Wednesday, November 17, 1999
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N A T I O N |
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Low foodgrain rates
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UP Cabinet expansion
today Two arrested for murder Bandh hits life in Tripura ISI destabilising North-East: book Indo-US projects on the anvil Media ‘strong enough’ to
evolve own code Pirate-hijacked ship recovered, 15
held Panthers party plans yatra DCP in controversy over gifted
revolver Spurious cement seized Nirankari sant samagam ends Scouts celebrate golden jubilee |
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Cyclone-hit NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — The high-powered task force under the chairmanship of the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, has recommended to the Orissa Government that all affected people irrespective of their economic status should be given foodgrains at below poverty line rates for the next six months. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has allocated 2.17 lakh metric tonnes of rice for distribution at below poverty line rates. A press note said the task force, constituted on November 10, has had two meetings since. It has been decided to prepare a comprehensive action plan, including short-term, medium-term and long-term measures, for the rehabilitation and reconstruction purposes in the cyclone-affected areas. Besides visiting Orissa on November 12, Mr Fernandes held meetings with the Chief Minister, state government officials and district officers and undertaking aerial survey, and has taken initiative to involve all central public sector undertakings in the programme. So far, Rs 650 crore has been made available to the state government. Adequate stocks of edible oils have been ensured in Orissa. The Ministry of Power has rushed emergency restoration system for restoring power supply. Work is being carried out by the Power Grid Corporation which has restored power supply to Bhubaneswar, Khaurda, Cuttack and Puri, despatched material and technicians and repaired damaged towers in the Jaipur-Kendrapara-Paradip line. The expected expenditure for work done will be considered as donation from the power grid. The Ministry of Telecommunications has restored STD lines to all district headquarters and telephone exchanges at Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Jhajpur have been made functional. Twentyone satellite terminals have been sent to Orissa and are working at Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Paradip, Batrak and Kendrapara. It has also been decided to keep five satellite telecoms permanently at Jhajpur, Paradip, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Bhubaneswar. The Ministry of Health has supplied 4 crore halogen tablets for the chlorination of water to prevent the outbreak of epidemics. As many as 350 metric tonnes of bleaching powder and 230 metric tonnes of DT, 30,000 I.V. scalp vein, 6 lakh doses of measles vaccines, 1.75 lakh auto destruct syringes, 15 lakh anti-diarrhoeal tablets, 1,30,000 litres of phynyl, 13.6 lakh ORS packets and 3,000 ampoules of anti-snake venom serum were among the supplies despatched. Besides Central Government doctors, chloroquine tablets and quinine have been rushed to the state. The Ministry of Surface Transport has restored the damaged portion of NH-5 and NH-215 and with this all national highways are now restored. The Ministry of Agriculture has constituted an empowered committee to deal with the problem of salinity of soils. The committee will also ensure distribution of paddy seeds, oil seeds, pulses, potato and vegetable oil in the affected area. The Department of Rural Development has been requested to relax norms while implementing the poverty alleviation programmes, the press note said. The Department of Animal Husbandry has been asked to coordinate measures for the replacement of dead livestock. HUDCO has already sanctioned Rs 187.5 crore for assisting in the construction of houses. The Ministry of Petroleum has seen to it that all bottling plants are operational and there is enough stock of POL. In order to replenish the kerosene stock, adequate supplies are being moved from Vizag and Haldia. As many as 529 trucks, each carrying 300 LPG cylinders, have been sent. The Defence Ministry has been engaged in a big way in the relief and rehabilitation programme. More than 5,900 patients have been treated by the Armed Forces and 24 Army ambulances are functional in the area. Thirtyfive Army columns deployed in the state, have been divided into five sectors in consultation with the state government. The Army has pressed into service 220 boats, including 66 motorised boats, and 21 companies of paramilitary forces have also been deployed. The Navy has restored
three mega generators at Paradip Port. The Air Force had
carried out 350 sorties delivering 1,150 tonnes of relief
supplies. The services of the NCC and the Territorial
Army have been provided for orderly distribution and
movement of relief material. |
Mistake that will haunt
