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Kuka movement not part of freedom struggle: Centre
Rape: Low convictions, a major worry
India gets its first fish spa
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BJP leader L.K. Advani along with actor Mammootty at the release of the former’s autobiography ‘My Country, My Life’ at Kochi on Sunday. — PTI
photo
‘PM should speak on Baalu issue’
Railways gets patent for anti-collision device
Culling on in Tripura areas
10 pc die of heart ailments in Delhi
Employee has no automatic right for availing VRS: SC
Pak grants consular access to jailed Indian fishermen
10-pack launch for Indian rocket today
Water crisis in Khajuraho
Anti-Personnel Landmines
‘Bigger vehicle more liable to compensate victims’
Sharief to stay in Cong
Tigress kills man;
tribals shoot boar
Agonising end for jumbo trapped in pit for 5 days
16 kids die of gastroenteritis in Assam
Offbeat Marathi films re-write success stories
Review panel to suggest changes in functioning of IIMs
SC upholds law on confiscation of drug traffickers’ properties
Raging heat on, toll touches 24
Centre committed to helping Nepal, says Jairam
Panel for selectivity in providing Parliament’s documents to courts
Over 200 held near TN CM’s house
Brajesh Mishra backs N-deal
Jhumpa, Rushdie book lovers’ hot favourites
Mayawati wasting public money: SP
Leprosy societies’ protest enters its 12th day
6 of family die in accident
10 killed in mishap
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Kuka movement not part of freedom struggle: Centre
New Delhi, April 27 The latest stance of the government taken in the Rajya Sabha has led to a protest by Haryana MP Tarlochan Singh. He has written a letter to union minister of state for home Shakeel Ahmed, saying that the government should decide the matter soon as a contradiction has arisen on the affidavit filed in court and the reply made to Parliament. He has reminded Ahmed that Jawaharlal Nehru has praised the Kuka movement. The Kuka movement, founded by Namdhari leader Baba Ram Singh in the 1860s, was suppressed with the killing of around 70 rebels with a canon at Malerkotla. It was seen as a major signal of a rebellion against the British. In 2005, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) had asked the home ministry about the status of the movement, to which the latter had then referred to the affidavit. The Namdharis are a powerful sect in Punjab. The Punjab government has also plans to include the history of the Kuka movement and other such movements of the freedom struggle in the syllabus of schools and colleges. Rather, the previous Amarinder Singh government had announced that the Kuka movement would be brought on the list of freedom movements.
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Rape: Low convictions, a major worry
New Delhi, April 27 "Apart from other factors, the low conviction rate in the cases of rape or molestation is the biggest worry we have today.There is hardly any deterrence. Law should provide fast track courts to deal with such cases," says Girija Vyas, chairperson, National Commission for Women (NCW). While there were 37,000 cases of molestation and eve-teasing in 2006-07, the conviction rate for such crimes, is below 30 per cent. For rape, it is just a dismal 27 per cent.Brinda Karat, All-India Democratic Women's Association
(AIDWA), member says, "I have raised the issue in Parliament several times that there is a need to step up conviction rate in rape cases drastically. Poor legal system, wrong understanding of policemen in these cases and lengthy procedures, especially in child rape where after horrifying rounds of investigation the victim starts feeling that she is an accused and should not have registered the case, are few reasons for low conviction rate." "In every 10 hours, a girl between the age of 1-10 is being raped in India. We are raising this issue and have demanded enforcement of stringent laws by government," she adds. Reacting to a recent incident in which a minor was raped by a constable and his accomplice in a moving car in the national capital, Vyas says, "This is a special case and it should be dealt with a fast track court. On many occasions, complaints do not get registered on time and then it is very difficult to prove that rape actually happened. It should be registered within 24 hours of the incident." The NCW has also recommended enhanced of punishment for rape and other forms of sexual assault, Girija Vyas
says.However, retired judge Rajinder Sachar does not think that low conviction rate is one of the reasons for increase in rape cases and claims there is law in place to tackle each and every crime. "Why blame conviction rate. Blame it on dirty mentality, moral decline in the society and bad investigation on the part of the police. We give bail after properly hearing both the parties," says the former chief justice of the Delhi High Court. Psychiatrist Samir Parikh says that the government should enforce some laws to protect the rights of rape victims and provide easier access for them to approach law- enforcing agencies. "The rising number of cases suggest that the fear of 'consequence of action' in metros is on decline and the perception of 'get away with anything' is growing. Why is it that in Delhi young girls in buses don't find any support when they are harassed?" he asks. "In cases of child molestation or rape, the victim suffering from mental agony find it very difficult to follow the police norms. The effect of the heinous crime is long lasting. They think they may become an object of ridicule amongst school friends, relatives and hence do not file a case," he says. Adds Vyas "There should be some provision for rape victims so that they can come in the mainstream again. In most of the cases, the victim fearing backlash from the society does not register a case."
