Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for January 11, 2011

Fire in Noida’s Ambedkar park, no injuries

NOIDA – A fire that broke out Tuesday in the Ambedkar park being developed in this suburb of the national capital was doused within an hour, an official said. No one was injured.

According to the official, a dome was under construction in a section of the park and iron girders were being welded next … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Fire in Noida’s Ambedkar park, no injuries.

Cop arrested for murdering subordinate

LUCKNOW – A police sub-inspector in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur district has been arrested for killing his subordinate after the latter threatened to expose a recruitment racket being run by him, police said Tuesday.

Sajan Kumar, posted in the office of the Mirzapur police chief, was arrested Monday along with one of his three accomplices involved … Read more : Cop arrested for murdering subordinate.

Nine killed, over 60 missing in Australian floods

MELBOURNE – At least nine people were killed and over 60 others missing as flash floods swept through southeastern Queensland state of Australia, authorities said Tuesday. Prime Minister Julia Gillard warned the nation to brace for a rising toll from the deluge.

A total of nine deaths have been confirmed from Queensland’s flash floods and … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Nine killed, over 60 missing in Australian floods.

Smuggler arrested with 14 kg heroin in Punjab

AMRITSAR – A man was arrested here with 14 kg of heroin worth Rs.70 crore, police said Tuesday. A pistol and some cartridges were also recovered from him.

Sukhbir Singh alias Sukha was arrested from the Chheharta area here Monday. However, his accomplice Angrez Singh managed to escape, police said. They described Sukhbir Singh …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Smuggler arrested with 14 kg heroin in Punjab.

Doctor abducted in Bihar

PATNA – The spate of kidnappings continued unabated in Bihar as a doctor has been abducted in Sitamarhi district by an unidentified group.

Police said Tuesday Yogendra Prasad, posted at primary health centre in Sonbarsa in Sitamarhi district, about 200 km from here, was abducted from Manhjaul village late Monday night.
“Prasad was abducted … Read more »».

Residents flee Brisbane as flood threat grows in Australia

SYDNEY – Floodwaters rolled into Brisbane Tuesday as Queenslanders were primed for deaths by the dozen, massive destruction and a recovery that could take years and cost billions of dollars.

Roads were closed and residents of low-lying West End began moving out as the floods that have affected half of Queensland hit Brisbane, the state …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Residents flee Brisbane as flood threat grows in Australia.

Four killed, 10 injured as trucks collide

LUCKNOW – At least four labourers were killed and 10 critically injured in a head-on collision between two speeding trucks in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh district early Tuesday, police said.

The accident took place in Gabhana area where the two trucks carrying labourers collided, killing four people on the spot. While one truck was heading towards … Read more : Four killed, 10 injured as trucks collide.

Indian American charged in biggest US insider-trading case

WASHINGTON – US Federal regulators have charged the co-founder of a New York hedge fund and three others including an Indian American executive in what has been called the biggest insider-trading case in US history.

Sunil Bhalla, a former senior Indian American executive of tech company Polycom, was charged Monday with hedge fund Trivium Capital … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Indian American charged in biggest US insider-trading case.

Saudi man beheaded for murder

DUBAI – A Saudi national was beheaded Monday in capital Riyadh after being convicted of murder, a media report said.

Mohammed al-Matrafi was found guilty of killing his compatriot, Marzouq al-Hafi, according to state-run SPA news agency.
Al-Matrafi shot his victim with a pistol after a dispute, Xinhua reported citing an interior ministry statement.
According … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Saudi man beheaded for murder.

Delhi police bust gang of women snatchers

NEW DELHI – Delhi Police said Monday it had busted a gang of women snatchers, nabbing one of them and are now after the other two.

The three-women gang was involved in looting and snatching passersby on the lonely stretch of the Ridge Road close to Rajender Nagar, a police officer said Monday.
These women …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Property dealer shot by friend, dies in hospital

NEW DELHI – A property dealer was allegedly shot at by his friend in Rani Bagh area in north Delhi and succumbed to his injuries Monday morning, police said. A business dispute was said to be behind the attack and a search is on for the assailant.

The incident came to light at around … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Property dealer shot by friend, dies in hospital.

1984 anti-Sikh riots: Witness accuses Sajjan Kumar of threats

NEW DELHI – A woman witness in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case Monday told a Delhi court that Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and others had threatened her family for being vocal about her father’s murder in the carnage.

Nirpreet Kaur (42) said before Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta that police did not record her …. Read the original article  : here.

Thirst for lavish life turned two teens to crime

NEW DELHI – They joined a rock band while in school, but the craving for a lavish lifestyle led them to crime. Two 19-year-olds were arrested along with two others for alleged auto theft and 12 vehicles recovered from them, police said Monday.

The arrested have been identified as Hafiz, 22, Istkar Khan, … Read more : Thirst for lavish life turned two teens to crime.

Farmer attempts suicide, Chouhan government on defensive

BHOPAL – Depressed over his crop getting damaged due to frost, a farmer attempted suicide by consuming pesticide in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district Monday. It was the second such incident in the past three days in the district. The BJP government denied that any farmer had tried to kill himself due to debt.

State Minister …. Original source  : Farmer attempts suicide, Chouhan government on defensive.

Malaysian businesswoman gets 120 years for fraud

KUALA LUMPUR – A former woman director of a Malaysian company has been sentenced to 120 years in prison for swindling investors and money laundering, a media report said Monday.

The 49-year-old unnamed accused was also fined five million ringgit ($1.63 million) by a court in Kuala Lumpur Monday, Xinhua reported.
The businesswoman admitted in … Read more : Malaysian businesswoman gets 120 years for fraud.

Man shot at, thrown off flyover by robbers

NEW DELHI – A man was Monday shot at and thrown off a flyover in east Delhi by two motorcycle-borne assailants, who fled with the Rs.6 lakhs he was carrying, police said. He was admitted to hospital where his condition is said to be critical.

According to police, Kuldeep, 32, a supervisor at a television … Read more »»».

Lalgarh killings: Kolkata lawyers seek CBI probe

KOLKATA – The Bar Association of Calcutta High Court Monday filed a public interest litigation (PIL), seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Jan 7 killings of villagers in West Midnapore district.

The PIL also sought adequate compensation for the families of the seven who were killed and the 20 others wounded … Read more »».

Sohrabuddin killing: Accused cop’s bail plea rejected

GANDHINAGAR – The Gujarat High Court Monday rejected the bail plea of Rajkumar Pandian, a policeman accused of involvement in the 2005 Sohrabuddin Sheikh staged shootout case.

Justice M.R. Shah rejected Pandian’s plea. The policeman wanted bail on the grounds that co-accused and former state minister Amit Shah was given bail earlier. …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Sohrabuddin killing: Accused cop’s bail plea rejected.

2,000 Haiti quake orphans sold as sex slaves

LONDON – Over 2,000 children, orphaned after the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January 2010, have been sold as sex slaves by child traffickers, officials said.

The Jan 12, 2010, quake killed around 230,000 people in the counrty.
Babies and toddlers have also been taken from makeshift camps in the capital Port-au-Prince and sold …. Original article  : 2,000 Haiti quake orphans sold as sex slaves.

Lax US gun laws in spotlight after lawmakers shooting

WASHINGTON – As US federal authorities charged the suspect in the weekend shooting of a lawmaker at an Arizona political meet-and-greet, lax gun laws that allow Americans to buy weapons freely have again come under the spotlight.

Federal authorities have accused Jared Lee Loughner of opening fire outside a Tucson supermarket, where US Democrat … Original source on Gaea Times at : Lax US gun laws in spotlight after lawmakers shooting.