Another MMS scandal in Madhya Pradesh

Another MMS scandal has hit Madhya Pradesh. On this occasion, it is Mandla district where the despicable crime occurred.

A minor girl was gang raped and one of the youths made a video clip, which was circulated among friends and others. Of the six youths named in the case, one is said to be son of a police official while another is a deputy collector's son.

Three accused have been arrested while the rest are absconding. Local police have said that tough action will be taken on the culprits. Many similar cases have been reported from different cities in state in the last few months.

Woman lecturer drags MANIT chairman to NCW

A woman lecturer has complained to the National Commission for Women (NCW) against the chairman of Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT).

Dr Jyoti Mittal has also made a complaint with the President Pratibha Patil in this regard. Mittal has accused the chairman AN Singh of harassing her. She has alleged that in order to pressurize her family, the director suspended her husband Professor Dr Alok Mittal.

Earlier there was a complaint against Mittal that his appointment was made in violation of the norms. The complaint was made to the CBI. Now Jyoti Mittal has written to women's commission against the director of the Bhopal-based prime engineering college.

Communal riot in Ratlam: Curfew imposed in City

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Communal tension gripped Ratlam town in Madhya Pradesh after anti-social elements threw cowdung at a place of worship.

Angry mob resorted to violence and soon tension spread several parts of the City. Over two dozen houses were attacked and vehicles were torched. The police force has been deployed in sensitive areas of the town but arson and violence was reported.

Cowdung was thrown just when the place of worship was getting a whitewash. Despite policemen firing in the air, the situation could not be controlled. The Rapid Action Force was also sent to the troubled areas. Home Minister Umashankar Gupta is planning to visit the City. Police have recovered arms and ammunitions and taken nearly 100 persons in custody.

Later reports suggested that the policemen committed gross human rights violation and used excessive force against innocent people including women and children. Hundreds of citizens were detained and illegally kept in custody.

The role of police has come under severe criticism. So much that section of people termed it as not a Hindu-Muslim communal riot but policemen committing atrocities. In news reports, the Superintendent of Police (SP) Dr Mayank Jain, who was head of Ratlam police, said that police didn't use excessive force.

But the truth is that police highhandedness is stamped on the streets of Ratlam. It was Khaki terror that was witnessed in Ratlam. Mercifully, a vast majority of the Hindus and Muslims remained calm. Ratlam has a reputation of being an island of peace.

Due to this restraint, the situation didn't worsen, at least, in terms of casualties. One hopes that proper inquiries would be conducted and the role of the Ratlam police officials and policemen who beat up women and went on rampage in houses, would be probed.