Jaipur, May 14
In a shocking display of brutality, the police today beat up around 100 woman teachers protesting inside the Civil Lines residence of Rajasthan Education Minister Bhanwarlal Meghwal here.

Agitating teachers were demanding that the Nursery Teachers Training (NTT) be treated at par with Basic School Training Certificate (BSTC), which would enable them to apply for government jobs. Initially, protesters put forth their views before minister Meghwal, who said he could do nothing and that they should protest before the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) in New Delhi.

When NTT teachers asked him to take up the matter in New Delhi in his capacity as Rajasthan Education Minister, Meghwal said, “I don’t have a magic wand that will get you a government job.” He, instead, blamed NTT teachers, wondering why they took up the course when there was no NTT-level school in the state. Irked, teachers resorted to sloganeering after which the police - including women personnel -- warned them to leave the minister’s residence. When protesters refused to budge, police used force. They grabbed protesters by their hair and hands and dragged them along the ground even as screams echoed in Meghwal’s residential premises. Several women fainted in the melee.

Meghwal initially feigned ignorance about the police brutality but later said that the manner in which the women protested was not right. “In a democracy, every individual can demand and exercise their rights. However, this should be done in a peaceful manner, and not by shouting in agitations,” he said.

Regarding government efforts, he said they tried their best to ensure that the National Council for Teacher Education recognised NTT, but it didn’t yield desired results. “Now, the teachers should raise the matter in New Delhi,” he added.

New Delhi, May 14
With the Union Cabinet yesterday approving its proposal to assume control of Medical Council of India (MCI) affairs, the Health Ministry is fast-tracking work on the finalisation of seven-member expert committee to look after the MCI till a new council is constituted.

An indication of the Government’s urgency to put in place the alternative arrangement came through this evening with Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the latter’s residence. The two are learnt to have discussed the constitution of the proposed board of governors, which must command impeccable integrity, other modalities, powers and responsibilities of the board.

With the PM’s approval to the proposed Ordinance, the same can be sent to the President tomorrow for approval. Once the President signs it, the existing MCI would be deemed dissolved and the new board of governors would take over. Azad is expected to announce the new arrangement tomorrow before he leaves for Geneva to attend the World Health Assembly.

Meanwhile, speculation was rife today on the names of medical experts who could be on the new MCI board. Noted cardiologist K Srinath Reddy, currently president of Public Health Foundation of India, and former AIIMS director P Venugopal are likely choices. Director AIIMS RC Deka, Director PGI, Chandigarh, KK Talwar are also expected to be nominated as to the board as ex-officio members.

Earlier in the day, Union Health Secretary Sujatha Rao said the ordinance would have to be first signed by the President for the remedial proposal to become effective. She was silent on the contours of the Ordinance and said the Ministry had sent some proposals to the Cabinet for consideration and among them was the proposal to immediately rectify the mess in MCI (read by passing an ordinance to constitute a 7-member expert team which can’t be constituted as per the MCI Act).

Other proposals the Ministry made include amendment to the Indian Medical Council Act to give the government authority over the MCI if the latter fails to discharge its responsibilities well, and the creation of National Council for Human Resources in Health as proposed in the Presidential speech. Rao said the Health Ministry was working on a full-fledged law to regulate medical education and work had begun on the draft of the said law.

The Tribune had earlier reported how the Ministries of Health and HRD are engaged in discussions on whether medical education should be regulated by the National Council for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) whose draft bill is being prepared under the HRD Ministry or whether it should be monitored by a separate body on medical education.

The health secretary favours the latter and has asked the HRD Ministry for consultations on the issue. The Health Ministry already has a taskforce working on its own separate draft bill to create an overarching regulator that would subsume the MCI, the Dental Council of India and the Pharmacy Council of India.

New Delhi, May 14
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has ruled out any conspiracy/sabotage theories regarding the helicopter crash which led to death of the then Cheif Minster of Andhra Pradesh YS Rajashekhara Reddy in September last year. In its enquiry report, the CBI concluded that the crash was an accident which could have been averted had the pilots taken a decision to terminate the journey or change the flight path in view of the adverse weather conditions.

The CBI today submitted a report on the death of YS Rajashekara Reddy and four others in the helicopter crash to the Government of Andhra Pradesh and District Magistrate Kurnool.

