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IM operative remanded in 8-day police custody
Rahul violating security norms, says UP police
CJI: Respect rape victims’ sentiments
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Play on the life of Manipur’s iron lady
Protest after girl’s body found at police building
2 tiger cubs found dead
India’s food security goals in danger
Women’s Quota Bill
Mumbai Diary
Panel: Pvt varsities concerned more about revenue
Hazardous waste seized at TN port
Anti-Naxal cells in Bihar dists soon
Missing Tigers
Major General promoted 15 yrs after retirement
Did nothing illegal, says Nityananda
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IM operative remanded in 8-day police custody
New Delhi, March 7 A team of the Delhi police special cell brought Salman Ahmad, 21, here from Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharth Nagar district on a transit remand. He was presented in the Tees Hazari district courts where duty magistrate Ajay Garg sent him to police custody till March 15. The police sought 10 days custody for interrogating Ahmed in order to unearth the network, however, only eight days were granted by the court. The police claimed it has recovered a Nepali passport obtained under a fake name and an international SIM card from Ahmed’s possession. After his name came up in the serial blast cases, he moved to Nepal, where he allegedly got the passport issued in June 2009, said police officials. With the help of the passport, which was issued in the name of Mohd Fahad Ansari, the IM operative travelled to Pakistan and other countries, the officials added. Ahmed is believed to have gone to Pakistan in December last year and returned to Nepal in January last. Ahmed was allegedly involved in the 2007 Gorakhpur serial blasts, Varanasi court blasts and Ahmedabad serial blasts in 2008, besides the Delhi terror strike. He is also alleged to have received training in handling weapons and explosives during his stay in Pakistan. He has taken admission in BCA course on the Lucknow campus of a private university in 2008 but completed only first year. During interrogation, the police claimed, Ahmed admitted he was an active member of IM and was in regular touch with other members of the organisation. He also admitted to his involvement in several blasts in UPn, Gujarat, Delhi and Rajasthan.
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Rahul violating security norms, says UP police
Lucknow, March 7 According to sources, the Pratapgarh police has sent a report to the state government regarding his March 5 visit to Pratapgarh to meet the stampede victims. “The local police was left searching for the Amethi MP while he went on an unscheduled visit to several villages without keeping us in the loop. He travelled in the district well after sunset without proper security cover. Attempts to contact him failed,” the report points out. Even the local Congress leaders admit that on that day, Rahul had left the security personnel and the media wondering where he was while he moved from village to village meeting families of the victims. In September 2009, the Congress youth icon gave anxious moments to the state police by arriving in Lucknow without prior information and then driving straight to a village in Shravasti district where he spent the night at the home of a Dalit. Two months later in December 2009, he once again created a security flutter when his aircraft landed in Sitapur district in the evening when visibility was reportedly very low. Taking strong exception to both these incidents, the Mayawati government had written to the Centre complaining about the Congress MP’s “errant behaviour” and refusing to take any responsibility in case of any untoward incident. According to state government sources, another letter will be sent to the Union Home Ministry informing them about Gandhi’s “irresponsible behaviour that causes serious security concerns” during his visit to the state.
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CJI: Respect rape victims’ sentiments
New Delhi, March 7 “Due regard must be given to their personal autonomy since in some cases the victim may choose to marry the perpetrator or choose to give birth to a child conceived through forced intercourse,” he said while addressing a seminar. Judges, lawyers and social activists should also avoid taking an “overtly paternalistic approach” while taking decisions for the welfare of rape victims, he told the seminar on “Access to justice, relief and rehabilitation of rape victims” organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily and Minister of State for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath were among others who attended the function. Pointing out that the victims’ interests would not be protected by merely punishing the offenders, he said there was need for having compensatory remedies and provision for rehabilitation of such victims in the form of shelter, counseling and legal and medical aid. Acknowledging Law Ministry’s efforts for setting up fast-track courts for disposing of rape cases, he said such victims were often subjected to further humiliation during the investigation and hearings as probing and indecent questions were put to them, particularly when the accused were in a position of power. “Some recent cases highlighted in the press have shown how the investigative machinery can often be manipulated to protect influential persons, whosoever reprehensible their crimes may be,” he said without naming the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case in which former Haryana police chief SPS Rathore was convicted. Investigators, prosecutors and defence lawyers must exhibit an appropriate degree of sensitivity to the victims, while the judges should be proactive in order to prevent the aggressive cross-examination of rape victims, he said.
