Kolkata, August 4
Two persons were killed when violence broke out at Raiganj in north Dinajpur, around 480 km from here, today following the murder of a 16-year-old girl student after rape.

The police resorted to fire after a mob pelted it with stones and set afire several houses and burnt down two police vehicles. Two persons were killed on the spot, while over 50 others injured.

Raiganj SDO, OCs of two local police stations and 15 other policemen were injured in the violence. The injured were later admitted to the Raiganj Government Hospital.

After the clash, which lasted over four hours, Section 144 of the CrPC was imposed in the area, banning meetings, processions and demonstrations.

A large contingent of the BSF and other para-military forces were deployed and police pickets were set up in the Hemtabad area, where Pratima Das, a Class VIII student of Hemtabad Girls School, was gang-raped and killed by some persons.

The body of the girl was found from a pond this morning by some local people, who later demonstrated on the national highway, near Raiganj, demanding the arrest of those involved in the killing.

They alleged that since the perpetrators belonged to the ruling CPM, the police was not arresting and punishing them.

Ironically, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was making a statement in the Assembly certifying the police for the state’s peaceful law and order situation when the report of the incident reached him.

Bhattacharjee asked the Home Secretary to immediately send the IG (North Bengal) and other senior officials to the scene.

The Chief Minister said the guilty would be arrested soon and dealt with firmly.

He also sought the cooperation of the Trinamool Congress and other Opposition parties to fight against crime against women.

The IG in charge of law and order said the situation was under control. He claimed that one person was killed and 15 others, including the two OCs, were injured during the clash.

He said the police had fired several round of teargas shells and as the situation could not be brought under control, it fired eight round of bullets.

Lucknow, August 4
Migrant workers bringing in the AIDS virus have been identified as the main cause of the spread of the disease in the state by Minister of Health and Medical Science Jaiveer Singh and yet no funds were provided to the NGOs, who were to work with this “high risk” group of the state under the state’s AIDS control programme.

Statistics, or the lack of it, could well mean that Uttar Pradesh may be sitting on a virtual HIV-positive inferno. Despite being flush with funds, the state’s AIDS control programme has little to show. The targets that they fixed for themselves were lowered and even they remained unmet. Of the Rs 146.76 crore budget, only Rs 54.81 crore (37.34 per cent) were spent during 1999-2004.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report for 2004 comes down sternly against the National AIDS Control Programme, Phase II, launched in 1999. “Review of the NACP II revealed that the programme failed to achieve the desired results despite the expenditure of Rs 54.81 crore during 1999-2004”.

In view of the increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS, Phase II of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP-II) was launched in November, 1999, with the assistance of the World Bank.

According to the CAG report, the programme was aimed at arresting the increasing trend in the incidences, of the disease and creating awareness about it. Uttar Pradesh was taken as a low prevalence state. Available statistics for 2004 suggested 0.8 per cent prevalence of HIV in high-risk and 0.23 per cent in low-risk groups.

Statistics shared by the U.P. State AIDS Control Society (UPSACS) point out that of the 1,09,349 full blown cases nationwide, UP’s share is a mere 1614 (1.47 per cent). Still a steady increase is visible over the year that hardly justifies the complacency of the UPSACS.

The CAG report says that the UPSAC reduced its annual target at the time of the preparation of the revised estimates for the years 1999-2004. It allocated only Rs 82 crore against Rs 146.76 crore approved in the Programme Implementation Plan. This resulted in an overall shortfall of Rs 64.76 crore (44 per cent).

Ironically even the reduced targets could not be achieved. An expenditure of only Rs 54.81 crore (68 per cent) was made on the programme during the period 1999-2004. The programme scheduled to be completed in July, 2004, had to be extended up to March, 2006. This large-scale under-utilisation of the funds, the report points out, indicates the failure of the UPSACS in running its activities as reflected in its annual plans.

A major failure of the UPSACS, according to the CAG report, has been the disappointing performance in ensuring the cooperation of the NGOs seen as critical partners in the programme design. Major activities like intervention with truckers, commercial sex workers, migrant labourers was in partnership with the NGOs. The telecounselling activity also revolved around NGOs as well as the schools’ AIDS education activities.

Still the UPSACS released funds to NGOs most irrationally. For the year 2002-2003 it released just 50 per cent of the money promised. A mere Rs 85.42 lakh was provided as against the Rs 168.97 lakh budgeted. Next year (2003-04) two major activities – work with migrant labourers and telecounselling were dropped. The amount to be released was Rs 106.20. Of this only Rs 82.55 lakh (77 per cent) was released.

No specific reason was extended by the UPSACS for holding up funds despite no resource crunch. The CAG report notes that shortage of fund to “approved NGO projects adversely affected the objective of motivating the NGO partners”.

Speaking to The Tribune, the UPSACS Joint Director, Dr Yogesh Chandra, admits that till now a mere 21 NGOs have been involved covering barely 11 of the 70 districts. He had no reply for why the outreach had been so poor.