On September 2, 2009, the then Chief Minster YS Rajashekara Reddy, accompanied by Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr P Subramanyam, and Chief Security Officer to Chief Minister ASC Wesley, left Begumpet Airport in the state-owned helicopter Bell-430 VT APG at 8.38 am for attending an official programme in Chittoor district.

The helicopter disappeared from the radar screen of Air Traffic Control (ATC), Shamshabad at 9.23.30 hours IST after travelling a distance of 94.1 nautical miles from the airport. Search and rescue operations located the wreckage of the helicopter on a hillock ‘Chirumanu Chiruthagundam Thippa’ in Nallamalla Reserve Forest, Atmakur Mandal, Kurnool Distt along with the dead bodies of all the five persons.

According to CBI spokesperson Harsh Bhal, the agency has conducted a detailed and exhaustive enquiry into the matter. “During the enquiry, several witnesses were examined and the assistance of experts from the National Aerospace Laboratories(NAL), Bangalore, Institute of Aerospace Medicine(IAM), Bangalore, Central Forensic Laboratories, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Chandigarh, Rotary Wing Society of India, Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, National Remote Sensing Center, Hyderabad , Zen Technologies Ltd, Hyderabad and several others was taken,” said Bhal.

Guwahati, May 14
The police is yet to trace a senior Maharashtra forest officer, Vilas Bardekar, who was abducted by suspected militants belonging to the banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.

An Indian Forest Service officer, Bardekar is the Joint Director of Social Forestry at Pune. Security sources said he was abducted at gunpoint by a group of militants on Wednesday morning from a village near the Eagle’s Nest Wildlife Sanctuary in West Kameng of the state close to Sonitpur district in Assam.

The Maharashtra officer was on a private visit to Arunachal Pradesh and had gone to the Daimara reserved forest adjoining Eagle’s Nest Wildlife Sanctuary to take photographs of butterflies when he was kidnapped. He was accompanied by two local guides when he was accosted and abducted by a group of eight persons armed with small arms. 

New Delhi, May 14
Sex ratio situation in the country could worsen further if population projections on the eve of Census 2011 are anything to go by. Demographers engaged with the task of population counting are hinting at a significant decline in child sex ratio (0-6 years) and a moderate decline in sex ratio as compared to the results attained 10 years ago in the 2001 census.

In 2001, the enumerators had counted 927 girl children (0-6 years category) per 1,000 male children; 933 females were found for every 1,000 males.

But, recent projections by the National Population Council and the Registrar General of India in respect of sex ratio in the country are not very heartening. Based on the Sample Registration System (SRS), the projections hint at decline in the sex ratio from the base figure of 933 females per 1,000 males in 2001. A major decline is being anticipated in child sex ratio despite demographers appreciating the efforts made by problem states like Punjab and Haryana, which could post improvements this time.

SRS data confirms some of the worst fears of enumerators. In 2004-2005 SRS data, only 892 females were born against every 1,000 males. The subsequent projections in 2005-2006 posted marginally better results at 901 women per 1,000 men. The next set of SRS results did not give the demographers much to cheer about either as the number of females improved marginally over 2005-2006 - 904 females counted per 1,000 males.

If the current trend continues, India could, at best, expect 910-915 females per 1,000 males by 2011. In some of the states, attaining this mark might be a problem. In the national capital for example, there were meager improvements reported in sex ratio over the past four years. SRS data for Delhi places the sex ratio as follows - 847 (2004-2005), 871 (2005-2006) and 877 (2007-2008). Sex ratio for the corresponding years in Punjab has been - 808; 837 and 836; for Haryana - 837, 843, 847 and for Rajasthan - 855, 865 and 870, respectively.

Population experts say improvements are expected in Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Goa, which had posted dismal sex ratios in 2001. This because of the stringent implementation of anti-sex determination laws in these states.

“As per SRS projections, the sex ratio situation could improve in Punjab and Haryana. There are some positive signals but we can’t discount the impact which nuclear family concept will have on child sex ratio. As couples choose professions over families, it’s the child sex ratio that takes the hit. That’s why the worry over a drop in child sex ratio,” said a population expert.

Another factor being cited for this fall over the past 10 years is the improvement of health services in the hitherto backward states like Bihar, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh where access to sex determination facilities could well have created trouble for the girl child.

Lucknow, May 14
Four policemen have been arrested from different districts of Uttar Pradesh on the suspicion of being involved in a racket to smuggle arms and ammunition for Maoists, officials said today.

