Saturday, July 22, 2006
Hyderabad City News july 22nd,2006
Key LeT suspect is caught in Kenya
New Delhi/Hyderabad, July 21: The Kenyan police has arrested one of India’s most-wanted terror suspects, Abdul Karim Tunda, who ran a module of the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) terror group.He is an accused in 1993 serial blasts and the July 11 train blasts in Mumbai. Tunda had allegedly masterminded 33 bomb blasts in New Delhi and adjoining areas between December 1996 and January 1998 in which 21 people were killed and 400 others injured, according to the agency report. Tunda alias Baba is the godfather of terror operatives in Hyderabad and is wanted for several blast cases, including the train blasts of December 5-6, 1993, the Sai Baba temple blast in Dilsukhnagar and the October 2005 suicide blast at the commissioner’s task force office. The anti-terrorism police in Mombassa, Kenya, said it had detained Tunda and would turn him over to prosecutors for possible extradition to India, an agency report said. A senior police official told AFP on condition of anonymity, “He is wanted for the bombings in Mumbai. He will be handed over because he is on the wanted list.” Investigative agencies in India will probe any possible role he may have had in the latest serial blasts in Mumbai once he is brought back to the country, sources said. A request for ascertaining reports about Tunda’s arrest had been made through Interpol and the response is awaited, a CBI spokesman told reporters here. The CBI had secured an Interpol red corner notice against Tunda after he fled the country in the mid-1990s. He also carries a cash reward of Rs 3 lakhs on his head.Nicknamed Tunda for a handicap in his left arm sustained while making a bomb, Tunda’s association in separatist activities predates his association with Lashkar. Officials of Research and Analysis Wing had claimed two years back that Tunda had been killed in a train accident in Bangladesh.Police officials in Hyderabad said one of Tunda’s top priorities was the “liberation of Hyderabad.” Tunda is also accused in, among others, the Ganesh temple blast plot. Tunda had a close associate in dreaded terrorist Azam Ghauri of Nizamabad who was shot dead after the 2003 Sai Baba temple blast. They floated Tanzeem Islahul Muslimeen (TIM) that operated from Mumbai and Hyderabad.A counterintelligence official said, “They roped in Dr Jalees Ansari of Mumbai and carried out explosions including seven blasts in trains on December 6, 1993.” He said Tunda escaped to Bangladesh and Ghauri to Saudi Arabia.After this Tunda shifted his focus to North India and handed over the south to Ghauri. “Tunda sent Saleem Junaid of Pakistan who began the first module in Hyderabad,” the official said. Dr Ansari was convicted for the 1993 train blasts. Junaid, who was arrested, was recently shifted to Vishakpatnam for deportation to Pakistan.
Audiences stay away from Code shows
Hyderabad, July 21: The controversial The Da Vinci Code was released amidst tight security in theatres in the twin cities on Friday to a largely tepid response. Most theatres reported just about 30 to 50 per cent ticket sales on the first day.
Perhaps the response had something to do with the big theatres keeping away from the screening. The film was released at in English versions at Venkatadri at Dilsukhnagar and Shalimar at King Koti and in Telugu dubbed versions at Rajeshwari at Monda market, Shalimar at King Koti, Sai Puja and Shahenshah.
Four theatres, Aradhana, Amaravathi, Lakshmi Kala and Srinivasa, dropped the screening on request from the protestors. Viewers who saw the film had mixed response. “I liked the book a lot because it was racier and more thrilling,” said BPO employee P. Samantha who saw the film at Venkatadri at Dilsukhnagar. “Ron Howard tried his best but could not bring the suspense into the movie. There were many scenes of people talking which were a dampener,” she said.
Mr Thangam Balraju who saw the dubbed Telugu version said, “It’s a good movie, but I was sitting in an almost empty theatre. They should have selected better theatres.” The Archdiocese of Hyderabad in association with Christian agencies began a counter campaign against the film by distributing CDs and booklets titled The Da Vinci Code — Fact or Fiction.
Archbishop Marampudi Joji said, “The film is full of lies. We have to tell people the facts. The CD has speeches of Christian scholars who decoded the film and explained how big a lie the film says.” The screening was marred by protests by Christian organisations; a youth slashed his wrists in front of Shalimar theatre at King Koti. He was promptly arrested and taken to hospital for treatment.
The Narayanguda police arrested for a brief while about 30 others who tried to halt the screening.Christian organisations decided to continue with their protests till the exhibitors stop screening the movie. Some organisations hinted at violence.
Karnataka seeks junket tips from AP MLAs
Hyderabad, July 21: Legislators in Andhra Pradesh have mastered the art of going on foreign junkets, read study tours, so well that now MLAs from neighbouring States are calling on them to learn from their expertise.
On Friday a seven-member MLA team from Karnataka held talks with officials of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy to learn from their experiences. The team from Karnataka especially wanted to know about the kind of help that is extended by the Indian Embassy in other countries.
“The Karnataka team wanted to know how we had arranged the tour for our MLAs in 2002. They asked about clearances required from the Centre, expenditure and other related things,” Mr Suresh Reddy told this correspondent.
