The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	SC's anti-ragging panel raps MCI Says the council has not done enough to contain ragging in colleges under its supervision Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 12 Five years after Aman Kachroo was ragged to death by his seniors at Tanda Medical College in Himachal Pradesh, the Supreme Court-monitored committee on ragging has rapped the Medical Council of India (MCI) for not doing enough to prevent this human rights violation in colleges under its supervision. At its review meeting today to study ragging trends as mandated by the apex court's order issued on May 8, 2009, the committee chaired by former CBI Director RK Raghavan is learnt to have censured the MCI for its failure to play a proactive role against managements of colleges where ragging is rampant. The committee will shortly meet the MCI chairperson to red flag the issue in students' interest. Since June 15, 2009, when the National Anti-Ragging Helpline was launched following the SC orders in the wake of Aman's death on March 8 that year, 1,880 complaints of ragging have been reported from across India. Of these, 111 are from 350 medical colleges alone. The rest are from close to 35,000 colleges affiliated either to the UGC or other regulatory authorities. At today's meeting, Raghavan is learnt to have asked the MCI representative if the Council at its meetings ever discussed ragging as an agenda. "The MCI's answer was no. The committee took strong note of this and called for a meeting with the MCI chairperson to address the problem," said Raj Kachroo, Aman Kachroo's father who has been running the national anti-ragging helpline for the HRD Ministry since 2012. Kachroo, co opted into the Raghavan Committee on court's order, today said that out of India's 12 higher education regulatory authorities the MCI had done the least to stop ragging. The Raghavan committee was reportedly shocked to learn that the MCI had not even taken note of the latest ragging death of a girl student at a medical college in Maharashtra. "When the committee asked the MCI joint secretary what they had done about this case, the officer said they had no information," Kachroo told The Tribune after the meeting. The committee is likely to request HRD Minister Smriti Irani to engage Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on this issue. Talking to The Tribune, Raghavan admitted: "Considering medical colleges are widely known to be hotbeds of ragging, our focus is on the MCI. We are now asking the MCI to be more proactive against this violation. We will soon meet the MCI chairperson to stress our point." Ragging trends post-Aman's death Since Aman Kachroo's death on March 8, 2009, 1,880 ragging complaints have been registered with the National Anti-Ragging Helpline, which is run by his father for the HRD Ministry Of total complaints, 111 are from 350 medical colleges; the rest from 35,000 educational institutions In 2012, for the first time, decline in ragging complaints was noted from 540 average in the previous years to 375 Medical colleges' contribution to ragging is alarmingly high in proportion to their number
	Rohatgi appointed Attorney General Legal Correspondent New Delhi, June 12 The Centre today announced the appointment of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi as the 14th Attorney General (AG) of India. He would have a three-year tenure, the Law Ministry said in a single-sentence press release. Rohatgi, one of the highest paid and most sought after lawyers in the SC, has been Additional Solicitor General (ASG) when AB Vajpayee was Prime Minister of the NDA government (1998-2004). He succeeds GE Vahanvati who had resigned along with his team of law officers following the change of government at the Centre in the wake of the 16th Lok Sabha election. Rohatgi has said minimising the number of government cases would be his priority. He said he would streamline litigation in the SC and ensure that superior courts were not flooded with frivolous and petty litigation. Efforts would also be made to eliminate inter-ministerial and inter-departmental litigation. Rohatgi has been the counsel for the Gujarat government in several cases, including the 2002 riots and fake police encounters. He has also argued for Mukesh Ambani’s RIL in the company’s dispute with RNRL headed by Anil Ambani and the Italian government in a case against two Italian marines who had killed two fishermen off Kerala coast mistaking them for sea pirates. Sources said Rohatgi’s formal appointment as AG had been delayed following objection raised by a senior advocate close to the BJP. His name had been cleared last month by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The new AG’s team would include senior advocate Ranjit Kumar as Solicitor General and senior advocates Paramjit Singh Patwalia, Maninder Singh, L Nageswar Rao, Neeraj Kishan Kaul, PS Narasimha, Pinky Anand and Tushar Mehta as ASGs. At present, Mehta has been the Additional Advocate General of Gujarat.
