Nepali woman gang-raped in Delhi, none arrested

New Delhi, April 18, 2013 [IANS] --- A Nepali woman in her early 20s was allegedly gang-raped in the national capital, police said Thursday. The woman was found in half-naked and semi-conscious condition near Nanakpura flyover in south Delhi around 7.30 a.m. Thursday. The woman was taken to Safdarjung Hospital where she is being treated. According to her statement to police, she was abducted from Kotla Mubarkpur area near South Extension in south Delhi Wednesday night by three unidentified people, who raped and dumped her near the flyover.

First Irom Sharmila Scholarship awarded to Iymon Majeed from Kashmir

The first Irom Sharmila Scholarship has been awarded to twenty two year old Iymon Majeed from Panjipora village of Sopore district, Kashmir. He is studying for an MA in Political Science at Jamia Millia Islamia. Iymon has been writing about Kashmiri experiences under AFSPA and militarism for various publications. In his application Iymon wrote:

    "I am from the state of Jammu and Kashmir which comes under the Armed forces (Special Powers Act) from July 1990. Nine months later, on 7 March, 1991 I was born in the trouble torn town of Sopore in a small village of Panjipora. Four years later, in 1995, I was stamped with an agonizing experience on my memory. Indian Army commandeered our house and threw us out.

    In the next two years, we changed four houses, with us finally migrating to the main town of Sopore in north Kashmir. When the insurgency in Kashmir started in early 1990’s, Indian state flowed in thousands of its army men into the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the coming years. Providing lodging for the military in the residential areas was a daunting task before the Indian government.

    Army, then, took residence in the already vacated Kashmiri Pandith homes but also asked the local Muslim population to vacate the houses. My house was one of the hundreds of unlucky houses taken by the army and I became vagrant in my own land. "


The committee received over 50 applications of which 40 were found eligible. The others were BA students or students studying outside Delhi. The applicants came from all the states of the Northeast and Kashmir and from all the different educational institutions in Delhi. The jury short listed four people for interview. This was a difficult choice, as many of the students were meritorious and had suffered tremendously under armed conflict. Of those shortlisted, one had his father killed by militants, and another by the security forces. Several had been displaced, and some had been shot at or picked up themselves. Despite this, they were all pursuing higher education seriously.

The award is based on a combination of financial need, academic seriousness, suffering under AFSPA or similar laws and both present and potential contribution to the democratic struggle against AFSPA and militarism in the spirit of Irom Sharmila. It is a one-time cash award of Rs. 50,000, and is restricted to post graduate students enrolled in any university or institute in Delhi.

The jury consisted of
A. Bimol Akoijam, CSSS, JNU;
Kamei Aphun, Department of Sociology, Delhi University;
Ujjwal Kumar Singh, Department of Political Science, Delhi University;
Nandini Sundar, Department of Sociology, Delhi University, and
Sameer Yasir, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Kashmir.


IROM SHARMILA SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
iromsharmilascholarship(at)gmail(dot)com 

Source: [e-pao]

Tripura baby in Gurgaon hospital

New Delhi, April 17, 2013 [PTI] --- An 18-month old Tripura girl suffering from a rare illness that has caused her head to swell to more than double its normal size, has been brought to a Gurgaon hospital for treatment. Doctors at the Fortis Medical Research Institute, where the girl was brought yesterday, said that anything about prognosis could be said only after diagnosing the reasons that had led to Hyderocephalus - a condition in which the head swells due to accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in brain. The hospital offered to examine Roona Begum as her parents in a remote village in the northeastern state are too poor to pay for treatment for the condition, which has resulted in her head swelling to a circumference of 91-centimetres (36-inches). "Hyderocephalus occurs either due to overproduction of cerebrospinal fluid or blockade of its drainage or both, which leads to its accumulation. To ascertain reasons in this case, we have to conduct a lot of investigations before arriving at any conclusion," said Dr Dilpreet Brar, Regional Director of Fortis Medical Research Institute.  "Some investigations have already been done and picture would be clear by evening. However, nothing can be said until proper diagnosis is made," Dr Brar said.

16 hurt in bomb blast near BJP office in Bangalore, party claims terror attack

Bangalore, April 17, 2013[HindustanTimes]---Police in Bangalore said on Wednesday they were investigating a blast outside a Bharatiya Janata Party office that injured 16 people. Here is the latest information about the explosion:

The blast in Malleshwaram locality occurred at around 10.30 am when the BJP office was crowded with party workers and candidates. The state goes to polls on May 5 and Wednesday is the last day for filing of nominations.

