NARENDRA MODI OBSERVES SADBHAVNA FAST IN MEHSANA

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, joined by thousands of his supporters, observes one-day fast at Mehsana today, as a part of his ongoing ‘Sadbhavna’ mission.
Several holy men also participated in the fast, the 20th in the series of Modi’s ‘Sadbhavna’ fasts in all the districts of the state.
Congress workers, meanwhile, observed a parallel ‘Satkarma’ fast in the district which they said was aimed at making people aware of the wrong doings of the state government.

Security had been beefed up in the district to thwart any untoward incident.
http://www.ndnewsexpress.com/2012/01/10/narendra-modi-observes-sadbhavna-fast-in-mehsana-18714

FATHER ARRESTED FOR DAUGHTER’s MURDER

Rajasthan police arrested a person for killing his own daughter in Swaroopganj area of Sirohi district. The man allegedly threw his six months old daughter from the balcony of his house which resulted into death of the baby.
Police is trying to trace the reason behind the incident.
As soon as the police knew about the incident, they came into action and began investigation in this matter and arrested the accused.
“Prima facie it appears to be a case of murder. We have been told that the victim was thrown from the balcony of the first floor of the building,” said Sitaram Meena, DSP.
The accused is being interrogated by the police.
http://www.ndnewsexpress.com/2012/01/10/father-arrested-for-daughters-murder-18717

MASSIVE FIRE BREAKS OUT AT GUWAHATI REFINERY

A massive fire broke out at the high-security Guwahati Refinery in Noonmati of Assam on Tuesday evening, raising fears of a militant-attack in one of the most visible infrastructure landmark in Assam.
There was also a massive explosion but it was unclear whether the blast caused the fire or it came afterwards. Such was the intensity of the explosion that houses in a radius of 500 metres rattled and windowpanes shook.
The fire was first noticed at around 6.55 pm at the Tank No. 6, close to a pipe called the K-line through which waste products are transferred to the waste disposal unit. An official of the refinery said that the fire may have triggered the explosion inside the chamber.

Though there was no immediate confirmation, sources said that there could have been casualities as several workers were engaged closeby in building a new coke unit. Immediately after the fire started, militant outfit United Liberation Front of Assam’s anti talk faction’s spokesperson Arunudoi Dohotiya dashed off an e-mail to local media houses claiming responsibility for the explosion.
However, Guwahati Senior Superintendent of Police Apurba Jiban Barua debunked the ULFA claims saying that the refinery is too well protected for militants to enter. But a leader of the refinery employees’ union did say that they were not too happy with the security arrangements despite the visible manpower.
The fire was brought under control but not before several fire tenders fought for more than a couple of hours to douse the inferno. The first public sector refinery in the country run by the IOC, the vital installation is guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force.
Out of the around 450 CISF personnel engaged at the refinery, 150 are on duty at any given point of time, police said. Police also pointed out that a 12-feet high wall runs along the perimeter of the refinery besides CCTV cameras at all vital spots.
http://www.ndnewsexpress.com/2012/01/11/massive-fire-breaks-out-at-guwahati-refinery-18721

LIONESS ESCAPES FROM NANDANKANAN ZOO

Panic was triggered at NandanKanan zoological park in Bhubaneswar when a lioness successfully escaped from there after breaking the cage on Tuesday  morning. Acting swiftly in a bid to avert any untoward incident, the zoo authorities evacuated the visitors from the zoo premises.
Supriya, the lioness, on Tuesday  morning escaped from the enclosure no 29-B of the zoo.

“We were in the premises of the zoo but when the officials discovered the absence of lioness in her cage, we were asked to vacate the place,” said a tourist of the zoo.
Thousands of visitors were present there when it was discovered that the lioness was missing.  The jittery tourists had a difficult time evacuating the zoo on a rainy morning.
“We came here for picnic but the main gates were closed. We were told that the lioness went missing,” said another tourist.
The officials immediately conducted a search operation. Riding on elephants, zoo staffs care carrying out combing operation inside the zoo and in its proximity.
http://www.ndnewsexpress.com/2012/01/11/lioness-escapes-from-nandankanan-zoo-18727
The people of Bhubneswar and Cuttak cities are in panic following the incident and don’t want to move out of their homes.

OMAR ABDULLAH DOWNPLAYS RUSHDIE ROW

Terming the Salman Rushdie visit row is ‘Unnecessary’ Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah downplayed the entire row saying Rushdie’s issue is being hyped by political parties mere for their political millage ahead of assembly election.
‘It is not a first visit of Salman Rushdie to India 0as even before he came to India. This should not be made an issue, “Omar said while taking media.
Government has ruled out barring Salman Rushdie from visiting India in the wake of a noted Islamic seminary Deoband demand for cancellation of Rushdie’s visa even as the controversial author said he does not need a visa to come here.
Official sources have maintained 65-year-old Rushdie holds a PIO card which entitles him to visit the country without a visa.
Rushdie is not required to apply to any government authority to seek permission for his proposed visit to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival this month end.
http://www.ndnewsexpress.com/2012/01/11/omar-abdullah-downplays-rushdie-row-18732

SECURITY BEEFED UP FOR DIGHA BEACH FESTIVAL

A team of police personnel reached Digha today to take stock of security arrangements for the upcoming beach festival being organised with an aim to give fillip to tourism in West Bengal.
The Digha beach festival, to begin from January 13, is being organised by state tourism department in collaboration with Digha Sankarpur Development Authority.
The locals and residents are already in celebratory spirits even as the arrangements are being made for the four-day festival.

Various kinds of water sports including water-skiing, zorbing, para-sailing, snorkeling and beach sports are the main highlights of the festival.
Varied events would be organised along the 23 km stretch of Digha and Mandarmani.
A sea food festival and several concerts too would be held during the course of the festival which ends on January 16.
http://www.ndnewsexpress.com/2012/01/11/security-beefed-up-for-digha-beach-festival-18736