Andhranews

Srisailam dam gates to be lifted


Srisailam, July 31: Krishna river continues to receive huge inflows of floodwater due to heavy rains in catchment areas in Karnataka and Maharashtra. The river was receiving floodwaters from its tributaries Ujjain, Koyina, Bheema and Tungabhadra.

With the current inflows of over 2.4 lakh cusecs at 8 pm on Monday, the water level at Srisailam reservoir, the lifeline of Andhra Pradesh, rose to 878.40 ft taking the storage to 222.04 tmc ft against the total capacity of 263 tmc ft. The dam officials are gearing up to lift the gates any moment as the inflows continue to increase.

Meanwhile, hydel power production reached its peak of 1,170 MW on Monday. After power generation, 62,000 cusecs was discharged into Nagarjunasagar. Another 8,346 cusecs was released into SRBC through Pothireddypadu head regulator. The water level reached danger mark as inflows reached 2.4 lakh cusecs by Monday night.
Dam officials estimate that the inflows might increase to four lakh cusecs by Tuesday.

Meanwhile, after a review meeting held at Hyderabad on Monday, the government directed Srisailam dam officials to lift gates and release water into Nagarjunasagar once the water level reaches 881 ft. The dam officials on Monday inspected the crest gates.

Meanwhile, the water level continues to rise at Tungabhadra reservoir. Water level rose to 1,632.7 mark against the maximum level of 1633 to take the storage to 103.159 tmc ft against the full storage capacity of 111 tmc ft. Dam officials were closing and lifting gates depending upon the inflows. The officials closed seven gates when the inflows decreased from 44,933 cusecs to 26,000 cusecs.

However, when the inflows increased, the officials again lifted the gates.Officials discharged 23,022 cusecs downstream, including 2,371 cusecs which is being released into HLC canal, 5,620 cusecs into ALC, 9,398 into river, 2,000 cusecs into Basavatharakam canal and 40 cusecs to Jindal factory.

Plea to clean Gooty canal


Guntakal (Anantapur), July 31: Hundreds of residents and students led by CPM leaders laid siege to Gooty Sub Branch Canal office on Monday demanding that authorities clean the Gooty Branch Canal.
The CPM took up relay hunger strike demanding that the civic authorities clean the canal. Protesting against the government’s indifferent attitude, they laid siege to the GBC office. Earlier, they took up a rally in the town.

Addressing the protestors, CPM leaders said that Gooty Sub Branch Canal has become a drainage canal due to dumping of waste. Drainage water is being released into the canal subjecting the surrounding people to a lot of inconvenience, they said.

“Officials have decided to release water into the canal without inspecting the present condition of the canal. They are indifferent to the contamination of water,” the CPM leaders alleged. Speaking on the occasion, GBC EE K.C. Narayana agreed that municipal authorities were releasing drainage water into the Gooty Sub Branch Canal.

There has been no response to notices sent to the municipal authorities against the release of drainage water into GBC, he said. He said that works to clean GBC would be completed in the next two days. The agitators withdrew the agitation with the EE reply.

Brown sugar racket busted


Railway Kodur (Kadapa), July 31: Brown sugar worth Rs 1.50 crores in international market was seized here from two youths late on Sunday night. The narcotic substance was found in the possession of Sourappan Suresh, 25 and Mohammed, 26, of Chennai.

They were caught during the vehicle checks by the town police. One Prem of Nellore reportedly gave them the brown sugar contained in two packets weighing 815 grams and 785 grams for sale at Hyderabad. Accordingly, the two were going to Hyderabad on a motorcycle.

The police have sent the samples from the two packets to forensic lab in Hyderabad to ascertain its genuineness. The police have been conducting vehicle checks for the last one week following the theft of five vehicles in the town. Sources said that brown sugar was being smuggled on large scale to places such as Railway Kodur, Tirupati, Renigunta and Chennai from Nellore.

After Sunday’s seizure, Nellore police have launched a hunt for the alleged king pin in the racket Prem. Police is learnt to have received a tip off over the brown sugar racket operating in Nellore, Renigunta, Railway Kodur and other surrounding places. The two accused Suresh and Mohammed were produced before on Monday.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident police arrested one Navin Kumar of Chavanavaripalle of Rajampet mandal at old bus stand area on Monday and recovered 120 counterfeit notes of Rs 500 denominations from his possession.

