Lucknow, Sept 30 (ANI): Mayawati led government in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday announced sacking of more 7,400 policemen from government service and suspended seven other IPS officers for alleged irregularities in the recruitment process carried out during Samajwadi party rule.

The seven IPS officers suspended are V K Bhalla, A D Mishra and K K Saxena, V K Agarwal, Prabhat Kumar, Malkhan Singh Yadav and G K Goswami.

The announcement was made here in a press conference.

Seventy-five officers of Provincial Police Service (PPS) have also been suspended. (ANI)

Siliguri, Sept 30 (ANI): Curfew in Siliguri was lifted today as the city returned to normalcy after violence erupted on Friday when fans of Indian Idol Prashant Tamang clashed with local residents.

Shops and businesses in the city remained open and normal life resumed with no untoward incidents taking place.

icer, Siliguri, said: “We have decided, with the consultation of the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Siliguri that the curfew would be lifted from the whole sub-division.”

Pandey described the situation in Siliguri as absolutely normal.

On Friday, police clashed with supporters of Tamang, leaving at least 30 people injured. Fans of Tamang were protesting against the alleged derogatory remark about the Gorkha community made by a Delhi-based radio jockey.

Police were forced to impose a curfew when a procession turned violent.

In a message to his fans, Tamang appealed them for maintaining peace.

Meanwhile, acting on the West Bengal Government’s request, the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has issued a show-cause notice to Red FM radio station on Saturday.

The Ministry concluded that the private radio station had prima facie violated the programme code by making derogatory remarks about the Gorkha community in one of its programmes.

The radio station has been given time till 4 p.m. on October 1 to explain why action should not be taken against it.

Earlier on Saturday, Red FM tendered an apology and clarified that “we have not intentionally caused hurt to the sentiments of any person or any particular community, caste or creed”.

Last week Tamang, a native of Darjeeling and an ethnic Nepalese youth, won the coveted Indian Idol singing competition after beating Amit Paul of Meghalaya.

Tamang is currently employed with the Kolkata Police. (ANI)

New Delhi, Sept 30 (ANI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi today left for New York to attend the UN General Assembly, which she will address on October 2.

The UN has declared to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, October 2, as ‘International Day of Non-Violence’.

Congress MP, Rahul Gandhi, who was recently appointed the General Secretary of the Congress Party, will also be attending the function. (ANI)

Yangon, Sept 30 (ANI): UN envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, today met Nobel laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi at a government guest house near the villa, where she has been held captive by the military junta.

Gambari had over an hour-long meeting with Suu Kyi.

Though the details of the meeting have not been made public, a statement from the UN said that the envoy is looking forward to meet General Than Shwe, who heads the military junta.

Meanwhile, a Burmese news portal reported that that over 30 monks detained in Bamaw prison have started a hunger strike.

“They treated the monks very cruelly. The monks were arrested while they were having alms offered by a lay disciple after winning the Myathepeik religious lottery. They even forcibly disrobed a monk in that house,” the website quoted a woman resident as saying.

The pro-democracy movement led by monks has been brutally repressed by the military government and a huge presence of army in Yangon on Sunday led to almost no protest march in the city. (ANI)

By Karan Kapoor

Chandigarh, Sept 30 (ANI): Labh Janjua, a playback singer from Khanna in Punjab, has become a favourite with several Bollywood producers, after he lent his voice to popular chartbusters, including ‘O Yaara Dhol Bajake’ of Bollywood movie “Dhol” and ‘Soni De Nakhre’ of ‘Partner’.

Born in Khanna, Punjab in a Jatt Sikh family, Janjua has inherited passion for singing from his grandfather Bakhtawar Singh, who used to sing “Shabad Kirtan” in classical “Raagas”.

He got his initial lessons in playing harmonium, tumbi and other musical instruments from Bakhtwar Singh.

“Singing has been my hobby since childhood. This is the truth,” said Janjua.

Janjua chose singing when his father Sardar Succha Singh warned him to choose between music and his home.

