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Assam violence death toll 21, shoot-at-sight ordered
Jagan withdraws bail plea from SC in assets case
Jaganmohan Reddy |
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SC turns down plea for CBI probe against Naidu
Chandrababu Naidu
Team Anna’s indefinite fast begins tomorrow
Deficient Monsoon
FDI in retail, other reforms may get further delayed
INA legend Lakshmi Sehgal dead
Lakshmi Sehgal
WB to have commission against child abuse
Amarjyoti Kalita
HC: Start K’taka Lokayukta recruitment by tomorrow
After cross-voting woes, Yeddy takes on party, Sangma
Jundal came to know of 26/11 plot in Pak
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Assam violence death toll 21, shoot-at-sight ordered
Guwahati, July 23 The police said four more bodies were recovered in Kokrajhar district during the day. Of the total 21 deaths, Kokrajhar accounted for 17, while four persons died in the neighbouring Chirang district. The police said fresh arson was reported from Fakiragram, Serfanguri, Narabari, Gossaigaon, Dotoma, Mokrajan and Tulsibari areas where miscreants set ablaze abandoned houses. A major trouble was quelled by the Army and the police when a group of more than 400 armed minority immigrants from Joypur tried to proceed towards Kokrajhar town. The police fired in the air and dispersed them. In another incident, miscreants set ablaze a camp of the disbanded Bodoland Liberation Tigers at Sapotgram. Shoot-at-sight orders have been issued and an indefinite curfew camped in Kokrajhar, while night curfew is on in Chirang and Dhubri districts. The Army has been deployed in Kokrajhar and Dhubri. Sources said around 18 companies of paramilitary forces had been deployed in lower Assam to combat the situation. Sources in Kokrajhar and Chirang district administrations said more than 50,000 villagers had taken shelter in various relief camps. In Kokrajhar district, nearly 40,000 persons have taken shelter in 35 relief camps set up by the government, while more than 10,000 persons have themselves taken shelter in various schools and government offices in Chirang as the government has not opened any official relief camp there. Two senior ministers, Rockybul Hussain and Nazrul Islam, who are touring the troubled areas, held a closed-door meeting with officials of the affected districts. Later, talking to reporters, they appealed to the people to maintain communal harmony and assured that strict action would be taken against miscreants. "We are assuring from the government and the Bodoland Tribal Autonomous Districts (BTAD) side that all steps will be taken to provide security to the people of all communities. There is no need to panic," Hussain said. — PTI Rajdhani stopped The Rajdhani Express was stopped by some protesters in Kokrajhar on Monday. The train, however, later resumed its journey. Various other trains had to be stopped due to ongoing violence. 50,000 in shelters Around 40,000 persons have taken shelter in 35 relief camps set up by the government in Kokrajhar district, while more than 10,000 persons have themselves taken shelter in various schools and govt offices in Chirang.
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Jagan withdraws bail plea from SC in assets case
New Delhi, July 23 A Bench comprising Justices TS Thakur and FMI Kalifulla allowed senior counsel Ram Jethmalani to take back the application to enable Jagan to file a “modified petition”. The bail plea relates a corruption case filed against him by the CBI. Jagan had filed the bail plea, contending that the CBI could not gather any evidence against him. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had rejected his bail plea by wrongly applying the principles governing bail jurisprudence. This resulted in depriving him of the right to liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. The CBI had opposed his bail plea, arguing that he had the propensity to influence witnesses. Political circles attach great significance to Jagan’s withdrawal of his bail plea, coming as it does in the wake of his partymen voting for Pranab Mukherjee in the Presidential election and his party’s resounding victory in the recent byelections in Andhra Pradesh. Jagan formed the YSR Congress after breaking away from the Congress which did not allow him to become the Chief Minister succeeding his father YSR Reddy, who died in a helicopter crash.
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SC turns down plea for CBI probe against Naidu
New Delhi, July 23 A Bench comprising Justices TS Thakur and Ibrhahim Kalifulla, however, granted liberty to the petitioner YS Vijayamma, wife of later CM YSR Reddy, to approach the competent court. The Bench noted that the petitioner had political rivalry with Naidu, who was now the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had also refused to entertain the plea for the same reason.
