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Nandigram Panchayat
Polls
Cyclone-ravaged Myanmar
Monsoon sets in ahead of schedule
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Buddha’s remarks on PM baseless: Cong
IMA endorsing products?
Vocalist Feroz Dastoor dead
Sloth bear dies after tranquillising
Rising Crime
Gauhati University VC resigns
Increasing demand of IT professionals
Viralimalai in TN declared heritage town
12 ultras killed in encounter
Blast in court trying SIMI cases
Minor raped
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CPM deputes cadres to ensure win: Dasmunshi
Subhrangshu Gupta Tribune News Service
Kolkata, May 10 Forward Bloc leader Ashok Ghose, RSP’s Kshiti Goswami and the CPI’s Monju Gopal Mazumdar also raised the same allegations. There were reports of incidents of violence from Nandigram and five other South Bengal districts where the panchayat elections would be held in the first phase tomorrow. Most of the incidents related to the forcible acquiring of areas, snatching of EVMs and voters identity cards. At Nandigram, over 20 persons, mostly belonging to the Bhoomi Raksha Committee, were injured when the CPM supporters allegedly fired at them. Later when some TMC workers staged demonstration at the SDO office, they were beaten up by the police, alleged TMC MLA, Subhendhu Adhikery. Over 30 Congress workers and supporters were injured when they were fired upon while they were organising an electioneering rally. Congress MLA Manash Bhuiya alleged that the CPM cadres were involved in the attack. But the police did not take any actions against the culprits. Later, the Congress supporters organised demonstrations and gheraoed the police station. Addressing a press conference at Behrampore in Murshidabad, Dasmunshi warned Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee that the Centre would no more sit idle to his misusing of the police and the government machinery for the party’s interests. The Chief Minister, however, reiterated that the elections would be fair and peaceful. But city’s intellectuals, including actress Aparna Sen, who were going to Nandigram today after obtaining permission of the state election commission for watching the tomorrow’s elections, had been detained at Bagnan and then forced to go back to Kolkata.
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WHO arm keeping eye on situation
Tripti Nath Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 10 A control room manned by experts is gathering latest information on Nargis cyclone through communication links with the WHO country offices in Myanmar, Thailand and WHO headquarters in Geneva. According to the Myanmar government, 22,464 persons have been killed and about 41,000 went missing in the cyclone that hit the country on Saturday. Seven townships in the Delta region and 40 in the Yangon area have been badly affected. The WHO regional director Samlee Plianbangchang and deputy regional director Poonam Khetrapal Singh are expected to visit Myanmar soon to make a spot assessment of the needs arising from large-scale devastation. Myanmar is the largest country in mainland South-East Asia and has a long coastline of about 2,400 km. Ahead of Plianbangchang’s visit, the first installment of WHO’s South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) of $1,75,000 has been released to help the victims of the cyclone. Poonam Khetrapal Singh said medical supplies sent by India have reached Myanmar. “There is a huge shortage of safe drinking water in Myanmar. We have already sent 35,000 Chlorine tablets by air. We have also sent emergency health kits containing medicines. Each kit has medicines for 10,000 persons, which will suffice for three months. We have sent 10 such kits. Keeping in mind that the Delta region is a Malaria-endemic zone, we are procuring impregnated (malaria proof) bed nets to send there,” he informed. At the WHO SEARO office here, a multi-disciplinary team led by Dr Roderico Ofrion, acting regional advisor for emergency and humanitarian action, is monitoring the ground situation in Myanmar through news updates from its country office in Myanmar, Bangkok and WHO headquarters in Geneva. Operating from Strategic Health Operation Centre (SHOC) in the SEARO office here, the core team comprising public information and advocacy officer Vismita Gupta-Smith, information management officer Kim Hyojeong and a technical officer for emergency and humanitarian action. The SHOC was set up in December 2004 tsunami to establish a facility for speedy communication that is critical for reaching out to victims in natural disasters and disease outbreaks. Poonam Khetrapal Singh spoke to WHO country head Adik Wibowo in Myanmar today. “Wibowo said they have already used the first instalment of $1,75,000 from South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund and need more money.” Singh said SEARO was the first six region of WHO to set up the SEARHEF, a pooled fund, to address the immediate health needs of a disaster-affected population during the initial three months of a health emergency in South-East Asia when funds from other sources are not readily available. It was endorsed by 11 member states at the WHO regional committee for South-East Asia. They agreed that a total amount of $3,50,000 (about Rs 14 million) be released in two equal installments to the country facing such an emergency. She said the WHO SERAO office is coordinating with UN agencies in Myanmar. Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross has said it planned to deliver aid to various places of detention affected by the devastation of the cyclone. In a statement issued from Geneva, the ICRC said: “At the request of the Myanmar authorities, it will provide temporary shelter, emergency household items and enough food, drinking water and essential drugs.” The statement quotes Pierre Andre-Conod, ICRC’s head of delegation in Myanmar, as saying they have learnt that several detention facilities have been hit by the cyclone. “We notified the authorities that we were ready to act quickly provided we received the necessary authorisations,” Conod said. The ICRC has drawn up an initial budget of two million Swiss francs to reunite family members separated by the disaster and help in the recovery, identification and dignified management of the dead.
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Monsoon sets in ahead of schedule
New Delhi, May 10 At present the northern limit of monsoon is passing through latitude (lat).5.0°N / long 90.0° E, Nancowrie, lat.9.0° N/long. 95.0° E, Lat.10.0° N/long 100.0° E. According to IMD director B.P. Yadav, southwest monsoon normally sets in over southeast Bay of Bengal and south Andaman Sea around May 15, however, this year, persistence convection over Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal were observed for the past three to four days. Though there is no one-to-one relationship between the two dates of onset of monsoon over southeast Bay of Bengal and south Andaman Sea and over Kerala, current observations indicate
that monsoon will keep its date with Kerala and not be late. The average date of onset of monsoon over Kerala is June 1.“It is not likely to be late over Kerala,” IMD’s Pune-based National Climate Center director M. Rajeevan told The Tribune. “Current indications are that monsoon will break over Kerala around June 1. All parameters are being monitored and the IMD will issue the exact date of onset of monsoon over Indian mainland sometime next week,” he added. As for now, there has been strengthening (20-30 knots) and deepening (up to middle troposphere) of westerly winds over the region during the past 48 hours. There will be widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy to very heavy falls over Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the past 48 hours, all indicatives of good progression of rain-bearing winds. Current meteorological analysis and interpretation of various numerical weather prediction models indicate formation of a low pressure area over Andaman Sea and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around May 12. Yadav says there is further strengthening of westerlies over south Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea and widespread rainfall activity over Andaman
and Nicobar Islands is expected during the next three to four days. Forecast for the next 48 hours is that conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon over some more parts of southeast Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.
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Buddha’s remarks on PM baseless: Cong
New Delhi, May 10 A day after the Marxist Chief Minister launched a personal attack against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Congress came out with a strong rebuttal, rejecting his remarks as being “wrong, baseless and unwarranted”. Lashing out at the Prime Minister, Bhattacharjee had said he had failed to perform on all fronts, especially the price rise. Decrying the unwarranted attack on the Prime Minister’s leadership, Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan turned the tables on Bhattacharjee saying instead of blaming the PM for non-performance, the Chief Minister should take strong and effective action in his own home state against black marketeers and hoarders to check the price rise. of food grains. Stating the UPA government has moved with alacrity to curb inflation, she said it was equally important for state governments to contribute to the efforts to control inflation. “It is only the state governments which have the responsibility to crack down sternly on hoarders and black
marketeers. The state governments also have the responsibility to streamline the public distribution system,” Natarajan said, adding that Congress governments in different states had acted decisively in this regard.
