Yet another theft in Maharashtra's village without locks

Email Story Write to the editor Print Story Ahmednagar (Maharashtra), Feb 6: Known for its homes and shops with no doors or locks, the temple village of Shani-Shingnapur in this Maharashtra's district on Saturday reported yet another theft early Saturday, police said. Four thefts were reported in the village last year.Saturday's theft took place at the house of Dagdu Sheth, one of the members of the trust which looks after the main temple to Lord Shani (Saturn) in the village.The theft worth Rs.73,000 was reported in Sonai police station. "Rs.50,000, two gold rings and a mobile phone have been stolen from Sheth's residence," Assistant Police Inspector B.D. Mane told the media."It is very disturbing that the village that was well-known for door-less homes and shops is seeing thefts of late. Last year, there were four thefts in this temple village," he added.Shani-Shingnapur, with a population of around 2,000, is situated around 375 km from Mumbai.The village was renowned as a place where no thefts or robberies take place, with the strong belief that the Lord Shani, the presiding deity of the village, protects the village and its surroundings.The dwellings in the village have no doors or locks, but just a curtain to protect the privacy of the occupants, and people left their homes unattended for hours or days. (IANS)

Facing the past...

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Located in Delhi, India The Qutub Minar (Qutub Tower) is the world's tallest brick minaret with a height of 72.5 meters (237.8 ft). Inspired by the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan and wishing to surpass it, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, commenced construction of the Qutub Minar in 1193; but could only complete its basement. His successor, Iltutmish, added three more stories and, in 1368, Firuz Shah Tughluq constructed the fifth and the last story. The Qutub Minar is notable for being one of the earliest and most prominent examples of Indo-Islamic architecture.

CIC indicts IIT-Kharagpur for giving false info

NEW DELHI: The Central Information Commission on Saturday severely indicted IIT-Kharagpur, and its former public information officer T K Ghosal, for giving false information under the RTI Act about the Joint Entrance Examination-2006.

"It appears to the Commission that false information has been given knowingly by the then PIO T K Ghosal," CIC said. It also said, "The commission is surprised, pained and horrified at this complete falsehood to which the PIO of one of India's leading education institutes has resorted to." Ghosal is now the officiating registrar.

CIC has asked the chairman of the board of governors of IIT-Kharagpur to inquire into the allegations made by appellant Rajeev Kumar, a professor of computer science in the same institute. CIC has also asked the additional superintendent of police, Kharagpur, to provide security to Kumar after making an assessment of the threats to him. "If any physical harm comes to Rajeev Kumar the police will be held responsible for not having performed their duty," the order said.

The commission took strong note of the fact that instead of appearing personally, Ghosal asked law firm Fox Mandal & Associates to represent it in this case. CIC said three people appearing on behalf of Ghosal A Patra, public information officer, IIT-Kharagpur, Brigadier A K Joshi and Rajan K Sarkar, law officer "are clueless as to why false information has been provided... Public money and interest could have been better served if Ghosal, who is officiating registrar, had appeared before the commission in this matter."

CIC has issued show-cause notice to Ghosal and asked him to be present in the commission on March 17 with a written submission as to why penalty should not be imposed on him and disciplinary action should not be recommended.

Omar expresses deep sorrow over Handwara killing

CHIEF MINISTEROmar Abdullah after arriving in Srinagar here this afternoon straightly drove immediately to Handwara in North Kashmir to visit the family whose son has been killed in Army ambush. Omar Abdullah stayed with the bereaved family for quite some time, expressed his deep sorrow over the unfortunate incident, showed sympathy and solidarity with the family. I am here to share your grief and be with you at this movement of great tragedy, he told the bereaved family while consoling them and conveying his heartfelt condolence. The Chief Minister described the incident most unfortunate and said that he has given categoric directions to the Army, Security Forces and Police in the Unified Headquarter Meetings to apply highest degree of caution and restraint and stick to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to avoid any killings of civilian under all circumstances. I repeat this once again, he said and emphasized the need for such cautions while laying ambush for militants. Assuring the bereaved family of proper probe into the incident, the Chief Minister urged them to exhibit patience and calm. There are people who would try to exploit your pain and feelings for disturbing peace and order as was done by them after the killing of Tufail Mattoo last June, he told the bereaved family and a large number of people who gathered there on the occasion. He appealed them not to get led astray by such elements. Omar Abdullah said that he would always condemn the killings of innocents by anyone whosoever he may be and assured that during his tenure as the Chief Minister of the State he would endeavour to put an end to such incidents and work for peace and tranquility in the State. Omar prayed for the eternal peace to the departed soul and patience to the family who has lost their dear one. Later, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir also visited the bereaved family on the instructions! of the Chief Minister

Dhobi Ghat, Udajpur

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Dhobi Ghat, in other words a place where local women wash the clothes in traditional way.

Defence Minister sacks Navy officer for sexual misconduct in Moscow

Defence Minister A K Antony has sacked a senior Navy officer for having sexual relations with a Russian woman in Moscow as head of the Indian team overseeing the refit of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov there.

Commodore Sukhjinder Singh was posted in Moscow between 2005 to 2007 as the Indian warship production superintendent to oversee Gorshkov's refit when he developed the illicit relationship with the woman.

"He (Singh) will be discharged. He will not be in service now," Antony told reporters when asked about the progress in the case.

Singh, who has at least two years of service left, will have to immediately pack his bags.

Singh's affair was exposed in April 2010, three years after his posting in Russia when his explicit pictures with the woman were brought to the notice of the Defence Ministry.

Soon after receiving the pictures, the Navy had ordered a Court Of Inquiry against him to establish his relations with the woman and whether the relationship had affected the Admiral Gorshkov deal in any way.

The CoIonel had established Singh's relations with the woman but maintained that his "loose moral conduct" had not "adversely impacted" India's position during the long-drawn wrangling with Russia over the 44,570-tonne carrier's refit.

After completing its inquiry, the Navy had sent the file to the Defence Ministry for further action.

Even after returning from Russia, Singh had continued to be associated with the Gorshkov programme as the principal director (aircraft carrier project) in New Delhi till mid-2009.

He was later relieved of his posting in the defence ministry's directorate-general of quality assurance.

After repeated Russian demands for higher prices for retrofitting the aircraft carrier, the two sides last year finally settled on US $2.33 billion as the cost of the warship.



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Pakistani traders want more trade with India

Email Story Write to the editor Print Story Islamabad, Feb 5: Pakistani traders on Saturday urged the governments of India and Pakistan to shun differences and boost economic activities.Pakistani traders participated on Saturday in celebrating Kashmir solidarity day and expressed concern that differences between the two neighbours are pulling them backwards, the media reported."It is the only instance in the world where trade is allowed but only for two days in a week," Zulfiqar Abbasi of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce in Muzaffarabad was quoted as saying.The differences have resulted in poverty and unemployment in the valley on both sides "and we certainly need to go beyond that", he said.Mirza Ikhtiyar Baig, the adviser to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and a leading industrialist, said: "There is certainly a need to expand the list of items in which trade is allowed through the LoC.""We know that there is unexploited potential and are looking into possibilities in this regard", he added.Trade in 21 agreed items, including Kashmiri embroidery, dry and fresh fruits and wooden furniture, opened along the LoC Oct 21, 2008 as part of confidence-building measures between India and Pakistan.The current volume of trade across the LoC stands at around Rs.2 billion annually. (IANS)

Nice ploy by Hayden to sell his book: Bhajji

Sonia Gandhi keeps her promise to ace athlete

Rae Bareli: On December 1 last year, Sonia Gandhi promised ace athlete Sudha Singh that her demand for a state- of-the-art sports complex in Rae Bareli will be granted. And within two months, that promise was delivered when on Friday, the Congress president laid the foundation stone for the first-ever sports complex in Navodaya Vidyalaya in Rae Bareli.

