The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Rupee slide: BJP trains guns on UPA Says the Prime Minister should step down Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 29 As the rupee slumped to a record low near 69 to the dollar on Wednesday, Opposition BJP gunned for the Congress-led UPA, demanding that the economist Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should step down for failing to stop the downward spiral of the Indian currency. Party leaders maintained that since the government had lost control over the economy, the PM and his team of ministers should own responsibility, resign and opt for fresh elections. Directly attacking the PM, BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said Singh first became the Finance Minister and then the PM because of his standing as an economist. “If he cannot control the slide of the rupee or improve the state of the economy, he has no right to continue in office and should step down,” he contended as his colleague Prakash Javadekar attributed the fall of the rupee to UPA’s “complete bankruptcy of ideas, indecision and non-governance”. With the Food Bill about to enter the Rajya Sabha, it is evident which way the Opposition’ barbs will now be pointed during the discussion on the UPA’s “game changer”, especially after the market’s thumbs-down to the UPA’s populistic measure. Though the BJP cannot afford to play spoilsport, considering its political compulsions, the party can certainly make life more difficult for the government now that the rupee is threatening to scale the psychological barrier of Rs 70. Though the government stands firm that there is no basis for fears that the Food Law will lead to huge rise in the fiscal deficit in the current year after the programme is implemented, BJP leaders are expected to highlight the adverse reaction of the market on Tuesday — a day after the Bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha on Monday. BJP leader Yashwant Sinha says the Centre has lost all control over the way the markets are behaving.
	Myanmar troops try to raise fencing along Manipur border Imphal/New Delhi, August 28 Myanmarese troops have attempted to construct a defence post and fencing along the border in Manipur where there is no demarcation of boundary between the two countries prompting India to take up the issue. Construction materials were dumped for erection of fencing and the camp by Myanmar close to the international boundary in Manipur's Chandel district near Moreh town recently, official sources said. Following a request of Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, the Centre took up the issue with Myanmar which halted all construction activities. Myanamar's move was objected by local village chiefs and district officials as they thought Manipur would lose its territory if the neighbouring country goes ahead with the construction, they said. Myanmar had some days ago also tried to construct a base camp next to Holenphai village near Moreh but they were persuaded not to do so until a joint survey by the officials of the two countries. A senior Home Ministry official told PTI in New Delhi that all activities had taken place inside Myanmar territory and there was no incursion of Indian land. "We took up the issue with Myanmar government and it has been resolved amicably," he said. Assam Rifles said in a communication to the Home Ministry that Myanmarese troops have not entered Indian territory. "We have stopped the felling of trees by the Myanmarese troops on BP (Border Pillar) 76 for the construction of a platoon headquarter because this BP is not yet demarcated... but otherwise Myanmarese troops have not entered Indian territory," it said after the Myanmarese activity came to light last week. Village chiefs and officials gave a detailed report to the Governor, the sources said. — PTI India takes up issue Following a request of Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, the Centre took up the issue with Myanmar which halted all construction activities Myanamar’s move was objected by local village chiefs and district officials as they thought Manipur would lose its territory if the neighbouring country goes ahead with the construction
	Govt neglecting cheapest, green mode of transport Vibha Sharma/TNS New Delhi, August 28 India does not seem to be harnessing its cheapest and environment-friendly mode of transport, an extensive network of inland waterways like rivers, canals, backwaters and creeks, in the best possible way. This was indicated by a Parliamentary panel report on potentials and challenges of development of national waterways. Chairman of the department-related Standing Committee Sitaram Yechury, who tabled the report in Parliament on Tuesday, is particularly critical of way the government has been neglecting the “best, cheapest and environment-friendly” method of passenger and cargo transport, effective use of which could help save the country a part of its huge fuel bill. “You (government) are worried about rising fuel costs and CAD. There is an environment-friendly, fuel-cost effective mode of transport available in the form of waterways, why are you not paying attention to them? There are five national waterways apart from one recently cleared by the Rajya Sabha. While three