Dead petitioner appears in court

Guna, MP, July 23 (UNI) A local court has ordered an inquiry into a petitioner being declared ''dead'' by a village sarpanch.

Nishan Singh, a resident of this district's Mangwar village, yesterday appeared before Chief Judicial Magistrate Anil Sohane and even submitted an affidavit stating that he was alive! The bench directed the police to inquire into a report that had declared Singh dead and submit details by August 22.

According to prosecution, a case was sub-judice against Santosh Singh, Jaswant Singh and Bali Singh following a complaint lodged by Nishan on May 29, 2004. In January, village Sarpanch Shivnandan Singh ''verified'' in court that Nishan was dead.

UNI XC-AC 1956