More areas come under curfew in
Dakshina Kannada district

MANGALORE, Oct 7: With incidents of group clashes spreading in trouble torn Dakshnia Kannada since last night, authorities brought more areas under curfew today in this violence hit district that has left one person dead and 70 injured.

Top police officials said apart from Ullal and Konaje Police Station limits near this city, where a 48 hour curfew was clamped last evening following communal clashes, Mangalore city and areas coming under Mangalore Sub-Division were also brought under curfew following fresh incidents of group clashes and building up of volatile situation since last night.

One person, who was injured in the group clash at Bejai in the city yesterday, died in a hospital this morning and this had led to a tense situation. The situation was tense but under control, police said.

Nearly 70 people have been injured in violent incidents and group clashes during the last three days. So far police have rounded up 200 people in connection with the violent incidents.

Meanwhile, Director General of Police B S Sial flew into the city from Bangalore to take stock of the situation this morning. He held discussion with top police officials and reviewed the situation in the district. He appealed the people to be calm and said situation was under control.

The entire city on the coast of Arabian Sea looked deserted with police contingents taking out flag marches being the only activity seen. The economic activity had come to a standstill for the past three days.

Violence erupted in this coastal district following an incident of a mini lorry, allegedly carrying cows to a slaughter house, hit a jeep at Kudroli in the city limits on Wednesday night. (UNI)

RSS Pracharak ungaonkar dead

INDORE, Oct 7: Prominent RSS Pracharak Dattaji Ungaonkar died at a private hospital here last evening. He was 82.

RSS chief K S Sudarshan has expressed grief on the death of mr Ungaonkar, who dedicated his life as an RSS volunteer.

His mortal remains will be consigned to flames on the banks of Kshipra river at Ujjain today. (UNI)

Court sentences four to life for bride burning

SONEPAT, Oct 7: Four members of a family were sentenced to life imprisonment after finding them guilty in a dowry related murder.

Additional Sessions Judge A K Bimal sentenced husband Satish, his mother, brother and sister-in-law to life imprisonment holding them responsible for setting ablaze Sunita after her family failed to pay the demanded bribe.

The Judge also ordered them to pay Rs 10,000 each as a fine.

The incident happened on September 23, 2003 after her family did not give Rs 50,000 and a car as dowry.

Sunita was taken to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi where she told the police that her husband and in-laws had set her ablaze four days before succumbing to her injuries. (PTI)

BJP to probe assaulting cops

BHOPAL, Oct 7: The ruling BJP has constituted a two-member committee to probe into assaulting of police personnel by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha workers, after the latter were prevented from joining senior party leader L K Advani’s motorcade at Bhopal Airport two days ago.

Party leaders Mr Nand Kumar Singh Chouhan and Mr Shyam Mohan Shrivastava were asked to inquire into the incident and submit their report within a week, party sources said today.

Morcha’s Bhopal unit president Rahul Rajput and seven others had been arrested in this regard and later released on bail. They had allegedly beaten up few policemen, who prevented them from joining the motorcade of Mr Advani. (UNI)

Air Deccan expands service in NE

ITANAGAR, Oct 7: Air Deccan, India_s first low-cost carrier, has planned to expand its services to North Eastern states by introducing flights in various routes within this fiscal.

"We would introduce new flights from Kolkata to Lilabari in Asom’_s Lakhimpur district via Guwahati and the new flight would commence operations from October 30 in this route," informed Mr Mahesh Yadav, head, national sales, Air Deccan, during a press conference at Lilabari airport last evening.

With the introduction of new flights, the people of Arunachal Pradesh as well as Asom would be greatly benefited as they could travel to Guwahati and Kolkata at a reasonable price, he informed adding, a 42-seater ATR aircraft would be deployed on this route.

For the people of Arunachal it is a costly affair to travel to Guwahati by Pawan Hans helicopter service spending an amount of Rs 2,700. However, with the introduction of Air Deccan service, people now can fly to Guwahati at a nominal fare ranging between Rs1000 to Rs 1500.

