2G: Dayalu Ammal deposes
Chennai: DMK president M. Karunanidhi’s wife Dayalu Ammal, a prosecution witness in the 2G allocation scam case, deposed before the chief metropolitan magistrate (CMM) on Monday at her residence here. CMM Gopalan arrived at Karunanidhi’s residence around 9.30 a.m. Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi charged by CBI as co-conspirator in the 2G spectrum allocation case, Kalaignar TV P Ltd CEO Sharad Kumar and other accused were also present at the DMK’s chief’s residence. Considering Dayalau Ammal’s age – 84 – and her ailments, the apex court had directed the CBI special court to record her statement at her residence in Gopalapuram here. The apex court’s order came on the plea by Dayalu Ammal’s daughter Selvi Geetha Kovilam. The apex court was moved seeking exemption to Dayalu Ammal – one of the directors of the Kalaignar television – from appearing before the 2G court on grounds of poor health and inability to travel to Delhi. She reportedly also suffers from Alzheimer’s and amnesia. A team of doctors from AIIMS had examined her July 27 in Chennai. Dayalu Ammal challenged the May 31 order of the CBI special court declining her plea for exemption from appearing before it to depose as prosecution witness. The trial court had asked Dayalu Ammal to appear before it to depose July 8. (IANS)
21 taken in custody for attack
on Oommen Chandy
Thiruvananthapuram: At least 21 people have been taken into custody and cases registered against a thousand Left supporters for the attack on Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s convoy at Kannur Sunday, police sources said on Monday. Chandy suffered injuries to his forehead and chest after suspected Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists stoned his car here on Sunday evening. The incident occurred when Chandy was on his way to attend the annual Kerala Police athletics meet in Kannur. Chandy was airlifted from Kozhikode last night and admitted to the Medical College Hospital in the state capital past midnight. “This sort of action by a political party is not good for the smooth functioning of democracy,” Chandy told reporters after arriving at the airport. The National Students Union of India, affiliated to the Congress party, has called for a state-wide protest and most educational institutions in the state will remain closed. Among those who have been charged for the attack are two CPI-M legislators C. Krishnan and K.K. Narayanan and three former legislators P.K. Sreemathi, P. Jayarajan and M.V. Jayarajan. Doctors on Monday morning said Chandy’s condition is stable. Though Chandy asked his party men not to observe a state-wide strike, shutdowns were reported at several places across the state. The top leadership of the CPI-M has denied any role in the attack. “We have no role in this attack as this is not our policy. The need of the hour is that the government should conduct a detailed probe and bring out the truth of what has really happened,” said CPI-M politburo member S. Ramachandran Pillai. (IANS)
24 kg heroin recovered in Amritsar
Amritsar: The Punjab Police arrested four men here on Monday and recovered 24 kg of heroin worth Rs.120 crore ($19.5 million) on the international market from them, an officer said. Sources in the state special operations cell said that the recovery was made near the Millennium Gate following a tip-off that a big drugs consignment was being carried by a group of smugglers. The Border Security Force (BSF) had killed three Pakistani smugglers near the India-Pakistan international border last week and recovered 24 kg of heroin. This year, the BSF has recovered nearly 282 kg of heroin along the 553 km international border in Punjab. In 2012, it had recovered more than 288 kg of heroin. (IANS)
CPI-M slams Hindutva forces
Mangalore: CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat on Sunday alleged that Hindutva forces in Karnataka have created communal tension on the issues of cow slaughter, and boys-girls fraternising. Addressing a convention on Muslim rights, organised by CPI-M in association with left outfits here, Karat said the party has collected Rs 60 lakh from all over the country and it will be used for people affected by communal violence, who are in refugee camps. Referring to the Sachar Committee report, he said it describes the plight of Muslim women and men and their backwardness in areas such as education and employment. He demanded that the Centre create “separate sub-plan” for minorities for their welfare. (PTI)
BJP announces candidates for 2nd phase of Chhattisgarh polls
Raipur: Deputy Speaker of Chhattisgarh assembly Narayan Chandel figured in the list of 21 candidates announced by BJP tonight for the second phase of polling to be held on November 19. Chhattisgarh has a 90-member House. BJP had announced the names of candidates for 67 seats on October 20 for the two-phased poll scheduled on November 11 and 19. Candidates for two seats — Sitapur and Vaishalinagar segment — are yet to named. The poll results will be out on December 8. The second list features Chandel, who has been re-nominated from Janjgir-Champa constituency. Other candidates in the second list include Champadevi Pavel from Bharatpur-Sonhat (ST) seat, Renuka Singh (Premnagar), Rajni Tripathi (Bhatgaon), Roshan Lal Aggarwal (Raigarh), Dr Jawahar Nayak (Kharsia), Shyamlal Maravi (Pali-Tanakhar-ST) , Sameera Paikra (Marwahi-ST) , Kailash Sahu (Jaijaipur), Chunnilal Sahu (Khallari), Punam Chandrakar (Mahasamund), Shivratan Sharma (Bhatapara), Naveen Markande (Arang-SC), Santosh Upadhyay (Rajim), Sharvan Markam (Sihawa-ST), Inder Chopra (Dhamtari), Horilal Ravate (Dondi Lahara-ST), Ramsheela Sahu (Durg-Rural) , Avdhesh Chandel (Bemetara), Ram Chandravanshi (Pandariya – Moti) and Ashok Sahu (Kawardha). The first list featured Chief Minister Raman Singh, Speaker Dharamlal Kaushik along with 12 ministers of ruling BJP. (PTI)