are yet to see the light of day, the other two have registered a tardy progress,” he said. The committee is also critical of the way commercially viable stretches of NW 4 and 5 had been proposed to be developed under the PPP mode. “Why only the commercially lucrative and viable stretches should go into private hands through PPP, the committee doubts whether non-profitable and riskier section would be left to the government (Inland Water Transport Authority of India),” it says The Upper House had recently passed the National Waterway (Lakhipur-Bhanga Stretch of the Barak River) Bill, 2013 to develop the country’s sixth NW India has an extensive network of inland waterways in the form of rivers, canals, backwaters and creeks but their potential is highly under-utilised compared to large countries and geographic areas like the US, China and the European Union. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is the statutory authority in charge of waterways. National waterways NW-1: The Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system between Haldia (Sagar) & Allahabad (1,620 km) NW-2: Sadiya-Dhubri stretch of Brahmaputra (891km) NW-3: Kottapuram-Kollam stretch of West Coast Canal, Champakara Canal and Udyogmandal Canal (205 km) NW-4: Kakinada-Pondicherry stretch of canals and Kaluvelly Tank, Bhadrachalam-Rajahmundry stretch of Godavari and Wazirabad-Vijayawada stretch of Krishna (1,027 km) NW-5: Talcher-Dhamra stretch of Brahmani, Geonkhali-Charbatia stretch of East Coast Canal, Charbatia-Dhamra stretch of Matai river and Mangalgadi-Paradip stretch of the Mahanadi River Delta (623 km) NW-6: Lakhipur-Bhanga Stretch of Barak (121 km)
	Lawyer injured in hit-and-run case dies Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 28 Lawyer Ali H Naqvi, son of senior journalist LH Naqvi, today succumbed to injuries suffered during a hit-and-run accident earlier this week, his family sources said. A close relative said Naqvi was hit by a speeding vehicle near South Extension and dropped at the AIIMS Trauma Centre by a passer-by. The 34-year-old Naqvi is survived by his father who was a senior editorial writer in The Tribune, mother Kahkashan and two siblings. The burial held at the Lodi Road graveyard this evening was attended by a large number of relatives and friends. The young lawyer was both into litigation and cyber laws, and started his legal practice with senior advocate Ashwani Kumar, who later became Union Minister. Besides, he was associated with an NGO and appeared as an expert on television shows.
	Asaram case: Gehlot promises strict action Asaram's son says girl ‘mentally unstable” New Delhi/Jodhpur, Aug 28 As the demand for Asaram Bapu’s arrest grew more strident, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today promised “strict action” based on the outcome of the probe into sexual assault allegations against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu. The 72-year-old Asaram’s son Narayan Sai, meanwhile, in comments that could stoke a controversy called the 16-year-old girl who levelled the allegations as “mentally unstable”. Gehlot, who met Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde in New Delhi to brief him on the probe in the Asaram case, also said police should not come under any pressure while conducting its probe. The Jodhpur police is probing the allegations of sexual assault levelled by a 16-year-old girl against Asaram. The Jodhpur police said it was yet to take any decision on Asaram’s plea yesterday for more time to appear before it in connection with the case. Asaram has been summoned to appear before the Jodhpur police on or before August 30. After his meeting with Shinde, Gehlot also said that seers and saints should stay away from controversies as they are revered and respected in society and are connected with religious beliefs. “Let me reiterate that police should not come under any pressure while conducting its investigation and it will not happen. Strict action will be taken based on the outcome of the probe,” he asked when Asaram would be arrested. Gehlot made it known that he has already said no one is above law and law should take its own course. “Saints should maintain sanctity in society so that there is no scope of raising finger of accusations against them. They are revered and respected and are connected with religious beliefs,” he said. Addressing his supporters in Rajkot, Sai said the girl seems to be mentally unstable. “She used to take around two to two-and-a-half hours to bathe.... She seemed to be mentally unstable. To solve this problem, the parents of the girl accompanied her from Chhindwara to Jodhpur to take her to Asaram Bapu,” he said. In Jodhpur, DCP Ajay Pal Lamba said a decision is yet to be taken regarding Asaram's request seeking more time for his appearance before the police.— PTI No decision on Asaram's plea Jodhpur police said it was yet to take any decision on Asaram's plea for more time to appear before it in connection with the case Asaram has been summoned to appear before the Jodhpur police on or before August 30
