BSF jawan’s wife complains of
sexually abuse by some villagers

JODHPUR, Nov 14: The wife of a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan has filed a case, accusing four villagers of sexually abusing her continously for almost a decade during the absence of her husband.

The victim, a resident of Khari Khurd village in the Mathania region of the district, filed a report that she was being sexually abused by four people from the village for the past 10 years as her husband was posted in the border areas.

Mathania police station incharge Derawar Singh Bhati said that the woman, who came yesterday along with her husband to file the FIR, has been sent for medical examination.

The victim had said in her report that she works as a labourer and stays alone as her husband is mostly away on the borders. She accused Govindram, Baldevram, Rewatram and Devaram of sexually abusing her for the past ten years, and thereafter threatening her not to reveal it to anyone. She said that was the reason for her silence for so long a period, but finally she mustered up the resolve to tell her husband, when he came home on leave this time. (UNI)

AIADMK councillor arrested ahead of zonal head election

MADURAI, Nov 14: Ahead of tomorrow’s election of Madurai corporation’s four zonal heads, city police today arrested an AIADMK councillor for allegedly receiving Rs one lakh from a contractor for awarding the contract of a road work and failing to pay the sum back.

According to police, Raja Srinivasan, during his previous term as councillor, had received the money from a contractor from Anna Nagar an year ago.

After the contract was awarded to somebody else recently, Srinivasan allegedly refused to pay back the money following which a complaint was launched with the police.

Talking to reporters, AIADMK district secretary Rajan Chellappa alleged that the arrest was a ‘vindictive act’ and an attempt by the ruling party to ensure their victory in tomorrow’s elections. (PTI)

Indo-China diplomatic spat over Arunachal

NEW DELHI, Nov 14: Just a week ahead of President Hu Jintao’s visit here, a diplomatic spat has erupted between the two countries over Arunachal Pradesh, with China claiming its right over the east Indian state evoking prompt rejection by New Delhi.

"Arunachal is an integral part of India," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters here, a day after Chinese Ambassador Sun Yuxi claimed that the state was "Chinese territory".

The Chinese Ambassador told a TV channel: "In our position, the whole of Arunachal Pradesh is Chinese territory and Tawang is only one place in it...We are claiming whole of that (Arunachal Pradesh). That is our position."

Mukherjee said the position of the respective countries with regard to Arunachal is known.

For New Delhi, Arunachal is not only integral part but also "inalienable" part of India and there can be no discussion on that, sources in External Affairs Ministry said in reaction to Sun’s comments.

The two countries are currently engaged in talks to resolve the boundary question through their Special Representatives who have held eight rounds of discussions so far.

Last year, they signed the ‘Political Parameters and Guiding Principles’ to resolve the border issue.

Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Governor S K Singh, himself a former diplomat, also disapproved of Chinese Ambassador’s comments saying it was an "arrogant" way of negotiation.

"This is an arrogant way of negotiation from China. Chinese have done this before, it is an odd way," he said. (PTI)

No trucks ply on national highways

IMPHAL, Nov 14: No trucks plied along portions of Imphal-Dimapur National Highway 39 and Imphal-Silchar National Highway 53 in Manipur as the economic blockade by the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) entered its second day today.

The ATSUM is seeking a special policy for recruitment of tribals in Government departments.

Official sources said that the State Government have not received any report about loaded trucks being stranded along the national highways.

No trucks left Manipur for collecting goods from different places in neighbouring Assam, they said, adding normally, between 200 to 300, loaded trucks enter Manipur daily carrying essential items and various other materials.

Official sources said that some of the demands have been fulfilled while some others were unreasonable. (PTI)

Bollywood’s ‘Honeymoon’ with comedies continues

NEW DELHI, Nov 14: Comedies seem to be the flavour of the season in Bollywood!

Close on the heels of the success of ‘Phir Hera Pheri’, ‘Deewane Hue Paagal’, ‘Malamaal Weekly’, ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ and ‘Khosla Ka Ghosla’ earlier this year, a number of filmmakers are coming up with films aimed at tickling the funny bone of cinegoers in the hope of reaping success at the box office.

Joining the list of these madcap comedies, which had the cinegoers ‘laughing in the ailes’ earlier this year, is Mukta Arts’ ‘Apna Sapna Money Money’, a whacky ‘laugh riot’about the mad pursuit of money by a motley bunch of characters.