Sitting next to her was a beaming Sudha Singh, who also went home richer by Rs 11 lakh. Sudha Singh recently won a gold medal in Guangzhou in the steeplechase discipline and is also the national record holder for it.

When Sudha earlier met Sonia Gandhi, she had expressed the need for a sports facility for Rae Bareli and told her how in the absence of one she had no choice but to stay away from her family and train in sports colleges of Lucknow and Agra.



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Gujarat questions IPS officer for furnishing riots call data

AHMEDABAD: Following the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) report that indicted Gujarat's Chief Minister Narendar Modi for his alleged complicity in the 2002 riots, the state government has taken a senior IPS officer to task for sharing telephone records with various inquiry panels.

The Gujarat administration issued a show-cause notice to senior IPS officer, Rahul Sharma, asking him why he should not be charge-sheeted for handing over the telephone records concerning the 2002 riots to inquiry panels without obtaining due permission from the government.

The in-charge Director General of Police Chitranjan Singh confirmed the issuance of the show-cause notice and added that the government had granted 15-day time to Sharma to reply to the notice.

Sharma was posted in Ahmedabad during riots. He had asked private service providers like Celforce and AT&T to furnish details of calls made across the state during late February and early March of 2002. The CDs obtained by Sharma, however, went missing before it was brought on record by the investigating agency, the city crime branch that probed three major massacres of the city at Naroda Patia, Naroda Gam and Gulbarg Society.

When Sharma was called for deposition at the Nanavati-Shah commission, he submitted a copy of the CD to the inquiry panel. Later, he also submitted a copy of call records to the Banerjee committee, set up by former union railway minister, Laloo Prasad to probe the incident of fire in S-6 of Sabarmati Express at Godhra station on February 27, 2002. It was after killing of 59 passengers in this incident, violence spread across the state resulting in more than 1,100 deaths.

After the Supreme Court set up a special investigation team in 2008, Sharma was one of the key witnesses for the SIT to probe the larger conspiracy behind the riots. SIT also got telephone details from Sharma. He has been examined by one of the special courts set up to hear post-Godhra riots cases.

Following! the rec ent SIT report, the Modi government questioned Sharma on why he furnished the data before the probe panels without consulting the government.

Interestingly, the Narendra Modi government has been questioning the authenticity of the call details provided by Sharma to different inquiry fora. When the chief minister was sought to be questioned in connection with the 2002 riots on basis of the call details, the government raised a question on veracity of the data claiming before the Godhra probe panel that the CD furnished by the senior cop was not verified by any authority.

China New Year: Top 10 global Chinese celebs

ULFA top leadership announces talks with Centre

Guwahati: The central committee of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) announced today that it has decided to hold talks with the Centre. The talks would begin on February 10.

"Every killing from ULFA's side and government's side is wrong," ULFA's publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary said in a presser.

Paving the way for possible talks with ULFA, its chairman Rajib Rajkonwar alias Arabinda Rajkhowa was recently released on bail to facilitate dialogue.

ULFA's self-styled vice chairman Pradip Gogoi, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, cultural secretary Pranati Deka and publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary were also earlier released on bail, as also senior leader and political ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain.



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Unnikrishnan's uncle dies after immolation bid

New Delhi: Uncle of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the NSG commando killed by terrorists during the 26/11 attacks who attempted self-immolation on Thursday outside Parliament, died on Friday night. The 56-year-old K Mohanan suffered 98 percent burns when he set himself on fire.

Although it was not clear why he took the drastic step, some reports say he was disturbed over his nephew's death. He was apparently also upset with the government's apathy in treating 26/11 victims.

K Mohanan attempted to set himself on fire in front of Parliament on Thursday.

He was admitted to the RML hospital in the capital with 70 per cent burns.

K Mohanan, a native of Kozhikode in Kerala, poured kerosene on his body and set himself afire outside Gate No 4 of Parliament House near Vijay Chowk at around 5:45 pm, a senior police official said.

(With inputs from PTI)

Naag, Kanchipuram

Rockbaaz has added a photo to the pool:

One of the numerous "side-temples" within the main temple. So many hopes and aspirations and wishes shared quietly at this very spot. Every string tied here and around the peepal tree behind is a wish, a prayer. This one is shot at the Varadaraja Perumal Temple at Kanchipuram.

Kanchipuram, Kanchi, or Kancheepuram (Tamil: ) is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district. Kanchipuram is also called as "City of 1000 Temples". Kanchipuram is also famous for its silk sarees, which are hand woven [Source: Wikipedia]

Man shot dead in south Delhi

Email Story Write to the editor Print Story New Delhi, Feb 5: A 30-year-old man, who worked in an education department, was shot dead near his residence by unidentified armed assailants in south Delhi's Neb Sarai area, police said on Friday.The incident took place around 10.30 p.m. on Thursday when the deceased was returning home along with his mother and relatives after attending a ceremony at his cousin's residence.Police said Naveen Rawat alias Bunty was working at Sanskrit Vidyapeeth in Janakpuri."When he was returning along with his mother, uncle and aunt, he was shot dead by unidentified people. He collapsed on the spot. The family members raised an alarm. Locals roaming in the area rushed to the spot," a senior police officer said.The deceased was rushed to a private hospital where he was declared brought dead.The deceased lived in Rajupark area in Khanpur alongwith his family. He is survived by his wife, four-year-old daughter, mother, father, younger sister and brothers Dalbir and Darban.The deceased's father Daya Singh works in private company.The family has ruled out any personal enmity. Dalbir, a manager of a private hotel, said the family has no personal dispute with anybody."Two cars of our neighbour were parked outside the residence. It was dark when my mother raised an alarm and we rushed to the spot, my brother was in a pool of blood he was immediately rushed to Batra hospital," Dalbir added."The body has been sent for post mortem. A bullet was pumped into his forehead from the left side. Prima facie it seems to be a case of personal enmity. We are probing the matter," the officer said."We are scanning the call details of the deceased's mobile phone to g! ain head way in the case. A case has been registered and further investigation is on," he added. (IANS)

First journo death takes Egypt death toll to 11

Cairo: The death toll in the popular uprising in Egypt has now risen to 11, following the death of an Eqyptian reporter who died after being shot during clashes in Cairo last week.

Ahmed Mohammed Mahmoud had been taking photographs of fighting between protesters and security forces from the balcony of his home when he was shot on January 28.

This was the first reported death of a mediaperson as chaos surrounded the country's anti-government protests.

The al-Jazeera office in Cairo was vandalised as the media remained as a target of violence.

Across the city, several journalists have been targeted including CNN-IBN's foreign editor Surya Gangadharan and video journalist Rajesh Bhardwaj who were detained and questioned by cairo police - twice in the last two days.

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama has condemned the attacks, and stopped short of asking his Eqyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak to step down.

But unlike the past 10 days, the Friday protests were largely peaceful, with prayers ending on a calm note.

Taking shade!

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Omani held for 'spying'

HISAR: The district police claimed to have arrested an Oman national from near military stud farm area, near the DN Colony on Thursday night.

Suspecting that Hasaan Bin Abdullah Bin Abraham, the arrested Oman national could be a spy, police have started investigations after registering a case under various sections of the IPC against him.

The chief judicial magistrate (CJM) on Friday ordered one-day police remand for him.