— PTI
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India gets its first fish spa
Chennai, April 27 A midst nibbles and nips nirvana in a pond of water - that is what a fish spa is all about. Getting a pedicure is no longer merely slathering on scrubs and creams at your friendly neighbourhood beauty parlour, it is just gotten a little more exotic. The fish spa is an exotic pedicure, which involves the use of a special breed of fish, and is extremely popular across the globe, especially in Oriental countries like Japan, Bangkok and China. This has been introduced in India for the first time by the Naturals chain of beauty salons. A fish spa is a distinctly different experience from a normal pedicure. It begins with a gentle music, which is being played to set the mood for relaxation and as you sit back on a comfortable lounger, your feet are gently immersed in a tub of water. As you watch, hundreds of tiny “doctor fish” or ‘Garra Rufa’ flock to your feet and eat away the dead skin. This natural exfoliating treatment leaves you feeling relaxed and your feet soft and velvet-smooth to touch. This initial feet cleaning is followed by a regular pedicure routine. One of the executives of the salon said, “We have always been interested in bringing in new concepts and this is a result of extensive research done on pampering treatments that are available abroad. In countries like Singapore and Japan, fish spas consist of large community pools with hundreds of fish. However, to suit the Indian sensibilities of privacy, we have created small individual pools. “The concept of having a fish pedicure is that besides the novelty factor, it is enjoyable to watch them converging around your feet and nibbling away. It elevates a routine pedicure to something more exotic,” he added. Meena, a young executive wanted to experiment and found it a thrilling experience. “Initially, it was a little ticklish, but you get used to the sensation. I found it very relaxing and rejuvenating,” she said.
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‘21st century belongs to India’
Kochi, April 27 Stating that the country had immense natural resources, Advani said by utilising modern technology, a clean, healthy, strong, prosperous and enlightened India could be created. “I have no doubt that this is possible. The potential is immense,” he added. Advani said he was very happy that both the RSS and the BJP had been instrumental in “building the kind of India we had dreamt about”. Talking of the younger generation, he said it had far better intelligence quotient than the earlier generations and had much higher exposure. However, it lacked “emotional quotient”, which came only with maturity, he added. Referring to his autobiography, Advani said it was less about his life and more about the development of the country. “This book is not only about the past but also the present and the future,” he added. Alluding to remarks from certain quarters that the book had been timed perfectly ahead of the next general elections and his nomination as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Advani said these charges were not correct. Stating that he was reluctant to write the book, the BJP leader said it would not have seen the light of the day but for his wife and daughter. Filmstar Mammooty, Kerala Congress (Mani) leader K.M. Mani, Bharatiya Vichar Kendra director P. Parameswaran, BJP all-India secretary Balbir Punj and several other eminent people were among those present at the function, organised by the BJP.
— UNI
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‘PM should speak on Baalu issue’
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha L.K. Advani today demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh make
a statement in Parliament on the scandal involving a DMK minister as the Prime Minister’s Office was also “involved” in it.
“The Minister has admitted to have approached the PMO and sought favours for his sons. The PMO has written as many as eight letters to the petroleum ministry, recommending the minister’s case,” he told reporters here. “As the PMO is also involved in this murky episode, the Prime Minister should make a statement in both the Houses of Parliament,” Advani said. “We have to get an authoritative version of the scandal. The people want to know what the Prime Minister has to say about the whole episode, in which his office is also involved,” he said.
