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Domestic Violence Act to be amended to prevent its misuse
Chandrani Banerjee
New Delhi, Jan 6 (PTI) It is strange but true. Men may get an opportunity from the Women and Child Development ministry to voice their concerns.
The government has decided to amend the Domestic Violence Act and incorporate certain changes in it to ensure that it is not misused.
Besides, the Women and Child Development Ministry would also organise a conference to incorporate men's perspectives in the Act to give it a holistic view. The proposal is in the process of finalisation, sources said.
To factor in concerns of people across different economic profiles, the government would invite CEOs of renowned companies, middle-level officials from government and private offices and also employees serving at lower positions to give their views, sources said.
College students would also be given an opportunity to voice their opinion on the provisions of the act in the conference, they said.
"The Minister was interested and wanted all along to incorporate the views of men who have been at the receiving end due to legal barriers. The conference will provide them a platform to talk about their experience. This would certainly help us to understand the other side of the story," highly placed sources in the ministry said. PTI
Cyber crime on decline in country: NCRB
Shemin Joy
New Delhi, Jan 6 (PTI) Contrary to popular belief that cyber crime is on the rise, statistics show that the cases of the "new age" crime have declined with the most noticeable difference seen in Gujarat.
There has been a sharp decline in cases of the cyber crime in Gujarat where such incidents have come down from 155 cases in 2005 to just six in 2006.
One of the six minors who got arrested on charges of cyber crime also hailed from Gujarat, according to 'Crime in India: 2006' report prepared by National Crime Records Bureau.
Out of the six cases, five were registered under provisions of the Information Technology Act while one was filed under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code.
While 153 cases were registered under IPC sections in Gujarat in 2005, only one was filed in 2006 under IPC.
However, no reasons were attributed in the report for the decline in the registration of cyber crime related cases in Gujarat.
A senior official said the decline does not indicate that the incidents of cyber crime in the state had actually decreased. "This is only a statistics based on the number of cases registered," he added.
The report also said a total of 565 people were arrested across the country in 2006 on charges of cyber crime, which registered a decrease of 28 cases as compared to previous year.
Madhya Pradesh registered the largest number of cyber crimes (131) in 2006 followed by Andhra Pradesh (116). The largest state of Uttar Pradesh, which had four cyber cases in 2005, did not register a single case in the same year. PTI
Ponting loses temper when questioned about catch
Sydney, Jan 6 (PTI) Australian skipper Ricky Ponting today lost his cool when questioned about a catch he claimed during the final day of the ill-tempered second Test against India here today.
Ponting, fielding at silly point, turned back and dived for a looping catch offered by Mahendra Singh Dhoni but grounded the ball in his effort.
However, he didn't bat an eyelid before making an appeal, which was turned down.
When asked during the post-match press-conference about whether he caught the ball cleanly, an incensed Ponting took offence to the question.
"I claimed the catch and there was no way I grounded it (the ball)." "If you are questioning my integrity, then probably you shouldn't be sitting here," retorted a furious Australian captain.
He, however, admitted the umpiring blunders marred the Test but hoped the match would be remembered for all the right reasons.
"I think it's fair to say that there were a few mistakes made but I am not going comment anything more as it might get me in trouble," Ponting said after his team's record-equalling 16th straight Test win here.
"I hope this match is remembered for the cricket that was played. Yes, there were a few controversies by the side but the match itself was played in the right spirit and I hope it continues," he added.
Though laid low by a series of dubious decisions, India almost snatched a draw before part-time spinner Michael Clarke conjured up three wickets in five balls to guide the hosts to a thrilling 122-run triumph. PTI
Youzhny blanks Nadal to lift Chennai Open title
Chennai, Jan 6 (PTI) Fourth seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia blanked World No.2 and top seed Rafael Nadal of Spain in straight sets to clinch the ATP Chennai Open singles title here this evening.
Youzhny, ranked 19, scored a tuhmping 6-0 6-1 win in the final, which lasted just 58 minutes. PTI
Dynamos meet Hi-Fliers in battle of equals
Y Sarangi
Chandigarh, Jan 6 (PTI) Home challengers Chandigarh Dynamos will take on Bangalore Hi-Fliers in a battle of equals as the two sides lock horns in the first of the best-of-three finals of the Premier Hockey League IV here tomorrow.
The two teams did not play up to their potential in the semifinals yesterday and had the slice of luck to move into the finals through penalty shoot-outs.
But as the ultimate battle knocking on the doors, they must give their best shot to annex the title at the Sector 42 Stadium.
