The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 21, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Briefly

Temple fete begins

TIRUPATI: `Dhwajarohanam', the flag hoisting ceremony, marked the beginning of the nine-day annual `Brahmotsavams' of the TTD-run Sri Kodandaramaswamy temple here on Saturday. Amid chanting of hymns from vedic scriptures and to the traditional drumbeats, the temple chief priest hoisted the flag atop the sacred flag post at 8.40 a.m., the auspicious time as per the almanac under the zodiac sign `meena lagna.' The temple precincts were tastefully decorated with all kinds of flowers and illuminated cut-outs depicting interesting instances from the Ramayana were erected at various spots on the four Mada streets around the shrine.

APCC minority cell's demand

Hyderabad: The APCC minority cell has demanded allocation of at least 25 Assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats from Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana regions for members of all minority communities in the coming elections. If adequate representation is not given, the minority cell will come out with an action plan, according to S.K. Afzaluddin, joint secretary, APCC, Syed Raza Hussain Azad, co-chairman, and M.A. Ansari, vice-chairman, minority cell.

Speaking to presspersons on Saturday, they said minorities had always stood by the Congress but when it came to allotting ticket they were given a short shrift. The NDA at Centre and the TDP in the State were coming up with many proposals to woo minorities, but the APCC was not giving recognition to its long-serving minority members, Mr. Afzaluddin said.

He said those joining the Congress from other parties should not be given ticket and instead they should be asked to serve the organisation for five years.

Left parties stage protest

HYDERABAD: Members belonging to Five Left parties -- Marxist Communist Party of India (MCPI), Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI), CPI (Marxist Leninist), CPI (ML) Liberation and Marxist Leninist Committee - on Saturday staged a protest demonstration here against the US imperialism and its aggression on Iraq. They burnt the effigy of the US President, George W. Bush.

Addressing a meeting held later, K. R. Choudary, formerly of the Agriculture University,

said the struggle against the US-UK occupation of Iraq was gaining momentum. Everyone knew that the attack on Iraq was on trumped- up charges to take control of its rich oil reserves and it was in gross violation of international laws and norms.

Central team terms drought severe

Hyderabad: Concluding the State tour after having field visits for three days, the Central team described as `severe' the drought situation in Anantapur, Chittoor, Karimnagar, Medak and Ranga Reddy districts.

The eight-member team, headed by Vedam Venkateswar, director in the Ministry of Rural Development, met the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, and had a wrap-up meeting with the Chief Secretary, Mohan Kanda, before leaving the city.

Mr. Venkateswar said that the team would forward the report of their findings to the Inter-Ministerial Committee which would take a final decision on the type and scale of assistance.

The team leader said crops were not sown in vast areas in the affected districts and where sown, they were found damaged. Central help might be in the form of rice, crop subsidies, arrangement for providing gainful employment to the affected people under the `Food-for-work' programme.

Stolen Buddhist relics recovered

GUNTUR: Buddhist relics, which were found in paddy fields of Tammisetti Raju of Jattipalem village in the district a fortnight ago and later stolen by one Uppuluri Srinu, were recovered by the district police on Saturday.

The Superintendent of Police, Ravi Shankar Ayyannar, told reporters that the Gurzala police arrested Srinu and three others and recovered the antique pieces while they were being sold to M. Ghattam Raghuvamshi of Guntur. "While Raghuvamshi is absconding, his friend Syeda has been arrested,'' he said. The relics were taken to V. Jayaprada, Assistant Director, Department of Archaeology, who confirmed that they were of historical significance.

Two women naxals surrender

VISAKHAPATNAM: Two women naxalites belonging to a primitive tribal group (PTG) --one of them allegedly involved in the sensational attack on the Koraput police station and treasury--surrendered before the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Vinit Brijlal, on Friday.

After the death of two naxalites and a civilian in an exchange of fire with the police near Durgam two months ago, they were totally shaken and decided to give up arms and join the mainstream, the SP, Sanjay Kumar Jain, told reporters on Saturday.

Pangi Taluso alias Chinnari alias Lakshmi (22) and Pangi Eswari alias Sumithra (20), who were brought to the city for interrogation, said that due to family problems, they joined the People's War in 1998.

Held on assault charge

NELLORE: The police in Kaligiri of Kavali division arrested two farmers -- M. Tirupati Naidu and P. Venkateswarlu -- for allegedly sprinkling petrol over an auction officer of Tobacco Board at Kaligiri on Friday following a tiff over sale of tobacco bales. The official, however, escaped the attempt.

