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EC show cause notices to BJP, Cong leaders
Cong defends PM, blasts BJP
Misuse of PM’s Fund |
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Transfer of corruption case
SC acquits Punjab ultra
Salman appears before HC
Maya suspends officials after 150 students fall ill
UP takes big leap into e-governance era
Senior JD(S) leader holds talks with Cong
No groups have staked claim to form govt: Thakur
Lalu’s rally to boost rail revenue
Lalu challenges Patna HC order
Meet of Indian origin MPs from West
Indian nationals in California safe: Govt
Antony asks armed forces to adapt to changing times
Army outwits militants on ‘employment’ dollop
IAF carrier of Prez, PM turns 60
N-Deal
Wadia institute celebrates Dobhal’s success
Rizwanur may have committed suicide: Wife
40 juvenile inmates flee from remand
Ronen Sen summoned
Year’s brightest, biggest full moon on Oct 25, 26
Dhoni highest taxpayer in Jharkhand
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EC show cause notices to BJP, Cong leaders
Ahmedabad, October 24 Issuing the showcause notice, the commission asked both leaders to explain their position as to why action should not be initiated against them. The duo has been asked to respond to the commission by noon on October 26. The commission said the model Code of conduct for the guidance of political parties, candidates and party in power came into force in the state with effect from October 10, the day it announced the poll dates. It was brought to the EC's notice that BJP state president Purushottam Rupala had on October 21, made a remark against the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at a public meeting organised under the banner of the Nagrik Abhivadan Samiti. He had said, ''Wherever there is a landing of RDX bombs, and if the police dogs will be taken, they will sniff their suspicion towards Badruki Bharuch. Everyone knows - don't they? Rajivbhai, Phirozbhai, - it is OK till Phirozbhai - all those who call themselves ancestors of Gandhi and Nehru family never say where does the generation line go ahead from Phirozbhai? Congress leaders should announce their family tree. The people who abuse Narendra Modi should show the roots of their family tree. They are the progeny of the Muslims of Junagadh''. The commission said Rupala, by his above acts, had violated the provisions of model code of conduct.
— UNI
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Cong defends PM, blasts BJP
New Delhi, October 24 Describing the BJP’s remarks as “vitriolic and condemnable”, Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan said they reflected the deep ideological and intellectual bankruptcy of the main opposition party, which had not reconciled to the loss of power. In a two-page statement, Natarajan detailed the NDA regime’s failures like the failure of the Agra summit, the UTI scam and the botched up Naga ceasefire and was unsparing in her criticism of the BJP’s top two leaders - Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani. Hitting out at BJP spokesperson Arun Jaitely, who described Manmohan Singh as “ sad and defeated”, the Congress said he is a successful, dynamic and respected Prime Minister. Natarajan said the vicious and unwarranted attack against the PM is an evidence of the BJP’s diabolical machinations to destabilise the Prime Minister’s office. “Manmohan Singh has led the country with great distinction with nine per cent growth, a Rs-25,000 crore package for farmers, NREGA, RTI and a host of other achievements,” she asserted. Natarajan recalled the ongoing battle for supremacy between Vajpayee and Advani and the former PM constantly used the threat to quit as his best weapon to score victories over Advani, who was described not as “loh purush but low purush”. “The six years in government showed the BJP under Vajpayee and Advani was notorious for its devotion to opportunistic and unholy alliances,” Natarajan hit out, adding that BJP leaders were driven by “venality and vaunting ambition”.
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Misuse of PM’s Fund
New Delhi, October 24 In a decision yesterday on the appeal by Mujibur Rehman, an employee of South Eastern Coalfield Limited (SECL), chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said that the PMO is expected to take remedial action in a matter where it would appear that the name of Prime Minister's National Relief Fund has been invoked by a public authority acting in a manner most unbecomimg. The commission's observations follow an inquiry by the Prime Minister's Office which purportedly revealed that out of Rs 40.65 crore collected through contributions from employees of Coal India Limited, only Rs 30 crore were received by the PMNRF. The PMO conducted an inquiry on the directions of the CIC. Meanwhile, the Coal Ministry today said that although no case of misuse of funds is made out, the irregularities that have occurred merit action. It has directed the chairman, CIL to undertake a detailed inquiry into the matter, fix individual responsibility for lapses and initiate proper action against the guilty urgently. The ministry has also directed the CIL chairman and CIL subsidaries to ensure that money collected for PMNRF in future is deposited with the fund without any delay. It has asked the CIL chairman to ensure that Muzibur Rehman, who made an application under the Right to Information Act, is not harassed. It has asked the chairman to take steps to ensure his security.