“My passion for singing made me leave home and continue singing,” said Janjua.

Janjua believes that it is difficult to make into the Bollywood; and feels himself lucky to have got a chance.

“Every artist wants to try his hand in Bollywood. The industry accepts only those who have a great singing voice. I thank god that I have earned a place in Bollywood,” said Janjua.

“Many people say that we are influenced by the Western culture and that the Western music is overpowering Indian music. But, I feel that any music that rocks your soul is the best. The hip-hop or pop music, if accepted by our listeners is a hit,” he added. (ANI)

By Parvez Butt

and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) will set up two marketing plazas in Jammu and Kashmir to provide better marketing facilities to rural artisans in the State.

Kumud Joshi, the chairperson of the commission and former Andhra Pradesh Governor, said that one plaza would be set up at Srinagar and another at Jammu.

Joshi, who along with Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, launched “Sfurti”, a nation-wide scheme for augmenting socio-economic conditions for rural artisans and employment opportunities, made the announcement in response to the suggestion of Azad, who asked for Khadi Plazas to afford marketing facilities to the artisans of the State.

Joshi also announced the setting up of clusters of traditional industries at Ajas, Safapora and Sumbal Blocks in Kashmir under the “Sfurti” scheme.

Besides, replacement of tools and equipment, advanced technologies and market intelligence would be established at these clusters.

Furthermore, Joshi said that the commission would send trainers to the State for upgrading the skills of rural artisans. She also announced that the J-K artisans would be sent to other states like Gujarat and Maharashtra to introduce them to developments in the rural handicrafts there.

“The commission is involving IITs to bring technical innovations in rural handicrafts,” said Joshi, adding that innovations and improvements are necessary for these crafts to sustain in the market in the age of globalisation.

In his address, Azad highlighted the requirement to tap foreign market, especially the Gulf for handicraft products of the State. He also complimented the local artisans for producing masterpieces of handicrafts.

He said that during the turmoil in Kashmir, the handicrafts kept the State’s economy going and it is necessary that this sector be further developed.

He asked the artisans to pay more attention towards quality than quantity for earning better dividends.

He also informed about signing of a memorandum of understanding for export of Kashmiri handicrafts to France. (ANI)

New Delhi, Sept 30 (ANI): Scores of Sikh activists staged a protest demonstration here today against the closure of the 1984 Sikh riot case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday closed the case saying that most of the witnesses in the case are either dead or do not want to testify.

Angry protestors lashed out at the CBI decision.

“By closing the case they have betrayed the Sikh Community. They say they don’t have evidence against him. I am ready to give evidence. I am ready to give copy of all the documents which were submitted to the Jain-Banerjee Committee, which was enquiring the riots,” said Gurcharan Singh Babbar, President, All India Sikh Conference.

Tytler was appointed as Minister of State for Non-Resident Indians’ (NRI) affairs after the Congress came to power in 2004, but he had to quit later.

Tytler has always denied the allegations levels against him saying, it was a political stunt by the opposition BJP.

Thousands of Sikhs were killed in one of the worst communal riots following the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984.

Congress leaders accused of leading the mobs have been absolved of the charges by lower courts. (ANI)

Bhagpat (UP) Sept 30 (ANI): Angry mob here today ransacked a hospital after a newborn allegedly died due to medical negligence.

Mob attacked Dehli hospital in Bhagpat District of the State after the hospital failed to carry out a delivery of Maya, who was admitted to the hospital on Saturday, relatives say.

“I brought my relative here for delivery, we were asked to pay 35, 000 of which we have already paid 25, 000 and ten thousand was outstanding. While delivering the baby, they mistakenly cut off his nose and hands. The baby died and they told us to take the woman to Delhi (hospital) in that condition. Now, when we are protesting, the police baton charged us even though our sisters and daughters were with us,” said Rajesh, a relative of Maya.

The police baton charged the mob after they ransacked the hospital.

