Andhra Pradesh

Briefly

Talks responsibility on mediators

HYDERABAD: The Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, has spoken of the State Government's intention to fix the responsibility for resumption of talks with Maoists on the mediators involved in the dialogue.

The State Government wanted to invite mediators and make them shoulder the responsibility, he told reporters here on Thursday.

Mr. Reddy said the Maoists unleashed violence just when the Government was about to initiate the exercise of resumption of talks. The Government went ahead with exploring ways to make the Maoist leaders return to the negotiating table in spite of the violence but in vain. It was therefore decided to leave the issue to the good sense of the public and mediators.

BJP meet to begin tomorrow

Kakinada: The BJP State working committee will be meeting here for two days from March 5. The ensuing municipal elections, problems being faced by farmers and party's future plan of action are the major issues on the agenda for discussion.

Fined for violating ESI norms

HYDERABAD: The First Class Judicial Magistrate to try the offences under the ESI Act, Hyderabad, has convicted 11 employers in the State and fined them with the amount ranging from Rs.1,000 to Rs. 9,000 for non-compliance of the provisions of the ESI Act during the last three months.

According to a press release from the Andhra Pradesh Employees' State Insurance Corporation (Regional Office), the following were fined: M/s Annapurna Trading Company, Kurnool, M/s Tiffin's Barytes, Asbestos & Paints Ltd, Cuddapah, M/s Padmavathi Industries, Samalkot, M/s Iswarya Foods (P) Ltd, Kondapally (Krishna), M/s Vijaya Veni Bar & Restaurant, Eluru, M/s Goyal Timber Techniques, Jeedimetla, M/s Prabhat Industries, Visakhapatnam, M/s S.S.B Enterprises, M/s Vijaya Laxmi Engineering Works, M/s Aruna Plastics (P) Ltd, and M/s Vinayak Hotels, (all from Hyderabad).

Arguments on excise policy begin

HYDERBAD: Arguments in the writ appeals filed by the State Government in support of its new excise policy have begun on Thursday in the High Court.

The Division Bench, comprising Justice B. Sudershan Reddy and Justice C.V. Ramulu, heard the Advocate-General, D. Sudershan Reddy, at length.

A single judge of the High Court earlier struck down a major portion of the new excise policy passing strictures against the attitude of the Government in trying to supply liquor even to the remotest areas. The State Government filed writ appeals against the order of the single judge.

Slain naxalites identified

WARANGAL: The three naxalites, who died in encounter at the Bussapur forest on Wednesday, were identified as members of the Praja Pratighatana.

The deceased were Nagalakshmi, Swapna and Bhadraiah. The police found seven more kitbags when they continued search operation near the site on Thursday.

Man axed to death

CUDDAPAH: A person belonging to Nallaballe SC Colony in Muddanur mandal was axed to death by his rivals on Thursday. He was identified as Peddodu, a Dalit.

Peddodu was returning from his brother's house when he was attacked near Mathamma temple in the village with axes and knives, according to the police. In another case, a lorry operator, Sirigireddy Anki Reddy of Nabikot in Cuddapah town, was stabbed by his rivals near the old bus stand here on Thursday.

Gas cylinder of van explodes

NELLORE: A van has been badly damaged following explosion of its gas cylinder near Vaddipalem village on the Duggirajupatnam road in the district. According to information, the blast reportedly occurred when the vehicle was passing over a harvest of paddy crop on the road. However, no one was injured.

Myanmar naval chief's visit

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Chief of Naval Staff of Myanmar Navy, Vice-Admiral Soe Than, who was on a two-day visit to the city, was accorded a ceremonial welcome on his arrival at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) headquarters at the Naval Base on Thursday. A 50-man guard was paraded in his honour. Later, the Myanmar Naval Chief called on the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the ENC, Vice-Admiral O.P. Bansal, who briefed the former on the role of ENC.

Congress revokes suspension

HYDERABAD: The APCC president, K. Keshava Rao, has revoked the suspension of five Congress leaders from Nellore district. According to a press note, the suspension of the Nellore DCC vice-president, T. Ramanayya Naidu, the general secretary, A. Balakrishnam Raju, the Allur mandal Congress president, N.V. Sai Kumar, the Bogole mandal Congress minority cell president, Sk. Rafi and the district Youth Congress president, G. Sridhar Reddy, has been revoked.

Assets unearthed in ACB raids

HYDERABAD: Anti-Corruption Bureau officials have unearthed assets of Rs. 20 lakhs during simultaneous searches at the residence of the former Nagarkurnool RDO, K. Krishna Reddy, and his relatives in Hyderabad and Jagtial.

S.S.P. Yadav, the Director-General, ACB, in a press note issued on Thursday said that documents of movable, immovable assets, cash and jewellery worth Rs. 20 lakhs were found during searches. Mr. Krishna Reddy, who was the RDO Nagarkurnool in Mahabubnagar district, was trapped by the ACB in December last.

Ethics panel meet

Hyderabad: The Ethics Committee of the Assembly has begun an exercise to convince political parties of the need to keep criminals out of the House by denying them party ticket in elections. This follows the recent debate on the killing of Paritala Ravindra and the suggestion of the Left parties to keep candidates with questionable background out of the fray.

Barrage to be closed for traffic

Kakinada: Vehicular movement on Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Dowlesweram will not be allowed from March 5 in view of the repairs taken up to the barrage in Dowlesweram and Ryali wings, according to the Godavari head works division official.

