 |
|
|
PM to release ‘performance’ report on May 22
Human rights’ violations
LJP MLA’s membership under threat
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Bihar police faces fake encounter charges
Simalbari girls lead a silent revolution
Students take lessons to combat criminals
UGC to issue strict instructions on ragging
Stem cell tech course on offer in TN
Tele-medicine course for docs at MGR varsity
Haryana, Punjab seek defence universities
Tiger parts trade
GSI checks cracks on Neelkanth
Eurocopter set to ink major deal
Ministry to consider relocating offices abroad
Maya warns MLAs against violence
13 IAS officers transferred in UP
Raj Thackeray’s goons attack Railway examination candidates
Kidnapped Indians in Nigeria safe
Three held for travelling with fake passports
20 cops injured in clashes
Raid on Goa CM son’s residence
Cyber blackmailer nabbed
|
|
PM to release ‘performance’ report on May 22
New Delhi, May 20 But just before that, the UPA government today got a bolt from the blue when union panchayati raj minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said the government’s policies did not reflect the real interests of a majority of people. Prime Minister’s media adviser Sanjaya Baru told The Tribune this evening that Manmohan Singh will be presenting his government’s report to the people at a function on May 22 where leaders of all constituents of the UPA as well as UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi would be present. He said the Manmohan Singh government’s practice of releasing an annual report to the people was unprecedented in the history of independent India. Baru said the report would be comprehensive and cover a wide gamut of subjects and schemes initiated by the UPA government. He clarified that the report to the people would talk only of what had been done by the UPA government so far and not what remained to be done. The forthcoming report to the people will have separate chapters on subjects like poverty alleviation programmes, rural and urban development schemes, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), foreign policy, infrastructure, Centre-state relations and women and child welfare programmes. Meanwhile, Aiyar rocked the government boat in a firebrand interview to CNN-IBN. Aiyar also took a pot shot at the need for a higher GDP growth trajectory - a subject very close to the Prime Minister’s heart. He said a high growth rate of more than 9 per cent conferred disproportionate benefits to the privileged sections of society and felt that growth without equity was of little consequence. "There is a disproportionate benefit of the 9.2 per cent (growth) going to the classes" and if course correction is not undertaken the Congress-led UPA government could lose the support of the aam admi… I fear that a government that is attempting to have an economic policy for the aam admi may not get the aam admi's endorsement." He said the UPA government will lose the support of the aam admi if it didn’t correct its course at the mid-point of its five-year term, Mani Shankar Aiyar, minister for panchayati raj, sports and the North East, has warned. Aiyar was questioned about a speech he made in April to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) where he said: "the masses determine who will form the government (but) the classes determine what that government will do". Asked if he was also suggesting that the government's policies were unduly influenced by elite interests as represented by institutions like the CII, he said: "Yes and I was also suggesting that if we are aware of this then we can always take countervailing action ... industry interests need not necessarily be the country's interest". He claimed that he was not worried that the Prime Minister could ask him for his resignation for airing his personal views in public. “Since the past one month (that has lapsed since (my) CII speech), no one has asked me for my resignation. I have received numerous flattering references to that speech from my own party colleagues. There is not one minister who has come to me to say that I should not have said it, except for Dasmunsi,” Aiyar said. The minister claimed that the PM felt that time was opportune for a mid-course correction of government’s policies. “We’ve got another two years and there is enough time to take certain special measures,” he maintained.
|
|
Human rights’ violations
Patna, May 20 The NHRC seem to be also unhappy with the steps taken by the Bihar government to tackle trafficking, particularly involving children and women. The full team of NHRC led by its chairman, Justice S.Rajendra Babu, being in Bihar, held a regional meeting of eastern states comprising West bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand and Bihar today. Talking to mediapersons here, Rajendra Babu said Bihar presently accounts for 34 per cent of women and children trafficking against 23 per cent of other states. Going by the NHRC findings, while majority of women victims of trafficking end up as sex workers at brothels in Mumbai and New Delhi, children mostly work as domestic help in inhuman conditions. The NHRC felt that the Bihar government lacked adequate infrastructure in dealing with such trafficking. In context, the Shasastra Seema Bal (SSB), entrusted to guard Nepal and Bhutan borders, in the recent past reportedly informed the government agencies that about 3,000 women were being illegally trafficked every year through the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar. Cautioning Bihar government against a high rate of human rights violation, the NHRC recommended the state government to pay Rs 28.58 lakh as compensation to the victims of human rights violation, which included 10 cases of custodial deaths alone.
