Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for February 25, 2011

Disquiet among Pakistani Hindus over kidnapped leader

ISLAMABAD – There is disquiet in the Hindu community over the as-yet unsolved abduction of their religious leader, a senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader in Quetta has been told.

Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, provincial convener of the PML-N, said all efforts will be made to free Lakki Chand Garji from the captivity of his abductors.
… Read more : Disquiet among Pakistani Hindus over kidnapped leader.

New Zealand counts rebuilding costs after quakes

WELLINGTON – Rebuilding quake-ravaged Christchurch is set to cost more than $7 billion, the New Zealand government said Friday.

Tuesday’s 6.3-magnitude earthquake destroyed large parts of the city with 113 bodies so far pulled from the rubble.
Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said the cost of rebuilding his home town after two major earthquakes in …. Source article  : New Zealand counts rebuilding costs after quakes.

Businessman kidnapped in Noida

NOIDA – A leading businessman was kidnapped from Noida, on the outskirts of Delhi, and the abductors want Rs.1 crore for his release, police said Friday.

The incident came to light Thursday night when the ransom call was tracked by police.
Saurabh Jain deals in electrical appliances while his wife runs a printing press in …. Source article  : Businessman kidnapped in Noida.

Attempt to steal pharaoh’s statue foiled in Egypt

Cairo, Feb 25 (IANS/AKI) Archaeologists have thwarted an attempt by looters to steal a statue of Egyptian pharaoh Rameses II who ruled more than 3,000 years ago.

The thieves tried to cut the six-metre tall statue into pieces but were caught by archaeologists and guards at the site at Aswan in southern Egypt, Antiquities …. Read the original article  : here.

Two Nepalis arrested with detonators, gelatin rods

LUCKNOW – Two Nepali nationals suspected of supplying explosives to Maoists have been arrested with a cache of detonators and gelatin sticks in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh, police said Friday.

The two men – Deepak Bahadur and Udan Bhuda – were arrested Thursday near the India-Nepal border in Rupaidiha town.
“Around 850 detonators … Original article on : Two Nepalis arrested with detonators, gelatin rods.

Violence leaves 8,500 orphans in Mexican border city

Ciudad Juarez, Feb 25 (IANS/EFE) Over 7,000 killings in Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, bordering America’s Texas state, in the past three years have left nearly 8,500 children orphaned, a senior state official said.

The state government of Chihuahua has created a trust fund with 100 million pesos ($8.3 million) to help the children, Chihuahua Comprehensive … Original article on : Violence leaves 8,500 orphans in Mexican border city.

Gujarat high court gives relief to pimp

GANDHINAGAR – Pimps, who charge a commission to get customers for prostitutes, cannot be made to face charges related to abetment to seduction, the Gujarat High Court has held, while offering relief to one.

Justice Akil Kureshi, in a judgment made available Thursday, held so while hearing a petition of Mintu Sinh alias Rana …. Source  : Gujarat high court gives relief to pimp.

Man held with detonators in Uttar Pradesh

MIRZAPUR – A man was held with 1,950 detonators and a huge quantity of aluminium wire in this Uttar Pradesh district, police said.

Badrilal, 45, was held from Katra town.
“We are yet to ascertain from where the man got the detonators and to whom he was to supply them,” Inspector B.P. Shukla told … Read more »»».

Sikh massacre: SGPC asks PM for probe

FATEHGARH SAHIB – The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the mini-parliament of Sikh religion, Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking a judicial probe into the alleged massacre of Sikhs at a village in Haryana’s Rewari district during the 1984 riots.

“Haryana police and government have failed to arrest the culprits behind the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Two held for murder

NEW DELHI – A man and his associate were arrested for murdering his girlfriend’s husband in south Delhi, police said Thursday.

Sandeep Sharma, 30, was intimate with the deceased Gaurav Gupta’s wife and along with his associate Aman Kumar, 22, killed the victim, the police said.
“They picked up the victim from Saket area Feb …. Read the original article  : here.

Three held for attempt to rape

NEW DELHI – Three people were arrested for allegedly attempting to rape a woman and her niece in west Delhi Thursday, police said.

“Sanjeev, Monu and Sunil were held from Kanjhawala area in west Delhi. The victims, a 32-year-old woman and her 22-year-old niece, who stay at Sharda JJ Colony, have said that the incident …. Source article  : Three held for attempt to rape.

Police file case in JNU sex clip scandal

NEW DELHI – Over two weeks after the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University was rocked by the emergence of a video clip showing two of its students in a compromising position, the Delhi Police Thursday lodged a first information report (FIR) in the case.

“An FIR has been lodged against unknown people and we have … Original article on : Police file case in JNU sex clip scandal.

CBI quizzes top telecom firm officials in 2G scam

NEW DELHI – Top brass of India’s telecom industry were questioned Thursday by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over the 2G spectrum allocation scam, agency officials said.

Spice Mobile managing director Dilip Modi, S Tel director Shiva Shankaran and CEO Shamik Das, Tata Realty and Infrastructure chairman and Tata Sons board member Krishna …. Source article  : CBI quizzes top telecom firm officials in 2G scam.

Protest over growing crime in Delhi

NEW DELHI – A day after a 30-year-old jeweller was shot dead while resisting a robbery attempt in east Delhi, hundreds of local residents took to the streets Thursday to protest against growing crime in the area.

Protestors jammed Swami Dayanand Marg in Krishna Nagar from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., leading to massive traffic …. Read the original article  : here.

54 Somalis die in boat accident: UN

GENEVA – The UN’s refugee agency said Thursday that 54 Somalis had drowned while trying to flee their war-torn country for the relative safety of Yemen.

Three other people on board were smugglers and also died when the small boat capsized, the agency said. Only one person survived the accident, which occurred Sunday, swimming for … Original source on Gaea Times at : 54 Somalis die in boat accident: UN.

CWG scam: Bhanot, Verma sent to five-day CBI custody

NEW DELHI – A Delhi court Thursday sent Lalit Bhanot and V.K. Verma, former high ranking officials of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) Organising Committee, to five days’ CBI custody in connection with financial lapses in a contract with a Swiss company.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge Talwant Singh sent the OC’s former secretary …. Read the original article  : CWG scam: Bhanot, Verma sent to five-day CBI custody.

Kalmadi demands JPC to probe CWG scam

RANCHI – A day after two of his close aides and senior officials of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee were arrested, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president and MP Suresh Kalmadi Thursday demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe in the Games scam to ensure an “impartial” inquiry.

“As the central government has no faith in …. Original article  : Kalmadi demands JPC to probe CWG scam.

Why only OC officials targeted in CWG probe: Kalmadi

RANCHI – Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi Thursday questioned why the investigating agencies were calling only the organising committee (OC) officials in their probe into the Commonwealth Games (CWG) scam.

“I am surprised why officials of OC are being called by the investigating agencies. No decision was taken by any individual. There was …. Read the original article  : Why only OC officials targeted in CWG probe: Kalmadi.