Reporters detained in cross episode


Tirupati, July 31: Police have intensified search for the people who painted the holy cross on some trees and houses in Tirumala on Sunday.Sleuths of the vigilance wing of TTD detained a Delhi-based Sudarshan TV reporter Omprakash Agarwal and Damodar Viswanath of Tadepalligudem while they were filming the cross painted on a house in Balaji Colony at Tirumala on Sunday.

The vigilance personnel handed them over to Police when they failed to extract any information from them.According to police sources, Agarwal came to Tirupati to file a story for his channel on the recent controversy over propaganda by other religions at Tirumala and was being helped by a Rajasthani youth, Kailash.

Congress-TD feud sparks tension


Nellore, July 31: Rachavaripalle in Duttaloor mandal is in the grip of tension following clashes between TD and Congress groups late on Sunday night. Superintendent of Police N Suryanarayana rushed to the village at about 2.00 am on Sunday night to review the law and order situation and directed police officials to post a police picket in the village.

Both groups met the SP and apprised him of their versions. The SP suggested measures to put an end to the feud. According to information, the TD group organized a dinner to celebrate the victory of their nominee Bana Nageswar Reddy, who was elected sarpanch of the village in the first phase of the elections held on July 29.

Comments made by a Congress worker after parking his two wheeler in front of Mr Nageswar Reddy’s house led to an altercation between TD and Congress followers. TD workers took to their heels when a large number of Congressmen surrounded them.

Udayagiri CI Mr Venkateswarlu rushed to the village and ordered a lathicharge when he found both groups throwing stones at each other. Udayagiri MLA Mr Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy came to the village after some of his partymen alerted him about the incident.

His arrival led Congress workers to go berserk and attack TD men ruthlessly. The MLA became furious at police after noticing injuries to some of his followers. In the backdrop of the violent incidents, Rachavaripalem sarpanch elect Mr Nageswar Reddy appealed to police to give him protection, alleging threat to his life from the MLA and Congress leaders.

TD leaders staged a dharna in front of the police station at Duttaloor to protest against the incident. Former TD legislator Mr Kambam Vijayarami Reddy took part in the dharna.

Meanwhile, TD district president Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy came down heavily on Udaygagiri MLA Mr Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy for instigating Congress workers against TD followers at Rachavaripalle on Sunday.

He alleged that the attacks on his party leaders took place in the presence of the MLA. In a statement, he said that the incident was an indicator to the highhanded behavior of peoples’ representatives of the Congress.Referring to similar incidents during the corporation elections, he demanded that the SP take stringent action against the accused.

Prices of essentials skyrocket


Kakinada, July 31: The price of essential commodities, especially pulses, continues to be beyond the reach of the common man. While the administration is targeting the trading community, traders blame the WTO agreement and on-line marketing for the unexpected rise.

According to wholesale market sources, prices oug-ht to have come down with the new crop of some pulses, but prices still hover at the top with an abnormal increase of 25 to 30 per cent. Prices of black gram, red gram and moong dal soared from 25 to 30 per cent in the last few months.

Wholesale prices of black gram have touched an all-time high with the wholesale price of first quality (Maharashtra quality) touching Rs 4,000 per quintal and the local variety ranging from Rs 3,600 to Rs 3,800 per quintal.

The retail price of these two varieties varies from Rs 40 to Rs 46 per kg in the market depending on the quality. The price of dal has crossed Rs 35 per kg in the retail market with the wholesale price ranging from Rs 1,500 to 1,600 for 50 kg bag. The price of green gram has also seen the highest increase ranging from Rs 45 to Rs 50 per kg with the wholesale price ranging from Rs 3,800 to Rs 4,400 per quintal.

There was some consolation in the case of the price of red gram as the price has come down by 10 to 15 per cent in the last one month. The price ranges from Rs 28 to 36 per kg. A housewife, Ms N. Pravina Madhuri, says that the prices of pulses, especially black gram and green gram, has gone to such an extent that consumers are forced to reduce their consumption.

Another housewife, Ms M. Radha Kumari feels that the government should supply these varieties through fair price shops. She said that such an exercise would control the prices to some extent. Godavari Chamber of Commerce local chapter vice-president Nallam Varahala Babu said that online marketing has affected the price line to the maximum extent.

He said that apart from loss of crop and lower yield of black gram and green gram, online marketing was influencing the prices. The trading community is afraid to make bulk purchases, leave alone stocking in godowns. State Edible Oil Merchants Association secretary and East Godavari Wholesale Merchants Association president Grandhi Narayana Rao blamed the WTO agreement for the rise in the prices.

