| Hyderabad, Aug. 14: In a major climbdown in the face of pressure from the Opposition and labour organisations, the State government on Monday cancelled the controversial government order (GO) 5 that was to restructure 30 public sector enterprises including the APSRTC and Singareni Collieries besides sending 64,000 employees home with a golden handshake. The cancellation came in a terse-one line GO 7. Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy took the decision to cancel GO 5 at a high level meeting, ahead of the Monsoon Session of the Assembly scheduled to start on August 17. This is the second GO that the government is stepping back on in the wake of protests. Late last week, the Chief Minister cancelled GO 72 on posting of employees to Hyderabad. The CPI(M) had led other parties in accusing the government of trying to remove employees in major State PSUs through GO 5 under World Bank diktats. CPI(M) politburo member and State secretary B.V. Raghavulu, who highlighted the impact of the now-withdrawn GO, wanted more steps.
The government should clarify whether it had also rescinded the decision taken on June 13 to offer voluntary retirement scheme to 90-odd employees of the AP Industrial Development Corporation, Mr Raghavulu said. “Without taking back the decision on the APIDC, the abolition of GO 5 will be contradictory,” Mr Raghavulu said. “As along as the Implementation Secretariat continues to function, the Damocles’ sword will hang on the employees. We demand that the Implementation Secretariat be abolished immediately to remove all doubts in the minds of employees and workers,” he said. There have been allegations that GO 5 was part-III of the reforms plan charted out by the Telugu Desam government. The Congress took this tack while trying to defuse criticism of the government order. The government had initially decided to keep GO 5 in abeyance but after the discussing the issue with officials, the Chief Minister decided to cancel it. Dr Reddy said that the government would not send away any employee; instead it would make all efforts to create lakhs of jobs. Finance minister K. Rosaiah, chief secretary J. Harinarayan, special chief secretary, finance, Ramakanth Reddy, principal secretary, public enterprises Janaki Kondapi and other | Police advice: Be alert in malls, call 100 |
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| | Hyderabad, Aug. 14: Shopping malls or crowded places could be attacked by terrorists, the Intelligence Bureau has cautioned the city police in a last-minute alert ahead of Independence day. This comes on top of threats to stage “spectacular attacks” on installations including IT companies and dams by the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba. The latest alert has sharpened the police’s security arrangements in Hyderabad and Cyberabad. The police has suggested that the general public call them on phones number 100 or 23261166 if they notice anything suspicious. Armed personnel had taken position at the Parade Grounds by Monday evening and the bomb disposal squad scanned every inch of the I-Day celebration venue for hidden explosives. Following reports of a possible terror attacks on commercial complexes, the police has launched a vigorous frisking operation. A senior police official told this correspondent, “Vital installations, residences and offices of VIPs and the Parade Grounds are being treated as high security zones. In addition, based on 11th hour Intelligence Bureau reports, even shopping malls and commercial complexes are being checked thoroughly. People should take extra care at crowded places like these as they are easy targets for terrorists to cause maximum damage.” Commissioner of police A.K. Mohanty has advised citizens to be on guard. People have been advised not to carry handbags. briefcases, cameras, tiffin boxes or other containers to Parade Grounds. People will also be subjected to frisking at the venue. Temporary checkposts with armed guards have been set at all major entry and exit points. In an unprecedented move even Army quarters and key military offices have been provided with special security. In Cyberabad police made elaborate security arrangements at Hitec City. Cyberabad police said that all the lodges were being checked for suspicious elements.
Director-general of police Swaranjit Sen took stock of security measures during a videoconference. He asked district SPs and commissioners to carry out special “strangers driver” at all entry and exit routes, bus stands, railways stations. The motive of the drive is to identify strangers involved in suspicious activities. The topic of beefing up security at all airports was also discussed in the light of Central Intelligence Bureau inputs. Some of the officers expressed the need of sanction of additional manpower. Meanwhile commissioner Mohanty banned assembly or public meeting or procession within the radius of one kilometre of the Legislative Assembly for the duration of the Monsoon Session from August 17 morning to August 23 evening. |  |
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Wright had grabbed Sehwag by collar |
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| | Christchurch, Aug. 14: In an explosive moment in the Indian dressing room, Virender Sehwag was grabbed by the collar by the then coach John Wright during the NatWest Trophy tournament in England after the opener had played a reckless shot to get out. The genial New Zealander recalls the incident in his just-published book Indian Summers while referring to the Indian team’s tour of England in 2002. He recalls that India had bundled out Sri Lanka, the third participating team, for 202 at a very flat wicket at The Oval. “I had been trying to get Sehwag to temper his boldness which too often of late had crossed the line into recklessness,” he writes. Shortly after skipper Sourav Ganguly had got out in the second over, Sehwag holed out trying to blast one back over the bowler’s head, leaving India 26/2. “I had enough of players trotting out the ‘natural game’ line as an excuse for failing to take responsibility and disregarding the match situation. “When Sehwag wandered in, I decided it was time for a sort-out. “Not realising that my exasperation levels had soared into the red zone, I went upto him, grabbed him by the collar and barked. ‘What the hell’s going on? How can you come back in here after playing a shot like that and unbuckle your pads as if nothing’s happened’. Everyone froze — it was like someone had pulled out a gun — and I turned on my heel and stomped out.” Wright says in the subsequent team meetings he was told by the players that he had been a “bit rough” and the ex-coach accepts that he had indeed gone overboard.