— UNI
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Railways gets patent for anti-collision device
New Delhi, April 27 The grant of patent by three major countries will give recognition to the wonder technology in these countries and open up possibilities of export of the technology in future. Konkan Railway had applied for worldwide patents for this technology in the past and had been granted patent for ACD in India and South Africa. The ACD, indigenously designed by Konkan Railway, is an intelligent, ‘self-acting’ microprocessor-based equipment that successfully prevents collision of trains in mid-sections, station area and at level crossings. The device is installed in locomotives of trains, guard vans, stations and at level crossing gates. Since the device needs no manual input, it enhances safety in train operations. Konkan Railway has successfully implemented the ACD network on North East Frontier Railway and the ACD networked route was declared as commissioned last year. It covers 1,924 Broad Gauge (BG) route km, 202 stations and 589 diesel locomotives. The successful commissioning of the ACD networked route on NF Railway has paved the way for implementation of ACDs on BG routes of other zonal railways. Konkan Railway has submitted proposal for providing the ACD on South Central Railway, South Western Railway, and Southern Railway, covering a total of 200 stations and more than 1,600 route km on Vasco-Madgaon-Londa-Hubli-
Guntakkal-Renigunta, Ernakulam-Shoranur-Palghat- Erode-Chennai and Bangalore-Jolarpettai sections with 3,200 ACD units.
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Culling on in Tripura areas
Agartala, April 27 As the H5N1 virus was confirmed in blood samples of dead birds from Nadilag village by the High Security Animal Diseases Laboratory in Bhopal, the authorities started the operation, setting a target of culling 20,000 chicken in eight gram panchayat areas surrounding Nadilag in four days. In the Mohanpur area of Sadar sub-division in the same district, culling continued for the fourth day today. Another day is left to complete the target of culling 60,000 birds there, official sources said. Meanwhile, samples were collected from seven other areas of Ranirbazar in Sadar subdivision and sent to the Bhopal laboratory yesterday following the death of about 1,000 birds at a farm there during the past one week, the sources said. On April 6, samples from the Malaya grampanchayat area in Dhalai district tested positive and 42,000 birds were culled. Import of poultry from outside the state, including Bangladesh with which the state shares an over 850-km-long border, has been banned. Of the 64 districts in Bangladesh, 47 are reported to be affected by the disease. “All the bird-flu hit areas are near the border and as the neighbouring country is badly hit by the avian influenza there is every reason to believe that the infection came from Bangladesh,” the Animal Resource Department said.
— PTI
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10 pc die of heart ailments in Delhi
New Delhi, April 27 Diabetes Mellitus, often dubbed as another lifestyle disease, claimed 5,296 lives. It is also associated with serious life-threatening complications like cardiovascular diseases, end stage renal diseases, visual impairment, limb amputation, strokes and high mortality, say experts. As many as 3,510 people died due to tuberculosis. About two per cent of the deaths were due to tuberculosis in 2006 as compared to 2.3 per cent in 2005. This despite various programmes launched by the government to eliminate the dreaded disease. In 2006, there were 13,719 cases of newly infected TB patients. Their number was 12,703 in 2005. According to the Health Department’s data, since 1993, DOTS has been pilot tested and the results were amazing with death rate coming down to five per cent and treatment success rate jumping to 90 per cent. 2,060 people died due to cancer while 1,534 succumbed to injuries in hospitals following road accidents. Around total 2,000 people became victims of anaemia, accidental burns, meningitis, measles and cholera during 2006, according to the survey. — PTI
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Employee has no automatic right for availing VRS: SC
New
Delhi, April 27 Setting aside a high court order, the apex court said when a scheme for voluntary retirement was floated it constituted only an offer to the employee but did not imply any obligation on the part of the employer. "By reason of a mere offer to retire voluntarily, in terms whereof an employee was to get some more monetary benefits by itself did not confer any legal right on him," a Bench of Justice S. B Sinha and Justice V. S Sirpurkar said while upholding an appeal filed by the National Textile Corporation (NTC). The court also said that a VRS claim could be made only when an employee was in service and not after his superannuation. The NTC had filed an appeal after the Madhya Pradesh High Court upheld the claim of its employee, M R Jadhav, who retired as assistant spinning master. Jadhav in response to a VRS scheme introduced by the NTC had applied for it on May 16, 2000.Though administrative clearance was accorded to his plea, the corporation by a letter dated September 26, 2000, expressed it inability to accept his request by citing a financial crunch. Jadhav had attained superannuation by May 31 2001 but he pursued his case for VRS and the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the NTC to concede his demand, following which his employer appealed in the apex
court. — PTI
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Pak grants consular access to jailed Indian fishermen
New Delhi, April 27 The decision to grant the consular access was conveyed to India on Saturday, official sources told PTI. The process to undertake the consular access is expected to begin on Monday and is likely to take about a week, they said. The consular access, by which the nationality and other antecedents of a prisoner are ascertained, is a crucial step before repatriation. India has been pressing Pakistan for the consular access so that repatriation of the fishermen could be expedited. The gesture is significant as it comes ahead of the external affairs minister, Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Pakistan for talks with his counterpart next month. India has already granted consular access to all the 14 Pakistani fishermen lodged in jails here, the sources said. Early repatriation of fishermen has been one of the key issues of discussions between the two countries. The two sides set up in February last year a joint committee of judges to ensure expeditious release and humane treatment of prisoners in either country. The Pakistan-India Joint Judicial Committee on Prisoners in February this year recommended that the two countries exchange the list of each other's nationals lodged in their jails. The panel had suggested several other steps, including immediate release of prisoners who had completed their sentences and whose nationality had been verified.