"He is an educated person and claims to have lost the passport and visa in train. During interrogation, he stated that reached India on November 25. Before being caught, he had visited Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and Ajmer. We have informed the embassy,'' Hisar superintendent police Hanif Qureshi said. "Mainly, we want to know his purpose of moving around in military stud farm here. This for sure s a serious affair," the SP added.

Elaborating, Qureshi said acting on tip off, a police party headed by Inspector Virender Sheoran was formed that apprehended the accused.

Initially, a case under Foreigners' Act was registered. As the investigations proceeded, various sections of IPC were also added in the case, Sheoran said.

Protesters throng Cairo, call for Mubarak to go

Cairo: Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians marched peacefully in Cairo on Friday to demand an immediate end to President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule, but there was no sign of his generals, or his U.S. allies, squeezing him out just yet.

Turnout nationwide seemed short of the million seen on Tuesday and which leaders had hoped to match on what they called "Departure Day." Many Egyptians, weary of disorder, feel Mubarak did enough this week by pledging to step down in September. Some also were wary of renewed violence by shadowy Mubarak loyalists.

On the 11th day of unprecedented massive protests which have revolutionized Egypt and the wider Arab world, some 200,000 men and women from all walks of life streamed past patient soldiers to the capital's Tahrir, or Liberation, Square.

A similar number marched in the second city of Alexandria and smaller pro-democracy rallies were held elsewhere.

"Leave! Leave! Leave!" crowds chanted after Friday prayers on the square in Cairo. A cleric praised the "revolution of the young" and declared: "We want the head of the regime removed."

"Game over" said one banner, in English for the benefit of international television channels beaming out live coverage.

Yet for all the enthusiasm on the streets, and new-found tolerance by the army, Mubarak's fate, and that of a 60-year-old system of military-backed rule, lies as much in bargains struck behind the scenes among generals keen to retain influence and Western officials anxious not to see a key Arab ally against radical Muslims slide into chaos or be taken over by Islamists.

European Union leaders echoed calls from the United States for Mubarak to do more than promise not to run in September's election: "This transition process must start now," they said.

! The 82-y ear-old president said on Thursday he was "fed up" but would not stand down because that would create chaos.

Prominent figures

A handful of prominent figures from academia and business said they proposed a compromise under which newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman, a former intelligence chief who has the confidence of Washington, should take over real authority while Mubarak could serve out his fifth term as a figurehead leader.

There was a festive, weekend atmosphere as secular, middle-class professionals and pious, generally poorer, members of the mass Islamist movement the Muslim Brotherhood, mingled, sang and chanted under banners and ubiquitous Egyptian flags.

Food and water, medical treatment for those overcome by heat and crowding, opinions and jokes were all shared.

Away from the square, groups of Mubarak loyalists harassed journalists. Some attacked the offices of Al Jazeera television. Others tried to deter people from demonstrating. But there was little of the extreme violence seen on Wednesday and Thursday.

Earlier, the veteran defense minister visited the square, inspecting troops who were out in force promising to protect demonstrators after the bloodshed of previous days.

Mumbai: Post-Adarsh scam, Chavan reassures builders

Email Story Write to the editor Print Story Mumbai, Feb 4: With the builders in Maharashtra running scared in the aftermath of the Adarsh Housing Society scam, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today sought to assure that those who came up with "genuine projects" would get approval by the government.Addressing a meeting of the Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry here, Chavan took pains to assure the state's top builders that the government was not against legal and transparent projects.He also categorically denied reports in some sections of the media that builders were barred from entering all state government offices, the chief minister's office and the state government headquarters Mantralaya."These are baseless rumours and I don't know from where they emanated. I have not imposed any such ban," Chavan asserted, adding the doors of his office were open not only for builders, but also individuals coming forth with legal and valid projects at all times.The chief minister declared that builders and realtors were an important section of the state's infrastructure development and the state was aware of their contribution in all fields.However, Chavan made it clear that all such project must be genuine, transparent, within the legal framework and timebound in implementation.Chavan said that the government had no grudges if the builders earned reasonable profits out of their ventures, but any attempts to reap huge profits by manipulating the laws would not be tolerated.Top MCHI builders have expressed apprehensions off-the-record in the past few months that their work has suffered greatly after the Adarsh Co-Operative Housing Society scam in which the involvement of top p! oliticia ns, bureaucrats and defence personnel came to the fore."After the Adarsh Society scam, the builders community has been treated like a pariah and we are not entertained in most government departments. As a result, our projects worth crores of rupees have been indefinitely held up as the concerned officials are scared of granting the permissions," a leading developer told the media, requesting anonymity.Others have said that several small and large housing projects in the public-private sector have also been indefinitely delayed with permissions from various departments not forthcoming despite all documents being in order, especially in the western suburbs.The delays in these projects have created panic among the builders who have made investments and the prospective lower, middle and upper-middle class buyers who have made part-payments for securing a shelter through such schemes.After a patient hearing to their grievances, Chavan assured the MCHI office-bearers, including G. L. Raheja, Dharmesh Jain, Nayan Shah, Paras Gundecha, Madhur Shah, Deepak Goradia, Niranjan Hiranandani, Praveen Doshi and others that they would be given all help in the matter.Present at the meeting were top state officials from the CMO, Urban Development, Revenue, Finance, Environment, Housing, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, MHADA, slum redevelopment authority and others. (IANS)

Black money list revealed, 15 Indians named

NEW DELHI: The veil of secrecy on the list of Indians who stashed black money in foreign banks has finally been lifted.

Tehelka has revealed the names of 15 Indians, who have stashed their black money in the LGT bank of Liechtenstein, a well-known tax haven nation, 190 km from Munich, Germany.

The magazine claims it has has accessed 16 of the 18 names, and has made 15 of them public.

The Tehelka report claims Germany had officially handed over the list to the Indian Government on 18 March 2009.

Which means it is almost two years since the Indian Government had information about the names and bank account details of these eighteen Indians.

The list has been a subject of suspense and political debate with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee stating that this list cannot be disclosed to the Indian people and the opposition parties demanding transparecny on the issue.

The magazine says that it has approached each of these individuals involved and is awaiting their response and hence has not revealed their deatils.

The list released by the magazine includes the names of

1. Manoj Dhupelia
2. Rupal Dhupelia
3. Mohan Dhupelia
4. Hasmukh Gandhi
5. Chintan Gandhi
6. Dilip Mehta
7. Arun Mehta
8. Arun Kochar
9. Gunwanti Mehta
10. Rajnikant Mehta
11. Prabodh Mehta
12. Ashok Jaipuria
13. Raj Foundation
14. Urvashi Foundation
15. Ambrunova Trust

The three trusts in this list are registered outside India.

The government on its part has claimed that a detailed investigation into all the bank account details provided by Germany is underway and making the names public would violate the agreement between two sovereign countries, India and Germany.

IPL: Manish Pandey banned for 4 games

Power situation worsens in Punjab

THEPOWERsituationin Punjab has worsened following closure of two thermal units at Lehra Mohabatt thermal plant and this position may continue for a number of days.The power shortage in state has increased to 150 lakh units and power supply is around 968 lakh units. According to official data, the evening peak load shortage has increased to 561 MW. The unit 2 of thermal plant tripped on February 1 due to stator earth fault. According to official sources, the cause of tripping has not yet been ascertained. The time to bring back the unit on bar can only is assessed after finding the nature of fault, said an official.The unit 1 of thermal plant is already under shut down for 45 days due to annual maintenance since January 16. The tripping of second unit has come at the wrong time thus increasing pressure on Powercom.With two units down the shortage of 420 MW has forced the Powercom to increase the two-day power cut imposed on induction furnaces to three days in a week. The general industry will now face a two-day power cut.

