Four Tibetan activists detained outside Hyderabad House

NEW DELHI, Nov 21: Four Tibetan activists were today detained outside the high-security Hyderabad House here when they made a sudden appearance there as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was holding talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Holding their ‘national flag’ and raising anti-China slogans, the activists of the Tibetan Youth Congress reached the venue on the India Gate circle, taking a large number of police personnel deployed there by surprise.

Security personnel swung into action immediately and caught hold of the activists and whisked them away in police vehicles.

Police also took six Tibetans into preventive custody on the Kasturba Gandhi Marg this morning while they were moving towards the Hyderabad House.

Three TYC activists were detained last night in Daula Kuan when they came out on the road shouting anti-China slogans minutes after Hu’s cavalcade from the airport passed through the area.

Tibetan groups in the capital have been staging candle light vigils and demonstrations besides sitting on a hunger strike to protest the maiden visit of the Chinese President.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Tibetans along with Buddhist monks dressed in maroon and yellow robes took out a march here to protest Hu’s visit. They began the march from Jantar Mantar, but were not allowed to proceed further.

They shouted slogans against China for its "occupation of Tibet", burned the effigy of HU, unfurled the Tibetan flag and sang what they called their national anthem.

A huge posse of police personnel including contingents of the RAF and paramilitary forces have been deployed at Jantar Mantar and outside the Hyderabad House to ensure that no protests take place. (PTI)

SP leader Azmi taken into police custody

MUMBAI, Nov 21: Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi was taken into police custody today while he was on his way to participate in a party rally in Shivaji Park here.

Azmi, a Rajya Sabha member, was taken to a police station in south Mumbai at around 1 pm, police said.

Authorites had denied permission for the rally, after which the Samajwadi Party moved the court yesterday. (PTI)

Bachchan summoned by Goa Court in tobacco case

PANAJI, Nov 21: Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has been summoned by a court here on November 29 in connection with a case filed by a NGO about an alleged violation of anti-tobacco laws.

A Judicial Magistrate’s Court issued the summons yesterday to Bachchan and four others in the case filed by National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE), the NGO’s counsel Vilas Thali said today.

The NGO has alleged Bachchan violated anti-tobacco laws by appearing in an advertisement of anchor Daewoo India which featured a photograph of him with a cigar in the film "family". The case was filed by note general secretary Shekhar Salkar.

Thali said besides the actor, producer Keshu Ramsay, his company DMS Films Private Limited, anchor Daewoo India and AB Corp Ltd were named respondents in the case.

The case was filed under CRPC, cigarettes and other tobacco products (prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act of 2003 and Goa Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act of 1997.

Note said between December 25, 2005 and January 1, 2006, hoardings with Bachchan smoking a cigar and endorsing anchor Daewoo’s electronic appliances were put up along the national highway 17 from Margao to Mapusa in Goa.

"Such hoardings were also displayed at various places in the country," said Thali. (PTI)

Nitish seeks report on girl in UNICEF
poster on child labour

PATNA, Nov 21: Touched by the plight of Chunam, a girl featured on a poster of UNICEF for its campaign against child labour, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has sought a report on the matter and ordered that she be rehabilitated.

Kumar has sought a report from the Home Commissioner on UNICEF using the six-year-old’s picture for its campaign and the failure of authorities to rehabilitate her under the law banning child labour, the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary R C P Singh told PTI today.

Singh said Kumar has directed that efforts should be made for the proper rehabilitation of Chunam, the face of the joint awareness campaign launched by UNICEF and the State Government. Posters featuring her were printed by the UN body and pasted at innumerable places to attract attention to the plight of the faceless multitude of children toiling to make a living.

Weeks have gone by since the campaign was launched but Chunam is still awaiting rehabilitation and Government help while she cleans utensils at her father’s roadside dhaba close to the state headquarters of Bihar’s ruling JD-U.

Chunam’s was the face UNICEF had very carefully chosen to portray childhood lost in the struggle for survival.

Her father complained that despite his daughter’s posters being put up at several places in Bihar’s capital, nobody has cared to come to the help of his family. (PTI)

Dharam objects to Yediyurappa’s remarks on opposition

BANGALORE, Nov 21: The Congress today took strong exception to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s statement that the JDs-BJP Government "will build a new jail" to punish Congress leaders in the light of "scams surfacing against them."

"Being a Deputy Chief Minister he should make some responsible statement.Who is Yediyurappa to talk like this. Yediyurappa is making baseless allegations...," opposition Congress leader in the State Assembly N Dharam Singh said, lashing out at the senior BJP leader at a press meet here.

