CURRENT NEWS and EVENTS JUNE 2009

[Yusuf]

Delhi girl in coma after school punishment dies

NEW DELHI: An 11-year-old girl who slipped into coma after school punishment died on Friday. The girl slipped into coma allegedly after she was

hit by an MCD schoolteacher and made to stand in the sun for over two hours. ( Watch )

The girl, Shannoo Khan, studied in Class 2 at ND Primary School in Narela, north Delhi.

Union minister Renuka Chowdhury said action will be taken against the teacher. “We need to do more than just a knee-jerk reaction,” she stressed.

Vigilance inquiry has been ordered into the case, said the Delhi Mayor.

While MCD denies the incident, an inquiry has been ordered and the principal and teacher placed under suspension.

The incident allegedly occurred on Wednesday when Shannoo failed to recite the English alphabet in class. Angered by this, the teacher allegedly hit Shannoo's head against the table and made her stand in the sun for over two hours. Unable to stand the heat, Shannoo fainted and was found unconscious by her younger sister, who studies in the same school. The girl then informed their mother, Rihanna, who rushed Shannoo to Maharshi Valmiki Hospital.

Shannoo's father, Ayub Khan, who works as a waiter in a catering company, was away in Haryana for work. "I returned at 9.30pm when my younger daughter told me about the incident.

Doctors at Maharshi Valmiki hospital told me that Shannoo's condition was critical and she might not survive," said Khan.

The 11-year-old was shifted to the paediatric ICU of Lok Nayak Hospital on Thursday afternoon.

"The child was admitted in with severe seizure and her condition further deteriorated before she slipped into a coma. She was shifted to LNJP in critical condition," said Dr K K Deuri, medical superintendent of Maharshi Valmiki hospital.

MCD officials, however, denied that the girl was punished and said she suffered from frequent seizures. Chairman of the MCD education committee Prithiviraj Sahni said: "The girl has been detained for shortage of attendance. She has been irregular with her classes because of fits. On Wednesday too, she had fits, following which her parents were informed."

Municipal commissioner K S Mehra has asked the director of primary education to conduct an inquiry and submit a report in three days. MCD has already suspended the principal of the school (identified only as Dhanpati) for dereliction of duty and the teacher (identified only as Manju) for alleged corporal punishment.

The latest allegations highlight the MCD's poor record on corporal punishment. In the March 19 incident in New Ashok Nagar where 10 students were thrashed for making noise during mid-day meals, the MCD has held the teacher, Rajpal Sharma, guilty of corporal punishment and suspended him.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...chool-punishment-dies/articleshow/4413949.cms

 

[Yusuf]

Slumdog star Rubina's father offers her in sale: Report

LONDON: The father of Slumdog Millionaire child star Rubina Ali Qureshi tried to sell her for £200,000 in his bid to cash in on the celebrity status of his ‘Oscar child’, a British newspaper claimed on Sunday. ( Watch )

Nine-year-old Rubina shot to fame by playing the young ‘Latika’ in Danny Boyle's film, which picked up eight Oscars besides earning millions at the box office.

The film depicts the heart-warming story of a Mumbai slum dweller, who escapes the slums by winning $20 million in the Indian version of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?'. Rubina and Azharuddin Ismail were picked from a Mumbai slum to play the young protagonists in the film.

And now, Rubina's father Rafiq Qureshi wants £200,000 ($400,00) by putting his daughter up for illegal adoption, the News of The World reported.

Rafiq alleged that he was forced to sell his daughter as his family did not get anything from the filmmakers.

"We've got nothing out of this film," said Rafiq while trying to fix the illegal adoption deal, "It's £200,000!," he told the reporters, who were posing as fake Dubai sheikhs.

When the reporters objected to the huge amount, Rafiq's brother insisted, "The child is special now. This is not an ordinary child. This is an Oscar child!"

