Hyderabad tightens security for Ganesh immersions

Hyderabad,Sep 21: Over 30,000 policemen were deployed and the military asked to stand by as massive security arrangements have been made for Ganesh idols immersion processions here Wednesday.A thick security blanket has thrown around the route of the mammoth procession, which passes through the communally-sensitive old city before culminating at Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city. Unprecedented security has been made in view of the communal riots that broke out in the city in March this year and the verdict of Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court in Babri Masjid title suit scheduled for Sep 24. According to Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K.Khan, military will be on stand-by to meet any contingency. "If necessary, the services of anti-terror force Octopus and armed forces will be utilised," he told reporters. Four companies of paramilitary Rapid Action Force (RAF) will be deployed in addition to the police forces. While the entire 10,000- strong city police force will be deployed, another 15,000 to 20,000 constables from other parts of the state will also be drafted for security. Over 40 officers of the rank of superintendent of police and above will be on duty. Over one million people are expected to attend the annual procession, which starts from Balapur in old city. Nearly 13,000 big idols from Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Cyberabad and surrounding districts will be immersed in the Hussain Sagar. Authorities have installed 50 heavy cranes for immersion of the idols. Hundreds of idols were immersed during last two days. Police have already imposed restrictions under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code banning assembly of four or more people barring those in the Ganesh processions. The orders will be in force till Sep 28. Thirty bomb disposal squads will search vulnerable places along the 20-km long procession route. An equal number of anti-sabotage teams will use 30 sniffer dogs to identify suspicious objects. Massive security will be in place at the historic Mecca Masjid and Charminar in the old city. In the past, communal clashes broke out during the procession in the sensitive areas in the old city. The procession, organised by Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samiti since early 1980s, brings the city to a grinding halt. The main procession route and roads taken by nearly two dozen tributary processions will be closed for traffic.Like in the past, the state government has declared a general holiday in the state capital and the neighbouring Ranga Reddy district fo Anantchaturdashi that marks the close of the 10-day Ganesh festival.
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Murder accused stabbed to death in Andhra court

Hyderabad, Sep 21 : A man accused in a murder case was stabbed to death in a court premises in Andhra Pradesh Tuesday.Kondaiah, who was brought by police to the court for the murder case hearing, was stabbed and killed in full public view in the court complex in Miryalguda town of Nalgonda district, about 150 km from here. Police said the attacker fled after killing the youth. The incident sent panic among litigants and lawyers at the court. According to Kondaiah's relatives, the attacker, Khaja, picked up an argument with him and stabbed him to death as others watched in horror. The motive is still not clear. Police suspect the attack was carried out to settle old scores, and have now launched an investigation. Kondaiah allegedly had extramarital relations with a woman and her relative Khaja stabbed him to take revenge. Kondaiah, hailing from Nagarjunasagar, was allegedly involved in a murder and was brought by police to the court for hearing.
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NFAI organises 'cine course' for journalists from Oct 11

Hyderabad, Sep 21 : With a view to provide systematic inputs on Indian cinema to the working Journalists, National Film Archive of India (NFAI), Pune, is organising a 'cine correspondents' courses' in association with the Film and Television Institute of India.The curriculum includes theoretical study of the art and history of cinema, development of cinema as a medium of art and communication.The course is scheduled from October 11 to 22. The course fee would be Rs 5000 per participant. Working journalists with minimum experience of three years in news organisations in the age group of 25 to 50 years can participate, a release issued here yesterday by the NFAI said.
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Jama Masjid buzzes back to life day after shooting

Jama Masjid and its surrounding areas in Delhi’s old quarters was back to its bustling self Monday, a day after gunmen opened fire outside the 16th century mosque, injuring two Taiwanese. While tourists came in large numbers, it was business as usual for the numerous shops in the area.

Despite advisories from the governments of Australia and Britain urging their nationals to refrain from visiting sensitive locations, around 35 foreigners were seen near the historic mosque Monday morning while many more visited the majestic Red Fort nearby.“Yes, there were some concerns but the mood at our camp is upbeat. There is no scare… neither are we planning to cut short our vacation here in India,” British tourist Steve Coll said as he came out of Jama Masjid.Two Taiwanese tourists – Ko Chang and Ku Ze Wei – were wounded when two gunmen on a motorcycle opened random fire at a bus from which a group of tourists was alighting near the Jama Masjid Sunday morning.The attack, just after 11 a.m., took place near Gate No.3 of the mammoth, red sandstone mosque.Though the police presence increased by the hour Monday, shops near Jama Masjid opened at their usual time and rikshaw-pullers eagerly awaited customers.“We’re not afraid. The event occurred, and we’re over it. But we wish that the criminals are arrested soon, or we’ll be affected adversely if tourists get scared,” aid Monu, a rickshaw puller.Ganga Singh, who works in ‘Delhi’s Ivory Palace’, a shop opposite Jama Masjid’s Gate No.3, seemed unfazed by Sunday’s shooting incident. He opened the shutters of the shop at around 9 a.am., like he does on a normal working day.“What have we to fear? Police is carrying on their investigations…the results will come out and we’ll carry out our business as usual,” Singh said.Sanjay Chauhan, who works in a garage a liitle away from Singh’s shop, told IANS that no one in the neighbourhood was scared and that they would assisst the police in every way possible.“All shops will open in due time…nobody’s scared of those attackers. Work will go on as usual and we’ll assist the police to the best we can,” Chauhan said.Mohammed Amin, another rickshaw puller, said: “It is important that those criminals are caught and their identity revealed. These terrorists want nothing but disturbances in the city. We all will help the police in any way we can.”A policeman, who arrived at the site at 7.30 a.am., was alert but calm and said that everybody in the area was at peace. “People aren’t panicky or in a state of shock. There is not much to worry about but we’re watchful nevertheless,” he said.“We are watchful for any new faces and for suspicious elements,” he said.Visitors in tourist buses and hired taxis were seen near the mosque and many parents were also seen escorting their young ones inside the complex.In other parts of the city, tourist hotspots like Connaught Place, Gole Market and areas around Commonwealth Games venues were heavily barricaded. Traffic restrictions were imposed at around 470 landmarks and prime locations, including Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple and major markets.Several motorists said they could not park their vehicles because of the restrictions.Police said pillion riders have been disallowed near these sites and motorists will have to park their vehicles at least 100 metres away from these places. CCTVs are also being installed at these locations, police said.
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Murdered girl student's friends being questioned

Hyderabad, Sep 20 : A day after the gruesome murder of a girl student by her senior, Hyderabad police Monday were questioning two of their friends.

Shekhar Goud, who killed engineering final year student Divya by smashing her head with a baseball bat, is still at large and police have formed special teams to arrest him. Police suspect it to be a case of sexual jealousy as Divya had been avoiding him of late and had befriended another boy, Pradeep. The body of 20-year-old Divya, student of Vignan Engineering College on the city outskirts, was handed over to her relatives after an autopsy at Osmania Hospital. Shekhar had invited Divya to his flat at Hill Colony in Vanasthalipuram Sunday evening for talks to sort out some differences which had of late cropped up between them. After killing Divya, Shekhar sent an SMS to Pradeep saying he had eliminated her and wanted to end his life. Alerted by Pradeep, police found the body of the girl in his flat. Police were questioning Pradeep and another friend of Vidya. Meanwhile, women and students' groups staged a protest at Vanasthalipuram police station demanding capital punishment to Shekhar. They alleged that the government had failed to act though such incidents were taking place regularly. Divya's father Madhusudhan Rao, who works with Mahindra and Mahindra in Kolkata, returned along with his wife Susheela. The girl was staying with her relatives in Habsiguda area. Shekhar, who completed his engineering last year, is a native of Nalgonda district but his father Venkatesham Goud works in Mumbai
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16 drowned in Ganesh immersions across Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, Sep 20 : As many as 16 people lost their lives during the Ganesh idol immersions in different parts of Andhra Pradesh Monday, police said.