In 2002, the then Chandrababu Naidu government had sponsored a five-nation tour for 253 MLAs in 2002 in batches to Singapore, Malaysia, China, South Korea and Thailand. Each contingent had 60 MLAs besides some scribes and the tour was meant to enlighten them on the advances made in these South Asian countries in the fields of agriculture, tourism, industry and other key sectors. Mr Naidu used all his connections in New Delhi and had also requested the then minister for external affairs to direct Indian Embassies to extend all assistance to the MLA contingents.
The State government had spent about Rs 3.60 crores on the tour and a committee was constituted to work out modalities with travel agents. In 2003, the Karnataka government had tried to send 290 MLAs and MLCs on a similar junket but a PIL in the Karnataka High Court by one B. Krishna Bhat of Bangalore thwarted the tour.
When a Karnataka delegation member asked Mr Suresh Reddy why the Congress government did not undertake such tours, he laughed and replied, “There is a lot of development here now. People are coming here to learn from us. Probably that’s why we are not going abroad anymore.” The Karnataka MLA team was led by N.Y. Gopal Krishna and the other members in the team were H.D. Basavaraj, Dinesh Gundu Rao, M.P. Venkatesh, D. Veerabasavantha Reddy, Saleem Ahmed and Shashil Namoshi.
Huda bid draws mild response
Hyderabad, July 21: The second day of Huda’s auctions, this time of housing and shop plots, drew a comparatively smaller response on Friday. These plots were left over from earlier auctions. There were no takers for three plots in Nandagiri Hills, where a plot was sold at Rs 85,000 a square yard in February this year. Also not taken were a couple of plots in Asifnagar and one in Banjara Hills Road No. 10. Several bidders said Huda’s upset price was too high.
Nevertheless, Huda raised Rs 72.87 crore by the end of the day, auctioning 49 of the 56 plots on offer. Nine of the plots were located in Huda layouts at Nandagiri Hills, Chitra (one), Huda Trade Centre Ramachandrapuram (one), Nallagandla residential complex (five), Ramachandrapuram Ring Town (two), Huda Techno Enclave Madhapur (one) and Miyapur residential complex (31 plots).
Huda secretary and auction officer P. Venkatram Reddy expressed satisfaction with the response. “It was good keeping in view that these were leftover plots,” he said. Huda has earned about Rs 1,400 crores from February this year from auction of lands at Banjara and Jubilee Hills, Kokapet and other areas. The upset price for Nandagiri Hills plots was Rs 45,000 per square yard, Rs 50,000 for Banjara Hills and Rs 45,000 a square yard for Asifnagar plots. The highest bid amount for a Nandagiri Hills plot was Rs 65,000 per square yard. The minimum bid was Rs 46,000 per sq yard.
The lone plot in Chitra layout was auctioned for Rs 41,000 per sq yard (upset price Rs 40,000), the Trade Centre Ramachandrapuram plot for Rs 13,000 (Rs 12,500). In Ramachandrapuram Ring Town the maximum bid was Rs 15,500 against an upset price of Rs 6,000. In Nallagandla residential complex, the highest bid amount was Rs 17,600 and minimum Rs 10,000 per square yard against upset price of Rs 10,500.
For the plots in Miyapur residential complex, the maximum bid was Rs 30,500 and minimum Rs 10,500 against upset price of Rs 10,000. Most of the 31 plots were sold between Rs 10,500 and Rs 12,500 per square yard. The lone plot in Huda Techno Enclave got a single bid for Rs 55,000 per square yard against an offset price Rs 25,000.
HC pulls up SEC secretary
In AP Court
Hyderabad July 21: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday took serious note of the State Election Commission (SEC) officials not responding to its directions. A division bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice G.V.Seethapathy directed the secretary of the SEC to report to the court about the status of 275 applications submitted by people of Kondapet Mandal in Prakasam district seeking inclusion of their names in the electoral rolls.
When the matter came up for hearing in the morning, the bench asked the SEC secretary to be present in the court during the post-lunch session. However, the secretary was absent and the bench said that it would issue warrants if he failed to appear. Later, the SEC secretary G.N.Rao tendered an apology to the court for his absence. The bench adjourned the case to July 24.
Execute NBWs against cops: HC
The AP High Court ordered notices to the director-general of police on a petition complaining of non execution of non-bailable warrants (NBWs) issued against police officers issued by the metropolitan magistrate of Venukonda in Guntur.
The petitioner, Medam Ramesh from Guntur, complained that the police failed to execute the NBWs despite getting permission from higher officers. Ramesh alleged that he was illegally detained by the police for eight days and was released after a CBI enquiry.
A case was registered against the police officers under section 388 and 389 IPC for detaining him illegally. Justice G. Raghuram asked police authorities to execute the warrants and file a counter by Tuesday. The bench adjourned the case to July 25.
Nalgonda collector gets contempt notice
Justice P.S. Narayana issued contempt notice to Nalgonda district collector and RDO of Bibinagar for violating the court orders in not reserving the post of sarpanch for BC category and reserving the same for ST category.
The judge also stayed the election process of Nemorugomulla village in Bibinagar mandal. The orders were passed in a writ petition filed by A. Sudhakar of Nemorugomulla complaining the action of the government in not reserving the post of sarpanch for ST category without considering the orders passed by the High Court on July 14.
