Midnapore (WB), October 19: A CPI(M) worker was killed by suspected Naxals in West Midnapore district, police said today.
Sital Hembran (25), a CPI(M) worker hailing from Aerogode village, was forcibly picked up by the unidentified assailants from his house last night.
His body was found on the outskirts of the village today, they said, adding a search operation has been launched in the area to nab the culprits.
–Agencies
New Delhi, October 19: IITs having large number of students can now get higher amount of non-plan grants from the government, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said today.
“The non-plan grants to the IITs would be linked to the students’ strength. Larger the IITs, larger the funds,” Sibal told reporters after the meeting of the IIT Council, the highest decision making body for the elite institutes.
The IITs at present are getting block grants from the government under the non-plan allowance head.
New Delhi, October 19: The big cat of the jungle has got a bit more space to roam freely with as many as seven states identifying an additional 8,927 square km of forest patch as buffer zones around their tiger reserves.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in a recent meeting ratified the proposals received from the states.
West Bengal has identified 885 sq km as buffer area around Sundarbans sanctuary while in Orissa Achankmar gets an additional buffer area of 287.822 sq km, Indravati (1540.70 sq km), Udanti-Sitanadi (991.45 sq km).
New Delhi, October 19: The Delhi government today sought a fortnight’s time in the the Supreme Court to file a status report on the police investigations into the alleged dispossesion of an 87-year-old academician of her property through deceit by a senior IPS officer.
Lotika Sarkar, a former Delhi University professor of Law Faculty, had moved a petition accusing Nirmal Dhoundial, an IG rank officer of Bihar cadre, of taking her property L1/10 Hauz Khas Enclave through a gift deed secured through deception in 2007.
New Delhi, October 19: Adding a fresh element to the impeachment process of Calcutta High Court judge Soumitra Sen, former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has written a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari conveying his “views” on the issue.
The letter has been forwarded to the three-member inquiry committee formed by Ansari to look into the charges of irregularity and embezzlement against Sen, sources said.
Kochi, October 19: The five persons, including driver of the ill-fated boat, arrested in connection with the tragedy in Kerala’s Thekkady lake last month in which 45 people were killed, today moved the High Court for bail.
The petitioners, in their bail applications, submitted that they had not committed any offence as alleged by police.
New Delhi, October 19: Ravi Kapoor, main accused in the sensational murders of TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan and IT executive Jigisha Ghosh, today tried to escape by throwing chilli powder on policemen during a hospital visit but was caught.
Kapoor, who was arrested on March 24 this year, was taken to Safdarjung Hospital for a check-up when he attempted to escape by throwing chilly powder on policemen at around 11:30 am, a senior police official said.
New Delhi, October 19: Reacting sharply to reports that Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has suggested “radical change” in India’s stated position on climate change, BJP today said government should clarify its stand on the issue as India cannot pay for pollution caused by developed countries.
“Is the Environment Minister giving his personal views or is he a stalking horse on behalf of a larger lobby? If these are his personal views, can he continue as India’s key negotiator on climate change,” asked Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley.
Kanpur, October 19: Suspecting foul play, the family of Sonelal Patel, the Apna Dal president who was killed in a road accident on Saturday, today demanded a CBI probe into his death.
The family had also requested the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh to provide it adequate security, Krishna Patel, widow of Sonelal Patel, told reporters here.
Krishna, who has been elected Apna Dal chief, said the family suspected foul play in the death of her husband who was a prominent OBC leader in Uttar Pradesh.
New Delhi, October 19: Paving the way for early polls, Jharkand Governor K Sankaranarayanan has recommended dissolution of the state Assembly, which the Union Cabinet is likely to consider next week.
Home Ministry sources said the government has received the recommendation from the Governor, who feels the state is now now ready for elections.
The Ministry is preparing a note in this regard to be discussed by the the Union Cabinet which will recommend to the President for the dissolution of the 82-member Assembly, which is now under suspended animation.
New Delhi, October 19: Congress today criticised the Left-ruled Kerala government for politicising the visit of party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to the state recently saying his statements and tours deal with constructive issues.
“He (Gandhi) neither has time or inclination to politicise issues as his opponents do. In his statements and tours, he deals with constructive issues,” party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here.
Nainital, October 19: The Uttarakhand government has handed over the inquiry into the killing of a local BJP leader allegedly by a BSP activist to CB-CID, officials said here today.
The decision to hand over the inquiry into Balwant Singh Kanyal murder case to CB-CID was taken by the government as Balwant’s wife and others have been staging a dharna in Haldwani for several days, demanding a CBI probe.
