CALCUTTA Nov 4: In a bid to ease Calcutta’s age-old traffic congestion, the West Bengal Government would soon introduce trolley bus service in the city under foreign collaboration.

According to State Home (Police) and Information Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, who chaired an important meeting with the two foreign agencies— Avto Export Agency from Moscow and the London-based Royal Bengal Industries—said here last night that both the agencies had made a detailed survey about the prospect and usefulness of the introduction of the "eco-friendly mass transport system" trolly bus service in the 308-year-old "city of joy" to ease its increasing traffic congestion.

While the Russian agency would provide the electrically operated vehicles and the Bangalore-based public sector unit Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) would supply the operational knowhow, the London-based agency might share the financial burden along with the State Government on equity basis.

However, Mr Bhattacharya said, though the project report of the multi-crore-rupee scheme had already been submitted to the State Government by both the agencies for its consideration, a pilot project report would have to be prepared before actual work began.

"It might take some more time for the completion of the pilot project report", the minister stated.

He, however, made it clear that despite the introduction of the trolly bus service in the city, its other eco-friendly public transport in the form of tram cars would not be withdrawn. On the contrary the new project would ensure that both the services operate simultaneously without affecting each other, he said.

A recent survey showed that more than 50 million people travel by public transport in the city on any given working day, Mr Bhattacharya said and hoped that the trolly bus scheme would be a runaway success. (UNI)

Vaccine against prostate cancer developed

NEW DELHI, Nov 4: Indian scientists have developed a promising vaccine against prostate cancer, it was announced at the global immunology congress here.

Cancer of the prostate gland is common among men over 60 years and surgical removal is often inconvenient in old age.

Injection of the vaccine arrests the progress of cancer and shrinks the size of the enlarged prostate, eliminating the need for surgery, its developer G P Talwar said.

Talwar who is well known for his work on birth control vaccine works at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in New Delhi.

Talwar said the vaccine was successful in 14 out of the 28 patients who were part of a clinical trial conducted in New Delhi, Chandigarh, and Salsburg in Austria.

These and earlier tests on rats and monkeys had shown the vaccine is non-toxic and without side-effects, and makes the prostate simply disappear.

Talwar said the vaccine works by intercepting the action of a hormone called LHRH (Leutenising Hormone Regulating Hormone).

Tests in mice showed that effect of a single injection of the vaccine, wrapped in biodegradable microspheres lasts for five months.

He said the vaccine will be further improved both in terms of efficacy and duration of action. (PTI)

Jaya demands action against illicit liquor maffia

CHENNAI, Nov 4: AIADMK today said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi should own moral responsibility for the death of 45 persons in a hooch tragedy in Dharmapuri district in August last following the indictment of police in this regard by the Tamil Nadu State Human Rights Commission (SHRC).

Referring to the SHRC report on the tragedy, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalitha in a sttement here demanded prompt action against illicit liquor manufacturers irrespective of party affiliation.

Jayalalitha said it was only a few days ago the Chief Minister ‘generously gave merit certificates’ to the police department, but within a few days it had come to light that in Soolagiri village in Dharmapuri people died ‘due to neglect by the police’.

As per the Commission’s report the police seemed to have lost interest in controlling the anti-social elements and ‘though information is being furnished, police are turning a blind eye to it’, she said.

‘Now the people know from the SHRC report what sort of Government Karunanidhi is running’, she added. (PTI)

HC to take up Laloo’s bail plea today

PATNA, Nov 4: The Patna High Court is likely to begin hearing on regular bail applications of former Bihar Chief Ministers, Laloo Prasad Yadav and Jagannath Mishra, in a conspiracy angle case of the fodder scam tomorrow.

Yadav had moved the High Court yesterday against the order of the Special Judge of the Designated CBI court S K Lal rejecting his regular bail plea, while Mishra had filed the petition on Monday.

Their petitions are listed for hearing by a single bench of Justice M Y Eqbal from tomorrow.

The court will also take up petitions of former Bihar Minister, Vidya Sagar Nishad and controversial RJD MLA, R K Rana, in the case.

