High power panel for National Games set up
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala, which is gearing up to host the 35th National Games early next year, has constituted two special committees to supervise the preparation and arrangements on an urgent pace. A Specially Empowered High Power committee (SEHPC) under the chairmanship of the Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) has been set up to take decision in urgent matters that are essential for the time bound execution of arrangements for the much awaited sports gala, said a statement issued here on Thursday. Besides him, Secretary (sports), Secretary (general administration) and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister would be the other members of the committee, it said. The SEHPC would meet every Monday and its decisions shall be presented before the immediate Council Of Ministers for approval, it said. A Co-ordination Committee to co-ordinate activities among various government departments has also been constituted. The National Games are scheduled to be held in different venues state-wide from January 31 to February 14, 2015. (PTI)
Main accused in RSS murder case surrenders in court
Kannur (Ker): The main accused in the murder of an RSS activist at Kathirur on September 1 surrendered before a local court on Thursday. Vikraman surrendered before the Judicial First Class Magistrate court, police said. Manoj, the RSS activist was killed when an unidentified gang attacked him in politically-volatile Kathirur near Thalassery in Kannur district on September 1. The gang waylaid Manoj on a road, threw a country-bomb at him and then hacked him to death before fleeing the area. Another party sympathiser was also seriously injured in the attack and has been hospitalised. RSS and BJP leaders had alleged that CPI(M) was behind the killing and had also called a dawn-to-dusk state wide hartal to protest against the dastardly murder. The area, which was witness to violence involving RSS and CPI(M) workers in the past, had remained largely calm in the last few years. On Sept 6 Congress-led UDF government said investigation into the murder would be handed over to CBI. The crime Branch special team investigating the murder had also questioned several people, including CPI(M) Kathirur local committee leader in this connection. (PTI)
Five get life term for killing doctor
Muzaffarnagar: Five persons have been sentenced to life imprisonment by a local court here for killing a doctor four years back. District and Sessions Judge Vijay Luxmi has sentenced five persons — Sandeep, Janeshwar, Jogesh, Bablu, and Bhartu –to life imprisonment and imposed a fine Rs 20,000 each after holding them guilty under section 302 of IPC Wednesday. The court has also ordered the five to pay Rs 80,000 to the family of the deceased, District Government Council Dushyant Tyagi said. Inderpal, a doctor by profession, was beaten to death by the accused over a financial dispute in Rajpur village in Shamli district on April 13, 2010, he said. Victim’s brother Virender had lodged a complaint against the five convicts. (PTI)
Gold valued at Rs 38.31 lakh seized at Mangalore airport
Mangalore: Customs officials at Mangalore International Airport have seized over 1.3 kg of gold valued at Rs 38.31 lakh in two separate cases,airport officials said. In both cases, gold in the form of foil strips was found concealed in cardboards containing toys with stickers affixed to them and lined around the walls of potato wafer tins, which were reportedly brought in checked-in luggage, they said. A total of 709.6 grams of gold valued at around Rs 19.51 lakh was seized from one passenger from Kolavayal in Kasargod. In the second case, gold weighing 683.6 gram valued at Rs 18.79 lakh was seized from another passenger of Uduma in Kasargod. Both passengers arrived by the same flight from Dubai, the officials said. (PTI)
Maha Cong, NCP leaders in war of words over ‘merger’ remarks
Mumbai: The NCP on Thursday targeted senior Congress minister in Maharashtra government Patangrao Kadam for suggesting that the 15-year-old party should merge with Congress. “Patangrao Kadam is not that senior to advice Sharad Pawar. He better concentrate on strengthening Congress party,” state NCP president Sunil Tatkare said. “Instead of giving free advice, he better pay attention to bring secular government (in Maharashtra),” Tatkare said. “Patangrao Kadam has a good sense of humour but I have yet not seen anyone taking him seriously in Congress,” the NCP leader tweeted. Kadam, forest minister, had said yesterday that it is the right time for NCP president Sharad Pawar to merge his party with the Congress. “It is high time that Pawar decides to merge his party with the Congress. History shows that when NCP goes for an alliance with the Congress, NCP defectors spell trouble for the Congress during polls. “Later, such rebel NCP leaders are rewarded by the Pawar-led party by making them directors of co-operative banks or giving them important posts,” Kadam had said. Kadam had made the statement in the presence of Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Manikrao Thakre. While Chavan had said that Kadam made the suggestion “with good intentions”, Thakre had made it clear that it was Kadam’s personal opinion. (PTI)
BJP, TMC workers clash in poll-bound Chowringhee
Kolkata: Twelve people were injured after a clash broke out between supporters of BJP and Trinamool Congress in poll-bound Chowringhee assembly constituency here on the last day of campaign on Thursday. Police said the supporters of both parties attacked each other with sticks and indulged in brick-batting, following which police reinforcements were rushed to the spot. Trinamool Congress candidate for the by-poll Nayna Bandopadhyay alleged that BJP mobilised outsiders who shouted slogans against party chief Mamata Banerjee. BJP candidate Ritesh Tiwari alleged that TMC workers attacked when they were campaigning in the area. The by-election to the constituency is scheduled on September 13. (PTI)