	CAG finds serious snags in Rlys signalling system Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 28 Serious shortcomings have been revealed in the signalling system of the Indian Railways (IR), with old equipment, standardisation, monitoring and maintenance being the weak spots. Signalling systems play a key role in enhancing safe and reliable train operations and ensuring optimum use of existing line capacity. Key performance indicators, known in railway parlance as signal incidence per thousand (SIPT), were found to be within tolerance limit in only six out of the 16 zonal railways that the IR is divided into, Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) latest report tabled a few days ago has revealed. Further, the basic units assigned to signal and telecom equipment for calculation of SIPT had not been revised for four decades. The data collected for different signalling equipment indicating mean time between failures (MTBF) and mean time to repair (MTTR) showed wide variations across Zonal Railways as well as the same brand/make. No standard norms for monitoring down time and response time were prescribed for assessing the performance of the equipment. CAG also observed that dissimilar signalling systems existed on 26 sections with more than 100 per cent line capacity utilisation, resulting in slower signal communications and movement of traffic. While the overall progress in upgrading systems vis-à-vis targets under the corporate safety plan was satisfactory, in some Zonal Railways more than one-third of the targets were yet to be achieved. In 32 ‘A’ route stations, CAG found that 64 signalling equipments out of 93 were dated and overdue for replacement. Majority of the equipment was over 10 years old. Replacement of old and ageing assets through upgraded modern signalling system is essential for achieving the goal of a collision free system. There was also substantial shortfall in adhering to the maintenance schedules in test checked stations. Out of 179 stations checked, shortfall in adherence was observed in 109 stations. The shortfall in conducting maintenance schedules was at all levels, including mechanical signal maintainer, senior section engineer and junior engineer. Key shortcomings Dissimilar signalling systems existed on 26 sections with over 100% line capacity utilisation This resulted in slower signal communications and movement of traffic 64 signalling equipments out of 93 were dated and overdue for replacement A majority of the equipment was over 10 years old
	Ship’s detention in Iran taking toll on crew’s kin Day 17: No breakthrough in talks between Indian, Iranian governments Vijay Mohan/TNS Chandigarh, August 28 “Today is the 17th day of the ship’s detention in Iran and we still have no clue as to when the crew will come home. It is traumatic for the families and our minds are not at peace.” This is what Neena Cheema, wife of Capt SS Cheema, master of MV Desh Shanti, that has been in the custody of Iranian authorities since August 12, has to say. As talks between the Indian and Iranian governments have so far failed to arrive at a solution, for the families of the crew, it continues to be a long emotional haul. The good news, however, is that the crew are all aboard their ship, hale and hearty, and not facing any trouble or harassment, according to conversations they have had with their family members via the ship’s satellite phone. The concern now would be diminishing provisions and other essential amenities and the way to replenish them in case the stalemate continues. “The morale of the crew on the ship is high, but 17 days is too long a time. It’s high time some result came out and they were back safe. Till then, it will be tough for the families,” Neena, a resident of Mohali, said. “The Indian ambassador and the naval attaché in Iran are in constant touch with the ship as is Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) that owns the vessel, but we are not in the know of the complete picture as to what is going on through the diplomatic channels. We learn about official developments only through media reports,” she added. The nine-year-old 140,000 tonne tanker, MV Desh Shanti, was carrying crude oil from Basrah in Iraq when it was detained by Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on August 12 in the Persian Gulf and taken to Bandar Abbas port on the pretext that the ship was causing environmental pollution. The ship has a crew of about 35, including officers and deck hands. Captain Cheema, who served for 21 years with the Indian Navy before joining the SCI 19 years ago, is perhaps the only crew member on board from this region. It was he himself who broke the news about the ship’s detention to his wife over the phone. “I went totally blank on hearing this and it took some time to register what had happened. It was a very scary moment, and we spoke again after some time and he explained the entire the situation,” said Neena. “The crew members are able to talk regularly with their families as there is no such embargo on them. This is how we know they are well. It offers some solace but until they are back home, we will continue to lose sleep,” she said. The detention The nine-year-old 1,40,000-tonne tanker, MV Desh Shanti, was carrying crude oil from Basrah in Iraq when it was detained by Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on August 12 in the Persian Gulf and taken to Bandar Abbas port on the pretext that the ship was causing environmental pollution.
