The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Western Command augments rescue work Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 21 Continuing flood relief operations in the region, Western Command’s formations from Ambala, Delhi, Meerut and Dehradun have evacuated over 300 people from the villages of Indiranagar and Mewlipur in Faridabad district and Kalanaur, Udhri, Lapra, Jathlana and Lal Chhapar villages in Yamunanagar district. In addition, a major canal breach was plugged at Daulatpur in Saharanpur by Meerut based troops of 2 Corps. Work on plugging two breaches at Tapu Kamalpur village on the Yamnanagar-Saharanpur road is in progress. Medical aid has been made available to people in affected areas. Thousands of food packets have been provided to the marooned and stranded locals and pilgrims at Kedarnath, Badrinath and Gaurikund in Uttaranchal, by the Dehradun based formation under 2 Corps. In Himachal Pradesh, the local army formation provided humanitarian aid in the form of food, medical care and shelter to over 165 stranded tourists and locals. It also revived BSNL communications at Pooh. The local formation is coordinating in the helilift of tourists to safer places besides providing administrative succor, medical aid and guidance to the needy on humanitarian grounds. So far, 65 civilians have been provided shelter and food in Army units at Pooh, Malling, Karcham and Khab. Additionally, the Army has also provided rations for 80 civilians at Pooh and 20 civilians in Poari village. The Army has also provided medical relief, plastic tents etc to civilians bereft of these facilities. Army patrols are continually on search and rescue missions to evacuate civilians stranded along the non-existent highway. Over 40 persons have been evacuated till now from Nako, Malling, Khab, Dubling, Pooh and Ropa to Army camps. Additionally, 140 civilians have also been airlifted by armed forces helicopters from Nako, Pooh, Bhabhanagar, Rekong Peo and Rampur. Outside its area, a column of Western Command rescued 98 persons in Bijnor district in neighbouring Uttaranchal. The command has augmented rescue operations through its helicopters since June 19. Hundreds of troops from the Ambala-based 2 Corps and Headquarters Delhi Area along with a plethora of equipment and engineering stores such as pneumatic boats, assault boats, out-board motors, sand bags and life jackets have been deployed. The Army is providing food packets, establishing medical camps and deploying its technically endowed manpower, to ensure that the vulnerable bunds are strengthened and breaches are effectively plugged. The civil population has also come forward to lend a helping hand to the Army.
	IAF deploys largest helicopter in its fleet Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 21 As part of its flood relief operations in Uttarakhand, codenamed Operation Rahat, the IAF has pressed into service the world’s largest helicopter, the Mi-26 to airlift men and equipment. The Mi-26 is among the 13 additional aircraft committed by the IAF to the relief operations. A heavylift Mi- 26 from the Chandigarh-based 126 Helicopter Flight landed at Gauchar with 30 barrels of fuel and 70 paratroopers. Capable of airlifting up to 20 tonnes of load, these helicopters are an important asset as they can ferry heavy equipment, including vehicles and bulldozers, as well as a large quantity of other stores to inaccessible areas. The Mi 26 will continue to operate in this area to maintain supply of aviation fuel and rescue work. The IAF has also activated landing grounds at Gauchar and Dharasu in Uttarakhand to establish an air bridge for helicopters. The IAF plans to operate Dhruv and Cheetah choppers from Gauchar. The IAF now has a total of 33 aircraft, including C-130J, AN-32 and Avro aircraft, Mi-8, Mi-17, Dhruv and Cheetah helicopters, dedicated to the relief operations.