Tragedy struck Ganesh festivities in Krishna district when six people were drowned while immersing an idol in a lake. According to police, the incident took place at Gollanapalle village of Gannavaram mandal. Local fishermen fished out the bodies of the six youths, all hailing from Gannavaram. Three people died in a similar incident in Kadapa district and two persons were washed away in Godavari River when they were immersing an idol at Bhadrachalam in Khammam district. Two youngsters met a watery grave in a lake at Mandamarri in Adilabad district and two people in East Godavari district. One death has been reported from Nizamabad district. The Ganesh immersion is taking place in different parts of the state for the last two days. The festivities will continue over the next two days. The mammoth Ganesh procession will be taken out in Hyderabad Wednesday. Over 13,000 idols will be immersed in Hussainsagar Lake in the heart of the city.
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New Delhi shooting won’t stop Taiwanese from visiting India

Taiwan media gave wide coverage Monday to the incident in New Delhi in which two members of a Taiwanese film crew were shot, but some people said the incident would not stop them from visiting India.The United Daily News carried seven related stories, one analysing terrorist attacks in India and another warning that the two Taiwanese victims might be infected with the superbug in Indian hospitals.But some travel agents and Taiwanese are not overly concerned.“This is an isolated incident. It will not affect Taiwan people’s interest in visiting India,” Yeh Ting-lin, chairman of the Shih Chun Travel, said.“Terrorist attacks usually target Americans and Europeans. Generally speaking, Taiwan tourists are safe,” he added.Chou Mei-li, head of the Friends of Tibet, said the shooting will not scare Taiwanese who travel to India to visit Buddhist temples or to see the Dalai Lama.“I also think this is an isolated incident, and the target of the shooting was not Taiwanese,” she added.The Foreign Ministry urged Taiwanese to mind travelers’ personal safety when in India, but did not issue a travel alert.India is a favourite travel destination for Taiwanese. Nearly 30,000 Taiwanese visit India each year for sightseeing or business.Some of the tourists are “religious tourists”, like Buddhist pilgrims, disciples of the Dalai Lama or disciples of late spiritual leader Osho.According to the Dalai Lama’s representative office in Taipei, there are half a million students of Tibetan Buddhism in Taiwan, and the number is increasing.“Every year, some 1,000 Taiwanese travel as a group to Dharamsala to attend Buddhist lectures given by the Dalai Lama,” said Sonam Dorji, secretary-general of the representative office.The shooting occurred Sunday morning outside the Jama Masjid in New Delhi.A Taiwan TV crew had just stepped out of a coach when two masked men arrived on a motorbike, fired on the mosque and at the coach before speeding off.One cameraman was hit in the abdomen, while the other was grazed in the back by a bullet. The condition of both men was stable.A few hours after the shooting, an Islamic militant group issued a statement and threatened to attack the Commonwealth Games scheduled to begin in New Delhi October 3-14, with 7,000 athletes and 100,000 tourists.
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Advani speaks to Chidambaram on Delhi shooting, Uttarakhand landslide

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Sunday telephoned Home Minister P. Chidambaram and discussed security measures in the wake of the shooting near Jama Masjid that wounded two Taiwanese tourists and the landslides in Uttarakhand which killed over 40 people in the BJP-ruled state.

Advani said that he spoke to Chidambaram and discussed the heightened terror threat perception ahead of the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games in the light of Sunday’s shooting near Jama Masjid.The issue also figured in their talks briefly when Advani and Chidambaram met at India Islamic Cultural Centre which had organised an Eid get-together.Advani added that he also discussed the devastating landslides and heavy rains in Uttarakhand that have killed over 40 people and left many homeless. Uttarakhand has recorded over 300 mm of rainfall since Saturday.Two Taiwanese tourists were wounded when two gunmen on a motorcycle opened random fire near the Jama Masjid here Sunday morning, creating a scare ahead of the Commonwealth Games.Ko Chang and Ku Ze Wei, both in their 20s, were shot in the head and stomach respectively when the gunmen fired at a bus from which a group of tourists was alighting, police and eyewitnesses said.The attack came despite a high level of security here in the run up to the Commonwealth Games that will draw 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories.
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Mumbai police on high alert after Delhi shooting

Mumbai police Sunday went on high alert in the wake of the shooting near New Delhi’s Jama Masjid as well as the ongoing 11-day Ganeshotsava festival in the city, officials said.Besides increasing vigilance and security checks at all the Ganesh mandals across the city, police have also turned their attention to the 200-plus mosques and mausoleums, including Haji Ali dargah and Mahim dargah, and others dotting the metropolis.While the Ganesh ‘visarjan’ is scheduled to take place all over the city and elsewhere in the state Sep 22, the Ayodhya judgement is expected Sep 24 – both of which have necessitated the heightened security measures in Mumbai.The curtains will come down Wednesday on the state’s biggest public festival Ganeshotsav when around 150,000 big and small idols of the elephant-headed god will be taken for immersion at all the beaches, creeks, rivers, lakes, ponds and other artificial water bodies created for the purpose around the city. Around six million people are expected to participate.
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Jama Masjid shooting: Red alert in Delhi

A red alert has been sounded in the capital following a shooting incident at the capital’s Jama Masjid in which two Taiwanese were wounded.“A red alert has been sounded and we are conducting checks at various points,” Delhi Police Joint Commissioner Karnail Singh told reporters. He said the police were confident of nabbing the culprits soon.
According to Delhi Police, security has been increased in sensitive areas and suspicious vehicles are being checked.“There is a high alert, we are checking all suspicious vehicles, especially motorcycles matching the description of the one used in the shooting,” a Delhi Police official said.Checking has also been increased at all entry points to the capital from neighbouring areas.Two gunmen on a motorcycle opened random fire at one of the entrances to the Jama Masjid here Sunday, leaving two Taiwanese tourists wounded and sparking panic.The attackers fired at least 10 rounds at a group of tourists alighting from a bus outside the 16th-century red sandstone mosque in the old quarters of the city.According to police, the attackers were were fair complexioned and tall youth and were not wearing any masks on their face.
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Rosaiah launches Ayurvedic hospital in AP

Hyderabad, Sep 20 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah has inaugurated Earth Hospital, a chain of multi-speciality Ayurvedic hospitals in the Hyderabad city.

Speaking on the occasion yesterday, Dr Rosaiah said Ayurveda is a treatment which has been invented and practised by the ancestors for ages and is as relevant today.
Especially it can provide complete treatment and can erase the disease from its roots, unlike allopathy, which provides relief but can't stop recurrence of the disease, he added. The Chief Minister said traditional Ayurveda patients rely just on it for all their ailments and wouldn't look at other options. ''Even today, there are several families who only avail ayurvedic treatment, that is the confidence they have in the treatment and its all due to the cure they have seen that ayurveda provides.'' He said ayurvedic practitioners are available even in the remotest villages, however due to lack of awareness people don't seek their advice. This hospital and doctors need to be appreciated for being courageous to launch Ayurvedic hospital as they have come forward to provide treatment to people and not to mint money, which they could have easily done by starting an allopathic hospital, he added. Dr Rosaiah said Ayurveda is extremely popular in the 100 per cent literate state of Kerala, who realise its importance.The hospital is the first foray of the Earth Hospital group in the state.
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26,000 policemen deployed for Ganesh immersion

Hyderabad, Sep 19 : About 26,000 policemen will oversee the final Ganesh idols immersion ritual in Hussain Sagar lake here on September 22 amid tight security.

Prohibitory orders have been clamped in the city for that day, Hyderabad City Police Commissioner A K Khan told mediapersons here today.The Ganesh festival which began on Septemer 11 will conclude with a final immersion procession on September 22.About 13,000 idols were expected to be immersed and about 10 to 12 lakh people are expected to participate in the final procession. Along with four companies of RAF, about 625 officers and men had been deployed in Hyderabad city since September 6 as a part of arragements for Ramzan and Ganesh festivals. 272 hyper sensitive and 543 sensitive places were identified and pickets were posted there. 475 mobile parties will be moving in the area for smooth conduct of both the immersion.The City Security Wing of Hyderabad City Police will also deploy 30 Bomb Disposal Teams and 02 Access Control Teams each at Khairatabad Ganesh Pandal and Ganesh Temple, Secunderabad. The would be equipped with DFMDs, HFMDs, Prodder, Deep Search mine detector, under carriage mirror and explosive detectors. The Anti-Sabotage Teams will also use the services of 30 sniffer dogs. The City Security Wing of Hyderabad City Police will also utilize the services of 80 Special Police Officers (Ex. Army Men) in their anti-sabotage checks. Other anti-sabotage measures will include vehicle checking and frisking at entry points to the city, at important junctions and crowded places like railway station, bus Stations, shopping malls, cinema Halls, hotels and restaurants.
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Final year B Tech student killed by classmate

Hyderabad, Sep 19 : A final year B Tech student of a private Engineering college in Nalgonda district on the outskirte of the city was fatally bludgeoned by her classmate at his house in Vanasthalipuram in the city tonigth.The girl identified as Divya was from Kolkata.The Boy Sekhar Reddy reportedly from Nelgonda district was staying along with his relatives. His parents stayed in Mumbai.Police said the girl was killed after being hit on her head with a Base ball-Hockey stick.The body has been sent for postmortem.Initial report suggested that the girl was raped before being killed. The boy was absconding after reportedly sending an SMS to his parents that he would ''end his life'' because of the incident.
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Rain in Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema for next 48 hours

