L A T E S T      N E W S

Shoot-at-sight orders in Assam distt 

Guwahati: Shoot-at-sight orders have been issued in Kokrajhar district of Assam following fresh incidents of arson and violence. On Monday, the Army conducted flag march and an indefinite curfew was also imposed even as the toll in the ethnic violence in interior areas of the district rose to 21.

Four more bodies were recovered from the district yesterday, said police officials.

The clashes between minority immigrants and Bodo tribals have also spread to the neighbouring Chirang district, where four persons have been killed so far. The remaining 17 deaths of the total 21 have been reported from Kokrajhar.

As per police, fresh arson was reported yesterday from Fakiragram, Serfanguri, Narabari, Gossaigaon, Dotoma, Mokrajan and Tulsibari areas where miscreants set ablaze abandoned houses.

Court to decide on Kalmadi's London visit

New Delhi: In response to a Public Interest Litigation, the Delhi HC on Tuesday will decide whether to allow Suresh Kalmadi to visit London for the Olympics beginning from Friday.

The plea made by advocate Rahul Mehra has sought the court`s direction to restrain Mr Kalmadi from going to London on the ground that he is facing trial in a corruption case and cannot be allowed to represent the country in an international event.

A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Mr AK Sikri and Mr Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw had earlier sought the reply of sacked Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chief to Mr Mehra`s pleas within three days.

The Bench asked Kalmadi, scheduled to leave for the Games on 26 July as the president of the Asian Athletes Association and also the Member Council of International Association of Athletes Federation, not to leave the country prior to his scheduled date of departure.

Monsoon 22% deficient, PM worried

New Delhi: With inadequate rainfall adding to farmers’ woes in most parts of the country and creating a drought-like situation, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has directed all departments and ministries to coordinate with states to meet any eventuality by monitoring the monsoon situation on a weekly basis.

As per the Meteorological Department, the monsoon has recorded a 22 percent deficiency this year. In simpler terms, the Meteorological Department says that the cumulative rainfall for the period from June 1 to July 15 is 22% less than the long period average (LPA).

As per the Met office, the rain deficiency in the Northwest region is -42%, in west & central region it is -23%. The rain deficiency in South is -22% and in the East and Northeast regions it is 7%. The overall national monsoon deficiency is 22% so far.

The Met office in a statement said that the rainfall deficiency which existed at the end of June has lessened somewhat, but the intensity and spread of rainfall over the next week or so needs to be watched carefully, especially in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. "The progress of the monsoon so far has not allayed earlier concerns," it said.