Shweta Menon alleges molestation, MP denies

Kollam (Ker): Actress Shweta Menon was allegedly molested by an "elected representative" from the area at a function here, sparking strong protests from the Malayalam film fraternity and women outfits, which demanded stern action against the politician. Though Shweta did not reveal the identity of the politician who allegedly harassed her at the President's Trophy boat race last evening, media footage showed Congress MP N Peethambara Kurup from the area touching her but the lawmaker today strongly denied having committed such an act.

The actress, however, stood by her charge. Speaking to reporters in Kochi, she said, "I was really humiliated. I stand by the statement I made yesterday." Police are yet to register a case in connection with the incident, based either on the complaint the actress claimed to have orally made to the District Collector or by taking note of media reports. However, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is learnt to have spoken to the Collector on the incident. "It is totally untrue. I am telling this since my name has come up in a section of the media in connection with the incident," 73-year-old Kurup, representing Kollam in the Lok Sabha, told the media here Saturday.

He said it was extremely painful that his name had been dragged into the unfortunate incident and he was confident of proving his innocence with the backing of strong proof. "For the time being it needs to be seen only as a politically motivated move when elections are approaching. It is painful that any kind of malicious attack could be unleashed against me just because I am a politician," he said. 
Condemning the incident, state Women's Commission Member Licy Jose hinted at the possibility of the panel making a suo motu inquiry into the incident.

Actor Innocent, also president of Malayalam film artist association AMMA, said Shewta had called him and said it was an "elected representative" who harassed her. "Let her reveal the name of the person. But she has said it was an elected representative," Innocent said. On the possibility of her lodging a formal complaint about the incident, Shweta said "I have spoken to Innocent uncle... If any action is required I will do that after consultation with AMMA." When asked about it, Mohanan, however, said he had not received any complaint from the actress. Responding to queries by reporters, she maintained: "Whatever I wanted to say (about the incident) I have told the collector." She did not elaborate on the incident. Leaders of various women outfits voiced protest over the incident and wanted the authorities to take strong action against the culprit.

Shweta Menon alleges molestation, MP denies

Kollam (Ker): Actress Shweta Menon was allegedly molested by an "elected representative" from the area at a function here, sparking strong protests from the Malayalam film fraternity and women outfits, which demanded stern action against the politician. Though Shweta did not reveal the identity of the politician who allegedly harassed her at the President's Trophy boat race last evening, media footage showed Congress MP N Peethambara Kurup from the area touching her but the lawmaker today strongly denied having committed such an act.

The actress, however, stood by her charge. Speaking to reporters in Kochi, she said, "I was really humiliated. I stand by the statement I made yesterday." Police are yet to register a case in connection with the incident, based either on the complaint the actress claimed to have orally made to the District Collector or by taking note of media reports. However, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is learnt to have spoken to the Collector on the incident. "It is totally untrue. I am telling this since my name has come up in a section of the media in connection with the incident," 73-year-old Kurup, representing Kollam in the Lok Sabha, told the media here Saturday.

He said it was extremely painful that his name had been dragged into the unfortunate incident and he was confident of proving his innocence with the backing of strong proof. "For the time being it needs to be seen only as a politically motivated move when elections are approaching. It is painful that any kind of malicious attack could be unleashed against me just because I am a politician," he said. 
Condemning the incident, state Women's Commission Member Licy Jose hinted at the possibility of the panel making a suo motu inquiry into the incident.

Actor Innocent, also president of Malayalam film artist association AMMA, said Shewta had called him and said it was an "elected representative" who harassed her. "Let her reveal the name of the person. But she has said it was an elected representative," Innocent said. On the possibility of her lodging a formal complaint about the incident, Shweta said "I have spoken to Innocent uncle... If any action is required I will do that after consultation with AMMA." When asked about it, Mohanan, however, said he had not received any complaint from the actress. Responding to queries by reporters, she maintained: "Whatever I wanted to say (about the incident) I have told the collector." She did not elaborate on the incident. Leaders of various women outfits voiced protest over the incident and wanted the authorities to take strong action against the culprit.

Cong MP denies misbehaving with actress

Kollam (Ker): Congress MP N Peethambara Kurup, embroiled in controversy over alleged molestation of Malayalam cine actress Shweta Menon at a function here last evening, today strongly denied having committed such an act. "It is totally untrue. I am telling this since my name has come up in a section of the media in connection with the incident," 73-year-old Kurup, representing Kollam in the Lok Sabha, told the media here Saturday.

Shweta had yesterday complained, without naming her tormentor, that she was physically humilated at the venue of the President's Trophy boat race function here last evening. Media footage showed Kurup touching her after which the MP issued the statement. The MP today said it was extremely painful that his name had been dragged into the unfortunate incident and that he was confident of proving his innocence with the backing of strong proof.

