Indo-Pak bus service suspended over truck driver’s arrest on drug charges

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February 9, 2015

The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service was on Monday suspended by authorities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir over arrest of a driver from the other side of the LoC following recovery of narcotics from his vehicle.

The Karvan-e-Aman (Peace Caravan) Bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad has been suspended indefinitely, official sources said. The sources said the decision was taken after PoK authorities conveyed their decision to suspended travel and trade along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road till the issue regarding the arrest of their driver is resolved.

Anayat Hussain, a resident of Muzaffarabad, was arrested following recovery of the narcotics substance from his vehicle on Friday. A local trader Zahoor Ahmad Malla, who was to allegedly receive the consignment, has also been taken into custody.

A case under Section 8/21 of NDPS Act has been registered against the duo and investigations started. Authorities on Friday recovered 305 packets of suspected contraband substance from an orange-laden truck coming from PoK on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road.

The security officials during routine checking of goods imported from PoK at Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre in Uri stumbled upon few packets suspected to be Brown Sugar in a box of oranges in one of the vehicles.

During detailed checks of other boxes, the officials found four to five packets of about 10 grams each in every box of oranges.

All the 22 vehicles which came from PoK on Friday are still at Salamabad trade facilitation centre in Uri while the 49 trucks from Indian side are held up in Chakoti on other side of the LoC.

A meeting of trade officials from the two sides on Friday evening following the recovery of the contraband substance failed to end the deadlock. The two sides are likely to meet again today for ending the impasse.

In January 2015, the authorities had siezed drugs worth nearly Rs 100 crore from a truck coming from PoK, which led to brief suspension of cross-Line of Control trade after police arrested the Pakistani driver of the vehicle. The PoK officials did not allow the Indian trucks and the drivers to return till the accused PoK driver was enlarged on bail by a local court and returned home.

In August 2013, police recovered cocaine worth Rs 10 crore from a truck, plying on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route, at Sheeri in Uri sector. The LoC traders association has demanded that the issue of import of drugs be investigated by the National Investigation Agency or CBI.

Rohtak rape case: 8 arrested for gangrape-murder of mentally challenged woman

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Afternoon Voice

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February 9, 2015

The Haryana Police on Monday claimed to have solved the Rohtak gangrape and murder case with the arrest of eight accused, including a Nepalese citizen.

Police sources said the arrests were made from Gaddi Khedi village in Rohtak district. The first breakthrough came on Sunday night following the detention of one person and the consequent revelations made by him.

A 28-year-old mentally challenged woman from Nepal was brutally murdered after being gangraped and her body dumped in a field in a village on Rohtak-Hisar highway recently.

The deceased had been residing with her sister for about three months and was undergoing treatment at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Rohtak.

The victim’s sister had lodged a complaint with the police on February 1 and the body was recovered three days later.

The state police had announced a cash reward of Rs.1 lakh for information leading to the arrest of accused, which was raised to Rs.5 lakh by Haryana DGP Y.P. Singhal, who visited the spot earlier in the day.

India must develop internal water transport

By

Mahendra Singh

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February 9, 2015

FICCI organized a very successful conference to discuss various methods for strengthening and creating a sustainable maritime industry. When we talk about maritime industry, we talk of in integrated approach to operate the Internal Water Transport (IWT) and coastal shipping in a very amicable manner. Here, inter state co-operation is an absolute must if the cargo has to be carried economically through the inland waterways.

The major ports have to shed a bureaucratic approach and hold the port trust board meetings punctually and with full quorum. They have to facilitate the berthing and operation of coastal cargo carrying vessels by making the berth available promptly and by reducing the berth charges and pilotage charges. The masters of these vessels must be trained by the pilots so that they may carefully berth their vessels on their own without incurring the cost of the pilot.

The ports must make their cargo handling cranes very efficient. The port craft have to be modern with excellent maneuvering capability and the crew of the tugs must shed their lethargic attitude which they have been carrying thus far. The port chairman and the harbor master must remain strict. Mundra, Kandla, Dhamra, Tuticorin, Vizag, JNPT, Paradip have become very efficient ports.

Indian shipping companies have not developed entrepreneurial attitude. Government must come down heavily on them asking them to improve their efficiency. Shipping Corporation of India must have developed immensely by now but their work culture is very poor and they lack fervor. Employees merely want to enjoy pay and perks. The former chairman of SCI has found employment in a private firm. IWT cargo profile has to improve by actively engaging the shippers.