	Akhilesh sacks 3 MLAs, including one caught in Goa dance bar Shahira Naim/TNS Lucknow, August 28 Samajwadi Party state president Akhilesh Yadav today suspended the membership of three sitting MLAs for indulging in anti-party activities. Diciplinary action would be taken against them, stated a terse two-line party statement. The MLAs are Mahendra Kumar Singh (Sevta - Sitapur) who was arrested in Goaupon during a raid on a bar yesterday, Ram Lal Akela (Bachrawan - Rae Bareli) whose three sons reportedly demolished the house of a government doctor and Radheyshyam Jaiswal (Sadar - Sitapur) whose sons opened fire over a land dispute. Causing major embarrassment to the Akhilesh Yadav government, its elected representatives have the knack of remaining in the news for all the wrong reasons. Yesterday, four-time MLA 55-year old Mahendra Kumar Singh alias Jheen Babu was arrested in a hotel room in Goa along with six girls. He, along with his associates, has been sent to judicial custody for six days. He was booked under the Anti-Prostitution Act along with five others. While one associate was a resident of Civil Lines in Sitapur, another one belongs to Lucknow. The arrested girls have been sent to a government protection home. According to the Panaji Sub-Inspector Rajendra Prabhu, they raided the MLA’s hotel room on an island off the Panaji beach at 3 am after receiving complaints of loud music being played there. All those arrested were presented before the City Magistrate who rejected their bail application and remanded them to judicial custody for a week. According to the Goa police, the MLA initially tried to intimidate the police, but finally surrendered when his political connections “did not work”. In keeping with a rule, the UP Vidhan Sabha speaker Mata Prasad Pandey has been informed of the arrest of the sitting MLA. Son-in-law of a senior Samajwadi Party leader and former MP, Jheen Babu, has been MLA since 1996. In March 2012, soon after the Assembly results were declared, Jheen Babu was in the news when his supporters allegedly torched a hamlet inhabited by another community in order to teach them a lesson for reportedly not voting for him. Yesterday, the kin of two more MLAs were in news. An FIR was filed against the three sons of Ramlal Akela for forcibly demolishing the under-construction house of Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nasir Ahmad in Rae Bareli after he allegedly refused to pay Rs 20 lakh as extortion money. The sons of Radheshyam Jaiswal opened fire at a family over a land dispute, critically injuring one person who has been referred to the Trauma Centre of Lucknow’s King George Medical College Hospital. Cross-FIRs have been filed in the case. Reacting to these incidents, the BJP today charged the legislators of the ruling Samajwadi Party with insulting the people of Uttar Pradesh. BJP state spokesperson Vijay Bahadur Pathak said, "The act of the sons of the SP MLAs in Rae Bareli and Sitapur and arrest of another SP MLA in Goa along with the bar girls shows that they are earning a bad name for the state." Addressing a press conference, Pathak alleged that it was the Samajwadi Party’s history that its governments had no control over their own MLAs and ministers who repeatedly break the law for their petty interests. "If the CM is serious on the issue of law and order, he should immediately remove these legislators so that he shows his commitment towards giving the people an honest government," said Pathak. Tainted trio Mahendra Kumar Singh (Sevta - Sitapur) was arrested in Goaupon during a raid on a bar on Tuesday Three sons of Ram Lal Akela (Bachrawan - Rae Bareli) reportedly demolished the house of a government doctor Sons of Radheyshyam Jaiswal (Sadar - Sitapur) opened fire over a land dispute
	Days after Durga row, Gautam Buddh Nagar DM shifted Lucknow, August 28 Gautam Budh Nagar District Magistrate Ravikant Singh, who had given a clean chit to suspended Uttar Pradesh IAS officer Durga Sakthi Nagpal, has been transferred. The action comes days after Ravikant had supported Nagpal, the 28-year-old SDM of Gautam Budh Nagar, who led the crackdown on sand mining mafia in her district and was suspended on July 27 ostensibly for ordering demolition of a wall of a under-construction mosque allegedly without following due process. Singh had in his report to the UP Government supported Nagpal and said that the wall was demolished by villagers themselves and no JCB machine was put in operation to demolish it. Besides Ravikant, others who have been transferred include Special secretary in Infrastructure and Industrial Development department Kaushal Raj Sharma, who has been made the new DM of Muzaffarnagar replacing Surendra Singh. — PTI
	Nine dead in Vadodara twin building collapse Modi orders Probe At least seven persons were killed and 40 feared to be trapped under the debris as two multi-storey buildings collapsed in the Madhavnagar locality The Army personnel and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are assisting the fire brigade officials in the rescue operations Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the dead. The CM also ordered constitution of an inquiry commission to probe the incident Modi also tweeted about the incident saying, “Heard about the collapse of two buildings in Vadodara. Rescue operations have begun.” Atladara is a newly developed locality after merger of Atladara village with Vadodara city. The buildings were constructed by the Vadadora Urban Development Authority (VUDA) in 2002 Rescue work at the collapse site in Madhavnagar locality in Vadodara on Wednesday; (below) fire personnel recover a victim’s body. — PTI
