Hijacked train in Jharkhand released

      Ranchi (Jharkhand): The Naxalites finally released the passengers who were held captive in the 628 down Barwadih- Mugalsarai passenger train which was hijacked on Monday evening near Heyagarha Railway Station in Jharkhand's Latehar district. The Naxalites have released the train without doing any harm to the passengers. Around 400 security personnel reached the spot. Armed activists of Naxalite group Communist Party of India (Maoist) had stopped the train carrying passengers near a dense forest and also attacked the driver near Heyagarha station. However, all the passengers of the train are reported to be safe, General Railway Police Spokesman S R Gandhi said. The incident happened close to the festival of colours, Holi, when the naxalites stopped the train on its destination from Barwadih in Jharkhand to Mughalsarai in Uttar Pradesh (UP) close to a thick jungle between Heyagarha and Kumudi stations at around 7:30 p.m. on Monday. The Naxalites took this step to protest against the killing of one of their comrades Jagannath Koiri in a police encounter in Palamau district on March 3, Verma said. The incident took place amidst the 24 hours bandh called by the naxalites in Palamau division, which also covers Latehar district to protest the killing. "There is no attack on the passengers. The staff of the goods train passing by reported of no attack on passengers," Verma said.

Bihar CM shifts to 1 Anne Marg (Go To Top)

     Patna: Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, today shifted to 1 Anne Marg, the official residence. After the 15-year long stay of former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi, the sprawling bungalow at 1 Anne Marg was given a new look to welcome the new Chief Minister of the State. Lalu and Rabri had vacated the former official residence on February 2 and shifted to their new official residence at 10 Circular Road. "The State government in future will ensure that no Chief Minister will wait for a long period to shift to 1 Anne Marg. It will be officially designated as CM's residence," said CM Nitish Kumar. He also stated that the State Government had demolished 'illegal' parts of bungalow. "The State government has demolished the structures that were constructed for commercial use. Alterations were made to ensure a regular interaction with public and effective monitoring. Systems will be installed for video conferencing," said CM Nitish Kumar. This January, an NGO had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Patna High Court against misuse of the official residence by former Chief Minister Lalu and Rabri for commercial purposes. The state building and construction department has demolished all illegal constructions including a stable, cowshed, an outhouse, a pond, and a fancy conference room constructed during the 15-year- long stay of Lalu and Rabri in the sprawling bungalow.

It's rain that plays spoiler this Holi  (Go To Top)
by Sudhakar

      New Delhi: The Holi eve has been marred not by any terrorist threat but by unseasonal rainfall in the entire northern belt of India. The wet Holi has dampened the mood of the public at large and the traders in particular who complained that the sales have dipped due to the rains that has dampened the weather as well as the sales. "The market for Holi this year is not at all good, the weather god is all responsible for the dip in the sales," said Shiv Narayan, a retail shopkeeper of colours who has been selling the colours for the last 40 years in India's biggest wholesale market, Sadar bazaar in Delhi. Asked about any terrorist threat that also played spoiler, Shiv replied: "Forget about terror here, it's such a festival whose enthusiasm could not be belittled by any terrorist threat". He is not the only one as Shiv's experience is also echoed by Tariq, a shopkeeper dealing with sales of water pistols that normally remains in high demand during this festival of colours. On asked how was the mood of the market during this year's Holi, Tariq replied: "Very bad as people are not coming out of their homes due to the rain and the sudden dip in the temperature with the overcast sky have not enthused the people. Since last week, Delhi along with the northern part of India is receiving rainfall due to the Western Disturbances that have reached India almost a month late. The festival of Holi that witness a riot of colours and announces the advent of spring is generally accompanied with clear sunny skies and a moderate temperature. But a late and sudden advent of Western disturbances accompanied with a fall in the temperature has been 'amusing' for people. Roshan, who was in the Sadar bazaar for shopping colours and water pistols for the family said: "For youngsters rain should not matter and we feel that the wet Holi would be more enjoyable; it is something that is unexpected as we never had a Holi in rains". With such high spirits, there were many youngsters who along with shopping for colours and enquiring about new and fancy products played Holi in the market. With the sales of this seasonal product plummeting down, the consumers who have braved rains and have arrived in the market seem to be the beneficiaries. Sunder Nath who has come all the way from Sahadra said: "The prices are low and with rupees 400, I have been able to purchase a lot of colours and other things that would have cost me close to a thousand rupees". The police personnel, who were constantly keeping an eye on suspicious looking objects , said they were cautious and have been busy monitoring people coming in and out of the market , and added "But we are mere human and error could happen, it is the almighty God on whom a lot depends". "May God bless tomorrow with sunshine", quips a fellow policeman, who later told that he enjoys playing Holi.

Shekhar Kapur, Blanchett for 'Elizabeth' (Go To Top)

     London: Indian film-maker Shekhar Kapur will soon have cameras rolling as he gets ready to return to the sets of his 1998 Oscar nominated film 'Elizabeth' for a sequel titled 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age'. According to the BBC, the filming for the sequel, which will showcase the events of the Virgin Queen's life 15 years into her reign as England's monarch, is set to begin in April this year. It will revolve around Elizabeth's relationship with Mary Queen of Scots. Actress Cate Blanchett, who played the lead in the original has been roped in to play Elizabeth I in the sequel as well. The character of Mary, Queen of Scots will be played by Samantha Morton. Hollywood veteran Geoffrey Rush will also be reprising his role of spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham in the movie, and British heartthrob Clive Owen will be joining the cast as Sir Walter Raleigh. Kapur's 'Elizabeth' not only won six out of its 12 Bafta nominations, also took home an Oscar in 1999 for the best make up.

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