|
|
LJP MLA’s membership under threat
Patna, May 20 Sitamari DM Suman Kumar said the Home Ministry recently held an inquiry into the complaint against Nagina Devi charging her with being a Nepalese citizen. "The findings made her ineligible to hold membership of the Bihar Assembly," Kumar said. Soon after the Assembly elections in 2005, the defeated JD(U) candidate from the same Assembly seat, Rajkishore Singh Kushwaha, had moved the Patna High Court challenging Nagina Devi`s election on the ground that she was not an Indian citizen. Subsequently, the High Court had asked the DM and the Home Ministry to verify the veracity of the complaint. Born to her Nepalese parents, Nagina Devi was married to Yogiraj Prasad of Posua-Patania village in Bathnaha assembly constituency in Sitamari district. Referring to a letter received by his office from the Home Ministry on May 15, Kumar said under Section 5 of the Citizenship Act, just being married to an Indian national does not naturally make one a citizen of the country. "Since Nagina Devi never applied for Indian citizenship, technically she cannot be an Indian citizen," he said. Following the High Court`s order, the DM himself had asked the sub-divisional officer of Sitamari Arun Kumar to hold an inquiry, which too revealed that the MLA was born to Nepalese parents of Madanpur village in Sarlahi district of the neighbouring country. To substantiate his views, Kumar further quoted that the citizenship Act stating that while children born to Indian parents automatically became Indian citizens, this was not applicable to Nagina Devi. "Since Nagina Devi's parentage was Nepalese, despite her marriage to an Indian, she was required to apply for this country's citizenship", the DM insisted. Kumar said he had informed the Home Ministry about the findings. Earlier Kumar, who is also the District Electoral Officer, had sought an explanation from Nagina Devi on the complaint filed by Rajkishore Singh Kushwaha to which she responded saying she had never tried to obtain Indian citizenship due to ignorance. The state Home secretary Afzal Amanaullah said the government was looking into all aspects of this issue. On his part, Kumar sent a report to the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar appending all relevant documents for necessary action. Nagina Devi, however, claimed herself as a valid Indian citizen and charged the defeated JD(U) candidate with framing a conspiracy against her.
|
|
Bihar police faces fake encounter charges
Patna, May 20 The Director General of Bihar Police, Ashish Ranjan Sinha, today ordered the arrest of two sub-inspectors charged with the killing of 21-year-old Mohd Gurfan in a fake encounter in Samastipur district five years back. Official sources said the order was issued after the additional director general of CID, Yashwant Malhotra, who was asked to inquire into the case, submitted his report against the two sub-inspectors Kaisar Alam and Uttam Singh. It was only after the youth’s family petitioned before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Malhotra was reportedly entrusted with the task of holding the inquiry into the case. Gurfan was reportedly picked up from a cinema hall at Hajipur in Vaishali district on February 5, 2002, and taken to Tajpur in Samastipur district where he was killed in "a stage-managed encounter". The case of Gurfan was preceded by recent revelation regarding the killing of a woman and her daughter by the Bihar police in a fake shootout in Sitamari district in July, 2005, during the President’s rule which was passed off as an operation to combat Maoist rebels. Following an enquiry, DIG (Trihut range) Gupteshwar Pandey, recently in his report admitted that the duo were killed in a "fake encounter" in Ranjitpur village of Sitamarhi. Three police personnel were subsequently suspended following this shocking revelation by Pandey. The enquiry again was held following a directive by the Patna High Court, which acted on a complaint filed by the relatives of the deceased. Early this month, People's Watch, human rights body raised the issue of the killing of three brothers-Ram, Lakshman and Bharat, in an alleged fake shootout in Bhojpur district in 2006 under the new regime. Following public protest, state home secretary, Afzal Amanullah, requested the CBI to probe into this alleged fake encounter issue.
