Uttar Pradesh News Archive: July 2007

Flood leads to postponement of Ballia LS bye-election

Tuesday, July 31, 2007 | MP
ew Delhi, July 30 (ANI): The Election Commission (EC) has decided to postpone the bye-elections to Ballia Lok Sabha constituency due to existing flood situation in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

"Likely water logging during the later half of the month of August in a considerable number of polling stations areas falling within Ballia Parliamentary Constituency, led to the Commission considering the postponement of the bye-election," a statement issued by the commission stated.

The bye-polls for the Ballia constituency were earlier scheduled for August 29.

"A fresh schedule for the bye-election will be announced in due course," added the EC statement.

The Commission has also decided to change the date of poll, in respect of all the three Assembly Constituencies namely, Suar Tanda, Gunnaur and Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh, from August 29 to August 31.

The date of counting of votes in all these three constituencies has been changed from August 31, as announced earlier, to September3. (ANI)

Maoist threat: Security forces step up vigilance along Indo-Nepal border

Monday, July 30, 2007 | MP
Sonoli Border (UP), July 28 (ANI): Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have stepped up vigilance along the Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh, following Nepalese Maoist's threat of subversion.

Police said the move to strengthen border surveillance follows intelligence reports that Nepal's Maoists were trying to establish their networks in Indian villages along the international border, SSB officials, said on Saturday.

"We have also received information and are trying to collect more intelligence inputs. But no incident has been noticed in this eastern belt," said S. Bandopadhyay, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), SSB Gorakhpur range.

The SSB has pressed into service sniffer dogs and are frisking passengers coming from Nepal to India.

They have also alerted villagers along the border on the possibility of Maoist strikes.

"Police officials are asking us whether Maoist from Nepal come and cause disturbances. But no such incident has happened, we will contact them if something happens," said Indrajit Mishra, a resident of bordering village.

India shares a 1,735 km-long porous border with the Himalayan nation and cross-border movement of people and goods is free. (ANI)

Agra zoo workers rescue endangered Pangolin

Thursday, July 26, 2007 | MP
Agra (Uttar Pradesh), July 25 (ANI): A highly endangered Pangolin, commonly called Anteater has been rescued by zoo workers in Agra.

Discovered by villagers here, a few days ago, has been taken to a rescue center for examination.

"We rescued the animal and brought it to rescue facility for preliminary examination. Then, we found it to be Pangolin, also called the Scaly Anteater," said Ilayaraja, a wildlife veterinary officer.

The mammal was then treated by the center's doctors and declared fit.

"It is a quick animal. We are searching a suitable habitat for it. Within two-three days, we will find out its origin and then take it to its suitable habitat very soon," Ilayaraja said.

The Pangolin eats ants and termites and stays inside burrows, entire day. It prefers to come out of its burrow only at night.

The rescue centre is trying to make artificial anthills and special cage for the Pangolin to stay, where it can make a burrow for himself. (ANI)

Lucknow Court puts stay on Amitabh's land donation

Wednesday, July 25, 2007 | MP
Lucknow, July 24 (ANI): The farm land case continues to trouble cinestar Amitabh Bachchan as Lucknow court has put a stay on his land donation observing that the status quo on the land should be maintained.

The move came after the Uttar Pradesh Government termed the land donation by Amitabh as illegal.

Last week, Bachchan had announced donating his farmland in Pune and Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki District back to the villagers from whom he had purchased.

The court will hear Bachchan's petition challenging an order quashing the allotment of land to him in Barabanki on August 16.

Justice S N Srivastava of the Lucknow Bench of the High Court has given three weeks time to the petitioner for filing a rejoinder.

The High Court had on June 8 stayed the Faizabad Additional Commissioner's order quashing Bachchan's ownership of the land. However, the High Court had admitted his petition challenging the Faizabad court order that scrapped his ownership of a farmland.

In his petition Bachchan said that the Faizabad court's order exceeded its jurisdiction by not hearing his version and going into the merits of the case.

The Uttar Pradesh Government has already told the court that Bachchan allegedly committed another fraud by claiming that he was a resident of 17, Clive Road, Allahabad, in his application for farmland allotment in Barabanki District's Daulatpur village.

UP Government's lawyer D K Upadhya alleged that Bachchan's father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, lived at the said residence till 1958 after which the house was sold.

The Barabanki District Magistrate had earlier declared that the mode of transfer of land to Bachchan was illegal and directed that a case be lodged in the matter.