"I have to consider what's best for me, my family and Rubina's future," Rafiq said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...r-sale-by-her-father-/articleshow/4420908.cms

 

[Pintu]

According to The Times of India , Initial Post Mortem report suggests that there is no injury on the girls body.

The link and the report from The Times of India follows:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...uries-on-Shannos-body/articleshow/4418203.cms


'Initial report suggests no injuries on Shanno's body'
18 Apr 2009, 1842 hrs IST, PTI



NEW DELHI: Police on Saturday questioned the lady school teacher accused in the death of 11-year-old Shanno who was meted out corporal punishment
even as initial post-mortem report suggests there was no injury mark on her body.

Manju, a teacher of the MCD school in outer Delhi's Bawana, was accused of making Shanno stand in the sun with bricks on her shoulders, which led to the girl slipping into coma and later to her death.

"The teacher is not absconding. We are questioning her. We have not arrested her yet as we are collecting evidence in the case," deputy commissioner of police (outer) Atul Katiyar said.

During questioning, Katiyar said the teacher said she had not done anything to the girl which led to her death.

The post-mortem of the girl was also conducted on Saturday with a senior police official claiming that the preliminary reports suggest that there was no injury marks on the victim's body. The full report of the post mortem is expected on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a large number of villagers staged a protest at Bawana and were involved in skirmishes with the police demanding justice to the family. The protest came after the body of Shanno was cremated.

Taking a serious note of the death of the girl, law minister H R Bhardwaj suggested existing laws be made more stringent to deal with errant teachers.

 

[Pintu]

This is awfully pathetic that a girl is up for sale by her parents, if the report by that British News Paper is true, as a human being and as an Indian I am very much ashamed by this.

 

[Pintu]

According to The Hindu, the Girl's father denies the report of selling the child.

The link from The Hindu:

http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/20/stories/2009042051811800.htm

 

[Yusuf]

Principal asked to go on leave for copying in exam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The principal of the prestigious art school, Kerala Kala Mandalam, M Rajasekharan, was asked to go on leave after he was charged with 'copying' while writing the English paper for MA (Kathakali) examination.

He was writing the examination with private registration and the 'copying' episode was reported by the invigilator to the authorities, Kalamandalam sources said.

For MA (Kathakali) degree, one had to write BA-part one English paper also. Rajasekharan was caught after five of the six additional sheets given to him were found without the invigilator's signature when he returned them said, they said.

The invigilator K C Unnikrishnan, who detected this, reported the matter to the registrar and said the paper should not be forwarded for evaluation, the sources said.

The registrar N R Gramaprakash told PTI that as a routine measure, the `student' was given a memo seeking explanation for the malpractice within 15 days. Further inquiries revealed that it was the paper written by the principal himself.

The indication is that Rajasekharan brought prepared essays to answer possible questions in the examination.

Rajasekharan, 59, has only one more year to retire from service. Kalamandalam is contemplating further action against him, the sources said.

Vice-Chancellor K G Poulose said Rajasekharan was being kept off his job in view of the serious allegation.

Rajasekharan, on his part, defended himself saying that it was a "pre-planned drama". If the additional sheets did not bear invigilator's signature, it should have been noticed at the time of examination. Raking up the issue after a few days was the handiwork of some insiders, he alleged.

 

[Yusuf]

26-year-old 'baby' baffles doctors in Meghalaya

A 26-year-old youth who looks like a toddler has baffled doctors in Meghalaya.

Jerly Lyngdoh is an adult trapped, perhaps forever, in a baby's body and mind. Born on March 29, 1983, Jerly has not grown beyond 84 cm which is the normal height of a two-year-old baby and weighs about 10 kg.

He cannot communicate and needs his mother's help for any normal activity. In fact, the only sign of adulthood in him is his denture, his milk teeth having been replaced at the right age.

