The chemistry teacher of a Patna college have been arrested on charge of being the mastermind of a gang of vehicle lifters.
Police said Amarnath Gupta, a chemistry teacher of the Guru Gobind Singh College, was arrested by a police team from state's Kaimur district from his Rajendra Nagar residence here yesterday. Another person Girija Kesri was also apprehended from the city.
The arrests were made in the wake of one Raju Kumar lodging an FIR with the Mohania police station in Kaimur district alleging Gupta and Kesri sold him a vehicle with fake documents.
The complainant said he returned the vehicle on discovery that the chassis number did not match the one mentioned in the document. However, he failed to get his money back despite repeated pleas, the FIR said.
Superintendent of police, Kaimur, PK Srivastava said the police were probing if Keshri and Gupta had links with other vehicle lifter gangs.
Wednesday 4 November 2009
Monday 2 November 2009
Bamboo toilets for the poor
The government in Bihar is constructing bamboo toilets for the poor living in the rural parts of the state, according to a senior state government official.
The low cost toilets, the official said, will have their doors and roofs made of treated bamboo easily available in the region.
As of now, 1.8 crore households in Bihar do not have toilet facilities compelling the villagers to defecate in the open.
“The initial response has been tremendous and we hope this model will be a running success”, the principal secretary of Public Health and Engineering Department HC Sirohai said.
He said the department was training carpenters and masons for constructing such toilets for the poor.
Very recently, the department had begun constructing toilets for the families below poverty line (BPL) and above poverty line (APL) under its total sanitation plan but the government was able to construct only 21 lakh toilets so far.
The low cost toilets, the official said, will have their doors and roofs made of treated bamboo easily available in the region.
As of now, 1.8 crore households in Bihar do not have toilet facilities compelling the villagers to defecate in the open.
“The initial response has been tremendous and we hope this model will be a running success”, the principal secretary of Public Health and Engineering Department HC Sirohai said.
He said the department was training carpenters and masons for constructing such toilets for the poor.
Very recently, the department had begun constructing toilets for the families below poverty line (BPL) and above poverty line (APL) under its total sanitation plan but the government was able to construct only 21 lakh toilets so far.
Finnair launches initiative for children of Bihar
Nordic carrier Finnair has launched a new programme as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative in India to ensure safe drinking water and proper sanitation for the children of Bihar.
Called the "Change for Good Campaign", the carrier will start collecting money from its passengers - even small change, and hence the name - that would be routed via the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) to the children of the state.
"We want a safe learning environment for the children of Bihar. Our objective is also to encourage children, families and communities to adopt hygienic practices and practical water treatment measures," said Kari Stolbow, Finnair director for the Indian subcontinent.
The collection starts end of this month and will continue till Jan 10 next year, he said, adding Finnair will also make its own contributions to the programme.
The Change for Good Campaign has been arranged on nearly all the international flights of Finnair. The donated cash/change can be placed in a collection envelope on seatback pockets, which can be sealed and given to the cabin crew.
Donations can also be made online at www.unicef.fi/lahjoitaverkossa. This apart, people can also participate by giving their donations to the airline's passengers, who can put it into the collection boxes located at Finnair lounges at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
This is the 14th time the carrier has arranged the campaign. Over the years, it has been directed to education programmes in Rwanda and Nepal, HIV/AIDS in Vietnam and Kaliningrad and an emergency relief project in Kosovo.link
Called the "Change for Good Campaign", the carrier will start collecting money from its passengers - even small change, and hence the name - that would be routed via the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) to the children of the state.
"We want a safe learning environment for the children of Bihar. Our objective is also to encourage children, families and communities to adopt hygienic practices and practical water treatment measures," said Kari Stolbow, Finnair director for the Indian subcontinent.
The collection starts end of this month and will continue till Jan 10 next year, he said, adding Finnair will also make its own contributions to the programme.
The Change for Good Campaign has been arranged on nearly all the international flights of Finnair. The donated cash/change can be placed in a collection envelope on seatback pockets, which can be sealed and given to the cabin crew.