FICCI should become a cargo tracking body. Where is the cargo, how do I move it cheaply through the rivers? The chartering departments of the Shipping companies must be activated to find cargo e.g. cargo from Yangon to India etc; Coal must be moved by Indian ships. Why coastal ships should look like rust buckets?
Make sure that the classification societies do not charge hefty fees for survey of coastal and inland vessels. The functioning of the IRS must be overseen, but who will do it? Why India doesn’t own a decent and modern passenger ship after M.V. Chidambaram.
These are the aspects that the ministry of shipping must work on with direct involvement.

The technical officers of DGS and SCI and other Indian companies must meet once in a month and inform the public what they discussed, what was planned and what has been achieved. Passengers have to travel from one city to the other by an inland vessel. Chillies, onion, potato, fishes of various varieties, fruits and all such consumables have to move from one town to the other supervised by local tahsildar, police officer and agricultural scientists. India transports only 7% of its domestic cargo by coastal shipping, or so-called short-sea shipping, while the European Union transports 42%, China 43% and the US 15%. Inland water transport, or IWT, accounts for less than a 1% share of goods transported within India through various modes such as rail, road and water, much less than other nations that are similarly endowed. India should improve its inland water network.

BMC failed to tackle Swine Flu

By

Afternoon Voice

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February 8, 2015

Swine flu has made a comeback in Mumbai as already five deaths have been reported in the city and 28 across the state. The 58 year old man became the latest victim of the disease at the Kasturba Hospital. Around 158 people have contracted the infection in the state, while the city has over 31 people recuperating in different hospitals. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s health department four of the five new swine flu cases reported on Saturday are on ventilator.

Three patients were admitted to the Kasturba Gandhi Hospital after a test confirmed the infection. Of the admitted, a 37-year-old woman reportedly contracted the infection from a deceased 60-year-old with whom she had been admitted to in another hospital.

“We have stocked tamiflu as per the requirements and every district hospital has been given an isolated unit. Every patient with swine flu-like symptoms is being put under the necessary tests,” said Dr Pradeep Awate, state epidemologist.

With most of the swine flu cases getting admitted in private hospitals, BMC has already sent them directives on H1N1 treatment. “We have informed hospitals that in case they get a patient with swine flu symptoms, they should start the treatment immediately. Swine flu test is secondary when it comes to treatment and doctors shouldn’t wait for the tests,” said Dr Mangala Gomare, the epidemiology department in-charge in BMC.

Mumbai ranks fifth in fatalities according to the public health official. Nagpur has recorded maximum number of swine flu patients followed by Pune. Some 158 people have contracted the disease in the state while 34 have died of it.

There has been a surge in the number of swine flu deaths across the country. The nation has witnessed 215 deaths till February 5 as compared to 238 deaths in 2014. The maximum number of deaths has been reported in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Telangana. The central government is monitoring the situation and is coordinating with states to overcome swine flu related cases.

Delay in seeking treatment is also a cause for several deaths. Often patients go to doctors only after developing breathlessness and after their condition has worsened.

Swine flu symptoms and prevention:-

Swine flu or H1N1 flu symptoms are similar to most influenza infections. They can include – fever, cough, headache, sore throat, fatigue, body aches, diarrhoea, vomiting, difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath. Small children may refuse to take feeds.

Here are a few tips that you can follow as suggested by health experts, if you suspect that you may have contracted the H1N1 virus:

Avoid contact with other people for a week after the symptoms develop or till the symptoms go away
Do not go to work or school
Do not travel
Make sure that you cover your coughs/sneezes using a tissue
Wash your hands often to avoid spreading the virus
Visit the nearest healthcare centre to access medical care if required
People at higher risk for complications of the flu should talk to their doctor immediately as soon as the symptoms arise
These include – children younger than five years of age, people 65 years and older, pregnant women and people of any age with certain medical conditions such as cancer, heart or lung disease, diabetes, and those with weakened immune system.

However, it is recommended that everyone should seek medical aid immediately regardless of whether or not you are in a high-risk group to avoid further complications.