Directed by Sangeeth Sivan, who last year made a splash with his rocking comedy, ‘Kya Kool Hain Hum’, ‘Apna Sapna Money Money’, which released across the country on November 10, is proving to be another crowd puller like ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ and ‘Malamaal Weekly’. Featuring an ensemble cast of Ritiesh Deshmukh, Shreyas Talpade, Koena Mitra, Celina jaitley, Riya Sen, Rajpal Yadav, Chunkey Pandey, Anupam Kher and Jackey Shroff, ‘Apna Sapna Money Money’, the rollicking comedy has been drawing both the masses and classes to the cinema halls, trade sources say.

The sources said the brilliant comic timing displayed in the film by accomplished actors like Ritiesh Deshmukh, Rajpal Yadav, Chunkey Pandey, Anupam Kher and Jackie Shroff has the youth making a beeline to the cinema halls. Ritiesh Deshmukh, who appears in four different get ups in the film, including that of a woman, has specially been drawing applause from the masses and the young generation.

Says Ritiesh’s co-star and the film’s female lead actor Koena Mitra,"Ritiesh is a brilliant actor with a extremely good sense of comic timing. In ‘Apna Sapna Money Money’, he looked absolutely convincing as a woman."

Clearly pleased with the good response to the film, the director Sangeeth Sivan says, Apna Sapna Money money’ is a film designed to provide wholesome entertainment to the whole family. What make for the comic element in the film is the fact that it has a set of 12 characters each of them speaking different dialects."

Agrees the film’s lead actor Ritiesh Deshmukh, whose get up as a woman in the film has become the talking point among the audiences as well as in the industry.

"In ‘Apna Sapna Money money’, we have not tried to be different from any of the comedies releasing in the earlier part of the year. Rather, the film attempts to be genuinely funny and evoke laughter. Infact, the script of the film is designed in such a manner as to make it a fun film and a thoroughly family entertainer,"Ritiesh said.

‘Apna Sapna Money Money’ is Sangeeth Sivan’s fourth Hindi film after ‘Zor’, Chura Liya Hai Tumne’ and ‘Kya Kool Hai Hum’.

The success of ‘Apna Sapna Money Money’ comes close on the heels of the above-average showing of films like ‘Phir Hera Pheri’, ‘Malamaal Weekly’, ‘Deewane Hue Paagal’ and ‘Khosla Ka Ghosla’.

Bollywood’s tryst with comedies is likely to continue with films like Priyadarshan’s ‘Bhagam Bhag’ and ‘Fool and Final’ slated for release in the coming months.

(UNI)

Rude Rani Mukherjee shocks media

VARANASI, Nov 14: Unlike her sweet and bubbly on screen image, it was a rude Rani Mukherjee, who shocked mediapersons here last evening on the sidelines of the shooting for Yash Raj production upcoming flick being shot in this ancient city.

"There is no need to be bothered about my marriage, --- my parents are there to look ofter it," were some of the sound bites that the mediapersons got to hear from a visibly annoyed ‘Aati Kya Khandala’ girl for reasons best known to her.

The diminutive actor who has won accolades for her memorable role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Black’, however, appeared most irked when asked about her marriage plans.

When queried about the off screen vibes between Shaad Ali’s Bunty and Bubbly, Rani became more peeved. "Bunty-Bubbly is confined to the screen--- beyond it everything as a media creation," her candid reply.

Instead of ducking pointed queries in the most diplomatic manner, Rani said ‘next next’ to questions she did not prefer answering.

The Bollywood beauty, however, was all in praise for Varanasi saying the holy city has boundless film potential, especially its ‘ghats and galis’ and promised she will not leave Banaras before taking a dip in the sacred Ganga river.

She also scotched all speculation of her enacting the mythological character of Draupadi. (UNI)

Carter Road accident accused remanded to PC till Nov 18

MUMBAI, Nov 14: Alistan Pareira, who was driving the car which overran pavement dwellers, killing seven peole in suburban Bandra on November 12, was today remanded to police custody till November 18.

Six people, including two children, died on the spot and 14 injured in the mishap on Carter Road. One person succumbed to his injuries yesterday taking the toll up to seven.

The six occupants of the car, including Pareira(21), were returning from a party and were allegedly under the influence of liquor when the accident occurred.

The occupants, all aged between 18 and 21, were arrested soon after the accident.

