Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for February 23, 2011

I’ll go on hunger strike, threatens Davis

LAHORE – US official Raymond Davis, who shot dead two men here, has threatened that he would go on hunger strike if his demands, including an early decision on his diplomatic immunity, were not met, a media report said.

Davis gunned down the two Pakistanis Jan 27 and is currently lodged in the high-security Kot …. Read the original article  : I’ll go on hunger strike, threatens Davis.

Tech student hangs himself in Uttar Pradesh

GREATER NOIDA – A first-year B.Tech student of a private engineering college, upset over a family dispute, hanged himself from the ceiling fan of his room in the Kasna area here, police said.

Vivek Patel, a student of IILM college in Knowledge Park area, committed suicide in his house Tuesday afternoon, said Rahul Kumar, Circle …. Read the original article  : Tech student hangs himself in Uttar Pradesh.

Bangla gangrape victim kills self

DHAKA – A tribal girl, who was a gangrape victim, took her life in a Bangladesh village after one of her alleged rapists who was to marry her as part of a pact brokered by the local Catholic priest ditched her.

The gangrape victim took her life after the settlement did not work … Read more : Bangla gangrape victim kills self.

75 dead in New Zealand quake; emergency declared

CHRISTCHURCH – The New Zealand government Wednesday declared a state of emergency a day after massive earthquake hit the country’s second largest city killing at least 75 people and leaving 300 missing in perhaps the worst disaster in the country’s history.

According to Civil Defence Minister John Carter, the declaration of a National Emergency reflects … Read more : 75 dead in New Zealand quake; emergency declared.

Hijacked sailor’s wife prays ‘every hour’ for his release

PANAJI – Zenaida Pereira, wife of a Goan sailor who along with 21 other sailors has been taken hostage by African pirates on an Iranian cargo ship off the coast of Oman, has said she is “praying every hour for the pirates to show some largesse”.

Zenaida told IANS over telephone from her …. Source  : Hijacked sailor’s wife prays ‘every hour’ for his release.

Government employee shot dead outside office

GREATER NOIDA – A divisional clerk was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside his office here in Gautam Budh Nagar district, police said.

N.K. Mishra, posted in the minorities division of the district administration, was shot Tuesday evening.
Mishra resided in Ghaziabad and commuted to his office in Surajpur collectorate. After finishing the …. Read the original article  : Government employee shot dead outside office.

Cops eat ice cream with accused, face action

PANAJI – It is being called the “ice cream expose”! Strict action has been promised against three policemen who shared an ice cream with a murder accused in Goa and were caught in the act by the local media.

The expose was telecast on local TV news channels Tuesday night and published in the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Cops eat ice cream with accused, face action.

New Zealand quake: 300 missing, 75 bodies recovered

WELLINGTON – Three hundred people are missing and 75 bodies have been recovered from the quake ravaged New Zealand city of Christchurch, local authorities said Wednesday.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said there were now 55 identified bodies at a morgue, which had been set up at local military base. Another 20 bodies had been recovered, …. Read the original article  : here.

New Zealand quake: Mum dies with baby in her arms

CHRISTCHURCH – A mother died with her baby in her arms as she reportedly tried to run out of a store in panic in a shopping district when the devastating 6.3 magnitude quake struck this New Zealand city.

Passers-by went to her aid, but the woman was already dead. It was not clear how badly … Read this article on Gaea Times at : New Zealand quake: Mum dies with baby in her arms.

Clinton condemns killing of four Americans by pirates

WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Tuesday strongly condemned the killing of four Americans by pirates off Somalia, calling for “continued international progress” toward confronting the menace posed by piracy, Xinhua reported.

“This deplorable act firmly underscores the need for continued international progress toward confronting the shared security challenge posed by piracy …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Clinton condemns killing of four Americans by pirates.

Raymond Davis is a security contractor for CIA: Reports

WASHINGTON – An American citizen held by Pakistani authorities in connection with a shooting incident last month is a security contractor for the CIA, US media reported Tuesday.

Raymond Davis was taken into custody following the shooting deaths Jan 27 of two Pakistanis in Lahore. Davis has said he acted in self-defence during an armed … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Raymond Davis is a security contractor for CIA: Reports.

Teenager immolates self after rape attempt by youth

ALIGARH – A teenager here immolated herself after a youth tried to rape her, police said Tuesday. The accused is absconding.

The 19-year-old girl, who was a native of Quarsi town died Tuesday – a day after she had set herself ablaze after her 20-year-old neighbour tried to rape her.
“The girl had over 70 …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

US military says pirates killed four Americans

WASHINGTON – Pirates killed four Americans Tuesday aboard a captured yacht off the coast of Somalia, the US military said.

The US Navy had been trailing the yacht, the S/V Quest, since Friday, when it was hijacked by the pirates, who took the four Americans hostage.
The navy stormed the vessel after detecting gunfire and [..] Read the original article: here.

Sikh massacre: SGPC rejects Haryana government’s probe

CHANDIGARH – The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the mini-parliament of Sikh religion, Tuesday rejected the Haryana government’s move to seek a report from a divisional commissioner into an alleged massacre of Sikhs in Rewari district during riots in 1984.

Avatar Singh Makkar, SGPC president, told IANS that they have rejected the ongoing inquiry by [..] Read the original article: here.

Cop held for killing farmer

JALGAON – A policeman was arrested for killing a farmer in this Maharashtra district Tuesday, police said. An eyewitness alleged that the farmer died after the policeman beat him up. The incident sparked violent protests by residents.

Faijpur division’s Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Dilip Shankarwar has been booked for murdering Suresh Chaudhary (55). He …. Original source  : Cop held for killing farmer.

One killed as bus falls into gorge

PINJORE – One person was killed while over 35 people were injured when a bus carrying a baraat (marriage procession) party fell into a gorge near this Haryana town Tuesday evening, police said.

According to the police, the marriage party was returning after attending a wedding in Dharampur town of Himachal Pradesh.
“One person was … Read more >>>.

CBI takes over Netai carnage case

KOLKATA – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Tuesday officially took over investigation into the Jan 7 Netai village shootings in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district, in which nine people were killed and several others injured.

“We took over the case from West Bengal Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this (Tuesday) evening. An officer of …. Read the original article  : CBI takes over Netai carnage case.

Murderer evading arrest for last 20 years held

NEW DELHI – A man evading arrest in murder and other heinous cases in Uttar Pradesh and staying in the capital for the last 20 years under a fake identity has been arrested in south Delhi, police said Tuesday.

Akhtar, who hails from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, was declared a proclaimed offender by …. Original article  : Murderer evading arrest for last 20 years held.

Punish Kolkata cops, Rizwanur’s mother tells apex court

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court was told Tuesday that the right to love and marriage was a part of the fundamental right to live and the Kolkata policemen who allegedly acted in its violation in the Rizwanur Rehman-Priyanka Todi inter-religious marriage should be punished.

Computer graphic teacher Rizwanur, who married businessman Ashok …. Read the original article  : Punish Kolkata cops, Rizwanur’s mother tells apex court.

Kolkata cops guilty, Rizwanur’s mother tells apex court

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Tuesday was told that the right to love and marriage was a part of the fundamental right to live and Kolkata policemen who allegedly acted in its violation in the Rizwanur Rahman-Priyanka Todi inter-religious marriage case should be punished.

Computer graphic teacher Rizwanur, who married businessman Ashok … Read : Kolkata cops guilty, Rizwanur’s mother tells apex court.