Chennai, Jun 20 : Seeking to allay fears expressed by some political parties that the EVMs can be tampered with, former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami today said the Electronic Voting Machines are "totally reliable".
"EVM is a stand-alone machine, which is totally reliable," Gopalaswami, who retired as CEC in the midst of the recent Lok Sabha elections, said.
Unlike in other countries, EVMs used in India are of the "single way communication" type, he said, adding that software in a chip placed inside the EVMs cannot be tampered with.
Only less than 0.5 per cent of the EVMs in the country reportedly malfunctioned in the recent General election, he said, speaking at a function on 'election 2009-an analysis'.
Referring to the general elections, he said out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, 448 successful candidates secured only less than 50 per cent votes. Zeack
5:40 PM
EVMs are totally reliable: Gopalaswami
planetInfo
5:40 PM
Berhampur (Orissa), Jun 20 : Train services between Berhampur and Vijianagaram stations were disrupted today following derailment of a goods train near Palasa, about 30 km from here, official sources said.
At least five wagons of the goods train jumped the rails, disrupting traffic on the route under Khurda road railway division of East Coast Railways.
Senior railway officers went to the spot in three rescue trains to clear the lines and restore the traffic. "The track is expected to be cleared soon," a senior railway officer said.
Several long distance trains had been delayed at different stations in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, while some trains including Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam Inter-City Express were cancelled for the day. Zeack
At least five wagons of the goods train jumped the rails, disrupting traffic on the route under Khurda road railway division of East Coast Railways.
Senior railway officers went to the spot in three rescue trains to clear the lines and restore the traffic. "The track is expected to be cleared soon," a senior railway officer said.
Several long distance trains had been delayed at different stations in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, while some trains including Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam Inter-City Express were cancelled for the day. Zeack
5:40 PM
Mau (UP), June 20 : Three policemen including the Station House Officer lost their lives after the jeep in which they were travelling collided with a train at an unmanned railway crossing in Haldarpur, police said today.
Confirming the incident, SP, Ram Bharose said, "The incident took place at an unmanned level crossing in Haldarpur. A police jeep carrying three policemen including a station officer were killed after it collided with the train." Those killed include Station Officer of Haldarpur police station Virendra Singh, driver of the jeep Umesh Yadav and sipahi Arvind Yadav.
Meanwhile, senior officials rushed to the spot, which is 90 kms from Varanasi. Zeack
Confirming the incident, SP, Ram Bharose said, "The incident took place at an unmanned level crossing in Haldarpur. A police jeep carrying three policemen including a station officer were killed after it collided with the train." Those killed include Station Officer of Haldarpur police station Virendra Singh, driver of the jeep Umesh Yadav and sipahi Arvind Yadav.
Meanwhile, senior officials rushed to the spot, which is 90 kms from Varanasi. Zeack
5:40 PM
Three days police remand for rape accused
planetInfo
Palampur (HP), Jun 20 : A taxi driver and his friend, accused of raping a British teenager, were remanded three days police custody after being produced in a court here today, officials said.
Sub-Judicial Magistrate, Kanwar Pawanjeet Singh remanded the duo to police custody for interrogation after they were produced before him.
The main accused, taxi driver Rakesh Kumar and his friend Sunil Kumar were arrested yesterday by the Palampur police.
The two had allegedly raped an 18-year-old British girl, working with an NGO, on Thursday night when she had taken a taxi to return home after her work. Zeack
Sub-Judicial Magistrate, Kanwar Pawanjeet Singh remanded the duo to police custody for interrogation after they were produced before him.
The main accused, taxi driver Rakesh Kumar and his friend Sunil Kumar were arrested yesterday by the Palampur police.
The two had allegedly raped an 18-year-old British girl, working with an NGO, on Thursday night when she had taken a taxi to return home after her work. Zeack
5:40 PM
CRPF jawan dies of sun stroke
planetInfo
Lalgarh (WB), June 20 : A CRPF jawan taking part in the operation to free Lalgarh and surrounding areas in West Midnapore district from Maoist control died of sun stroke today, police said.
Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said Nabakanta Ray, the jawan, fell ill at Pirakata while taking part in the operation against the Maoists.
Ray was rushed to Lalgarh Primary Health Centre, where he was declared brought dead, the IGP added. Zeack
Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said Nabakanta Ray, the jawan, fell ill at Pirakata while taking part in the operation against the Maoists.
Ray was rushed to Lalgarh Primary Health Centre, where he was declared brought dead, the IGP added. Zeack
5:40 PM
SIT records Zakia Jaffery's statement
planetInfo
Ahmedabad, Jun 20 : The Supreme Court appointed Special Investigating Team (SIT), which is probing the role of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and others in 2002 Gujarat riots, has recorded the statement of key complainant Zakia Jaffery.
