sana

Maharashtra for separate HIV+ kids’ school

by

Latur, July 13: Guardian minister Dileep Deshmukh on Sunday said the administration is thinking of making a separate provision for children

affected with AIDS here.

As reported earlier, 10 children suffering from the disease are staying in the Ashram Sevalaya in the village, run by Amhi Sevak, an organisation

serving orphans and children inflicted with the disease.

The affected children were admitted in the ZP school due to which parents of 148 children out of the 240 have stopped sending their children to the

school.

Pak to act against those spreading anti-govt. messages

by

Islamabad, July 13: Pakistan authorities on Sunday launched a campaign against “anti-government” text messages, emails and the use of the

internet by banned groups, with the interior ministry saying those found guilty of such acts will be punished with up to 14 years in jail.

“Under the directions of Interior Minister Rehman Malik, a special campaign has been launched against those who were spreading ill-motivated and

concocted stories through emails and text messages against the civilian leadership,” said an interior ministry statement.

Anand Jon fires attorney; wants to defend himself in court

by

Washington, July 13: Having lost a prolonged court battle, the high profile India-born fashion designer Anand Jon has petitioned a California court
seeking permission to dismiss his attorney and defend himself.

The California court, which convicted him for sexually assaulting upcoming models, has scheduled hearing on the petition on Sunday, news reports

said. He now faces 162 years of imprisonment.

“He (Anand Jon) said he wanted to represent himself,” Ronald Richards, his attorney, was quoted as saying by LA Weekly. Richards said there

Focus on Gilani meet as PM leaves for Paris, NAM

by

New Delhi, July 13: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh embarks on Monday on the second leg of what is easily one of his most hectic two-weeks of diplomacy, flying back to Europe for an 18-hour stopover in France two days after returning from Italy, and then heading to Egypt for a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

BJ Medical College to get upgraded lab for H1N1 tests

by

Ahmedabad, july 13: The state Health Department has decided to upgrade the microbiology laboratory at the B J Medical College on the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital campus into a level-III bio-safety laboratory.

This comes following a decision by the Union Health Ministry and the National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD) to upgrade 16 laboratories across the country, in view of the possible surge in the number of samples required to be tested for the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.

3 women among 4 bootleggers arrested from Ahmedabad

by

Ahmedabad, july 13: The Ahmedabad police arrested four bootleggers, including three women , late on Saturday in connection with the killer hooch tragedy, which has claimed 123 lives — the highest in similar tragedies in the state so far.

The police arrested Kanta Vaghela (60), Kanta Rathod (65) — both residents of Odhav — Lata Chunara (30), a resident of Kantodiavas and bootlegger Daddu Chhara for their role in the sale of killer hooch. The three women worked as sub-agents of Chhara and Hari Shankar Kahar, who was the first to be arrested in the case.

CTU drivers snuff out three lives

by

Chandigarh, July 13: A newly inducted constable of the Chandigarh Police died in an accident at the Piccadily roundabout on Sunday evening. Promod was returning with a friend from the Sector-22 market after buying a mobile phone from his first salary when he was crushed by a CTU bus.

Promod was riding pillion on a motorcycle driven by another newly inducted constable (his namesake) who sustained minor injuries in the accident, the police said.

The accident took place around 5 pm, when the constables were going towards the Sector-34 police station, where they were posted.

As Central team visits, Lucknow village sees upturn in fortune

by

Lucknow, July 13: The roads of Kalli Pashchim, a small village in Sarojini Nagar Block of the Lucknow district, are lately abuzz with activities.

The stinking and overflowing drains have suddenly been cemented and the walls of primary school have fresh coats of paint. The classrooms, which never saw a bulb, are now lit up and the veterinary hospital adjoining the school, signboard of which was difficult to read till yesterday, is now brightly coloured.

The construction work of the panchayat bhavan also saw the dawn of the day, with its boundaries completed within four days.