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Team Anna’s indefinite fast begins tomorrow
New Delhi, July 23 While UPA’s managers maintain that the “so-called corruption charges” against the former Finance Minister have all been duly rebutted by the ministry, it is an event that is being watched with utmost caution at the highest echelons. — TNS
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Coordinate with states, PM tells ministries
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 23 While the government may soon be forced to scale down the IMD’s forecast of rains at 96 per cent of the average to 92 per cent with an error margin of four per cent but for the present, sounding an assuring note, it today said the Central government had prepared extensive plans to deal with the deficiency in the monsoon rainfall in some parts of the country. It was in full readiness to address any situation that may arise due to any rainfall anomalies. The IMD's second stage forecast on June 22 predicted rainfall to be normal at 96 per cent of the LPA with model error of plus or minus of 4 per cent but this is now likely to be around the lower end of the range. An official statement stated that the Prime Minister had been apprised of the situation. He has directed all departments and ministries to co-ordinate efforts with state governments to meet any eventuality and monitor the situation on a weekly basis.
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FDI in retail, other reforms may get further delayed New Delhi, July 23 Industry and markets were expecting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to push reforms after the Presidential polls. The stock market read the political signals and shares of the home-grown companies engaged in organised retail tumbled about 8 per cent today on the BSE. Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, who has been trying to forge a consensus on the issue, refused to comment. The BJP charged the UPA government with showing undue haste in pushing for FDI in multi-brand retail and made it clear it would not support the move till the concerns of small farmers and retailers were addressed. "There is an unseemly hurry on part of the government to get FDI in multi-brand retail. Hasty decisions on this sort of matters will not help. The BJP will not be in a position to support," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said. — PTI Opposition intensifies JD-U president Sharad Yadav has joined hands with the Left and Samajwadi Party to oppose FDI in retail
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INA legend Lakshmi Sehgal dead
Kanpur, July 23 She met patients at her Kanpur clinic till a day before she suffered a heart attack at her Civil Lines residence last Thursday and would treat everyone who came to her, regardless of whether the patient had money or not. Sehgal worked as a medical practitioner and a social worker. She was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1998. Born as Lakshmi Swaminathan to noted lawyer Dr S Swaminathan and social worker Ammu Swaminathan in Chennai on October 24, 1914, Sehgal obtained her MBBS degree from the Madras Medical College in 1938. In 1940, she went to Singapore for further studies before coming back to the country in 1943 to join the INA. She married Colonel Prem Kumar Sehgal in 1947 and had been living in Kanpur since 1952. Sehgal was also very close to her filmmaker grandson Shad Ali. Sehgal joined the CPI (M) in 1971 and was elected for Rajya Sabha on the party's ticket. She also contested the 2002 Presidential polls against Dr APJ Abdul Kalam as a candidate for Left parties but lost. Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the nation has lost an icon of selfless service. Ansari described Sehgal as a noted freedom fighter and tireless campaigner for women's rights and social causes. Ansari said, “Captain Lakshmi Sehgal represents the pinnacle of sacrifice and struggle for the country, and for the rights of the downtrodden and women. Her contribution in public life in politics, the trade union movement and the women's movement are remembered by one and all". — PTI
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WB to have commission against child abuse
Kolkata, July 23 The decision has been taken in the wake of gradual increase in the incidents of child abuse in schools, households and other organisations in the state where the children are often engaged as day-labourers in violation of the orders. Talking to media persons after the meeting, the state Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee said Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh has been asked to prepare a detailed report on formation, powers and jurisdiction of the commission and submit it to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Significantly, the Cabinet did not pass any resolution congratulating President-elect Pranab Mukherjee. The Chief Minister also did not spell out at the meeting whether she would attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new President or not. But some Congress leaders, including Pradip Bhattacharjayya, WBPCC president; Manash Bhuiya, state irrigation minister; and Adhir Chowdhury and Deepa DasMunshi, both MPs, among others, will be going to New Delhi for attending Mukherjee’s oath-taking. Mukherjee’s three sisters, brothers-in-law, other family membershave already left for New Delhi.
