Sydney Harbour gets new, tiny, suburb

(Reuters Life!) – Sydney’s harbourside suburbs boast some of the country’s most expensive properties — and now there’s a new suburb to add to the list.

Lifestyle

Sitting on one of the most picturesque vantage points on Sydney Harbour, with views of the Sydney Opera House, is the new suburb of Kurraba Point.

The geographical Kurraba Point has always jutted into the harbour, but until now it has not been recognized as a suburb, merely a locality.

Kurraba Point is a small area comprising of 950 residences and its name derives from the Aboriginal name for the point of land on which it lies, between Neutral Bay and Shell Cove.

The Geographical Names Board agreed this week to the new suburb name after lobbying by a local government and residents.

“New suburbs are created from time to time due to reasons ranging from residential development to the desire to have a distinct identity, as in this case,” New South Wales state Lands Minister Tony Kelly said in a statement.

Seven new suburbs have been created in Sydney since early 2009, including Sydney Olympic Park in western Sydney. (Reporting by Michael Perry; Editing by )

Indian Army Military Police help line launched

New Delhi, May 20 (ANI): The Indian Army has launched the Military Police help line here.

Army Chief General VK Singh inaugurated the facility on Wednesday during the biannual Army Commanders Conference.

Common Military help line telephone number 155200 can now be accessed across the nation to provide assistance to military personnel.

The number that is available at Military Police Control Rooms has been instituted to provide immediate assistance and be instrumental in solving and mitigating crisis being faced by military personnel.

In addition, it will provide an excellent facility for the civil police and the public to contact the Army Military Police to provide first hand information of any situation where military persons are involved or has potential to affect the military persons.

The telephone number has been allotted in coordination with department of telecommunication and can be accessed locally and from outside the locality by prefixing the STD code of that station.

The facility has been activated presently at some of the metro cities and state capitals, and is likely to be extended across the nation soon. (ANI)

Shahzad’s ex-PAF chief father taken into custody for interrogation

Lahore, May 7 (ANI): Former Pakistan Air Force Chief Air Vice Marshal Baharul Haq, the father of Faisal Shahzad, who has been accused of plotting the failed Times Square bombing, has been taken into custody for interrogation.

According to The Daily Times, Pakistani intelligence agencies have arrested Haq for questioning his son’s involvement in last week’s bungled bombing attempt at New York’s Times Square.

It may be noted that Haq along with his other family members had vacated their Hayatabad house and left for an undisclosed location just hours after news regarding Shahzad’s involvement in the bombing plot was flashed.

Haq was seen vacating his house situated in a posh locality of Hayatabad town as soon as media started converging outside his residence to learn more about Shahzad, a private television channel said.

Eyewitnesses said Haq along with other male and female members of the family left for some unknown destination in a car to avoid the media glare.

None of Shahzad’s family members have spoken to the media about his arrest in New York over alleged involvement in terror activities.

Air Vice Marshal Haq had retired from the Pakistan Air Force few years ago. His brother Major General (retired) Tajul Haq reportedly served as the Inspector General of Frontier Corps (IGFC).

Shahzad, 30, was arrested on Tuesday while he was trying to board a plane to Dubai. Soon after his arrest media reports said that eight to ten people had also been arrested in Pakistan in connection with the failed bombing plot.

Earlier, US officials said Shahzad has admitted to his role in the Times Square bombing plot, saying he had received bomb-making training in Pakistan.

During interrogation, Shahzad, who had returned from Pakistan in February, said that he received training in the restive tribal region in Pakistan along the Afghanistan border, a stronghold of the Tehreeke-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), adding that he was alone in the bombing plot and didn’t receive any help from banned terror groups operating from that region. (ANI)

Trauma of Manipur violence victims

Imphal, May 5 (ANI): Manipur has been affected by militant violence for a long time and the worst sufferers are the common people.

Here is a family that was a victim of militant violence and see how they are coping with the loss of their loved one.

The simple and happy life of the family of late Singam Premananda Singh, came to an end after his death.