Ruling out malnutrition as a cause for the retarded growth of Jerly, senior paediatrician J Ryngdong, who is looking into the case at the government-run Ganesh Das Hospital here, said, "The boy has a proper diet, has strong teeth and has no digestive problem. What is more intriguing is his inability to speak a single word even at this age".

Born to illiterate parents in a remote village in the state's Jaintia Hills district, Jerly was shifted to the hospital on April 3 last after 17 months of unsuccessful treatment at the Shillong Civil hospital.

Jerly's mother Merilda said she did not notice any abnormality when her son was born but when he was about four months, she noticed some kind of an epileptic disorder. Too poor to afford proper treatment, she had relied on a traditional healer after Jerly became 15 years old, but to no avail.

Ryngdong, who admits that the case is a challenge, said the circumference of Jerly's head is equivalent to that of a child aged between nine months and one year.

"Since the investigation is still in the early stage, it is difficult to say the exact cause of the abnormality. We are examining factors like hormonal deficiency," the paediatrician said, rejecting the hereditary factor as Jerly's six siblings from the same mother are normal.

Without chronic health problems, a person like Jerly can live for four decades or slightly more, he says. Merilda, Jerly's mother, had to battle family prejudices and endure neighbours' derision to keep her son surviving. Once, she recalled, Jerly's grandfather had labelled him as a curse on the family and even advised her to throw him away.

"I did not flinch and rather decided to take extra care of Jerly while seeking help from civil societies. I was lucky. The Bethany Society in Shillong responded with whose help I brought him to the Shillong Civil Hospital," Merilda said fighting off tears.

 

[Singh]

I heard about such a case before too. Its a rare genetic disease.

 

[Rage]

China mine blast 'kills dozens'

SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009
15:02 MECCA TIME, 12:02 GMT

China's coal mines are the dealiest in the world,
with about 3,000 deaths in 2008 [File: EPA] ​

At least 25 people have been killed after a gas leak caused an explosion at a coal mine in central China, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Another 20 miners were reportedly trapped underground following the blast in Sichuan province on Saturday.

There were 131 people working at the Tonghua mine, but 86 were able to escape, Xinhua said.

China's coal mines are the deadliest in the world, with about 3,000 fatalities across the country in 2008.


Al Jazeera English - Asia-Pacific - China mine blast 'kills dozens'

 

[Rage]

Deadly clashes in Peru's Amazon

23:25 GMT, Friday, 5 June 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pXLvlXZR6I

Video: Protesters charge down a highway near Bagua armed with sticks


At least 31 people have died in clashes in Peru between the security forces and indigenous people in the Amazon region.

Those killed included at least 22 tribesmen and nine policemen. The violence took place as security forces tried to end a road blockade.

There have been fuel and transport blockades in Peru's Amazon region for almost two months.
Local people say new laws will make it easier for foreign companies to exploit their land for natural resources.


Most serious

The fighting took place at a jungle highway near the town of Bagua, more than 1,000km (600 miles) north of the capital, Lima.

They are the most serious to have broken out since indigenous groups began a protest campaign in April.

They are opposed to plans by the government of President Alan Garcia to open up communal jungle lands for oil exploration, logging, mining and large-scale farming.

Indigenous leaders say police using helicopters opened fire on demonstrators in the latest incident.

One indigenous leader, Alberto Pizango, told reporters that he held the government responsible for the killings, which he said had taken place during a peaceful demonstration.

The authorities say the police were fired on first, and Mr Garcia accused the Indians of "falling to a criminal level."

Earlier this month, Peru's military was authorised to give support to police in the escalating dispute.

President Garcia has said all Peruvians should benefit from the country's natural resources not just the people who happened to live in the areas concerned.

Under Peru's constitution the state owns the country's mineral and hydrocarbon wealth.


