India's First private DNA forensics lab

11:07 AM

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technology news

Global biotechnology company Life Technologies has launched India’s first private DNA forensics laboratory here, which is expected to accelerate sampling process and thereby reduce the burden on existing forensic laboratories.

“Life Technologies DNA Forensics Laboratory will reduce the burden on the existing forensic system and address the requirements of DNA database generation for unidentified dead bodies or other crime investigations,” said Devashish Ohri, Managing Director of Life Technologies South Asia.

Currently, there are 28 laboratories for forensic DNA investigation and testing in the country. But many of them are overburdened with cases and have sample backlogs.

Till the beginning of 2013, there was a backlog of 862 crime cases in the DNA division of the Delhi State Forensic Science Laboratory alone, Mr. Ohri said, adding that for India’s size and population, the number of labs should ideally be about 400.

The lab here is equipped with advanced DNA testing systems and will facilitate a broad range of DNA testing including paternity testing, kinship testing, DNA profiling for database generation, and forensic DNA analysis.

Nadia Altomare, Vice President and General Manager for Life Technologies Human Identification Business, said: “DNA technology has widely been accepted as the most effective crime fighting tool among law enforcement agencies for a variety of applications, including sexual assault, missing persons and disaster victim identification. It’s also the primary technology used for performing paternity and kinship testing.”

The Life Forensics Laboratory will meet international standards for DNA testing.

“The opening of a laboratory shows strong commitment by Life Technologies to partner with Government agencies in this vital area. I am sure this lab would bring more efficiency and improve the available forensic capabilities.” said Dr. J.R Gaur, Principal Scientific Officer (Life Science) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, and former Director of State Forensic Science Laboratory.

Mr. Ohri added, “We are looking forward to partnering with the State and Central Government laboratories to assist in the establishment of a DNA database project.”

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SC dismissed PIL into the IPL spot fixing scam

8:47 AM

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sports news

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a public interest writ petition seeking a CBI probe into the IPL spot fixing scam involving bookies, players and others.

A Bench of Justices B.S. Chauhan and S.A. Bobde dismissed the PIL plea filed by Sharmila Ghuge, a professor of law from Mumbai and asked her to approach the High Court concerned seeking similar relief.

‘CROSSED ALL LIMITS’

The petitioner said as far as the Sixth Version of Indian Premier League (2013) was concerned, it had crossed all limits in relation to the controversies and the greed of the players.

She said that though the allegations related to betting, spot fixing and match fixing, which would attract only the provisions of the Gambling Act, the repercussions of the crime were gigantic for society at large.

She said both the Mumbai and Delhi Police had registered different cases of spot fixing, match fixing and betting in relation to the recently concluded IPL.

‘PROPER SECTIONS NOT APPLIED’

“Although the allegations are very serious in nature, from newspaper reports it seems the investigating agencies have not booked the accused by applying proper sections/provisions of law.

“Nor do they appear to be following proper legal steps to ensure that the culprits are suitably punished. Further, there appears to be no co-ordination among the investigating agencies, which is bound to benefit the wrong-doers.”

‘HIGH INFLUENCE’

She alleged that the Mumbai and Delhi police, along with some politicians and other influential persons, were colluding to save the real culpri

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Bihar issues ad, wants principal to taste meals before feeding children

11:32 AM

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scam news

The Bihar education department has issued an advertisement in prominent newspapers today reiterating that the school principal and the cook should taste the food prepared under the midday meal scheme before serving it to children.

 Bihar issues ad, wants principal to taste meals before feeding children

The advertisement also states that insecticides and food ingredients should not be stored together as it could contaminate the food.

9. 15 am: Midday meal cooked in an insecticide container?

The midday meals fed to children in Saran district of Bihar were cooked in a container used to store insecticides, the Hindustan Times reported.

The report quotes a student as saying that the cook, now deceased, refused to use the container but was made to by the headmistress, Meena Devi.

Devi has been suspended and an FIR has been filed against her.

