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| Thursday, January 13, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Police
harassment ‘led’ to immolation Retain
IFFI format: experts Jharkhand
main poll issue in Bihar ‘Fan’s
obsession’ cost Illyasi dearly Survey
of India to settle land dispute |
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| Cong not to project any leader as
CM NEW DELHI, Jan 12 — The Congress said today that it was not projecting any particular leader as a Chief Ministerial candidate in Bihar, Orissa, Haryana and Manipur, going to the polls next month. Ex-ADMK MLA Malliga
convicted Set
up AIJS, says judicial panel IGNCA
refused injunction IAF
contingent for Sierra Leone
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Police harassment
‘led’ to immolation LUCKNOW, Jan 12 — “What was the fault of my son,” asks Mrs Manpreet Kaur Sodhi, mother of 24-year Mandeep Singh, who allegedly was driven to commit self-immolation on January 10 outside the UP Vidhan Sabha due to the harassment of his family by the Police. Gloom-stricken, Mrs Manpreet Kaur says that she does not know what cops wanted from her family. “They frequented our house during the day and half the night and questioned us about criminals whom we never knew, she says. The way the police tortured the Sodhi family, had made their life a hell. Due to police atrocities the family of Manpreet Kaur is so frightened that it is difficult to draw any of its members out. It was after a lot of persuasion that she narrated her sufferings. Sobing and wailing, Manpreet Kaur says that the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police, visited them during the past two days. However, when she approached them for justice, they did not entertain. On the contrary, they harassed her and asked her to let them know the antecedents of criminals she never knew. The police had slapped about half a dozen criminal cases on Yashpal, younger brother of the deceased. He had been let off only after Mandeep committed immolation. His career has also been ruined by the police. Aghast at the tragedy of his elder brother, Yashpal is maintaining a stony silence. The members of Mandeep Singh’s family and their neighbours maintain that the deceased was an introvert youth and the sole breadearner in the family. He was a small time medicine vendor. The tragedy of Mandeep has shell-shocked the people of Lucknow. Shopkeepers downed their shutters in the Aalmbagh and Singar Nagar area on the third consecutive day today to protest against the police atrocities on the Sodhi family. Although the government has shifted the SHO of the Krishan Nagar police station, no action has been taken against the guilty cops who allegedly had harassed the Sodhi family. The government has given a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to Mrs Manpreet Kaur and ordered a magisterial inquiry into the episode. The government has also entrusted to the CBI all cases registered against Yashpal by the Krishan Nagar police station. On the demand of the
Shri Guru Singh Sabha, Yahyaganj and Chander Nagar, a
criminal case has been registered on the basis of a
complaint lodged by Mrs Manpreet Kaur. |
Retain IFFI format: experts NEW DELHI, Jan 12 — The fog and mists of Delhi seem to have cleared, hopefully the good weather will continue. Tuesday, the first day of regular screening in the festival proper, was good with the British film, “A Reasonable Man” being in the top bracket. The German film, “Pattis in the Night, was really bad. The rescheduling of the Rajdhani meant missing the opening but all things considered (especially the weather) it may have been a blessing in disguise. As it happens every other year, Siri Fort was bursting with activity, busy film-makers and journalists having to put up with officialdom. “A Reasonable Man” is about the occult and the clash of cultures — African and White. When a Zulu herd-boy stands guilty of murder one is made to reason — is killing an evil spirit (or titholoshe) tantamount to murder. Director-actor Gavin Hood does an excellent job. Om Puri tends to ham to much in “East is East” as he parlays a Pakistani chip shop owner settled in the UK with a British wife and seven British-reared sons. Again a clash of cultures and also well done. Agencies add: The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) should continue in its present format of travelling to different cities every alternate year for some more years till more cities start their own fetes. This was the consensus at the open forum organised by the Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI) at the ongoing 31st IFFI on whether the festival should have a permanent venue. Film festival Director Malati Sahai felt that IFFI would have to travel for some more years till people in other cities are trained to professional run such festivals. After that, the DFF could play the role of helping the various festivals in acquisition of good films from all over the world. She was convinced that the festival would ultimately have to be restricted to one city. She also said that the Siri Fort complex should be developed as a national film centre even if the permanent venue is elsewhere. Senior film-maker K. Bikram Singh was in favour of making Delhi a permanent venue for IFFI as several cities already had festivals of their own. He also contested the general belief that Delhi did not have any film culture. Viewers left numb Meanwhile, scenes of brutal rape and violence in an American film based on a real-life story left viewers numb at the festival today, but its director defended these, saying the depictions were aimed at creating an aversion for such acts. “Boys Don’t Cry”, which won several awards at recent film festivals in Los Angeles, New York and London, where it got the Satyajit Ray award, and Golden Globe nominations for best actress and best supporting actress awards, has been given the “R” rating in the USA for scenes of brutal rape, sexuality, language and drug abuse. The film is about an androgynous girl, who dresses up like a boy and falls in love with another girl but is brutally raped and killed by two youngmen who find out her identity. Focus on alienation The growing alienation of old parents in a globalised society and the emerging culture of “five star mortuaries’’ in Kerala is the crux of noted Malayalam film-maker Jayaraaj’s latest movie “Karunyam” being screened in the Panorama and Asian competition sections at the festival. “Karunyam’’, which was the opening film of the Panorama section yesterday tells the story of an old couple whose two sons, settled in the USA, sell the ancestral house in the village and put their parents in an old age home. While the old father, played by a mentally retarded man, dies waiting for his children and grandchildren, the mother, played by a non-actress housewife, leaves the old age home and wanders the streets before finding refuge and solace in a home for mentally retarded children.