— PTI
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10-pack launch for Indian rocket today
Chennai, April 27 The 10-pack launch of the Indian Space Research Organistion (ISRO) will see the 230-tonne Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C9) carry the heaviest luggage, 824 kg, and put into orbit an Indian Mini Satellite and eight foreign nano satellites besides the Cartosat-2A remote-sensing satellite. The countdown for the launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, about 100 km from here, scheduled at 9.23 am is progressing satisfactorily, space officials said today. The Rs 700-million PSLV-C9 will be second to a Russian rocket that delivered 16 satellites in the outer space in April last year. But, the Russian launch vehicle carried a lesser payload of only around 300 kg. This will be the 13th flight of PSLV and the third flight with “core-alone” configuration, which means the main/core PSLV rocket will be without the hugging six strap-on booster motors that powers the first stage. CARTOSAT-2A, weighing about 690 kg, carries a state-of-the-art Panchromatic camera (PAN) that can record high clarity images covering a swathe of 9.6 km. It will provide data that could be used for urban and rural infrastructure management and land information systems. The highly agile remote-sensing satellite can be manoeuvred to facilitate imaging of any area more frequently. The 83-kg Indian Mini Satellite (IMS-1), developed by ISRO, incorporated many new technologies and has miniaturised subsystems. Data from it will be shared with other developing countries. All 10 satellites will be fired 635 km into the respective polar sun synchronous orbit (SSO) within 16 minutes after the blast-off, the officials said.
— PTI
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ISRO chief seeks divine blessings
Tirumala: Chairman of ISRO G. Madhavan Nair today offered prayers at the Lord Venkateswara temple to seek divine blessings for the successful launch of PSLV-C9. The chairman was received by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams officials inside the temple during the early morning “Suprabhatam” rituals.
— UNI
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Hotels feel the heat
Khajuraho, April 27 Almost all the water bodies in the temple town, which attracts a large number of foreign tourists, have dried up forcing the hotel owners to fetch water from nearby tubewells at exorbitant prices, he said. A number of farmers who have tubewells in their fields are cashing in on the water crisis by selling water which is fetching them upto Rs 5,000-10,000 per day. Hotels with swimming pools need at least 30 tankers to fill the pool and nearly 10-12 tankers for other purposes every day. The water crisis in the town could be solved after the construction of Kutne dam, nearly 14 km away from the town, former chief executive officer of Khajuraho Arun Pateria said. — PTI
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Anti-Personnel Landmines
New Delhi, April 27 At the end of a two-day conference ‘Towards a mine free world and Ottawa treaty’ here on Thursday, the ICBL stated it would try to create a political will on the crucial issue. Addressing delegates at the conference, the ICBL’s national coordintar, Balkrishan Kurvey said they plan to engage with the Parliament Standing Committee of the defence ministry to persuade the government to march towards a mine-free world and Ottawa treaty. Kurvey appreciated the government for looking at the humanitarian aspect of the Ottawa treaty, and suggested that the issue of landmines be tackled through dialogue. Earlier in the day, participants at the conference dwelt upon the impact of landmine on agriculture and environment and called for an end to their use. Environmental biologist Dr L.K. Dadhich said toxic elements in landmine contain poisonous lead and mercury, lead to soil erosion and has ill effects on the environment. Wildlife Board member from Maharashtra and honorary wildlife warden, Aurangabad, Dilip Yardi, said landmines had a hazardous effect of on wild animals. Brigadier S.H. Mahajan, director (Military Affairs) in the external affairs ministry said only armed forces in India were allowed to use landmines and mined areas were properly fenced to prevent casualties. He said India fully supported the vision of a world free from the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war; where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development and also mine survivors were fully integrated. He said India was working in coordination with the UN policy on landmines. On rehabilitation of civilian casualties, he said India had taken adequate measures. Acting high commissioner from the Canadian high commission, Ken Macartney said India's participation was crucial in the international dialogue on mine action and the Ottawa convention. He expressed hope that the Ottawa convention and mine action could become a possible means of building confidence between India and its neighbours. He said India and other countries which had not signed the convention, should be persuaded to do so. Sudhir Bhatnagar, chief executive officer of Society for All Round Development (SARD) said inclusive rehabilitation of mine victims was very important as it involved social integration. He said the government and other stakeholders needed to join hands for the rehabilitation of landmine victims and their families. He alleged that other than the forces, non-state actors had also got access of usage to this deadly weapon, which had become a disturbing trend. He, however, maintained that SARD, had been working towards mobilising the youth in nurturing their energies towards positive facets of rehabilitation of victims and their meaningful engagement so that they can lead a contented life. Vincent Nicod, Head of the regional delegation of the International Red Cross Society, Vincent Nicod said India could be a role model in the sub continent as the issue had to be addressed on priority.