UP: Six die, four hurt as speeding jeep rams into a tree

by

Lucknow, July 13: Six persons were killed and four others injured when a speeding jeep rammed into a tree in Unnao district, about 60 km from the state capital, Home department officials said.

The incident occurred when the jeep, in which 10 passengers were travelling, lost control after hitting a handcart in Semra village on Lucknow-Bangarmau road late last night, they said.

Those killed in the accident were identified as Abdullah (65), Shaliullah (62), Kallu (62), Mohd Ali (60), Asgar Ali (82) and Ibrahim Pradhan (50).

Chargesheet against Varun likely to be filed today

by

Lucknow, July 13: The Pilibhit police is likely to file the chargesheet against BJP parliamentarian Varun Gandhi in the Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Pilibhit on Monday.

The chargesheet will be filed under Section 153 (A) — promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 295 (A) — deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage any class by insulting its religion— and Section 505 (2) — statement creating/promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between classes.

Ransom paid, yet kidnappers kill 14-yr-old boy from Kanpur

by

Lucknow, July 13: Despite his father paying the ransom, 14-year-old Karan Maheshwari, son of a local businessman, was killed by his kidnappers on Saturday. The kidnappers are still at large.

A Class IX student of UP Kirana School, Karan was kidnapped on July 9 evening from near his Kidwai Nagar home. On July 10, his father Pawan Kumar Maheshwari paid the ransom. But the kidnappers slit his neck and disposed the body near Mahesh Kheda village in Unnao district, said police.

Two friends shot dead in Mundian by acquaintances

by

Ludhaina, July 13: Two friends were shot dead allegedly by their two acquaintances at Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar in Mundian Kalan village, on the Chandigarh Road on Saturday night. However, the assailants have not yet been identified but the police have registered a murder case against unidentified persons.

The deceased-property dealer Rajesh Kumar and his friend Naresh Kumar are the natives of Jind district in Haryana. According to the police, the murderers fled from the spot after killing the duo.

Mob on the rampage as patient dies in hospital

by

Ludhiana, July 13: Leading bariatric surgeon Dr Gurdip Singh Sidhu was allegedly beaten up and other staff members assaulted in a violence as mob fury erupted at Sidhu Hospital, Doraha, last evening. The incident occured following the death of a patient, a BJP leader, who had undergone weight-loss surgery a day before.

In ‘liberated’ Lalgarh, Maoists hold jana adalats to execute ‘traitors’

by

Kolkata, July 13: Fresh leads in the murder of two CPM men in Lalgarh show that the Maoists in the area are not only able to roam free and extort money from locals but also hold “jana adalats” or people’s court where they deliver their own version of “justice”.

Last Wednesday, Maoists held one such public meeting in Chuasol and decided to “award death sentence” to CPM leader Gurucharan Mahato. This was followed by another public meeting on Friday in Sirsi village where they also decided to kill Baren Mahato, a ration dealer.

Basu hospitalised after he faints, docs say now stable

by

Kolkata, July 13: Veteran CPM leader Jyoti Basu was admitted to the AMRI Hospital around 11.30 am on Sunday after he complained of breathlessness and fainted at his Salt Lake home.

The former CM, who celebrated his 96th birthday last week, has been unwell for a while and had even been admitted to the hospital around three months ago.

RSP sees red over Abani Roy letter to PM on Bharti-MTN

by

Kolkata, July 13: RSP leaders from West Bengal have reacted sharply against their Rajya Sabha MP Abani Roy for writing to the Prime Minister on a “corporate matter” involving two large private telecom firms.

“This is a corporate matter. Why should a political party intervene in such a matter? He (Roy) wrote the letter on his own. He did not consult the party before writing,” said Kshiti Goswami, senior RSP leader and Bengal PWD minister.

“We will ask for his clarification… we want to know why he wrote such a letter,” Goswami told The Indian Express.

Patients outside, lots of room inside

by

Mumbai, July 13: For hours, 44-year-old Prakash Tarehar lay on the floor of the waiting area outside the casualty ward at King Edward Memorial Hospital, struggling with a severe pain in his left hand.