Hyderabad, Sept 19 : Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema over the next 48 hours.For subsequent two days no change was expected.The sky would be generally cloudy for Hyderabad and neighbourhood. Rain or thundershowers may occur in parts of city during the next two days. Tje Maximum and Minimum temperatures would bearound 33 and 22 degree celsius.Observations recorded till 0830 hours this morning: occurred at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.Isolated rain occurred over Rayalaseema.The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Ramagundam, Chinnoor (Adilabad dist) 6 each, Manthani (Karimnagar dist) 5, Bhimadole (West Godavari dist), Kalwakurthy (Mahabubnagar dist), Nuzvid (Krishna dist) 4 each, Mahabubnagar, Dowlaiswaram (East Godavari dist), Eturnagaram and Narsampet (both Warangal dist), Mancherial (Adilabad dist), Palakonda (Srikakulam dist), Parvathipuram (Vizianagaram dist), Suryapet (Nalgonda dist), Yemmiganur (Kurnool dist) 3 each, Nandigama, Nagarjunasagar Dam and Ramannapet (both Nalgonda dist), Patapatnam (Srikakulam dist), Sultanabad (Karimnagar dist) 2 each and Bhadrachalam, Guntur, Kakinada, Khammam, Machilipatnam, Narsapur, Asifabad and Luxettipet (both Adilabad dist), Dummagudem (Khammam dist), Eluru and Tadepalligudem (both West Godavari dist), Gudivada, Paleru Bridge and Tiruvuru (all Krishna dist), Huzurabad, Jagitiyal and Kaleswaram (all Karimnagar dist), Kodangal and Nagarkurnool (both Mahabubnagar dist), Koilkuntla (Kurnool dist), Mahabubabad (Warangal dist), Palasa (Srikakulam dist), Tandur and Vikarabad (both Rangareddy dist) one each, the bulletin said.
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Student group calls for anti-Telangana protests

Hyderabad, Sep 19 : Andhra Pradesh is again witnessing protests and counter-protests over the demand for separate statehood to Telangana with a students' body calling for demonstrations in universities in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions from Sep 21.

The Samaikhya Andhra students' Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is opposed to the demand for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, has called for protests to counter "increasing attacks by Telangana activists". The call comes on the heels of attacks on lecturers from the two regions at Osmania University here, the stone pelting on convoys of ministers and a massive protest by Telangana lawyers paralysing work at the high court. JAC convenor Krishna Yadav told reporters at Nellore Sunday that Samaikhya Andhra or united Andhra flags would be hoisted in the universities Sep 22. His announcement came a day after Congress legislators from Andhra and Rayalaseema called on Director General of Police Aravinda Rao seeking protection for people from the two regions settled in Hyderabad. The legislators led by government whip Shailajanath voiced concern over the increasing violent acts by supporters of a separate Telangana against people from other regions. The legislators have also urged Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to take steps to protect people of Andhra and Rayalaseema. They referred to the incidents at the high court where Telangana lawyers, demanding 42 percent share in the posts of judicial officers, attacked court hall Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy. The JAC leader said it was a matter of concern that Telangana students too were carrying out attacks. They chased and manhandled teachers from the two regions at Osmania University here Aug 28, demanding that their examination papers be valuated by teachers from Telangana. The Telangana activists were also accused of resorting to violence while protesting against the conduct of Group I examination of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission Sep 5. They disrupted the exam at a few centres, demanding the commission to reserve 42 percent posts for Telangana. The pro-Telangana groups are also disrupting the visits of ministers and other political leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema. The convoys of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and at least two ministers were stoned by the activists in Telangana during the last few days. Political analysts say the Telangana groups want to keep the pot boiling till the Srikrishna Committee submits its report to the central government by Dec 31. The committee was constituted by the central government in February to study the issue after violent protests for and against a separate Telangana rocked the state for nearly three months.
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Rashtriya Swamyamsewak sangh chief slams Chidambaram’s ’saffron terror’ remark

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Rao Bhagwat Tuesday slammed Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s “saffron terror” comment, saying it sends out “wrong message” to the world about India.

“The word saffron terror doesn’t exist for me. The Home Minister’s comment on saffron terror is sending out a wrong message to the world like Pakistan being called a rogue state. Do you want India also to be called so,” Bhagwat told reporters at the Indian Women’s Press Corps here.On Aug 25, Chidamabram, while addressing a conference in Delhi of police chiefs from different states, said: “There is this recently uncovered phenomena of saffron terrorism that has been implicated in many bomb blasts of the past.”
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Rahul Gandhi says he gets 5,000 letters a day

Officially just a Lok Sabha member and Congress general secretary, Rahul Gandhi gets 5,000 letters a day from people on varied issues.The young leader, who admits it is not possible to go through all the letters, said at an interaction here Tuesday that he was open to guiding those who write to him, suggesting solutions, projects and programmes for various problems.
Gandhi’s comments came during a lively 75-minute question-answer session with the students of Visva-Bharati University here. The media was barred from the session.Responding to posers from some research scholars of the university about how they should seek redressal for their problems like delays or stopping of grants when their petitions to the higher authorities do not yield any fruits, Gandhi said he got 5,000 letters a day and it was not possible for him to go through all of them.According to a source present at the interaction, Gandhi said he could not say anything about people writing to the “prime minister, chief minister or others”. That, he told the gathering, was “up to you”.“But if you feel that you have programmes, projects and solutions, then inform me. I will be with you. I will help you,” Gandhi was quoted as saying.The Congress leader Monday began a three-day visit to West Bengal to mobilise workers ahead of the assembly elections next year. This is his second visit to the state in less than a fortnight.
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16 killed in Kashmir violence

Sixteen people were killed across the Kashmir Valley Monday during protests initially triggered by reports of the Quran being desecrated in the US on a day India’s top cabinet committee on security deferred a critical decision on the demand for withdrawing the special powers given to the armed forces.The three-hour-long meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and attended by his core team, decided to convene a meeting here of all political parties on Wednesday to “elicit their views on the way forward” in Kashmir, an official statement Monday evening said.The meeting was expected to have taken a decision on withdrawing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Political parties and separatist groups in the state have demanded the repeal of the AFSPA and the freeing of political prisoners as a precursor to initiating a peace process in the state.The CCS meeting came in the backdrop of escalated violence Monday that left 16 people dead and some 70 injured two days after Eid. This has taken the death toll in the violence in the state since June 11 to 86.Monday’s violence flared up after Iranian TV channel Press TV reported late Sunday that copies of the Quran had been burnt in the US. A pastor in Florida, US, had threatened to burn copies of the Quran on the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks but later called off the plan.The state government swung into action as protesters violated curfew — it was the second consecutive day of 24X7 curfew in towns in the Valley — in many parts of Srinagar.North Kashmir’s Tangmarg town witnessed the worst violence as mobs torched a Christian missionary school, the office of the social welfare department and a police vehicle.Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who rushed to Srinagar Monday from New Delhi, chaired a meeting of the cabinet and appealed for peace and harmony.State police chief Kuldeep Khoda told reporters in Srinagar that the police had evidence that Hurriyat leaders had incited Monday’s violence.The official statement issued in New Delhi Monday evening said:“The CCS has decided to convene a meeting of all political parties at New delhi on Wednesday and elicit their views on the way forward” in Kashmir.“The government hopes that following the all-party meeting, it will be able to engage the people of Jammu and Kashmir and take certain initiatives and measures that will build confidence among the people of the state,” the statement added.The statement was handed over to reporters by Home Secretary G.K. Pillai after the CCS meeting at the prime minister’s official residence.“The CCS is deeply distressed by the turn of events since Eid and specially the event that took place today following certain rumours. The CCS expresses its profound grief at the loss of life and offeres its sincere condolences to the brevered families.” the statement said.It said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government believed in dialogue.“The government has always held the belief that the diaogue and discussion is the only way forward to find and honourable and lasting solution.“In the past too, the UPA government had taken several initiaves to hold the dialogue with different political parties and groups, including the Hurriyat,” the statement said.“Those efforts did yield some results,” it added.“It has and remained the intention of the UPA government to restart the process of dialogue,” the statment said, adding: “The dialogue can embrace all issues that agitate the minds of people of J and K especially the youth.”“The dialogue can address issues such as the trust deficit and governance deficit,” the statement added.“Meanwhile, the ccs appeals to the people of J and K, especially the youth, to refrain from violent protests and maintain peace and order. Every life that is lost and every person that is injured, beside casuing immense grief, add to the complexity of the situation,” the statement said,Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna also attended the CCS meeting.Meanwhile, US Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer appealed for calm, saying he was “dismayed” to see reports of a church and school in Kashmir and Punjab being attacked and destroyed by rioters.“One misguided individual” had desecrated the Quran by tearing pages from it Saturday, Roemer said here, condemning such acts as “disrespectful, intolerant, divisive and un-representative of American values.”
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Government appeals for peace, to hold all-party meet Wednesday

The government Monday appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth, to “refrain from violent protests and maintain peace and order” and said they are “re-starting the process of dialogue”.