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Gujarat DIG caught cheating in exam
Ahmedabad, April 27 Rai, known as one of the most upright Indian Police Service officers, was the CID’s probe in charge in Kausar Bi’s disappearance. Rai had suspected that Kausar Bi’s remains were buried in a farmhouse owned by top cop D.G. Vanzara in Ilol village of Sabarkantha district after she was murdered in his bungalow there. The official is said to have scribbled vital points of the exam on his foot rule. Nine others - including an Indian Forest Service officer appearing for his final year LLB exam — were also caught cheating. The answer-sheets were taken away and after half an hour, the “cheaters” were allowed to resume their exams. Rai’s case has been taken up by a university panel. He could be failed if found guilty, though he can appear again next year. When asked why those caught cheating were let off, M.S. Gharekhan, principal in-charge of Siddharth Law College, said, “All the examinees were penalised for 30 minutes. A total of 10 examinees were caught resorting to illegal practices inside the exam hall. This penalty would be enough to teach them a lesson”. Kausar Bi was the wife of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, who was shot dead in a fake encounter on November 26, 2005, near Ahmedabad, by D.G. Vanzara, a Gujarat police official. Kausar Bi had been pulled off a bus near Hyderabad with her husband on November 23, 2005, and allegedly killed by the Gujarat police.
— IANS
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‘Bigger vehicle more liable to compensate victims’
New Delhi, April 27 In case of a car-motorcycle collision both of which had faulted, "blameworthiness" should be made out as per the horse power of the vehicle, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) Judge A S Jayachandra held. "The vehicle of higher horse power should not escape the major part of blameworthiness," the judge said while directing Reliance General Insurance to pay Rs 6.57 lakh to the family of the young boy who was injured and died in an accident which involved an insured car last year. The court said the liability of the deceased Harish, who was riding a two-wheeler, would be 10 per cent, while that of Tavera car owner Bissarat Hussain would be 90 per cent. "In the circumstances where the accident occurred due to the collision of a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction, the contributory negligence on the part of the motorcyclist is easily made out," the court said, rejecting a plea for full negligence on the part of Harish. It directed the insurance company to pay Rs 6.57 lakh to the family members of Harish and friend Monu who had sustained injuries as pillion rider on the bike. The court had computed the compensation as Rs 7.30 lakh but deducted 10 per cent due to "blameworthiness" on the part of deceased Harish and injured Monu.
— PTI
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Sharief to stay in Cong
New Delhi, April 27 Sharief had apparently quit after his grandson Abdul Rehman was denied a ticket in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka. He was invited to talk with Sonia Gandhi as it was leading to a negative image of the party. Following his meeting, Sharief told reporters that he was satisfied with the outcome and asserted the matter has been sorted out. He, however, refused to divulge details of the package offered to him by the Congress chief. Sharief had aired various grievances before the Congress high command — the main being the denial of a ticket to his grandson. Sharief had said he was not being utilised properly by the party. He also said proper representation was not being given to minorities in the Congress while distributing tickets. The ticket to Rehman was denied after a screening committee of the Congress had submitted a report that was accepted by Sonia Gandhi. This had denied tickets to relatives of some senior Congress leaders from Karnataka, including AICC general secretary Margaret Alva and Sharief. Sharief was livid and had then questioned the decision to leave out relatives of leaders. He was learnt to have been weighing his options and was in touch with both the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the BSP. The six-time MP and senior leader of the minority community had sent shock waves in the Congress as his resignation would dent the party’s minority support base in next month’s crucial Karnataka Assembly elections. He had sent signals that the BSP would make an impact in the forthcoming elections and reminded the Congress that the party had lost 30 seats in the last elections as the BSP had succeeded in eroding its Dalit vote base. When tickets were denied, senior party leader from Karnataka and AICC media cell chairperson Veerappa Moily had disagreed with the decision to deny tickets to relatives of leaders.
