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Bangalore hooch tragedy claims 16 lives

     Bangalore: Sixteen people died and around thirty others were reported serious after consuming illicit liquor near Nelamangala village, 30kms from Bangalore. Most of the deceased were labourers who had come in search of a livelihood from neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. The victims were celebrating Ugadi, the traditional New Year's Day, on Sunday when they consumed sachets of illicit liquor. "Hooch tragedy patients started arriving since 10.45 pm yesterday. All of them consumed illicit liquor, suspected packets contaminated with methyl alcohol. Eleven patients have died and we have conducted post-mortem today morning and have handed over the dead bodies," Vasanth Kumar, in-charge of the local government hospital, said on Tuesday. Recollecting the agony, Krishnappa, a patient, said: "I drank just one packet then I don't know what happened. I don't know how many have been killed but it has come as a death blow to poor people like us." The Karnataka state government has ordered an enquiry into the tragedy and announced a compensation of 100,000 rupees each to the families of the dead. The police have arrested three persons and have seized the rest of the arrack or local brew.

Karunakaran followers to meet (Go To Top)

     Thiruvananthapuram: Following former KPCC president Muraleedharan's expulsion from the Congress party, veteran leader K Karunakaran has called a meeting of leaders of his faction to decide the future course of action in Thiruvananthapuram today. At the meeting the decision would be taken as to the veteran leader would stay in the Congress or not. While Muraleedharan is keen to split the party, Karunakaran wants to explore all possibilities. "Let me make one thing very clear. As long as there is life in me, there is breath in me, I will not bow before such actions. I will go ahead with my people and workers and no one should have any doubts about that," said Karunakaran, Senior Congress Leader. Karunakaran is hopeful that in the event of split he will get the support of at least three factions of the Congress led ruling UDF, namely the Kerala Congress (Jacob), the Kerala Congress (B) and a faction of the RSP (B). Former Ministers T M Jacob and R Balakrishna Pillai were dropped by Chief Minister Oomen Chandy from the Cabinet and now they have struck a common chord with Karunakaran. It is understood that the presence of the three parties, which have just four MLAs, is crucial for any front during the elections. "I met Karunakaran and we held discussions. He is planning to work out something. So we are waiting for it. Let us see what is going to happen in the Congress," said T. M. Jacob, former Irrigation Minister. Karunakaran supporters are also trying to approach the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) in this regard, but some constituents of LDF are quite skeptical about taking them in the front. Karunakaran is facing one of the biggest challenges in his seven- decade-old political life and his decision is likely to reflect its acceptability in the Panchayat elections in September and Assembly elections next year.

Naxalites kill two farmers in Bihar district (Go To Top)

     Patna: Extremists affiliated to the Maoist Communist Centre(MCC) have killed two farmers in Bihar's Rohtas District. Preliminary reports reaching here said that the incident took place in the Nazri sub-division of the district. Police sources contacted by ANI here identified the farmers as Shanker Singh, aged 35 and Kanta Singh, aged 30. Police also confirmed that they had arrested three persons in connection with the incident. As many as nine Indian states are bearing the brunt of naxalism. Of these, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are worst-affected while Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are partially affected. Andhra Pradesh and Bihar remain the hot-bed of PWG ane MCC operations. Naxalism has held sway over as many as 20 out of 55 districts of undivided Bihar, country's poorest state. But the state has only six naxalism-hit districts after 14 such districts in the south merged with the new state of Jharkhand. The six affected districts are -- Patna, Jehanabad, Gaya, Aurangabad, Nalanda, Nawadah, Bhojpur and Rohtas. The ultra-leftist groups active in Bihar are - The most dreaded 'Maoist Communist Centre', CPI(ML) Liberation, CPI (ML) Peoples War, Mazdoor Kisan Sangram Samiti, CPI(ML) Janashakti, CPI(ML) Towards New Democracy and small groups like Santosh Rana group, Shantipal group, Kanu Sanyal group and Jeetender group. The red militants face stiff resistance from Ranbir Sena, a private army of Bhumihars in central Bihar, particularly in Jehanabad and Bhojpur belt, which has witnessed a series of massacres. Special Task Force has been raised to counter naxalite menace, which has claimed more than 1700 lives in past five years.

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