China wants Pakistan to relocate Ha z Saeed to a West ......2018/05/24 · t hursday, may 24, 2018 Delhi City Edition 24 pagesO 10.00 P rinted at .C hennai C oimbatore .B engaluru

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Invite Pakistan Army

chief for talks,

says A.S. Dulat

page 10

Cong. to observe Modi

regime’s anniversary as

‘Betrayal Day’: Gehlot

page 10

Philip Roth, prolifi�c,

protean & often blackly

comic novelist, dead

page 12

A.B. de Villiers announces

retirement from

international cricket

page 15

All on board: JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy was sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Oppositionleaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi of the Congress, BSP’s Mayawati, NCP’s Sharad Pawar, CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury, CPI’s D. Raja, RJD’s Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, SP’s Akhilesh Yadav and RLD’s Ajit Singh took part in the event, which turned into a platformfor them to explore the possibility of a common front ahead of the 2019 general election. * BHAGYA PRAKASH K (REPORTS ON PAGE 11)

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A call to arms

People who love to eat buthate doing the dishes have adelicious new option: platesand cutlery made ofjackfruit.

Researchers at theThanjavurbased IndianInstitute of Food ProcessingTechnology (IIFPT) havedeveloped a palatable platemade of jack fruit’s hornypines and sticky core, whichare normally thrown awayonce the sweet fruit isconsumed.

“Actually, we had readieda milletbased ice cream,which was well received byfood technologists andadministrators at the KrishiUnnati Mela held last Marchin New Delhi. But wewanted to develop ahealthyyettasty cone tohold the millet ice cream.

We searched for a suitablebase and found that thejackfruit’s bracts, axis, seedand the fl�eshy, sticky,fi�brous nut holders off�ered ahealthy and economicalternative to the regularcones made of atta and cornfl�our,” IIFPT Director C.Anandharamakrishnan said.

More protein, fi�bre“We then hit upon the ideaof an edible plate that couldbe used to serve salads anda range of delicacies. Whilethe normal cones made of

atta and corn fl�our containless protein and little fi�bre,the cones and plates that wehave developed are rich inprotein (6.9%) and fi�bre(12.9%). For each kg ofjackfruit, only 300 gramaccounts for useful intake.The rest is unutilised. Butnow we have converted thatwaste into taste,” he said.

India’s jackfruitproduction is about 1.7million tonnes a year.

“We believe that thisendeavour aids PrimeMinister Narendra Modi’saim of doubling farmers’income by 2022. It is also inline with Union Minister forFood Processing HarsimratKaur Badal’s objective oftackling malnutritionamong children throughchildfriendly, costeff�ectiveinnovations,” Mr.Anandharamakrishnan said.

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Finish the food, and the plate

L. Renganathan

THANJAVUR

Researchers come up with edible plates made of jackfruit

No fl�at idea: The zero wasteoff�ering. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The antiSterlite agitationwhich took a violent turnhere on Tuesday, with 11 persons being killed in police fi�ring on protesters marching tothe Collectorate, claimedanother life on Wednesday.The death toll from the twofi�ring incidents has gone upto 12.

The State government replaced Thoothukudi Collector N. Venkatesh and Superintendent of Police P.Mahendran with SandeepNanduri and Murali Rambharespectively, and suspended

Internet services in Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli districts for fi�vedays to prevent the spread of

rumours on WhatsApp.Kaliappan, 22, of Thala

muthu Nagar in the town,died after the police openedfi�re on a mob at Anna Nagarwith rubber bullets. He wasshot in the neck and broughtdead to the Thoothukudi Government Medical CollegeHospital, sources said.

Four persons suff�ered injuries in a lathi charge.

Prohibitory orders Since prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC,promulgated by the districtadministration with eff�ectfrom 10 p.m. on Monday,

have been extended till May25, security forces had theirhands full, dispersing groupsof people who had gatheredin public places.

They appealed throughmicrophones to the residentsto remain indoors. At the government hospital, panicprevailed after a few unidentifi�ed persons hurled a countrymade bomb that exploded with a loud noise, justoutside the campus.

One more killed in freshfi�ring in Tamil Nadu townThoothukudi Collector, SP shifted; Internet suspended in three districts

Staff Reporter

Thoothukudi

A policeman on patrol inThoothukudi on Wednesday.

* A. SHAIKMOHIDEEN

CONTINUED ON A PAGE 10

ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE

A EDITORIAL

DELHI METRO A 4 PAGES

China has asked Pakistan toexplore ways of relocatingJamaatudDawa ( JuD) chiefHafi�z Saeed to a West Asiancountry in response tomounting internationalpressure to act against himfor his links with terrorgroups.

Chinese President Xi Jinping suggested this course of

action — allowing Saeed tolive a quiet life in a WestAsian country — to PakistanPrime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on the sidelines

of the Boao Forum in Chinalast month. “At a 35minutemeeting, at least 10 minutesof the discussion dealt withSaeed. The Chinese Presi

dent was keen on pressingthe Prime Minister to fi�nd anearly solution to keep Saeedaway from the limelight,” aclose aide of Mr. Abbasi toldThe Hindu, requesting anonymity.

Mr. Abbasi has consultedthe government’s legalteam, which is yet to comeup with a solution. The issueis expected to be referred tothe next government as the

Prime Minister will leave offi�ce on May 31 after completion of his tenure. The general election will be held atJulyend.

Charge against govt.The JuD has been accusingthe government of taking action against Saeed at the instance of the U.S. and India.

Saeed, who met somejournalists over Iftar on

Tuesday in Karachi, refusedto believe that China wouldwant a ban on him or to seehim out of the country. However, he admitted that China would act as a super power and dictate to Pakistan.He denied that any government functionary had methim in recent weeks to discuss the future of the JuD.

Saeed, who has been declared a global terrorist by

the United Nations, the U.S.and India, carries a rewardof $5 million on his head forhis alleged involvement inthe 2008 Mumbai attacks.Pakistani authorities lastyear put him under housearrest for almost ninemonths but were forced torelease him on the orders ofthe Lahore High Court.

China wants Pakistan to relocate Hafi�z Saeed to a West Asian countryPresident Xi pitches the suggestion to Prime Minister Abbasi in the face of mounting international pressure on Islamabad

Mubashir Zaidi

Karachi

EXCLUSIVE

In the dock: Government lawyers are yet to suggest a way to keep Hafi�z Saeed away from the limelight. * REUTERS CONTINUED ON A PAGE 10

The conditions are very likely to become favourable forthe southwest monsoon tomove into the South Andaman Sea in the next 72hours, the India Meteorological Department said onWednesday, easing fears thata severe cyclonic storm inthe southwest Arabian Seamight delay its onset.

K. Sathi Devi, head of theNational Weather Forecasting Centre, said the IMDstood by its forecast that themonsoon would arrive inKerala on May 29.

No adverse weather “Mekunu is likely to developinto a very severe cyclonicstorm in the next 24 hours. It

is very likely to move northwestward and cross southOman and southeast Yemen.As the system is away fromthe Indian coast, no adverseweather is expected alongand off� the west coast of India and Lakshadweep,” shesaid.

The IMD advised fi�shermen not to venture into thesoutheast Arabian Sea from

May 26 as winds may strengthen in the region.

In its forecast for the monsoon, the IMD had said thecountry would receive normal rainfall: 97% of the LongPeriod Average (LPA) with amodel error of ± 5%. “Thecountry is likely to get 97%of the 89 cm it normally getsbetween June and September. Last year, it got 95%,”the forecast said, ruling out“defi�cient rainfall.”

The forecast was part ofthe fi�rst stage report and theIMD said it would update thereport in June, with separateforecasts for July and August, and for rainfall over thecountry as a whole and seasonal ( JuneSeptember)rainfall over the four geographical regions.

No change in monsoonarrival, says weather offi�ce Severe cyclonic storm in Arabian Sea will not delay its onset

Jaideep Deo Bhanj

NEW DELHI

The monsoon will reachKerala on May 29, the MetDepartment said.

