Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for January 27, 2011

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Ragging drives student to suicide in Bihar

PATNA – A first year medical college student hanged himself at his private lodge here after allegedly being harassed by seniors, his family said Thursday.

Sunny Kumar, a student of Bihar’s Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), committed suicide late Wednesday after being ragged by seniors.
Sunny, in his early 20s, was a resident …. Source : Ragging drives student to suicide in Bihar.

Millions of flood-hit Pakistanis struggle for food

ISLAMABAD – Millions of Pakistanis hit by last year’s devastating floods are “still facing flood water, shivering in temporary shelters and struggling to find food”, said a report of an international NGO.

The Oxfam report, “Six months into the floods”, said that though the aid effort had reached millions, it struggled to meet the huge …. Source : Gaea News Network.

Sonawane’s burning: Maharashtra government employees on strike

MUMBAI/MANMAD – Lakhs of government employees across Maharashtra Thursday went on a strike and residents of Manmad city observed a total shutdown to protest the burning of Nashik additional collector Yashwant Sonawane, officials said.

“We strongly demand protection of government officials to prevent such untoward incidents in future. Sonawane was on duty while he was … Original source on Gaea Times at : Sonawane’s burning: Maharashtra government employees on strike.

Two booked for driving government employee to suicide

LUCKNOW – Two officials who harassed a government employee here have been booked for driving him to commit suicide, police said Thursday.

Sub-divisional magistrate Sunil Chaudhary and ‘tehsildar’ J.P. Chauhan were placed under suspension Wednesday night on the directives of the state government for their alleged role in the suicide of junior revenue official …. Source article on Gaea Times at : Two booked for driving government employee to suicide.

Thundersnow Disables City Life

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (GaeaTimes.com)- Tumultuous weather conditions have gripped the city of New York which has become already half-paralyzed due to the frequent thundersnow that has literally brought the life of the region to a stand still. On Wednesday heavy snow storm again caused a massive disruption to the region which continued til …. Original article on Gaea Times at : Thundersnow Disables City Life.

Were Kerala whistleblower, two sons murdered?

PALAKKAD – Three days after a former official of Malabar Cements and his two sons were found hanging in their home, the initial theory of suicide was giving way to the possibility of murder with relatives saying he had exposed corrupt deals in the state-owned firm.

V. Saseendran, 46, was the company secretary cum finance … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Were Kerala whistleblower, two sons murdered?.

India proposes five point plan to tackle piracy off Somalia

UNITED NATIONS – India has proposed a five point plan to strengthen international cooperation, including tracking the trail of ransom money, to tackle the problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia.

“A comprehensive approach to tackle the problem has to be found to address this serious issue,” India’s Permanent Representative to UN Hardeep Singh … Original article on : India proposes five point plan to tackle piracy off Somalia.

Biggest date-rape drug seizure by Canada

TORONTO – Canadian police have made the biggest date rape drug seizure in the country’s history with the arrest of five Chinese smugglers.

Making the announcement in Vancouver Wednesday, police said they have seized over 1,000 kg of the date rape drug ketamine, valued at $15 million, from a container that came from Hong Kong.
…. Source : Gaea News Network.

Sonawane’s burning: Maharashtra raids oil, milk adulterators

MUMBAI – The Maharashtra government carried out simultaneous raids on oil and milk adulterators and the sand mafia across the state Thursday, two days after Nashik Additional Collector Yeshwant Sonawane was allegedly burnt alive by petrol robbers, an official said.

The raids have been initiated by various departments along with police protection and are … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sonawane’s burning: Maharashtra raids oil, milk adulterators.

School principal sets herself afire

JAUNPUR – A school principal here set herself afire outside the home of the school manager who she claimed had been sexually harassing her, police said Thursday. The woman’s condition was described as “extremly serious”.

The incident took place in Shahganj locality of Jaunpur, about 250 km from the state capital Lucknow.
In a …. Original source : School principal sets herself afire.

Mirchpur violence: Dalits leave village fearing Jat threat

MIRCHPUR – Nearly a dozen Dalit families have left this village in the last 15 days as last year’s violence in Mirchpur has come back to haunt them. It was here that a 70-year-old and his physically-challenged daughter were killed in an attack by the dominant Jat community.

The fear of violence from Jats, who [..] Read the original article: here.

Arizona shooter studied assassins on internet before attack

NEW YORK – The 22-year-old man, accused of shooting US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffordsm, studied about several assassins and legal consequences on internet before opening fire at a supermarket in Arizona, an official has said.

Jared L. Loughner, who pleaded not guilty Monday to three counts of attempted murder in connection with shooting at a Tucson … Read : Arizona shooter studied assassins on internet before attack.

Interpol issues global alert for Ben Ali

PARIS/TUNIS – The international police organisation Interpol said it has issued a global alert for the arrest of Tunisia’s ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and his six relatives.

“As stated by Tunisian authorities in media reports today, Ben Ali and some of his family members are wanted in Tunisia on charges of alleged property …. Original article : Interpol issues global alert for Ben Ali.

20 killed in Colombia mine blast

Bogota, Jan 27 (IANS/EFE) At least 20 miners were killed and six injured in a gas explosion inside a coal mine in Colombia, an official said.

The blast occurred Wednesday at the La Preciosa mine in the northeastern town of Sardinata, Colombia’s Ingeominas regulatory agency official, Marisa Fernandez, said.
While four bodies were recovered, …. Original article : 20 killed in Colombia mine blast.

Facebook founder’s fan page hacked

SAN FRANCISCO – The fan page of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has been hacked by a mystery invader who posted a message decrying the company’s attempts to cash in on its hugely successful site.

Facebook declined to comment on the embarrassing security snafu, but did take down the compromised page.
“Let the hacking begin: If …. Source : Facebook founder’s fan page hacked.

Osbourne campaigns to stop lesbians from being raped

LONDON – Singer Kelly Osbourne will lead a campaign to protect lesbians in South Africa from an increasing number of brutal sex attacks.

The singer highlighted the practice of “corrective rape” – in which homosexual females are raped in a bid to “cure” their sexual preferences, reports contactmusic.com.
“Please sign this petition!” Osbourne posted on …. Read the original article : Osbourne campaigns to stop lesbians from being raped.

Mohammad Imran, 12, died after falling in an uncovered sewage drain while playing cricket around 2.30 p.m. in Jamia Nagar.
The second incident took place at Sector 22 in Dwarka.
Seven-year-old Karan and his 10-year-old sister … Original article on : Three kids drown in uncovered Delhi drains.