The new air link provided by Air Deccan would link Kolkata and Lilabari in just 2 hours and 50 minutes, while other service in this route provided by Indian Airlines took 6 hours that too needed to change flight at Guwahati, Mr Yadav pointed out adding, the company already connected Agartala, Aizwal, Bagdogra, Dibrugarh, Guwahati and Silchar in the Northeast with Kolkata and had announced to launch flights to Imphal within this month.

India_s fastest growing low cost airline and the second largest in the country with a market share of 21.2 per cent, Air Deccan has the largest network in the country covering 56 airports, plying 270 flights a day.

The airline currently operates a brand new fleet of 14 airbus, a 320 aircraft and 21 ATR Turboprop aircraft. Since its inception in August 2003, the airliner has carried over 6.6 million passengers and the numbers are growing everyday, he added. (UNI)

Terrorists cannot be dubbed freedom
fighters: Justice Anand

KOCHI, Oct 7: National Human Rights Commissioner (NHRC) Justice A S Anand today said that to term a terrorist as a freedom fighter was to insult freedom fighters.

Describing terrorism and fundamentalism as grave threats to human rights in the country, Justice Anand said to call terrorists as freedom fighters was to "give an alibi to terrorism".

"Freedom fighters do not hijack planes, rape women, take children hostage, burn mosques or temples. Terrorists do all this and more and yet get a cloak of freedom fighters from some countries. We have to get rid of these double standards," he added.

Delivering the third V R Krishna Iyer National Foundation Lecture on ‘Human Rights, Challenges of the 21^{st Century" here, Justice Anand said that fundamentalism was another form of terrorism.}

^{However, he cautioned the Governments against bending the law while fighting terrorism. "The rule of law cannot be sacrificed. This gets defeated if the State itself bends the law," he said.}

^{Observing that there was no universally accepted definition of terrorism, Justice Anand said that the United States seemed to think that terrorism was born only on 9/11.}

^{"A selective approach in dealing with terrorism will not work," he added.}

^{Talking of other challenges threatening human rights in the country in the 21st century, the NHRC Chairman identified corruption as among the biggest.}

^{Stating that the growing menace of rampant corruption was eating into the vitals of society and posing a big threat to human rights, he called upon the people to adopt "zero tolerance to corruption".}

^{"Corruption has always been there. But, what is new is the magnitude and size of corruption. It has spread its tentacles to every sphere of national life. Unless checked, the country will have to pay a very heavy price."}

^{He said the growing politicisation of public services and criminalisation of politics need to be checked and it was upto the people to change their mindset and not elect those known to be corrupt. (UNI)}

Guj to ask PM to press Pak for Indian fishermen’s release

VADODARA, Oct 7: The Gujarat Government will make a strong plea to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to pressurise Pakistan to release 432 Indian fisherman before Diwali.

Most of these prisoners hail from Gujarat and Union territory of Daman and Diu, Gujarat Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Bhupendrashinh Chudasama said today, adding that 291 mechanised fishing boats were also confiscated by Pakistan.

"All Pakistani fishermen lodged in jails in Gujarat had been released a couple of months back and Pakistan was also expected to respond in a similar way," he told PTI here.

However, Pakistan has released only the first batch of 72 fishermen, while the fate of the remaining others was uncertain, he said.

Chudasama said he would go to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister and other Union Ministers to discues this issue. (PTI)

PPP must for development of
transport infrastructure, says Baalu

NEW DELHI, Oct 7: Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T R Baalu today underlined the need of Public-Private Partnership for putting in place the required infrastructure to meet the country’s target of 150 million dollar exports by 2008-09 and double its share in world exports from 0.8 to 1.5 per cent.

"PPP is a paradigm shift in Government’s apparoach to implementation of the National Highways Development Programmes (NHDP)," he said speaking at the conference of ‘Building Infrastructure : Challenge and Opportunities’ orgainsed by the Planning Commission here today.

The country would have to put in place its infrastruture expeditiously to provide comfort to the domestic and foreign investors, and for that private resources were a must as infrastructure projects have a long gestation period and may not be financially viable on their own and their requirement may fall short of budgetary allocations, said the Minister.

The government has laid down comprehensive guidelines for private sector participation in highways sector and have also announced several incentives and tax exemptions and duty-free import of raod building equipment and machinery, said Mr Balu.