Traffic, liquor curbs for fest
Hyderabad, July 21: Police commissioner on Friday ordered liquor shops and bars in restaurants (excluding bars in star hotels) closed for Bonalu in the twin cities from 6 am on July 23 to 6 am on July 25.
The closure will be effected in all police station limits in east and south zones. It will be in effect in all police station limits in central zone except Ramgopalpet; and in all police station limits in west zone except Banjara Hills, Jub-ilee Hills, Punjagutta and S.R. Nagar police stations.
Mr Mohanty also ordered the following traffic restrictions on July 24 from 12 noon to 9 pm for Bonalu:
* Kandikal Gate to Lal Darwaza: diversion at Chatrinaka PS T-junction towards Gowlipura. * Phoolbagh to Lal Darwaza: Diversion at Pather-ki-Darga to ACP Chatrinaka office.* Balagunj to Lal Darwaza: Diverted to Gowlipura crossroad.* Gowlipura Market to Sudha Talkies: Diversion at Library to Ashoka Pillar crossroad.* Meer-ka-Daira, Moghal-pura to Shalibanda: Diversion at Hari Bowli crossroads.* Uppuguda, Chatrinaka: diversion to Moghalpura PS at Gowlipura crossroad.* Chandrayangutta to Aliyabad: diversion at New Shamsheergunj T-junction to Tadban.* Bhavani Nagar, Mirjumla Talab to Charminar: Diversion at Bibi Bazar crossroads to Alijah Kotla.* Moghalpura to Charminar: diversion to Alijah Ko-tla Chowk Maidan Khan and from Fire Station Moghalpura.* Yakutpura to Gulzar Ho-uz: Diversion at Eitebar Chowk to Mir Alam Mandi road.n Purani Haveli, Mandi road to Chatta Bazar: diversion at Lakkad Kote crossroad towards Dar-ul-shifa.* Fateh Darwaza to Himmatpura crossroad: diversion to Khilwat and Moti Galli.* Puranapul to Lad Bazar: Diversion at Chowk Mosque to Shahgunj or Chelapura. * Khilwat to Lad Bazar: Diversion at Motigalli T junction to Chowk Mosque.* From Shakkar Kote: Div-ersion at Mitti ka Sher to Ghansi Bazar, Chelapura.* Puranapul to Mehboob ki Mehndi to New Bridge: diversion at Muslimjung Bridge to Begum Bazar.* Chaderghat, Noor Khan Bazar and Dar-ul-shifa to New Bridge: Diversion at Dar-ul-shifa to Gowliguda and Afzalgunj via Salarjung.* Gowliguda, Siddiamber Bazar to New Bridge: Diversion at Afzalgunj crossroad towards Muslimjung bridge via Osmania General Hospital road along Musi river.* Madina crossroad-Engi-ne Bowli, Jahanuma road closed for vehicles. RTC buses will terminate at Afzalgunj, Darulshifa cros-sroads and Engine Bowli.
YSR calls for agricultural renaissance
Thiruvananthapuram, July 21: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy said here on Friday that the State needed to usher in an agricultural renaissance to help farmers tide over the crisis in the farm sector.
Speaking at the regional consultation meet to discuss the draft paper of the 11th plan here, Dr Rajasekhar Reddy said that this was necessary to give the farmers legitimate returns for their investment and to protect them from the vagaries of monsoons, middle-men and market forces. A major challenge before the planning commission was to reverse the deceleration of growth in the agriculture sector in the last decade, which had been a major cause of rural distress, he said.
The Chief Minister said that the agricultural insurance scheme introduced by his government in five districts would soon be expanded to cover all districts of the State. The scheme could be adopted by the rest of the country with suitable changes during the 11th plan, he suggested.
Referring to the industrial sector, Dr Rajasekhar Reddy said that the State government was pursuing investor-friendly policies. At the same time, it was also trying to build a safety net for traditional industries such as handloom sector, he said.
Apart from Dr Rajasekhar Reddy, Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achutanandan, Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Pondicherry Chief Minister N. Rangaswami took part in the meet. While the other States general favoured the draft paper, Kerala was strongly critical of some proposals made in it.
Mr Achutanandan questioned the planning commission’s attempt to correlate high growth rate with poverty alleviation. He pointed out that according to the commission’s own figures the rate of decline of poverty after 1990 was less than half of the rate between 1977 and 1990.
Textbooks worth Rs 8.5 cr soiled
Hyderabad, July 21: The vigilance and enforcement department has recommended action against district education officers of 12 districts and depot managers as their alleged negligence has resulted in the loss of Rs 8.51 crores worth textbooks.
Sources said that the loss was calculated after analysing the stocks of textbooks from Class I to Class X for the past 10 years. “The officers concerned didn’t take necessary measures to prevent wastage of books during the change of syllabus. Some of the stocks were soiled and termites ate them away. Had the officers acted responsibly the loss would have been averted,” sources said.
AP police vies for top award
Hyderabad, July 21: Andhra Pradesh Police is making a bid to get the prestigious Webber Seavey awards for its two social service projects.The awards are given to law enforcement agencies for the socially beneficial projects they launch.
Asara project taken out by Nalgonda police for rehabilitation of sex workers in the temple town of Yadagirigutta and the family counselling centres run by the police all over the State are the contenders for the award. These two projects have entered the semifinal rounds of the competition.
