Page 1:Layout 1 5/31/2010 1:23 AM Page 1
O HERALD O Visit us at: www.oheraldo.in
India: Sarah looks to cement ties with Bollywood Pg 9 A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it. -- George Moore
IN BRIEF Sri Sri escapes attack on life The Art-of-Living guru Sri Sri Ravishankar escapes an assassination bid as an unidentified person fired at his convoy while he was leaving a public satsang (discourse) here on Sunday evening. According to the AOL spokesperson, the bullet was fired from a close range in which one of the disciples was injured. – (Agencies)
I-T scrutiny on poll candidates The Income Tax Department has started scrutiny of the assets and expenditure details furnished to the Election Commission by the candidates and MPs who fought Lok Sabha polls last year. The Election Commission (EC) has recently informed the department to take “appropriate action” with regard to the financial details furnished by the candidates after it finished uploading the affidavits from all the states and Union Territories (UTs) on its official website. – ( PTI)
Soren resigns as CM Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren resigned on Sunday night after failing to muster enough support for his government in a test of strength in the Assembly on Monday. Soren gave his resignation letter to Governor M O H Farooq, said his son Hemant Soren in Ranchi. —(Agencies)
The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, monDaY, maY 31, 2010
Business: Venice-like tourist city coming up in China Pg 12
pRiCE Rs. 3.00 (air Surcharge Rs. 1.50) pages 18
Sports: Mary Kom, Sarita strike gold Pg 18
15 DAYS AFTER CONSUMING RATOL...
Impersonator in police net
Loutolim woman dies in Chennai
HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 30
NGOs smell a rat, demand probe HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MAY 30
Nearly a fortnight after she consumed Ratol, the woman from Loutolim – Nadia Torreado - died at a Chennai hospital late Saturday night. Following her death, women’s organizations have asked the government to conduct a thorough probe into the woman’s death. Suspecting murder behind the death of the woman, Savera President Tara Kerkar has asked the government to make public the inquiry report within two days or face women’s power. Confirming the woman’s death, Superintendent of Police, South Allan De Sa said the woman breathed her last at the Chennai hospital late Saturday night. Investigating officer, PI Raju Raut Desai informed that the woman expired at around 11.30 last night at the Chennai hospital. He said the post mortem examination will take place on Monday, adding that PSI Suraj Samant, who was camping in Chennai for the last two days, is conducting inquiry into the death. The woman was rushed to a city-based hospital here on May 15 after she consumed Ratol. From Margao, she was immediately rushed to a Thana-based hospital the same day, where
LIFE-AND-DEATH l
l
l
Nadia Torreado, a woman from Loutolim, was rushed to a Margao hospital on May 15 after she consumed Ratol. Her condition worsened and she was immediately rushed to a Thana-based hospital the same day and was kept in Intensive Care Unit. Subsequently, she was shifted to a Chennai-based hospital where she succumbed late Saturday night.
Rs 1 lakh withdrawals at ATMs soon
Goan student creates history Secures 11th rank at AIEEE
The Maina Curtorim police had registered a case against the woman for the attempt to
Bank customers can soon withdraw up to Rs 1 lakh in a single day from ATM machines, and can shop for even an higher amount of Rs 1.25 lakh with their debit cards. Further, as much as Rs 3 lakh can be transferred in a day to another account through ATMs and also over the phone. The enhanced limits for ATM withdrawals, debit card swiping and fund transfers would save the consumers from running to bank branches, that too within banking hours, for such large transactions. Currently, the maximum the customers of most of the banks can withdraw through ATMs is Rs 50,000 in a day. While HDFC Bank is allowing these enhanced banking limits
(Continued on page 10)
(Continued on page 10)
Police search house HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MAY 30
In a late night development, the police conducted a search of the house of the deceased woman at Loutolim to lay their hands on incriminating items, even as the mother and brother of the deceased woman returned home from Chennai this evening. South Goa Superintendent of Police, Allan De Sa said the search is being conducted by a police team comprising of PI Raju Raut Desai, PI Santosh Desai and other personnel of the Goa police. The SP said the mother of she was admitted in the ICU, before she was shifted to a Chennai based hospital earlier this week.
the deceased woman has returned home this evening and added that the police are conducting the search of the house for any incriminating documents. “The search of the Loutolim house of the deceased woman is continuing. If required Maina Curtorim PI Sidhant Shirodkar will join the team to conduct the search of the premises”, he added. Replying to a question, he said the police are investigating into the case and will record the statements of all concerned connected with the case.