The hospital has been sealed and investigation into the matter is being carried out. (ANI)

New Delhi, Sept 30 (ANI): Outgoing Army Chief General J J Singh on Sunday said that he was satisfied over strides made by the country’s army during his tenure.

At a special ceremony General Singh was given a traditional guard of honour in the national capital.

Singh told reporters the army was well capable of meeting internal and external challenges.

“We have faced challenges, we have surmounted them and in certain cases, things are on the way to being resolved,” he said.

Highlighting the army’s ‘different’ approach in sub-conventional operations, and low-intensity conflict, the outgoing Army Chief said that the Indian Army is professional in this regard and is also a “no-nonsense hard hitting force”.

General Singh later handed over office to his successor General Deepak Kapoor. (ANI)

New Delhi, Sept 30 (ANI): Indian Buddhist monks on Sunday held a sit-in against the violent crackdown of pro-democracy demonstrators in Myanmar and expressed solidarity with their counterparts in Myanmar, who are facing repression by the military junta there.

Dozens of monks, chanted religious verses and held placards against the Myanmar’s military rule in the heart of the national capital.

Myanmar has seen hundreds of thousands of Buddhist monks protesting in the country calling for democracy and an end to the military government.

Nearly two weeks of protests on the streets of Yangon, initially led by saffron-robed clad monks, have provoked a staunch reaction from the government, with at least nine people being reportedly killed in violent repression.

“We protest against the military government, violence in Burma, many Buddhist monks are arrested and killed, so we (are) against the military government. Today we are appealing for peace…,” said Oben Nomra, a Buddhist monk.

The monks here also expressed their dissatisfaction over non-intervention by India.

On Saturday, Myanmar refugees in New Delhi had carried out a march here urging the Indian Government to intervene.

Although New Delhi initially supported Nobel laureate Aung Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, it changed its strategy in the early 1990s to court the military regime in what is seen as an effort to counter rival China. (ANI)

Chennai, Sept 30 (ANI): Parents of Grand Master Viswanathan Anand are ecstatic over his world chess title.

The 37-year-old world number one chess player Anand regained the world title after seven years with an unbeaten run in the tournament held in Mexico City.

Anand finished with nine points in the 14-round event to edge Russian defending champion Vladimir Kramnik by one point.

Anand secured victory following a quick draw against Hungary’s Peter Leko in the final round late on Saturday.

“I am feeling very happy. He also spoke to me as soon as it was over, he sounded relieved and happy. Day before yesterday I was a bit nervous because that game was a bit tough and Anand managed to draw. But, yesterday he was quite safe and played very well,” said, Sushila Viswanathan, mother of Viswanathan Anand.

Kramnik was second on tiebreak after he and Israel’s Boris Gelfand both finished with eight points each.

Leko was fourth, a further point adrift.

Anand won the world junior title in 1989 and became India’s first Grand Master at the age of 16.

He first won in 2000, but the value of the title has been enhanced since last year when two rival bodies unified. (ANI)

Tujan (J-K), Sept 30 (ANI): Security forces today shot dead two militants, who were holed up overnight in a village mosque in Kashmir, in a gun battle.

Troops cordoned the mosque in the Tujan area of Western Kashmir on Saturday evening after militants took shelter there.

The encounter ended on Sunday with the killing of Khursheed and Nazir Ahmed Dar, both belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen, police said.

“They were hiding inside the mosque. We took time in the operation, as we did not want to cause any damage to the mosque,” said Ashiq Bukhari, Senior Superintendent of Police, Budgam.

Dar, a local resident, arrived in India after eight years of stay in Pakistan, police said. (ANI)

New Delhi, Sept 30 (ANI): General Deepak Kapoor today became the 23rd Chief of Army Staff after assuming the office from the outgoing General J J Singh at a simple ceremony here. eneral Kapoor will be paying homage to martyrs on Monday by laying wreaths at the Amar Jawan Jyoti. He is the first Army Chief who is an alumnus of Sainik School, and was commissioned in the Corps of Artillery in June 1967.