	CBI lodges FIR in Badaun rape case TNS/Agencies Lucknow/New Delhi, June 12 The CBI today lodged a first information report (FIR) in the Badaun rapes-and-killings case and is sending a team of 20 officers to conduct the probe in Uttar Pradesh, CBI chief Ranjit Sinha said. Two cousins, aged 14 and 15 years, were allegedly gang-raped and were later found hanging from a tree May 27 in Katra Sadatganj village of Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district, causing a national uproar. "We have received a notification from the Central government and registered a case in Badaun rape and murder case," Sinha told reporters. He said the special team, including forensic experts, would be led by DIG Madhukar Tiwari. A CBI officer said the team would leave for Uttar Pradesh on Friday. The UP government has been requested to provide logistical support to the visiting team. CBI sleuths are part of the special crime branch of the agency. The agency will also seek the custody of the accused who have been arrested in connection with the case by the Uttar Pradesh Police. Seven people have been booked by the state police. Five of the seven accused - two constables Chhatrapal Yadav and Sarvesh Yadav and three brothers Pappu, Awadhesh and Urvesh Yadav - have been arrested. The agency has registered the case under sections 376-D (gang rape), 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and section 3/4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. It was alleged that on May 27 evening, the two minor girls had gone to the field to relieve themselves when the three accused brothers abducted them. "The witnesses to this abduction went to the police post Katra, Sahadat Gunj, and reported the matter to the duo police constables, but instead of taking action, they allegedly slapped and abused them," said the official. "The matter was also brought to the notice of the officer in charge of police station but the police allegedly did not act. Later on, it was found the two minor girls were allegedly gang raped and found hanging from a tree outside the village," he added. In a twist to the case, Uttar Pradesh Director-General of Police AL Banerjee earlier claimed rape of one of the victims was not confirmed, suggesting that property could be one of the motives behind the crime. Two schoolgirls sexually assaulted in Tamil Nadu Chennai/Varanasi: Two schoolgirls living in a hostel in Tamil Nadu's Pollachi town were sexually assaulted on Thursday, a police official said. "We are on the lookout for a person who attempted to rape two school girls, aged 13 and 10," a senior police officer said. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced a solatium of Rs 3,00,000 each for the girls. In Varanasi, a mentally retarded woman was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by two persons in Manduadih area, the police said. The woman was abducted from the Manduadih railway station late last night by an auto driver, Paras Patel, and his accomplice Suresh Yadav, and the duo drove the woman to a secluded place and then took turns to rape her, Manduadih police station in charge Moin Ahmed said here. The woman was admitted to a government hospital and both the accused were arrested, Ahmed said. Girl found hanging from tree in UP Moradabad (UP): The body of a 19-year-old girl was today found hanging from a tree in a village in Moradabad district of UP. The girl, who had left the house yesterday without informing anyone, was found hanging from a tree near a temple in Thakurdwara police station area today, according to a report received by the DGP's office in Lucknow from police in Moradabad. The family of the girl has not insinuated anyone nor has it given any complaint in writing. — PTI Police officials inspect the spot where a 19-year-old girl was found hanging from a tree in a Moradabad village on Thursday. PTI SI accused of rape Hamirpur (UP): A 24-year-old woman has accused a police sub-inspector of raping her in a police station when she had gone there to secure her husband's release. Police, however, claimed on Thursday that the allegation was false and rape has not been confirmed in the medical test done on her. The woman has alleged that SI Rahul Pandey raped her on June 9 night. Pandey was assisted by three other policemen in the alleged act. Sub-Inspector Rahul Pandey (L) in police custody in Hamirpur. PTI Raped by paramour Sitapur (UP): A 21-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her paramour, police said on Thursday. The incident came to light when police saw the girl and the accused Ambrish Kanaujia (23) fighting with each other, circle officer SK Singh said. They were then taken to city police station where the girl alleged that she was raped by Kanaujia and two others on Wednesday. Rape in moving car New Delhi: A 25-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped by three men in a moving car in south Delhi following which police have arrested three persons. The suspects taken into custody were Jitender, Jai Bhagwan and Ajay, a senior police official said. An FIR has been registered.
