L A T E S T      N E W S

Delhi gang-rape victim has significant brain injury: Hospital

SINGAPORE: The 23-year-old Delhi gang-rape victim has significant brain injury, infection in lungs and abdomen and she is currently struggling against all odds at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, where her condition continues to be extremely critical, the hospital said on Friday. 

“Our medical team’s investigations upon her arrival at the hospital on Thursday showed that in addition to her prior cardiac arrest, she also had infection of her lungs and abdomen, as well as significant brain injury,” said Dr Kelvin Loh, Chief Executive Officer, Mount Elizabeth Hospital. 

In a statement, Dr Loh said, “The patient is currently struggling against the odds, and fighting for her life.” 

Briefing reporters on the girl’s condition, Loh said, “As at 28 December, 11 am (8:30 IST) the patient continues to remain in an extremely critical condition.” 

She had undergone three surgeries at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, where she remained on ventilator support during most part of the treatment. Doctors removed major part of her intestines, which had become gangrenous. 

“A multi-disciplinary team of specialists has been working tirelessly to treat her since her arrival, and is doing everything possible to stabilise her condition over the next few days,” Dr Loh said. 

“The High Commission of India has been fully supportive in helping the hospital and her family, and ensuring that the best care is made available,” he added. — PTI

PM, Sonia assure speedy justice in gang-rape case

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday assured speedy trial of the culprits behind the gang rape of the 23-year-old woman, now battling for life in a Singapore hospital. 

“You have my assurance that our government is committed to bringing the guilty to justice as soon as possible,” Dr Singh told reporters in Delhi. The best possible medical care was being provided to the gang-rape victim, he added. 

Wishing the woman speedy recovery, Gandhi said no time should be lost in punishing those responsible for the crime. 

“Our wish is that she recovers and comes back to us... and no time is lost in bringing the perpetrators of the crime to justice,” Gandhi told reporters in her first public statement on the young physiotherapist, who was brutally raped by a gang of men in a moving bus in Delhi on December 16. 

The two leaders were addressing media at the Congress headquarters in Delhi after Gandhi hoisted the party flag on the occasion of its foundation day. 

Gandhi said the party was not celebrating New Year due to the sad event. 

“December 28 is close to New Year. Normally we wish each other but not this time as our thoughts are with the young woman fighting for her life after a barbarous attack on her,” she said. 

“We share the anguish of the country over this crime,” said the Prime Minister. — PTI

2 LeT militants killed in encounter

SRINAGAR: Two suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militants, allegedly involved in a grenade attack on a tourist cab in July, were killed and three security personnel, including two Army officers, injured in a fierce gun-battle in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Friday, police said.

Seven civilians were also injured as security forces opened fire to chase away stone-pelting protestors while evacuating the injured colleagues from the gun-battle site, police said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said the encounter between militants and security forces took place at Asthan Mohalla near village Bubgam in Pulwama town, 32 km from Srinagar.

The police along with the Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF launched a search operation after receiving information about the presence of militants in the area in the wee hours today, the officer said, adding, two hiding militants opened fire and were killed in the ensuing gun-battle lasting several hours.

He said an Army Major, a Captain and a policeman were injured in the encounter.

Kumar identified the slain militants as Imtiyaz Ahmed Teli, alias 'Fahadullah Kashmiri', and Mohammad Aamir Bhat, alias 'Khalid and Khursheed', and added that they were involved in the grenade attack on a tourist cab in Bijbehara on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in which four women tourists were killed in July this year.

"As per initial investigation, Teli was also involved in a grenade attack at Narwal area of Jammu in November in which one person had died and five others were injured," he said.

Kumar said when the Army Major was being evacuated for treatment, a mob attacked the ambulance in Pulwama town by hurling stones.

"In the retaliatory action seven persons were injured," he said, adding, while six of the injured have been admitted in SMHS hospital, another was undergoing treatment at Bone and Joints Hospital in Srinagar.

A policeman also received injuries after he was hit by a stone during the incident. — PTI

Don’t want Sachin to embarrass himself with failures: Boycott

NEW DELHI: Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott feels a poor series against Australia could force Sachin Tendulkar to retire from all forms of cricket as the world doesn’t want to see the Indian “embarrass” himself with repeated failures. 

“He desperately needs some runs against Australia in the Test matches in March, because I don’t think any of us want to see him embarrass himself with more failures after failure,” Boycott said. 

“If he doesn’t get runs against Australia, I’m reasonably confident that he’ll see the light and call his own retirement. But you cross your fingers and hope he can get some,” he told ‘espncricinfo.com’ 

One of the game’s all-time greats, Tendulkar had, on Sunday, announced his retirement from one-day cricket, bringing to an end a glorious 23-year-old career in the format in which he rewrote numerous batting records. 

Boycott called Tendulkar’s decision a reasonable and sensible one. 

“It’s very sad, it’s a fact of life, that more of us, as we get older, we have to accept we just can’t do what we used to do. There’s no fun in accepting that, there’s no fun in believing it. There’s no fun in having to say it gets easier, because it doesn’t get easier. It can’t. 

“So for him, it’s tough, is one-day (cricket). As wonderful as he’s been, we can’t live on the memories. He’s 39, and so I think giving up is very responsible and sensible. 

Asked if India needed Tendulkar more in the Test format, Boycott said, “I’m not sure it’s about what India needs most, I think it’s about what’s best for Sachin. At this stage of his career, he’s done well for himself and he’s done well for his country. 

“I think he has to do what’s best for him because if he plays better, whatever format of cricket, it’s going to help the team he plays for, which is India. That’s the most important thing.” 

“He (Tendulkar) hasn’t played in the T20s for India for a while. ODI cricket, today, in the modern game, has become so physically demanding on the player’s body, even 50 overs. As much as we all love Sachin, me included, he’s never been an outstanding athlete in the field. He’s never let anybody down, he’s been competent, but nobody could ever call him a top outfielder,” Boycott said. 

The Yorkshireman further said, “So, as he gets older, like all of us, me included, he just can’t run as fast as a youngster, he can’t dive around. 

“Not that he was a great diver but when you do dive around in the modern day — as you are expected to; it’s a modern phenomenon — he’s going to hurt himself a bit more. As you get older, you’re going to fall the wrong way, your body hurts more, it bruises easier — it’s nature taking over. 

“He can now focus on staying fit, playing as much zonal cricket as he can — and that’s important, trying to get some runs in that, which shouldn’t be too difficult. You know (in domestic cricket) they’re not as good as him. Even now, when he’s past his zenith, he’s still better than them. And he needs form. Form means runs, runs means confidence, and then he can play against Australia in March.” he added. 

Asked if Tendulkar played a role in transforming the 50-over format, Boycott’s opinion centered on the Indian’s longevity. 

“Longevity more than anything. There have been other outstanding one-day cricketers, like there have been outstanding Test players. But it’s the longevity, and playing in all countries and playing well. That’s it. 

“It’s easy to get sucked into believing, when he’s playing in the current day and doing well, that they’re the best player ever. Hang on. That’s being disrespectful to all the eras of cricket and all the players who’ve gone before. 

“Sachin will be up there with the greatest in Test cricket and one-day cricket, but let’s not forget there have been other players. So it’s his longevity and playing exceptionally well all over the world.” he said. 

Tendulkar amassed 18,426 runs in 463 one-dayers at an average of 44.83. The diminutive right-hander had an astonishing 49 ODI hundreds, including a double hundred — the first in this form of the game. — PTI