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Transfer of corruption case
New Delhi, October 24 Sukh Ram is being proceeded against by the CBI before special Judge G P Mittal at Tis Hazari Court complex here and his counsel M N Krishnamani and Anil Nag made a special mention of his petition before a Bench, headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan. The Court though raised some question as why such a plea was being made, yet it listed the case for hearing on November 2. Senior advocate Krishnamani said his client’s apprehension was borne from the fact that CBI officer H S Sandhu, who had investigated the case had been holding meetings with the judge for hours in his chamber. This was a “genuine” apprehension of the petitioner and therefore his case should be transferred to some other judge, before next hearing of the trial court, listed on November 6. The CBI had chargesheeted Sukh Ram for acquiring wealth disproportionate to the known sources of his income when he was communication minister in the PV Narasimha Rao government between 1991-96 and had recovered cash worth over Rs 3 crore from his residences in Mandi and Delhi and other assets during the raids conducted in 1996. He moved the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court had rejected his plea for transfer of the case.
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SC acquits Punjab ultra
New Delhi, October 24 Rejecting the appeal of Rajasthan government challenging the acquittal of Ajit Singh, alias Jeeta, and several others accused by the TADA court, the apex court said it had found no evidence to show the recovery of weapons or that any accused other than Ajit Singh had any knowledge about the ultimate destination where the weapons were to be sent or from where they were brought. The police had accused him of bringing arms and ammunitions from Pakistan via Rajasthan border for transporting them to Punjab in 1991 for supply to terrorists. The other accomplices whose acquittal was challenged by the Rajasthan government were Abdul Aziz, Noordeen, Mehardeen, Nihal, Sumar and Rasool. The police had claimed that they had recovered an AK-56 rifle and two magazines with 44 cartridges from Ajit Singh’s possession at the time of his arrest on August 14, 1991. They were charged under TADA, Arms Act and Passport Act but none of them except Ajit Singh had made confessional statement, in which he had admitted his role in the terrorist activities. But the trial court had found no supportive evidence to corroborate his confession and the apex court also said without evidence the TADA court order could not be reversed.
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Salman appears before HC
Jodhpur, October 24 He also marked his presence before a lower court of the city hearing another case of hunting a black buck and a case under the Arms Act against him. The lower court has fixed November 23 as the next date of hearing of both the cases. Salman, who arrived here last night, appeared before Mahendra Singh, deputy registrar of the Rajasthan High Court and marked his attendance by signing on his case file. The HC had on August 31 directed him to personally appear before it today. The actor’s counsel, H M Saraswat, said Salman’s revision petition against the decision of District and Sessions Court in Jodhpur upholding the five years jail sentence will now be taken up in due course. “The High Court will now hear his case in due course and Salman need not mark his presence before it till his turn comes for hearing,” Saraswat said, adding the court’s registry had recorded his client’s presence as per the direction of the single Bench. The Bench of Justice HR Panwar admitted his revision petition and suspended the five years sentence in the poaching case. Salman was released from Jodhpur jail after furnishing a personal bond of Rs 1,00,000 with two sureties of Rs 50,000 each. The case pertains to the poaching of a Chinkara at Ujiyala Bhakhar near Ghoda Farm on September 28, 1998. Chinkara is a protected animal under the Wild Life Protection Act. Two more cases against the actor are pending before the lower
court. — PTI
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Maya suspends officials after 150 students fall ill
Lucknow, October 24 Gram pradhan Neeta Rani has already been arrested in the case. According to reports, 150 children had fallen sick after eating kadhi, rice and curd in a school at Shah Alampur and Chaudharpur block of Moradabad district. The curd had been made available by the gram pradhan herself. The 35 seriously ill children have been admitted in district hospital and two medical teams were requisitioned for their treatment. The district CMO and other doctors are keeping a check on children’s health. All children are safe and they are out of danger. Incidentally, this comes a day after 53 children took ill in Kanpur after consuming puri-sabzi served as mid-day meal. Prima facie it appears that the adulterated mustard oil in which the puri was fried caused them to fall sick. Speaking at a hurriedly convened press conference Mayawati disclosed that she has already written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today suggesting him to change the mechanism of the mid-day meal. “I have requested him to consider providing pre-cooked meal which can be heated and served so as to ensure quality”, she said. In her letter she has asked the PM to also ensure that the central agency, FCI, not only provide the food grain but also the cooking medium in which the food is cooked. “However, the final decision obviously lies with the apex court which had ordered the mid-day meal in the first place,” pointed out the CM. Meanwhile, Mayawati has ordered the chief development officer and BSA in every district to ensure the quality of the mid-day meal supplied to primary school children. She has asked them to completely ban purchase of substandard cooking medium from the local market.
