After waiting for 2 years, Kamala Nehru Hospital to finally get ICU

At last the health department has included the pending issue on its agenda, By the month-end it is expected that the hospital will get the necessary approval from the central government to start an ICU having a capacity of 10 beds.

At last: Two years ago, the PMC spent Rs 52 crore to renovate Kamala Nehru hospital situated in Mangalwar Peth, which included the facility of an ICU. File Pic

Two years ago, the PMC spent Rs 52 crore to renovate Kamala Nehru hospital situated in Mangalwar Peth, which included the facility of an ICU. But till date the proposed ICU of the hospital remains on paper. In the absence of an ICU many patients has no choice but switch to private hospitals which have heavy charges. 

“What happened in the last two years I don’t know. However, I am following up the issue since I took charge,” said Sunil Tore, assistant a health chief of the PMC.

Central Oxygen System (COS) is a basic requirement of an ICU but the licence is provided by Chief Controller of Explosives (CCoE), an authority of the central government.

“We have approached CCoE and it is expected that in a week the team of CCoE will visit the hospital. After receiving the final approval for the licence by them by June we will definitely start the ICU at Kamala Nehru Hospital,” said Tore.

Besides the ICU, Dialysis is another facility which Kamala Nehru Hospital lacks. “Once the ICU gets functional we are pressing to start Dialysis,” added Tore.

The PMC has two civil hospitals, 32 clinics and 14 maternity hospitals across the city. Incidentally currently not a single hospital or clinic has an ICU facility. Even though now at last Kamala Nehru Hospital is starting the much-needed facility it will have a capacity of just 10 beds. For a city of over 30 lakh people, a 10-bed ICU unit is not enough. 

Impostor robs woman of Rs 50,000 gold chain

An impostor, posing as a doctor, stole a woman’s gold chain worth Rs 50,000 from Aditya Birla Hospital in Pimpri on Saturday. The man approached Shweta Mehra, who is three months pregnant and is undergoing treatment in the hospital, wearing a white apron and told her that she’ll have to take injection in the neck and hence, will have to remove the chain and the earrings that she was wearing.

It goes viral: Aditya Birla Hospital in Pimpri where the incident took place. In the recent past, similar thefts have taken place in Poona, KEM hospital and other renowned hospitals. File Pic

He then asked her to turn the other side and injected a needle in her neck. After he didn’t remove the needle for long, she turned back and to find the man missing. Besides, when she checked, she found that the chain and earrings that she had kept under the pillow too were missing.

The Hinjewadi police have registered a case against an unidentified person. Inspector PD Patil said that they have received the CCTV footage of the hospital, and the investigating the case.

When contacted, the woman’s husband said, “It happened due to lapse in the security. After the incident, I have shifted my wife to another hospital.”

Speaking to MiD DAY, Chief Operating Officer of the hospital Rekha Dubey said, “We are cooperating with the police and also have given them the CCTV footage.”

In the past, a similar theft had taken place in Poona, KEM hospital and other renowned medical centres. 

MSRTC facing acute shortage of bus drivers

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation’s (MSRTC) Swargate Depot is facing 10 per cent shortage of bus drivers. The pinch can be felt as it is the summer holiday season and there is a need for full service. The depot management is allowing available drivers to do overtime work with a tempting offer of providing double rates of salary per hour.

One for the road: The money that the current crop of drivers is getting from working overtime has helped them fulfil some important family needs. Representation Pic

Vijay Divte, manager, Swargate Depot, said, “We have a strength of 254 bus drivers for 375 plus trips a day. The number of bus drivers is inadequate. We have also made a demand for 22 more drivers who can run the buses. This is about 10 per cent of the current strength and we need them for normal flow of services.”

According to Divte, “Along with the routine bus trips, we have also started extra operations in the Konkan region for the tourists who visit Kelshi, Anjerli, Dapoli, Ganpati Phule etc. In addition, we have also increased the number of trips to Kolhapur and Mumbai. Our depot has also been given a target of running 53,000 kilometres a day and we are doing what we can with the lack of 22 drivers. All the 12 depots in Pune district are facing the scarcity of 10 to 15 per cent shortage of bus drivers.”

A highly placed source at Shivajinagar ST Depot said, “There is a dearth of 40 drivers as against the present strength is 245 drivers. The Pimpri-Chinchwad ST Stand is also facing a shortage of 17 drivers with 284 drivers on duty. To meet the growing need of extra trips we even stopped leaves for drivers and conductors in the summer,” said the source.