"Jaffery, who had approached the Supreme Court seeking probe in the role of Modi and others, was called to record her statement yesterday before the investigating agency," an official from the SIT said.
However, he refused to divulge further details.
Jaffery's son Tanvir said that his mother provided all the information she had regarding the riots to the SIT.
Zakia's husband and former Congress MP Ehsan Jaffery was killed in the Gulbarg society massacre when rioters set the entire society on fire on February 27, 2002.
She, along with a Mumbai based NGO, had approached the apex court seeking a probe in the role of 63 people including Chief Minister Narendra Modi, his cabinet colleagues, some IAS and IPS officials.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court directed the SIT, which was already probing a few post-Godhra riots cases afresh, to conduct the probe and report to it in 90 days. Zeack
"Jaffery, who had approached the Supreme Court seeking probe in the role of Modi and others, was called to record her statement yesterday before the investigating agency," an official from the SIT said.
However, he refused to divulge further details.
Jaffery's son Tanvir said that his mother provided all the information she had regarding the riots to the SIT.
Zakia's husband and former Congress MP Ehsan Jaffery was killed in the Gulbarg society massacre when rioters set the entire society on fire on February 27, 2002.
She, along with a Mumbai based NGO, had approached the apex court seeking a probe in the role of 63 people including Chief Minister Narendra Modi, his cabinet colleagues, some IAS and IPS officials.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court directed the SIT, which was already probing a few post-Godhra riots cases afresh, to conduct the probe and report to it in 90 days. Zeack
5:40 PM
Hyderabad, Jun 20 : A 32-year-old man, who arrived here from New York last week, today tested positive for swine flu, taking the total number of cases in the city to 15.
The man was admitted at the Chest Hospital here on June 18 with suspected symptoms of swine flu.
His test reports from NICD, New Delhi, today confirmed flu, Superintendent of Chest Hospital, Dr S V Prasad said.
Earlier this week, two boys, aged nine and eight, who have here arrived from New York, have tested positive for the flu. Zeack
The man was admitted at the Chest Hospital here on June 18 with suspected symptoms of swine flu.
His test reports from NICD, New Delhi, today confirmed flu, Superintendent of Chest Hospital, Dr S V Prasad said.
Earlier this week, two boys, aged nine and eight, who have here arrived from New York, have tested positive for the flu. Zeack
5:40 PM
Surat gangrape accused undergo narco test
planetInfo
Ahmedabad, Jun 20 : Three persons accused in the Surat gangrape case were brought to the Directorate of Forensic Science (DFS), Gandhinagar today for narco-analysis test, police said.
"We have brought the three accused for narco-analysis test here," Surat city police inspector I I Hadia, who brought the three men to Gandhinagar, said.
The test has began on the accused, sources in the DFS said.
Narco-analysis, also known as truth-serum test, is being conducted on the three accused to know about other crimes, also of similar nature, committed by them as the police has found numerous video clips in their mobile phones, police said.
The three accused Shahid Sayed, Tariq Sayed and Abu Bakr had allegedly raped a 17-year-old class 12 girl in a moving car in Surat on June 12 and had recorded the incident on their mobile phones.
Their phones have also been given to the DFS for analysis, police said, adding that, investigation is also on to check if the accused were in the business of selling such video clips. Zeack
"We have brought the three accused for narco-analysis test here," Surat city police inspector I I Hadia, who brought the three men to Gandhinagar, said.
The test has began on the accused, sources in the DFS said.
Narco-analysis, also known as truth-serum test, is being conducted on the three accused to know about other crimes, also of similar nature, committed by them as the police has found numerous video clips in their mobile phones, police said.
The three accused Shahid Sayed, Tariq Sayed and Abu Bakr had allegedly raped a 17-year-old class 12 girl in a moving car in Surat on June 12 and had recorded the incident on their mobile phones.
Their phones have also been given to the DFS for analysis, police said, adding that, investigation is also on to check if the accused were in the business of selling such video clips. Zeack
5:40 PM
Kolkata, Jun 20 : Trinamool Congress will demand sacking of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government in West Bengal if CPI-M does not withdraw within 48 hours its accusation that the party had links with Maoists in West Midnapore.
TC chief Mamata Banerjee said, "If statements by (CPI-M state secretary) Biman Bose and (Chief Minister) Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee linking our party with Maoists are not withdrawn within 48 hours, we will agitate to demand sacking of the government by the Centre." "We don't believe in individual killing and don't have link with Maoists. We have been demanding a ban on Maoists in the state," Banerjee told reporters.