|
|
Simalbari girls lead a silent revolution
Patna, May 20 But in a state where more than 60 percent girls reportedly are married before the age of 18, there is finally a ray of light at the end of tunnel for the girls here. In a development that perhaps can encourage Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in perusing his empowered women raj agenda, adolescent girls at Simalbari, in a silent revolution are beginning to stand up against the social menace of early marriage. What is more encouraging is that a sizable population of girls in the locality include muslims, where they dare to violate the so-called fatwas of the Maulavis. Like many other villages of Bihar, electricity and good roads are still distant dreams for Simalbari. But that does not deter the girls from taking this bold step against child marriage. The chairperson of NGO Azad India Foundation (AIF), Sayeeda Hussain said it was the conviction and determination of both semi-literate and illiterate girls that inspired the NGO most here. The NGO is presently working on a project on adolescent reproductive and sexual health in 15 villages of Kishanganj, funded by National Foundation of India (NFI). Sayeeda recalled that when 15-year-old tribal girl Radha Hemdar refused to give up her studies and get married, it shocked her community. It was hard for the illiterate tribal hamlet to understand why Hemdar was ruining her life by giving up the opportunity of marriage. Going against the tide, Hemdar not only refused to budge, but became the first girl in many generations to reach Class IX here. Not only Hemdar was convinced that early marriage was not good for health, but also inspired several other girls between the age of 10-14 years in Simalbari to defy their parents’ decision for marriage before 18. Besides Simalbari, another challenge for the NGO was Mirbhatta village in the said district. Sayeeda said, “A majority of Mirbhatta’s predominantly Muslim population is illiterate. Girls are married young and have no control over their bodies or the number of children they give birth to.” Local religious leaders (maulavis) also play a crucial role in all-important decisions pertaining to the community. And irrespective of the opposition from the religious leaders, who argue that young girls would become polluted if informed about their reproductive and sexual health, the AIF did not give up. The NGO just changed its strategy. Instead of talking about adolescent health, it decided to use their existing non-formal education (NFE) centres to rally parents around their cause. Sayeeda is optimistic of the changes in Mirbhatta too as a good number of parents opposing the views of religious leaders, are now getting convinced that the knowledge of reproductive health is good for their children.
|
|
Students take lessons to combat criminals
Patna, May 20 Worried at the recent spate of kidnappings in the state, senior police officers are now teaching children safegaurds against abductions in their classrooms in the schools. As a result, for the schoolchildren here after the morning assembly, it is time for a crash course to keep criminals at bay. Says 10-year old student Harsh ,"We were not much aware earlier on the laws of the land. We also had a different perception of the police. But after interacting with them we found police uncles also to be very friendly". The exercise which has been continuing for past few weeks was part of the state police's efforts to instill confidence among children and their parents. Another student of 12-year age from a different school Neena says," we now know the security that government provides to us. They(police) also told us how we should avoid strangers outside the school and carry our proper identity documents with us". One could guess the apparent desperation of Bihar police to go for an image -building exercise among students because the school children were always at the receiving end once the lawbreakers took advantage of any flaws of the the lawmakers. The students felt equally insecured when Kishalay was abducted during the previous RJD regime and the latest case involving six-year old UKG student Ankit.Ankit was abducted on April 12 and the police were yet to solve the mystry whether he was alive or dead. Faced with the Patna High Court order to recover 143 children and 581 women who were reported missing in the state till 2005,the heat has thus now turned on Nitish government with unabated cases of abductions since 2006. Official records showed a reported rise in kidnapping with 1800 cases registered in 2006 against 1697 cases in 2005. The findings were against 32,085 cases of kidnapping reported between 1992 and September 2004 in the state.About 20% of these were said to be for ransom as kidnapping was always a thriving industry in Bihar. Predictably,the government is on the defensive."There are several types of kidnappings such as kidnapping for murder and kidnapping for forceful marriage. Despite this,there has been a definite down slide in kidnapping for ransom. Previously a lot of cases were not registered at police stations. Now nothing can be hidden,"said a senior police official entrusted to work out strategies to deal with organised criminal gangs in Bihar.
