Child rape; stir continues, ABVP workers clash with police

BANGALORE: Protests over alleged rape of a six-year old girl turned violent on Monday as ABVP activists clashed with police in front of the public school, where the incident happened, leading to a lathicharge.

After heated arguments, ABVP activists who besieged the Vibgyor High School, which is facing public anger for its alleged inaction in the incident, tried to forcibly make their way into the building as police struggled to prevent them.

As protesters broke barricades and tried to gain entry through another gate, policemen used lathis and chased them away, causing minor injuries to several persons in their action and the melee, police said.

ABVP demanded that the school management representative meet them, while they raised slogans for "most stringent action" against its employee, a skating instructor who was arrested yesterday in connection with the July 2 incident.

"We were peacefully protesting, we wanted the management to come out and respond to us about its inaction in this case; but police here manhandled us, they manhandled our women protesters, no women police staff are present here," a protester alleged.

However, when questioned, a police official at the spot said, "no one was pushed or manhandled, we were just trying to restrain them. Adequate woman staff is present here...."

The high-profile school is facing allegations of trying to hush up the case, as the alleged incident came to light only after a police complaint was lodged on July 14.

Protests were also held at Freedom Park by BJP's youth wing and near Town Hall by its women wing, with their activists raising slogans against the Congress Government over its "failure" to curb rising sexual offences against women and children.

The 31-year-old skating instructor Mustafa, hailing from Bihar, was arrested yesterday six days after the incident came to light triggering public outrage and strong protests.

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Oral cancer claims one life every six hours in India

KOLKATA: One person dies every six hours due to oral cancer in the country, signalling an alarming rise in the incidence of the disease, according to a top orthodontist.

The situation could be still graver as many cases of the disease went unreported, Secretary-General of the Indian Dental Association Dr Ashok Dhoble told PTI from Mumbai.

"Cases of the disease and deaths resulting from it in rural areas and among the poorer sections of society are hardly registered," he noted.

He pointed out that with the high prevalence of smokers and widespread use of other chewable tobacco products, India has seen a steep growth in the number of oral cancer patients in the past decade.

In fact, Dr Dhoble said, oral cancer approximated to 40 per cent of all cancer-related disease in the country with the Northeastern states mostly affected.

"All Northeastern states are badly affected by the disease. The states like West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are also affected," he said, adding every third person in these states used tobacco-related products.

Talking about measures to curb the prevalence of the deadly disease, he said that nothing short of a total ban on the use of tobacco was the only way.

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Kejriwal meets Delhi LG, says delay in dissolving assembly encouraging horse trading

NEW DELHI: Twenty-seven Aam Aadmi Party MLAs led by Arvind Kejriwal on Monday met lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung and told him that delay in dissolving the Delhi assembly was "encouraging horse trading".

"We met the lieutenant governor and explained to him the current political situation and also possible horse trading which may take place. Such a government will do no good," AAP MLA and former Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti told reporters here.

Bharti said the lieutenant governor told them that he would talk to both the Congress and BJP and soon send a report on the matter to the President.

Soon after the meeting, Kejriwal tweeted, "Met LG. Had good discussions. He will now invite BJP for discussions. If BJP claims they can form govt, LG will ask them to show nos.

"We told him that delay in dissolving assembly was encouraging horse trading," Kejriwal said.

AAP had on Sunday claimed that BJP was "running away" from fresh elections in the national capital and also questioned Congress's "silence" over whether or not it wants the Delhi assembly to be dissolved.

"The double-meaning statements and consistent U-turns by BJP on the current political situation in Delhi makes it clear that it is running away from fresh elections and wants to resort to the 'Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram' culture, against which Supreme Court had warned on April 17 of this year," an AAP spokesperson had said.

On the other hand, Congress's silence on whether it is willing to officially communicate in writing to the lieutenant governor and Supreme Court that Delhi assembly should be dissolved proves that it is indirectly supporting BJP's 'Aya Ram, Gaya Ram' brand of politics, he had said.

AAP said that during the hearing of its petition challenging the central government's decision to keep the Delhi assembly in suspended animation instead of dissolving it, Supreme Court had observed on April 17 that, "Nothing should be done which facilitates 'Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram' (or horse-trading brand of politics) in the assembly."

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Mobile networks in naxal-affected areas in 15 months, government says

NEW DELHI: Mobile networks, under the Universal Service Obligation Fund scheme, in naxal-affected areas are likely to be set up in 15 months, the government said on Monday.

Communications and information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed the Lok Sabha that the government was concerned about the coverage and quality of telecommunication services in left-wing extremism affected areas.

A proposal to install mobile towers at 1,836 locations in states affected by left-wing extremism with funding support from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) has already been approved.