He participated in the 1971 India-Pakistan War and has also served as the Chief Operations Officer for all United Nations Forces deployed in Somalia from 1994 to 1995.

He was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in January 1996 for leading UN troops in Somalia.

An avid reader, General Kapoor served as a Brigade Commander and was deployed on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

He was awarded the Sena Medal for his devotion to duty in January 1998, and during the Operation Parakram, he commanded one of the most prestigious divisions of a Strike Corps.

He has also commanded troops in the North East, along the India-China border.

He was awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2006. (ANI)

By Pinaki Das

Agartala, Sep.30 (ANI): Doll-making is emerging as a major fascination for many women in Tripura with an increasing number of girls and housewives evincing keen interest in doll-making as a lucrative profession, courtesy Shukla Chakraborty of Agartala.

For Shukla, dolls have been her best friends for the past 47 years. So much so, her specially designed fabric dolls have made her a famed entrepreneur of Tripura.

“My dolls are made of clothes, thus, unbreakable. There is a huge for these dolls. I make a variety of dolls, symbolising people from all the States of India and even different foreign countries. There has been huge response from Delhi’s markets, similarly, the sale is good in the local market,” said Shukla Chakraborty.

Unlike other fabric made dolls, the striking feature of Shukla’s dolls happens to be the faces. They look real after getting a fine touch by her artistry.

She makes the bodies of a doll by wrapping strip of clothes around an iron wire frame for an accurate shape instead of sewing a cloth and stuffing it with cotton in the traditional way. She then sews it with suitable clothing and jewellery for a final shape.

Shukla, recently, trained 50 women at Mohanpur under the banner of North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFI). This was followed by another 20 women at a workshop conducted by Arkaneer, a non-government organisation (NGO).

At least 15 women of Adibashi Mahila Samiti (a women group) are presently learning the doll-making skills at Shukla’s home.

Sarbari Debbarma, one of the trained doll-makers and now a member of Shukla’s team said: “I first saw this type of dolls in the Industrial Fair and wanted to learn the doll-making. I took training at the Adibashi Mahila Samiti and now I am making them here. I use old cloths for doll-making. The creative work gives me a big mental satisfaction.”

Sarbari said that besides, giving a mental satisfaction that comes from this creative work, the doll-making also earns her ample money. She takes to doll-making after completing her household chores.

Sangeeta Barari, another trainee, said that a lovely doll at her home prompted her to learn about doll-making from Shukla.

“Here, I can apply my creativity and at the same time where there is unemployment problem I can take this as my source of income. These dolls can be good decorative and also gift items,” she said.

Of the wide variety of dolls prepared by Shukla’s trainees, the general dolls come at around rupees 100 and 120 whereas the special ones like of deities such as Radha-Krishna can are priced at rupees 300 to 350.

Shukla told that she realised her latent talent for doll making while helping her daughter for a school project. This doll earned appreciation from all, which motivated her to make a few more dolls for a local exhibition.

Despite not being trained in doll-making or any other fine arts, she started making dolls using various fabrics for joy.

Shukla was, later, invited by the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFI) to participate with her products in Fairs held outside the State.

ti, Shillong, and Gangtok, Shukla showcased her work, last year, at the famed annual India International Trade Fair (IITF) in New Delhi. (ANI)

Chennai, Sept 30 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi will be go on a day-long hunger strike on Monday in support of the Sethusamudram project.

ast came soon after the Supreme Court today stayed the October 1 shutdown call given by his party DMK, which has been demanding the early completion of the ship lane project.

According to initial plans, the octogenarian supremo of the DMK will be holding the dawn to dusk fast in front of the MLA office here , where leaders of the Democratic Progressive Alliance are expected to be present in full strength.

The Sethusamudram Project will dredge a channel in a narrow strip of sea between India and Sri Lanka, reducing distances and cutting costs for freight traffic for ships moving from Arabian Sea to Bay of Bengal.

However, the Hindu groups have been opposing the 560 million dollars project, saying that it would destroy the ‘holy’ Ram Sethu, a 48-kilometre chain of limestone shoals that once linked Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to Mannar in Sri Lanka.