The former Mulayam Singh Yadav Government in the State had allotted three bighas (about 70,000 sq ft) of prime land in Daulatpur Village of Barabanki District to Bachchan, a close confidante of Mulayam's Samajwadi Party. (ANI)

By-polls for Jamshedpur, Ballia parliamentary seats on Aug 29

Wednesday, July 25, 2007 | MP
New Delhi, July 24 (ANI): The by-elections for Jamshedpur (Jharkhand) and Ballia (Uttar Pradesh) parliamentary constituencies and four assembly seats in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh will be held on August 29, the Election Commission announced here today.

The Legislative Assembly seats to undergo polling are Dhumakot in Uttarakhand, and Tanda, Gunnaur and Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh.

Notification will be issued on August 3. The last date of filing nominations is August 10, while scrutiny of nominations will be done the next day.

Last date for withdrawal of candidature will be August 13. Counting will take place on August 31, and the date before which election will be completed is September 3.

The election for the Jamshedpur parliamentary constituency has been necessitated due to the death of sitting member Sunil Kumar Mahto, who was killed by Naxalites on March 4 this year. The by-poll for Ballia seat arose out of the death of sitting member Chandra Shekhar.

Polling for the four assembly seats has been necessitated due to the resignation of sitting members.

The Election Commission has decided to use electronic voting machines (EVMs) in these bye-elections in all the polling stations. According to the EC, adequate numbers of EVMs have been made available to the states and all steps have been taken to ensure that the poll is conducted smoothly with the help of these machines.

The Commission also said that the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect in the districts in which the whole or any part of the parliamentary or assembly constituencies are going for bye-elections. (ANI)

Three commit suicide in Lucknow by jumping from same building

Tuesday, July 24, 2007 | MP
Lucknow, July 23 (ANI): Three persons within a span of two hours committed suicide by jumping from a multi-storeyed building here on Monday leaving the residents shocked.

All three suicides were reported from a building, which houses the State legislators.

A middle-aged woman allegedly jumped from the building's eighth floor in the morning, which was followed by a couple committing suicide by jumping from its seventh floor.

All three died on the spot, police said.

The bodies of the couple were found on the other side of the Old Councillor's Residence, when police was conducting investigation on the first suicide case.

Police said that prima facie suggested both the incidents as suicide cases, and that the identities of the all the three deceased are yet to be established. (ANI)

Amethi will become a centre of education: Rahul Gandhi

Tuesday, July 24, 2007 | MP
Amethi (UP), July 23 (ANI): Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday said his constituency Amethi will soon become a centre of education in the country.

Kicking off his five-day tour of Amethi and Rae Bareli, his first tour to the Congress stronghold after the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in March-April, Rahul distributed cheques to 107-meritoroius students from the minority community under the aegis of Maulana Azad Foundation.

Congratulating students for securing good marks in Jagdishpur, he said that India is growing at a rate of nine percent because of education.

“We have educated our kids, and we need to keep it going further. We are stressing on higher education. We have brought IIIT for the purpose and are planning to bring other institutions also.

“Someone was telling me that what is the use of getting these institutes in Amethi when the students of Amethi are not getting admission in them. But I want to tell you that in the days to come, the students of Amethi will get admission in these institutions and Amethi will become a centre of education in the country,” he said.

Among the kids who got the cheques, one said, "I was planning to quit studies after doing my intermediate, but know that I have got some financial support and Rahul Gandhi has also asked me do something in life. I will try my best to do something for my country.”

From Jagdishpur, Rahul went to Salon, where he inaugurated a school.

Earlier today, he started his tour from Tiloi in Rae Bareli where he met party workers. (ANI)

Six members of UP Special Task Force killed in encounter with dacoits

Tuesday, July 24, 2007 | MP
Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh), July 23 (ANI): Six members of the Uttar Pradesh police’s Special Task Force (STF) were killed by the dacoits of Thokia gang near Chitrakoot District’s Kusumhia forest on Sunday night.

The dacoits attacked the STF team when it was returning after an encounter and managed to escape from the spot, police said.

In an earlier operation on Sunday evening, the STF team killed one dacoit of Thokia gang. This operation had to be aborted due to darkness.

The setback to the state police force came on the day the same force had shot dead dreaded dacoit Dadua and four other associates in dense forests of Chitrakoot District in an encounter.

Dadua was gunned down by the STF team in Markundi forests in the encounter that began Saturday night.

Dadua was carrying five hundred thousand rupees reward on his head and was wanted in various cases of murder, extortion and dacoity by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Police. (ANI)

Lucknow teachers protest ‘controversial’ book on sex education

Sunday, July 22, 2007 | MP
Lucknow, July 22 (ANI): School teachers in Lucknow have reacted strongly against a new syllabus book incorporating sex education, by burning its copies.

