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Thursday, Jul 22, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Briefly

Backward Classes seek

quota in private sector

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh State Backward Classes' Welfare Association on Wednesday urged the National Backward Classes Commission in Delhi to provide reservations for Backward Classes in the private sector. Leaders of the association and other organisations from the State presented memoranda to Ramsurat Singh, chairman, and members of the commission.

A press release issued by the association stated that the leaders pressed for steps to provide reservations in the context of the Government initiating measures paving the way for reservations in the private sector for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. They also represented to the Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, to extend 75 per cent fare concession for Backward Classes in travel and to the Minister for Social Justice, Meira Kumar, seeking matching grant of Rs.100 crores to enable engineering students pay fee.

Charge-sheet filed in

Sri Lakshmi murder case

VIJAYAWADA: The Vijayawada city police filed a charge-sheet in the sensational Sri Lakshmi's murder case in the court of Metropolitan Sessions Judge here on Wednesday. The charge-sheet named Manohar, his cousin, V. Uma Maheswari and aunt, Ch. Varalamma, as the accused. The charge-sheet listed 73 persons as witnesses in the case.

The Commissioner of City Police, T. Krishna Prasad, said that the police could complete the investigation and file the charge-sheet in a record time. The case was transferred for trial to the third metropolitan magistrate court. The police filed the case diary, the report of lie-detector test conducted on Manohar and the details furnished by the listed witnesses.

Panel to solve land disputes

of Dalits sought

Hyderabad: A delegation of Dalitha Bahujana Sramika Union, led by N.P. Divakar, met the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Wednesday and pleaded for constitution of a high-level committee to resolve land disputes of Dalits.

Referring to the suicide of by a Dalit in Prakasam district, he said Dalit farmers, deprived of justice, must be compensated. The delegation also explained to the Chief Minister the irregularities in land allotment to Dalits.

Goldsmiths oppose TTD move

TIRUPATI: The row over the TTD's decision to acquire readymade `mangala suthrams' for sale to devotees visiting Tirumala has taken another twist with local goldsmiths raising a banner of revolt against the decision on Wednesday on the plea that it would have an adverse impact on their livelihood. The resistance, which was initially confined to the `mangala suthrams' has now brought into its ambit gold rings as well.

The goldsmiths argued that their profession which was already facing rough weather in the wake of heavy dumping of readymade and machine-cut jewellery in the market, would be further affected if the making of even the `mangala suthrams' and wedding-rings were taken out of their hands.

Quota for Muslims: interim

orders today

HYDERABAD: A Division Bench of the High Court comprising of the Chief Justice, Devinder Gupta and Justice C.V. Ramulu, on Wednesday declared that appropriate interim orders regarding the implementation of GO No. 33 which conferred reservation on the entire Muslim community in the State would be delivered on Thursday.

The Bench was dealing with a batch of writ petitions filed by Srikanth and other students. They complained that they were waiting for admissions into engineering, medical and dental courses for this academic year and because of the GO they are losing the chance to get into professional courses. All the advocates appearing for the petitioners completed their arguments and requested the bench to give interim direction and not to make admissions five per cent of the seats during the counselling for engineering and medical courses.

Couple, kids found dead

GUNTUR: A couple, residing at Allurivaripalem in Narsaraopet mandal, killed both their children and committed suicide by hanging on Wednesday.

A TV shop owner, Yelavarthi Srinivasa Rao (40), his wife Rajeswari (35), were found hanging in their house along with their children - Sriram (8) and Geetha Rani (4) when Srinivasa Rao's parents (Narasaiah and Ramatarakam) returned from fields. Srinivasa Rao was said to have incurred losses and the police suspect it to be the cause of the extreme step.

Principal, ex-student held

CUDDAPAH: The Cuddapah One Town police arrested the principal of Padala Rami Reddy College of Physiotherapy, P. Senthil, and a former student, Chandrakanth, last night following a complaint by AISF leaders that the principal was collecting money from final year students by threatening to fail them in practical examinations.

The Sub-Inspector, D. Bhaskar Reddy, and his staff kept a watch and arrested the duo near a lodge on R.S. Road and seized the amount allegedly collected by them. However, Mr. Senthil denied that he demanded money and alleged that it was a plot by some students to tarnish his image.

Naxals beat up villagers

KARIMNAGAR: Naxalites, belonging to the People's War, thrashed three villagers for cultivating the land of landlords in Vennampalli village of Kalwa Srirampur mandal last night.

According to reports reaching here, the naxalites, led by the Peddapalli LGS commander, Kankanala Raji Reddy, and seven others, including a woman, went to the village with weapons. They allegedly dragged the villagers -- Dirotham Reddy, G. Komaraiah and B. Veeraiah Goud -- to the village centre and beaten them up for cultivating the land. They warned the villagers of facing dire consequences if they dared to cultivate the land in which `red flags' were hoisted.

The victims took the land on lease and had been cultivating it for the past two years.

64 students

taken ill

KURNOOL: Sixty-four students of primary school at Valakonda fell sick after eating mid-day meal on Wednesday.

According to reports, the children ate the lunch in the school and developed vomiting.

The children complained that they had noticed a lizard in the food. They sick children were admitted to the Primary Health Centre at Aspari. The children were stated to be out of danger.