	Stranded pilgrims to be brought home free of cost: Akhilesh Shahira Naim/TNS Lucknow, June 21 People from Uttar Pradesh stranded in the disaster-hit Uttarakhand would be transported home free of cost, announced Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. He said officials of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) are present at places where helicopters are bringing persons from the disaster-hit areas so that they can immediately be sent back home. The UPSRTC has been instructed to run 100 buses every day on the Delhi-Haridwar-Rishikesh route along with additional buses on other routes of western Uttar Pradesh. The state government has also set up 24X7 control rooms at the state relief commissioners’ office as well as the DGP headquarters to reach out to stranded people from the state. The fax number for the relief commissioner’s control room is 0522-2238084 and 2236305, 0522-2238200/ 2236740/ 6451993 and mobile number is 9415409983. The DGP HQ helpline numbers are 9454402510, 9454401674, 9454401675 and 9454405198. Akhilesh has asked divisional commissioners and district magistrates to prepare a list of people from their districts trapped in the hill state which can be forwarded to the Uttarakhand Government to help in their rescue operation. The control room has already informed the Uttarakhand government about 285 such people from the state. Meanwhile, a team of 14 doctors from the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institue of Medical Sciences left for Dehradun by a special plane to assist the disaster-struck survivors. Two days ago, Akhilesh had announced financial aid of Rs 25 crore to the Himalayan state. Modi to visit U’khand today Manas Dasgupta Ahmedabad, June 21 Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi left for Dehradun today to conduct an aerial survey of the flood-ravage areas of Uttarakhand tomorrow. The Chief Minister’s office said Modi would undertake an aerial survey of Janaki Chatti, Uttarkashi and Mneri and land at Uttarkashi to meet stranded pilgrims. He will later fly over Harsil, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Rudraprayag, Srinagar, Gaurikund, Rambada, Joshimath, Gobindghat and some other affected areas. He will also meet stranded pilgrims at Kedarnath and Badrinath. The state government is making arrangements to bring back stranded pilgrims. Flood-ravaged rickshaws lie at the bank of the Yamuna which began receding in New Delhi on Friday. — PTI
	States oppose Bill aimed at minimising flood losses New Delhi, June 21 Even as floods play havoc in Uttarakhand, several states have opposed the provisions of a 38-year-old Model Flood Bill aimed at minimising losses to life and property in the natural calamity. The Bill, prepared by the Central Water Commission in 1975, will empower authorities to remove dwellings from flood-prone areas. States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have opposed the draft bill, saying rehabilitation of people who will be displaced after the dwellings are removed is a difficult task. “They also fear that the Centre will not pay monetary compensation to them if they fail to implement the law in letter and spirit,” said a senior Water Resources Ministry official. “Today several such low-lying areas have been given for commercial development and the the onus of protecting lives and property in such areas lies with the state governments. They know they cannot seek compensation for damage caused in such areas,” the official said. There are some states which have not responded to the model Bill. The Bill, if implemented, will seek to replace dwellings in low-lying areas by parks and playgrounds as absence of human settlement in those areas would cut down loss of lives and property. The CWC had circulated the model bill to all the states to help the state governments enact the legislation. Except for Manipur and Rajasthan, no state legislature has enacted the ‘Model Bill on Flood Plain Zoning’. — PTI Some yet to respond The Bill, prepared by the Central Water Commission in 1975, will empower authorities to remove dwellings from flood-prone areas. States such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have opposed the draft Bill There are some states which have not responded to the model Bill
	For many survivors, finding lost kin bigger ordeal Dehradun, June 21 “Take me back, I want to go back...” This was how some survivors of the massive floods cried in an emotional outburst when they returned today with some member or other of their family or assorted group of pilgrims and tourists not among their midst after going through a harrowing five-day ordeal. As a rescue helicopter touched down this helipad in Uttarakhand capital on a sombre, cloudy day in the hills, out stepped a group of five adults and three children. Among them, a man in his late thirties bursts out crying the moment he disembarks: “Take me back, I want to go back... My two children, my wife Rita, my parents are still stranded there with seven others.” That is all Amit Pande of Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh could say before being choked by a fresh spasm of tears. That is the situation of countless survivors who have been trickling into Dehradun; many have still to locate their kin and friends with whom they had embarked on a trip to the hills. Everybody has horrifying stories to tell and it is not just the survivors. Mansi from Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur had come to Sahasradhara accompanied by a family member and two photographs of her sister, brother-in-law and their son posing together. All three are missing. She had last spoken to her sister on Tuesday when the latter managed to call on her way down from Kedarnath, the epicentre of the massive floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains. “They said they have climbed down 4 km on foot, but rescue teams were yet to reach them. They have no food, no water. They mentioned seeing bodies lying around the temple area. “Please find them and rescue them,” she could not fight back the tears as she requested a police officer to help her. "I don't have any other siblings. She is my only sister," she pleaded. — PTI