In the semifinals, Dynamos survived a scare to win narrowly as the youngster-packed Hyderabad Sultans erected a solid wall of defence to make life difficult for the star-studded Chandigarh forward line.
The Hi-Fliers came back from a precarious two-goal deficit against Orissa Steelers to stretch the match to the tie-breakers and book a berth in the finals.
Strength-wise both the sides are evenly-poised with a host of Indian stars in their ranks.
While the likes of Prabhjot Singh, Rajpal Singh, Deepak Thakur and Inderjit Singh Chaddha form the forward line of the Dynamos, an equally capable strike force of Tushar Khandekar, Arjun Halappa, Sandeep Michael and Korean import You Hyo-sik complete a formidable attack for the Hi-Fliers.
In the specialised role of a drag-flicker, both sides again run neck-and-neck with Sandeep Singh and Len Aiyappa proving to be trump cards for Dynamos and Hi-Fliers respectively. PTI
31 LTTE fighters killed in Sri Lanka: Army
T V Sriram Colombo, Jan 6 (PTI) At least 31 fighters of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were gunned down in fierce clashes with the security forces in the embattled northern Sri Lanka, the army said here today.
Troops destroyed two Tamil Tiger bunkers and killed eight militants in Adampan area in North-western Mannar yesterday," the Defence Ministry said.
On the same day, troops killed ten militants and completely destroyed six LTTE bunkers in the Parappakandal area in Mannar yesterday, it said, quoting the LTTE communication intercepts.
The ministry said three bodies and over 200 anti-personnel mines were recovered in search operations so far.
In northern Vavuniya, troops killed three militants in confrontations in the Kallikulam area on Saturday morning, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.
Separately, two rebels were gunned down in Pullikayarkulam in Vavuniya yesterday while troops confirmed that five militants were killed on Saturday afternoon at Kutinchakulam area in Vavuniya, the MCNS said.
In North-east Welioya three militants were gunned down by government troops forces yesterday at Kokuthuduwai, the defence ministry said.
In Eastern Batticaloa, the army seized a record haul of explosives yesterday. This included 20 claymore mines, 1012 shot gun rounds, 1057 anti-personnel mines and 805 anti- personnel mine fuses, among other things, the army said. PTI
Second blow for LTTE as army eliminates intelligence chief
T V Sriram
Colombo, Jan 6 (PTI) In a body blow to the LTTE, the head of its military intelligence 'Colonel' Charles was killed by the Sri Lankan army in northwestern Mannar as fighting escalated following the government's decision to dump a 2002 ceasefire.
Charles or Shanmuganathan Ravishankar, 43, was killed along with three other cadres last evening in a claymore mine attack on their van by Sri Lanka Army's Deep Penetration Unit in Pallamadu in Mannaar, the pro-rebel Tamilnet website said today.
The killing of the top operative who masterminded several deadly attacks in the country will clearly rattle LTTE Supremo V Prabhakaran who lost his close aide political wing chief S P Thamilselvan in an Air Force raid barely two months ago.
The Defence Ministry confirmed that it had ambushed a vehicle carrying Charles, the deputy to Pottu Amman, the chief of Tamil Tigers' intelligence wing, after "accurate ground information" from LTTE dominated Wanni region.
"The loss of Charles is a far greater loss to LTTE than it had suffered when it lost its political head in November last year," a Ministry statement said.
The killing indicated an escalation in fighting since the government withdrew a tattered ceasefire on Wednesday. The Army today said it had killed 31 militants since last evening as fierce clashes continued between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and troops.
However, there was no immediate word from the LTTE on the killing. PTI
LTTE warns of escalation, to "demonstrate" military strength
T V Sriram
Colombo, Jan 6 (PTI) Unfazed by the recent reverses, the Tamil Tigers today hinted an escalation in their military offensive against the Sri Lankan government even as they accused India and other countries of being "indecisive" in taking a stand on the ethnic strife in the island country.
"Only the demonstration of military strength by the Tigers can bring clarity to the situation and get them (the international community) to correctly relate their interests and assertively engage in the crisis," senior LTTE member considered the outfit's ideologue K. Balakumaran told the 'National Television of Tamileelam (NTT)'.
The warning by LTTE, which has been dealt crucial blows with the killing of its political wing chief S P Thamilselvan and intelligence leader 'Colonel' Charles, came days after the government's decision to withdraw from the Ceasefire Agreement it had entered with the LTTE in February 2002.
