Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for January 20, 2011

Former RAW official tries to undress in court

NEW DELHI – A former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) official, claiming to be frustrated at the frequent adjournments in a human trafficking case against her in the Delhi High Court, tried to undress before a judge Thursday but was stopped by police officials.

Nisha Bhatia, in her late thirties, started to undress in a … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Former RAW official tries to undress in court.

70-year-old retired principal raped, murdered

ALLAHABAD – A 70-year-old retired government college principal here was raped and strangulated to death by a young man, who once worked as her domestic help, police said Thursday. The accused has been arrested.

The retired principal of Ishwar Sharan Girls’ College was Wednesday raped and murdered at her residence in the posh George Town … Read : 70-year-old retired principal raped, murdered.

Quake damaged 200 houses in Pakistan town

QUETTA – The 7.2 Richter Scale earthquake, which rocked large parts of Balochistan early Wednesday night, damaged 200 mud-houses in Dalbandin town of Pakistan. However, it didn’t cause any casualties, officials said.

“Only a woman patient suffered a heart-attack when the quake struck Quetta, and later died. Four people suffered light injuries in Dalbandin when …. Original source  : Quake damaged 200 houses in Pakistan town.

Fake currency of Rs.4.5 lakh face value seized in Punjab

AMRITSAR – The state’s Special Operations Cell (SOC) seized fake currency of face value nearly Rs.4.5 lakh here on the basis of a smuggler’s interrogation, police said Thursday.

According to police, working on a tip-off, they had arrested Sukhjit Singh, a smuggler, from here Jan 14 and had recovered counterfeit currency of Rs.3.5 lakh from …. Read the original article  : Fake currency of Rs.4.5 lakh face value seized in Punjab.

Congo rape toll rises to 50, says UN

NAIROBI/GENEVA – The number of women raped in an apparent revenge attack for the death of a Congolese soldier has risen to 50, according to the United Nations.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said more women had been identified as victims of a raping and looting spree that took … Read : Congo rape toll rises to 50, says UN.

Italy ‘in turmoil’ over new sex disclosures

Rome, Jan 20 (IANS/AKI) The Moroccan teenage nightclub dancer at the centre of a prostitution probe involving Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Wednesday she’d been raped as a child by two uncles and had boiling oil poured over her.

“When I was nine years old, I was raped by two of my uncles – … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Italy ‘in turmoil’ over new sex disclosures.

Sabarimala pilgrimage season ends in 102 deaths, what next?

SABARIMALA – Yet another two-month-long Sabarimala pilgrimage season came to an end when the doors of the famous temple were closed early Thursday. But a larger question remains open – who will shoulder the responsibility for the 102 lives lost for no fault of theirs in last week’s stampede.

The stampede occurred on … Read : Sabarimala pilgrimage season ends in 102 deaths, what next?.

Fireworks blast leaves two dead

Villahermosa (Mexico), Jan 20 (IANS/EFE) Two people died Wednesday when their car packed with fireworks suddenly exploded on a road in the southeastern Mexican state of Tabasco, authorities said.

Carmen Gomez Hernandez and Octavio Camara Diaz died instantly in the explosion on the Cardenas-Villahermosa highway, police sources told EFE.
Authorities in Tabasco ruled out foul … Original article on : Fireworks blast leaves two dead.

Former lawmaker shot dead in Guatemala mall

Guatemala City, Jan 20 (IANS/EFE) Former lawmaker Edgar Almengor Perez was slain Wednesday inside a shopping mall in the Guatemalan capital, authorities said.

“It appears to be a direct attack because the shots were targeted,” a police spokesperson told the media.
Almengor, 47, was a member of the right-wing Patriot Party who represented the southwestern … Read more : Former lawmaker shot dead in Guatemala mall.

Bomb scare in New York turns out be hoax

NEW YORK – A suspicious package received at a branch of an Israeli bank caused evacuation of a 50-storey tower, but it was later declared to be safe, New York police officials said.