Donations can also be made online at www.unicef.fi/lahjoitaverkossa. This apart, people can also participate by giving their donations to the airline's passengers, who can put it into the collection boxes located at Finnair lounges at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
This is the 14th time the carrier has arranged the campaign. Over the years, it has been directed to education programmes in Rwanda and Nepal, HIV/AIDS in Vietnam and Kaliningrad and an emergency relief project in Kosovo.link
Madhubani paintings attract attention from Mauritius
Madhubani paintings attract attention from MauritiusPatna, Nov 2 - Mauritius has invited two experts of the famous Madhubani paintings of Bihar to train its artists and art teachers at a workshop beginning Nov 4, an official said here Monday.
Rabindra Nath Tagore Institute under the Youth, Sports, Art and Culture Ministry of Mauritius invited the two experts - noted art designer Amitabh Pandey and Madhubani painter Raj Kumar, son of internationally known Madhubani painter late Yashoda Devi.
Mauritius artists and art teachers will be trained at a 16-day workshop.
"Mauritius has invited two experts of famous Madhubani painting from Bihar to train its artists and art teachers," an official of art and culture department said.
For ages, rural people, mostly women, of Mithila in Bihar have developed their tradition of art, popularly known as Madhubani paintings - named after Madhubani district. This painting tradition dates back to the seventh century AD.
Traditionally, Madhubani paintings were made on the eve of certain religious festivals and weddings. In the last few decades, master painters have popularised Madhubanipaintings the world over.
The famous Madhubani paintings are now an exclusive brand as they have been registered under the provisions of Global Indications (GI) Act for patenting.
Mauritius has strong cultural ties with Bihar as the Indian state is the land of the ancestors of a large number of people of Mauritius.
Last year, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam visited Bihar and stressed on developing closer cultural ties with India.
Ramgoolam had touched the ground after alighting from the aircraft here, and quickly smeared some mud on his forehead.
His grandfather Mohit Ramgoolam was one of the hundreds of labourers forcibly taken by the British from Bihar to work in Mauritius sugarcane plantations in 1871. About 60 percent of the 1.2 million population of Mauritius is of Indian origin, a large number of them from Bihar with Bhojpuri as their mother tongue.link
Rabindra Nath Tagore Institute under the Youth, Sports, Art and Culture Ministry of Mauritius invited the two experts - noted art designer Amitabh Pandey and Madhubani painter Raj Kumar, son of internationally known Madhubani painter late Yashoda Devi.
Mauritius artists and art teachers will be trained at a 16-day workshop.
"Mauritius has invited two experts of famous Madhubani painting from Bihar to train its artists and art teachers," an official of art and culture department said.
For ages, rural people, mostly women, of Mithila in Bihar have developed their tradition of art, popularly known as Madhubani paintings - named after Madhubani district. This painting tradition dates back to the seventh century AD.
Traditionally, Madhubani paintings were made on the eve of certain religious festivals and weddings. In the last few decades, master painters have popularised Madhubanipaintings the world over.
The famous Madhubani paintings are now an exclusive brand as they have been registered under the provisions of Global Indications (GI) Act for patenting.
Mauritius has strong cultural ties with Bihar as the Indian state is the land of the ancestors of a large number of people of Mauritius.
Last year, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam visited Bihar and stressed on developing closer cultural ties with India.
Ramgoolam had touched the ground after alighting from the aircraft here, and quickly smeared some mud on his forehead.
His grandfather Mohit Ramgoolam was one of the hundreds of labourers forcibly taken by the British from Bihar to work in Mauritius sugarcane plantations in 1871. About 60 percent of the 1.2 million population of Mauritius is of Indian origin, a large number of them from Bihar with Bhojpuri as their mother tongue.link
Sunday 1 November 2009
Ex-Jharkhand CM Koda in illegal deals worth Rs 2000 cr
The noose around former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda tightened further on Sunday with Income-Tax and ED officials carrying out Madhu Koda interacts with media persons in Ranchi raids at several places in the state as well as outside, including the home of a former secretary of senior leader Shibu Soren.
The I-T department, probing a disproportionate assets charge against Koda, conducted raids in eight cities and over 60 premises owned by the former CM and his associates.
A senior ED official claimed that the documents seized so far proved that Koda was involved in illegal transactions worth over Rs 2,000 crore.
The I-T department and Enforcement Directorate jointly raided houses of Harendra Singh, Koda’s personal secretary, and M N Pal, Soren’s secretary, on Saturday.