"People have been talking about the JDs-BJP Government only giving assurances and not taking up any development programme. Should we now say that they are also amassing wealth?," Singh asked, taking a dig at Yediyurappa for his remarks that "if need be, we will also conduct raids on Congress leaders’ houses."

Singh,a former Chief Minister, flayed Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy for "setting dates" for arresting Congress leader D K Shivakumar and wanted to know "is the Chief Minister a civil Judge?."

Kumaraswamy, responding to Congress leaders accusations that the Government was making attempts to keep Shivakumar away from the coming Chamundeswari Assembly bye-election, had reportedly said Shivakumar will not be arrested till December four— the day when the polling will be held.

Forest Department officials have filed cases against Shivakumar and his family members on charges of storing iron ore illegally. Shivakumar has dismissed the charge as politically motivated.

Condemning Yediyurappa’s statement, Singh cautioned that by these methods the Government cannot silence the opposition.

Kumaraswamy’s plea before the electorate of Chamundeswari constituency that they should ensure the JDs candidate’s victory "if people want this Government to continue in office" has vindicated the Congress stand that the coalition Government would collapse after the bye-election, he said.

"Bajrang Dal has declared that it would work against JDs if the Government did not permit it to organise Shobha Yatra in Chikmagalur. All these indicate that the Government is in trouble," Singh claimed.

Congress along with Left parties would campaign in Chamundeswari constituency for Siddaramaiah’s victory from November 23,he said and claimed "the mood of the people is in Congress favour."

Singh charged that the Government had diverted funds released by the Centre for Sarva Sikshana Abhiyan (SAS) for purchasing bicycles. (PTI)

Three get 10 years for dowry death

MUZAFFARNAGAR, Nov 21: A fast track court today sentenced a man and two of his kin 10 years imprisonment in a case of dowry death here.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 3,000 on the victim Shahida Begum’s husband Haroon, his brother rashid and mother Hafizan.

Shahida was murdered in September 2003 when she failed to meet dowry demands of her in-laws. (PTI)

Delhi Airport gears up to tackle fog

NEW DELHI, Nov 21: As the winter sets in, the sceptre of fog disrupting flight schedules at the Delhi Airport looms large.

Delhi International Airport Private Limited (DIAL) is undertaking several proactive measures to prevent discomfort to passengers during delays and to provide information in advance.

As part of the preparation, DIAL held a series of meetings with various stakeholders such as airlines, ATC, CISF, BCAS, MET Department, Customs, Immigration, Delhi Police and Catering firms to assess the preparedness for the fog season.

"Based on the discussions several steps are being taken inside and outside the terminals and also on the airside to try minimise the impact on flight operations and inconvenience to passengers," said DIAL’s Chief Operating Officer Ioannis Papastefanou.

A Centralised Emergency Response and Interactive Centre (ERIC) will be set up to co-ordinate operations during the fog season. The ERIC wil be in direct touch with the ATC, Apron Control and Various Airlines and would be fed with real time information, which will be useful for operations during fog.

The Meteorological Department will also be providing latest fog updates to the ERIC. In addition, a Crisis Management Centre (CMC) would also be set-up to co-ordinate the efforts and manage any unforeseen events.

Representatives from various stakeholders will be present in the CMC. A Centralised Media Centre will also be available to facilitate the media persons.

DIAL will install pre-fabricated tents to accommodate the overflow of passengers, said Mr Papastefanou. The tents will be ire-rateardant and will be equipped with oil heaters, and arrangements will be made to provide tea, coffee etc available there.

Flight information will be also available from additional airline information counters which will be setup at the Kerbside.

Food and Beverage counters, restaurants inside the terminals will be operating extra counters and kitchens will open 24 hours during this period. A new restaurant just outside terminal 1-B was inaugurated recently. This restaurant will provide aditional food supplies for the passengers.

Airlines helpline numbers will provide up-to-date information to passengers. In addition a free parking lot is being set-up near the airport to cater to the extra rush of passengers.

A courtesy coach will connect this parking lot with the terminals. Seating in the terminals is being augmented and extra trolleys are being arranged as well for the benefit of passengers.

Visitors’ entry to the terminals will also be regulated during the fog period to prevent overcrowding.

The Delhi Airport is equipped with category IIB instrument landing system. The system allows compatible aircraft and trained pilots to land even when the runway visibility is up to 50 meters.