The case relates to fraudulent withdrawals of more than Rs 97 lakh from Deogarh Treasury by Animal Husbandry officials through "forged and fake" bills.

Special Judge Lal had on October 30 remanded RJD president, Yadav and Bihar Jan Congress chief patron, Jagannath Mishra, besides Rana and Nishad to judicial custody till November 13 after turning down their applications for regular bail.

Meanwhile, the trial court yesterday issued production warrants against the former Chief Ministers to ensure their attendance in the court on November 23 in another conspiracy case, RC 20(a)/96, of the multi-crore scam.

The case deals with fraudulent withdrawals of more than Rs 37 crore from Chaibasa Treasury in which Yadav and Mishra had already secured regular bail.

Yadav and Mishra are lodged in judicial custody at the make-shift jail at BMP Guest House at Fulwarisharif.(PTI)

Left Parties to go on strike on Dec 11

HYDERABAD, Nov 4: The CPI-ML (Liberation) and other Left Parties would organise a nation-wide general strike on Decemeber 11 to protest the price rise and economic policies of the BJP-led coalition Government at the Centre.

CPI-ML (Lib) General Secretary Vinod Mishra told reporters that though his party opposed some major policies of the CPI and CPM, it would join the one-day general strike to highlight the failures of BJP rule.

Rejecting the CPM and CPI’s call for a strategic support to the Congress at the Centre for an alternative to BJP, Mishra said "we are only for a broad-based left oriented third front which opposes both BJP and Congress. We cannot buy the "Congress is secular" theory.

The leader of CPI-ML (Lib), having six representatives in the Bihar Assembly, accused CPM of maintaining double standards by having a tie-up with the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) while opposing Laloo Yadav’s front on other platforms.

While admitting that there was anarchy and corruption in Bihar, Mishra, however, opposed the imposition of President’s rule which "will bring BJP rule through back door".

Mishra, who was here to participate in a condolence meeting of veteran Naxal leader Nagabushanam Patnaik, said his party would build a Patnaik Memorial at Bubhaneshwar.

"We will also publish findings of Patnaik in the Parvathipuram conspiracy case in which he was implicated", he said. (PTI)

HC notice to Police Chief in alleged abduction, rape case

NEW DELHI, Nov 4: Delhi High Court has issued show cause notices to Delhi Police Chief V N Singh on a plea seeking transfer of the case of a minor girl who was allegedly abducted, raped and sold to brothels in connivance with police personnel to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Justice Anil Dev Singh also directed Station House Officer (SHO) of Inderpuri Police Station M S Malik to produce all records and investigation report concerning the case within a fortnight. The SHO was also asked to be personally present in the court on the next date of hearing on November 10.

The petition filed by the victim’s father Ramesh Kumar Shihan through his counsel Asit Kumar Roy alleged that eleven persons in alleged nexus with police personnel adbudcted her, kept her in illegal confinement, raped her and sold her to brothels in Patna to earn money. The 17-year-old girl was rescued from barh village of patna district in September.

He claimed that the eleven persons, who have been named in the petition, were engaged in the illegal lifting of minor girls from in and around Delhi and selling them to brothels from where they are illegally transported outside the country.

The petition alleged that the SHO, Inderpuri, a Sub-Inspector and three Head Constables have given a helping hand to the culprits in their illegal business under the control of under-world gang operating in Delhi.

The petition contended that a number of girls have ben lifted from Inderpuri village itself within the last six months.

Alleging that an FIR was lodged only against one of the accused by twisting facts, Mr Roy urged the court to direct the police to register FIRs against all the eleven accused and hold departmental inquiry against the police personnel, including the SHO, after suspending them from the job. (UNI)

Far-Eastern Naval Command to be
set up soon: Fernandes

CALCUTTA, Nov 4: A far-Eastern Naval Command with its headquarters at Andaman Islands will be set up very soon, Defence Minister George Fernandes said today.

The relevant papers in this regard have already been submitted to the Union Cabinet and the proposal was awaiting clearance, he told reporters at the Calcutta Airport.

The Navy and Defence analysts have long been demanding a new Naval Command based at Andamans to have a more effective security system in this strategically important area. (PTI)