Andhra Pradesh

Briefly

Robbed of cash, valuables

CUDDAPAH: A gang of highway robbers waylaid a mini lorry and stole Rs. 11,800 and valuables on the Muddanur-Jammalamadugu ghat road on Wednesday night.

A Registered Medical Practitioner, Dasaratharami Reddy of Pulivendula, who was going by the vehicle to Bethamcherla to procure flooring slabs, was relieved of Rs. 5,000 in cash, a gold chain, a ring and a watch, according to the police. A plantain trader, Madhava Prasad, was relieved of Rs. 4,000 in cash and the driver, Subbarayudu, had to part with Rs. 2,800.

Training for coop. staff

KURNOOL: A one-day training programme will be conducted for cooperative employees at the District Cooperative Central Bank here on February 19. Retired deputy registrar, Gundu Rao, and others will enlighten the participants about the Cooperative Act 1964 and personality development, according to a press release.

Man run over by train

CUDDAPAH: An unidentified 60-year-old man was run over by a train near Yerraguntla on Thursday.

Programme on homeopathy

CUDDAPAH: A continuing medical education programme will be held at the Cuddapah Government Homeopathic Medical College on February 22 and 23.

Children's diseases, homeopathy treatment and nutritional deficiencies will be discussed at the programme for medical practitioners of four districts in Rayalaseema and Nellore, according to the college principal, P. Raghava Reddy.

The Central Council of Homeopathy member, B. Sohan Singh, a paediatrician, Muralidhar, and the principal of Karnataka Educational Society Homeopathic Medical College, P. Sampath Rao, would deliver lectures on the topics, he said on Thursday.

Talent test

ANANTAPUR: The district finals of `chekumuki' science talent test will be conducted at Rajendra Municipal High School here on February 20.

According to R. Chandrasekhara Reddy, district president of JVV, teams from 13 Telugu medium and six English medium schools have been selected for the finals. Winners at district level, one team each from Telugu and English medium, will participate in the State-level finals to be held at Sriharikota on February 28.

Tax collection

NELLORE: The district Collector, B. Rajsekhar, has instructed municipal commissioners to concentrate on collecting taxes in time.

During a video conference here on Thursday, the Collector expressed concern over the poor collection of just 42 per cent of taxes in Gudur and asked the Commissioner to expedite the collection drive. While Kavali Municipality registered the highest tax collection of 83 per cent, Nellore registered 81 per cent. The Collector wanted civic bodies to maintain proper records.

Irrigation works

NELLORE: Under the Rural Irrigation Development Programme (RIDF), there is a possibility of Nellore district getting Rs. 6 crores. The allocations are to be utilised for completing the existing irrigation works and taking up new works, mainly in rural and interior areas.

Worker drowned

KURNOOL: A worker, identified as Ramulu, was drowned in the summer storage tank on the outskirts of the city on Thursday.

According to reports, the worker got into the tank for taking bath.

Suspects sent to Cuddapah jail

ANANTAPUR: Judicial custody for five of the seven arrested persons in the Paritala Ravindra murder case was extended by another 14 days by the Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate Court here on Thursday. The judge, A. Jayaraj, ordered that the suspects be sent to Cuddapah jail on the request of the sub-jail authorities here. The request was made due to the overcrowding of the sub-jail with those arrested in the post-murder violence cases.

Bid to end life in police station

VIZIANAGARAM: Pedamajji Prakash (22) of Narayanapatnam in Nellimarla mandal attempted suicide by hanging himself at Garividi police station in the wee hours of Thursday. According to the police, Prakash was caught while he was speeding away on a stolen bicycle by the Assistant SI, K. Rama Rao, and brought to the police station. When the sentry constable went out early morning, Prakash grabbed a blanket of the constable and hanged himself with it from a window. The constable, who came back by then, rushed him to the local Government Hospital and later to the District Headquarters Hospital where he is recovering. Swati Lakra, SP, has asked the Bobbili DSP, V.V. Narasinga Rao, to inquire into the incident.

Power sub-station damaged

NIZAMABAD: Maoists reportedly attacked 33/11 kv electrical sub-station, set on fire wireless sets and damaged furniture and other equipment at Arepally in Machareddy mandal late on Wednesday night. According to information reaching here, they resorted to this act in protest against recent encounters in Karimnagar district and elsewhere.