According to the Central Government, research has shown that the Ram Setu was a series of sand shoals created by sedimentation, but according to Hindus the narrow link, also known as Adam’s Bridge, was built by Lord Rama.

Dredging for the project began in 2005 and the channel — 12 metres deep, 300 metres wide and almost 90 km long — will provide a crucial link between the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar. (ANI)

By Kamna Mathur

Lucknow, Sep.30 (ANI): While the nation is all set to commemorate the 138th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Tuesday (October 2), the condition of his statue in the Lucknow Municipal Corporation’s compound presents a shocking picture about its upkeep.

Broken arms, a damaged head and other body parts make up the statue of Gandhiji at this civic body that was instituted in 1860 to be the first-ever Municipal Corporation in India.

The nearby statue of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of free India, appears to have suffered the same fate at the hands of authorities here. His birthday falls on November 14.

When asked about the dismal conditions of these statues, the Mayor of Lucknow Dinesh Sharma said that a million rupees have already been sanctioned for the restoration work of these statutes.

“The first thing that I did (after taking over as a Mayor) was to allot rupees 10 lakh for their (statutes’) repair. By the time this news appeared, the work would have already begun in the Corporation House,” Sharma said.

He, however, said that it’s a tedious process.

“The statues were damaged long ago, not now. There are problems while dealing with an old thing but we will get it repaired,” Sharma added.

Meanwhile, the condition of the statues of national leaders in other parts of Uttar Pradesh also looks to be in need of proper attention of State authorities.

“It becomes a matter of concern only when October 2 approaches. The moment celebrations are over, it is back to square one. As citizens, it is our responsibility to take care of such heritage. This statue at the roadside is still far from anyone’s sight, but the ones erected in the parks are in worse condition,” said Dinesh Dubey, a resident.

One hopes, despite all odds, the State authorities will live up to their assurances even after Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on Tuesday. (ANI)

Edinburgh, Sept 30 (ANI): Archaeologists have unearthed Bronze Age pits during routine inspection at a site in South Queensferry, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Melanie Johnson, project manager for archaeologists CFA, said, the discovery off Echline Avenue, has shed fresh light on life on the banks of the Forth 4000 years ago.

She said the find came totally out of the blue.

“It didn’t look too promising when we started out on this site. But we then found pottery, which we could tell was around 4000 years old buried in small pits which were around half a metre deep. It was a surprise when we found this, and it helps fill in a lot of gaps and gives us an idea of what life was like here 4000 years ago,” said Johnson.

It is thought the small pits were used for storing rubbish or as burials, and proves that there were people either living, working or taking part in some kind of activity in the area at the time.

Although other discoveries from the early Bronze Age have been made in areas such as South Gyle and various parts of East Lothian in recent years, this is the first find from the period in South Queensferry.

Before this discovery, the oldest evidence of life in the area dated back just 2000 years.

Johnson said it was likely the finds were evidence of farmers or people in the fishing trade.

“It is more likely to find either pottery or people than homes, because at that time people would have lived in wooden homes and probably been cremated. At that time it would have been surrounded by fields,” she said.

“It’s quite nice to find something like this. It is a small-scale find but still very significant. Things like this, however small, can help fill in other gaps and that’s how we build a picture of things,” the Scotsman quoted her as saying.

As of now, archaeologists will continue excavating the pits for another two days to try to unearth other clues to Bronze Age life in the area.

John Lawson, the city council’s head archaeologist, said, the find would help paint a picture of how people began settling in the Lothians.

“In local terms this is a very important discovery. It’s the first piece of real evidence we have of prehistoric occupation in South Queensferry, taking us back an extra couple of thousand years. At the moment we are finding quite a lot of prehistoric stuff in rural areas – usually most of it is buried under towns and cities,” said Lawson.