Mumbai, August 4
The Maharashtra Government has decided to beef up disaster management in Mumbai following last fortnight’s devastating floods in the city.

The state government has decided to earmark Rs 5 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Disaster Management Cell in order to beef up its response in the face of natural and man-made calamities.

Infrastructure inputs will include a swanky office and a trained rescue team comprising 26 members drawn from the police and fire brigade. The personnel have been called civic security guards and their number will increase to 78. The disaster management personnel will be posted in all city’s municipal wards and linked via wireless networks, state government officials say.

In the works are an emergency line operational round the clock for the benefit of citizens.

Incidentally, the civic body’s disaster management cell has networks in 86 places across the city. But with not enough trained staff, the wireless equipment and computerised networks remained unused when the city was hit by record rainfall on July 26. Officials admit privately that much of the equipment were in a state of disrepair.

The BMC has now approached Tata Consultancy Services to beef up its communication systems.

Meanwhile, the state government today announced that at least 10 lakh families across Maharashtra had been affected by the floods and landslides.

With the state infrastructure unable to manage rescue and rehabilitation, the state government has asked private sector organisations and the NGOs to pitch in.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today told reporters that the aid of Rs 500 crore sent by the Central Government was too small. Much of it would be spent in providing immediate relief to survivors and the ex-gratia assistance to the families of the deceased.

The state government has so far sent in rations of 10 kg foodgrains to all affected.

In addition, the families of the dead will receive Rs 1 lakh for every adult who died in the floods and An ex gratia of Rs 50,000 for every minor who died in the floods.

So far, nearly 1000 people have perished in the monsoon disaster and more than 100 persons have been recorded as missing.

Bangalore, August 4
Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) president H D Dewe Gowda today completed the last formality to remove erstwhile confidant and senior party leader Siddaramaiah from the post of Deputy Chief Minister by removing him from the post of leader of the legislature party. Senior minister M.P. Prakash was today elected Leader of the JD (S) Legislature Party at a meeting attended by a majority of the party legislators.

Siddaramaiah is, however, in no mood to give up and is expected to go down fighting. He is slated to preside over a meeting of legislature party called by him today evening in which he is likely to take “action” against the majority group. However, with only a handful of legislators remaining loyal to Siddaramaiah, his fight seems to be doomed.

Talking to newspersons, Mr Gowda maintained that removing Mr Siddaramaiah as the leader of the legislature party was a collective decision made by 52 legislators and seven members of the legislative council. He, however, maintained that no disciplinary action was being taken against the Deputy Chief Minister, who he said was free to visit various parts of the state and give suggestions on how the lot of the Scheduled Castes and backwards could be improved further.

Asked whether the removal of Mr Siddaramaiah from the legislature party post would strengthen the Congress, he said, “I know the capacity of my party and my workers”. He, however, went on to hint that he had put pressure on Congress President Sonia Gandhi to the effect that she should not induct Mr Siddaramaiah into the Congress saying only his party’s coalition with the Congress in the state was keeping the communal forces at bay. Mr Gowda also maintained that since he was supporting the Congress in the state there was no question of having any alliance with the BJP to form any future government.

Mr Gowda’s supporters today also announced that the newly elected JD (S) legislature party leader would be sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister in place of Mr Siddaramaiah in a few days. Two of Mr Siddaramaiah’s supporters, who are ministers in the coalition government, would also be replaced in the coming days.

Reacting to Mr Siddaramaiah’s claim that the entire process of his removal was illegal, Mr Gowda said the Deputy Chief Minister had not formed the rules of the legislature party, which he should have done. “In the absence of any rules, the legislators were free to turn to the party’s president to address their grievances”. Mr Gowda also indicated that the Deputy Chief Minister should accept his fate by saying “legality is secondary, the confidence of the legislators is more important”. Replying to another charge of encouraging dynasty rule of his sons in the party, he said he himself was the son of a poor farmer and that his sons had come up in the party through sheer hard work.

New Delhi, August 4
Manipur, nearly cut off from the rest of the country for the past 45 days due to an economic blockade by Naga students of the state, would get immediate and all possible assistance from the Centre to normalise the situation, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said today.

“The first option is of the state government to manage the situation. If it fails to do so, then we will try to send essential goods through other routes available in the adjoining states, and can even airlift the commodities,” Mr Patil said in reply to a calling attention motion of BJP MP V K Malhotra and others in the Lok Sabha.

He said that keeping in mind the “sensitivity of the people, we have to conduct in a manner that their difficulties and differences are reduced.”

“We are doing that and well continue to do that,” he said.

The discussion on the motion started on a sore note with Speaker Somnath Chatterjee taking objection to the absence of the Home Minister in the House when the motion was being called. He adjourned the House for 10 minutes, much to the embarrassment of the Treasury Benches, including UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who left the House in a huff immediately.

