Delhi nursing student loses eye in Mumbai acid attack

Mumbai, May 03, 2013 [Indian Express] ---  A NURSING graduate from Delhi, set to join the Army Medical College in Colaba, Mumbai, as a lieutenant, lost vision in her right eye after an unidentified man threw acid on her, minutes after she arrived at the Bandra railway terminus on Thursday morning. The accused was reportedly travelling in the same train, Delhi-Bandra Garib Rath, as the victim, Preeti Rathi, 25, who was accompanied by her father, Amarsingh Rathi, uncle Vinod Kumar Singh, and aunt Sunita Singh. Preeti has been admitted to the Masina Hospital in Byculla. "The victim has suffered severe internal burns due to inhalation and consumption of acid and has been put on ventilator. She has completely lost vision in her right eye, but her left eye appears to be all right. She remains critical," said Dr R B Dastur, director, Masina Hospital. "I called the Army Medical College and asked for help. But the management said that since Preeti had not officially joined duty, they could not do anything. They told me that she cannot join now," said Vinod Kumar. Preeti's aunt told the police that she saw the attacker at Navsari, Gujarat. "The accused possibly boarded the train at Navsari. Sunita Singh told us that she first saw him at the Navsari railway station with a bottle in his hand. She then spotted him on the platform of three other stations. It appears that he picked his chance after the train reached Mumbai," said B Shirsat, DCP, GRP (Western Railway). According to the police, the attacker was in the same coach (G-2) as Preeti and her family. Vinod Kumar also recalled spotting the accused in the coach early on Thursday morning. "At 5:30 am, I walked to the door to get some fresh air when I saw him standing near the bathroom. He appeared to be 20-22 years old," he said. "The man had covered his face and rushed at us from the front. He was carrying a plastic bottle and threw its contents at us. Most of it hit Preeti, even entering her mouth, and she began to bleed. A little fell on my hands. We fell to the ground while the attacker ran away and disappeared into the crowd," said Amarsingh. "Several people gave chase but the accused got away. The angle at which the incident has been captured by the CCTV camera has not helped us identify the man," said Shirsat. Amarsingh, a foreman at the Delhi government-run electricity plant Bhakra Beas Management Board, and two other passengers were also injured in the attack. The family is now struggling to pay the medical bill. "The Railways gave us an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5,500. But the hospital has asked to pay Rs 60,000. We had brought only around Rs 20,000 with us, of which more than half has been spent on medicines," said Amarsingh. A case has been registered at Bandra GRP police station under Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the IPC. Pic: Getty Image

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R--A--P--E “Don’t be an idiot: Don’t blame the victim”

RAPE is a type of sexual assault, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person’s consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent, such as one who is unconscious, incapacitated, or below the legal age of consent. This is what RAPE means.

 

What comes in our mind when we read newspaper reports “a girl is being raped”? Do we blame her dress code, place, time, her characters? But...no matter where, at what time, what she wore or whatever she did – if she said “NO”, it is “RAPE”. Our conceptions and understanding  towards the victims promoted the RAPISTS to have a sense of raping innocent children and women in today’s  society. We are an idiot to blame the victims rather than helping them, which leads the rapist to fulfil his lustful fantasies – to rape again and again, whenever chances come.  Do we raped a baby girl just because of her dress? Do we raped a women just because she is too flirty - loose characters - street girls? Or just because we try ourselves to show off that guys are stronger or braver than women? No..! We are just an IDIOT!

 

It is not a shame at all to report sexual offence, but it is one of the sweetest source to solve the problems and the most preventive measures to avoid RAPE. Many of the children and women in our society hesitate to report to their parents-relatives-elders. We tend to know such incident only when the situation is critical and most of the victims reported as only the last option or knowing herself that she won’t be able to manage her problem. It is believed that rape also happens within a family, husband-wife, friend circles, relatives and in a relationship. We may wonder how “rape” can be happen in life-partner (husband & wife), but once a women say “NO” or if it’s without her consent, it’s a RAPE.

 

Have we ever think how many of our beloved children, sisters and women in our society have had faced such situation which remains unheard where they hid and a­­shamed of to let know their parents and swallowed the pains though it truly hurts them. Here, it is our duty to have a good relationship with parents to daughters to parents. In a situation where daughters trust their parents, they are likely to share the top secrets. If it’s not, parents may not be able to find out the hidden dark side of our dear ones. PAINFUL!

