Diploma student dies of injuries during ‘ragging’
Kochi: A 21-year-old architecture diploma student, who suffered serious head injuries after being allegedly ragged by six of his seniors at a college in Bangalore, died in a hospital here. Ahab Ibrahim, a second year student of Acharya College of Technology Polytechnic, Bangalore, passed away at a hospital here late on Monday night. According to his relatives, the boy was allegedly ragged by six of his seniors, including Keralites. He was found unconscious in the bathroom of the hostel and was taken to a hospital in Bangalore on January 27. He was later shifted to Kerala. Ahab was in a coma ever since. The relatives alleged that Karnataka police had refused to register a case and said the boy’s life could have been saved if he had been provided better medical facilities by the college authorities. Ahab hails from Thrissur district. Six seniors, including Keralites, allegedly ragged him and are said to be absconding, the relatives said. A case for ‘unnatural death’ was registered yon Tuesday on the basis of a complaint given by Ahab’s relatives. (PTI)
Sri Lankan court orders release of 42 fishermen
Rameswaram (TN): A Sri Lankan court today ordered the release of 42 fishermen, arrested for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in the island nation’s territorial waters. The fishermen who were arrested between January and February this year were produced before a judicial magistrate at Oorkavalthurai, who ordered their release, sources said. The remand was extended four times before they were released on Wednesday, they said. (PTI)
UP govt warns against laxity in metro project
Lucknow: A senior UP government official today warned the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) against adopting dilly-dallying tactics towards the project. Adviser, Uttar Pradesh government’s External aided Projects Department, Madhukar Jetley, said,”No laxity or dilly-dallying on the part of officials will be tolerated in the project. Action will be taken against those found guilty of unnecessary delay”. “The implementation of suggestions given by LMRC Principal Adviser E Sreedharan, during his recent visit should be followed in letter and spirit”, Jetley told reporters here. He said that due to delay, the project cost would raised and it was ultimately borne by people. The procedure for selection of experienced professionals should be done as suggested by Sreedharan without any delay to make LMRC successful, Jetley added. (PTI)
Former Cong MP Tejaswini joins BJP
Bangalore: Former Congress MP Tejaswini Ramesh, who shot into fame after defeating former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, today joined the BJP, saying it can provide a stable government under the able leadership of Narendra Modi. Ramesh was welcomed into the party by state unit President Prahlad Joshi. “BJP has declared an able leader (Modi) as Prime Ministerial candidate. The country needs an able and decisive leadership and Modi fits the bill,” she told reporters here. She said Congress-led UPA had squandered the opportunity provided by the people in the last 10 years and there was a huge difference between what it professed and practised. “I don’t want to waste any more time (in Congress).” To a query, she said she had not sought a ticket from Congress to contest the Lok Sabha polls, nor has she made any such request to BJP for joining it. Ramesh, a former Kannada TV anchor, had emerged as a “giant killer” when she humbled Gowda by over 1.22 lakh votes in Kanakapura Lok Sabha (now Bangalore Rural) constituency. (PTI)