‘Collegium notes can’t be divulged’
Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan today said he was against public disclosure of deliberations at the Supreme Court Collegium while considering elevation of High Court chief justices to the apex court. “The discussions in the collegium cannot be made public. The candidates are sitting CJs. It is not a departmental promotion, where we grade the abilities of the judge,” the CJI told a TV channel. In fact, the minutes of the meetings were not even recorded as sometimes comments were made against some judges and putting them in black and white could adversely affect the image and integrity of judges concerned. “The judge in question will continue as chief justice. We only consider if he is to be elevated or not. A comment made on weather the judge is desirable or not, cannot be published.”
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Play on the life of Manipur’s iron lady
Guwahati, March 7 “The play on Sharmila is one of the most audible chorus of her supporters, who have been all along staunchly advocating withdrawal of the AFPSA from the state in view of the ‘atrocities’ committed by security forces during the counterinsurgency operations,” said Singhajit Singh, elder brother of Sharmila and the managing trustee of Imphal-based Just Peace Foundation. ‘Meira Paibi’, directed by well-known director from Kerala Civic Chandran, will be staged on March 16 under the banner of a prominent theatre group at Trichur, the home constituency of Defence Minister AK Antony. “The play on Sharmila is actually an extension of ‘From Gandhi to Sharmila Campaign’ launched by Just Peace Foundation in January last. After Trichur, the play will move to big cities of the country,” Singhajit said. Sharmila began her fast on November 5, 2000. She was shocked over killing of ten civilians in Imphal West district. Sharmila is being kept alive through nasal feeding by security forces in a heavily guarded ward in Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Imphal.
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Protest after girl’s body found at police building
Mumbai, March 7 According to information, Anjali Rishikesh Jaiswal had been missing since Saturday evening when she went out to play. A search was launched for the girl, a student of fourth standard in a local school. Her body was subsequently spotted atop the terrace of the police quarters located bang opposite the Nehru Nagar police station, police said. The police had to resort to a mild lathicharge to disperse protesters after tempers ran high following reports that the girl was sexually assaulted before being murdered.
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2 tiger cubs found dead
Jaipur, March 7 According to Chief Wildlife Warden RN Mehrotra, carcasses of two male cubs were spotted near Taleda village located in the north of the national park along with two carcasses of goats. He said the cause of their death was yet to be ascertained, though prima facie it appeared to be a case of poisoning. On the possibility of poaching angle, he said it would be too early to jump to any conclusion, adding that the carcasses have been sent for post-mortem. Both cubs were aged between 15 and 18 months. According to a census conducted by the Forest Department in May last year, there were 40 tigers in and around Ranthambore National Park and Sawai Madhopur wildlife sanctuary.
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India’s food security goals in danger
New Delhi, March 7 If current trends continue, in 20 years about 60 per cent of all aquifers in the country will be in a critical condition, putting at risk over a quarter of the harvest, concludes the report “Deep Wells and Prudence: Towards Pragmatic Action for Addressing Groundwater Overexploitation in India”, initiated to identify practical strategies for managing groundwater use in India. The report rings alarm bells for policy makers, warning them against status quo. “If nothing changes, groundwater depletion could risk future agricultural sustainability, livelihoods and economic growth in India,” it says, considering groundwater acts as a buffer against the variability of monsoon rains. A rainfall deficit in 1963-66 decreased India’s food production by 20 per cent but a similar drought in 1987-88 had very small impact on food production due to widespread prevalence of groundwater, which is now declining. India is the largest groundwater user in the world, exploiting 230 cubic kilometres of groundwater every year - over a quarter of the global total. “By 2025, an estimated 60 per cent of India’s groundwater blocks will be in a critical condition. Climate change will further strain groundwater resources,” say experts. They add that even though there is a major dependence of many sectors on groundwater and it is being overexploited, there is little investment in its management. This inaction has arisen mainly because the solutions often proposed for groundwater management are very controversial, including “command-and-control” regulation of wells and curbing the supply of free or cheap power for groundwater irrigation. “The report provides a menu of practical interventions which can be implemented in the current environment,” Roberto Zagha, WB India Director told The Tribune. Analysing the factors behind overexploitation, the report says groundwater allows the users more control over quantity and timing of supply, and, therefore, its use is linked with higher productivity.