9. 00 am: ‘Nitish, Sahi should take responsibility and resign’

Former Bihar cabinet secretary TSR Subramanian has demanded that Bihar Education Minister PK Sahi and CM Nitish Kumar step down over the midday meal horror.

“I think the time has come, that instead of ministers talking through their hats before inquiries, they should now take responsibility and resign, saying that in my state 22 children have died, I should take responsibility,” Subramanian told CNN-IBN.

Updates for 17 July end

21.27 pm: 23 including cook dead after consuming midday meal

With 12 more children dying, the number killed by contaminated mid-day meals served in a school in Bihar rose on Wednesday to 23 including a cook, authorities said.

The deaths have triggered a war of words between the Nitish Kumar government, which blamed the supplier of foods for the tragedy, and an aggressive opposition including the estranged ally BJP.

IANS

9.19 pm: NHRC sends notice to govt, police over midday meal

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Bihar government as well as the state police over the death of 23 school children who consumed contaminated midday meal, an official said Wednesday.

Taking suo-motu cognizance of media reports, the commission has given four weeks time to the officials to submit reports, he said.

“The commission has observed that the contents of the press reports, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of rights to food of the deceased,” said the NHRC official in a statement.

“(we have) issued notices to the principal secretary (education), government of Bihar, and superintendent of police, Saran, calling for reports in the matter within four weeks,” the statement said.

IANS

7. 22 pm: 31 kids hospitalised in Dhule, lizard found in mid day meal

While the midday meal tragedy in Bihar saw protests in Chapra, another shocker was reported from Maharashtra’s Dhule. Around 31 children were admitted to hospital after consuming mid day meal. Reports suggest that a lizard was found in the meal.

5.15 pm: Bihar Education Minister says school principal was close to prominent political party member

Bihar Education Minister PK Shahi is holding a press conference. According to him, the principal Meena Kumari was transferred to the Chhapra school under political pressure. Her husband is a member of a political party and the ingredients for midday meal used to be provided by him, says Shahi.

‘The cook complained to Meena Kumari about the cooking oil,’ said Shahi, ‘Don’t think it’s a coincidence that the teacher’s husband, with political ties, supplies grocery to the school.’ The male members of Kumari’s family are absconding.

Shahi also said that the children were poisoned. ‘Doctors have said the odour from the children’s vomit proves that there was organic phosphorus in the mid-day meal,’ he said. The teacher did not eat the food that was poisoned, according to Shahi

Bihar’s Education Minister has also criticised the media’s role in the tragedy saying that the media was insensitive towards the parents.

4. 00 pm: 15 children faint after consuming midday meals in another school

In a separate incident, fifteen children fainted after consuming midday meals at a school in Madhubani district of Bihar. Two of them are critical and doctors have rushed to the site. According to CNN-IBN, there was a lizard found in the food. The children have been rushed to a local hospital.

Meanwhile, the principal of the school in Chhapra district has been suspended and an FIR has been filed against her.

3. 30 pm: This food has turned killer, says mother of victims

A woman whose two sons were among the 22 children who died after they ate midday meals at their school in Bihar’s Saran district was left inconsolable.

“This food has turned killer. We did not know that when our children go to school then we will get to see their dead faces (sic),” lamented the mother who lost her two sons – Prahlad and Rahul  -  in the tragedy. – IANS

A man mourns as he holds his dead daughter in Patna Medical College and Hospital. PTIA man mourns as he holds his dead daughter in Patna Medical College and Hospital. PTI
3. 20 pm: Another child dies, death toll rises to 22

The death toll in the Bihar midday meal incident has risen to 22. Among the dead were two children of a woman cook of the mid-day meal project Panno Devi.

Three children of another woman cook Manju Devi are under treatment at PMCH along with her.

2. 10 pm: Protests outside government office in Patna

Protesters carrying banners of the NSUI and Left protested outside a government office in Patna.

Television channels also showed footage of protesters vandalising a government office and raising slogans against the state government. It wasn’t clear who was responsible for vandalising the premises.

