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Five held for Swiss tourist’s gang-rape
Ex-minister’s son held in dowry case
Govt nod to NCC as elective subject in schools, colleges
30 autonomous UGC colleges to offer course from this year; remaining 420 from 2014
Now Jaipur hosts an art festival
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In Ahmedabad, photo IDs must for buying cycles
CRPF officers move court for pay panel benefits
Income Tax sleuths get a raw deal
Case against Airbus, seven erstwhile IA officials
‘Mastermind’ in kidnapping of Alstom’s India head arrested
SC to take up Italian marines’ case today
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Five held for Swiss tourist’s gang-rape
Datia (MP), March 17 "We have arrested five persons who raped the Swiss woman and recovered her mobile and laptop," Deputy Inspector General (DIG) DK Arya said. The five arrested were identified as Baba, Bhutha, Rampro, Gaza alias Brajesh and Vishnu Kanjar. "The sixth accused identified as Nitin Kanjar is absconding and we are hopeful of arresting him soon," he said. The 39-year-old Swiss woman, on a cycling trip along with her husband, was allegedly gang-raped at a forest area in Datia district, on the night of March 15. The police had detained over 20 people and on the basis of leads provided by them the arrests were made. The woman has left for New Delhi, the IG said. Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Uma Shankar Gupta said the incident was "unfortunate" but claimed foreign tourists were not following rules on informing local police about their movements. "What happened is unfortunate for our nation. When foreign tourists come, they should inform the SP (Superintendent of Police) about their plans.
This is the system but it is not being followed," he said, adding they will take steps to ensure such incidents do not recur. "They had their tent in the outer area of the city but the incident should not happen, so we will think what more can be done for foreign tourists," he said. The alleged offence took place at Jhadia village, 8 km from Datia town, around 9 pm on March 15, when the woman along with her partner was touring the region on a bicycle as part of their
India tour and were camping in a forest area for the night. — PTI
Couple's belongings found
z The mobile phone and the laptop belonging to the couple have been recovered from the
arrested accused z The police has identified the sixth accused, who is absconding z The arrests were made on the basis of leads provided by the 20 persons detained after the March 15 incident z The woman has left for New Delhi
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Ex-minister’s son held in dowry case
Bhubaneswar/Cuttack, March 17 Raja Shree (28) was arrested near Cuttack on the basis of evidence against him, additional director general (ADG), Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) of Odisha police Bijay Kumar Sharma said. Asked whether other family members, including Raghunath Mohanty who resigned from the Naveen Patnaik Ministry on March 15 following dowry torture charges, would be arrested, Sharma said an investigation was on and that
appropriate action would be taken as per requirement of the case. “Our focus was on the accused husband. We will proceed (in the case) according to proof,” he said. Asked from where Raja Shree was arrested, Sharma evaded a direct reply stating, “It would not be proper at this stage to disclose the exact place of his arrest”. Raja Shree was interrogated today and would be taken to Balasore to produce him before the court by the HRPC team, he said. “We have already interrogated him today. If required, he would be further interrogated,” the ADG said adding as of now there was no plan to bring him on remand. However, if required they might do so in future, he said. Raja Shree, who had married Barsha Swony Choudhury, alias Mohanty, barely eight months ago, has moved an anticipatory bail petition in the Orissa High Court in the wake of dowry torture case filed by his wife in Balasore on March 14. Meanwhile, Raghunath Mohanty remained incommunicado as the demand for his arrest grew louder. The senior Mohanty, who resigned on March 15, was neither seen at the Assembly since then nor at his residence. His mobile phone remained switched off. His daughter-in-law had slapped a dowry torture case against him and his family. The issue created pandemonium in the Assembly in the last two days. — PTI
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Govt nod to NCC as elective subject in schools, colleges
New Delhi, March 17 The Ministry of HRD, in consultation with the Ministry of Defence and the Directorate General of NCC, has decided to introduce NCC (Elective) for the first time in 30 autonomous colleges of the UGC from this academic session. All the remaining 420 autonomous colleges of the UGC will offer the subject from 2014. Students who opt for NCC in schools and colleges will get credit points that will count at the time of their subsequent admissions. The long-awaited move that has the stamp of the Ministry of Defence will enable students to join NCC without having to spare extra time to undergo training. Hitherto, NCC was an extracurricular activity that didn't figure in the curricula of institutions. Given the increasing pressure of performance in academics, few students have been opting for NCC which is otherwise a proven instrument to prepare students for a career in the armed forces and train them for civil and self-defence. HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju has asked the UGC, the CBSE and the AICTE to find a way to introduce NCC in schools and colleges as an elective subject alongside other existing elective subjects. Raju is himself a cadet. The northern colleges that feature among the 30 institutions chosen by the DG NCC for the introduction of NCC (Elective) as a subject on pilot basis are: MIER College of Education, Jammu; Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar; Pt LMS Government PG College Rishikesh, Uttrakhand; Government Colleges of Dharamsala and Bilaspur in Himachal; Uday Pratap College, Varanasi; and Daudayal Mahila College, Ferozabad, Uttar Pradesh. Once the pilot project stabilises in 2013, the remaining 420 autonomous colleges of the UGC will also start offering NCC (Elective). Autonomous colleges have been chosen for
the job because under UGC guidelines, they can introduce their own courses and syllabi.