	Mumbai gang-rape victim discharged from hospital Record says one suspect a minor Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, August 28 A woman photojournalist, who was gang raped last week by five men while on assignment at the derelict Shakti Mills in South Central Mumbai last week, has been discharged from hospital. According to a statement released by Jaslok Hospital, where she was admitted after the assault on Thursday night, the woman was discharged from hospital last night. Doctors declared her medically fit early Tuesday after which she was discharged. “The patient had improved steadily and our team of doctors specially assigned, had declared the patient medically fit for discharge last evening. Hence, she was discharged late last night,” the statement from Jaslok Hospital said. The statement put out by Dr Tarang Gianchandani, acting CEO, added that the patient was given the best medical care at all times. Meanwhile, in what could be a major embarrassment to the Mumbai police, records obtained by investigators show that one of the alleged rapists could be a minor. Police officials said here today that the school record of one of the accused obtained from the Mumbai municipal corporation gave his date of birth as 1997. Though his grandmother had produced his date of birth, the police had questioned its veracity because of over-writing on the document. Subsequently, the police obtained the school admission certificate of the boy from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation school where he was admitted which matched his grandmother’s claims. Police now say, the boy will be tried by the juvenile court. He will be sent to a remand home if convicted. Another of the accused was a police informant. The Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna had alleged that two of the alleged rapists were members of the Nationalist Congress Party, a claim which was denied by the organisation. To be tried by juvenile court Records obtained by investigators show that one of the alleged rapists could be a minor The school record of one of the accused gave his date of birth as 1997 Though his grandmother had produced his date of birth, there was over-writing on the document Police then obtained the school admission certificate from the school where he was admitted which matched his grandmother's claims The boy will be tried by the juvenile court
	After outrage, railway cops crack down on Mumbai train molesters Shiv Kumar/TNS Mumbai, August 28 It took several incidents of molestation aboard Mumbai's local trains followed by the gang rape of a photo-journalist last week for the police to tighten security through the railway system. The spate of incidents resulted in Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan summoning senior officers of the Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police to Raj Bhavan to find put about steps being taken to improve the safety of women on board local trains. After the meeting with the Governor on Tuesday, the authorities launched a crackdown today. According to a spokesman of the Railway Protection Force, personnel posted at railway stations have picked up several youth travelling in ladies compartments last night and early this morning. Government Railway Police officials say they are now in touch with local police stations to ensure that vagrants and drug addicts who hang around railway stations are evicted. Police say many drug addicts use foot-over bridges which have less traffic at night. Often the lack of clarity of jurisdiction over overbridges connecting train stations to roads outside also lead to conflict between the city police and the railway authorities. Earlier this month, an American national was robbed of her mobile phone while she was travelling in a Mumbai local train at night. The assailant threatened her with a knife before escaping with her mobile phone. A few days later, a nurse returning home from work was molested by a vagrant inside the ladies compartment. On Tuesday, an unemployed youth was caught and thrashed by the public after he exposed himself before a woman commuter. All these incidents have aroused public outrage since the authorities are supposed to deploy at least one male police constable in uniform inside the ladies compartments after 10 pm. In all the incidents, the constables were absent. In one incident, a constable on duty in the ladies compartment dozed off and lost his rifle. Safe no more An American national was robbed of her mobile phone at knifepoint while she was travelling in a Mumbai local train at night earlier this month A few days later, a nurse returning home from work was molested by a vagrant inside the ladies compartment On Tuesday, an unemployed youth was caught and thrashed by the public after he exposed himself before a woman commuter Authorities are supposed to deploy at least one male police constable in uniform inside the ladies compartments after 10 pm