	Holiday horror in Mandi Water was released on verbal orders: Report Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, June 12 The preliminary inquiry conducted by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) has revealed that water was released from the Larji dam following verbal directions from the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC). Twenty-four engineering students from Hyderabad were washed away in the Beas after water was released by the dam authorities. In the report submitted to Principal Secretary (Power) Sushil Negi, Chief Managing Director, Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB), Pratap Negi has indicated that water was released in four instalments on the verbal direction from the SLDC. The generation of the Larji project was scaled down to 32 MW from its capacity of 126 MW, resulting in the release of water. “The water was released to reduce generation so as to save the barrage and also to reduce electricity load on the grid to prevent its collapse,” said Sushil Negi. He said reducing generation was a routine affair resulting in on and off release of water from the dam. “The sudden increase in water level in the Beas could also have been due to the release of water by the Parbati-III project authorities,” said an official of the state power board. The preliminary report also indicates that the generation was scaled down at five HPSEB projects — Baspa, Bhava, Giri, Larji and Bassi — while none of the other independent power producers were asked to do the same. The official said 50 cusecs of water was released at 5.50 pm. 150 at 6.15 pm, 250 at 6.30 pm and finally 450 cusecs at 6.45 pm. The possibility of 450 cusecs of water being released by the Larji project authorities after the children were swept way cannot be ruled out. The last video of the 24 students was shot at 6.35. “The time recorded in the video camera is 6.35 pm when the students were still huddled on the rock, but suddenly the water level rose and the students were swept away,” said Bihari Lal, an employee of Chaman Studio, who was in the village to shoot a wedding function. The point at Thalot where the mishap occurred is 2.5 km from the Larji barrage located at a height of 969.5 metres above sea level and the release of 450 cusecs of water at 6.45 pm worsened the already alarming situation. Had an alert been raised immediately and the dam authorities intimated about the mishap, the release of 450 cusecs at 6.45 pm could have been stopped.
	Javadekar fast-tracks road projects near China border New Delhi, June 12 The Defence Ministry need not come to the Centre to get green clearances for constructing border roads and strategically important projects coming within 100 kms of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Environment Ministry said today. A decision on environmental and forest clearances on building defence infrastructure in the areas in the 100 km-range from the LAC can be taken by the state governments concerned, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said. A policy in this regard will be formulated very soon, he told reporters here.The 4,056-km-long LAC with China touches four states— Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The decision to ease the rules on green clearances was taken after senior Defence Ministry officials headed by its Secretary R K Mathur met Javadekar at his office. “Today we met with the Defence Ministry officials at their requests because lot of their projects were held up and were getting delayed approval. The issue was how to ensure that there won’t be delay. The answer is policy-based decision,” he said. The minister said the policy will be framed in a manner in which a state government can take decisions on environmental and forest clearances for defence infrastructure projects, including roads, coming in the 100-km-range of LAC. He said the meeting considered the status of pending Defence Ministry proposals for environment or forest clearance by the Environment Ministry. The minister, however, said the states should not compromise on the environmental concerns while granting green clearances to such projects. “I assure you that we won’t compromise with environmental considerations. But we will cut short the delays,” he said. Javadekar said he will discuss the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and “the government will have that policy in place so that the clearances will be more on fast-track without compromising the environmental issues”. — PTI Policy to be formulated soon A decision on environmental and forest clearances on building defence infrastructure in areas in the 100 km-range from the LAC can be taken by the state governments concerned, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said. A policy in this regard will be formulated very soon, Javadekar said. The 4,056-km-long LAC with China touches four states- Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The decision to ease the rules on green clearances was taken after senior Defence Ministry officials headed by its Secretary R K Mathur met Javadekar at his office.