|
|
UGC to issue strict instructions on ragging
New Delhi, May 20 “We will issue instructions to the universities soon asking them to strictly implement the direction of the Supreme Court,” the UGC secretary
T.R. Kem said. “As soon as we get a copy of the court’s order, we will issue the instructions to the universities within two to three days.” There are about 275 universities under the
UGC. The IITs, meanwhile, are set to approach the Union Human Resource Development Ministry to seek a uniform policy for them to implement the order. He said the
IIT-Delhi sets up an anti-ragging committee every year and a similar panel will be formed this year
too. IIT-Kanpur has started a students’ helpline to save new entrants from ragging. A senior official of IIT said the helpline team comprises 11 senior professors of the institute whose mobile numbers will be made available to all freshers at the time of admission. The students can file complaints about ragging on the mobile phones and seek help from the team. The NCERT said it will set up a committee to work out how a chapter on ragging can be introduced in its textbooks. The new chapter may be introduced in books from the next academic session since the NCERT has already published books for this year, council spokesman Veenith Joshi said. The Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted the Raghavan committee’s recommendations on ragging, including an amendment in the Criminal Procedure Code to ensure that cases of ragging are tried on the fast track. The court also asked the NCERT and SCERTs to explore the possibility of introducing a separate chapter on the evils of ragging and deterrent measures in the curriculum.
— PTI
|
|
Stem cell tech course on offer in TN
Chennai, May 20 University of Madras has signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with the International Centre for Cardio Thorasic and Vascular Diseases here to offer a post-graduate diploma programme in stem cell technology and tissue engineering. The centre is a unit of Frontier Lifeline Private Limited headed by a cardiac surgeon Dr. K. M.
Cherian. According to Cherian, the course would be offered from the coming academic year and would be of 18-month duration. In addition, it would also have a six-month internship period during which students would be given hands-on training in culturing stem cell and tissue engineering. Initially, only 10 students will be admitted for the
course. Cherian felt that decoding of the human genome in 2003 was a third medical revolution after the identification of contaminated water as a source of cholera and the discovery of anesthesia. Genetic preponderance was the order of the day as any treatment involved basic sciences. Stem cell research and its applications are fast gaining popularity all over the world. Stem cells can be harvested and cryogenically preserved to be used for treating more than 75 serious ailments, including neurological disorders, cardiac conditions and lifestyle diseases. Stem Cells are the building blocks of our body and they have the unique ability to regenerate. Couples, who are going to have a baby, are increasingly registering themselves with cord blood banking units. People are realising that collecting and preserving the baby's cord blood stem cells is a security blanket for the child and immediate family
members. Cherian said tissue engineering could be used to correct complex defects and added that the course would seek to encourage and prepare students to take up research in the emerging area of stem cell technology and tissue engineering. The university's zoology department will offer the course and the educational qualifications needed to join it will be finalised soon.