He saId that because of this, the trading community was entering the market and making purchases online. He said that the traders withhold the stocks and sell them to the local trading community.
Meanwhile, East Godavari district supply officer Rajiv Sharma held a meet with representatives of traders on Saturday over the price rise of essential commodities.

Stadium for Arts College


Rajahmundry, July 31: The Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh proposed the construction of a multipurpose stadium at Rajahmundry Arts College.

SAAP deputy director R. Janardhana Reddy, along with civil engineer of the organisation, Ramesh visited the Arts College grounds on Monday. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Janardhana Reddy said that Rs 10 lakhs was sanctioned in 2002 for the purpose.

He said that fresh proposals were being made to meet the changed needs along with maintenance expences. He said that necessary arrangements would be made after receiving the project report from the district collector who is also the chairman of the District Sports Authority.

Drive to collect power arrears


Bhimavaram, July 31: The officials of the Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited have taken up a special drive to collect power bill dues from consumers.

It is estimated that Rs 20 lakhs is due in the Bhimavaram division alone. Officials of the Vigilance cell in the department are also booking cases of unauthorised power connections in the division.

As part of the special drive, Transco SE H.Y. Dora visited Bhimavaram division for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. Officials of the division conducted special checks at Bhimavaram, Palakoderu and Kalla mandals.

They identified unauthorised power connections at some places, including those of fish tank owners. Officials are also assessing the reasons for piling up of dues in the division.

Realty boom spices up elections


Adilabad, July 31: There is an impact of real estate business and town expansions on the elections to the gram panchayats attached to towns in the gram panchayat elections. Candidates are spending huge amounts in elections to capture the sarpanch post as parts of some towns come under the gram panchayats attached to it.

Even sitting and former MLAs, irrespective of political parties, are eyeing the gram panchayats attached to the town and fielded their close associates to sarpanch posts as these gram panchayats assume importance and demand in the context of city expansion and real estate business.

There is keen competition on all fronts for sarpanch posts of gram panchayats attached to towns such as Mavala to Adilabad town; Naspoor and Thallapalli, Kyathanpalli gram panchayats surrounding Manc-herial town, Basar to Mudhole town, Manjulapur to Nirmal town in the district which are fast expanding, where land prices are high with real estate business booming.

District Panchayat officer R. Adellu said that they are helpless to control the election expenditure by the contesting candidates as they were being held on non-party basis. Action would be taken if it comes to their notice that the candidates crossed their limits only after the candidates submit details of their expenditure after the completion of elections to the election observers through the respective MROs.

There is limit on expenditure by sarpanches up to Rs 40,000 for gram panchayats with a population up to 10,000 and Rs 20,000 for gram panchayats below a population of 10,000.

Contesting candidates are spending huge amounts on erecting gigantic cut-outs, hoardings, multi-coloured banners, in addition to supplying liquor and distributi-ng money to lure the voters.

An officer in the mandal revenue office of Adilabad on condition of anonymity said that the sarpanch post of gram panchayats attach-ed to towns are like the goose that give golden eggs, as part of the town came under gram panchayats. Na-turally, residents would ha-ve to obtain the required pe-rmission for every work th-ey took up from the gram panchayat and all the rights would be in the hands of the sarpanch.

Nigerian held for cheating, dollars seized


Nizamabad, July 31: The One Town poli-ce arrested 30-year-old Ene-wan Tony, a citizen of Nigeria of South Africa, while he was trying to cheat businessmen by giving fake foreign currency notes.

Perhaps for the first time, the police arrested a Nigerian at district-level. Police suspect that a group of Nigerian youngsters formed a gang and are committing offences, not only in Hyderabad, but also in other districts.

A week ago, Hyderabad police arrested two Nigerians in connection with cheating businessmen through e-mails. Following a tip off, Nizamabad police conducted a raid on a lodge near the RTC bus stand and arrested Tony, late on Sunday night. Police also seized US$ 50 and some documents from him.

One Town sub-inspector Wahiduddin told this correspondent that the arrested Nigerian had arrived in the town two days ago and was trying to cheat businessmen, particularly those belonging to the Muslim community.