The protest comes even as the State Government issued an order asking the books be recalled, until the "offensive" portions are amended, following earlier protests by various sections over what is being called as "sexually explicit" text.

Agitated teachers protested outside the state education board office here yesterday, saying the books were still in circulation and could corrupt or "wrongly influence" young and budding minds.

"They have not taken any action. They are not taking action against the booksellers. The books are available in the market and the children are buying them. If July goes by, then the children will purchase all the books, they will not be able to return the books. We will continue with our agitation," said R. P. Mishra, President of the Middle School Teachers Association, adding that they had pledged not to teach the "embarrassing text".

Moves to bring sex out of the closet in the country have kicked up a morality debate between educators, who say sex education will reduce HIV rates, and critics, who fear it will corrupt young minds.

The governments of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have banned sex education in public schools because they say the learning modules are too explicit, and some pictures are too graphic. Kerala and Karnataka are also considering bans. (ANI)

BJP to chalk out revival plan for UP

Saturday, July 21, 2007 | MP
Lucknow, July 21 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party leaders are meeting today in their Lucknow headquarters to chalk out future course of action to strengthen its organisation's support base in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

According to party sources, leaders from every Assembly constituency would be gathering at the party headquarters under the chairmanship of state in-charge Arun Jaitley.

Yesterday, the party submitted a memorandum to UP Governor T V Rajeshwar complaining about the Chief Minister Mayawati's decision to abolish posts of deputy mayors, deputy village pradhans and similar such posts in district and nagar panchayats.

The process of organisational elections of the party at district and block level is still going on and is likely to be completed by July 31, the source added.

Uttar Pradesh boy can write on mustard seeds!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007 | MP
Fatehgarh (Uttar Pradesh), July 17 (ANI): Twenty four-year-old Atul Kumar of Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehgarh area has trained himself into a master calligrapher who creates miniature drawings using magnifying glass.

A resident of Nitganj in Farrukhabad District, Atul Kumar has earned a number of awards for his skill in micro-calligraphy.

Atul says: "I have nurtured this art as a hobby since childhood. I want to be enlisted in the Guinness Book of World Records.”

Atul has not had any formal training in this art.

Among his many prized works is a sentence 'I love India' written on a mustard seed.

Mustard seed is normally about 1/20th of an inch in size. And, Atul using a fine writing instrument and a magnifying glass, writes on this tiny seed with a remarkable clarity which is visible only when magnified.

Atul has made various small showpieces like a nail-sized book titled 'Uttar Pradesh, Uttam Pradesh', an inch sized “Ludo” game board recently.

Employed in the marketing department of a private company, Atul spends about 50 per cent of his salary to pursue his hobby of micro calligraphy.

Atul says, “I am working as a marketing consultant in a private company. If I got some support from anyone, I am sure I can perform much better.”

Atul’s friends have high admiration for his talent.

Shyam, one of Atul’s friends, said: "Such a talent is rare. If he (Atul) can get some help from the Government or any other organisation, his talent can work wonders. Atul has approached the Limca Book of Records authorities for recognition of his talent.”

His ultimate wish is to get his name registered in the Guinness Book of World Records. (ANI)

Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia’s spirit wanders in Uttar Pradesh

Tuesday, July 17, 2007 | MP
Mota (Bhongaon) (U.P), July 16 (ANI): Villagers of Morta in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhongaon Tehsil cannot forget the 2001 airplane crash in which Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia and seven others were killed.

The villagers feel that the place is haunted. They feel that the troubled spirits have not been put to rest properly.

Many villagers have complained of getting thrashed or pushed while crossing the tragic spot in the fields in Mota Village of Mainpuri District, where the aircrassh occurred.

Dayanand, the owner of the field where the plane crash took place, says that he dreads venturing out into the fields.

He says: "Ever since this accident happened, I have been hearing sounds of people crying and shouting. I am afraid to enter the fields.”

Nathuram, another villager, said: "We are afraid to cross the fields as the spirits disturb us." Ali Daraj, another villager, said: "The spirits wander here and trouble all of us. We are worried and terrified. "

On the fateful afternoon of September 30, 2001 Madhavrao Scindia, the four journalists, Anju Sharma of Hindustan Times, Sanjeev Sinha of Indian Express, Ranjan Jha and Gopal Bisht, correspondent and photographer of Aaj Tak - Mr. Scindia's public relations man, Rupinder Singh, and pilot, Ray Gautam and co-pilot, Ritu Malik died in the air crash when they were on their way from Delhi to Kanpur.

There were travelling in a Cessna C-90 owned by the Jindal group.