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Guwahati Molestation Case
Guwahati, July 23 Guwahati city SSP, AP Tewari, confirmed that the accused, who has been absconding for a fortnight, was arrested near Benaras Hindu University with the help of the local police. “Yes, the prime accused Amarjyoti Kalita has been arrested from Varanasi and a special team of the Assam police is interrogating him at Varanasi cantonment police station,” said the SSP. The accused Amarjyoti Kalita carried a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh award. He was an employee of Assam Electronics Development Corporation (AMTRON), the IT agency of Assam government. He was sacked after he was found involved in the inhuman molestation incident. With his arrest, 14 of the 17 accused in the case have been arrested by the police. The inhuman molestation incident took place on the arterial Guwahati-Shillong Road in the heart of the city on the night of July 9, which sent shock waves throughout the country. Of the 14 accused arrested, seven are in judicial custody while Gaurav Jyoti Neog, the TV journalist who had filmed the molestation incident, is in police custody. Kalita's family has welcomed the news of his arrest, while expressing shame over his acts. “We are very happy that he is in police custody. It was an unfortunate incident for him. He got accidentally involved with the incident. We are ashamed of his actions," said his elder brother Rupjyoti Kalita.
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Man reunites with family after 17 years
Amritsar, July 23 Pratima today came from Akui village in Bardhwan district of West Bengal and her eyes welled up with tears when she saw Subodh. He also nodded his head in affirmation as soon as he saw her. Sporting red vermillion in her hair and a bright red colour bindi on her forehead she thanked the Almighty. She came with her nephews Papan Mitra and Ramu Ruidas to take Subodh back with them. Papan said about two months ago officials of Bardhwan district administration contacted their family and informed about a person in Amritsar who resembled Subodh. Pratima still curses the day in 1995 when she left the house to meet a relative. When she returned in the evening she found Subodh was missing. With three small children and limited means, she could not look for her husband for long. Mother of a son and two daughters, she is happy that her husband will be present for the wedding of her daughter Kukumani on August 6. Ward attendant Vijay who looked after Subodh at the hospital said he was calm and composed. Subodh was among the 134 Indians repatriated by the Pakistan government as a goodwill gesture on August 13, 2007. However, out of these 22 were mentally retarded. Mental Hospital director Dr BL Goyal said following extensive publicity of the patients who are hospitalised here without any proof of residence, Subodh was identified by his family in West Bengal.
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HC: Start K’taka Lokayukta recruitment by tomorrow
Bangalore, July 23 A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice Aravind Kumar has directed the Advocate General S Vijay Shankar to ask the state government to begin the process of appointment of Lokayukta by July 25. The Bench refused to accept the government’s plea that the Lokayukta would be appointed after the Supreme Court gave its verdict on a special leave petition challenging the High Court’s order to quash the appointment of Justice Chandrashekaraiah as Upa-Lokayukta. The bench had earlier pulled up the state government over the “inordinate delay” in appointing the Lokayukta and warned that it may have to bring the issue to the notice of the Governor and recommend that there was failure of the constitutional framework in the state. A resident of Chickmagalur district had filed a petition in the court, alleging that the BJP government was not making appointments deliberately to important positions like the Lokayukta which was lying vacant for the last 10 months. The post has been unoccupied since September 19 last year after the former Supreme Court judge Shivaraj Patil, who succeeded high-profile Santosh Hegde, quit in the wake of allegations of getting land allotment in violation of rules. After Patil’s exit, the BJP government recommended the name of former Kerala High Court Chief Justice SR Bannurmath but Governor HR Bhardwaj refused to accept him in view of media reports accusing the former High Court Chief Justice of having a residential site in alleged violation of rules.