Golden Ripples.......

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26/11 hero's uncle battles for life after self-immolation

New Delhi: Mumbai attack martyr Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's uncle, who attempted self-immolation alleging that the government was not doing enough to honour the victims of the 26/11 strike, is battling for life at a city hospital.

35-year-old K Mohanan, a native of Kozhikode in Kerala, had poured kerosene on his body and set himself on fire outside Gate No 4 of Parliament House near Vijay Chowk last evening.

"He had suffered 85-95 per cent of burn injuries and is undergoing treatment," a senior police official said.

Mohanan told doctors that he was unhappy at the way the victims of the Mumbai attacks were treated by the government.

"He was disturbed at the death of Sandeep. He wanted to feel the pain Sandeep might have suffered when he was shot at by the terrorists," the official said.

Mohanan, the younger brother of Sandeep's father, had told his family that he was leaving for Ernakulam but instead left for the national capital, he said.


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CBI questions three main accused in Adarsh Society scam

THE CENTRAL Bureau of Investigation questioned three main accused in the controversial Adarsh Housing Society scam on Thursday at the CBI office at Colaba in South Mumbai. CBI confronted Congress MLC Kanhaiyalal Gidwani, president of the Adarsh society Brigadier Madan Mohan Wanchoo and the chief promoter of the society R C Thakur.Earlier on Suday, CBI raided the residences and offices of Gidwani, Wanchu and Thakur and seized several incriminating files, documents and laptops. The CBI had filed an FIR against 13 people in the Adarsh Housing Society scam case on Saturday including Wanchu, Gidwani and Thakur. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan was also one amongst the 13 accused named in the FIR. The Central Bureau of Investigation stated in the FIR that accused K L Gidwani, M M Wanchoo and R C Thakur conspired with the members of defence services officers, officials and functionaries of the government of Maharashtra.Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan was forced to resign over his alleged involvement in the in the Adarsh Society. The 31-storey Adarsh Housing Society scam came to light after Western Naval Commander Admiral Sanjeev Bhasin shot off a letter to the Army headquarters and the Defence Ministry seeking action against the building for posing a security threat to military installations.

Afridi to captain Pakistan in World Cup

2G scam: DMK channel under scanner

Chennai: The 2G scam probe may have just widened beyond A Raja.

Enforcement Directorate is probing a transaction in which Rs 214 crore were transferred from Mumbai-based DB Realty group to Kalaignar TV, which is owned by family members of Karunanidhi.

Probe agencies are interested in the deal because the telecom arm of DB Realty is among firms which got 2G licences in 2008 and more so because it was A Raja who was the Telecom Minister when the licence was handed out and that too allegedly at below-market prices.

The DB group's telecom arm sold 45% to Etisalat in 2009. The company, earlier known as Swan Telecom, is now called Etisalat-DB.



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Six killed in a road accident in Orissa

AS MANY as six persons were killed in a road mishap near Rambha in Ganjam district of Orissa on Wednesday (February 2).

According to sources, one Tata carrier going towards Sabulia near Rambhacollided with a truck at Ainthabana near Rambha, in which six personswerekilled.

While five including Laxman Behera, his wife Nakshetra Behera of Rambha, Ganapati Behera, Rabindra Das and Mokara Behera of Kumarpalli village, succumbed to the injurieson thespot inside the TATA carrier, some others were shifted to the nearby hospital, where another person was declared dead. Among the dead people, most of them belonged to a local artist group performing Paala.
Meanwhile, locals in the area lodged a protest against the officials for failing to check accidents, which are increasingly taking place. They asked the state administration to increase the number of traffic policemen on the roads to ensure that traffic remained under control and violations by vehicles if any were checked. Here it is pertinent to mention that Indian has the highest number of deaths due to road accidents as there is lax implementation of the rules. The mix of the vehicles on the roads, which comprise cycles, rickshaws, bullock carts, increasing number of cars and heavy duty vehicles is a lethal mix, which results in fatal road accidents.

Karmapa cash row: Couple arrested in Delhi

Email Story Write to the editor Print Story Dharamsala, Feb 4: Himachal Pradesh Police on Thursday arrested a couple in New Delhi in connection with seizure of Rs.1 crore from two people that was meant as part-payment by the Karmapa's trust to buy land in Kangra district, police said."The couple, Karma Thapa and his wife Rinzin, was charged with arranging money for the monastery. They were interrogated for the past three days and were arrested from Majnoo-Ka-Tila in Delhi," a police official said.He said the couple failed to disclose the source of the money that was seized from Mehatpur in Una district of Himachal Pradesh on Jan 25.It was after the seizure of Rs.1 crore that the Gyuto Tantric University and Monastery, where the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, has been residing for the last few years with his followers, was raided Jan 28 and about Rs.7 crore in foreign and Indian currency recovered.Denying all allegations, the Karmapa told the investigating agencies that the money seized during the raids was given by his devotees and he had not done anything to harm India's interests.A string of central government agencies is attempting to get to the bottom of the recovery of unaccounted currency that includes 1.1 million Chinese Yuan (Rs.7 million) and over $600,000 (Rs.27.4 million).Seven people, including the Karmapa's aide Rubgi Chosang, also known as Shakti Lama, are in police custody.The Karmapa fled Tibet and sought refuge in India in January 2000. Ever since, he has mostly lived at the monastery in Sidhbari near Dharamsala. (IANS)

Average blood pressure falls globally, shoots up in India

NEW DELHI: Nearly 139 million Indians were suffering from high blood pressure (BP) at the end of 2008 14% of the global burden of uncontrolled hypertension. From 1980-2008, the number of Indians suffering from high BP rose by 87 million, while the percentage of population suffering from the ailment rose from 21% to 26%.

The latest data of the "Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors" study, published in the British medical journal The Lancet on Wednesday, shows that while the average BP of humans declined globally, it actually increased among both men and women in India.

The average BP went down by 2.7mm mercury among women globally, while increasing by 2.4mm mercury in India. In men, it decreased by 2.3 mm mercury globally in the past three decades whereas in India it went up by 2.2 mm mercury.

Speaking to TOI from London, Prof Majid Ezzati from the School of Public Health at Imperial College (London) said, "Any increase of BP is bad specially when the trend globally is of dipping BP levels. In an average Indian woman, it went up from 120.9mm mercury to 123.1mm mercury in the past 28 years while in men, it went up from 122.1mm mercury to 123.9mm mercury. In women, BP levels increased by almost 0.8mm mercury per decade since 1980 while in men, it increased by 0.9mm mercury per decade. It is easy to control high BP and India must immediately act."

Dr Anoop Misra, chairman of Fortis` diabetes, metabolic diseases and endocrinology centre, said, "Hypertension is one risk factor in Indians which shows little urban-rural difference, unlike obesity and diabetes. Clearly, overall increase in BP, both in men and women, is due to increasing salt intake and escalating sedentary behaviour. Albeit small, this increase in blood pressure would increase heart attacks and strokes substantially in India. At present, hypertension is directly responsible for 57% of deaths due to stroke and 24% of deaths caused by heart attack."

High BP is the leading r! isk fact or for cardiovascular disease mortality, causing more than 7 million deaths every year worldwide. The study says that though prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension dipped from 33% in 1980 to 29% in 2008 in men and from 29% to 25% in women, the actual number of people with uncontrolled hypertension increased from 605 million in 1980 to 978 million in 2008.

"This was mainly due to population growth, ageing and faulty diet. We estimated trends in systolic blood pressure (SBP) rather than diastolic blood pressure (DBP), because prospective studies strongly suggest that SBP is a better predictor of cardiovascular disease risk, especially in older adults above 55 years of age in whom most deaths from cardiovascular disease occur," Prof Ezzati added.