A board reading Madhavrao Scindia Memorial has been erected in the field, but nothing beyond that has been done

Dayanand, the owner of the field, believes a memorial should be built at the place. He says: “I request the Government to build some memorial for the departed, so that their souls can rest in peace."
(ANI)

Moradabad kid has a seven feet Cobra as his best friend!

Sunday, July 15, 2007 | MP
By Vibhav Porov

Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh), July 14 (ANI): Believe it or not, a four-and-half-year old in Uttar Pradesh’s Mordabad District has found a friend in a seven foot Cobra!

Amir, son of a farmer in Sambhal, spotted the snake while accompanying his father to the fields last week. Since then the reptile has become his pal and playmate.

The little boy loves spending maximum time with this new friend whom he has kept at his home. He is unmindful of fear of snake and likes to play with it.

Mohammad Sharief, Amir’s uncle, said: "This snake lives with my nephew all the time and even sleeps with him. Initially, we were afraid and kept a watch. But now everything is normal . The snake eats whatever the boy provides. This snake drinks even tea."

Dr.Kamal Saxena, Reader of Zoology with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) views such relationships just another instance of man-reptile relationship.

He said: "Snake has a good sensibility. We all have heard about the tales of friendship of man and snake in our childhood. Snakes can smell and feel." (ANI)

UP village threatens to banish AIDS victim

Thursday, July 12, 2007 | MP
Ramgarh (Uttar Paradesh), July 12 (ANI): The case of societal discrimination has come to light when Uttar Pradesh’s Ramgarh village has threatened to ostracise an AIDS victim from community.

Vijayshankar Pandey, a villager, who contracted the disease during a blood transfusion after an operation, said villagers are threatening to throw him out of his house.

A farmer by profession, Vijayshankar has already sold more than a fourth of his farmland for his treatment.

"When villagers came to know that I was HIV+ they are trying to push us out of the village. We have complained to the administration but our pleas have fallen to deaf ears,” Vijayshankar said.

Vijayshankar’s wife Shilu Pandey, who did not have the disease, said it was becoming difficult for them to live in the village.

"It has become difficult for us to venture out of the house. They threaten to kill us. We have complained to the police. But they are not afraid of the police and have threatened us that they would throw us out of the village," she said.

Villagers, however, were adamant to ostracize the couple. Vidyanchal, a villager said that we want that they should leave the village, adding that we are not concerned where they would go.

The police said they were investigating whether the villagers had actually ostracized them and passed the buck on the couple.

"Though the couple complained that the villagers want them out of the village but they are in confrontation with a particular Yadav family. Action has been taken against the family. Orders have been issued and police is looking into the matter," said Ashok Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Allahabad.

Discrimination of AIDS victims in predominantly rural India is on the rise. There have been instances of doctors denying treatment to AIDS victims or schools throwing out students with HIV positive virus.

According to a recent government report, India has a caseload of two and a half million AIDS patients. (ANI)

Nitish Katara murder case: Key witness hospitalised under suspicious circumstances

Thursday, July 12, 2007 | MP
Ghaziabad (UP), July 12 (ANI): Key witness in 2002 Nitish Katara murder case, Ajay Katara was today hospitalised here under suspicious circumstances.

Ajay is suspected of being poisoned. However, his condition is reportedly stable.

After gaining consciousness he gave the names of the people with whom he had dinner last night.

Ajay Katara is in no way related to deceased Nitish Katara but he is the lone witness who saw Nitish alive for the last time.

Ajay had earlier complained that he was being pressurised to withdraw from the case, and there was a threat to his life.

Accordingly, he was provided police protection.

Ajay was set to appear before the court on July 27 in connection with the case.

Nitish Katara, the son of an IAS officer, was murdered on the night of February 16, 2002 after being kidnapped allegedly by Vikas and Vishal, the son and nephew of Uttar Pradesh politician D P Yadav, as they were unhappy about his growing affinity with their sister Bharti Yadav.

On July 10, a Delhi sessions court had issued warrant of arrest against Sub-inspector J K Gangwar of Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with the Katara murder case after he failed to appear before the Court to record his statement. (ANI)

Delhi Court orders arrest of UP cop in Katara murder case

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 | MP
New Delhi, July 10 (ANI): A Delhi sessions court today issued warrant of arrest against Sub-inspector J K Gangwar of Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with Nitish Katara murder case after he failed to appear before the Court to record his statement.

Gangwar is said to have recovered a hammer that was reportedly used to kill Nitish Katara.

Additional Session Judge Ravinder Kaur, who was hearing the case, has fixed July 27 as the next date of hearing.

Meanwhile, Public Prosecutor B S Joon requested the court to drop Gaurav Gupta, a friend of the Nitish Katara, as a prosecution witness.

