Six persons killed, over 50 others injured in thunderstorm

Kishanganj:Six persons, including two women and as many girls, were killed and over 50 others injured in a thunderstorm at Balwatoli in Bihar's Kishanganj district, an official said today. The thunderstorm accompanied by cyclonic wind and
hailstorm struck the area yesterday trapping the inhabitants under its fury killing six persons, while over 50 others sustained injuries, Disaster Management Additional Collector Shatrughan Chaudhary said. Of the dead, five of them were identified as Chameli Begum (10), Navolal Ram, his son Neeraj Kumar, Mando Devi, Samukta Khatun, he said.
The injured were admitted to hospitals, Chaudhary said. 

The thunderstorm also caused largescale devastation in the area damaging several houses, he said. An ex-gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh will be paid to the kin of the victims and Rs 10,000 will be given those whose houses have been damaged, the Assistance Collector said. PTI

Six persons killed, over 50 others injured in thunderstorm

Kishanganj:Six persons, including two women and as many girls, were killed and over 50 others injured in a thunderstorm at Balwatoli in Bihar's Kishanganj district, an official said today. The thunderstorm accompanied by cyclonic wind and
hailstorm struck the area yesterday trapping the inhabitants under its fury killing six persons, while over 50 others sustained injuries, Disaster Management Additional Collector Shatrughan Chaudhary said. Of the dead, five of them were identified as Chameli Begum (10), Navolal Ram, his son Neeraj Kumar, Mando Devi, Samukta Khatun, he said.
The injured were admitted to hospitals, Chaudhary said. 

The thunderstorm also caused largescale devastation in the area damaging several houses, he said. An ex-gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh will be paid to the kin of the victims and Rs 10,000 will be given those whose houses have been damaged, the Assistance Collector said. PTI

Italian government, fishermen kin pact void: Apex court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday took exception to the Kerala High Court approving an agreement between the Italian government and the kin of two Indian fishermen killed by two Italian marines Feb 15, thereby capping all legal proceedings related to the incident. The court termed the agreement void. 
'It is astonishing,' the court said while hearing a petition by the owners of Italian ship Enrica Lexie challenging the high court order detaining the vessel. The marines were on this ship when they mistook the fishermen to be pirates and shot them dead off Alappuzha in Kerala.
The court said that the agreement between the Italian government and the families of the victims was to thwart Indian courts from going into the matter.

It (the agreement) was void and 'hit by Section 33 of the Indian Contract Act (which deals with enforcement of contracts contingent on an event not happening)', the court said.
The apex court bench of Justice R.M. Lodha and Justice H.L. Gokhale asked: 'What are these people in Lok Adalat doing? Doing something that is illegal and beyond the procedure. How could they be a party to such an agreement by putting a seal of approval? If the high court has put the seal of approval then less said the better.'
The court observed that 'this is against public process'. The judges also wanted to know if the Kerala government had moved to stop it.
'Has the state of Kerala not opposed it,' the court asked senior counsel Gopal Subramaniam who appeared for the state government.
Subramaniam told the court that he had already asked the government to impeach such a course. He said that the 'only thing that we should do is to protect our courts from any kind of over-reach'.
At this, Justice Lodha said 'that state of Kerala had to do'.
The matter reached the apex court after Goramma, widow of one of the two fishermen killed by the marines, moved the high court against the lifting of curbs on the ship's departure from Indian shores. She won a favourable order from a division bench which stayed a single judge's order allowing police to permit the ship to set sail.
Enrica Lexie's owners have now challenged the division bench's order in the Supreme Court.
Pointing to senior counsel K.K. Venugopal, appearing for the ship owners, Justice Lodha said: 'This is virtually playing with Indian legal process. Taking this lady (Goramma) out of the scene through illegal means is impermissible.'
'Through payment of Rs.1 crore, her mouth had been silenced. What pains us is the manner (in which) Indian process is sought to be defeated by entering into an agreement with the (victim) lady,' said Justice Lodha.
The judges said that the ship could not be detained for long but everything ran into a hurdle on the question of whether the Italian government was inclined to stand guarantee that it would ensure the presence of its six marines on board Enrica Lexie who too would leave along with the ship.
The court said that the liberty enshrined in the constitution was not limited to Indian citizens but extended to everyone on its territory. However, the court wanted some assurance that the six marines would present themselves before the trial court as and when required.

