Thursday, January 28, 1999

Padma Bhushan awardee dead
KOTTAYAM, Jan 27 — Dominic Chacko Kizhakkemuri, who was awarded Padma Bhushan on Monday, passed away after a brief illness at his residence here at midnight. He was 85.

Complaint cells at ministers’ offices soon
NEW DELHI, Jan 27 — In its attempt to redress people’s complaints and provide easy access to ministers, the Delhi government will open grievance cells at all six ministers’ offices and in each of its departments.

Bihar massacre toll 22

PATNA, Jan 27 (PTI, UNI) — With one more person dying at a hospital here last night the toll in Monday’s massacre by the Ranvir Sena at Jehanabad’s Shanker Bigha village has risen to 22, official sources said.

Dig police (Magadh range) S.K. Bharadwaj told PTI that an alert had been sounded in Gaya and Jehanabad districts and combing operations were on to apprehend the culprits, seven of whom, including six named accused were apprehended yesterday.

Collective fines would be slapped on residents of Dhobi Bigha village in connection with the massacre for 23 of the total 24 named accused were from among them, he said, adding the other accused was from Obra village.
Cases had also been registered against 44 unidentified persons, he added.

Dhobi Bigha and Obra villages are adjacent to Shanker Bigha which witnessed the first major blood bath by the banned private militia of upper caste landlords on sleeping Scheduled Caste residents in the dead of winter night on Monday since the Lakshmanpur Bathe massacre in November, 1997, when 61 persons were mowed down.

Eleven persons injured in the carnage are battling for their lives in the hospital.

Six children and five women were among the victims of the carnage perpetrated by heavily-armed sena activists who stormed five houses at Shankar Bigha village under Mehandia police station around 11 p.m. on Monday.

Some of the people were killed in sleep while others were shot dead after being dragged out of their houses in the attack in retaliation for the slaying of two persons by activists of Naxalite outfit Maoist Communist Centre in Sanda village last week.

Ranvir Sena and the MCC are locked in a bitter battle for supremacy in central and south Bihar.

Angry residents of Shankar Bigha village yesterday refused to allow senior Bihar officials to take the bodies for cremation demanding Chief Minister Rabri Devi visit the site.

The Chief Minister Ms Rabri Devi on Tuesday condemned the killings and said the state government would order "a thorough probe" into the massacre.

"The state government will not spare anyone found involved in the gruesome killing and all possible steps are being taken by concerned officials to apprehend those responsible for the slaughter", she told PTI before leaving for the massacre site along with her husband and RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav.

She said the state government would set up a special court to try the cases relating to the carnage by the Ranvir Sena on the Scheduled Castes of Rukhsagar village in Jehanabad district.

The Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh to each of the bereaved families. Besides, funds would also be made available to the affected families for constructing pucca houses under the Indira Awas Yojana, she said.

JEHANABAD: "Vengeance is in my heart/death is in my hand", is the mood of the villagers of Shanker Bigha.

"I saw nearly 100 armed sena men coming from adjacent Dhobi Bigha village firing shots and chanting pro-sena slogans .... I ran to the fields to save myself", said Deonandan Paswan.

"Dekh lenge marnein walon ko (we will teach a lesson to the killers)", said Paswan with a resolute face.

"Yeh rone ka samay nahin hai ... khoon ka badla khoon se lenge", thundered Mahanand, a local CPI-ML leader exhorting the villagers to avenge Monday night's killings.

A group of photographers was prevented from taking snaps of the bodies as villagers shouted "pehle humko badla lene do tab photo khinchna (let us take revenge first then you click)".

Such was the mood of the survivors in the village of about 60 mud huts belonging to the Scheduled Caste who had no inkling of the impending death when they retired for night after a day of hard labour on Monday night.
The villagers were not known to be activists of any of the Naxalite outfits operating in the area, though CPI-ML has a strong support base in the region.

"We don’t have anything to do with the Naxalites ... our people were killed only because we are poor", shouted Parvati Devi, one of the survivors of the carnage with anger writ large on her face.