 

When crimes are not publicized, it seems to repeat one after another unnoticed. We all want to stop “rape” but no one will be able to STOP it until and unless if the crime is not reported. It is known that most of the victim reported only when they are in helpless condition, researchers found that women who have been abused or raped tend to hide such­­­­­­­ offences. In such condition the rapist will not QUIT his attitude unless we do something against the rapist. Let us be open, let us not feel shame to stand-up for the TRUTH in order to PREVENT rape.

~ Khams Zotal

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Lamka town looks 'land of hailstones'

Lamka (Manipur), May 3, 2013 --- A violent windstorm accompanied by rain, rolling thunder and hailstones swept Lamka, the famous and vibrant town of Churachandpur in Manipur on Wednesday (May 1) night. According to reports, numerous school buildings, a church and over hundreds of houses were devastated. Trees and electric poles were uprooted. This is amazing and it is believed to be the first ever havoc happened in the history of Zogam Lamka.

Here are some of the photographs collected from various Lamka-based Facebook Groups and individuals, which tells the inside story. 

Thanks to (Photo Credit): Lamka Huikhi FB, Suanlyan Tungnung, Lianzagou, Photographer Thangpu Samte, Zolengthe FB, LoivunZoutal K Samte, Siam Simte, Zogamonline.Com FB, I Love Lamka FB, Khan Mate (Tuibuang).

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Sarabjit Body to be cremated in Bhikhiwind Friday

Bhikhiwind (Punjab), May 3, 2013 [IANS] --- Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, who died in Pakistan early Thursday, will be cremated in his hometown Bhikhiwind in Punjab's border district of Tarn Taran, amid great anger in the town. Sarabjit's family, which was in New Delhi, reached Bhikhiwind, 50 km from Amritsar, by helicopter Thursday evening. Scores of local residents gathered at the helipad to meet them and walked with them to their house. Sarabjit's body was being flown from Lahore to Amritsar on its way to this town, and arrangements were underway for the last rites. A number of leaders are expected to attend the cremation Friday. Angry resident of this town held protests Thursday and kept the entire town shut. Shops and educational institutions also remained closed. Protestors gathered at various places and condemned the "cowardly" act by Pakistani authorities which led to Sarabjit's death. Residents of the town mourned his death and said the Indian and Pakistani governments could have saved him. The town Thursday woke up to receive the sad news of his death in a Lahore hospital. Residents of the town saw celebrations and disappointment within a few hours in June in 2012 when reports first said that the Pakistan government had announced his release. However, in a flip-flop, the Pakistani authorities later clarified that not Sarabjit Singh but another Indian prisoner, Surjeet Singh, was being released. "We were expecting a miracle to happen. We wanted Sarabjit to recover. What the Pakistanis have done is cowardly. He had suffered in their jails for nearly 23 years and now they have murdered him," a visibly upset Bhikhiwind resident Kirpal Singh said as he and some others gathered outside the house of Sarabjit's family. Some residents also gathered outside the local gurdwara and protested against Pakistan. "Residents of the town were hoping and praying that Sarabjit would return in their midst one day. The Pakistani authorities have killed him by conspiracy," another resident, Amrit Kaur, said. Sarabjit, 49, suffered critical head injuries after an unprovoked and sudden assault by other prisoners April 26. Sarabjit was on death row in Pakistan since 1990 after being convicted by Pakistani courts for bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan, which left 14 people dead. Sarabjit's family claimed that he was innocent and was arrested when he crossed over to Pakistan in an inebriated state. Police in Pakistan, however, claimed that Sarabjit Singh was involved in terror strikes.

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Delhi Police leh NE Student ten Co-ordination cum Review Meeting nei

New Delhi, May 2, 2013: Tuni zinglam dah 10 apat nitah dah 1pm tan Robin Hibu (IPS), Joint Commissioner of Police, Delhi (AMGUT:1993) lamkaina nuoi ah Delhi Police leh North East Students te’n Coordination Cum Review Meeting, Arunachal House ah nei uh. Tuanah NE states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim a pat palai (representatives) ban ah student leader, social activist, pastor, church leader leh mi tawmngai bangzat hiam peikhawm uhi.

