Date:25/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/25/stories/2007022514770400.htm

Raghuveera plea to Chidambaram

HYDERABAD: Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy has urged Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram to reduce the interest on farm loans given by commercial banks from the present 7 per cent to 3 per cent.

In a letter addressed to Mr. Chidambaram on Saturday, Mr. Reddy thanked him for slashing the interest to 7 per cent.

He, however, informed him that the State cooperative bank was offering crop loans at 5 per cent interest. - Special Correspondent

Office-bearers

HYDERABAD: State BJP farmers' wing led by P. Sugunakara Rao on Saturday appointed its office-bearers, executive committee members and special invitees.

The office-bearers are: G.V. Jayachandra Choudhary, R.V.S.S. Raju, B. Yadagiri, P. Ganga Reddy (vice-presidents), Anjaneya Reddy (general secretary), Ramamurthy, Papaiah Goud, Venkat Reddy, P. Tirupati Rao, P. Jayaram (secretaries) and B. Narasimha Reddy (treasurer). - Special Correspondent

Dravidian books

HYDERABAD: Dravidian University, Kuppam plans to procure rare collection of books on Dravidian languages, literature, culture and heritage. Interested private collectors can send their book list with the face value to the Librarian, Dravidian University, Srinivasa Vanam, Kupam. - Staff Reporter

Competitive exam

HYDERABAD: The Staff Selection Commission will hold an open competitive examination on June 24, 2007 for recruitment to the post of statistical investigator, grade IV of the Subordinate Statistical Service (SSS).

The last date for receipt of applications is March 16. The exam will be at Hyderabad, Vizag, Chennai and Madurai.

Details could be had from SSS website http;/www.sss.nic.in. - Special Correspondent

Triathlon meet

TIRUPATI: Tirupati will be playing host to a State-level triathlon meet on March 4 and 5 to be conducted by the Triathlon Association of Chittoor at Sri Srinivasa sports complex here. The event is a combination of swimming for 1.5 km, cycling for 40 km and running for 10 km, all at a stretch and without a break. - Staff Reporter

Suicide attempt

KURNOOL: A dejected man attempted suicide by consuming liquid mosquito repellent at the General Hospital here on Saturday. According to reports, Venkatesh Naik of Anantapur was shocked by the news that his daughter who suffered burns might not recover. She was undergoing treatment for burns. He was also admitted to the hospital.

In another incident, a farmer Narasimha Reddy committed suicide by consuming pesticide at Laxmipuram. Financial troubles were said to be the reason for the suicide. - Special Correspondent

Naxals kill tribal

VISAKHAPATNAM: Maoists killed a Girijan in Ootagedda area in G.K.Veedhi mandal on Friday night, according to reports received here. They alleged that he was a police informer.

Tambelu Appa Rao of Nerellabanda village belonged to a primitive tribal group and had reportedly worked as a police informer several years ago.

He was picked up from his house on Friday night and taken to Ootagedda area where he was beaten up severely resulting in his death. - Special Correspondent

Bride's parents held, released

Rajahmundry: The police arrested Kakkala Appa Rao and his wife on Saturday on the charge of beating up their daughter Kakkala Devi at the mass marriage performed by the TTD here on Thursday.

They were produced before the magistrate.

Later, they were released on bail.

According to DSP P.H.D. Ramakrishna, the court ordered that a case be filed under Section 338 of the IPC, which is non-cognizable offence. - Staff Reporter

Elected Congress floor leader

Rajahmundry: The-newly elected Congress corporators who met on Friday night here under the leadership of Minister for Roads and buildings Jakkampudi Ramamohana Rao and MP Vundavalli Arunakumar, unanimously elected 34th ward corporator Polu Vijayalakshmi as floor leader of the party in the council.

Ms. Vijayalakshmi won with a huge majority of 1,134 votes for the second consecutive term.

Guduru Radhika, elected from the 47th ward, was elected deputy floor leader and M. Syamala Rao was elected party whip. - Staff Reporter

Girl's parents held, released

Rajahmundry: The police arrested Kakkala Appa Rao and his wife on Saturday on the charge of beating up their daughter Kakkala Devi at the mass marriage performed by the TTD here on Thursday.

They were produced before the magistrate.

Later, they were released on bail.

According to DSP P.H.D. Ramakrishna, the court ordered that a case be filed under Section 338 of the IPC, which is non-cognizable offence. - Staff Reporter

Elected Congress floor leader

Red sanders seized

KADAPA: Forest officials intercepted a vehicle near Sivalayam in Kodur on Saturday and seized 28 red sander logs, costing Rs. 50,000, from it. Forest officials also seized 21 red sander logs, worth Rs. 43,000, from a Maruti van near Chintarajupalle Harijanawada in Vontimitta mandal. — Staff Reporter

ANM applications

KADAPA: Four hundred and ten ANM posts have been sanctioned to Kadapa and candidates could forward applications till March 11, District Medical and Health Officer K. Pitchi Reddy said. The posts would be filled on the basis of merit. No tests would be conducted, he added. — Staff Reporter

Compensation given

KADAPA: Kadapa Mayor P. Ravindranath Reddy on Saturday disbursed cheques for Rs. 8.78 lakhs to 19 farmers whose 4.59 acres of land was acquired for laying roads from RIMS Medical College and hospital to Kadapa. The Mayor also gave away cheques for Rs. 48.55 lakhs to 39 farmers whose 16.40 acres of land was acquired for Kadapa outer ring road.— Staff Reporter

Plea for fogging

CHITTOOR: Several municipal councillors, at a general body meeting held here on Saturday, called for fogging operations in the town to prevent mosquitoes from spreading diseases. The meeting was presided by the chairperson Sarala Meri. — Correspondent

Dharna for houses

CHITTOOR: TDP activists of Madanapalle town staged a dharna in front of the Collector office protesting against the authorities' `indifference' towards constructing houses under Indiramma project, phase I. They demanded that the authorities begin works on this soon and presented a memorandum to the district revenue officer Seshaiah. — Correspondent