Umesh Thakur, who was sleeping near the fields, on hearing the gunshots ran towards his house to wake up his wife, but it was a bit too late. He was shot by the marauders on his way.

The killers chased two-year-old Lothi from her hut to a hay-stack she made her shelter, pulled her out and pulled the trigger. Six-month-old Munna too fell prey to bullets.

Flour was splattered all around Jagmohan Sah's house and the face of his deceased wife tells the tale of the family which could not have its last supper. Jagmohan, his wife, and two minor daughters perished in the attack.
As the news of the massacre spread politicians of all hues started descending on the village adjoining Laxmanpur-Bathe where 61 persons were mowed down by the sena in 1997.

The carnage also gave an opportunity to the BJP-Samata Party combine to renew its demand for the imposition of President's rule in Bihar as the ruling RJD charged the former with having masterminded the slaughter for political gains.

" The Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Sushil Kumar Modi told PTI that a delegation of the party would leave for New Delhi to apprise Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Union Home Minister L.K. Advani of the "worsening law and order situation" in the state and demand central rule.

Meanwhile, Rajkuri Devi was widowed in the ghastly massacre at Shanker Bigha village in Jehanabad village but has no time to grieve.

She is busy tending to her son who was grievously wounded.

Rajkuri broke down when approached by a UNI Correspondent at Patna Medical College where all the injured have been shifted.

"My husband is dead. How could I leave his body? But what could I do... I have to be with my son who is battling for life", she said amidst tears.

Rajkuri cannot stop cursing herself for having asked her son, Phulendra, who works in Gujarat, to extend his leave. He would have been away and safe but how was I to know what fate had in store for us, she said.

"What will they do without my husband's body... they will probably perform the last rites with my knowledge", she cried.

Phulendra is lucky to be alive — seven of his family, including his father and uncle were among the dead.

Even a three-month-old baby was not spared, Jamuna Rajwar, a youth attending to the injured said.

Sunita, all of six years, is injured and faces starvation. She only has an elder brother, who was away when the terrorists struck, left from a family of eight, her parents, two brothers and two sisters are dead — leaving the two to fend for themselves.

Sahib Paswan (55), one of the injured, does not want to return home. "My wife, son and grandchildren, all are dead. Who will I return to", he asks as he tries to picture a life without his loved ones.

Rajwar said the village had 50 families of Rajwars and Paswans and they had no enmity with anyone.

DD pay package being finalised
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 27 — The need for a re-look into the concept of Prasar Bharati was voiced today at the Consultative Committee meeting of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Several Members of Parliament attached to the committee pointed out that the broadcasting scenario had changed from 1990 when the concept of Prasar Bharati was conceived. Now there are more than 30 channels. On being asked about the status of Prasar Bharati employees the minister said that they are government employees for all legal purposes. He informed the Members that the ministry has completed the process of promotion for these employees and all promotions due will be given by the end of January 1999. Regarding pay scales he said that the exercise is at an advanced stage and a final decision will be taken only after obtaining the approval of the Department of Personnel and Training and the Cabinet.

Discussing the problem of decline in viewership of Doordarshan programmes he said the government is planning to amend the Cable Regulations Network Act 1995 to make it mandatory for cable operators to show DD channels on a particular band width. Prasar Bharati is also undertaking trial transmission on PAS IV from February 15 onwards.

Discussing the issue of DTH the Minister said that a group of ministers has been formed to decide the issue. He clarified that DTH already exist in the country through C Band. DTH through KU band will only bring down the size of dish antennae and increase the number of channels.

He said after a decision in this regard is taken about six months time will be given so that many players can come in. The ministry will propose a minimum licence fee to avoid non-serious players and transmission will be on revenue sharing basis. When a Member of Parliament expressed the concern over the problem of cultural invasion through DTH the minister said that Cable Network Act is being amended and the programme and advertisement code will be applicable to all channels, including DTH.

Talking about foreign investment in the film sector he said his Ministry proposes 100 per cent foreign investment subject to two restrictions, equity debt ratio on 1:1 basis and money be repatriated through export earnings.