Tony approached an ice-cream parlour owner and explained about the launching of another business jointly. He promised to pay lakhs of US dollars by accepting some Indian currency on commission basis. Suspecting foul play, the parlour owner informed police. The same Nigerian had visited Nizamabad 15 days ago, the SI said.

The modus operandi of Tony, according to the SI was that a bundle of white papers was prepared by placing two original US dollars on both sides of the bundle to attract businessmen. This was Tony’s first effort to cheat businessmen in Nizamabad, the SI added. Tony is a football player and entered India in 2004. He was overstaying, though his visa expired in 2005.

Indur prepares list in Telugu


Nizamabad, July 31: Nizamabad district again set a rare record in Telugu implementation by preparing the data of all sarpanches elected in gram panchayat elections which were completed on July 29 in Nizamabad division in Telugu.

Nizamabad is the first district in the state in the use of Telugu in official correspondence and was also rewarded by the Official Language Commission.Mr Pinnamaneni Ramana, typist at the District Panch-ayat Office, who typed in the data, told this newspap-er, that he had typed the names of all sarpanches in Te-lugu in eight hours. The data included name of the place, name of the sarp-anch, mandal and division.

He typed the data of 276 sarpanches and 2,856 ward members elected in Nizamabad revenue division. The same was also forwarded to the State Election Commission on Monday and the latter appreciated the effort. The Telugu data is also on the Nizamabad official web site, www.nizamabad.nic. in, he added.

District panchayat officer Zameer Ahmed congratula-ted the typist, who said that the details of sarpanches and ward members of two other divisions, Bodhan and Kamareddy, would al-so be done in Telugu soon after the completion of elections.

KU releases entrance results


Warangal, July 31: The Kakatiya University on Monday released the entrance test results of the M.Sc chemistry five-year integrated course introduced for the first time in the university. Releasing the results, vice-chancellor, Prof. V. Gopal Reddy said that out of 1,135 students appeared for the test held on July 27, and a total of 969 had qualified.

The VC said that the first phase of counselling would be held on August 10 and the second phase, if needed, would be held on August 16. A total of 30 seats were made available in the first of its kind integrated course in the campus. Hostel facility would also be provided for students if required.

Scholarships would be given to the students on par with other post-graduate students, the VC said adding that classes will begin from August 19. University registrar, Prof. S. Jagannatha Swamy, controller of examinations, Prof. T. Papi Reddy and others were present.

Meanwhile, the directorate of admissions has announced its second phase of counselling schedule for admissions into various post-graduate courses through the KU-Cet-2006. Additional director, Prof. P. Narendra Babu, said that the second phase of counselling would begin from August 3 at the physics building on the campus.

He explained that the counselling for admissions into social sciences, arts, and humanities subjects would be held from August 3. The science stream counselling would be held from August 7.
Counselling for special category, under the NCC, sports and games quota, physically handicapped categories’ students admissions into social sciences would be held on August 17, while the science stream would be held on August 18. Counselling for in-service candidates would be held on August 19.

Central team visits Kolleru


Vijayawada, July 31: The Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court headed by P.V. Jayakrishna visited Krishna and West Godavari districts during the last two days to study the progress of restoration of Kolleru Lake.

As the committee has also been asked to study the Polavaram project proposed on Godavari river, the members visited the site and interacted with the people, representatives of various organisations and collected information about the project.

The committee interacted with the leaders of various political parties, representatives of the farmers and the people from the project area along river Godavari. The committee, as it appeared, was focusing on the need for the Polavaram project than the objections that were raised.

MLAs Mandali Buddha Prasad, Chanumolu Venkat Rao, Devineni Rajasekhar Nehru, M. Pratap Apparao, former zilla parishad chairman P. Koteswara Rao, zilla parishad chairman K. Nageswara Rao, Uda chairman Malladi Vishnu and Andhra Pradesh Jalayagna Sadhana Samiti founder Kolanukonda Sivaji, were among those who met the empowered committee at the Gannavaram airport.

The legislators and the leaders also submitted a memorandum to the committee emphasising the need for the Polavaram project. “The committee appeared positive and looks like it has realised the need for the project. They told us that they have enough information about the project and its requirement,” Mr Buddha Prasad told this correspondent after meeting the committee.

CPI MLA Shaik Nasarvali also met the committee at Gannavaram and submitted a representation in favour of the Polavaram project. However, the Telugu Des-am leaders, who announced that they would also meet the committee in favour of the project, could not meet them during the visit.

