MNS can't hold city to ransom

Mumbai, Aug 29, 2008 The Bombay High Court on Thursday told the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) it cannot "hold the people to ransom" and warned it against using violence to enforce Marathi signboards in Mumbai।

The court, which was hearing an application filed by a trade association, restrained MNS leader Raj Thackeray and his party members from "in any manner whatsoever disturbing" traders in the city, defacing or damaging their properties and assaulting or threatening them।

A division bench comprising Justices J N Patel and K K Tated also restrained Raj personally from giving any provocative or intimidating public speech regarding the issue of putting up signboards in Marathi in commercial establishments and shops।

Viren Shah, Secretary of Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association, has filed a petition which alleges that MNS had sent letters to shopkeepers warning them to display signboards in Marathi or they would be taught “a lesson in their own way''। The MNS deadline ends on Thursday.

"There is a hidden threat in this letter," Justice Patel said, asking what action was taken against Raj and whether "this gentleman has been interrogated।"

"Nobody can hold the people to ransom," Patel said।

The court ordered the police commissioners of Mumbai and Thane to safeguard the petitioners and to protect them from violence by MNS workers।

The court asked the state government to explain what it had done to protect traders and flayed it for failing to tackle MNS activists। It asked the government to announce a compensation package to the shopkeepers, who were targeted by the MNS for not displaying boards in Marathi.

The government lawyer told the court that 811 MNS activists had been arrested since August 26 and government was committed to maintaining law and order।

Thackeray has not commented on the court’s order but indicated that the MNS campaign for Marathi signboards would continue. “Whatever happened has happened. From now on, Maharashtra is for Marathi people (and) all those who are staying here from outside should remember this. Who is Shah to go to the court on an issue of Marathi pride,” he said.

Son of policeman opens fire in Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 29, 2008 A teenaged son of a Head Constable allegedly opened fire at his neighbours, injuring four of them, following an altercation in the national capital, police said on Friday।

The incident took place on Thursday night in Meeta Nagar of north-east Delhi।

Avinash, the son of Head Constable Ramvir posted at Parliament Street police station, allegedly opened fire from a double barrel gun during the arguments with his neighbours।

He allegedly fired two-three rounds at his neighbours in which four were wounded।

The injured -- Nikhil Kumar, Vijay Pal, Ramesh and Sangeeta -- were rushed to Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital। They were discharged this morning after treatment.

Both the families were not on good terms and constantly indulged in quarrelling, a senior police official said।

The official denied reports Avinash allegedly opened fire as he was disturbed over the extramarital affairs of his father।

The teenager was arrested and the gun was seized, he said।

A case has been registered and further investigations are on.

Two killed in Assam aluminium factory blast

Guwahati (PTI): Two persons were killed and five others seriously injured on Friday in an explosion at an aluminium utensil making factory in Assam's Tinuskia district।

Official sources said here that the explosion inside the factory, "Purbanchal Udyog" manufacturing aluminium utensils took place early this morning, damaging the entire unit।

The police said two persons died on the spot and their body parts were found strewn about 25 metre away while five others were critically injured।

Three of the critically injured were shifted to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh and others were admitted to Tinsukia Civil Hospital।

The entire area near the factory has been sealed off।

The cause of the explosion was yet to be ascertained but preliminary investigations suggested that it could have been caused due to some electrical snag.

Christians rally for Orissa riot victims

KOLKATA,, Aug 29, 2008 The Christians today took out a procession here demanding protection for the members of the community and churches in violence-torn areas in Orissa's Kandhamal and Bargarh districts।

Protesters, under the banner of Bangiya Christiya Pariseba, an apex body of Christians, assembled near Utkal Bhavan and demanded immediate deployment of military and para-military forces to control the situation।

They held placards reading 'CM, answer why Christians are being persecuted in Orissa'।

The group said the organisations involved in "anti-national" activities should be banned and submitted memoranda to the Resident Commissioner of Utkal Bhavan, addressed to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the Governor and Chairman of National Human Rights Commission।

All Church-run schools remained closed in West Bengal as part of protests against alleged attack on Christians in parts of Orissa.

Dalai Lama admitted to Mumbai hospital

Mumbai, Aug 29, 2008 Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on Thursday for treatment of abdominal discomfort।

The 73-year-old Nobel laureate will undergo investigations on Friday, the hospital's spokesperson Mohan Rajan said।

"There was no cause for concern," he said।

The Dalai Lama was brought to the hospital in a chartered flight and was admitted as he was suffering from abdominal discomfort, Rajan said।

He is under the treatment of Narendra Trivedi, who is also the Vice-President of the private hospital, Rajan said।

Earlier this month, the Dalai Lama had come to the hospital for a routine medical check up, hospital sources said.

Less relief, more trauma in Bihar

PATRAGHAT, August 29, 2008 The people in Bihar are still experiencing a lot of problems after being stranded for about a week in the flood water।

The government's relief supplies are yet to reach many flood affected areas। Only 2,500 food packets are being distributed in a day.

In the last one week, only 46,000 food packets were distributed।

Without the support of ordinary people, the scale of the destruction caused by the floods would be much worse। In many areas it's the local people who are providing food to flood victims.

And in what is potentially a dangerous situation there are no doctors and no medicines in many flood affected areas।

There is also a severe shortage of boats for rescue operations।

In many areas, flood victims have only got plastic sheets for temporary shelters and little else।

The worst affected areas are Supaul, Araria, Madhepura, Katihar, Purnia and Danapur on the outskirts of Patna and Muzaffarpur।

The breach in the river has been about 20 kms upstream of the Kosi barage।

What has happened is that on one side excessive siltation has forced the river to pile on pressure on the other side of the 12 km long bund which is parallel to the Kosi river।

The breach which initially was five meters has now become 1.5 km.