4 arrested on charge of immoral trafficking

SONEPAT, Nov 6: Police carried out a surprise raid in a guest house on the old DC Road here last night and arrested two women and two men in a compromising conditions from two different rooms on the charge of immoral trafficking.

Police said today the arrested women were identified as Madhubala(28) of Garhi Gharaunda in Karnal district whereas the other as Shakuntala(26) of Tanda Jhundpur village in Sonepat district.

The arrested men were identified as Mukesh of Barwasni village and Mukesh of Jat Joshi village both of Sonepat district.

The police also seized a car which belonged to the arrested persons.

The officials carried out a surprise raid on the guest house after receiving information about the use of the guest house for immoral tafficking by the owner.

The owner, however, managed to escape immediately after the raid and the police have launched a hunt to apprehend him.

The arrested men and women had told the police that they were husband and wife.

The arrested women were married and have two children each, they told police. (PTI)

State Government has no will to help farmers, says Badal

JALANDHAR, Nov 6: Reacting on the statement of state Congress chief S S Dullo, who ruled out any waiver of agriculture loan, former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that from the statement of Dullo, it was clear that the state Government was not having any will to help peasantry of the state, who was facing acute financial debt.

"If there would have been any will, some formula could have been mooted to help farmers of the state, as both state and Union Governments are not having any will to help farmers, they are shying away from their responsibility", Badal told reporters here today quipping that if Prime Minister could announced financial relief package for Maharashtra why not for Punjab?

Instead of betraying the farmers, the Union Government should have taken concrete steps to farmers of Punjab, who were conributing more than 50 per cent of food grains to the Central pool, he said.

Even on the announcement of Minimum Support Price (MSP), Government has just put salt on the wounds of the farmers and instead of importing wheat from abroad at higher price, MSP should have been hiked substantially, he added.

Badal demanded that MSP should be linked to the price index to make it permanent farmula to setting up of the MSP.

Asked about his reaction on State Government’s doling out money for development projects at the last leg of its tenure, Badal said that his party has already approached Central Election Commission on the issue and demand its intervention.

"If CEC does not intervene, our party delegation will again meet the farmer to seek its intervention as doling out money to win voters also amounts misuse of public money for political purpose", he added.

On the proposed political rally of Congress scheduled to be held on November 14 at Ludhiana, Badal said that he was enough evidences that people from the neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Jammu Kashmir, where there was Congress Governments, were forcibly asked to attend the rally.

"Since it will be a Government sponsored rally, there will not be any impact of such rally on the voters as people will definitely compare the SAD’s rally of October 16, which was attended by people of punjab, that too voluntarily, with the government funded rally of Congress+, he said.

Regarding the seat sharing with SAD’s alliance partner BJP, Badal reiterated that there was no rift between the two parties and issue would be solved amicably with mutual discussion.(PTI)

Tawang dresses up for Buddha Festival

TAWANG (Arunachal Pradesh), Nov 6: For the thousands of tourists thronging Tawang to witness the 6th Budha Mahotsava, the most striking feature for them at first sight has to be the riot of colours.

Locals from nearby villages have arrived here to perform traditional and cultural shows and with them they have brought colour to this hidden paradise, as Tawang is popularly known.

It is the traditional dress of the Mompas (local Buddhist people) which makes them stand apart from the others.

Lassi Tongsu, a local Mompa, said the people simply love bright colours which is reflected in the dresses they wear.

They are artistic by nature and live in cosy houses of stones with carved doors and framed windows, all of which are colourful.

The dress of the male Mompas consist of the Chupa (upper garment) and it is worn with a bright red colour sash around the waist.

The women wear dress consisting of a red gown with white stripes covering the body right from the shoulders to the knee level.

The ancient Tawang monastery, where UPA chairperson and the Congress president Sonia Gandhi, is scheduled to offer prayers is colourfully decked up for the occasion.

Jampatsundu, a monk of the Monastery, said the 400 year old Buddhist shrine has been given a colourful face-lift for the occasion.

Jampatsundu, who teaches 210 students in the Mompa School of Buddhism, said the walls of "Dhukhang" (the main prayer hall) have got a coating of fresh paints.

Apart from the 30ft statue of the Buddha, the Dhukhang has many more idols, all steeped in antiquity, elaborate moral paintings, priceless documents and previous literature written in gold.(PTI)

Five Gurjars shot dead

SHIVPURI MP, Nov 6: Five persons belonging to the Gurjar (milkmen) community were allegedly shot dead by dacoits of dreaded Gadaria gang at Kariara village near here, police said today.

The milkmen were first abducted by the dacoits when they were on way to Dhobni village nearby on bicycles for selling milk and gunned down later late last night, Deputy Inspector General of Police Adarsh Katiyar said.

The dacoits kept the victims — Suresh Gurjar, Ashok, Ranraj, and two Namesakes called bunty — in captivity for several hours and finally killed them after tying their arms on the village road under Gopalpur Police Station area, he said.