Balakumaran said the international community including India have been indecisive in dealing with the Sri Lankan situation. "The international community has been vacillating in taking decisive actions on Sri Lanka because they are unable to relate their own interests to the chaotically unfolding political and military situation in Sri Lanka." "We expect 2008 will be the year where we can overcome the diplomatic hurdles that confront us," he was quoted as saying by the pro-LTTE website TamilNet.
He claimed that the international community cannot call LTTE "obstinate, or terrorists" as in 2003 it had proposed the Interim Self Governing Authority. "(It is ) our minimal requirement for power-sharing which will satisfy us, he said.
"We expect in 2008, the Tigers will bring clarity to Sri Lanka's conflict," Balakumaran said. PTI
Balance of power in world order tilting east: British FM
London, Jan 6 (PTI) The balance of power in the world order is tilting east with the emergence of India and China as global economies, but that does not mean America's position as the superpower is under threat, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said today.
He said Britain plans a diplomatic surge in the Middle East and South Asia by raising the number of staff by 30 per cent to counter extremism and nuclear proliferation. It also aims at deepening engagement with Pakistan to prevent the growth of extremism, including spending an additional 80 million pounds over three years on counter-radicalisation.
Writing in The Sunday Times, Miliband said "We need to recognise that the balance of power in the world order is tilting east, with the emergence of India and China as world economies.
"That does not mean America's position as the world's superpower is under threat. It does mean these countries have a key role in their regions and globally." Emphasising that the emerging situation required a foreign policy led by clear priorities, Miliband said from April, the Foreign Office would focus its efforts on four key policy goals instead of the current ten strategic priority, "where we can make the biggest difference." "We will put more resources into countering terrorism and nuclear proliferation. We plan a diplomatic surge in the Middle East and south Asia by raising the number of staff by 30 per cent," he said. PTI
Bankers foresee huge demand for Reliance Power IPO
New Delhi, Jan 6 (PTI) Even before India's biggest ever IPO hits the market, investment bankers involved in the public issue by Anil Ambani Group's Reliance Power believe it could generate demand worth more than Rs 2,00,000 crore.
While the group is proposing to raise up to Rs 11,700 crore from the IPO, the bankers say the success of the issue is a foregone conclusion and they are now betting on highest ever demand to be generated by this issue.
So far, the biggest demand for an IPO was generated by Mundra Port & SEZ last year, which received bids worth about Rs 2,00,000 crore with an over-subscription of 115 times, while the IPO of state-run Power Grid Corporation also generated demand worth about the same level.
Bankers are not willing to go on record for the parameters they are attaching to the success of the issue, but say that the tremendous potential demand could be gauged from the fact that close to one lakh demat accounts were opened in the last three days alone.
At the end of 2007, there were close to 10 million demat accounts and the figures have remained stagnant for quite some time, until the rush began in the run-up to the Reliance Power IPO, said a banker.
One of the book-running managers to the issue J M Financial's Managing Director and Co-CEO Atul Mehra said the IPO being successful is anyone's guess and what they are waiting to see is how much demand it would generate. PTI
Tata Motors may appoint Ford official to run JLR: Report
London, Jan 6 (PTI) Indian conglomerate Tata Group, which is the front-runner for acquiring British marquees Jaguar and Land Rover, is expected to appoint a senior executive of Ford Motors to run the two luxury brands, media reports said here.
"Senior industry sources said last week that Tata was likely to name a top Ford executive in Europe as chief executive of the Jaguar-Land Rover group," 'The Sunday Times' reported today.
The current chief executive is Geoff Polities, an Australian car-industry veteran.
"It is understood that Tata plans few immediate changes to the businesses, with the UK operations and model plans kept intact," the report added.
Ford, the second-largest US carmaker, said on January 3 it was in discussions with Tata Motors for Jaguar and Land Rover, but a final decision for the sale was yet to be taken.
However, another report in 'The Guardian' quoted industry sources as saying that being named preferred suitor might not mean Tata Motors has a clear field as yet.
'The Daily Telegraph' had earlier reported quoting unidentified sources: "It is possible, Ford, which is likely to continue to supply engines and components for the cars, may retain a stake in the businesses - similar to the deal it struck with the Gulf-based consortium which bought Aston Martin - although there is no certainty this will happen." The report said talks could run into February as Tata needs to negotiate a settlement with pension trustees and would have to convince the unions about the safety of 15,000 British jobs accounted for by Jaguar and Land Rover.
Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra and US-based private equity firm OneEquity, headed by former Ford CEO Jacques Nasser, have also been eyeing the two brands. PTI
Koda confident of continued Congress support
Ranchi, Jan 6 (PTI) The Congress's January 15 deadline set to the Jharkhand government to 'perform or perish' has lost its sheen after the drubbing the Congress received in the Gujarat elections.
The PCC had taken out a protest march under the leadership of Union Minister Ajay Makan from Raj Bhavan to Chief Minister Madhu Koda's residence in November to issue the ultimatum. BJP's Gujarat victory has given a breather to Koda government, analysts say.
PCC President Pradeep Kumar Balmachu, however, dismissed possibility of softening its stand on the Koda government post-Gujarat. Balmachu said the Gujarat outcome hardly mattered in Jharkhand.
"After giving memorandum to the Chief Minister to focus on 19 issues, party representatives have been asked to go to people for feedback which will help us to asses the performance of the government on January 15 deadline," Balmachu said.
However, if Balmachu's own observation on December 26 that the government had speeded up action in same areas mentioned in the memorandum is any indication, Koda would not have to worry much as the deadline approaches.
"The revival package to heavy engineering corporation, work on roads, resettlement and rehabilitation policy in its final shape and urgency shown regarding holding of civic polls are some of the areas that got prominence after the memorandum," Balmachu said.
Balmachu also said the party had kept all options open while reviewing the government's performance suggesting that he was not ruling out an extension of the deadline.
According to political analysts, the BJP camp in the state is upbeat following Gujarat victory and is looking forward to capitalise on the rift in the coalition. PTI
Saturday Jodhpur: Hundreds of Pakistani nationals are stranded here after the Thar Express connecting the desert state with Pakistan's Sindh province is cancelled due to security reasons in the wake of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
Lucknow/Kolkata: One more militant of Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islamia (HuJI) believed to be the mastermind of last month's Uttar Pradesh serial blasts, in Kolkata is arrested.
Sunday Panaji: In the face of a raging controversy, a task force headed by Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat recommends the scrapping of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the state terming them "detrimental to the overall interest" of Goa.
New Delhi: Veteran Kerala politician K Karunakaran returns to the Congress, two-and-a-half years after he parted ways with it over differences with the state and central leadership in the midst of rampant infighting in the party.
Monday New Delhi: There is no proposal to raise the retirement age of Central Government employees from 60 to 62.
Jodhpur: Pop star Madonna will ring in the New Year along with her husband and son at a private heritage resort at a non-descript village, 150km from here.
New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry announces extension of ceasefire with an Assam militant outfit, Dima Halam Daogoh (DHD), for six months till June 30, 2008.
Tuesday Rampur (UP): Seven CRPF personnel were among eight persons killed and five injured when heavily-armed terrorists stormed a camp of the paramilitary force in the wee hours here in a bloody start to the New Year.
Delhi: Taking forward their key 17-year-old confidence building measure, India and Pakistan exchange lists of their nuclear installations and facilities under an agreement that prohibits attacks on these. Wednesday Mumbai: Two NRI women are molested by a mob of about 70 men during New Year revelries near Juhu beach sparking an outrage but Police Commissioner D N Jadhav brazenly dismisses it as minor accusing the media of blowing it out of proportion.
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh's ruling Bahujan Samaj Party suffers a jolt when it lost the prestigious Ballia Lok Sabha seat to its arch rival Samajwadi Party while results of a Lok Sabha and assembly bypolls in Bihar and West Bengal went along expected lines with ruling JD(U) and CPI(M) retaining the seats.
Rourkela/Kolkata: In fresh bouts of Naxal violence in Eastern India, armed Maoists attacked a police outpost and a bus in Jharkand killing one policeman while a local CPI-M leader in Purulia district was shot dead by suspected rebels.
Thursday New Delhi: Nagaland is brought under central rule and the assembly kept under suspended animation, ending the three-week political drama in the state triggered by a controversial trial of strength won by the BJP-backed Neiphiu Rio.
Satna (MP): An eighth class student of a Government school in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh is killed when his senior schoolmate allegedly shot at him in the school premises.
New Delhi: Author Malathi Rao is chosen for the 2007 Sahitya Akademi Award in English for her novel 'Disorderly Women'.
Friday New Delhi: The CBI is understood to have come to the conclusion that Rizwanaur Rehman, a computer graphics teacher of Kolkata who married a Hindu businessman's daughter, committed suicide and is likely to book his father-in-law and two police officers for alleged abetment.