"Mobile networks under the USOF scheme are likely to be set up in 15 months," Prasad said during Question Hour.

Bharat Sancahr Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has installed mobile towers at 363 locations for which financial support to meet operational expenses would be provided through USOF.

According to the Minister, the project cost discovered by BSNL for setting up mobile towers in the naxal-affected states is "Rs 3,567.58 crore" through transparent and open tender process.

"In its meeting held on June 13, 2014, the Telecom Commission recommended that the proposal may be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval," he said.

Besides, BSNL is implementing Phase VII of its mobile network expansion by installing Base Transreceiver Stations (BTSs) for 2G services and Node B for 3G services.

"Phase VII expansion of BSNL in the states affected by left-wing extremism is likely to be completed by April 2015," Prasad said.

He also noted that there was no proposal by BSNL to take over network assets/infrastructure of other existing service providers.

Noting that security of telecom towers in naxal-affected areas is very important, Prasad said the government is working with various security agencies in this regard.

Having telecom towers in naxal-affected areas would not only help in beefing up security but also ensure connectivity, he said.

On the issue of ensuring power supply for the towers, he acknowledged that there are concerns and said "there is scope for improvement".

The idea of using solar power for telecom towers is being looked into, especially for the North-East region, Prasad said.

To a separate query, the Minister said improving the functioning of BSNL is a priority for the government.

Under the Prime Minister's direction, the government is working on ways to improve condition of BSNL and there would be improvement, he added.

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Child rape: Stir continues, ABVP workers clash with police in Bangalore

BANGALORE: Protests over alleged rape of a six-year old girl turned violent on Monday as ABVP activists clashed with police in front of the public school, where the incident happened, leading to a lathicharge.

After heated arguments, ABVP activists who besieged the Vibgyor High School, which is facing public anger for its alleged inaction in the incident, tried to forcibly make their way into the building as police struggled to prevent them.

As protesters broke barricades and tried to gain entry through another gate, policemen used lathis and chased them away, causing minor injuries to several persons in their action and the melee, police said.

ABVP demanded that the school management representative meet them, while they raised slogans for "most stringent action" against its employee, a skating instructor who was arrested yesterday in connection with the July 2 incident.

"We were peacefully protesting, we wanted the management to come out and respond to us about its inaction in this case; but police here manhandled us, they manhandled our women protesters, no women police staff are present here," a protester alleged.

However, when questioned, a police official at the spot said, "no one was pushed or manhandled, we were just trying to restrain them. Adequate woman staff is present here...."

The high-profile school is facing allegations of trying to hush up the case, as the alleged incident came to light only after a police complaint was lodged on July 14.

Protests were also held at Freedom Park by BJP's youth wing and near Town Hall by its women wing, with their activists raising slogans against the Congress Government over its "failure" to curb rising sexual offences against women and children.

The 31-year-old skating instructor Mustafa, hailing from Bihar, was arrested yesterday six days after the incident came to light triggering public outrage and strong protests.

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Turkish PM Erdogan says Israel 'surpasses Hitler in barbarism'

ANKARA: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel on Saturday of having "surpassed Hitler in barbarism" through its attacks on Gaza, but warned Turks against taking out their anger on the country's Jewish community.

Erdogan continued to ratchet up his rhetoric against the Jewish State over its offensive, threatening to further harm to already badly frayed relations between the two countries, once regional allies.

Hours earlier Israel advised its citizens against traveling to Turkey, citing "the public mood" after attacks on Israeli diplomatic missions during protests in Istanbul and Ankara against the Gaza offensive on Friday.

Palestinian officials say more than 330 people have been killed by Israeli strikes launched in response to rockets fired into Israeli territory by militants loyal to the Islamist group Hamas.

"(Israelis) have no conscience, no honour, no pride. Those who condemn Hitler day and night have surpassed Hitler in barbarism," Erdogan told supporters at a political rally in the Black Sea city of Ordu.

He accused the United States of defending Israel's "disproportionate" tactics, and bemoaned the failure of the Muslim world to take a stronger stance.

But Erdogan did warn his supporters against taking their anger out on the country's Jewish population.

"I don't approve of any (bad) attitude towards our Jewish citizens in Turkey, despite all this. Why? They are the citizens of this country," he said. Around 17,000 Jews live in Turkey.

Protesters have taken to the streets of the Nato member's two biggest cities for the last two nights, and were due to return later on Saturday.Local media reported an explosion of pro-Hitler tweets and some liberal Turks reacted with outrage on Twitter when a pro-government newspaper printed a Hitler-themed crossword.

On Friday US representative Eliot Engel urged Erdogan to act after the same newspaper published an open letter calling on Turkish Jews to apologise for civilian casualties in Gaza.

