Swiss woman rape case: MP court sentences 6 accused to life term

Jul 20,  5:23 PM In Madhya Pradesh, a special court of Datia today sentenced six accused of Swiss woman rape case to life imprisonment. The court has also imposed a fine of ten thousand each on Bhoota, Brijesh, Rampro, Vishu, Baba and Nitin. A Swiss woman was gang-raped by six men in Datia district on 15th March this year. The woman was cycling along with her husband from Orchha to Agra. The couple was camping near Jhadia village when the accused looted them and raped the woman. Flood situation remains grim in Andhra Jul 20,  7:28 PM In Andhra Pradesh, flood situation is still grim even as Godavari River began receding in North Telangana districts. Over two hundred villages are still marooned due to incessant rains that are lashing several parts of the state. Though Godavari is receding, the rivulets and streams are in spate posing threat to several island villages down stream as about 14 lakh cusecs of flood water is being released into sea. Meanwhile, relief works are underway on war-footing in 9 rain affected districts. Two Indian Air Force helicopters have been pressed into service to provide relief material like food and drinking water to the affected areas. Road and communication links of several villages in Andhra Pradesh have been cut off due to overflowing streams and tanks. Several long distance trains that travel through the state are running late due to diversions in other states. Irrigation and revenue officials are continuously monitoring the flood situation in an effort to tackle any eventuality. People from low laying areas are being evacuated even as about 15 thousand people are taking shelter in 74 relief camps set up at various districts. A total eight teams of the National Disaster Response Teams have been kept at affected districts including Khammam, Karimnagar, Warangal and Adilabad to carry out rescue and relief operations in case of need. Meanwhile, the State Election Commission has announced that it will postpone Panchayat polls in affected areas in case of need. The first phase of polling is scheduled to be held on next Tuesday. Heavy rainfall lash National Capital, major roads flooded Jul 20,  5:26 PM Heavy rainfall lashed the National Capital today, flooding almost all important roads in the city. Traffic snarls were reported in almost all areas of the city due to waterlogging as well as non-functional traffic signals. There were also reports of water logging in the arrival lane at Indira Gandhi International Airport and flooding at some of the metro stations. The Weatherman said that a total of 105 mm of rain has been recorded between 11:30 am till 2:30 pm. The Met office has predicted the rain to continue in the next 24 hours. AIR Correspondent reports, though rain gave the much needed relief to the delhiites from humid and muggy weather, major traffic jams were witnessed at key intersections ITO, Ring Road, Mathura Road and Dhaulan Kuan. The roads around Parliament were also waterlogged. Commuters had a hard time navigating the roads as visibility also dropped. Pedestrians were seen wading through streets flooded by overflowing drains. Commuters were stuck at metro stations and bus stops waiting for the showers to subside. WB: CPI-M submits memo to State EC on panchayat polls Jul 20,  5:45 PM In West Bengal, the opposition CPI(M) today submitted a memorandum to the State Election Commission alleging inadequate deployment of central forces in three West Bengal districts for the third phase of the panchayat elections. CPI(M) state committee member Robin Deb said after submitting the memorandum that that his party has urged the commission to be more cautious in force deployment and in monitoring the peaceful holding of panchayat polls in the next two phases. He said, deployment of central force in North, South 24 Parganas and Howrah districts yesterday was inadequate and the polls were marked by violence that left five persons dead. Heavy rains affect life in HP Jul 20,  5:40 PM In Himachal Pradesh, heavy rains lashed almost all parts of the state including capital Shimla in the day today affecting the normal life badly. This heavy rain has resulted in increasing the water level of various rivers and their tributaries. Several link roads in the far flung areas of the state remained closed for vehicular traffic due to landslides while water and power supply also disrupted in various parts. The met office has warned heavy to very heavy rain during next 24 hours. In Sirmour district the continuous rain caused huge loss to property and crops in several parts including the district headquarter Nahan where rain water damage valuable households and other property. Administration saved nearly twenty people marooned in the flood water in Gulabgarh near Paonta. The National Highway to Dehradoon blocked at several places.HighwayH The water level in the Beas, Sutlej and Yamuna is on rising continuously. The authorities have sounded an alert for people residing near the banks of these rivers. Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil sworn in as new Governor of Sikkim Jul 20,  6:59 PM In Sikkim, the veteran Parliamentarian Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil has sworn in as the new Governor of State. The Chief Justice, Sikkim High Court, Justice Pius C Kuriakose has administered the oath of office and secrecy in a function held in Gangtok today. A former Indian Administrative Service officer Mr. Patil has represented Maharashtra's Satara in the Lok Sabha as an MP. He replaced incumbent Balmiki Prasad Singh. The Union State Minister, Tariq Anwar, the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling and other state dignitaries were among those who attended the function. Rainfall, good storage gives boost to agri activities in K’taka Jul 20,  4:7 PM In Karnataka copious rainfall and good storage in reservoirs has given fillip to agricultural activities. The sources in the agriculture department in the state say that out of 74 lakh hectares, sowing is over in 30 lakh hectares. During the current year Cooperative banks have granted short term loan of over 2504 crore rupees to over four lakh seventyeight thousand farmers. The raitha Samparka Kendras of Agriculture department and seed supplying agencies have supplied three lakh 58 thousand quintals of subsidised seeds to farmers. The state needs a total of 10 lakh 65 quintals of seeds for the Kharif season. It also needs 23 lakh 40 thousand tonnes of fertilisers and at present the state has stored over six lakh 59 thousand of different fertilisers. Government of India has allocated 12.22 lakh tonnes of fertiliser to the state. The State government provides 50 to 90 percent subsidy for buying equipments needed for land preparation, sowing and planting, cultivation, harvesting and threshing and agro processing under Farm Mechanisation scheme.