Srinagar, Aug 7: A former Border Security Force (BSF) soldier who was injured on July 31 in militant attack at Kaksari area in Srinagar city succumbed to injuries today.
Former BSF trooper Nazir Ahmad Shah of Maidan Pora Lolab Kupwara was battling for life since Saturday and succumbed to injuries at SMHS Hospital today.
Nazir who after retiring from BSF three months back had joined a private security wing as an officer and was posted as In-charge officer of the security wing at SMHS hospital.
Kolkata, Aug 7: Having pocketed the recurve women’s top seed at the Archery World Cup last-stage, ace Indian archer Deepika Kumari is now eyeing a last-gasp berth into the World Cup Final where she has three silver medals.
“I will not be sad if I don’t go to Lausanne. Well, maybe a little bit sad,” Deepika told the FITA website after topping the charts in yesterday’s qualification in the World Cup Stage IV in Wroclaw, Poland.
“I like to shoot in finals, and I like to win,” Deepika said as she has got the two top seeds (recurve individual and mixed pair events) in Wroclaw to take the advantage.
The 20-year-old, who won gold in 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, now needs nothing short of a gold to earn a berth for the season-concluding Lausanne meet from September 5-7.
Left out of the Indian squad for Shanghai and Antalya before recording a zero-ranking-point finish in Medellin World Cup stage, Deepika turned back to her old coach Dharmendra Tiwari and her alma mater — Tata Archery Academy, something that has done the trick for Jharkhand archer.
“I had been shooting with a new set-up,” she said about her poor run to start off the season.
“It was not good. I was not confident. Last year and this season so far, it just hasn’t been working for me.
“Today, I shot as I would expect,” the Ranchi girl said with a smile after shooting 676 points, the best qualification result of the season.
Deepika is well aware that if she keeps shooting like this, yet another World Cup Final appearance is not out of reach.
Whether that happens this year, or another, she would surely like to do one better than the silvers she’s been collecting for the last three years.
City archer Dola Banerjee had won the coveted World Cup Final in 2007, the only Indian to have achieved the feat. (PTI)
Bangalore, Aug 7: Indian cricket’s rising star Sanju Samson’s coach Biju George feels that his ward possesses the grit of Rahul Dravid as well as the flair of AB de Villiers which will make him a special player for India in the coming days.
“Sanju is a combination of Dravid and AB as he is a package of flamboyance and dogged determination. He is as flamboyant and as determined as Dravid is,” George told PTI in an exclusive interview here.
The Kerala youngster has earned his maiden call-up in the senior national side for the five-match ODI series in England.
Though Sanju is a flamboyant and aggressive batsman, he does have the intensity to play long innings.
“He exudes Dravid’s intensity to build innings and play for a long time in the middle. He knows to pace the innings as Dravid does,” he said.
“Every time he talks to Dravid, he gets to learn more about the game,” George, who also works as a Coach with Sports Authority of India (SAI), said about his favourite student, who has been under Dravid’s guidance at the Rajasthan Royals.
Of late Sanju, who was the leading run-getter for India A in their victorious campaign in the quadrangular one-day series in Australia with 244 runs from seven matches, has been following AB for his flamboyant attitude towards the game – whether he is batting, fielding or wicket-keeping, George said. (PTI)
Speedball players of SD Tara Puri High School posing alongwith Principal and coach.
JAMMU, Aug 7: Three students of S D Tara Puri High School, Gandhi Nagar claimed 2 gold and 1 silver medal in 6th Sub Junior National Speedball Championship 2014 at New Delhi recently.
Gurmanjeet Singh and Aryan Kangotra won gold in single, solo event in Under-14 boys, while Janvi Sharma bagged one silver medal in Under-12 girls single event.
School Principal, Neeru Puri lauded the efforts of the students and the coach, Sunny Nanda.
The chairman also expressed satisfaction over the performance of the players and the coach.
England's Stuart Broad holds the ball as he leaves the field after taking six wickets during the fourth Test match against India at the Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester.
Manchester, Aug 4: Stuart Broad produced a devastating spell of swing bowling as India suffered a dramatic batting collapse being bundled out for a paltry 152 to put England in the driver’s seat on the opening day of the fourth cricket Test here today.
Broad with deadly figures of six for 25 was ably complemented by an incisive Jimmy Anderson (3/46) as they made full use of the overcast conditions decimating the Indian top-order leaving the visitors reeling at 8 for four.
The Indian batsmen couldn’t show the required gumption to survive the first hour when it was a battle of attrition.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (71) battled against the odds with a technique of his own as he got a bit of support from comeback man Ravichandran Ashwin (40) and in-form Ajinkya Rahane (24), which certainly wasn’t enough to put up a decent enough total on the board.
At stumps, England looked in control as they reached 113 for three with only 40 runs required to get the first innings lead.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Sam Robson (6) with an incutter. The batsman shouldered arms to a delivery that jagged back sharply after pitching outside off-stump.
Varun Aaron (2/26) playing his first Test match in nearly three years got Alastair Cook with a bouncer which the England captain mistimed. Aaron also got in-form Gary Ballance with a delivery that came into trap him leg before.
