Date:10/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/10/stories/2007051006520400.htm

MPDO in ACB trap

ANANTAPUR: Mandal Parishad Development Officer Someshwara Prasad of Talupula in the district was caught red-handed by sleuths of the ACB while accepting a bribe of Rs. 4,000 from a rural ayurvedic medical practitioner at Kadiri on Wednesday. According to the officials, the MPDO has been demanding bribe from the medical practitioner, Shivaiah, for payment of his honorarium for the last four months. - Staff Reporter

Two electrocuted

KADAPA: Two construction workers, Mahabub Basha, 28, and Nayab Rasool, 30, were electrocuted and another worker, R. Madar, 45, was injured while working atop a house in Poleramma street in Kalasapadu mandal. While fixing iron rods for laying slab for the house of a teacher, a rod touched an LT line. The two died instantaneously. — Staff Reporter

Matrix-CHAI accord

HYDERABAD: Matrix Laboratories Ltd, a subsidiary of Mylan Laboratories Inc., on Wednesday signed an agreement with Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) that would significantly bring down the price of AIDS treatment. The second line of anti-retroviral drugs and once-a-day pill, which are very costly in the developing world, will become affordable henceforth. — Special Correspondent

Beedi workers' stir

NIZAMABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Beedi Workers' Union on Wednesday said their agitation for withdrawal of printing of danger mark on beedi bundles will not stop until the Centre takes a decision in favour of lakhs of workers. — Staff Reporter

One killed in freak accident

KURNOOL: In a freak accident, one person was killed and 20 others were injured when a dilapidated wall collapsed on a marriage party at Banumukkala in Pamulapadu mandal of Kurnool district on Wednesday. The group was taking rest at a neighbour's house when the wall collapsed. Pedda Ramudu (60) died and two others sustained severe injuries. A monkey was said to have caused the wall collapse by shaking the dilapidated wall. — Special Correspondent

Meet on meditation

TIRUPATI: JK Study Circle will conduct a retreat programme and a meeting on meditation as per Jiddu Krishnamurthi's thought at Sri Sadhu Ramalingaswami school, Panagal, Srikalahasti from May 11 to 13. SVU professors -- G. Vedaparayana, J.S. Raghupati Rao and Suleman -- will lead the discussion. Details can be had on tel: 94414 31906. — Staff Reporter

Fair price shops seized

Madanapalle : Seven fair price shops in Madanapalle were seized by Vigilance Department officials during the recent raids, according to P. Ravikumar Murthy, Vigilance S.P. In all, 30 fair price shops were seized in the entire Chittoor district.

Mr. Murthy said that some fair price shop dealers were selling kerosene and rice at higher prices and cheating consumers. — Correspondent

Andhra Bank offer

KURNOOL: Andhra Bank will offer 5 per cent cash back to debit cardholders on the purchases between May 11 and June 10, according to its Deputy General Manager S.R.K. Prasad.

Debit cards can be used for purchases in super bazaars, jewellery shops, booking railway and flight tickets. According to Mr. Prasad, all purchases above Rs 5,000 will be eligible for the cash back scheme.— Special Correspondent

Review meeting

KADAPA: Survey reports on second phase of Indiramma and representations received in Praja Patham will be reviewed at a meeting in Zilla Parishad on May 12.

MPs, MLAs, MLCs and ZP Chairman and supervisory officers will participate in the meeting, deliberate on the representations and decide the course of action, according to a statement.— Staff Reporter

Freedom fighters to be felicitated

NIZAMABAD: The Indrapur Protection Committee will honour the freedom fighters as part of the week-long `Jung Azadi' being celebrated in connection with the 150th anniversary of the First War of Independence, at Dr. Ambedkar Bhavan, here on May 11. The CRPF (110 Battalion) Commandant Siv Sankar and Deputy Commandant V.P. Singh here on Wednesday released posters relating to the programme. - Staff Reporter

Washermen meet

HYDERABAD: A two-day second State conference of Andhra Pradesh `Rajaka Vruthidarula Sangham' will begin in Nalgonda district on May 13. The venue will be the Zilla Parishad Grounds in the district headquarter town. Konduru Satyanarayana, president, said in a statement here on Tuesday that they would review activities in securing land, water, houses, `dhobighats', protection to tanks and social justice for the community. -Special Correspondent

One killed in freak accident

KURNOOL: In a freak accident, one person was killed and 20 others were injured when a dilapidated wall collapsed at Banumukkala in Pamulapadu mandal of Kurnool district on Wednesday. The group was taking rest when the wall collapsed. A monkey was said to have caused the wall collapse by shaking the dilapidated wall.

Refractory unit goes on stream

VISAKHAPATNAM: RHI Clasil Ltd, a Greenfield refractory project set up at Venkatapuram village near Paravada in the district went on stream on Wednesday. The factory with a production capacity of 40,000 tonnes a year is established by RHI group, which has 11 per cent market share worldwide.

- Staff Reporter

Open house

Srikakulam: The BSNL will hold an `open house session' at the Vamsadhara guest house here on Friday to solve the problems of subscribers. -Special Corrspondent

Woman kills daughter, self

Amalapuram: In a bizarre incident, a mother gave poison to her daughter and son and she also committed suicide by hanging her self in the house at Irusumanda of Ambajipeta mandal on Wednesday. According to police, P.H. Krishna Jyoti allegedly gave pesticide to her daughter Archana, who died after consuming the same and she committed suicide by hanging.