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UP takes big leap into e-governance era
Lucknow, October 24 Inaugurating an IT training programme to impart training to officers so that they could put IT to effective use in their daily working, the chief secretary noted that at present there was very limited use of computers which were actually being used as mere typewriters. Sharing the government’s vision to use computer as a tool of e-governance, the chief secretary said the state was taking initiative to provide an effective delivery system to the people and ensure implementation of e-file package so that a sea change could be brought in the work culture of the government. “I hope it would ensure transparency, efficiency and responsibility in the functioning of the government”, he hoped. He said it was possible for citizens to get information regarding any complaint filed under the Right to Information Act on the computer. Similarly, services like the Public Distribution System, employment services, elections, revenue realisation, land records, pension could be obtained by paying a normal fee. He said at present the computerisation of land records; treasury and transport department had been undertaken, which was proving very beneficial for the people. He said with the cooperation of the Central government, the state government would set up Citizens Service Centre (C.S.C) at 17,909 villages of the state on the basis of Public Private Partnership. Through these centres the public would be provided various government services through electronic delivery system. This would also help the educated unemployed youths in rural areas to get employment at the minimum investment.
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Senior JD(S) leader holds talks with Cong
Bangalore, October 24 The JD(S) leadership and apparently not taken kindly to Prakash’s unilateral overture to the Congress and party supreme Deve Gowda denied that he had authorised Prakash to hold discussions with the Congress for government formation. Former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy, who alongwith his father Deve Gowda, had been calling the shots in the party, today said he would hold an emergent meeting of the party’s legislature group in a day or two, so that a ‘frank discussion’ on government formation could take place. Kumaraswamy however, spoke to his father and well as his mind on the initiative taken by Prakash by saying that any decision has to be in the interest of the party’s future and should be aimed at strengthening its organisational structure. He also made it clear that there was no scope of splitting the party and said “We will stay united and take a decision”. Using sarcasm, he welcomed the initiative taken by Prakash and said “I wish it succeeds”. However, in the same breath, he said the person to whom the initiative had been made (Congress Karnataka incharge Prithviraj Chouhan) had made his stand on the issue clear to the media. According to JD(S) sources, the ferment desire of the JD(S) legislature party to form a government yet again, has resulted in the latest move by Prakash, who met senior Congress leaders in Delhi, including Home Minister Shivraj Patil, general secretary, Karnataka affairs incharge Prithviraj Chouhan and Moti Lal Vora.
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No groups have staked claim to form govt: Thakur
New Delhi, October 24 Interacting with newspersons here, Thakur, who is running the state administration ever since the state was brought under the President’s rule on October 9, said the Assembly had been kept under ‘Suspended Animation’ by the Centre and it was for the political groups and not him to take initiative in this regard. Asked about the ‘behind the scene’ activities between the Janata Dal (secular) and the Congress, he said, “There have been media reports to this effect, but none have come forward before me.” He said after he took over the administration, he had told the officials that they should clear the day’s work on the same day. It should linger on to the next day only if consultations were needed. Such being the case, the elected government could be in place till the dissolution of Assembly was approved by the Parliament, he added. — UNI
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Lalu’s rally to boost rail revenue
Patna, October 24 Instead all rail routes will lead towards the state capital. This is because as advised by Lalu himself, the RJD has decided to hire a record number of special trains to bring party supporters to the rally, which is the first major political showdown by the RJD supremo against his bete noire Nitish Kumar eversince the NDA dislodged him from power in November 2005. "Pay the price and hire special train", the message was loud and clear to party leaders by Lalu. Sources said the move by the RJD was expected to help the railways to earn a whopping Rs 2.5 crore in just three days between October 27 and 29. "The railways is charging Rs 8 lakh per train having the capacity of 18 coaches, amounting to around Rs 2.5 crore," sources said. This is also perhaps the largest number of special trains booked by any political party in the country so far. To put it the other way, while parties cutting across political belief, are known to mobilise bus and truck-loaded supporters these days to ensure impressive turnout at their rallies anywhere in the country, railways reportedly was not involved on such a large scale earlier for a political showdown. RJD has already requisitioned at least 34 special trains from the East Central Railway (ECR) for its October 28 rally. The number of trains may even increase. An image-conscious Lalu, who now speaks more on development and less on his favourite "social churning", already cautioned party workers against the forcible grabbing of seats of bona fide passangers in trains, an allegation levelled against them in the past during such rallies organised by him. A senior official of the ECR informed that the requisitioned up and down trains would run between October 27 and 29. The trains would bring thousands of people to Patna from various corners of Bihar and Jharkhand. Officials in the ECR, however, deny the charges that they are obliging their minister by providing such a large number of special trains."It is our business and we earn through special trains," they say. But what perhaps they avoid to say is that while the railways is known to make money by renting out special trains mostly on religious occasions, Lalu is perhaps the first and last railways minister to help his ministry capitalise from his own political rally.