Raghunath Tupe, a bus driver who drives to Ganpati Phule said, “I started the season with a positive mindset though it is very hectic to drive in the scorching summer. My earnings by working overtime have helped me fulfil important family needs. I really miss my family and kids, as my children are enjoying school holidays. There is no use in leaves when the summer vacation is over. But I have accepted it as ‘fact of life’.”  

254 Total number of drivers at Swargate bus depot

68 Number of drivers suffering from hypertension and diabetes

Octroi claims pending for 9 years, cleared in 8 days

In a record-breaking move, the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Local Body Tax (LBT) department has settled 30,000 octroi claims, pending since 2004, in the last eight days. “In earlier tax collection systems, many times traders had separate versions on the tax collected at octroi booths situated at the boundary of the city.

Tall claims: The PMC has started a shop-to-shop registration survey to include traders in the ambit of LBT. But the survey was stopped due to protests. Officers are utilising this time to go through Octroi files. File Pic

Such traders made claims for refund. Due to manpower shortage, thousands of claims were pending for the last nine years. We have settled 30,000 claims in the last eight days,” said Vilas Kanade, LBT chief of PMC. The civic body has started a shop-to-shop registration survey to include traders in the ambit of LBT.

But the survey has stopped due to the ongoing protests by traders. The LBT department has decided to take ‘advantage’ of this bandh and started settling pending octroi claims. “The total number of pending octroi claims is around one lakh. If the traders continue to strike, in another eight days we will clear all the pending octroi,” said Kanade.

However, Kanade refused to give details of how many claims were genuine and the amount of funds PMC had refunded to traders through octroi claims. It seems in almost all claims the LBT department has shut the files. “The claims were pending for the past nine years. Today, how can we decide if the octroi charged on goods somewhere in 2005 is appropriate or not. That’s why settling means we are just closing the files to minimise the long pendency,” said a PMC employee on the condition of anonymity.

Before introducing LBT, PMC has to appoint 300 employees at different octroi booths. “As most of our manpower is on field (octroi booths), it is difficult to look after refund claims. But now all staff members are in the office and we are making full use of our strength for settling pending claims,” added Kanade.  

After meeting CM, Pune traders against LBT call off strike

The indefinite bandh being waged by the Pune Trader's Association in the city since May 8, was finally called off yesterday after a meeting with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in Mumbai.

In one voice: Violence broke out just when the traders had assembled to tell former mayor Yogesh Bahal that they wanted to protest peacefully. Pics/Krunal Gosavi

Talking about calling off the bandh, the President of Pune Trader’'s Association Popatlal Oswal said, “The meeting was held yesterday at noon and late in the evening we met CM Chavan with 85 representatives. As all the stringent provisions of LBT have been removed by the state government, we have decided to call off the bandh.”

The day was eventful with some traders protesting near former mayor and president of NCP Pimpri-Chinchwad unit Yogesh Bahal’s house. They were lathicharged by the police. It all started when the NCP threatened they would force all shops open. However, they later retreated saying they would not take the law into their hands. However, after a rumour started doing the rounds that NCP workers were forcefully opening shops in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area, a mob of around 300 furious traders headed towards the former mayor’s house.

“We wanted to meet former mayor to tell him that we want to protest in a peaceful manner. However as it was the NCP’s jurisdiction, they used police force and beat up traders,” said president of Sant Tukaram Nagar Trader’s Association, Kiran Suvarna. He said that police not only beat the traders but also arrested five traders including him.

“Since the last two months we have been protesting in a peaceful manner and yesterday we wanted to give the keys of our shops to NCP workers and tell them that instead of forcefully opening shops, they should open it with the keys,” said Suvarna. PI Mohan Vidhate said the traders didn’t take permission. “The traders were headed to former mayor Yogesh Bahal’s house and were very aggressive. That’s why we had to lathicharge them,” said Vidhate.  

Cops rescue 2 minors, model from sex trade

The cops rescued three girls, including two minors, and arrested three male pimps from the flat. “We had received a tip-off that a prostitution racket is operational in Gloriosa Society,” said API Ashwini Jagtap of Social Security Cell. She added that one of the minor girls, a Bangladeshi, was brought here by a lady who had promised to show her some tourist attractions in India. The other minor is from West Bengal and was brought to the city by the woman, who promised her a job.