	Next two days crucial for rescue, says NDRF New Delhi, June 21 The next two days are crucial in terms of rescuing the maximum number of pilgrims and tourists stranded in rain-hit Uttarakhand as heavy showers may come anytime, a senior official today said. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Inspector General Sandeep Rai Rathore told mediapersons in Delhi that June 22 and 23 were "key dates" and agencies were maximising their efforts to carry out the majority of relief and rescue work during this time. "We know that rains may come anytime and the meteorological department has also predicted rains in the near future. So we are geared up for that," he said. The NDRF has deployed 13 teams, comprising 1,000 people, in the state to carry out rescue operations alongside ITBP and Army contingents. The officer also said his men were undertaking some "daring" operations to help those displaced and lost. "Our Assistant Commandant Rajesh Yadav jumped from the helicopter in the Jangalchetti area to help create a helipad for landing of helicopters so that people can be rescued. “Our DIG JKS Rawat has reached Rambada, near Kedarnath, leading the first team of rescuers in the area," the IG said. Rathore said around 2,500 people were rescued from the Gaurigaon area by the NDRF, while his boys were still helping clear the Kedarnath temple area of people who are stranded. — PTI
	Sharif govt has given good signals, says Khurshid New Delhi, June 21 India today said the Nawaz Sharif government in Pakistan had given “good signals” in normalising bilateral ties, but cautioned against expecting “magic overnight”. “With the new government (in Pakistan), good signals have been given by them. But I don’t think we should expect magic overnight,” External Affair Minister Salman Khurshid said, apparently referring to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s pledge to “progressively pursue” normalisation of ties with India. “I think we should wait for a little more time and give (them) little more time to show what they (Pakistan) are able to do and what they are capable of doing,” Khurshid told reporters on the sidelines of the opening of ASEAN-India Centre at Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) here. “The Government of India is engaged in both keeping track of what was happening in Pakistan and also ensuring that the channels of communication remain open in our interest,” he said. Earlier, he said the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership has strong foundations of shared civilisational bonds, a recent history of common effort towards economic growth and prosperity and a common future that has to be secured not just within the new security and economic architecture of the Asia Pacific, but also the Indo-Pacific. Khurshid said ASEAN-India relations has “achieved very clear achievements” across the three pillars of political and security cooperation, economic integration and socio-cultural exchanges. — PTI
	Chinese currency to ‘eclipse’ dollar in 10-15 years New Delhi, June 21 A renowned US-based Indian economist today predicted that Chinese currency renminbi will eclipse the dollar in global trading systems within 10 to 15 years. Arvind Subramanian, named by Foreign Policy magazine as one of the world's top 100 global thinkers in 2011, stated this while delivering a talk on "US-China Partnership and Global Economic Order: Implications for India" at the Observer Research Foundation here. Subramanian, Dennis Weatherstone Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics, and Senior Fellow, Centre for Global Development, said with Europe becoming a debtor now, the US and European Union should cede their power to China in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. He said the US should be willing to give power to China in multilateral institutions in return for a stake for China. — IANS
	Wire snap hits train services Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 21 Sudden snapping of overhead electric wire on railway track near Samalkha in Haryana today affected movement of five important trains on Delhi - Kalka railway track, said a spokesman of Northern Railway, Ajay Micheal. The official said that due to snapping of electric wire, the trains that were heading towards Delhi got late 15 minutes to two hours. The affected trains were Chandigarh-Delhi Shatabdi, Kalka-Delhi Shatabdi, Janshatabdi and Jhelum Express. Movement of Shatabdi that was going from Delhi to Amritsar was also affected. About 25,000 voltage of power runs in overhead electric wires on railway tracks, he said. The arrival time of Chandigarh Shatabdi in New Delhi is 10.25 am. But it was delayed by 1.55 minutes. The spokesman said broken electric wire was repaired within a few hours. While the repairing work was going on, the affected trains were diverted to other tracks.
	Coalgate: CBI searches Jindal’s cupboards Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 21 The Central Bureau of Investigation today searched a few locked cupboards at Congress MP and industrialist Naveen Jindal’s residence in connection with alleged irregularities in coal block allocations. The investigation agency had registered cases against Jindal and former Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao on June 11 for alleged wrongdoing. The agency had found some cupboards locked during its earlier raid on some offices and residences belonging to Jindal and Rao in Delhi and elsewhere. Jindal was not in Delhi when the agency had conducted the search. The CBI was told that the keys to the cupboards would be handed over to them once Jindal returned from London. Sources said the remaining cupboards were searched today after Jindal handed over the keys to the agency. But the agency refused to comment on the documents seized during the search.