BBC NEWS | South Asia

 

[constantin]

Chinese String of Pearls Theory

When the whole world was busy in dealing with Taliban and Al-Qaida, and was working to bring normal conditions back to Pakistan. China was developing its military in an aggressive manner. China hates interference of US and Russia in the region, because it dreams to be a regional power. As India is the only country in the region which maintain friendly relation with both U.S. and Russia, that’s why Sino-Indian relations are cold. The major reason why China doesn’t like India is that India gave shelter to the Tibetan peace leader Dalai lama. Tibet was an independent country before 1950 when Chinese attacked and captured the whole land.

China to become a regional power will have to destabilize India, and for this purpose it maintains good relations with all anti India elements, whether it’s insurgency in North Eastern India, or Pakistan. To make Pakistan capable to equalize India in power, China gave it its nuclear and missile technology. Pakistan is one of the largest user of Chinese military equipments.

Chinese String of Pearls theory talks about surrounding India from all sides and keep an eye on India and America. For this China is building a railway station for Pakistan on the zero line, that is the international border. According to International laws, No country can build any thing with in the area of 150m from the international border and the area is called as no man’s land. Presence of China so close to Indian western border has unsettled India. Source: Chinese help for Pakistan railway worries India) China is also building a naval base in Gwadar, from where it can keep an eye on all Indian, European and American vessels passing through Persian Gulf, and at the time of need it can destroy them in not less than five minutes......
More on Enews Things which have happened becomes news, what will you call that which may be going to happen? visit EnewsEnews

 

[I-G]

3 Narcotic Smugglers arrested, heroin worth 6 crores seized in J&K

3 Narcotic Smugglers arrested, heroin worth 6 crores seized in J&K

News Agency of Kashmir 6/18/2009 8:36:40 PM

Jammu, June 18(NAK): Jammu police arrested three narcotic smugglers and recovered sis kilo grams of heroin from their possession, here today.

Senior Superintendent of police Jammu Manohawar Sing told media persons in a press conference here this evening that Jammu Police on receipt of a specific information regarding the movement of some narcotics smugglers in Sainth area falling under Police Station Khour who have come to carry a consignment of Heroin from the border area and further to be delivered at Delhi/Chandigarh, a special Naka was established at Khour.

During checking, three persons who were coming from Hamirpur side towards Khour were intercepted at the Naka and questioned. During questioning, they could not give any satisfactory reply about their movement and purpose of presence in the area.

“Two packets each of heroin were recovered valuing more than Rs.6 Crore in the International market from the following persons” SSP said and identified the arrested smugglers as Ved Prakash son of Gian Chand resident of Labaju Chak Tehsil, Hiranagar, Distt Kathua, Tarsem Singh s/o Balwant Singh of Badrod, Ghou-Manhasa, Jammu and Tarsem Lal, s/o Thoru Ram, r/o Treva, R.S Pura.

On their questioning, they admitted that they have carried the consignment of Heroin for delivering to someone who is waiting for receiving consignment at Mattoo Morh, Khour, he added.

Simultaneously a raid was conducted at Mattoo Morh, a person was apprehended who disclosed his identity as Gulshan Kumar Arora s/o Ram Ji Lal Arora, r/o 131, Model Town Hisar Haryana and admitted that he has come to receive the consignment of heroin for further delivery at Chandigarh. On this, a case FIR No. 23/2009, under NDPS Act Stands registered at P/S Khour.

During the course of their interrogation, the following facts were revealed that all the four persons are the members of a large International Narcotics Smugglers gang. This gang is having its members in Pakistan, Dubai, Afghanistan and Nigeria in addition to India. This gang is carrying out its operation from Dubai. Narcotics consignment originates from Afghanistan and comes to Pakistan from where it is kept on Indian side of the LOC at the pre-decided point. Local contacts carry this consignment from fields near the LOC and is further delivered to the gang members somewhere near Akhnoor and in turn it is carried to Jammu by other group and further delivered to Chandigarh or Delhi depending on the place given by the control at Dubai. Finally this consignment is carried to Nigeria and other countries.