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Women’s Quota Bill
Lucknow, March 7 Talking to mediapersons at the party headquarters, he said the Bill would be acceptable to the party only if it had sub-quota for OBCs, Muslims and Dalits. “Many states in the country, including Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Orissa, do not have even a single Muslim MP, so how can it be expected that such states would elect a Muslim woman? This Bill is a ploy to demolish the leadership among Dalits, Muslims and OBCs,” he said. “Instead of reserving seats for women, it would be better if it was made mandatory for every party to give 20 per cent tickets to women. The parties not conforming to the rule should be de-recognised by the Election Commission,” he said. According to Yadav, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had supported this suggestion of his. “But he was helpless as his own party opposed the formula,” said the SP chief, one of the most consistent opponent of the Bill in its present form. Calling the Women’s Reservation Bill “dangerous” in its present form, he said it was actually a conspiracy of the pro-upper caste parties like the Congress and the BJP to prevent Backward Classes, Muslims and Dalits from entering Parliament and state assemblies. “Giving women greater representation in government jobs would be a far better way of empowering them,” he said. BSP, too, slams it
..Virtually joining hands with her bete noir - SP’s Mulayam Singh Yadav - BSP supremo Mayawati has also announced her opposition to the Women's Bill in its present form. In yet another letter written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today Mayawati has clarified her party's stand on the issue. Sharing this with the media BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Misra said the party was against any tampering with the existing SC/ST quota and favoured a share within the women quota for Dalits, religious minorities, backward castes and even for the poor families in the upper castes.
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Mumbai Diary Chief Minister Ashok Chavan whose stock skyrocketed after following up Rahul Gandhi's PR coup aboard a Mumbai local train with breaking theShiv Sena ban on Shah Rukh Khan's latest outing was rudely broughtdown to earth by the machinations of his own colleagues.The salvo against the Chief Minister came from a small-time developerin Pune who alleged that Chavan during his earlier tenure as RevenueMinister handed over 100 acres of prime land to a builder close to him. Apparently, Chavan had used the quasi-judicial powers vested in him as a minister to settle the dispute between two parties way backin 2001.As soon as wire services and television channels flashed the story, Chavan called a press conference to provide his side of the story. For good measure the CM's PR machinery moved quickly to pin the blame forthe muck raking on certain ambitious cabinet colleagues who stillentertain dreams of taking over the top job.With those close to Chavan hinting that he was under pressure to clearsome files, the message has gone out that two can play the leakinggame. Big B’s Big Mouth
Amitabh Bachchan can be very diplomatic before the microphone. Anactor with a great sense of timing he can keep the audience engagedright till the end. But Big B, the writer, is a different kettle offish altogether.Apart from enlightening his fans with the minutae of his life, Bachchan occasionally tends to put his foot nicely into mouth. Hislatest oral peregrination has led to a major dust up with a Mumbaitabloid. First came a blog post about the apparent insensitivity of aneditor at a Delhi-based magazine who desperately tried to get his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai to attend an event in the capital.Apparently, Rai was ill and doctors had to be called home, but theeditor did not even have the courtesy to inquire about her health, thesuperstar lamented.Soon afterwards, the Mumbai tabloid came out with a detailed reportciting unnamed sources that Aishwarya Rai suffered from stomachtuberculosis. The famille Bachchan is now crying hoarse that a daughter of thehousehold has been dishonoured. Magazines have been 'banned', theirsubscriptions stopped, award functions boycotted. In short, thetypical filmi nakhra is on display.Next Change: Kissing and Making Up. Who fears Thackeray?
No one it seems. Weeks after the police force literally broke the Shiv Sena's back on Mumbai's streets, its party workers have begun to feaston its ruins. The most brazen of such acts have been reported from thewestern suburb of Malad where a shakha pramukh named Ganpat Sawantallegedly 'sold' the Shiv Sena branch office to a builder. Addinginsult to injury the builder was not even a Maharashtrian. In a major departure from its rough and ready ways, the party hasactually requested Sawant to return the money to the builder since theoffice was the property of the party. Never mind that the office thatstood on a private plot did not even have the sanction of themunicipal corporation. When last heard of Sawant was very much the shakha pramukh of WardNumber 33 as the area is known. The party is still looking foralternate accommodation to house its office in the area. Tailpiece
The advent of summer brings with it the familiar aroma of urrakdistilled from the cashew fruit that travellers bring aboard busesplying to Mumbai from Goa. Unlike the more familiar feni which is adouble or triple distillate of the juice extracted from the cashewfruit, urrak which comes from the first pressing is milder and idealfor a summer evening drink. Aficionados swear by the miraculousproperties of a cocktail comprising a large peg of urrak, the juice ofa lime, a pinch of salt and topped with Limca.Not even the country liquor bars in Mumbai serve the concoction, sothe devout religiously truck in urrak in jerry cans on board buses.Too bad some cannot wait till they reach home before they open the cans! (Compiled by Shiv Kumar)
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Panel: Pvt varsities concerned more about revenue
New Delhi, March 7 The panel headed by PN Tandon in its report, a copy of which is available with PTI, has also suggested setting up a national committee for fixing rational fee structure for deemed universities which can be reviewed from time to time. Most of the deemed universities have fee structure considerably higher than that recommended by the official fee structure committees established according to the Supreme Court directives. Many of them created their own fee structure committees to justify the exorbitant fees, according to the report which have been submitted to the apex court. The Supreme court will hear the matter tomorrow. The committee has found 44 of the 130 deemed universities to be unfit for the status while another 44 have been found deficient in many areas. — PTI |
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Hazardous waste seized at TN port
Chennai, March 7 The hazardous waste in 20 containers was to be received in the name of a paper factory in Sivakasi in South Tamil Nadu. It contained municipal, medical and plastic waster, besides aluminum foil packing material, batteries, thermocol and bottles which cannot be used by a paper factory. Customs officials said the goods had been imported in violation of the Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling and Trans-boundary Movement) Rules, 2009, and added that appropriate action would be taken against the importer. They said the consignment was imported by Sripathi Paper and Boards, based in Sivakasi, with the declaration that it was waste paper to be reprocessed and used by it. The containers were opened after the officials noted that a foul smell was emanating from them. On examining the contents, they found that a large part of it was municipal, medical and plastic waste. The containers loaded with sanitary napkins, diapers, undergarments, surgical gloves, shoe soles, perfume bottles and broken toys as well. The officials said action had also been initiated under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and noted that such hazardous waste could lead to contamination of soil and spread of communicable diseases. A case was also registered against the Indian firm, which had certified the consignment as waste paper.