	SP suspends party MLA for indiscipline Had criticised Akhilesh govt for poor law and order Tribune News Service Lucknow, June 21 The Samajwadi Party today suspended sitting MLA from Bidhuna Pramod Gupta for six years for indiscipline and anti-party activities. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in his capacity as party’s state president suspended the MLA, a close family relative, from the party. Gupta is married to the sister of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s present wife. Gupta had threatened to resign from his Assembly seat in protest against deteriorating law and order situation in his constituency. He had claimed that his repeated attempts to reach out to the Chief Minister and the police establishment had failed to yield results. There was no way but to quit as crime continued to rise despite assurances, Gupta had said. Gupta is not the only ruling party MLA to have criticised the ruling party in the recent days. Senior minister Mohd Azam Khan has written to DGP Devraj Nagar accusing the police of not taking action into posting of communal material in his name using a fake Facebook account. The minister had complained to the police on October 12 regarding the fake Facebook account but the police failed to take cognizance of his complaint. The account is now being misused to defile his name, the minister claimed. “If this is the fate of a minister’s complaint imagine the plight of the common man. What is the future if this is the manner in which the police and administration are working?” he said. In his letter, the Urban Development Minister also pointed out the disappearance of the iron fencing of a park near King George Medical University in the heart of Lucknow. “Last month, the grill was there but yesterday when I was checking out encroachment in the area, I found it missing. This puts a question mark on the working of the police.” Another ruling party MLA, Ziauddin Rizvi, has accused Akhilesh of not having the required political will to check the steady slide in the law and order situation. The MLA from Sikanderpur in Ballia charged police officers with ignoring the dictates of the Chief Minister. The MLA claimed the situation in terms of crime and corruption was worse off now than under Mayawati rule. Friendly fire Bidhuna MLA Pramod Gupta has threatened to quit his seat over failing law and order situation in his constituency Another party minister Mohd Azam Khan has written to the DGP accusing the police of inaction Sikanderpur MLA Ziauddin Rizvi has claimed the situation in the state is worse than under Mayawati’s rule
	Suraj’s bail plea rejected in Jiah Khan suicide case Mumbai, June 21 A sessions court today rejected the bail plea of Suraj Pancholi, son of an actor couple, arrested on charges of abetting the suicide of actress Jiah Khan. The court rejected the bail after the prosecution opposed it on the ground that investigations had reached a crucial stage and his release may hamper the probe. In his bail plea, Suraj, lodged in the Arthur Road Central jail here since June 10, contended the complainant and Jiah's mother, Rabiyah Khan, were seeking revenge for reasons best known to them. The bail application, filed through his lawyer CK Talekar, also alleged Rabiyah was "misusing" Jiah's letter which was found four days after her suicide at her house on June 3 here. The police had arrested Suraj, son of Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab, on the basis of this letter. They claimed the letter was "incriminating" against Suraj as Jiah blamed him for her downslides in life. However, Suraj's bail plea contended the five-page letter cannot be written before committing suicide. Moreover, it was not addressed to him and does not carry his name. The Andheri magistrate's court had earlier remanded Suraj in judicial custody after rejecting the police's application for custody. Thereafter, he filed the bail application. Jiah's letter alleged she was "heartbroken" in her relationship with Suraj and was fed up with his "womanising". — PTI
	Two BSF jawans killed in suspected fratricide case Sriganganagar, June 21 In a suspected case of fratricide, two BSF jawans deployed along the sensitive Indo-Pakistan border in Rajasthan today killed each other in the wee hours. The young duo, recently inducted into the border guarding force, shot each other using their service weapons and were a ‘buddy pair’ tasked to secure the frontier in Anupgarh's Shivni area in Sriganganagar sector of the border. The bodies of the jawans, identified as Jitender and Badal, were recovered by BSF officials who rushed to the spot after they heard gunshots at 3 am. The officials found the troops lying in a pool of blood in a trench near the border post. The incident has created flutter in the paramilitary as the incident happened in the dead of the night at the border post and there was no witness to the killings. Jitender, according to sources, pumped 12 bullets from his Light Machine Gun (LMG) into Badal, who instead got two fatal bullet shots from the INSAS rifle of his fellow trooper. Senior officials have recovered empty cartridges from the spot and have ruled out any foul play from across the border or by any third party. “The exact reason as to why the young boys did this is yet to be known. A Court of Inquiry is underway,” a senior official said. Both the troops, part of the 64th battalion, belonged to Uttar Pradesh and were batchmates as they joined the Border Security Force (BSF) in 2011 after passing out from their training centre in Jodhpur. Jitender belonged to Meerut while Badal hailed from Bulandshahar, they said, adding their bodies are being sent to their respective home towns. This is the third reported case of fratricide in the force this year. In an similar incident in January, two BSF jawans killed each other in the Punjab sector.— PTI