The judges were told that the Italian government had already approached it challenging the jurisdiction of Indian court on its vessel and its crew members, including the marines.
Counsel for the Italian government told the court that Rome would make its marines submit to Indian jurisdiction only if the apex court decided against its plea.
The court wanted an assurance that the Italian government would make its marines available to appear before the court to tender evidence as and when required.
The central government filed an affidavit before the court distancing itself from the stand taken by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Harin Raval that the director general of shipping had said that the ship could be released.
Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati told the court that 'what is there on record is contrary to what the ASG had said the last time'.
'It was not an issue before the court and the ASG's views were unnecessary,' he said.
The judges told Vahanvati: 'There is nothing to show that what ASG said was incorrect.'
When the court drew the attention of the attorney general to the stand of the shipping ministry, the attorney general said it was the position of the director general of shipping.
Raval earlier told the court that the concerned police station in Kerala had no jurisdiction in the case as the Italian vessel was found at 20.5 nautical miles from the coast and the Indian territory extended to only 12 nautical miles.

Italian government, fishermen kin pact void: Apex court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday took exception to the Kerala High Court approving an agreement between the Italian government and the kin of two Indian fishermen killed by two Italian marines Feb 15, thereby capping all legal proceedings related to the incident. The court termed the agreement void. 
'It is astonishing,' the court said while hearing a petition by the owners of Italian ship Enrica Lexie challenging the high court order detaining the vessel. The marines were on this ship when they mistook the fishermen to be pirates and shot them dead off Alappuzha in Kerala.
The court said that the agreement between the Italian government and the families of the victims was to thwart Indian courts from going into the matter.

It (the agreement) was void and 'hit by Section 33 of the Indian Contract Act (which deals with enforcement of contracts contingent on an event not happening)', the court said.
The apex court bench of Justice R.M. Lodha and Justice H.L. Gokhale asked: 'What are these people in Lok Adalat doing? Doing something that is illegal and beyond the procedure. How could they be a party to such an agreement by putting a seal of approval? If the high court has put the seal of approval then less said the better.'
The court observed that 'this is against public process'. The judges also wanted to know if the Kerala government had moved to stop it.
'Has the state of Kerala not opposed it,' the court asked senior counsel Gopal Subramaniam who appeared for the state government.
Subramaniam told the court that he had already asked the government to impeach such a course. He said that the 'only thing that we should do is to protect our courts from any kind of over-reach'.
At this, Justice Lodha said 'that state of Kerala had to do'.
The matter reached the apex court after Goramma, widow of one of the two fishermen killed by the marines, moved the high court against the lifting of curbs on the ship's departure from Indian shores. She won a favourable order from a division bench which stayed a single judge's order allowing police to permit the ship to set sail.
Enrica Lexie's owners have now challenged the division bench's order in the Supreme Court.
Pointing to senior counsel K.K. Venugopal, appearing for the ship owners, Justice Lodha said: 'This is virtually playing with Indian legal process. Taking this lady (Goramma) out of the scene through illegal means is impermissible.'
'Through payment of Rs.1 crore, her mouth had been silenced. What pains us is the manner (in which) Indian process is sought to be defeated by entering into an agreement with the (victim) lady,' said Justice Lodha.
The judges said that the ship could not be detained for long but everything ran into a hurdle on the question of whether the Italian government was inclined to stand guarantee that it would ensure the presence of its six marines on board Enrica Lexie who too would leave along with the ship.
The court said that the liberty enshrined in the constitution was not limited to Indian citizens but extended to everyone on its territory. However, the court wanted some assurance that the six marines would present themselves before the trial court as and when required.

The judges were told that the Italian government had already approached it challenging the jurisdiction of Indian court on its vessel and its crew members, including the marines.
Counsel for the Italian government told the court that Rome would make its marines submit to Indian jurisdiction only if the apex court decided against its plea.
The court wanted an assurance that the Italian government would make its marines available to appear before the court to tender evidence as and when required.
The central government filed an affidavit before the court distancing itself from the stand taken by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Harin Raval that the director general of shipping had said that the ship could be released.
Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati told the court that 'what is there on record is contrary to what the ASG had said the last time'.
'It was not an issue before the court and the ASG's views were unnecessary,' he said.
The judges told Vahanvati: 'There is nothing to show that what ASG said was incorrect.'
When the court drew the attention of the attorney general to the stand of the shipping ministry, the attorney general said it was the position of the director general of shipping.
Raval earlier told the court that the concerned police station in Kerala had no jurisdiction in the case as the Italian vessel was found at 20.5 nautical miles from the coast and the Indian territory extended to only 12 nautical miles.