They are contesting with projects taken out by police forces from 25 regions. Nalgonda SP Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagawat said that the award ceremony was an annual event conducted by the the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Lorry kills 3 at bus stop
3 others die in mishaps
Hyderabad, July 21: Three persons, including a woman, died and 10 others sustained injuries when a lorry ploughed into the crowd standing by the roadside in Abdullapurmet under Hayathnagar police station limits at 5 pm on Friday.According to Hayathnagar police, the mishap occurred about 25 kms from here after the driver lost control over the lorry when he tried to avoid hitting an autorickshaw that was coming from the opposite direction.
Hayathnagar inspector Ghouse Mohiuddin said the lorry was proceeding from Hayathnagar to Vijayawada. Police said M. Swarna, 25, wife of M. Gopal Reddy of Abdullapurmet and Mohammed Wali, 39, died while being shifted to the hospital. Eight persons who were injured were shifted to the Osmania General Hospital (OGH). An unidentified youth aged around 20 died at the OGH.
Those who suffered critical injuries were identified as M. Swami, N. Narasimha and G. Yadaiah. “Over 14 persons were standing at the bus stop when the lorry hit them and halted near the pavement,” Narasimha, one of the injured, said. “I was about to board an autorickshaw when the lorry hit me,” he said.
Police seized the lorry with registration number AP 24 V 3319 and arrested driver Yousuf.In a separate incident, two children died in a road accident in Aramgarh under Rajendranagar police station limits on Friday. According to Rajendranagar inspector T. Chandrasekhar, Jaffar Pasha, his wife Nasreen Fatima, and their children 18-month-old Azam and four-year-old Aysia Begum were going on a scooter when they were hit by a lorry.
Pasha lost control over the two-wheeler and rammed into a road divider. Azam died on the spot while his sister succumbed to injuries at a private hospital. Pasha and Nasreen, who suffered grievous injuries, were admitted to a hospital.
In another road mishap, a 21-year-old engineering student, A. Santosh, of Kutbiguda succumbed to injuries on Thursday as he rammed his car into a traffic signal pole in Saifabad.
Guntur twins’ surgery soon
Hyderabad, July 21: Guntur conjoined twins Vani and Veena, who were brought here and admitted to Niloufer Hospital, will undergo their first surgery in a few weeks in the newly developed Infosys Millennium Block on the Niloufer Hospital premises.
The twins were brought from Guntur after local doctors there gave up the responsibility of separating the twins who are attached through their brains. The first surgery essentially aims to create more skin for both of them. Niloufer Hospital officials said an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan had made it clear that the twins share a part of blood vessels which supply blood to the brain.
The girls now weigh 20 kgs and doctors say this is the ideal weight to take up surgeries. Dr N.C.K. Reddy, superintendent of Niloufer Hospital said the surgery will be done in a phased manner by a special team.
MCH notice on palace encroachment
Hyderabad, July 21: The Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) has served notices on 21 different individuals for raising “unauthorised constructions” around the Chowmohalla Palace. The MCH would remove unauthorised constructions if the occupants fail to vacate/remove the same within four days, MCH additional commissioner (projects) Dhanunjaya Reddy said.
Relook at minority med benefit
Hyderabad, July 21: The State government is reconsidering its decision to exempt minority medical colleges from the single window admission system following protests from students and minority rights groups.
The health department had issued an order on July 10 exempting minority medical colleges from the single window admission system. Minority medical colleges have to fill up 70 per cent of the seats from among EAMCET rank-holders and the remaining 30 per cent seats come under management quota. In order words, managements can fill up 100 per cent seats without the intervention of EAMCET convener.
It is pointed out that the order contravenes the State government’s earlier orders enabling single window system for engineering, pharmacy, MBA, and MCA courses. Even for BEd admissions, the government is about to issue orders enabling single window admissions.The government is now reconsidering the decision to provide privileges to minority medical colleges which have been denied to other minority professional colleges.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy is likely to convene a meeting with Health Minister K. Rosaiah and senior officials early next week on the issue. After the meeting, a fresh order may be issued. Meanwhile, the Minority Rights Protection Committee has approached AP High Court pleading for cancellation of the GO.
“The Supreme Court has categorically stated that the admission into unaided minority institutions should be made through centralised counselling and single window procedure should be adopted,” said Muhammad Ansari, president of the committee.
Man sentenced to life in jail for murdering wife
Hyderabad, July 21: First additional metropolitan sessions judge court on Friday convicted an accused in a murder and harassment case for life. According to additional public prosecutor Challa Seshu Reddy, the accused, Mohammed Ghouse, was convicted for killing his wife by setting her ablaze.
Ghouse, a resident of Bibi Ka Chasma, used to harass his wife Ghousia Begum by asking her to allow him to marry another woman since the first year of their marriage. “Ghousia Begum refused to comply, which led to a quarrel between them. Begum was eight months pregnant and was staying at her parents residence, when on January 1, 2003, Ghouse went to his in-laws’ house and set her ablaze while she was sleeping. Begum succumbed to burns after being treated after 24 days,” Mr Reddy said. “Ghouse has been convicted for life and for two years imprisonment. Both have to run concurrently,” he added.
