Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for November 10, 2010

B.K. Gupta is the new Delhi Police chief

NEW DELHI – B.K. Gupta Wednesday replaced Y.S. Dadwal as Delhi’s new police commissioner, and called for a “new culture” in one of the largest police forces in the country.

Dadwal will take over as chief of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) — a paramilitary force tasked with guarding India’s borders with Nepal … Read more »»».

Four killed in Haryana road accident

ROHTAK – Four people, including a district public relations officer, were killed Wednesday when their official vehicle collided with a truck near here, police said.

According to the police, those killed were identified as Rajender Prasad Panchal — public relations officer, Ratan Prakash — junior engineer of public health department, Pramod Sharma and Dharampal.
“The …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

JPSC ex-secretary arrested on corruption charges

RANCHI – Former secretary and examination controller of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) was arrested by the state vigilance bureau in connection with the JPSC job scam, an official said Wednesday.

Alis Usha Rani Singh was arrested from Hazaribagh district Tuesday night. She was absconding since the last few months.
According to vigilance sources, …. Read the original article  : JPSC ex-secretary arrested on corruption charges.

Punjabi man perpetuates $20-million fraud on Grammy winner

NEW YORK – A Punjabi computer repairman put the secret cult Opus Dei in Dan Brown’s epic novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’ to great use to fleece a Latin Grammy-winning pianist and oil-family heir to the tune of $20 million.

Vickram Bedi, 36, and his girlfriend Helga Invarsdottir, 39, of small town of Chappaqua in …. Original source  : Punjabi man perpetuates $20-million fraud on Grammy winner.

Life term for man who murdered Andhra ex-minister’s killer

HYDERABAD – A court in Andhra Pradesh Wednesday sentenced a man to life imprisonment for killing in jail a key accused in the murder of former state minister Paritala Ravi.

Om Prakash, already facing cases of triple murder and dacoities, was handed down the life term by the fourth additional sessions court in Anantapur.
…. Read the original article  : Life term for man who murdered Andhra ex-minister’s killer.

Verdict in Aman Kachru’s ragged-to-death case Thursday

DHARAMSALA – The verdict in the ragged-to-death case of medical student Aman Kachru in a Himachal Pradesh college that shook the nation will be pronounced Thursday — almost two years after the incident took place.

Aman, 19, died March 8 last year after he was llegedly ragged by four seniors – Ajay Verma, Naveen Verma, … Read more »».

ICC offers PCB help to probe cricketer who fled

DUBAI – The International Cricket Council (ICC) Wednesday offered help to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to find out what prompted wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider to flee to England from Dubai.

In a statement, ICC said it was in communication with PCB and it would provide assistance to unravel the reasons Haider decided to leave …. Source  : ICC offers PCB help to probe cricketer who fled.

12 killed in Karachi shooting spree

ISLAMABAD – At least 12 people were killed and 10 injured in separate firing incidents in Pakistan’s Karachi city since Tuesday, a media report said Wednesday.

Some bodies, showing signs of torture, have been recovered from Kachra Mandi, Kemari, Gulistan-i-Johar and Baldia Town areas, Geo TV quoted officials as saying. At least two of the … Original source on Gaea Times at : 12 killed in Karachi shooting spree.

Facebook helps save woman from sex-slavery in Italy

Messina (Italy), Nov 10 (IANS/AKI) A message posted to the social networking site Facebook helped save a young woman from sex slavery in southern Italy and led to the arrests of three men.

The 23-year-old woman was forced to work as a prostitute in the Sicilian coastal city of Messina, but a female friend … Read more >>>.

Pastor arrested for multiple child abuse in El Salvador

SAN SALVADOR – An evangelical pastor has been arrested for having sexually abused at least 15 children in El Salvador, Salvadorian police said.

The suspect, aged 28, is a pastor in the San Patricio neighbourhood in San Salvador.
Complaints were filed by the parents of at least 13 girls and two boys, aged 8-13. The …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Pastor arrested for multiple child abuse in El Salvador.

