Party villages may be raided

Kannur: It is suspected that many connected with the murder of RMP leader TP Chandrasekharan are absconding in party villages here. The issue was discussed in the meeting of higher-level police officers led by home minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan on Monday. The officers were given direction to nab the accused from party villages this month itself. Raids would be conducted if needed.
There are complaints that police are reluctant to conduct raids. Earlier, party villages were set up by BJP and CPM but now the trend is followed by SDPI and IUML too.
Such villages are functioning as independent authorities and have their own set of rules. The Minister said police should break all such set ups and IPC and other laws of the country should be made applicable here too. There should be a strong and unbiased action.
Higher officials also suspect involvement of some police officers with such villages. Action should be taken against such policemen. 

Party villages may be raided

Kannur: It is suspected that many connected with the murder of RMP leader TP Chandrasekharan are absconding in party villages here. The issue was discussed in the meeting of higher-level police officers led by home minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan on Monday. The officers were given direction to nab the accused from party villages this month itself. Raids would be conducted if needed.
There are complaints that police are reluctant to conduct raids. Earlier, party villages were set up by BJP and CPM but now the trend is followed by SDPI and IUML too.
Such villages are functioning as independent authorities and have their own set of rules. The Minister said police should break all such set ups and IPC and other laws of the country should be made applicable here too. There should be a strong and unbiased action.
Higher officials also suspect involvement of some police officers with such villages. Action should be taken against such policemen. 

Century's second Venus transit on June 6

Kolkata: In a rare celestial occurrence, Venus - the second planet from the Sun and the Earth's neighbour - will transit across the solar disc early June 6.
The transits of Venus occur in pairs (within eight years) with more than a century separating each pair, according to an M.P. Birla Planetarium official here. The last transit of the planet was seen on June 8, 2004.
The celestial event, lasting for about five hours 40 minutes, will start around 3:40 a.m. at locations in and around Kolkata. Hence, the beginning of the celestial happening will not be visible until the sunrise, said Debiprosad Duari, the planetarium's director (research and academic).

The occurrence will be visible from anywhere in India. The greatest transit, when the black dot of venus can be observed at the innermost point of the solar disc, will occur around 7:02 a.m., Duari said. The transit will end (called egress) around 10:20 a.m.
The small disc of Venus will touch the Sun's disc internally at 10:04 a.m., and by 10:21 a.m. will be completely out of it. The transit can be viewed properly only after half an hour post sunrise, Duari added.
The entire event (i.e., the four contacts) of the transit, will be visible from eastern Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, the Philippines, north Asia, eastern China, Korea, Japan, islands in the western Pacific Ocean, Hawaii, Russia, Alaska and north-west Canada.

Only the first part of the transit will be visible before the sunset from eastern Canada, the US, Central America, the Caribbean and northwest South America. The last part of the transit will be visible in western Asia, India, Europe, the Middle East and eastern Africa.
Throughout the world, tremendous amount of interest has been generated for this event, as the next transit will occur in 2117.
'One needs to be extremely cautious while observing this event, as Venus will only cover 1/32 of the sun's disc, and looking at the Sun with the naked eye should be completely avoided.
'One should look at this event through scientifically-tested aluminised Mylar filter (also called solar goggles) or, No.14 Welder's glass. Under no circumstances one should use exposed x-ray plate or smoked glass to look directly at the transit of Venus,' Duari said.
Historically, the discovery of the transit of Venus not only started a new era of scientific experimentation through international collaborations, but also gave us the first concrete concept of the structure of the solar system.

Century's second Venus transit on June 6

Kolkata: In a rare celestial occurrence, Venus - the second planet from the Sun and the Earth's neighbour - will transit across the solar disc early June 6.
The transits of Venus occur in pairs (within eight years) with more than a century separating each pair, according to an M.P. Birla Planetarium official here. The last transit of the planet was seen on June 8, 2004.
The celestial event, lasting for about five hours 40 minutes, will start around 3:40 a.m. at locations in and around Kolkata. Hence, the beginning of the celestial happening will not be visible until the sunrise, said Debiprosad Duari, the planetarium's director (research and academic).

The occurrence will be visible from anywhere in India. The greatest transit, when the black dot of venus can be observed at the innermost point of the solar disc, will occur around 7:02 a.m., Duari said. The transit will end (called egress) around 10:20 a.m.
The small disc of Venus will touch the Sun's disc internally at 10:04 a.m., and by 10:21 a.m. will be completely out of it. The transit can be viewed properly only after half an hour post sunrise, Duari added.
The entire event (i.e., the four contacts) of the transit, will be visible from eastern Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, the Philippines, north Asia, eastern China, Korea, Japan, islands in the western Pacific Ocean, Hawaii, Russia, Alaska and north-west Canada.

Only the first part of the transit will be visible before the sunset from eastern Canada, the US, Central America, the Caribbean and northwest South America. The last part of the transit will be visible in western Asia, India, Europe, the Middle East and eastern Africa.
Throughout the world, tremendous amount of interest has been generated for this event, as the next transit will occur in 2117.
'One needs to be extremely cautious while observing this event, as Venus will only cover 1/32 of the sun's disc, and looking at the Sun with the naked eye should be completely avoided.
'One should look at this event through scientifically-tested aluminised Mylar filter (also called solar goggles) or, No.14 Welder's glass. Under no circumstances one should use exposed x-ray plate or smoked glass to look directly at the transit of Venus,' Duari said.
Historically, the discovery of the transit of Venus not only started a new era of scientific experimentation through international collaborations, but also gave us the first concrete concept of the structure of the solar system.