	Gujarat IPS officer declared absconder in Ishrat case Ahmedabad, June 21 A Special CBI court here today declared Gujarat IPS officer PP Pandey an absconder in the 2004 fake encounter case of Ishrat Jahan and three others. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of the special CBI court HS Khutwad today passed an order proclaiming Additional DGP (Crime) PP Pandey an absconder under Section 82 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). He has also been directed to appear before the court by July 31 to avoid further action. Pruthvipal P Pandey, a 1982-batch IPS officer, has been made an accused in the fake encounter case for providing "so-called crucial intelligence inputs" to fellow policemen that Ishrat and three others were LeT operatives and were on a mission to assassinate Chief Minister Narendra Modi. He was Joint Commissioner of Police of the city heading the crime branch when on June 15, 2004, Ishrat Jahan, Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar were killed in an encounter with the Gujarat police on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. Earlier this month, the CBI filed an application before the court demanding that Pandey be declared an absconder and initiation of action against him under Section 82 of the CrPC on the ground that he was evading arrest despite a warrant issued by the court on May 2. — PTI
	Modi spent Rs 45 crore to keep Mehta out of Lokayukta’s chair Manas Dasgupta Ahmedabad, June 21 Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has spent more than Rs 45 crore from the state exchequer to fight a case in the Supreme Court to prevent Justice RA Mehta, a retired high court judge, from taking over as the Lokayukta and to investigate corruption charges against him. According to Gujarat Parivartan Party state secretary Gordhan Jhadafia, this information was procured by one Ramesh Joshi of the Kutch Ladayak Manch by filing an RTI petition with the state government. The amount does not include the expenses the state government incurred in fighting the case in the high court. Modi, who considers Mehta his “enemy” and close to the forces opposed to him, had strongly opposed the retired judge’s appointment by Governor Kamala Beniwal as the Lokayukta. The state government was forced to file a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court and subsequently a curative petition after the high court - through a majority verdict - upheld Mehta’s appointment as Lokayukta, rejecting the state government’s objections that the CM was bypassed by the Raj Bhawan before appointing the retired judge as Lokayukta. Information gathered through RTI also revealed that laws were overlooked by Modi in issuing a government resolution sanctioning payments for the advocates of two voluntary organisations, the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) and Dhrangdhra Prakiti Mandal (DPM), which supported the government’s special leave petition against Mehta’s appointment as Lokayukta. Pointing out that spending public money to fight cases for private individuals or organisations was a criminal offence under the country’s law, Jhadafia demanded that the government should file criminal complaints against the officials, who sanctioned payments to the advocates of the two NGOs, and Modi for the alleged criminal offence. Releasing the list of prominent advocates appointed by the state government, Jhadafia pointed out that some advocates engaged by the government charged as high a fee as Rs 55 lakh an appearance and over Rs 45 crore was spent only on advocate fees. “If Modi is as honest as he proclaims, why is he scared of the office of the Lokayukta and moving hell and heaven to oppose Mehta’s appointment?” Jhadafia asked. Reveal-all RTI query Gujarat CM Narendra Modi considers Justice RA Mehta close to the forces opposed to him and had strongly opposed the retired judge’s appointment as the Lokayukta The state government filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court and subsequently a curative petition after the high court upheld Mehta’s appointment Some advocates engaged by the government charged as high a fee as Rs 55 lakh an appearance and over Rs 45 crore was spent only on fees This information was procured by Ramesh Joshi of the Kutch Ladayak Manch by filing an RTI petition with the state government