As for Sehwag, Wright said he came face to face with the Delhi opener back at the team hotel. “Sehwag told me bluntly that he didn’t like what I’d done. I acknowledged that he was entitled to feel aggrieved, but added that I didn’t give a damn if he poured his heart out to every newspaper in India.” Justifying his action, Wright says there was an urgent need for something to be done because it had not got to the point where the single-minded commitment to winning overrode all other considerations of the players. “The volcano had been rumbling for a while, and it just happened to be Sehwag who triggered the eruption. He took it better than some of the others would have and we remained mates.” The former New Zealand skipper says the Sehwag episode did not do the rounds by word of mouth or found its way into the press which showed “we were a pretty tight team”. Wright also says he used physio Andrew Leipus and trainer Adrian Le Roux to keep track of the “temperature and mood” of the dressing room. Wright says sometimes when he asked them if he had got it right, they frankly replied in the negative. “From time to time outsiders who read too much into my public persona suggested that may be I was too soft for the job, but I don’t think that view held sway on the other side of the dressing room door.” Wright says whenever the players thought he had crossed the line from being frank to brutal, they gave him a cold shoulder. “When you say ‘good morning’, they look right through you and keep walking. When that happened to me I’d answer for them — ‘Good morning, John’ and take on the broad message that there was a bit of bridge building to be done. “Sometimes it would come out of the blue and I’d wonder what’s up with him, but usually the player was reacting to a verbal rocket or being dropped.” Wright says he had to do a bit of “ego massage” at times when he realised that there was some justification in their sulk. “The core message that I wanted to come through in everything I did and said was that I cared; I cared for them as people, and as cricketers, and I cared for our team.” | | 23 parties backed T-State, says KCR | | |
| | Hyderabad, Aug. 14: Signalling a showdown with the Congress for its delay in taking a decision on the formation of a Telangana State, Telangana Rashtra Samiti president and Un-ion labour minister K. Ch-andrasekhar Rao on Monday gave a call to his party workers to get ready for either sambaram (celebration) or sangramam (war). Addressing a huge gathering of TRS functionaries at the newly-inaugurated Telangana Bhavan before leaving for New Delhi, Mr Rao said he would return either with a firm announ-cement from the Congress on Telangana or with a “sword and shield” to fight for the Telangana State. “So far, the Telangana movement has been going on in a peaceful manner. I can’t say which turn it may take if the Congress says no to Telangana State. And the Congress alone will be responsible if the Telangana agitation erupts like a volcano,” he said. He released the copies of the letters written by 23 different parties to the Pra-nab Mukherjee Committee on Telangana. “If the Congress extends its support, the formation of separate Telangana State will have the backing of about 450 MPs,” he said. |  |
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33 Cyberabadis ‘catch’ attention | | |
| | Hyderabad. Aug. 14: Cyberabadis have set a unique record. In six months, 33 of them have helped the police arrest a range of criminals from common burglars to murderers. The Good Samaritans, both men and women, range from a software engineer to an autorickshaw driver. Cyberabad police organised a meeting of the Good Samaritans on Monday where they exchanged notes and discussed crime prevention and the citizens’ initiative in policing. G. Pochamma of Ambedkarnagar in Jeedimetla had her gold chain snatched by a robber. “I caught him but he pushed me to a side. He tried to strangle me,” she recalled. But she didn’t let go and shouted for help. The locals caught him and turned him over to the police. B. Pushpa of Vasanth Nagar fought with two robbers armed with knives when they tried to rob her house on July 10. Fifteen-year-old B. Aditya found a thief following a woman at Mallapur. He chased the man and overpowered him and turned him over to the police. Cyberabad commissioner of police M. Mahendar Reddy said, “All of them exhibited great courage and commitment in arresting the criminals.” Anil Kumar, 25, a student of National Academy of Construction, was returning home when, “between Madhapur and Kukatpally two persons stopped my bike and asked for help, They said they had run out of petrol.” Then they came closer and threatened him. They took away his purse, switched off the bike and threw the keys into bushes. “As they were moving away, I noted down the vehicle number and told the police. Within 10 minutes, the