A note found at the site claimed the murders were committed as an uncle of two of them had given statements against dacoits, police sources said.

The note raised a question mark on Dayaram Gadaria’s death, believed to have been killed in a recent encounter, as it included his name in the list of six signatories, sources said.

The District Collector, who visited the village along with senior officials, announced Rs 20,000 financial aid to each bereaved family.

After the killing, the dacoits opened fire from a hillock nearby when a police party reached there. Exchange of fire continued for a couple of hours till the gang members fled under the cover of darkness, police said.

Angry over the incident, villagers were planning to block road traffic in the area. Locals alleged that four villagers who went to a nearby police station to lodge a complaint about the killing were detained.

Superintendent of Police Sajid Farid Sapu said action would be taken against errant police personnel. (PTI)

28 killed on Kartik Purnima across UP

LUCKNOW, Nov 6: Eighteen people died due to drowning while taking a dip in different rivers in Uttar Pradesh on Kartik Purnima whereas ten were killed in separate road accidents, officials said here today.

Five women drowned in river Rapti in Bhagwanpur village of Balrampur yesterday whereas in Kanpur’s Nawabganj area, two youths drowned in river Ganga after slipping in deep waters, officials said.

Four persons each drowned in Bijnore and Muzaffarnagar districts. One person each from Unnao, Varanasi and Bareilly met a watery grave in rivers Ganga and Ramganga.

All the bodies have been fished out, they said.

In separate road accidents, five persons were killed in Agra, three in Etawah and one each in Rae Bareilli and Pratapgarh districts, they added. (PTI)

India, Saudi agrees to enhance cooperation in education

NEW DELHI, Nov 6: Giving a further boost to their ties, India and Saudi Arabia today signed an agreement to enhance cooperation in the field of science and education.

A memorandum of scientific and educational cooperation arrangement was inked by Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh and Saudi Arabian Minister of Higher Education Khalid Bin Mohd-al-Angari.

Singh had visited Saudi Arabia in June this year and held wide-ranging discussions with leaders there on strengthening the cooperation in the field of education between the two countries as part of Delhi declaration made during the visit of the King of Saudi Arabia to India.

During the five day visit, the 17-member delegation led by Al-Angari will visit various educational institutions in delhi, bangalore and hyderabad and hold talks with academics in university grants commission, jamia millia islamia, ignou and jawaharlal nehru university.

The delegation would also visit Indian Institute of Science and Wipro electronic city at Bangalore, Indian School of Business and Satyam Computer Campus at Hyderabad. (PTI)

Govt examining whether to reduce petrol prices: Deora

NEW DELHI, Nov 6: The Government today said it is examining whether domestic petrol and diesel prices can be reduced in line with the fall in global crude oil prices.

"We will be very happy to reduce prices, but first we have to examine as to what extent the fall in international prices has helped us," Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said.

Public sector oil companies are currently making Rs 4.50 per litre profit on petrol, but losing Rs 1.55 per litre on diesel.

International crude oil prices have declined to below 60 dollars a barrel compared to a high of 75 dollars a barrel in August. (PTI)

Exhibition of aids for disabled begins

CHANDIGARH, Nov 6: A four-day exhibition of assistive devices, teaching kit, learning information on technologies available in the field of disability commenced in the city here today.

"Samarthya 2006" - also provides a forum for exchange of ideas among the users and providers of rehabilitation services, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar told reporters after inaugurating the exhibition.

She said that the exhibition - tenth in the series organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment -was aimed at creating awareness about prevention, early intervention and barrier free environment among general public.

"Some new activities like organising of mobile courts for redressing the grievances of persons with disabilities, screening of audio described films for visually impaired, and interstate quiz competitions for anganwadi workers are being attempted in the exhibition," she said.

"The visitors can avail benefits of free eye, ear and IQ testing, counseling for backaches, joint pains, learning difficulties of children and rehabilitation during the exhibition," Kumar said. (PTI)

Govt examining if petrol prices can be reduced: Deora

NEW DELHI, Nov 6: The Government today said it will cut petrol and diesel prices if it finds the fall in international oil prices to have helped oil companies overcome losses on fuel sales.

"We will be very happy to reduce prices but first we have to examine the impact of the fall in international prices... We have to see as to what extent the fall has helped us (bridge loss on fuel sales)," Petroleum Minister Murli Deora told reporters here.

Although the international oil prices have fallen from a high of over 75 dollars a barrel in august to just over 56 dollars per barrel now, oil companies continue to make losses on sale of diesel, domestic cooking gas (LPG) and kerosene.

However, the companies are making a profit of Rs 4.50 a litre on petrol sale. But on diesel, they are still losing Rs 1.55 per litre. They are losing Rs 151 on sale of every 14.2 kg LPG cylinder and another Rs 14 on every litre of kerosene.

