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400 Fall Ill After Consuming `Offerings` RAIPUR: As many as 400 people were taken ill here after consuming poisonous "offerings" on the occasion of Muharram. The "offerings" were contaminated eggs boiled a day before. All those affected belonging to Mominpura were admitted to a local hospital. They are suffering from dehydration. -ANI AP Express Catches Fire HYDERABAD: Four empty compartments of the Andhra Pradesh Express caught fire under suspicious circumstances at the railway station here on the night of 23 March. The fire broke out two hours after all passengers had got off the train that had arrived from New Delhi, sources said. The railway police have initiated investigation to find out the cause of fire. Giving details, DSP (Railway Police) Nanchariah said, "After the crew had locked the shutters and doors, the fire took place at around 10:50 pm. But, how exactly it happened, it is not known. We are investigating the case". -ANI Tight
Security At Taj, NEW DELHI: Security has been tightened around monuments such as Taj Mahal in Agra and Charminar in Hyderabad following militant threats to blow up historical sites. Entry of visitors to minarets at Charminar has been banned. At Taj Mahal, very strict security checks are carried out to prevent terrorists from infiltrating into the complex. A couple of months ago also Kashmiri terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba had threatened to destroy Taj Mahal and the make-shift Ram temple at the disputed Ayodhya site where a mosque had been demolished by a Hindu crowd a decade ago. -India
Overseas
Bank Strike on April 16 NEW DELHI: Employees of private and public sector banks will go on a one-day strike on April 16 demanding job security and to protest against disinvestment. No
Lock-in Period for Proceeds MUMBAI: With a view to boosting foreign investment in India, the Reserve Bank has lifted the curbs on repatriation of proceeds from sale of immovable property purchased in India by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs). However, the proceeds sought to be repatriated cannot exceed the amount brought in to purchase the property. The new policy will also be applicable to those who have already made purchases in India. No prior approval of the RBI is required for the remittances. Earlier, NRIs and PIOs were permitted to repatriate such proceeds only after a lock-in period of three years after the final payment for the acquisition of the immovable property. Internet Telephony from April 1 NEW DELHI: The Government has decided to allow internet telephony from April 1, 2002. The service will be available to customers of Internet Service Providers from PC to PC within and outside India, PC in India to telephone outside India as well as IP-based H.323/SIP terminals in India to similar terminals. Security for Hajis Returning to Gujarat AHMEDABAD: Gujarati Hajis returning from Saudi Arabia by flight are transported to their destinations from the airport in specially arranged buses with police escort in view of the continuing communal riots in the state. The traditional welcome accorded to returning Hajis at the airport by friends and relatives has been banned by the police for security. Money-changing Rules Liberalised MUMBAI: In order to provide easier money conversion facilities to tourists and NRIs by providing a wider network, the Reserve Bank of India has allowed Authorised Dealers (ADs) and Full-Fledged Money Changers (FFMCs) to enter into agency/franchise agreements for coversion of foreign currency and traveller's cheques into rupees. At present, conversion of foreign currency and traveller's cheques is possible only through banks designated as ADs, FFMCs and restricted money-changers (RMCs). Harrison's Donation for Temple NEW DELHI: George Harrison, the late `Beatle', had donated $1 million to build a Krishna temple in Varanasi when he visited the town in the summer of 2001, according to presss reports. Private Resort at Sabarimala THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A private resort has come up at Sabarimala Ayyappa pilgrim centre which can provide accommodation to 480 people in dormitories at a cost of Rs 1.25 cr.
It has facilities like restaurants. The fee, on membership basis, is
Rs 4,000 for five years which provides a pilgrim with accommodation
for two nights during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season and three days
during monthly poojas. The membership covers accident insurance for
Rs 50,000 for the five-year period.
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