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Lalu challenges Patna HC order
New Delhi, October 24 The petitioner was facing allegations of acquiring assets worth over Rs 45 lakh during his tenure as Chief Minister of Bihar by misusing his official position. The trial court had ordered the closure of the case but the state high court had set aside the trial court order on the appeal filed by the state of Bihar. — UNI
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Meet of Indian origin MPs from West
New Delhi, October 24 “The critical question relates to our capacity to influence the debate in terms of India’s legitimate concerns,” observed Ansari and stressed that each parliamentarian was in a “unique and privileged position to help build strong and enduring bonds of friendship and cooperation between governments and peoples and mould public policies and opinion in matters relating to India and Indians.” Above all, the Vice-President said the parliamentarians’ success in their own lands was reflective of the values and institutions that “we in India cherish: open societies, tolerance, an accommodative approach to diversity of religious and cultural preferences and functioning democracy. Thus a convergence of values and approaches is possible”. Noting that the purpose of the gathering is to inform rather than propagate, Ansari said the objective would be served if the invitees depart with a better comprehension of what the land of their ancestors was about and what were its hopes and aspirations. Organised by the public diplomacy division of the ministry of external affairs, the week-long programme for the 16 parliamentarians of Indian origin from Britain, the European Parliament and the US would provide an insight into India’s stand on leading regional and global issues encompassing the WTO talks, climate change, reforms of the United Nations and the peace process in West Asia. Seasoned diplomats, strategic experts and economists would brief the MPs on the socio-economic, strategic and regional and multilateral issues confronting a changing India in the midst of an economic growth of more than 8 per cent. The visiting parliamentarians would have an interface with members of the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis, the United Services Institute of India and the apex Chambers of Commerce. They would meet external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and minister of state for external affairs Anand Sharma. They would also be paying to visit to the country’s financial capital, Mumbai. The Vice-President said India’s achievements in many fields and successes on the economic front were substantial. And yet there were other realities -- of dehumanising poverty, of perpetual struggles for survival, of painful contrasts. These other realities needed to be understood in their totality since they covered three-fourth of the population and put in perspective the macro-economic growth aggregates. “They account for the correctives that we are compelled to apply in order to ensure inclusive growth; they also provide the rationale for the positions we take in multilateral negotiations on trade, environment and a range of related questions.” Ansari maintained that the answer to the question of identity and accommodation, which had come to the fore of late in many western countries did not lie in isolation or in forcible assimilation. “In today’s world identities cannot be rigidly defined in black and white terms. We are, instead, confronted with an ocean of grey identity zones. The Indian experience in these matters may be of some relevance.” Sources said an interface with the opinion and decision makers like the visiting MPs would enable them influence global debate on India’s legitimate concerns in the world.