"We are working out the arithmetics to see if there is a scope for any reduction," he said.

Deora said a decision on cutting petrol and diesel prices, which were on June 5 raised by Rs 4 and Rs 2 a litre respectively, would depend on the extent of oil bonds the Government will give oil companies to cover for losses on LPG and kerosene sale and the contribution to be made by upstream firms like ONGC.

The Government is to issue oil bonds worth Rs 28,300 crore to oil companies for the full fiscal and issued first tranche of bonds worth Rs 5,000 crore last month. Two more tranches of similar amount are likely to be issued in November-December to cover for losses on LPG and kerosene in April-September period.

Separately, Deora has written to Finance Minister P Chidambaram suggesting extending Government subsidy on domestic LPG and kerosene for an indefinite period as the gap between domestic retail price and current international prices was too large to be bridged through a price hike.

As per the roadmap for dismantling of the Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM) for petroleum products, subsidy on pds kerosene and domestic LPG was to be phased out by March 31, 2005. This deadline was extended by two years to March 31, 2007. But now the ministry wants to extend it indefinitely.

Deora says the retail selling prices of lpg would have to be raised by Rs 150 per cylinder and PDS kerosene by Rs 14 per litre to bring them at par with cost of production.

The PDS kerosene and domestic LPG subsidy scheme 2002, under which the Government’s fiscal budget meets a part of under-realisation on sale of the two mass consumed cooking fuel, is valid up to March 31, 2007.

Official sources said the total revenue loss of not increasing domestic cooking gas (LPG) and kerosene price in line with rise in cost of production was Rs 27,500 crore in 2006-07. Against this the budgetary subsidy was Rs 2,900 crore. The remaining is to be met through contribution from upstream companies like ONGC and issue of oil bonds. (PTI)

High Court Judge inspects overcrowded jail in Kapurthala

KAPURTHALA, Nov 6: Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge Ranjit Singh Randhawa found over-crowding as a major problem in the district jail here.

During inspection the judge found that 395 inmates who were facing trials in different cases were lodged in the jail against the capacity of 250 persons.

Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, Justice Singh said he would recommend the construction of new jails to the Government and to provide proper facilities to the inmates. He ordered the Jail Superintendent to construct more toilets and make provision of more water taps in the jail.

The judge accompanied by District and Sessions Judge, S P Bangarh and CJM S S Dhanoa spent more than two hours in the jail to redress the grievances of inmates. Justice Singh also ordered the District Judicial Officers to provide free legal aid to more than 30 inmates who were languishing in the jails as they failed to defend their cases due to poverty.

The judge also directed the District and Sessions Judge to examine the case of one of the undertrials who had obtained the bail but could not furnish the bail bond due to poverty. The judge also directed the SSP to provide more guards to enable the inmates to appear in the courts. He gave this direction on the complaint of the prisoners who claimed that they were not taken to the courts for appearance in their cases due to shortage of security guards.

Replying to a question regarding the over crowding of jails , Justice Singh said liberal bail was the only solution in these circumstances and asked the judicial officers to exercise their discretion fearlessly by passing out judicious orders . He said that there was some apprehension in the minds of judges while passing out bail orders that the accused might not circumvent the justice after his release from jail and that was the reason judges were hesitant to release the accused on bails. (UNI)

2-day Natl seminar on Jainism from Nov 11

MANGALORE, Nov 6: A two-day national seminar on ‘Jainism in south India" will be held at Moodabidre, about 35 kms from here on November 11 and 12.

As many as 35 scholars from different parts of the country would participate in the seminar, Dr S P Ajith Prasad, organising secretary, told a press conference today.

The seminar is being organised by the Kannada University-Hampi, in association with Alva’s Education Foundation (AEF) and Shree Dhavala Mahavidyalay, Moodabadre. (PTI)

Indian pilgrim dies at Nankana Sahib

MOGA, Nov 6: An Indian Sikh visiting Pakistan as part of a delegation of Sikh devotees died of heart failure while visiting Gurdwara Sacha Sauda near Nankana Sahib across the border.

The body of Balbir Singh (65) of Kharka village in Haryana, who died on Saturday will be brought to India shortly, Bhai Mardana International Yadgar Kirtan Darbar Society vice-president Sohan Singh told PTI today.

Meanwhile, he said, another pilgrim Inder Singh of Kot Sekhan village in Moga district was injured seriously when he fell from a running train while the Sikh ‘Jatha’ was on way to Lahore after crossing through Wagah border on November two.

Inder Singh was hospitalised in Lahore, where both his legs had to be amputated.

The 300-member sikh ‘jatha’is currently visiting holy places of the community in pakistan.

On the intervention of society president Harpal Singh Bhullar, Pakistan High Commission has granted a special 15-day visa to the son and daughter of Inder Singh to visit him across the border, Sohan Singh added. (PTI)