VARANASI (402)

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India condemns attacks on scribes in Egypt

New Delhi: India has condemned the detention of and attacks on journalists in Egypt, terming them "unacceptable".

"I am pained and shocked to learn about the detention and attacks on journalists in Egypt, who were reporting on the unfolding developments. Such incidents are totally unacceptable and must stop immediately," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said.

Krishna, whose office is in touch with Indian journalists in Cairo, also said that the detained mediapersons should be released forthwith.

Amid the political turmoil and chaos in Egypt, foreign journalists have become targets of rampaging mobs, mostly aligned with embattled President Hosni Mubarak. Journalists became targets, beaten, bloodied, harassed and detained by raging men, most in some way aligned with Mubarak, CNN, ABC News and other media outlets reported.

Four Israeli journalists have been reportedly arrested in Egypt while trying to cover the escalating violence.

The External Affairs Ministry today issued an advisory for those intending to cover the protests, including obtaining the State Information Service accreditation.

"It is understood that around 3000 foreign and Egyptian correspondents are currently in Cairo to file/film stories and a number of them are without suitable accreditation. A number of journalists, including some Indian journalists, have got into trouble as a result," the Ministry said.

According to some reports reaching here, a cameraman of a private TV channel here was detained and then let off while shooting the protests in Cairo.



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Kerala HC paves way for Indias first Islamic bank

KOCHI: The Kerala high court on Thursday 8 dismissed a petition challenging the state government's plans to co-promote an Islamic 8 finance institution. The move could pave the way for introduction of Islamic finance products by existing lenders and also reduce regulatory objections for an Islamic Bank.

On Thursday, a division bench comprising Chief Justice J Chalameswar and Justice P R Ramachandra Menon dismissed petitions objecting to the creation of an Islamic financial institution and said the proposed body was to work in accordance with financial laws of the country even while it complied with sharia rules.

The move has much broader implications considering Islamic finance has not taken off due to a stand taken by RBI that such a form of banking is not possible given present regulation. This stance was taken by an internal working group of RBI whose report was never made public. In the past, Islamic scholars had made representations to RBI to allow such products. Subsequent representation to allow Islamic finance products was stalled as the government was awaiting the verdict of the Kerala High Court.

The key difference between Islamic and conventional banking is that while the conventional form offers interest on deposits mobilized, Islamic finance works on the principles of investment and sharing of profits. Islamic banking products are offered by leading banks in the West who also use Shariah compliant products to mobilize funds from the Middle East.

Exisiting lenders like State Bank of India too have considered the feasibility of launching Islamic finance products through its international banking operations. However, these products have not taken off because of lack of regulatory clarity. Some bankers feel that considering that India has the second largest Muslim population in the world, there will be large potential for Islamic banking products.

In January 2010, the HC had stayed implementation of the proposal on petitions by Janata ! Party ch ief Subramanian Swamy and Hindu Aikyavedi leader R V Babu who argued that the participation of the state government in such an institution went against secular principles enshrined in the Constitution.

Dismissing the petition, the court observed that although the institution was based on the principles of a religion, its motive was not to propagate the religion and the state's participation in it was purely based on commercial prospects. ''Therefore, there is no need to object the state's participation in it,'' the bench said. The bench said the Reserve Bank of India would examine whether the Islamic financial institution went against any of the central bank's guidelines. Swamy said he would decide on the future course of action after studying the verdict.

''We have made representations to the RBI and government and submitted them documents to show how banks in UK and Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan have amended their regulations to facilitate Islamic finance. They have told us that they will look into it,'' said H Abdur Raqueeb, general secretary, Indian Centre for Islamic Finance-ICIF. He added that although ICIF has made representations to the finance ministry as well, they have been informed that the matter was sub-judice.

State-owned Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) began work after finance minister Thomas Isaac had floated such an idea in 2009. The plan was to start an institution based on Islamic banking principles and this was to be established under another entity, which was registered as Al-Baraka Financial Services. The proposal was also to appoint an advisory body, comprising Islamic scholars who would ensure that the institution functioned under the Shariah rules. KSIDC was to hold 11% share in Al-Baraka. The financial institution also has 14 promoters and Gulf-based Kerala entrepreneurs P Mohammed Ali and C K Menon are to hold the posts of its chairman and vice-chairman respectively.

Dr K N Harilal, Kerala Planning Board Member, w! elcomed the HC order and said the Islamic banking system would help a large number of people in the country. ''A study by Centre for Development Studies, which was also referred to by the Kerala finance minister, had shown that although immigrant workers from Kerala remit between Rs 25,000 crore and Rs 28,000 crore, a large part of this goes into gold or real estate,'' he said.

He added that Islamic finance would enable this money to go into productive purposes.

A Boston Consultancy Group report in 2008 said that pure Islamic Banks along with Islamic subsidiaries and 'windows of conventional banks' control $400bn in assets compared to $100bn in 2000. However, the report also pointed out that the Islamic banking industry needs common and internationally accepted standards on capital adequacy, risk and asset quality management.

Untitled

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Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

US sends high tech trade mission to India

Email Story Write to the editor Print Story Washington, Feb 3: With the controls on export of high tech items to India eased, US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is leading a trade mission to India next week to pitch high-tech ware from civil nuclear to defence and civil aviation fields.Top US companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, GE-Hitachi and Westinghouse are among 24 businesses in the Feb 6-11 business mission to India led by Locke, who accompanied President Barack Obama to India in November last year.More than $10 billion in business deals between US companies and Indian private sector and government entities, supporting 50,000 American jobs, were signed during the Obama visit.Besides the aviation, defence and nuclear power majors, other businesses joining the trade mission are based in 13 states across the country and more than half of them are small and medium-sized companies, the US Commerce department said today.The delegation, which also includes senior officials from the Export-Import Bank (EX-IM) and the Trade Development Agency (TDA), will make stops in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.Arriving in India on Sunday, Locke will participate in a kick-off event with members of the business delegation and deliver the keynote address at a luncheon hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Monday.In New Delhi, he will also meet with Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.On Tuesday, Locke will participate in a press conference at the Aero India show, a major international military aviation trade show, in Bangalore where the US pavilion will ha! ve its l argest presence to date and will be the largest foreign presence at the show.He will also visit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India's premier aerospace manufacturing company, to see firsthand how US partnerships with HAL are contributing to India's aviation industry and generating high value jobs in both countries.He will also attend a bilateral meeting with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Wednesday.Today, Locke will address a luncheon meeting hosted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Mumbai and deliver a keynote address at the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) India Leadership Forum 2011.He will also meet with Indian CEOs from the US-India CEO Forum.Locke concludes his visit Friday with meetings with Reserve Bank of India Governor Dr. D Subbarao and officials of the Department of Atomic Energy and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India.He will also visit the tiffin wallahs to learn about the unique Tiffinwalah logistics operation that delivers home cooked food to thousands of people daily.Last week, US Commerce Department lifted a 12-year-old export control ban on nine Indian space and defence-related companies, removing them from the so-called Entity List in a move expected to drive hi-tech trade and forge closer strategic ties with India."It was a significant milestone that will reinforce the US-India strategic partnership, strengthen global non-proliferation efforts, and facilitate high technology trade and cooperation," the Commerce Department said today. (IANS)

Arunachal Pradesh an integral part of India: PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that Arunachal Pradesh has always been an integral part of India and will remain so, and that the Chinese map showing the northeastern state as its part will not change the reality.