Ian Bell was batting on 45 alongside nightwatchman Chris Jordan (0 batting) as England enjoyed a productive day in office.
It was a day when India also equalled the world record of maximum number of ducks (6) in a Test innings alongside South Africa and Bangladesh.
The Indian top-order simply had no answer to the deliveries from Anderson and Broad, who again hunted in pair decimating the top four in less than 30 minutes after the commencement of the Test match. India lost four wickets without any addition of runs in a space of 12 deliveries to be reduced to 8/4 and never recovered from that.
Courtesy their skipper, who hit 15 boundaries in his 133-ball knock, India managed to atleast cross the 150-run mark.
Gautam Gambhir (4)’s bad habit of playing the dab shot down the third-man once again brought about his downfall.
Having not learnt his lesson over the years, there was virtually no footwork as Gambhir tried that glide to third man off a perfectly pitched delivery that was moving away after pitching. The result was a simple catch for Joe Root at gully.
Murali Vijay (0), who had otherwise had a decent series so far got a beauty from Anderson which pitched on middle and leg and then had a big late movement. The Tamil Nadu batsman had to play at it and Alastair Cook gobbled it up at the first slip.
Virat Kohli’s indecision outside the off-stump was fully exploited by wily Anderson as Cook took his second regulation catch at the first slip. Kohli was also out without scoring.
Broad then got into the act pitching the ball at perfect length as Cheteshwar Pujara went for a drive only to be caught by Chris Jordan in the slip-cordon.
Down at 8/4, Ajinkya Rahane and Dhoni led the rescue act with a 54 run partnership for the fifth wicket as English bowlers never let the pressure off.
Their 50-run partnership came in the 23rd over. Just when it appeared that they had seen off the session without any further damage, Jordan (1-27) struck a telling blow. Rahane went for an expansive drive and edged to Ian Bell at second slip.
Post-lunch, Dhoni was accompanied by Ravindra Jadeja (0), but the latter didn’t stick around for long as Anderson trapped him leg before. Ashwin was the next man in and he had a lot of stake, playing his first Test of the series. (PTI)
Generally world societies have been voicing great concern about alarming increase in drug addiction in contemporary societies. Now in almost all countries, there are organizations and institutions, formal as well as informal, involved in preventing production, transportation and distribution of drugs and narcotics that make the youth addicted and finally lead them to destruction. But despite global efforts, drug control has not been eradicated rather in some regions it has become almost legitimized business. Take the case of Afghanistan, one of the leading countries in the world known for widespread cultivation and production of narcotics. Drug industry has become the mainstay of jihadist and terrorist economy. Nearer home, there has been considerable rise in drug addiction in our state. Anti-narcotic organizations and squads have been seizing large quantities of heroin and other drugs from drug smuggling mafia which has established trans-national network. Drug smuggling has many facets from cultivation and production to manufacturing and distribution. It is a huge nexus and difficult for Governments to break it.
In anyway the efforts which the State authorities are making to control its production and distribution on one hand and treatment and counseling of drug addicts on the other hand are appreciable. One should not expect miracles to happen over night but the very fact that the Government is seized of the problem is very encouraging.
NEW DELHI, Aug 7: Government has launched a scheme to provide interest subsidy on educational loans for overseas studies for students belonging to the minorities, including Muslims.
Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla also informed Lok Sabha that some scholarships provided to students of minority communities are not on par with scholarships given to SC and ST students and her ministry has approached the Finance Ministry to bring parity between the two.
Heptulla said under the ‘Padho Pardesh’ scheme, the ministry will provide interest subsidy on educational loans for overseas studies for students belonging to the notified minority communities like Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jain and Parsis.
“The objective of the scheme is to award interest subsidy to meritorious students belonging to economically weaker sections of notified minority communities so as to provide those better opportunities for higher education abroad and enhance their employability,” she said during Question Hour.
Heptulla said government’s intention is that not only the students belonging to rich families but students from poor background should also go abroad for studies.
The Minister said that to be eligible, the annual income of the family from all sources should not exceed Rs 6 lakh and the interest subsidy is linked to the existing educational loan scheme of Indian banks association and restricted students enrolled for courses at Masters, MPhil and Phd levels. Canara Bank is the implementing agency for the scheme.
Heptulla said the Minority Affairs Ministry has approached the Finance Ministry to bring parity between some of the scholarships given to minority students and SC and ST students.
“We do not want any discrimination against any community. We want to follow the policy of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikash’ (development from all). We hope that the Finance Ministry will do the needful in the next budget to bring parity in the scholarships,” she said. (PTI)
NEW DELHI, Aug 7: In a major move, the government has amended service rules to ensure that IAS, IPS and IFoS officers maintain “high ethics” and “political neutrality” while discharging their duty.
Officers needs to be responsive to the public, particularly to the weaker section, ensure courtesy and good behaviour with the public and take decisions solely in public interest and use, the new rules said.
The All India Services (Conduct) Amendment Rules, 2014, notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), makes it mandatory for officers to declare any private interests relating to his public duties and take steps to resolve conflicts in a way that protects the public interest.