Model concession agreements have also been finalised for major road projects. To address concern of private sector regarding high upfront capital investment and high risk of revenue colection, the government has decided to offer some projects on annuity basis in addition to giving several incentives, he said.

The Minister said the NHAI Board has been vested with sufficient powers to sanction projects on a fast track basis and NHAI was also being strengthened to further to enable it to take up larger programmes at accelerated pace.

"The concern voiced by investors regarding delays on account of land acquisition, utility shifting, environment approvals etc have been addressed by setting up of a committee of secretaries under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary," he said.

The Minister said he has asked state governments to facilitate barrier-free movement of vehicles through a system of integrated check posts as the average distance covered in a day by commercial vehicles is 250-400 kms, which is not encouraging even from the standards of developing countries leaving aside the developed countries.

He said his Ministry intended to take the initiative beyond by introducing computer chips on the vehicles, which can be read by new generation electronic system. (UNI)

'SRK-Still Reading Khan' to be released on Oct 11

MUMBAI, Oct 7: 'SRK-Still Reading Khan', a book chronicling Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's personal and professional achievements will be released on October 11.

The book is written by Khan's close friend and television script writer Mushtaq Sheikh.

Mushtaq has over the years built close friendships with the film community and says that he has come to regard several colleagues as an extended family. "One such valued member is Shah Rukh. The close proximity with Shah Rukh's world and the firm ties of friendship and as a fellow traveller for a good part of our lives, led to destiny chosing me to be one who would chronicle the story of his journey," the writer said.

"There's always been a patriarch for every field. He leads, people follow. He takes new paths - praised if he's successful, derided if he fails. But then somebody has to do the job. Somebody has to invent for the others to reinvent. Somebody has to stand up for our fifty six year old philosophy - for the people, by the people, to the people. Shah Rukh Khan did just that. He invades areas where no actor has ever been,"he added.

Shah Rukh Khan had stepped into the film world as an outsider, a young man bereaved from the loss of his parents, seeking solace, work and passion in an alien world. Today, this outsider is the most familiar member in every fan's household. This book is therefore also the tale of a journey that led from a suburban housing colony in New Delhi into the homes, hearts and minds of innumerable fans all over the world, a journey that transcended boundaries of nations, and the artificial barriers of culture, Mushtaq added.

According to him, the book is the story of a survivor, a winner, a never-ending story of success.

Mushtaq's other famous friend is Television soap queen Ekta Kapoor and he has written scripts for television serials produced by Ekta's Balaji telefilms besides penning 'The Making of Asoka', a film produced by Shah Rukh Khan.

In the book, Mushtaq says that a clear brand philosophy and a brilliant understanding of mass psyche has been the strength of the SRK product.

"He is probably the best brand ever churned out by an Indian industry.

Outrageous and outspoken in his interviews, he played to the masses right. Then there is the proverbial pinch of salt with which SRK takes himself. While his work reflects his passion, there has always been that wry black humour that grounds his reality. He has consistently stripped the idealistic glamour from his profession by branding himself a performer," the writer says about his book.

One section of this story deals with the portrait of the artist as an individual, while the other would be an analytical commentary of his body of work and closer look at the Shah Rukh phenomenon through his films.

The book explains the strongest points of attraction that a Shah Rukh film holds for the audience. It talks about the emotions and economics of being the Shahrukh Brand. The book would reveal a candid star talking unreservedly on his art and acting. (UNI)

‘Imprisonment has serious effects on women’

HYDERABAD, Oct 7: Stating that about 800 women prisoners, including Monica Bedi, the alleged girlfriend of underworld don Abu Salem, were lodged in various jails in Andhra Pradesh, a senior police official today said the consequences of imprisonment were more serious on women than men.

Of these prisoners, 180 were convicted-most of them serving life imprisonment-and 620 were undertrials, facing charges under various offences, Additional Inspector General of Police (Prisons) M R Ahmed told PTI here today.

"It was a tough life for women compared to men ...The effect of imprisonment was very harsh on the former, who have to be away from their dear ones," he said.

To a query, Ahmed said most of the cases involving women were disposed off within three months or a maximum period of six months.