	Breather for Puri till August 30 Mumbai, August 28 The Sessions Court today granted 'interim protection from arrest' to actor Om Puri, who is accused of assaulting his wife. Sessions judge DA Dholakia granted protection to the internationally acclaimed actor till August 30 and adjourned the hearing on his anticipatory bail application till the date. The court also directed him to go to the police station everyday and cooperate with the probe. Meanwhile, Om's wife Nandita today filed an application in the court, seeking to intervene in the case. The police is likely to submit their reply to the bail plea on August 30. According to Nandita's police complaint, the actor assaulted her with a wooden stick on August 22. The 62-year-old actor is facing charges under Indian Penal Code sections 324 (causing hurt by dangerous means), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation). According to the police case, the couple was arguing about the maintenance of their flat in suburban Versova, and in the course of the heated argument, Om assaulted Nandita. But the actor has a different story to tell in his advance bail application. He says their domestic help's daughter offered rakhi to Puris' son, and Nandita gifted her a mobile phone worth Rs 3,000. However, the girl demanded a smartphone. "(I) reasoned that I too was using regular mobile and there was no question of gifting an expensive mobile worth Rs 14,000 to the girl," Om says in the application. The actor said Nandita then told him that he could spend huge amount of money on his "mistresses" but could not pay for this gift. As a heated argument ensued, Puri, the application says, got up to leave, but Nandita "walked upon him and caught his collar" and he had to push her off to leave the house. The application denies that he ever assaulted her. — PTI
	Arunachal school hostel warden held for raping 14 girls Itanagar, August 28 A shocking case of rape of 14 minor girls allegedly by the hostel warden of a private school in Likabai in West Siang district has come to light after a few students reported the matter to the police. The rape of the girls in the 4-13 years age group for over three years has triggered protests among local residents, students and members of the civil society, who hit the streets last evening to protest against the crime. They gheraoed the Likabali police station demanding capital punishment for the culprits. The incident came to light when a few students of the school yesterday managed to report the crime to the Likabali police station, the police said here today. Vipin Wisvan, a non-Arunachali teacher in the school, who also serves as the warden of the hostel, was arrested yesterday in this connection. The school principal and two other members of the staff were detained for interrogation. A case had been registered at the Likabali police station and an investigation is on, the police said. According to the police, molestation and rape of students had been going on at the school for the last three years. After committing the offence, the accused had threatened the girls with dire consequences if they disclosed his act to the parents. It was alleged that when the matter was brought to the knowledge of the school principal by the students yesterday, the principal tried to hush up the matter. A few students then mustered up the courage to scale the boundary wall and reported the matter to the police station. The Arunachal Law Students Union, Galo Students’ Union and All Galo Students Union condemned the incident and appealed to the authorities not to grant bail to the culprits. Other organisations too demanded harsh punishment for the offenders. — PTI Shocking revelations The incident came to light when a few students of the private school in Likabai managed to report the crime to the Likabali police station, the police said Vipin Wisvan, a non-Arunachali teacher in the school, who also serves as the warden of the hostel, was arrested in this connection. The school principal and two other members of the staff were detained for interrogation According to the police, molestation and rape of students had been going on at the school for the last three years After committing the offence, the accused had threatened the girls with dire consequences if they disclosed his act to the parents
	School where students also clean toilets Sundarbans (WB), August 28 In the absence of funds to maintain toilets and other facilities, teachers of a government-aided school in Sundarbans and local activists have roped in the services of a group of students to maintain hygiene of the campus. The teachers of Durbachati Milan Vidyapith and local activists teach students how to do the cleaning part themselves and even raise funds for the purpose. Before, after or during school hours, whenever the children, including girls, find time, they volunteer for the job. Out of the 1,400 students of the government-aided school in Patharpratima block, a small group of 40 students is part of the WATSAN (water and sanitation) committee which looks after the hygiene in the campus. "Initially, we were a little hesitant on taking up the job of cleaning, but gradually when we saw even our teachers doing it, we picked it up and made it a habit," Class X student Sukalyan Sen told the visiting correspondent. With the guidance of an international NGO , the headmaster, Jyotirmoy Jana, led the initiative of motivating the students who are also collecting funds to buy cleaning equipment like broom, toilets cleaners, etc. 15-year-old Sinchal Nayak goes around classrooms and even the village collecting money which will fund the initiative. They are even opening a bank account for the purpose. "We are adopting a participatory approach to solving the problem. We told the students that this is their school and since we don't get money for such expenses they should take up this job. We gave them training for some time and now they are able to maintain it on their own," Jana says. According to estimates by the UNICEF, in rural India only 21 per cent use improved sanitation facilities making them vulnerable to a host of diseases including diarrhoea and respiratory infections. — PTI