Natrajan maintained that the UPA government had achieved a spectacular record of performance under Dr Manmohan Singh’s leadership and that the focus of the ruling coalition had always been the welfare of the “aam
admi”. As for the current spell of price rise, she said it was part of a worldwide phenomenon but the government had put several stringent measures in place to control the runaway inflation. Stating that Bhattacharya’s remarks are not based on accurate information, Natarajan said he had basically made these remarks to gain some electoral advantage in the West Bengal panchayat elections. Although both Congress and Left leaders privately admit that this angry exchange of words is essentially election rhetoric, it is nevertheless ironic that of all the Left leaders, it is West Bengal Chief Minister Bhattacharjee who has chosen to lash out at the Prime Minister considering that the two leaders have always enjoyed a good rapport. Buddha calls up PM After mounting a public attack against the Prime Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today rang up Dr Manmohan Singh to tell him that these should not be taken too seriously. The Chief Minister explained that his statements were basically part of election posturing and were not aimed personally against the PM. The Prime Minister is learnt to have assured him that he had not taken his comments amiss. The PM also told media persons this evening that such statements were expected in politics, particularly when elections were round the corner.
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IMA endorsing products?
New Delhi, May 10 The IMA, however, has paid scant attention to Ramadoss’ criticism and sees no harm in promoting oatmeal, which is a cholesterol reducing food. The 1,76,000 strong body of doctors, has denied reports of receiving a payment of Rs 50 lakh for the endorsement. “It has been wrongly reported that we have received Rs 3 crore from Eureka Forbes for an endorsement in the past. Neither have we struck a deal with Hindustan Lever nor are we finalising a deal with
Dabur. Two years ago, Eureka Forbes renovated our convention hall in the IMA House in Delhi and in return we have acknowledged their credit,” honorary secretary-general of IMA Dr S.N. Misra said. Defending the IMA case with a rather feeble and implausible argument, Misra argued that oatmeal was a cholesterol reducing food. Dismissing
Ramadoss’ remarks, Misra asked, “Is this the most pressing matter on the health minister’s desk? It is wrong to say that we are endorsing Tropicana juice and Oat
Quackers. We are not mentioning them in our prescription,” he said. Reacting to
Ramadoss’ advise that IMA doctors should focus on activities related to tobacco cessation and TB and malaria control, the IMA honorary secreatry general said, “We have been involving our members in 1,650 branches across the country to spread awareness on malaria, administer polio drops and give drugs under the the government’s DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Strategy) programme for tuberculosis and iron and folic acid tablets to adolescent girls and pregnant women.” The issue has however sparked off a much-needed debate on medical ethics in the medical fraternity. The Indian Medical Council’s Professional Conduct, Etiquettes and Ethics Regulation, 2002, forbid physicians from giving such approvals or endorsements. The chapter on ‘Unethical Acts’, clearly says, “A physician shall not give to any person, whether for compensation or otherwise, any approval, recommendation, endorsement, report or statement with respect of any drug, medicine, nostrum remedy, surgical or therapeutic articles, apparatus or appliances or any commercial product or article with respect of any property, quality or use thereof or any test, demonstration or trial thereof, for use or connection with his name, signature or photograph in any form or manner of advertising through any mode.” Dr Samiran
Nundy, former editor of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, says that the Medical Council of India should take cognisance of such endorsement by doctors. “Non-compliance to medical ethics is posing a big problem in India. Doctors in Britain are not allowed to advertise anything. If they do so, they would be either censured or their registration would be cancelled.” Nundy said, Dr Vikas Bajpai, spokesperson of the Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum
(PMSF) at AIIMS, says, “Doctors should eschew the temptation of lending their name and credibility to something that is not scientifically validated and backed by studies. It should be left to the company to claim the nutritional value of its products. It is not even the business of professional bodies to promote specific brands.”
