Month: October 2009

All parties should fight Maoist violence: Buddhadeb

by

Kolkata, October 31: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Saturday appealed to all political parties to come forward and arrive at a consensus to combat Maoist violence in the state.

“I urge everyone to unitedly fight against the Maoist elements. If all the opposition parties – including the Congress and Trinamool Congress – in our state had protested against the leftwing extremism, this problem of Maoist violence would not have taken such great magnitude,” Bhattacharjee said at a convention organised by the state’s ruling Left Front (LF) here.

Families of Sikh riot victims protest outside court

by

New Delhi, October 31: Demanding justice, some families of the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots Saturday protested outside the Karkardooma court here, which was hearing a case related to the savagery in the capital 25 years ago.

“It has been 25 years since the riots took place. If the government wants, we can easily get justice. But the government itself does not want to support the cause,” said Baburam Dukhiya, who runs an organisation for riot victims in Tilak Vihar.

Amitabh receives threat through SMS

by

Mumbai, October 31: Amitabh Bachchan has made a sensational revelation at his blog – bigadda.com. The seasoned actor says that he has received an SMS threat from an anonymous person because of his secular beliefs and the fact that he visits a Hindu temple as well as a Muslim dargah.

The 67-year-old actor had described his religious routines in an earlier blog, which led the unknown person to threaten him against doing so, but the megastar is undeterred.

Ambala division of Indian Railways to start new trains

by

Chandigarh, October 31: To cope with more passengers, Ambala division of the Indian Railways is increasing its existing route-length and would induct new trains in its fleet, said an official here Saturday.

“Three new trains will be inducted in the coming days – to and from from Sriganganagar to Nanded, Jammu to Varanasi and Chandigarh to Dibrugarh. Besides, in the wake of increasing needs and demands of the passengers, we will also extend the routes of two trains,” H.K. Jaggi, divisional railway manger, Ambala division, told reporters.

Maoists kill CPI-M activist in West Bengal

by

Kolkata, October 31: A Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activist was shot dead by a group of suspected Maoist guerrillas in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district Saturday evening, police said.

Madhab Mudi was killed near Belpahari area in the district “when he was working in a farm”, West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma told IANS.

“We have started an investigation,” Verma said.

Mudi was a CPI-M activist and was actively involved in the anti-Maoist committee which was formed to counter Left wing extremism in the region.

—IANS

Girl, 14, is third swine flu victim in Chandigarh

by

Chandigarh, October 31: A 14-year-old girl died from Influenza A (H1N1) virus Saturday, becoming the third swine flu casualty here, a health official said.

The victim was a native of Karnal town in Haryana, around 130 km from here. She was a student of Class 7 and was staying in the hostel of Sant Nikka Singh Model School in Karnal.

Anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh to be long-drawn: police chief

by

Raipur, October 31: The battle against Maoist militants will be long drawn in Chhattisgarh but the police will ensure no civilians suffer as casualties, the state’s police chief said Saturday.

“Anti-Maoist operations will be long drawn in the state and police will ensure no civilian casualty during the entire operation,” Vishwa Ranjan, the director general of police in one of the worst Maoist insurgency-hit states, told reporters at Jagdalpur, headquarters of the restive Bastar region.

Maoists have being holding sway in the region’s interior since the late 1980s.

Senior railway officer held for corruption in Lucknow

by

Lucknow, October 31: A senior officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on charges of corruption here Saturday, officials said.

K.M. Tripathi, currently posted as a regional manager of the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in Lucknow, was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs.70,000 from a contractor.

Simultaneous raids at his residence unearthed cash of about Rs.35 lakh and jewellery worth at least Rs.40 lakh, a CBI source said here Saturday evening.

Two Sanatan Sanstha members arrested in Goa blast case

by

Panaji, October 31: Two more Sanatan Sanstha associates, including an MBA, were arrested in Goa Saturday in connection with the Diwali eve blast in Margao in which two members of the Hindu group were killed while carrying a bomb, police said.

Police did not rule out the possibility of more arrests and the involvement of a mastermind behind the Goa blast Oct 16.

Pak court declares Kasab, 13 others ‘absconders’

by

Islamabad, October 31: A Pakistani anti-terror court conducting the trial of seven suspects in connection with the Mumbai attacks today declared 14 other accused, including Ajmal Kasab, as “absconders” and adjourned the matter till November 7.

During today’s proceedings, Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan declared 14 other suspects linked to the attacks -? including Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive by Indian authorities during the strikes — as “absconders,” sources said.

Details of the other 13 were not immediately available.

Husband jailed for manslaughter of wife

by

London, October 31: A man who stabbed his wife more than 30 times after she admitted to an affair has been jailed for nine years.

Alisdair Sinclair, 48, was cleared of murder, but convicted of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility at Winchester Crown Court.

Sally Sinclair, 40, an executive at Nokia, was killed by her “controlling” husband at their home in Amport, Hampshire on 16 August last year.

Can Mrs Ambani sort out her sons’ £10bn feud?

by

New Delhi, October 31: It began as a family squabble between two brothers who couldn’t agree how to divide their father’s inheritance.

Seven years later, Ambani v Ambani is the world’s richest court battle – and one so entrenched it has defied the peace efforts of the Indian government, the brothers’ own mother and even a Hindu god.

This week it was the turn of India’s highest court to try to end the warring between Mukesh and his younger brother Anil, who between them own the country’s gas industry and are commonly referred to as the richest brothers in the world.

Politicians in Libya for terror redress talks

by

Libya, October 31: A delegation of politicians from Northern Ireland were heading to Libya today for talks about compensation for victims of IRA violence.