According to the police, the 26-year-old woman who was rescued hails from Haryana, and has worked in an episode of a television serial called CID. Those arrested have been identified as Tushar Patil (21), Haridas Shere (26), and Prakash Waghmare (27). According to police, Tushar once worked with Kalyani Deshpande, the kingpin of flesh trade in the city, who is wanted in a PITA case registered with the Deccan-Gymkhana police station.

While all the rescued girls have been sent to the Rescue Home Foundation and police are trying to contact their families, those arrested have been booked under relevant Sections of PITA and IPC. They will be produced before the court today.  

Former sex workers don chefs' hats

From the dingy alleys of infamous Budhwar Peth - the city’s red light area, Kalpana and Shama (names changed) along with five other commercial sex workers have started their lives afresh. Kalpana who had been sold by her husband in Budhwar Peth and Shama who was also forced into the flesh trade due to poverty are now in the business of catering.

Pic for representation

The erstwhile sex workers now prepare food items and sell them in Budhwar Peth. Kalpana told MiD DAY that she doesn’t even know when she was brought in to the flesh trade by her husband. She is now happy to leave the profession and be engaged in a respectable occupation.

Out of the rut: The sex-workers were forced into the  trade and are now happy with their new jobs. File Pic

“My family accepted me after 20 years as soon as I left the profession. Now my nephews come to meet me. I have rented a room which I share with other sex workers who have also left the profession and work as domestic maids,” said Kalpana. Kalpana makes chapatis and sells them in the area and in her spare time works as a treasurer for city-based NGO Saheli.

Shama’s eyes glittered with happiness when she told us that her son-in-law was willing to forget her past and accept her as his family member. “My son-in-law accepted me as part of my family and was willing to forget the stigma. I left the sex trade just before my daughter got married,” said Shama. She said that poverty forced her to enter the flesh trade.

“I never wanted my daughter to enter the profession therefore I arranged her marriage although I wanted to give her a good education. However, I am happy that after spending 25 years in the profession, I am finally doing a respectable job,” said Shama.

Saheli has so far successfully rehabilitated seven sex workers by training them in cooking. Taking note of the rehabilitation work done by the NGO, the Women and Child Welfare Department has awarded funds to the NGO to help at least 10 more sex workers come out of this profession.

Talking about the rehabilitation project, Saheli’s director Tejaswi Sevekari said that around six months ago she sent a proposal to the WCW department, requesting officials to grant funds to rehabilitate more sex workers who genuinely want to get out of the profession. She further said that the department had recently accepted the proposal and sanctioned an amount of Rs 2 lakh for the work.

“So far we have identified seven sex workers who are in the age group of 24-40 for the rehabilitation. Apart from cooking chapattis and vegetables, these newly selected women cook snacks which are sold to shopkeepers and the other sex workers and residents of the area,” said Sevekari.

Probation Officer for WCW Reshma More said that the department has received five more proposals for funding, but they are all commercial organisations “It was for the first time that Saheli received a grant from government, therefore we didn’t consider the proposals of commercial organisations and immediately recommended the proposal to the District Collector,” said More. 

Cooking teacher Sujaya Dhavalikar, a professional caterer who will now train the sex workers, said that when Saheli asked her whether she could teach the women to make some food items, she immediately agreed. “Whatever their pasts may be, these women now want to come back to live a normal life and that is what is important for me. Apart from teaching cooking, I would also teach them how to maintain hygiene while cooking,” said Dhavalikar.

Court grants Musharraf bail in Bhutto murder

The court directed Musharraf to submit two bonds of Rs 1 million each. Musharraf is accused of conspiring the murder of Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and for the 2006 killing of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Khan Bugti.

A Pakistani Anti-Terrorism Court on Saturday had extended Musharraf’s judicial remand for 14 days in connection to the judges’ detention case.

The court adjourned the hearing in the case till June 1. Musharraf returned to Pakistan in March after years of self-exile in the UK. Musharraf stepped down from the power in 2008 and was threatened with impeachment, which resulted in his self-exile.

Karachi tense as PTI ‘wins revote’  The Pakistani city of Karachi is braced for more protests, as results emerge from a partial re-run of elections held after violence and fears of rigging on polling day. Unofficial results show that Imran Khan’s PTI party leads in one seat. They come a day after the funeral of PTI vice-president, Zahra Shahid Hussain, killed in Karachi on Saturday.   