Premananda, the sole bread earner of the family was killed in an explosion engineered by a militant outfit at Pourabi Road in Manipur on 16th December 2007 along with six other people.

Almost four years later, the dreadful incident still haunts his family.

Premananda has left behind an aged mother, his wife and three children who live in the shadow of poverty.

Ibemma, his wife,now weaves clothes and does other menial labour to keep the family afloat.

“We are facing untold hardships after his death. I’m old and unable to work. Now, all the responsibility of the family has fallen on my daughter-in-law’s shoulder. No one is there to look after us,” said Thamchet Devi, mother of a victim.

The Sstate Government gave Rs one lakh to assist the Singam family and promised to provide assistance in future as well.

Still, Ibemma finds it difficult to make both ends meet and provide a future to her children.

Sometimes, she finds it difficult juggling different roles, but she sees hope in her children’s eyes and is inspired to soldier on.

“It is very difficult to manage and run the family all alone. I have to raise my children, take part in locality’s social services and earn money as well. Even leading a simple life is hard for us,” said Ibemma Devi, wife of a victim.

Manipur has more than 30 militant groups and extortion, abductions and bomb attacks happen quite regularly in the state.

“They (militants) must think about the consequences of their actions, which normally affect innocent people. People are suffering unnecessarily due to their mindless acts. We are against them,” Devi added.

The story doesn’t end with the Singam family; there are several other families that have suffered a similar fate.

Here are many families like that of Premananda who have been victims of militants’ activities in the state.

People in the state live in fear that the same fate could befall them at any time. (ANI)

Clashes erupt between two communities in Agra

Agra (Uttar Pradesh), Apr 26 (ANI): The members of two communities set ablaze each other”s properties in Uttar Pradesh”s Agra city following a verbal clash.

A few shops at Bijli Ghar market area in the city was set on fire by members of a particular community, while in retaliation the members of the other community burnt shops in their locality.

The police had to use mild force and fired rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.

The authorities, however, said the situation in the city was normal and that the tension had prevailed in the area this week.

“See the situation in the city is normal. There is this Subhash market, where there was a dispute between the members of two communities three-four days back. A case was registered in that respect,” said District Magistrate Mrityunjay Narayan.

“There was a verbal clash, after which some roadside stalls were set ablaze, some nearby shops also caught fire because of that. Fire has been brought under control as the tenders reached in time. Situation as of now is fully under control,” he added.

It has been reported that the police have made some arrests in the area and the security has been stepped up in the violence prone localities of the city. (ANI)

Irrigation trust seeks ‘strong link’ with new Murray Minister

The Central Irrigation Trust (CIT) says the incoming Murray-Darling Basin plan and sustainable diversion limits are the biggest issues to be discussed with the new River Murray Minister.

Paul Caica has taken over the portfolio, along with water security and environment, after the Nationals’ Karlene Maywald was ousted in last weekend’s state election.

CIT operations manager Gavin McMahon says it is important that Mr Caica, being a city-based MP, does not affect the level of communication and consultation.

“Obviously when you have a local minister they live within your electorate and it’s quite easy to see them. The new Minister obviously lives in a different locality, so those opportunities don’t present themselves,” he said.

“However, we just have to be proactive as a region and establish those contacts and links and just make sure that we have a strong link with the new Minister.”

Hundreds take part in ‘Ram Baraat’ in Agra

Agra, Sept 17 (ANI): Hundreds of people here took part in ‘Ram Baraat’, which is a part of the Ramlila celebrations.

Jeetander Chauhan, a worker, who erected the decorations for the celebrations, said that people were happy that god was among them.

“We are feeling that Lord Ram has appeared among us. Hundreds of people have come to witness this famous god’s marriage,” said Chauhan.

Maya Sharma, a devotee, said that women were also excited about this deity marriage.

“I’m really feeling good that ‘Baraat’ procession of Lord Rama and Sita is taking place. We are feeling good that god himself is present here,” said Sharma.