Mumbai, October 19: Jermaine Jackson, Shahrukh Khan He came, he saw, and he made friends with the biggest names in Bollywood. Last week, after Shah Rukh Khan hosted a party in his honour, Jermaine Jackson, the brother of the late King of Pop, is all praises for King Khan’s hospitality.
Karachi, October 19: Mohammad Asif’s return to international cricket will be temporarily derailed as the Pakistan board clarified that he will not be travelling with the team to Abu Dhabi and Dubai for the ODI and Twenty20 series against New Zealand in November.
Karachi, October 19: Ijaz Butt, the Pakistan board chairman, has given Younis Khan the backing he wanted, insisting he will remain ODI captain until the 2011 World Cup.
Dhaka, October 19: Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza is confident about his comeback during the five-ODI series against Zimbabwe at home between October 27-November 5.
Mortaza, 26, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees in Melbourne after injuring his right knee during the tour of West Indies in July, said he was raring to go after six weeks’ rehabilitation.
Jamaica, October 19: Triple Olympic gold-medalist and world champion sprinter Usain Bolt returned to his first love, cricket, on Sunday and showed that he certainly knows how to handle both bat and ball.
In a charity match, just down the coast from his home town of Trelawny, Bolt bowled West Indies opening batsman Chris Gayle after earlier delighting a packed crowd by smashing his Jamaican compatriot for a straight six.
Bangalore, October 19: Kent have joined the race to sign former England bowler Matthew Hoggard following his release by Yorkshire.
Leicestershire were the first county to announce their interest in signing Hoggard, whose 15-year association with Yorkshire ended in acrimonious circumstances just a few days ago.
Now Kent have confirmed they are keen on signing the 32-year-old, who was Yorkshire’s leading wicket-taker last season.
Kent’s new head coach Paul Farbrace said: “Any seam bowler that is on the market with that sort of quality you have to be interested in.
New Delhi, October 19: London-based singer Juggy D, who composed hit numbers like “Mere dil vich hai hum tum” and “Dil mera”, is still struggling to find a foothold in Bollywood and says he hopes to collaborate with A.R. Rahman and Kailash Kher in the near future.
“It’s been a while since I have sung in a Hindi film. I would love to do a Bollywood song. In fact, I am looking for offers,” Juggy D told.
Mumbai, October 19: Jennifer Winget aka Dr Riddhima of Dill Mill Gayye is very much gloomy as being linked up with Karan Singh Grover. We called her to know of whether she is planning to return back to the show or not.
“I don’t think so I will return back in the show but cant say! If it is written in the script, than it may be that I may make a come back in DMG,” Jennifer said annoyingly.
Mumbai, October 19: The Gorgeous Sen Sisters The gorgeous Sen sisters- Riya and Raima Sen, will soon be painting the city of Bangkok red! Recently, the two sisters were seen bonding at many fashion events and also during the filming of their Bengali movie “Noukadubi’.
After having just completed a long schedule of the film “Jennifer’, Riya decided to combine work with pleasure when she was invited for the opening of a movie theatre in Mumbasa, Africa. After her appearance, Riya, Raima and a couple of friends took off for a short break to travel and explore various cities nearby.
Hyderabad, October 19: Andhra Pradesh Minority Welfare Minister Mohd Ahmadullah today said all arrangements have been completed for smooth passage of Haj pilgrims from the state capital to Madina.
Addressing a press conference after holding a review meeting with the Haj committee at the Haj house here, he said the pilgrimage would start from October 21 and the first batch of 417 pilgrims from the state will fly off to Madina on October 23 night.
Hyderabd, October 19: Andhra Pradesh Rajiv Swagruha Corporation Senior General Manager (Marketing) Bharath Reddy today said the ‘Rajiv Swagruha’ scheme was beneficial for all sections of the people as the Corporation was providing houses at 25 per cent less than the market value.
Addressing a press conference here, he said the State Government
had established the Corporation for construction of houses for low, middle and higher income groups of people at cheaper prices with modern and latest facilities for the owners.
Hyderabad, October 19: Family of an engineer, who belongs from Andhra Pradesh and was abducted by militants in Assam Friday, are worried over his safety and is praying for his safe return.
The family of civil engineer
P. Krishna Rao in Gannavaram in coastal district of Krishna Monday offered special prayers at a temple for his return while the state government said it was in touch with authorities in Assam to seek his release.
Rao, 50, was working as project manager on a national highway project in Assam.
Hyderabad, October 19: A new scheme of setting up 1,000 polytechnics across the country has been approved by the Centre to create more job opportunities for youth and arrest migration of rural youth to urban areas in search of jobs, Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy said today.