Tourists feel the heat, desert monuments in Agra

Had it not been for the Jayreens (pilgrims) returning from the Ajmer urs, the number of visitors at the Taj Mahal would have dropped to a trickle from the thousands that daily make a beeline to enter the 17th century monument of love, said tourist guide Ved Gautam.

Uncool: With temperatures reaching up to 46°C degrees, the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra witnessed very few visitors yesterday, a rarity say tour  guides. Pic/AFP

“It’s a rare sight to see Taj entrance gates without a queue these days,” said hotelier Sandeep. “The heat took its toll. A tourist, Jai Ram from Chennai, collapsed at the Taj Mahal due to heat stroke. Another foreign visitor had to be given emergency medical treatment,” an ASI official said.

Agra’s hotels are deserted. The occupancy rate has come down steeply, said Rakesh Chauhan, president of the Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association.

The other historical monuments too are deserted. The weather office in Lucknow said on Monday: “No early respite in sight. The temperature could go up further.”

India, China vow to resolve border row, boost ties

India and China scripted a new chapter in their ties yesterday as Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh candidly discussed the recent border row and decided to take steps for an early resolution to a dispute that triggered a war in 1962. Li, making Delhi his first halt in his foreign trip after assuming power in March, and Singh also agreed that the world’s two most populous nations and biggest economies had a lot in common despite some known differences. Singh told the media along with Li that they held “wide ranging and candid discussions” on all matters of mutual concern and realised that there was “a great deal of meeting of minds.”

‘A big stride forward’: Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang yesterday  described the consensus reached on various issues between China and India as "a big stride forward" and called for conducting dialogue in a “mature and sensible way”. Pic/AFP

Li echoed him, saying India and China were “strategic partners and good friends” that could speak to each other with candour, while stressing on discussions on the border issue and river waters. PM Singh said the two countries’ special representatives would meet soon to discuss the border dispute. “We agreed that our special representatives will meet soon to continue discussions, seeking early agreement on a framework for a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable boundary settlement.” Manmohan Singh said both leaders “took stock of lessons learnt from the recent incident in the western sector” of the Sino-Indian border, and that the “existing (border) mechanism proved their worth.”

Boosting trade India signed four agreements with China that will boost Indian shipments of buffalo meat, fisheries and pharmaceuticals, and help reduce the trade deficit that has risen in the financial year ended March 31.

Three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) relate to facilitating trading of buffalo meat, fisheries and pharmaceuticals. The fourth is related to easing the trade of feed and feed ingredients.

These agreements were signed by the authorities concerned of the two countries in the presence of Singh and Li. After signing the agreements, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said the deals would help curb the widening trade deficit between the two countries.

“The signing of the MoUs between India and China is a good beginning to address the issues India is raising with China from time to time. All the sectors are of immense trade importance to India, and India has clear price and quality competitiveness in these sectors to compete in the world market,” Sharma said in a statement.

Trade deficit between India and China surged to $40.77 billion in 2012-13 as compared to $1.08 billion in 2001-02. Also, as per an agreement signed by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China will make improvements to the existing facilities for Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims including providing them with wireless sets and local SIM cards. 

Delhiites fume as visit causes chaos Delhiites had a harrowing time due to traffic restrictions put in place in the heart of the city during Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit. Some even slammed the practice of closing roads for the movement of dignitaries. Harassed commuters spent hours negotiating traffic jams and diversions on a hot summer day and questioned the logic behind blocking off key roads. Gurgaon resident Swaroop Singh said it was difficult to reach his office in the heavy traffic. "There was so much traffic this morning. It meant one to two hours more in my commuting time," he said. To add to the woes of Metro users, the Race Course, Udyog Bhawan, Central Secretariat and Khan Market stations were closed for two hours from 8 am to 10 am.

Tibetans protest near Li's hotel Tibetan activists yesterday defied security and managed to stage a small protest near the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi where Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is staying, police said. 

Three Tibetan students also climbed on top of a structure in a filling station near the hotel and shouted slogans for a free Tibet, an official said. They also displayed a banner that read “Li Keqiang, Tibet will be free”. The three students were later detained by police. 

Saudi authorities refuse to accept new Indian passports

Saudi authorities have declined to transfer data from old passports to the new ones submitted by Indian expatriates for updating, saying they have not received any official information on modification. 

In the old passport, the passport holder's photo was placed on the second page, whereas the newly issued passports have photos placed on the third page.

