Briefly state

IRMA gets new director

VADODARA: Professor Jeemol Unni has taken over as director of the Institute of Rural Management,Anand (IRMA) from acting director Rakesh Saxena. Professor Unni was Reserve Bank of India Chair Professor in Rural Economics at IRMA. She holds a Ph D and M Phil in Economics and held Visiting Fellow positions at the Economic Growth Center,Yale University,Institute of Social Studies,The Hague and International Center for Research on Women,Washington DC.

Seven more arrested for land broker’s murder

AHMEDABAD: The Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrested seven more persons in connection with the brutal murder of Yafisuddin Sheikh of Aslali,a land broker who was stabbed more than 70 times on September 3,during two separate raids in Ahmedabad on late Tuesday night. The total number of persons arrested in the case has reached to 11. All the accused are aides of main accused Dadubha Vaghela who fell out with his old friend Aslali,said Crime Branch officials.

Residents pelt stones at police inspection team

AHMEDABAD: Residents of Gomtipur area of Ahmedabad allegedly attacked police officers of Ahmedabad Crime Branch who had gone for inspection of the area on late Tuesday night. Police said the locals were irked by frequent checks. Soon a mob of around 200 persons gathered and started pelting stones on the team. The Crime Branch has filed a complaint against two persons — Mohammad Sharif Fakir and Hamid Khan Pathan — who are reportedly at large. Police have booked a case of rioting under various sections of the IPC.

Cong threatens stir against power tariff hike

AHMEDABAD: The state Congress has threatened to launch a statewide agitation against the recent hike in power tariff. State Congress chief Arjun Modhwadia said common people are already facing tough time with a steep hike in jantri rates and VAT. He said private power companies — Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited(GUVNL) and Torrent Power Limited — would benefit by an additional Rs 800 crore by the latest hike. He alleged that four companies operating under GUVNL were involved in corruption and CAG report had pointed to Rs 6,500 crore fraud by these companies in purchase of coal for power generation. The government had recently approved nearly four per cent hike on power tariff.

Water supplied to Ahmedabad fit: AMC

AHMEDABAD: The quality of drinking water supplied to Ahmedabad by Raska,Kotarpur and Jaspur treatment plants has been found satisfactory,said Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Wednesday. Citing turbidity tests conducted recently by the civic body in the wake of fresh inflow of water from various dams in Narmada,an AMC release said the 96 to 98 per cent of the water was found suitable for human consumption. It also said that for the time being,the AMC has suspended withdrawal of water from french wells in the river bed.

GNLU offers free coaching classes

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat National Law University began a free three-day evening coaching classes for candidates for the civil judge examination on Wednesday. The examination is scheduled for September 11. The coaching will cover main syllabus of the exam,including examination of the previous years’ papers,said Silky Mukherjee,coordinator of the classes.

One held for selling drug

VADODARA: The Special Operations Group of Vadodara Police on Tuesday evening arrested one person and seized more than 1 kg of ganja from Mehbubpura area of the city. A raid was carried out after SOG sleuths were tipped off about the sale of narcotics. According to SOG officials,accused Firozmiyan Abdul Kadir Shaikh was selling ganja from his residence in Mehbubpura in Navapura area in the walled city.

Security up ahead of Ganesh immersion

VADODARA: Security has been beefed in Vadodara ahead of Ganesh immersion on Sunday. The procession of Juni Gadhi Ganesh pandal started late on Wednesday evening. Officials at the Vadodara police control room said the procession from Juni Gadhi,which is considered to be very sensitive,passed peacefully.