	Women’s quota Bill a priority, says Naidu Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 12 The Narendra Modi government reiterated today that it was committed to the passage of the Bill providing reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures, asserting that it remained a priority. It also announced that the election of Deputy Speaker will be held during the next Budget or Monsoon session. “Women’s Reservation Bill is our priority”, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said at the customary end of Parliament session media briefing. His ministry is also in the process of examining 60 Bills pending in the Rajya Sabha and will take a view on how to proceed on them. The Bills introduced in the Rajya Sabha or sent to the House after passage by the Lok Sabha remain alive and the new government can take a view whether to pursue these Bills or withdraw them. The Modi government’s intent on the contentious women’s reservation Bill was emphasised by President Pranab Mukherjee in his address to the recent joint session where he said: “My government recognises the important role our women play in the development of our society and growth of the nation. It is committed to providing 33 per cent reservation to them in Parliament and state legislative Assemblies”. As for the Deputy Speaker, the election has been scheduled during the next session of Parliament when Budget will be presented. The government has not made any commitment as to which party in the opposition could be offered the post. While the Congress is the single largest party in the opposition with 44 MPs, the AIADMK and the Trinamool Congress could also stake claims, provided they muster support. The minister indicated that the plan was to call a session during the second week of July. Naidu requested all former ministers and MPs to vacate their official accommodation so that these could be allocated to the newly elected MPs and ministers. ‘Govt firm on passage’ The govt said it was committed to the passage of the Bill providing for reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures It also announced that the election of Deputy Speaker will be held during the next Budget or Monsoon session Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said his ministry was in the process of examining 60 Bills pending in the Rajya Sabha
	Will treat Sutlej on par with Ganga: Centre Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 12 The Centre has decided to treat the Sutlej river on par with the Ganga. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who today called on Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti and Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, said the Centre had decided to treat the Sutlej at par with the Ganga, which is being cleaned under the prestigious National Mission. He said Punjab also managed to get a big boost towards crop diversification and became the first non-coastal state in the country to get a regional centre of the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture. He also asked for a special project to encourage fish farming, especially in the waterlogged areas of southern Punjab apart from an expeditious approval to the agriculture diversification plan of Rs 7,921 crore over a period of five years as submitted by the state government. Badal shared his concerns with Bharti about pollution levels in the Sutlej. He sought special package for cleaning of the river on the pattern of the package envisaged for the Ganga. “Bharti announced that the Centre would treat the Sutlej as a model river and every effort would be made to clean it on the pattern of the Ganga,” the statement said. Other issues raised by Badal included channelisation of the Ghaggar on which Bharti assured that a meeting of the Central Water Commission would soon be convened to expedite completion of the work. Besides, he asked for the allocation of the pending Central assistance for the waterlogged areas in Punjab.
	Reveal source of foreign funds: Govt to Greenpeace New Delhi, June 12 The government has sent a questionnaire to Greenpeace asking it to give a detailed reply on its foreign funding and spending pattern in the wake of an Intelligence Bureau report accusing the NGO of opposing several development projects in India. Official sources said here today that the questionnaire has been sent by the foreigners division of the Home Ministry under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. Sources said the Home Ministry questions relate to the source of fund for the NGO, its beneficiaries, spending pattern and the purpose for which the fund has been spent. Greenpeace spokesperson Bharti Sinha said she was not aware of any such development. “We always abide by the law of the land and we will cooperate with the government if there is any such questionnaire”, she said. The Intelligence Bureau in a report ‘Impact of NGOs on Development’ said opposition to several development projects in the country by a significant number of