villagers PARADIP, Nov 16 — It is a mistake that will continue to haunt the villagers of Sandakhuda all their life. A day before the supercyclone hit coastal Orissa on October 29, the authorities in the industrial township of Paradip had warned villagers staying in low-lying areas to shift to safer buildings. The villagers of Sandakhuda, which is within walkable distance from various high rise buildings in this town, were among thousands of them who ignored the warning. "I myself told so many people that a cyclone could hit our area and they should take refuge in the town...but, they just laughed it away", recalls Sister Pratima who resides in the two-storey Bethany Convent School here. Sister Pratima prayed that night to the Almighty to save them. But, it was a prayer that went unanswered. It was 3 a.m. on October 29 when residents of the area could feel strong winds in the air. By another four hours it had become like a demon knocking at their doors. One could hear trees crashing, window panes rattling and see things flying all around. The supercyclone had arrived. It brought with it heavy rains and later as the residents discovered the seas with it. "I was surprised that rains could inundate such vast areas in such short time... it was only when I went out to check that I realised that there was the taste of salt in my mouth. I tasted the water again, and, Oh God it was sea water" recalls Sister Pratima. By noon, the high-lying areas — the port town is 4 metres above sea level — was at least 5 feet deep in water and the low-lying areas were fully submerged. An assessment of the damage after the cyclone sped away and water started receding revealed that the town and its super infrastructure were more or less intact. So were the people who stayed there or those who had taken refuge there. The dwellings, most of them thatched huts, dotting the sea coast, however, presented a different picture. Hundreds of bodies lay littered all over. All cattle had perished. The villages looked like a dump of mangled rubbish. Even after a fortnight after the devastation took place, the scene has not changed. One can see long queues of villagers at various relief camps set up by the Army and the thatched dwellings still in shatter. "One can understand that these people don’t have anything to eat", says Subedar Narayan Ram Bishnoi of the Jaipur-based Grenadiers unit. Supervising a fair distribution of ration to around 10,000 inhabitants (it must be less after the cyclone) of Sandakhuda village, Subedar Bishnoi said it should not have taken so long to reconstruct the hutments. The problem is one of attitude. He recalls that when he came to the village a week ago, people apart from clamouring for food, did not appear to be bothered about the carcasses littered all over. Ironically, not a single villager helped in cremating the dead or for that matter in disposing of the carcasses. It was the Army and the private voluntary agencies who did the job. If only the villagers realised that a hygienic surrounding would be in their best interest and did self-help instead of depending on outside agencies for everything, things could have returned to normal days ago. On self-help, the villagers of Pentakota, which is located within 100 metres of the sea front and took the onslaught of the winds and waves, have set a perfect example. Ten days after the cyclone struck, the inhabitants of the village, mostly fishermen, were all set to sail again into the rough seas to do what they knew best — catch fish. Mr Kambala Rao, President of the Paradip Fishermen’s Society, said 583 boats had either been blown away or badly damaged. The fishermen were however, not waiting for government help to come. They have joined hands with some of the fishermen who were wise enough to remove the engines and the motors from the boats and shift them to safety. The breakout of various diseases is another problem plaguing the villagers in and around Paradip. With no roofs over their heads and stinking water surrounding their houses, diseases like diarrhoea and high fever have become common. Dr Rajendra Nayak, who is treating the villagers in and around Paradip, said there was an immediate need to provide polythene sheets in the affected areas as they could help in providing temporary roofs for the huts. The presence of a large number of industries in Paradip has also helped the affected villagers. Paradip Phosphates Ltd, Larsen and Toubro, TISCO and Oswal Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd are among the companies which have undertaken relief work in a big way. Mr B.P.Singh, General Manager and in charge of relief coordination in Oswal says, "we have put 25 trucks on relief duty and are supplying dry ration, sarees, lungis, LDP sheets and medicine packets in a 25 km radius around Paradip". He feels that it would take several months for the affected people to start life on their own as they are too "traumatised" at the moment. The company, like
several other voluntary agencies, plans to start
community kitchens for the devastated villagers and
provide free lunch to them for at least the next four
months. |