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Jharkhand main poll issue in Bihar RANCHI, Jan 12 (UNI) — The creation of a separate state of Jharkhand is likely to dominate poll issues again in this tribal belt of Bihar going to the Assembly elections in two phases on February 12 and 17. Barring the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the CPM, almost all parties were strategically planning to encash on this popular sentiment. With the slogan for a separate state, comprising 18 districts of South Bihar called “Vananchal” or “Jharkhand”, parties were busy in trading allegations for the delay in the state’s creation. If the BJP is planning to encash on the Bihar State Reorganisation Bill, 1999, which seeks the creation of the new state, the Congress, taking credit for getting the region officially recognised as Jharkhand with the constitution of the committee on Jharkhand matters for 18 districts of South Bihar in 1989 and creation of the Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council (JAAC), is set to launch an offensive against its major rival, the BJP. It is charging the BJP with having deliberately delayed the introduction of the state reorganisation Bill in Parliament. Even the RJD is planning to woo voters on the issue of Jharkhand, but with a difference. The party, opposing Bihar’s bifurcation for the creation of Vananchal, is supporting the traditional demand of a greater Jharkhand state carved out of 26 tribal dominated districts of Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. Playing on ethnic line, it is in favour of a “tribal homeland” saying that the proposed state of vananchal, being offered by the BJP, was yet another move by the RSS to ‘colonise’ this tribal belt of Bihar. In the electoral race to the state Assembly even the Left is not lagging behind in ‘inciting’ Jharkhand sentiments. Barring the CPM, the Left has been an ardent supporter of the issue and in the past few years even launched a series of agitations for the realisation of this regional demand. The CPI, along with a few Left organisations, constituted an all-party committee under the banner “Vamjanwadi Alag Rajya Sangharsh Samiti” undertaking phase-wise agitational programmes for putting pressure on the Centre for the early creation of the new state. For the Jharkhand parties, whose very inception was based on this regional issue,there could be no better plank than statehood to mobilise the electorate. The BJP apparently gave these regional parties a new lease of life by not bringing the Bihar State Reorganisation Bill in Parliament, as most of them,who gradually abandoned their movement for a separate state, threatened to revive their agitation with elections round the corner. However, with the passage of time and the issue being virtually taken over by national parties,the regional players did not have much to say in the elections during the past couple of years. In 1995 these parties, particularly the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (Soren), marked its presence by wresting 17 of the 81 Assembly seats from this area. Of these, 11 were reserved for the Scheduled Tribes and one for the Scheduled Castes. At present,these parties stand divided and want national parties to align with them. The Jharkhand Peoples Party (JPP), which has two representatives in the existing Assembly is planning to team up with the BJP while the JMM, led by its chief Mr Shibu Soren, is making all-out efforts to provide a viable third alternative in case the BJP and the Congress tale their claims for government formation in the proposed state. Another faction of the JMM headed by a former JPP chief and Ranchi University Former Vice-Chancellor Mr Ram Dayal Munda, claiming to be the real JMM,is making attempts to strike an alliance with non-BJP political forces for its re-emergence in the Jharkhand electoral canvas. According to political pundits here, with the Jharkhand issue dominating the other poll issues, almost all parties have gone of the defensive. If the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is trying to clarify why it could not bring the Bihar State Reorganisation Bill in the winter session of Parliament, the Congress is busy finding explanations as to why its members could not press for the introduction of the Bill in the winter session as they had done in the case of the Women’s Reservation Bill. Besides statehood, the
other issues likely to decide the fate of political
parties in the coming elections include development, law
and order and the status of women in Bihar. |