* The explosion occurred on a motorbike parked near the BJP office. "Preliminarily, we felt earlier that it was a (gas) cylinder blast as two vehicles that were on both sides of the motorbike got burnt," Bangalore police commissioner R. Auradakar told reporters. "As the motorcycle is fully burnt, we feel that it could be a blast."
* Auradkar, citing preliminary investigation, an "incendiary bomb" had been put on the bike, which was parked alongside cars.

* "Due to the blast, 16 people are injured--eight policemen and eight civilians. Nobody is critically injured. All are being treated at hospital," said Lalrokhuma Pachau, Karnataka's Director General of Police. A team of the National Investigative Agency and forensic experts are investigating the explosion site.

* Pachau said it was too early to say what kind of explosive had been used or who was responsible for the blast. "At this stage we cannot say what material has been used in the blast. Investigations are going on," he said.

* Karnataka Home Minister R Ashok called the blast was "a clear act of terror" against the BJP. "It is a very clear act of terror--it is targeted at the BJP, our senior leaders and workers," said Ashoka. "100 per cent, it is targeted at BJP workers".

* Ashok pointed out the blast occurred on April 17, the date when blasts near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the city injured several people three years ago. The minister since scores of party leaders and workers had been visiting the party office called "Jagannath Bhavan" for the past few day.

* Three cars and several scooters were charred in the blaze that followed the blast. A police bus parked nearby was also badly damaged.

* ABP TV news channel reported the motorcycle which is suspected to have been planted with explosives had a Tamil Nadu registered number plate.

* Of the 16 injured, 11 are police personnel and five are civilians, including three women, Home Minister R. Ashoka said at the explosion site.

* IANS reports two injured women, one of whom has a suffered fracture in her leg, are being treated at the KC General hospital, about five kilometres from the explosion site, told reporters.

* Residents in the area told reporters that the blast shook the windowpanes of several houses.

* Several vehicles were gutted but there was no damage to the party office in the explosion that was initially believed  to be a cylinder blast.

* Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said in New Delhi that he has ordered an inquiry into the blast.

* The BJP office is located in the crowded residential locality of Malleshwaram in north Bangalore, about eight kilometres from the city centre.

