. He had earlier been awarded Sukruit Award by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Police Medal for Meritorious Services has been awarded to Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) P Kamaraj and nine other officers. Kamaraj had a number of sensitive postings as SP, Lakshdweep, ACP, Tilak Vihar where he supervised the investigations, subsequently leading to the working out of the bomb blast case where 13 persons were killed and 61 injured. He was also posted as Dy Commandant in the UN mission in Bosnia. Kamaraj also served as DCP, Traffic, South-West and South districts before his elevation to the present post. The other police officers awarded police medals are ACP Rajan Bhagat, ACP Tej Ram, Women Inspector Vimlesh Kumari Yadav, Inspector (Ex) Mohan Singh Dabas, Inspector (Ex) Gyan Singh Meena, SI (Ex) Nasib Singh, SI (Ex) Raj Singh, Women Sub-Inspector Manju Dubey and Head Constable Kavinder Singh.
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Haryana Govt completes 4,253
welfare works Sonepat, August 14 Addressing to mediapersons, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Balwan Singh, said here today that about 8, 737 metric tonnes of wheat had been distributed among the labourers and 19.17 lakh mandays created during the period under review. Under this programme, roads are constructed and repaired, construction of schoolrooms, retaining walls, digging of ponds, repairs of phirnis around wells, draining out of storm water, construction of pucca ways to the cremation grounds, construction of ashrams for the aged persons and construction of Gau Ghats. He disclosed that priority is given to the farm labourers, landless farmers, women and members of the scheduled castes in giving employment under the programme. The Sampuran Gramin Rozgar Yojna has been divided into two parts and 22.50 per cent allotted wheat is meant for the distribution among the beneficiaries belonging to the scheduled castes. Every labourer is given eight kg of wheat at a cost of Rs 5 per kg along with Rs 40 in cash per day. The state government has been spending half the amount allotted under the programme on the development of scheduled castes residential colonies, he added. Referring to the Employment Programme, the DC disclosed that a sum of Rs 57.19 crore had been spent on the establishment of 245 small-scale units in the district during the past four years. As many as 2,721 people had got employment in these units during the period under review, he added. He disclosed that as many as 11 industries had so far been set up at a cost of Rs 1.98 crore during the current financial year in the district and about 113 people had been given jobs in these industries during the period under review. |
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FOLLOW-UP Bhiwani, August 14 Though the crime was attributed to Laxman, son of Jogender, villagers suspect foul play. They have demanded an impartial probe into the incident. In fact, Laxman surrendered at the Badhra police station on the same day. He told the police that he committed the murders to revenge the death of his mother. The police later went to the village and brought the bodies to the civil hospital in Charkhi Dadri for the postmortem examination. The brother-in-law of Ompati, Om Prakash, who came from Zahazgarh Majra to the civil hospital was in tears. He said his brother, Ompati’s husband, had died following a heart attack ten years ago. Thereafter, Ompati and her son Anil used to live both in Berla and Zahazgarh Majra. He ruled out the possibility of Laxman alone committing the murders. An ex-sarpanch of Berla, Jogender Singh, who had played an important role in migrating Laxman and his younger sister Anju from their maternal grandfather’s house at Jui to Berla two months back, also smells foul play. Laxman’s mother had died some time ago after a brief illness. At the time, she had been engaged in a legal battle with his father Jogender. The ex-sarpanch said that Laxman had been leading a normal life in his grandfather’s house at Berla. Laxman would enquire about his health and welfare time and again. Other villagers like Ram Kumar, Ishwar, Ram Pal, Jaswant Singh and Balbir Singh also do not believe the statement given by Laxman to the police that he had taken revenge for the death of his mother with these murders. According to Laxman’s statement, he had been meted out rough treatment at his grandfather’s house. He was also aggrieved by the legal battle between his father and mother, the sudden demise of his mother after a brief illness and the apathetic attitude of the members of his father’s family. A villager, Attar Singh, said that there were two-three dogs at the house of Darya Singh. The villagers found the dogs lying unconscious in the morning on Monday, which means that there had been intruders or accomplices of Laxman. |
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Faridabad
