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June 11, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Peacocks Poisoned
Around 100 peacocks — the protected national bird — died en masse due to suspected pesticide poisoning in a tribal village in Jhabua district in western Madhya Pradesh recently. The birds met with a tragic end after feeding on a vegetable farm that had just been sprinkled with a heavy dose of pesticide. The police have arrested three farmers under the Wildlife Protection Act because they suspect it to be a case of deliberate poisoning.
Police Forces Clash
At least 25 police personnel were killed and several injured in a continuous exchange of fire for the past three days between Assam and Nagaland police at Merapani on the inter-state border. Assam Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia has rushed to Dimapur to meet his Nagaland counterpart in a bid to end the worst-ever border clash between the two states.
Progress On Punjab
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi said there were signs of the Akali Dal wanting a political solution to the Punjab tangle within the framework of the Indian Constitution. 'We have extended our hand in friendship and acceded to the Akali Dal's demands of removing the ban on the All India Sikh Students' Federation, releasing those detained and instituting an inquiry into the November Delhi riots,' he said.
Indira Murder Case
Chief public prosecutor K L Arora submitted before additional sessions judge Mahesh Chandra that there was sufficient material on court record to charge Satwant Singh, Balbir Singh and Kehar Singh with the murder of Indira Gandhi. In his 90-minute presentation of the prosecution case, Arora said there was direct evidence against Satwant Singh, who, along with Beant Singh (since deceased) had fired several shots at Indira Gandhi.