"The disgusting letter published by the Turkish newspaper Yeni Akit has no place in any society and only serves to put innocent lives in danger," Engel, the leading Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said in a statement.

Israel's foreign ministry said early on Saturday Israelis should "avoid non-essential visits" to Turkey or be especially vigilant and steer clear of anti-Israel demonstrations.

On Friday the ministry said it would pare back already an reduced staff at its embassy in Ankara and consulate in Istanbul.Erdogan is hoping to become Turkey's first directly elected president in polls due in August, and anti-Israeli sentiment flows strongly through the largely conservative Sunni Muslim voter base he will rely on to give him victory.

The two countries have seen their relations degrade sharply in recent years, reaching crisis point when Israeli commandos stormed the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara sailing as part of a flotilla challenging the Jewish state's naval blockade of Gaza. Ten people were killed.

Efforts to repair the damage had intensified in recent months after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologised for the raid, but hopes of a rapprochement appear to be fading, after Erdogan said on Friday that relations between the two countries would not improve while he remained in post.

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Saradha scam: Police officials of West Bengal under CBI scanner

NEW DELHI: Some officers of West Bengal Police are under the scanner of CBI for alleged destruction of crucial documents related to Saradha scam having evidential value.

CBI sources said despite repeated requests they have not received complete set of documents from West Bengal Police related to the scam, raising fears that some of these documents might have been destroyed.

They said in case it is established that crucial documents related to the scam were destroyed by the officials intentionally, the agency might proceed against them for the destruction of evidence.

The sources said CBI understands that vast number of cases were registered by West Bengal Police while probing the scam in which thousands of poor people's money was allegedly siphoned off by masterminds of the chit fund schemes and collecting all the documents will be difficult.

They said the agency is giving the police enough time to provide it with all the material related to the scam which has been collected during the probe by the state police.

The sources said the agency is aware that some police officials are under pressure from influential people and that it is keeping a close watch on such suspicious people.

"Such high profile people are alleged to be part of the scam. It is but obvious that police would be under tremendous pressure. We are keeping a close watch on the developments," said a senior official.

A senior official supervising the probe said CBI might register additional cases in West Bengal and even examine a famous actor in connection with the scheme.

The CBI, on the directions of the Supreme Court, recently began its probe in the scam in which it has registered three cases in West Bengal and over 42 cases have been registered in Odisha.

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Dhandapani, veteran Tamil actor, passes away at 71

CHENNAI: Actor Dhandapani, who shot to fame with his villainous role in 2004 Tamil film 'Kaadhal', died here on Sunday of cardiac arrest.

71-year-old Dhandapani complained of uneasiness and was taken to a private hospital here where he breathed his last, his media manager Mounam Ravi said in a press release here.

Dhandapani had acted in over 160 films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages.

He was even shooting for actor-politician R Sarath Kumar's next flick "Sandamarutham" yesterday, the release said.

Various film personalities representing the South Indian Film Chamber including its president Sarath Kumar, director A Venkatesh, Samuthrakani paid their last respects.

The cremation is expected to take place in Dindigul, Dhandapani's home town. He is survived by three sons and one daughter, the release said.

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JD(U), RJD to contest Bihar assembly by elections together

PATNA: Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) will contest by elections to 10 assembly seats in Bihar together, it was announced on Sunday.

Ending days of speculation, JD(U) state president Vashsisht Narain Singh made it clear that his party will contest the polls "along with the RJD to defeat the BJP".

"Seat sharing will be decided by the leaders of both parties. It is not a big issue," he said. "Our target is to defeat communal forces in Bihar."

On Saturday, the Election Commission said the by-elections will be held August 21.

The 10 constituencies are Narkatiaganj, Rajnagar, Jale, Chapra, Hajipur, Mohiuddinnagar, Parbatta, Bhagalpur, Banka and Mohania.

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NCP to contest Maharashtra polls in alliance with Congress

NASHIK: Maharashtra state unit Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sunil Tatkare said here today that the NCP would contest upcoming the state assembly elections with the Congress party.

"We have asked the Congress to hold a co-ordination committee meeting to discuss all issues, including seat adjustment for assembly polls," Tatkare said.

Interacting with reporters here at the party's office today afternoon, Tatkare and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said, "We have organised party rallies across the state. Such a rally was held at Nashik today. These rallies will end by August 15 so that we are ready to face the forthcoming assembly polls".

Ajit Pawar told reporters that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre has disappointed farmers by neglecting their issues.

Pawar and Tatkare said that since the NCP wants to contest 144 seats out of 288 seats in the Maharashtra state Assembly polls, some changes of seats are also likely.

"We will carry out seat adjustments after considering each party's strength," Pawar said.

Maharashtra PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, NCP city president Arjun Tile and district NCP chief Ravindra Pagar were present on the occasion.

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