NGOs, including Greenpeace, will have a negative impact on economic growth by two to three per cent. The IB report also claimed some NGOs and their international donors are also planning to target many fresh economic development projects including those in Gujarat. The report, which has been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Home Minister, the National Security Adviser, the Finance Minister and others, alleged the NGOs work for stalling projects and back agitations against nuclear power plants, uranium mines, coal-fired power plants and hydel projects. — PTI MHA posers The questionnaire has been sent by the foreigners division of the Home Ministry under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act Sources said the Home Ministry questions relate to the source of fund for the NGO, its beneficiaries, spending pattern and the purpose for which the fund has been spent
	Bihar STF busts mini-gun factory Patna, June 12 The Special Task Force (STF) of Bihar Police busted a mini-gun factory in West Bengal's Howrah district today and arrested five persons along with arms and ammunition, a senior police officer said. Bihar Police's IG (Operations) Amit Kumar said the arrested arms manufacturers and suppliers have been identified as Mohammad Islam of Kora Maidan, Akhtar, Asif, Imam and Sonu of Qasim Bazar area of Munger district. PTI
	Goa Oppn slams BJP over Brazil WC junket Panaji, June 12 Six Goa MLAs three of whom are ministers are being sent on a 10-day trip to Brazil to watch the football World Cup at a cost of Rs 89 lakh to the state government in a decision that has kicked up a storm. The Opposition Congress today called the trip a “wasteful expenditure” and sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to “stop the junket”. But Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar justified the “study tour” saying it will help in Goa’s preparations for the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017 since the tourist state could be one of the venues. “They have been asked to go, not that they wanted to go themselves. Of course they were happy to go,” he said. According to state government sources, three ministers — Ramesh Tawadkar (Sports), Avertano Furtado (Fisheries, Milind Naik (Power) — and as many MLAs will be undertaking the 10-day trip to Brazil starting from July 1 as part of a “study tour”. — PTI
	5 killed in gas leak at Bhilai Steel Plant Raipur, June 12 Five persons, including two Deputy General Managers, were killed and over 30 people fell ill when suspected poisonous gas leaked in the Bhilai Steel Plant in Durg district of Chhattisgarh today. The gas leak from blast furnace-GCP occurred at around 6.30pm due to breakdown in a water pump, affecting people working nearby in the plant premises, a statement issued by the plant said. Inspector General of Police (Durg Range) Pradeep Gupta said five persons, including two DGMs, were killed and 30 others injured in the incident. The injured included CISF personnel, workers and officials of the public sector plant. The injured included CISF personnel, workers and officials of the public sector plant. All the affected persons have been taken to Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Bhilai and the seriously ill have been admitted to ICU, Gupta said. "Plant Management is providing all possible care and support and efforts are on for an early liquidation from the breakdown," the statement by the plant said. A high-level inquiry would be conducted to ascertain the cause of the breakdown and the management will extend all the support to the affected persons, the statement added. Chief Minister Raman Singh expressed grief over the incident and said best medical care will be provided to those affected in the incident. — PTI Over 30 hospitalised Over 30 people fell ill when suspected poisonous gas leaked in the Bhilai Steel Plant in Durg district of Chhattisgarh. The gas leak from blast furnace occurred at around 6.30pm due to breakdown in a water pump, affecting people working nearby in the plant premises
	Don moves SC, seeks trial as per extradition term New Delhi, June 12 Underworld don Babloo Srivastav, who is in jail since 1995 after being brought from Singapore, has moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to all DGPs that he be tried in only those cases which were part of his extradition terms. Srivastav, who was initially extradited to face trials in four criminal cases, was made an accused in 20 such matters, the plea said. During the brief hearing, a bench of justices J S Kehar and C Nagappan said “if you have committed crimes, then you will have to face the trial. If you had consented to the extradition then, you cannot challenge the same now.” The court then adjourned the hearing for tomorrow. Srivastava was apprehended in Singapore in April 1995, pursuant to a red corner notice issued by India through the Interpol. — PTI