Asthma can be managed easilyAsthma remains most under diagnosed, under treated and less understood ailments.Paediatricians and physicians point out that only 10 to 15 per cent of parents, whose children have asthma, adhere properly to the instructions of the physicians.

“About 85 to 90 per cent of children suffer relapse because they never adhere to instructions. Correct treatment and lifestyle modifications are enough to manage and even treat asthma. But, public have stigmatised inhalers and they do not follow instructions of the physicians properly,” senior paediatrician P. Sudershan Reddy, said on the eve of World Asthma Day.The most common symptoms that occur during asthma attack among children include tightness in chest, shortness of breath recurring cough and wheezing. Because of narrow opening of the airway, children do have trouble breathing and this causes wheezing.

“Due to initial cost factors, a majority of parents discontinue inhalers and try to adopt tablets. But, we have seen that in the long run, children develop complications after using tablets. It is always advisable to use inhalers,” says senior chest physician, Government General and Chest Diseases Hospital, Erragadda, K. Subhakar.Doctors also maintain that the number of asthma cases is ever increasing. “About 30 to 34 per cent of children in Bangalore have asthma while among the general outpatients in Hyderabad, 10 per cent of children have asthma. Children who are breast fed for six months and those who are born naturally without C section have less chances of having Asthma,” says Dr. Sudershan Reddy.

Allaying fears of addiction to steroids in inhalers, Dr. Sudershan Reddy said that they are very useful because they provide targeted medication. “There are no side effects and adverse reactions from inhalers. There should be no inhibitions to use inhalers. Physicians, however, must make sure that they spend a lot of time with parents and explain them properly about the finer aspects of asthma,” Dr. Reddy added.Physicians point out that 60 per cent of asthma cases among children is treatable. “If children take medications properly, then the condition is treatable. There are children who have allergic asthma and they have to continue medication for longer time,” Dr. Subhakar said.

Asthma can be managed easilyAsthma remains most under diagnosed, under treated and less understood ailments.Paediatricians and physicians point out that only 10 to 15 per cent of parents, whose children have asthma, adhere properly to the instructions of the physicians.

“About 85 to 90 per cent of children suffer relapse because they never adhere to instructions. Correct treatment and lifestyle modifications are enough to manage and even treat asthma. But, public have stigmatised inhalers and they do not follow instructions of the physicians properly,” senior paediatrician P. Sudershan Reddy, said on the eve of World Asthma Day.The most common symptoms that occur during asthma attack among children include tightness in chest, shortness of breath recurring cough and wheezing. Because of narrow opening of the airway, children do have trouble breathing and this causes wheezing.

“Due to initial cost factors, a majority of parents discontinue inhalers and try to adopt tablets. But, we have seen that in the long run, children develop complications after using tablets. It is always advisable to use inhalers,” says senior chest physician, Government General and Chest Diseases Hospital, Erragadda, K. Subhakar.Doctors also maintain that the number of asthma cases is ever increasing. “About 30 to 34 per cent of children in Bangalore have asthma while among the general outpatients in Hyderabad, 10 per cent of children have asthma. Children who are breast fed for six months and those who are born naturally without C section have less chances of having Asthma,” says Dr. Sudershan Reddy.

Allaying fears of addiction to steroids in inhalers, Dr. Sudershan Reddy said that they are very useful because they provide targeted medication. “There are no side effects and adverse reactions from inhalers. There should be no inhibitions to use inhalers. Physicians, however, must make sure that they spend a lot of time with parents and explain them properly about the finer aspects of asthma,” Dr. Reddy added.Physicians point out that 60 per cent of asthma cases among children is treatable. “If children take medications properly, then the condition is treatable. There are children who have allergic asthma and they have to continue medication for longer time,” Dr. Subhakar said.

