Five sentenced to life in murder case Saturday, October 27, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: A city court sentenced five men to life imprisonment for killing two persons, including a minor, in April 1998, following a dispute over bootlegging.
Additional sessions judge Z K Sayyad sentenced Alam Parmar, Mushtaq Parmar, Irfan Parmar, Mohammad Hussain Chipa, Anwar Chotabhai Mewati, for attacking and killing Natrajan and a 12-year--old boy Yusuf.
According to the prosecution, the dispute arose over jurisdiction in the business of smuggled liquor. The five accused had gone to settle scores at Natrajan's place on April 22, 1998.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Junagadh :: Fire crackers seized at Junagadh Saturday, October 27, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
JUNAGADH: The district administration seized fire crackers worth Rs 2.59 lakh on Thursday from traders who had no licence to sell the item.
Assistant collector Ajay Bhadu on instructions of collector Sunayna Tomar carried out raids and found stock registers of fire crackers were not properly maintained and firecrackers were sold without any licence.
The administration has advised traders in the city and rural areas to get licence under the Explosives Act if they wished to stock fire crackers.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
AUDA uses Canadian tech for quake-proof housing Friday, October 26, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority has constructed about 1,400 'quake-proof' dwelling units for the economically-weaker sections (EWS) using Canadian technology. The four-storeyed box-shaped units have been made entirely with cement and concrete mixture to withstand quake impact of higher magnitude.
The blocks constructed have been made on steel structures filled with concrete giving an additional strength to the structure. "We have decided to build 5,000 such units under EWS scheme, and 2,000 of these would be allotted to beneficiaries by March 2002," AUDA chairman Surendra Patel told reporters.
Moreover, AUDA has decided to itself build dwellings under EWS scheme on the 5 per cent land allotted in its every town planning scheme. The move was aimed at discouraging builders from illegal purchase of land for commercial purposes. "EWS land was misused in the past for commercial purpose, and beneficiaries were deprived of their right," Patel added.
He said the dwelling units were safe and prepared speedily using aluminium shutters which give a smooth finish to the units. AUDA has put a price tag of Rs 65,000 per unit for 21 yards construction area, with a Rs 50,000 loan available.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
A crash course in avoiding accidents Friday, October 26, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: It is not a cost-cutting exercise and drivers of government vehicles are not being laid off. But guess what Class I and Class II gazetted officers of Gujarat are getting trained in these days? Well, many of them are attending a course on "basic auto mechanics and maintenance" to try and understand their vehicle better and learn to repair it if it breaks down.
The government sanctioned funds last year to train senior officials in "skilled driving" and tackling vehicle problems. The programme comes in the wake of instances in the past where officials have either died or suffered injuries while driving, or were stranded as the vehicle broke down.
The officials come out all greasy and laden with dust after the course, which offers practical tips on tending to minor mechanical problems. The proposal was mooted by Commissioner of Training (Gujarat) Fateh Singh Jasol, who is also director of Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration, in April last year.
SPIPA is offering a single-day package targeted at gazetted and IAS, IPS and IFS officers. The programme is being conducted in collaboration with Western India Automobile Association.
It covers detailed engine functioning of four-wheelers _from age-old Ambassadors with carburettors to the latest multi-point fuel injection system used in computer-guided modern cars. Mechanics of diesel engines are also explained to the officials, as a large number of government vehicles are powered by the fuel.
About 94 officials have so far attended the classes, where they learnt about the functioning of brakes, transmission of power from engine to wheels and lubricating and cooling systems.
"We give them practical tips on driving in different terrain, night driving and tackling emergencies," informs course co-ordinator Sameer Pathak of WIAA.
The course is divided into six sessions comprising auto mechanism, maintenance, scientific methods of driving, drivers' physical and mental aspects, city driving and highway driving. It also covers speeding on different surfaces and braking, avoiding pedestrians, parking techniques, overtaking, tunnel travel and driving on hilly ways.
While the government has recognised the importance of the programme, there are very few takers. Till date, the institute could mobilise candidates for just five classes. "There is no shortage of funds but shortage of officials," remarks Jasol.
Those who have attended the course are all praise for it. Says additional collector VP Patel, " I now enjoy driving. Earlier, it was a burden."
N S Vora, director of Employees' State Insurance Scheme says, "We can understand our engine, its requirement better." Vora, who had met with an accident while on his way to Ankleshwar, admits he feels much more responsible while driving.
"It's a very relevant training, says IAS officer and additional commissioners in the Sale Tax department, Raj Gopal. "The course should be made compulsory for all seeking licences."
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Cable operator's suicide bid at Star office on C G Road Friday, October 26, 2001
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: A cable operator was detained by the police on Tuesday for allegedly attempting suicide in the STAR TV control room on C G road.
According to the police, Ishwar Kishanlal Chaudhary or Lala Chaudhary, a cable operator at Bapunagar, had gone to the STAR TV control room located in the Rembrandt building in the afternoon apparently to make a payment and after a scuffle with the control room manager doused himself with kerosene and attempted suicide.
The argument reportedly erupted over increasing the number of connections for which the control room manager demanded more money. "Chaudhary apparently insisted that he wanted connections now and would payt later", said police inspector AC Jadeja.
However, Ahmedabad Cable Operators' Association president Pramod Pandya alleged that the control room manager had tried to set Chaudhary on fire. "Chaudhary wanted that he increase the number of connections for which the manager demanded Rs 75,000", said Pandya.
But the police have statements from the watchman in the building to establish that Chaudhary had poured kerosene on himself allegedly in a bid to commit suicide. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. but the FIR was registered late in the night.
Chaudhary has been arrested under section 309 of the IPC. When contacted for his version, STAR TV regional manager in charge of Gujarat Rajnish Mathur said, 'nothing has happened, there is just a misunderstanding that needs to be sorted out'.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
