A common palm civet also known as a toddy cat for its fondness for the palm flower sap, made a dash across the runway on which AI 997 flight from Karipur to Sharjah was taking off, almost bringing down the aircraft.

Sources say a fire was spotted in the engine after takeoff and the pilot made an emergency landing, as the animal was sucked into the engine during takeoff from the Karipur airport. Authorities are flummoxed.

All in all it is estimated the toddy loving feline has cost Air India some Rs.10 crore in damages.

The remains of the animal were examined by an official of the zoology department who said they found traces of fur, skin and flesh of the animal that confirmed it is a palm civet.

The airport environment management committee are to meet and beef up airfield security with a wall across the perimeter of the airport and other precautions.

[ Back to Top ]

School boy Sajid, aged 10, was beaten up by a teacher in his school in Kannauj district, Uttar Pradesh, and taken home by some bikers in a semi-conscious condition. His classmates confirmed he was beaten by the teacher.

His parents rushed him to a medical facility where the boy died during treatment.

Police say an FIR was lodged against the school teacher Rahul and police have seized the body and sent it for an autopsy.

No arrests have yet been made.

Kannauj is the parliamentary constituency of Dimple Yadav, wife of the UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.

[ Back to Top ]

The Darul Uloom Deoband, an Islamic seminary, has issued a fatwa against dyeing hair black saying sharia does not permit it. A colour like henna on the hair may however be used.

They say the use of such dyes including ammonia-free dyes leaves a layer on the hair that prevents water from reaching the roots of hair during ablution and makes it invalid.

[ Back to Top ]

The Madras high court has awarded Rs.50 lakhs compensation to Mansoor Ali Khan, who was accused by a woman aged 23 of repeated rape.

Khan was arrested in 1998 and found guilty of sexual harassment and convicted in 2001 to seven years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.3 lakhs.

The Madras high court however, set aside his prison term but asked him to pay Rs.3.2 lakhs to the woman and 7 lakhs to a girl child the woman said was his in her testimony that also said Khan took her to a hotel in 1996, offered her juice laced with sedatives then raped her repeatedly and threatened her if she told anyone.

[ Back to Top ]

Income tax officials recently raided the residences of Sanjay Dutt, Sonu Sood and Sonu Nigaam, all located in Bandra, Mumbai, and conducted raids that reportedly lasted for over 22 hours.

Those in the know say for Dutt, his collection of custom made wristwatches that cost a few crores were perhaps the reason the IT officials got nosey, and specifically his wife Manyata's expensive watch that cost around Rs.60 lakhs and was the talk of her social circle.

It is thought the raid on Sood's home may have been caused by his recent property deal in a complex where the French Consulate rented an office.

For Sonu Nigaam, the IT raid did not stop him going about his business, because, he said, his hands are clean. He did suspect however that his frequent concerts were the reason for the raid.

Oddly enough, the stars jokingly say an IT raid is a sure sign one has arrived and is now a star!

[ Back to Top ]