The Cabinet Committee on Security, which is chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, hoped that dialogue would be able to “address issues such as the trust deficit and governance deficit”.“The CCS reiterates government intention to restart the process of dialogue with different sections of people of Jammu and Kashmir. Towards this end, the CCS has decided to convene an all-political party meet at New Delhi on Wednesday, September 15, and elicit their views on the way forward,” said a note issued after the three-hour meeting that met to review the situation in the state.“Government hopes following the all-party meeting, it will be able to engage the people of Jammu and Kashmir and also take certain initiatives and measures that will build confidence among the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” it said.The one-page note was handed out by Home Secretary G.K. Pillai after the three-hour- long meeting at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s 7 Race Course Road official residence.The meeting was held as the Kashmir Valley is on the boil again with 16 people killed in clashes with security forces Monday. With the latest deaths, 86 civilians, mostly teenagers and youth, have been killed in the cycle of violence of street protests and retaliatory firing by security forces since June 11.Noting that it was “deeply distressed by the turn of events since Eid and especially by the event that took place today following certain rumours”, the CCS “expressed its profound grief at the loss of life and offers its sincere condolences to the bereaved families.”“The government has always held the belief that the dialogue and discussion is the only way forward to find an honourable and lasting solution.“On the past too, the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government had taken several initiatives to hold the dialogue with different political parties and political groups including the Hurriyat those efforts did yield some results,” it added.“It was and remains the intention of the UPA government to restart the process of dialogue. The dialogue can embrace all issues that agitate the minds of people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth. The dialogue can address issues such as the trust deficit and governance deficit,” it added.“Meanwhile, the CCS appeals to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth to refrain from violent protests and maintain peace and order. Every life that is lost and every person that is injured, beside causing immense grief, add to the complexity of the situation.“Government sincerely hopes that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will heed this appeal and cooperate with the government in its efforts to ensure justice, dignity, honour and peace in Jammu and Kashmir,” it added.The meeting was attended by Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna.
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India too large a country for any alliance: PM

Backing the modernisation of defence forces, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday underlined his commitment to preserving India’s “strategic autonomy” and stressed that it is too large a country to be boxed into any alliance.“We have always prided ourselves on preserving our strategic autonomy, and this is an article of faith for us,” Manmohan Singh told the combined commanders’ conference in the capital.“India is too large a country to be boxed into any alliance or regional or sub-regional arrangements, whether trade, economic or political,” he said.Putting India’s economic transformation at the heart of the country’s foreign policy and strategic orientation, Manmohan Singh said in order to sustain 9 to 10 percent growth rate and to modernise its infrastructure, India needs to “maintain healthy relations with all major powers”.Commending the armed forces for their contribution to the country’s security, Manmohan Singh said: “Our Armed Forces deserve the best and I wish to assure you that the government will make every effort to ensure this. No country can make progress without ensuring its security and territorial integrity”.The prime minister also strongly endorsed the growing demand for much-needed modernisation of defence forces. “As our economy grows and our technological capabilities expand, we must set higher standards for the modernisation of our defence forces,” he said.“It is not enough for us to keep pace with change. When it comes to defence capability, we must be ahead of the technology curve,” he stressed.Defence modernisation, the prime minister said, must involve the full chain starting with updating war fighting doctrines to meet new threats to security, preparation of appropriate staff quality requirements and creating a broad-based production and delivery infrastructure on the ground.
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US condemns violence in Kashmir, Punjab

The United States Monday said it was “dismayed” by reports that a school and a church in Kashmir and Punjab had been attacked by rioters. It also condemned reports that a “misguided individual” in the US had desecrated the Quran, terming it “disrespectful, intolerant, divisive, and un-representative of American values”.

“The deliberate destruction of any holy book is an abhorrent act,” US Ambassador Timothy Roemer said in a statement here.An Iranian TV channel reported that the Quran had been desecrated in the US, triggering violent protests in the Kashmir Valley. Rumours that copies of the Quran had been desecrated in Michigan, US, had led to curfew in Punjab’s Malerkotla town.
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Heavy rains in Coastal Andhra Pradesh for next 48 hours

Hyderabad, Sept 14: Isolated heavy rain would occur over Rayalaseema and in the districts of East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore of Coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 48 hours, the Met officials said here today.

For subsequent two days no large change was expected. Moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers would occur at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema. Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Telangana over the next two days.The sky condition for Hyderabad and neighbourhood over the next two days would be generally cloudy with onne or two spell of rain or thundershowers would occur in parts of city. Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 32 and 23 degrees Celsius respectively.Observations recorded at 0830 hours today rain occurred at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema.The following stations recorded heavy rainfall in cm Sullurpet (Nellore dist) 12 , Puttur (Chittoor dist) 11 , Ongole 10 , Miryalguda and Nagarjunasagar Dam (both Nalgonda dist) 9 each, Machilipatnam 8, Ramannapet (Nalgonda dist) 7. The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Macherla (Guntur dist), Palamaner (Chittoor dist), Tada (Nellore dist) 6 each, Tirupathi AP, Addanki and Darsi (both Prakasam dist), Alampur and Shadnagar (both Mahabubnagar dist), Pakala (Chittoor dist) 5 each, Bapatla, Devarakonda (Nalgonda dist), Kandukur and Podili (both Prakasam dist), Kunavaram (Khammam dist) 4 each, Nandyal, Rentachintala, Bhimavaram (West Godavari dist), Srungavarapukota and Terlam (both Vizianagaram dist), Yerragondapalem (Prakasam dist) 3 each.
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Rly Recruitment Board scam: CBI files charge sheet

Hyderabad, Sep 14 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has, in a record 89 days, filed a charge sheet against 14 people, including the then Mumbai Board Chairman N Sharma in the Railway Recruitmet Scam (RRS) a CBI statement said here today.

The CBI, Hyderabad filed the charge sheet on September 13 in the Court of Special Judge for CBI cases.The case was filed against AK Jagannadham (A-1), the then Chief Executive Officer, Hassan-Mangalore Rail Development Corporation, Bangalore, J Sahreen Kumar (A-2), private person P Srinivasa Rao (A-3), Fitter, Rayanapadu Wagon Work Shop, Vijayawada, P Ashok Kumar (A-4), private person, Kumaraswamy Jagannadham (A-5), Dy Statistical Officer, Municipal Corporation, Kurnool, Jagannadham Ramesh (A-6), private person, Jagannadham Tirupathaiah (A-7), private person, MRSN Murthy (A-8), private person, Vivek Bharadwaj (A-9), son of S M Sharma, Srujan Jagannadham (A-10), son of A K Jagannadham (A-1), Advocate, SM Sharma (A-11), the then Chairman, RRB, Mumbai, G Sethy (A-12), Sr Divisional Personnel Officer, O/o DRM, Raipur, Manish Patesaria (A-13), Railway Contractor, Mumbai, Ashim Roy (A-14), Railway Contractor and S Vijay Shankar (A-15), private person u/s 120-B, 409, 418, 420 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 7, 8 and 13 (2) r/w 13 (1) (c) and (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The accused were charge sheeted for offences of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may ensue to person whose interest offender is bound to protect and causing disappearance of the evidence, receiving of illegal gratification and criminal misconduct. The CBI has filed a 182-page charge sheet and cited 310 witnesses and 384 documents. The entire documentation runs into 5,000 pages.
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Hyd safe for investment, full protection to Industry: Andhra Pradesh CM