This "simple fact" was conveyed by the Prime Minister to a delegation of All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) which met him in New Delhi on Wednesday, AAPSU president Takam Tatung said.

"Arunachal Pradesh has always been an integral part of India and will remain so," Tatung quoted Singh as saying.

On the issue of China issuing stapled visa to residents of Arunachal Pradesh, Singh said the Centre was putting its sincere efforts to solve the problem at the earliest.

The Prime Minister said Arunachal Pradesh cannot remain in isolation and the fruit of development should reach there like the rest of the country.

"During my visit to Arunachal Pradesh in 2008, creation of infrastructure in the state had been outlined and our governments both at the Centre and in the state are doing best to accelerate the pace of development," Tatung said quoting the Prime Minister.

The AAPSU delegation also brought to the notice of the Prime Minister the decades-old Chakma-Hajong issue in the state, insurgency in Tirap and Changlang, Assam-Arunachalboundary row and mechanism to monitor proper implementation of all the government schemes in the state, Tatung added.



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*

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in gangasagar transit camp, kolkata....

Raja, aides in five-day CBI custody

Email Story Write to the editor Print Story New Delhi, Feb 3: Former communications minister A. Raja and two of his aides were sent to five-day custody by a CBI special court today, a day after they were arrested in connection with the 2G spectrum scam.DMK leader Raja, former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura and personal secretary R.K. Chandolia were handed down the sentence by Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) judge O.P. Saini at the Patiala House Court.Raja quit on Nov 14 after the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) indicted him for irregularities in the allocation of second generation (2G) spectrum to telecom companies, causing losses of between Rs.58,000 crore ($12.8 billion) and Rs.1.76 lakh crore ($40 billion) to the exchequer. (IANS)

Officials at ITBP recruitment camp admit mistake

IT TOOK loss of 20 lives and many hopes which were shattered during the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) recruitment drive for the paramilitary organisation to admit the mistakes. The ITBP after the incident said that it had indeed failed to estimate the number of aspirants, who would turn up at its camp in Bareilly.An official from the ITBP told reporters that as recruitment for the post of tradesman was being done after a gap of three years there was a huge rush of aspirants. He also confirmed thataction would be initiated to probe into the reasons which led to the incident and can be expected to get over within a weeks time. The official also added that since no body has been accused in the case so far, the guilty will be produced only when the inquiry is over. However, aspirants who had a first hand experience of the incident claimed that the local Police and other security personnel charged at them and directed them to leave Bareilly by any means. It was only because of the fear of police and security personnel that hundreds of students climbed on to Himgiri Express in Bareilly.The victims who climbed the Himgiri Express were crushed to death as they hit an overbridge at Shajahanpur, 60 km from Bareilly. Adding to the woes, many of them also claimed that they were forced to climb onto the roofs of goods train which was also passing by.

Buddhadeb writes to Chidambaram on 'Trinamool-Maoist nexus'

New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today wrote to the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on suspected Maoists sheltering in Trinamool Congress run relief camps.

After two inmates of a Trinamool-run relief camp were arrested by joint security forces on Monday for alleged links with Maoists, Bhattacharjee had issued a late night statement saying that he would inform the Home Minister about 'Trinamool-Maoist nexus' and would be forced to take administrative steps against Trinamool leaders involved in sheltering Maoists.

Mamata Banerjee had said that she too would inform the Centre about the incident. On the arrest of the alleged Maoists, she said the entire incident was the handiwork of pro-CPM police forces.

Alleging arbitrary action of the joint forces, Trinamool Congress activists had blocked the station road in the town, stalling traffic movement for hours after the arrest.

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ITBP admits it failed to estimate correct number of aspirants

BAREILLY/LUCKNOW: In the backdrop of the death of 20 aspirants who fell of trains, the ITBP today admitted that it had failed to estimate their number at its recruitment camp and said it will initiate a fresh drive.

"As recruitment for the post of tradesman was being done after a gap of three years, estimation of the number of aspirants, who will turn up for the process was not right," ITBP Additional Director General Dilip Trivedi told reporters.

He said that an inquiry is being conducted to probe the reasons which led to the incident and is likely to get wrapped up within a week time.

As of now no one can be held guilty, anything could be said only after the inquiry is over, the ADG said.

Trivedi said that the agency will take lesson from the incident and the recruitment process will be changed.

The process will be changed to ensure that such incident to not re-occur, he said.

While, ITBP DIG R S Negi said that all the registrations done on Tuesday had been cancelled and fresh exercise will be undertaken.

An aspirant was allegedly killed and nearly two dozen others were injured during rampage in Bareilly on Tuesday.

Nearly 1.5 lakh aspirants gathered at ITBP Kumaon headquarters in Bareilly to deposit their application forms.

Situation went out of control when the aspirants, after failing to get their forms deposited went on rampage, indulged in arson and brick batting.

Later in the day, 20 aspirants were killed as they fell from the roof of Himgiri train after hitting an overbridge in Shahjahanpur, while they were returning back.

Meanwhile, UP government has demanded appropriate action against the officers responsible.

"A letter has been sent to the Centre requesting it to fix responsibility of the officers for mismanagement during recruitment drive and demanding action against guilty," a government spokesman said in Lucknow.

He alleged that the Shahjahanpur incident took pla! ce due t o lapse on the part of the ITBP officers and temporary arrangements made by them.

"If the ITBP officers would have done right estimation and coordinated with Bareilly administration then such an unfortunate incident would not have had happened," he said.

The government has demanded the Centre to implement standard operating procedure in recruitment drives by central agencies, the spokesman said.

"The Centre has been requested to strictly direct the central agencies to maintain coordination with the district administration during recruitment drives," he said.

T R E E. Fort Cochin

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Trees are often fascinating in India. Every time I have been to Fort Cochin I have taken an image of this one. www.claude-renault.fr

AIIMS doctor sacked for 'molesting' 8-year-old patient

New Delhi: Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday ordered termination of a senior resident doctor of premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) who allegedly molested an eight-year-old brain tumour patient.

This is for the first time in the history of the 54-year-old institute that a senior resident doctor has been terminated on the charges of molesting a patient, official sources said.

The Health Minister in his capacity as the President of the premier institute issued the order after receiving initial reports from the officials in this regard, they said.

The Minister has also ordered withdrawing the registration of the accused doctor in the super-speciality MCh course in surgical sciences at the institute, sources said.

The doctor with the Neurology Department had molested the boy on January 23, a day before he was to be discharged from the hospital, the family of the victim had alleged.

The boy, a resident of north-east Delhi's Hardevpuri, was admitted to the hospital on January 18 and had undergone a brain tumour surgery two days later.

After the matter was brought to the notice of the hospital authorities, AIIMS administration ordered an inquiry by a panel headed by senior doctor A C Amini into the allegations which submitted its report on Wednesday.

Taking cognizance of the initial report, the Health Minister issued the orders.

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Women in Delhi Police get commando training

Video

New Delhi: Delhi is not the safest city in the country for women. Last year as many as 585 women faced some sort of sexual harassment.

But, to rein eve teasers and trouble makers in, Delhi Police has now started giving specialised commando training to its recruits.

After the training is complete, the feisty young women will be able to fight, strike and immobilise anyone who dares to break the law.

Click to play videoNew Delhi: Delhi is not the safest city in the country for women. Last year as many as 585 women faced some sort of sexual harassment.

But, to rein eve teasers and trouble makers in, Delhi Police has now started giving specialised commando training to its recruits.

After the training is complete, the feisty young women will be able to fight, strike and immobilise anyone who dares to break the law.

The reason for starting the programme was to give a boost to women safety in the national capital.