Hmar rebel group to hold talk with Mizo Govt

AIZAWL, April 16, 2013 [NNN/TSE] --- The Joint Monitoring Group, which has been constituted to monitor 'Suspension of Operation' (SoO) between Mizoram government and Hmar Peoples Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) are all set to hold talks on coming Friday at Sakawrdai, Mizoram. The talks will be held at the Tourist Lodge. According to official sources, the Joint Monitoring Group will review implementation of Suspension of Operation by both the parties. The Mizoram government side is to be headed by the SP CID (SB), H. Ramthlengliana while the HPC (D) will be represented by the outfit's leaders including Francis Songate, Lalbeiseia and Sangneihkunga. It may be recalled that the Suspension of Operation agreed to by both the parties in their meeting on January 31 this year is for a period of 6 months. It worth mentioning here that for the first time on February 9, 2011 the SoO was signed betwen the two parties for six months. However, after signing the earlier SoO, the relation between the HPC-D and the Mizoram government experienced a rough weather. In view of that, the SoO was never extended again even after the lapse of the six month period. Since 1986, the Hmar People's Convention (HPC) has been demanding for the creation of Hmar Autonomous District in Mizoram. In spite of the Peace Accord that was inked between the Government of Mizoram and the HPC, there was no concrete solution to address and redress the rights of the Hmar People. "As a result, the HPC (D) has been continuous the same demand in Mizoram to redress the historical and political injustices. Acknowledging the matter, the Centre (Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India) has been pressurising the Government of Mizoram to settle the political issues of the Hmars immediately. Following this and to pursue the unfinished agenda, the Government of Mizoram and the HPC (D) signed the Suspension of Operation (SoO) on November 11, 2010 for a period of six months. The SoO document was signed by Lalropui, Army Chief HPC (D) and the Home Secretary Shri. Lalmalsawma, Government of Mizoram," HPC-D leader L Sangma Hmar had stated sometime in last October. The Hmar outfit leader had then alleged that the Government of Mizoram had failed to nurture the peace process with seriousness, which resulted in derailing the hard earned peace process. Taking note of this, the Centre (Ministry of Home Affairs) continued to pressurise the Government of Mizoram to settle the Hmar political problems. The government of Mizoram digressed from peaceful approach and acted untowardly when the HPC (D) on the other hand, is made to engage in finding the channels for political dialogue with All Party Leaders of Mizoram, he stated. While handing out the carrot, the Government of Mizoram arrested the HPC (D) Army Chief Lalropui and Deputy Army Chief Lalbiaknung from Silchar airport on June 16, 2012 by the Mizoram police. Similarly HPC (D) Chairman Zosangber was again arrested from Delhi Airport by the Mizoram police when he was on his way to meet officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Government of Mizoram has severely failed to respect the peace process that has seemingly built, the HPC-D had rued. In the context of Manipur, the HPC (D) political interest is collectively shared with the United People's Front (UPF), currently under SoO with the Government of India and the Government of Manipur. The UPF demands for an Autonomous Hill States within the state of Manipur. The HPC (D) did not sign the SoO documents in Manipur alone but as UPF, the document is collectively shared and signed along with the UPF members: KNF, KRA (U), UKLF, ZDV and ZRA. The HPC (D) has its designated Camp in Ankhasuo with ninety four (94) cadres enlisted. In Manipur, the HPC (D) will continue to abide by the goals shared within the UPF. "The HPC (D)'s goals and objectives are independent in all its respective context and is free from the other. The SoO terms and conditions in Manipur, has no validity in other States. Therefore, the HPC (D) Manipur Region is not answerable for the HPC (D) of other regions/States as the HPC (D) Manipur Region is particularly confined in Manipur under UPF," L Sanga Hmar had also statedr. For all time to come, the HPC (D) Manipur Region as signatory of SoO in Manipur cannot be made responsible or related to any acts of the HPC (D) of other regions, L Sanga Hmar had added. According to HPC-D leader, after India gained independence, the Hmar peoples are fragmented by different political boundaries, without their consent, and are compelled to negotiate political marginalisation in their respective states – Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura. This historical and political subjugation have severely reduced our political entity, distancing us from securing our constitutional rights, stated L Sanga Hmar who is one of the members, Joint Monitoring Group of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) Agreement between the Government of Manipur and the Government of India Hmar People's Convention-Democratic (HPC -D). HPC-D leader L Sanga Hmar had also said last year that the urgent need to realise 'our constitutional rights to redress our dignity' as peoples has been the driving force behind the Hmar People's Convention (Democratic) objective to demand for 'Autonomous District Council' for the Hmar peoples in Assam, Manipur and Mizoram under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. In the pursuit of securing this end, the Hmar People's Convention (Democratic) – Assam Region, has also initiated a political dialogue involving the Government of India and the Government of Assam after laying down arms by 56 cadres of HPC (D) which was hosted by the Government of Assam in the presence of the then Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram at Guwahati on January 24, 2012. The first round of talks of the HPC (D) delegates – Government of Assam – the Central Government was held on September 27, 2012, Sanga Hmar had disclosed.