Ten aircraft parking stands are equipped to handle Cat IIB Aircraft and action is being taken to make nine more stands comnpatible for Cat IIB operations.

A brand new fleet of ‘follow me’ vehicles equipped with GPS and other modern aids has been procured to guide aircraft on the ground during fog conditions if needed.

Special booklets with information on fog and do’s and dont’s for passengers will also be circulated.

DIAL is taking all possible measures to minimise the impact of the fog and low visibility on flight operations and to avoid inconvinience for passengers and stakeholders alike.

DIAL is a joint venture company comprising the GMR group, Airport Authority of India, Fraport, Malaysian Airport and India Development Fund, working towards the modernisation and restructuring of the Delhi Airport.

The project being developed by DIAL under public private partnership has been given the mandate to Finance, Design, Build, Operate and Maintain the Delhi Airport for 30 years with an option to extend it by another 30 years. (UNI)

Judge dismissed from service

AKOLA, MAHARASHTRA, Nov 21: A civil Judge here has been dismissed from the judicial service, official sources said today.

R A Ranpise, a joint Civil Judge (junior division) and also a First Class Judicial Magistrate, was dismissed on November 14, the sources said.

Ranpise, a local resident, joined the judiciary on March 21, 2003. Before that, he was an Assistant Charity Commissioner at Buldana.

He was placed under suspension during an internal inquiry. But the nature of inquiry and charges against him were not disclosed, they said.

He had recently sought voluntary retirement but this request was turned down, the souces said. (PTI)

LS will be adjourned today as a mark of respect to Kanshi

NEW DELHI, Nov 21: As a mark of respect to BSP founder Kanshi Ram, Lok Sabha will be adjourned tomorrow, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said today.

The decision was taken at an all party meeting convened by the Lok Sabha Speaker, ahead of the winter session beginning tomorrow to ascertain their views on the issues to be taken up as also requesting their fullest cooperation to run the House.

"Except one party (CPI) all the other party leaders have unanimously decided that Lok Sabha should be adjourned as a mark of respect of the BSP leader", he told reporters after an hour long meeting.

Leader of opposition L K Advani, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, his Deputy Suresh Pachouri, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal, JD(U) leader Devendra Prasad Yadav, DMK leader Palanimannickam and CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta were among those who attended the meeting.

Kanshi Ram died last month after prolonged illness.

When reminded that he has been opposed such adjourment of the House if a member does not belong to it, Chatterjee remarked, "I am trying to become democratic".

Government had yesterday pleaded for adjournment of Lok Sabha on the opening day of the winter session of Parliament on Nov 22 after paying homage to bsp founder Kanshi Ram, a former member of the House.

The Rajya Sabha is scheduled to adjourn shortly after meeting on the opening day of winter session in view of the death of Lalit Suri, a memeber, during the intermission period. (PTI)

Army personal arrested for killing constable

HOSHIARPUR, Nov 21: An Army personnel was today arrested by Punjab Police for allegedly killing a police constable at the behest of cop’s wife.

The stran relations between the husband and wife and regular beating of her and her children has compelled Jaswinder Kaur wife of head constable Prabhjinder Singh of village Fattan Chack to get her husband parricide from a supari killer Harpreet Singh alias Happy, who is serving in 67th Engineering Regiment, Meerut Contonment, son of Harjinder Singh of Hardothala, District Police Chief R N Dhoke said here.

On the reques tof police, the Army officials had got Harpreet Singh surrendered in the Judicial Court of Dasuya today and after obtaining his arrest warrants, he is being arrested.

Police had also arrested alleged co-accused Jaswinder Kaur.

Dhoke said constable Prabhjinder Singh, who was serving in Punjab Police and was posted as gunman was shot dead at his home on the intervening night of November 10/11, 2006.

His wife Jaswinder Kaur stated to the police that on that night, four unidentified youths entered the house and administrated some intoxicant to her due to which she became unconscious said murdered her husband.

During the investigation police came to a conclusion that Prabhjinder Singh was murdered deliberately.

On questioning it came to light that deceased Prabhjinder Singh and his wife Jaswinder Kaur were not in good terms with each other and he used to beat up his wife and children quite frequently.

Jaswinder Kaur confessed that she had got her husband killed through her nephew Harpreet Singh. The deal was fixed to Rs seven lakh and she paid Rs 2.5 lakh as advance to Harpreet Singh for this task. The balance amount was to be paid after the murder, Dhoke said.

During the investigation, it emerged that Jaswinder Kaur had concocted a story regarding murder of her husband in order to misguide the police.