Sonia's visit: security beefed up at shrine

TIRUPATI, Jan 27 (PTI, UNI) — Security has been beefed up around the Tirumala shrine here in wake of the Bajrang Dal taking objection to Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s plans to visit the temple during her two-day visit to the temple town today.

Over 3,000 additional police personnel have been deployed around the shrine and security tightened for her visit, official sources said.

Bajrang Dal East Andhra Convener G.Shyam Prakash Mukharjee had earlier threatened to initiate legal action if Mrs Sonia visited the holy shrine.

In a memorandum submitted to the Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), Mr Mukharjee alleged that "by allowing Ms Sonia Gandhi, a Roman Catholic Christian, into the temple, the feelings of Hindu community would be hurt".

TTD sources, however, said it was an age-old custom at this temple to allow foreign and known non-Hindus for darshan.

"The only requirement is that they should sign a declaration that they have faith in Lord Venkateshwara before entering the main shrine", the sources pointed out.

Earlier, former Union Minister Jaffer Sharief and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had signed similar declarations, the sources said.

Meanwhile, state Congress President Y.S.Rajasekhar Reddy said "since Mrs Sonia is married into the Gandhi family, there is no need for a declaration. However, if there is any formality of the declaration it will be fulfilled".

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), meanwhile, said it had no objection to Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s visit to Tirupati.

VHP Senior General Secretary Acharya Giriraj Kishore said if somebody had faith in "Hindu astha," why should they object.

She, however, could not go to certain places like Puri where they were governed by their own rules, the acharya said at a press conference at New Delhi.

Feeling suffocated, Aslam quits BJP

NEW DELHI, Jan 27 (PTI) — In the first fallout in the BJP of the recent attacks on minorities, former hockey player Aslam Sher Khan today resigned from the party, accusing it of "inaction" causing "insecurity" among minorities.

Aslam, who joined the BJP on the eve of the general election last year, shot off a letter to party President Kushabhau Thakre, saying that he was feeling "suffocated" in it after the recent happenings in Orissa and Gujarat where "unimaginable losses" in terms of life and property to Christian brothers had been inflicted.

"Inaction on the part of the BJP has aggravated these incidents causing insecurity in the minds of minorities in particular and peace-loving citizens in general," he said.

A former Congress MP and hockey Olympian, Aslam said he felt "terribly disturbed" on seeing broken trophies and cups in the office of the Cricket Control Board in Mumbai.

"I have been privileged to be part of the Indian hockey team that won and brought home the World Cup in 1975, and thus cannot imagine the trophies and cups won by our teams to add to the national pride to be defiled like this," he said in the letter.

Sheikh Hasina in Calcutta

CALCUTTA, Jan 27 (PTI) — Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed arrived here today from Dhaka on a three-day visit to West Bengal.

She was accompanied by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdus Samad, poet Shamsur Rahaman and a 36-member delegation, including journalists.

Ms Hasina was received at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose international airport by West Bengal Governor A. R. Kidwai and Chief Minister Jyoti Basu.

Sheikh Hasina will visit Baker Hostel of Moulana Azad College where her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, stayed during his college days.

She will also visit the Calcutta book fair to be inaugurated by Shamsur Rahaman.

External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, scheduled to meet the Bangladesh Prime Minister, also arrived today from Delhi.

India and Bangladesh today agreed to have foreign minister-level talks in March to discuss issues of common concern and cooperation, especially in areas of trade, energy and transport.

J-K tableau tops in R-Day parade
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 27 — The Jammu and Kashmir tableau titled “Kashmir Sings” has bagged the first place among the tableaux in the Republic Day parade while among the marching contingents, 11 Gorkha Rifles has been adjudged the best.

Among the tableaux, the second place has gone to CPWD’s floral tableau titled “Steady Towards the Goal” and the Gujarat tableau on the ancient civilisation of Dholavira has come third, a press note said.

Among the paramilitary and police contingents, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police has been adjudged the best. In the children’s presentations, in the category of Delhi schools, “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam” by Shiv Vani Model Senior Secondary School has been adjudged first and “Nature” by Cambridge Foundation Senior Secondary School, Rajouri Garden, second.