The Plight of a BPO Employee from North East India Goes Unheard

He was critically injured and has been paralyzed after he met accident last September. His employer didn't pay his salary nor listen to his distress. He is completely paralyzed. Family members narrated the whole story to the NE Helpline. New Delhi, April 17, 2013 [NORTH EAST HELPLINE] --- The plight of North East people continues in Delhi as many unfortunate incidents and stories go unreported. Many North East employees were debarred from getting their monthly salaries including one recent incident occurred in Saket, south Delhi. It was only over two weeks ago, when the North East Helpline intervened a desperate NE girl got her salary. Yet the other NE girl, who was allegedly beaten by her Thai manager (who is a business partner of Mr. Deepak Mittal, owner of the Gold Leaf Spa) last month, didn't get justice as action was not taken up by the Delhi Police so far. The Thai national got scot-free and she had silently escaped to Thailand soon after that incident. The unsavoury tales of the North East continues still. Like many, Mr.  DNG Kovalou, after his graduation started his career as a BPO executive at Gurgaon in 2004. He was doing quite well and looks promising in building a bright future. However, his dream was cut short on the fateful morning of September 15, 2012 while returning home after a night shift in Office Cab 'Tavera Car' (HR-55-MT-9998) with his colleagues, when a speeding Toyota Innova Car (DL-8CX-1110) hit them at Sanjay T-Point, Mahipalpur in south Delhi at around 4.30 am. The 31-year-old Kovalou was injured critically on his head and legs while his four colleagues also sustained injuries.  All of them were brought to AIIMS Trauma Centre, New Delhi where they got treatment. However, Kovalou was admitted in this hospital till December 2, 2012. Family members of the hapless victim narrated the whole story of this unfortunate incident to the North East Helpline general secretary Dr. Alana Golmei yesterday. "Kovalou's injuries have caused 100% permanent disablement and since then he has been lying on bed in a vegetative state. He is now merely surviving on Jejunostomy Feeding, Tracheotomy Breathing Pipe, Caspofungin and Imipenem injections with follow-up in confined vegetative state," a relative of Kovalou told NE Helpline. As the youngest son and beloved child in the family, his parents had sent him to Delhi for higher education by investing huge sum of money with a great expectation that one day he would look after his aged-mother and also support his five sisters and one brother. Till date more than 15 lakhs of Rupees have been spent on Kovalou's treatment and he requires at least two dedicated attendants round the clock.  Over seven months now, family has exhausted all their money on his treatment. The family didn't have alternative source of income and they are distressed. Kovalou's employer neither has hospitalization nor accident insurance policies which is a bare welfare facility extended by most employers today. When Kovalou's family approached his employer M/s Onkar Info Tech, Gurgaon to extend help, they did not respond while two of Kovalou's friends, Ramesh Joshi and Ashok Kumar, who were also injured during the accident, had already got their medical reimbursement and pending salaries," said a relative of Kovalou. When Kovalou's sister gave a written request to release the salary for the month of September 2012 and other dues, the company redirected the letter stating that "he had left the company". The truth is when Kovalou met the accident while returning from the night-shift he had neither left nor resigned from his job. With the daily expenses amounting to around Rs 25000 (twenty five thousand), the distressed family hired a lawyer to claim for compensation and fought the case in the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal.  Another shocking behaviour of the employer is that others who were injured along with Kovalou were advised to approach the lawyer hired by Kovalou's family claiming the lawyer was hired by the employer. The family is praying for miracle and awaiting justice from the Hon'ble Court. North East Helpline appeals to the Labour Minister of Haryana, Government of Haryana to intervene in releasing the salary and dues of Mr DNG Kovalou till date since he met the accident while he was employed by M/s Onkar Info Tech, Gurgaon. The Helpline also appeals to Delhi Police to book the driver and owner of the car which had caused the accident and rendered the life of a North East boy, Kovalou into a paralyzed condition and making the family in a painful situation.

President not pleased with Adimjati Ashram in Manipur

IMPHAL, April 15, 2013 [THE SANGAI EXPRESS] --- The 60th foundation day of Adimjati Shiksha Ashram was celebrated with President Pranab Mukherjee unveiling its diamond jubilee monument. Adimjati Shiksha Ashram was set up by social worker and scholar Deshbandhu Adhikari who hailed from Uttar Pradesh for upliftment of backward classes of the society particularly those belonging to SC/ST categories. After the State Government allotted 27 bighas of land at Chingmeirong Lilashing Khongnangkhong, the then President of India Dr Rajendra Prasad laid foundation stone of the school on March 23, 1952. Though not a very distinguished educational institution, Adimjati Shiksha Ashram is affiliated to New Delhi based Bharatiya Adimjati Sevak Sangha and is being run by dedicated volunteers. The main function of the diamond jubilee was held inside the ashram's campus after President Pranab Mukherjee unveiled the diamond jubilee monument this afternoon. Addressing the gathering, the President while expressing unhappiness at the existing condition of the ashram, nonetheless, exuded confidence that the ashram would be able to serve the educational needs of backward SC/ST students though it may take many years. Recalling that Manipur was the first State of India which was liberated from British imperialists, the President said that to have the ashram in such a unique place like Manipur is most appropriate. Acknowledging the contribution of Adimjati Shiksha Ashram towards upliftment of backward classes in the field of education during the last many years, Pranab Mukherjee asserted that empowerment of people is what is most important in modern times. To encourage people's direct participation in Government schemes and programmes rather than simply assuring benefits of these programmes is the call of the hour. In his speech, Chief Minister O Ibobi claimed that the ashram has been providing immense service towards education of underprivileged tribal students of the State. Talking about Government programmes specifically aimed at upliftment of underprivileged sections, Ibobi stated that special development programmes have been initiated in 27 blocks located in interior parts of the hill districts. In spite of ups and downs during its long years of existence, people running Adimjati Shiksha Ashram have been working with a high level of dedication, stated Governor Gurbachan Jagat. Chief Patron of Adimjati Shiksha Ashram Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam were also seated on the dais. A number of Cabinet Ministers, MP Dr T Meinya, ruling and opposition MLAs, a number of top ranking Government officials were also present at the function during which the President inaugurated Amity Hall, and the SC/ST girls' hostel. In addition, he laid foundation stones for a tribal working women hostel and a tribal boys' hostel.