Though the troubled Indian expatriates have obtained a letter from the Indian Consulate confirming the validity of the new passport, Saudi officials are insisting on receiving confirmation through the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Arab News reported today.

Passport holders are legal residents of the Kingdom with valid residency permits who have approached Passport Department to transfer data from their old passports to their new ones, commonly known as "naql maalumat".

Yesterday, the Saudi passport office in Jeddah refused to update approximately 200 Indian passports for this reason.

Expatriates rushed to the consular service's outsourcing agency and have lodged a formal complaint.

Indians in Saudi Arabia are currently facing trouble amid concerns over the 'Nitaqat' labour law that makes it mandatory for local companies to hire one Saudi national for every 10 migrant workers.

Indian Embassy in Riyadh has so far received about 60,000 applications seeking issuance of Emergency Certificates to leave Saudi Arabia over fear of possible job losses after the new labour law comes into effect.

The Kingdom this month announced a three-month grace period for Indian workers, who have travelled to the country illegally, to regularise their visa status, get new jobs or to return home if they register voluntarily with the Saudi authorities during the period. 

Imran's party emerges victorious after re-polling in Karachi

PTI's Arif Alvi secured 77,659 votes to beat MQM's Khushbakht Shujaat who polled 30,365 votes, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). 

MQM, Karachi's dominant party, has captured majority seats in national assembly and provincial assembly elections in Karachi since the late eighties. In the May 11 general elections, MQM managed to bag 18 national assembly seats.

The repoll in 43 polling stations out of 180 in the constituency was ordered following allegations of vote-rigging in the upmarket district of Pakistan's biggest city during the general election.

The result came as a setback for the MQM which had earlier ridiculed the low turnout in the re-polling held one day after the brazen killing of PTI's senior vice-president Zahra Shahid Hussain outside her residence on Saturday night.

The NA-250 and re-polling on two other provincial seats became a flash-point between the PTI and MQM, which boycotted the re-polling.

The MQM took out big rallies in different parts of the city today to protest Imran's statement about holding MQM chief Altaf Hussain, who lives in exile in London, directly responsible for the death of its vice president. The big rallies led to markets closing down in the Saddar area out of fear while traffic was clogged up as many roads were closed by law enforcement for security reasons.

The PTI and Jamaat-e-Islaami also staged protest sit-ins in some areas demanding re-elections at all the constituencies in Karachi as they accused the MQM of vote-rigging.

The MQM and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had also announced to boycott the re-polling after the ECP rejected their demands of a re-do for the entire constituency.

Alvi told reporters that his victory was just the tip of the iceberg and PTI candidates had also done well in other constituencies but there was mismanagement and rigging at many polling stations in other areas.

"I think my victory shows that the people of Karachi want a change, they want peace and tolerance and to make this city the business and financial hub it once was," he said.  

Indian university lecturer arrested in UAE

Though a report in the Gulf Times did not name either the lecturer or the university in India he works in, it said that he had finished his term in the private university at Dubai's Academic City a year ago, but his contract was terminated without any reason.

A Dubai court later ruled in his favour and he got his end-of-service benefits.

After returning to India, he started blogging against the university and revealed the reason why his contract was terminated.

PIL filed in SC seeks probe by SIT into spot-fixing in IPL

The petitioner by a Lucknow resident has made all IPL franchises and BCCI party in the case along with the Centre. 

"There are many irregularities in the IPL beginning from auction of players. Black money and money from anti-social elements are involved in the IPL which needs to be probed," advocate Vishnu Jain, who filed the petition, said.

The petition sought a stay on remaining four matches including final match of the IPL till the probe is completed.

Jain field the petition on behalf of one Sudarsh Awasthi who claims to be an architect.  

1993 Mumbai blasts convict Zaibunissa surrenders

The 75-year-old Kazi arrived on a wheelchair accompanied by her daughter and surrendered in the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (TADA) special court.

Kazi's surrender came after the special court issued non-bailable warrants against her and co-accused Sharif Dada Parkar, who is over 80 years old, after they failed to appear before it within the deadline set by the Supreme Court.

Her lawyer said that she required to undergo certain medical tests and needed time till May 20 before she could surrender, but the court declined the plea.

Soon after her arrival, Kazi was mobbed by media-persons and she broke down, pleading "mercy and forgiveness" from the government.

"At my age and my present health condition, it is not possible for me to undergo this punishment... I have suffered enough... I urge the government to pardon me and save me from this predicament," Kazi said.