TWISTS and Turns
A resident of Chickmagalur district had filed a petition in the court, alleging that the BJP government was not making appointments deliberately to important positions like the Lokayukta which was lying vacant since September 19, 2011. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice Aravind Kumar has directed the Advocate General S Vijay Shankar to ask the state government to begin the process of appointment of Lokayukta by July 25. The post fell vacant after after the former Supreme Court judge Shivaraj Patil, who succeeded high-profile Santosh Hegde, quit in the wake of allegations of getting land allotment in violation of rules. After Patil’s exit, the BJP government recommended the name of former Kerala High Court Chief Justice SR Bannurmath but Governor HR Bhardwaj refused to accept him after reports accused him of having a residential site in violation of rules.
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After cross-voting woes, Yeddy takes on party, Sangma
Bangalore, July 23 To the astonishment of everyone present in the Assembly, Yeddyurappa today said Pranab should have been elected unanimously as the President. He said a consensus on Mukherjee eluded due to lack of foresight. Yeddyurappa also made a strong appeal to the losing candidate Purno A Sangma to refrain from approaching the Supreme Court against Mukherjee’s election. Sangma had alleged yesterday that the process of the presidential election was “exceptionally partisan”. He claimed that the non-UPA ruled states were lured with packages and inducements and were even threatened. “I appeal to Sangma and also through this House (the Assembly) not to resort to such a misadventure. The world is watching us. It does not behove us. It does not bring pride to anybody. I will also write a letter to Sangma (against approaching SC),” Yeddyurappa said. Yeddyurappa, whose term as the chief minister was curtailed by graft charges slapped against him by the Lokayukta, said Mukherjee was in the league of former presidents Rajendra Prasad and APJ Abdul Kalam. At least 14 BJP MLAs had cross-voted in favour of the UPA's Presidential candidate in Karnataka as Purno Sangma, backed by the BJP, secured less votes than Mukherjee in the BJP-ruled state. However, Yeddyurappa’s recent success in forcing the BJP central leadership to make his nominee Jagadish Shettar the Chief Minister should ordinarily absolve him from any charge of being involved in the cross-voting by the BJP legislators. The needle of suspicion points to two groups of disgruntled legislators led, respectively, by the former revenue minister Karunakara Reddy and sitting member of the cabinet Balchandra Jarkiholi. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar today told reporters that a committee had been set up to probe the incident and appropriate action would be taken against the errant MLAs after they were identified. It is, however, unclear how the committee will identify the turncoats since polling for the presidential election is done through secret ballots. A majority the votes secured by Mukherjee in Karnataka has also prompted the Congress leader and the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddharamaiah to point out that the ruling party had actually been reduced to a minority in the Assembly. Jagadish Shettar and Siddharamaiah (Congress) also congratulated Mukherjee today.
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Jundal came to know of 26/11 plot in Pak Mumbai, July 23 As Jundal had completed the first year of MA (Hindi) course from KSK College in Beed, he was assigned the task to train the members of the 26/11 fidayen squad in that language to enable attention of the attackers to divert the attention of the Indian security agencies by communicating in Hindi, a senior crime branch official said. ”In August, a group, including Jundal was informed by top members of the LeT about the 26/11 operation. In the group, each one was given a different task (to handle). Jundal was told to teach Hindi to the attackers,” he said. Six officers are interrogating the alleged 26/11 handler. According to the official, Jundal, who has been allowed to observe roza (fast) during Ramadan, has been cooperating with investigators standing a barrage of questions posed by them. Officials suspect Jundal kept in touch with the Indian nationals staying in Pakistan as well as here before and after the dastardly strike that left 166 people dead. — PTI
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areas of Kokrajhar district today. With death toll reaching 21, the authorities issued shoot-at-sight orders and clamped indefinite curfew in the district, while the Army staged a flag march to instill confidence among the people.
New Delhi, July 23
New Delhi, July 23
Legendary freedom fighter, Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, who commanded the ‘Rani of Jhansi Regiment’ of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army, died after a brief illness here today. At the age of 97, she breathed her last at a private hospital at 11.20 am, her daughter and noted CPI (M) leader Subhashini Ali said.