Nearly 100 arrested in US child prostitution racket

WASHINGTON – A total of 99 people have been arrested and at least 69 minors were rescued in an anti-child prostitution operation in the US, a media report said.

The operation was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in 40 cities across 30 states, Prensa Latina reported.
FBI spokesman Jason Pack said …. Source  : Nearly 100 arrested in US child prostitution racket.

18 killed in Brazilian jail fight

RIO DE JANEIRO – A 30-hour prison house melee that ended Tuesday claimed the lives of 18 inmates at the Sao Luis jail in the northern Brazilian state of Maranhao.

The fight broke out Monday between rival gangs of inmates.
The state government confirmed 15 deaths in Sao Luis, and Tuesday authorities confirmed that three …. Source article  : 18 killed in Brazilian jail fight.

Fire on ‘Carnival Splendor’ leaves 4,500 stranded in Pacific

LOS ANGELES (GaeaTimes.com) — More than 4,500 people on board Carnival Splendor are stranded with minimal power in the Pacific off the coast of Mexico. An engine room fire has disrupted all the basic services on that cruise ship and The ship has been operating on auxiliary generators and engineers have been unable to … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Fire on ‘Carnival Splendor’ leaves 4,500 stranded in Pacific.

Miraculous escape for 140 AI passengers

JAMMU – More than 140 passengers and crew members of an Air India flight from Srinagar to Delhi had a miraculous escape after the aircraft’s tyre caught fire while taking off from Jammu airport Tuesday evening, officials said.

According to airport sources, the tyre caught fire while the plane was about to take off but …. Read the original article  : Miraculous escape for 140 AI passengers.

11 people held for man’s escape from police custody

KOLKATA – Eleven suspected Trinamool Congress supporters, involved in helping an arms-smuggler escape from police custody in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district, were arrested Tuesday, police said.

They had helped the smuggler escape Monday, police said.
“We have arrested 11 people in connection with the escape of arms-smuggler Surajit Jana from police custody. We are … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : 11 people held for man’s escape from police custody.

Guard murdered by construction company official

ROHTAK – A security guard of a private construction company was beaten to death by a senior official of the company at a project site in Sector-6 here, police said Tuesday.

According to police, the victim was identified as Arvind, a resident of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
“We have registered a case of murder …. Read the original article  : here.

PM flayed for overlooking gas disaster

BHOPAL – A leading activist Tuesday flayed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for not taking up the plight of the Bhopal gas disaster victims with US President Barack Obama.

“Manmohan Singh has betrayed the people of Bhopal. He is not only insensitive but a coward,” said Abdul Jabbar, coordinator of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udhyog … Read : PM flayed for overlooking gas disaster.

CWG was my biggest test: Outgoing Delhi Police chief

NEW DELHI – Outgoing Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal Tuesday termed preparing for and managing the Commonwealth games as his biggest test during his stint as police chief in the national capital.

“Around 40 venues had to be secured, transportation and accommodation of 200 companies of paramilitary force had to be arranged, and there were …. Source article  : CWG was my biggest test: Outgoing Delhi Police chief.

Man behind ink attack on minister evades arrest

RAIPUR – A Chhattisgarh Congress worker, who masterminded an ink attack on a union minister here last month, is evading arrest, police said Tuesday.

Pappu Farishta was suspended from the party for six years after his name cropped up for masterminding the attack on union Minister of State for Planning V. Narayanasamy Oct 19.
“We …. Original article  : Man behind ink attack on minister evades arrest.

10 prisoners escape from Bhopal court lockup

BHOPAL – At least 10 prisoners escaped from a district court lockup in Bhopal Tuesday, police said.

Senior Superintendent of Police Adarsh Katiyar said none of the undertrials, who escaped from a bathroom in the lockup, was facing trial in a serious offence like murder.
One prisoner was nabbed while trying to escape, he …. Original source  : 10 prisoners escape from Bhopal court lockup.