Koda to be summoned for questioning soon
As former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda comes under increasing pressure over alleged financial irregularities, Income Tax director (investigation ) Ujjwal Choudhary said: “We have come across some deals when Koda was the mines and geology minister and Arjun Munda was the chief minister. The deals indicate unaccounted transaction of money.”
Raids were also conducted on the houses of two mediapersons, Arup Chatterji and Prem Shyankaran. “The raids were conducted at the houses and offices of Arup Chatterji and Prem Shyankaran. Arup was till last month a reporter with Sahara News channel. He is planning to open a news channel. Prem is a contractor who started a Hindi newspaper,” Ujjwal Chaudhary said.
The searches were being conducted by at least 70 teams comprising 400 I-T sleuths and assisted by ED men in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Lucknow, Nashik, Ranchi, Chaibasa and Jamshedpur.
Income tax sources confirmed after the raids that the department would soon summon Koda for questioning in the alleged hawala cases. They said notices would be sent under section 131 of Income Tax Act, 1961, which authorises the department to issue summons or to force attendance of any person for being examined on oath or to compel production of books of account and other documents.
Rags to illegal riches
Born into a poor family in Patahatu village in west Singhbhum, Koda worked as a labourer before joining BJP in 1994 Contested assembly polls in 2000 and became a minister when Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar. Between 2000 and 2005, served as minister during the Babulal Marandi and Arjun Munda regimes. Left BJP and fought 2005 state elections as an independent from Jagannathpur, won. Became mines and geology minister in BJP govt formed with support of 5 other independents.
Reports of corrupt dealings emerge. In September 2006, brought down Munda govt, became CM with support from Cong, RJD and Shibu Soren’s JMM. Several reports of corruption during tenure as CM from Sept 2006 to August 2008. In 2009, fought Lok Sabha election and won as independent from Singhbhum. Two corruption cases lodged against Koda, accused of purchasing mines in Liberia worth Rs 8.5 crore in the names of aides. Assets worth Rs 1800 cr alleged. Case lodged also under Prevention of Money Laundering Act. link
The I-T department, probing a disproportionate assets charge against Koda, conducted raids in eight cities and over 60 premises owned by the former CM and his associates.
A senior ED official claimed that the documents seized so far proved that Koda was involved in illegal transactions worth over Rs 2,000 crore.
The I-T department and Enforcement Directorate jointly raided houses of Harendra Singh, Koda’s personal secretary, and M N Pal, Soren’s secretary, on Saturday.
Koda to be summoned for questioning soon
As former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda comes under increasing pressure over alleged financial irregularities, Income Tax director (investigation ) Ujjwal Choudhary said: “We have come across some deals when Koda was the mines and geology minister and Arjun Munda was the chief minister. The deals indicate unaccounted transaction of money.”
Raids were also conducted on the houses of two mediapersons, Arup Chatterji and Prem Shyankaran. “The raids were conducted at the houses and offices of Arup Chatterji and Prem Shyankaran. Arup was till last month a reporter with Sahara News channel. He is planning to open a news channel. Prem is a contractor who started a Hindi newspaper,” Ujjwal Chaudhary said.
The searches were being conducted by at least 70 teams comprising 400 I-T sleuths and assisted by ED men in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Lucknow, Nashik, Ranchi, Chaibasa and Jamshedpur.
Income tax sources confirmed after the raids that the department would soon summon Koda for questioning in the alleged hawala cases. They said notices would be sent under section 131 of Income Tax Act, 1961, which authorises the department to issue summons or to force attendance of any person for being examined on oath or to compel production of books of account and other documents.
Rags to illegal riches
Born into a poor family in Patahatu village in west Singhbhum, Koda worked as a labourer before joining BJP in 1994 Contested assembly polls in 2000 and became a minister when Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar. Between 2000 and 2005, served as minister during the Babulal Marandi and Arjun Munda regimes. Left BJP and fought 2005 state elections as an independent from Jagannathpur, won. Became mines and geology minister in BJP govt formed with support of 5 other independents.