	Naxal commander involved in Jiram valley attack held Raipur, June 12 Three Naxalites, including a senior commander who was allegedly involved in the last year's Jiram valley attack, have been arrested in insurgency-hit Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, the police today said. The cadres were apprehended by a special team of the Bijapur police when they arrived at a weekly market of Bacheli in Dantewada last night, said Bijapur Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sukhnandan Rathore. Following a tip-off about the movement of hardcore rebels in Bacheli, a police team was dispatched to the spot which later nabbed the trio on suspicion, the DSP said. Those held have been identified as Chaitu Lekam alias Munna (25), a section commander of military company No. 2 of Maoists active in west Bastar Division, Aaytu Punem (37), a militia platoon commander and Mangu Kunjam (24), a Janmilitia member. Active since 2007 in the outlawed CPI (Maoist) movement, Chaitu was involved in the Jiram valley incident in Darbha region of Bastar in May last year in which prominent Congress leaders were killed. Besides, he was also involved in Mirtur ambush in Bijapur, killing six police personnel (2008), attack on a police party under Chintagufa police station limits of Sukma (2009) and attack on CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) post in Bacheli in which two jawans were killed (2012), he said. Chaitu was a prominent figure of military wing of the CPI (Maoist) as he was also a member of an action team of the Naxals' south regional committee (south Bastar bordering Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh), the DSP said and added that he was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head. The two other arrested cadres — Aaytu and Mangu-- were involved in several Naxal instances of Gangaloor region. However, their involvement in other incidents of Bijapur, Dantewada and Sukma of south Bastar could not be ruled out, he added. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) which is probing the Jiram valley incident had been informed about the arrest of Chaitu, the DSP said. On May 25, 2013, Naxals had ambushed the Congress' Parivartan rally convoy in Jiram valley of Bastar's Darbha region when it was on the way towards Jagdalpur from Sukma. A total of 31 people, including PCC chief Nandkumar Patel, his son Dinesh, former Union Minister Vidayacharan Shukla, former leader of opposition Mahendra Karma, and ex-MLA Uday Mudliyar were killed and several others were injured. Later, the NIA was tasked to investigate the Jiram valley attack. —PTI
	CRPF to honour ‘Juliet’ for saving troops in Naxal belt New Delhi, June 12 The CRPF, in a rare instance, has decided to accord one of its highest service honours to an infantry patrol dog whose alacrity saved lives of many troops during an anti-Naxal operation in Odisha. The female canine ‘Juliet’, is a Belgian Shepherd ‘Malinois’ and is the cousin of the same breed of canines which is reported to have assisted the elite US Navy Seals in sniffing out Osama bin Laden from his safe haven in Pakistan in May 2011. CRPF chief Dilip Trivedi announced a Director General (DG) Commendation Disc, usually awarded to serving personnel and officers for either accomplishing a dare-devil task or rendering exceptional service, to Juliet in order to honour the silent soldier of the force. The Indian forces inducted these dogs for the first time in 2011 to aid security personnel undertaking anti-Naxal operations and special offensive tasks. The latest episode occurred yesterday when ‘Juliet’ was out for an anti-Naxal duty in the jungles of Keonjhar district of Odisha along with the Central Reserve Police Force troops. After about 8-kms of patrol, a senior official said, the squad reached the notorious ‘Sal Ghati’ under Daitri police station area in the district after which the highly-trained Juliet diligently began sniffing a mound of earth lying near the dirt track. Her handler, Constable Zale Singh, goaded her further and she promptly dug out the electric wires of a hidden 20-kg Improvised Explosive Device (IED) buried 2-feet deep, which was also fitted with detonators and torch cells for activation. The patrol squad was alerted by the scout officer, the official said, after which the IED was sanitised and the bomb disposal team was called in which crippled the bomb which, once activated, would have claimed many lives. The force, thick in anti-Maoist operations, has inducted close to 108 ‘Malinois’ dogs in its ranks over the last two years and deployed them with patrol squads which has produced good results, the official said. — PTI Wonder dog The female canine ‘Juliet’, is a Belgian Shepherd ‘Malinois’ and is the cousin of the same breed of canines which is reported to have assisted the elite US Navy Seals in sniffing out Osama bin Laden from his safe haven in Pakistan in May 2011 CRPF chief Dilip Trivedi announced a Director General (DG) Commendation Disc, usually awarded to serving personnel and officers for either accomplishing a dare-devil task or rendering exceptional service, to Juliet in order to honour the silent soldier of the force