Every year, a new locality is chosen in Agra and festivities last for three days and the area is elaborately decorated with lights and flowers. The area is given a major face-lift befitting the venue for the divine marriage.

The marriage procession sees marriage between saint Shaligram who represents Lord Ram and holy Basil plant, which represents Sita, his wife.

The place is lit up with thousands of lights and non-stop music. The cinema theatres run film shows throughout the night to accommodate the migratory crowd.

These three days are like a carnival when people from all walks of life come together to have a great time.

The history of Ram Baraat is said to be around 125 years old, when Lala Kokamal, a cloth merchant, started the tradition of three-day festivities, revolving around the royal wedding. (ANI)

Sex racket busted, 24 minor girls rescued in Orissa

Bhubaneshwar, Sep 13 (ANI): Twenty-five minor girls were rescued from an orphanage by police here on Saturday night during a raid.

The Orissa police, later, claimed to have busted a group involved in sexual exploitation of the rescued girls.

According to police, caretaker of the orphanage and his friends used to sexually exploiting the minor girls.

Police seized a large number of pornographic CDs, magazines, video cameras and other electronic gadgets from the orphanage

The orphanage Biju Pattnaik Destitute Home was run by Basanti Trust, which is also involved in another sex racket run under the guise of a marriage bureau.

Police have arrested Managing Trustee of Basanti Trust, Byomkesh Tripathy.

Tripathy, however, dismissed all the allegations against him by terming them as a conspiracy hatched to humiliate him.

“I am not that type of man. Actually this is the best way of implicating a person. It’s false that I have been sexually assaulting small children. I have never ever done anything like this,” Tripathy said.

Utkal Das, the Inspector in-charge refused to disclose details of the case, and said that he would give his statement at the right time and right place.

Though local residents near the orphanage had been apprehensive about such illegal incidents in their locality and even complained against these to the police several times, but it cane to the police after a runaway girl from orphanage complained of being harassed.

The inmates of the orphanage alleged that the Managing Trustee showed them nude pictures forcefully.

“He was showing us nude photos and obscene movies through TV. When we tried to oppose, he said, we were living under due to his mercy,” said Neeta De, a minor orphaned girl victim.

Meanwhile, the rescued girls have been shifted to another orphanage ‘Child Line’ in the old town of Bhubaneswar while further investigations are in progress. (ANI)

Crocodile rescued by wildlife authorities in Uttar Pradesh

Nawada village (Uttar Pradesh), Sep 5 (ANI): Wildlife authorities in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur district rescued a crocodile from a pond in a heavily inhabited locality on Saturday.

The reptile had sneaked into Nawada village on Friday night, and was causing panic among the villagers.

A team of wildlife officials captured the crocodile from the pond and it was later released in the waters of Gomti river.

Sitapur district has witnessed a number of incidents of wild animals straying into urban areas, mainly owing to loss of habitat and extension of human settlements into forest areas. ANI)

Fire breaks out in illegal petroleum products godown in West Bengal

Siliguri (West Bengal), Sep 3(ANI): A blazing fire broke out in an unauthorised godown in Siliguri on Thursday, where thousands of illegal petroleum products were stored for long.

The fire broke out in the Niranjan Nagar area of Siliguri at around 8.30 in the morning, and within minutes spread to the two adjacent houses in the vicinity.

Seven fire engines were immediately pressed into service and it took more than three and a half hours to contain the flames.

“We can’t say how the fire broke out, but it did break out in an unauthorized godown where diesel, petrol and kerosene were illegally stored in a barrel. The whole godown was engulfed in flames. We called for the fire brigades and it took seven of them to control the fire. Had they not been arrived on time then the whole village would have been engulfed in flames,” said Tapan Ghosh, the divisional officer of fire brigade.

The villagers on the other hand say that they were completely unaware of this illegal business in their locality until the accident occurred.

“We had no idea about this illegal business of petroleum products in our area. We used to see that oils were being transported or carried and thought that some minor stocks were stored. But it came as a big surprise to us to see such a huge illegal storage of petroleum products. Now we are sure that there are more such unauthorized go downs in our areas,” said Charan Ghosh, a local.