Orissa to seek loan from World Bank BHUBANESWAR, Nov 16 (PTI) — The Orissa Government plans to move the World Bank and other international funding agencies as well as the Central Government for soft-loan and grant for implementing a coastal area management programme and undertaking massive restoration measures in cyclone-battered areas. Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang today said that the state government would also move the Centre, the Reserve Bank of India and NABARD to provide interest-free loan up to Rs 25,000 to each of the affected families. Addressing a press conference after unveiling a package to tackle the situation caused by the cyclone, he said the devastation had caused untold misery to about 15 million persons in 12 coastal districts with several lakh persons rendered homeless. The toll stood at 9,544, he said. Repudiating the criticism his government was subjected to for "inept handling" of the situation, he said "The government has done its best under the circumstances given the fact that the destruction was wrought in a period of 36 hours." The Chief Minister said the Centre would be requested to waive small loans up to Rs 5,000 and reschedule the payment of loans above Rs 5,000 meant for cyclone victims. The 21-point package also included provision of 50 per cent subsidy on the supply of agricultural seeds and 20-kg rice per month for five months at subsidised rates to all cyclone-affected families. The Centre had approved the programme to provide subsidised rice to the affected people, he said. The State government had
urged the Centre and insurance companies to provide crop
insurance to non-insured farmers affected by the cyclone,
he added. |
Prohibitory orders at ‘sati sthal’ SATPURA (Mahoba, UP), Nov 16 (PTI) — Prohibitory orders were imposed today at the "sati sthal" here where a woman allegedly threw herself on the funeral pyre of her consumptive husband on November 11 even as superstitious villagers made desperate efforts to visit the site to offer obeisance. The administration has been struggling to avoid too much importance being given to the incident, but traditions die hard and superstitions hold sway here as Charan Shah is being deified by a populace looking forever for miracles to happen. The area, associated with the Chandela kings who ruled over the Bundelkhand region between the ninth and the 11th centuries and now known for betel leaf cultivation and granite, shot into limelight after Charan Shah committed sati, a practice abhorred by Hindu reformers and banned by the British. Charan Shah has already been given a "divine status" by some locals with tales of miracles multiplying every day since she supposedly performed sati last week. "The other day, a lame boy, who offered obeisance at the sati sthal, began running," claims Balram, a native of Satpura village. With the villagers sore at the "rough treatment" meted out to them for trying to pay obeisance at the site and a lathi charge on people who wanted to erect a platform on the site yesterday, the situation has all ingredients of turning violent. District police chief Ravi Kumar is determined when he says that all attempts will be made to discourage those who come to glorify Charan Shah. Reports also said Shah was extremely depressed and the act could be a result of suicidal tendencies. The villagers, who flock to the site in hordes, take a pinch of whatever remains of the ashes after the police forced Charan Shah’s son to throw it into a nullah, and rub it on their foreheads as if it were the panacea to their ills. The natives of Satpura stoutly refute the police claim that Shah was "insane" and maintain that she was a "devout" person. Two persons were
arrested in connection with the incident but released by
the police for want of evidence. |
UP Cabinet expansion today NEW DELHI, Nov 16 (PTI) — Decks were cleared tonight for the expansion of the five-day-old Ram Prakash Gupta ministry in Uttar Pradesh tomorrow with the Chief Minister getting the green signal from the BJP leadership for the exercise. Mr Gupta finalised the expansion of his 50-member ministry during his separate parleys with the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani and the BJP chief, Mr Kushabhau Thakre. Before returning to Lucknow, he said the size of his ministry would be around 90, almost the same as that of the Kalyan Singh government. Mr Gupta said he might carry out certain "minor changes" dropping a couple of ministers and accommodating a few new faces to fill up the vacant slots. Asked if the portfolios
too had been finalised during his talks with the central
party leadership, he said, "I have been given a free
hand in this task". |