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Indian nationals in California safe: Govt
New Delhi, October 24 However, many of the Indian community members have had to evacuate their properties, the external affairs ministry said. Regretting the loss of life and damage to property in the fires, the ministry hoped that the blaze would soon be contained and the affected people enabled to resume normal life. “Our consulate general in San Francisco has been in touch with members of the Indian community, many of whom have had to evacuate their properties. There has, so far, been no report of injury to any Indian national,” the ministry said in a statement. It said India’s consulate general was monitoring the developments and had assured the Indian community of help. Wildfires in southern California since October 21 have forced evacuation of nearly half-a-million people, the largest evacuation in California’s modern history. More than 1,000 houses have been destroyed and 1,000 sq km of land scorched. Financial losses have been put at hundreds of millions of dollars. Three people have died and 38 have been injured as about 10,000 fire fighters are trying to control the blaze. — UNI
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Antony asks armed forces to adapt to changing times
New Delhi, October 24 "The urgent need of the hour is to change mindsets, in tune with the changing times -- where transparency and fairness are the buzzwords," the defence minister said while addressing the Combined Commander's conference here. The advice from the defence minister came as the armed forces are on the verge of concluding some of the mega defence deals set for modernising the three arms of India’s military. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired the conference, attended by top commanders of the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force (IAF). According to Antony, steps like institutionalising the defence planning process and refining defence procurement procedure "have added urgency in the methodology and transparency in functioning". "Another instrument towards change is the delegation of powers and transition towards fusion of authority, responsibility and accountability," he said while pointing out that "significant financial powers" had been delegated from the defence ministry to the headquarters of the three services. The minister added, "However, it must be ensured that these powers are put to best use." In this context, Antony said “as the armed forces "accelerate" the process of modernisation, we must bear in mind that technology has compressed distances and times. At the same time, it has also significantly reduced response timings at every level." Talking about the security scenario in the country the minister said that terrorism continues to be one of the major challenges facing the country. “As terrorists constantly modernise their communication network, there is an urgent need to continuously upgrade our own capabilities to successfully counter the threat posed by them.” "In this context, it must be said the overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the north-east has shown steady signs of improvement,” the minister said. Referring to the security scenario in the neighbourhood and globally, Antony said India's role and responsibilities "are bound to increase" as the country developed "as a regional and an economic superpower".
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Army outwits militants on ‘employment’ dollop
Guwahati, October 24 The poverty-stricken families in the villages in the state used to be the recruitment fields for the militant outfits, including ULFA. The outfits were known to lure the youngsters, barely in their teens, into their organisations with the promise of employement. Ranima Khaklari, a hardcore ULFA woman cadre who surrendered before the Army yesterday, had admitted that she had joined the outfit in 1998 as a 23-year-old girl, not motivated by the ULFA’s ideology, but driven by extreme poverty. She was among the 33 militants who laid down arms yesterday, the fourth such collective surrender in the last eight months organised by the Red Horn division of the Army, enabling nearly 47 militants to return to the mainstream. Ranima and her 32 associates who surrendered yesterday at the Tamulpur Army base will now get vocational training and also a stipend and other monetary benefits to put their lives back on track. GoC 4 Corps Lt Gen B S Jaiswal, participating in the surrender ceremony, said, “We are putting thrust on the rehabilitation of these surrendered militants. We will train them so that they can earn their livelihood in a dignified
manner.” — UNI
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IAF carrier of Prez, PM turns 60
New Delhi, October 24 On the occasion of the event to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the squad, as it is called, a first day cover was also released by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal F.H. Major, here. As part of efforts to modernise the fleet, the acquisition of Boeing Business Jet in the first quarter of the next year would be the next step. Boeing Business Jet is a specially configured aircraft for VVIP comfort and its interiors create a working environment befitting the VVIP’s official stature. More importantly it would be equipped with the latest self protection suit thus providing our VIPs the highest level of protection from any ground based or airborne threat. Formed in January 1947 the sqadron has become synonymous with India’s post Independence history. It has over the past six decades other than flying the highest luminaries of the nation has also flown world leaders such as HO Chi Minh, Nikita Kruschev, Chou En, Tunku, Abdul Rehman, Jaqueline Kennedy, Shah of Iran, Marshal Tito, John Major, Boris Yelstin, Princess Anne, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teressa, Kofi Annan, Dalai Lama to name a few.
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N-Deal
New Delhi, October 24 During the over 45-minute meeting with CPI leaders, A.B. Bardhan and D. Raja, at Ajoy Bhawan, the CPI headquarters, Naidu said as far as the nuclear deal was concerned, the UNPA was in full agreement with the position taken by the Left parties.