“Anything we find like this is significant, because it helps us form an idea of how occupation first came to the Lothians. It is something we don’t know an awful lot about and things like this help us greatly,” he added. (ANI)

New Delhi, Sept 30 (ANI): The Supreme Court today put a stay on a shutdown called by the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) led ruling alliance in Tamil Nadu on Monday or any other day on the issue of Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project.

The stay order came during a special sitting of the apex court called for hearing a Special Leave Petition filed by opposition AIADMK, challenging the 12-hour shutdown call by the DMK.

An apex court bench headed by acting Chief Justice B N Aggarwal said the proposed shutdown is unconstitutional, and if observed, it could go against the court’s directive on the issue.

The AIADMK in its petition had contended that the shutdown call was unwarranted, as the matter relating to the canal project is already pending before the Supreme Court.

The ruling DMK and its allies had called the shutdown in the state demanding implementation of the Sethusamudram project. Several Congress and Left affiliated unions like the AITUC, INTUC, and the CITU were likely to support the shutdown.

The M Karunanidhi led party had been protesting to impress upon the Centre to get the Supreme Court stay on the project off the Tamil Nadu coast vacated.

The case is currently pending before the apex court.

Early this month, seeking three months time to examine the Sethusamudram project issue, the Central Government withdrew an affidavit relating to the mythological “Ram Setu” from the Supreme Court.

The Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balkrishnan allowed the withdrawal of affidavit, and posted the matter for next hearing in the first week of January 2008.

The apex Bench also said that the August 31 interim order restraining any construction at the “Ram Sethu” or Adam’s bridge area would continue.

The affidavit filed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on behalf of the Centre stated that there was no evidence to prove “the existence of the characters or the occurrence of events” in the Ramayana.

The government said that it wanted to resolve the matter in a “constructive and mutually acceptable manner”.

Hindu groups have called on the government to stop the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project, saying it would demolish the mythical bridge linking India and Sri Lanka, believed to have been built by Lord Ram.

Opposing the 560 million dollars project, they say it would destroy the Ram Sethu, a 48-kilometre chain of limestone shoals that once linked Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to Mannar in Sri Lanka.

The Sethusamudram Project will dredge a channel in a narrow strip of sea between India and Sri Lanka, reducing distances and cutting costs for freight traffic.

According to the Central Government, research has shown that the Ram Setu was a series of sand shoals created by sedimentation.

Dredging for the project began in 2005 and the channel — 12 metres deep, 300 metres wide and almost 90 km long — will provide a crucial link between the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar. (ANI)

Lahore, Sep 30 (ANI): The US wants President Pervez Musharraf to give up his uniform, appoint a new Army Chief, and take oath as civilian president, said Najam Sethi, Editor of the Daily Times.

hat in the present circumstances only a civilian government can work properly in Pakistan, Sethi said America wanted a civilian government in Pakistan.

Sethi added that only a popular leader could develop a broad-based national consensus on the war against extremism and terrorism in Pakistan.

He said the US interest in Pakistan is focussed on the war on terror and Washington believed that a civilian set up would also continue the war against terrorism.

“The US does not want to totally get rid of Musharraf but it wants a civilian Musharraf to work with the army and a popular political leader against terrorism with the support of the majority of the people of Pakistan,” Sethi said.

The US knows Musharraf has lost the support of the majority of Pakistanis and this is why they want to see a popular political leader working with Musharraf to develop a broad based national consensus both on democracy and the war against terrorism, he said. (ANI)

Islamabad, Sep 30 (ANI): Saudi Intelligence chief Prince Muqrin Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud met Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Jeddah after the latter’s meeting with former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif, and requested him to persuade Sharif to reconcile with President Pervez Musharraf.

A close aide of Fazl, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, who accompanied him during his visit to Saudi Arabia, quoted Sharif as telling Fazl that Saudi King Abdullah had conveyed to him ’serious unease’ over the widespread anti-Saudi sentiments among Pakistanis.

He further claimed that Sharif refused to reconcile with Musharraf and insisted that he be allowed to return Pakistan unconditionally, the Daily Times reported. (ANI)