Delhi: Student from Manipur commits suicide in Hindu College hostel

New Delhi [CNN-IBN]--- A student from Manipur has allegedly committed suicide in his hostel room in Delhi University's Hindu College. His body was found in his room at around 5.30 am on Sunday morning.

The student strangled himself using a mobile phone charger. A suicide note has also been recovered.

The parents of the student said he was undergoing treatment for depression. The body has been sent for postmortem. Police said there was no prima facie evidence of foul play.

This is the second suicide in Hindu College in the last three months.

27th NE Games Concludes; Manipur Emerges Champion for 22nd times

Imphal, April 12 2013[e-pao]--- Manipur has added yet another crown in its head after finishing Overall Team Champions for the 22nd times at the 27th North East Games as the sporting extravaganza of the North East India which began from April 8 concluded here on Thursday.

Manipur emerged Overall Team Champion in the Games after winning a total of 127 medals � 74 gold, 31 silver and 22 bronze medals.

Manipur won 76 points in the Point tally while Assam got 44 points and won the runner up's title.

Assam won 101 medals: 31 gold, 30 silver and 40 bronze medals.

The closing ceremony cum prize distribution function was held yesterday at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium with Governor of Manipur Gurbachan Jagat as the Chief Guest.

In the Games, Manipur emerges winner in Men's Athletic Events and runner up in women's athletic.

Manipur also emerges winner in Men's boxing, Men's Badminton and Women's Boxing.

Tripura emerged winner in Men's Football while Meghalaya was the runner up.

In women's football, Nagaland emerged winner and Manipur runner up.

Manipur emerged winner in men's hockey while Meghalaya was the runner up.

Meanwhile, Mizoram was the winner of women's hockey and Manipur the runner up.

Manipur emerged winner and Mizoram runner up in both men's and women's Judo.

Assam emerged winner in women's Table Tennis and Meghalaya was the winner.

Manipur was the winner in Women's Taekwondo and Assam the runner up.

Manipur energed winner in both men's and women's weightlifting while Assam and Mizoram were the runners up in men's and women's weightlifting respectively.

In men's Wushu, Manipur and and Meghalaya emerged winner and runner up respectively.

While in the women's Wushu, Manipur emerged winner and Assam was the runner up.

Mizoram emerged winner in March Past Competition while Manipur was the runner up.

President's three-day visit to Sikkim, Manipur begins today

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee will visit the northeastern states of Manipur and Sikkim on a three-day tour beginning April 15, a statement from Rashtrapati Bhawan said on Sunday.

In Manipur, the President will attend the diamond jubilee function of Adimjati Shiksha Ashram at Imphal where he will inaugurate the SC/ST girls hostel and also lay the foundation stone for a working women's hostel and a tribal boys' hostel.

In Sikkim, he will inaugurate the Siddeshwara Dham, at Solophok, in Namchi and dedicate it to the nation. He will also lay the foundation stone for the Sikkim University at Yangang, in south Sikkim.

The President will return to Delhi April 17.

Source:zeenews

Delhi: Woman gangraped in a moving car by husband and two others

New Delhi, April 12, 2013 [IANS] --- A 20-year-old woman was gang-raped in a moving car by her husband and his two relatives here, police said Thursday. All attackers have been arrested. The incident came to light late Wednesday evening when the woman was found in an unconscious condition in west Delhi's Najafgarh area by a passerby, who informed police. The victim told police that she was gang-raped by her husband Inderjeet and his two relatives Nitin and Vijender -- all in the age group of 21 and 25 -- in a moving car. The woman told police that she was gang-raped after she consumed a cold drink offered by her husband and got unconscious. The woman, a resident of Haryana's Jhajjar district, married Inderjeet at a temple in March without informing their parents, police said. "The victim's medical examination was conducted at a hospital where doctors confirmed that she was gang-raped," said a police officer. A case was registered Thursday based on the woman's statement and her attackers were arrested from their hideouts in west Delhi's Bakkarwala village. "She was called by Inderjeet to meet him here Wednesday to register their marriage through court. After arriving in Delhi, the woman was taken by Inderjeet in a car in which Nitin and Vijender were already sitting," said the officer, citing from the women's statement.