Kazi said she was suffering from hypertension, cholesterol and thyroid problems and had undergone a major kidney operation some time ago.

"I simply cannot sit on the floor, how will I manage in the jail? At home my daughter looks after me, I don't know what will happen in the jail," she cried.

Though she has claimed innocence, Kazi was convicted under the Arms Act and the TADA Act and sentenced to five years' jail.

In March, Kazi, through her daughter (who has declined to be identified), had appealed to Press Council of India chairman Markandey Katju to take up her case with the Maharashtra governor for a pardon.  

Police yet undecided about where Dutt would serve his time

Dutt is currently lodged in the 'anda' (egg-shaped) cell after he was brought to the Arthur Road jail last week to serve his sentence in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

The actor has been restless at nights, reading religious books, police said. "We will take some more time to take a call on whether to shift Dutt or not.

Sanjay Dutt. File pic

He will not be shifted anywhere in the near future," Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) Meera Borwankar told PTI.

Another jail official said dilemma to shift the actor or not will continue for at least another 15 days.

Reasons attributed for this were that the prison department has been gathering information such as number of convicts, security conditions, presence of inmates linked to underworld in various jails in the state like those located in Taloja (Navi Mumbai), Yerwada (Pune), Thane, Nagpur and Nashik.

"The authorities are studying various aspects, particularly security ground before taking any decision on the actor's shifting," the jail official added.

Though there are some convicts lodged in the city jail, usually it is used to house undertrials.

Dutt has to serve 42 more months in jail following his conviction in the 1993 bomb blast case being upheld by the Supreme Court, which, however, reduced his sentence by one year (to five years from six) in March this year. He has already served 18 months of his sentence.  

Rajesh Talwar claims he was asleep when killings took place

Talwar's statement is being recorded under section 313 of CrPC where the judge poses questions directly to the accused to explain his version of the circumstances.

So far Special CBI Judge S Lal has posed over 200 questions to Talwar in which he is given a chance to put forward his defence, Talwar's counsel Manoj Sisodia told reporters here.

Talwar was today asked about the recurrent internet activity recorded from his router on May 15 night when the murders took place.

Rajesh and Nupur Talwar. File pic

CBI had claimed that he had used the internet at regular intervals which show he was awake and knew about happenings in Aarushi's room.

Talwar told court today that he was asleep after 11.30 pm and did not use internet.

Sisodia claimed that router was showing activity on May 16 between 6 am to 1 pm as well after all the police and investigators had reached crime scene and the computers were switched off.

The router activity on May 16 shows that there was error in its recording hence it cannot be claimed since internet activity was there so Dr Talwar would have been awake, Sisodia told PTI adding that he did not know whether Talwar explained these details to the court or not.

CBI had presented an Airtel Executive as its witness to buttress its claim that internet activity was recorded on May 15 which belies Talwars claim that he was asleep and did not know about happenings in Aarushi's adjoining room.

Talwar was also asked about post-mortem conducted on the body of Hemraj where CBI claimed that his swollen private parts indicated that the servant was indulging or about to indulge in sex just before his death.

Raj had claimed that he had not formed any opinion about swollen parts of the servant on the day of postmorten as he had thought he would tell reasons when asked about it.

He had also agreed with the defence counsel's view that swelling could also be result of decomposition of the body.  

Tourism mafia is everywhere: Russian official

Albuquerque, a reputed businessman in Goa was speaking to reporters in his first media conference after being appointed honorary consul a couple of months ago.

Asked to respond if he could categorically confirm or deny whether Russian mafia was present in Goa, known to attract 125,000 Russian tourists annually, Albuquerque did neither.

He instead said: "There is mafia in tourism everywhere. The Indian mafia also operates in Pakistan. You don't have to be from a place to run a mafia".

The involvement of the Russian underworld representatives in tourism as well as real estate-oriented deals along coastal Goa has been much debated over the last few years, which have coincided with the significant rise in Russian tourist arrivals to the state.

Both the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have over the years red-flagged several real estate deals along the coastline, which were allegedly funded by front men for the Russian mafia, an issue which has been raised in the state legislature by legislators across party-lines as well as in parliament.

Albuquerque, who is one of the biggest handlers of Russian charter flights, said some anti-social elements could also land in Goa along with the thousands of genuine Russian tourists and added that it was his job to look after the latter grouping.