Alleging that the Chief Minister and other CPI-M leaders were maligning her party by seeking to link it with Maoists, she said, "it is only to cover up their sins in the last 32 years." On the CPI-M's allegation that People's Committee against Police Atrocities leader in West Midnapore Chhatradhar Mahato, who is heading the tribal agitation there, belonged to the Trinamool Congress, Banerjee said he was expelled years ago.
Banerjee demanded that the Centre declare Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore disturbed under the Disturbed Area Act. Zeack
TC chief Mamata Banerjee said, "If statements by (CPI-M state secretary) Biman Bose and (Chief Minister) Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee linking our party with Maoists are not withdrawn within 48 hours, we will agitate to demand sacking of the government by the Centre." "We don't believe in individual killing and don't have link with Maoists. We have been demanding a ban on Maoists in the state," Banerjee told reporters.
Alleging that the Chief Minister and other CPI-M leaders were maligning her party by seeking to link it with Maoists, she said, "it is only to cover up their sins in the last 32 years." On the CPI-M's allegation that People's Committee against Police Atrocities leader in West Midnapore Chhatradhar Mahato, who is heading the tribal agitation there, belonged to the Trinamool Congress, Banerjee said he was expelled years ago.
Banerjee demanded that the Centre declare Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore disturbed under the Disturbed Area Act. Zeack
5:40 PM
Patna, June 20 : Demanding special category status for Bihar, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad today said this was imperative for development of the state.
"Bihar should be given special category status without which its development cannot be possible," he said at a meeting of party workers here.
He blamed the then NDA government at Centre for according special status to Bihar after its bifurcation in November 2000, as demanded by the ruling RJD at that time.
Prasad said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was a senior cabinet minister that time, was making that demand now.
On the reverses suffered by RJD in Lok Sabha polls, he said it was because of organisational factors and lack of communication with the people.
He asked partymen to stop bickering and shun their vaulting ambition. "It is no use indulging in blame game...It is time to rebuild our party and launch a big stir against the inefficient Bihar government, which is fooling people in the name of development and good governance," he said.
Prasad said the RJD-LJP combine lost as the workers failed to properly propagate the development works done by him and Ram Vilas Paswan, leader of LJP, another fourth front ally. Zeack
"Bihar should be given special category status without which its development cannot be possible," he said at a meeting of party workers here.
He blamed the then NDA government at Centre for according special status to Bihar after its bifurcation in November 2000, as demanded by the ruling RJD at that time.
Prasad said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was a senior cabinet minister that time, was making that demand now.
On the reverses suffered by RJD in Lok Sabha polls, he said it was because of organisational factors and lack of communication with the people.
He asked partymen to stop bickering and shun their vaulting ambition. "It is no use indulging in blame game...It is time to rebuild our party and launch a big stir against the inefficient Bihar government, which is fooling people in the name of development and good governance," he said.
Prasad said the RJD-LJP combine lost as the workers failed to properly propagate the development works done by him and Ram Vilas Paswan, leader of LJP, another fourth front ally. Zeack
4:48 AM
Siliguri, June 20 : A veteran Naxal leader today denounced the Maoist strategy of fielding women and children as human shields against advancing security forces at Lalgarh in West Midnapore.
"Using women and children as human shields is not a Maoist strategy. Those who are doing it have no knowledge of Maoist strategy," Kanu Sanyal, a founder of the naxalite movement, told Zeack.
He also said the use of security forces to flush out "so called Maoists" from Lalgarh was also not the ultimate solution of problems there.
"The people there had lost faith on the Left Front government in West Bengal. It did nothing for them in the last 32 years of its rule," Sanyal charged.
He asked Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to hold talks with the agitators, "who should put forward a proper agenda for discussion". Zeack
"Using women and children as human shields is not a Maoist strategy. Those who are doing it have no knowledge of Maoist strategy," Kanu Sanyal, a founder of the naxalite movement, told Zeack.
He also said the use of security forces to flush out "so called Maoists" from Lalgarh was also not the ultimate solution of problems there.
"The people there had lost faith on the Left Front government in West Bengal. It did nothing for them in the last 32 years of its rule," Sanyal charged.
He asked Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to hold talks with the agitators, "who should put forward a proper agenda for discussion". Zeack
3:48 AM
Mumbai, June 20 : Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, admitted to Lilavati Hospital in suburban Bandra two days ago, is expected to be there for a few more days and his health is improving.
"The Sena chief's health is improving. A decision on shifting him out of the ICU would be taken within one or two days," senior Sena leader Manohar Joshi told reporters today.
Asked when is the 82-year-old Sena patriarch expected to be discharged, Joshi said no decision had been taken on the issue.
However, Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' quoting a doctor treating Thackeray said that he would be in the hospital for three to five more days.
Concerns over Thackeray's health prompted the Sena's 43rd foundation day function yesterday being called off. Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe declined to link the development with Thackeray's hospitalisation, but there was speculation that his medical condition led to the decision.