	BJP fuelling rebellion in JD(U): Minister Patna, June 12 A senior JD(U) minister today accused the BJP of trying to fuel rebellion in the ranks of his party in Bihar with a view to destabilising the government. Food and Consumer Protection Minister Shyam Rajak said efforts to destabilise the government headed by Jitan Ram Manjhi were being orchestrated by senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi. Rajak alleged that the BJP’s attempts to fuel rebellion in the JD(U) ranks has been “buttressed” by the fact that nominations of the independent candidates Anil Sharma, Sabir Ali and Dilip Jailwal bore signatures of a number of BJP MLAs. — PTI
	Chouhan offers single-window clearance Johannesburg, June 12 Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has promised potential South African investors quick clearance of their projects, saying he would be their "single window clearance in the state". Chouhan, who has been leading a week-long investment and trade promotion visit, was addressing members of the India Business Forum at the Gordon Institute of Business Science here. He also conveyed the resolve of the NDA government to continue working for further consolidation of bilateral relations with South Africa, particularly in the economic and commercial fields. "Madhya Pradesh has seen impressive economic and social gains in the last few years," Chouhan said. "I will be your single window clearance in the state," Chouhan said and promised his fullest support in giving investors a business friendly policy environment. —PTI
	Will spare no effort for release of priest: Modi Chennai, June 12 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured Tamil Nadu that his government would spare "no effort" to ensure the safe release of Indian priest Alexis Prem Kumar, who was abducted in Afghanistan last week. In a letter to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, he said the primary concern at this stage was to ensure the integrity of ongoing efforts for Father Prem Kumar's release. "I can assure you that the government will spare no effort for the safe and earliest possible release of Father Prem Kumar. I will continue to monitor the situation very closely," Modi said. Modi's letter was in response to the one sent to him by Jayalalithaa on June 4, requesting him to "personally intervene" and take up the matter at the highest level in Afghanistan for the early release of Prem Kumar. Noting that he too was "deeply concerned" about the abduction of Prem Kumar, Modi said, "I have been assured that the Government of Afghanistan and the authorities in Herat are taking every possible step to ensure the early release of Prem Kumar." Indian Ambassador in Kabul (Amar Sinha) has been in regular touch with the President's office and the security agencies, Modi said. "My National Security Advisor (Ajith Doval) has also spoken to the Afghan National Security Advisor, who has assured full and sustained efforts by the Afghan government to seek Prem Kumar's release", he said. Indian aid worker Alexis Prem Kumar, hailing from Tamil Nadu, was abducted on June 2 from Herat in Afghanistan by unidentified gunmen, days after the Indian consulate in the province was attacked. —PTI
	Muslims, Marathas may get quota in M’rashtra Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, June 12 The Congress-NCP coalition government in Maharashtra is all set to okay reservation in jobs and educational institutions for Marathas and Muslims during the current Assembly session. As per the proposal, at least 20 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions would be given to the politically-powerful Maratha community, sources said. Earlier this year, a committee headed by Revenue Minister Narayan Rane had recommended reservation for the Marathas in the educational institutions and the state government jobs in Maharashtra. Another 4 per cent reservation has been mooted for the Muslims. If reservation is given to the Maratha and Muslim communities as envisaged by the government, the number of seats reserved in educational institutions will touch 74 per cent. The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that reservation in the educational institutions and government jobs should not exceed 50 per cent. The Marathas account for 35 per cent of the state’s population. Though the state’s politics and the powerful co-operative sector are controlled by members of the community, most Marathas are engaged in agriculture. The Muslims account for around 12 per cent of the population. Earlier attempts to extend reservation to the Marathas have been rebuffed. Even the Mandal Commission report noted that the community should not be classified as backward. Some Dalit groups and OBCs, traditional rivals of the Marathas, are backing the community’s demand. Several OBC leaders have said they are okay with reservation being extended to the Marathas as long as the share of the backward caste groups are not eroded.
