Cases of missing women on the rise

City and Cyberabad police are facing a tough task solving cases of ‘unidentified’ bodies with ever-increasing crime rate, particularly on city outskirts.With less manpower and more focus on bandobust, police are reportedly not able to take up proper investigation and many cases are remaining either as ‘untraced’ or ‘under investigation’ and are finally ‘closed’, with no clues to ascertain identity of the victim. In most cases, victims are women and police say they were sexually assaulted before being killed.Another woman’s body was found at Pahadisharief last Thursday.Aged around 25 years, she was found dead near a hill in the outskirts of Jalpally village, by locals who working there. Police said unidentified assailants had slit her throat. The woman was clad in an orange ‘churidar’ and a burqa was found near her body.Meanwhile, Kushaiguda police have been able to establish identity of the 30-year-old woman found dead at a burial ground. Identified as Kannamma, resident of Malkajgiri, police suspect she was raped and later murdered by assailants.P Santosh Kumar, assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Alwal told Expresso that Kannamma was a daily wage labourer. “We suspect she was having an illegal affair with some person at her work place. After a quarrel with her husband Balaraju, she left the house on November 22,’’ Kumar said.The city has witnessed more than 30 murders in the past two years. The figure includes cases pertaining to unidentified bodies, which have been marked ‘untraced’ in police files, owing to lack of evidence.For instance, identity of a woman’s body found stuffed in a suitcase at Mehdipatnam in August, still remains a mystery. Police teams went to various parts of the state but could not ascertain her identity. Humayunnagar police inspector P Madhukar Swamy, who is investigating the case told Expresso that they could not trace any clue in the case. At the time when the body was found, the victim was clad in a maroon sari and a blue ink-like substance was poured on her to conceal her identity.  latest incidents 

August 3, 2010- A young woman’s body found stuffed in a suitcase near Mehdipatnam bus stand. Case still pending 

May 24, 2010- Bowenpally police found an unidentified woman’s decomposed body from military defence area. No leads in the case.

May 31, 2010- Dead body of an unidentified woman found near the electric sub-station at Shamshabad 
By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com

He demands bribe for liquor

It was only a month back, when 22-year-old G Krishna and his family celebrated the arrival of his son. With dreams in his eyes to provide a better future for him, he had even bought an auto to earn a living. But little did he know that an inhuman act would end his life abruptly.Krishna, diagnosed with chronic Tuberculosis (TB) was admitted to the Government Chest Hospital. Both his lungs had been damaged by the disease and he needed an oxygen cylinder to breathe and survive.However, not being able to pay the Rs 200 bribe allegedly demanded by the male nursing orderly Meenaiah, led to his untimely demise. Pleading and begging for help to save a human life did not move the MNO , who sought money to buy alcohol.He was joined by G Kavita, a ward nurse. Meenaiah had been allegedly demanding bribes from most patients in return for basic services. His activities came to light in the preliminary probe by the hospital management.“After a team of doctors performed a minor surgery, Krishna was suffering severe lung pain. He was then administered artificial oxygen cylinder and two bottles of saline. A few minutes later, my son suffered severe pains due to a non-functioning oxygen cylinder. I alerted G Kavita and Meenaiah to change it. Krishna and me pleaded with them. But, they ignored all our pleas when we failed to pay the bribe of Rs 200,” said G Lakshmamma, Krishna’s mother.“My son might have been alive if the staff had responded on time. How can a staff member of in a sarkari davakhana demand a bribe?” she asked. G Narasimha, elder brother of Krishna told Expresso that after admitting his brother, he had already paid about Rs 1,000 bribe to sweeper, ward boy, ward nurse at the male emergency ward.Dr SV Prasad, hospital superintendent said the preliminary probe revealed Meenaiah and G Kavita had demanded a bribe of Rs 200 from G Krishna and his mother Lakshmamma to provide medical service.“Based on the report, we served notices to Meenaiah and G Kavita for their explanation within three days. We will take stern action against them after that,” Dr Prasad said. The hospital management has already suspended both the staff. Sanjeevareddy Nagar police are also going to arrest Meenaiah.