The three MPs and three members of the Lords have been invited by the Gaddafi regime to discuss the legal attempts to secure redress for Libyan involvement in supplying the IRA with bomb-making equipment.

Among the cross-party group are DUP MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Nigel Dodds and they are due to land in Tripoli later, where they will meet Libya’s minister for Europe and other officials.

Iranian politicians reject UN-drafted uranium plan

by

Tehran, October 31: Iran’s senior politicians have rejected a UN-backed plan to ship much of the country’s uranium abroad for further enrichment.

The move raises further doubts about the likelihood Tehran will approve the deal.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, who heads the parliament’s National Security Committee, told the semi-official ISNA news agency today that the legislature is totally against shipping low-enriched uranium abroad in return for nuclear fuel.

Kazem Jalali, another senior politician, said there is no guarantee on receiving the fuel even if Iran sends its uranium.

Pro-Shaira law march cancelled

by

London, October 31: A planned march by demonstrators calling for sharia law in Britain was cancelled today, police said.

Scotland Yard said it would now be contacting organisers of a wave of counter-protests in central London and Leeds, West Yorkshire, to inform them of the decision.

Anjem Choudary, leader of the radical Islamic sect Al Muhajiroun, said organisers Islam4UK had been forced to cancel the planned march from the House of Commons to Trafalgar Square because of security concerns.

Mayawati accuses centre of ignoring sugarcane growers

by

Lucknow, October 31: Accusing the central government of disregarding the interest of 4 million sugarcane growers of the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding a change in the recently announced sugarcane policy.

She has vehemently opposed the central government’s decision to prevent states from fixing their own prices for purchase of sugarcane.

Will Shamita Shetty be able to attend sister Shilpa’s wedding?

by

Mumbai, October 31: Shilpa Shetty is tying the knot with fiance Raj Kundra in the last week of November and there’s a chance that her sister Shamita, who is in the “Bigg Boss” house, may not be able to attend the ceremony.

“Shamita has not been told anything about Shilpa’s engagement or the marriage in the last week of November. As far Shamita knows, the marriage was supposed to happen in December after the show was over,” a source close to the Colors channel producing the show told the media.

Kiss evolved to spread germs?

by

London, October 31: Kissing is considered a symbol of love and affection, but scientists claim it may have evolved for reasons less fascinating and more practical.

The scientists believe kissing is developed to pass on a dangerous bug called cytomegalovirus from man to woman.

The virus, which lurks in saliva, normally causes no problem but can prove dangerous during pregnancy, killing the unborn baby or causing birth defects, including problems ranging from deafness to cerebral palsy, claim the scientists.
–PTI

Another PCB snub to Misbah

by

Karachi, October 31: After axing him from the national team, Pakistan Cricket Board has now barred Misbah-ul-Haq from playing in Bangladesh and instead advised him to concentrate on playing domestic cricket.

Misbah had got an offer to play for a leading Bangladeshi team in their limited overs competition and had sought a clearance from the Cricket Board to play there.

Even though Misbah said that he had not got any response from the Board on his request but sources said PCB actually told him to play in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy instead of going abroad to play in a foreign league.

Teenaged boy killed in mishap

by

Lucknow, October 31: A teenaged boy was killed while his teenaged sister suffered severe injuries when their bicycle was hit by a speeding truck in cantonment police area here, police said today.

The incident took place when 19-year-old Anuj was returning after picking his sister Kajal from Army Public School yesterday.
–PTI

Irfan not to play against Delhi in Ranji match

by

Vadodara, October 31: After missing Irani Trophy and Twenty20 tournaments earlier this year, medium pacer Irfan Pathan has preferred opted out of the first Ranji Tie against Delhi beginning here November 3 due to a knee injury.

He has been replaced by Shatrunjay Gaekwad, who had been dropped from the initial team announced by the selection committee of Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) a couple of days ago.

In irfan’s absence, Connor Williams will lead the team and Pinal Shah would be his deputy.

Bachchan gets SMS threat for visiting temple, dargah

by

Mumbai, October 31: Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has received threat through a text message on his mobile phone for having visited both a temple and a dargah.

The sexagenarian, who often mentions his routines on his blog, mentioned his visit to Haji Ali Dargah and the nearby Siddhivinayak temple here Thursday.

“That I visit a Muslim dargah and a Hindu temple has been viciously criticised by an unknown element on my mobile. He says it is incorrect of me to do so and that I should never do it again,” Amitabh wrote on his blog bigb.bigadda.com

Bush says war in Afghanistan must be won for global stability

by

New Delhi, October 31: Former US president George W Bush on Saturday warned that the war against the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan must be won else the world would face “serious threats.

“Addressing a conference in New Delhi, Bush said defeating the radical Islamic groups was necessary to stop a return to “brutal tyranny” in that country.

“The mission in Afghanistan has been long and difficult and costly but I believe it is necessary for stability and peace,” he told the conference organized by the Hindustan Times.

Two arrested for Goa blast

by

Panaji, October 31: Two people hailing from Karnataka were arrested in Goa Saturday in connection with the Diwali eve blast in Margao in which two members of the Hindu group Sanatan Sanstha were killed while carrying a bomb, police said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police R.S. Yadav, reading out a statement at the police headquarters here, said Vinay Talekar, 30, hailing from Karwar, and Vinayak Patil, 27, had been arrested in Margao.

‘Father of China’s space technology’ dies

by

Beijing, October 31: China’s space scientist Qian Xuesen, widely known as the father of the country’s space technology, died here Saturday morning at the age of 98, Xinhua news agency reported.

Qian was born in Hangzhou, the capital city of the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang. He led many of China’s key missile and space programmes.

A member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, he graduated from Jiao Tong University, Shanghai in 1934, the report said.