The Couriers get money depending upon the area and risk involved like person carrying consignment from border to Akhnoor gets Rs. 5000/- per packet of 1Kg, Courier carrying further from Akhnoor to Jammu gets Rs. 10,000/- per packet and couriers carrying from Jammu to Delhi/ Chandigarh gets Rs.60,000 per packet. At Courier level, money is given in cash at higher level the transactions takes place through Hawala and money goes from Lahore to Dubai and further to India.

Ved Prakash is a regular visitor to Pakistan who is visiting Pakistan for the last 30yrs and indulged in many transborder smuggling of Narcotics. He is having no. of contacts in Pakistan, one of them is Shera of Lahore. Shera is controlling the smuggling of Heroin from Lahore and coordinating between Dubai, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Indian members of the gang. Ved Prakash has been caught many a times by Police and booked and was released from Jail after spending 09 years in NDPS case. He was also detained under PSA in Charas Case at Jammu in the year 1983, he was sentenced for 2yrs for Border Crossing and was also arrested by Delhi Police in NDPS Case in 2003 and was released during the year 2006.

His wife Kanta Devi also assists him in his activities and was booked after being caught with 03 Pak Nationals from her house during the year 1986. The Pakistanis’ had come from Pakistan illegally in connection with the smuggling of Narcotics. Smt Kanta Devi has spent 01 year in the Jail. Son in law of Ved Prakash namely Rakesh Kumar, s/o Gian Chand, r/o Prem Nagar Jogi Gate, Jammu was also booked in NDPS Case during the year 2007 when he was caught at Delhi and is presently lodged in Tihar Jail.

Ved Prakash has admitted that he has carried about 200 packets after his release from Jail in the year 2006 from various border areas of District Jammu, in recent times during different trips. Another gang member, Gulshan Kumar is also old hand in the smuggling and was also booked in NDPS Case He has also spent about 06 years in Tihar Jail and was recently released from Jail on 20.5.2009 and got again active in same trade within one month which speaks of his conviction toward Narco Crime. Possibility of use of funds raised through Narcotics trade for the terrorist activities can not be ruled out. The arrested persons are being put to sustained interrogation to affect the arrest of their associates in other parts of the country.(NAK)

3 Narcotic Smugglers arrested, heroin worth 6 crores seized in Jammu and Kashmir

 

[I-G]

Youth assaulted by suspected Sri Ram Sene activists

Youth assaulted by suspected Sri Ram Sene activists

MANGALORE: Naufal (18), a resident of Faizalnagar, was assaulted here on Wednesday, allegedly by the activists of Sri Ram Sene.

Naufal told The Hindu at the Government Wenlock Hospital here on Thursday that a group of eight to 10 people allegedly led by Subash assaulted him at Faizalnagar at 9 a.m.

“They abused me in the name of religion and tried to hit on my head with a stone. However, only my left temple was hurt,” he said and added that the activists had hit his back with the same stone.

Banu, mother of Naufal said: “Subash belongs to Sri Ram Sene and so do his friends, who are always with him.”

She alleged that Subhash and his group kept assaulting the youth of her community every now and then. Stating that even in the past, her son had been assaulted once by the same group, she said that the children of her neighbours had been assaulted some time ago.

Azaruddin, a friend of Naufal, said: “They have abused me earlier, and once they challenged us on complaining with the police.”

Ms. Banu said that on a few occasions, the police had “refused to register the complaints filed by the people of our community.”

A case pertaining to the attack on Naufal has been registered at the Mangalore Rural Police Station.

The police, however, said that Naufal had not mentioned about the role of any organisation in the attack.

Kumar Malemar, convener of the State unit of Sri Ram Sene, said that he was unaware of the attack.

“Subash is the co-convener of the district unit of Sri Ram Sene,” according to Mr. Kumar Malemar.

When contacted, Subash said that he could not speak now.

The Hindu : Karnataka / Mangalore News : Youth assaulted by suspected Sri Ram Sene activists

 

[Dharmesh]

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