Two arrested for murder NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — A travel agent, Ashish Mahajan and his employee, Sanjay Patha, were arrested on the charges of murder of a 65-year-old Sikh. The travel agent, who runs Trip Travel Agency, in Connaught Place has been sent to judicial custody and his employee to police custody, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Pranab Nanda, said. The incident occurred yesterday behind the office of the agent located in Mohan Dev building on Tolostoy Marg in Connaught Place, the police added. The police said the deceased, Mukhtiar Singh, along with his son, Tarsem Singh, went to the agent to ask for money which he had allegedly given to the agent for a visa to UK. Mukhtiar wanted to send his other son, Jasveer, to London. Mukhtiar Singh, a retired officer of the BSF, had allegedly gave Rs 2.7 lakh to the agent for the visa while the latter reportedly demanded Rs 3 lakh, but the deceased could not pay the full amount. The visa could not be managed. While the deceased and Tarsem were quarrelling for the money with Patha, his other associates, Ashish Mahajan and his father allegedly started beating Mukhtiar. Tarsem managed to escape but Mukhtiar could not. He was allegedly beaten up mercilessly that he collapsed, the police said. The police said by the time Tarsem came back, Mukhtiar had died. There was no external injury on the body. Employees of the Trip
Travel Agency refused to comment. |
Bandh hits life in Tripura AGARTALA, Nov 16 (PTI) —Normal life came to a grinding halt in Tripura today in response to the 24-hour bandh called by the Congress and the dawn-to-dusk strike by the ruling Left Front and the Trinamool Congress to protest against the killing of 18 persons by militants on Sunday. Shops, business establishments, central and state government offices, banks and other financial institutions remained closed. Vehicles, including government and private buses, remained off the roads. Opposition Congress and the Trinamoool Congress have given separate bandh calls demanding resignation of the Left Front government for its failure to tackle the insurgency problem and imposition of President’s rule. Union Home Minister L.K. Advani has assured Tripura that the Centre would "sympathetically" consider its demand for additional security forces, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has said. Meanwhile, the banned All-Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) has denied its involvement in Sunday’s massacre of 18 persons at Panchabati in West Tripura. The ATTF, in a fax
message to newspaper offices, has said that to denigrate
the outfit, some vested interests were saying that the
ATTF massacred 18 persons. |
ISI destabilising North-East: book NEW DELHI, Nov 16 (UNI) — After its failure in Kargil, Pakistan is now attempting to separate the entire North-East from the rest of India by cutting off the Chicken’s Neck area between northern Bengal and Assam. According to a recent book, "Terror in the Valley and Kargil", the task of cutting off the Chicken’s Neck portion has been assigned to the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and has been planned along the lines of the Kargil operation. It is being fully supported covertly by the Pakistani army. The Chicken’s Neck area, a narrow alley between Srirampur in Assam and new Jalpaiguri in north Bengal, connects the North-East with the rest of the country. Pakistan plans to control the area which would make it easier for them to cut off the entire North-East and also spread terrorism in other parts of India. It is significant that Pakistan’s deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had warned he could open several fronts similar to Kargil. To execute the operation, about 24 active Islamic fundamentalist groups have been formed in Bangladesh, Nepal and India. These groups have been trained on the pattern of the Lashkar-i-Tayyaba and the Taliban militia. These include groups such as the Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA), the Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam (MULFA), the People’s Liberation Front (PLF), the International Liberation Army (ILA), the Muslim Security Force (MSF), the Liberation of Islamic Tiger Force (LITF), the Muslim Security Council of Assam (MSCA), the United Liberation Militia of Assam (ULMA), the Minority Peoples Action Committee (MPAC), the Muslim Volunteers Force (MVF), the Mujahid Vahini and Jubo Command. Nearly 5,000 Bangladeshi youth have been trained by the ISI for executing a Kargil-type operation, the book says quoting intelligence agencies. Some youths among these have also been trained in guerrilla warfare. The training was imparted by the Mujahid Vahini in the Bangladesh under the patronage and instructions of the ISI. Training camps were organised with support from Gajir Dargah Madrasa and Alima Madrasa. In addition, camps were also organised in the Galamari area of Khulna district and Bagchara and Salim Bila areas of Jessore district with support from Bangladesh’s secret agency, the DGFI, and the Jamat-i-Islami Hind. To oversee the entire operation, Pakistan had appointed retired Major Rustam Ali in Bangladesh. These groups have a strong network in northern and western Bengal and the entire North-East. The ISI has, with the help of these groups, spread its tentacles from New Jalpaiguri to Assam and to 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda and Dinajpur districts. Security in the entire area is threatened by massive Bangladeshi infiltration under ISI influence. Regarding
Pakistan’s intrusion in Kargil, the book, authored
by journalist Omkareshwar Pandey, says had the government
accepted the recommendation of senior officials of the
Northern Command in 1984 for constituting a
‘Himalayan brigade’ to deal with Kargil-like
situations Pakistan would never have undertaken the