‘Fan’s obsession’ cost Illyasi dearly NEW DELHI, Jan 12 (UNI) — The obsession of Narender, whose closeness to “India’s Most Wanted” producer-presenter Shoaib Illyasi cost his wife Anju, had reached such a stage that he had threatened to quit his family and house for the latter. He on several occasions had threatened Illyasi that he would kill himself if the teleserial-producer tried to distance himself from him. “My wife was opposed to my association with Narender. All my attempts to maintain distance from him (Narender) failed as time and again he threatened me that he would kill himeself if I tried to avoid him,” Illyasi told UNI this evening. Narender, a businessman dealing in imported goods, was last night detained by the police and was being questioned on his alleged obsession for the teleserial producer. Illyasi claimed that he never ever dreamt that he would have to pay such a heavy price for his acquaintance with Narender. Narender is understood to be supplying goods to some very influential people. Illyasi himself admitted that Narender had provided him certain vital information and inputs which helped him in his case against Zee news. The businessman also provided information regarding denial of “Z” category security to Illyasi. “Narender provided me some details why and because of whom I was denied “Z” type security when I was repeatedly receiving threats,” Illyasi said. “My wife strongly objected to his (Narender) helping me in the Zee case as well. But I did not take her very seriously because he was genuinely helping me. I never realised that she would do something like this.” Admitting that there was some strong argument between them over Narender, Illyasi said he was himself very angry by the fact that his wife was trying to scare him by threatening to shoot herself. Describing Anju as a girl full of life and vigour who was the inspiration behind the serial, Illyasi said probably she only wanted to take out her anger on Narender’s issue, but it proved fatal. Her brother Prashant, sitting along side Illyasi, said his sister was stubborn and strong headed girl. Meanwhile, the mystery whether Anju Ilyasi, committed “suicide” or was murdered deepened today as the doctors who carried out the post-mortem examination of her body have asked the police to furnish certain documents before expressing their opinion. “The panel of doctors, who carried out the post-mortem examination have asked the police to submit the photograph of the scene of crime, other evidences collected by them from the spot and would wait for the viscera report, which would be made by the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory and is likely to be available in a couple of days. The panel said they would express their opinion after they have all these things,” the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mr Ravi, who is conducting the inquiry told The Tribune. “The doctors have, however, confirmed that Anju Illyasi died of wounds present in her abdomen,” the SDM said. Forensic experts were of the view that the presence of two stab wounds on her abdomen poses a question whether she committed suicide or was murdered. “The pain and trauma caused due to the stab would deter a person attempting to commit suicide to inflict multiple wounds,” forensic experts said. The Joint Commissioner
of Police (New Delhi Range), Mr R.K. Niyogi, said
Narender has denied any involvement in the “
suicide” of Anju. He, however, admitted that Shoaib
and he were good friends and used to meet frequently. |
Survey of India to settle land
dispute MUZAFFARNAGAR, Jan 12 — The Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are reported to have agreed to hand over the issue of disputed land along the banks of the Yamuna to the Survey of India. Official sources told TNS today that both the governments had agreed for a fresh demarcation of the boundary along the Yamuna between the two states. The agreement was reached at a meeting of the Commissioners of Rohtak and Meerut divisions held on January 4. Although the Dixit Committee award had clearly laid down guidelines for resolving disputes among farmers living along the river between the two states, yet clashes relating to the ownership of land along the banks of the river had been too frequent. Even during this kharif crop, clashes had taken place between the farmers in Kairana subdivision in Muzaffarnagar and Panipat in Haryana. Farmers from Uttar Pradesh had attacked farmers of villages in Sonepat near the banks of the river on the issue of sowing wheat crop in the Yamuna bed. There had also been clashes between the farmers of Faridabad and Aligarh districts in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, respectively. The latest clash was between the farmers of Faridabad and Aligarh districts over 125 hectares of paddy crop in the river bed. The dispute was resolved at a meeting of the senior officers at Palwal. Official sources further confirmed that the farmers of the two states had agreed to share the income accruing from the paddy crop. But for the time being, this amount will be deposited in joint accounts of the two states till the dispute was finally resolved by the Survey of India. It is further learnt
that the Commissioner of Meerut division had submitted a
report relating to the problems of farmers of Aligarh.
Gautambudh Nagar, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, and Mathura
which had been sent to the revenue council of the state.