The officers should not place himself under any financial or other obligations to any individual or organisation which may influence him in the performance of his official duties, the rules said.
Every member of the service shall not misuse his position as civil servant and not take decisions in order to derive financial or material benefits for himself, his family or his friends, it said.
The rules cast a compulsory obligation on officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) to maintain confidentiality in the performance of his official duties.
The officers shall also guard those information, disclosure of which may prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of state, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, friendly relation with foreign countries or lead to incitement of an offense or illegal or unlawful gains to any person.
“Every member of the Service shall maintain high ethical standards, integrity and honesty, political neutrality; promoting of the principles of merit, fairness and impartiality in the discharge of duties and accountability and transparency,” the rules said.
The officers have also been given freedom to take decision and make suggestions. “Make choices, take decisions and make recommendations on merit alone.”
They should act with fairness and impartiality and not discriminate against anyone, particularly the poor and the under-privileged sections of society, and refrain from doing anything which is or may be contrary to any law, rules, regulations and established practices.
The officers should use public resources efficiently, effectively and economically and act with fairness and impartiality and not discriminate against anyone, particularly the poor and the under-privileged sections of society.
They should maintain discipline in the discharge of his duties and be liable to implement the lawful orders duly communicated to him and, perform and discharge his duties with the highest degree of professionalism and dedication to the best of his abilities.
The All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 had limited mention of the role of IAS, IPS and IFoS officers.
“The rules have been amended to give officers more freedom to work, make them efficient and more responsive to the public,” a senior DoPT officer said.
The present authorised strength of IAS, IPS and IFoS officers are 6,270, 4,728 and 3,131 respectively. (PTI)
NEW DELHI, Aug 7: Amid opposition charge of political vendetta in the sacking of Mizoram Governor Kamla Beniwal, Government today said the decision was prompted by “serious allegations” against her and insisted there was no politics behind it.
Beniwal, who had a running battle with Narendra Modi when he was Gujarat Chief Minister, was sacked last night as Governor of Mizoram just two months before her tenure comes to an end.
Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad said the move was in accordance with Constitutional principles.
“…The decision to remove Kamla Beniwal, the Governor is in accordance with Constitutional principles and conventions with the due approval of the President of India,” Prasad told reporters outside Parliament.
He said that if the government has to say anything more, it will be done on the floor of Parliament.
Responding to Congress allegation of political vendetta behind the move, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu insisted that there is “no politics” behind the decision.
“Action against Mizoram Governor is no violation against the Supreme Court’s earlier judgement. Action has been taken within rules and within the Constitution. There is no politics behind it,” he said.
Pressed further, the minister said, “There are serious allegations. Government has taken note of them and taken action.”
He said the President has decided over it after applying his mind thoroughly on it and such decisions are “privilege” of the government.
Reacting to the move, Congress general secretary and Communication Department Chairman Ajay Maken tweeted, “If Governor Kamla Beniwal was to be removed, why was she transferred to Mizoram only a few days back? #Vendetta Politics.”
Naidu accused the Congress of doing politics over the issue.
“Congress is trying to derive political mileage out of it,” the minister said.
The sacking order brought to an end the gubernatorial tenure of the 87-year-old Congress leader from Rajasthan who battled with the Modi government over the appointment of Lokayukta and some legislations during her tenure in Gujarat.
During her confrontation with Modi, Beniwal appointed retired Justice R A Mehta as Lokayukta in Gujarat against which the state went in appeal to the High Court and later the Supreme Court which upheld it last year. However, Justice Mehta did not take up the post and Modi’s government named a new nominee.
Beniwal is the second Governor to be sacked after the removal of Puducherry Lt Governor Virendra Kataria. Soon after the Modi Government assumed office, some Governors were forced to resign while a few a resisted and are still in office.
Interestingly, another Congress leader Margaret Alva appointed by the UPA government was allowed to conclude her tenure in Rajasthan. (PTI)
NEW DELHI, Aug 7: Patriarchal mindset of the society, absence of stringent laws and slow conviction rate are among the several factors which have led to rise in crime against women in the country, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said today.
“Apart from poverty and helplessness, crime against women occur due to a number of factors like patriarchal mindset of the society, absence of stringent laws, delay in completion of trials, low conviction rate etc,” the Minister said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.
Gandhi further said that her ministry is endeavoring to put in place effective mechanisms to provide safe environment for women to encourage them to work, live fearlessly and reach their potential.
“Ministry recognizes that incidence of crime against women cannot be controlled unless the mindset of people, in general, are made to change,” she said.
To eliminate this menace, the Government is putting in place a number of legislative and administrative measures like amending the criminal law, enacting women specific legislations, reforms in police and judicial procedures, besides creating awareness, the Minister said.
According to the data of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Uttar Pradesh has registered highest number of cases of violence on women by recording 32,546 cases followed by Andhra Pradesh (32,809), West Bengal (29,826), Rajasthan (27,933), Maharashtra (24,895) and Madhya Pradesh (22,061).
Till August 4, 146 complaints of gang-rape or rape have been received by the National Commission for Women from Uttar Pradesh. (PTI)
