Rape case: French Consulate official Pascal's bail plea adjourned to September 10
BANGALORE: The Karnataka high court today adjourned to September 10 the bail petition filed by French Consulate official Pascal Mazurier, arrested on charges of raping his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter.

Justice H N Nagamohan Das adjourned the hearing to Monday next after Mazurier's wife Suja Jones filed an application before the court impleading herself as the second respondent in the case which was accepted.

Counsel for Mazurier S Mahesh wanted to file objections following which the court adjourned the matter. Mazurier, Consular Attache to the Consulate General of France in Bangalore, had moved the High Court on August 7 seeking bail.

On August 21, when the matter came up before Justice V Jagannathan, he had adjourned the hearing asking the State to file its objections. Suja Jones's advocate Pramila Nesargi wanted to intervene in Mazurier's bail hearing, but the defence lawyer had objected to it on the grounds that no petition has been filed by her. Mazurier, in his petition, had pointed out that as per the report of the test conducted by the Forensic Sciences Laboratory (Bangalore), his DNA profile did not match with that of the child.

The Fast Track Court-I had on July 27 rejected his plea for bail while observing that "though DNA test has not tallied with the DNA profile of the accused, bail cannot be granted to him only on this ground."

Mazurier was arrested on June 19 after police booked him for raping his daughter based on a complaint filed by his wife.

Rape case: French Consulate official Pascal's bail plea adjourned to September 10
BANGALORE: The Karnataka high court today adjourned to September 10 the bail petition filed by French Consulate official Pascal Mazurier, arrested on charges of raping his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter.

Justice H N Nagamohan Das adjourned the hearing to Monday next after Mazurier's wife Suja Jones filed an application before the court impleading herself as the second respondent in the case which was accepted.

Counsel for Mazurier S Mahesh wanted to file objections following which the court adjourned the matter. Mazurier, Consular Attache to the Consulate General of France in Bangalore, had moved the High Court on August 7 seeking bail.

On August 21, when the matter came up before Justice V Jagannathan, he had adjourned the hearing asking the State to file its objections. Suja Jones's advocate Pramila Nesargi wanted to intervene in Mazurier's bail hearing, but the defence lawyer had objected to it on the grounds that no petition has been filed by her. Mazurier, in his petition, had pointed out that as per the report of the test conducted by the Forensic Sciences Laboratory (Bangalore), his DNA profile did not match with that of the child.

The Fast Track Court-I had on July 27 rejected his plea for bail while observing that "though DNA test has not tallied with the DNA profile of the accused, bail cannot be granted to him only on this ground."

Mazurier was arrested on June 19 after police booked him for raping his daughter based on a complaint filed by his wife.

 five more bodies fished out, Bankura accident toll now seven

KOLKATA: Five more bodies were fished out of the Bhairabanki River Friday, raising the death toll in the bus accident in West Bengal's Bankura district to seven, police said. The accident occurred Thursday as the bus with around 50 passengers was crossing a low bridge in blinding rain. The driver lost control and the bus fell into the river, police said. "We have recovered five bodies today (Friday). We don't have information of any more missing persons, but a search is on," Bankura police superintendent Mukesh Kumar told IANS over phone. Divers searched an area of 10 km around the site of the accident at Fulkushma, about 160 kms from h

  

 five more bodies fished out, Bankura accident toll now seven

KOLKATA: Five more bodies were fished out of the Bhairabanki River Friday, raising the death toll in the bus accident in West Bengal's Bankura district to seven, police said. The accident occurred Thursday as the bus with around 50 passengers was crossing a low bridge in blinding rain. The driver lost control and the bus fell into the river, police said. "We have recovered five bodies today (Friday). We don't have information of any more missing persons, but a search is on," Bankura police superintendent Mukesh Kumar told IANS over phone. Divers searched an area of 10 km around the site of the accident at Fulkushma, about 160 kms from h

  

 Five killed in Damascus blast

BEIRUT: Five security personnel were killed on Friday in an explosion outside a mosque in the north of the Syrian capital Damascus, state television reported. The blast took place in the district of Rukneddin, as worshippers were leaving the mosque. A number of civilians were also injured in the blast, which was caused by explosives attached to a motorcycle.