Hyderabad, Sep 14 : Notwithstanding the Telangana issue spurring the political temperature, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today reassured the captains of industry of total protection saying Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh remained the ''safest place for investment'', Chief Minister K Rosaiah said.The government had taken steps to ensure that the current phase of agitation for separate Telangana would not impact industry, he said. The Telangana agitation was ''only a phase'' the Chief Minister Rosaiah told the meeting of the National Excutive Committee of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) not to any doubts as it the agitation, should not come in the way of the developmet of the state.Mr Rosaiah recalled that his government had, early this year, provided protection to the IT-ITES sector in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam when some of the companies wanted to re-locate their operations outside Andhra Pradesh because of the agitation.Responding to the apprehension expressed by a senior office bearer of FICCI, the Chief Minister said '' this type of agitation should not come in the way of development, let us think of development. Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh is safe place for investment.He remained the industrialists that the demand for separate Telangana is not new. This demand had came earlier also.
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Rosaiah assures protection to industry as Telengana hots up

Hyderabad, Sep 14 : With the Telangana issue hotting up again, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Tuesday assured full protection to the industry.Addressing the captains of Indian industry, Rosaiah said Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh were safe places for investment. He said steps would be taken to ensure that the agitation for a separate Telengana state does not come in the way of development. "You need not entertain any sort of doubts. Government always prepared to extend all support to the industry. We stand by industry," he told the national executive committee meeting of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Rosaiah was responding to the apprehension voiced by Harsh Mariwala, chairman and managing director of Marico Limited, in the background of statements by pro-Telangana groups that a massive movement would be launched after Dec 31. "This type of agitation should not come in the way of development. Let us think of development. Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh is safe place for investment," the chief minister said. He pointed out that his government provided protection to IT/ITES sector in Hyderabad and Visakhaptanam when some of the firms were planning to shift their operations out of the state due to the agitation early this year. Rosaiah said the government of India would take a decision in the larger interest of the country after receipt of the report of the Srikrishna Committee, which it constituted to study the problem and look into different angles. "The government of India after listing to various sections and after conducting a through study through Srikrishna Committee will take a decision. Everyone must respect the final decision of the government of India," he said. The five-member panel constituted by the government in February this year is expected to submit its report by Dec 31. Rosaiah told the industrialists that demand for separate Telangana state was not new. "Earlier also this demand came. There were agitations but ultimately the government of India announced a package and kept the state united," he said.
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Rahul’s Bengal visits to galvanise Congress for 2011 polls

Sep,13, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi will Tuesday begin his second visit to West Bengal in less than a fortnight, giving a clear signal that the party is going all-out in its preparations for next year’s assembly polls in the state.Gandhi, who set the pace for the party’s campaign by a no-holds barred attack on the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led state government at a rally in Kolkata Sep 6, has a packed schedule during his three-day visit to the state.He is slated to address meetings and conventions of youth workers, tribals, Dalits and women across several districts of West Bengal.Congress president Sonia Gandhi is also expected to visit Kolkata later this month to address east zonal meeting of the All India Congress Committee.Congress sources said that visits of top leaders will help rejuvenate the party and allow it to hold seat-sharing talks with the Trinamool Congress from a position of strength. The party also wants to be prepared for the eventuality of having to go it alone in the polls, which are due by May next year.They said that Congress efforts to emerge stronger in the state are part of plans to gain strength in four states where it has been weak for years — Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.The four states together have over 200 Lok Saha seats and the Congress is keen to regain its strength in these states to come to power on its own in the next Lok Sabha polls.Congress leaders said the party will seek its due share of seats from the Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal elections where the odds are heavily loaded against the ruling Left Front. The seat sharing talks, for which the two parties have not yet worked out a time frame, are expected to take place in Delhi.Congress MP and West Bengal in-charge K.Keshava Rao said that the party is keen on an alliance with the Trinamool Congress but not at the cost of its interests.“We are for an alliance with Trinamool Congress but not at the cost of our interests and self-respect,” Rao told,Though Rao did not specify the number of seats the Congress aims at contesting as part of alliance, he said the party will “ask for what it deserves”.He said Rahul Gandhi’s rally had infused new energy in the party and galvanised the youth.“The rally has given the party a new hope,” Rao said.The Congress and the Trinamool Congress fought the 2009 Lok Sabha polls together but could not reach an understanding for the municipal elections in the state held in May.In the last assembly polls, which the two parties contested separately, the Congress won 21 seats with 14.71 percent vote share while the Trinamool Congress won 30 seats with 26.47 percent votes. In the Lok Sabha polls, the Trinamool Congress won 19 of the 27 seats it contested while the Congress won six of the 14 it fought.The Trinamool Congress also emerged as the single largest party in the municipal elections held in May.With Trinamool chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee keeping up momentum of her attack on the ruling Left Front through rallies, the Congress is also keen to get its electoral act together. The party is reaching out to the youth and weaker sections in an effort to expand its base.Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leaders said that Rahul Gandhi had raised broadly the same issues in his Kolkata rally which Banerjee has been raising over the years.Party leader Sudip Bandopadhyay said the issues of improper implementation of rural employment guarantee act and irregularities in lists of families below poverty line (BPL) had been raised by the party.“We have raised all these issues much ahead,” Bandopadhyay said.During his speech in Kolkata, Rahul Gandhi spoke of two West Bengals – “one of the CPI-M which has money” and the other “of the poor and backward”.A political observer said that attempts by the Congress to gain strength are likely to lead to some competition with the Trinamool Congress“Both the parties are competing to take a more strident anti-CPI-M line,” he said.
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Grievances of Kashmiri youth to be addressed: PM

Sep,13,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday said his government was ready to talk to every person or group in Jammu and Kashmir if they abjured violence and assured that the grievances of the youth would be addressed.“We are willing to talk to every person or group which abjures violence, within the framework of our constitution,” Manmohan Singh said at the Combined Commanders’ Conference here.“The unrest in the state of Jammu and Kashmir over the last few weeks is a matter of concern. The youth of Kashmir are our citizens and their grievances have to be addressed,” the prime minister assured.“We have to ensure better delivery of services and generate avenues for economic advancement for the people of that state.”The prime minister’s remarks came a few hours before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting here to review the situation in Kashmir and discuss a peace package for the Valley.The CCS will review whether the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives the army substantial immunity during operations, can be lifted in some parts of the state.Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister P. Chidambaram and discussed the situation in the state that suffered a fresh spell of violence over the weekend.
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Omar meets Chidambaram, Sonia

Sep,13,Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday met Home Minister P. Chidambaram and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi to apprise them of developments in the violence-hit valley.The meetings came hours before the crucial Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on Kashmir situation Monday evening.“The chief minister is understood to have repeated the need for a political package and withdrawal of the AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) at least from a few districts in the two meetings,” a senior National Conference leader said on condition of anonymity.The chief minister’s meeting with Chidambaram lasted for 40 minutes. He later met Sonia Gandhi, sources added.
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Chavan, Shiv Sena criticise Salman for 26/11 comments

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan Sunday criticised Bollywood actor Salman Khan for his statement on the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, noting the rich were not the only victims.“Apart from the Taj and Oberoi hotels, the attacks also took place at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and other spots where the not so rich were also killed,” Chavan said.“I don’t know what Salman has said about the involvement of the Pakistani government, but (the sole surviving terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Amir) Kasab’s arrest and the court’s verdict have made it clear that the conspiracy was hatched in Pakistan. There is no room for his or anyone else’s opinion when the court’s verdict is out,” Chavan added.The opposition Shiv Sena also condemned the comments by the actor, saying they insulted all those who died in the attacks.“The attacks were not specific to any hotels of elite gatherings. The attack was on the sovereignty of India as a nation. Salman’s comments are an insult to our country and the martyrs,” Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said.The party has demanded an apology from the actor.Salman, who invited flak for his comments in an interview to a Pakistani channel that “too much hype” was created around the 26/11 attack as “elite people were targeted” and that the Pakistani government was not behind it, has since apologised for his remarks. He insisted that they were “twisted” and he did not mean to “hurt anybody’s sentiments”.“The interview has been twisted. I saw it myself, the way it is coming across on TV, it is sounding insensitive. I was just saying life is equal for both rich and poor, some attacks get more media coverage and some don’t. Why is that? Every human life is important,” Salman, 44, told Aaj Tak news channel.“I did not want to hurt anybody’s sentiments and if I have hurt anybody’s sentiments then I am really, really sorry,” he added.
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Telangana activists stone Naidu's convoy