The keys to a knowledge economy

April 11, 2013 [The Washington Post] ---  Earlier this year I started teaching a class on entrepreneurship at an after-school program in my community. The middle-school students put together business plans, made their products and even got an opportunity to sell them. One day I asked my students what they thought about going to college. One of my top aspiring entrepreneurs told me he wasn't sure that he'd be able to go to college because he's undocumented. His family is from Mexico, and they moved here when he was a baby. Many students in my community are in the same situation; they moved to the United States so early in their lives that they have no memories of living anywhere else. These students are smart and hardworking, and they should be part of our future. This is, after all, the American story. My great-grandparents came through Ellis Island. My grandfathers were a mailman and a police officer. My parents are doctors. I started a company. None of this could have happened without a welcoming immigration policy, a great education system and the world's leading scientific community that created the Internet. Today's students should have the same opportunities — but our current system blocks them. We have a strange immigration policy for a nation of immigrants. And it's a policy unfit for today's world. The economy of the last century was primarily based on natural resources, industrial machines and manual labor. Many of these resources were zero-sum and controlled by companies. If someone else had an oil field, then you did not. There were only so many oil fields, and only so much wealth could be created from them. Today's economy is very different. It is based primarily on knowledge and ideas — resources that are renewable and available to everyone. Unlike oil fields, someone else knowing something doesn't prevent you from knowing it, too. In fact, the more people who know something, the better educated and trained we all are, the more productive we become, and the better off everyone in our nation can be. This can change everything. In a knowledge economy, the most important resources are the talented people we educate and attract to our country. A knowledge economy can scale further, create better jobs and provide a higher quality of living for everyone in our nation. To lead the world in this new economy, we need the most talented and hardest-working people. We need to train and attract the best. We need those middle-school students to be tomorrow's leaders. Given all this, why do we kick out the more than 40 percent of math and science graduate students who are not U.S. citizens after educating them? Why do we offer so few H-1B visas for talented specialists that the supply runs out within days of becoming available each year, even though we know each of these jobs will create two or three more American jobs in return? Why don't we let entrepreneurs move here when they have what it takes to start companies that will create even more jobs? We need a new approach, including: ●Comprehensive immigration reform that begins with effective border security, allows a path to citizenship and lets us attract the most talented and hardest-working people, no matter where they were born. ●Higher standards and accountability in schools, support for good teachers and a much greater focus on learning about science, technology, engineering and math. ●Investment in breakthrough discoveries in scientific research and assurance that the benefits of the inventions belong to the public and not just to the few. Changes like these won't happen on their own. That's why I am proud to announce FWD.us, a new organization founded by leaders of our nation's technology community to focus on these issues and advocate a bipartisan policy agenda to build the knowledge economy the United States needs to ensure more jobs, innovation and investment. These leaders, who reflect the breadth and depth of Silicon Valley's entrepreneurial culture, include Reid Hoffman, Eric Schmidt, Marissa Mayer, Drew Houston, Ron Conway, Chamath Palihapitiya, Joe Green, Jim Breyer, Matt Cohler, John Doerr, Paul Graham, Mary Meeker, Max Levchin, Aditya Agarwal and Ruchi Sanghvi. As leaders of an industry that has benefited from this economic shift, we believe that we have a responsibility to work together to ensure that all members of our society gain from the rewards of the modern knowledge economy. We will work with members of Congress from both parties, the administration and state and local officials. We will use online and offline advocacy tools to build support for policy changes, and we will strongly support those willing to take the tough stands necessary to promote these policies in Washington. Across America, creative, hardworking people in coffee shops, dorm rooms and garages are creating the next era of growth. Let's embrace our future as a knowledge economy and help them — and all of us — reach our full potential. By Mark Zuckerberg *Mark Zuckerberg is founder and chief executive of Facebook and co-founder of Fwd.us.(Washington Post Co. Chairman Donald E. Graham is a member of Facebook's board of directors)