1. 00 pm: One more child dies, death toll now at 21

The death toll in the midday meal poisoning incident has risen to 21. Ten more children are battling for their lives, officials said, as the tragedy triggered protests.

Amarjeet Singh, principal secretary, education, confirmed the toll and said he suspected the deaths occurred by organo phosphorous poisoning caused by traces of insecticides. The twenty dead children have been buried near the school. - IANS

11. 30 am: Govt will take action against those responsible, says Yadav

JDU-U Chief Sharad Yadav has said strict action will be taken against those responsible for the death of 20 children. “The government will do all in its capacity.. we are investigating whether there was something wrong in the material supplied,” he said.

10. 35 am: This is a case of poisoning, not food contamination, says Bihar minister

Bihar Education Minister PK Shahi on Wednesday claimed that the incident was a case of ‘direct poisoning’ and not contamination. Speaking to CNN-IBN, the minister said it was a strong dosage of poison. “Investigations will reveal whether it was accidental or intentional.. our first priority is to save as many lives as we can,” Shahi said, adding that food poisoning would lead to diahorrea but in this case the children started dying immediately.

10. 20 am: Forensic report will be out by evening, says Pallam Raju

Minister for Human Resource Development MM Pallam Raju said the government has taken serious note of the incident and hoped others would exercise more caution. “Saddened to know about yesterday’s incident.. the Additional Secretary who looks after midday meal program is already in Bihar,” he said.

“This is an example where we should exercise more caution.. hope others will pick up from this.. we are waiting for the forensic report which will be out later today and we will know the reason then,” the minister further said.

10. 05 am: BJP attacks Nitish, says administration at fault

The BJP was quick to attack the JD-U government saying Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was ‘monetising’ the death of the children. “Is Rs 2 lakh the value of a human life for the CM? This has occured due to the callous attitude of the administration,” BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

9. 57 am: Protesters outside DM’s residence disperse

Villagers who were protesting outside the residence of the Chhapra District Magistrate’s residence have started dispersing from the site. This, after the state police started detaining those indulging in violence.

Buses were set afire and public property damaged as people took to the streets in protest.

9. 45 am: 27, including cook, critically ill

Twenty seven people, including the woman cook, are seriously ill and have been shifted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Principal Secretary Education Department Amarjit Sinha told PTI.

9. 05 am: Midday meal contained phosphorous?

PK Shahi, the state education minister, said a preliminary investigation suggests the food had traces of phosphorous, which is used to preserve rice and wheat, the Associated Press reported.

9. 00 am: Protests outside District Magistrates house

Violent protests were reported from outside the District Magistrates house in Chhapra district of Bihar. Protesters went on a rampage and demanded action against school and government authorities.

8. 30 am: Death toll rises to 20
Reports coming in this morning have said that the death toll has risen to 20.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those who have died.

Violent protests have broken out in Chhapra, Bihar, where 20 children have died after consuming contaminated midday meals in their schools.

Television visuals showed crowds of people armed with sticks and poles attacking public property and setting a bus on fire. The RJD, in whose constituency Chapra falls, called for a bandh on Tuesday.

Bihar_middaymealThe toll of children who fell ill after having mid-day meal at a state-run primary school in Bihar’s Saran district, rose to 20 on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a high level inquiry into the incident, sources in the CMO said, adding that a Forensic Science Laboratory team will assist in the probe, which will be conducted jointly by the Saran Divisional Commissioner and DIG.

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Bihar : Death toll rose to 20 mid-day meal horror

10:34 AM

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scam news

Death toll of children who fell ill after having mid-day meal at a state-run primary school in Bihar's Saran district, rose to 20 on Wednesday.

Confirming the deaths, Principal Secretary, education, Amarjeet Sinha said that he suspected the deaths occurred by organo phosphorous poisoning caused due to traces of insecticides.

In past, dead lizards, frogs, insects and a rat were found in the food cooked for the mid-day meal, angering students and parents.

Bihar  : Death toll  rose to 20 mid-day meal horror

Latest development on this big story:

* Violent protests have erupted in Chhapra. People armed with sticks and rods set blaze a bus and damaged public property.