BJP or AAP: Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander

By

Vaidehi Taman

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February 8, 2015

Pressure is building upon both the rival parties in Delhi. BJP’s leaders and supporters are refusing to accept the exit polls surveys, whereas AAP inspite of being in celebration mode is counting day i.e. for the 10th February, when final results will be announced for Delhi Assembly. Media was very keen by giving hourly predictions in the name of exit polls and surveys. Delhi is excitingly awaiting the results of the assembly election. Polling was extended by an hour and a half in several booths because of long queues on Saturday. Delhi registered record polling in the Assembly elections with a 67.08 per cent turnout, higher than the 65.63 per cent, a 20-year record, set in December 2013. Officials said more than 89 lakh people voted, 11 lakh more than in the 2013 elections. The highest turnout of 69.96 per cent was recorded in North-East district, with the Gokalpur (SC) constituency recording 73.46 per cent. The exit polls were commissioned by television channels, and their sample sizes and methodologies were not immediately available for scrutiny on Saturday evening. The exit polls also gave the AAP between 12 and 15 percentage points more vote share than in 2013; in the last election, the party was second to the BJP in vote share, but in Saturday’s exit polls, it topped the BJP. The BJP’s projected vote share is higher than what it was in the 2013 Assembly election, but lower than in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, in which it swept all seven parliamentary seats in Delhi.

Exit polls declared seats for AAP between 48 (Today’s Chanakya) and 39 (mid-point of C-Voter/ Times Now survey). Even the best case scenario for the BJP in the polls, which would be the upper limit of C-Voter’s margin of error, only gave it 33 seats, three short of a majority. Exit polls is a broad indication of the impending result. Although BJP swept the parliamentary elections, it is not necessary that a repeat performance is possible. The outcome of Delhi assembly election might be viably substantiated as well credibly endorse the emergence of new pole in Indian politics through AAP. It has earlier also projected the victory of AAP; if such thing happens, then it will be huge setback for two major pillars of Indian politics (Congress & BJP). These parties or others were sharing power alternately in India since the emergence of democratic system in India. It is really disheartening to see BJP is not in power with his PM’s popularity being internationally acclaimed. The emergence of AAP in Indian politics, not only formulate a new pole in Indian politics but its credentials intellectually would be accepted as well ratified through the corridor of rather educated population of Delhi. It would be new dawn in Indian politics.

In all exit polls, the Congress appeared to have been decimated. The best estimate gave it four seats, half of its 2013 tally. The party is projected to have lost over 10 percentage points from 2013 in its vote share, and could do even worse than it did in the Lok Sabha elections, where it got just over 15 per cent of the vote. This will take the Congress’s performance in Delhi to a new low, beating the record it set itself in 2013.

Kejriwal and Bedi, both the leaders had campaigned intensively in the last few weeks in one of the most fiercely fought assembly elections in decades. Before wrapping up his campaigning following a low-key road show in his New Delhi constituency, the AAP chief addressed as many as 110 rallies spread over 70 constituencies in the city. Kejriwal averaged four rallies a day, with the first one starting around 2 pm in the afternoon everyday while the last rally generally going on till at least 9 pm. After being named as BJP’s chief ministerial candidate, Bedi led a series of road shows all over the city.

Both worked hard for their own as well as party’s win. Apart from Bedi, Modi too held several rallies to spread his assumed waves and charm. However, it seems that his waves have not worked this time. If AAP wins, then it will be a shock treatment for BJP. All the exit polls have given the AAP a decisive edge over the BJP. An estimated 67 per cent turnout was recorded on Saturday during the polls where a total of 673 candidates are in the fray for the 70-member Delhi Assembly. Whereas BJP has rejected the exit poll surveys and maintained that they will be proven wrong on February 10.

Countdown has begun, let’s see who will be crowned as Delhi CM. Just one day to go, whosoever wins should understand the priority of the state and its people. So far, BJP has failed to perform after coming to power in Centre. Let’s hope, these fear of loss may give some wisdom and realisation to BJP.

If AAP comes to power then Kejriwal should take it as second chance and live up to the people’s expectation. He should focus on the development and women security in Delhi. Delhi’s legislative election will give high stability to the country. Kejriwal should struggle to fulfill all the promises which he has given in his party’s manifesto and gain public trust.

For now……….Jo jeeta wohi Sikander.

Shiv Sena, Congress activists clash at Bhoomi Pujan function

By

Afternoon Voice

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February 8, 2015

Clashes began between Congress’s MLA Kalidas Kolamkar and Shiv Sainik when Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray was inaugurating a 15 acre municipal park area on Bombay Dyeing plot located at Naigaon. The theme park is being constructed for remembering the sacrifice laid down by people who fought for the Samyukta Maharashtra movement.