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Now Jaipur hosts an art festival
Chandigarh, March 17 The effort is to make Jaipur a major cultural hub by hosting a series of festivals related to art and culture. About 150 accomplished and upcoming artists from across the world, especially from South Asia, will participate in the festival. What makes this art festival different from those held elsewhere is the fact that it will not only centre around the sales of art works, but also make an attempt to acquaint visitors with the processes and techniques involved in the creation of works of art. Rampratap Singh, secretary, Jaipur Art Festival, said, "The festival will showcase some of the exquisite art forms. Our effort is to bridge the gap between renowned artists and art lovers by organising live demonstration sessions of around 150 artists from all over the world." The art works produced during the five-day festival will be put on exhibition and sale from March 21 to 24. About 27 artists from Maharashtra, 12 from Delhi, 22 from Uttar Pradesh, 33 from Rajasthan, seven from Kerala, five from Gujarat, six from Madhya Pradesh and four from Andhra Pradesh will participate in the festival. Some artists from Manipur, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Bihar will also showcase their works there. Art lovers can expect to witness live demonstration of rare art forms like miniature art, phad, calligraphy, mandana, fresco, blue pottery, wash technique, Mithila painting, tie and dye, Warli art, batik, charcoal, glass painting, enamel art, sand sculpture and lac bangle making etc. For the benefit of young students of art, seminars on contemporary art practices will also be organised. Senior artists like Aparna Caur, S Pranam Singh, Anand Dev, RK Yadav, Prof Prakash Bhise, Ami Patel, Vipta Kapadia, Bhawani Shankar Sharma, RB Goutam, Nathu Lal Verma, Ramu Ramesh, Lokesh Sharma, Suneet Ghildial, Lal Chand Marothia, Mahaweer Swami, Kalyan Joshi, Ram Jaiswal, Dr Tilak Raj, Vijay Kumawat, Shail Choyal, Abbas Bakliwal, Shaheed Parvez, Anil Vangad -Warli tribal artist, Nagendra Palala, Hamlet Shougrakpam, Anoop Gopi and young artists from JJ School of Arts, Shantineketan, Baroda School of Art and Delhi School of Art are also participating in the fest. Some international names whose works can be seen at the festival are Christopher Griffin from Canada, Lisa Kovvuri from the US, Daria Raldugina from Russia, Nagendra Paudyal from Nepal, Mohamed Eunus from Bangladesh, Walmir Benhotti and Emanuel Vasco Da Graca from Brazil, Tala from Iran and Nutan Arthur from Hawaii etc.
Unique feature
z Around 150 artists will create art works in the presence of the audience z Live demonstration will be available in 18 art forms, including miniature art and phad paintings z An exhibition-cum-sale of art works produced
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In Ahmedabad, photo IDs must for buying cycles
Ahmedabad, March 17 Hyderabad, however, was not the first city to witness bicycle bombs. The bicycles were also used to carry and plant bombs in the Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts in July 2008 in which 53 persons were killed. In a bid to prevent the misuse of the bicycles for terror attacks, the Police Commissioner has issued instructions to all the shops selling bicycles and all the battery-driven two wheelers to sell the vehicles only to those buyers who possessed authentic photo-identity cards, address proof and other necessary documents.
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CRPF officers move court for pay panel benefits
Chandigarh, March 17 In a petition filed before the Delhi High Court, which came up for hearing this week, CRPF officers have pointed out the lack of promotional avenues for the force’s Group-A executive officers as well as “ad-hocism and unscientific management” of their cadre. CRPF sources said the NFU affects officers across the board and the petitioners in this case includes officers up to the rank of Inspector General of Police. “Similar petitions have also been filed by officers from other paramilitary forces and the issue of the NFU affects about 7,000 paramilitary officers,” an officer said. “While almost all central government employees have been extended the benefit of the NFU, only the uniformed services, including the armed forces, have been left out,” he added. The NFU was introduced to remove stagnation in cases where officers are unable to get promotion in due course. Under its provisions, whenever an IAS officer gets empanelled at a particular post in the Centre, all other Group-A service officers in Payband-3 and above shall also be moved up to the same pay level after a period of two years from the date of empanelment. The upgradation of other officers shall not have any functional effect, but only result in a higher pay without any enhanced status. According to the petition, CRPF officers have been denied the NFU by the government in 2012 on the grounds that the provision is applicable to those Group-A officers who are placed under the Central Staffing Scheme (CSS), whereas CRPF cadre officers are neither placed under the CSS, nor do they come under organised Group-A services. In 2010, however, the recruitment rules for the CRPF were notified by the Home Ministry and the same year, the Department of Personnel and Training confirmed that CRPF cadre of Group-A posts stands as one of the central Group-A service. Further, the petition contends that the pay panel’s recommendations were “twisted” to allow in more IPS officers on deputation at the top level in the force, thereby reducing the vacancies for CRPF cadre officers. A high-powered committee set up under the aegis of the Cabinet had also examined the issue of extending the NFU to the armed forces. The committee had submitted its observations and recommendations to the Prime Minister’s Office in August 2012 and action on the same is still pending.