Dhoke said that accused Harpreet Singh was serving in the Army and was presently posted in Meerut (Uttar Pradesh).

He was available in his village on November 11, but was not present at the time of cremation of Prabhjinder Singh. However, he came in the evening alongwith his wife to mourn. It also came to the notice that he was absent from his unit from November 9 to 13,2006. (PTI)

EC notices to Amarinder, 36 Cong MLAs on OoP issue

CHANDIGARH, Nov 21: The Election Commission of India has sent notices to 37 MLAs, including Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, on the Governor’s reference to the opposition seeking their disqualification for holding Offices of Profit.

ECI secretary K F Wilfred issued the notices to MLAs of the ruling Congress and independents supporting it on November 17 on the reference made to the Commission by Governor S F Rodrigues on April 10 this year, officials said here today.

They have been asked to file replies by December 8 in the form of "written statement with six spare copies" with documents and supported by proper affidavits.

The MLAs to whom the notices have been issued the Chief Minister Amarinder Singh who was the Chairman of three Boards - Punjab Rural Development Board, Punjab Infrastructure Board and Punjab State Land Use and Waste Board, the BJP said in its petition.

The notices have been issued under section 146 of the representation of the People’s Act, 1951.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led by former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the BJP had separately petitioned the Governor earlier this year seeking disqualification of the 37 legislators under Punjab State Legislature (prevention of disqualification) Punjab Act number 7, 1952, saying they were also Chairpersons of various State Corporations and Boards.

The MLAs are Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, Malkiat Singh Birmi, Harbans Lal, Harbans Kaur Dullo, Rana K P Singh, Prakash Singh, Raj Kumar Verka, Razia Sultana, Sandhu Singh Dharmsot, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sunil Jakhar, Surinder Dabur, Ashwani Sekhri, Hans Raj Joshan, Rakesh Pandey, Gurbinder Singh Atwal, Joginder Singh Mann, Shavinder Singh Kathunangal, Aruna Chaudhary, H S Thekedar, Ram Lubhaya, Randeep Singh, O P Soni, Gurjant Kutiwal, Komal Chand, Mohinder Kumar Rinwa, Ashok Sharma, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Jasbir Singh Gill, Ravinder Singh Sandhu, Kanwaljit Singh Lalli, Gurkanwal Kaur, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Prakash Singh Bhatti, Raghunath Sahai Puri and Randeep Singh Nabha. (PTI)

ASI demands ban on flying aircraft
near Khajuraho Temples

BHOPAL, Nov 21: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has demanded that flying of aircraft just over or near the world-famous ancient temples in Khajuraho be stopped as it caused structure-threatening vibrations in these centrally-protected monuments.

In a letter written to the Indian Airport Authority, ASI (Bhopal circle) Superintendent K K Mohammed has warned of strict action if the matter was not taken seriously.

He expressed the fear that if the request was not heeded, it could push Khajuraho Temples into the list of endangered heritage monuments like the Hampi monuments of Karnataka.

The UNESCO had listed HAMPI as an endangered structure following the decision to construct two bridges and road near the it. It was de-listed last year after construction work was halted.

The UNESCO had included Khajuraho in the world heritage list in 1986. However, cracks had appeared in these structures and their was existence threatened due to airborne vibrations.

In the letter, Mr Mohammed had pointed out that vibrations caused during landing of the planes had badly affected the western group of temples especially the 11th century ‘Nandi’ and ‘Vishwanatha’ Temples — located at Bameetha road with its wall being three km from the runway.

Airborne vibrations had led to several cracks in the rocks of these temples and a study was being conducted.

The ASI had conducted video-recording of flights near these structures in September. Some pilots had flown the aircraft near the temples for the benefit of curious tourists causing more danger.

In a technical report released by New Delhi-based National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in 1998, it was apprehended that flights could cause cracks in the temples.

The report stated that acoustic vibrations affected structures of these temples and an increase in the number of flights could lead to permanent damage.

Mentioning the report, Mr Mohammed said the NPL had suggested that the ASI and the IA work out a consensus and pilots must be strictly instructed to avoid flying their aircraft just over or near the temple. However, this had been regularly violated.

The report further stated that traffic density was bound to increase in the coming years, causing additional sources of structural excitation in and around the temple complex due to ground-borne vibrations.

Heavy vehicles should not be allowed to ply near the temples and should be diverted via the bypass road and these aspects considered while planning future expansion of existing airport. (UNI)