Tami meeting ah Delhi leh akimvel a um NE mite tunga hasatna tuomtuom tungte suhkiem theina dia panlah nei uh hi’n thu kiza hi. India khawpi (capital) Delhi ah NE mi tampi suhgenthei ban ah vuo-le-saat thuo tampi um a, tualeh NE numeite tungah kilawm lou tah a gamtatna atam zieh in IPS officer Robin Hibu in a ngai poimoh dan thu Zogam Today hil hi.

Robin Hibu ahileh Delhi a NE mi IPS 9 vel om lah tambang a NE mite hasatna ngai poimoh mama khat a thei ahi a, ama panlahna zal in Delhi Police for North East (www.dpfne.com) kichi dinkhiet in ana um a, tami ah NE state chin apat State Representative (Palai) lahlut in um hi. Tami representative-te ahileh Delhi Police toh kithuo in NE mite hasatna tuote panpih ding a um ahi uhi. Amaute khu I-Card bawlsah ahi uhi, chi’n Hibu in gen hi.

Agenbehna ah adiah in NE mi Call Centre/BPO a semte apat complaint (80%) kimu hi, chi. Tuazieh in Under 144 Cr.PC (Delhi Police) nuoi ah Call Centers/BPOs a sem numeite zaan chia a umna inn (room) tan security guard in a ha (drop) teitei din order khautah suo in ana um hi. Tami dan zuilou Call Centre/BPO-te khu danbang a gawt theih ahi ding uhi chi’n Hibu in gen hi.

Zogam Today kung a agenna ah NE numei hi’n pasal, koipou zaan a gari (auto/taxi) mu zoulou lampi ahei, heisung hinanleh Emergency No 100 call bawl ding in gen ding ahi, tuahileh Police te’n hing pick-up ding ua, na umna tan uh hing kha ding hi chi. Tami thu khu Delhi Police thupiah (directive) ahi, Police ten a zui ding uh ahi chi.

Tami meeting ah NE Helpline General Secretary Dr Alana Golmei in agennah a Delhi a hibiang a NE mi hizieh a hasatna a tunna tungah Delhi Solkal maw sah mama mai a, Indraprastha College (Women) Assistant Professor Lianboi Vaiphei in NE numeite chouh hilou in numei kichi teng tung ah bawlsiatna tung thei gige a, tuate kituatah a doudal ding dan ngaidan sung a, NTBC Delhi Pastor Khamkhosiam in JNU a MA a bawllai a Robin Hibu toh ana kithuo dan uleh Robin Hibu in hibang NE mite adia pan anglahna tungah a kipahthu genkom in hisang a ma lasem din chial a, tualeh Journalist Bruce K. Thangkhal (NE Helpline & Zogam Today) in Delhi Police in NE mite hasatna ngaisah ahilou dan mipi mai a gen khia uhi.  Robin Hibu in maban ah NE mite hasatna thu nasahtah a thuneitu (higher authority) ah ana tut sawn din NE mite kungah vai ha hi.

Tuni meeting ah student organisation telte: Arunachal Students’ Union Delhi, All Assamese Students’ Association New Delhi, All Bodo Students Union Delhi Unit, Naga Students’ Union Delhi, Kuki Students Organisation Delhi, Tripura Students Forum Delhi, Delhi Achik Youth Association), Sikkim Students Association Delhi, Manipur Student Association Delhi, Delhi Mizo Zirlai Pawl leh Zomi Students’ Federation Delhi Cell.

~ ZOGAM TODAY

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Meghalaya Assembly Speaker, members call on President Mukherjee New Delhi, May 1 (ANI)--- The Speaker and several Members of theMeghalaya Legislative Assembly called on President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, Mukherjee congratulated the newly elected 28 young members of the assembly. He stated that as legislators they have manifold responsibilities and they are the face of the people living in their constituencies. He advised them that it was important that they should attend assembly sessions regularly and also maintain discipline and adhere to the code of conduct of the assembly. He stated that it was crucial that the assembly is allowed to discharge it's business without any disruptions. He wished the legislators all success in their legislative careers.