Taliban attack Kabul, six killed

A suicide car bomber and Taliban militants disguised in burqas attacked a compound housing hundreds of foreigners in the Afghan capital on Wednesday, officials and witnesses said. The Taliban said the attack was a response to President Barack Obama’s surprise visit just hours earlier.At least six people were killed in the early morning attacks, officials said, as blasts and gunfire continued to ring out from the privately guarded compound known as Green Village that houses hundreds of international contractors.A series of explosions and gunfire rang out near the complex in eastern Kabul at around 6 a.m. and shooting continued for hours later. Another large explosion was heard coming from inside Green Village shortly after 9 a.m. and a large plume of smoke was seen rising from the compound.An Afghan police official said two suicide attackers were still inside Green Village and were “resisting.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.One of the first blasts was a suicide car bomb that exploded near Jalalabad road one of the main thoroughfares out of the city, said Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi. A station wagon that was driving past was caught up in the explosion and four people inside were killed, Sediqi said. A passer—by and a security guard for a nearby building also were killed.A young man who saw the explosion said the dead pedestrian was one of his fellow classmates.“I was walking to school when I saw a very big explosion. A car exploded and flames went very high into the air,” said 21-year-old Mohammad Wali. “Then I saw a body of one of my classmates lying on the street. I knew it was a suicide attack and ran away. I was so afraid.”A local resident who saw the attack unfold said the attackers were disguised in burqas the head—to—toe robes worn by conservative Afghan women.“A vehicle stopped here and six people wearing burqas entered the alley carrying black bags in their hands. When they entered the alley, there was an explosion,” said Abdul Manan.The explosions happened hours after Obama left Afghanistan after a quick visit to mark the first anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death. He spoke to troops and signed a pact with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to govern the U.S. presence in Afghanistan through 2024.Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was planned Tuesday night as a response to Obama’s trip.“This is a reaction to Obama’s visit to Afghanistan,” Mujahid said, without elaborating. He said the target was a “foreign military base.”NATO forces spokesman Capt. Justin Brockhoff said there were no indications that any NATO bases were under attack.The Green Village complex, with its towering blast walls and heavily armed security force, is very similar in appearance to NATO bases in the city. An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw a group of Afghan soldiers enter the Green Village compound, after which heavy shooting could be heard coming from inside.Outside the complex, men could be seen carrying a wounded man covered with blood, apparently pulled out of the flames engulfing a nearby car.“These people evacuated a man from the burning car, two bodies are laying there now and three or four other victims were evacuated from the school,” said Ahmad Zia, a resident who saw the explosion.Green Village was also the target of anti-foreigner protests following the burning of Qurans at a U.S. base in February. At that time, violent protests raged outside, but the angry crowds did not breach the compound’s defenses.

Taliban attack Kabul, six killed

A suicide car bomber and Taliban militants disguised in burqas attacked a compound housing hundreds of foreigners in the Afghan capital on Wednesday, officials and witnesses said. The Taliban said the attack was a response to President Barack Obama’s surprise visit just hours earlier.At least six people were killed in the early morning attacks, officials said, as blasts and gunfire continued to ring out from the privately guarded compound known as Green Village that houses hundreds of international contractors.A series of explosions and gunfire rang out near the complex in eastern Kabul at around 6 a.m. and shooting continued for hours later. Another large explosion was heard coming from inside Green Village shortly after 9 a.m. and a large plume of smoke was seen rising from the compound.An Afghan police official said two suicide attackers were still inside Green Village and were “resisting.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.One of the first blasts was a suicide car bomb that exploded near Jalalabad road one of the main thoroughfares out of the city, said Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi. A station wagon that was driving past was caught up in the explosion and four people inside were killed, Sediqi said. A passer—by and a security guard for a nearby building also were killed.A young man who saw the explosion said the dead pedestrian was one of his fellow classmates.“I was walking to school when I saw a very big explosion. A car exploded and flames went very high into the air,” said 21-year-old Mohammad Wali. “Then I saw a body of one of my classmates lying on the street. I knew it was a suicide attack and ran away. I was so afraid.”A local resident who saw the attack unfold said the attackers were disguised in burqas the head—to—toe robes worn by conservative Afghan women.“A vehicle stopped here and six people wearing burqas entered the alley carrying black bags in their hands. When they entered the alley, there was an explosion,” said Abdul Manan.The explosions happened hours after Obama left Afghanistan after a quick visit to mark the first anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death. He spoke to troops and signed a pact with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to govern the U.S. presence in Afghanistan through 2024.Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was planned Tuesday night as a response to Obama’s trip.“This is a reaction to Obama’s visit to Afghanistan,” Mujahid said, without elaborating. He said the target was a “foreign military base.”NATO forces spokesman Capt. Justin Brockhoff said there were no indications that any NATO bases were under attack.The Green Village complex, with its towering blast walls and heavily armed security force, is very similar in appearance to NATO bases in the city. An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw a group of Afghan soldiers enter the Green Village compound, after which heavy shooting could be heard coming from inside.Outside the complex, men could be seen carrying a wounded man covered with blood, apparently pulled out of the flames engulfing a nearby car.“These people evacuated a man from the burning car, two bodies are laying there now and three or four other victims were evacuated from the school,” said Ahmad Zia, a resident who saw the explosion.Green Village was also the target of anti-foreigner protests following the burning of Qurans at a U.S. base in February. At that time, violent protests raged outside, but the angry crowds did not breach the compound’s defenses.

