Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for November 2, 2010

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Over 20 quintals adulterated sweets seized in Punjab

CHANDIGARH – With the festival of Diwali round the corner, over 20 quintals of adulterated sweets were seized from a wholesale sweetmeats manufacturer in Punjab’s Jalandhar district Tuesday, health officials said.

“Working on a tip-off, we raided the premises of a leading sweets manufacturer. We seized over 20 quintals of spurious sweets which were later …. Read the original article : here.

Bangladesh changes rules to detain 1971 war criminals

DHAKA – A tribunal in Bangladesh preparing to try former Islamist militants on the charge of killing unarmed civilians during the 1971 freedom movement has amended rules to facilitate their detention.

The International Crimes Tribunal Monday amended its rules of procedure to stipulate that anyone being investigated for “crimes against humanity” will be considered …. Source article : Bangladesh changes rules to detain 1971 war criminals.

Extortionists, stalkers push crime graph in Bangladesh

DHAKA – Extortion and stalking have pushed up the crime graph in Bangladesh, media reports said as a Kali temple here was vandalised in dispute over extortion money.

The historic Ramna Kali temple in the heart of the national capital was vandalised early Sunday by students of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), a ruling party front, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Extortionists, stalkers push crime graph in Bangladesh.

Rs 1.5 mn robbery in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH – A trader here was robbed of Rs.1.5 million (Rs.15 lakh) at gun-point Tuesday morning, police said.

According to the police, the trader had withdrawn the money from a Western Union money transfer office in the busy Sector 35 market. Just a few minutes later, his car was stopped by two men who …. Source : Gaea News Network.

Pakistan targets Transparency International with probe

ISLAMABAD – A central probe agency has begun a drive against corruption by targetting Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) that said the country had climbed up the corruption index, a media report said.

The organisation had said that Pakistan had gone up the corruption index from the 42nd position in 2009 to 34th this year. … Read more »».

Large trees discourage criminals

WASHINGTON – Large trees seem to discourage crimes while small trees have an opposite effect, says a new study.

“We believe that large street trees can reduce crime by signalling to a potential criminal that a neighbourhood is better cared for and, therefore, a criminal is more likely to be caught,” said Geoffrey Donovan, … Read more >>>.

Sex abuse victims meet Vatican spokesman

Vatican City, Nov 2 (IANS/AKI) Vatican spokesperson Father Federico Lombardi has met survivors of clerical sex abuse, Vatican Radio has reported on its website.

Lombardi told the group the Catholic church could and must do more to support abuse survivors and ensure all children in its care were protected. But he said paedophilia was … Read more >>.

Sicilian Robin Hood’s skeleton exhumed

Palermo, Nov 2 (IANS/AKI) The skeleton exhumed from the tomb of one of Italy’s most legendary bandits, Salvatore Giuliano, is that of a person of shorter stature than Giuliano, said sources close to the coroner.

Giuliano gained fame among his fellow Sicilians during World War II when he led a group of bandits in … Read : Sicilian Robin Hood’s skeleton exhumed.

Three die in Orissa accident

BHUBANESWAR – At least three people were killed when a multi-utility vehicle carrying them collided with a parked truck in Orissa’s Bhadrak district Tuesday, police said.

Three people were injured in the accident that occurred on national highway-five at district headquarters town of Bhadrak, some 142 km from here.
The victims were returning to … Read more : Three die in Orissa accident.

Quake-hit Pakistani town still lives in fear

QUETTA – People in Sorab, a small town with a population of around 5,000 in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, have been living in fear and anguish for almost two and a half months as help from the government has been insufficient in the aftermath of a strong earthquake in August that shattered their lives.

Sorab is …. Source : Gaea News Network.

Quake hits Mexico

MEXICO CITY – An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale jolted southern Mexico, but no casualties were reported, authorities said.

The quake occurred at 5.16 p.m. (2316 GMT) Monday, with its epicentre at a depth of 124 km, Xinhua reported.
… Read more : Quake hits Mexico.

Three US citizens killed in Mexico

WASHINGTON – Three US citizens were killed in a northern Mexican city sharing borders with the US state of Texas, the State Department said.

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said two were fatally shot early Sunday in Ciudad Juarez.
In a separate incident, another US citizen was killed in Ciudad Juarez itself, he … Read more : Three US citizens killed in Mexico.

168 kg of heroin seized in Australia

LONDON – Australian authorities have seized 168 kg of heroin, the fifth biggest shipment of the contraband ever to be smuggled into the country, hidden inside a consignment of wooden doors from Malaysia to Sydney, a media report said Monday.

The street value of the drug is more than 400 million Australian dollars (about $395 …. Read the original article : 168 kg of heroin seized in Australia.

20 robbers loot cash from train

GHAZIABAD – About 20 robbers looted cash and other articles from the Saptkranti Express train in Ghaziabad, police officials said Monday.

The incident occurred 3.30 p.m. over Hindon river.
The police said 15 to 20 robbers barged into the pantry car of the train, and robbed cash and other articles from the employees. They ransacked … Original article on : 20 robbers loot cash from train.