Babri Masjid Day: Security tightened in Sabarimala

Security has been tightened at Lord Ayyappala temple here in connection with the 20th anniversary of the Babri Masjid Day demolition tomorrow.

After the closure of sanctum sanctorum on December 5 after 'Harivarasanam,' the pilgrims will not be allowed to proceed through the holy steps, according to official sources here today. The entry to sanctum sanctorum will start only by 0400 hrs on December 6, after the opening of the Temple.

This information will be brought to the notice of all devotees at Pampa and 'Sannidhanam' by announcement through public address system.

Pilgrims would be allowed to bring only the 'Irumudi' and avoid bringing Mobile Phones, weapons and luggage to Sannidhanam. Any kind of offering will not be allowed in front of the sanctom sanctorum. Special vessel will be kept for the purpose.

Pilgrims will not be allowed to open their 'Irumudi' on the 'Sopanam' premises. Vessel will be kept at Malikappuram Flyover to pour the ghee from the 'Irumudi' coconut.

Security personnel would check the ghee containers meant for Neyyabhishekam, if possible by passing by them through the scanner.

Pilgrims will not be allowed to enter the Sopanam from Malikappuram or from the Bhasmakulam.

No luggage and goods traffic will be allowed to and from Sannidhanam. Owners of shops and establishments at Pampa and Sannidhanam would be specially informed of these arrangements.

Babri Masjid Day: Security tightened in Sabarimala

Security has been tightened at Lord Ayyappala temple here in connection with the 20th anniversary of the Babri Masjid Day demolition tomorrow.

After the closure of sanctum sanctorum on December 5 after 'Harivarasanam,' the pilgrims will not be allowed to proceed through the holy steps, according to official sources here today. The entry to sanctum sanctorum will start only by 0400 hrs on December 6, after the opening of the Temple.

This information will be brought to the notice of all devotees at Pampa and 'Sannidhanam' by announcement through public address system.

Pilgrims would be allowed to bring only the 'Irumudi' and avoid bringing Mobile Phones, weapons and luggage to Sannidhanam. Any kind of offering will not be allowed in front of the sanctom sanctorum. Special vessel will be kept for the purpose.

Pilgrims will not be allowed to open their 'Irumudi' on the 'Sopanam' premises. Vessel will be kept at Malikappuram Flyover to pour the ghee from the 'Irumudi' coconut.

Security personnel would check the ghee containers meant for Neyyabhishekam, if possible by passing by them through the scanner.

Pilgrims will not be allowed to enter the Sopanam from Malikappuram or from the Bhasmakulam.

No luggage and goods traffic will be allowed to and from Sannidhanam. Owners of shops and establishments at Pampa and Sannidhanam would be specially informed of these arrangements.

HC dismisses land allotment case against VS

Kochi: In what could be a major set back to the UDF government in Kerala, the High Court on Thursday dismissed the land allotment case against VS Achuthanandhan. The allegations raised against VS does not hold good, felt the court. The HC had on Wednesday wanted the govt to explain why three others, who were also named in the accused list, were excluded from the list. 

In the hearing of a appeal seeking CBI probe into the land allotment case, the HC had sought explanation from the govt over excluding three officials from the accused list.

Earlier, when an FIR was filed in the Kozhikode Vigilance court, senior IAS official Sheela Thomas who was also private secretray to VS, Revenue commissioner Muraleedharan and former Kasargod collector Anand Singh were named in the accused list. But the vigilance court later excluded their names and intimated this to the HC.

The HC had sought an explanation from the govt why the three, who were named in the accused list, were removed from the list. When the case came up before the Division Bench, the govt had informed the court that it was making moves to file a charge sheet against the accused.

The case against Achuthanandan pertains to alleged violation of norms while allotting a 2.33 acres of land to T K Soman, an ex-serviceman and his relative, in Kasaragod district when he was Chief Minister heading the previous LDF ministry.

HC dismisses land allotment case against VS

Kochi: In what could be a major set back to the UDF government in Kerala, the High Court on Thursday dismissed the land allotment case against VS Achuthanandhan. The allegations raised against VS does not hold good, felt the court. The HC had on Wednesday wanted the govt to explain why three others, who were also named in the accused list, were excluded from the list. 

In the hearing of a appeal seeking CBI probe into the land allotment case, the HC had sought explanation from the govt over excluding three officials from the accused list.

Earlier, when an FIR was filed in the Kozhikode Vigilance court, senior IAS official Sheela Thomas who was also private secretray to VS, Revenue commissioner Muraleedharan and former Kasargod collector Anand Singh were named in the accused list. But the vigilance court later excluded their names and intimated this to the HC.

The HC had sought an explanation from the govt why the three, who were named in the accused list, were removed from the list. When the case came up before the Division Bench, the govt had informed the court that it was making moves to file a charge sheet against the accused.

The case against Achuthanandan pertains to alleged violation of norms while allotting a 2.33 acres of land to T K Soman, an ex-serviceman and his relative, in Kasaragod district when he was Chief Minister heading the previous LDF ministry.

Oldest woman dies in US at 116

MONROE (GEORGIA): The woman who was listed as the world’s oldest person has died in a Georgia nursing home at age 116.