|
|
|
Tele-medicine course for docs at MGR varsity
Chennai, May 20 Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University will shortly begin a one-month certificate course in telemedicine for doctors in association with the Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation (ATNF). The ATNF along with Anna University already offers a course on tele-health technology. According to vice chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University Dr K. Meer Mustafa Hussain, "We are trying to establish a separate department for telemedicine which is first of its kind in Asia." To suit the timings of professional medical practitioners the certificate course would be conducted exclusively for them between 2 p m and 5 p m. Hussain said that each year there would be three batches with 50 to 60 doctors in each and lectures and practicals would form part of the course. The university is also contemplating to start a two-year course in telemedicine which could be a diploma or a graduate course. He said technology could be used in imparting education to medical students too and added, "There are many medical colleges nowadays. But there is a shortage of professors to teach basic medical courses. So this technology could be used to transfer the best of knowledge." Hussain felt that telemedicine could also be used in disease management as "more telehealth centres are likely to be opened in India." According to Anna University vice-Chancellor D. Viswanathan, the university was in the process of setting up a telemedicine facility on its campus. He observed, "In the centre for medical electronics, many research scholars are working in the areas of medical informatics and telemedicine." Viswanathan pointed out that more than 200 colleges affiliated to Anna University and linked through EDUSAT satellite could be used for helping in telemedicine. "The infrastructure of the institutions could be used," he added. Viswanathan said the challenges in taking forward telehealth facilities were facing lack of financial support and sustainability, lack of technically competent staff, lack of awareness and legal and policy issues. Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Group Preetha Reddy said the rest of the world was witnessing the progress India was making in telemedicine and felt that efforts should be made to link telemedicine facility and spread it throughout the country. Since the course was started around 100 doctors including some senior Indian Army officers had also undertaken training.
|
|
Haryana, Punjab seek defence universities
New Delhi, May 20 Speaking at the 27th meeting of Kendriya Sainik Board here yesterday, he urged the Prime Minister to approve a sainik school in southern Haryana, preferably in Rewari district. He said people of the state were awaiting the announcement regarding establishment of National Defence University. The Chief Minister said it was a tradition in the state to serve in the defence forces and it has 2.71 lakh ex-servicemen. Speaking at the meeting, Punjab cooperation and defence services welfare minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh sought early establishment of Army Law University in the state. Suggesting that more ex-servicemen should be absorbed in PSUs, he said Punjab needed more resources for welfare schemes for ex-servicemen. According to an official spokesman, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, who also met defence minister A.K. Antony, said the state government was willing to provide land for any central scheme to build houses for ex-servicemen.
|
|
|
Tiger parts trade
New Delhi, May 20 Tiger conservationists across the globe have been urging India to take a strong position in favour of tigers and ask China to continue with it’s ban on tiger trade. China under pressure from its tiger farming lobby, had been trying to build up the case for lifting the ban it placed on trade of tiger products in 1993. Chinese have also been trying to gather support from other countries and are hoping for some sort of a resolution in the forthcoming CITES meet. Majority of CITES member countries are not in the support of lifting of the ban. But for China India’s support was crucial since it is home to 50 per cent of the big cats of the world. There are several ‘tiger farms’ in China that collectively house 5,000 tigers and investors in these tiger farms stand to make enormous profits if the ban is lifted. China's own record shows that rampant trade has reduced its tiger population in wild from 5,000 to 50. India, which has the maximum to lose if ban is lifted, told China that such a move would only encourage tiger trade and cross-border poaching. Tigers in India continue to remain under severe threat. A recent study shows that despite good efforts, big cats are vanishing from their habitats in Rajasthan, UP and Jharkhand due to poaching as well as loss of habitat and prey species. The tiger trade is banned internationally and also banned domestically in many countries, including China. However, China is the largest market for tiger-end products. Rough estimates peg the potential scope of tiger trade at more than $ 500 million in China alone. However, while to raise a tiger in the farm costs $1500 per year, to poach one would cost just a one-time investment of $500.
|
|
|
GSI checks cracks on Neelkanth
Dehra Dun, May 20 The study, however, was hampered due to low visibility and bad weather conditions. The study followed information sent to the Chamoli district administration by the chairman of Kedarnath-Badrinath Mandir Samiti, AP Maikhuri, who claimed to have noticed a crack in the 20,640 feet high mountain above the Badrinath shrine. Some pilgrims to Badrinath during the ongoing Char-Dham yatra also reported the appearance of cracks to the mandir samiti. After being sounded by the district administration, the state government asked the GSI to conduct the study. Officials of the Disaster Management Department informed that the joint team of scientists led by the Director, GSI, Dr P.C Nawani, along with the SP, Chamoli district, Pushkar Singh, today flew in a helicopter but the cracks could not be seen clearly. According to Chamoli District Magistrate, Ajay Singh Nabiyal, the scientists were likely to make another sortie in near future after which the GSI would submit its report.