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Vocalist Feroz Dastoor dead
Mumbai, May 10 He was 89. Pandit Feroz Dastur was the disciple of Sawai Gandharva, one of the greatest exponents of the Kirana Gharana, and also a disciple of the legendary Khansaheb Abdul Karim Khan. Pandit Feroz Dastur’s own disciples have made a mark for themselves in classical music and include Pandit Shrikant Deshpande, Sudha Divekar, Usha Gokarn, Girish Sanzeiri and Uttara Kelkar among others. In a singing career that spanned almost six decades, Panditji enthralled audiences both in India and abroad. In addition to performances at prestigious musical functions like the All India Music Conference, Sadarang, Sarba Bharatiya Surdas Sangeet Sammelan, Sur Singar Sansad and Tansen Music Festival, Panditji participated in every Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav since 1952. Pandit Feroz Dastur was professor of Hindustani Classical Music at Bombay University since the inception of its Department of Music in 1969. He had received several honours and awards in his lifetime including the National Award by the Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi, The Tansen Award by the Madhya Pradesh government, and the Jimmy and Shirin Guzder Trust Award by the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India. He was given an honorary doctorate by South Gujarat University and was bestowed the Maharastra State Gaurav Puraskar by the Maharastra government.
— UNI
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Sloth bear dies after tranquillising
Baripada, May 10 Forest department sources here said the sloth bear, which had strayed into the Sinduria village yesterday, had attacked and injured 10 villagers and an Armed Police Reserve (APR) constable, defying all attempts of capture. The injured were admitted to the Barsahi hospital, from where two of the critically injured were shifted to the district headquarters government hospital, the sources said. A team of about 20 forest officials, aided by the local police officials of Barsahi and Khunta, made an abortive attempt for 11 hours yesterday to drive back the animal to its neighbouring habitat, Udala Range Officer Jitendra Mohanty said. However, the animal defied all attempts and continued to attack the villagers. “Under compelling circumstances, we had no option but to tranquillise the animal so that it could be brought under control,” Mohanty said. Sources said after the first shot of the drug, the animal became more wild and continued its attack on the villagers. Later, a second dose was given to which the animal responded. The sloth bear, however, could not be revived from the sedative condition and was declared dead by veterinarians. The habitat available for sloth bears is highly degraded and interspersed by villages and agricultural land, so people often come in contact with the aggressive animal leading to man-bear conflicts.
— UNI
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Residents asked to register servants
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, May 10 The police is issuing circulars to the housing societies across Mumbai to get office-bearers to register visiting servants and live-in help with the police. “Majority of crimes against senior citizens in the city are committed by persons known to the victims like servants, cooks, cleaners, etc,” says deputy commissioner of police Sanjay Mohite, who is implementing a programme to ensure the safety of senior citizens in Mumbai. The police along with NGOs working for the aged like Dignity Foundation has set up a telephone helpline for senior citizens living alone. The police, however, said the response to such facilities had been tepid as very few people had registered with Elderline. Police officials admit that efforts to get people to register information about domestic help with the police have failed to yield results. “People do not provide information on servants due to fear of losing their employees,” the official website of the Mumbai police admits. According to the police, security guards employed by the housing societies haven't been effective. “In nearly all incidents, the buildings had employed security guards who allowed the assailants to enter the premises freely,” the police said. In two instances, the housing societies did not employ any security guard at all.
