Govt gets ready for T-rouble

HYDERABAD: As the deadline nears for the Srikrishna Committee to submit its report on the contentious issue of division of the state, authorities have gone into an overdrive to handle any unrest.

While the state government has sought from the Centre 50 companies of paramilitary forces specifically for Hyderabad and its surroundings, the APSRTC management has begun installing iron grills on 500 of its buses to protect its drivers and passengers from stone pelters. The government has also initiated surveillance on key student leaders by Special Branch and Intelligence sleuths.

The state's request for 50 companies (each company has 100 personnel) is based on its assessment of the number of hot spots. These include Osmania University, Nizam and Saifabad Colleges, Secretariat, Assembly, DGP's office and premises of prominent advocates of united AP. In the preliminary security review meet held a few days ago, it was decided that about 17 companies of paramilitary forces would be deployed at the main troublespot - OU; seven in the central zone which includes Nizam and Saifabad colleges, Secretariat, Assembly and DGP's office; 2 in west zone; 5 in Cyberabad and the rest to be utilised as per the requirement.

"We have made request with the centre for 50 companies. They may not give us what we asked for but at least 35 companies at the minimum would be required," said an official.

Meanwhile, APSRTC, which suffered losses worth crores of rupees in the agitations, is also planning to give it's buses an armour against stones. Headed by former city police commissioner B Prasada Rao, APSRTC officials have adopted a police method and armed the buses' windshields and side windows with iron grills.

OU students under surveillance

According to APSRTC ED (Greater Hyderabad) G Jaya Rao, they have already made 500 iron grills and distributed them to 24 bus depots. "The grills will be fixed on buses operating in vulnerable areas," the ED said.

Osmania University, the usual trouble spot, is also facing the heat from an alert government. Special Branch and Intelligence sleuths are keeping an eye on student leaders of the OU-TSJAC. Following protests, the university authorities had put off most of the exams scheduled for Saturday.

However, the remaining exams are scheduled to be held under unprecedented security. While the authorities are apprehensive that the students would agitate and get the other exams too postponed, cops were wary that insistence on the part of the OU might precipitate violence expected after December 31. The exams are being held at 20 centres. Read More on TOI

Jagan flexi board kicks up a row in Anaparthi

ANAPARTHI (EAST GODAVARI): A controversial flexi board put up by Jagan fans created a furore in the town on Tuesday with dalits taking strong objection to the portrayal of minister P Shankar Rao.

Sources said dalit leaders are planning to stage a dharna during Jagan's tour of Anaparthi on Wednesday. They said Shankar Rao, a dalit, was insulted by showing him as a dog along with two other senior leaders -- K Keshava Rao and V Hanumantha Rao -- guarding Sonia Gandhi in the board, which had sprouted in Kutukuluru village in Anaparthi constituency in East Godavari.

The flexi board seeks to present the contrast between `banisatvam' (slavery) and `atma gouravam (self-respect).' While three dogs are shown under the title of `slavery' carrying the pictures of Shankar Rao, Keshava Rao and Rajya Sabha member VHR kneeling in front of Sonia, the caption `self-respect' shows the pictures of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and his son Jagan greeting the public.

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Guntur boy wins silver in science olympiad

MUMBAI: Indian students have bagged three gold and an equal number of silver medals at the International Junior Science Olympiad (Ijso) held at Abuja in Nigeria.

Ijso, an annual individual and team competition in natural sciences for students in the age group of 14-15 years was held between December 2 and 11.

Aayush Sharma from Jaipur, Yash Gupta from Udaipur and Ashwin Sreenivas from Kochi, Kerala won the gold, while Harine Ravichandiran, N Bharath Sivaram from Chennai and Sai Akhil Suggu from Guntur notched the silver medals, P K Joshi from Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education who led the team said on Tuesday.

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ISB student's rotting body found in hostel

HYDERABAD: A highly decomposed body of an Indian School of Business (ISB) student was discovered by cops from the hostel room on Tuesday. Cops suspect that the man, Lakshminarayan Iyer (31), a Post-Graduate Programme (PGP) student from Chennai, had committed suicide a few days ago, probably due to depression brought on by health problems.