Commenting on reports that Russians have virtually taken over two north Goan coastal beach villages of Morjim and Arambol running illegal businesses, operating hotels, taxi services and stores while still on tourist visas, he said: "But I believe that to clap you need two hands. Unless locals give support to such things, that will not happen."

"Such things would not have happened in Punjab and Haryana. They would have been driven out," he said.

Goa this season attracted over 1.25 lakh Russian tourists, who arrived in Goa from October 2012 to March 2013 to enjoy the warm tropical winter sun, at a time when winter is at its worst in Russia.  

India, China seek early end to border dispute: PM

Manmohan Singh also told the media along with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang that they had "wide ranging and candid discussions" on all matters of mutual concern and realised there was "a great deal of meeting of minds".

The two leaders addressed the news conference a day after Li arrived in India on a three-day trip, his first visit abroad since assuming office in March. From India, Li will go to Pakistan, Germany and Switzerland.

Manmohan Singh said the recent incursion by Chinese troops into Indian territory was taken up for discussion when the two leaders met for private talks here Sunday evening.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang with Manmohan Singh. Pic/ AFP

Chinese troops intruded some 19 km inside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) - the de-facto border - April 15 and pitched tents, raising tensions between the two countries.

The row ended May 5 after several rounds of negotiations - military and diplomatic - with both sides reverting to the position that existed before April 15.

Manmohan Singh did not provide details of what he told Li about the incident but said that both leaders "took stock of lessons learn from the recent incident in the western sector" of the Sino-Indian border.

He said the "existing mechanism proved their worth" after the Chinese incursion.

He said he and Li had tasked the two countries' Special Representatives to consider further measures that may be needed to maintain peace along the winding and disputed border.

"We agreed that our Special Reprsentatives will meet soon to continue discussions, seeking early agreement on a framework for a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable boundary settlement."

India and China fought a border war in 1962. Both countries claim each other's territory.

According to Manmohan Singh, while India and China "have had our differences in more recent times", they had steadily built a mutually beneficial relationship over the last 25 years.

"While seeking an early resolution of the boundary question, Premier Li and I agreed that this (peace and tranquility) must continue to be preserved."

Manmohan Singh said he told Li that the rise of China and India was good for the world and "that the world has enough space to accommodate the growth aspirations of both our peoples".

He said both of them had discussions Sunday on "all matters of interest and concern".

"I am delighted that there are so many areas of convergence between us and on which there is a great deal of meeting of minds," he added.

Manmohan Singh said he told Li about India's concerns about the trade deficit and sought increased market access to China for Indian exports and investments.

"I also invited increased Chinese involvement in the vast opportunities in our infrastructure and manufacturing sectors."  

China-India's large potential makes West anxious: Chinese daily

Said the Global Times in an editorial Monday, the second day of Premier Li Keqiang's India trip: "As China's new premier, his selection of India for his first overseas trip has widely been interpreted as a sign that China is attaching greater importance and respect to this large neighbour."

It said that the ties between China and India has long been plagued by negative news.

"This has caused public opinion about the relationship to become more negative than the reality warrants (and)...a `tent confrontation' between the two sides made headlines.

"It's difficult to simply judge Sino-Indian relations as `good' or `bad'. New conflicts initiated by border disputes may break out at any time, according to worst-case scenarios," the daily said.

The daily stressed that the actual situation in border areas is much better than the Diaoyu Islands disputes with Japan and some other disputed islands in the South China Sea.

"Both sides have been trying to divert the focus of the bilateral relationship from border disputes to other areas. In spite of media hype, both sides share a common will in terms of preventing border problems from impeding Sino-Indian ties," it said.

"Such rationality is commendable in present-day Asia where nationalism runs rampant."

The editorial said that these two large emerging countries have many common interests on major issues such as the global financial order and climate change, which means that the two countries must seek cooperation.

"China and India's combined potential are large enough to make the West anxious. Internal dissension between China and India meets Western interests.

"There are many weaknesses in the bilateral relationship which can be exploited by outsiders. Without mutual respect, small frictions can be exaggerated. Also, if both nations simultaneously rise, they may put pressure on the other," it added.

The daily, however, noted that the "Indian sense of national pride is very strong but Chinese society doesn't want to adapt. Chinese people lack understanding and respect toward India. They tend to judge it according to ill-conceived preconceptions".

