Maoist guerrillas blew up a railway track in Bihar early on Monday and enforced a one-day strike in their strongholds to protest the arrest of senior leader Subodhji alias Anand, police said.
The Maoists blew up the track near Nadaul railway station in Jehanabad district, about 50 km from here. Nadaul is situated on Patna-Gaya rail route of East-Central Railway.
"Maoists first forced railway officials on duty in the cabin on the outer signal of Nadaul railway station to leave the place. They then blew up the railway track," Patna Railway Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana said.
A railway official in Jehanabad said the incident disrupted rail traffic on the route and repair work was underway.
The strike call by Maoists evoked a mixed response in Bihar as urban areas remained unaffected but normal life was hit in villages.
An official in the home department said the Maoists' strike call evoked no response in Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur and Purnea. But it affected life in Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Arwal and Gaya districts that are considered Maoist strongholds.
The rebels had also torched a truck in Amas police station in Gaya district late on Sunday and blew up a mobile phone tower in Sherpur in Gaya district.
Subodhji alias Anand, Bihar-Jharkhand special area committee member of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist, was arrested by the special task force and the district police Friday.
Additional Director General (headquarters) U.S. Dutt said an alert has been sounded across the state in the wake of the Maoists' strike call. link
Monday 18 January 2010
Saturday 16 January 2010
Poor in Patna warm themselves with bonfires as cold makes life unbearable
With mercury dipping below the normal level at different place of north India, people are having a tough time to move out and attend to duties in daily life.
There was less hustle and bustle on streets, as people preferred staying indoors on Saturday.
A number of poor people could be noticed sitting around bonfires in groups to save themselves from a harsh winter this time.
The streets and lanes wore a deserted look but people thronged the tea stalls.
Local people said that the sharp dip in temperature is affecting their work.
"The weather is extremely cold for the last two days, we are passing the day sitting in front of fire...we are we are not even going for work because of low temperature," said Vinod, a local resdient.
The weather is very cold for the last two days...we are warming themselves by sipping extra cups of tea...the temperature dipped further during last two days...we are shivering in cold," said Ravi, another local resident.
Harsh weather claimed maximum lives in north India. More than 300 people have died as the cold wave intensified its grip over northern state of Uttar Pradesh.link
There was less hustle and bustle on streets, as people preferred staying indoors on Saturday.
A number of poor people could be noticed sitting around bonfires in groups to save themselves from a harsh winter this time.
The streets and lanes wore a deserted look but people thronged the tea stalls.
Local people said that the sharp dip in temperature is affecting their work.
"The weather is extremely cold for the last two days, we are passing the day sitting in front of fire...we are we are not even going for work because of low temperature," said Vinod, a local resdient.
The weather is very cold for the last two days...we are warming themselves by sipping extra cups of tea...the temperature dipped further during last two days...we are shivering in cold," said Ravi, another local resident.
Harsh weather claimed maximum lives in north India. More than 300 people have died as the cold wave intensified its grip over northern state of Uttar Pradesh.link
Friday 15 January 2010
Theme parks to showcase Bihar heritage
You've had amusements parks, zoological parks and botanical parks, but what about theme parks depicting heritage? The concept should not sound too bizarre given the state's rich tradition of art and culture. And in an age of increasing globalisation, sometimes it pays to be in touch with one's roots, especially for Gen-Y.
So get ready to have a day out in the sun in theme parks across the state showcasing art works, including three-dimensional wonders. The state's art and culture department has shortlisted Patna, Darbhanga, Gaya, Bettiah and Chapra for the special makeover. Themes have also been decided for each park.
The one to come up at Patna on the premises of Golghar, would depict the city's history from Mauryan times to the modern era. The one at Darbhanga would depict the culture and history of Mithilanchal.
Gaya's theme park, to come up near the Mahabodhi temple, would be replete with Buddhist philosophy, while the one at Chapra would showcase rural culture of the region. Bettiah's heritage park would depict the history of Champaran, including the events leading to Mahatma Gandhi's struggle against the Britishers for the local farmers.
The art and culture department has roped in students of the College of Arts and Crafts, Patna, for creating the art pieces for the Darbhanga park. The art works area ready for installation.
With many more such parks on the cards, the department has decided to function in a more organised way and has invited applications from qualified persons and institutions for executing the projects.
The selected candidates and institutions would be entrusted with the task of setting up the parks on a turn-key basis. The department would provide land and funds. "We intend to spend around Rs 1 crore on these parks and our target is to have them in place by the next fiscal (2010-11)," said art and culture department secretary, Vivek Singh, on Thursday.
He said, the parks, apart from being a medium of knowledge for Gen-Y, would also work as added attractions for tourists. "We intend to publish brochures about the parks," Singh added.link
So get ready to have a day out in the sun in theme parks across the state showcasing art works, including three-dimensional wonders. The state's art and culture department has shortlisted Patna, Darbhanga, Gaya, Bettiah and Chapra for the special makeover. Themes have also been decided for each park.
The one to come up at Patna on the premises of Golghar, would depict the city's history from Mauryan times to the modern era. The one at Darbhanga would depict the culture and history of Mithilanchal.
Gaya's theme park, to come up near the Mahabodhi temple, would be replete with Buddhist philosophy, while the one at Chapra would showcase rural culture of the region. Bettiah's heritage park would depict the history of Champaran, including the events leading to Mahatma Gandhi's struggle against the Britishers for the local farmers.