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Anti-Naxal cells in Bihar dists soon
Patna, March 7 Of the 38 districts in the state, at least 30 have been hit by Naxal menace and 17 of them have been identified as the worst-affected, hence being put under category ‘A’.Bihar DGP Neelmani conveyed the decision to set up anti-Naxal cells in all vulnerable districts to the field formations comprising the Zonal IG, Range DIG and SPs from across the state during an interactive session with them here on Saturday. As per the guideline, each of the anti-Naxal cells would have three platoons of specially trained police personnel from the Special Task Force (STF) .
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Missing Tigers
Bhopal, March 7 The Forest Department has sought the CBI probe after an experts committee formed by it to look into the disappearance of tigers submitted its report a week back. Last year, the lone tiger left in the Panna tiger reserve disappeared following which the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) rushed a team to Panna. The NTCA team observed there was no tiger left in the reserve, which four years back had more than 30 tigers. There had been protests in some parts of the state following disappearance of tigers from the reserve, spread over more than 543 sq km in Panna and Chhatarpur districts. The Congress attacked the state government over the disappearance of tigers from the reserve in the Assembly. The issue had also been raised in the Parliament last year. — PTI
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Major General promoted 15 yrs after retirement
New Delhi, March 7 After the Tribunal order, Maj Gen Devendra Nath Verma, a former Signals officer who retired on September 30, 1995, will “notionally” become a Lt General and would be given all pensionary and financial benefits attached with the promotion. "Since the petitioner has retired, he may be granted notional promotion to that of a Lt General with effect from October 1, 1995, and the financial consequences that would have accrued to him had he been in service, including that of pensionary benefits," a two-member Bench headed by Tribunal chairperson Justice AK Mathur said. Demanding quashing of his retirement, Verma had petitioned that service extension of three months given to another officer, Lt Gen PD Bhargava (retd), was stage-managed, which denied him the opportunity for promotion to the rank of Lt General. Verma also contended that the three-month extension given to Bhargava was not recommended by the Army but was granted suo motu by the Defence Ministry. Agreeing with Verma's contention, the Tribunal said the granting of extension to Bhargava was “totally unjustified and ultra-vires”. — PTI
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Did nothing illegal, says Nityananda Chennai, March 7 “There have been many allegations against me and my organisations in recent days...I want to assure you all, all of you, that nothing illegal has been done by me or by any of my organisations," he said in a video clip recorded at an undisclosed location, a week after his alleged sleazy acts were telecast on TV channel drawing widespread protests. “We are in the process of collecting evidence to establish the falsity and motive of this smear campaign that has been going against me. I will address all allegations and issue a detailed explanation. We will find out the truth and will come back to you very soon. Till then please be patient,” he said. His statement comes a day after his former disciple Nithya Dharmananda alias K Lenin said he had shot the video purportedly showing Nityananda in a compromising position with an actress that was later telecast on TV channels. Based on his complaint, the police registered cases against Nityananda. Police Commissioner T Rajendran had said all cases would be transferred to Bangalore since the incident had taken place at his ashram at Bidadi. —
PTI
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6 die, 150 fall ill due to ‘gastroenteritis’
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Ahmed, alias Chotu, who was arrested in Uttar Pradesh for his alleged involvement in several bomb blasts, to eight-day police custody after he was brought to Delhi to investigate bomb blasts across the country.