New Delhi/Hyderabad, July 21: The Kenyan police has arrested one of India’s most-wanted terror suspects, Abdul Karim Tunda, who ran a module of the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) terror group.He is an accused in 1993 serial blasts and the July 11 train blasts in Mumbai. Tunda had allegedly masterminded 33 bomb blasts in New Delhi and adjoining areas between December 1996 and January 1998 in which 21 people were killed and 400 others injured, according to the agency report. Tunda alias Baba is the godfather of terror operatives in Hyderabad and is wanted for several blast cases, including the train blasts of December 5-6, 1993, the Sai Baba temple blast in Dilsukhnagar and the October 2005 suicide blast at the commissioner’s task force office. The anti-terrorism police in Mombassa, Kenya, said it had detained Tunda and would turn him over to prosecutors for possible extradition to India, an agency report said. A senior police official told AFP on condition of anonymity, “He is wanted for the bombings in Mumbai. He will be handed over because he is on the wanted list.” Investigative agencies in India will probe any possible role he may have had in the latest serial blasts in Mumbai once he is brought back to the country, sources said. A request for ascertaining reports about Tunda’s arrest had been made through Interpol and the response is awaited, a CBI spokesman told reporters here. The CBI had secured an Interpol red corner notice against Tunda after he fled the country in the mid-1990s. He also carries a cash reward of Rs 3 lakhs on his head.Nicknamed Tunda for a handicap in his left arm sustained while making a bomb, Tunda’s association in separatist activities predates his association with Lashkar. Officials of Research and Analysis Wing had claimed two years back that Tunda had been killed in a train accident in Bangladesh.Police officials in Hyderabad said one of Tunda’s top priorities was the “liberation of Hyderabad.” Tunda is also accused in, among others, the Ganesh temple blast plot. Tunda had a close associate in dreaded terrorist Azam Ghauri of Nizamabad who was shot dead after the 2003 Sai Baba temple blast. They floated Tanzeem Islahul Muslimeen (TIM) that operated from Mumbai and Hyderabad.A counterintelligence official said, “They roped in Dr Jalees Ansari of Mumbai and carried out explosions including seven blasts in trains on December 6, 1993.” He said Tunda escaped to Bangladesh and Ghauri to Saudi Arabia.After this Tunda shifted his focus to North India and handed over the south to Ghauri. “Tunda sent Saleem Junaid of Pakistan who began the first module in Hyderabad,” the official said. Dr Ansari was convicted for the 1993 train blasts. Junaid, who was arrested, was recently shifted to Vishakpatnam for deportation to Pakistan.
Audiences stay away from Code shows
Hyderabad, July 21: The controversial The Da Vinci Code was released amidst tight security in theatres in the twin cities on Friday to a largely tepid response. Most theatres reported just about 30 to 50 per cent ticket sales on the first day.
Perhaps the response had something to do with the big theatres keeping away from the screening. The film was released at in English versions at Venkatadri at Dilsukhnagar and Shalimar at King Koti and in Telugu dubbed versions at Rajeshwari at Monda market, Shalimar at King Koti, Sai Puja and Shahenshah.
Four theatres, Aradhana, Amaravathi, Lakshmi Kala and Srinivasa, dropped the screening on request from the protestors. Viewers who saw the film had mixed response. “I liked the book a lot because it was racier and more thrilling,” said BPO employee P. Samantha who saw the film at Venkatadri at Dilsukhnagar. “Ron Howard tried his best but could not bring the suspense into the movie. There were many scenes of people talking which were a dampener,” she said.
Mr Thangam Balraju who saw the dubbed Telugu version said, “It’s a good movie, but I was sitting in an almost empty theatre. They should have selected better theatres.” The Archdiocese of Hyderabad in association with Christian agencies began a counter campaign against the film by distributing CDs and booklets titled The Da Vinci Code — Fact or Fiction.
Archbishop Marampudi Joji said, “The film is full of lies. We have to tell people the facts. The CD has speeches of Christian scholars who decoded the film and explained how big a lie the film says.” The screening was marred by protests by Christian organisations; a youth slashed his wrists in front of Shalimar theatre at King Koti. He was promptly arrested and taken to hospital for treatment.
The Narayanguda police arrested for a brief while about 30 others who tried to halt the screening.Christian organisations decided to continue with their protests till the exhibitors stop screening the movie. Some organisations hinted at violence.
Karnataka seeks junket tips from AP MLAs
Hyderabad, July 21: Legislators in Andhra Pradesh have mastered the art of going on foreign junkets, read study tours, so well that now MLAs from neighbouring States are calling on them to learn from their expertise.
On Friday a seven-member MLA team from Karnataka held talks with officials of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy to learn from their experiences. The team from Karnataka especially wanted to know about the kind of help that is extended by the Indian Embassy in other countries.
“The Karnataka team wanted to know how we had arranged the tour for our MLAs in 2002. They asked about clearances required from the Centre, expenditure and other related things,” Mr Suresh Reddy told this correspondent.