The art and culture department has roped in students of the College of Arts and Crafts, Patna, for creating the art pieces for the Darbhanga park. The art works area ready for installation.
With many more such parks on the cards, the department has decided to function in a more organised way and has invited applications from qualified persons and institutions for executing the projects.
The selected candidates and institutions would be entrusted with the task of setting up the parks on a turn-key basis. The department would provide land and funds. "We intend to spend around Rs 1 crore on these parks and our target is to have them in place by the next fiscal (2010-11)," said art and culture department secretary, Vivek Singh, on Thursday.
He said, the parks, apart from being a medium of knowledge for Gen-Y, would also work as added attractions for tourists. "We intend to publish brochures about the parks," Singh added.link
Thursday 14 January 2010
Truck crash kills 31 in India
Some 31 people are dead after a truck carrying agriculture workers crashed into a gorge in eastern India. Thirteen others were injured.
State administrator Vinay Kumar Singh says the truck fell nearly 150 feet (45.72 meters) into the gorge after the driver lost control of the vehicle following a brake failure.
The accident occurred Thursday near Bhavnathpur, a village nearly 205 miles (325 kilometers) south of Patna.
Trucks are often used to transport workers in rural India.
Road accidents are a frequent occurrence in India and are often blamed on aging vehicles, overloading and poor quality of roads.
State administrator Vinay Kumar Singh says the truck fell nearly 150 feet (45.72 meters) into the gorge after the driver lost control of the vehicle following a brake failure.
The accident occurred Thursday near Bhavnathpur, a village nearly 205 miles (325 kilometers) south of Patna.
Trucks are often used to transport workers in rural India.
Road accidents are a frequent occurrence in India and are often blamed on aging vehicles, overloading and poor quality of roads.
Detonators recovered from Bihar bus
Police recovered 1250 detonators from a bus in Bihar’s Aurangabad district. According to police officials, the bus was to ply from Aurangabad to Ranchi when the explosives were seized. This newest development in the state has raised concerns over the increasing Maoist activity. Police suspect that the detonators were meant to be used by Maoists.
Police found 1,250 detonators were found in a bus in Bihar's Aurangabad district, a development that raised further concern over increase in Maoist activity in the state.
According to sources, the explosives were detected when the bus conductor brought to their attention a black bag that had been loaded into the bus by an unidentified man. The conductor, who noticed the man getting off the Ranchi bound bus after unloading the bag is said to have told the man to return soon, but the man in question went missing.link
Police found 1,250 detonators were found in a bus in Bihar's Aurangabad district, a development that raised further concern over increase in Maoist activity in the state.
According to sources, the explosives were detected when the bus conductor brought to their attention a black bag that had been loaded into the bus by an unidentified man. The conductor, who noticed the man getting off the Ranchi bound bus after unloading the bag is said to have told the man to return soon, but the man in question went missing.link
Wednesday 13 January 2010
Four charred to death in Bihar's Banka district
Four people, including three children, were charred to death when a fire broke out in their hut at Karhariya village in Bihar's Banka district in the wee hours today, police sources said.
The fire broke out after a lantern fell on the ground and soon engulfed the hut.
The victims were identified as Kailash Sah, his son Shivam and daughters Priya and Payal, sources said.
The bodies were handed over to their relatives after autopsy, they added.
The fire broke out after a lantern fell on the ground and soon engulfed the hut.
The victims were identified as Kailash Sah, his son Shivam and daughters Priya and Payal, sources said.
The bodies were handed over to their relatives after autopsy, they added.
Monday 11 January 2010
Maurya TV in Bihar from 2nd Feb. 2010
With an eye on the Rs 20 crore television broadcasting market in Bihar and Jharkhand, filmmaker Prakash Jha and former Adlabs chairman Manmohan Shetty are ready to launch Maurya TV in Bihar, through the newly formed company P&M Group.
Maurya TV will have its headquartered in Patna.
The channel is free-to-air channel and may give rise to regional competition with other such existing channels like ETV Bihar and Sahara Samay in the news category and other Bhojpuri channels like Mahua TV and Hamar TV for viewers as well as for the limited advertising.
P&M Group has appointed Rajiv Mishra as Chief Executive Officer. He moves from CineMaya Media Group Inc, where he has been senior vice-president. July 11, 2009 was his last day with the CineMaya Group.
Maurya TV is the only project of this group, it is also planning to launch digital cinema multiplex chain, malls and entertainment centres in Orissa, Jharkhand andBihar.
While we're on the subject, Bihar and Jharkhand have by now fascinated print media players like Hindustan, Dainik Jagran and Dainik Bhaskar to launch editions in the region to bite into the Rs 150 crore advertising market.link
Maurya TV will have its headquartered in Patna.
The channel is free-to-air channel and may give rise to regional competition with other such existing channels like ETV Bihar and Sahara Samay in the news category and other Bhojpuri channels like Mahua TV and Hamar TV for viewers as well as for the limited advertising.
P&M Group has appointed Rajiv Mishra as Chief Executive Officer. He moves from CineMaya Media Group Inc, where he has been senior vice-president. July 11, 2009 was his last day with the CineMaya Group.
Maurya TV is the only project of this group, it is also planning to launch digital cinema multiplex chain, malls and entertainment centres in Orissa, Jharkhand andBihar.
While we're on the subject, Bihar and Jharkhand have by now fascinated print media players like Hindustan, Dainik Jagran and Dainik Bhaskar to launch editions in the region to bite into the Rs 150 crore advertising market.link
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