Reports of corrupt dealings emerge. In September 2006, brought down Munda govt, became CM with support from Cong, RJD and Shibu Soren’s JMM. Several reports of corruption during tenure as CM from Sept 2006 to August 2008. In 2009, fought Lok Sabha election and won as independent from Singhbhum. Two corruption cases lodged against Koda, accused of purchasing mines in Liberia worth Rs 8.5 crore in the names of aides. Assets worth Rs 1800 cr alleged. Case lodged also under Prevention of Money Laundering Act. link
Sonepur Mela begins
The Sonepur fair in Bihar, described as Asia’s largest cattle fair, has formally begun attracting a huge number of cattle from across the country, officials said today.
The fair began here last evening with deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi formally inaugurating it amid a galaxy of ministers.
“We will develop it as a modern fair having international look and quality of services”, Modi announced while inaugurating the fair.
According to officials, about 60 foreign tourists from Japan, Germany, Australia and Austria have booked their lodging in the tastefully-designed cottages having traditional look to enjoy the fair.
“We are providing every facility to the foreign guests to attract more and more tourists in our cottages decorated with traditional items”, said Ajay Kumar, in-charge of the cottages being managed by State Tourism Development Corporation.
Officials also said more than a lakh oxen, cows, bulls, elephants and horses have already reached the fair and have become the centre of attraction for the visitors.
One of the cattle businessmen Suresh Rai sold a pair of oxens for Rs 71,000 at the fair, officials said.
The fair will continue for 30 days, instead of 25 which was its earlier period.
The fair began here last evening with deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi formally inaugurating it amid a galaxy of ministers.
“We will develop it as a modern fair having international look and quality of services”, Modi announced while inaugurating the fair.
According to officials, about 60 foreign tourists from Japan, Germany, Australia and Austria have booked their lodging in the tastefully-designed cottages having traditional look to enjoy the fair.
“We are providing every facility to the foreign guests to attract more and more tourists in our cottages decorated with traditional items”, said Ajay Kumar, in-charge of the cottages being managed by State Tourism Development Corporation.
Officials also said more than a lakh oxen, cows, bulls, elephants and horses have already reached the fair and have become the centre of attraction for the visitors.
One of the cattle businessmen Suresh Rai sold a pair of oxens for Rs 71,000 at the fair, officials said.
The fair will continue for 30 days, instead of 25 which was its earlier period.
Find kidnapped doctors or face strike, says Bihar medicos
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Monday threatened to paralyse medical services in Bihar if the two doctors who were allegedly abducted nearly forty-eight hours ago in the state’s Samastipur district were not found soon.
The association also protested against the “police’s failure” in recovering the abducted doctors.
A.K. Sahay and Santosh Kumar, doctors who work at a nursing home located in a village, went missing late Saturday evening from Sahpur Patauri in Samastipur. They were abducted when they were out on work, a police official said.
“Police have failed to make any breakthrough, though two suspected people involved in the abduction were detained,” an official in Samastipur said.
A hunt has been launched to find the doctors after their motorcycles were recovered and investigations have begun in the case, he added.
“A special police team has been constituted to look into the case,” Deputy Inspector General (Darbhanga range) Baldeo Prasad said.
Their families suspect that both were kidnapped over a property dispute.
Abductions are common in Bihar for ransom and revenge. According to police sources here, 45 people have been abducted for ransom in the state from January to July this year. Last year, 32 people were kidnapped during the same period.
Nearly four months ago, the Bihar government said that between 2001 and 2009, 2,167 children had been kidnapped. Of them, 1,752 were found and 75 killed while the fate of 340 was still unknown.link
The association also protested against the “police’s failure” in recovering the abducted doctors.
A.K. Sahay and Santosh Kumar, doctors who work at a nursing home located in a village, went missing late Saturday evening from Sahpur Patauri in Samastipur. They were abducted when they were out on work, a police official said.
“Police have failed to make any breakthrough, though two suspected people involved in the abduction were detained,” an official in Samastipur said.
A hunt has been launched to find the doctors after their motorcycles were recovered and investigations have begun in the case, he added.
“A special police team has been constituted to look into the case,” Deputy Inspector General (Darbhanga range) Baldeo Prasad said.
Their families suspect that both were kidnapped over a property dispute.
Abductions are common in Bihar for ransom and revenge. According to police sources here, 45 people have been abducted for ransom in the state from January to July this year. Last year, 32 people were kidnapped during the same period.
Nearly four months ago, the Bihar government said that between 2001 and 2009, 2,167 children had been kidnapped. Of them, 1,752 were found and 75 killed while the fate of 340 was still unknown.link
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