Pirakata (WB), Jun 19 : Maoists triggered a landmine blast on a police vehicle this evening at Pirakata bazar, 18 km from troubled Lalgarh area, in which two policemen were injured.
The blast occurred as the vehicle, which was preceded by one belonging to the media, crossed the area.
The vehicle reportedly belonged to the sub-divisional police officer, but there was no official word on it.
The injured policemen were rushed to hospital.
This was the first landmine blast triggered by Maoists since yesterday's operation by the police and central forces to reclaim Lalgarh from the tribals. Ze
8:56 AM
7:56 AM
North perspires; mercury floats above normal
planetInfo
New Delhi, June 19 : Temperature soared by two-three notches above normal in most places in the northern region today as mercury continued its upward surge after remaining at bearable levels for a few days.
Maximum temperature soared by about two degrees in Punjab and Haryana with hottest Hisar sweltering at 41.6 degrees. Amritsar had a high of 40.8 degrees, one notch above normal, Bhiwani recorded 40.2 degrees, Patiala and Ludhiana 39.8 degrees each and Chandigarh 39.4 degrees.
As the high-intensity squall subsided in Rajasthan, temperature rose with Kota reeling at 43 degrees.
Due to pre-monsoon activity and cloudy weather, humidity levels ranged between 20-38 per cent leaving people perspiring.
Jaipur, Barmer, Jaisalmer and Sriganganagar recorded a maximum of 42 degrees each, followed by Ajmer 40 and Udaipur 39 degrees. Bikaner was, however, drenched by 2 mm rains.
In Uttar Pradesh, maximum temperature hovered over 40 degrees at most of the places. In hottest Varanasi, mercury rose five degrees above normal to an unbearable 44.2 degrees.
Lucknow was simmering at 42.7 degrees -- four degrees above normal, while Allahabad recorded a high of 42.5 degrees. Ze
Maximum temperature soared by about two degrees in Punjab and Haryana with hottest Hisar sweltering at 41.6 degrees. Amritsar had a high of 40.8 degrees, one notch above normal, Bhiwani recorded 40.2 degrees, Patiala and Ludhiana 39.8 degrees each and Chandigarh 39.4 degrees.
As the high-intensity squall subsided in Rajasthan, temperature rose with Kota reeling at 43 degrees.
Due to pre-monsoon activity and cloudy weather, humidity levels ranged between 20-38 per cent leaving people perspiring.
Jaipur, Barmer, Jaisalmer and Sriganganagar recorded a maximum of 42 degrees each, followed by Ajmer 40 and Udaipur 39 degrees. Bikaner was, however, drenched by 2 mm rains.
In Uttar Pradesh, maximum temperature hovered over 40 degrees at most of the places. In hottest Varanasi, mercury rose five degrees above normal to an unbearable 44.2 degrees.
Lucknow was simmering at 42.7 degrees -- four degrees above normal, while Allahabad recorded a high of 42.5 degrees. Ze
7:20 AM
New Delhi, Jun 19 : Government cannot withhold pension of its employees for being involved in a relative's business during service, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has said.
The Tribunal held that although it was not desirable for a government employee to be involved in business during his service, it cannot be termed a grave misconduct to justify punishment by witholding or reducing pension.
"It may not be desirable for a government servant to assist his wife and daughter and their business or to actually participate in the same and the same may be misconduct as well but it does not appear to be a case of grave misconduct," a bench comprising Chairman V K Bali and Member Ramesh Chandra Panda said.
The Tribunal's directions came on the plea of a retired IPS officer whose pension was reduced by 25 per cent as a punishment for running a business on behalf of his wife during his service.
"We are allowing this application on the ground that if the allegations regarding subject matter of the charge are not stated to be grave in departmental proceedings, the government has no right whatsoever to stop or make a cut in pension of retired IPS officer Harish Kumar," the CAT said. Ze
The Tribunal held that although it was not desirable for a government employee to be involved in business during his service, it cannot be termed a grave misconduct to justify punishment by witholding or reducing pension.
"It may not be desirable for a government servant to assist his wife and daughter and their business or to actually participate in the same and the same may be misconduct as well but it does not appear to be a case of grave misconduct," a bench comprising Chairman V K Bali and Member Ramesh Chandra Panda said.
The Tribunal's directions came on the plea of a retired IPS officer whose pension was reduced by 25 per cent as a punishment for running a business on behalf of his wife during his service.
"We are allowing this application on the ground that if the allegations regarding subject matter of the charge are not stated to be grave in departmental proceedings, the government has no right whatsoever to stop or make a cut in pension of retired IPS officer Harish Kumar," the CAT said. Ze
6:50 AM
New Delhi, Jun 19 : The delay in monsoon now appears worrisome as the weather office today said the country had received just over 50 per cent of the normal rainfall so far this season.
Of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions, 28 reported deficient or scanty rainfall while eight received excess or normal rains.
"Actual rainfall for the country as a whole is 39.5 mm against a normal of 72.5 mm with a deficiency of 45 per cent," India Meteorological Department Director B P Yadav told Zeack.
Southwest monsoon, which had brought cheer to the farming community due to its early onset on May 23, had stopped in the tracks over Konkan region of Maharashtra since June seven.
Cyclone Aila, which razed parts of Orissa and West Bengal, struck a devastating blow to the monsoon system by sucking away moisture from the winds and weakening the annual rainfall system.
However, the weatherman said that monsoon is expected to advance over some more parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai in the next two-three days.
But central India may not receive rains any soon in the absence of a strong surge, the weather office said.
Under normal conditions, monsoon should have reached Mumbai by June 10 and covered entire Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Uttar Pradesh by June 15. Ze
Of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions, 28 reported deficient or scanty rainfall while eight received excess or normal rains.
"Actual rainfall for the country as a whole is 39.5 mm against a normal of 72.5 mm with a deficiency of 45 per cent," India Meteorological Department Director B P Yadav told Zeack.
Southwest monsoon, which had brought cheer to the farming community due to its early onset on May 23, had stopped in the tracks over Konkan region of Maharashtra since June seven.
Cyclone Aila, which razed parts of Orissa and West Bengal, struck a devastating blow to the monsoon system by sucking away moisture from the winds and weakening the annual rainfall system.
However, the weatherman said that monsoon is expected to advance over some more parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai in the next two-three days.
But central India may not receive rains any soon in the absence of a strong surge, the weather office said.
Under normal conditions, monsoon should have reached Mumbai by June 10 and covered entire Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Uttar Pradesh by June 15. Ze
4:50 AM
New Delhi, Jun 19 : The Commission set up to take a fresh look at Centre-State relations was today given a nine-month extension up to March 31 next year.
This was decided at a meeting of the Union Cabinet, Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters here after the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Commission, headed by Justice M M Punchhi, was set up in 2007 to look into new issues of Centre-State relations in view of the sea changes that have taken place in the polity and economy since the Sarkaria Commission had last looked into the matter.
The Punchhi panel, which was asked to submit its report within two years, was given the task to review the working of the existing arrangements between the Centre and the states as per the Constitution and study various pronouncements of the courts with regard to powers, functions and responsibilities in all spheres. Ze
This was decided at a meeting of the Union Cabinet, Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters here after the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Commission, headed by Justice M M Punchhi, was set up in 2007 to look into new issues of Centre-State relations in view of the sea changes that have taken place in the polity and economy since the Sarkaria Commission had last looked into the matter.
The Punchhi panel, which was asked to submit its report within two years, was given the task to review the working of the existing arrangements between the Centre and the states as per the Constitution and study various pronouncements of the courts with regard to powers, functions and responsibilities in all spheres. Ze