records highest rainfall Faridabad, August 14 The district was hit hard by drought last year. It received only 9 mm rain in the month of July last year, while it got 398 mm rain in July this year. The total rainfall received by the district last year between June and September was only 356 mm. It is likely to be around 800 mm this year, which would be astounding. The five subdivisions of the district have recorded an average of 170 mm of rain in the first 10 days of August. While Faridabad received 141 mm rain, Ballabgarh received 114 mm, Palwal 245 mm, Hodal 205 mm and Hathin 148 mm. The total rainfall in August this year could touch or cross 300 mm, given the present conditions, said an official of the Agriculture Department. According to the department, a bumper kharif crop is expected this year due to the excellent rains. It is reported that paddy has been sown over 23,000 hectares this season, which is 5,000 hectares more than last year. Due to drought last year, more than 50 per cent of the paddy crop was damaged and the production of other crops was affected badly. This year, pulses have been sown in over 8,500 hectares in the district, while jowar and bajra have been sown in 70,000 and 8,500 hectares respectively. |
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Vehicle
owners in a jam over spurious petrol Faridabad, August 14 The district authorities had set up a six-member committee to look into the complaints of adulteration, but it has yet to submit the final report. The city magistrate, who is chairperson of this special committee had reportedly conducted raids on four petrol pumps in July and collected the samples of petrol and diesel. The committee had held four to five meetings in the past three months, but its next meeting is likely to be held only after the samples’ report was received, it is learnt. Besides the city magistrate, the committee includes the district food and supply controller
(DFSC), a representative of the District Petroleum Dealers Association, the district coordinator of the oil companies, owner of a leading automobile dealer here and the district public relations officer. The authorities had asked the committee to submit its report as soon as possible so that action could be taken to provide unadulterated petroleum products to the consumers. It may be recalled that the committee was set up after a number of complaints regarding the jamming of the auto engines were reported by the service centres of various automobile companies. While the manufacturers and automobile agency owners had blamed adulterated supply of petro products for the trouble, the petroleum companies and their outlets had claimed that there was nothing wrong at their end. They had suggested that the mobile and 2-7 oil used by the vehicle owners could be spurious. The committee had also asked the oil companies to divert the supplies for the district to Delhi or Panipat instead of Rewari, but it was not accepted, it is reported. While the city magistrate conducted a raid on four petrol pumps last month, it is learnt that the oil companies have lifted the samples of the oil sold in pouches in open market for testing. An DFSC official here said that the office had been regularly checking the petrol and diesel and 10 to 12 raids were conducted each month. He said the number of petrol pumps in the district had gone up to 51 at present. Of these, 23 pumps were located in the town itself. It may be recalled that at least three pumps had been ‘sealed’ temporarily in the past one year on charges of selling adulterated products. Mr S
Jaagar, a teacher and resident of Sector-9 here, has been a victim of ‘petrol-adulteration’. He got his car filled at a pump here, a couple of months ago to find its engine jammed. He had to spend Rs 10,000 on the repair of the vehicle. He said one of his friends who usually get petrol from Delhi advised him not to get the refilling in this city in future. Mr Viney Bhardwaj, a resident of Sector-8 also admitted that he had to think twice about the outlet to be visited for refilling his car. Dr Tarun Kashyap of Sector-9 demanded that the authorities ought to speed up surprise checkings and restore the confidence of consumers, as it was a serious issue. |
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Demo against erratic power supply Sonepat, August 14 According to a report, the irate residents reached the office in their tractor-trolleys and sat on a dharna to press their demands. The SE was not present in the office and thereupon, the residents submitted memorandums to the DC and the Executive Engineer of the UHBVN, demanding regular supply of power in the village. The Xen is stated to have assured the village people that steps would be taken to ensure regular power supply soon. In Sonepat city, several areas, including the Atlas Road, Railway Road, Gita Bhawan Chowk, Mohalla Kalan, Ram Bazar, remained powerless for at least six hours yesterday on account of power break-downs, trippings and loadsheddings. This has caused widespread resentment among the residents. Normal life of the people and the business activity were the worst hit. |
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SPECIAL FOCUS ROHTAK Rohtak, August 14 Both
the giant associations of telecom engineers, had on April 8 last
merged at the national level and formed a new organisation, called the
‘Sanchar Nigam Executive Association (India)’. The present day
strength of the unified association is around 35,000, according to Mr
Arvind Pal Dahiya, District Secretary, TEOA (I), Rohtak Telecom
Circle. The Haryana Circle units of both the associations will
formally merge on the Independence Day tomorrow. The Sanchar Nigam Executive Association (India), the unified body, will hold its first two-day conference at Karnal on August 16 and 17. After the open session on August 16, the delegates of the Telecom Engineering Officers Association and the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd Executive Association will meet to elect the state body of the unified association. While Mr J. K.