	World Heritage site status for six Rajasthan forts Jaipur, June 21 Six majestic hill forts in Rajasthan, including the Amber fort here, today got cultural World Heritage site status by UNESCO, taking the total number of properties with this recognition in the state to eight. Considering the forts situated at different locations as a serial site, the World Heritage Committee in its 37th meeting in Phnom Penh in Cambodia inscribed it on the World Heritage List, state tourism minister Bina Kak told reporters here. The serial site includes forts of Amber, Chittaurgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore, Jaisalmer and Gagron in the districts of Jaipur, Chittaurgarh, Rajsamand, Sawai Madhopur, Jaisalmer and Jhalawar, respectively. "It is a matter for pride for Rajasthan and for the country as a whole. We worked hard to make the nomination of the forts best possible. "These forts will now receive enhanced international recognition the way the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur did after being selected in the World Heritage List in 2010," she said. "The selection will also pave way for other monuments to be nominated for being included in the World Heritage List. The state now has total eight properties (six forts, one national park and one observatory) with the UNESCO world site status,” she added. — PTI
	Clash during J’khand Cong in charge’s first visit Ranchi, June 21 The newly appointed AICC in-charge of Jharkhand, BK Hariprasad's first visit to the Congress Bhavan here was marred by a factional clash during which a gunshot was allegedly fired in the air. Superintendent of Police (city) Manoj Ratan said the police had received information that a gunshot was fired near the Congress Bhavan and the incident was being investigated. A party leader said on condition of anonymity that two groups of the party indulged in heated verbal exchange following which the shot was fired by a person, apparently the bodyguard of a Congress leader. Later, Hariprasad told a press conference “An incident happened outside the party (office). I have directed PCC President (Sukhdeo Bhagat) to investigate and submit the report to me within 24 hours.” If the report found any Congress man to have been involved in the incident, strict disciplinary action would be taken irrespective of the person’s position in the party, he said. When his attention was drawn to a video footage showing a man shooting from inside Congress Bhavan, Hariprasad said he was a witness that nothing had happened inside the campus. "Differences happen, but it should be within limits and one should not lose one's cool," Hariprasad, who has taken over from Shakeel Ahmed said. Ranchi MP Subodh Kant Sahay, AICC secretary Gitashree Oraon, PCC chief Sukhdeo Bhagat, Congress leader Tarachand Bhagora, party leader Furkan Ansari, MLA Manan Malik and other leaders were present in the meeting with Hariprasad, party sources said. A police posse was deployed inside the Congress Bhavan campus. — PTI
	28 ‘Super 30’ students crack IIT-JEE entrance Patna, June 21 Carrying forward its legacy, 28 out of the 30 students of "Super 30" institute have cracked the prestigious IIT entrance examination, results of which were declared today. "Super 30", a brainchild of noted mathematician Anand Kumar founded in 2002, provides free-of-cost IIT coaching to students belonging to economically weaker sections of the society. The students are also provided with free food and lodging. "The 28 students of Super 30 who cleared the IIT-JEE (Advanced) are all children who belong to deprived section of the society," Kumar said. "Many a time my family had to go without food," said an emotional Rampyare, a labourer from Uttar Pradesh whose son Bhanu made it to the IITs with the help of "Super 30". Pranav Kumar from Samastipur, son a landless farmer, was also among the 28 lucky students along with Ankit from Hajipur, who lost his father last year in a road mishap, and Abhishek Kumar, whose father is a mechanic. "Somehow, I got to know of Super 30 and managed to clear its screening test. Here, I seemed to have found my new father as Anand Sir and his family looked after me in such a way that I never felt like being away from home," Ankit said. — PTI
	Thousands march against rising crime in Bengal Tribune News Service & PTI Kolkata, June 21 Thousands of people took to the streets today to register their protest against recent incidents of killing and rape in the state. The silent march was held in response to an appeal made by noted personalities from the art world, including writer Mahasetwa Devi, director Mrinal Sen, actors Saumitra Chatterjee, Aparna Sen, artist Samir Aich, educationist Prof Sunanda Sanyal and others. Several eminent people, including economist and former minister Dr Ashok Mitra, artist Ashim Kapoor, director Tarun Majumder, novelist Samaresh Majumdar and families of victims from Kamduni, Gede and Gaighati, also took part in the march. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, alleged that the procession was politically motivated. She claimed the government had taken prompt action against perpetrators of such crimes. A strong legislative measure was being taken to punish rapists, she added. Banerjee also accused some local news channels of ganging up with the Opposition to rake up the issue and reiterated that there was a conspiracy to kill her. “They are systematically using the Congress, the CPM and the BJP for propaganda against the government,” she said. “There is a conspiracy to kill me and party general secretary Mukul Roy. The CPM, the Congress, the BJP and Maoists have joined hands,” she said while accusing the Opposition of planning to eliminate her. “I will not be cowed down by threats. I am not afraid of death, but if I die I will die like a hero. My life is a struggle for justice for 35 years,” she asserted. The protesters, who were not carrying any placards, assembled at the College Square around 3 pm and marched through College Street, Bowbazar, Subodh Mallick Square and before culminating their protest in the Esplanade area around 5 pm.