Hyderabad,Sep 13 : Telangana activists Monday hurled stones at Telugu Desam Party (TDP) N. Chandrababu Naidu's convoy in the region's Ranga Reddy district, Andhra Pradesh police said.Four people, including a police constable, were injured in the violence at Pargi, about 70 km from here. Naidu escaped to safety as his driver sped the car away to evade stones. The leader of opposition was heading towards Mahbubnagar district to meet farmers who are facing problems due to alleged non-supply of fertilisers by authorities. The TDP chief faced protests at various places in Ranga Reddy district as pro-Telangana activists tried to block his way and shouted slogans of "Naidu go back". The former chief minister, who hails from Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, is facing the ire of Telangana supporters for opposing the demand for separate statehood to Telangana. Trouble broke out at Pargi when Naidu stopped at the house of party legislator Harishwar Reddy for breakfast. Activists of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gathered outside, raised slogans against him and tried to barge into the house. They clashed with TDP workers and the police. The protestors hurled stones at Naidu's convoy as it was leaving Reddy's house. According to eyewitnesses, Naidu's driver had a tough time in controlling the vehicle. Police used batons to control the crowd, injuring three people. A policeman also sustained injuries in the stone pelting. TRS activists had earlier tried to stop Naidu's convoy at Chevella and other places but were arrested.
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Withdraw cases against students: Telangana Congress leaders

Hydearbad,Sep 12 : Congress leaders from Telangana Sunday set Oct 2 as the deadline before the Andhra Pradesh government to withdraw police cases against students and youth who participated in the Telangana movement.The ruling party's MPs, legislators and other leaders met here to chalk out their future course of action. Senior leader K. Keshava Rao presided over the meet. Some of the participants suggested that a call for boycott of Andhra Pradesh formation day (Nov 1) should be given if the cases were not taken back. They said no action had been taken despite an announcement by union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in December last year. The students and youth were booked for participating in violent protests for separate statehood to Telangana last year. The leaders would meet again if the cases were not withdrawn by Oct 2. The elected representatives from the region also decided to donate a month's salary for the assistance of those who committed suicide for separate Telangana state since November last year. "A committee will be formed to provide the financial assistance to the families of the martyrs," MP K. Rajagopal Reddy told reporters after the meeting. The leaders will also collect donations from the rich for the assistance to such families. Legislator K. Lakshma Reddy announced Rs.1 million. The meeting also passed a resolution, urging the leadership to constitute a separate party unit for Telangana. The leaders vowed to continue their efforts to achieve a separate Telangana. They also demanded that Group I exam of Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission, which was held last week despite protests in Telangana, should be scrapped. In another resolution, the leaders asked the government to officially celebrate Telangana liberation day Sep 17. It was on Sep 17, 1948 that then Hyderabad State was merged with the Indian Union. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and other pro-Telangana groups have been demanding the government to officially celebrate the day. The government has already turned down the demand.
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Sringent punishement to erring network hospitals: Rosaiah

Hyderabad, Sep 12 : Aimd allegation of misuse by the network hospitals under the Aarogyasri Scheme, a committee has been constituted to arrest the trend even as efforts were on to adopt a multi-pronged approach to enhance healthcare services to the poor and those below the poverty line in Andha Pradesh.Chief Minister K Rosaiah asked the Aarogyasri Trust to plug loopholes, if any, in the implementation of the scheme for the poor and low income group, an official release quoted him as saying.The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the multi-pronged approach by the Trust to enhance the quality of delivery of services in scheme. The Chief Minister was explained about the functioning of the scheme and the steps taken to make it absolutely transparent, by Aarogyasri Minister Pithani Satyanarayana and officials.Dr Rosaiah asked the Trust to introduce stringent measures to ensure the best quality medical care to the beneficiaries and avoid unethical practices by Network Hospitals.The officials explained a post of Chief Medical Auditor was created to continuously monitor the quality of medical care being provided. The Trust constituted an Empanelment and Disciplinary Committee (EDC) under the Chairmanship of Chief Medical Auditor to ensure the hospital had adequate infrastructure and manpower.The EDC will also look into all the complaints against the hospitals received from various sources and recommend follow-up action against network hospitals.
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Mumbai on tenterhooks as police hunt for two suspected terrorists

With the 10-day Ganesh festival starting Saturday, police have gone on high alert as two suspected terrorists have entered Mumbai with a view to creating disturbances during the festive season.Joint Police Commissioner Himanshu Roy told reporters that intelligence reports received by the police and state home department said the pair — said to be a Bangladeshi and a Pakistani — entered Mumbai sometime ago. They are Kalimuddin Khan Alias Rameshwar Pandit, 28, and Hafiz Sharif, 25.
Roy said the police and the crime branch have set up special teams and have sought the help of the public to nab the pair, whose sketches have also been released.He said they may create disruptions during the festive season in crowded places, especially at religious gatherings.Though he did not go into specifics, Roy was clearly hinting at the hundreds of Ganesh pandals which have been erected all over Mumbai and where millions of worshippers throng at all hours of the day.The Ganesh festival, preparations for which have begun in Mumbai and other parts Maharashtra on a grand scale, attracts hundreds of thousands of domestic and foreign tourists.He urged Mumbaikars to provide any information on the duo to the nearest police station, or the control room No. 100 or on special helpline numbers 022-22633333/022-22625020.Meanwhile, in view of the developments, police have heightened security checks all over Mumbai and surrounding districts of Thane and Raigad. Some roads have also been blocked.The development comes barely a couple of days after the Anti-Terrorist Squad nabbed two people in connection with the Feb 13 terror blast at Pune’s German Bakery on the eve of Valentines Day.
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Chiranjeevi is back

September 11, 2010 : The superstar of Telugu cinema, Chiranjeevi, had taken a sabbatical from the big screen thanks to his political aspirations. However, there is some good news for all the Chiranjeevi fans out there, the superstar will be back in the big screen with his comeback movie in 2011.Right now, Chiranjeevi is Tirupati's MLA, so he has to look after his political responsibilities. Chiru told reporters that he will try to look for roles that deal with socially relevant topics and that will appeal to the common man. Chiranjeevi also maintained that he will try to give social message in an entertaining way. Chiru wants to be close to his fans, so he has decided to get back to his acting career.Talking about socially relevant movies, Chiranjeevi referred to some of his films like 'Tagore', 'Stalin', 'Shankar Dada MBBS' etc. Reliable sources have revealed that Chiru has already signed a couple of film projects for 2011. The new film will go on the floors by January 2011. The movie will be produced by Ram Charan under the banner of Mega Star.Ever since Chiranjeevi entered the political scene, fans have been waiting for the superstar to make a big comeback movie. Now it seems that their prayers will be answered by 2011, let's hope Chiru still remembers the ropes of the trade.
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Maoists free abducted Bihar policemen

Two days after Maoists killed policeman Lucas Tete, the ultra Leftwing rebels Sunday freed the three other policemen they had abducted a week ago, the local media reported. However, the police have declined to confirm the development.The three policemen – Abhay Prasad Yadav, Rupesh Kumar Sinha and Ehsan Khan – were reportedly released by their captors in a jungle area between Lakhisarai and Jamui districts, local journalists said.
Rajni Devi, wife of Abhay Kumar Yadav, told reporters at her residence in Begusarai district that a Maoist leader visited her house early Sunday and told her that her husband and his two colleagues had been let off.“I am very happy and hoping that my husband will come home soon,” Rajni Devi said.The release comes two days after the bullet-riddled body of Lucas Tete was found near a forest in Lakhisarai district. He had been killed by the Maoists.Family members of Rupesh in Bettiah district and Ehsan’s family in Ranchi in Jharkhand said are eagerly waiting for the men to return.“We are happy to hear that my son Ehsan and other policemen have been released by the Maoists. We are waiting to welcome him,” Ehsan’s aged father Mohiuddin Khan said over telephone.Director General of Police Neelmani, however, declined to confirm the development.“We are not in a position to say anything unless the three abducted men return to their homes,” he said here.Maoist spokesperson Avinash Saturday claimed the three policemen were safe.They were abducted by Maoists after a six-hour gunfight in Lakhisarai last Sunday.The gunbattle left seven policemen dead and 10 injured. The Maoists claimed the gunfight was in retaliation for the killing of their leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad and a journalist on the night of July 1-2 in Andhra Pradesh.Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held an all-party meeting Saturday evening and said that the state government would hold talks with the Maoists on their demand for the release of eight jailed commanders in exchange for the three abducted policemen.All the political parties appealed to the Maoists to release the three policemen, he said.Nitish Kumar said the Maoists should come forward for face-to-face talk with the state government.
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Telangana students ransack exam centre at Osmania