Along with Urdu, madrasasin Uttar Pradesh will now also be required to teach students in English and Hindi,and follow the NationalCouncil of Educational Research and Training(NCERT) syllabus and thebooks prescribed under it.

The decision was passedby the State Cabinet, presided over by Chief MinisterYogi Adityanath, on Tuesday evening.

On May 15, the Uttar Pradesh Madrasa EducationBoard had taken a decisionto prescribe NCERT textbooks for teaching modernsubjects in recognised madrasas of the State.

Quality improvement The decision will come intoeff�ect from the 201819 academic session.

According to a government spokesperson, whilethere is already a provisionfor madrasas to teach sub

jects like English, mathematics, computer, scienceand social science alongwith religious education,the board had not prescribed any syllabus orbooks for it.

Incorporation of Hindiand English as additionalmedium of languages wouldhelp in providing qualityeducation in madrasas, thegovernment said.

“It was not possible to incorporate subjectwise andstandardwise study material of NCERT into the syllabus of madrasas till the medium of language includedEnglish and Hindi alongwith Urdu,” the spokesperson said.

Necessary amendments The government has madenecessary amendments tothe Uttar Pradesh nongovernment ArabicPersian

madrasas (recognition, administration and servicerules2016), introduced bythe previous Samajwadi Party regime.

Now, madrasas will beable to teach students subjects like mathematics,science, social science andcomputer in Urdu as well asin Hindi and English. Religious education is impartedthrough Urdu, Arabic andPersian.

U.P. Minister ShrikantSharma said the Cabinet decision would “improve thequality of education” and also bring “madrasa studentsinto the mainstream”.

At its meeting on May 15,the madrasa board had saidthat the objective behindprescribing the NCERT syllabus was to “ensure advancement, standardisationand uniformity of madrasaeducation”.

NCERT books would bring students into the mainstream, says Minister

Omar Rashid

LUCKNOW

The decision will come intoeff�ect from the academicsession 201819. * AP

U.P. madrasas to also teach in English, Hindi

The United Liberation Frontof Asom wants to do whatthe Border Security Forcehas allegedly failed to —check illegal migrants onthe AssamBangladeshborder.

Eight leaders of the outfi�t,who met the Centre’s interlocutor A.B. Mathur, HomeMinistry and Central intelligence offi�cials in New Delhion Monday, proposed theraising of an unarmed battalion comprising ULFAcadres to form a second lineof defence along the border.

The ULFA claims to haveabout 2,000 members onceasefi�re mode.

Means of rehabilitation“There are reports that BSF(Border Security Force) personnel take money fromBangladeshi people to allow

them in illegally. We told theCentre only indigenous people, passionate about protecting their homeland, cando the job of checking infi�ltration sincerely,” ULFA general secretary Anup Chetiatold reporters after the discussion towards a formalpeace accord.

“We have proposed thecreation of an unarmed bat

talion comprising our boysas a second line of defenceto stop people who slipthrough BSF’s vigil. This willalso provide rehabilitationfor our cadres,” he said.

Chetia said the peacetalks that began in 2010would lead to the disbanding of the ULFA after a fewissues are sorted out. Theseinclude withdrawal of casesregistered against the outfi�t’s members since it wasformed in 1979 to fi�ght forAssam’s sovereignty, Scheduled Tribe status for sixethnic communities and ensuring land rights for Assam’s indigenous people.

Earlier demandsThe outfi�t had in 2011 submitted a charter of demandsto the Centre seekingamendment to the Constitution for protecting the rightsand identity of the indige

nous people. The demand has gained

currency after protests overthe Centre’s bid to push theCitizenship (Amendment)Bill of 2016.

The Bill aims to ease theprocess of citizenship to minorities – Hindus, Sikhs,Christians, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains – from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Assam, which hasborne the brunt of infl�uxfrom erstwhile East Pakistan and Bangladesh since1947, fears this Bill willthreaten the existence of indigenous communities ifpassed by Parliament.

The peace deal with ULFA is expected to be sealedbefore the 2019 Lok Sabhaelections but New Delhi isreportedly keen on inking itsoon to isolate the PareshBaruahled ULFA(Independent).

ULFA off�ers to man AssamBangladesh border

Proposes unarmed battalion of surrendered cadres as a second line of defence

Rahul Karmakar

GUWAHATI

BSF personnel guarding theborder with Bangladesh. *

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

SIT to probe extortionthreats to U.P. MLAs LUCKNOW

The Uttar Pradesh police on

Wednesday set up a special

task force to probe extortion

threats to at least 12 MLAs

from a person who seems to

be claiming a past link with

underworld don Dawood

Ibrahim.

NORTH A PAGE 2 DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

NEARBY

The Delhi police on Wednesday sent a notice to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia asking him tojoin the investigation intothe alleged assault onChief Secretary Anshu Prakash in February.

Additional DeputyCommissioner of Police(North) Harendra Singh,who is heading the investigation, said that Mr. Sisodia himself received thenotice.

“In the notice it’s written that he’s required to attend the investigation athis residence at 11 a.m. onFriday,” he said, addingthat the Minister has notconfi�rmed his presenceyet.

Police askSisodia tojoin probe

Hemani Bhandari

New Delhi

DETAILS ON A DELHI METRO PAGE 1

SEE ALSO A PAGE 7

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NOIDA/DELHI THE HINDU

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DELHI Timings

Thursday, May 24

RISE 05:27 SET 19:10

RISE 14:17 SET 02:12

Friday, May 25

RISE 05:26 SET 19:11

RISE 15:16 SET 02:49

Saturday, May 26

RISE 05:26 SET 19:11

RISE 16:12 SET 03:25

In continuing incidents ofstray dog attacks in Sitapurdistrict, an eightyearoldboy was mauled by a packof feral canines in the PipriKalan village on Wednesday morning.

The boy, Luvkush, waspicking mangoes when hewas attacked by a pack ofdogs, police said.

The villagers rescuedLuvkush after hearing hisscreams. He was admittedto the CHC Khairabad fortreatment.

Dog attack inSitapur againPress trust of india

Sitapur (U.P.)

The Uttar Pradesh police onWednesday set up a specialtask force to probe extortionthreats to at least 12 MLAsfrom a person who seems tobe claiming a past link withunderworld don DawoodIbrahim.

The MLAs, most of themfrom the ruling BJP, got textand WhatsApp messagesasking them to pay ₹�10 lakhor their families will be eliminated within three days.

“We have constituted anSIT to probe the matter. Theperson sending the messages is using proxy servers andwe are trying to decipher theIP address. The teams are onthe job to track the person,”Director General of PoliceO.P. Singh said.

When asked whether theperson is a former aide ofDawood Ibrahim, the DGPsaid he is claiming this by using a particular name. Butthe police have not reacheda conclusion.

In all the messages, thesender has given out hisname as Ali Budesh Bhaifrom Dubai, a reference to agangster once linked to thenow Pakistanbased DawoodIbrahim.

The SIT team was set upafter directions from UttarPradesh Chief Minister YogiAdityanath, who took strongnote of the threats.

Mr. Adityanath directedthe State’s special task forceand the antiterrorist squadto act.

“The CM sought details ofthe matter from ADG (Lawand Order) and asked him todeploy STF and ATS teamsto work out the case andtake stern action against theguilty,” an offi�cial spokesman said here.

More threats

ADG (Law and Order) AnandKumar said there were reports that a journalist inBhopal and some people inDelhi and Rajasthan had alsogot similar messages.

The SIT has been constituted under the STF Inspector General and includes Additional SP of the ATS, hesaid.

“Prima facie, it appears tobe a planned conspiracy tocreate panic. These callshave been made from a landline number registered inTexas (U.S.) which perhapshas a WhatsApp facility,” headded.

The DGP said 13 or 14MLAs had got the threatmessages.

SIT to probe extortionthreats to MLAs in U.P.Suspect claims past link with underworld don Dawood

Press trust of india

Lucknow

CM Yogi Adityanath hasordered stern action againstthe guilty. *

Situated about 10 kilometresfrom the main market in Kairana, village Kaserwa Kalaanis Jatdominated. Villagersput the population of Jats – adominant caste in westernUttar Pradesh – in the villageat about 50%.