police had set up the hunt,” he said. “I had them arrested.” Md. Yousuf of Bhupal Reddy Nagar in Upparpally saw a man hitting another with a boulder. No one in the crowd moved. But “I ran and caught him and informed the police.” Web designer M. Srinivas was working late at night at his home when he heard odd sounds from a neighbour’s apartment. “I saw a thief breaking the lock. I tried to open my door but he had locked it from outside. I informed my neighbours who ganged up, opened the door to my flat. We locked my neighbour’s flat and called the police. When they came, the burglar was trying to flee through the bathroom ventilator.” In another case Vasanta Rao an autorickshaw driver who found a man moving on a stolen bike informed cops. “If anyone calls up police, we will reach the spot in 15 minutes,” commissioner Mahender Reddy said. He said people should call the Cyberabad police control on phones number 9849900487 and 27852818. “We have also set up signboards at 100 places in Cyberabad limits with important phone numbers.” Just why does Cyberabad have so many alert citizens? The police credits its policy of community policing. “Each police station has a trained community police officer who closely interacts with groups and residents in colonies,” a Cyberabad official said. | |
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CM gets 6 weeks to file counter | | |
| | Hyderabad Aug. 14: Justice P.S. Narayana of AP High Court on Monday granted six weeks to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy and PCC president K.K. Kesava Rao for filing their counter and objection in a contempt case. The judge was dealing with the su moto contempt case wherein notices under contempt of court were issued on Dr Reddy and Mr Kesava Rao for making alleged contemptuous remarks against the verdict of the court. It may be recalled that the court took cognizance of a letter addressed by one Mr G. Rama Rao, resident of Dwarakanagar of Khammam district enclosing press clippings of July 1, wherein the Chief minister and the PCC president’s comments against the orders passed by the judge in the writ petition filed by Manohar Naidu of Gangadharam mandal, Chittoor district, laying certain guidelines in the appointment and selection of Chief Election Commissioner, had appeared. The judge also requested State Advocate General C.V. Mohan Reddy to assist the court. The judge directed the matter to be listed after six weeks. | |
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State lets farmers cultivate paddy | | |
| | Hyderabad, Aug. 14: Paddy cultivation in the State is likely to exceed the fixed target by about 15 lakh acres this kharif season with farmers going in for massive plantation of paddy in the absence of restrictions from the government. The State government, in the last five years, had discouraged farmers from taking up paddy cultivation to save on water. In fact, both the previous Telugu Desam and the present Congress governments lured paddy farmers with incentives and subsidy and diverted them to other crops. Agricultural officials had even gone to the extent of issuing warnings that water would not be made available to paddy for the second crop. Paddy is a water intensive crop which means it requires large quantities of water for cultivation. There were instances in the past of farmers losing heavily as the government could not provide water at the eleventh hour. Keeping this in view, the Congress government imposed restrictions in 2004 and 2005. But with the rain god turning benevolent this monsoon by bringing in copious amounts of rainfall in many districts, the State government has remained silent on crop diversification. There is also no talk of incentives for paddy farmers if they divert to other crops, particularly dry cultivation. Last year, officials succeeded in reducing the overall paddy crop by about 10 lakh acres. The target fixed for paddy for kharif is 57 lakh acres but paddy cultivation is likely to touch 70 lakh acres. Paddy cultivation is in full swing even in Telangana districts which depend on tanks, minor irrigation sources and underground borewells. The ground water has increased considerably in the last three years with three successive good monsoons and paddy farmers are exploiting it to the fullest. According to agriculture officials, farmers generally prefer paddy cultivation as the risk involved in it is relatively low whereas commercial crops are wrought with the danger of pests, failure of inflorescence and poor marketing facilities. Official statistics point out that so far 42 per cent of normal area is already covered by paddy crop, while 56 per cent of area is covered under various food grains. Only 10 districts recorded deficient rainfall while nine districts recorded a normal rainfall so far this season. The districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and Nizamabad received excess (plus 20 per cent) rainfall. Though Guntur recorded a deficient rainfall, the deficiency was made up by the irrigation canals. | |
