Lucknow: An inflamatory post on social networking site Facebook resulted in communal tension in Meerut yesterday as angry members of a community stoned a mini truck and a bus carrying a marriage party, police said. Soon after the post lampooning a religion was noticed, mobs took to the streets raising slogans and pelting stones. Twelve people were injured, after which police cracked down on the irate mob and brought the situation under control. A police official said a case against the inflammatory post has been registered after a complaint was filed by a local. He added that a dozen people have been arrested for the violence. Extra police have been deployed in the area to avoid escalation of tensions.
Italian PM speaks to Khurshid
New Delhi: Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti yesterday spoke to External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid about the two Italian marines facing trial in India for killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast last year. Monti, who is caretaker prime minister till a new government is formed in Italy, is holding charge of the foreign ministry after Giulio Terzi resigned last week over the issue. The Italian prime minister spoke to Khurshid over the phone after Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan de Mistura met the external affairs minister here yesterday to discuss developments in the case, government sources said.
Indian hotelier busted for drugs
MIAMI: Indian hotelier and playboy Vikram Chatwal was arrested at a Florida airport this week after trying to board a flight with heroine, cocaine and other drugs, local media reported. Chatwal, 41, who owns Dream Hotels in South Beach Miami and New York, was stopped at the Fort Lauderdale Airport on Tuesday after Transportation Security Administration agents found what turned out to be prescription pills rolling around loose in a carry-on bag. A search turned up a half gram of cocaine wrapped in a small plastic package in his shirt pocket, six grams of heroin tucked in the crotch of his pants along with marijuana and ketamine. Chatwal was charged with eight drug counts.
Rape accused attacked in prison
NEW DELHI: A defendant in the New Delhi gang rape and murder trial said yesterday he was assaulted inside jail by inmates to stop him from appearing for a job recruitment test. Vinay Sharma, who along with five others had allegedly gang-raped a student in a moving bus in December appeared before the court with a fractured right hand, the news agency said. Sharma’s lawyer told the judge his client was attacked by fellow inmates and therefore he must be shifted to other premises. The medical report presented by the jail authorities showed that Sharma’s elbow was fractured “due to a fall”. The judge ordered the jail authorities to submit fresh medical reports of Sharma and instructed them to ensure the safety of all the accused.
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