"We wanted to increase presence of women in Delhi University areas and other places where there are a large number of women," said Om Prakash, Inspector, Commando.

The women recruits were also being given the same training as their male counterparts and will also be trained in handling hostage situations and terrorist attacks. And most importantly, it has made these recruits extremely confident.

"Now I can do anything a man can and its not a problem for me," said Bites Geeta.

But it's not going to be easy for the trainees, as the batch of approximately 500 women will be undergoing a seven-month training programme after which only about a hundred will be put on specialised duties.

"We will be g! rading t hem and then decide where to put them," said Joint Commissioner of Police, Training SN Shrivastava.

Youngsters take to books on Gandhi big-time!

Email Story Write to the editor Print Story Mumbai, Feb 3: Youngsters thronged the exhibition-cum-sale of books organised to commemorate the 63rd death anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Over 12,000 books were sold at the six-day exhibition, an official said.The Jan 27-Feb 1 exhibition was jointly organised by the Mumbai Sarvodaya Mandal and the Gandhi Book Centre."There was an overwhelming response to the exhibition. About 12,500 books on Gandhi worth Rs.360,000 were sold at the exhibition that concluded yesterday (Tuesday)," said a member of the Mumbai Sarvodaya Mandal."Gandhiji's autobiography and a set of five important books, Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi', were the top-selling books at the exhibition," he added.The books were sold at a discount of up to 50 percent with financial assistance from several charity organisations."We were happy to note that most of those who frequented the stall were youngsters," he said. (IANS)

The Worshipper

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Ahmedabad, India.

Student found dead in shop, murder case registered

ANANDPUR SAHIB: A 23-year-old BCA student was found murdered in his shop on Wednesday morning. Police have registered a murder case against unknown persons on the complaint of the victim's father Ram Charan and are looking for the accused.

A resident of Mohalla Rondiwala here, Rajesh Kumar alias Bunti was found lying in a pool of blood early Wednesday morning when his father went to open his cigarette-selling shop in the morning. The family resides just above the tiny shop, on the first floor.

Bunti was last seen around 11pm on Tuesday, when he left the family quarters to close the shop. Apparently, he was killed soon after, for he did not return home. However, the family did not notice his absence as he used to sleep in an independent room. It was only in the morning that the murder was discovered.

Anandpur Sahib DSP Sant Singh said the victim's father found the shop's shutter partially open in the morning.

"Injuries inflicted with a sharpedged weapon have been found on the torso and abdominal part of the body. On the complaint of Ram Charan, a case has been registered against unidentified persons under section 302 of IPC (murder)," he said.

Lipeyani, Pokhara District, Nepal

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PCB to get $ 400,000 per WC match it lost

Defence law to be amended to plug land management gaps: Antony

Email Story Write to the editor Print Story New Delhi, Feb 2: Stung by a series of scams involving its land, the defence ministry will soon amend a crucial 107-year-old law that regulates buildings around military installations and also tighten screws to prevent local authorities from misusing clearances for property transfer.Admitting to "gaps" in its land management policies, Defence Minister A.K. Antony gave these assurances to the Parliamentary Consultative Committee relating to his ministry at its meeting here today.The defence ministry, in the last three years, has been hit by a series of land scams at the Sukna military station in West Bengal, the Colaba-based Adarsh Housing Society in Mumbai near a naval station and the Central Ordnance Depot land in Kandivali on Mumbai's outskirts."Suitable amendments to the Works of Defence Act, 1903, which provides for restrictions on building activity around defence installations, will be brought about to make it relevant to present day situations. The act has not been amended for the last over 100 years," Antony said at the meeting.He also noted that the government was looking at tweaking its "de-hiring" policy for land and property to tighten screws on the local military authorities so as to prevent them from misusing the system and leveraging the loopholes.The ministry's policy on mandatory No-Objection Certificates (NOC) for transfer of defence land and sale of government land adjacent to military installations too was being made stringent."In the backdrop of a series of cases relating to transfer of defence land for civilian use, the defence ministry will shortly be framing policies covering the issue of NOCs in cases wh! ere the local laws require consultation with local military authorities for construction of buildings on lands adjacent to defence installations," Antony said.Antony said the ministry was giving top priority to computerisation of land records and a number of decisions have been taken regarding land management and proper storage of important title-related records.The defence ministry is one of the largest landholders in the country, only second to the railway ministry, with over 17 lakh acres of real estate under its control.On the difficulties involved in defence land management, Antony said: "Under the constitution of India, land is a state subject. Even though we have our system of keeping land-title related records, yet there exists a revenue system in each state.""If the ownership for a particular piece of land tallies in both defence ministry and state records, then there is no problem. But in some instances, this is not so. Moreover, vested interests lose no time in exploiting gaps in the system," he added.In the first punishment to guilty in defence land scams, an army court martial had a fortnight ago awarded two-year loss of seniority, 15-year loss of pension and severe reprimand to a serving officer Lt. Gen. P.K. Rath in the Sukna land scam.Former Military Secretary Lt. Gen. Avadesh Prakash is awaiting his court martial to convene in the same case.In the Adarsh Housing Society scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation last week filed its First Information Report before a Mumbai special court and it has named several serving and retired armed forces officers and politicians, including former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan.Participating in the consultative committee discussion, MPs suggested safe upkeep of defence land and their proper utilisation, besides computeridation. They also wanted the ministry to carry out a physical survey of land in its possession.Among those who participated in the deliberations were Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee chairperson and BJP leader Murli Manohar Jos! hi and C ongress MP Manish Tiwari. Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju, Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, DRDO Director General V.K. Saraswat and Defence Estates Director General Ashok Harnal also participated. (IANS)

Michelle Obama wants to visit India again

Email Story Write to the editor Print Story Washington, Feb 2: The Obamas enjoyed their trip to India so much that US First Lady Michelle Obama is "determined" to visit the country again, this time with her daughters Malia and Sasha.US President Barack Obama himself conveyed this to India's National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon when he dropped in on Menon's meeting with his US counterpart Tom Donilon at the White House last week, according to diplomatic sources.Obama asked Menon to convey to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh how much they enjoyed their November trip to India and how Michelle wanted to go there again with their daughters.As if to emphasize he was not saying it for form's sake, Obama reportedly added that the First Lady is a "very determined" woman and she usually has her way.The Obama children did not make it to India during their parents' maiden visit last November because the Obamas did not want them to miss school during a four-country trip starting in India that would have kept them away for two weeks.At the Menon-Donilon meeting, Obama also "reaffirmed his commitment to building a true global, strategic partnership with India." (IANS)

Sushma tweet prompts visit by SM Krishna

New Delhi: In an unusual move, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today visited Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj to apprise her about the steps being taken by the government over killing of fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy and rehabilitation of Tamils there.

He drove to the residence of the senior BJP leader after she tweeted about her request for a meeting with him to discuss these issues.

BJP stated Krishna was "gracious enough" to visit Swaraj to allay her serious concerns on five issues including the plight of Indian students in the US, efforts being made to bring back Indians from trouble-torn Egypt, and the fate of an Indian being held hostage by Somali pirates.

Swaraj said Krishna informed her that Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao had visited the neighbouring country to take up the issue of killing and torture of Indian fishermen and met the Sri Lankan President, who "shares our concern".

"The Minister also told me that a Joint Working group that has been constituted to sort out such issues will be made more active to prevent recurrence of such incidents," she said in a tweet.

The JWG of Foreign Secretaries of the two countries already exists but the two countries have decided to reactivate it.

Swaraj also brought up the issue of "dignified rehabilitation" of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Krishna assured her Rs 500 Crore had been alloted for this in the last budget.

