SONEPAT: Honour killings in Haryana claimed two more lives as the brother of a 16-year-old girl strangled her to death for being involved with a boy of the same village, on Thursday. A day after the girl was killed, the boy committed suicide in school. Rakesh Kashyap, 18, was found hanging from a tree in his school in Bhainswal village of Sonepat district. On Thursday, police said they arrested Ravi Kashyap for killing his younger sister Usha and produced him before a judge who sent him to judicial custody. Ravi confessed to the crime, saying he flew into a rage on seeing his sister and Rakesh in a compromising position, a police officer said. The girl's father, Subhash Kashyap, told cops that on Wednesday, he found his daughter's room bolted from the inside when he came back from the fields. He broke open the door to find his son standing next to the girl's body. Whether it's the khaps or feudal patriarchy, Haryana's violent social order claims scores of lives every year. Earlier this month, a Karnal court gave the death sentence to five members of a khap panchayat for killing a couple --Manoj and Babli-- who were accused of transgressing norms by marrying within the gotra or lineage.
DORNAPAL (CHHATTISGARH): For six years, the government has cried hoarse about Maoists being the single biggest security threat to India. Yet, the Indian state is sending its footsoldiers into battle on an empty stomach, without adequate drinking water and medical facilities. CRPF men on the frontline of the war against Maoists in the dense jungles say the Red combatants are just one of the threats they face. Jawans of 62nd battalion of CRPF holed up in the Chintalnar camp -- near the site of Tuesday's ambush that left 76 men dead -- say they can defend themselves against another Maoist attack but are defenceless against malaria and poisonous reptiles. Conditions aren't any better at the other camps, jawans said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Several jawans claimed patrolling parties often go without enough food. "We are also fighting in the anti-insurgency mode. Army soldiers get dry fruits and other eatables in sufficient quantity during operations. We have to fight on empty stomach and dry throats. Our jawans need food that matches the task at hand," said a CRPF jawan. "Malaria is one of the biggest challenges of living here. People frequently fall sick. Some of us have to proceed on sick leave. What has made matters worse is the non-availability of medical facilities," said one CRPF jawan staying in the camp. "Forget qualified doctors, there are not even decent medicine shops. The local doctors would prescribe the same regular medicines for disease. The nearest hospitals are some distance away. This is not only our plight but of everyone posted or deployed in remote jungle camps," he said. Apart from lack of medical assistance, jawans also complained of poisonous insects and snakes. "At night, you are not sure of what may bite or sting you. Forget patrolling, one is not safe even in camps," said a CRPF constable. "If a snake or something as poisonous bites a victim, there may not be a chance to save him," he added. Scarcity of water is another issue plaguing the personnel at the camps and while there may be a few pumps, these are often rendered useless in the absence of electricity. "Water is a big problem here. We have no clue how to manage in this place where we have to work under constant threat and high daytime temperatures," said a jawan. He said jawans on active patrol have to go without potable water at times. "There is no surety we would get drinking water. Sometimes we have to drink water from the same pond that animals use to quench their thirst. The unhygienic living conditions are leading to diseases and many personnel are falling sick," he said. "There is no pat on the back for a good job done but always some kind of harassment in the name of discipline," said a jawan. While it is easy for politicians to issue war cries far from the battleground, those on the ground say they are ill-equipped to fight under the conditions they have to. "We are losing lives in a battle that can be sorted out. There are many ways in which our force can be better utilized," said the jawan.
Director Shankar, who has finished the shooting of his Rajni-Aishwarya Rai starrer ‘Enthiran: The Robot’ and is involved in the post-production work of the film, has opined that the sincere and earnest efforts to make quality films always pay rich dividends to the producer and the director concerned. Shankar was speaking at the audio-launch of the film ‘Madarasapattinam’ which was held on the other day in the city. “From my experience, I can vouch for the fact that people are always ready to accept films which possess certain quality about them…no effort made with care and dedication would go in vain. “Cinema has been undergoing many physical and technological changes…the people are eagerly observing the goings-on in the film industry; nothing happens here without their being aware of it. I can see that many upcoming producers and directors in Kollywood are yearning and trying their best to create quality films and artistes who are ready to take up new challenges,” said Shankar. The ace director also noted with satisfaction that there has been a discernible quality tangible in the music of G.V. Prakash Kumar, a trait he appears to have picked up from his Uncle A.R. Rahman. The audio cassettes and CDs of the Aarya-Amy Jackson starrer ‘Madarasapattinam’ was released by Kamal Haasan.