As one walks around thenarrow lanes, with largehouses on either side, onesees the title Chaudhari –typical of Jats in the region –prefi�xed to nameplates inmany houses.

It is this powerful, agrarian caste that may in someways hold the key to the May28 Lok Sabha bypoll inwhich the BJP locks hornswith a combined oppositionthat has backed the candidature of Tabassum Begum,now with the Rashtriya LokDal, a party traditionally associated with Jats in westernU.P.

Kaserwa Kalaan seems tobe veering around to theRLD this time, with Jat villagers strongly backing the

RLD.If Jats vote for the RLD in

large numbers, the combined strength of Muslims, anumerically powerful community here, Jats and Dalitscan make the contest a toughone for the BJP.

Playing cards with hisfriends just outside hishouse, Bhopal Masterji, anageing teacher belonging tothe Jat caste, says the villageis heavily tilted towards theRLD this time.

He faults the BJP for therecent Karnataka crisis, and

points to rising fuel prices toclaim that the party has beenunable to fulfi�l its promises.

Communal overtones tothe election apart, castealignments are key to thepoll outcome here, with theopposition combine bankingon Jats deserting the BJP tovote for the RLD candidate.

This is what seems to behappening, if Kaserwa Kalaan is any indicator.

However, community stereotypes regarding Muslimsremain, despite the shift.

Asked if Jats would vote

for a Muslim candidate of theRLD – given that Muzaff�arnagar had seen JatMuslim riotsin 2013 – Sanjeev Singh, a resident of the village, says thatJats would vote for any RLDcandidate this time.

“But if the RLD were tofi�eld a Jat candidate, not oneMuslim would vote for him,”he adds with a wry smile.

‘Muslim votes crucial’

“Muslims are large in number here, and their votes aregoing to be crucial. Add Jats,and the RLD is on a strongwicket,” he says. “The dayMuslims cross the 50% population mark in western U.P.,only candidates they preferwill be elected.”

The BJP also has a castecard in Kairana. They arebanking on the Gujjars, withtheir candidate MrigankaSingh being late Gujjar leader Hukum Singh’s daughter.

Apart from Gujjars – an infl�uential caste here – the BJPis counting on upper casteHindus, particularly Baniyas, to see it through.

In Kairana, Jats leaningtowards RLD this timeCommunal overtones apart, caste alignments are key to the bypoll outcome here

Vikas Pathak

KAIRANA

Jats at Kaserwa Kalaan village in Kairana. * SANDEEP SAXENA

The Punjab governmenton Wednesday submittedbefore the Punjab and Haryana High Court a reportof the committee that wasconstituted to look into thereport prepared by SpecialTask Force of Punjab Police on the alleged role offormer Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia in adrugs trade case.

Punjab Advocate Gener

al Atul Nanda said that thecourt had directed the government to submit its opinion on the STF report.

The STF had submittedits report to the High Courton February 1.

“After court’s directionthe Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had setup acommittee of Home Secretary N.S Kalsi and DGP Suresh Arora. Today, we havesubmitted the report in asealed cover to the court,”he said.

Punjab govt. submitsreport on STF probeAlleged Majithia link to drug trade

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHANDIGARH

Water to the rescue: Devotees and tourists enjoy a bath on a hot afternoon at ‘ChotaHaridwar’ in Muradnagar on Wednesday. * SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY

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Hot and cold

Six-year-old girl rapedin U.P.’s BarabankiBARABANKI

A six year-old girl was

allegedly raped by a 65-year-

old man in a village under

Satrikh police station area

here, police said on

Wednesday. Efforts are on to

nab the culprit, police said.PTI

IN BRIEF

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THE HINDU NOIDA/DELHI

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EAST

For bountiful harvest: A Tiwa tribesman carrying Mai Yangly, which contains paddy for planting, during the Muthi Hala Bidairitual in Karbi Anglong district of Assam. * RITU RAJ KONWAR


Worshipping nature

The Odisha Congress onWednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accept the Centre’s “inability”to halt construction of damsover the Mahanadi river byChhattisgarh.

“The Prime Minister mustadmit that Chhattisgarh waswrong in unilaterally constructing dams and barragesover river Mahanadi withoutOdisha’s consent,” OdishaPradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik told reporters here.

Hitting out at Mr. Modiahead of his scheduled public meeting at the Bali Jatraground on the banks of theriver in Cuttack on May 26,Mr. Patnaik said the PMshould apologise for “illegaland arbitrary” actions of theChhattisgarh government inblocking free fl�ow of the Ma

hanadi into Odisha.“The Prime Minister

should call a spade a spadeand categorically sanctionChhattisgarh for wrongdoing. Let the PM not play partisan politics,” he said, accusing Mr. Modi of havingremained a “silent spectator” to the construction activities by the BJPruledChhattisgarh.

Mr. Patnaik said Modi

should announce at his public meeting that all constructions would be stoppedtill the arbitration process iscomplete. “Let him order immediate release of water thathas been illegally stopped byChhattisgarh,” he said.

“Today, people will judgehim (Modi) by only one issueand that is his stand on the illegal activities of the BJP government in Chhattisgarh.

Does he support the actionsof Chhattisgarh or does hesupport people of Odisha?”the OPCC president said.

The senior Congress leader also demanded that thePrime Minister announce aspecial package of ₹�1 lakhcrore in three years for construction of irrigation projects in Odisha. “Our farmersare suff�ering and the onlyway their lot can be improved is by improving utilisation of our waterresources.”

Meanwhile, Leader of theOpposition Narasingha Mishra held the Biju Janata Dalgovernment in Odisha of being equally responsible fordepriving the State of its dueshare of the river water.

“Illegal construction ofdams and barrages over Mahanadi went on unabated...due to the BJD regime’s inaction,” Mr. Mishra claimed.

Odisha Congress trainsMahanadi gun on ModiAccuses PM of being soft on Chhattisgarh, demands halt to constructions on the river

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Bhubaneswar

From left: Odisha Congress leader Jitendra Prasad Singh, PCCchief Niranjan Patnaik and Leader of the OppositionNarasingha Mishra. * FILE PHOTO BISWARANJAN ROUT

The Orissa High Court hasrestrained the SCB MedicalCollege’s urology department head Datteswar Hotafrom supervising in any examinations of the department and also directed theState government to appointa new head of the department in his place within 10days.

A Division Bench headedby Chief Justice Vineet Saran,

taking up a joint petition fi�ledby at least 10 post graduatestudents of the Medical College last week, directed theState government to removeDr. Hota from all administrative duties, including fromexaminations. Serious allegations of misconduct were levelled against him.

After summer vacation

Posting the matter to beheard again after summer vacation, the HC has asked the

Government to fi�nd his replacement and appoint thenew HoD within 10 days.

“The State Health Secretary has been directed tocomply with the order,” saidsenior advocate PitambarAcharya, representing thestudents.

Dr. Hota was transferredto MKCG Medical College inBerhampur in March thisyear after he was found to beengaging PG students to treatpatients in his private clinic

here. It was also alleged thatthe PG students were threatened with being failed in theexam.

However, Dr. Hota managed to obtain a stay on histransfer from the State Administrative Tribunal and continued to remain in Cuttack.Although, he had assured theTribunal that he would notbe a part of any exam, yet hedabbled in these aff�airs forcing the students to approachthe HC.

HC stops SCB teacher from exam dutiesDirects Odisha govt. to appoint new head of urology department in 10 days

Correspondent

CUTTACK

Maoists used a tree to blockBaligudaKantamala roadnear Sudra village in Kandhamal district of Odisha onWednesday morning.

Handwritten posters inthe name of KalahandiKandhamalBoudhNayagarh division of the outlawed CPI(Maoist) organisa

tion were found at the spot.The Maoists have called for a24hour bandh call in Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Boudhand Nayagarh districts onThursday in protest againstkilling of fi�ve Maoists on May13. The police said that withthe removal of the tree, theroad was cleared for regulartraffi�c. Security and patrolling have been enhanced.

