Now a Casabianca in Stephen Court

KOLKATA – Just as the son in the poem “Casabianca” followed his father’s words by not moving from a burning ship, Khusiram Tewary followed his master’s orders to a tee by spending two days in the city’s charred and empty Stephen Court building after an inferno claimed 33 lives.

Khusiram Tewary, in his 50s, went up … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Now a Casabianca in Stephen Court.

Teenagers take on dacoit, ‘Sholay’ style

BHOPAL – In an incident straight from the famous Bollywood blockbuster “Sholay”, two teenagers took on a dreaded dacoit, enabling villagers to beat him to death in Chhattarpur district of Madhya Pradesh.

According to the police, Radhey Patel, whose gang was involved in extortion and abduction, Wednesday held a farmer in Bakswah village captive in front …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Teenagers take on dacoit, ‘Sholay’ style.

Crane poised precariously after striking 25-story building near Wall Street; no injuries cited

Crane sways unsteadily after hitting NYC high-rise

NEW YORK – Mechanics and engineers hoped to right a crane that was poised precariously Sunday after it tilted and hit a 25-story building near Wall Street the day before, showering debris to the ground, rerouting traffic and causing evacuations.
There were no injuries reported Saturday after the crane hit … Read : Crane poised precariously after striking 25-story building near Wall Street; no injuries cited.

Metro to rope in more volunteers to manage crowds

NEW DELHI – Two days after a man and a woman lost their legs after falling on the tracks at a crowded metro station, Delhi Metro officials said they will rope in more volunteers to tackle ill-mannered commuters.

Given that we estimate the commuter footfall to reach 2 million by October when the Metro operations will …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Tripura constitutes police accountability commission

AGARTALA – The Tripura government has constituted a police accountability commission to ensure “impartial and efficient” policing, an official said here Sunday.

“The four-member commission, constituted Saturday, would formulate guidelines for efficient, effective, responsive and accountable policing and identify performance indicators,” the police official told IANS.
Former Tripura advocate general D.P. Kundu was appointed as its … Read more : Tripura constitutes police accountability commission.

Stephen Court effect: the traumatised may need counselling

KOLKATA – The Stephen Court inferno, the sight of people jumping to their death to escape the blaze, the burnt corpses – all this has left scars on the minds of the victims’ families and the countless others who watched the horrific scenes on television. Many of them, especially the children, could need psychiatric help …. Original source  : Stephen Court effect: the traumatised may need counselling.

Kingfisher crude bomb case solved, accused in custody: Police

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – The Kerala police have taken into custody an employee of a private cargo firm here for his alleged involvement in placing an explosive device on a Kingfisher flight to Thiruvananthapuram March 21. The arrest is likely to be recorded later in the day.

“Right now, I will not be able to divulge the details …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Kingfisher crude bomb case solved, accused in custody: Police.

Families visit site of sunken SKorean ship as rescuers search for 46 missing navy sailors

SKorea resumes searching for 46 missing navy crew
BAENGNYEONG ISLAND, South Korea – Weeping, angry relatives of 46 crew members missing after a mysterious explosion sank a South Korean navy ship sailed around the site Sunday as rescue teams took to the air and sea still hoping to find survivors.
None has been … Read more »»».

Tension in old city of Hyderabad after religious clashes

HYDERABAD – Parts of the old city of this Andhra Pradesh capital Sunday remained tense after religious clashes between two groups, which left 13 people injured Saturday night.

Paramilitary Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel and state police forces were deployed in Moosa Bowli, Hussaini Alam, Purana Pul, Begum Bazar and surrounding areas to prevent any untoward … Read more : Tension in old city of Hyderabad after religious clashes.

Hopes dim of finding more survivors of sunken Korean ship

SEOUL – Hopes of finding more survivors waned Sunday as South Korean military officials prepared to salvage the wreckage of a warship that exploded and sank Friday night, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The process of salvaging the 1,200-tonne Navy corvette is expected to take at least 20 days, officials said. Examining the wreckage would help determine … Read : Hopes dim of finding more survivors of sunken Korean ship.

45 percent bribe-seekers in Mexico police officials

New York, March 28 (IANS/EFE) A vast majority – up to 45 percent – of the demand for bribes in Mexico come from police officials, says a report.