	Kamakhya shrine set to hold Ambubachi festival Bijay Sankar Bora Tribune News Service Guwahati, June 21 The Assam Government has made elaborate arrangements this time to make the annual Ambubachi festival in the historic Kamakhya Temple here a smooth and clean affair. Already thousands of devotees from outside the state and far-flung areas in the region have started arriving in the historic ‘Shakti’ shrine atop Nilachal Hills in the city for the annual religious festival which is organised during monsoon. The Assam Government in collaboration with the local district administration in Kamrup has assigned around 3,000 personnel, including 10 magistrates, 724 volunteers, 75 doctors and 48 nurses, for holding the fair. Additional Chief Secretary HS Das said that 780 proper toilets have been put in place so that the entire area could be kept clean. Hundreds of temporary taps have been connected to ensure adequate supply of drinking water. The district administration as well as Assam Tourism Development Corporation have arranged for bus services from various parts in the city centre, including railway station and bus stand, to ferry devotees to Kamakhya Temple. A special city bus service connecting the nearby Kamakhya railway station to Kamakhya Temple has been introduced. Close circuit cameras have been installed at various vantage locations, security personnel have been deployed and a special police control room has been set up on the premises of the temple. On the occasion of Ambubachi, the main doors of the temple will be closed for devotees from 12.15 pm on June 22 to 5.30 am on June 26. Doors for the ‘darshan’ of Ma Kamakhya, the presiding deity, will open after that period. The district administration as well as the temple management committee expect over 3 lakh pilgrims to come for the festival this year. A large number of makeshift tin sheds fitted with electric lights have been erected to provide shelter to the devotees who prefer to stay in and around the temple complex during the festival.
	Medical student raped in Karnataka Tribune News Service Bangalore, June 21 In a shocking incident late yesterday, a 22-year-old women medical student was reportedly abducted and gang-raped by three persons, including an auto-rickshaw driver, when she was returning to her flat from college library at Manipal in Udupi district of Karnataka. The local police today registered a criminal case against unidentified persons under Sections 366 and 376 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on a complaint by the victim. Manipal, a major educational centre, is five km from Udupi, known for its exquisite temples and mouth watering cuisine. A coastal town, it is about 410 km from Bangalore. Udupi district SP M B Boralingaiah said they had formed four teams to nab the culprits. He also claimed making some progress in the investigation by following leads provided by the victim in her complaint and from questioning one of the college security guards. The victim, a fourth-year student of the Kasturba Medical College, was waiting to hire an auto-rickshaw outside the Manipal University campus gate to return to her flat from the library at around 11:30 pm when she was overpowered and kidnapped and then raped by the accused. “The victim said in the complaint that she was abducted by the accused, driven to an isolated spot and gang raped. Somehow she managed to reach her flat”, Boralingaiah said. The victim’s family, who live in Kerala, have been informed about the incident. The victim has injuries on her hands and neck. “We have written to the state government to set up a police check-post at the university campus to prevent such crimes. We have also asked the university to install CCTVs in and around the campus for the safety and security of its students”, Boralingaiah said.