Thackeray, who set up the Sena in 1966 espousing cause of sons-of-the-soil, was admitted to Lilavati hospital on June 18 for breathlessness and blood pressure related problems.
The ailing Sena chief has been a regular visitor at the hospital for the last couple of years due to age-related problems. Thackeray has handed over day-to-day functioning of the party to son Uddhav. Zeack
"The Sena chief's health is improving. A decision on shifting him out of the ICU would be taken within one or two days," senior Sena leader Manohar Joshi told reporters today.
Asked when is the 82-year-old Sena patriarch expected to be discharged, Joshi said no decision had been taken on the issue.
However, Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' quoting a doctor treating Thackeray said that he would be in the hospital for three to five more days.
Concerns over Thackeray's health prompted the Sena's 43rd foundation day function yesterday being called off. Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe declined to link the development with Thackeray's hospitalisation, but there was speculation that his medical condition led to the decision.
Thackeray, who set up the Sena in 1966 espousing cause of sons-of-the-soil, was admitted to Lilavati hospital on June 18 for breathlessness and blood pressure related problems.
The ailing Sena chief has been a regular visitor at the hospital for the last couple of years due to age-related problems. Thackeray has handed over day-to-day functioning of the party to son Uddhav. Zeack
3:48 AM
Kolkata, Jun 20 : Condemning the attack on Indian students in Australia, former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh said majority of his countrymen did not endorse what happened as they were welcoming towards multiple culture Down Under.
"I did not like what happened and 99.99 percent of Australians think exactly like me," Waugh, 1999 World Cup winning Australian caption said here last evening in a programme to launch the global chapter of his 'Steve Waugh Foundation Global', a voluntary organisation to help children suffering from rare diseases.
"We consider Australia as friendly and welcoming country with a multicultural society. Education is one of her greatest exports. We want people to be happy and safe in Australia," Waugh, said, strongly protesting the attack on Indian students in the past few weeks.
Waugh, who had earlier this week had met Home Minister P Chidambaram at his North Block office in New Delhi, assured that Australian government was doing their best.
Denying that there was no racism in Australia, Waugh said: "If you are living in Australia you all are the same. We have many nationalities in Australia and they are considered to be same. It does not matter what you look like or what colour your skin is." Zeack
"I did not like what happened and 99.99 percent of Australians think exactly like me," Waugh, 1999 World Cup winning Australian caption said here last evening in a programme to launch the global chapter of his 'Steve Waugh Foundation Global', a voluntary organisation to help children suffering from rare diseases.
"We consider Australia as friendly and welcoming country with a multicultural society. Education is one of her greatest exports. We want people to be happy and safe in Australia," Waugh, said, strongly protesting the attack on Indian students in the past few weeks.
Waugh, who had earlier this week had met Home Minister P Chidambaram at his North Block office in New Delhi, assured that Australian government was doing their best.
Denying that there was no racism in Australia, Waugh said: "If you are living in Australia you all are the same. We have many nationalities in Australia and they are considered to be same. It does not matter what you look like or what colour your skin is." Zeack
12:20 AM
Punching holes into herpes!
planetInfo
Washington, Jun 20 : Scientists have led to the first description of the mechanics of so-called nuclear herpes virus capsids -- complex icosahedral protein shells covering and shielding the genetic material of the virus.
Nuclear Herpes Simplex Virus particles measure only 125 nanometers, and therefore, the structure and surface of individual particles can only be studied with methods that have a resolution higher than that of a light microscope.
With the help of an Atomic Force Microscope, one can now "feel" the particles and image them by scanning systematically over the surface, like the needle on a record player.
From these measurements, an international team can assemble a detailed topographic relief of individual viral structures. This can be done in liquid under conditions mimicking living cells. Most importantly, this system allows the mechanical manipulation of particles, as one really touches them.
The researchers used this approach to gain new insights into the mechanics of these viral particles: they punched holes into them, one by one. The force needed to do this gave information about the elastic and mechanical properties of the herpes virus particles. Zeack
Nuclear Herpes Simplex Virus particles measure only 125 nanometers, and therefore, the structure and surface of individual particles can only be studied with methods that have a resolution higher than that of a light microscope.
With the help of an Atomic Force Microscope, one can now "feel" the particles and image them by scanning systematically over the surface, like the needle on a record player.
From these measurements, an international team can assemble a detailed topographic relief of individual viral structures. This can be done in liquid under conditions mimicking living cells. Most importantly, this system allows the mechanical manipulation of particles, as one really touches them.
The researchers used this approach to gain new insights into the mechanics of these viral particles: they punched holes into them, one by one. The force needed to do this gave information about the elastic and mechanical properties of the herpes virus particles. Zeack