Date:21/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/21/stories/2004072107720400.htm

Income tax Inspector convicted

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE July 20. The Special CBI judge, B.A. Patil, has convicted K. Prabhakaran, Inspector of Income Tax in the office of the Additional Director of Income Tax, Unit II, and a lower division clerk to three years' rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000 each for taking bribe. A CBI release gave the name of the clerk as D. Thomas, who was working in the office of the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Computer Section. The two officials — both under suspension — were working with in the Income Tax office on Queen's Road. They were caught red-handed in 2001 while accepting an amount of Rs. 20,000 as bribe from an assessee for showing an official favour, the release said.

Remanded in judicial custody

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE July 20. An alleged LTTE sympathiser and a close associate of the forest brigand, Veerappan, was remanded in judicial custody till August 25 by a fast-track court here on Monday. Muthu Kumar (40), a resident of Madurai, said to be a member of the Tamil National Retrieval Troops, a secessionist organisation, was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police recently for smuggling some essential items for the use of the LTTE in Sri Lanka. He was lodged in the Tiruchirapalli Central Prison. He was brought here by the Bangalore police in connection with a case of seizure of explosives. The chargesheet, filed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Fraser Town Sub-division, V.S. D'Souza, included Muthu Kumar as an accused among the 15 who allegedly planned to eliminate the Kannada Chaluvali leaders Vatal Nagaraj and Narayanakumar and Sa. Ra. Govindu and the former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa to avenge the killing of Tamils during the Cauvery riots in 1991. In another case, he and his associate had allegedly assaulted a security guard in KGF and escaped with a rifle. According to the police, on December 20 1998, Muthu Kumar along with Veerappan attacked the Vellithiruppur Police Station in Tamil Nadu and looted arms and ammunition. He had undergone arms training in the LTTE-held Jaffna in Sri Lanka, the chargesheet said. Five cases were pending against him in Tamil Nadu police stations.

Farmer ends life in Bilagi

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIJAPUR JULY 20. A young farmer from Bilagi taluk of Bagalkot district committed suicide on Monday, the police said. The police said the farmer was Bheemappa Hanumappa Walikar (29) of Tambarmatti village. He was said to have borrowed Rs. 5 lakh from three financial institutions, including Bilagi Primary Land Development Bank and the Anagawadi branch of Bijapur Grameen Bank.

Exam. fee date extended

By Our Staff Reporter

Bangalore July 20. The Director of Pre-University Education has stated that the last date for payment of fee for the 2nd PUC examination in October 2004 has been extended till July 31. Candidates paying the fee will have to pay a penal fee of Rs. 100, special penal fee of Rs. 300 and additional penal fee of Rs. 30 a day from July 17. The last date will not be extended further.

Promoted

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE JULY 20. The State Government has promoted and appointed Chiranjiv Singh, Development Commissioner, North Karnataka (Belgaum), as Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Bangalore. He will take charge on July 31. The incumbent Development Commissioner and Agricultural Production Commissioner, Vijay Gore, will continue as Additional Chief Secretary to the Government. The Additional Chief Secretary Adhip Chaudhuri will retire from service on July 31.

KPSC notifies provisional list

By Our Staff Reporter

Bangalore July 20. The Karnataka Public Service Commission has notified the provisional list of candidates selected in the competitive examination conducted in January 2004 for recruitment to five posts of junior town planner, Department of Town Planning. The notification has been put up on the notice-board of the commission and on its website, www.kpsc.kar.nic.in.

Rs. 184-crore action plan for ZP

By Our Staff Correspondent

DAVANGERE JULY 20. The Davangere Zilla Panchayat today announced it's annual action plan with an outlay of Rs. 183.57 crores. An amount of Rs. 129.97 crores has been earmarked for the non-Plan sector and Rs. 53.83 crores for the Plan sector.