By Mouli Mareedu

Cops rule out foul play behind Kavya’s death

For Kumar Venu and his wife Sravanthi, who had already lost their son an year ago, the death of their daughter Kavya has shattered them completely.Kavya was their only hope and they gave her everything she demanded, despite financial constraints.The untimely death of Kavya has been a harsh blow for the couple, after the girl was reported t o have drowned in a water tub in Rockwood High School, Domalguda on Thursday. The couple’s younger son had died of a seasonal disease earlier.Though earning a salary which hardly sustained the family, the couple planned to shift Kavya to another school next year for better education. “All hopes for my child have been dashed due to negligence of the school management.They killed my daughter by ignoring to shift her to a nearby hospital immediately after they noticed her in the water tub.Everyday I used to go to the school half-an-hour before to bring my daughter home. On Thursday, as I was getting ready, a school staffer came with the news she had slipped into a tub and was unconscious,’’ Kavya’s mother K Sravanthi told Expresso adding, “My baby might have been alive if the school management had been more alert.” Meanwhile, the school management declared a two-day holiday.They regretted about the tragic incident which took place in the toilet.“We did not notice when Kavya went to the toilet. She was almost prepared to go home around 2 p.m.She had lunch and went to the toilet, where she spent at least 15 minutes washing her hands.All of us thought she had come out. But a few students who went to the toilet a few minutes later, not iced her drowned in the plastic tub,’’ said A Mallanna, school watchman.Preliminary police investigation has revealed that Kavya died due to suffocation after she drowned in the water tub. K Chakrapani, assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Chikkadpally told Expresso, “We are yet to get the autopsy reports which are expected to come in two days. We suspect no foul play behind the death. It happened due to negligence of the school management.’’ However, no arrests have been made so far. 
By Mouli Mareedu
moulimareedu@gmail.com

Swine flu back in Hyderabad?

It seems the dreaded swine flu is back. A 23-year-old woman with swine flu like symptoms, was admitted to the swine flu ward of the Government Chest Hospital on Wednesday, even as doctors and district medical officials warned swine flu may spread during winter. This is the first suspected case since onset of winter though there were many people who approached hospitals, with common flu symptoms due to climate change.The woman, a resident of Chaderghat locality was admitted to the hospital suffering from cold, cough and body pains since past one week. “The patient has been admitted to the Outpatient unit. We have collected samples and she is being screened at the swine flu ward.The report will be out tomorrow,” Dr SV Prasad, hospital superintendent told Expresso. He, however, said none knew how lethal swine flu could be in future.During the rainy and winter season, swine flu is likely to spread, according to Dr Prasad.Every season, 10 per cent of the population is affected with common flu but it would be a cause to worry if the number rises to 25-30 percent in coming days. “We need a database of people affected with swine flu in the twin cities, to check for any unusual outbreak,” Dr Prasad said.A number of patients are making a beeline for the OP unit suffering with common flu symptoms such as fever, cold, cough and body pains.The chest hospital receives at least 40 to 50 per cent of these cases on an average out of 200 cases per day.Asked whether problems of cough and cold getting common during the monsoon and winter seasons would result in spread of the dreaded disease, Dr Prasad said, “There is no cause for worry as swine flu has not spread so far. It is mostly being reported from states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Orissa.” However, Dr BL Veena Kumari, Hyderabad district health and medical officer (DHMO) said surveillance and screening has to be given high priority.Special medical staff as well as testing centres are being made available at various places.“Swine flu virus can spread rapidly during monsoon and winter due to cool weather conditions,” she said.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com

Samhitha: I inspired her speech

Samhitha handing over cheque worth of Rs 5,000 to the Minister for Secondary Education D Manikyavara Prasad for the purpose of feeding for poor students at Anganwadi centers

``We should not wash off our hands after garlanding the statues of our father of nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on occasion of Independence day and our first Prime Minister `Chacha' Nehru on Children's day. We have to follow their ideologies to make our democratic country a super power Bharath. Together we strive and together we thrive. All politicians should stop calling for bandhs and harthals, which cripple normal life, even affects children at Anganwadi centres in the state.''

This speech was not delivered by a politician or a social worker. This was the sweet words of a nine-year girl who addressed a gathering standing in front of two cabinet ministers at children day celebration held in Ravindra Bharathi. 

Emphasizing the disadvantages of calling for bandhs and harthals by politicians for their `political' benefits, the girl, Samhitha Kasibhatta, drew the attention of all dignitaries on the dais and gathering including VVIPs, bureaucrats and other childrens talking on the topic of `bandh.' Later, she handed over a cheque of Rs 5,000 for Chief Minister's relief fund for the purpose of feeding children staying in state run anganwadi centers during bandhs in the state.

``I know how children suffer due to lack of food during the bandhs. Transportation is affected badly and normal life is paralysed. I am giving Rs 5,000, which I saved from my pocket money for the CM's relief fund for the purpose of feeding the children in anganwadi centres,'' said Samhitha.

Samhitha is a class IV stuident of Nalanda Vidya Bhavan located at Motinagar. She said that she has decided to help students when she visited nearby anganwadi centre along with her classmates when her school was forced to close for a day as a political party gave a call for a bandh. ``As my school was closed, I went to an  anganwadi centre but number of children staying in the centre suffered due to lack of food. Then, I decided to help them and started saving  my pocket money for them,'' Samhitha told the Express after her thought-provoking speech on the dais.