Kolamkar began delivering a speech and said that he had struggled for 22 years for the cause of providing housing to mill workers. Shiv Sainiks started calling him a liar as Kolamkar’s supporters began defending him. The issue was resolved after the police intervened in this matter.

Hansraj Morarji Public School celebrates Platinum Jubilee

By

Afternoon Voice

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February 8, 2015

Hansraj Morarji Public School successfully completed seventy five years of service to the society on 8th February. Since its inception in 1939, the school has come a long way fulfilling the needs and demands of society both during the colonial rule and in independent India. It has been doing it’s best in training and preparing the youth to adopt and adapt to the global changes and challenges. As part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations some dignitaries were invited to grace the occasion.

The Honourable Governor of Maharashtra, Honourable Shri. C. Vidyasagar Rao and the Retired Judge of the Supreme Court Shri Justice B. N. Srikrishna attended the Grand Finale of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations. The Guests were formally welcomed by the school band. A short cultural programme was followed by the release of a souvenir to mark the culmination of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The Governor addressed the students and said that it was important to imbibe nationalism among the future citizens of India. He said that the school was providing apt training to the youth by catering to the all round development of the students. He congratulated the management and the staff on the good work they had been doing. He wished them all success and encouraged the management to keep up the good work.

Maharashtra plans to hold global investor summit

By

Afternoon Voice

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February 8, 2015

Having managed to get the biggest of the names of corporate India at an event over the weekend, the Maharashtra government has now set its eyes on having a dedicated investment summit, on the lines of the one by its neighbour Gujarat.

“Very soon we will have an investment summit here,” said Chief Secretary Swadheen Kshatriya.

When asked about the timeline for holding such a summit and if it would be this year, Kshatriya, who has been anchoring the key initiatives for the government, said, “Yes, this year itself.”

At the Mumbai Next event hosted by the 100-day-old Devendra Fadnavis government, top names from India Inc, including Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry, Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani, his younger brother Anil, State Bank of India chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya, and a host of other biggies attended and vowed to do more for the city.

Gujarat has been holding a flagship event called ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ every two years since 2001, where many MoUs are signed between the industry and the government to attract investments into the state. At the last summit in January, the state inked MoUs worth trillions of rupees.

Having such an event also helps the state change its perceptions among the investors. Many other states, including Bengal, MP and Rajasthan have begun similar summits like Gujarat for attracting investments.

Visually challenged experience car driving in Mumbai

By

Afternoon Voice

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February 8, 2015

The Blind Man Car Rally in Mumbai city on Sunday gave an opportunity to visually impaired people to experience car driving and showcase their abilities.

At the rally, the sighted drivers were navigated by visually impaired individuals, with their route mapped in Braille. Around 103 visually impaired navigators were selected to drive across pre-selected city circuit.

The rally, which was organised by Bombay Round Table 2, aims at making society aware of the challenges faced by visually impaired people.

Meanwhile, the sighted drivers said they enjoyed helping the people in need and more such events can boost the confidence of people with disabilities. The car rally, which is an annual event, is a time distance rally and not a race. The registration amount is used for the welfare of the visually handicapped and the education of underprivileged children.

Mumbai hosts fund-raising marathon to spread awareness about cardiac diseases

By

Afternoon Voice

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February 8, 2015

Hundreds of children took part in a fund-raising marathon in Mumbai on Sunday to spread awareness about cardiac diseases.

‘Little Hearts Marathon’ is an initiative of Bai Jerabai Wadia Hospital for Children in Mumbai to raise funds for poor children unable to meet the exorbitant hospital expenses.

The second edition of the three-kilometre marathon drew several known personalities, including Shiv Sena’s youth wing head Aditya Thackeray, Bollywood actor Shreyas Talpade and businessman Ness Wadia.

“The Wadia hospital has taken a very good initiative ‘Save Your Heart, Save Your Life’. Therefore, I am here to support it. We are ready to help whichever way we can through the Health Ministry and Yuva Sena,” said Thackeray.

Students of various schools performed physical and gymnastic activities sending across the message of a healthy lifestyle.

“I felt really good being here. Many people came here for this good cause. This is something we all should do. I always like coming to this marathon,” said Vishwadeep, a marathon participant.

The marathon is going to be organized at the national level next year to raise more funds.