 Five killed in Damascus blast

BEIRUT: Five security personnel were killed on Friday in an explosion outside a mosque in the north of the Syrian capital Damascus, state television reported. The blast took place in the district of Rukneddin, as worshippers were leaving the mosque. A number of civilians were also injured in the blast, which was caused by explosives attached to a motorcycle.

Fire under control in Mumbai building

Mumbai: A fire broke out on the 12th floor of the FIFC building in Bandra Kurla Complex of suburban Mumbai this morning.

Ten labourers, who were trapped in the under-construction building, were rescued and the fire was brought under control
after two hours.

'10-12 labourers were working on the interior decoration of the building, which is not operational,' senior police
inspector Chandrakant Bhosle told reporters.

As many as 16 aerial ladder platforms (ALP) were pressed into service which managed to douse the flames with the help
of six fire tenders and as many water tankers, fire officials said.

The fire broke out at around 10.45 AM on the 12th floor of the First International Financial Centre (FIFC) high rise
building and spread to the 13th floor, they said. PTI

Fire under control in Mumbai building

Mumbai: A fire broke out on the 12th floor of the FIFC building in Bandra Kurla Complex of suburban Mumbai this morning.

Ten labourers, who were trapped in the under-construction building, were rescued and the fire was brought under control
after two hours.

'10-12 labourers were working on the interior decoration of the building, which is not operational,' senior police
inspector Chandrakant Bhosle told reporters.

As many as 16 aerial ladder platforms (ALP) were pressed into service which managed to douse the flames with the help
of six fire tenders and as many water tankers, fire officials said.

The fire broke out at around 10.45 AM on the 12th floor of the First International Financial Centre (FIFC) high rise
building and spread to the 13th floor, they said. PTI

24 killed, 150 injured in China quake

Beijing: At least 24 people were killed and 150 injured Friday in an earthquake that jolted southwest China's Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, authorities said.

More than 100,000 people have been evacuated in Yunnan, said an official with the province's civil affairs department.

The 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit the border area of Yiliang county of Yunnan and Weining county of Guizhou at 11.19 a.m. and the depth of its epicenter was about 14 km, reported Xinhua.

All the victims were from the city of Zhaotong.

Preliminary investigation showed that more than 20,000 houses were damaged or had collapsed in the quake, according to the official.

As of 1 p.m., the area had been stricken by 16 aftershocks, with the strongest one measuring magnitude-5.6, according to the provincial seismological bureau.

Authorities are transporting thousands of tents, quilts and coats to the quake-hit area.

So far, no casualties have been reported in Guizhou province, but the quake has also damaged or even toppled homes in Weining county, said Chen Bo, an official.

24 killed, 150 injured in China quake

Beijing: At least 24 people were killed and 150 injured Friday in an earthquake that jolted southwest China's Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, authorities said.

More than 100,000 people have been evacuated in Yunnan, said an official with the province's civil affairs department.

The 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit the border area of Yiliang county of Yunnan and Weining county of Guizhou at 11.19 a.m. and the depth of its epicenter was about 14 km, reported Xinhua.

All the victims were from the city of Zhaotong.

Preliminary investigation showed that more than 20,000 houses were damaged or had collapsed in the quake, according to the official.

As of 1 p.m., the area had been stricken by 16 aftershocks, with the strongest one measuring magnitude-5.6, according to the provincial seismological bureau.

Authorities are transporting thousands of tents, quilts and coats to the quake-hit area.

So far, no casualties have been reported in Guizhou province, but the quake has also damaged or even toppled homes in Weining county, said Chen Bo, an official.