China to address trade imbalance with India PTI SHANGHAI, MAY 30
India today secured an assurance from China that it will “seriously” address the unviable trade imbalance that gives it a USD 16 billion surplus, even as it opened for the first time its market for Indian agricultural produce by allowing the maiden commercial consignment of mangoes. The assurance has been conveyed to President Pratibha Patil by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and was reiterated in this commercial capital of China by the Shanghai Municipal Communist Party Secretary Yu Zhengsheng, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters at the conclusion of the Indian leader’s discussions with the Chinese leadership. Rao said Wen, whom Patil had met in Beijing, had told he would “seriously” look into the trade imbalance issue and Yu today said addressing trade balance was part of their long-term strategy. During her talks with her Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao and Wen, Patil, the first Indian Head
President Pratibha Patil unveiling the statue of Rabindranath Tagore at Mao Ming Road, in Shanghai on Sunday.
of State to visit China in a decade, had sought access to Indian pharmaceutical industry, IT and engineering companies. In 2009, the trade imbalance tilted heavily against India. China enjoyed trade surplus of USD 16 billion out of the total USD 44 billion bilateral trade and its exports to India nearly touched USD 30 billion last year. “...They have assured us that it is something they take very seriously and they understand that it unviable to sustain such
People watching at the remains of the burnt bus at Challakere in Chitradurga, Karnataka. At least 30 people, including 10 children were charred to death, when the bus fell into a roadside pit and caught fire.
trade imbalance in medium-term and long-term,” Rao said. On the penultimate day of the 6-day State visit, Patil visited the India pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010, which has the world’s biggest bamboo dome, as a “unique example” of SinoIndia harmony. She pitched for green technologies to ensure “good life” in cities and said the pavilion, which was built jointly by Indians and Chinese, was a “unique example of the harmony” between the two countries.
PTI NEW DELHI, MAY 30
Two drown off Velsao beach HERALD REPORTER VASCO, MAY 30
Two youth from Upasnagar-Sancoale drowned, while another youth was rescued from drowning at Velsao beach on Sunday afternoon. According to Verna police, Nitesh Salaskar (23) alias Balesh and Ilyhas Ahmed Khatif met water y grave, while Vithal Rathod was rescued from drowning. Police said the deceased along with their two other friends had gone for a picnic at Velsao beach. “Khatif, Salaskar and Rathod ventured into the sea for swimming and all the three got drowned, since Rathod knew swimming he managed to come out and alert the lifeguards,” said the police. Acting swiftly, lifeguards rescued Ahmed and simultaneously Salaskar was also fished out, but it was too late as both had inhaled a lot of water, police said. In the meantime, lifeguards alerted the ambulance and both were rushed to Hospicio at Margao, but they were declared brought-in dead. A group of picnickers from (Continued on page 10)
Tobacco – the chemical killer BY RUI DA GAMA
All beginner cigarette smokers, gutka or pan eaters and others using tobacco, have a good feeling in the beginning, least realizing the deception which can handicap their health and cost them their lives, besides causing suffering to others who are physically close to them. Like we all are born small and grow big, so also the smoker or user starts smoking a few cigarettes or has few bites of the tobacco and gradually gets addicted to it. We all know that tobacco contains a substance called ‘nicotine’ which is a poisonous chemical causing many health hazards such as cancer, respiratory disease and others related to it which can be certified by medical profession. And more so, it is a mind altering substance which controls all our thinking and reasoning, rendering the smoker or user to be to-
tally dependant on it. The dependency is so strong, that for everything and anything the smokers’ or users’ mind calls for a cigarette, gutka, pan, etc depending on the substance one has been using as a dependency. Whether in love, victory, work, relationship, problems, stress, public excitement, bathroom, digestion or even if neighbors Cat has fallen in the well, the Addicted person will go for the cigarette, gutka, pan, or any other tobacco which he or she is dependant on. The medical science and the medical profession will certify