In 2002, the then Chandrababu Naidu government had sponsored a five-nation tour for 253 MLAs in 2002 in batches to Singapore, Malaysia, China, South Korea and Thailand. Each contingent had 60 MLAs besides some scribes and the tour was meant to enlighten them on the advances made in these South Asian countries in the fields of agriculture, tourism, industry and other key sectors. Mr Naidu used all his connections in New Delhi and had also requested the then minister for external affairs to direct Indian Embassies to extend all assistance to the MLA contingents.
The State government had spent about Rs 3.60 crores on the tour and a committee was constituted to work out modalities with travel agents. In 2003, the Karnataka government had tried to send 290 MLAs and MLCs on a similar junket but a PIL in the Karnataka High Court by one B. Krishna Bhat of Bangalore thwarted the tour.
When a Karnataka delegation member asked Mr Suresh Reddy why the Congress government did not undertake such tours, he laughed and replied, “There is a lot of development here now. People are coming here to learn from us. Probably that’s why we are not going abroad anymore.” The Karnataka MLA team was led by N.Y. Gopal Krishna and the other members in the team were H.D. Basavaraj, Dinesh Gundu Rao, M.P. Venkatesh, D. Veerabasavantha Reddy, Saleem Ahmed and Shashil Namoshi.
Huda bid draws mild response
Hyderabad, July 21: The second day of Huda’s auctions, this time of housing and shop plots, drew a comparatively smaller response on Friday. These plots were left over from earlier auctions. There were no takers for three plots in Nandagiri Hills, where a plot was sold at Rs 85,000 a square yard in February this year. Also not taken were a couple of plots in Asifnagar and one in Banjara Hills Road No. 10. Several bidders said Huda’s upset price was too high.
Nevertheless, Huda raised Rs 72.87 crore by the end of the day, auctioning 49 of the 56 plots on offer. Nine of the plots were located in Huda layouts at Nandagiri Hills, Chitra (one), Huda Trade Centre Ramachandrapuram (one), Nallagandla residential complex (five), Ramachandrapuram Ring Town (two), Huda Techno Enclave Madhapur (one) and Miyapur residential complex (31 plots).
Huda secretary and auction officer P. Venkatram Reddy expressed satisfaction with the response. “It was good keeping in view that these were leftover plots,” he said. Huda has earned about Rs 1,400 crores from February this year from auction of lands at Banjara and Jubilee Hills, Kokapet and other areas. The upset price for Nandagiri Hills plots was Rs 45,000 per square yard, Rs 50,000 for Banjara Hills and Rs 45,000 a square yard for Asifnagar plots. The highest bid amount for a Nandagiri Hills plot was Rs 65,000 per square yard. The minimum bid was Rs 46,000 per sq yard.
The lone plot in Chitra layout was auctioned for Rs 41,000 per sq yard (upset price Rs 40,000), the Trade Centre Ramachandrapuram plot for Rs 13,000 (Rs 12,500). In Ramachandrapuram Ring Town the maximum bid was Rs 15,500 against an upset price of Rs 6,000. In Nallagandla residential complex, the highest bid amount was Rs 17,600 and minimum Rs 10,000 per square yard against upset price of Rs 10,500.
For the plots in Miyapur residential complex, the maximum bid was Rs 30,500 and minimum Rs 10,500 against upset price of Rs 10,000. Most of the 31 plots were sold between Rs 10,500 and Rs 12,500 per square yard. The lone plot in Huda Techno Enclave got a single bid for Rs 55,000 per square yard against an offset price Rs 25,000.
HC pulls up SEC secretary
In AP Court
Hyderabad July 21: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday took serious note of the State Election Commission (SEC) officials not responding to its directions. A division bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice G.V.Seethapathy directed the secretary of the SEC to report to the court about the status of 275 applications submitted by people of Kondapet Mandal in Prakasam district seeking inclusion of their names in the electoral rolls.
When the matter came up for hearing in the morning, the bench asked the SEC secretary to be present in the court during the post-lunch session. However, the secretary was absent and the bench said that it would issue warrants if he failed to appear. Later, the SEC secretary G.N.Rao tendered an apology to the court for his absence. The bench adjourned the case to July 24.
Execute NBWs against cops: HC
The AP High Court ordered notices to the director-general of police on a petition complaining of non execution of non-bailable warrants (NBWs) issued against police officers issued by the metropolitan magistrate of Venukonda in Guntur.
The petitioner, Medam Ramesh from Guntur, complained that the police failed to execute the NBWs despite getting permission from higher officers. Ramesh alleged that he was illegally detained by the police for eight days and was released after a CBI enquiry.
A case was registered against the police officers under section 388 and 389 IPC for detaining him illegally. Justice G. Raghuram asked police authorities to execute the warrants and file a counter by Tuesday. The bench adjourned the case to July 25.
Nalgonda collector gets contempt notice
Justice P.S. Narayana issued contempt notice to Nalgonda district collector and RDO of Bibinagar for violating the court orders in not reserving the post of sarpanch for BC category and reserving the same for ST category.
The judge also stayed the election process of Nemorugomulla village in Bibinagar mandal. The orders were passed in a writ petition filed by A. Sudhakar of Nemorugomulla complaining the action of the government in not reserving the post of sarpanch for ST category without considering the orders passed by the High Court on July 14.
