NAGPUR: The situation in riot-hit Yavatmal town in Vidarbha was tense but under control, according to information received here today. Police said the condition of the three persons injured in yesterday's police firing was improving. Police fired at the mob after lathi charging and bursting of tear-gas shells failed to control a stone-pelting group of people, who were protesting against desecration of a religious place in Ambikanagar locality in the district town. About 20 police personnel were injured in stone-pelting. The mob set afire a police van and some private vehicles.

Private bill for Vidarbha state

NEW DELHI: A private members' bill seeking to provide for the formation of the state of Vidarbha by reorganisation of the existing state of Maharashtra was introduced in the Lok Sabha today. The bill moved by a Congress member, Datta Meghe said that the establishment of Vidarbha Development Board would not be able to do much for the development of the region. Creation of a state out of the nine districts of Maharashtra would instil among the people of the regiion feelings of self respect and independence, Meghe said in the state of reason and objects of the bill. George Fernandes (Samata) introduced a bill which seeks to establish a separate bank to cater to the needs of public sector enterprises.

Jain not cooperating with probe: ED

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today told a Delhi court that the Bennett, Coleman and Company chairman, Ashok Jain, was not cooperating with the investigation in an alleged FERA violation case. In a reply to an application by Jain, seeking court's permission to leave hospital and go home, moved before the additional sessions judge, M A Khan, who is hearing his anticipatory bail plea, the ED said ``at no point of time he (Jain) has cooperated with the investigating team.'' ``He has always avoided answering any questions and wrote out the gist of his answers to the questions in most evasive manner,'' the ED reply said. Jain is admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on court's instruction to facilitate his interrogation under doctor's supervision.

Police fire in air to disperse mob

BANGALORE: Police fired a few rounds in the air to disperse a 2,000-strong mob, who turned violent and some of whom pelted tomatoes at the residence of Social Welfare Minister, K M Krishna Reddy, at Chintamani town in Kolar district today. Police initially lathi charged the angry rioters, who resorted to stone-throwing after a crash in the price of tomatoes at an auction in the town. Police said the trouble started when the farmers complained that agents were quoting low prices for their produce. The agitators organised processions and dharnas to protest against the fall in prices.

Metropolitan court summons DCP

MUMBAI: Additional chief metropolitan magistrate, S N Chimade, today issued summons to the Deputy Police Commissioner for taking Manjula Bhansali to the hospital instead of her husband Chain Roop Bhansali, without the permission of the court. The magistrate, in his order, sought an explanation as to why the court order directing police to take Bhansali for medical check up was not complied with. The magistrate had earlier ordered the Economic Offences Wing to take Bhansali for medical examination when he requested for bail on medical grounds. But the police took Manjula to the hospital and submitted her medical report in the court.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.