A similar report is learnt to have been prepared by the
Commissioner of Rohtak and Gurgaon divisions relating to
the problems of farmers of Faridabad, Sonepat, Panipat
and Karnal districts along the banks of river. |
Cong not to project any leader as CM NEW DELHI, Jan 12 (PTI) — The Congress said today that it was not projecting any particular leader as a Chief Ministerial candidate in Bihar, Orissa, Haryana and Manipur, going to the polls next month. “We are not projecting any leader as a Chief Ministerial candidate and newly elected MLAs will elect their leaders after the elections in all four states,” party spokesman Ajit Jogi told mediapersons here. To a question on the prospects of the Congress in the four states, he said “we will win in all four.” When a reporter persisted saying former Chief Minister J.B. Patnaik was being projected by the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee as the Chief Ministerial candidate, Mr Jogi said: “We never do that. MLAs will be free to elect their leaders.” “We always follow intra-party democracy and allow MLAs to elect their leader,” he remarked. UNI adds: The Congress asked the non-BJP constituents of the ruling National Democratic Alliance to take serious note of Home Minister L.K. Advani’s statement that the Congress is the only party in the Opposition which can govern and all other parties are pressure groups. Mr Jogi said his party would thank Mr Advani for his compliments. Mr Advani’s remark
that all other parties are pressure groups equally
applied to the non-BJP constituents of the NDA and
therefore they should take serious note of it, Mr Jogi
said. |
Ex-ADMK MLA Malliga convicted CHENNAI, Jan 12 (PTI) — Former AIADMK MLA Malliga was today convicted for amassing ill-gotten wealth worth Rs 2.35 crore and awarded seven years imprisonment by a Special Judge. Judge S. Sambandam held that the investigating agency had proved its case against her beyond reasonable doubt. She was found guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA). The Judge also fined her Rs 1 lakh and, in default on payment, a sentence of further six months rigorous imprisonment. This is the second conviction by a special court, set up by the Tamil Nadu Government to try cases of corruption during AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha’s tenure as Chief Minister between 1991 and 1996, and the first time the maximum imprisonment of seven years under the PCA has been awarded. The judge issued
non-bailable warrants for the arrest of the two other
accused - the MLA’s brother Selvaraj and his wife
Manimegalai, in the case after they failed to make their
appearance in the court today. He directed that they be
produced in the court tomorrow. |
Set up AIJS, says judicial panel NEW DELHI, Jan 12 (PTI) — The first National Judicial Pay Commission headed by former Supreme Court Judge K Jagannatha Shetty has recommended the constitution of an All-India Judicial Service (AIJS) in the cadre of district judges. The commission, which submitted its report recently, has said the district judges directly recruited and promoted should constitute the AIJS, an official press note said today. So far, the creation of the AIJS has been resisted by the states and the Centre cannot do anything unless a resolution is passed by the Rajya Sabha. The commission has recommended that the selection for direct recruitment to the AIJS should be made by the National Judicial Commission/Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the promotees by the respective high courts, it said. The qualification for
direct recruitment to the AIJS should be in conformity
with that prescribed under Article 233(2) of the
Constitution and the serving judges should be allowed to
compete for recruitment of the AIJS, the commission said. |
IGNCA refused injunction NEW DELHI, Jan 12 (UNI) — The Delhi High Court today declined to give the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) Trust a temporary injunction on a plea seeking to restrain the government from taking immediate action on the trust’s functioning. “Taking into consideration the circumstances and the fact that the member secretary has already taken over the charge in pursuance of the notification issued by the government on January 8, ex parte injunction is declined,” said Mr Justice J.B. Goel in his order. He said the Solicitor-General contended that there was no valid approval of the government as provided under relevant rules of business and the amendments to the original IGNCA Trust deed were illegal and as such void and non-est. On January 14, the government would file a reply on an application challenging its decision to reconstitute the IGNCA Trust. The application was filed by a former trustee of the IGNCA seeking to restrain the government from taking any action on the trust’s functioning. The court has also asked
the government to reply on the main suit challenging the
legality of amendments made in 1995 to the IGNCA original
trust deed, making Mrs Sonia Gandhi a trustee for life. |
IAF contingent for Sierra
Leone NEW DELHI, Jan 12 — The Indian Air Force (IAF) will send its largest ever contingent as part of the United Nations peace-keeping mission to the civil war-torn Sierra Leone, a small country located on the West coast of Africa. The IAF contingent,
which will be the only ‘air element’ of the UN
peace-keeping force for Sierra Leone is likely to be
airlifted by the end of this month. Its eight helicopters
and over 200 men, will provide services like cargo
re-supply, troop movement, VIP movement and medical
supply and also be part of the operations into hostile
areas or fields where there is no ground support or where
armed forces security cannot be provided. |
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