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Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 25, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Briefly

Minister welcomes decision

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM MAY 24. The NoRKA Minister, M.M. Hassan, has welcomed the setting up of a Department for Non-resident Indians at the Centre. In a pressnote here today he congratulated the Minister concerned, Jagidish Tytler, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs, E. Ahmed, and the Union Energy Minister, P.M. Sayeed, for it.

Commission to hold sitting

The Justice T.K. Chandrasekharadas Commission probing the Kuppana liquor tragedy case in Kollam will hold a sitting at the Government Guest House, Thycaud here on May 27. An official pressnote here today said the sitting would be held from 11 a.m.

AEC chief's visit

The chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Anil Kakodkar, will reach Kozhikode on May 30. He will return to Mumbai the next day.

KLRSA's plea

The Kerala Land Revenue Staff Association has urged the Government to fill up the vacancies in the department. In a statement today, the general secretary of the association, Nellimoodu Prabhakaran, said that the number of vacancies of tehsildars alone came to 110. Because of this and the delay in recalling the Deputy Collectors and tehsildars who were transferred during the election, the functioning of the department had come to a standstill. He urged the authorities to take immediate action.

Sivakumar criticises Rajagopal

The Congress leader, V.S. Sivakumar, has criticised the BJP leader, O. Rajagopal's recent statements against the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi's decision not to become the Prime Minister and the induction of the Muslim League leader, E. Ahmed, into the Union Ministry. In a statement here today, the former MP described the statements as cheap. Meanwhile, the State unit of the Shiv Sena described Mr. Ahmed's induction as a security risk to the country.

Finance cells inaugurated

Trade finance and personal finance cells of the State Bank of India have started functioning. Inaugurating them at the zonal office of the bank in Thiruvananthapuram, C. Narasimhan, CGM, Kerala Circle, urged the customers to make use of the trade finance cells that have started functioning at various centres all over the State. Radha Unni, GM (South Kerala) spoke. After the function, the sanction letters to traders and personal segment customers were distributed.

Murder accused acquitted

Kochi May 24. A CBI Special Court here has acquitted Abdul Khader, one of the accused in the Hamsa murder case. Hamsa was murdered in 1994 for giving information to Revenue Intelligence about the smuggling in of 1,600 contraband gold biscuits belonging to one A.P. Abdurahiman from Mumbai. As many as seven accused were convicted in the case.

Manmohan's appointment hailed

The former judge of the Supreme Court, V. R. Krishna Iyer, has welcomed the appointment of Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister. In a message, Mr. Iyer hoped Mr. Singh would reverse many of the "wrong things which happened to the country since 1991". Mr. Iyer appreciated the statesmanship and sacrifice of the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, and looked forward to Mr. Singh's leadership as a new chapter of welfare for the common masses whose expectations had been overruled by frustration under the previous regime.

`Drop Sayeed from Cabinet'

The Lakshadweep Students Association has demanded that P.M. Sayeed be dropped from the Union Cabinet. The induction of Mr. Sayeed into the Cabinet had damaged the democratic fabric of the country, according to the association's memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, a copy of which was released to the press here today. The association alleged that Mr. Sayeed, who had represented the islands for 37 years, had given false assurances to the people. No programme or scheme was mooted by him for the welfare of Lakshadweep and the people had expressed their dissatisfaction by voting him out. It was shocking that he was inducted into the Cabinet after he was rejected by the electorate, the statement said.

Two killed in accident

THRISSUR MAY 23. Two persons were killed and many were injured as the bus in which they were travelling turned turtle after hitting an electric post at Manathala, near Chavakkad, this morning. According to the police, the deceased have been identified as Roopesh (25) of Ponnani, conductor of the bus, and Edakkazhiyur Thekke Madrassa Hamsakutty (50). The private bus was coming from Ponnani to Chavakkad when the accident occurred near the Manathala Viswanatha Temple. The injured have been admitted to various hospitals.

Summons for Kairali Chairman

The Judicial First Class Magistrate here, S.K. Paul, today issued summons to the film star and Kairali Chairman, Mammootty, the Managing Director, John Britas, and several others associated with the `Aswamedham' programme on the television channel in connection with a defamation case. The case had been filed by the CPI district committee executive committee member, Rajaji Mathew. According to him, a reference was made in the `Aswamedham' programme telecast on March 10 last that Mr. Mathew, who was a CPI national council member and AIYF general secretary, was expelled from the party for financial misappropriation. His defamation case is against this `totally baseless' reference.

First in State

KOLLAM May 24. Veena Vijai of Mount Carmel Convent Anglo Indian Girls Higher Secondary School, Tangasseri secured the first rank in State for Commerce in the Indian Secondary Certificate (ISC) examination 2004. She got 378 marks out of 400 .

Life term for murder

THALASSERY MAY 24. A 66-year-old accused in a murder case was sentenced to life by the Additional District and Sessions Court (Fast Track) here today. The judge, K.K. Chandradas, convicted Puthiyedath Balankutty, who was charged with murder of his neighbour, K. Uthaman. The judge also ordered him to pay a fine of Rs. 10,000. He would have to undergo one-year rigorous imprisonment in the event of non-payment of the fine.

According to the Prosecution, Balankutty had stabbed Uthaman with a chisel on October 24 night, 2001.

`Gita Jnana Yajnam' begins

Kollam May 24. A `Gita Jnana Yajnam' began at the Kottarakulam Sree Mahaganapathy Temple here today. The jnaanam, which is conducted by A.K.B. Nair, begins at 5.30 p.m, S. Narayanan, president of the temple committee, said in a statement issued here today.

Scholarship for medical students

ALAPPUZHA MAY 24. The Rotary Club of Alleppey has invited applications from financially backward medical students in the State for the Halai Ismail Sait Memorial scholarships, instituted jointly by the Rotary Club of Alleppey and the Rotary Club of Mumbai Airport. The scholarship carries a cash award of Rs. 10,000. Financially backward second-year medical students in the State who have passed their first-year MBBS examination with high marks are eligible to apply. The scholarships would be given to one girl student and one male student. Candidates should send applications along with a copy of the mark list duly attested by the college Principal and an income certificate from the village authorities on or before May 30, according to a press note.

`Day of Excellence'

KOTTAYAM May 24 . The Mahatma Gandhi University will observe May 26 as `Day of Excellence' to felicitate the PhD awardees of 2003.

The Governor and Chancellor, T.N. Chathurvedi, will inaugurate the public function organised in connection with the felicitation. The former Vice-Chancellor, U.R. Ananthamurthy, will deliver the keynote address. According to the press note, 110 persons have been awarded PhD during 2003.

Meditation course

Advanced Meditation Course for Art of Living would be held from May 27 to 30 at the Vazhoor Centre. The course is being conducted in view of the slated visit of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to the State. Those qualified in Basic Course and Youth Leadership Training Programme can participate. For details, contact: 0481 2458989.

`Protect PSUs'

The Kerala Congress (S) has appealed to the State Government and MPs from the State to ensure that profit-making public sector units, including the Hindustan Newsprint Ltd (HNL), were not privatised by the newly elected UPA Government.

Bank loans for fishermen

KOZHIKODE MAY 24. Under a Central scheme of the District Industries Centre here, fishermen are being provided financial assistance for purchasing fibre boats and setting up marketing facilities under the aegis of the Theera Desa Raksha Social Welfare Society.

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Briefly