Traffic, liquor curbs for fest
Hyderabad, July 21: Police commissioner on Friday ordered liquor shops and bars in restaurants (excluding bars in star hotels) closed for Bonalu in the twin cities from 6 am on July 23 to 6 am on July 25.
The closure will be effected in all police station limits in east and south zones. It will be in effect in all police station limits in central zone except Ramgopalpet; and in all police station limits in west zone except Banjara Hills, Jub-ilee Hills, Punjagutta and S.R. Nagar police stations.
Mr Mohanty also ordered the following traffic restrictions on July 24 from 12 noon to 9 pm for Bonalu:
* Kandikal Gate to Lal Darwaza: diversion at Chatrinaka PS T-junction towards Gowlipura. * Phoolbagh to Lal Darwaza: Diversion at Pather-ki-Darga to ACP Chatrinaka office.* Balagunj to Lal Darwaza: Diverted to Gowlipura crossroad.* Gowlipura Market to Sudha Talkies: Diversion at Library to Ashoka Pillar crossroad.* Meer-ka-Daira, Moghal-pura to Shalibanda: Diversion at Hari Bowli crossroads.* Uppuguda, Chatrinaka: diversion to Moghalpura PS at Gowlipura crossroad.* Chandrayangutta to Aliyabad: diversion at New Shamsheergunj T-junction to Tadban.* Bhavani Nagar, Mirjumla Talab to Charminar: Diversion at Bibi Bazar crossroads to Alijah Kotla.* Moghalpura to Charminar: diversion to Alijah Ko-tla Chowk Maidan Khan and from Fire Station Moghalpura.* Yakutpura to Gulzar Ho-uz: Diversion at Eitebar Chowk to Mir Alam Mandi road.n Purani Haveli, Mandi road to Chatta Bazar: diversion at Lakkad Kote crossroad towards Dar-ul-shifa.* Fateh Darwaza to Himmatpura crossroad: diversion to Khilwat and Moti Galli.* Puranapul to Lad Bazar: Diversion at Chowk Mosque to Shahgunj or Chelapura. * Khilwat to Lad Bazar: Diversion at Motigalli T junction to Chowk Mosque.* From Shakkar Kote: Div-ersion at Mitti ka Sher to Ghansi Bazar, Chelapura.* Puranapul to Mehboob ki Mehndi to New Bridge: diversion at Muslimjung Bridge to Begum Bazar.* Chaderghat, Noor Khan Bazar and Dar-ul-shifa to New Bridge: Diversion at Dar-ul-shifa to Gowliguda and Afzalgunj via Salarjung.* Gowliguda, Siddiamber Bazar to New Bridge: Diversion at Afzalgunj crossroad towards Muslimjung bridge via Osmania General Hospital road along Musi river.* Madina crossroad-Engi-ne Bowli, Jahanuma road closed for vehicles. RTC buses will terminate at Afzalgunj, Darulshifa cros-sroads and Engine Bowli.
YSR calls for agricultural renaissance
Thiruvananthapuram, July 21: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy said here on Friday that the State needed to usher in an agricultural renaissance to help farmers tide over the crisis in the farm sector.
Speaking at the regional consultation meet to discuss the draft paper of the 11th plan here, Dr Rajasekhar Reddy said that this was necessary to give the farmers legitimate returns for their investment and to protect them from the vagaries of monsoons, middle-men and market forces. A major challenge before the planning commission was to reverse the deceleration of growth in the agriculture sector in the last decade, which had been a major cause of rural distress, he said.
The Chief Minister said that the agricultural insurance scheme introduced by his government in five districts would soon be expanded to cover all districts of the State. The scheme could be adopted by the rest of the country with suitable changes during the 11th plan, he suggested.
Referring to the industrial sector, Dr Rajasekhar Reddy said that the State government was pursuing investor-friendly policies. At the same time, it was also trying to build a safety net for traditional industries such as handloom sector, he said.
Apart from Dr Rajasekhar Reddy, Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achutanandan, Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Pondicherry Chief Minister N. Rangaswami took part in the meet. While the other States general favoured the draft paper, Kerala was strongly critical of some proposals made in it.
Mr Achutanandan questioned the planning commission’s attempt to correlate high growth rate with poverty alleviation. He pointed out that according to the commission’s own figures the rate of decline of poverty after 1990 was less than half of the rate between 1977 and 1990.
Textbooks worth Rs 8.5 cr soiled
Hyderabad, July 21: The vigilance and enforcement department has recommended action against district education officers of 12 districts and depot managers as their alleged negligence has resulted in the loss of Rs 8.51 crores worth textbooks.
Sources said that the loss was calculated after analysing the stocks of textbooks from Class I to Class X for the past 10 years. “The officers concerned didn’t take necessary measures to prevent wastage of books during the change of syllabus. Some of the stocks were soiled and termites ate them away. Had the officers acted responsibly the loss would have been averted,” sources said.
AP police vies for top award
Hyderabad, July 21: Andhra Pradesh Police is making a bid to get the prestigious Webber Seavey awards for its two social service projects.The awards are given to law enforcement agencies for the socially beneficial projects they launch.
Asara project taken out by Nalgonda police for rehabilitation of sex workers in the temple town of Yadagirigutta and the family counselling centres run by the police all over the State are the contenders for the award. These two projects have entered the semifinal rounds of the competition.