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Gauhati University VC resigns
Guwahati, May 10 Choudhury submitted his resignation letter before chancellor Lt-Gen (retd) Ajay Sinha, expressing his inability to continue under the present position. He had earlier resigned, but withdrew following the pressure from well wishers to stick to the post. Choudhury said he would not like to reconsider his resignation, as he was fed up with the continued “hostility and non-cooperation” from the
government. The flash point of the latest round of clash was a media interview by education minister Ripun Bora, where he held the Choudhury responsible for the “ills” of the university. Choudhury, a popular academician, reacted sharply to the allegation of the minister. He said he was quitting because he had not been able to fulfil the aspirations of the student and the teaching community. He said the education minister and the vice-chancellor of the main university should not have opposite view and hence, he was resigning. The vice-chancellor alleged the government funds were not enough to run the university. The government, however, blamed the university for not properly utilising the allocated funds. Meanwhile, the All Assam Student Union (AASU) criticised the government for forcing the vice-chancellor to resign. “This is unprecedented. Since Choudhury is independent-minded, he was not tolerated by Dispur. The government wants someone who can toe their line,” said AASU’s adviser Samujjal Kumar
Bhattacharrya. — UNI
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Increasing demand of IT professionals Vikas Vasudeva Tribune News Service
Roorkee, May 10 To address the issue of employability of graduate engineers, the ministry of human resource and development has evolved concept of organising ‘finishing schools’. The objective of these schools is to impart training to unemployed engineering graduates to bridge the gap between their knowledge and skills as per the needs of the industry. Consequent to the encouraging results of previous year’s where out of the total of 301 students, who had appeared for the NAC-Tech test and passed the final test, 122 students were offered jobs, the IIT is again set to organise such finishing schools in the ensuing summer vacations. “We are concentrating to address the problem of employability, essentially for engineering graduates of institutes other than IITs and NITs,” says Vinod Kumar, Coordinator, Continuing Education Centre. “We have decided to train about 80-100 candidates of each participating institute this year. Candidates would be given training in group discussion and interview skills and periodical feedback will be obtained through weekly assignments, tests, mock group discussion and interviews,” he adds.
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Viralimalai in TN declared heritage town
Pudukkottai (TN), May 10 According to sources, the notification came after a resolution was adopted by the Viralimalai village panchayat in January 2006 and a recommendation made by the district administration. The sources said the temple, built during the Vijayanagar Empire, where saint-poet Arunagirinathar was blessed with ‘ashtamasiddhi’ and evidences testified to the fact that a number of ‘siddhars’ had lived in the caves of this hill, which also houses a peacock sanctuary. Located on the Tiruchirapalli-Madurai national highway, Viralimalai is famous for a Murugan temple and the temple dedicated to Sri Shanmuganathar, located atop the Virali Hills, where Sri Arunagirinathar sung about Lord Muruga. Consequent to the notification, the peripheral area of the temple is qualified for a special sanction of Rs 50 lakh from the town and Country Planning Development Fund for providing basic amenities, with focus on drainage facility. The proposal sought Rs 26 lakh for providing drainage facility on all car streets around the temple and Rs 3.24 lakh for Kamarajar Nagar, near the temple, the sources added. — UNI
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12 ultras killed in encounter Guwahati, May 10 A caller from Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) (Jewel Garlosa) or Black Widow militant outfit informed the media that the Army had gunned down 12 of its cadres in an encounter. However, Army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia informed that no body has been recovered so far in the wake of fierce gun battle with suspected DHD(J) militants. The Army official informed
that the encounter took place after militants opened fire at a patrol party of the 57 Division of the Army between Haralu and Katang today. The Army recovered a grenade launcher and several rounds of ammunition from the encounter site. Meanwhile, in a retaliatory attack, suspected DHD (jewel) militants attacked a railway station in Assam’s North Cachar Hills district killing three persons tonight hours after 12 of their members perished in an encounter with security forces. The militants attacked Migrain Bisu railway station around 10 pm and opened fire, killing three persons on the spot, official sources said.
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Blast in court trying SIMI cases
Hubli, May 10 The police said the explosive was planted near to the witness box in the court hall. Nobody was injured in the incident. However, the furniture in the court hall was blown to smithereens. The court was closed, as it is a second Saturday. Following the blast, the police launched a search operation in the city for more such devices, if any. Talking to newspersons, police commissioner Narayan Nadamani did not rule out the involvement of terror outfits in the blast. "It could be the handiwork of terrorists or anti-national elements. Explosive experts from Bangalore had been summoned and an inquiry will be held into the incident," he said.
— UNI
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Minor raped
Dehra Dun, May 10 “Thereafter, Salhudin raped me and threatened to kill if I disclosed the matter to anyone,” the complaint alleged. The police has registered a case against Salhudin, but no arrest has been made so far.
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Youth blows his way into Guinness book Birdflu in Darjeeling,
culling begins Lt-Gen Yadav to be
Assam Rifles DG
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