that cigarette smoking or chewing gutka, pan, etc, is a slow death due to tobacco related diseases. The dependency on tobacco is mind altering substance which is related to the mental and emotion health of the individual who is addicted to it. And there are millions in India and thousands in Goa who are addicted to all types of Tobacco. And today there are voluntary organization in India who have conducted surveys and can disclose the number of deaths taking place in India and illness being treated due to tobacco related diseases. There are some important reasons for many individuals to start smoking, chewing pan, gutka, etc. Prestige smoking is only a part of the reason when an youth starts Smoking, chewing tobacco anytime between the age of ten years onwards. Whereas some men and women can start smoking and using to-
bacco even in the later years of their life, depending on the level of stress and their capacity to m a n a g e t h e i r s t re s s . T h e chances of Youth / Children ( both boys & girls ) smoking and using tobacco are more when any or both of the parents are addicted to tobacco. It is important to note that Tobacco addiction lead to other related addictions/unhealthy habits such as drinking alcohol, gambling, nightlife, difficulty in relationship effecting marriage and family life, depression, nervousness, etc. It is needless to mention that there are no perfect parents neither any perfect families. As our Children and Youth are growing, they too go through some pain and stress in their teenage life. However, if we create good habits of living a health family life, we and our children can fall back on these healthy habits to cope with our stresses (Continued on page 10)
HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 30
Saish Kapadi, a native of Bicholim and student of Mushtifund Higher Secondary School, here, made Goa proud by getting the State into history books by becoming the 11th ranker at the national-level All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE). The results announced on Sunday morning were eventful as Kapadi achieved the 11th rank out of the 11 lakh students who answered the exam nationwide for the 10,000 seats in the National Institutes of Technology and other institutions where engineering courses are offered. Till date, the best standing at
this exam by a Goan is 79 in 2008. Kapadi’s 11th rank is the best feat ever by a Goan and makes him a sure contender at the NIT Goa which begins classes on July 20, 2010. Besides, the 11th rank Goa had other positions at the exam. Neeraj Borker (190), Bhargav Joshi (4994), Nikhil Tavora (6089), Nikhil Sahakari (6830), Sahil Sareen (8315), Athul Harilal (8881), Ganpati Bhat (9163), Antarisha Dicholkar (11482) and Amit Prabhu (11541) are some of the rankers. Kapadi, a native of Bicholim, had also topped the Goa Common Entrance Test (GCET) 2010 in physics by scoring 67 marks. (Continued on page 10)
A man impersonating himself as a major created a scene at the Army Camp in Altinho and eventually landed at the Panjim Police Station and then to the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour at Bambolim. Police said Sanjay Chabra, 36, from Delhi, who managed to sneak into the camp on Friday at around 4.30 pm impersonating himself as Major Sandeep Mehra, was treated for depression after his arrest. He was discharged and later remanded to judicial custody, they informed. Police said after sneaking in to the camp the impersonator entered a brigadier ’s residence and created a ruckus after which the army personnel caught him and handed him over to police. “We arrested him for trespass and impersonation and have sought more details regarding his antecedents,” police stated.
Trains are being derailed by Maoists, planes being sabotaged by terrorists, ships being hijacked by pirates, buses being looted by dacoits. Do you have any other mode of transport?
Experts to study impact of mobiles on humans PTI NEW DELHI, MAY 30
How does cell phone use or proximity to cellular transmission tower impact a woman’s menstrual cycle or a man’s sperm count, their sleep pattern or general behaviour? These are some of the questions to which the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is seeking answers. “Cell towers and cell phones when in use emit large quantities of radio frequency radiation, exposure to which is not good for health,” says Dr M V Katoch, DG, ICMR citing the reason for beginning the investigation here.
“Excessive usage of cell phones or living close to a cell phone tower has been shown to have an adverse effect on women’s reproductive and neurological health according to data generated by studies in other countries. We want to examine if the same is true for the Indian population,” he says.
Different departments of AIIMS have been roped in to conduct a study on health hazards due to excessive use of cell phones. “The study began on May 15 and the departments of neurology, obstetrics and gynaecology have been asked to investigate the health hazards of excessive cell phone use,” Dr R S Sharma, DDG, division of reproductive health and nutrition, ICMR said. Radio frequency radiation from cellular towers was, he said, “an invisible threat. We have asked JNU to study the physical characteristics of cell towers in Delhi.”