The villagers alleged there were many godowns in the area, which were illegally storing petroleum products. (ANI)

High Court rejects plea for judicial probe in Batla House encounter case

New Delhi, Aug 26 (ANI0: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday accepted the findings of the National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) giving clean chit to Delhi Police in the Batla House encounter case and declined to institute a judicial probe into the gun-battle.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice A P Shah rejected the plea of an NGO, ‘Act Now For Harmony and Democracy’, seeking judicial probe in the case on the alleged ground that the NHRC has failed to conduct a proper probe.

On July 22 , the NHRC had given a clean chit to the Delhi Police in the case.

Encounter specialist Delhi police inspector M C Sharma was killed during the police action against suspected terrorists on September 19, 2008 in the aftermath of serial blasts in Batla House locality in the national capital.

Two suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists who were killed were identified as Atif Amin and Mohd Sajid. Two other IM suspects Mohd Saif and Zeeshan were arrested from the Batla House area. (ANI)

Four injured in LPG cylinder blast in Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 25(ANI): Four people suffered burn in an LPG cylinder blast at Dadar in Mumbai on Tuesday and also damaged two houses nearby.

The incident took place when Suman Marathe, an aged woman, who returned home having spent two days at her daughter’s residence in the neighbouring locality of Prabhadevi area. As she tried to light the gas stove the LPG cylinder blasted.

“She smelt gas leaking when she opened the flat at 8 am this morning. She opened the windows and when she tried to light the stove to cook something, the cylinder exploded. The walls of the neighbouring flats also broke. It is a big gas explosion,” said Madhukar Sankhe, Assistant Commissioner of Police of Mumbai Police.

Marathe, the lady, was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, and her condition was reported to be stable. She has suffered 48 percent burn injuries.

“I came to drop my mother-in-law this morning. I asked her whether I should open the doors for her. But, she declined and I left from there in my vehicle. After a while I received a call about the blast which made me immediately rush back there. We took her to the hospital,” said Vishwas Kannade, son-in-law of Marathe.

The police said that apart from Marathe, the watchman of the building was also injured.

Investigations were on to ascertain if there was any foul play leading to this mishap. (ANI)

West Bengal couple seeks to end their lives after being shunned by family

Baguiati (West Bengal), Aug 21(ANI): An elderly couple abandoned by their family members, in Baguiati, a suburban locality in Kolkata, has sought an end to their lives as they have been struggling for the past three years.

Samar Moulik, who retired from Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) and his wife Bharati Moulik, have said that they can’t bear the insults and cruel treatment meted out by their own children.

“I went to the police station, as I believe that there’s nothing left in my life now. That’s why I went with my wife to the police station and we have submitted a letter to police station seeking permission from the officials for voluntary death, so that we can die peacefully,” said Samar Moulik.

The couple have two sons. The elder son, Shankar, a microbiologist, lives in South Africa, while the younger Soumen owns resides in Kolkata.

The couple has one daughter as well, who is settled in Uttar Pradesh with her husband.

Moulik had retired in 1997, and according to the couple, they owned a plot at Barasat town, which his son and elder brother seized illegally.

The couple also claimed that they had returned to West Bengal at their younger son Soumen’s invitation, but he along with his uncle grabbed their property by obtaining signatures through wrong means.

After being duped by their own son, the aged couple had to live on a separate plot. Since then, the couple have stayed in many houses, and are now tired of shifting houses.

“I took this decision because the children whom I gave birth to and thought that they would support me and take care of me in my old age have thrown us out. So, I though what’s’ the point of living now in such a pathetic state,” said Bharati Moulik.

The couple is presently living in the house of a former colleague of Samar in Baguiati.