Another accused Sukhdev Pehlwan, who was working at a liquor shop, allegedly owned by the controversial UP politician D P Yadav, is being tried separately folowing his arrest in UP’s Hardoi District in 2005.

Pehlwan is alleged to have disposed off Katara's body on the inrtervening night of February 16-17, 2002.

Katara, the son of an IAS officer, was murdered after being kidnapped allegedly by Vikas and Vishal, the son and nephew of D P Yadav, as they were unhappy about his growing affinity with their sister Bharti Yadav.

Bharti Yadav, daughter of D P Yadav, had earlier come from London, to record her testimony in the case. She completed the recording of her testimony before Justice Kaur on November 29, 2006. (ANI)

Uttar Pradesh villagers visit Sonbhadra to get rid of spirits

Saturday, July 7, 2007 | MP
Pannugunj (Sonbhadra) (U.P), July 6: The annual Sonbhadra fair which was held earlier this week was frequented, among others, by hundreds of people who wanted to rid themselves of evil spirits.

Pannuganj village was the venue where people possessed by ‘evil spirits’ gathered to be treated by witch doctors, locally known as 'Ojhas'.

The Ojhas claim to possess supernatural powers that ‘enable’ them to drive away evil spirits. They say that they are just ‘helping’ people in trouble. The ‘spirit’ cannot be got rid of by modern medicine, they say.

Sukhi Ram, organiser of the fair and an exorcist says: "I have come here to solve the problem of the people troubled by spirits."

People attending the fair believed that the evil spirits cause a sudden change in a person’s social behaviour.

Shukalu, one such ‘patient’ said: "Earlier this year, I started beating people and do strange things. That's why I have come here."

Social organisations have been working in the area to rid the people of the superstitions, who are largely uneducated.

Sociologists say many of the Ojhas are con artists, making money out of gullible and vulnerable people. (ANI)

Allahabad man curves 25 one rupee coins by thumb!

Friday, July 6, 2007 | MP
Allahabad, July 5 (ANI): A 35-year-old yoga practitioner here left many people in utter disbelief when he curved 25 one rupee coins by his thumb in one go at the Lord Hanuman Temple near river Ganges.

Santosh Kumar, an average built farmer, has been a yoga enthusiast. He claims that he has developed the strength to bend the rupee coins through yoga.

Santosh practices yoga and does various Sadhanas (meditation techniques). He was himself surprised at the strength that he acquired. He says:”Today, I curved 25 coins using my thumb. I couldn’t believe whether it was done by me or Lord Hanuman himself."

Anand Giri, the temple priest, claims that the ‘miracle’ has been possible due to yoga. (ANI)

Cabinet approves setting up of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology

Friday, July 6, 2007 | MP
New Delhi, July 5 (ANI): The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology at Jias in Uttar Pradesh’s Rai Bareli District.

The commencement of the basic course from the 2008-09 academic session, creation of various posts in the academic and supporting staff and budgetary support of Rs.285 crore to the institute during 11th Five Year Plan.

The institute will serve as the fountain-head for the nurturing of world-class human resources capable of serving as the leaders and innovators of tomorrow in the broad field of petroleum technology and engineering covering the entire hydrocarbon value chain.

This institute will also serve the needs of the petroleum sector both in India and abroad and will be partially funded by Oil Industry Development Board.

A bill will be introduced in the ensuing session of Parliament. (ANI)

Allahabad HC to hear convict’s plea in Manjunath murder case

Monday, July 2, 2007 | MP
Lucknow, July 2 (ANI): The Allahabad High Court will begin today the final hearing on the appeal filed by Pawan Mittal, who was found guilty and sentenced to death for the murder of Indian Oil Sales Manager Manjunath Shanmugam by a District Court.

While the District Court at Lakhimpur Kheri sentenced prime accused Pawan Mittal to death, seven other convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder.

Five associates of Mittal had already filed appeal in the High Court earlier, challenging the lower court order.

The court had found the accused guilty of murder, conspiracy and destruction of evidence.

Manjunath, 27, an IIM-Lucknow graduate, was shot at the Mittal Petrol Pump Station in Lakhimpur Kheri District's Gola area in Uttar Pradesh on November 19, 2005.

He had warned Pawan Kumar Mittal alias Monu, the petrol pump owner's son, that the pump would be sealed if he didn't stop selling adulterated diesel.

Manjunathan eventually sealed the Mittal Automobile Petrol Pump for adulteration of fuel. He had also recommended the cancellation of the petrol pump's licence.

His body was recovered a few days later in neighbouring Sitapur District. (ANI)

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