Woman murdered for marrying Dalit in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: In a gruesome honour killing, a 21-year-old woman was brutally murdered by her father and relatives in Tirupur district of Tamil Nadu on
Wednesday for marrying a Dalit youth.

Sripriya, who belonged to the backward Kallar community, had fallen love with A Badhrakali, while she was doing an internship for her B.Ed course.

The couple eloped and got married in Salem on September 29. Police and relatives said Sripriya’s father Srinivasan and two relatives came to Madathukulam, near Udumalpet in Tirupur district, on Wednesday. The newly-wed couple was staying with Badhrakali’s sister in Madathukulam. Srinivasan asked Sripriya to come to Trichi to visit her mother who was ill.

‘‘She refused and told them she would decide after her husband returned home. They left quietly,’’ Badhrakali’s brother-in-law Chandrasekar said. ‘‘Then the two relatives returned. When my wife Rani and a neighbour questioned them, one man threatened them with a knife while the other stabbed Sripriya,’’ said Chandrasekar. Sripriya was stabbed on her neck, breasts and abdomen.

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Two hot Goa nightclubs to be partially demolished

PANAJI: The Goa coastal zone management authority (GCZMA) has ordered the partial demolition of the state's most popular nightspots -- Club
Tito's and Mambos -- for violating coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) norms.

According to an order issued by the secretary of the GCZMA Michael D'Souza, structures built on the property measuring 547.82 sq metres, on which both clubs are built, are illegal. The GCZMA order dated Nov 3, a copy of which is with IANS, directs David D'Souza, the owner of Club Tito's and Mambos to demolish the illegal structures within 20 days.

The order reads: "... are directed to remove all structures which are found to be in excess of the Goa State Committee on Coastal environment (GSCCE) plans... which is identified to be an area of 547.82 sq mts and also the plinth area structures, kadappa tiles at ground level, concrete steps, which are not in accordance with the GSCCE plans and also other structures that are not approved within 20 days."

The order warns that if the owner failed to comply, GCZMA would direct a state agency to demolish the structure. The secretary has said in his order that the illegal constructions fall in CRZ III zone, where no kind of development activity is allowed.

The order follows an inspection by GCZMA officials, who were directed by the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court in March this year, to examine and file a report on the alleged illegality within three months. The court was hearing a petition by Ravindra Jana, who had alleged the illegalities of the night clubs.

Both Club Tito's and Mambos are located in the Calangute-Baga beach belt, which sees the bulk of Goa's two million tourists annually. Both night clubs are visited by celebrities and are a favourite with the young, urban tourists from the metros in India.

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Woman murdered for marrying Dalit in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: In a gruesome honour killing, a 21-year-old woman was brutally murdered by her father and relatives in Tirupur district of Tamil Nadu on
Wednesday for marrying a Dalit youth.

Sripriya, who belonged to the backward Kallar community, had fallen love with A Badhrakali, while she was doing an internship for her B.Ed course.

The couple eloped and got married in Salem on September 29. Police and relatives said Sripriya’s father Srinivasan and two relatives came to Madathukulam, near Udumalpet in Tirupur district, on Wednesday. The newly-wed couple was staying with Badhrakali’s sister in Madathukulam. Srinivasan asked Sripriya to come to Trichi to visit her mother who was ill.

‘‘She refused and told them she would decide after her husband returned home. They left quietly,’’ Badhrakali’s brother-in-law Chandrasekar said. ‘‘Then the two relatives returned. When my wife Rani and a neighbour questioned them, one man threatened them with a knife while the other stabbed Sripriya,’’ said Chandrasekar. Sripriya was stabbed on her neck, breasts and abdomen.

Read more »

Two hot Goa nightclubs to be partially demolished

PANAJI: The Goa coastal zone management authority (GCZMA) has ordered the partial demolition of the state's most popular nightspots -- Club
Tito's and Mambos -- for violating coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) norms.

According to an order issued by the secretary of the GCZMA Michael D'Souza, structures built on the property measuring 547.82 sq metres, on which both clubs are built, are illegal. The GCZMA order dated Nov 3, a copy of which is with IANS, directs David D'Souza, the owner of Club Tito's and Mambos to demolish the illegal structures within 20 days.

The order reads: "... are directed to remove all structures which are found to be in excess of the Goa State Committee on Coastal environment (GSCCE) plans... which is identified to be an area of 547.82 sq mts and also the plinth area structures, kadappa tiles at ground level, concrete steps, which are not in accordance with the GSCCE plans and also other structures that are not approved within 20 days."

The order warns that if the owner failed to comply, GCZMA would direct a state agency to demolish the structure. The secretary has said in his order that the illegal constructions fall in CRZ III zone, where no kind of development activity is allowed.

The order follows an inspection by GCZMA officials, who were directed by the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court in March this year, to examine and file a report on the alleged illegality within three months. The court was hearing a petition by Ravindra Jana, who had alleged the illegalities of the night clubs.

Both Club Tito's and Mambos are located in the Calangute-Baga beach belt, which sees the bulk of Goa's two million tourists annually. Both night clubs are visited by celebrities and are a favourite with the young, urban tourists from the metros in India.

Read more »

Dry run: No liquor in Darjeeling from Nov 7

DARJEELING: There will be no liquor in Darjeeling from November 7 — not a sip for tourists, not a sip for locals. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)
issued this diktat, apparently to deprive state government of the revenue it earns from liquor sale in the Hills.

Bars, restaurants and liquor shop owners in Darjeeling have little choice but to toe GJM’s line, even if it means giving up their sole means of livelihood. This means no more Kangchenjunga sunsets, nursing a glass of whiskey. Locals have it worse - a bitter winter without spirits. And what’s the Darjeeling administration - that has virtually allowed Bimal Gurung and GJM a free run - doing about it?
Apparently nothing. ‘‘We are not worried about the GJM diktat,’’ said an excise department official.