"...China's surrounding environment will suffer if India, a country which has the prospect of running neck-and-neck with China, becomes another Japan or Philippines in terms of its policies toward China."

It called for "wisdom" to develop Sino-Indian strategic ties. 

India, China have differences but will be together: Li

Writing in The Hindu newspaper, Li warned that there would be no Asian century if India and China failed to live in harmony and achieve common development.

"There is no denying that China and India still have between them some difficult issues left over from history," he said in the article titled "A handshake across the Himalayas".

"But the rich historical experience and the broad vision... serve as the basis for China and India to take a long-term view and live in amity with each other."

He added: "China and India, two big Asian countries living next door to each other, are destined to be together."

Manmohan Singh with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Pic/ AFP

In his article, Li paid glowing tributes to Indian history and culture as well as economic strengths and described India as a nation "at once old and young".

He said both countries "agree that the common interests between China and India far outweigh their differences and that the two countries should enhance mutual trust rather than increasing mutual suspicion..."

"As long as we face the problems squarely and talk to each other with sincerity, we will eventually find proper solutions (to our differences)."

Li underlined the point by saying that India and China "need to live with our neighbours in harmony and make friends in the world".

The Chinese premier, who arrived here Sunday on a three-day visit, his first since taking office in March, said China had a long way to go to achieve modernisation despite its present strength.

"Even if China becomes strong one day, it will never embark on the doomed path of seeking hegemony," he said.

He said Asia's future depended on China and India.

"If China and India live in harmony and prosper together, and if our two markets converge, it will be a true blessing for Asia and the world at large."  

Tibetans protest in Delhi, hold Chinese premier responsible for self-immolations

Shouting slogans against the visiting Chinese dignitary, the Tibetans said they held Keqiang responsible for the spate of self immolations in their homeland. "Li Keqiang is responsible for the killings in Tibet. 117 self immolations have happened and he is responsible for all the things," said a female protestor. More than 100 Tibetans have set themselves on fire to protest against Chinese rule since 2009 across a large swathe of ethnically Tibetan regions, with most of them dying from their injuries.

Tibetan organisations staged protests in Delhi holding Chinese premier responsible for self-immolations. Pic/ AFP

The Delhi Police has already stepped up security with several routes, including ones near the Chinese embassy, shut.

Four metro stations, including the Race Course station near the Prime Minister’s house, will also be closed for a few hours today.

A large number of personnel have been deployed at the Chinese Embassy and the hotel where the Chinese Premier Li is staying. Meanwhile, Premier Keqiang, who is on a three-day state visit to India, said that global prosperity would not be possible without the simultaneous development of China and India. Keqiang, who received a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here this morning, told media that the combined population of China and India is a third of the world’s population, and therefore, both China and India are important world markets. "Development and prosperity of the world cannot happen without the simultaneous development of India and China," he added. He also said a China-India regional trading association would be launched along with an economic trade corridor. "I will have in-depth discussions with the Indian PM and other leaders to take our relationship forward and settle our differences," he said. "With this visit, I hope that both sides increase mutual strategic trust, both countries are ancient civilisations," he added.

Man arrested for attempting to kill infant son

Sitaram Sethi allegedly committed the offence in a fit of rage following a quarrel with his wife at their house in Sorada on Saturday, said officer-in-charge of local police outpost BK Sahu said.

The baby was first admitted at Balipadar hospital and then shifted to the sub divisional hospital at Bhanjanagar and MKCG Medical College and Hospital here.

Representational pic.

The condition of the baby was stated to be stable, medical sources said here.

Police said preliminary investigation suggested that frequent quarrel between the accused and his wife was the cause of the incident.

Sitaram who was virtually not doing any work, was depending on the income of his wife.

His wife maintained the family with the income as a daily labourer.  

JD-U leader files defamation case against Lalu

Sanjay Singh, who is also JD-U spokesperson, filed the defamation case against the former Bihar chief minister in the Patna civil court.

"I have filed a case against Lalu Prasad," Sanjay Singh told IANS.

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. File pic

Lalu Prasad had allegedly described Sanjay Singh and another JD-U leader Sanjay Jha as "alsatian" at his Parivartan Rally in the Bihar capital last week.

The RJD chief had launched a scathing attack against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for rampant corruption, bribery and rising incidents of rape in the state and said he would throw him out of power in the next elections.

"People of the state are looking for a change (parivartan) and the RJD will oust Nitish Kumar from power," Lalu Prasad had said.