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Tigress kills man;
tribals shoot boar
Lucknow, April 27 Ramesh (30) had gone to the forest to collect firewood on Friday. When he did not return, members of his family tried to trace him. They spotted a mutilated body of Ramesh and the tigress sitting next to him in the forest yesterday, they said. Divisional forest officer R.C. Jha has issued a warning to the people not to venture into dense forest. BARIPADA:
An adult wild boar was found dead on the banks of Saan-Ghaghra Nullah, about 75 km from here, on the fringes of Simlipal Wildlife Sanctuary on Saturday. The animal had been shot dead by a small group of five tribal hunters yesterday, Forest Department sources said. Wild boar is a protected species and finds its place in the graded schedule of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Forest officials said a small tribal group, armed with four countrymade guns and six sets of bows and arrows, came from the neighbouring Katuria-Mahalisahi village under the Kaptipada range. They killed the boar and cut it into two pieces. A team of forest officials arrested one of the hunters and seized four countrymade guns and six sets of bows and arrows. The other hunters escaped under the cover of darkness. A forest official said the remaining four tribal hunters had been identified and would be nabbed soon. The arrested one was produced before a local court at Udala and was remanded in judicial custody.
— PTI, UNI
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Agonising end for jumbo trapped in pit for 5 days
New Delhi, April 27 “The elephant (a female) died around one am Saturday,” Assam’s chief wildlife warden M C Malakar told PTI on phone. Malakar said a herd of about 20 elephants was crossing the railway tracks near Doldoli forest beat office under Rongapahar range last Sunday night when the jumbo was hit by the train and fell into the pit. “The elephant had broken its spinal cord and there was no way she could be brought outside. A giant crane was also hired to rescue the elephant but it was in vain,” he said. “At last, we had to engage workers to take the mud out of the pit but on Saturday midnight the elephant died a natural death,” Malakar said, adding it was given food inside the pit. A post-mortem conducted by officials of the state zoo and College of Veterinary Sciences found multiple injuries on the elephant’s backbone, resulting in paralysis. Doctors had also injected sedatives to relieve the elephant of its pain. They were also mulling mercy killing. “It is very difficult to bring out such a huge animal from inside a 30 feet pit. So the doctors had thought of euthanasia as an option even consulted with experts,” Malakar said. — PTI
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16 kids die of gastroenteritis in Assam
Silchar, April 27 DC (Hailakandi) Tapan Chandra Goswami said soon after reports of the deaths came, medical teams were sent to the affected areas and health camps were organised. The situation was brought under control, he added. Hailakandi district’s joint director of health Samir Kumar Das today said 50 more children in this district have been suffering from fever and gastroenteritis and that medical teams had so far been taking care of the young children who had fallen ill in the district. The affected villages were Lalcherra, Dholcherra-Bilaipur, Kacharithal, Manipurithal and Kundanala in the district. All the children belonged to tribal families, Das said.
— UNI
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Offbeat Marathi films re-write success stories
Pune, April 27 The movie, a partial biopic of the 25-year-old director-script writer Mangesh Hadawale portraying a tender bond between a young village boy and an ox belonging to his family is being screened in Italy, Japan and Germany under cultural exchange programme besides drawing full houses in 21 cinema halls in Mumbai and Pune currently. ‘Tingya’ depicts the hard realities of rural life, showing a debt-ridden farmer who is compelled to sell the ox after it falls sick and is rendered useless. Tingya, the protagonist, is the young boy who had grown up with the ox and is unable to accept the worldly wisdom of his father that the animal had become a burden on the family and needed to be sold off. The movie, which has won the best film award at Mami International Film Festival, revolves around the emotional upheavals of the young boy.
— PTI
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Big B defends his TV ads
Mumbai, April 27 He said it’s nothing new for celebrities to be at the receiving end and he is not an exception to it. Big B was speaking at a press conference at a Bandra hotel for his forthcoming film ‘Bhootnath,’ which has tied up with leading online children games portal zapak.com. Salim Khan in an article published in a daily here had said that at times actors just concentrate on the pay packets and not the content they are delivering through their advertisements. Bachchan said he is not going to work with Ramgopal Verma again due to the bitter experience he had while working with him in ‘Aag’, a remake of Sholey. Zapak Kids is India’s first site targeting children below 14 years. This segment contributes almost 25 per cent of the Zapak online users. Zapak offers over 70 games with edutainment, said COO of Zapak Digital Entertainment Ltd, Rohit Sharma.