‘‘We are more concerned about the health of the Darjeeling people because they will turn to illicit liquor.’’

Gurung’s claim that he wants to stop the flow of liquor revenue to the state coffers has no logic, say excise officials. ‘‘It’s absurd to think that way. In fact, all taxes are paid in Siliguri before the liquor is brought to the Hills,’’ said an official.

Gurung insists the government made Rs 40 crore through sale of liquor during Puja alone. Last month, he announced closure of licensed liquor shops as part of the ‘non-cooperation movement’ against the state. Import of liquor from Sikkim (which is cheaper), too, was stopped. Gorkhaland Personnel have been deployed on NH-31A to check vehicles for liquor.

When another excise official was asked about the impact of the closure, he said: ‘‘Revenue-wise it will not make much of a difference as Siliguri is a much bigger source. In Darjeeling, import will be hit and also supply to army.’’

The real losers will be those who depend on the liquor business to run their family. In the three Hills subdivisions, there are 53 licensed bar and restaurants, 19 licensed shops and 24 country spirit outlets. Licensed shop owners refused to talk on the issue, saying they would have to obey the GJM diktat, no matter what.

‘‘We will suffer heavy losses but we can’t do anything about it,’’ said an off-shop retailer. In the past four weeks, liquor shops are incurring a loss of Rs 30-35,000 each day.

The Darjeeling Bar and Restaurant Owner’s Association also refused to talk. ‘‘We tried to meet Bimal Gurung to request him not to close the liquor shops, but could not. We have no choice but to shut shop,’’ said association secretary Dharmendra Poddar.

For many in Darjeeling, it’s now a question of survival. Some bar owners are thinking of converting into restaurants, but with tourist inflow drying to a trickle after GJM started its agitation, restaurant and bar owners are already scraping the bottom of the barrel. ‘‘What about our staff? They have families to feed?’’ said a bar owner. Some are holding on to the hope that Gurung will lift the ban after a few months.

Read more »

Dry run: No liquor in Darjeeling from Nov 7

DARJEELING: There will be no liquor in Darjeeling from November 7 — not a sip for tourists, not a sip for locals. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)
issued this diktat, apparently to deprive state government of the revenue it earns from liquor sale in the Hills.

Bars, restaurants and liquor shop owners in Darjeeling have little choice but to toe GJM’s line, even if it means giving up their sole means of livelihood. This means no more Kangchenjunga sunsets, nursing a glass of whiskey. Locals have it worse - a bitter winter without spirits. And what’s the Darjeeling administration - that has virtually allowed Bimal Gurung and GJM a free run - doing about it?
Apparently nothing. ‘‘We are not worried about the GJM diktat,’’ said an excise department official.

‘‘We are more concerned about the health of the Darjeeling people because they will turn to illicit liquor.’’

Gurung’s claim that he wants to stop the flow of liquor revenue to the state coffers has no logic, say excise officials. ‘‘It’s absurd to think that way. In fact, all taxes are paid in Siliguri before the liquor is brought to the Hills,’’ said an official.

Gurung insists the government made Rs 40 crore through sale of liquor during Puja alone. Last month, he announced closure of licensed liquor shops as part of the ‘non-cooperation movement’ against the state. Import of liquor from Sikkim (which is cheaper), too, was stopped. Gorkhaland Personnel have been deployed on NH-31A to check vehicles for liquor.

When another excise official was asked about the impact of the closure, he said: ‘‘Revenue-wise it will not make much of a difference as Siliguri is a much bigger source. In Darjeeling, import will be hit and also supply to army.’’

The real losers will be those who depend on the liquor business to run their family. In the three Hills subdivisions, there are 53 licensed bar and restaurants, 19 licensed shops and 24 country spirit outlets. Licensed shop owners refused to talk on the issue, saying they would have to obey the GJM diktat, no matter what.

‘‘We will suffer heavy losses but we can’t do anything about it,’’ said an off-shop retailer. In the past four weeks, liquor shops are incurring a loss of Rs 30-35,000 each day.

The Darjeeling Bar and Restaurant Owner’s Association also refused to talk. ‘‘We tried to meet Bimal Gurung to request him not to close the liquor shops, but could not. We have no choice but to shut shop,’’ said association secretary Dharmendra Poddar.

For many in Darjeeling, it’s now a question of survival. Some bar owners are thinking of converting into restaurants, but with tourist inflow drying to a trickle after GJM started its agitation, restaurant and bar owners are already scraping the bottom of the barrel. ‘‘What about our staff? They have families to feed?’’ said a bar owner. Some are holding on to the hope that Gurung will lift the ban after a few months.

Read more »

Yeddyurappa transfers his principal secretary

BANGALORE: Initiating the first move towards breaking the political logjam and to bring the dissident leaders gunning for his removal to the
negotiating table, Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Friday transferred his principal secretary V P Baligar. ( Watch Video )

Baligar has been posted as principal secretary Industries department and I S N Prasad replaces him as secretary to the chief minister, official sources said.

As part of a compromise formula offered by him to placate tourism minister G Janardhana Reddy and revenue minister G Karunakara Reddy, who are spearheading the "oust Yeddyurappa" campaign, the chief minister ordered Baligar's transfer.

Yeddyurappa is awaiting the BJP high's command nod for dropping some of the ministers, for whom the rebels have been gunning.

According to party sources in Bangalore, Yeddyurappa on Friday met senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi in Delhi and apprised him of the developments.

In another development, Gopalakrishna Belur, a dissident MLA, now staying in Hyderabad claimed that last night 48 MLAs had sent in their resignations from assembly membership to the party high command, declaring that they would not accept any compromise formula other than axing of the chief minister.

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