Date:14/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/14/stories/2008101458700300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Awareness yielding results!

The awareness created by the police on abandoned objects after bomb blasts in twin cities appears to be yielding results! Minutes after seeing abandoned articles at public places, citizens are dialling ‘100’ and alerting the police.

A few days ago, a motorcyclist came to a theatre at RTC crossroads to meet its manager for payment. He parked the vehicle near the entrance and went to offer prayers at a nearby mosque.

Sensing something suspicious, movie buffs alerted the police who, in turn, pressed the Bomb Disposal Squad into service.

By the time the squad reached the spot, the vehicle owner arrived and with a nonchalant air, left on his vehicle, much to the astonishment of the police and the audience.

Announcing similar names frequently during public programmes can create confusion and at times, can be hilarious too. At a programme held recently to protest against the State government, an announcer who was inviting the opposition leaders to address the gathering fumbled repeatedly much to the amusement of the people.

He was supposed to announce the name of a BJP leader, Anjan Kumar to address the gathering but eventually he ended up calling him as Anjan Kumar Yadav, Congress MP from Secunderabad.

That the corporate colleges get overenthusiastic in disciplining the Intermediate students is a known fact. Nevertheless, any new instance of how they curb the freedom of the child would forever be a hot topic. Here is another anecdote related by a fellow journalist whose son studies in one of those institutions.

The son’s classmate, who stays in a hostel, came to know of the new presidential appointment a good two months later.

Apparently, the college bans newspapers, television and Internet to insulate the students from the world’s happenings. The kid in question had this piece of news, albeit after two months, from the newspaper sheet kept inside the folds of his ironed clothes.

“That was when I came to know that a woman was elected as the President of India,” he exclaimed. Rather delayed rejoicing!

M. SRINIVAS, S. SANDEEP KUMAR, SWATHI.V