|
|
Eurocopter set to ink major deal
New Delhi, May 20 Eurocopter, part of the EADS defence and aviation conglomerate, will soon hold talks with the defence ministry on final price negotiations for the helicopters, 137 of which will be made under licence by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, defence sources said. The European firm's sole competitor for the contract was Bell of the US, which had pitched its Bell 407 helicopter. Eurocopter will supply 60 helicopters off the shelf from its plant in France and these will be inducted into the Army Aviation Corps for surveillance, medium transport and casualty evacuation purposes, the sources said. The firm will transfer the technology to HAL for manufacturing the remaining helicopters and also invest 30 per cent of the total value of the deal as offsets under India's new Defence Procurement Policy, they said. — PTI
|
|
Ministry to consider relocating offices abroad
New Delhi, May 20 Calling for a review of India tourism offices abroad, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Tourism also called for "revamping" the government's tourism website and making it more user-friendly for wider access to Indian destinations and products. The committee, in its latest report, observed that though the ministry is making efforts to promote India as a preferred destination, increasingly strong competition from other players in the market cannot be ignored. In this light the committee asked the ministry to "review the functioning of the overseas marketing offices and, if needed, relocate some of them in view of emerging tourism requirements. Expressing disappointment at India lagging behind its neighbours in attracting foreign tourists, the committee said this was despite the fact that the country was better endowed in terms of variety of destinations. However, it appreciated the fact that there has been a growth of 53.1 per cent in foreign tourist arrivals and 69.8 per cent in foreign exchange earnings compared with the last fiscal. The committee noted that the major constraints in attracting foreign tourists are inadequate budgetary support for promotion and marketing and non-availability of accommodation at major points of entry and major tourist destinations. There is also fear about health and hygiene conditions, perceptions related to safety and security and unreasonably expensive packages compared with those provided by neighbouring countries, the committee observed. "The ministry should lay emphasis on safety, security and hygiene aspects along with promotional activities through all major print and visual media at overseas markets," the committee said.
— PTI
|
|
|
Maya warns MLAs against violence Lucknow, May 20 She stated this during an emergency meeting, specially called after reports of BSP men indulging in violence in Hardoi, Bulandshahr and Meerut districts, today. “I think this warning is enough as I do not want to see such acts in the future again,” the CM cautioned. “Maintaining the law and order is my priority and I do not want to see my MLAs indulging in violence,” she added. However, the BSP chief clarified that those who displayed weapons and opened fire in ‘Vijay Rally’ were not BSP men. Two Samajwadi Party supporters were allegedly shot dead by BSP workers Amit Singh, Shiv Shankar and Munna Singh, following a heated exchange of words in Sultanpur today. Later, six people, including two doctors, were wounded in a scuffle between doctors and family members of a deceased former BSP counselor, Mehtab, who had died of snakebite at Badaun district hospital yesterday. — UNI
|
|
|
13 IAS officers transferred in UP
Lucknow, May 20 Among those transferred are D C
Lakha, who becomes the Principal Secretary Homeguards, Civil Aviation and Politial Pension; K K Singh, who will hold the post of Principal Secretary General Administration and Amod Kumar, who becomes Special Secretary IT and Electronics. All of them were on the waiting list earlier. Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, V K Sharma, has been given additional responsibility of Rural Development, said sources.