Irom Sharmila ready to give up her fasting

IMPHAL, April 9 [IFP / Pic: The Hindu] --- "If the people of the state are not aware that my struggle is on account of the people  to save them from being killed and harassed by security forces under the draconian law, if people believe that my struggle is only to become famous, and if people are not satisfied with my struggle against AFSPA, I will give up everything and return back all the awards and titles given to me," an emotional Irom Sharmila told media while she was being produced before the Judical Magistrate Imphal east today at Lamphel. She said that it is very unfortunate that some individual have made a mockery on her struggle for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act by fasting for more than 12 years and added that her struggle was not out of  pressure by anyone and under the  influence of anyone. Sharmila said that when she was produced at the Delhi Patiala courts, there was a mass response from the side of the National and International media at New Delhi with some positive and the negative responses from the national newspapers. She further said that she feels discouraged and that she condemned the comments made on articles which were published in some national newspaper and pointed out that they were being made by a person called 'Babu Moshay' and 44 followers from Mumbai under the title " Politics of health, Student of NSW". While interacting with media persons outside the court, Sharmila  condemned the brutal killing of N Satyabhama and said that the state is witnessing such type of crime since many years. "These crimes are on an increase because the state government has failed to give  befitting punishment to the arrested person who are involved," she said.  Commenting on the 6 encounter cases of the state being heard at the Supreme Court,she said that it is very unfortunate  the state government  has also failed to give any befitting punishment to the guilty police personal who are involved in such  cases. Saying the she was against capital punishment for security personnel involved in the fake encounters, Sharmila went on to say  that if the leaders of the state do their work with transparency and with full dedication then the public will have  faith on  law makers and the political leaders of the state.

Step-father arrested for raping step-daughter in Delhi

New Delhi, April 9 [IANS] --- A 33-year-old man was arrested here for raping his 10-year-old step-daughter, police said Tuesday. "The victim's mother, who lives in Majnu Ka Tila area in north Delhi, approached police Saturday and said that her daughter was raped by her husband," said an officer. A medical examination of the victim confirmed rape. Police said that victim's mother, a labourer, was not at home when the incident took place Saturday morning. The victim told her mother when she returned. The accused, who is unemployed, used to drink regularly, police said.

Boyfriend stabbed girlfriend in Delhi

New Delhi, April 10 [IANS] --- An 18-year-old girl was stabbed by her boyfriend,19, following an argument over a petty issue here Tuesday evening, police said. He was arrested late evening. The victim's condition was critical and she was undergoing treatment at Rao Tula Ram hospital in south Delhi, police said. On Tuesday, around 4.00 p.m., the couple met in a park in Dwarka area in south Delhi to sort out their differences over some issue. They left for home on motorbike but another round of argument ensued between them on the way. "The girl was talking over the phone when the boy asked about the person whom she was talking to. The girl refused to divulge the caller's identity which infuriated the boy," police said. "In the meantime, he stabbed her two or three times on the face and neck with a knife and ran away on his motorbike." Some passersby saw the girl bleeding and called up the police. Police said the boy had been arrested from his home in Najafgarh area, where the girl also lives in the neighbourhood. He told police that he was angry over the girl's talking to their common friend which he did not like.

Manipur: Angry mob torches house of 3 accused in Satyabhama murder case

IMPHAL, April 9 [IFP] --- The public announcement of the three main accused in the N Satyabhama murder case today was followed by irate protestors including JAC supporters and residents of Kakwa area taking the law into their hands and setting fire to the homes of the three involved. The house of the main accused, Kshetrimayum Biju alias Holendro, 28, son of Ksh Ibochouba of Irilbung bazaar and a shop located at the road side belonging to the family were dismantled and all household items inside the house destroyed  and later, put to flames by the angry mob who had come from Kakwa and other areas in a huge procession. Angry mob also dismantled the  house of co-accused  Thoudam Jibon, 28, son of Th Thoiba of Irilbung Machahal Mayai Leikai  and burnt it down.  It may be mentioned that Jibon was a candidate  in the recently held Panchayat elections for the post of a Member from the Bamon Kampu  Gram Panchayat. None of the family members of the accused  were present in the area during the time of the incidents today. Meanwhile, the angry mob also brunt down the house of Toijam James alias Boy at Thambalkong Sabal Leikai this evening around 3pm. The mob numbering around a 1000 came in trucks, auto's and two wheeler mopeds rushed into the accused's house and started to rampage the household commodities and burnt down the house. Finding no one at James's house,  the mob went to the neighboring house and found it locked from the inside. Enraged over the neighbor's failure to reply to the call of the mob, the mob then  started breaking the doors and windows of the house. When it was found that James had shifted some of his household items to the neighbor's house, it only fanned the anger of the mob who went on a rampage and burnt the house down. On further inquiry from the media later, Toijam Thoinu the neighbor said the family had no idea about the accused shifting his items to their house and said the accused could have moved them in while the family were at another neighbor's. "The way the mob acted today is inappropriate. Damaging and burning down the house without any inquiring is inappropriate", she said, before lamenting, "They have vented their anger, now where do we go to live?" After the burning of the first house, the mob continued to move towards Chingmeirong with a similar intention of burning down the house of another accused Phungsokwung alias Ashok. The mob was however blocked by the Imphal West police. After a long confrontation between the police and the angry mob; police resorted to firing a couple of tear gas shells and mock bomb to disperse the mob.

