Month: August 2010

TRAI to meet telcos for unsolicited calls

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New Delhi, August 06: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India today said it will meet mobile services operators over the next few days to discuss and find a solution to the menace of unsolicited commercial calls and bulk messages.

“We had a meeting with two service operators today, out of which one of the providers has assured us that they will not send bulk messages. We will meet other operators over the course of next few days… and will work out a solution,” TRAI Chairman J S Sarma told reporters here.

Apex court asks CBI to arrest Pappu Yadav

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New Delhi, August 06: The Supreme Court has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to arrest “forthwith” mafia don-turned-politician Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who is absconding after his bail was cancelled by the apex court May 3 this year.

“We are surprised to note that despite cancellation of bail of the accused by this court, neither the accused has surrendered nor he has been taken into custody,” said the apex court bench of Justices Markandey Katju and A.K. Patnaik.

Noida Park: SC notice to Centre on urban forest issue

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New Delhi, August 06: The Supreme Court today sought a response from the Centre on the suggestion that guidelines should be laid down for giving environment clearance to projects in the vicinity of urban forest like Noida park where construction of statues and memorials for Dalit leaders was carried out by Uttar Pradesh Government.

Militant hideout busted in JK

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Jammu, August 06: Security forces busted a militant hideout and recovered a cache of arms in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district today, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of police and Rashtriya Rifle launched a search operation in forest areas of Manjakote, 175 km from here, and busted the hideout in a natural cave, they said.

One AK-56 rifle, one magazine and 13 rounds of bullets were recovered from the site, police said.

–Agencies

120 students to help manage Delhi traffic during CWG

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New Delhi, August 06: As many as 120 university students, including 12 girls, Friday joined as volunteers to help the Delhi Traffic Police during the Commonwealth Games that start Oct 3.

Inducting them into the students traffic volunteers scholarship scheme 2010-11, Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna said people should develop a habit of voluntary compliance of rules and regulations on roads.

Khanna also handed the students, who have undergone training for about a month, identity cards as a token of induction.

Now a Darul Uloom decree against women judges

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New Delhi, August 06: Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband has issued an edict saying that Muslim women should not become judges as it is forbidden in the religion.

The seminary posted the fatwa on its website after a question was posed to it on the issue.

The edict which said that women should not become judges has drawn sharp reaction from various quarters.

“Somebody’s qualification should be judged by education and upbringing and not by gender. This is bias,” said advocate and women activist Mumtaaz Akhtar.

Saran for consensus among Nepal’s parties

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Kathmandu, August 06: India’s special envoy Shyam Saran today underlined the need for consensus among the deadlocked political parties to resolve the standoff over Parliament’s failure to elect a new prime minister for the fourth time in a month.

Saran, who ended his three-day trip as the special envoy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, called for unity among democratic forces in Nepal.

Court stays proceedings against Suniel Shetty

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New Delhi, August 06: The Delhi High Court Friday stayed criminal proceedings against Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty in a case filed against him for allegedly threatening a man.

Justice A.K. Pathak, while staying the summons issued by a trial court, also issued a notice to Delhi Police, asking it to file its response on Shetty’s petition, which sought quashing of the proceedings against him in the trial court.

The court direction came on a petition filed by Shetty, who alleged that the litigation was initiated against the actor with an intention to extort money.

‘Sholay’ climax was to be re-shot: Amitabh Bachchan

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Mumbai, August 06: “Sholay” retains its charisma even after 35 years but megastar Amitabh Bachchan reveals that the climax of the cult classic was to be re-shot with his character Jai being resurrected as the film was not doing good business in the initial days of its release.

“As things were not going right, we all – Salim Saab, Javed Saab and Rameshji – met in our house on Saturday, the next day of the release. All were thinking what we can do to improve it (film) or if we could do something to save the film,” the 67-year-old star told reporters.

Blind cricket seeks BCCI affiliation

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New Delhi, August 06: As the blind cricket team leaves on a 10-day tour of England, the Association for Cricket for the Blind in India (ACBI) Monday again sought affiliation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to provide better training facilities to the team.

Chief coach P. Chandrashekhar said that ACBI is taking all possible attempts to seek affiliation for the third time.

Goa minister’s son may go scot-free in rape case

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Panaji, August 06: Goa Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son Rohit, who has been charge-sheeted for raping a minor foreign national, may go scot free as the victim’s mother formally told the authorities here Friday that the victim would not depose in court.

The mother of the 14-year-old victim, who is a German national, has also written to the Goa Children’s Court (GCC), that “she does not want to pursue the matter against Rohit Monserrate”.

Efforts intensified to trap leopards near Tirupati temple

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Hyderabad, August 06: Forest officials Friday intensified their efforts to trap two leopards after devotees walking on the footpath to the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh spotted one of them.

The devotees, trekking up the Tirumala hills to reach the famed temple, saw a wild cat and informed the forest officials, who swung into action to trap it.

The forest personnel had already launched efforts to catch the leopards that attacked two girls and injured them in two different incidents last week.

Early exit for Indian archers in World Cup

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Kolkata, August 06: Olympian Dola Banerjee and Deepika Kumari bowed out at the pre-quarterfinals, while the Indian archers faced an early elimination in the individual round of the Archery World Cup Stage III at Ogden in the USA.