None of the children are ready to take care of the aged parents. They are solely relying on their monthly income savings from the post office. (ANI)

Swine Flu – Swine Flu in Jammu Kashmir – Swine Influenza in Jammu Kashmir – Swine Flu now in J&K – Swine Flu in India – Swine Flu in Pune

Swine Flu | Swine Flu in Jammu Kashmir | Swine Influenza in Jammu Kashmir | Swine Flu now in J&K | Swine Flu in India | Swine Flu in Pune

Swine Flu is now spreading in Jammu and Kashmir. Aakanshi from Nanak Nagar locality in Jammu who was studying in Pune and had come home for the summer break has tested positive for swine flu, here. She is admitted to a government medical college hospital today.

She is the first confirmed swine flu patient in Jammu and Kashmir. Another patient tested negative and reports of four others are awaited from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases. Three of the four patients who have been tested study in Pune and Bangalore. One is a Border Security Force (BSF) soldier who returned from leave from his home in Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that there was no need to worry. The state would be ready to meet any eventuality.

Ram Sene Chief Mutalik’s judicial custody ends today

Mysore, July 28 (ANI): The judicial custody of Sriram Sene Chief Pramod Mutalik, who was arrested for allegedly making inflammatory speech at Kyathamaranahalli, a Mysore suburb, in April this year, ends today.

On July 25, the Sessions Court sent him to judicial custody till today.

Mutalik, who had visited Kyathamaranahalli after the communal clashes in April, had allegedly addressed a gathering of local residents in the locality. The Police had registered a case.

On July 24 night, Mysore City Police arrested Mutalik from Belgaum city and charged Mutalik under Section 120, 153 and 295 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Senior Police official said Mutalik had made a provocative speech in the aftermath of the group clashes involving two communities in the city during April this year.

One of the accused arrested for the violence in Mysore, which occurred earlier this month, had revealed that he was inspired by the Mutalik’s speech made in April. (ANI)

Heavy rains continue to disrupt life in Mumbai

Mumbai, July 15 (ANI): Mumbai and parts of its suburbs continued to receive heavy rainfall on Wednesday morning.

Till 5.30 this morning, the MET department had recorded 77 mm of rainfall at Colaba and 240 mm of rainfall at Santa Cruz.

Water logging was reported from some areas, but road and rail traffic is running normally till now.

As a precautionary measure, people have been warned to leave their houses only if necessary. The incessant showers began on Monday night.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.

The MET department has said that the spells of heavy to very heavy rains with strong winds will continue for the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, heavy overnight rains triggered a landslide near a slum locality in suburban Jogeshwari.

No casualty was reported in the incident at Saripur Nagar on Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road. Operations were on to clear the debris.

Another landslide in Konkan region disrupted traffic on the Sindhudurg-Kolhapur Road.

Meanwhile, the Mithi River, whose flooding had brought Mumbai to a standstill during the deluge in 2005, rose above the danger mark.

The 18-km-long Mithi, which runs through several suburbs, leaves key areas like the airport, Western Express Highway and Bandra-Kurla Complex inundated.

According to municipal officers, about a billion rupees is spent each year on bracing the city for monsoon downpours, yet the rains continue to disrupt normal life. (ANI)

J and K Government withdraws CRPF from Baramullah(Lead:Baramullah)

Srinagar, July 1 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to withdraw the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from law and order duties in Baramullah district, following protests by local residents over the deaths of some of them.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a late night development, asked the Jammu and Kashmir Reserve Police to replace the CRPF.

The alleged harassment of a Muslim woman by CRPF personnel and the deaths of four protestors is believed to have prompted the decision.

According to state police officials, a case has been registered against a CRPF personnel and officers have been asked to hand him over to the State police for custodial investigation.

The State Government has initiated a magisterial enquiry into the incident.

Twent four-year old Amir, one of the protestors received a bullet injury allegedly when security forces opened fire on a mob in the Khanpora locality on Tuesday evening. Amir died at the Soura Medical Institute here early Wednesday.

On Wednesday, thousands of protesters took to streets in defiance of a curfew imposed in Baramullah.

Protestors chanted anti-India slogans in anger against the recent incidents involving local residents. Police tried to disperse the mob, but failed.

They carried the body of a young dead protester.

The recent unrest began Monday when thousands protested in Baramulla town against the alleged harassment of a Muslim woman by police.