misadventure and the Indian Army would not have suffered
so many casualties. |
Indo-US projects on the anvil NEW DELHI, Nov 16 (PTI) — India and the USA will soon take up seven meteorological projects based on satellite data that include cyclone and rainfall predictions and study of tropical atmosphere. "The jointly identified projects will show results within a year or two," Mr V.S. Ramamurthy, Secretary of the department of Science and Technology (DST), said at the inaugural function of a meeting here to discuss joint research projects in meteorology. The identified projects include derivation of cloud motion — an indicator of wind and used for weather prediction, long range forecasting of Indian climate and tropical rainfall monitoring. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is also keen to offer data from the IRS-P4 satelite to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), ISRO chief K. Kasturirangan said, adding: "We have already communicated to NASA regarding this." The USA currently receives data from the Indian IRS-P3 and INSAT satellites through dedicated communication links. An Indo-US data centre will be inaugurated here tomorrow to facilitate sharing of satellite and research data between the two nations for research on climate analysis and weather forecasting techniques, Mr Ramamurthy said. The centre has been set up following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in satellite data signed between the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Admnistration (NOAA) in the USA, and the Department of Space (DoS) and the DST in India. The joint project would help in better prediction of tropical cyclones in the next 10 years, Mr James F.W. Purdom, NOAA Director of Research and Application, said. India has invested about
Rs 50 lakh on the data centre while the USA takes care of
the communications channels and some equipment, Mr S.K.
Shrivastava, Additional Director-General in Indian
Meteorological Department (IMI) said. |
Media ‘strong
enough’ to evolve NEW DELHI, Nov 16 (PTI) — Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley today disfavoured imposing any code of conduct on the media saying it was "strong enough" to develop its own code. "I have no doubt that the Indian print and electronic media was strong enough to develop its own code than leave it to any other limb of the state to interfere with," Mr Jaitley told a seminar "Media and Society" here organised by the Press Council of India on the occasion of the National Press Day. "Those irresponsible will be phased out on their own. The Press, by and large, knows what to write," he said, adding that it would be dangerous to regulate the power of the media as freedom of expression was for the good of society. Mr Jaitley suggested a debate on right to information, changes in the Official Secrecy Act and limits of immunity to a journalist to protect the identity of sources. Expressing a "sense of satisfaction" while looking back at the Indian Press, he said barring some stray incidents and the days of Emergency, it has performed well and freedom of press has acquired a place of pre-eminence among the fundamental rights. He was also glad that Press freedom was not curtailed even indirectly through economic measures like excessive taxation. Mr Jaitley said monopoly and free expression cannot co-exist irrespective of private sector or government monopoly. The developments in Information Technology had accompanying problems, but since no society can defy technology it should be used to mould public opinion to its best, he said. Earlier, Press Council Chairman P.B. Sawant expressed concern over media being run for profit saying it affected the entire society and cannot be just a commercial business. "If making money or running it as a business is the primary objective, all other considerations are subordinated to it, including cherished moral values of society," he said. Justice V. M. Tarkunde said he was worried about the freedom of the editor being encroached upon by the proprietor and the "deterioration" in newspaper content. Meanwhile, Mr Jaitley today favoured restructuring of Doordarshan (DD) right from the Prasar Bharati Board saying the entire set-up needed to be professionalised to make it a comprehensive public service broadcaster. He said this while releasing a book "Managing Corporate Culture" here. "Certain initiatives in this regard have to be taken immediately as otherwise the system would collapse," he said, adding that the DD structure had to be professionalised "right from the board". Mr Jaitley said DD was
supported by tax-payers of the country as it had a
budgetary support of Rs 1,400 crore from the government
while it could only manage Rs 395 crore through
advertisement revenue. |