SC allows Italian ship, Marines to leave India

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the release of Italian merchant navy ship Enrica Lexie, which was seized after two of its Marines had allegedly killed two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast in February this year.The apex court also allowed four marines and six crew members on board it to leave Indian shores after the Italian government and the ship owner assured it that they will be available when required by Indian legal authorities.A Bench headed by Justice R.M. Lodha directed the ship owner to execute a bond of Rs three crore before the registrar-general of the Kerala High Court as a surety for the presence of crew members and the vessel whenever required by the Indian authorities.The Bench directed that the crew members should be made themselves available before the authorities within five weeks after receiving summons or notice.It also directed that the vessel be brought before the legal authorities within seven weeks after receiving summons or notice.The Bench, however, made it clear that its order would not affect the right of the Kerala government to conduct the investigation and the prosecution of two marines accused of killing two fishermen.The apex court had earlier sought the replies of the Centre and the Kerala government on Italian government’s plea to quash the criminal cases against its two merchant navy personnel.In its petition filed under Article 32, the Italian government had asserted that the Kerala Government has no locus standi to register any criminal case as the alleged offence ought to be treated under international law and covenants as India is a signatory to the UN charter.On another petition by Enrica’s owner Dolphin Tankers too, questioning the Kerala High Court’s order staying the release of the vessel, the apex court had sought the replies of the Centre, the Kerala government and two relatives of the slain fishermen gunned down by two marines on February 15.A division bench of the Kerala High Court had earlier, while setting aside a single judge’s order, stayed the release of the vessel detained off Kochi port since February 15.The fishermen, allegedly killed by Italian marines in firing by them at their fishing boat off off Kollam coast were identified as Valentine Jalstine and Ajesh Binki.Marines Latore Massimiliano and Salvatore Gironi have been arrested and charged with murder and lodged in the central prison in Thiruvananthapuram under judicial remand.

SC allows Italian ship, Marines to leave India

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the release of Italian merchant navy ship Enrica Lexie, which was seized after two of its Marines had allegedly killed two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast in February this year.The apex court also allowed four marines and six crew members on board it to leave Indian shores after the Italian government and the ship owner assured it that they will be available when required by Indian legal authorities.A Bench headed by Justice R.M. Lodha directed the ship owner to execute a bond of Rs three crore before the registrar-general of the Kerala High Court as a surety for the presence of crew members and the vessel whenever required by the Indian authorities.The Bench directed that the crew members should be made themselves available before the authorities within five weeks after receiving summons or notice.It also directed that the vessel be brought before the legal authorities within seven weeks after receiving summons or notice.The Bench, however, made it clear that its order would not affect the right of the Kerala government to conduct the investigation and the prosecution of two marines accused of killing two fishermen.The apex court had earlier sought the replies of the Centre and the Kerala government on Italian government’s plea to quash the criminal cases against its two merchant navy personnel.In its petition filed under Article 32, the Italian government had asserted that the Kerala Government has no locus standi to register any criminal case as the alleged offence ought to be treated under international law and covenants as India is a signatory to the UN charter.On another petition by Enrica’s owner Dolphin Tankers too, questioning the Kerala High Court’s order staying the release of the vessel, the apex court had sought the replies of the Centre, the Kerala government and two relatives of the slain fishermen gunned down by two marines on February 15.A division bench of the Kerala High Court had earlier, while setting aside a single judge’s order, stayed the release of the vessel detained off Kochi port since February 15.The fishermen, allegedly killed by Italian marines in firing by them at their fishing boat off off Kollam coast were identified as Valentine Jalstine and Ajesh Binki.Marines Latore Massimiliano and Salvatore Gironi have been arrested and charged with murder and lodged in the central prison in Thiruvananthapuram under judicial remand.