WORKAHOLIC INSPECTOR
Police sub-inspector Baljit Singh Rana speaks on his walkie-talkie outside his office in New Delhi yesterday. Rana, a policeman for 40 years, has not taken a day off from work in the past 14 years.
Indian sailors in Somali custody: government
An unspecified number of Indian sailors are being held by Somali pirates and their families have sought help from the government to free them, parliament was told yesterday. Defence Minister A K Antony said while no communication had come from the captive sailors, “requests for (their) release have been received from family members of the hostages.” He told the Lok Sabha that India has provided elaborate anti-piracy measures including naval escorts in the Gulf of Aden to meet the challenge of Somali pirates. India has deployed one warship in the Gulf of Aden since October 2008 and 2,254 merchant ships had been escorted, he said in a written statement.
Chandy’s website bags central govt award
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s official website www.keralacm.gov.in has grabbed the prestigious Web Ratna Gold Medal Award for promoting e-governance initiatives, an official said yesterday. Press Secretary P T Chacko and personal assistant to the chief minister Jogie George Jacob received the award from federal Minister for Communication and IT Kapil Sibal at a function in Delhi. This is the first time the award is coming to Kerala. Soon after he assumed office for the second time in May last year, Chandy began a round-the-clock live webcast of chief minister’s chamber and office on his official website. Among the other services offered are a 24x7 online grievance redressal cell for the public, the secretariat file tracking facility and vision 2030 idea box.
UP provided most soldiers, Pondicherry none
Uttar Pradesh provided the maximum number of 7,600 soldiers to the Indian Army in 2011-12 compared to none by Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Pondicherry, parliament was told yesterday. There was also no recruitment in this period from Dadra Nagar Haveli as well as Daman and Diu, Defence Minister A K Antony said in a statement in the Lok Sabha. According to the statement, Uttar Pradesh was followed by Maharashtra (5,312), Bihar (4,540), Punjab (3,751), Rajasthan (3,602), West Bengal (3,535), Andhra Pradesh (2,890), Madhya Pradesh (2,761), Uttarakhand (2,585) and Haryana (2,452). Chandigarh contributed just one soldier to the army in 2011-12. Among southern states, Andhra Pradesh was followed by Tamil Nadu (2,377), Kerala (2,077) and Karnataka (1,632).
Actor Dilip Kumar’s biography delayed
Thespian Dilip Kumar’s biography was due to be launched on his 90th birthday today, but it has been delayed, says wife Saira Banu. “We will not be launching his biography on his birthday as the book needs some polishing. His biography will look into what Dilip Kumar is. This book will not be filled with gossip, but it will be about his journey,” Banu said. The biography is based on Dilip Kumar’s narration to veteran film journalist Uday Tara Nayar. It is said to be a two-part book focusing on the actor’s nine-decade-long journey, his love story with Banu, some untold stories as well as rare pictures of the thespian and his family members.