Man strangles pregnant wife to death

New Delhi: In a suspected dowry death case, a 30-year-old jobless man strangled his pregnant wife to death here before surrendering at a police station 12 hours later, an official said Sunday.

Vinod strangled four-month pregnant Pinky, 24, while she was asleep late Saturday night at his house in Bajrang Enclave in Najafgarh area in west Delhi, police said.

The suspect surrendered before police Sunday morning. Pinky's parents alleged that he used to beat her up for dowry, police said.

'He told us that he had a heated argument with his wife, after which she went to sleep. He later strangled her,' said a police official.

The couple had a three-year-old daughter, police said.

Give up move to commercialise water supply: LDF

Thiruvananthapuram: The CPI-M led LDF opposition in Kerala will be organising protest demonstrations across the state on May 27 against the Congress-led UDF Government's move to 'commercialise' drinking water supply by

floating a Public-Private Partnership company.

The LDF state committee, which met here today, felt the government's move in this direction would jeopardise the
drinking water supply system prevailing in the state and cast a huge burden on the common people.

If water supply was entrusted to a company, as envisaged by the government in two notifications issued in recent
months, the price of water would steeply go up to Rs 250 per 1000 litres, a statement issued by the LDF said.

This would in effect mean sabotaging the Kerala Water Supply Act of 1986, which ensured free water to thousands of
households through public taps and at a nominal cost to the BPL sections, it said.

As part of the struggle against the move to commercialise water supply, the LDF workers would stage demonstrations
before the government secretariat and district collectorates on May 27. PTI

Give up move to commercialise water supply: LDF

Thiruvananthapuram: The CPI-M led LDF opposition in Kerala will be organising protest demonstrations across the state on May 27 against the Congress-led UDF Government's move to 'commercialise' drinking water supply by

floating a Public-Private Partnership company.

The LDF state committee, which met here today, felt the government's move in this direction would jeopardise the
drinking water supply system prevailing in the state and cast a huge burden on the common people.

If water supply was entrusted to a company, as envisaged by the government in two notifications issued in recent
months, the price of water would steeply go up to Rs 250 per 1000 litres, a statement issued by the LDF said.

This would in effect mean sabotaging the Kerala Water Supply Act of 1986, which ensured free water to thousands of
households through public taps and at a nominal cost to the BPL sections, it said.

As part of the struggle against the move to commercialise water supply, the LDF workers would stage demonstrations
before the government secretariat and district collectorates on May 27. PTI

Man strangles pregnant wife to death

New Delhi: In a suspected dowry death case, a 30-year-old jobless man strangled his pregnant wife to death here before surrendering at a police station 12 hours later, an official said Sunday.

Vinod strangled four-month pregnant Pinky, 24, while she was asleep late Saturday night at his house in Bajrang Enclave in Najafgarh area in west Delhi, police said.

The suspect surrendered before police Sunday morning. Pinky's parents alleged that he used to beat her up for dowry, police said.

'He told us that he had a heated argument with his wife, after which she went to sleep. He later strangled her,' said a police official.

The couple had a three-year-old daughter, police said.

AMU announces centre in Tipu Sultan's name

Aligarh: The Aligarh Muslim University Saturday announced a centre for strategic studies named after the great Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan, who fought against the British forces in the 18th century.

'He (Tipu Sultan) was a true secular ruler of distinguished character. He was a right statesman and a right soldier who donated a huge amount for the construction of temples,' AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (retd) Zameer Uddin Shah said at a seminar 'Life and Work of Tipu Sultan' to mark Tipu Sultan's 214th death anniversary.

Shah said Tipu Sultan, who died fighting the British forces, sacrificed his life for the sake of the country.

Chief guest Yusuf Ansari, a senior journalist from New Delhi, said that 'the sacrifice of Tipu Sultan paved the way for the freedom struggle of the country. He also expressed his unhappiness over the role of media which turned its eye from sacrifice and contributions of Tipu Sultan'.

Ali Athar, department of history, AMU, said that it was a pity that Tipu Sultan's descendants were living in misery in Kolkata and other places and were running dhabas or pulling rickshaws.

AMU announces centre in Tipu Sultan's name

Aligarh: The Aligarh Muslim University Saturday announced a centre for strategic studies named after the great Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan, who fought against the British forces in the 18th century.

'He (Tipu Sultan) was a true secular ruler of distinguished character. He was a right statesman and a right soldier who donated a huge amount for the construction of temples,' AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (retd) Zameer Uddin Shah said at a seminar 'Life and Work of Tipu Sultan' to mark Tipu Sultan's 214th death anniversary.

Shah said Tipu Sultan, who died fighting the British forces, sacrificed his life for the sake of the country.

Chief guest Yusuf Ansari, a senior journalist from New Delhi, said that 'the sacrifice of Tipu Sultan paved the way for the freedom struggle of the country. He also expressed his unhappiness over the role of media which turned its eye from sacrifice and contributions of Tipu Sultan'.

Ali Athar, department of history, AMU, said that it was a pity that Tipu Sultan's descendants were living in misery in Kolkata and other places and were running dhabas or pulling rickshaws.

I-T dept detects unaccounted assets worth over Rs 1,400 crore

New Delhi : Stepping up its effort to unearth black money, the Finance Ministry has detected unaccounted income and assets worth over Rs 1,400 crore during the first three months of this year.

The detection came to light after Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), an agency tasked with analysing and disseminating
information relating to dubious financial transactions, alerted Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) about 32,000
suspicious banking transactions, official sources said.

