Kathua rape: Pathankot court frames charges against seven
Pathankot, June 7: A court in this Punjab town on Thursday framed charges against seven accused in the rape and murder case of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district.
The district and sessions court here framed charges against seven of the eight accused. The trial of the case, which was shifted from Jammu and Kashmir to here following orders of the Supreme Court, began on May 31.
The seven -- alleged mastermind Sanji Ram, his son Vishal Jangotra, Vishal's friend from Rasana village, a sub-inspector of police, a head constable and two special police officers (SPOs) -- were shifted to Pathankot on May 31.
The eighth accused is a juvenile and his trial is being held separately in Kathua.
The trial was shifted to Pathankot on the plea of the victim's father.
The apex court also directed the District and Sessions Judge, Pathankot to hold the trial in-camera on a daily basis without any adjournment.
The eight-year-old girl was abducted, held prisoner in a religious place, repeatedly raped and brutally murdered.
Two senior ministers of the ruling PDP-BJP coalition had to resign following their participation in a rally in favour of the accused.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