TTD counter shifted

TIRUMALA: The Tirumala-based TTD Special Officer, A.V. Dharma Reddy, on Thursday formally inaugurated the cellar darshan counter at Tirumala.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Reddy said that the shifting of the cellar darshan ticket issuance point from inside the Vaikuntam queue complex to Alwar tank cottage (ATC) was being done in the interest of pilgrims.

Some fishermen still rudderless

NELLORE: More than two months after the tsunami disaster, fishermen in some parts of the district are still waiting for repairs to their nets and boats to be completed. The situation is no different in Vakadu mandal. However, officials of the Fisheries Department had a discussion with fishermen and assured them that all repairs would be completed this week. According to information, 136 fibre boats and 132 engines were damaged, out of which 65 boats and 17 engines have been repaired. The officials sought suggestions with regard to completed repairs of boats and engines.

Missing student found dead

NELLORE: The body of an engineering student, V. Nareshkumar Reddy (19), was found floating in a well near Venkannapalem village of Manubolu mandal, on Thursday. The police said it was a case of suicide. It has been stated that the boy, studying in II year B. Tech, has been missing since March 1.

The body was sent for postmortem. Based on a complaint by the brother of the deceased, the Inspector, Gudur, Ch. Venkateswara Rao, is investigating the case.

Appointed

TIRUPATI: The Vice-Chancellor of SV University, S.Jayarama Reddy, has appointed Peta Srinivasulu Reddy of the varsity's Telugu department "Coordinator for Print and Electronic Media".

The appointment will be in force for one year.

College anniversary MADANAPALLE: The 90th anniversary of Besant Theosophical College was celebrated on Wednesday. The principal of Government Degree College for Women, T. Sankaraiah, one of the chief guests, said the college had a good library with one lakh books. The college correspondent, D. Kodandapani, presided. The college principal, K. Siva Prasad Rao, said six new subjects, including tourism, fashion design and food science, would be introduced. The PRO, H.S. Muniratnamiah, welcomed.

WLL towers

NELLORE: Authorities of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Nellore, have initiated steps to install WLL towers at Butchireddipalem, Podalakur, Kaluvoy, Venkatagiri, Atmakuru, Vinjamoor and Udayagiri. According to the General Manager, G. Gopi, proposals are there to install cell towers around 30 villages of the district.

Selection test for guards

Sangareddy: A selection camp for the posts of security guards in private firms would be conducted at Narayankhed police station on Friday. According to a press release by the additional SP (Operations) of Medak district, Buchi Ram Reddy, aspirants - men, aged between 18-35 years with qualifications from Class VIII to Class X pass -- should be present at the police station by 10 a.m. with their certificates, bio-data and two passport size photographs. The candidates should also have a minimum height of 5.6 feet and a chest of 34 centimetres.

Pulse polio

ADILABAD: Another round of the three day intensified pulse polio immunisation programme will be held between April 10 and 12. According to a press release here on Thursday by District Medical and Health Officer M. Kesava Rao, the administration of polio drops will be done at the booths on April 10 followed by door-to-door administration on the next two days.

Handloom expo

KARIMNAGAR: The department of handlooms and textiles is organising a `Chenetha vasthranjali', an exhibition-cum sales at Singareni community hall in Godavarikhani town from March 5 to 14. The Peddapalli MP, G Venkat Swamy, the legislators, K. Eshwar, D. Sridhar, the Ramagundam municipal chairman, B. Rajalingam, the Collector, C. Parthasarathi, the DRDA project director, T. Chiranjeevulu, the SCCL RG-1 general manager, M. Shesh Kumar Reddy would participate in the inaugural.

Spiritual programme

WARANGAL: The Manthani Gayatri Vydhika Samstha has embarked upon `Gayatri mahamantra tharpana mahotsavam' at its premises at Postal Colony here. According to its president, V. Markandeya, there will be a series of spiritual programmes on March 6 including `Samuhika Gayatri mantra japam' from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. followed by Ganapathi Sahasrabhishekam. Those interested may attend the programme in traditional attire.

Lambada youth take out rally

ADILABAD: The Lambada Hakkula Porata Samiti (LHPS) or Nangara Bheri on Thursday organised a rally demanding a college for tribals at Utnoor, Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) area. Tribal students submitted a memorandum to the Adilabad Collector, J. Sudha Rani. Their other demands included filling up of posts in the district and in the ITDA schools and extension of NSFDC schemes to the tribal youth instead of Velugu groups.

Office-bearers

Nizamabad: The Senior Citizens Forum, Nizamabad district, elected its new executive committee with 22 office-bearers at a meeting here. Mr. G. Vithoba, a retired District Revenue Officer was elected president. The following have also been elected to the body. G. Venkat Reddy (associate president), S. Ramchandra Reddy (vice-president), T. Bhoomanna (general secretary), G. Venkateswar Rao (joint secretary), G. Venkat Reddy (treasurer) and H. Madhusudan (organising secretary).

BJP's rasta roko

NIZAMABAD: The Bharatiya Janata Party activists staged a rasta roko at Phulong Chowrasta demanding the recall of the Jharkhand Governor, Syed Sibtey Razi, since he "violated the Constitution" by inviting the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader, Shibu Soren to form Government. The party district unit president, Y. Lakshminarayana, general secretary, Bharat, town president, Mallesh, and workers participated in the rastaroko which resulted in traffic snarl for some time.

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