Hyderabad, Sep 5 : Students protesting the conduct of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) exam ransacked an exam centre at the Osmania University campus here Sunday, leaving three injured.Tension prevailed at the B.Ed college as protesters broke the security cordon and barged into the exam centre. Some students writing the test came out with question papers and answer sheets and tore and dumped them on the roads, police said. The students were injured in a scuffle with police, which used batons against the protesters and arrested many of them, a police official said. Although the police made elaborate security arrangements in view of the boycott call given by the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OUJAC) and other pro-Telangana groups, the protesters outnumbered them. Activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and OUJAC uprooted the security barricades and broke into the college. The police failed to prevent them. Four MPs of the ruling Congress party and leaders of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) also joined the protesting students. Despite the boycott and Telangana shutdown called by student groups and pro-Telangana parties and leaders, the APPSC went ahead with the the Group I Prelim exam amid tight security. Police deployment was marked at 445 centres where the exam began at 10.30 a.m. Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from different parts of Telangana as the shutdown evoked partial response. The strike affected services of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corp (APSRTC) in Karimnagar and Warangal districts. The impact was partial in the remaining eight districts including Hyderabad. Legislators and leaders of the TRS and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were taken into custody in different parts of Telangana. The pro-Telangana groups were demanding that the exam be postponed till the share of the region in the Group I postings is made clear. They were demanding 42 percent share for the region. More than 1.6 lakh candidates are writing the exam for recruitment to 198 posts.
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Concession agreement signed for Hyderabad Metro

Hyderabad, Sep 4 : The concession agreement for the Rs.12,132-crore Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project was signed here Saturday.The Andhra Pradesh government signed the pact with Larsen and Toubro Hyderabad Metro Rail Pvt. Ltd for development of Hyderabad Metro Rail project in public-private partnership (PPP) mode. Leading construction group Larsen and Toubro, which bagged the project in July this year, has formed a special purpose vehicle for developing the project on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis. As per the agreement, L and T has to submit bank guarantee for Rs.360 crore as performance security to government and achieve financial closure for the project within six months. The concession period is for 35 years including five years for construction, with a provision of extension for another 25 years. The concessionaire can undertake real estate development up to a maximum of 18.5 million square feet through utilisation of air space over the 269 acres of land earmarked for rail facilities. The agreement was signed by Urban Development Principal Secretary T.S. Appa Rao and the newly-formed L and T Hyderabad Metro Rail Pvt. Ltd's managing director V.B. Gadgil in the presence of Chief Minister K. Rosaiah. Rosaiah said that with 71 km metro rail lane taken up in one go, it was one of the world's largest metro rail projects and in fact the largest one in the PPP mode. Out of the total project cost of Rs.12,132 crore, L and T sought a grant of Rs.1,458 crore and this will be borne by the central government. The ground work on the project will begin in January next year. The project covers three high density traffic corridors - Miyapur-LB Nagar (28.87 km); JBS-Falaknuma (14.78 km) and Nagole-Shilparamam (27.51 km). The estimated traffic demand is 15 lakh passengers per day in 2014 and 22 lakh passengers per day in 2024. The fare structure consists of a minimum basic fare of Rs.8 and a maximum fare of Rs.19 in 2014.
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Telangana ministers demand postponement of state exam

Hyderabad, Sep 4 : A group of ministers from Telangana region Saturday urged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to postpone the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) selection test as a showdown looks inevitable with students from the region intensifying their protest and calling for a shutdown Sunday.Ministers D. Sridhar Babu, K. Venkat Reddy, D.K. Aruna and Sunita Lakshma Reddy sought Rosaiah's intervention to postpone the Sep 5 exam, which has divided students and even the political parties along regional lines. The APPSC, however, was going ahead with the exam as scheduled on Sunday at 445 centres across the state for recruitment to 198 posts. More than 1.6 lakh candidates are expected to appear in the exam. Police were making massive security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the exam and prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more people have been imposed around all exam centres. Congress MP from Nizamabad Madhu Yashki Goud told reporters in New Delhi that he would join Telangana students to protest the conduct of the exam. He warned that the conduct of the exam despite protests would have serious consequences. Four students of the Osmania University here Saturday launched a fast for indefinite period, demanding that the APPSC preliminary exam be postponed until 42 percent of the jobs at stake are reserved for the Telangana region. Protests broke out on the university campus as the four students locked themselves in the Art College Building and began the fast on the roof to prevent police from foiling their protest. Students in other parts of Telangana took to the streets demanding postponement of the exam. In Mahabubnagar, students set afire their hall tickets for APPSC Group I preliminary exam. Students of Kakatiya University in Warangal also launched a fast. The Osmania University Joint Action Committee (JAC) has called for a boycott of the exam and a shutdown in the region Sunday. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and other groups fighting for a separate Telangana state have also supported the shutdown call. A delegation of JAC leaders met Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy to demand that the government immediately put off the exam. They have also sought intervention of Governor E.S.L.Narasimhan and the State Human Rights Commission. Alleging injustice to Telangana, leaders of both the ruling Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the region also have demanded that the state public service exam be deferred until the share of Telangana in Group I postings is made clear. The ministers from Telangana have voiced their apprehension that the boycott and shutdown call given by students and supported by the opposition could create law and order problems. Meanwhile, Director General of Police K. Aravinda Rao has asked all district superintendents of police to provide a three-layer security cover to the centres to prevent any untoward incident. All the candidates have been asked to reach the centres well in advance. Meanwhile, educational institutions in Andhra and Rayalseema regions remained closed Saturday in response to the shutdown call given by some groups in support of the exam. Telangana groups said they see a conspiracy behind the sudden decision of the APPSC to conduct the exam, which were postponed for two years. They alleged that the exam was being conducted to recruit candidates from other regions without specifying the share of Telangana at time when formation of a separate Telangana had become almost certain. They even warned the government of a bloodbath if it goes ahead with the exam. TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao has demanded the arrest and prosecution of APPSC chairman Venkatarami Reddy for doing injustice to Telangana in previous recruitments. He alleged that Telangana students who scored well in the written test were deliberately given fewer marks in oral tests to disqualify them from appointments. The row has erupted close on the heels of an attack on lecturers of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions by Telangana students at Osmania University here. The students were protesting the evaluation of B.Ed papers by teachers from other regions.
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Maoists kill one of four abducted policemen

Sep,02, Maoists Thursday killed Abhay Kumar Yadav, one of the four Bihar policemen they abducted four days ago, following a decision by a ‘jan adalat’ or kangaroo court The Leftwing rebels killed Yadav six hours after their second deadline – at 10 a.m. -expired.After killing Yadav, a sub-inspector, the Maoists said the fate of the remaining three policemen would be decided by 10 a.m. Friday if the state government failed to initiate a dialogue or negotiate with them.Avinash, a self-proclaimed Maoist spokesman, told a local TV news channels that Yadav was killed after a decision was taken in a ‘jan adalat’. “The Bihar government compelled us to kill Yadav as the second deadline expired,” he said.Avinash said that Yadav’s body will be handed over by Thursday night.Yadav’s wife Rajni was staging a sit-in outside Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s residence.The other three policemen are Rupesh Kumar Sinha, Lukas Gete and Ehsan Khan.The Maoists have said the policemen would be killed unless eight jailed Maoist leaders were released.The families of the policemen have been desperately pleading with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for help.Avinash said that after the deadline to release their jailed leaders expired at 10 a.m. Thursday, top leaders of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) had been informed about the decision to hold a jan adalat.The guerrillas had earlier set a deadline of 4 p.m. Wednesday. Avinash later told local Hindi news channels they had decided to extend it till Thursday in view of appeals by the family members of the abducted policemen.The rebels had abducted the policemen in a six-hour gunfight in Lakhisarai district Sunday. The gunbattle left seven policemen dead and 10 injured. Maoists claimed the gunfight was in retaliation for the killing of their leader Azad and a journalist.The Maoists have also warned the Bihar government of more violent attacks if the operations against Maoists were not immediately stopped.
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Youth kills self as father refuses money

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : A 23-year-old youth committed suicide under Medpalli police station limits after his father refused him money to entertain his friends.

According to police, the victim has been identified as K Naresh (23), son of Anjaneyulu, and a resident of Uppal. Naresh, who was unemployed, got married a few weeks ago.According to sources, Naresh had asked his father for some money to give a wedding party to his friends after his marriage. However, his father refused to give money due to financial problems.Naresh, who was mentally disturbed, taken the extreme step by hanging from a ceiling fan.Police registered a case.
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CM pays tributes to YSR at his residence

Hyderabad, Sept 2 : Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Thursday paid rich tributes to his predecessor late YS Rajasekhara Reddy on the occasion of his first death anniversary.