Pareira was charged under Sec 304 of IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), while Craig Pareira, Kenroy Jacob, Curt D‘Lima, Marvin Pinto and Ronela Santamay were booked under Bombay Prohibition Act, and were released on a bail of Rs 5,000 each. (PTI)

Cultural fair ‘Gauchar’ begins in Uttaranchal

CHAMOLI , Nov 14: Uttaranchal Education Minister Narendra Singh Bhandari today inaugurated the cultural fair ‘Gauchar 2006’ here.

The inaugural function was attended by a large number of people including farmers, craftsmen, students and politicians.

The inauguration was preceded by march-pasts staged by NCC cadets and students of various schools.

The week-long fair would conclude on the 20^{th of November. (PTI)}

LUDHIANA, Nov 14: The Punjab Government has released a grant of Rs five crore to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) under the Special Agricultural Diversification Research and Development Fund to take up key research schemes.

A detailed project report submitted to the government has been approved for the implementation of eleven specific schemes, for which the grant would be spent.

A PAU spokesman today said focus will be on breeding improved varieties of oil seeds and pulses with high productivity and nutritional qualities, developing export quality basmati, durum wheat, maize hybrids and malt barley. The other schemes include biotechnological application for improvement of field and horticultural crops, forage crops, development of suitable varieties for fresh processes and export purposes and standardization of production technologies of horticultural crops.

Besides this, some other schemes include re-nourishing soil health, efficient water management for sustainable production, identification and evaluation of oilseeds and pulse-based cropping systems of diversification and standardization of production and protection technologies in medicinal and aromatic plants.

Another scheme deals with integrated post management and technology, development of processing technologies and equipments for value added food products, machinery for mechanization besides resource conservation and crop residue. Part of the money will also be spent on miscellaneous activities like seed stores and implement sheds at Regional Station, Faridkot, for emergent need and technology generation and management of intellectual property rights.

This money for promoting agricultural diversification research has come after prolonged negotiations between PAUs Director of Research Dr B S Dhillon and State Government officials. (UNI)

NAGPUR, Nov 14: Maharashtra Minister for Rehabiliation and Co-operation Patangrao Kadam today asked co-operation commissioner to "act speedly and as per the rule" to provide relief to account holders of two ailing co-operative banks here.

"You take a decision within eight days about appointing an administrator in Samata Sahakari Bank and approach Reserve Bank of India for enhancing the withdrawal limit of Rs 1,000 for account holders of Nagpur Nagrik Mahila Sahakari Bank which is also in crisis," Kadam directed the co-operation commissioner Anil Diggikar here.

Under Rule 78 of Co-Operation Act, the process of appointment of the administrator is underway, Kadam said and asked the local officials to submit a detailed note by tomorrow on the status of the issue as he has an appointment with the Deputy Governor of RBI tomorrow in Mumbai.

The Mahila bank account holders are in distress since last three years due to the withdrawal ceiling limit, sources said. (PTI)

Patna police ban use of mobile phones in banks

PATNA, Nov 14: Beware, your mobile’s buzz in banks in Bihar capital may land you in trouble.

Alarmed by rise in the incidents of bank robbery in Bihar, the state police has warned of penal action if its directive to switch off the mobile phones while entering banks in the state capital is not being strictly adhered to.

A decision to ban the use of the mobile phones was taken at a meeting of senior police officials with representatives of various nationalised and private banks yesterday, City Superintendent of Police Vikas Vaibhav told PTI today.

Now closed-circuit cameras would be installed at the main entrance of the banks besides at the cash counters and the strongrooms, he said.

"The bankers have been asked to make the people aware of the new directive through banners and posters," he said.

The ban was being imposed with investigations revealing that in most of the cases of bank robbery, the criminals used their cellular phones, he said.

Henceforward, a police officer with a constable would escort the bank staff carrying cash from one branch to another on a two-wheeler regardless of whether the amount was big or small, Vaibhav said.

Armed criminals had recently looted Rs 50 lakh from bankers going to deposit the amount in the chest of the Punjab National Bank at Patrakarnagar in Patna and Rs 38 lakh of the State Bank of Bikaner being brought here from Muzaffarpur for deposit near Sarai railway crossing in Vaishali district.

In another incident, Rs 22 lakh was looted from the United Bank of India branch in Samastipur last month. (PTI)