"For the time being it needs to be seen only as a politically motivated move when elections are approaching. It is painful that any kind of malicious attack could be unleashed against me just because I am a politician," he said. The incident sparked strong protests from the Malayalam film fraternity and women's oufits who demanded strong action in the incident.  Police are yet to register a case in connection with the incident, based either on the complaint the actress claimed to have orally made to the District Collector or by taking note of media reports.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters at Kottayam that he had not received any complaint from the actor so far on the incident. "If we get a complaint, after investigation appropriate action will be taken,." he said PTI COR NM APRCong MP denies misbehaving with actress 
Kollam (Ker), Nov 2 (PTI) Congress MP N Peethambara Kurup, embroiled in controversy over alleged molestation of Malayalam cine actress Shweta Menon at a function here last evening, today strongly denied having committed such an act.

"It is totally untrue. I am telling this since my name has come up in a section of the media in connection with the incident," 73-year-old Kurup, representing Kollam in the Lok Sabha, told the media here today.  Shweta had yesterday complained, without naming her tormentor, that she was physically humiliated at the venue of the President's Trophy boat race function here last evening. 
Media footage showed Kurup touching her after which the MP issued the statement.

The MP said it was extremely painful that his name had been dragged into the unfortunate incident and that he was confident of proving his innocence with the backing of strong proof. "For the time being it needs to be seen only as a politically motivated move when elections are approaching. It is painful that any kind of malicious attack could be unleashed against me just because I am a politician," he said. The incident sparked strong protests from the Malayalam film fraternity and women's outfits which demanded strong action in the incident.

Police are yet to register a case in connection with the incident, based either on the complaint the actress claimed to have orally made to the District Collector or by taking note of media reports. 
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters at Kottayam that he had not received any complaint from the actor so far on the incident. "If we get a complaint, after investigation appropriate action will be taken,." he said.

Shweta Menon claims she was ’insulted’ at Kollam event

Kollam (Ker): Malayalam film actress Shweta Menon has alleged that she was 'insulted' by a person at the venue of the President's Trophy Boat Race here Friday. While Menon declined to reveal the name of the person who allegedly insulted her, reports suggested that it was a someone known in the political field.
Talking to television news channels, Menon claimed she had complained to District Collector B Mohanan, present at the venue, about the incident at the event to which she was invited as the Chief Guest. "I am ashamed of what had happened. I have made a complaint to the district collector. I have nothing more to say now," she said.

Shweta Menon claims she was ’insulted’ at Kollam event

Kollam (Ker): Malayalam film actress Shweta Menon has alleged that she was 'insulted' by a person at the venue of the President's Trophy Boat Race here Friday. While Menon declined to reveal the name of the person who allegedly insulted her, reports suggested that it was a someone known in the political field.
Talking to television news channels, Menon claimed she had complained to District Collector B Mohanan, present at the venue, about the incident at the event to which she was invited as the Chief Guest. "I am ashamed of what had happened. I have made a complaint to the district collector. I have nothing more to say now," she said.

Cong MP denies misbehaving with actress

Kollam (Ker): Congress MP N Peethambara Kurup, embroiled in controversy over alleged molestation of Malayalam cine actress Shweta Menon at a function here last evening, today strongly denied having committed such an act. "It is totally untrue. I am telling this since my name has come up in a section of the media in connection with the incident," 73-year-old Kurup, representing Kollam in the Lok Sabha, told the media here Saturday.

Shweta had yesterday complained, without naming her tormentor, that she was physically humilated at the venue of the President's Trophy boat race function here last evening. Media footage showed Kurup touching her after which the MP issued the statement. The MP today said it was extremely painful that his name had been dragged into the unfortunate incident and that he was confident of proving his innocence with the backing of strong proof.

"For the time being it needs to be seen only as a politically motivated move when elections are approaching. It is painful that any kind of malicious attack could be unleashed against me just because I am a politician," he said. The incident sparked strong protests from the Malayalam film fraternity and women's oufits who demanded strong action in the incident.  Police are yet to register a case in connection with the incident, based either on the complaint the actress claimed to have orally made to the District Collector or by taking note of media reports.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters at Kottayam that he had not received any complaint from the actor so far on the incident. "If we get a complaint, after investigation appropriate action will be taken,." he said PTI COR NM APRCong MP denies misbehaving with actress 
Kollam (Ker), Nov 2 (PTI) Congress MP N Peethambara Kurup, embroiled in controversy over alleged molestation of Malayalam cine actress Shweta Menon at a function here last evening, today strongly denied having committed such an act.

"It is totally untrue. I am telling this since my name has come up in a section of the media in connection with the incident," 73-year-old Kurup, representing Kollam in the Lok Sabha, told the media here today.  Shweta had yesterday complained, without naming her tormentor, that she was physically humiliated at the venue of the President's Trophy boat race function here last evening. 
Media footage showed Kurup touching her after which the MP issued the statement.

The MP said it was extremely painful that his name had been dragged into the unfortunate incident and that he was confident of proving his innocence with the backing of strong proof. "For the time being it needs to be seen only as a politically motivated move when elections are approaching. It is painful that any kind of malicious attack could be unleashed against me just because I am a politician," he said. The incident sparked strong protests from the Malayalam film fraternity and women's outfits which demanded strong action in the incident.