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Imphal airport to go international in June

IMPHAL, May 1, 2013[TNN/TimesofIndia]--- The Imphal airport will be converted into an international airport soon - probably by June - as the construction and improvement of necessary infrastructural facilities are underway at a fast pace there.

K Kemalatha, regional executive director, Guwahati, and her entire team of engineers and the technical team of the Airports Authority of India (AII) called on chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh at his office on Monday.

During the meeting, the progress of construction and improvement of facilities for customs, immigration and security inside the airport were reviewed, said a statement issued by the secretary to the CM. "This will facilitate the start of international operations from Imphal Tulihal airport shortly," the statement said, adding that the revenue minister, chief secretary, DGP and other senior state officials also joined the meeting. The government has already acquired the required land for converting the Imphal airport into an international airport. Currently, over a dozen flights land on a daily basis at the airport, located at the Malom village in Imphal West district.

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Review of SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989

New Delhi, May 1, 2013 [PIB] --- The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) {PoA} Act, 1989, extends to the whole of India except Jammu and Kashmir, and responsibility for its implementation rests with State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. The States/Union Territories are provided due Central assistance under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, for effective implementation of the PoA Act. They are also addressed from time to time to, inter-alia, implement provisions of the Act in letter and spirit.  A Committee under the Chairpersonship of Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, constituted in 2006 also reviews implementation status of the PoA Act in various States/Union Territories.  The Committee has so far held twenty meetings wherein implementation of the PoA Act was reviewed in 24 States and 4 Union Territories. The continuing incidence of occurrence of offences of atrocities against members of SCs and STs leads to an impression that the deterrent effect of the PoA Act is not adequately felt by the accused. Occurrence of such incidents also highlights the need for more effective precautionary and preventive measures. Such aspects called for an assessment to consider amendments in the PoA Act.  Accordingly, this Ministry, after due consultation process with the concerned agencies, has commenced the process of amendments in the Act. This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri P. Balram Naik in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha yesterday.

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Delhi girl raped by friends in Gurgaon

Gurgaon, May 1, 2013 [Hindustan Times] --- A 23-year-old Delhi-based woman on Tuesday accused two property dealers from Mahipalpur of raping her in a car on the Mahipalpur-Palwal Road on Monday. The accused were apparently known to the victim and had picked her up from outside Sahara Mall on Monday. The victim filed a police complaint on Tuesday morning at Sohna police station, Gurgaon, after which one of the accused was nabbed. The police sent the girl for a medical examination on Tuesday afternoon, which confirmed rape. "The medical test was conducted at Gurgaon's civil hospital where rape was confirmed. One of the accused, Devendra Singh (28), a property dealer and a resident of Mahipalpur, was arrested on Tuesday," an officer said. He said the second accused had been identified as property dealer Raj Kumar (27). He is on the run. The victim had come to Sahara Mall in Gurgaon on Monday evening for some shopping. She was picked up by the two accused, her friends, from the mall later in the evening in a Mahindra SUV.

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Sarabjit 'clinically dead' in Pakistan; family to return Wednesday

Amritsar/Lahore, May 1, 2013 [IANS] --- The distraught family of Indian death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh, who was brutally assaulted in a Lahore jail last week, is likely to return home Wednesday after doctors have reportedly indicated that he was "clinically dead". Raj Kumar Verka, vice chairman of the National Commission for the Scheduled Castes, said in Amritsar Tuesday that he spoke to Sarabjit's sister Dalbir Kaur who told him that doctors have told her that Sarabjit was "brain dead". "I think that Sarabjit had died earlier. Why did the Pakistan government have to do this drama (of allowing the family to visit him in Lahore) when he was already gone? They sought her permission to remove him from the ventilator," Verka, who was instrumental in securing visas for four members of Sarabjit's family from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi Saturday, told media. Sarabjit's lawyer Awais Sheikh told a news channel from Lahore that Sarabjit's sister had expressed the family's desire to return to India. "After the doctors told her about Sarabjit's condition, she first told me that they wanted to go back today (Tuesday). But later, in their hotel, they said that they will go back tomorrow (Wednesday) morning," Sheikh told the channel. Sarabjit Singh, 49, was admitted to a Lahore hospital in a critical condition after a vicious attack on him by fellow prisoners at the Kot Lakhpat Jail April 26. He has been on ventilator support ever since. India Monday appealed to Pakistan for Sarabjit's release even while a medical board in Pakistan said that he would continue to get treatment in Pakistan and not shifted out. The ministry of external affairs in New Delhi had asked Pakistan to take a "sympathetic and humanitarian" view on Sarabjit. Dalbir Kaur, Sarabjit's wife Sukhpreet Kaur and daughters Swapandeep and Poonam, crossed from the Attari-Wagah border checkpost into Pakistan Sunday afternoon to visit him in a Lahore hospital. He has been on death row in Pakistan since 1990 after being convicted by Pakistani courts for bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan, which left 14 people dead. Sarabjit's family claims he is innocent, and that he crossed over to Pakistan in August 1990 in an inebriated state and was arrested there. Police in Pakistan, however, claimed that Sarabjit Singh, known there as Manjit Singh, was involved in terrorist strikes.