New Delhi: Delhi Police claims to have foiled a plot by Babbar Khalsa to eliminate at least five prominent Punjabi personalities with the arrest of four suspected militants, including a Harayana government employee, belonging to the terror outfit. PTI
Watch and become a Bakra yourself! (Film-Review)
Shambhu Sahu
Film: Hyderabadi Bakra Hungama in Dubai Producer & Director: Masood Ali Cast: Mast Ali, DC Srivastav, Aziz, Shweta Khanduri The only release on the first Friday of 2008, is better if not seen. The film 'Hungama in Dubai' or 'Hyderabadi Bakra' is a film made in Hyderabadi lingo which comedian Late Mahmood used in Bollywood years ago. Here you have almost the entire film in the same dialect but the film is effect-less. It neither entertains nor gives any message. Poorly made, it lacks almost everything for which one may want to see a film. Be it stars, songs, story or acting.
Moreover, when you make a small-budget film, the role of the script and actors becomes more important than ever. This was proved by director Masood Ali's very own fellow Hyderabadi filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor when he made 'Hyderabad Blues' on a shoe-string budget and popularized such films.
'Hyderabadi Bakra' is a story about two conmen, Ajju (Mast Ali) and Majju (Aziz), who after a seven years' jail term once again get back to their business of laying a trap for big bucks. This time they find their 'bakra' in a popular Hyderabadi tea cafe owner and a film buff Nawab saab (D C Shrivastav). They convince him to sell his established business for Rs two crore to make a film 'Utaar Chadhav'.
They soon land in Dubai along with their 'producer' and start looking for locations. But, the duo is actually having a gala time on Nawab saab's expense who can't help but look on. They go to best possible hotels to eat, nightclubs and prostitutes. Meanwhile, all this director-assistant director duo does is, shoot a few scene in a day and tell the Nawab that half the film is made.
Soon the money is over and the trio is thrown out of the lavish hotel but without passports. While on road the con duo sells off Nawabs belongings, leaving him on the streets to beg. Despite regretting his decision and wanting to return to family, the large-hearted Nawab forgives them, which leads to a change of heart among the duo. They find an unclaimed bag full of dollars worth Rs four crores, with which they try to wash off their sins and give it back to the Nawab.
But, there is a (sad) twist, the bag get stolen. They run after the thief and you have Hyderabadi police also chasing them purposelessly. The usual filmy chase follows. And just when you think that the old 'ghishi-piti' story will thankfully meet a typical filmy end, with thieves getting arrested and the poor Nawab getting back his money, it does not happen. Instead of giving the Nawab his money back, the senior con Ajju convinces him of making another film, this time in Chicago. The film ends and all you wonder is what was that! The film has a very sub standard production value with not even properly lip-synced dialogues, making it look like some B-grade stuff. The film with poor story and script falls flat in all quarters. Despite being a comedy film, there are just a handful of scenes where you laugh. At times, the comedy gets 'unrefined' also. There is some nice mimickery of Bollywood stars, but that does not help much.
Actors like Masy Ali, Aziz and DC Srivastava have some films under their belt, but it is better we don't talk about their acting given the often- told story and direction. The director even fails in exploiting the picturesque locales of Dubai, which boasts of various futuristic structures. The romance between Majju and Nisha (Shweta Khanduri) looks forced and goes waste.
In short, avoid it. PTI
Newsletter: Groupism to the fore in Puducherry Congress
Puducherry, Jan 3 (PTI) With intra party squabbles leading to criticism by Congress functionaries of their own government, the opposition is blaming the government of inaction on the development front.
AICC General Secretary V Narayanasamy, a Rajya Sabha MP pointing at the development in the Thattanchavady Assembly constituency represented by the Chief Minister N Rangasamy has been saying that Thattanchavady alone was not the whole Puducherry and asserting that all constituencies should develop on equal footing.
His latest act was dashing a letter to the Chief Secretary seeking details of the job opportunities available to those from Thattanchavady, welfare schemes implemented there and other particulars with comparative details of picture of progress in other segments.
The PCC president and senior congress leader of Puducherry P Shanmugham has expressed anguish at such open spats from the functionaries in the party.
Shanmugham has appealed to the rank and file in the party and also office bearers not to wash their dirty line in the public and said that any grievance or complaint should be placed before him or before the high command.
He told a recent meeting held to celebrate the 122nd anniversary of the party that it was indeed a matter of concern that most of the functionaries in the party were going to the press to criticise the government and its policies. This would not help the party in any way, he said. PTI
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