Mr Patil sought to wriggle out of the situation by citing earlier precedents during his tenure as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha when calling attention motions were taken up after zero hour and apologised for his absence.

The Speaker, however, said he was not “exonerating” the minister and said: “I take strong view of this. I hope you have made an unconditional apology. This should not be repeated in the future at any time”.

Later, replying to the motion, the Home Minister said the Ministers of Manipur Government and representatives of All-Nagaland Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) met in Senapati district yesterday. “The reports are that the talks between them are encouraging and would help in solving the problem. They are likely to continue these talks,” he said.

The Union Home Secretary is likely to visit that area very soon, he said, adding that the Centre has asked the state government “to do everything possible to overcome the difficulties arising out of the shortages of essential commodities in the state”.

“We have promised them to help in every respect to see that there is no shortage of essential commodities in the state.

“By following different routes and by using all the means which can be used, the commodities required would be supplied to them. In case it becomes necessary, airlifting of commodities like medicine would also be done. The problems in these states are of a very sensitive nature. In order to maintain law and order and peace in the area it is necessary to keep in mind the sensitivity of people belonging to different tribes,” he said.

Manipur has been virtually cut off from the rest of the country for the past 45 days with Naga students, under the aegis of ANSAM, reportedly blocking the national highways ( NH 39 and NH 53) connecting the state.

The Indian Oil Corporation and Food Corporation of India have been asked to make all efforts to send maximum supplies to Manipur. Full protection to the convoys carrying these essentials is asked to be assured, Mr Patil said.

“Those who are involved in the blockade in Manipur and other places should be stopped. Security forces are asked to see that the blockade is not allowed and law and order and peace is maintained in the area,” he said.

Hyderabad, August 4
President A.P.J Abdul Kalam will inaugurate on Friday a state-of-the-art medical bioinformatics centre here, considered to be the first such facility in the country.

Jointly established and managed by the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) and Sun Microsystems Inc, the 5 million dollar initiative will carry out advanced research in bioinformatics.

This centre, which is to be housed in a recently developed Rs 30 crore facility adjacent to the picturesque Gandipet lake near Hyderabad, forms the ninth major centre of the Sun in the world and the first established in India for medical informatics.

CDFD Director Syed Hasnain told a news conference that the centre would create a database on infectious diseases and genetic disorders with focus on tuberculosis, the synergy between tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS and gastric disorders.

The centre will also serve as a national node for Asia-Pacific Bioinformatics Network (APBioNet) to promote bioinformatics education with connectivity to similar centres of excellence across the globe.

Sun Microsystems is investing 4 million dollars in the centre and the remainder is to be provided by the CDFD and the Andhra Pradesh Government.

The agreement for the centre was signed by the Andhra Pradesh Government and Sun Microsystems three years ago in the USA.

Hyderabad, August 4
A local court in Vijayawada today handed out death sentence to Y. Manohar, who was charged with killing his classmate R. Srilakshmi for spurning his advances.

Mahila Sessions Courts Judge M. Chalapathi Rao, who deferred the judgement twice earlier in the day, said in his judgment, delivered in the afternoon, that the heinous crime against the innocent student was “premeditated”, and hence the accused deserved capital punishment.

The sentence will have to be confirmed by the High Court.

The death sentence was greeted with approval by thousands of people, including students, women organisations and general public, who had thronged the court premises in anticipation of the judgement.

The police had made elaborate security arrangements near the Sessions Court and prevented slogan shouting by activists from various organisations, who demanded capital punishment for the accused.

The judge on Tuesday had pronounced Manohar guilty of the charges framed by the prosecution and reserved the final judgment for today.

Srilakshmi, an MCA (II) student of Sarada College at Vijayawada, 275 km from here, was in the classroom along with friends when Manoher, a classmate who had been stalking her for over a year, barged in and stabbed her to death on June 21, 2004.

The killing of the girl sent shock waves across the state and elicited such a reaction that the Vijayawada Bar Association resolved not to defend the accused in the case.

The National Commission for Women, which probed the incident, had said that it was shameful that though the harassed girl had complained to college authorities and the Police Commissioner, no one came to her rescue.

Two other accused in the case — Uma Maheswari and Varamma, cousin and maternal aunt, respectively, of Manohar — who sheltered him after the crime were acquitted of all charges.

Special public prosecutor Ramakrishna Rao argued that it was a “rarest of the rare case” and the accused deserved severe punishment.

New Delhi, August 4
External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh embarks on his first visit to Bangladesh on August 6 during which he would meet the top Bangladeshi leadership and discuss Indo-Bangla bilateral relations in their entirety. The visit will also be an occasion for high-level political interaction between the two countries and will be a precursor to the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the 13th SAARC Summit, scheduled to held in Dhaka in November.

Mr Natwar Singh is expected to call on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Finance Minister Saifur Rehman, and Leader of Opposition, apart from holding discussions with Mr Morshed Khan.