Arrangements

reviewed

KURNOOL: The Joint Collector, Mukesh Kumar Meena, inspected the pushkara ghats under construction at Srisailam on Wednesday. He instructed the officials to complete the work by August 15. He examined the ghat road leading down to Pathalaganga, the rope way and slots for vehicle parking. Officers from the departments involved in the pushkara arrangements attended the meeting.

Health camp

MADANAPALLE: The Madanapalle Rotary Club with the cooperation of Bangalore Institute of Oncology will conduct free health checkup camp for cancer, especially for women, at Arya Vysya hostel on August 1, according to V. Reddenna, secretary, Rotary Club, Madanapalle.

Named zonal chief

TIRUPATI: Y. Praveen, who recently stepped down as president of the Lions Club of Tirupati, has been made chairman of the Zone III for the year 2004-05, in view of his services rendered during his previous tenure to the club activities.

The clubs at Tirupati, Madanapalle, Punganur, Piler and others will come under the purview of Mr.Praveen.

Cloud-seeding

NELLORE: The initial uncertainty over the cloud-seeding exercise in the State has caused disappointment here, as its success would have benefited nearly 39 mandals of Nellore district.

The district has been reeling under drought conditions for the last four years. Under these circumstances, the inclusion of Nellore district in the cloud-seeding programme raised hopes of the people.

However they were in for disappointment with Wednesday's uncertainty pertaining to the exercise.

MV Act

compliance

NELLORE: At a high-level meeting held here on Wednesday, under the chairmanship of the Superintendent of Police, B. Shivadhar Reddy, it was decided to seize all vehicles violating the Motor Vehicle Act and to impose heavy fines. Initially, the drive would commence in Atmakur and other areas. It was felt that the proposed measures would help in reducing the number of accidents, besides regularisation of traffic and paving the way for better revenue for RTC.

Donation for

power scheme

HYDERABAD: People of Nandikotkur in Kurnool district, including representatives of D. Pulla Reddy & Sons, and K. G. Redy of Dr. J. Srinivasa Reddy Anasuya Children's Hospital, on Wednesday donated Rs.10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively for the free power scheme launched by the Government.

G. Charita Reddy, MLA from Nandikotkur, handed over the two cheques to the Chief Minister,Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, a press release issued by the CM's office stated.

Killed in

mishap

CHITTOOR: The former president of the Chittoor Lorry Owners Association, Venkata Reddy (60), native of Gangadhar Nellore mandal, residing in Chittoor town, died in an accident at Gandhi Road here on Wednesday.

While he was going on a scoter, a lorry hit his vehicle from behind. He died on the spot. The police registered a case.

Charlie Chaplin film festival

KARIMNAGAR: The Karimnagar Film Society is organising a three-day Charlie Chaplin Film Festival from July 27 to 29 at the Kaloji Auditorium in SRR Degree College in the town.

In a press note on Wednesday, the society secretary, Varala Anand, said they would screen `The Kid', `Dictator' and `Women in Paris' and other films every day from 2.30 pm.

MACS meeting

ADILABAD: The Adilabad Mutually Aided Cooperative Societies' (MACS) Federation on Wednesday resolved to extend the operations to 12 more mandals in the district. At the annual general meeting at Nirmal it was resolved to construct a permanent building for the federation at Nirmal and mobilise financial aid from banks for the different MACS under it.

Students boycott classes

ADILABAD: School students, under the aegis of the All-India Students' Federation, on Wednesday boycotted classes, demanding, among other things, supply of textbooks free of cost to even private schools and sanction of scholarships.

Free advice camp on I-T

WARANGAL: The Tax Bar Welfare Association proposed to conduct free advice camp on Income Tax (I-T) for salaried employees at the Royal function palace, Subedari, on July 22. Chartered Accountants and Income tax practitioners of the district would be available at the camp that would be inaugurated by the Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, B. Koteshwar Rao.

Yoga classes

WARANGAL: The Helping Hand Society, which is running alcohol de-addiction centre at Balasamudram, is offering free training in yoga. Dayanand, a yoga expert, will conduct classes. Details can be had over the telephone number 98497-34135.

PDSU stages dharna

NIZAMABAD: Activists of the Progressive Democratic Students' Union staged a dharna on Wednesday in front of the offices of the Scheduled Tribe and Backward Classes Welfare offices on the premises of the Collectorate, demanding immediate release of pending scholarships to students.

Led by the PDSU town committee president, V.Satish Kumar, the activists came in a rally to the Collectorate and laid siege to the two offices for some time.

Appeal to YSR

NIZAMABAD: The former Municipal Chairman, Mukka Devender Gupta, has urged the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, to take steps to prevent contamination of drinking water in Alisagar reservoir, where authorities are planning tourism promotion activity.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Mr. Devender Gupta expressed concern over the move to develop the island on the reservoir for tourism development.

Magisterial probe

NIZAMABAD: The Kamareddy RDO has been appointed inquiry officer to probe the exchange of fire between the police and extremists in Yadavaram village of Domakonda mandal last year.

In a press note, officials said the inquiry would be conducted at the Kamareddy RDO's office from 11.30 am on July 26. The RDO would record the statement pertaining to the encounter, which had resulted in the death of Katike Narsing Rao, CPI (ML-Janashakti) district committee member, and dalam member, Rajesh.

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