Maoists block road Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR

The Odisha government hasdecided to introduce a special mobile application toprovide advance information on lightning which hasclaimed at least 61 lives between April and May 22 thisyear, a senior offi�cer said onWednesday.

Information on lightningwill be available on smartphones to help peoplemove to safer places andsave their lives, said SpecialRelief Commissioner B.P.Sethi. The mobile application will be developed to alert smartphone users if theyare in a lightning zone, hesaid.

“People using smartphone will get informationregarding possible lightningin their areas at least onehour ahead of the calamity.They can move to saferplaces,” Mr. Sethi said.

He said a meeting headedby Chief Secretary A.P. Padhi some days ago decided tocollaborate with the U.S.based Earth Network to install lightning detection system in the State.

Replying to a question,

Mr. Sethi said the peoplenot using smartphone canalso get the informationthrough SMS. The aim of themove is to reduce death tolldue to lightning.

One can call up the StateControl room 1070 and District Control room 1077 toget help, Mr. Sethi added.

Lightning has become amajor natural disaster in theState that claims more than400 human lives on an average per year, he said.

As many as 459 peoplelost their lives during 201718 due to lightning. BetweenApril and May 22 this year atleast 61 people have losttheir lives due to it, Mr.Sethi said.

Those not using smartphone can fi�nd out through SMS

Press Trust of India

Bhubaneswar

Mobile app to be launched foradvance lightning warning

Smartphone userswill get info at leastone hour ahead of

the calamity

B.P. Sethi

Special Relief Commissioner

About 20 passengers of thePuriHowrah Shatabdi Express fell ill on Wednesdayallegedly after consumingthe food served in thetrain, prompting the SouthEastern Railway to orderan inquiry into it.

The 20 passengers, whowere in the same compartment, fell ill before thetrain reached Kharagpur,an SER spokesman said.Thirteen of them were admitted to the railway hospital in Kharagpur, while therest were allowed to continue their journey.

The IRCTC, which supplied the food, is also conducting a separate inquiryinto the incident.

20 fall illafter eatingtrain food


Kolkata

The Goalpara district inwestern Assam is used tothe imposition of Section144 of the Code of CriminalProcedure because of ethnic and communal fl�areups. Offi�cials have now usedthe Section, primarily usedto prohibit people from assembling in public places,to stop trucks from parkingalong a national highwaybypassing district headquarters Goalpara, about160 km west of Guwahati.

“Apart from preventingunlawful assembly, Section144 can be imposed to meetany emergency requirements. In this case, the order has been promulgatedto prevent trucks from parking along the highway andcausing inconvenience tothe local people,” saidGhanshyam Dass, Goalpara’s deputy commissioner.

The order, issued on May21, was based on complaintsfrom people residing alongtwo stretches of the highway – Damra to Dudhnoi

and Dhupdhara to Krishnai.District offi�cials said im

posing Section 144 specifi�cally for trucks is not common, though the authoritiesin adjoining Meghalaya hadonce used the Section tostop overloading of trucks.

The Goalpara district,central to the demand for atribal (Rabha) council, hashad a history of clashes between tribal and nontribalpeople, specifi�cally migrantMuslims.

Six years ago, the districtwitnessed a confl�ict between the Rabhas and Garos, two tribal groupsspread in parts of Assamand Meghalaya.

To prevent parking along highways

Special Correspondent

Guwahati

Trucks parked along highwayscause inconvenience to localpeople, say police.

Assam district clampsSection 144 for trucks

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Launching a direct attackagainst its ally Shiv Sena, Uttar Pradesh Chief Ministerand Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) leader Yogi Adityanathsaid on Wednesday that lateBal Thackeray would havebeen hurt seeing the way hisparty has indulged in backstabbing.

“I have immense respectfor Balasaheb Thackeray. Buthis soul would have beenhurt today seeing the behaviour of Shiv Sena. He neverbackstabbed his friends. Hefought from the front,” saidthe UP CM addressing a public rally in Virar to campaign for the BJP’s candidateRajendra Gavit for the May28 Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll.

Claims on candidateThe Shiv Sena is contestingthe bypoll independentlyand has fi�elded late BJP MPChintaman Wanga’s son

Shrinivas Wanga. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavishas said earlier that he hadinformed the Sena chiefUddhav Thackeray of hisparty’s decision to fi�eld amember of the Wanga family, despite which Sena actedin this manner.

Mr. Adityanath said onWednesday, “I ask people tohave no sympathy for those

who take Shivaji Maharaj’sname but work like Afzal,”he said, without naming theShiv Sena.

Mr. Adityanath said the example of Congress is therefor everyone to see. It is asign of God that Congress isout of the equation, he said.“Whoever opposed the BJP’svision of development andgood governance was re

duced to dust. The peoplewill ensure that whoever opposes the BJP will meet withthe same fate,” he added.

Wooing the northWith Wednesday’s rally, theBJP hopes to make an impacton the sizeable north Indiancommunity in the urbanareas of Palghar constituency such as Nalasopara, Vasaiand Virar. Incidentally, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA)which won three out of thesix Assembly segments in thePalghar LS seat had garneredmaximum votes from thisarea last time.

The UP CM appealed topeople from north India tovote for BJP to counter lawlessness and goondaism, andensure development.

BJP has decided to deployleaders from Uttar Pradesh,Gujarat, and Rajasthan inPalghar till May 28. FormerCongress leader and now aminister in the U.P. cabinet,

Rita BahugunaJoshi, wasamong those who were present at the rally today. NineMLAs from UP are permanently stationed in here toensure north Indian votes.Others who addressed therally today included MLAsSushil Singh, AvadheshSingh, and minister AnilRajbhar.

Smriti to campaignOn Thursday, Union ministerSmriti Irani is scheduled tocampaign in Dahanu. A teamof BJP offi�cials is stationed inPalghar to coordinate theelection campaign. Corporators from Mumbai, andneighbouring MiraBhayander are being given specifi�cresponsibilities and havebeen asked to handle particular set of voters.

While concentrating onurban area, the BJP has luredVivek Pandit of ShramajiviSanghatana to work on tribalvoters.

Beware of back-stabbers: Adityanath Uttar Pradesh CM appeals to north Indians to vote for BJP, counter lawlessness, ensure development

Alok Deshpande

Virar

Campaign trail: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanathat an election rally in Virar on Wednesday. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Tanked out: Congress workers highlight the constantly increasing prices of petrol by pushingtwo-wheelers in Pune on Wednesday. * MANDAR TANNU

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

An eye on petrol

lakhs of citizens in this citywho strive for peaceful coexistence and wish to carryon with their businesses inpeace,” he has said in theletter.

At the same time, the MLAhas criticised the MP for tak

The All India MajliseIttehadul Muslimeen’s (AIMIM) Imtiaz Jaleel, MLA, has writtenan open letter to Shiv SenaMP Chandrakant Khaire,blaming the latter’s party forstirring communal discord inAurangabad.

Journalistturnedpolitician Mr. Jaleel urged the Sena leader to desist from indulging in blame game andinstead focus on solvingpressing problems aff�ectingthe citizens, like garbage disposal and water supply.

“The events of May 1112were the handiwork of antisocial elements from bothcommunities. There are

ing out a protest rally by ShivSainiks on May 18 despite being denied permission by thepolice.

“Dear Mr. Khaire, yourstatements before the mediaand the police in the aftermath of the riots where you

claim to be ‘a protector ofthe Hindu religion’ has deeply hurt sentiments of the city’s more sensitive residents.As a senior leader and a consecutiveterm MP of the city,is it not your responsibilitytowards protecting citizensof all creeds and religious affi�liation?” reads the letter.

Mr. Jaleel said that Mr.Khaire’s “identifi�cation witha particular religion andcommunity only” and his“aggressive partisanship”had only served to alienateminorities and heightencommunal tensions in thefortnight following the riots.

Mr. Khaire is a fourthtimeMP, winning from Aurangabad since 1999.