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Income Tax sleuths get a raw deal
Chandigarh, March 17 The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) as well as the Delhi High Court had ruled in their favour in various orders from 2007 onwards. The Central Board of Direct Taxes had also issued a circular in 2010 stating that the investigation cadre would be merged with that of the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, but no action has been taken so far.
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Case against Airbus, seven erstwhile IA officials
New Delhi, March 17 CBI sources said the agency has booked French company Airbus Industries and seven officials which held senior positions in the Indian Airlines which was later merged with the Air India. The sources said the then officials, including Deputy Managing Director, Director (planning), Director (finance), Functional Director (engineering), General manager (engineering) and two Deputy General Managers, one of whom is now posted in the vigilance wing, are made accused in the case. They said the agency will soon start their questioning and recording of statements. Airbus has denied any wrongdoing and refuted allegations. The agency had concluded its preliminary enquiry in the matter last year and sought the permission of the Civil Aviation Ministry to prosecute officials in the case, CBI sources said. After getting the permission from the Ministry, the agency booked a case in this regard last week, they said. It had started probing the deal two years ago as it came to light that clauses which governed setting up of an MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) unit, training centre and a warehouse were allegedly diluted by some officials. The deal was finalised in September 2005 when an Empowered Group of Ministers had given its nod after Airbus agreed to set up the facilities along with the supply of 43 aircraft. — PTI
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‘Mastermind’ in kidnapping of Alstom’s India head arrested
Noida, March 17 "Trader Akhand Pratap Singh was arrested from Noida's Sector 58 today. The probe revealed that he was the mastermind of the kidnapping," Senior Superintendent of Police, Preetinder Singh, said. "Akhand Pratap, along with his driver Naresh, had planned the kidnapping and Naresh executed the plan and took Basu to Meerut bungalow," the officer said. Akhand Pratap's driver Naresh and two other Noida-based persons, Sanju and Narendra, were arrested yesterday after an encounter. The trader was absconding since yesterday morning when the Meerut Police had rescued Basu from the clutches of kidnappers from Civil Lines area of Meerut, he said. "Initially, we thought trader's servant may have done it alone as the trader was not living at the Meerut bunglow and keys were with the servant. He has showroom at Sector 18 and was living at Noida with his family," the SSP said. "But call details of the trader and his servant revealed that both were in touch and Naresh made several calls before and after the kidnapping. Basu too had told the police that kidnappers were constantly in touch with someone," said Preetinder Singh. Basu was kidnapped along with his driver, Ram Babu, from Noida's Sector 66 on Friday evening. — PTI
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SC to take up Italian marines’ case today New Delhi, March 17 Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, who described the Italian government's refusal to send back its marines as "unprecedented", still hoped that the Supreme Court's order would be complied with by Italy as the deadline for their return would end on March 22. "The communication by the Italian Government declining to send back the marines after giving undertaking to the highest court of the country through its Ambassador is unprecedented," Kumar said. "The Prime Minister has already made a statement on the issue (in Parliament). The Attorney General (G E Vahanvati) will convey the government's stand tomorrow, depending upon the response of the Italian government in the court. "It is sincerely hoped that the order of the Supreme Court will be complied with," he said. Some legal experts feel Mancini can be hauled up by the apex court for contempt and that he cannot seek diplomatic immunity. Harish Salve, who quit as Italian government's counsel, feels Mancini breached a solemn undertaking given to the Supreme Court which can take action against the envoy, including sending him to jail. Salve said he feels that the Ambassador will find it "very hard" to explain in the court why he went back on the undertaking. Responding to a query on enforcing action against a person enjoying diplomatic immunity, the senior lawyer said, "Our Constitution commands everybody will act in aid and according to directions of the Supreme Court." The apex court had on March 15 restrained the Italian Ambassador from leaving the country without its permission, taking exception to his government's refusal to send back the marines. — PTI
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Jantar Mantar
Of AgustaWestland, JPC and a win-win situation for govt
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The government has given a go-ahead to the introduction of National Cadet Corps (NCC) as an elective subject with credit points in schools and colleges.
Rekha’s vanishing act