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4-yr-old rape victim dies in Nagpur

Nagpur (Maharashtra), April 30, 2013 [ANI] --- The four-year-old rape victim from Ghansor in Madhya Pradesh's Seoni District, who was battling for her life, has died of cardiac arrest at the privately-run Care Hospital in Nagpur. Doctors said that the child died at 7.45 p.m. on Monday night after all efforts to revive her through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) had failed. They said the child's body was sent for a post mortem an hour after her death to the Government Medical College and Hospital as it was a medico legal case. The girl was in coma ever since she was airlifted from Jabalpur on April 20. The victim had suffered a severe damage to her brain and was on life support system and drugs. The Madhya Pradesh Government bore all of her medical expenses. "Her haemodynamic parameters which at least were stable until a few days back were deteriorating. Her blood pressure was very low in spite of best possible medication," Dr Ashok Tank had said on Monday, adding that she was pronounced dead at 7.45 p.m. The girl was kidnapped from her residence on April 17 in Ghansor and was apparently abandoned in the fields after being raped. She was found by some villagers on the morning of April 18. One of the two accused, Firoz Khan (28) - who was a friend of the girl's uncle - was arrested from Bihar's Hussainabad area in Bhagalpur district. The other accused Rakesh Chaudhary (24) was arrested earlier. The girl's father was a labourer and was not in Ghansor at the time of the incident. Her mother is a farm hand.

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Journalist arrested for rape attempt on six-year-old girl

YAVATMAL (MAHARASHTRA), APRIL 29, 2013 [PTI] --- A 50-year-old journalist of a local vernacular daily was arrested for his alleged attempt to rape a six-year-old girl in Maharashtra, police said today. The accused, Pradeep Laxman Deshmukh, was caught on Sunday by a youth from an isolated spot near Arni state transport bus stand while he was trying to rape the girl studying in first standard. The journalist was handed over to police by the youth and his friends, Arni police station official Girish Bobade said. "The accused was in an inebriated condition and confessed to have committed the crime," he said. A medical examination conducted on the victim at Yavatmal Medical College confirmed attempt to rape. Pradeep works for a local Marathi daily and is married. He has an 18-year-old daughter and a 16-year-old son, Bobade said, adding that the accused happens to be the victim's neighbour and often used to take her on his bicycle after promising her chocolates or other eatables. The accused was produced on Monday before a local court, which remanded him in magisterial custody, police said.

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Dr HH Mate Honoured with National Award in Delhi

New Delhi, April 29, 2013 — Dr. Houlim Hemkholun Mate, popularly known as HH Mate, a versatile personality with notable contributions in education, science and technology, and social work, has been honoured with a prestigious national award today at the Constitution Club in New Delhi.

Dr. Mate received the Rashtriya Pragati Award from Dr. Bhishma Narain Singh, former Governor of Tamil Nadu and Assam, during a national seminar on “Individual Achievements on Economic and Socio-Development.” This award, recognizing his excellence in education, was instituted by the All India Business Development Association, Delhi. Among the 130 awardees, Dr. Mate stood out as a lone recipient from Northeast India.

Hailing from the conflict-ridden state of Manipur, Dr. Mate has added another feather to his cap with this honour. His impressive list of accolades includes 13 International Awards, 50 National Awards, 4 Global Awards, 6 Regional Awards, and 5 State Awards, totaling 78 so far. By May-June, he anticipates receiving six more awards -- two each in Bangkok, Hyderabad, and Colombo -- bringing his total to 84. If he garners another 16 awards between July and December, Dr. Mate’s tally will reach a remarkable 100.