* 27 children are undergoing treatment at Patna Medical College And Hospital. They are admitted to hospital after consuming mid-day meal served to them at a government primary school in Dahrmasati village at Mashrakh block, about 25 Kms from Chhapra.

* Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has also announced a compensation of two lakh rupees each to the families of the deceased. Union Human Resource Development Ministry has sent a senior official to Chhapra to take stock of the situation.

* PK Sahi, the state education minister, said a preliminary investigation suggests the food had traces of phosphorous, which is used to preserve rice and wheat.

* RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav who represents Chhapra Parliamentary Constituency, said: “it is shameful that rotten food was served to children. There is no responsible governance in Bihar anymore”

* "We had information of various complaints on the mid-day meal scheme in Bihar. We couldn't even think that children will die in such a way. This is a tragic incident. The Bihar government must take a note of it and take stringent action against the guilty," said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain.

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Rahul Dravid prosecution witness in IPL spot-fixing case - dna

1:28 PM

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sports news

The Delhi police are building a watertight case in the IPL spot-fixing scandal and have recorded the statement of Rajasthan Royals captain Rahul Dravid, making him a formal prosecution witness. “It is a single-page statement, which makes our case stronger,” said an investigating officer.

Sources in the special cell of the Delhi police told dna that a team was sent to Bangalore on July 10 to record Dravid’s statement under section 161 of the CrPC. Dravid expressed sadness over the affair and said he was unaware of the involvement of the arrested cricketers. “I never had a doubt about these players. I used to select players on a match-to-match basis,” Dravid said.

Rajasthan Royals players S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were arrested on May 16 for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing during IPL-6. The police also plan to record the statement of Rajasthan Royals coach Paddy Upton, who is in South Africa. “He will be made a prosecution witness when he returns to India,” the officer said.

A charge sheet in the case will be filed soon. It will include the names of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Chhota Shakeel among others.
Investigators also sought a former India bowler’s opinion and scanned the footage of controversial matches to understand how spot-fixing took place.

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Coal scam CBI seeks SC nod to share info with govt

9:15 AM

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scam news

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday approached the Supreme Court seeking modifications of its order of restraining it from sharing coal scam probe report with any government agency or officers. The agency also wanted lifting of the restrictions imposed on it from changing the 33-member investigation team.

Coal scam

The apex court had on May 8 restrained the CBI from sharing any information regarding the coal block allocation scam probe with anyone in the government.
Along with its status report filed in a sealed cover, the CBI also submitted two separate applications on Monday stating that it needed to have certain permissions to share relevant information with the "appropriate government/authority" in all cases.

“It is mandatory for us to get proper sanctions from the government, so we have to share evidence with with the department concerned to obtain the same. Imposing a blanket ban on us will hamper our investigations,” a senior CBI official said.

“Statutorily it is required to share probe information with the CVC and various government bodies, including its prosecutors, for purposes such as getting sanction, necessary government notifications and for strengthening the case with the help of experts so that the matter can stand the litmus test of trial,” said the CBI application, which is likely to be heard by the court on July 10.

The investigation agency informed the court that so far it has filed 13 regular cases and three preliminary inquiries in the coal scam and the scope of inquiries/investigation is expanding.
Praying to amend the May 8 order that had put a blanket ban on the CBI not to share any information regarding any coal probe with anyone in the government, the agency said, “However, to comply with the mandate of the statutory provisions, it may be necessary for the CBI to share information with (a) appropriate government for purpose of notification/consent under the Act (b) the appropriate authority for the purpose of the approval under the Act.”

The CBI also referred to various provisions of its manual and the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act by which the agency is being regulated. In another application, the agency sought the Supreme Court's nod to carry out changes in the investigation team on the ground that more officers are required in the team as the scope of the scam has been expanding.

"With progress on the inquiries in allocation of coal blocks, more investigating officers are required to be associated with the investigation. Since two more cases are registered after the last date of hearing, it is proposed to add one SP and two inspectors to the team of officers involved in the investigation," the CBI said.

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