— PTI
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Benefits not reaching poor: Rahul
Dindori, (MP), April 27 ''The Centre's Congress-led government is a regime that works for the interest of the poor. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and others comprise a medium for tribal welfare,'' he said, while addressing a 'Baiga mahapanchayat' at Chanda village last evening. The objective of the event, organised by the voluntary organisation, Ekta Parishad, was to acquaint the Amethi MP with tribals' problems. Parishad convener Raman Singh Parmar informed Mr Gandhi at length about Baigas. Earlier, the Congress leader was given a warm traditional welcome after he arrived by a helicopter. Union minister V. Narayanasamy and Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee president Suresh Pachouri were among prominent persons present
there. — UNI
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Review panel to suggest changes in functioning of IIMs
New Delhi, April 27 "Fee revision is not the only issue that we are considering. The main issue is to study the functioning of the IIMs and recommend the changes required in view of the demands of the growing economy," committee chairman R C Bhargava told PTI here. He said the committee has been constituted by the government after a period of 15 years to look into the overall functioning of the IIMs. The last committee was set up in 1992. Prior to 1992, a similar committee was set up in 1977 with the agenda of studying whether the IIMs need to take up more activities or if any organisational changes were required. "Now things have changed a lot. The economy is growing at eight to nine per cent. There is heavy attrition rate in the market. Each company is trying to attract the better professionals by giving huge salary. So we will study how to deal with the situation," Bhargava said.
— PTI
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SC upholds law on confiscation of drug traffickers’ properties
New Delhi, April 27 Dismissing the appeal filed by the wife of an alleged notorious drug trader Iqbal Mohammed Memom, a bench of Justices S B Sinha and V S Sirpurkar said the law was rightly enacted by Parliament to tackle the menace of properties acquired by such persons and there was no unconstitutionality about it. "The nexus of huge amount of money generated by drug trafficking and the purpose for which they are spent is well known. Necessity was felt for introduction of strict measures so that money earned from drug trafficking by the person concerned may not continue to be invested by purchasing movable or immovable properties not only in his own name but also in the name of his near relatives," the apex court observed. The court said there was no merit in the appeal filed by Heena Kausar, wife of Memom. Kausar had appealed in the apex court after the Appellate Tribunal, Customs and the Bombay High Court dismissed her appeal challenging the confiscation of properties in her name. She had claimed that Section 68C of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, which facilitated the confiscation of the properties, was unconstitutional.
— PTI
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Raging heat on, toll touches 24
New Delhi, April 27 Six more persons died of heatstroke in West Bengal's Burdwan district, taking the statewide death toll to 11, officials said. Hot conditions in Gujarat claimed three lives in Narmada, Bhavnagar and Rajkot districts as temperatures in the state hovered between 41 and 45°C. Heat wave conditions prevailed in Jharkhand with Bokaro registering the season's highest at 46°C. The national capital had a maximum temperature of 40?°C, two notches above normal but lower than yesterday's season high of 41°C. With the low pressure area over Bay of Bengal concentrating into a depression, entire coastal Orissa had a considerable respite from the fortnight-long searing heat and is set to experience some rainfall soon, weathermen predicted. While there were reports of 50 deaths due to heat from different parts of Orissa during the fortnight, only six were confirmed officially.
— PTI
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Centre committed to helping Nepal, says Jairam
Patna, April 27 Addressing the valedictory session of a seminar on India-Nepal economic cooperation in the context of Nepal’s development priorities organised here by the public diplomacy division, ministry of external affairs, and the Bihar government, Ramesh insisted that there was a need to focus on new dimensions of bilateral relations between the two countries. He maintained economy was not just the GDP growth but far beyond such trivial issues. He said the noble ideas of globalisation and economic liberalisation would not serve the purpose till we opened our market for free trade to realising our long-cherished dream of SAFTA (South Asia Free Trade Agreement). He also requested the SAARC nations, including Nepal, to cut
tariffs on cross-border trade by regulating non-tariff barrier. — UNI
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Panel for selectivity in providing Parliament’s documents to courts
New Delhi, April 27 The Lok Sabha Privileges Committee headed by senior Congress member V Kishore Chandra Deo held that it was not desirable for Parliament to provide all documents in such cases. The reasoning being given is that several officials and others testify before parliamentary committees in strict confidence and this helps in understanding a particular situation. If such documents were made available to courts and investigating agencies or made public, they could be utilised against the persons concerned even by their superiors to harass them while in service. This could block the flow of correct information to arrive at a proper decision, sources said.