In the category of schools outside Delhi, the first place has gone to Bardoichikhala of Goalpara arranged through the North Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre. In the second place is the presentation by mentally challenged children which was arranged by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and presented by the Central Institute of Mentally Retarded, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Padma Bhushan awardee dead

KOTTAYAM, Jan 27 (PTI) — Dominic Chacko Kizhakkemuri, who was awarded Padma Bhushan on Monday, passed away after a brief illness at his residence here at midnight. He was 85.

Kizhakkemuri, popularly known as ‘DC’, leaves is survived by wife, two daughters and a son.

Born in Kanjirapally of Kottayam district on January 12, 1914, Kizhakkemuri started his career as a school teacher which he remained for over a decade.

He joined the Indian National Congress and actively participated in the freedom movement. He was jailed during 1945-1947.

Recipient of Tamrapatra, ‘DC’ served as the general manager of the National Book Stall for a long term from 1949 and was the secretary of the prestigious Sahithya Pravarthaka Cooperative Society (SPCS) for eight years from 1965.

He was the chairman of the All Kerala Publishers and Book Sellers Association and Kottayam International Book Fair. He had also served as the secretary of the Kottayam Public Library from 1962 to 1974.

He established his own publishing house ‘DC Books’ in 1974. He was recipient of the Swadesha Bhimani Literary Award, Sahriyavedi Award and the Distinguished Publishers Award.

Complaint cells at ministers’ offices soon
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 27 — In its attempt to redress people’s complaints and provide easy access to ministers, the Delhi government will open grievance cells at all six ministers’ offices and in each of its departments.

A complaint cell at the Chief Minister’s office at the old secretariat has been functional since the past month.

Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit has asked her Cabinet colleagues to hear public complaints on all days for an hour.

A Senior Delhi Government official said the ministers had been told to appoint nodal officers within their offices for public dealing. He further said instructions had been issued to all departments of the Delhi Government for appointing similar nodal officers to look into complaints and that the senior officers should make themselves available every day.

He pointed out that the nodal officers attached to the ministers would liaison on behalf of the minister with their counterparts in the government departments, as far as dealing with problems was concerned. “These officers will receive complaints, forward it to the departments concerned, expedite the process and if necessary issue directions on the ministers’ consent”.

In cases where the complaints remain unsolved despite the intervention of these cells, the officers would bring it to the notice of the minister.

Drugs for cultural conservation
LUCKNOW: In a pathbreaking find, scientists at the National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLCCP) here have discovered that several homoeopathic drugs can be used as successful anti-fungal agents on rare and ancient manuscripts and textiles. The NRLCCP scientists, in their ongoing study which is claimed to be the first of its kind in the world, have found that several homoeopathic compounds proved to be highly effective as anti-fungal agents when tested in both “in vitro” (relocated) and “in situ” (at origin) conditions on paper and textile materials damaged by fungi. — PTI

Turtle-killer trawlers
PURI: The decomposed bodies of hundreds of olive ridley sea turtles have littered the sea coast in the 40 km stretch between Puri and Chandrabhaga in Orissa. The carcasses bore grave injury marks as the turtles were crushed by fishing trawlers and washed ashore by the waves. The shells of the turtles have been marked with J, J+1 and J+2+, leading local people to believe that their movements were being studied by some research groups. Orissa Beach Council Chief Jaganath Bastia appealed to the Chief Minister to take steps to save the endangered species. — UNI

Padma Bhushan awardee dead
KOTTAYAM: Dominic Chacko Kizhakkemuri, who was awarded Padma Bhushan on Monday, passed away after a brief illness at his residence here at midnight. He was 85. Kizhakkemuri, popularly known as ‘DC’, leaves is survived by wife, two daughters and a son. Born in Kanjirapally of Kottayam district on January 12, 1914, Kizhakkemuri started his career as a school teacher which he remained for over a decade. He joined the Indian National Congress and actively participated in the freedom movement. He was jailed during 1945-1947.— PTI