In a bid to maintain law and order and quell the protestors, police resorted to firing live rounds, which killed two of the demonstrators.

The firing incident provoked many more local people onto the streets and the unrest spread to the neighbouring town of Sopore, prompting the district authorities to impose curfew in both towns.

On Tuesday a third protester was killed, and the latest victim died from his injuries on Wednesday.

The situation in the Baramullah town is reported to be quite tense.

“Police have registered a case of murder against the CRPF trooper. Officers of the CRPF unit have been asked to hand him over to the police,” said a police officer.

In the wake of this incident, the state government late Tuesday decided to withdraw the CRPF from law and order duties in Baramulla town.

A police officer said that the CRPF had been withdrawn from the town and being replaced by the local armed police.

As per officials, the government has already ordered a magisterial probe into the firing incident. The investigations is likely to completed within 10 days. (ANI)

At least two injured during an anti-encroachment drive in Uttar Pradesh

Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh), June 28(ANI): At least two people were injured in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district, on Sunday, as an anti-encroachment drive in a slum locality in the area went haywire.

Locals alleged that the Ghaziabad Development Authority officials had arrived there to demolish their houses without any prior notice to them and the police were alleged to have baton-charged residents of the slums.

“The policemen beat us up. We were baton-charged by the police. Two to three women have received injuries on their heads,” said Ram Pratap, a slum dweller.

Meanwhile, the police contended that the policemen were forced to baton-charge as the people started pelting stones on them.

They also mentioned that the slum dwellers themselves set their huts on fire.

Consequently, a number of policemen have been deputed in the locality to control the situation. (ANI)

Anniversary of Moulana Farooq’s death observed in Srinagar

Srinagar, May 22 (ANI): All Parties Hurriyat Conference APHC), an alliance of political separatist groups, called for a strike on Thursday to mark the anniversaries of the deaths of Moulana Mohammad Farooq, the chief cleric of Kashmir, and Abdul Gani Lone, a moderate separatist leader.

Unidentified gunmen killed Farooq at his home in 1990, while Lone was shot dead during a public meeting in 2002.

Indian authorities and separatist guerrillas blame each other for the assassinations.eople, led by Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, marched towards the “Martyrs’ Cemetery”, where many of those killed in the nearly two-decade-old revolt against New Delhi’s rule, including Lone and Farooq, are buried.

“All units of ‘All Party Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference’ will go to each and every town, every city, villages and all local areas.

I have decided that with God’s blessings I’ll myself go and will make Hurriyat stronger at grassroots level. Each and every corner, every village, every town and every locality in Kashmir will raise the same voice, that what we want (freedom),” said Farooq. (ANI)

127-year-old Bhadru casts his vote in Shimla

Shimla, May 14 (ANI): A record of sorts was witnessed at polling booth at Mateiyan Majjhar in Shimla, when 127-year-old Bhadru exercised his electoral franchise alongside hundreds of other first time voters in the elections to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Age or distance did not deter the centenarian-plus Bhadru, a resident of Kuthar-Juggar village from casting his vote.

He treaded along a distance of four kilometres with the help of his family members to reach the polling booth at Mateiyan Majjhar.

This gesture by Bhadru comes at a time when many youth have been shying away from the electoral process by contending that the politicians only promise and do nothing.

Bhadru spoke about the problems faced in his locality.

“There is no road, no water. The water had come in between but again something happened and the water doesn’t come any more,” said Bhadru.

Meanwhile, several young voters had turned up at their respective polling booths to cast there votes and indeed, they were excited at the prospect of voting alongside Bhadru.

“It’s a very proud moment for me as I am voting alongside a 127 year old man. Looking at the problems here, it gives an impression that the government is doing nothing. I study in a college at Shimla. In order to take a bus I have to walk for 15 kilometres. There is no water connection to our neighbourhood. I am voting so that the coming government understands our problems,” said Narendra, a first time voter.

The counting of votes will take place on May 16. The 543-member House will be constituted before June 2. (ANI)