February 23, 2006
Bhopal lab leads race to create bird flu vaccine
Colourized transmission electron micrograph of Avian influenza A H5N1 viruses (seen in gold). Image provided by CDC/C. Goldsmith, J. Katz, and S. Zaki.
NEW DELHI, adapted from a Times of India report
While the bird flu scare flies over the country, India's most important scientist in this crisis, the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory chief H K Pradhan will do Rs 8 crores worth of shopping in a bid to defeat the virus.
Pradhan, whose laboratory has tested samples from across the country and is the only facility to have isolated the H5N1 virus, is planning a 15-member expert team for a massive anti-bird flu programme.
His lab, part of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) network, is leading the race for a vaccine with the health ministry as one of the participants. Private players too may join in, as the industry bats for a Indian vaccine instead of an imported one.
Pradhan's shopping list includes automatic sequencing machines, ultra centrifuges to purify the virus, gelled doc systems to run DNA tests on H5N1 and ultra-electron microscopes to view it clearly.
"The money is for the development of vaccines, diagnostics and survey of variability if any," said ICAR director general Mangala Rai.
They will develop the first vaccine within six months, to be followed by DNA vaccines -- one of which will hit the H5 gene, with the other hitting the vector.
Tenders for automatic sequencing machines and ultra-centrifuges have been floated, and the equipment should be with the lab inside a month. Tenders for gelled doc systems will be floated soon.
Posted by bhola at 11:47 AM | Comments (0)
February 18, 2006
Dreaded dacoit Gulbadan Pandey killed in Bhopal
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
Bhopal, February 17, 2006
Dreaded dacoit Gulbadan Pandey and a member of his gang were shot dead in an encounter with police in Panna district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday, police said.
Acting on a tip-off, police personnel had surrounded the hideout of the dacoits in Kudar forest areas near Dharampur village since last night, according to Panna Superintendent of Police RK Marathe.
The dacoit gang opened fire at police who retaliated, killing the gang leader Gulbadan, who carried Rs 27,000 reward on his head and another dacoit Barelal Jadav this afternoon.
A rifle, a crude pistol and some cartridges were recovered from the site, police said adding that 14 criminal cases related to murder, dacoity, loot and abduction were pending against Gulbadan in Lanna and Satna districts and Danda in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
Posted by bhola at 08:44 AM | Comments (0)
February 16, 2006
Hindu activists arrested for harassing couples: youths made to do sit-ups and squats
Bhopal: Members of Hindu groups manhandled men and women and blackened their faces in Madhya Pradesh during protests against Valentine's Day Tuesday even as 35 activists were arrested.
Hindu organisations like the Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Shiv Sena had warned people, especially the youth, against celebrating the day, saying Valentine's Day was against Indian culture.
Activists of the organisations began vigils in several cities since morning, going around on two-wheelers to prevent couples from meeting in parks and restaurants.
But the presence of a large number of policemen at such places deterred them from harassing the couples.
However, with the police vigil relaxing as the day passed, the activists became more active.
In state capital Bhopal, a group of activists entered Kamla Park, a popular haunt with the young, and manhandled canoodling couples. The boys were made to do sit-ups and squats.
The activists also created a ruckus at a restaurant and a shop selling Valentine's Day cards.
In Satna district, activists rubbed grease on the face of a youth who was caught with a girl in a park.
Another youth from Indore city also faced the same ordeal for meeting his girlfriend in a park.
Police arrested 35 Bajrang Dal and VHP activists as a precautionary measure from a locality in Indore. The men were armed with hockey sticks and rods and intended to patrol the city to stop couples from celebrating the day.
Shiv Sena activists in Rajgarh district of central Madhya Pradesh damaged a garments shop that had offered a discount to mark Valentine's Day.
Posted by bhola at 12:06 AM | Comments (0)
February 13, 2006
Bajrang Dal vow to stop Valentine's Day celebrations in Bhopal
The Bajrang Dal's proposed design for a new Indian flag, as exhibited on their official website.
BHOPAL. Monday, 13 February, 2006
The Bajrang Dal organisation, which describes its mission as to protect the honour and interests of Hindus "in any manner," today ilstaged a vehicle rally in Bhopal vowing not to allow any Valentine Day celebrations and to frustrate the meeting of young hearts.
Hundreds of Bajrang Dal activists rode their bikes in procession while rending the air with slogans like “Bharatiya Sanskriti par Aakraman band karo” (Stop the attack on Indian culture).
The procession made its way through all the main thoroughfares of the city.
"We will oppose Valentine's Day tooth and nail because the concept has come from the West and through it an attempt is being made to spoil Indian culture," said Devendra Rawat, district convener, Bajrang Dal.
"Our teams will visit all hotels and restaurants and stop Valentine's Day celebrations. The teams will also visit parks frequented by boys and girls and while the guys would be handed over to the police, the dames would be taken to their parents who would be warned not to allow their daughter to move around with their partners", said Rawat.
Meanwhile, directions were issued for the deployment of police at hotels, restaurants and picnic spots across the state including the state capital in view of the warning issued by the Bajrang Dal and its allies.
SP Anant Kumar Singh told UNI that no one would be allowed to take law in his hands tomorrow. Around 500 police officers have been deployed at hotels, restaurants and other spots to maintain law and order.
Earlier in the morning, members of the Shiv Sena political party, which is ideologically allied to the Bajrang Dal, burnt the effigy of Saint Valentine and warned the boys and girls to keep away from any celebration of Valentine's Day or face the consequences.
“We will do whatever possible to stop the Valentine's Day celebrations, come what may”, said Shiv Sena leader Rajendra Gupta.