— UNI
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Wadia institute celebrates Dobhal’s success
Dehra Dun, October 24 If not for him yet, the news of making it to the global list of Heroes of the Environment came as pleasant surprise for the institute as it celebrated its 23rd Foundation Day here today, as well as for his wife Anjana, a teacher, who was informed by one of her former students settled in the US on Monday night when the list prepared by Time magazine having other prominent names like Nobel Peace Prize winner and former US Vice-President Al Gore, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Prince Charles and former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, was out. “Dr Dobhal cannot be conveyed this news till November 6 when he returns after his regular field study trip, “said a beaming Dr B.R. Arora, director of the institute. His wife, who was felicitated today by the institute in absence of her husband, said it was a wonderful feeling to see her husband’s tireless pursuit being acknowledged globally. The magazine has described him as the one scaling “the shrinking glaciers of Himalayas to track the globe’s warming in real time.” He has been spending around five months a year away from homely comforts for the past 12 years collecting data and study of glaciers. He has been working mainly on two glaciers Dhokriani and Chaurabari in Kedarnath valley of Garhwal Himalayas to collect scientific data to study whether it was global warming or climatic conditions responsible for receding of the glaciers in the Himalayas. Himalayan glaciers are receding at the rate of 13 to 20 metres annually. He has set up two permanent automatic weather stations on these glaciers. As his work has been considered all the more important since Himalayan glaciers have been studied by less scientists as compared to his counterparts in rest of the world, Dr Arora said Dr Dobhal’s unique method of using bamboo sticks to measure the rise and fall of the glaciers has helped in collecting valuable scientific data from the Himalayan region. Notably, he was selected from scientists and innovators category.
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Rizwanur may have committed suicide: Wife
Kolkata, October 24 The Todi daughter admitted to the CBI that there were an all out opposition from her family to her marriage to Rizwanur and her father, Ashoke Todi, met the city police chief, Prasun Mukherjee, and sought his help for getting her back home. Rizwanur and she resisted the attempt to separate them. But still Priyanka did not believe that Rizwanur could be killed to make her return to the Todi family. “He was very touchy and sentimental and he would not like a moment’s separation from her and l know nothing else ……”, the young lady burst into tears and her voice choked as she answered to the CBI woman officer, Seema Kapoor.
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40 juvenile inmates flee from remand
Patna, October 24 The remand home in Patna is supposed to reform and rehabilitate juvenile inmates in order to bring them back into the mainstream. The police said the juveniles scaled the boundary wall of the remand home and managed to escape."The modus operandi was simple. They placed one bed over another and then climbed a ladder to jump out," the police said. And like any Hindi masala potboiler, the juveniles also attacked security personnel and injured two policemen. It was learnt that they escaped from the remand home in protest against the alleged mismanagement and chaos prevailing there for more than a year. The Patna district administration has suspended two wardens for dereliction of duty and ordered a detailed probe into the incident.
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Ronen Sen summoned
New Delhi, October 24 A decision to summon him before the Privileges Committee of the Rajya Sabha was taken recently at a meeting presided over by Deputy Chairman of the Upper House K. Rahman Khan. Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee had referred the issue to the committee sometime ago after receipt of a reply by the external affairs ministry to which Sen had expressed unqualified apology for the remarks. The Ministry had pleaded that in view of the unqualified apology tendered by him, the matter be closed.
— PTI
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Year’s brightest, biggest full moon on Oct 25, 26
Mumbai, October 24 “This week’s full moon (October 25/26) will be biggest full moon of 2007,” NASA experts said. The event coincides with the China’s Lunar spacecraft ‘Chang’ (Moon goddess) reaching the moon which will give three-dimensional pictures of the moon’s surface once it starts orbiting around it. Experts cautioned against viewing the full moon through telescope without an appropriate filter as it would affect the eyes. “Some full moons are genuinely larger than others and Thursday night’s will be as much as 14 per cent wider and 30 per cent brighter than lesser full moons we’ve seen earlier this year,” one of the NASA’s alert web sites www.spaceweather.com said today. Director of Maharashtra-based Akashganga Centre for Astronomy Bharat Adur said usually the full moon is southward positioned during this time of the year (October to December). Hence on Thursday/Friday, while observing from the equitorial regions, the moon will appear to be much brighter. “The moon’s orbit is an ellipse with one side 48,000 km closer to earth than the other. The full moon on October 25/26 is located on the near side, making it bigger and brighter than other full moons we’ve seen earlier in 2007.”
— PTI
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Dhoni highest taxpayer in Jharkhand
Patna, October 24 Sources in the IT department of the Bihar-Jharkhand circle disclosed that Dhoni, who currently endorses various top brands, has already paid Rs 73 lakh till September as advance tax. Meanwhile, Dhoni arrived in Ranchi today in his first ever visit to his home state after winning Twenty20 Cup held recently in South Africa. He was accorded a warm welcome at Ranchi airport as a large number of supporters and fans gathered there to take a glimpse of their local hero.
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