Authorities were called to the Bank Hapoalim New York branch on the 11th floor of the America’s Tower building shortly before 11.00 …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Bomb scare in New York turns out be hoax.

Suspect arrested in shooting of Paraguayan soccer star

Mexico City, Jan 20 (IANS/EFE) A suspect has been arrested in connection with the attempted murder of Paraguayan soccer player Salvador Cabaas, officials said.

Reputed drug trafficker Jose Jorge Balderas Garza was detained in Mexico City, said Ramon Pequeo, head of the federal police’s anti-narcotics division.
Garza, wanted in Mexico for his alleged ties with …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Suspect arrested in shooting of Paraguayan soccer star.

Brazil mudslides: Death toll rises to 727

Rio de Janeiro, Jan 20 (IANS/EFE) The number of dead due to mudslides caused by downpours that deluged the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro has climbed to 727, while over 200 people still remain missing, authorities said.

The civil defence department said rescue crews were still searching for hundreds of people missing after the …. Original article  : Brazil mudslides: Death toll rises to 727.

US priest found murdered in Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Jan 20 (IANS/EFE) A US Catholic priest and academic was found dead with his hands tied and a cord around his neck in an apartment in Brazil, authorities said.

The naked body of 72-year-old Ferdinand Azevedo was found by members of his congregation
in the northeastern city of Paulista. The body … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : US priest found murdered in Brazil.

Dealers in stolen vehicles arrested in Delhi

NEW DELHI – A four-member gang of ‘auto dealers’ who used to purchase luxury vehicles stolen from north India before selling them to VIPs, including retired Indian Army officers and lawyers, across the National Capital Region (NCR) was busted in south Delhi’s Haus Khas area, police said Wednesday.

“The arrested have been identified as Pawan …. Source  : Dealers in stolen vehicles arrested in Delhi.

Three kids burnt to death in Jharkhand

RANCHI – Three children were burnt to death when their hut caught fire while they were playing with match sticks in a village in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district, police said.

The incident took place when the three – aged between three and six – were playing in their hut in Harladih village in Bokaro, some 135 …. Read the original article  : here.

Elderly man chases pickpocket, helps in arrest

NEW DELHI – Delhi Police apprehended a pickpocket with the help of a 60-year-old man, who chased him in northwest Delhi, police said Wednesday.

Two pickpockets pulled out Rs.4,000 from Satish Chaddha’s pocket while he was buying a ticket in a bus in Rohini Tuesday.
Chaddha caught one of them but he had passed …. Original article  : Elderly man chases pickpocket, helps in arrest.

Two robbers held in west Delhi

NEW DELHI – A youth, who wanted to buy new clothes and shoes for his brothers wedding, robbed a person early Wednesday in west Delhi but was arrested along with his accomplice, police said.

Ravinder, 20, and his accomplice Manoj, 25, were arrested from Mangolpuri area of west Delhi minutes after they had robbed three … Read more »».

Three found dead in mysterious circumstances

NEW DELHI – In three separate cases Wednesday morning, three people were found dead in the capital under mysterious circumstances, police said.

In the first incident, the body of a 40-year-old security guard was discovered in a water tank of an under-construction building near Agrasen park in Inderpuri area of south Delhi at around 10 … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Three found dead in mysterious circumstances.

Three Chinese held for crossing into India

LUCKNOW – Three Chinese nationals were detained by the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) for crossing over into the Indian side of the Indo-Nepal border at Rupaidiha in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh, police said Wednesday.

Those arrested are a woman and two men, who claimed to be engineers engaged in installation of mobile phone towers … Read : Three Chinese held for crossing into India.

Boat capsizes in West Bengal, two missing

KOLKATA – Two people were reported missing Wednesday when a boat ferrying over 50 passengers capsized in river Hooghly in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district, police said.

The Dakshineshwar-bound boat, after leaving from Belur in Howrah district, capsized in the Hooghly river near Kutighat in Baranagar of North 24 Parganas district. The boat ferrying …. Source  : Gaea News Network.