Wife ensures naxal's surrender

KARIMNAGAR: Disillusioned with the party ideology, Narsaiah, a naxalite belonging to the Peddapalli local guerrilla squad's Arunakka dalam surrendered before the Godavarikhani ASP, Ch. Srikanth, on Thursday. Narsaiah's wife, Sunitha, approached Arunakka, urging her to ensure the surrender of her husband. But, she refused and, in turn, asked the couple to remain with the dalam. But, Sunitha argued with her, and bought her husband back into the mainstream.

Janashakti's charge against police

HYDERABAD: The CPI (ML) Janashakti has alleged that the police were chasing Konkanna, who had played a key role in the construction of a memorial for Jampanna, a party leader, at Rangampet of Yellareddypet mandal in Karimnagar district. Konkanna was branded a Janashakti `sympathiser,' and targeted for his role in the construction of the memorial, it said in a press release here on Thursday.

Cotton bales destroyed in fire

CUDDAPAH: Cotton bales worth about Rs. 25 lakhs were destroyed in a major fire in Jyothi Cotton Mills on Korrapadu road at Proddatur on Thursday. However, there were no casualties. Four fire tenders were trying to put off the fire till late into the night. Electric short circuit caused the fire, according to a partner of the mill, Subba Rao.

Naidu's stand on telecast flayed

HYDERABAD: Four chairmen of State corporations on Thursday criticised the TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, and the party for stalling the proceedings over the issue of Assembly coverage by TV channels. In a statement here, G. Prakash Rao (APSRTC), A. Rambabu (APIIC), G. Rudraraju (APM&HIC) and K. Ramadevi, who would take over as chairperson of the Social Welfare Board, advised Mr. Naidu to strive for solving people's problems. They alleged that the TDP was obsessed with projecting himself on TV channels during his regime as Chief Minister, spending crores of public funds. They said Mr. Naidu was unable to reconcile himself to the loss of power.

Congress MLAs' charge

HYDERABAD: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Thursday released a copy of a purported "confessional statement" made by the Euro lottery accused, Kola Venkata Krishna Mohan, where he made a mention of his alleged contribution to the TDP fund. At a press conference, six Congress MLAs also showed a group photo in which Krishna Mohan was seen with the TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu.

CPI(M) moots high-level panel

HYDERABAD: The CPI(M) secretary, B.V. Raghavuulu, on Thursday suggested setting up of a high-level independent commission to study disparities in development of different regions. In a letter written to the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, he said the commission should have power to allocate funds and make recommendations on the implementation machinery. The letter said special strategies, funds and increased role for the State were required for removing regional imbalances. Mr. Raghavulu said such commissions were functioning in Karnataka and West Bengal.

`Finalise beedi leaf tenders'

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Workers Union on Thursday demanded finalisation of beedi leaf tenders in the agency areas. In a memorandum submitted to the Forest Minister, S. Vijayarama Raju, union leaders suggested the rate of Rs.1.25 for a bundle of 50 leaves and that funds accruing from the tenders be spent for developing Girijan areas, as being done in Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. They wanted the Government to set up beedi factories for the benefit of the poor in areas where beedi leaf was abundantly available.

Cinare donates books to library

HYDERABAD: Gnanpeeth awardee and poet, C. Narayana Reddy, has donated thousands of books, preserved by him for years, to Sundarayya Vignana Kendram library here. C. Sambi Reddy, secretary of the library, said in a press release on Thursday that Cinare donated puranas, novels, dramas, stories, poetry and literature books.

Patent ordinance opposed

HYDERABAD: Trade unions, students, social and women's organisations have chalked out an agitational programme against the patent ordinance issued by the Centre saying it will harm the country's interests. State-wide demonstrations/dharna will be organised on February 26, and emails sent to the Prime Minister.

Improved primary healthcare

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Economic Restructuring Project (Health) is working out a number of training programmes to improve quality, effectiveness and coverage of the primary healthcare system. This was stated here on Wednesday by M.S. Srinivas Rao, Additional Project Director while inaugurating a month-long training programme on `Skill upgradation' for lab technicians of PHCs at the Institute of Preventive Medicine here.

Veteran Communist leader dead

CUDDAPAH: The veteran CPI leader, Nandyala Nagi Reddy (85), passed away at his native place of Alamkhanpalle on Thursday. He joined the Communist party in 1945 and strived to give it a strong foundation in the district. His death was a grave loss to the CPI, said the district secretary, G. Obulesu.

Cuddapah reels at 40.7°C

Hyderabad: A number of towns in the State are recording day temperatures above 38 degree Celsius, which is above normal level. Cuddapah recorded 40.7 degree Celsius on Thursday. The lowest temperature of 17 degree Celsius was recorded by Arogyavaram and Hyderabad airport. The forecast for Friday is that dry weather will prevail.

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