In brief

Cong slams state govt,joint forces
Claiming the Centre-state joint forces have miserably failed in containing the Maoist violence in the Jhargram-Lalgarh belt of West Midnapore,the state Congress today said the problem can be solved only trough sustained development.
A delegation of the state Congress leaders will visit Delhi and hold discussions with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and submit a comprehensive report on the political violence. The state Congress also plans agitation against violence including Mahamichil on January 28. “Violence is spreading in the Maoist-hit districts of West Midnapore,Bankura and Purulia,” said Pradip Bhattacharjee,working president of the state Congress. He said the problem has worsened due to years of neglecting the tribals in the region.

Apollo opens a stroke unit
A 14-bed dedicated stroke unit has been launched by the Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals in Kolkata to provide optimal care to stroke patients. The unit was inaugurated yesterday by Dr Prathap C Reddy,the executive chairman of the Apollo Group of Hospitals.