Speaking to Zogam Today, Dr. Mate shared, “I have written over 700 articles, 30 research papers, and 13 books, and presented 33 seminar papers in India and abroad. I will continue to contribute in the days to come.”

A Journey of Perseverance and Excellence

Born in 1957 to Pu Holkhojam and Pi Deihat in Lamjang Village, Chandel district, Manipur, Dr. Mate is the eldest among five brothers and four sisters. His educational journey began at the age of five. Despite scoring only 38% in his HSLC exam in 1982, Dr. Mate persevered, later achieving 45% in PUC (Science) and 58% in BSc (Physics) from Churachandpur College, Lamka, in 1982 and 1985, respectively. He went on to earn a BE (Electronics & Telecommunication) with 63% from AMIETE, New Delhi, in 1989; MSc (Physics) with 73%, MPhil (Physics) with 75%, and PhD (Physics) with 78% from Osmania University, Hyderabad, in 1991, 1993, and 1999, respectively. Notably, Dr. Mate was the MPhil topper at Osmania University.

A Vision Inspired by a Dream

In July 1989, Dr. Mate experienced a dream that left a lasting impact on his life. While passing a 30-story building in New York City, he heard a voice calling his name. Turning back, he encountered an old man resembling Albert Einstein. In the dream, the man blessed him, saying, “I will lead you into lands where your forefathers never landed. Go peacefully, teach, show, and enlighten the children.” The dream revealed four areas -- education, science and technology, social work, and ornithology -- where he should focus his efforts. While he chose not to pursue ornithology, Dr. Mate committed himself wholeheartedly to the other three fields. He kept this dream private for many years before sharing it with Zogam Today.

Early Milestones and Recognition

Dr. Mate’s first significant recognition came in 1997, when he received the Bharat Excellence Award in New Delhi after publishing three books that took him 15 years to complete. This marked the beginning of his journey toward realizing his dream.

A Life Dedicated to Education and Social Work

Married to Kimjalam in 2000, Dr. Mate is blessed with five children. He attributes his success to hard work and honesty, saying, “There is no shortcut to success; hard work and honesty are my secrets.”

After working as a Junior Scientist at ISRO, New Delhi, for eight years, Dr. Mate left his job to fulfill his dream. In 2002, he founded the Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Foundation School in Tuibuang, Churachandpur district, Manipur, where he currently resides and oversees the school’s operations.

“Doing charitable work is the best service for mankind on earth. To uplift and educate poor children is my mission. Since the beginning, I have sponsored 35 orphans in my school,” Dr. Mate told Zogam Today.

Dr. Mate has dedicated his life to molding and transforming the lives of children, striving to make them true citizens and future pillars of the nation. His unwavering commitment to education and social service continues to inspire many.

~ Bruce K. Thangkhal, Joint Editor, ZOGAM TODAY

Dr Sir H H Mate: The Jewel of Manipur
Dr. HH Mate Achieves a Milestone of 100 Awards
Dr HH Mate Honoured with National Award in Delhi
 HH Mate in award 100 sa'ng ta | Zogam Today

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Neighbour rapes married woman in Delhi; Minor girl assaulted

Faridabad, April 29 [PTI] --- A woman was allegedly raped by his neighbour in Ballabhgarh area here, police said yesterday. The woman, a resident of Trikha colony area, was allegedly raped by Rambabu yesterday, police said adding that he was arrested yesterday.  The victim's father has filed a complaint in this connection, police said. After committing the crime, Rambabu had fled the spot, who was later apprehended, police added.  In a separate incident in New Delhi, PTI reported that A 15-year-old boy was detained yesterday in connection with the assault on a six-year-old girl inside a public toilet even as doctors were awaiting a medical report to ascertain whether she was sexually assaulted.  A senior police official said they were questioning the teenager as they suspect that he was involved in the incident which took place in Gautampuri on Friday evening.  Delhi Police is yet to arrest the person who slit the girl's throat and inflicted other injuries on her two days ago. Police had earlier detained 22 people in connection with the incident but no one involved in the incident has been arrested.  "We are investigating the matter," a senior police official said. Doctors at the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where she is being treated, said the victim was stable and having semi-solid food. [PTI]

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Plan Panel approves outlay of Rs 3,650 crore for Manipur

NEW DELHI [PTI/Economic Times] ---The Planning Commission today approved a Plan outlay of Rs 3,650 crore for Manipur for 2013-14, an increase of 4.3 per cent from the previous fiscal.