While his parents are settled in Mumbai, ISB sources said that Iyer, a bachelor, had worked in Bangalore for eight years in IT-enabled Services before joining the one-year PG programme. His body remained undiscovered as housekeeping staff had kept off the room since he had put a 'do not disturb' board. It was opened after the staff found a foul odour emanating from the room. He had last attended classed on Dec. 8. Read more on TOI

Hurdles ahead for Bill to check MFIs

HYDERABAD: The steps taken by the previous Rosaiah regime in reining in the micro financing institutions (MFIs) may not be followed up soon by the Kiran Kumar Reddy government. As a result, the Bill on MFIs, which is said to be opposed by some Congress legislators as well as the main opposition TDP, is unlikely to be passed easily. It is slated to come up for discussion in the Assembly on Tuesday.

According to sources, while the TDP has already written to deputy speaker Nadendla Manohar urging him to refer the Bill to a select committee, several ruling party members including chief whip M Bhatti Vikramarka and whip Kondru Murali have raised objections over the proposed legislation on the grounds that it would leave rural women more dependent on private money lenders.

Some Congress MLAs also expressed their reservations on the Bill stating that it would lead to chaos in villages as poor people would end up with no funds. Concerned over the impending financial crisis in rural areas, these MLAs have represented the matter to rural development minister Manikya Vara Prasad, who in turn asked them to convince self-help groups minister Sunitha Laxma Reddy to make appropriate changes in the proposed Bill.

"We are facing the wrath of SHGs who are hit by the MFIs' decision to stop fresh lending. I have asked my district minister to oppose this in the cabinet meeting," said an MLA from Guntur which has the highest number of MFIs. But another MLA who is in favour of the legislation said that opposition to the Bill is being drummed by the MFIs themselves. "They have lobbied with the MLAs," he said.

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CBI set to file chargesheet in Mecca Masjid terror attack Read more: CBI set to file chargesheet in Mecca Masjid terror attack - The Times of India h

HYDERABAD: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is all set to file the chargesheet in the Mecca Masjid blast case. The blast during Friday prayers at the historic mosque on May 18, 2007, had claimed nine lives.

According to sources, CBI's Special Crime Branch Team 3 will file the chargesheet in crime number RC 5, pertaining to Mecca blasts case in the court of XIVth Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Nampally criminal courts complex.

The arrested accused in the case - Devender Gupta, Lokesh Sharma, Nabakumar Sarkar alias Swami Aseemanand and two absconding accused, Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangra - all belonging to right-wing fundamentalist outfits, are likely to be charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosive Substances Act. The other accused Sunil Joshi was shot dead by three persons in December 2007 near his house in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh. Indresh Kumar, an RSS activist, might be named as an accused.

The chargesheet would be filed by additional SP (CBI) Tyagaraja Balaji, who is also the chief investigating officer of the case. The mandatory period for filing the chargesheet expired in September and the CBI sought and secured 90 more days to finish investigation from the local court. The time given by the court ends on December 14. Read more:

Maoists make a comeback in Nallamala

MAHBUBNAGAR/NIZAMABAD: As if the apprehensions over the entry of Maoists into north Telangana districts aren't enough, there are some reports that the rebels have made incursions into the thick Nallamala forests also, giving sleepless night to the cops.

If sources are to be believed, special dalams led by Maoist commander Bontha Parvathamma entered the Nallamala zone as part of the PLGA week celebrations. Sources said Parvathamma had sneaked into the Nallamala from Chhattisgarh where she has been operating for some years. "The Maoist leadership is going all out to make its presence felt in the areas where its leaders and cadres were driven out six years ago," sources said.

Parvathamma, who belongs to Lakshmapur village in Amrabad mandal of Mahbubnagar district, went underground after her husband Lingaiah was shot dead in an encounter 12 years ago in Yendabhatla forests in Nagarkurnool mandal. She shifted her base to Chhattisgarh and took part in famine raids and attacks on police stations.