Carrying out a joint operation with the police, the Special Task Force (STF) yesterday arrested the four cops from the Provincial Armed Constabulary from Gonda, Faizabad and Gorakhpur districts. They are Sushil Kumar, armourer with the PAC's 30th battalion in Gonda, Jitendra Singh and Amar Singh, both deployed as armourers in Faizabad, and Rajesh Shahi, an armourer with the Gorakhpur police, an official said.

They were held after their names were disclosed by an armourer of Basti district, who is being interrogated for his alleged involvement in the racket.

"We assisted the STF in making the arrests on the basis of statements given by our armourer," Basti SP Gyan Singh said.

On April 30, ADG (Law and Order) Brij Lal had told reporters that six persons - two CRPF troopers, three Uttar Pradesh police personnel and a retired sub inspector - had been arrested on suspicion of supplying arms and ammunition to Maoists.

According to him, over 5,000 live cartridges/magazines of pistols, carbine, AK 47, SLR (self-loading rifle) and around 250 kg of shells and other arms components had been recovered from their possession. — IANS

Hyderabad, May 14
In a suspected terror attack, a police constable was killed and two others injured when two scooter-borne unidentified gunmen opened fire at a police picket in Hyderabad today.

The attack, which resembled similar to hit-and-run operations carried out by ISI-inspired outfits in the past, took place near a hotel in the busy Shah-ali-Banda area of the old city, just a few yards from the historic Charminar.

City Police Commissioner AK Khan said the assailants opened fire from close range, targeting policemen on duty, and fled the scene immediately. The police picket was set up as a part of security arrangements ahead of the third anniversary of the bomb blast that ripped through the historic Mecca Masjid on May 18, 2007.

“Just when we heaved a sign of relief over peaceful conduct of the Friday prayers, the attack took place. Some of the policemen on the picket duty had gone for lunch when unidentified persons had opened fire,” said Khan.

The suspected terror strike came even as the police had stepped up security measures in the city during the last one week following a terror alert. A red alert has been sounded in the city and neighbouring areas following the attack and the police launched a massive manhunt to nab the assailants. 

New Delhi, May 14
Even as senior BJP leaders were scheduled to sit and deliberate on the Jharkhand issue here this evening, there were simultaneous broad hints from the party that no decision was expected even today.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari, who was busy in Chandigarh till this evening, was scheduled to reach here later today and then summon the party leaders to deliberate on the Jharkhand issue. But till late in the evening most leaders had not received any communication from the president and were wondering whether the meeting would be held at all.

Earlier in the evening BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar had announced that “on his return from Chandigarh, Gandkari will hold a meeting of senior leaders at 5.30 pm.” He too seemed oblivious about the venue of this meeting.

Gadkari is going to Nagpur tomorrow, where he is likely to meet the RSS leaders and BJP insiders were speculating whether Gadkari may make an announcement from there. The next day, Sunday, Gadkari plans to fly out of the country from Mumbai for a fortnight-long holiday and may return only by end of this month or earlier next month.

Therefore there was a view in the party that the situation in Jharkhand has become so complicated and irretrievable for the BJP that it is becoming increasingly difficult for the leaders to make any announcement, which could redeem the party’s prestige.

According to BJP sources, when most leaders were agreeing on the choice of Arjun Munda, LK Advani floated the name of Yashwant Sinha, despite past hostility between the two, because party insiders said former president Rajnath Singh was backing Munda. Similarly, BJP organising general secretary Ram Lal was rooting for Jharkhand deputy chief minister Raghubar Das.

In the meantime, the JMM pressed on for chief ministership by rotation and Gadkari, Rajnath and general secretary Ananth Kumar, chiefly involved in these negotiations, finally agreed to this. But again Advani and Sushma Swaraj ruled out any rotation and insisted that the BJP would rule for the entire four and half years’ tenure of the state assembly.

Mumbai, May 14
The Congress today asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan to ascertain the veracity of 19 serious offences registered against Minister of State for Home Ramesh Bagwe in Pune, which also led the authorities to put on hold the renewal of his passport.

A senior police official in Pune has said there were 19 criminal cases registered against Bagwe, out of which 15 are cognisable and four non cognisable.

Bagwe claimed there were some people in the police department who wanted to defame him. He said he had applied for the renewal of his passport about two years ago.

A senior official at the Pune passport office said renewal of Bagwe's passport has been stalled as police verification report (sent on February 8) mentions 19 pending cases against him.