In 2012-13, the state government had received a Plan size of Rs 3,500 crore.

The plan size was finalised here in a meeting between Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh.

"We had a very good meeting. Many members have complemented the Chief Minister that Manipur has performed very well in many dimensions. We have agreed for this year a plan size of Rs 3,650 crore, its a big increase over the actual achievement last year," Ahluwalia told reporters here.

"Actual achievement I think is only about Rs 2,100 crore. I had my doubts whether this was feasible, but the Chief Minister and his colleagues have assured me that the pace of work has really picked up," he said.

Appreciating the achievements of the state, Ahluwalia said Manipur has the lowest infant mortality rate in the whole country.

"Many other areas that we have reviewed, our assessment is that in the use of central assistance in the last year, Manipur government has done a very good job, particularly some of the irrigation projects that had been stuck for a long time," he said.

Ahluwalia also mentioned about the delay in getting the funds from the Centre and assured the Chief Minsiter to put in place a mechanism for speedy release of funds.

"I think this is a valid point and some other states have also said this. So we have assured him that we will put in place a mechanism knowing that the working period in Manipur is relatively short. We will put in place a mechanism that the funds that is being provided in the plan will not get held up and get released on time."

However, the Chief Minister of Manipur said that he was not fully satisfied by the plan size, but given the financial crunch the country is facing, he was happy.

"...we are not fully satisfied. But of course, seeing the entire country's financial crunch, we are happy. We are satisfied with this plan size of Rs 3,650 crore," Singh said.

Ahluwalia said that the Planning Commission explained the Chief Minister about the financial situation, as the overall increase in the Central Plan over the budgeted estimate was only about 5 per cent.

"I have explained to the Chief Minister that this is a year of financial difficulty and even in the central government, the overall increase in the Central Plan over the BE (Budget estimate) is only about 5 per cent. so there is no difference between Manipur and the Centre," Ahluwalia said.

He said this is a year in which there is a need to live within the resources.

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DU approves syllabus for new courses

New Delhi, April 25, 2013 [PTI] --- Delhi University today announced the approval of syllabus for courses in Commerce and Mathematical and Applied Sciences even as a section of teachers continued to accuse the varsity of being "undemocratic" in its process.  A statement issued by the university said the faculties for Interdisciplinary and Applied Sciences, Commerce and Mathematical Sciences have approved the syllabus for these courses at their meetings today.  Unhappy with the approved syllabus, a section of teachers continued to cry foul that the departments were following an "undemocratic process to pass these courses under the pressure of the authorities".  Hem Chand Jain, a Commerce Professor in Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, alleged select teachers were asked to prepare the syllabus for Commerce subjects with each paper being structured by a small group of 3-4 teachers. "The university seems to expect from teachers that they will pass a 200-page syllabus document in one meeting without reading it. This is a mockery of the democratic system," he said. Jain further alleged several important papers of the current course structure have been dropped for the four-year programme.

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Mother and daughter gang-raped in Bihar, 3 arrested

Patna, April 24, 2013 [IANS] --- Three people have been arrested in Bihar for abducting and raping the mother and sister of a youth as a revenge for his eloping with the sister of one of the accused, police said Wednesday. The attack took place in Sariswa village under Majhaulia police station of West Champaran district April 19, but came to light after a case was lodged with the police. "Three people were arrested after an FIR (first information report) was lodged on the basis of the statement of gang-raped victims," Superintendent of Police Sunil Nayak told IANS. "The gang-rape was committed by four people," Nayak said. He added that three accused identified as Subhash Yadav, Suresh Yadav and Rameekbali Yadav were arrested Tuesday, while hunt is now on to nab the fourth attacker. Police have recovered the torn clothes of the victims from the house of Suresh during an investigation. According to police, the victims were first kidnapped and then taken to the house of Suresh where "both were gang-raped by them". The youth, whose mother and sister were gang-raped, had eloped with Suresh's sister in January this year, a police official said.