Chhabra, Sr DDG (personnel), BSNL, will be chief guest at the open session, the
CGM, Haryana Circle, Mr A. K. Nagpal will preside. Mr Dahiya said that the membership of the Sanchar Nigam Executive Association (India), comprise telecom engineering cadre, namely Junior Telecom Officers
(JTOs), Sub-Divisional Engineers, Divisional Engineers and officers, promoted there from. He claimed that many more officers from other wings like finance, electricity, civil, telecom factories and secretariat, would also join the unified association. Mr
Subhash Saini, District Secretary, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd Executive
Association, said that Mr W. Seshagiri Rao, president of newly created
Sanchar Nigam Executive Association (India) and its general secretary,
Mr G. L. Jogi, will be guests of honour. In the open session on August
16, Mr V. K. Tomar, general secretary, Mahanagar Telephones Nigam Ltd
Executive Association (India), will also grace the occasion, he said. Anesthesiologists’
conference: The main focus in the conference will be preoperative care. Nearly 300 doctors of this specialty from Haryana and adjoining states are likely to attend the conference, which will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala, Mr K. R.
Goryan, president of the Society said. Eminent persons likely to
attend include Dr Javed Divetia of Tata Memorial Hospital, Bombay, Dr
Muralidhar from Apollo Hospital, Delhi, Dr Yatin Mehta from Escorts
and Dr K. K. Gombar from Chandigarh.
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Fire in power station Sonepat, August 14 According to a report, all the unconscious and injured employees of the UHBVN were immediately hospitalised. They are stated to be out of danger. Two employees who fell unconscious were identified as Mr Sham Sunder, a junior engineer and Mr Ravi Karan, SSA, whereas the injured employees were identified as Mr Daleep and Mr Jai Kishan, both foremen and Mr Rajinder, a driver. On receipt of information, the municipal fire-brigade reached the spot and brought the fire under control after a few hours. The news soon spread and the residents of the colony rushed outside their houses in panic. The employees working in the office of the Superintending Engineer (operation) of the UHBVN also came outside their office. A short-circuit is stated to be the cause of the fire. The authorities are, however, making inquiries. Houses razed: According to a report, the officials pressed into service the JCB machines and demolished the houses built on the panchayat land illegally. The residents tried to prevent the officials from razing their houses, but they could not do so in the presence of the police.
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NCR
BRIEFS Sonepat, August 14 However, he breathed his last during treatment. He was reportedly serving in Ram Sharnam Ashram of Gohana. After a postmortem, his body has been handed over to his family members. In another incident, a 75-year-old person was found lying dead behind the office of the assistant station master here this morning. Later, he was identified as Joginder Singh of Delhi. The Railway Police have taken his body to the hospital for a postmortem and members of his family in Delhi have also been informed.
Two labourers attacked
by shopkeeper Sonepat: Two labourers were seriously injured after being attacked by a shopkeeper along with five others in the Gur Mandi area here yesterday. According to a report, the labourers were identified as Mr Mool Chand of Patharwali Gali and Mr Jainath of Arya Nagar. They were immediately hospitalised and stated to be out of danger. The police have registered the case and investigations were on. However, no arrest has been made so far in this connection. According to another report, a youth Jaiveer was seriously injured when he was assaulted with some deadly weapons by his younger brother Jagbir at Juan village about 15 km from here last night. The youth Jaiveer raised the alarm but the alleged assailant managed to escape. Jaiveer was rushed to the local civil hospital where he was stated to be out of danger.