After surfacing of the reports, the Congress leadership has asked Chavan to inquire into the matter and submit a report on the same. — PTI

New Delhi, May 14
The much-talked about Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline is expected to be put on the front-burner yet again during talks between the Iranian leadership and External Affairs Minister SM Krishna who is flying to Tehran tomorrow.

Though Krishna’s visit is in connection with the G-15 summit, it will provide him an opportunity to hold in-depth talks with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottakki on a wide range of issues like the situation in Afghanistan, India’s vote against Iran at the IAEA over its nuclear programme and New Delhi’s position on the likely fresh UN sanctions against the Islamic Republic, apart from the pipeline project.

The G-15 summit is politically timely for Iran as it seeks to garner support from developing countries in North America, South America, Africa and Asia in the face of the threat of a fourth round of America-initiated UN sanctions against it over its controversial nuclear programme.

Krishna was earlier scheduled to visit Tehran in March but the two sides could not finalise mutually convenient dates, forcing him to defer the tour.

The spotlight during the bilateral talks will obviously be on the pipeline in view of the interest being shown by China to participate in the ambitious project in the event of India pulling out of it. Iran and Pakistan have already finalised the enabling agreement while India has not made up its mind in view of issues like pricing and security of the 7.6 billion dollar project. It is significant to note that the proposed pipeline will pass through the volatile regions of Pakistan's southwestern province Balochistan.

On top of it, the US has been constantly pressuring both India and Pakistan not to go ahead with any economic project with Iran because of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear programme.

Though India has repeatedly stated there was no question of surrendering to the American dictates, the slow progress of talks on the pipeline project clearly indicates that India is paying heed to Washington’s advice. But, moves made by Beijing to participate in the project with the implicit support of Pakistan have made New Delhi reconsider its ambivalence on the project.

New Delhi, May 14
Six Indians on board a British vessel hijacked by Somali pirates in December last year from the Gulf of Aden have been released along with 20 other multinational crew after a ransom was paid.

“We have received information from the owner’s representatives that the British vessel, St James Park, has been released on May 13 and all the 26 crew including 6 Indians are safe,” a senior official in the Directorate General of Shipping said today.

“The vessel hijacked on December 28 last year from the Gulf of Aden is currently on route to a safe port of refuge,” the official said. The official said the vessel was released after ransom was paid to the pirates at a Somalian port but there was no word on the amount. In Brussels, the European Union anti-piracy mission said owners of the chemical tanker had dropped the ransom to the pirates holding the vessel in the Somali port of Garacaad yesterday. The number of Indians still held hostage by the pirates is 57, including those on board a Belgium-bound chemical tanker MV Marida Marguerite with 22 crew members, including 19 Indians, hijacked on May 9 from the Gulf of Aden.— PTI

New Delhi, May 14
Anand Kumar, director-cum-founder of Super 30 - Bihar's free coaching centre that helps economically backward students crack the IIT-JEE, has been selected by Time Magazine in the list of The Best of Asia 2010.

Initiated by Kumar in 2002, the school has trained hundreds of students; 182 have passed the JEE. This year, Kumar has enhanced the scope of Super 30 to 60.

The effort has now borne fruit. He still can’t forget the days when his mother would make “papads” and he would go about selling them door-to-door. “That’s how we earned a living. I never had the time to go to school,” says the mathematician who had an invite in 1994 from the Cambridge University to pursue advanced studies in Math. He could not go because he didn't have enough money.

In fact, he started studying late in life, attending Ramanujan School of Mathematics that educates poor children free of cost. “I have suffered poverty. I know what it is to be like brilliant but poor,” says Kumar, who credits his achievement to his supporters in the group.

He has now taken his Super 30 initiative beyond Bihar by selecting some poor students from Haryana. “I wish to see the scope of my dream grow with each passing day. The recognition by Time Magazine is just one milestone. There are several more waiting to be crossed,” says the man who has gifted to lakhs of poor students the most precious thing ever - the right to dream and the opportunity to live it. 

New Delhi, May 14
The Government today decided to set up 18 disabled-friendly schools in each of the Kendriya Vidyalaya regions. This would be done on an emergency basis to create a model school for special children. The decision was taken here today at the meeting of the board of governors of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, which also decided that the admissions under MP quotas would happen over and above the mandated classroom strength.

This decision was taken to ensure general category students, who are entitled to admissions, don’t get left out due to exhaustion of class strength. HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, who had given up his own quota to prevent injustice to students, recently restored the MP quotas of two admissions per year.