Manipuri boy to receive British galantry award

Imphal, April 9, 2013 [ANI] --- A young Manipuri youth serving as a Lieutenant in the British Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service (RMAS),Special Forces, has been chosen for a prestigious gallantry award for his bravery during a fierce gunfight with Al-Qaeda insurgents in Afghanistan in 2011. For his act of bravery and inspirational leadership during a fierce gunfight, Lt .Khwairakpam Robin Singh will receive the 'Conspicuous Gallantry Cross', a second ranking award on June 19 in London. He will also get 15,000 pounds as a mark of encouragement and respect for the act of heroism. "I can't even express how happy and excited I feel about my gallantry award because I can't believe that such a major gallantry award will be given to me. I am so happy," said the 27-year-old young officer. "I would like to thank God, my Mom and Dad. I suffered a lot to achieve my goal. I stayed far away from my family and sometimes I couldn't contact them for months. I studied almost without sleeping and I struggled a lot abroad as well as in India," he added. Born to Khwairakpam Sanajaoba and Kh Memcha Devi, Robin is the youngest of seven siblings in the family. He did his schooling in Manipur before completing his graduation from St Philomena's College, Mysore. He joined the merchant navy in 2009. Robin is a brave, dynamic and fearless marine officer and serves as Lieutenant in the British Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service (RMAS), Special Forces. "As a father I am very happy. When he was young I tried to inspire him to become successful and today that dream has come true. I am so proud of him," said Kh Sanajaoba Singh, Robin's father.

Uttar Pradesh: Minor Dalit girl rape, locked up in jail

Bulandshahr, April 09, 2013 [Hindustan Times] --- A 10-year-old Dalit girl, who was allegedly raped, was put behind bars in an all women police station in Bulandshahr on Monday. The child spent several hours behind bars after her mother brought her to a women's police station to lodge a complaint against a local goon for allegedly raping her. She was rescued only after locals protested. Two women constables have been suspended and two sub inspectors including the station-in-charge have been sent to police lines after a TV journalist brought the matter into senior officials' notice, SSP Gulab Singh said. According to Singh, the minor from Meerpur village in Bulandshahr was found lying unconscious in a field by her parents on Sunday night where she had been dumped after being allegedly raped. An FIR was lodged with the police by victims' parents but shockingly the staff of the women's police station detained the victim in lock-up. The local goon accused of raping the minor is absconding, he added.

Man axes nine women to death in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, April 9, 2013 [CNN-IBN] --- A mentally unstable man carried out a bloodbath in Chhattisgarh's impoverished tribal-dominated Balrampur district on Thursday (Apr 4), axing to death nine girls and women aged between 2-65 years, police and eyewitnesses said. The bodies of four female adults and five minors, were lying in a pool of blood for hours in the terror-hit Barhatola village under Samri police station, and the accused, Pandu Nageshia, 35, was tracked down when Balrampur District Collector CR Prasanna and Superintendent of Police GS Darro reached there with a police contingent. "Its brutal killings by a man who is reportedly mentally unstable," Prasanna told IANS over phone from the village which comes under state's northern region, more than 400 km from Raipur. The bodies of four female adults and five minors, were lying in a pool of blood for hours in the terror-hit Barhatola village. "I am too in a state of shock after visiting the village and watching dead bodies scattered outside a house where the deceased belonging to two to three families had assembled as their male family members had gone out on daily work," he said. Prasanna along with Darro found extremely difficult to console several poverty-hit tribal people whose innocent relatives were butchered. Unfolding details of the shocking incident, Darro, quoting eye-witnesses, said Nageshia, who was armed with a sharp-edged weapon "tangia", suddenly went on a killing spree at around 1.30 pm and no one had an idea why he killed the nine - identified as Lalki Bai (60), Kusum Nageshia (4), Manju Nageshia (3), Sitamuni Bai (25), Priyanka (2), Machki Bai (65), Kalgi Bai (60), Sangeeta (10) and Sanjeeta (3).