RI for jeep driver Bhiwani:
The court of Jasbir Singh sentenced an accused to one year rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 1,500 in a case of accident. The convict Sukhvir will have to undergo additional imprisonment of one month if he does not pay the fine. According to prosecution, Anil was proceeding towards local Sabzi Mandi with his friend on a scooter on September 17, 1998 when a jeep hit them. The police had registered a case under sections 279 and 337 of the IPC against jeep driver Sukhvir (25), son of Shubhram of Malkos village. |
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CM visits Harijan Basti New Delhi, August 14 The sanitation drive being carried out in the area was launched by the Chief Minister on Monday at the DIZ area, Gole Market. Part of the drive includes clearing up of the garbage dumps, repair of roads, cleaning of drains and removal of posters, cattle and encroachments. The Vice-chairperson of the NDMC, Mr Ram Bhaj, commissioned high mast lights at five locations in Sarojini Nagar. TNS
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Case of misbehaviour: Police officer granted bail Bhiwani, August 14 Mr Verma had registered his complaint with the superintendent of police in this connection but had to approach the court when no action was taken by the senior police officer. Murder suspect in judicial custody A court at Charkhi Dadri remanded a suspect in a murder case in judicial custody for 14 days today. According to information, Sanjay had throttled to death his cousin Satpal (50) at Rawaldhi village, near Charkhi Dadri on Sunday. Satpal was a railway employee. Later, Sanjay surrendered before the police and admitted that he had killed Satpal. Police registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC. Two killed in separate incidents: According to a late report, TATA 709 which was on its way to Dadri from Ghaziabad rammed a truck near Loharwada village on Dadri-Delhi main road yesterday. The front portion of the TATA squeezed and its driver Satender Yadav of Bihar sustained injuries. Later, he succumbed to his injuries. The truck driver escaped. The police have registered a case and handed over the body after a post mortem to the vehicle owner who had arrived from Ghaziabad after getting information about the accident. In another incident, a 35-year-old woman died at Baas village when she consumed pesticide while sprinkling it over the crop in the cotton field yesterday. Her husband who happened to be there immediately rushed her to civil hospital Charkhi Dadri but she could not survive. NIC cooperation: Mr Gupta said that if these works were assigned to a private agency, an estimated expenditure of Rs 4 to 5 lakh would have been incurred by the Board, whereas the NIC provided these services free.
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DELHI
DIGEST New Delhi, August 14 While fighting, both the brothers cried which awakened their parents. By the time they came down the stairs, Chet Ram had been killed. Their neighbours gathered there. While Ajay tried to run away, the neighbours caught him and handed him over to the police. Narcotics seized: The narcotics sleuths received specific information that one Danvir (37), resident of Badayun would be supplying heroin to someone at Ashram Chowk. He was spotted at a bus stand in New Friends Colony and 500 grams of heroin was seized from his possession. In the second case, one Mohammad Yaseen (25), resident of Bareilly was nabbed from Mangolpuri area and one kilogram of heroin was seized from his possession, while a woman Maya (28), resident of Wazirpur was arrested and 55 grams of heroin was seized from
her possession.
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Advocate
named for widow’s murder Greater Noida, August 14 According to Bisarakh police, Shashi, sister of Narinder Gopal, a Delhi resident, lived in Dubai. After the death of her husband, she had developed relations with a Ghaziabad Advocate N. Kumar who used to meet her at her house in A Block in Noida’s Sector 12. On August 10, N. Kumar invited Shashi to his house in Rajnagar, Ghaziabad. It is alleged that he killed her and dumped her body near Patwari in Greater Noida. When Narinder came to know of it, he identified his sister’s body and filed a case with Bisarakh police station. The police are now looking for the advocate. |
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Lovelorn
couple end it all Jhajjar: A lovelorn couple ended their lives by consuming some poisonous liquid in Asaudha village of the district last evening. The villagers said that their families were aware of their affair. However, the family of Savita married her off four months ago which shattered their dreams. A couple of days ago, the girl came to her parental house. She met her dreamboat yesterday evening. The duo then decided to end it all. They consumed some poisonous liquid and rode a maxi cab going to Rohtak. Both of them were admitted to PGIMS at Rohtak where they died after a while.
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Additional
SHO seeks Rs 2 lakh bribe, falls in CBI trap New Delhi, August 14
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