— PTI
|
|
|
Raj Thackeray’s goons attack Railway examination candidates
Mumbai, May 20 Police said today, MNS activists attacked Abbasaheb Atre Prashala in Rasta Peth area where the Railway Recruitment Board was conducting examinations on behalf of Western Railways. After the MNS activists found out that a large number of candidates taking the examination were from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, they tried to snatch the answer papers of the candidates. While candidates who surrendered their answer papers to the MNS activists were allowed to go, those who resisted, were beaten up by the activists. Subsequently, several office-bearers of the MNS were arrested for violence. Of the eight who were arrested, included Prakash Dhamdere, city publicity chief of MNS. Dhamdere later told reporters at a local police station that the RRB did not advertise jobs in local newspapers in a big way. However, candidates from north India where the job vacancies were allegedly well publicised, applied and were called for examinations in large numbers. “They were making an attempt to deny jobs to Marathi-speaking people,” Dhamdere said. The vacancies were for Class III or clerical jobs, much popular among the educated Maharashtrian youth.
|
|
Kidnapped Indians in Nigeria safe
New Delhi, May 20 Lata Kakoty, wife of kidnapped 32-year-old fire engineer Debashish Kakoty, told PTI from Port Harcourt in Nigeria that her husband’s employer, oil exploration company Indorama, had been contacted by the abductors who said the men were safe. “Officials of the company spoke to my husband a few hours ago today and they told me both men are safe and are likely to be released soon, maybe tomorrow,” Lata said. Indorama’s officials did not give her details about the kidnappers or say whether any ransom was being paid for release of the two men, she said. Kakoty, who hails from Sivasagar town in Assam and Sunil Dave of Maharashtra were abducted from their residential quarters in Port Harcourt on Saturday morning. Lata said Kakoty was dragged out of bed by the kidnappers. In Sivasagar, Kakoty’s mother Kumkum said she was praying for the safe return of her son, whom she described as mild natured person who had excelled in debating and quizzing. “I last spoke to him on Friday when he was about to leave for office. He had then told me he was getting late for office and would call me on Sunday,” she said, breaking down. The abduction of the Indians is the latest in a string of kidnappings of foreign workers in Nigeria.
— PTI
|
|
|
Three held for travelling with fake passports
Chennai, May 20 The arrested, identified as S. Appadurai (39) of Mannargudi, T. Muthaiah (43) of Kattumannargudi in Cuddalore district and G. Sambanthapoorthy (23) of Panruti in Cuddalore district, arrived here in a Sri Lankan Airlines flight. The immigration authorities, who verified their passports and travel documents, found the passports to be bogus. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the trio had gone to Malaysia, seeking employment. Since their original passports were under the custody of their employer, the arrested might have spent a huge sum and got the fake passport to visit their family here, the police said. The arrested were remanded in judicial custody today.
— UNI
|
|
|
20 cops injured in clashes
Jaipur, May 20 Over 2,000 people surrounded the Kooan police chowki in Cheetari police station area demanding arrest of those who murdered 16-year old Pusha more than a month ago, Inspector General of Police, Udaipur, Rajiv Dasod informed that the protestors, who were to submit a memorandum, suddenly turned violent and started to throw stones, injuring 20 police personnel, five of them seriously. Senior officials rushed to the area, where the situation was under control, Dasod said adding, about 300 additional police personnel were sent to maintain law and order.
— PTI
|
|
|
Raid on Goa CM son’s residence
Mumbai, May 20 The EC today ordered a police raid on Rane's properties. Police officials claimed nothing incriminating was found. “Only some campaign material was recovered from Rane's residence,” a well-placed source said. However, according to reports, the raiding party seized Rs 2.5 crore. Rane is contesting as an independent candidate from the Valpoi constituency. The younger Rane's election campaign raised eyebrows after Bandu Dessai, who was originally given the ticket by the Congress, suddenly left Goa.
— TNS
|
|
|
Cyber blackmailer nabbed
Mysore, May 20 Thirty-year-old Neeraj Vaidya was picked up by a special team in Hyderabad yesterday, the police said today. The accused, a tech savvy, used to befriend women during on-line chatting, get their personal details including that of their family. Later he used to threaten them by mobile phone or send messages that if they don’t pay him, he would post their photo and details on porn web sites. The police constituted a special team which managed to trace Vaidya to Hyderabad and arrested him.
— PTI
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be releasing his government’s third annual “Report to the People” here on May 22 when the Congress-led UPA government completes three years in office.
Videos