According to information received, only Dola and Deepika could manage to reach the pre-quarterfinal round before bowing out yesterday.

Dola fell to Shanshan Zhu of China while Deepika lost to Joo Hyun-Jung of Korea.

L Bombayla Devi was defeated by Dola in the second round while Punya Prabha was defeated by Justyna Mospinek of Poland in the first round.

Security agency owner robbed of cash, jewellery

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New Delhi, August 06: A security agency owner was beaten and robbed of Rs 20,000 in cash and gold ornaments in south-west Delhi, police said today.

The incident took place in Nehru Nagar last night when Shiv Kumar was driving home along with his friend Dev Kumar while returning from the house of the latter’s father, who had retired.

Three unknown men on two-wheelers intercepted his car and robbed him of Rs 20,000 and jewellery he was carrying, a police official said.

Centre issues alert ahead of Independence Day

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New Delhi, August 06: In the run up to Independence Day, the Centre has issued a country-wide alert asking states, especially those hit by Maoist violence, to tighten security at sensitive locations and installations to thwart any possible terror attacks.

The Home Ministry has advised all the states to deploy additional forces in markets, railway stations, religious places and other vital installations to foil any attempt by terror groups to disturb peace.

Will continue to make sincere effort for peace: Agnivesh

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Kolkata, August 06: After being labelled as a pawn by Maoists, Swami Agnivesh, acting as a mediator in brokering talks between Naxals and the government, says he will continue to make a sincere effort to bring peace.

“Everybody has a right to say anything. All my life I have followed the path of truth. The process to bring peace in Maoist affected states through dialogue was a sincere one, which unfortunately failed,” Agnivesh told PTI.

Key accused in attack on UP minister surrenders in court

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Allahabad, August 06: A key accused in the bomb attack on Uttar Pradesh minister Nand Gopal Gupta “Nandi”, today surrendered before a local court which sent him to 14 days’ judicial custody.

Manoj Pandey, who was wanted in connection with the bomb explosion that took place outside Nandi’s house here on July 12 and carrying a reward of Rs one lakh on his head, surrendered in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Abdul Jameel, who remanded him to judicial custody till August 20.

Judicial remand of suspected Maoist couple extended

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New Delhi, August 06: A Delhi court today extended the judicial remand of a suspected Maoist couple by 14 days as the police claimed the investigation against them were still pending.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaveri Baweja further remanded Gopal Mishra and his wife Kanchan Bala alias Anu to judicial custody till August 20.

Mishra and Kanchan Bala were arrested on April 26 and 27 respectively.

Notorious criminal killed in encounter

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Lucknow July 06: A notorious criminal wanted in 13 cases in different parts of the state was killed in an encounter in Jaunpur district, a senior police official said here today.

Police gunned down Karim alias Akbar near Rajepur village under Sarai Khawja police station area after an encounter yesterday in which a constable also suffered injuries, ADG law and order Brij Lal said.

One of his associates managed to escape, the ADG said adding that a nine mm country made pistol and a motorcycle were recovered from the criminal.

Maoists blow up culvert, loot money

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Rourkela, August 06: Maoists blew up a culvert on a national highway and looted Rs 49 lakh in separate incidents in Orissa’s Sundargarh district today, police said.

About 200 Maoists blew up a culvert near Sonambur under K Balang police station using landmines on the National Highway 215, they said.

In an another incident, armed ultras attacked a jeep carrying three bank staff of a SBI branch who were carrying Rs 49 lakh to another branch.

Telecom Operators slug it out over unsolicited SMSes

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New Delhi, August 06: Amid the uproar against pesky calls and messages in the corridors of power, Tatas today proposed commercial penalties on operators for unsolicited telemarketing calls and alleged that rivals were resorting to pressure tactics to challenge its dominance.

“Yes, we are the market leader and a dominant player in the SMS market today… (Our) SMS marketing is completely within the regulatory provision,” Tatas said when asked about the complaints against their SMSes from people including telecom professionals working for other service providers.

Green India blueprint to be submitted to PM next week: Jairam Ramesh

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New Delhi, Auguts 06: A blueprint of the Green India mission, which seeks to enhance the country’s forest cover, will be submitted to prime minister Manmohan Singh next week, environment minister Jairam Ramesh said today.

Ramesh said his ministry, which held consultations with various stakeholders, is in the last stage of finalisation of the Green India mission.

Asserting that it will not be business as usual, Ramesh said the mission “will be a different model of greening through involvement of the locals, elected bodies and entrepreneurs”.

No question of resigning, says Kalmadi

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New Delhi, August 06: With charges of financial irregularities flying thick and fast ahead of the Delhi Commonwealth Games, organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi Friday said there was no question of his resignation with less than two months left for the Oct 3-14 Games.

Important to win hearts and minds of Kashmiris: Chidambaram

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New Delhi, August 06: Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Friday it was important to win the hearts and minds of people of Jammu and Kashmir and the government was committed to reactivating the political process in the state, marking a softening in his stance.

He also said that the government would be “very happy” if hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani joins in the dialogue.

Vishwanathan Anand joins Olympic Gold Quest

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Chennai, August 06: Reigning World chess champion Viswanathan Anand today joined the Board of Directors of Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), a “movement” initiated by billiards ace Geet Sethi to support the country’s elite sportspersons and potential young talent.