Further investigations by the tax authorities on these Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) resulted in detection of
unaccounted income and assets of Rs 1,408 crore, they said.

An STR involves a transaction of Rs 10 lakh and above, which gives rise to a reasonable ground of suspicion that it
may involve the proceeds of crime including drug trafficking and illegal money.

As many as 32,098 STRs were sent by the FIU to CBDT, under which Income Tax department functions, between January
and March this year. The tax sleuths have also seized assets worth about Rs 21 crore across the country, the sources said.

The CBDT, along with its field formation of tax officials spread across the country, is in the process of concluding the
probe on some of these dubious transactions.

Sources said the CBDT is in touch with agencies concerned and state governments to finish its probe in these cases.

These STRs, sent by the FIU, were regarding banking transactions including cash deposits in bank, cheque
clearances, inter and intra banking dealings between individuals.PTI

I-T dept detects unaccounted assets worth over Rs 1,400 crore

New Delhi : Stepping up its effort to unearth black money, the Finance Ministry has detected unaccounted income and assets worth over Rs 1,400 crore during the first three months of this year.

The detection came to light after Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), an agency tasked with analysing and disseminating
information relating to dubious financial transactions, alerted Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) about 32,000
suspicious banking transactions, official sources said.

Further investigations by the tax authorities on these Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) resulted in detection of
unaccounted income and assets of Rs 1,408 crore, they said.

An STR involves a transaction of Rs 10 lakh and above, which gives rise to a reasonable ground of suspicion that it
may involve the proceeds of crime including drug trafficking and illegal money.

As many as 32,098 STRs were sent by the FIU to CBDT, under which Income Tax department functions, between January
and March this year. The tax sleuths have also seized assets worth about Rs 21 crore across the country, the sources said.

The CBDT, along with its field formation of tax officials spread across the country, is in the process of concluding the
probe on some of these dubious transactions.

Sources said the CBDT is in touch with agencies concerned and state governments to finish its probe in these cases.

These STRs, sent by the FIU, were regarding banking transactions including cash deposits in bank, cheque
clearances, inter and intra banking dealings between individuals.PTI

Financially 'constrained' ADB may cut lending to India: Chidambaram

Greater Noida : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) lending is expected to decline by around 20 percent in the coming years, hitting the financial support to countries like India, as the multilateral agency is financial constrained, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said Saturday.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 46th annual meeting of the ADB board of governors, Chidambaram said 'sustainable level of lending' by ADB was expected to decline, from $10.1 billion to $8.0 billion.

'Thus, the support that ADB can deliver for economic development and poverty reduction in the region will be seriously constrained by the lack of adequate capital. We may hit the wall in about three years,' said Chidambaram, who is chairing the ADB board of governors' meet.

He said the prevailing low interest environment had resulted in low investment income and limited the amount that can be ploughed back into equity for the ADB.

'The financial position of ADB is sound at the moment but is constrained. The prevailing low interest environment has resulted in low investment income and has limited the amount that can be ploughed back into equity for the Bank. I am afraid this low interest environment will continue for some more time,' he said.

Chidambaram urged the member countries to increase their support to the multilateral agency.

'Fellow Governors, I call upon you to consider ways and means to increase ADB's resources to meet Asia's needs for infrastructure, economic growth and poverty reduction,' he said.

Chidambaram pointed out that an estimated $8-10 trillion investment was required in physical infrastructure in Asia over the next decade.

In India, the estimated investment in infrastructure during the 12th five year plan (2012-17) period is nearly $1 trillion. Half of it is expected to come from private sector.

'Given the humongous sum of money that is required, government outlays for infrastructure need to be augmented by the private sector.

'ADB has its work cut out. It must continue to allocate a major portion of its sovereign lending for infrastructure development,' Chidambaram said.

Financially 'constrained' ADB may cut lending to India: Chidambaram

Greater Noida : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) lending is expected to decline by around 20 percent in the coming years, hitting the financial support to countries like India, as the multilateral agency is financial constrained, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said Saturday.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 46th annual meeting of the ADB board of governors, Chidambaram said 'sustainable level of lending' by ADB was expected to decline, from $10.1 billion to $8.0 billion.

'Thus, the support that ADB can deliver for economic development and poverty reduction in the region will be seriously constrained by the lack of adequate capital. We may hit the wall in about three years,' said Chidambaram, who is chairing the ADB board of governors' meet.

He said the prevailing low interest environment had resulted in low investment income and limited the amount that can be ploughed back into equity for the ADB.

'The financial position of ADB is sound at the moment but is constrained. The prevailing low interest environment has resulted in low investment income and has limited the amount that can be ploughed back into equity for the Bank. I am afraid this low interest environment will continue for some more time,' he said.

Chidambaram urged the member countries to increase their support to the multilateral agency.

'Fellow Governors, I call upon you to consider ways and means to increase ADB's resources to meet Asia's needs for infrastructure, economic growth and poverty reduction,' he said.

Chidambaram pointed out that an estimated $8-10 trillion investment was required in physical infrastructure in Asia over the next decade.

In India, the estimated investment in infrastructure during the 12th five year plan (2012-17) period is nearly $1 trillion. Half of it is expected to come from private sector.

'Given the humongous sum of money that is required, government outlays for infrastructure need to be augmented by the private sector.

'ADB has its work cut out. It must continue to allocate a major portion of its sovereign lending for infrastructure development,' Chidambaram said.