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Raped teen kills self after dirty clip threat

MUMBAI, April 24, 2013 [TOI] --- A teenager torched herself and succumbed to her injuries recently when her uncle, who had raped her after spiking her drink, turned her away when she became pregnant and threatened to make public an obscene mobile clip he had apparently shot of her. The uncle, charged with abetment of suicide, is on the run. The 19-year-old victim, who passed away on Saturday after suffering over 80% burns, was a college student and stayed with her parents and sister at Nalasopara (East). Her paternal uncle, Mohammed Sultan alias Raja, 27, also lived with his family in the neighbourhood. On February 14, the girl was alone at home when her father went to work because her mother and sister were out of town. Sultan came to her house, offered her the spiked soft drink and raped her. On April 15, she learnt she was pregnant and confided in her mother. The two confronted Sultan, who turned them away. A day later, Sultan called and told the teen he would circulate the obscene clip if she spoke about the rape to anyone. "The victim did not confide in her mother this time. Next day, she stepped into the bathroom, poured kerosene on herself and struck a match," said a cop. She succumbed to her injuries four days later in hospital. "We were informed a few hours before her death. Our personnel visited her at the hospital and recorded her statement," said a senior police official. Besides abetment, Sultan has been booked for rape, criminal intimidation and poisoning. His family is being quizzed about his whereabouts.

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Dr Rajesh Talwar killed Aarushi and Hemraj: CBI

New Delhi, April 24, 2013 [TOI/TNN] --- A CBI officer on Tuesday placed on record his view of the motive for the Aarushi-Hemraj double murder and the manner in which the crime was committed. On the fourth day of his cross-examination, CBI's investigating officer AGL Kaul told the Ghaziabad court that Aarushi's father Dr Rajesh Talwar killed her and Hemraj after finding them in an "objectionable position on Aarushi's bed". Kaul's statement supports Noida police's theory of May 23, 2008. The two were killed on the intervening night of May 15-16, 2008. Kaul also recreated the sequence of events relying on circumstantial evidence. However, defence counsel Satyaketu Singh told TOI: "It is all Kaul's imagination. His theory negates the circumstantial evidence he has talked about so far. If Hemraj was attacked in Aarushi's room, how come there was no trace of his blood in that room?" He also said Kaul was unable to explain the mix-up of pillows taken from the rooms of Hemraj and another domestic help, Krishna. CBI had initially cited a CDFD-Hyderabad report to claim that Krishna's pillow had Hemraj's DNA on it. Later, it verbally informed the Allahabad high court that the submission was based on a typographical error. "For this, CBI also got a fabricated reply from CDFD and they never put anything on record. Kaul personally managed the whole frame-up," Singh alleged. Kaul told court on Tuesday that both the accused (doctors Rajesh and Nupur Talwar) and the victims (Aarushi and Hemraj) were present in the house. There was no forced entry or theft, and the accused could not give a clear account of what happened that night, he added. The postmortem report says death occurred between midnight and 1am on May 16, 2008. Kaul claimed that Dr Rajesh Talwar, who was awake in his room, heard a sound around midnight and came to Hemraj's room through the lobby to investigate. He didn't find the help there but picked up one of the two golf sticks kept there. He next came to Aarushi's room which was shut but not locked. "He opened the door and saw Aarushi and Hemraj in an objectionable state on her bed," Kaul said, adding, Dr Talwar then attacked Hemraj on the head with the golf stick. The second blow, he claimed, fell on Aarushi's forehead. By the time Dr Nupur came to the room, Hemraj had fallen off the bed. The Talwar couple checked Aarushi's pulse and found her dead. They got scared and made a plan to kill Hemraj and hide his body, Kaul told court. He claimed Hemraj was wrapped in a sheet and dragged to the terrace where his throat was slit. The Talwars placed a cooler panel on the body, and locked the stairs from inside, before rearranging things in Aarushi's room and slitting her throat to make the murders seem like the handiwork of one person. "Nupur cleaned Aarushi's private parts and changed her clothes. After that they cleaned the bloodstains and collected the bloodstained clothes to dispose of in the morning along with the weapon."

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