MLA urges Sena MP to maintain communal harmonyFirst-time MLA Imtiaz Jaleel writes to four-time Aurangabad MP on alienation of minorities

The May 11-12 clashes claimed two lives and left over 50people, including policemen, injured. * FILE PHOTO

Shoumojit Banerjee

Pune

Chief Minister DevendraFadnavis said on Wednesday that strict action willbe taken against the guiltyin the Aurangabad riotsand that an Additional Director General (ADG)levelrank offi�cer will probe theincident.

A delegation of legislators met Mr. Fadnavis lateon Tuesday last night tohand over “proofs” of thealleged involvement of ShivSena workers and policepersonnel in the riots.

CM assuresstrict action


Mumbai

South Goa police on Wednesday booked a caseagainst unknown personsafter a cross near the St. Cajetan chapel at Raia, inSouth Goa, was found desecrated.

Superintendent of Police(South Goa) Arvind Gawastold The Hindu that an offence has been registeredunder Section 295 (defi�lingplace of worship) of the Indian Penal Code.

“We have registered anoff�ence on the basis of acomplaint fi�led by local villagers,” Mr. Gawas said.

He said passers by sawthe cross, which was fi�xedon four basestones, broken

and fallen from its perch, after which they informed thepolice.

Preliminary police investigation ruled out foul playas Mr. Gawas said that thecross was fi�xed on a weakbase of four stones andlooked like it could havebent following a slight push.But a police complaint hasbeen registered.

The chapel authoritieshave started reinstallationwork immediately, he said.

Last year, Goa Police hadclaimed to have cracked aseries of desecrations withthe arrest of a taxi driverFrancis Pereira who hasbeen accused of allegedlydefi�ling over 60 crosses andtwo Hindu idols across Goa.

Police rule out foul playin desecration of crossSpecial Correspondent

Panaji

Eminent Gujarati writerand humorist Vinod Bhattdied at his residence hereon Wednesday following aprolonged illness, familymembers said. He was 80.

Bhatt was bedridden fora long time due to kidneyfailure, family memberstold reporters. As per hislast wish, his body will bedonated for medical research, they said.

The veteran writer wasbest known for his humourcolumns in Gujarati newspapers, which were popular among the masses.

Gujarat Chief MinisterVijay Rupani expressed hisgrief over Bhatt’s demise.

Gujarati writer,

humorist dies


Mumbai




SOUTH

Bandaru Dattatreya’s21-year-old son deadHYDERABAD

Bandaru Vaishnav, son of

former Union Minister

Bandaru Dattatreya (In

photo), died here late on

Tuesday. A medico, the

21yearold suddenly

developed heart

complications and collapsed

while having dinner at his

house in Ramnagar around

9.30 p.m., persons close to

Mr. Dattatreya said on

Wednesday. Vaishnav’s

parents were asleep when

the incident occurred.

IN BRIEF

Children enjoy the last lap of holidays frolicking and fi�shing in the waters of a check dam at suburban Palakkad. * K. K. MUSTAFAH


Water games

One more person undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) here has beentested positive for Nipah virus infection. However, nonew death was reported dueto the infection onWednesday.

Of the three people currently undergoing treatmentat hospitals and whose bloodand body fl�uid samples havebeen tested positive for theNipah infection so far, one isfrom Malappuram districtand two from Kozhikode district.

R.L. Saritha, Director ofHealth Services, told the media that they were stable andresponding to treatment.

Also, 16 people are underobservation at various government hospitals in theState with suspected symptoms. Eight of them are fromKozhikode district, sevenfrom Malappuram, and onefrom Wayanad district. Twoothers with suspected symptoms are undergoing treatment at private hospitals inKozhikode district.

Dr. Saritha said expertsfrom the All India Institute ofMedical Sciences (AIIMS)were assisting doctors fromthe MCH to prepare a detailed treatment protocol.An infection control protocolfor the Health Departmentstaff� too was in the pipeline.

Ribavirin tabletsAs many as 2,000 tablets ofRibavirin, an antiviral drug,had been procured and8,000 more were on the wayfor distribution among patients with symptoms andthose tested positive.

However, K.J. Reena, Additional Director (PublicHealth), said the tablets

would be administered onlyafter detailed examinationand trials as the drug was reported to have adverse effects. “One patient may haveto consume as many as 280tablets to complete a course.It may aff�ect organs such askidney and heart.”

Meanwhile, N. Sasi, Additional Director, Animal Hus

bandry, said body fl�uid samples of fruiteating bats,suspected carriers of Nipahvirus, would be collectedfrom Perambra to ascertainthe source of the infection.“So far no animal in Kozhikode district has the presence of the virus or thesymptoms. The source of theinfection could be under

stood only after detailed examination,” he said. The department team had earliercollected body fl�uid samplesof cattle, pigs, and insectivorous bats from the region.They had been sent to theNational Institute of High Security Diseases in Bhopaland the results were expected on Friday.

No fresh deaths due to Nipah virus One more testspositive for theinfection

Staff Reporter

Kozhikode

Taking no chances: Youths wearing face masks in Kozhikode on Wednesday. * S. RAMESH KURUP

Murder charges against16 in Madhu casePALAKKAD

All the 16 arrested in

connection with the lynching

of a mentally challenged

tribal youth at Mukkali, near

Attappady, have been

charged with murder and

offences under the SC/ST

(Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Madhu, 29, was beaten to

death by local people on

February 22 accusing him of

theft. A special investigation

team filed the chargesheet at

a special court at

Mannarkkad, near here.

Attappady Deputy

Superintendent of Police T.K.

Subrahmanyan led the team.

Pawan gives 48-hourultimatum to NaiduVIJAYAWADA

Jana Sena party president

Pawasn Kalyan on Wednesday

demanded that the

Chandrababu Naidu

government find a solution to

the Uddanam kidney disease

within 48 hours failing which

he would launch a daylong

huger strike. The kidney

patients met Mr. Pawan at

Palasa and poured out their

woes. He said the Naidu

government was not

interested in solving people’s

problems and it was focused

only on their votes.

Two patients here whosethroat swab samples weresent to two laboratories onTuesday to fi�nd out whether they are infected withNipah virus are improving,a health department offi�cial said on Wednesday.

The samples drawnfrom a 20yearold womanadmitted to a private hospital and a 75yearold manbeing treated at the Government Wenlock Hospital had been sent to Manipal Centre for VirusResearch, Manipal, and National Institute of Virology,Pune, for analysis.

Dr. Rajesh said the woman was returning fromKozhikode, Kerala.

‘Patients inMangaluruimproving’


MANGALURU

The Kerala government hasconvened an allpartymeeting in Kozhikode forFriday to discuss the measures taken so far to contain the Nipah virus feveroutbreak in north Keraladistricts over the past oneweek.

Briefi�ng reporters afterthe weekly Cabinet meet

ing here on Wednesday,Health Minister K.K. Shylajatold reporters that themeeting would be attendedby MPs and MLAs, otherelected representatives andleaders of various politicalparties.

The Minister said the Cabinet had decided to provide employment to nurseLini Sajeesh’s husband and₹�10 lakh each to her two

children. Lini had died ofviral fever caused by Nipahvirus after she had cared fora Nipah victim at the Perambra taluk hospital.

Her husband, who wasworking in the Gulf, was inno position to be back as hehad to take care of their little children.

This was why the Cabinethad decided to provide himemployment.

Govt. job for nurse Lini’s husband, assistance for children


THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Allparty meet tomorrow

Driving through the busythoroughfares of Tirupati,the mellifl�uous renditions ofdevotional and fi�lm numbersby a group of visually challenged singers is hard to gounnoticed.

For the past few weeks,these singers, from the Navajyothi Musical Orchestra,have been performing in thestreets of the temple city,seeking funds for pursuingtheir higher education andskill development.

‘Not seeking sympathy’Equipped with a microphone, portable speaker andan audio player to render karaoke tracks, they enliventhe warm summer eveningsin Tirupati.

“Though several denizenshave supported our cause,

we also faced unsavourycomments about our performances from some people.We are here to showcase ourtalent, not seek sympathy,”remarked A. Pothulaiah,pausing between the rendition of “Edukondala Swa-my... Ekkadunnavayya...”,sung by legendary singerGhantasala.