	Gujarat gets approval to raise Narmada dam height Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 12 The Gujarat government has got the final clearance to raise the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam from 121.92 metres to 138.68 metres. The decision by the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) on Thursday came after a long wait of eight years. Apparently, Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi(her predecessor in the State) for a speedy clearance. Sources say the BJP-ruled state government is planning a "grand celebration" which may be attended by Modi. Though experts dealing with the sector are calling the move a "step in the right direction", activists are not exactly in a celebratory mood. Calling it "illegal, shocking and unjust", they are questioning the "hurry" in which the decision was taken- almost within a fortnight of the Modi-led government coming to power. They say that the increase in the height by 17 metres will affect around 2,50,000 people residing in the submergence area. Medha Patkar, who is spearheading the Narmada Bachao Andolan, asked whether "Modi will act like the Gujarat CM or the Prime Minister of India. Will he take steps to ensure no condition is flouted and no family that has not obtained rehabilitation benefits gets affected?" Activists claim the decision implies submergence of thousands of hectares of land and displacement of lakhs of tribals and farmers in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, even while rehabilitation, as is "legally" mandated, had not been done. The NCA had allowed the dam height to be raised up to 121.92 metres in 2006.
	Locals welcome PM’s decision Manas Dasgupta Ahmedabad, June 12 Celebrations broke out all over Gujarat today as Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a long-awaited gift to the state by giving the final clearance for the construction of the sluice gates on the Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river. An official spokesman for the state government said the clearance was given by the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) at its meeting held in Delhi today, allowing Gujarat to resume construction of the dam which was pending for the last eight years. Without wasting a day, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel within hours of the clearance by the NCA rushed to Kevadiya Colony, the dam site, and performed ceremonies to symbolise resumption of the construction work to install the sluice gates. With the construction of the dam gates, the height of the dam which remained at 121.92 metres for the last eight years would go up to 138.68 metres, the full reservoir level.
	Gogoi wants ‘bandh culture’ to end Bijay Sankar Bora Tribune News Service Guwahati, June 12 Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has instructed the state machinery to put an end to the ‘bandh culture’. Interacting with Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) and other senior officials, Gogoi has directed them to handle bandhs, road and rail blockades strictly “as they cause lots of hardships and misery to the people and slow down the economy”. There has been a disturbing trend in Assam where political and non-political organisations are into the practice of calling for bandhs and highway/railways blockade to press for their demands. During the meeting, the Chief Minister underscored the need to understand aspirations of the local people and maintain cordial relations with them through people-friendly mechanisms. Regarding law and order situation, Gogoi said: “No laxity will be tolerated for inept handling of law and order.” Gogoi asked the DCs and SPs to play a proactive role in improving law and order. “The wheels of development have to move on and these should not be allowed to come to a halt because of law and order problem. Development activities have to be accorded top priority.”
	Ban on Mumbai dance bars to stay Mumbai, June 12 The ban on dance bars in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra will stay and will now be extended to three-star and five-star hotels as well with the state Cabinet today approving a draft amendment Bill. The move comes as a blow to thousands of bar girls and others associated with such establishments who had hoped to regain their livelihood following a Supreme Court order last year. The new Bill seeks to amend the Dance Bar Prohibition Act to remove a 'legal lacuna' on the ground of which the SC had struck down the state government's 2005 order to ban dance bars. According to the amendment, dance performances in three-star and five-star hotels will also be prohibited, sources said. The decision was taken on a proposal of state home department to amend sections 31 and 32 of the Act. In 2005, dance performances in bars of the state were banned, but three-star and five-star hotels were kept out of the purview of the Act. The government could not defend this discrimination when the ban was challenged before the SC that upheld a HC verdict that the ban was discriminatory and violated the Constitutional right to earn a living. — PTI
	Efforts on to expedite rail projects New Delhi, June 12 The Railways today stepped up efforts to expedite rail connectivity projects for smooth coal movement required for power generation. It was decided at a joint meeting held between Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda and Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal to expedite three critical rail connectivity projects for coal movement in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha. Railways has committed to complete three crucial rail link projects by 2016. The rail connectivity would help evacuate and deliver to customers nearly 100 million tonnes of coal annually from mines in the three states. The projects are Tori-Shivpur (44 kms) Shivpur-Kathautia (53 kms) railway line in North Karanpura in Jharkhand, Jharsuguda-Barpalli-Sardega railway line (53 kms) in Lb Valley, Odisha and Bhupdevpuir-Korichapan-Dharamjaigarh (180 kms) in Mand-Raigarh coalfield, Chhattisgarh. — PTI