The star speaker, Samhitha, also got a lot of appluase from a former President and also the present President earlier. Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam lauded her when she presented a 16-pages write up on solar system at a tender age of 5 years. She also obtained encouragement from the first woman president Pratibha Patil for her article and drawing on terrorism. ``I want to become a scientist in aeronautics to innovate more in the field,'' she added.

Its official: 60 percent bosses are cupids

Untowardly behaviour from bosses and male counterparts at work place need not affect your career anymore. You can now walk into a nearby police station and lodge a complaint. Stringent action will be taken against the accused within a few hours, said deputy commissioner of police (Central Crime Station), Satyanarayana. As many as 40 to 60 per cent of working women face sexual harassment at work place, very often in the Information Technology (IT), IT-Enabled Services (ITES), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sectors. Some cases are also reported in government departments. A few weeks ago, a woman constable in a city police station complained to the top police brass that her colleague molested her by force. After a preliminary probe, the boss warned both of them and transferred them to different localities. In another case, 25-year-old Keerthana (name changed), an employee in a software firm, who did not reciprocate her co-worker's interest, began receiving calls from him and later from his friends and other co-workers. She started feeling very uncomfortable in the presence of Shanker and her colleagues. Her participation in the official gathering gradually reduced and performance at work was being affected. Finally, she left the job while refusing to lodge a complaint with police. In yet another case, a 35-year-old teacher working at an international school requested the police to take action against her colleague who sexually assaulted her. She however asked the police not to register any case against him as she was reluctant of the media intrusion. Satyanarayana told Expresso that despite a number of working women facing sexual harassment at workplace, they hesitate to lodge a complaint. As many as 1,459 cases were booked by the CCS till the end of September 2010, as against 1,444 cases in 2009. "With respect to sexual harassment on women at work place, we have filed 172 cases, of them one was a mistake of fact (MF) case and the rest are true cases. Out of these 26 cases were charged, 8 were convicted, 2 compromised, 16 are pending trail (PT), 3 standing and 143 cases are under investigation,'' the DCP said.

  

By Mouli Mareedu 

moulimareedu@gmail.com

Be a sincere police

Patting shoulder of one of the probationer's in the 62 nd batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS) for his outstanding performance in the 46-week long training at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, a former  IPS officer from AP cadre told him: ''You are a young and dynamic and all set to discharge as a police officer in Jammu and Kashmir, where unrest frequently erupts for all wrong reasons. You have to take it as a challenge,  but, the job in J&K is not a bed of roses in discharging duties to ensure peace and maintaining law and order. You have to prove yourself sincerely to make peace.''

All these words delivered encouraging an IPS trainee, who was posted to J&K, by the AP Governor ESL Narasimhan, a former IPS officer himself.

``I was inspired a lot by Narsimhan's speech, especially when he spoke about how a sincere police officer should work. He told me that the police job is very tough and we have to face more hindrances while discharging our duties. He cautioned me as I was going to J&K to take up the assignment. I am confident that I will do my best in maintaining law and order,'' said 28-year-old Imtiaz Ismail Parray, one of the probationers who passed out of the academy today.
A graduate in Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) from Kashmir, Imtiaz Ismail who secured 134 rank in the Civil Services, said that he was born and brought up in J&K and had a fairly good idead about local circumstances

Meanwhile, a number of professionals including journalists and doctor obtained better ranks in the Civil services and taking training on various investigation aspects as IPS officers.

A 26-year-old, Manavjeet Singh Dhillon of Amritsar, a doctor, who is learning rifle shooting, was the parade commander leading at least ten platoon commanders consisting 119 IPS probationers in the Dikshant Parade at the National Police academy.

He is the best all rounder IPS officer trainee in 2010 obtaining the Prime Minister's Baston and Home Ministry's Revolver, the President of India Cup for proficiency in Police sciences, KK Shah trophy for excellence in scientific aids to investigation, the Mehta Cup for studies, Bijay Shanker Memorial Trophy for proficiency in the subject of maintenance of public peace and order, Aruk Kumar Arora memorial trophy for police ethics and Jammu and Kashmir Government trophy for Urdu.

``I worked as a junior doctor in government hospital near Amritsar in Punjab. Due to lack of supply of medicines
to Government hospitals, the patients were suffering and despite bringing the matter to the notice of higher ups, nothing happened, Thereafter, I lost interest in the profession and decided to join the police department and secured 207 rank in the civil services.  I was selected for J&K cadre and it will be the right place to prove my self as a sincere police officer,'' he quoted

Another lady IPS trainee, Rama Rajeswari R, native Mannar, Alleppy district of Kerala and selected for AP cadre was a journalist and worked with a business magazine. ``While I was working as a journalist with the business magazine, I prepared for Civil Services and got selected for IPS,'' she added.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com