Nizamabad records highest temperature

Hyderabad: The heatwave warning to Telangana has been extended for more days in the light of continuing dry wind.

Heatwave conditions prevailed in Mahabubnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal, Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad districts.

Nizamabad recorded the highest day temperature for the 24-hour period ending this morning at 43 degree Celsius, the highest so far for the season. The maximum temperature fell at one or two places in coastal Andhra and changed little in Telangana and Rayalaseema. They were significantly above normal at many places in Rayalaseema and at a few places in coastal Andhra and rest of Telangana. Weather will be mainly sunny in the State on Sunday.

Nominated

TIRUPATI: The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), coming under the University Grants Commission (UGC), has nominated V. Hemalatha Devi, head of the PG Department of Law in Sri Venkateswara University, as a member of its peer team.

Jaggery wash destroyed

Cuddapah: The police destroyed fermented jaggery wash of 600 litres stored in three drums and 10 earthern pots near Chennavaram stream in Kasinayana mandal.

The Porumamilla Circle Inspector, K.M. Rajendra, and B. Kodur Sub-Inspector, Koteswara Rao, led the raid.

Five houses gutted

Cuddapah: Five thatched houses were gutted in Duvvapalle village in B. Kodur mandal last evening.

Flames erupted when one D. Lakshmamma was cooking food and the houses of Lakshmamma, Obaiah, Veeramma, Ganganna and Venkataiah, were gutted, according to fire officials.

The Porumamilla fire officials rushed and put off the flames.

Driving track inaugurated

KURNOOL: The Collector, Ajay Jain, inaugurated the scientific driving track built at a cost of Rs. 4.5 lakhs at B. Tandrapadu here on Saturday. Addressing the meeting, Mr. Jain said by enhancing the skill of drivers, the accident rate could be brought down.

Weapons seized

CHITTOOR: The Pakala Circle Inspector, V. Narasimha Reddy, along with his staff has seized 69 abandoned country made SBML weapons without records, according to M.V. Ramachandra Raju, Superintendent of Police, who addressed newsmen here on Saturday.

Poll guidelines

NELLORE: The district administration has circulated guidelines relating to restriction on printing of pamphlets and posters in respect of coming elections, issued by the Election Commission.

It has been pointed that any person/printer/publisher who contravenes any of the provisions is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to six months or with fine which may extend to Rs. 2,000 or both.

Immunisation camp held

NIZAMABAD: The Nizamabad chapter of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics organised a health camp as part of the Measles Immunisation week in Nirmal town of Adilabad district.

Naxals destroy

TDP flag-post

NALGONDA: Continuing their tirade against the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), naxalites of the People's War destroyed the party's flag-post at Usmankunta village in Chandampet mandal on Friday night.

According to the information reaching here, a three-member action team descended on the village and raised anti-TDP slogans. After interacting with the villagers, they destroyed the flag-post.

Office-bearers elected

ADILABAD: K. Choudary and Naresh Kumar Joshi have been elected president and general secretary respectively of the Aalaya Parirakshana Samiti here on Saturday.

At a meeting of the samiti held at the Sri Gopalakrisha Mutt, D. Mahashettywar and Kishan Chowhan were elected vice-presidents.

LPG dealers' meet

WARANGAL: The emergency meeting of the LPG Cooking Gas Dealers Association would be held at Vijayawada on March 23, according to a statement issued by the association vice-president, P.V. Madan Mohan Rao and general secretary, Narayan Raju.

KU exams

WARANGAL: The examination for the B Ed (Methodology) of School of Distance Learning and Continuing Education (SDLCE) of Kakatiya University would be held on April 4.

According to SDLCE director, N. Lingamurthy, the examination for the MSc (Environmental Science) and LLM first and second years would be held from April 26.

Public meeting conducted

WARANGAL: As part of their strategy to ensure smooth conduct of the forthcoming elections, the police attached to the KU police station conducted a public meeting in Pegadapalli village, which is considered as `politically sensitive'.

According to, SI, G. Sekhar Goud, cadre working for different political parties attended the meeting besides about 300 villagers.

Free yoga training

KARIMNAGAR: The Vivekananda Yoga centre has decided to conduct free yoga training for the women from March 24 onwards at their centre in Prashanth nagar, Karimnagar town.

Further details can be obtained on following telephone numbers; 0878-2222535 and 2221597, the release added.

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