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RTC bus knocks down couple | | |
| | Hyderabad. Aug. 14: A woman and her husband who were going to Janagam in Warangal to attend the death ceremony of their aunt were crushed to death by a RTC bus at Aushapur near Ghatkesar on Monday morning. The RTC bus heading towards the city was overtaking another vehicle and collided with the couple’s bike on the State highway to Warangal. The couple identified as G. Lakshma Reddy, 36, and his wife G Indira, 30, of Ramanthapur, died in the mishap which took place at about 7.30 am. Ghatkesar assistant sub-inspector of police G. Murahari said that Indira died on the spot and Lakshma Reddy died at Gandhi Hospital. Lakshma Reddy was a contractor doing works for Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply Board. The couple is survived by daughter G. Teja, a Class 10 student, and Naveen, a Class 8 student, of St Joseph’s School at Ramanthapur. The Reddys’ neighbour Indra Sena Reddy said that they had received a call from the police informing them of the accident. Police has booked a case of rash and negligent act leading to death against the driver of the RTC bus, Mohammed Hafeez, who is absconding. Meanwhile, four more persons were killed in separate road mishaps in the city and Cyberabad since Sunday. A 20-year-old student, identified as M. Yadagiri, succumbed to injuries at Ibrahimpatnam. G. Janga Reddy, 70, succumbed to injuries when he was hit by a speeding vehicle at Vanasthalipuram. In another incident, 28-year-old K. Ramesh, a contract employee of DMRL, succumbed to injuries at Kanchanbagh. At L.B. Nagar, A. Raghvendra Anand of Kottapet succumbed to injuries when a vehicle hit him. | |
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Ultramodern DNA lab in city soon | | |
| | Hyderabad, Aug. 14: The city is to get an ultramodern DNA lab, its third. This lab will turn Hyderabad into the forensic hub of the country. The new DNA lab will become operative from September at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory at Ra-manthapur. CFSL will also get a brainwave fingerprinting lab soon. Hyderabad will be the first city to have three DNA labs in the country. The DNA labs are situated at the AP Forensic Science Laboratory and the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD). A number of cases are referred to these labs from various police agencies including the CBI and Delhi Police apart from State agencies.
CFSL director Dr S.K. Shukla told this newspaper, “The building is almost ready. We have procured the equipment. After the trial period we will start accepting cases.” Dr Shukla said that based on the demand, “we have set up a quality lab.”
He added, “We have proposed the setting up of a brain wave fingerprinting lab. In AP, this will be the first of its kind.” | |
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President’s medal for Kamal, Tulasi Ram | | |
| | Hyderabad. Aug. 14: Marri Tulasi Ram Assistant Assault Commander(RSI) from AP Police has been awarded President’s Police Medal for Gallantry on the occasion of Independence Day 2006. South Central Railways chief security commissioner B. Kamal Kumar will receive President’s Police Medal for distinguished service. Kamal Kumar is a 1982 IPS officer who is now Inspector General of Police.
Mohammed Hyder, a head constable, KNSV Prasad, a sub-inspector, M. Mallesh, a junior commando, O. Shiva Charan, junior commando, K. Ravi, assistant assault commander, K. Kistaiah Inspector, B Srinivasa Rao a junior commando, P Balaji Varaprasad a RSI, K Ramaiah armed reserve PC, K Ramulu Nayak Assistant Assault Commander, M Murthy a police constable, N Anil Kumar junior commando, GVVD Prasad a police constable, S Ramu a constable, A Mahesh SI of police, P Bhaktaastla Reddy an Assistant Assault commander, P Mogili Junior Commando, Shaik Hussain Shaheed Deputy Superintendent of Police were others who received police medals for gallantry. | |
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One more arrested in realtor’s murder | | |
| | Hyderabad, Aug. 14: A special team of the city police has made one more arrest in connection with realtor Jasbir Singh Sadana’s murder. The accused, Puran Singh Sadana alias Baba, 30, is the cousin of Jasbir Singh and prime accused Param-jeet Singh. He was produ-ced in the Nampally Criminal Court on Monday. According to special team chief, ACP L. K. Shinde, Puran Singh visited Nepal twice, on June 14 and July 29 at the behest of Paramjeet, paid money to Gurkhas who murdered Jasbir and asked them to keep off India. The accused was produced before the in-charge judge in 7th Additional CMM court. |
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