Speaking to The Hindu,Mr. Pothulaiah, who residesat Navajyothi Welfare Centrefor Physically Handicappedin Managalam, on the outskirts of Tirupati, said several of the inmates had completed their graduation, andlack of proper employmenthad compelled them to explore their talent in singing.

“The centre’s founder, N.Sambasiva Rao, a musician,taught us the basics. Sincethen, we have formed asmall music troupe and haveurged several governmentand private organisations fora chance to perform duringevents. With very little encouragement, we chose tofocus on our education anddevelop our skills. Our mainintention is to collect fundsfor those (inmates of Navajyothi Welfare Centre) willing to pursue higher education or improve their skillset. While some of us havebeen performing in Tirupati,another group is currently inNellore district,” said othersingers in the troupe, Sai,Gopi and organiserChandrasekhar.

The centre also trains theinmates in making candlesand soaps, computers and

other vocations, besides providing them with boardingand lodging.

Devotional songsFurther elucidating on theirstreet singing activity, thesingers said that, everyday,they randomly chose a placeacross the temple city forholding their performancesfrom 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“We usually begin withdevotional songs and laterperform melodious fi�lmnumbers, instead of thecatchy, jumpy ones,” saidGopi, playing the karaokeversions for popular Ilaiyaraaja songs.

Though, they could notobserve the response fortheir performances, thestreet singers said if theycould make the passersbypause for a moment, theyhad done their part.

Spirited ‘street’ performances for a cause A group of visually challenged singers perform in Tirupati to fund their education

Open to all: A troupe of visually challenged singersperforming in Tirupati. * K.V. POORNACHANDRA KUMAR

B. Venkat Sandeep

TIRUPATI

Telangana Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday announced that anew policy for land registration and an insurancescheme for farmers with acoverage of ₹�5 lakh wouldcome into force next month.

The Life Insurance Corporation of India would implement the scheme with theState government paying thepremium on behalf of thefarmers.

Insurance documentswould be given to everyfarmer and it would be left tohim/her to propose the nominee. The modalities werebeing discussed with theLIC, he said reviewing theimplementation of RythuBandhu at Collectors’ conference here.

Mr. Rao asked the Collectors to update and maintain

land records to precisely fi�xownership, as otherwise, theimplementation of the newpolicy would not be possible. He said the revenue machinery must not rest till thecompletion of distribution ofpattadar passbooks andcheques as part of the RythuBandu and rectifi�cation ofland records. The pattadar

passbooks must include allland transactions as of date.

Admitting that some mistakes were bound to creep inin a gigantic task as this, heasked the Collectors to takeit as a challenge and work forachieving accurate results.The reorganisation of districts had made supervisioneasier for the Collectors.

This was a favourable outcome for the Collectors and,therefore, they must discharge their duties withmore commitment.

Technical mistakes He expressed dismay overnot just mistakes in entries,but incomplete informationin records despite the workspanning over one hundreddays. The farmers were inconvenienced due to technical mistakes and human errors. Some were yet toreceive their passbooks, hepointed out.

Mr. Rao asked the Collectors to set aside passbooksand cheques of farmers whohad refused to link their Aadhaar numbers.

A special policy must beevolved for the issue of passbooks and cheques to NRIswho could not return to thecountry to collect them.

New land registration policy from June: KCR

A ₹�5 lakh insurance scheme for farmers will be introduced, says Telangana CM

Collectors attending a meeting chaired by CM K. ChandrasekharRao in Hyderabad on Wednesday. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT


HYDERABAD

Two persons lost their livesin separate incidents aftervillagers severely beat themup suspecting them to berobbers in YadadriBhuvangiri and Nizamabad districtson Tuesday night.

In the fi�rst incident, a 33yearold man was beaten upby a mob that suspected himto be a robber at Jiyepalli inBibinagar mandal late onTuesday.

The victim, who suff�eredmajor injuries, died whilebeing shifted to his village,Korremula in Ghatkesar, later the same night.

According to the police,the victim, Nimmala Balakrishna, was visiting his relative K. Ramaswamy in Jiye

palli and around 8 p.m.when he was walking alone afew villagers took him for arobber and attacked him.

An autodriver by profession, he had gone to the village and consumed alcoholwith his relative around 7p.m. before he went out torelieve himself, Bibinagarpolice said.

Vigil stepped upThe villagers, who were inthe grip of fear triggered bymessages circulating in thesocial media in the recenttimes that robbers were onthe prowl, took the extremestep, the police suspect.

Mr. Balakrishna, who suffered severe bleeding injuries on the hands and legs,and no visible head injury,

was found in the centre ofthe village, beside a school.The police have stepped upvigil in all the villages, andaccording to Bibinagar police subInspector, public inquiries were being conducted to zero in on theattackers. An investigationwas under way and soon theculprits would be booked,he said.

The second incident tookplace in Chengal village ofBheemgal mandal of Nizamabad district when fearstricken villagers carriedaway by rumours of a robbergang on the prowl attacked atribal Malavath Devya andanother person on Tuesdaynight. Mr. Devya died whileundergoing treatment in ahospital in Hyderabad.

2 killed in attack promptedby rumours in TelanganaSocial media messages drive mobs to assault strangers


YADADRI-BHUVANAGIRI

YSR Congress Party generalsecretary and Rajya Sabhamember V. Vijaya Sai Reddyon Wednesday alleged digging for treasure in the ‘potu’ (kitchen) at the TTDrunVenkateswara temple inTirumala.

At a press conferencehere, he said some of the jewels were taken abroad andbeing auctioned in Switzerland. He demanded thatCentral agencies probe theissue.

He would resign his RajyaSabha membership if theTelangana police and theCBI did not fi�nd TTD ornaments after raids on the residences of Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu in Hyderabad and Amaravati in 12hours.

Coming down on the‘Dharma Porata Deeksha’organised by the TDP hereon Tuesday, the MP accusedthe government of plying2,000 buses for the protestof the Chief Minister hereand in Tirupati and said theChandrababu Naidu government was misusing publicmoney for its publicity.

If voted to power, theYSRCP would take action according to law, he said.

Challenge to LokeshTo prove that the corruptioncharges against him werenot true, IT Minister Lokeshshould ask the Chief Minister to order a probe by theCBI if he was confi�dentabout his honesty, Mr. Reddy demanded. Former ChiefMinister Y. S. RajasekharaReddy did it during his tenure, but Mr. Naidu lackedthe conviction, Mr. Vijaya

Sai Reddy said. It was partypresident Y.S. Jagan MohanReddy who was relentlesslyfi�ghting for the Special Category Status.

“We will fi�ght with anyparty, including the BJP, forit, and Mr. Jagan will nottake a Uturn and mortgagethe interests of the State,” heasserted.

Modi’s role alleged Meanwhile addressing a media conference here, Minister for HRD Ganta SrinivasaRao reiterated that the Modigovernment had instigatedthe former chief TTD priestA.V. Ramana Dikshitulu tomake false allegations tobring disrepute to the Naidugovernment.

Mr. Rao supported thestand taken by Mr. Naidu atTuesday’s ‘Dharma PorataDeeksha’ that the BJP government was seeking tomake an issue out of the alleged disappearance of adiamond from the jewelleryof Lord Venkateswara.

Mr. Rao showed picturesof Mr. Dikshitulu meetingUnion Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi anda photograph showing thepicture of Y.S. RajasekharaReddy beside the deities atMr. Dikshitulu’s house.

‘TTD jewels arebeing auctionedin Switzerland’YSRCP leader seeks Central probe


VISAKHAPATNAM

V. Vijaya Sai Reddy




NATION

PM to lay stones forJharkhand projectsRANCHI

Prime Minister Narendra

Modi will lay foundation

stones for developmental

projects worth ₹�27,000 crore

from Sindri in Dhanbad on

May 25, Jharkhand Chief

Minister Raghubar Das said

on Wednesday. The Prime

Minister will lay foundation

stones for several projects on

the completion of four years

of the Central government.PTI

IN BRIEF

Throat-slit body of nurserecovered in J&K hospital JAMMU

A 23yearold nurse was

found dead on Wednesday

with her throat slit at the Shri

Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD)

hospital in Reasi district of

Jammu and Kashmir, a senior

police officer said. A murder

case was registered against

her male colleague, a

resident of Uttar Pradesh,

who was also found in a

serious condition near her

body inside the laboratory of

the superspeciality hospital

at Kakryal, Reasi Senior

Superintendent of Police

Tahir Sajad Bhat said. PTI

Haryana Art and CulturalAff�airs Minister Kavita Jainon Wednesday said theState government hadroped in national agencieslike the Indian Space Research Organisation, theNational Institute of Hydrology and the Geological Survey of India tospeed up work for the revival and rejuvenation ofthe Sarasvati river.

