HC nod to death for teacher killers

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala High Court has upheld the death sentences awarded to five CPM activists convicted of killing a schoolteacher inside his classroom in 1999, reports our correspondent.

K.T. Jayakrishnan, the then state unit vice-president of the BJP’s youth wing, was murdered while taking class under police protection. Eight persons, from both sides, fell to revenge killings that followed.

The murder had been a sequel to a protracted phase of revenge killings by cadres of the CPM and the BJP/RSS in the Kannur district of northern Kerala during the Left regime headed by the late E.K. Nayanar.

While confirming the sentence by the trial court, the a high court said they deserve the punishment as it was a cold-blooded murder of a teacher in front of his students.

This is the first award of the death sentence in the revenge killings between BJP and CPM cadres in north Kerala.

Bhutan bars Indian channels

New Delhi (PTI): Cable operators in Bhutan have boycotted the telecast of some Indian news and entertainment channels after the local media labelled their contents a threat to the kingdom?s culture.

The channels that went off air from April include Sun TV, Asianet, ETV Bangla, Aaj Tak and Zee News. Foreign channels, such as FTV and Ten Sports, are also not being telecast.

The decision was taken by the cable operators themselves after media articles alleged that these channels were “culturally degrading and undermining Bhutanese cultural values, besides distracting students”, said information and broadcasting minister S. Jaipal Reddy.

Imrana case

New Delhi (PTI): Imrana and her husband Noor Ilahi have filed separate affidavits opposing the bail plea of her father-in-law Ali Mohammad, who has been accused of raping her.

In his affidavit, Ilahi supported Imrana’s complaint, alleging that Mohammad had raped her and warned him not to report it.

Life for 80-yr-old

Mumbai (PTI): The Supreme Court has upheld a high court order of life term to three persons, including an octogenarian, for murders committed in 1977. During a spat at a marriage function in an Uttar Pradesh village Suresh Chandra and his two friends had shot dead two invitees

Cheating arrest

New Delhi (PTI): A man has been arrested in connection with alleged cheating in the Common Entrance Examination for Delhi College of Engineering. A case has been filed against 21 students and some Delhi University officials.

Uttaranchal has reported a drastic fall in the elephant counts and a marginal decline in the number of tigers. Dehra Dun forest division recorded 68 per cent decrease in elephant numbers.