Discharged from a private hospital for non-payment of bills, the Ghatkopar resident was referred to KEM Hospital but he was not admitted; doctors on strike merely prescribed medicines and asked him to go back.

Next to Tarehar lay 35-year-old Ram Pandey of Wadala, giddy and weak with malaria. Pandey too had been prescribed medicines and asked to go home.

22 yrs on, life term to gambler who killed wife and daughters

by

Mumbai, July 13: The Bombay High Court has sentenced a man to life, more than two decades after he murdered his wife and two young daughters.

Satish Agarwal of Daman, now 55, had been on bail since 1987. He had killed his family while they were sleeping, frustrated after he had gambled, lost and fallen into a debt he couldn’t repay. He tried to kill himself, too, but survived.

Levels up by a trickle but pray for more rain

by

Mumbai, july 13: Rain on Sunday brought a trickle of hope to the thirsting city, which had received 10 mm or less over the past two weeks.

The rain in the catchment areas in two of the key lakes, Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa, raised the hopes of the municipal corporation. The amount is, however, not yet enough. Officials said there should be a heavy, continuous downpour in all lakes for water levels to rise.

Man, nephew murdered over land dispute with relatives

by

Pune, July 13: A man and his nephew were murdered, allegedly by their relatives over a land row near Rohkal Phata in Chakan on Saturday afternoon.

According to information given by the rural police, they were killed by hitting them with sticks and stones on a hillock .

They two, Dnyanoba Parkhi (35) and Pandharinath Sadashiv Parkhi (55) were residents of Maan village in Mulshi taluka and had gone to Chakan on Saturday.

Dengue, malaria lay IT professionals low; builders blamed

by

Pune, July 13: Dengue and malaria have again reared their head in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Unlike in the past when dengue and malaria cases surged post-monsoon, this time the menace has cropped up right during the monsoon.

The affected areas include Pimple Saudagar, Wakad, Rahatni and areas around Jagtap Diary. At these places construction activity has been going on for years. Pimple Saudagar, where property prices have hit the roof and where many IT professionals working in Hinjewadi software park stay, has been the worst hit.

Price of pulses hits the roof

by

Pune, july 13: Price of pulses, tur, moong and chana dal in particular, has shot up by 50 per cent in the last few weeks. Traders blame it on the delayed monsoon.

“Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan are pulse-producing states. They have not received sufficient rains. We saw a reduction in the area under production of pulses last year because of poor rains. This time, it is bad right from the start as sowing has been delayed by a month,” said Nitin Nahar, a trader at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), Gultekdi.

Man kills self after obscene pictures of daughter circulated

by

New Delhi, July 13: A Delhi Transport Corporation employee, Maman Singh, allegedly committed suicide at his residence in Kanjhawala on Saturday. Singh, 48, was reportedly stressed after some obscene pictures of his daughter were circulated in the neighbourhood.

According to the police, he consumed poison around 6 pm. He was declared dead on arrival at the Jaipur Golden Hospital in Rohini.

Shabana Azmi addresses global summit on women’s abuse in Afghanistan

by

Mumbai, July 11: Ignoring her family’s concern for her safety, Bollywood actor Shabana Azmi visited Afghanistan this week on an invitation by the UN to be the main speaker at a global summit to address the issue of violence against women.

Shabana left for Kabul on Tuesday night although her family, including husband Javed Akhtar, expressed fear for her safety in the war ravaged country.

“Danger is fun,” the actor said before departing.

Pak army admits having contacts with Taliban leaders

by

Islamabad, July 11: The Pakistan army has admitted that it is in contact with Afghan Taliban leaders, including Mullah Mohammad Omar, and can bring them to the negotiating table with the US if its concerns with India are addressed.

Pakistan’s chief military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas has been quoted by CNN in an interview as saying that the military is still in contact with Taliban commanders like Mullah Omar, Jalalladin Haqqani, Mullah Nazir and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar of the Hizb-e-Islami.