Heritage development Ms. Jain was speaking afterthe signing of two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for investigation into thepalaeochannel and thestudy of hydrological aspects relating to the Sarasvati rejuvenation and heritage developmentprojects here.

“It is a matter of pridethat Adi Badri area in Haryana was the origin pointof the Sarasvati. The riverafter passing through Haryana submerged into Rajasthan, she said, addingthat with these agreements betweenthe Haryana Sarasvati Heritage Development Board and theIndian Space Research Organisation and theNational Institute of Hydrology,the vision of the Haryanagovernment to give recognition to the river at aninternational level would berealised.

World leaderMs. Jain said the Sarasvatiis part of our rich culturalheritage and coordinatedeff�orts are needed for itsrevival that would go along way in making India‘Vishvaguru’ (world leader) once again.

Haryanasigns 2 MoUsfor revival ofSarasvati

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHANDIGARH

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesdaywarned against any laxity inthe probe into the leakage ofmolasses into the Beas riverand directed the agenciesconcerned to pursue legaland penal action against theoff�enders.

The Chief Minister soughta detailed report by May 24from the environment department on the inquiry initiated into the incident. Several tonnes of molasses, abyproduct of sugarcane processing, from a mill in Beastown leaked into the river,damaging aquatic life, polluting the river water and disturbing the canalbased water supply in the southerndistricts of Faridkot, Muktsarand Fazilka in Punjab. A largenumber of fi�sh were founddead in the Beas on May 17.

Formal hearingAn offi�cial release stated thatthe Punjab Pollution ControlBoard is scheduled to hold aformal hearing in the matteron May 24. Prosecution has

already been initiated by thedepartment of wildlife forthe loss of aquatic life. Thedepartment of water resources has also initiated legal proceedings against thefactory — Chadha Sugar Mill— under the Canal and Drainage Act.

Notice issuedThe PPCB on Wednesday issued a notice to the mill seeking its reply on why actionshould not be initiatedagainst it for the alleged violations detected by a probecommittee.

The committee, whichsubmitted its report to theState government on Tuesday, found violations in thestorage of molasses at the

factory.“Notice has been issued to

the Chadha Sugar Mill, KiriAfghana in Gurdaspur toseek reply of its representatives on the fi�ndings of theprobe committee,” a senioroffi�cial said here.

The mill belongs to Jasdeep Kaur Chadha, daughterof former Delhi GurdwaraSikh Parbandhak Committeechief Harvinder Singh Sarna.

The sugar mill representatives have been asked to appear before the PPCB authorities on Thursday, the offi�cialfurther said.

Quality of water Reports of water samples collected by the PPCB from different places in the State suggest the quality of raw canalwater had almost normalised. The departments of water supply, sanitation and local government, which areresponsible for water supplyto villages and towns in theaff�ected districts, are, meanwhile, continuing with regular testing of water quality,said the statement.

Contaminated water with

dead fi�sh and snakes fromPunjab had also entered Rajasthan through Indira Gandhi Canal, aff�ecting water supply to Hanumangarh,Sriganganagar, Bikaner,Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and otherdistricts.

The water sourced fromthe Indira Gandhi Canal isstill unfi�t for drinking despitea drop in contamination levels, offi�cials said onThursday.

"The drinking water supply has been reduced from50 MLD per day to 15 MLD inSriganganagar city as we arenot using the canal water forsupply due to contamination," said Vinod Jain, superintendent engineer (additional charge), Public Healthand Engineering Department. He said the water is being supplied on alternatedays.

The situation was similarin Hanumangarh. Superintendent Engineer PHED (Hanumangarh) Amar ChandGehlot said 5 MLD water wasbeing supplied against theregular quota of 13 MLD.

(With PTI inputs)

Amarinder talks tough onmolasses leak in the BeasPollution body issues notice to mill; quality of raw water normalising: reports


Chandigarh

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

Weather WatchRainfall, temperature & air quality in select metros yesterday

Temperature Data: IMD, Pollution Data: CPCB, Map: Skymet (Taken at 18.00 Hrs)

Forecast for Thursday: Heavy rain is likely at isolated places overArunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya. Heat wave conditionsare likely to occur at many/some parts/one or two pockets ofwest Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds is likely atisolated places over north Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep

city rain max min city rain max min

Agartala...............5.6.... 33.4.... 24.8 Kozhikode ............... —.... 35.5.... 26.5

Ahmedabad............ —.... 44.6.... 26.8 Kurnool ................... —.... 40.4.... 30.5

Aizawl ................... —.... 32.1.... 13.8 Lucknow.................. —.... 43.0.... 29.1

Allahabad .............. —.... 45.5.... 30.4 Madurai...............15.2.... 35.7.... 23.7

Bengaluru .............. —.... 31.9.... 22.5 Mangaluru............... —.... 33.8.... 25.4

Bhopal.................0.5.... 44.4.... 31.2 Mumbai................... —.... 33.7.... 27.5

Bhubaneswar ......... —.... 29.6.... 28.2 Mysuru.................... —.... 33.4.... 21.6

Chandigarh ............ —.... 42.6.... 25.6 New Delhi ............... —.... 43.0.... 26.7

Chennai ................. —.... 35.2.... 28.4 Patna ...................... —.... 36.3.... 29.0

Coimbatore............ —.... 34.0.... 25.0 Port Blair ..............0.6.... 32.0.... 27.7

Dehradun............... —.... 40.2.... 20.8 Puducherry.............. —.... 34.6.... 26.5

Gangtok...............5.2.... 23.0.... 17.2 Pune ....................... —.... 38.1.... 24.8

Goa ....................... —.... 34.3.... 27.5 Raipur ..................... —.... 42.1.... 29.1

Guwahati ...........11.2.... 35.0.... 23.5 Ranchi..................... —.... 34.4.... 24.2

Hubballi................. —.... 34.0.... 23.0 Shillong................... —.... 24.3.... 16.6

Hyderabad ............. —.... 37.7.... 28.7 Shimla..................... —.... 28.5.... 19.0

Imphal................... —.... 31.5.... 22.0 Srinagar .................. —.... 29.0.... 10.7

Jaipur .................... —.... 45.4.... 29.6 Trivandrum ...........5.9.... 31.3.... 25.5

Kochi..................... —.... 32.2.... 26.2 Tiruchi .................... —.... 38.0.... 27.0

Kohima..............10.6.... 24.0.... 14.2 Vijayawada .............. —.... 39.6.... 27.5

Kolkata...................2.... 32.1.... 24.8 Visakhapatnam ......... —.... 33.2.... 29.0

Pollutants in the air you are breathing Yesterday

CITIES SO2 NO2 CO PM2.5 PM10 CODE

In observation made at4.00 p.m., Bhiwadi,Rajasthan recorded anoverall air quality index(AQI) score of 396indicating an unhealthylevel of pollution. Incontrast,Thiruvananthapuramrecorded a healthy AQIscore of 53

Ahmedabad ...... 23 .42 47 ..115 .....— ....*

Bengaluru......... ..7 .60 39 ..161 .....— ....*

Chennai ............ ..6 .28 34 ....90 .....— ....*

Delhi ................ 36 167 80 ..295 .363 ....*

Hyderabad ........ ..8 .29 21 ....83 .121 ....*

Kolkata............. ..9 .43 91 ....30 ...40 ....*

Lucknow........... ..4 .55 24 ..305 .....— ....*

Mumbai ............ 29 .24 64 ....39 ...86 ....*

Pune................. 45 .17 54 ....75 .102 ....*

Vishakhapatnam 10 .26 12 ....19 ...56 ....*

Air Quality Code: * Poor * Moderate * Good (Readings indicate average AQI)

SO2: Sulphur Dioxide. Short-term exposure can harm the respiratory system,making breathing difficult. It can affect visibility by reacting with other air

particles to form haze and stain culturally important objects such as statues

and monuments.