UN chief discusses Afghanistan with Zardari

Washington: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Chicago, and held talks on the future of Afghanistan, a UN official said.
During the meeting, 'the secretary-general emphasised the importance of regional cooperation and Pakistan's role in that', Xinhua quoted a statement from Ban's spokesman as saying.
Ban 'encouraged' Zardari 'to help as much as possible with Afghanistan's reconciliation process', the statement said.
Afghanistan was one of the major issues on the agenda of the two-day NATO summit that ended late Monday.
'The secretary-general thanked the president for Pakistan's significant contribution to peacekeeping,' the statement added.

UN chief discusses Afghanistan with Zardari

Washington: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Chicago, and held talks on the future of Afghanistan, a UN official said.
During the meeting, 'the secretary-general emphasised the importance of regional cooperation and Pakistan's role in that', Xinhua quoted a statement from Ban's spokesman as saying.
Ban 'encouraged' Zardari 'to help as much as possible with Afghanistan's reconciliation process', the statement said.
Afghanistan was one of the major issues on the agenda of the two-day NATO summit that ended late Monday.
'The secretary-general thanked the president for Pakistan's significant contribution to peacekeeping,' the statement added.

9 killed, 30 injured as trains collide in Andhra Pradesh

Atleast nine persons were killed and around 30 injured when Bangalore-bound Hampi Express collided with a stationary goods train at Penneconda station of Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district early this morning.
'Nine persons have been killed and 30 others are injured when the train, travelling from Hubli to Bangalore, collided with a goods train at Penneconda station at around 3.15 AM,' a Railway spokesperson said.
The injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals.

Three bogies, one SLR and two ordinary second class coaches, were derailed due to the collision. One of the coaches also caught fire.

The fire has been brought under control and rescue and relief operations were going on, he said.
'The reason of the accident is yet to be ascertained but prima facie it seems that the driver of Hampi Express overshot the signal,' the spokesperson said, adding senior railway officials have rushed to the spot.
Railway Minister Mukul Roy, who is in Kolkata, is rushing to the spot.
Railway Board Member (Traffic) and Member (Mechanic) are also going to the accident site, Railway spokesperson saidPTI.

9 killed, 30 injured as trains collide in Andhra Pradesh

Atleast nine persons were killed and around 30 injured when Bangalore-bound Hampi Express collided with a stationary goods train at Penneconda station of Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district early this morning.
'Nine persons have been killed and 30 others are injured when the train, travelling from Hubli to Bangalore, collided with a goods train at Penneconda station at around 3.15 AM,' a Railway spokesperson said.
The injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals.

Three bogies, one SLR and two ordinary second class coaches, were derailed due to the collision. One of the coaches also caught fire.

The fire has been brought under control and rescue and relief operations were going on, he said.
'The reason of the accident is yet to be ascertained but prima facie it seems that the driver of Hampi Express overshot the signal,' the spokesperson said, adding senior railway officials have rushed to the spot.
Railway Minister Mukul Roy, who is in Kolkata, is rushing to the spot.
Railway Board Member (Traffic) and Member (Mechanic) are also going to the accident site, Railway spokesperson saidPTI.

Kerosene subsidy through banks

Kakkanad: The subsidy amount given by the government for kerosene distribution through ration shops to consumers will be given via banks from now onwards. 
A stipulated amount would be given to the consumer buying kerosene via e-card and non e-card each year. The method is to avoid black marketing and to ensure that kerosene is being given to the right people.

All ration card owners must own a bank account for getting subsidy. After opening bank account the ration card owners must fill in a special form in English and should be remitted along with the first page of passbook at taluk supply or ration offices.

Directions on this have been given to district supply officer, city and taluk supply officers, city rationing officers. At present the price for a litre of kerosene at a subsided rate is Rs 14 to Rs 15. Consumers should give full amount in ration shops when they buy kerosene which comes to Rs 50 to Rs 55 per litre. The government will remit the subsidy amount, which comes around Rs 30 to Rs 35 through bank accounts.

Kerosene subsidy through banks

Kakkanad: The subsidy amount given by the government for kerosene distribution through ration shops to consumers will be given via banks from now onwards. 
A stipulated amount would be given to the consumer buying kerosene via e-card and non e-card each year. The method is to avoid black marketing and to ensure that kerosene is being given to the right people.

All ration card owners must own a bank account for getting subsidy. After opening bank account the ration card owners must fill in a special form in English and should be remitted along with the first page of passbook at taluk supply or ration offices.

Directions on this have been given to district supply officer, city and taluk supply officers, city rationing officers. At present the price for a litre of kerosene at a subsided rate is Rs 14 to Rs 15. Consumers should give full amount in ration shops when they buy kerosene which comes to Rs 50 to Rs 55 per litre. The government will remit the subsidy amount, which comes around Rs 30 to Rs 35 through bank accounts.