Police are yet to register a case in connection with the incident, based either on the complaint the actress claimed to have orally made to the District Collector or by taking note of media reports. 
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters at Kottayam that he had not received any complaint from the actor so far on the incident. "If we get a complaint, after investigation appropriate action will be taken,." he said.

Brain can ’see’ in the dark: study

Washington: At least 50 per cent of people can see the movement of their own hand even when it is pitch dark, a new study, that used computerised eye-trackers, has found. Even in the absence of all light, the brain keeps track of the body, researchers said. Neuroscientists and psychologists discovered that the mind continues to perceive motion in complete darkness. Their findings suggest that 50 per cent of the population sees in the dark without realising it. "Seeing in total darkness? According to the current understanding of natural vision, that just doesn't happen," says Duje Tadin, a professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester who led the investigation.

"But this research shows that our own movements transmit sensory signals that also can create real visual perceptions in the brain, even in the complete absence of optical input," said Tadin. Through five separate experiments involving 129 individuals, the authors found that this eerie ability to see our hand in the dark suggests that our brain combines information from different senses to create our perceptions.

The ability also "underscores that what we normally perceive of as sight is really as much a function of our brains as our eyes," said first author Kevin Dieter, a post-doctoral fellow in psychology at Vanderbilt University. For most people, this ability to see self-motion in darkness probably is learned, the authors conclude.

"We get such reliable exposure to the sight of our own hand moving that our brains learn to predict the expected moving image even without actual visual input," said Dieter. The study was published in journal Psychological Science.

Brain can ’see’ in the dark: study

Washington: At least 50 per cent of people can see the movement of their own hand even when it is pitch dark, a new study, that used computerised eye-trackers, has found. Even in the absence of all light, the brain keeps track of the body, researchers said. Neuroscientists and psychologists discovered that the mind continues to perceive motion in complete darkness. Their findings suggest that 50 per cent of the population sees in the dark without realising it. "Seeing in total darkness? According to the current understanding of natural vision, that just doesn't happen," says Duje Tadin, a professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester who led the investigation.

"But this research shows that our own movements transmit sensory signals that also can create real visual perceptions in the brain, even in the complete absence of optical input," said Tadin. Through five separate experiments involving 129 individuals, the authors found that this eerie ability to see our hand in the dark suggests that our brain combines information from different senses to create our perceptions.

The ability also "underscores that what we normally perceive of as sight is really as much a function of our brains as our eyes," said first author Kevin Dieter, a post-doctoral fellow in psychology at Vanderbilt University. For most people, this ability to see self-motion in darkness probably is learned, the authors conclude.

"We get such reliable exposure to the sight of our own hand moving that our brains learn to predict the expected moving image even without actual visual input," said Dieter. The study was published in journal Psychological Science.

Bus catches fire in Andhra, 40 feared dead

Hyderabad: At least 40 passengers were feared burnt alive when a bus caught fire in Mahabubnagar district in Andhra Pradesh early Wednesday.A private bus coming to Hyderabad from Bangalore caught fire after hitting a culvert near Palem in Mahabubnagar district around 5 a.m., witnesses said. Five passengers, including the driver and a cleaner, managed to escape. They were shifted to a hospital.

The Volvo, belonging to Jabbar Travels, was carrying 49 passengers. The remaining 44 passengers were feared killed in the mishap. The bus started from Bangalore at 11 PM last night. The passengers were asleep when the bus hit the culvert and its diesel tank burst. People from nearby village said within few minutes the bus was reduced to ashes. The victims were charred beyond recognition. "It seems the bus was travelling at a high speed when its fuel tank hit the roadside culvert and caught fire. There are some causalities feared as the entire bus has been gutted," a senior police officer told PTI. They are ascertaining the exact number of casualties, he added. 
Kothakota police were further investigating the case and senior police officers have rushed to the spot.

Bus catches fire in Andhra, 40 feared dead

Hyderabad: At least 40 passengers were feared burnt alive when a bus caught fire in Mahabubnagar district in Andhra Pradesh early Wednesday.A private bus coming to Hyderabad from Bangalore caught fire after hitting a culvert near Palem in Mahabubnagar district around 5 a.m., witnesses said. Five passengers, including the driver and a cleaner, managed to escape. They were shifted to a hospital.

The Volvo, belonging to Jabbar Travels, was carrying 49 passengers. The remaining 44 passengers were feared killed in the mishap. The bus started from Bangalore at 11 PM last night. The passengers were asleep when the bus hit the culvert and its diesel tank burst. People from nearby village said within few minutes the bus was reduced to ashes. The victims were charred beyond recognition. "It seems the bus was travelling at a high speed when its fuel tank hit the roadside culvert and caught fire. There are some causalities feared as the entire bus has been gutted," a senior police officer told PTI. They are ascertaining the exact number of casualties, he added. 
Kothakota police were further investigating the case and senior police officers have rushed to the spot.