Inter-varsity essay contest

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE JULY 20. Basanth Bihari Jai Rani Peace Studies Foundation, Allahabad, has organised an all-India inter-university essay competition. The topic for the essay is "Gandhiji and the New World Order." A press release issued through the Department of Gandhian Studies, University of Mysore, states that students of all the colleges affiliated to the university are eligible to participate in the competition. The essay should be written in either Hindi or English. The last date for submission of the essay is August 30. The essay should not exceed 3,000 words and should be accompanied by a letter of certification from the educational institution concerned. The top three essay will be awarded cash prizes besides a book on Gandhian thought and a certificate of participation. The essay should be sent to Basanth Bihari Jai Rani Peace Studies Foundation, Mathri Anachal 3, Bank Road, Allahabad 211 002, Uttar Pradesh. Entries should be accompanied with details such as name, father's name, address, course, name of the institution, and a demand draft for Rs. 50 drawn in favour of the foundation. Details can be had from the honorary director of the Department of Gandhian Studies, S. Shivarajappa.

Stabbed

Srirangapatana July 20. A car driver was stabbed by three unidentified persons on the outskirts of Srirangapatana late on Monday night. According to the police, they hired a car from a Bangalore-based travel operator on the pretext of shifting a relative to hospital in Mysore. The car was driven by Shivakumar.

He picked up the accused and was heading towards Mysore. But on reaching Srirangapatana, the trio directed him to go to Hunsur instead of Mysore. The driver refused and this resulted in a fracas between them, and in the melee, they stabbed Mr. Shivakumar repeatedly in the back and flung him out of the car and drove away in the vehicle.

Passers-by saw the victim lying there unconscious and shifted him to K.R. Hospital in Mysore. The Devaraja Police have registered a case.

Recruitment

MYSORE JULY 20. The Indian Army will conduct a recruitment rally from August 5 to 11 at Chamundi Vihar Stadium for recruitment of soldiers in various trades. The rally is for residents of Mysore, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Tumkur, Kolar and Bangalore districts.

Insurance

MYSORE JULY 20. The Union Ministry for Textiles, in association with the Life Insurance Corporation of India, has formulated a Janashree Bhima Yojana and add-on Group Insurance Scheme for the benefit of weavers. A press release said the weavers need not pay the full premium as the Government would subsidise the amount. Those interested may contact the Deputy Director, Department of Handlooms and Textiles, Mysore Zilla Panchayat (ph: 2441353).

Medical camp

MYSORE JULY 20. The Government Ayurveda College tomorrow will organise a free medical camp for those having asthma from July 21 to August 18. A press release said T.K. Dinesh would be available for consultation on the college camous till the end of the camp.

Contest

MYSORE JULY 20. Swasthya Sanjeevini has organised an essay competition for high school and pre-university students on Saturday as part of its first anniversary celebrations. The competition has been organised to create awareness about herbs among students. The venue is Sri Raghavendra Gurukula Vidyapeeta.

According to a press release, the subject for the essay for high school students is "The role of herbs in the present-day scenario." For pre-university students, it is "Reasons for the success of Ayurveda in the era of science and technology". Details may be had from Prakruthi Ayurvedic Foundation, 128, Siddanta Plaza, near Akhshaya Bhandar, Kuvempunagar (ph: 98451-71726). The last date for registration of names is July 22.

Pension

Belgaum July 20. The All India Central Government Pensioners' Association has said that the pensioners who retired between January 1, 1986, and December 31, 1995, are likely to get full gratuity (DCRG), including Dearness Allowance, in the light of the recent Central Administrative Tribunal's decision. The association, based in Pune, has invited applications from the eligible pensioners. All such pensioners in Belgaum district may approach the Secretary of the Belgaum District unit of the association for application forms and guidance with their PPO between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Angol in the city on August 1, according to a release by association's district secretary, R.T. Rangannavar.

DC takes

charge

HASSAN JULY 20. K.H. Ashwathanarayana Gowda assumed charge as Deputy Commissioner of Hassan district on Monday. He replaces M. Maheshwara Rao, who has been transferred to Belgaum district as Deputy Commissioner.

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Mr. Gowda said he had served as Deputy Secretary, Zilla Panchayat, and General Manager, District Industrial Centre, Hassan, earlier and he had fair knowledge of the problems of the district.