NO2: Nitrogen Dioxide. Aggravates respiratory illness, causes haze to form byreacting with other air particles, causes acid rain, pollutes coastal waters.

CO: Carbon monoxide. High concentration in air reduces oxygen supply tocritical organs like the heart and brain. At very high levels, it can cause

dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness and even death.

PM2.5 & PM10: Particulate matter pollution can cause irritation of the eyes,nose and throat, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, reduced

lung function, irregular heartbeat, asthma attacks, heart attacks and

premature death in people with heart or lung disease

(Individual pollutant data for various cities are averages for the previous day)

The Mandsaur district administration on Wednesday issued a new order on Congresspresident Rahul Gandhi’s June6 rally in Pipliya Mandi village,granting the leader full accessto go ahead with the event.

The new order was issuedcancelling an earlier order

that set 19 conditions for theCongress president’s rally,which is being organised tomark the fi�rst death anniversary of six farmers who werekilled in police fi�ring during aprotest in Mandsaur.

“It [earlier order] was atechnical mistake made by aclerical staff�. Probably by mistake they issued the set of or

ders which are usually meantfor dharna and pradarshan[protest]. We have issued afresh order today for them[Congress] to hold a rally at Pipliya Mandi,” Mandsaur Collector Om Prakash Shrivastavtold The Hindu over thephone.

Earlier, the subdivisionaloffi�cer of Malhargarh had is

issued orders on arrangementof electricity, parking andeven fi�re engines for theevent.

The order had triggered afurore with the State unit ofthe Congress claiming that theBJPled Madhya Pradesh government was trying to disturb Mr. Gandhi’s eventthrough such conditions.

sued a set of 19 conditions forMr. Gandhi to follow duringthe rally. In his written order,the offi�cer had directed the organisers to construct a tent ofnot more than 15 ft x 15 ftframe for the rally, restrictedthe use of DJ sound system,permitted the use of loudspeakers within the range of7.5 decibel to 10 decibel, and

Old order had set 19 conditions for June 6 event, upsetting Madhya Pradesh Congress leaders

Anup Dutta

Bhopal

Full access granted to Rahul for Mandsaur rally




NATION

N.B. Debnath has vivid memories of January and February 2001, when Siliguri townin north Bengal recorded thefi�rst outbreak of Nipah virusin the country.

“We had no idea what thevirus was and everyday we[the doctors] thought that wewill all die,” Dr. Debnathsaid. Of the 45 people whodied during the viral epidemic, he recollects only onename, Ajit Maity.

“Ajit Maity was a colleagueand cardiologist, who died ofthe virus. He had treated patients at a nursing home in Siliguri from where the outbreak is supposed to havespread,” he said.

Years later, publicationsby scientists at the NationalInstitute of Virology (NIV)Pune put the number casefatality ratio as high as 74%.Researchers had described itas an illness with symptoms

of fever associated with “altered sensorium.”

Asok Bhattacharya, Mayorof Siliguri Municipal Corporation who was the Ministerfor Urban Development inthe Left Front government in2001, echoed the same viewsas the doctors and said thatthe viral infection startedfrom a private nursing homein Siliguri.

‘People were fl�eeing’“People started leaving thetown. The roads were deserted and even doctors startedto run away. We had to getabout 30 doctors from Kolkata to tackle the situation,” Mr.Bhattacharya said.

The research publicationavailable on the Siliguri outbreak says the transmissionof the virus occurred inhealthcare settings throughcontact with infected persons and epidemiologicalfeatures were similar to theNipah outbreaks in Bangla

desh. The fi�rst cases of infection were recorded in the lastweek of January 2001,peaked in the second weekof February and no case wasrecorded after February 23.

Doctors said that it wasisolation of infected patientsthat helped them control thesituation in weeks. As far astreatment was concerned,

they followed protocols forencephalitis. Most of thedeaths occurred among hospitalised patients, family ofthe patients, and medicalstaff� of four hospitals in Siliguri town.

Meanwhile the StateHealth Department held ameeting on Wednesday anddecided to issue a precau

tionary advisory.“We have no cases report

ed from the State, but wewant to remain alert,” AjayChakraborty, Director ofHealth Services said.

Advisory letters have beensent to the Chief Medical Offi�cer of Health and will bemade public on Thursday, hesaid.

In 2001, doctors in Siliguri didn’t know it was Nipah outbreakEveryday we thought we would all die,says doctor who tackled the epidemic

Shiv Sahay Singh

Kolkata

On alert: The Coimbatore Medical College Hospital has readied a 20bed isolation ward forpatients reporting symptoms of the Nipah virus. * S. SIVA SARAVANAN

When an outbreak of encephalitis occurred in Siliguri,West Bengal, in February2001, investigators tooknearly six months to conclude that it was a Nipah virus outbreak.

The outbreak caused panic among residents and wasbrought under control onlyafter 45 lives were lost. Recalling how the outbreakwas handled then, N. Devadasan, Director of Instituteof Public Health, who led theWorld Health Organisation’sinvestigation team then, saidthere was no need to panicas the infection was not airborne unlike H1N1 or SARS.

Speaking to The Hindu onWednesday, he said the Sili

guri outbreak was investigated by a team drawn from theAllIndia Institute of MedicalSciences, New Delhi; National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Delhi; NationalInstitute of Virology (NIV),Pune; and the WHO countryoffi�ce.

“The WHO’s assistancewas sought as tests at NIV,Pune, did not reveal defi�nitive results. Though initiallaboratory investigations indicated the outbreak to bedue to nonexanthematousmeasles, subsequent epidemiological and laboratoryinvestigations includingthose conducted at CDC, Atlanta, U.S., found the infection similar to the 19981999outbreak of severe febrileencephalitis among pig

farmers in Malaysia. Thiswas caused by the emergingNipah virus then,” Dr. Devadasan recalled.

He said all the cases thatwere interviewed had a defi�nite history of exposure toan infected case.

There was no associationwith factors like travel outside Siliguri, visit by guestsfrom outside the town,contact with animals/birds including pigs, exposure toany new or old insecticide orhomeopathic remedies during one month prior to dateof onset in the cases.

“We concluded the infection could spread from person to person only if therewas close contact with bodyfl�uids of the infected person,” he explained.

WHO team chief recalls panic among residents of the town

Afshan Yasmeen

Bengaluru

Investigators took sixmonths to identify virus

Lalu Prasad admitted to Mumbai hospital MUMBAI

Former Bihar Chief Minister

Lalu Prasad was admitted to

the Asian Heart Institute in

the Bandra Kurla Complex on

Wednesday. A spokesperson

said that he had been

admitted for a detailed

medical evaluation and a

team of five doctors would

examine him.

IN BRIEF

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesdaybanned internet services inThoothukudi, Tirunelveliand Kanniyakumari districts for fi�ve days commencing on Wednesday.The move came amid intensifying protests across theState condemning the police fi�ring in Thuthukoodithat left 12 antiSterlite protesters dead in the last twodays.

‘Public emergency’In a letter to internet serviceproviders in the State,Home Secretary NiranjanMardi said provocative messages were being spread insocial media violently withhalf truth and antisocialelements trying to exploit

the situation. “A publicemergency has arisenwhich necessitates immediate action and speedy remedy for the public tranquillity, and it is feltnecessary that services ofInternet should be stopped/curtailed to prevent spreading of such information/rumours with half truth.”

“This mass gathering ofpeople was achieved mainlythrough the informationpassed via social media.” hesaid, refer

Documents

China wants Pakistan to relocate Ha z Saeed to a West ......2018/05/24 · t hursday, may 24, 2018 Delhi City Edition 24 pagesO 10.00 P rinted at .C hennai C oimbatore .B engaluru