Pirate-hijacked ship recovered, 15 held NEW DELHI, Nov 16 (PTI) — After a hot chase on the high seas, ships of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard today captured a cargo vessel, suspected to have been taken over by pirates, in the Arabian Sea and apprehended 15 of its crew members. The crew members, who had abandoned the ship after it was fired upon from Navy’s missile corvette ‘‘INS Prahar’’ early this morning and were about to escape in a boat, were captured by the Coast Guard and taken to Mumbai for interrogation, a senior Navy officer said here. The ship was fired upon after it refused to abide by repeated warnings from the Coast Guard and Navy and strayed off course. The vessel was apprehended as it caught fire after INS Prahar shot through its port-hole when it was located about 450 miles off Goa, Rear Admiral S.C. Suresh Bangara said. Prima facie, it seems to be a case of piracy and has got nothing to do with terrorism, he said in reply to a question. Earlier on November 3, a ‘‘special alert’’ was sounded by the International Maritime Bureau that a Japanese-owned ship ‘‘MV Alondra Rainbow’’ along with its 17-member crew was missing. A week later, the crew
members, found ‘‘abandoned’’ in
Thailand, said the ship had been taken over by pirates,
after which the navy issued a warning. On the night of
November 13, a merchantship reported sighting a vessel
similar to ‘‘MV Alondra Rainbow’’
south of Kanyakumari. |
Panthers party plans yatra NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — The National Panthers Party President, Mr Bhim Singh, will undertake a 43-day-long "rashtra chetna yatra" (nation awakening march) from November 19 to create a nationwide awareness on the Kashmir issue. Talking to reporters about his, 6751 km-long nationwide march which would begin from Kargil and end in Kanyakumari on December 31, he said, "the purpose behind the yatra is to awaken the youth of the country and to create awareness among the youth about the menace of communalism, casteism, criminalisation, corruption and drugs". Mr Bhim Singh said the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, would flag off the yatra from Srinagar Ramban on November 23. In New Delhi the journey
would be flagged off by the Congress President, Mrs Sonia
Gandhi, he said, adding that about 50 vounteers would
accompany him. |
DCP in controversy over
gifted revolver NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — The Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West), Mr Satyendra Garg, has come into a controversy after getting a revolver as gift from a woman of Model Town. The fact came to light during investigation of a murder case committed a few weeks ago at Invitation Banquet Hall in Mahendru Enclave near Model Town. The revolver was gifted to the DCP by Ms Saroj Goel, wife of Susheel Goel, allegedly a controversial person in the Model Town area. Susheel was reportedly wanted in the murder case, sources said. The revolver was issued
to her and recently gifted to the DCP, A senior officer
of the Licensing Branch of the Delhi Police confirmed it. |
Spurious cement seized NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — With the arrest of two persons, the Delhi police claimed to have busted a racket of adulterated cement in Raghubir Nagar in West Delhi. Acting on a tip off, the police raided a house in R-Block in Raghubir Nagar where cement was allegedly adulterated by mixing with dust of lime stone. The house belonged to Babu Khan where the factory was reportedly run by Pawan Goel. Both have been arrested. Pawan had rented the house of Babu. The police seized 10 bags of adulterated cement, 155 bags of lime stone and 153 bags of cement. When the police entered the house the dust of lime stone was being mixed with the cement. The ratio of the cement
and lime stone dust in each bag was 60:40. The suspect
had benefit of Rs 50 on each bag. |
Nirankari sant samagam ends NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — The three-day-long Nirankari sant samagam concluded here late last night with Nirankari Baba Hardev Singh urging the people to maintain communal harmony, mutual understanding and tolerance. The samagam has decided to donate a sum of Rs 5 lakh to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the relief and rehabilitation of the cyclone victims of Orissa. The three-day annual
samagam was attended by large number of people from India
and abroad. |
Scouts celebrate golden jubilee NEW DELHI, Nov 16 — The Bharat Scouts and Guides has completed its golden jubilee of its establishment this week. The president of the organisation, Mr Rameshwar Thakur, said a year-long cultural and other functions would be held throughout the country to mark the occasion. A cultural programme to
launch the celebrations was held here on November 13 with
scouts and guides from Delhi and Haryana participating in
large numbers, a press note issued here said today. |
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| BJP leader killed, 3 held JAMSHEDPUR: A local BJP leader has been killed in a bomb attack in West Singhbhum district of Bihar while the police on Monday arrested three persons in connection with the murder. President of the Chakradharpur BJP Town Committee Sunil Kejriwal was killed when a petrol bomb was hurled on him by a gang of criminals on Sunday, the police said, adding that they had arrested Baisakhu, Raju Bhattar and Feku Sahu, all of whom have a criminal background, in this connection. — PTI Air-hostess
murder case Prof R.
Subramanian Recycled plastic
bags banned Diamond found in
shallow mine |
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