They are contesting with projects taken out by police forces from 25 regions. Nalgonda SP Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagawat said that the award ceremony was an annual event conducted by the the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Lorry kills 3 at bus stop
3 others die in mishaps
Hyderabad, July 21: Three persons, including a woman, died and 10 others sustained injuries when a lorry ploughed into the crowd standing by the roadside in Abdullapurmet under Hayathnagar police station limits at 5 pm on Friday.According to Hayathnagar police, the mishap occurred about 25 kms from here after the driver lost control over the lorry when he tried to avoid hitting an autorickshaw that was coming from the opposite direction.
Hayathnagar inspector Ghouse Mohiuddin said the lorry was proceeding from Hayathnagar to Vijayawada. Police said M. Swarna, 25, wife of M. Gopal Reddy of Abdullapurmet and Mohammed Wali, 39, died while being shifted to the hospital. Eight persons who were injured were shifted to the Osmania General Hospital (OGH). An unidentified youth aged around 20 died at the OGH.
Those who suffered critical injuries were identified as M. Swami, N. Narasimha and G. Yadaiah. “Over 14 persons were standing at the bus stop when the lorry hit them and halted near the pavement,” Narasimha, one of the injured, said. “I was about to board an autorickshaw when the lorry hit me,” he said.
Police seized the lorry with registration number AP 24 V 3319 and arrested driver Yousuf.In a separate incident, two children died in a road accident in Aramgarh under Rajendranagar police station limits on Friday. According to Rajendranagar inspector T. Chandrasekhar, Jaffar Pasha, his wife Nasreen Fatima, and their children 18-month-old Azam and four-year-old Aysia Begum were going on a scooter when they were hit by a lorry.
Pasha lost control over the two-wheeler and rammed into a road divider. Azam died on the spot while his sister succumbed to injuries at a private hospital. Pasha and Nasreen, who suffered grievous injuries, were admitted to a hospital.
In another road mishap, a 21-year-old engineering student, A. Santosh, of Kutbiguda succumbed to injuries on Thursday as he rammed his car into a traffic signal pole in Saifabad.
Guntur twins’ surgery soon
Hyderabad, July 21: Guntur conjoined twins Vani and Veena, who were brought here and admitted to Niloufer Hospital, will undergo their first surgery in a few weeks in the newly developed Infosys Millennium Block on the Niloufer Hospital premises.
The twins were brought from Guntur after local doctors there gave up the responsibility of separating the twins who are attached through their brains. The first surgery essentially aims to create more skin for both of them. Niloufer Hospital officials said an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan had made it clear that the twins share a part of blood vessels which supply blood to the brain.
The girls now weigh 20 kgs and doctors say this is the ideal weight to take up surgeries. Dr N.C.K. Reddy, superintendent of Niloufer Hospital said the surgery will be done in a phased manner by a special team.
MCH notice on palace encroachment
Hyderabad, July 21: The Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) has served notices on 21 different individuals for raising “unauthorised constructions” around the Chowmohalla Palace. The MCH would remove unauthorised constructions if the occupants fail to vacate/remove the same within four days, MCH additional commissioner (projects) Dhanunjaya Reddy said.
Relook at minority med benefit
Hyderabad, July 21: The State government is reconsidering its decision to exempt minority medical colleges from the single window admission system following protests from students and minority rights groups.
The health department had issued an order on July 10 exempting minority medical colleges from the single window admission system. Minority medical colleges have to fill up 70 per cent of the seats from among EAMCET rank-holders and the remaining 30 per cent seats come under management quota. In order words, managements can fill up 100 per cent seats without the intervention of EAMCET convener.
It is pointed out that the order contravenes the State government’s earlier orders enabling single window system for engineering, pharmacy, MBA, and MCA courses. Even for BEd admissions, the government is about to issue orders enabling single window admissions.The government is now reconsidering the decision to provide privileges to minority medical colleges which have been denied to other minority professional colleges.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy is likely to convene a meeting with Health Minister K. Rosaiah and senior officials early next week on the issue. After the meeting, a fresh order may be issued. Meanwhile, the Minority Rights Protection Committee has approached AP High Court pleading for cancellation of the GO.
“The Supreme Court has categorically stated that the admission into unaided minority institutions should be made through centralised counselling and single window procedure should be adopted,” said Muhammad Ansari, president of the committee.
Man sentenced to life in jail for murdering wife
Hyderabad, July 21: First additional metropolitan sessions judge court on Friday convicted an accused in a murder and harassment case for life. According to additional public prosecutor Challa Seshu Reddy, the accused, Mohammed Ghouse, was convicted for killing his wife by setting her ablaze.
Ghouse, a resident of Bibi Ka Chasma, used to harass his wife Ghousia Begum by asking her to allow him to marry another woman since the first year of their marriage. “Ghousia Begum refused to comply, which led to a quarrel between them. Begum was eight months pregnant and was staying at her parents residence, when on January 1, 2003, Ghouse went to his in-laws’ house and set her ablaze while she was sleeping. Begum succumbed to burns after being treated after 24 days,” Mr Reddy said. “Ghouse has been convicted for life and for two years imprisonment. Both have to run concurrently,” he added.