A week ago, Congress leader Jamuna Devi, after paying a visit to the Gospel Church of God where five Christians had been beaten up by men who gatecrashed a private prayer meeting, demanded that Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan "ban the RSS and Bajrang Dal".
Senior leaders of the state Congress committee alleged the Sangh Parivar offshoots are behind violent attacks on minorities at several places in the state.
Based on S Sanjay's piece on Sify.com, and reports from UNI and NewKerala.com.
Posted by bhola at 05:20 PM | Comments (0)
February 12, 2006
When two of Urdu poetry’s big guns fight, it’s all over Bhopal’s walls
Bashir Badra says Manzar Bhopali behind posters alleging he prayed for India's destruction, some say it's an intra-BJP fight
MILIND GHATWAI writing in The Indian Express
BHOPAL, FEBRUARY 9: When poets fight, they don't necessarily use poetic language. Renowned Urdu poet and chairman of Madhya Pradesh Urdu Academy Bashir Badra has accused poet Manzar Bhopali of printing posters that allege he (Badra) prayed for India's destruction at Mecca to avenge his sufferings in a communal riot.
A few posters pasted on the walls of the old city carry a picture of Badra and a message, "Inhone Hindustan ki barbadi ki dua mangi (he wished India's destruction)." The police have recorded statements of both the poets on a complaint from Badra who said Bhopali wanted to demean him in the eyes of both communities.
Both, incidentally, are members of the BJP and had earned the wrath of the Muslim community when they floated the Atal Behari Vajpayee Fan Club in 2004. A fatwa had been issued against Badra from Lucknow and Hyderabad. The two were together then but have now fallen out.
"He has lost his mental balance," fumed Bhopali, 46, about the senior poet, "I still hold him in high esteem." Bhopali told the police on Thursday that he was not in town when the posters sprang up. "I have no clue why he named me. All I know is he asked for help a fortnight ago but I could not back him."
Badra reportedly made the controversial confession before a group of poets when they were receiving mementos at a mushaira in Dubai in 1999. Badra's house in Meerut was burnt by a Hindu mob several years ago after which he moved to Bhopal and shot to prominence through his poetry that won him a Padmashri. The 'confession' has been referred to in the past and also included in an article in the recent issue of Panchjanya.
Badra claimed he hasn't travelled abroad in the last eight years and there have been conspiracies to defame him in the past too. "They want to take away my Padmashri," he complained.
Lucknow-based poet Munavvar Rana, who attended the Dubai mushaira, told The Indian Express over the phone that Badra did make the confession and was condemned by both Indian and Pakistani poets for not being loyal to his home country. Badra had visited Mecca about three weeks before the mushaira.
Badra had criticised Rana's poetry at a mushaira in Bhopal organised in November last year by the Madhya Pradesh government as part of its golden jubilee celebrations. Badra's effigies were burnt for showing disrespect to a guest and for bringing disrepute to the city known for its Urdu poets in the past. The public spat was witnessed by the governor and bureaucrats.
A few days later, Badra, in a television interview, remarked that he was an accomplished artist who could play the Satan, Adam and the prophet sparking off protests. Badra later claimed his remark was twisted.
Bhopali, who was convener of the All India Congress Committee's culture cell before switching loyalty to the BJP, said Badra was worried because his controversial interview has come to haunt him when the Muslims are protesting worldwide against the cartoons on the Prophet. Rana said Badra's allegation against Bhopali was a result of his frustration over not landing a bigger post in the BJP.
"He was hoping for a nomination to the Rajya Sabha but had to remain content with heading the Urdu Academy, a post he considers infradig," he said.
The posters bear an address: Tanvir Press, Lalbaug, Lucknow, the city where protests against Badra began when he floated the fan club and when he criticised Rana's poetry. Both Rana and Bhopali say they have nothing to do with the posters.
Inspector S L Pande of Talaiya Police Station said a case will be registered only if the police get evidence.
Posted by bhola at 08:26 AM | Comments (0)
Lalu to flag off India's fastest train this week
UNI. Sunday, February 12, 2006 09:44 IST
NEW DELHI: India's fastest train, that will run at a speed of 150 km per hour between Delhi and Agra thus reducing travel time to less than two hours, will be flagged off later this week by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad.
The New Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express will now run from the national capital to Agra at a speed of 150 km per hour, as against the earlier speed of 120 km per hour, a Northern Railway spokesman said. The speed of the train during the rest of the journey will, however, remain the same.
The flagging off of the train by the Railway Minister, which was earlier scheduled for February 10, has now been postponed to sometime later this week. Also expected to be present on the occasion are Union ministers Kapil Sibal, R Velu and Ajay Maken.
The increase in the speed of the train will reduce the travel time between New Delhi and Agra, from two hours and fifteen minutes at present, to less than two hours, the spokesperson said.
Successful trials of the New Delhi-Bhopal Satabadi on the 198-km stretch between Delhi and Agra have been going on for the last few months. The improved new electric locomotive and modern coaches have been tested for all parameters during the trials.
The track has been strengthened and technical upgrading of traction and signalling mechanism has been carried out to ensure a safe and comfortable ride for the passengers. The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has given his clearance for the run.
In the entire section that falls under two zonal railways -Northern Railway and North Central Railway-concrete walls have been put up and fencing done at stretches along the track to avert trespassing by people or stray cattle.
The braking system has also been upgraded to forestall any eventuality.
For the first time, the modern high speed locomotive WAP 5 would be used by the Indian Railways. In addition, state-of-the-art coaches like the German ones used on the Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi would be attached to the super-fast train to provide comfort and luxury to passengers.
Railway officials say, the super-fast train will boost tourism in Agra - the city of the Taj. It would also pave the way for other trains to run.
Posted by bhola at 08:24 AM | Comments (0)