Besse Cooper died peacefully Tuesday afternoon in Monroe, according to her son Sidney Cooper.

Cooper says his mother had been ill over the weekend with a stomach virus, then felt better on Monday. On Tuesday he said she had her hair set and watched a Christmas video, but later had trouble breathing. He said she was put on oxygen in her room and died there about 2 pm.

She was declared the world’s oldest person in January. In May, Guinness World Records learned that Maria Gomes Valentin of Brazil was 48 days older. Valentin died on June 21 this year.

A Guinness official says the title now belongs to 115-year-old Dina Manfredini, of Johnston, Iowa.

Sensex closes 44 points higher

MUMBAI: The BSE benchmark Sensex on Wednesday closed 44 points higher on buying support on optimism that the government would succeed in getting Parliament approval to its decision to allow foreign investment in retail.

Led by Reliance Industries, the Sensex settled the day at 19,391.86, higher by 43.74 points, or 0.23 per cent.

The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty regained a crucial 5,900 level by rising 0.19 per cent to 5,900.50.
Brokers said major market players remained selective in front runner and mid-cap sector stocks amid the prevailing
optimism that the government would succeed in getting Parliament approval to its decision to allow foreign investment in retail.

Lawmakers will vote later in the day on the government decision to allow FDI in the retail sector.

Traders said overseas investors remained the biggest buyers for almost two weeks by taking USD 20.2 billion of Indian equities this year so far.

Reliance Industries rose by 0.87 per cent to Rs. 830.90 and copper manufacturer Sterlite Industries jump 5.37 per cent to Rs. 112. 80 as the metal traded near a six-week high in London.

Sensex closes 44 points higher

MUMBAI: The BSE benchmark Sensex on Wednesday closed 44 points higher on buying support on optimism that the government would succeed in getting Parliament approval to its decision to allow foreign investment in retail.

Led by Reliance Industries, the Sensex settled the day at 19,391.86, higher by 43.74 points, or 0.23 per cent.

The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty regained a crucial 5,900 level by rising 0.19 per cent to 5,900.50.
Brokers said major market players remained selective in front runner and mid-cap sector stocks amid the prevailing
optimism that the government would succeed in getting Parliament approval to its decision to allow foreign investment in retail.

Lawmakers will vote later in the day on the government decision to allow FDI in the retail sector.

Traders said overseas investors remained the biggest buyers for almost two weeks by taking USD 20.2 billion of Indian equities this year so far.

Reliance Industries rose by 0.87 per cent to Rs. 830.90 and copper manufacturer Sterlite Industries jump 5.37 per cent to Rs. 112. 80 as the metal traded near a six-week high in London.

Oldest woman dies in US at 116

MONROE (GEORGIA): The woman who was listed as the world’s oldest person has died in a Georgia nursing home at age 116.

Besse Cooper died peacefully Tuesday afternoon in Monroe, according to her son Sidney Cooper.

Cooper says his mother had been ill over the weekend with a stomach virus, then felt better on Monday. On Tuesday he said she had her hair set and watched a Christmas video, but later had trouble breathing. He said she was put on oxygen in her room and died there about 2 pm.

She was declared the world’s oldest person in January. In May, Guinness World Records learned that Maria Gomes Valentin of Brazil was 48 days older. Valentin died on June 21 this year.

A Guinness official says the title now belongs to 115-year-old Dina Manfredini, of Johnston, Iowa.

Suicide blasts kill three army men in Pakistan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Intelligence officials say a pair of suicide bombers rammed their truck filled with explosives into the gate of an army camp in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border, killing three soldiers.

The officials say the attack Wednesday in Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan tribal area, also wounded eight soldiers. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

South Waziristan was the main sanctuary for the Pakistani Taliban before the army launched a large ground offensive in 2009. The army says it has made great progress in flushing the militants out of the area, but attacks still occur periodically.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Intelligence officials say a pair of suicide bombers rammed their truck filled with explosives into the gate of an army camp in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border, killing three soldiers.

The officials say the attack Wednesday in Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan tribal area, also wounded eight soldiers. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

South Waziristan was the main sanctuary for the Pakistani Taliban before the army launched a large ground offensive in 2009. The army says it has made great progress in flushing the militants out of the area, but attacks still occur periodically.

Suicide blasts kill three army men in Pakistan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Intelligence officials say a pair of suicide bombers rammed their truck filled with explosives into the gate of an army camp in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border, killing three soldiers.

The officials say the attack Wednesday in Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan tribal area, also wounded eight soldiers. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

South Waziristan was the main sanctuary for the Pakistani Taliban before the army launched a large ground offensive in 2009. The army says it has made great progress in flushing the militants out of the area, but attacks still occur periodically.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Intelligence officials say a pair of suicide bombers rammed their truck filled with explosives into the gate of an army camp in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border, killing three soldiers.

The officials say the attack Wednesday in Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan tribal area, also wounded eight soldiers. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

South Waziristan was the main sanctuary for the Pakistani Taliban before the army launched a large ground offensive in 2009. The army says it has made great progress in flushing the militants out of the area, but attacks still occur periodically.