— PTI
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Over 200 held near TN CM’s house
Chennai, April 27 The police said the arrested, belonging to Tamizhaga Latchiya Kudumbam (TLK), were lodged in a marriage hall. During the demonstration, the association blamed the state government and said that people living Below Poverty Line (BPL) were the most affected and hence they were asking the government to close down the TASMAC shops. Earlier, the members of the TLK, led by its president Velayutham, gathered near the Marina beach and took out a procession and reached Gopalapuram. A police team, led by Mylapore Assistant Commissioner Issac Palraj, stopped the agitators from moving towards the Chief Minister’s house and arrested them.
— UNI
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Brajesh Mishra backs N-deal
New Delhi, April 27 Mishra, who served in the previous BJP-led government, said the deal should be concluded during the tenure of the Bush Administration as change of government in the US would make things difficult. Noting that he had talks with government representatives and scientists, Mishra said he was convinced that the deal would not affect India's strategic programme. "This deal does not stop us from continuing our strategic programme... There is no doubt about it that there is no bar on India undertaking nuclear tests," he told Karan Thapar's 'Devil's Advocate' programme. Mishra's comments fly in the face of the BJP's contention that the deal will impact upon India's strategic autonomy, the country's nuclear military programme and its independent foreign policy.
— PTI
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Jhumpa, Rushdie book lovers’ hot favourites
New Delhi, April 27 Indian origin writers like Lahiri and Rushdie rub shoulders with John Grisham and Jeffrey Archer on the shelves in bookstores and have been selling well, book sellers say. P.M. Nair’s ‘The Kalam Effect’ and L.K. Advani’s ‘My Country, My Life’ continue to do brisk sales in book stores although the buyers of these titles are mostly bureaucrats and diplomats, says Uday Gupta of a popular book store in the capital. “The trend is the same across the four metros,” says Sumit Choudhury of the Kolkata-based Oxford Book Stores that has branches in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. So, Hosseini’s ‘Kite Runner’ and his second novel ‘A Thousand Spendid Suns’ continue to be picked up by book lovers along with John Greisham’s ‘Appel’ and in the non-fiction section ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne. Also selling is the biography of Russi Mody- ‘The Man Who Also Made Steel’, by Partha Mukherjee, he says. V.S. Naipaul’s authorised biography ‘World Is What It Is’ by Patrick French is also selling well, says Uday Gupta of Book Mark, a popular bookstore in the capital’s posh South Extension. Jeffrey Archer’s ‘Prisoner of Birth’ is the latest favourite with fiction lovers, he says. Indian publishers do not have strategies to release titles to suit ‘peak’ or ‘off-peak’ seasons, says a publisher.
— PTI
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Mayawati wasting public money: SP
Jaunpur, April 27 Talking to mediapersons, senior SP leader and leader of opposition in Legislative Council Ahmad Hassan said, the price hike in essential commodities has posed hardships for people. However, the UP CM has been investing crores on Ambedkar park. He added Mayawati had been working under political vendetta and had framed about 11,000 SP leaders in fake cases. Making a scathing attack on the BSP government, Hassan said ‘unemployment allowance’ and ‘Kanya Vidya Dhan’ schemes were launched during the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav regime. However, the present government aborted all such promoting schemes. Besides, sacking over 18,000 police constables inducted during SP regime, he added. No new appointment was being made and only back-log cleared in the present regime, he added.
— UNI
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Leprosy societies’ protest enters its 12th day
New Delhi, April 27 Demanding that I-cards be issued to them as per the court’s order, the agitators are on a dharna at Jantar Mantar here since April 16. Seeking concession in electricity bills, given by the railways and transport department, the protestors sought proper maintenance of sanitation and civic facilities at their Tahirpur leprosy complex.
— UNI
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6 of family die in accident
Lucknow, April 27 The family of Sanjay Gupta was on its way to Badaun from Pilibhit when the accident occurred, officials said. The truck driver fled the scene, they said, adding a hunt was on to apprehend him.
— PTI
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Man dies while trying
to save wife Two held for murder
of French national Minister’s son dies in mishap Court acquits rape accused Bar owner, manager booked
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