A meeting is held once in three months to review the reason for delay in trial, attended by District Superintendent of Police, Jail Superintendent and a Judge. Besides, a high level meeting also reviews the progress of undertrials at police headquarters every month, Ahmed said.

"In the society a woman has a major role in a family and her separation has its bearing on famlily ties. Hence, to minimise the effect on the family, there was a need to give extra consideration for allowing women prisoners to visit their family frequently," the senior official said.

As per the existing laws, women prisoners were allowed to visit their family by two means. Either when a furlough was granted by a personnel in the rank of IGP to allow her a visit to her family for 14 days if she maintains good conduct for two years or when a parol granted by the Government allows her to attend the emergencies in the family, he added. (PTI)

Film Chamber to discuss violation
of rules relating to dubbed films

BANGALORE, Oct 7: Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has convened a meeting of the Kannada film producers to discuss the alleged violation of rules in the release of other language films in the state, chamber president H D Gangaraj informed here today.

Addressing a press conference here today Mr Gangaraj has said that the chamber had taken cognasance of a Telugu film which was released in the city and other parts of the state violating the relevent rules. It had taken up the issue with the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce and Telugu film producers council about the film which was release in the state violating the rule of the land.

Mr Gangaraj while refuting charges that the chamber was practicing dual policy with regard to initiating action against those film producers and exhibitors who blatantly violating chamber rules said that some of the Kannada producers, who flouted such rules were pointing fingers at the Chamber.

Mr Gangaraj said that the chamber has decided to initiate action against the producers of the telugu film 'Stalion' which was released in Karnataka on the same day of its release in Andhra Pradesh. ''The chamber will take the Kannada film producers into confidence in taking punitive action against the Telugu Film Producer'' he said.

Replying to question Mr Gangaraj has said that the Chamber would abide to the stand against the release of other language films dubbed into Kannada. "The decision to ban the entry of dubbing films into Karnataka was taken after a great deal of struggle and in the interest of the Kannada film industry, the chamber would standby it" Mr Gangaraj said. (UNI)

Fruits and vegetables may lower gallstone risk

NEW YORK, Oct 7: Women who regularly eat fruits and vegetables may have lower odds of developing painful gallstones, the results of a large study suggest.

Of more than 77,000 US women in the long-running Nurses' Health Study, researchers found that those who ate the most fruits and vegetables were less likely to require surgery to remove their gallbladder.

Usually, this surgery is performed because of gallstones, masses that develop when bile stored in the gallbladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. These ''gallstones'' may cause no symptoms, pass through the intestine, or result in severe pain, block the bile ducts, cause infection, or can even be fatal.

The findings suggest that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables -- particularly leafy greens, citrus fruits and other vitamin-C-rich foods -- can prevent gallstones from forming or from causing symptoms, Dr Chung-Jyi Tsai at Harvard Medical School in Boston and colleagues report in the American Journal of Medicine.

The results are based on data from 77,090 female nurses who, in 1984, were between the ages of 37 and 64. They answered dietary questionnaires that year, and had the rates of gallbladder removal -- called cholecystectomy - were followed through 2000.

Cholecystectomy is the most common treatment for symptomatic gallstones; stones that do not cause symptoms are generally left untreated. So rates of cholecystectomy are indicative of the rate of painful gallstones.

During the study period, Tsai's team found, roughly 6,600 women had their gallbladders removed. But those with the highest intake of fruits and vegetables at the study's start were 21 percent less likely than those with the lowest intake to have the surgery.

The risk reduction was independent of other factors that increase the risk of gallstone formation, such as age, weight and diabetes.

Women in the group with highest intake of fruits and vegetables typically ate seven or more servings a day; those with the lowest intake generally ate less than three servings.

Citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, and all foods rich in vitamin C seemed to be particularly protective, the study found. According to the researchers, dietary fiber, antioxidant vitamins -- which include vitamin C -- and minerals such as magnesium may all theoretically help prevent symptomatic gallstones.

However, they add, the benefit is likely due to a complex interaction of nutrients.

''Because any single constituent in fruits and vegetables is unlikely to explain fully the beneficial effect,'' Tsai's team writes, ''it is reasonable and practical to recommend an abundant fruit and vegetable consumption.'' (AGENCIES)