According to a statement released by the government, Mr Rosaiah was unable to fly to Nallakaluva at Pavuralagutta to participate in the official programme related to 'YSR Smrutivanam'. Mr Rosaiah deputed School Education Minister Manikya Varaprasada Rao to read his message at the programme. The Chief Minister is believed to have spent time recalling his long association with the former chief minister at his residence. Mr Rosaiah garlanded a portrait of his friend and predecessor and reminisced about his time with Cabinet colleagues, friends and officials present there. Mr Rosaiah said, "I admire him for unusual straights in his personality, and can never forget him. He always kept me in high esteem in spite of differences of opinion between us on any issue. I enjoyed his love and affection. Secondly on a number of occasions he exhibited extraordinary courage and perseverance to achieve what he aimed at, in the interest of the State. In his view obstacles can be surmounted if our vision is on the target." The Chief Minister also apologised to the people of the state for his inability to participate in the first death anniversary programme of the departed leader. Mr Rosaiah recalled how the four officers, Principal Secretary to the then CM P Subramanyam, Security Officer Mr Wesley and Pilots Bhatia and MS Reddy unfortunately met with premature death along with Dr Rajasekhara Reddy. He personally wrote letters to widows of all these officers expressing sorry for the grief and agony caused to their families. Recalling the services of those officers, the Chief Minister prayed the Almighty to bless their families with peace and bliss.
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OUSJAC calls for bandh on Sept 5 over G1 quota

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : The Osmania University Students Joint Action Committee on Thursday gave a call for Telangana 'bandh' on September 5 to press for its demand that the government issue clarification on providing quota in recruitments of successful APPSC Group-1 candidates from Telangana.Talking to media persons, student leader P Ravi stated that the OUSJAC was demanding that the government guarantee that 42 per cent candidates from Telangana region, who have cleared the Group-1 examinations conducted by the APPSC be recruited.Ravi also revealed that the OUSJAC has decided that it would not rest till the government orders the immediate suspension of APPSC Chairman Venkata Rami Reddy who has been facing allegations of irregularities. An inquiry is currently underway into the allegations. The OUSJAC leader also revealed that a candlelit vigil would be conducted to pay tributes to the people who had fought against the Mulki rules on September 3.Ravi said that students across the region would boycott their classes and take their part in an agitation if state government takes the warning seriously and does not clarify its stand on issuing clarifications on the quota for APPSC G1 recruitments on September 4. The OUSJAC leader also warned the government that if the APPSC goes ahead with conducting the APPSC G1 preliminary examinations under police protection, then the government should be ready to take responsibility for any untoward incident in the state.The OUSJAC also appealed to candidates who are appearing for the G1 preliminary examinations to boycott the tests. The OUSJAC said that the students should tear the question papers in the examination halls.The student leader also called on the main opposition Telugu Desam Party to realise the gravity of the situation and join students of Telangana region in their fight for justice. Meanwhile, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the Bharatiya Janata Party and New Democracy have announced their support to the OUSJAC band call.
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CM cancels all official engagements

Hyderabad, Sept 2 : Following doctors' advice, Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Thursday cancelled all his official engagements.According to Chief Minister's Office sources, Mr Rosaiah underwent a series of medical tests on Thursday morning. The sources say that the doctors from the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences attending on the Chief Minister advised him complete bed rest for two days. Meanwhile, the doctors said that Mr Rosaiah was responding to treatment rather well for his viral fever and his condition is stable."There is no cause of worry and his temperature is normal. He needs complete rest for two days," they said.According to sources, Mr Rosaiah may participate in the programmes scheduled to be conducted in the city
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Postage stamp on YSR released

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : A commemorative postage stamp on Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the late Andhra Pradesh chief minister, was Thursday released on the occasion of his first death anniversary.Visakhapatnam region post master general Sharada Sampat released the Rs.5 stamp carrying the portrait of YSR, as he was popularly known by his initials, at a ceremony held in Visakhapatnam. Officials said it normally takes 18 months to prepare and release a stamp but they had come out with this commemorative stamp within a year. Visakhapatnam-based philatelist G. Durga Prasad had sent the stamp proposal in October last year and the same was accepted by the Department of Posts. YSR died along with four others in a helicopter crash on Sep 2 last year.
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Homage paid to ex-Andhra CM YSR Reddy on first death anniversary

Kadapa (AP), Sep 2 : Congress MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and his family members on Thursday paid homage to former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y. S. R. Reddy on his first death anniversary.Jagan and a large number of family members took part in special prayers conducted at a church inside the family estate at Idupulapaya.Congress Rajya Sabha member K V P Ramachandra Rao, Congress MLA Konda Surekha and her husband Konda Murali were among the Congress leaders who offered tribute to the late chief minister.The YSR family has made arrangements to feed about a lakh people wanting inside the estate.Special buses have been arranged for the convenience of the people wanting to reach Idupulapaya.Earlier, the Congress Party had announced distribution of Rs. one lakh to the relatives of each of the workers who had committed suicide in shock following Reddy''s death.At least 600 people are said to have died after Reddy''s death.Sonia Gandhi had earlier instructed the AICC to extend necessary relief to family members of those persons who had committed suicide after Reddy death.Reddy and four others died after their Bell 430 chopper crash landed about 40 nautical miles east of the Kurnool mountains on September last year.
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Year after YSR's death, Andhra pays rich tributes

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : Andhra Pradesh Thursday remembered one of its greatest leaders, late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who had died in a helicopter crash a year ago, leaving the state in shock.Rich tributes were paid to YSR - as he was popularly called - and, at various programmes held across the state, he was recalled as a man especially concerned about the welfare of the poor. YSR died when the government helicopter carrying him from Hyderabad to Chittoor district crashed amid bad weather in Kurnool district Sep 2. Four others, including two pilots, also died with him. Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, who is suffering from fever, had to cancel his visit to Nallakalva in Kurnool district where he was to unveil a statue of YSR. He could not attend a function in the state capital either. "I am sad over not being able to attend the programmes to pay tribute to the great leader due to ill health," Rosaiah said in a message. He recalled his close association with YSR. "He was a great leader who always used to think of the welfare of people," Rosaiah said. YSR's widow Vijayalakshmi, son and Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, daughter Sharmila and other family members came to pay their respects at his grave in Idupulapaya family estate in Kadapa district. Vijayalakshmi, who is also a state legislator, broke down while praying at the grave. Other family members, his long-time friend and Rajya Sabha member K.V.P. Ramchandra Rao, film actor Vishnu, former minister Konda Surekha and Congress leaders were among those who paid tributes. Assembly speaker N. Kirankumar Reddy and several leaders of the ruling party paid floral tributes in the lobbies of the assembly. Chief Minister Rosaiah deputed a couple of senior ministers to Nallakalva near the crash site to unveil the statue. The government is developing YSR Smruthi Vanam, a memorial, over 22 acres of land. An all-religion prayer, video film display and special photo exhibition on YSR were held during one of the main programmes in the state capital.
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600 YSR's statues to come up in Andhra

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : To commemorate the first death anniversary of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, his supporters are planning to build nearly 600 statues all over the state."He is such a great leader that he will stay in our hearts forever. He is an ideal for the coming generation and we have to take forward his wishes,'' said his son Jagan Mohan, who has defied his party, the Congress', orders repeatedly on his "odarpu yatra." The Congress wanted Jagan to call of his tour, but YSR Junior said that he will still go on the yatra in Prakasam district from September 3.Jagan Mohan will meet the families who claim that in the weeks after YSR's death, their relatives died from shock and grief. There are some 600 such families in the entire state. However, with over one lakh rupees spent on each statue, some voters express their dissent. "The money spent on the statues could have been used for improving the hygiene of Hyderabad and the rest of Andhra Pradesh,'' said a Congress follower."There is nothing wrong in erecting a statue but there should be some limit to this madness. YSR supporters and loyalists in the Congress can plant saplings and ensure that these become trees. So, even if you plant one lakh or one crore trees, it will be an eco-friendly way to remember YS Rajashekara Reddy's legacy,'' commented political analyst K Nageshwar.
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Manmohan Singh offers prayers at Tirupati temple

Hyderabad, Sep 1: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday offered prayers at the famous Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.On a visit to the temple town to lay the foundation stone for two projects, he visited the temple atop Tirumala Hills. Priests and officials of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the affairs of the country's richest temple, accorded traditional reception to Singh at Ranganayaka Mandapam. The priests blessed him amid chanting of vedic hymns. Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister G. Venkat Reddy offered "prasadam", a sacred silk cloth and holy water to the prime minister. Accompanied by priests, Singh later went into the sanctum sanctorum and offered prayers to the Lord's idol. This was Singh's second visit to the ancient temple as prime minister. He had earlier offered prayers in September 2005.
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