Sources said she was sent back by the Maoist leadership to establish the cadre base in Nallamala region. Atchampet CI Kishan said they have noticed the movements of some dalams deep inside the jungles and interior villages. "We have intensified combing to flush out the rebels," he said. Senior police officials however ruled out the presence of a large number of armed dalams in Nallamala.

Meanwhile, after a gap of 5-6 years, Maoist movement was seen in Nizamabad and Karimnagar border areas. Sources said some armed Maoists paid tributes to the martyrs' pylons in the deep forest two days ago at Uppulur village in Kammarpalli mandal in Nizamabad and Varshakonda and Dabba villages in Karimnagar district. Read More

Jagan camp calls KVP 'a broker

HYDERABAD/WARANGAL: After attacking Sonia Gandhi, the Jagan camp has turned its guns on Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's closest aide K V P Ramchandra Rao. In a letter to the Rajya Sabha MP on Friday, Jagan loyalist and Parkal MLA Konda Surekha lashed out at KVP terming him as a 'broker' who turned Jalayaganam into 'dhanayagnam.' She also questioned KVP's silence on the death of his friend YSR in a chopper crash. KVP was not available for comments.

"YSR's death is not accidental. There are apprehensions that he was murdered. As political and security advisor, you did not even bother to clarify the doubts of the people and resign from the post," she said in her four-page letter. She held KVP responsible for YSR's death as he didn't discharge his duties as government's security advisor. "If you are claiming to be the closest friend of YSR, why didn't you resign immediately after his death," she asked.

Konda Surekha stated that it was KVP who got the signatures of 153 MLAs supporting Jagan as CM after YSR's untimely death. "But you conveniently kept quiet when accusations started flying thick and fast that Jagan was behind the signature campaign to anoint himself as CM to succeed his father. You have deliberately allowed Jagan's name to be tarnished among the people," she pointed out.

She wondered what was that compelled KVP to desert YSR's son and indulge in political games. "Jagan does not need KVP as people of the state are with Jagan," she emphasised.

She also blamed KVP for the massive corruption in Jalayagnam scheme. She demanded a CBI probe into KVP's assets after he was made the government advisor. "Before your advisory role, what was your economic status?" she questioned and alleged that KVP had amassed wealth in crores in the past six years. Read More

Onion prices reached high, touch Rs 43/kg in city

HYDERABAD: Onion prices in the city have reached a new high, especially at upscale supermarkets with prices reaching as high as Rs 43 per kg, while it continues to sell between Rs 28 and Rs 36 at regular kirana/ general stores.

Though none of the supermarket managers were willing to go on record, all of them said that the price escalation has occurred in the past 72 hours, especially after the recent unseasonal rainfall across the country. The state gets its supply of onion from Maharashtra and Karnataka. Sources said the stocks from Nasik in Maharashtra is continuing to come in but the flow from the other neighbouring state has dwindled. "Hence, anticipating a shortfall in the next few days, upmarket outlets have indiscriminately jacked up the price of onion," said sources. Read More

Jagan camp hits back at Hanumanth Rao

HYDERABAD: The war of words between Congress and Jagan camp has begun. While senior leader V Hanumantha Rao alleged that Jagan pursued `sava rajakeeyalu' (politics over dead bodies) in his pursuit to grab power, Jagan's close follower Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy said Congress owes an explanation to the people when Rajiv Gandhi was made PM hours after Indira Gandhi was assassinated.

"Hectic efforts were made to anoint Rajiv as PM even when the entire nation was mourning Indira Gandhi's death. Was it not politics over dead bodies?" Chevireddy questioned.

He ridiculed VHR's claims that Jagan had forced the signatures of 153 MLAs to make him as CM even before his father YSR's body was cremated. "The MLAs voluntarily signed for Jagan who, as per high command's orders, proposed Rosaiah as CM later," he recalled. Read More