	IED explodes at Bongaigaon, Assam The explosive was planted under the seat of a bicycle by suspected NDFB militants, police said. The blast damaged a wall of a shop. The bicyle with the IED wrapped with a white plastic paper was placed next to a shop. The shopkeeper told the police that he had not seen the bicyle while he had opened the shop in the morning, but it could have been placed there while he was inside the shop. Bongaigaon superintendent of Police Abhijit Bora said NDFB was suspected to have planted the IED, but he did not specify which faction of the militant organisation was involved in the incident. — PTI Police personnel at the spot after an IED exploded at Bongaigaon in Assam on Wednesday. — PTI
	Girls arrived with MLA, others: Probe report Panaji, August 28 A day after Goa Police arrested six persons, including an Uttar Pradesh MLA, during a raid at a dance bar here, investigations have revealed that the accused brought the girls to the state on their trip and even stayed with them in a hotel. "The girls had arrived along with legislator Mahendra Singh and others, who were arrested during the dance bar raid. They were staying with them in a starred hotel at Calangute," DSP Mahesh Gaonkar said here today. Yesterday, the 55-year-old Samajwadi Party leader and five others were arrested after police raided a dance bar at Campal, a locality in the heart of Panaji. All the accused were booked under Immoral Trafficking Act and remanded to police custody till September 2. Gaonkar, who is heading the probe, said the girls belonging to different areas in Punjab, Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh had come to Goa with the group including the MLA from Sitapur constituency in UP. — PTI
	Vizag refinery blaze toll 14 Suresh Dharur/TNS Hyderabad, August 28 The death toll in the massive fire at state-owned Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) refinery-cum-petrochemical complex in the north coastal port city of Visakhapatnam has risen to 14 with three more workers succumbing to burn injuries at a hospital today. The fire broke out at one of the cooling towers in the refinery complex on August 23. Refinery director BK Namdev identified the three deceased as M Srinivasa Rao, Krishna Chand and A Sanyasi Rao. Two contract workers succumbed to the burn injuries yesterday while 23 others are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the city. Given the serious nature of the burn injuries, eight of the injured persons were shifted to a burns specialty hospital in Mumbai, where they are responding well to the treatment. A major fire broke out after an explosion in the complex when employees from private companies were engaged in installation work. Prima facie, the fire has been attributed to a gas leak in the sea cooling water system.
	India’s first defence satellite all set for launch tomorrow Shubhadeep Choudhury/TNS Bangalore, August 28 India’s maritime security will get a fresh impetus as the stage is now set for the launch of an exclusive home-built satellite for the Navy by European space consortium Arianespace from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana on Friday (between 2 am and 2.50 am on August 30 Indian time). GSAT-7 is India’s first dedicated spacecraft for defence applications. The original plan was to launch the 2,550-kg satellite using the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) own Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). However, owing to slip-ups in GSLV’s development schedule, the launch would now be carried out by private company. So far satellite-based communication has been carried out in the Indian Navy in a somewhat piecemeal manner. While ISRO’s GSAT series of satellites earlier allocated only part of its transponders to the armed forces, a dedicated satellite will broaden the scope of the Navy’s communication and data sharing capabilities. Built around the INSAT-2000 bus, the GSAT-7 would carry four transponders that can transmit in the Ku-band, along with transponders for transmitting in the S-Band [one transponder] and UHF & C-Band [three transponders]. The satellite has been designed with a service life of nine years. With the Navy’s focus on maintaining its strategic dominance over the Indian Ocean, where its warships spend most of their deployment time, the satellite would be positioned in the 74 degree east longitude geostationary earth orbit. Though built specifically for the Navy, the GSAT-7’s capability can be exploited by the Army and the IAF too when required. After the GSAT-7 launch, the IAF, too, will get its own dedicated communication satellite, the GSAT-7A. According to experts, once GSAT-7 becomes operational, it will be possible to link-up every submarine, aircraft and warship to each other along with their shore-based command. Such a datalink will also make it possible to interlink sea-based strategic missile with radars and sensors. This sensor-weapon synergy would make it possible to engage an enemy target without even physically citing it. A launch readiness review was conducted today at the spaceport at Kourou and approval for lift-off was given. A giant leap GSAT-7 is India's first dedicated spacecraft for defence applications. It will broaden the scope of the Navy's communication and data sharing capabilities It is scheduled to be launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) by Ariane-5 VA 215 during the 50-minute launch window starting from 2 am on Friday. The Rs 185 crore state-of-the-art satellite carries payloads operating in UHF, S, C and Ku bands After the GSAT-7 launch, the IAF, too, will get its own dedicated communication satellite, the GSAT-7A