He said his priority was to streamline the administration. He would issue instructions to the officials asking them to ensure discipline in the office.

Pak delegation

in Mysore

MYSORE July 20. A 15-member delegation of the Minority Rights Commission of Pakistan was here on Monday as part of its study tour of the country.

The delegation, comprised members from district Councils, tehsils and Union councils of Pakistan, was led by its Chairman, M. Parakash.

The delegation included seven women. The study tour has been organised by Delhi-based Institute of Social Sciences headed by noted Kannada litterateur U.R. Ananthamurthy.

Protest

HASSAN JULY 20. Activists of the Bahujana Samaj Party (BSP) and the Dalit Sangharsh Samithi (DSS) staged a demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here on Tuesday seeking proper rehabilitation for Dalits of Gangoor village who were evacuated from the forests nearly a decade ago.

The activists also shouted slogans against the district in-charge and Public Works Minister, H.D. Revanna, for not showing concern to the plights of Dalits and termed him as being "anti-Dalit".

The protestors submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, K.H. Ashwathanarayana Gowda, urging him to take action and rehabilitate the Dalits.

Suspended

Davangere July 20. A police constable was suspended on Tuesday for allegedly raping a 19-year-old girl. The incident occurred a few days ago. The constable, Ramamurthy, was attached to the District Armed Reserve Police. — UNI

Condoled

GULBARGA JULY 20. The Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, on Tuesday expressed grief over the death of social activist and surgeon, M.S. Patil. In a statement here, Mr. Dharam Singh said Dr. Patil was instrumental in stabilising the Peripheral Cancer Hospital in Gulbarga and had been committed to social cause.

U.S. doctors to visit villages

SIRSI July 20. A team of U.S. doctors, in collaboration with the Indian Medical Institution and the California Health Centre, will visit Sullalli and Basavankoppa in Mundagod taluk next week. The two villages have a large number of deaf persons. The team will stay in the two villages for nine months to determine the cause of deafness. Two years ago, a team deputed by the Rotary Club, Hubli, visited the village and blamed the consumption of polluted water as the cause for deafness.

Pension

Seminar

MANGALORE JULY 20. A panel of economists and experts will participate in a seminar on Union and State budgets and the sidelight of the seminar will be the Railway Budget of the UPA Government. The seminar will be held at the auditorium of the St. Aloysius College on Thursday at 2.45 p.m. According to the organising secretaries, K. Thejomaya and Ivan D'Souza, in a press conference here, the former Chief Minister, M. Veerappa Moily, will inaugurate and analyse the Union Budget while the Head of the Department of Economics, G.V. Joshi, and Head of the Commerce Department of St. Aloysius College, A.M. Narahari, will present papers.

`Save water'

MANGALORE JULY 20. To preserve balance in nature and to be prosperous, it is important that water is conserved, Ronald Cutinha, water conservation expert and Director of Samanvaya, has said. He was the resource person at an awareness programme on water conservation organised by Samanvaya at Derebail here on Sunday. Dr. Cutinha said time had come for all concerned to come together to harvest rainwater and recharge the fast depleting groundwater table.

Incentive

MANGALORE July 20. The Mangalore Trawl Boat Fishermen Primary Cooperative Association is providing incentive to poor students from fishermen community of Mangalore taluk who have passed SSLC examination securing high marks as well as to sportspersons from the community who have excelled at State, national, and international-level sports meet. Candidates can submit their testimonials to the Secretary, South Wharf, Bunder, Mangalore, on or before July 30.

PF pension

MANGALORE July 20. The Employees Provident Fund Organisation here has directed employees drawing pension from the State Bank of Mysore to do so from Canara Bank, UTI Bank, post offices, HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, Syndicate Bank or Corporation Bank by opening a savings bank account there. The arrangement to disburse pension from State Bank of Mysore has been withdrawn from July 1. Pensioners should provide their bank account and PIO number along with a photocopy of the passbook to the Regional PFO Commissioner, Sub-regional Office, Mangalore, at the earliest.