24 hours strike hits normal life in Manipur

    Imphal: Normal life in Manipur was disrupted following the 24-hour strike by the Joint Action Committee on Saturday evening to protest the killing of Moirangmayum Indrasen, the President of Indo-Myanmar Friendship Chamber of Commerce, by the underground People's United Liberation Front (PULF). Indrasen was abducted by the insurgent group on December 21, 2005 near the Pallel forest checkpost in the state's Thoubal district while returning from Moreh and the outfit had demanded a ransom of six crore rupees. He was later gunned down and his body recovered at Yairipok Malom Lamkhai on January 2, 2006. According to reports, markets, shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed across the state for the day. However, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the state as the administration had taken all precautionary measures. The strike was widely supported by various organisations of Manipur including Human Rights Alert and "Meira paibi" groups.

BSP chief Mayawati turns 50 (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati celebrated her 50th birthday here on Sunday. On the occasion, senior BSP leader Kanshi Ram released two volumes of 'Mera Sangharshmay Jivan evam Bahujan Movement Ka Safarnama', written by Mayawati in New Delhi today. Addressing her well-wishers on the occasion, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister announced to form a Bahujan Prerna Trust for the welfare of the backward classes. "On the occasion of my 50th birthday today, I announce to form the Bahujan Prerna Trust for the welfare of the Bahujan samaj. We do not have any ambitious project, but with the help of the trust we will be able to strengthen the Bahujan Movement," she said. Commenting on her party's effort to improve the socio-economic status of the backward classes, Mayawati said that with the help of the book she has tried to inform people about the Bahujan Movement. "The main aim of the book is to inform people about my attempt to improve the condition of the backward classes. I have also tried to educate people about the Bahujan Movement. Through the book, I have also tried to give proper and correct information about the movement," Mayawati said. The book in Hindi runs into 2,250 pages. She also lauded the effort of BSP founder Kanshi Ram to improve the status of the backward classes. Large number of BSP supporters and her well-wishers thronged the function at her residence here with flowers and sweets to wish her happy birthday.

Tihar Jail in Delhi to introduce photo i-cards (Go To Top)

    New Delhi: Tihar Jail will issue photo identity cards to visitors and it will have X-Ray scanners installed at all the entry points soon. In a decision to step up the security arrangements in Tihar jail X-Ray scanners will be installed at all the nine entry points and photo identity cards will be issued to visitors from later this month. Tihar Jail Public Relation Officer, Sunil Kumar said: "The X-Ray scanners will be installed at all the nine entry points. The scanners will be helpful in issuing identity cards with photographs to visitors coming to the jail". The decision has been taken following the Kain Committee report set up after the escape of Sher Singh Rana from the Tihar Jail in 2004 recommending such facilities. The scanners procured at a cost of Rs 14 lakh will completely check any prohibitory items, like currency notes, narcotics, cell phones and costly metals from being taken into the jail premises by anybody, Kumar said.0 In the Asia's largest jail, nearly three thousand visitors turn up everyday to meet about 13,000 inmates. Perturbed by the escape of Sher Singh Rana, the key accused in the Phoolan Devi murder case, and several other unsavory incidents, the National Capital Territory had set up a five- member security experts committee to look into the jail escape and also recommend measures to upgrade security, both in terms of equipment and security systems in Tihar Jail.

   The security experts committee has been formed with the approval of the Lt-Governor of Delhi, Vijay Kapoor. The five-member committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of then Special Commissioner of Police (Administration and Security) S. K. Kain with members like Additional Commissioner of Police (Security) J. K. Sharma, Deputy Director (Tech) Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, Additional Secretary (Home) NCT Delhi A. S. Dagar and Deputy Commissioner of Police (3rd Battalion) Purshotam Dass. The five-member committee formed in 2004 had recommended measures to upgrade security, both in terms of equipment and security systems. After the Rana escape, the whole security system was reviewed gates were realigned and access to the jail was controlled. Frisking and identification checks were carried out at the entry gates, replacing the earlier system of free access. Metal and hand detectors were also installed at the entrance of every jail at Tihar Jail. Still, on July 6, 2005, 13 undertrials escaped from the Tihar Jail.

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