Meanwhile, the committee also visited the Kolleru Lake area for the on-the-spot study of the lake restoration. The committee members expressed satisfaction over the demolition of fish tanks in the lake area and wanted the administration of Krishna and West Godavari districts to speed up total restoration of the lake and also rehabilitation of the people.

ESI grants amnesty to defaulters


Vijayawada, July 31: Keeping in view the prosecution cases filed under Section 84 and 85 of the ESI Act pending in large number, the Employees State Insurance Corporation would introduce amnesty period from August 1 for six months.

ESI joint director O.P. Jatia on Monday said that the amnesty scheme was being introduced after holding discussions with various employees and employers’ organisations. “In the meetings held between June 8 and June 15, it was decided to grant amnesty to withdraw cases booked against the insured persons and employers as per the conditions,” he said.

The insured persons facing charges for wrong declaration resulting in excess payment can withdraw their case if the excess amount to the insured person gets refunded by taking an undertaking that they will not repeat the same mistake of giving a wrong declaration.

The employers facing cases under ESI Act relating to the contribution period ending September 2005 can withdraw cases as per the conditions. For this, the employers should pay both employers and employees share of contribution to the corporation. They should also pay the interest and damages due for the period of default.

“The benefit of the amnesty scheme will be available to the employers who have already availed the earlier amnesty sche-me,” said the joint director. He said the ESIC, Vijayawada was empowered to accord sanction for withdrawal of cases where contribution, including interest and damages were under the provisions of the Act that is made during the amnesty period. He requested all the insured persons and employers facing cases to avail the opportunity under the amnesty scheme according to the conditions.



55 slums in city to be developed


Vijayawada, July 31: The elected body of the Vijaya-wada Municipal Corporation on Monday accepted the proposal for the development of 55 slums in the city with the Centrally-sponsored Jawaharlal Neh-ru National Urban Renewal Mission funds.

The council also authorised the municipal commissioner to assign the survey and project preparation work to a Hyderabad-based firm, National Consultancy for Planning and Engineering. The officials said that the NCPE quoted over 1.45 per cent for the project rep-ort on July 12.

The VMC has to take up provision of roads, drains, sewerage lines, drinking water and streetlights in the selected 55 slums in the city under the JNNURM’s Basic Services for the Urban Poor (BSUP).
The council approved the proposal giving a chance to some of the corporators to give representations for inclusion of their localities in the programme.

Congress corporator S. Ramalinga Murthy, CPM floor leader Ch. Babu Rao and TD floor leader Y. Ramana Rao insisted on the council accepting their proposals for inclusion of more slums in the programme. However, Mayor Tadi Sakuntala turned down the proposal and asked them to submit their lists to the municipal commissioner for consideration.

The mayor informed the members that the VMC had conducted a thorough survey in the city before selecting the most-deserving 55 slums for the project. She asserted that they have also considered the representations from the elected members and the corporators on inclusion of additional localities. However, she said the VMC would consider new proposals from the corporators if they were found to be deserving.

The council witnessed heated discussions between the Congress and the CPM on the property tax proposals. CPM floor leader, Babu Rao tabled a proposal suggesting changes to the existing property tax system. He expressed fear that the tax system would be changed in future with the implementation of the JNNURM funds and wanted the elected body to have a new policy with less burden on the poor people.

Brushing aside the fears expressed by the CPM floor leader, the Congress member, S Narasaraju and deputy mayor, Ch Krishna Kumar, insisted that the VMC continue the existing system.

14 hurt in attack on new sarpanch


Etcherla (Srikakulam), July 31: Fourteen persons were injured and cases were filed against 43 persons when two groups clashed in Allivalasa, a fishing village in this mandal here on Sunday.

The clashes were an outcome of an attack on the house of newly-elected sarpanch Mylipalli Venkatesh who was supported by the Congress. A group of people said to be members of the TD raided Venkatesh’s house in the early hours and destroyed his two shops.

Two of his followers who tried to stop them sustained serious head injuries and were admitted to Srikakulam government hospital. Venkatesh hid himself and saved from an attack. The JR Puram police registered cases against 43 persons but no arrests have been made so far.

A police picket was set up in the village to prevent further clashes. A senior officer said the fisherfolk who ventured into sea might start the clash after returning to the shore late in the night. A security cover has been provided to the sarpanch, the senior police official said.

