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Dacoit-turned-actress gets death threat

     Lucknow: A reformed Indian dacoit queen, who is acting in a film based on her life, is frantically appealing for protection saying she is being threatened by her former mates for what they term as defaming the lives of dacoits. Seema Parihar, who reigned as the undisputed queen of ravines in the huge heartland state of Uttar Pradesh, is a shaken woman who is fearing for her life and that of her 13-year-old son. Parihar, whose only trace of her bandit days is the long vermilion mark on her forehead, a symbol of warriors, stars in "Wounded" - a Hindi film detailing her transformation from a demure teenaged village girl, abducted and raped as punishment for a land feud, to a cold blooded killer. Till her surrender before the police in 2003, the 38-year-old reportedly had 70 murders, 30 looting and 200 abductions to her name. She was facing charges in 29 cases, of which she had been acquitted in 15 and is now out on bail in 14.

     Parihar says her former deputy, Nirbhay Gujjar, who now leads her gang, miffed at being represented in poor light in the movie, has sent her and the film's crew death letters but the police has done little to help. "He is threatening us on television, we feel the SP (Superintendent of Police) should now act. But still police says they are investigating. It seems when myself and director are killed, only then they will come to wipe off tears," Parihar told a news conference in Lucknow on Friday. Made in both Hindi and English, the film's release has been delayed with the censor board asking for cuts in vulgar dialogues. "Wounded" director Shri Krishna Mishra, who has also received the threats, defended his film saying he was simply trying to portray reality. "This is not the first film which has vulgar dialogue, Bandit Queen had plenty of abusive language inspite of the fact that it did not have real actors. My film has real actors, I am trying to portray reality," Mishra said. Parihar's life closely echoes that of Phoolan Devi, the nation's original bandit queen, whose turbulent life that began in poverty and rape, turned into a quest for revenge and finally ended in an assassination, had often shocked and shaken India.

Charles, Camilla wed (Go To Top)

     London: Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles have married at Windsor's Guildhall. According to the BBC, up to 15,000 people thronged the streets to cheer the couple as they left the civil wedding ceremony. Camilla emerged the wife of the future king, and with the title HRH Duchess of Cornwall, after the 20-minute service. The couple are now at Windsor Castle for a blessing at St George's Chapel attended by the Queen and conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. "Thank you very much," Charles mouthed to the crowd before leaving. The blessing of prayer and dedication, which is being televised, is to be attended by 800 friends, family and dignitaries from around the world, including Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Duchess of Cornwall's ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles. Other guests from the world of showbusiness include comics Stephen Fry and Rowan Atkinson, actors Joanna Lumley, Richard E Grant and Prunella Scales and her husband Timothy West. Waiting outside Windsor Castle, Vivienne Reay, 53, from Staines, Middlesex, said it was lovely to see the now-married couple. She said: "It's brilliant, I think it's really nice that they're married, they've waited long enough and I'm just really pleased for them. "I thought Camilla looked very nice and really lovely in her hat." Nine-year-old Charlotte Wyatt was in Windsor with her mother Karen, 43, grandmother Freda, 70, and cousin Kiaran Styles, eight. Charlotte said: "She looked pretty." Royal spokseman Paddy Harverson said he was sure that once people got to know the Prince's new wife as the "down-to-earth" person that she was, they would soon warm to her.

Want a kidney, head for Pakistan (Go To Top)

     Lahore: Visitors from abroad are travelling to Pakistan more frequently than ever before as the country has emerged as a growing centre of global organ tourism of late. The trade has flourished in the country, most notably since India placed a ban on the practice 10 years ago, diverting traffic to Pakistan. It is spurred on by the desperate poverty of people, by the lack of laws and by unscrupulous doctors, clinics and their agents, Dr. Yasir Agha, a urologist, was quoted by the Daily Times as saying. Agha says that he has only recently begun this organ supply practice in Lahore. The example of 27-year-old Idrees, is however, a mix of relief and tragedy. He sold his left kidney for Rs.90,000 to gain his freedom from nearly 10 years of bondage at a brick-kiln near Sheikhupura, 100 kilometre north of Lahore. Idrees used Rs.60,000 of the total amount to pay off a debt that his parents owed to the kiln owner. The debt had acccumulated over nearly 15 years. But after paying off the amount, he had little left over, and less than six months after undergoing surgery at a private clinic to remove his kidney, he is once more in debt, having borrowed Rs 5,000 from a cousin a few days ago. It's a pity I can't sell my other kidney, he said only half jokingly, adding: But at least we are free. The continued existence of bonded labour shows that the authorities simply have no wish to see it end or to enforce the law, says Asma Jahangir, a leading lawyer, rights activist and HRCP chairperson.

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