"He told me that the Government was constantly monitoring this aspect," she said.

Incidentally, both these issues pertain to Tamil Nadu which goes to polls later this year. Swaraj is the party in-charge of the state.

On the "inhuman treatment" meted out to Indian students studying in a "sham" university in US on whom electronic clamps were tied, Swaraj said Krishna assured her that the Indian embassy officials there were dealing with the matter.

"The External Affairs Minister told me that US has been! informe d in unequivocal terms that this is unacceptable to us. That we do not treat anybody in this manner in India and do not expect anybody to treat Indians living outside in this manner," Swaraj said, adding the minister was very categorical in his views.

Krishna also told Swaraj that all efforts were being made to bring back Indians wanting to return from Egypt, which is facing political unrest and anti-government protests.

"There are 3,200 Indian citizens in Egypt of which 650 have been brought back. Three planes are waiting in Egypt to bring back those Indians choosing to come back," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said about the information shared by Krishna with Swaraj.

The senior BJP leader also raised the issue of three Indians held captive by Somali pirates.

Swaraj indicated that she was satisfied with the efforts made by the government.



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Timeline of the 2G Scam

Former Telecom Minister A Raja was arrested by the CBI for his alleged role in the 2G spectrum scam on February 2, 2010. Here is a look at the timeline of the 2G scam:

2007:

A Raja takes over Telecom Minister

A Raja decides to allocate, not auction, 2G spectrum as per 2001 rates

Sept 25, 2007:

Raja arbitrarily changes cut-off date for receiving spectrum applications

Nov 2, 2007:

PM asks Raja to be fair and transparent; Raja insists on going ahead with first-come-first-served model

Jan 10, 2008:

Pan-India licence fee fixed at 2001 rate of Rs 1,658 crore

Nov 2008:

Left demands probe, alleges loss of Rs 60,000 crore

Oct 22, 2009:

CBI registers FIR against unnamed DoT official and private firms for criminal conspiracy and loss to exchequer

2010:
3G auctions yield around Rs 70,000 crore

CAG launches probes 2G spectrum allocation

Supreme Court steps in

Parliament's Winter Session paralysed over demand for JPC

Nov 14, 2010:

PM forced to sack Raja after Opposition, SC pressure

Nov 16, 2010:

CAG estimates loss between Rs 70,000 crore and Rs 1.76 lakh crore


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21 and not a virgin? Welcome to new India!

New Delhi: Are you against the government lowering the age for consensual sex in India from 16 to 12? You probably make a compelling case for thousands of young Indians who lose their virginity at 21 anyway. A mature, sexually well-informed, conscious of safe sexual practices, if slightly conservative young Indian has emerged out of a survey on sexual habits of youths.

The IBNLive "How Young India loves: the under-25 sex survey" also shattered some myths about the way youths love in a society newly liberated from sexual dogmas. Read on to find out more about what Indians do under the sheets, at what age and how frequently they do it.

We bring you the results of the survey in a three-part series.

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Andhra Congress leader 'withdraws' Sonia comments

Hyderabad: Senior Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh, G Venkataswamy, who 12 hours ago demanded Sonia Gandhi's resignation as Party President, today said he is ready to withdraw all his comments.

"I had to make those comments because I was worried that the party may suffer in Telangana region. I am ready to withdraw all comments...I request her (Gandhi) for a separate Telangana," he said today.

Congress sources in Delhi had said that Venkataswamy's outburst on Tuesday was provoked by the party's decision to drop him from the Congress Working Committee (CWC).

"If I am expelled, party workers in Telangana would form a new outfit called Telangana Congress," Mr Venkataswamy claimed today.

Venkataswamy's son, Vivek, is a Congress MP and said he does not share his father's criticism of Sonia Gandhi.

Slamming Venkataswamy for his attack on Gandhi, Youth Congress activists met Andhra Pradesh Congress president D Srinivas at his residence here late last night and demanded that disciplinary action be taken against him immediately.

Venkataswamy, a Dalit leader from Telangana region, yesterday alleged that the party is losing its base all over the country and that corruption and inflation have risen under Mrs Gandhi's leadership.

He demanded that she step down from the post of party president and make way for an lndian who has risen from grass roots.

Mr Venkataswamy had also opposed the Congress' attempts to work more closely with actor-politician Chiranjeevi's party, the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP). Mr Chiranjeevi is not in favour of bifurcating Andhra Pradesh to create a new Telangana state.


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Sepia Taj

Paul Cowell has added a photo to the pool:

The Taj Mahal ( /td mhl/;Hindi: , from Persian/Urdu: "crown of buildings", pronounced [tad ml]; also "the Taj") is a mausoleum located in Agra, India. It is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is widely considered as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and stands as a symbol of eternal love.
Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles.
In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar component of the Taj Mahal, it is actually an integrated complex of structures. The construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision, including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer. (wiki)

In Madhya Pradesh, farmer suicides rise sharply

Bhopal: The killing fields of Madhya Pradesh get bloodier as the state battles its worst-ever agrarian crisis.

In August last year, farmers in the state lost 60% of the summer (Kharif) crop due to lack of rains and only five months later, they lost 80% of the winter (Rabi) crop in the frost.

The stunning losses and mounting debts have pushed many farmers to the edge

The compensation survey is going slow. Instead, there is charged political one-upmanship.

Suresh Pachouri, President, Madhya Pradesh Congress said, "I have decided to stay hungry till farmers are extended help."

Even the state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that he would go on a hunger strike February 13 onwards. He is adding pressure to his demand of a Rs 15,000-crore compensation from the Centre.

Yet in a cruel irony, his government is not ready to consider many deaths as farm suicides. Nor has it waived off 50% farm loans as promised earlier. The farmers eventually end up being lost between empty promises and political rhetoric.



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Finally, Egyptian President decides to quit

New Delhi: Embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in his address on Egypt's state television has announced that he will quit.

After US President Barack Obama urged him, Mubarak said he will not contest next elections.

Mubarak said his top priority is to restore peace and stability in the next six months.

"The protests have been manipulated by political forces. I have initiated a new government which will respond to the needs of the younger people of the country. I never wanted power or prestige. My first responsibility now is to restore security and stability of the homeland. I was not intending to stand for the upcoming elections. I ask the parliament to speed up the election procedures. I want to conclude my work for Egypt by presenting Egypt to the next govt. Egypt will come out of these circumstances much stronger than before," said Mubarak in his speech.

But opposition leader Elbaradei wants Mubarak to quit immediately and said Egypt cannot wait for six months.

"It's an act of deception by a dictator who doesn't want to go. He doesn't want to listen to the people...he is going to extend the agony for 6-7 months. He will continue to polarise the country. People could get more angry and resort to violence. He just have to let go...he won't only be blamed as the president but he will be a dead man walking. I don't understand the reason behind 6-7 months of instability rather than prepare the ground for a new Egypt," said Elbaradei

President Mubarak's declaration of not contesting another term of elections was also shot down by protestors in Egypt.

"Thirty years he has been starving us, thirty years he has been keeping us in his belly, thirty years he has been taking advantage of us, for thirty years he has been selling us to other! countri es. Hosni has nothing left for him but to sell us to other countries," said a protester.

They said that Mubarak has caused enough damage to the country and should step down immediately.

"I want to say that this man is provoking us. This man wants to have a massacre in this country which has been good to him and his children," said a protester.

Many on the streets renewed their calls for protests to ouster him and make way for a transitional unity government.

"The speech was very emotional, targeted at a good-hearted people, poor people, who are in slumber. But you know what? We are awake now, and we won't accept this anymore," said another protester.