TRS leader killed in Naxal violence


Bayyaram, July 31: A Telangana Rashtra Samiti leader was killed and a party activist was injured as the Naxalites of the CPI-ML (New Democracy) attacked Khammam TRS in-charge of Illendu Chepuri Ravi at Gandhampalli village under Bayyaram mandal of Khammam district on Monday.

According to police, a group of 12 Naxalities opened fire on Mr Ravi, who visited Khammam as part of the campaign for gram panchayat elections. However, the bullets hit an-other TRS leader Ravinder Reddy, who died on the spot. Another TRS activist Pagili Ramana also suffered grievous bullet injuries on his left shoulder and stomach. In the melee that followed, Mr Ravi escaped from the scene.

Presuming that Mr Ravi is hiding in the house, the Naxalites fired several rounds into the house. On confirming that Mr Ravi escaped from the spot, the Naxalites left the scene. Illendu deputy superintendent Veeera Reddy, circle inspector Sarwar, Bayyaram sub-inspector Venkateswarlu visited the spot.

A large of large of police personnel were deployed in the area as a precautionary measure. While, the TRS activist, who was injured in the attack, was shifted to Khammam general hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, the Congress and TRS leaders criticised the Naxal attack and enforced a bandh in Bayyaram mandal to pro-test against the attack.

Vizag police on alert after Maoist attack


Visakhapatnam, July 31: Police sounded alert in the Visakhapatnam Agency area after Maoists broke into the office of AP Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) and a godown of Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) in RV Nagar village under GK Veedhi mandal late on Sunday night.

Maoists wearing uniforms entered the AFDC office and destroyed some documents, records, typewriters and furniture. Later, the Maoists went to the godown of the GCC and looted six bags of paddy.

The Maoist attack assu-mes significance in the wake of the July 23 enc-ounter, in which top Maoist leaders were killed. Speaking to reporters, district superintendent J.G. Murali dismissed the speculation about the Maoists shifting their base from Nallamala to the Visakhapatnam Agency and Andhra-Orissa border areas.

He said that the high state of alert maintained by the police would deter the Maoists from shifting their base to the Agency areas. The superintendent added that the special police parties were visiting the Maoists-influenced villages to spread awareness among the tribals about the atrocities committed by the Maoists.

Maoist raid sparks red alert


Visakhapatnam, July 31: The district police sounded red alert in the Agency areas after a group of Maoists broke into the office of AP Forest Development Corporation and the godown of Girijan Co-operative Corporation in RV Nagar village under GK Veedhi mandal, late on Sunday night. The attack by the Maoists gained importance as they were celebrating the martyrs week in the backdrop of a major encounter in Nallamala forests.

A group of around 15 to 20 armed Maoists wearing uniforms entered the AFDC office and destroyed some documents, records, type machines and furniture. From the APFDC office, they went to the godown of the GCC and took away six bags of paddy. They also tied red banners saying that the Maoists would definitely retaliate for the Nallamala encounter, which was a major loss to their party.

The district SP, J.G. Murali, had earlier ruled out the possibility of Maoists shifting their base from Nallamala to the Vizag Agency and also neighbouring Andhra-Orissa border areas. It is learnt that the Maoists are searching for a safe shelter after the recent encounter in Nallamala forests, which the extremists considered till recently a safe zone.

The SP said that the pressure exerted by the police in the Vizag Agency would not allow Maoists to shift their base. Mr Murali added that the special parties of the police were going house to house in the Maoist-influenced villages and creating awareness among the tribals about the consequences of helping extremists.

The police also identified persons who were helping the Maoists and started counselling them and also warned them that stern action would be taken against them if they continue support the outlaws.

Lucky win for two sarpanches


Salur (Vizianagaram), July 31: Luck favoured two village sarpanches in the mandal who won the posts with a single vote majority in the recently concluded elections.

The two candidates are A. Tirupathi Rao, of Mavudi panchayat, supported by the Telugu Desam and K. Pushpa Rao, of Kandulapatham village, supported by the Congress.

When initially the returning officer declared Tirupathi Rao elected in Mavudi, the opposition party activists demanded a recount. However, the one vote majority remained same even after recounting was done for two times. As tension prevailed, the returning officer Ramulappadu came to MRO office along with poll material without announcing the winner.

Since the counting process was certified by MRO Vijaykumar and MPDO Jayaprada as correct, the returning officer went to Mavudi village and declared that A. Tirupathi Rao was elected with a single vote majority.