“An overwhelming 85 percent of all bribe demands in Mexico were made by persons deemed to be government officials under the (US) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act,” says the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 45 percent bribe-seekers in Mexico police officials.

Chilean priest under scanner for sexual abuse of minors

Valparaiso (Chile), March 28 (IANS/EFE) An elderly Chilean priest is being investigated for suspected sexual abuse of minors and for aiding prostitution.

Judicial sources said that Fr. Juan Henriquez Zapata, 64, a parish priest in the city of Limache, located at some 100 km northwest of Santiago, is suspected of having paid in 2008 the sum …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Hopes fade for 46 sailors after South Korean naval ship explodes, sinks near North Korea

SKorean ship explosion cause unclear; 46 missing
BAENGNYEONG ISLAND, South Korea – Military divers have searched in vain for 46 marines missing since a South Korean ship exploded and sank near the tense maritime border with North Korea.
The exact cause of the explosion was unclear, but North Korea did not appear to be to …. Original article  : Hopes fade for 46 sailors after South Korean naval ship explodes, sinks near North Korea.

Listing crane strikes side of 25-story building near Wall Street, but no injuries reported

Crane strikes 25-story NYC building; no injuries

NEW YORK – A listing crane struck the side of a 25-story building near Wall Street on Saturday, sending debris cascading to the ground, disrupting traffic and leading to evacuations at five buildings.
There were no injuries reported after the crane hit a ledge near the top of the mixed-use …. Original source  : Listing crane strikes side of 25-story building near Wall Street, but no injuries reported.

Ugandan rebels killed 321 in Congo massacre: Rights group

DPA
KAMPALA/WASHINGTON – The one-time Ugandan rebel group Lord\’s Resistance Army killed at least 321 civilians in a four-day rampage in northeastern Congo late in 2009, Human Rights Watch said early Sunday in Kampala.

The killings took place between December 14 to 17 in the remote Makombo area of Haute Uele district, but had not been reported …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Heavy rains set off mudslide that kills at least 5 in remote Peruvian mining community

At least 5 dead in Peru mudslide from heavy rain

LIMA, Peru – Peruvian police say five people have been killed by a mudslide set off by heavy rains in a remote community of wildcat miners in the southeastern Andes.
Gen. Javier Sanguinetti, police chief of the Puno region, says authorities have no further information because communications … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Heavy rains set off mudslide that kills at least 5 in remote Peruvian mining community.

Detectives investigating 1978 NY arson that killed 8 travel to Wash. to question survivor

Detectives probing 1978 NY arson that killed 8

NEW YORK – A woman who lost seven children and her husband in a 1978 arson at their home near Albany was questioned again this week as investigators put renewed effort into solving the case.
No one was ever charged for setting the fire 32 years ago in Cohoes.
Detectives …. Source  : Detectives investigating 1978 NY arson that killed 8 travel to Wash. to question survivor.

Laboring through grief, Ky. Mennonites work to bury family killed in horrific interstate wreck

Ky. Mennonites labor through grief to bury family

MARROWBONE, Ky. – As members of a close-knit Mennonite community prepared to bury their own, they sliced through wooden planks with electric saws Saturday and wrestled with the loss of a family of nine killed in a central Kentucky crash.
The work on the casket boxes was determined and … Read more >>>.

Mennonites hard at work to make burial plans for church family killed in Ky. interstate crash

Mennonites prepare to bury family killed in Ky.

MARROWBONE, Ky. – Members of a closeknit Kentucky Mennonite community are working on burial preparations for eight members of a church family who were killed in a fiery highway crash.
Nathaniel Yoder was one of those cutting wood Saturday for wooden boxes that would hold the family members’ caskets. … Read more »».

Aid workers help Haitians return home as shelter plan emerges ahead of donor meeting

Shelter plan emerging ahead of Haiti donor meeting
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Aid officials say they have finally figured out where to put hundreds of thousands of Haitians who lost their homes in a cataclysmic earthquake: right back where they came from.
Dreams of vast relocation camps have largely evaporated due to a lack of available …. Read the original article  : Aid workers help Haitians return home as shelter plan emerges ahead of donor meeting.