Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, February 06: A bush fire on Saturday took dangerous shape when it reached very close to a house and reduced the makeshift house into ashes.
According to report the incident took place at the encroachment pocket of Corbyn’s Cove, where even after best efforts fire fighters could not take the fire tender. The fire reportedly broke out at around 1.00 pm on Saturday.
Finally the fire fighter with the help of residents of the area anyhow managed to control the fire before it could reach to other nearby house, after one hour of sustained efforts.
A minor girl in the neighbor hood reportedly suffered Asthama attack due to smoke during the fire following which she was rushed to G B Pant Hospital immediately by residents of the area.

Muralidharan Pillai
Mayabunder, Feb 05:Amidst the assurance of the SP, Andaman District that there is no report of kidnapping of any child and his request not to pay any heed to rumours of such incidents as reported in Andaman sheeka dated 5th Feb 2016, a case of attempt to kidnap a girl child aged four months from Tugapur-7 village has come to light today.
Shri. Arabilash Das and his wife Smt Bishaka Ganguly are residing in the village Tugapur-7 with their four months old girl child named Kumari Anishka Das.
The couple informed this reporter that on 4th February 2016 evening at about 6.30pm the mother was doing her house hold chores and the child was sleeping in the couch hanging made of cloth. The father Shri.Das had been to his sister’s home nearby- only few meters away. The mother went inside the kitchen to fetch something and suddenly she heard the child crying.
According to her statement, she rushed to the front room where the child was put to sleep and found that some unknown person had picked up the child from the couch and trying to flee away.
The panicked mother tried to catch the culprit but in vain as he had reportedly applied used up engine oil all over his body. Hearing the mother’s cry for help from the neighbours he threw the child behind and disappeared into the dark.
On hearing the mothers cry the neighbours and her relatives gathered for help but could not find anyone. They informed the police at Rest camp station immediately. But the parents and the neighbours complain that the police took more than an hour to reach the spot. The police, the relatives and the villagers conducted search operation of the entire area till midnight but with no results.
Based on the description furnished by the mother a local person residing nearby was picked up by the police team for interrogation but was let free as no relation to the case could be established.
Our Reporter when visited the spot today found that the victim family’s house is located just by the side of a main road. There are number of houses and small shops nearby and in no way the culprit could escape by road.
The big nallah connecting to Panighat or to Interview Island is not very far away from the spot. The Reporter has also seen the oil mark on mother’s hand which confirms that in order to escape; the culprit had held mothers hand and pushed. If it was a planned attempt by a professional kidnapper there are chances and it is the only way that he should flee through the above said nallah.
Although SP South Andaman’s statement that kidnapping cases are hoax, had brought some relief for public but this incident has again triggered fear amongst the local populace. This rumour has been spreading in this region for the past several weeks. Though this is a superstitious notion but what exactly is the reality?
When contacted the SP of North and Middle Andaman Mr. Parvinder Singh today said that a case has already been registered in this regard.
“We are looking for any clue. Nothing can’t be said at this point as there is only one witness in this case. We have collected cloth sample (baby) from the site for test,” the SP said.
Regarding rumours he said that there is no other case of any kind of kidnapping. “The rumour mongers must watch themselves. If anyone know about any such case or detail of anyone spreading such news can contact us,” the SP added.

 

DJ Venkatesh
Port Blair, Feb 04: Once again a mass hysteria has hit people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands following rumours about mass kidnapping of children from various corners of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Large number of people of N & M Andaman are reportedly reaching to jewellery shops to get ear piercing done for girl child as there is a rumour that girls with piercing are not being kidnapped. There are also rumour that only children of Anganwadi are being targeted.
Meanwhile Andaman Sheekha correspondent Rajesh from Bambooflat has reported that in Bambooflat area large number of people have said that tomorrow they will not send their kids to schools out of fear.
Some Watsapp messages of mass kidnapping sent by unscrupulous elements has worked as fuel to these fire.
However, the police department has categorically said that there is no report of any such kidnapping in Islands and this matter is a complete hoax.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha the Superintendent of Police Mr. Atul Kumar Thakur has said that there is no report of any kidnapping.
“There were two instances when two girls had run away from their home by their own for various reasons but in those cases also the girls have been traced out by police. I would request public not to pay heed to such rumours,” he said.
Regarding Watsapp messages he said that police department is having a cyber cell and such messages will be forward to cyber cell to trace out people, who are spreading such rumours.
“This is absolutely hoax. No such kidnapping gangs are operating in Andaman and Nicobar Islands,” the SP added.

Staff Correspondent
Havelock, Feb 04: Yog Guru Baba Ramdev today reached Havelock, where he received a warm welcome from public, officials, villagers and school children. After reaching havelock he visited Havelock Sr. Sec. School, where he delivered a short speech. Baba Ramdev also visited Radhanagar Beach and Dolphin Resort. He also interacted with public and officials of Havelock island.

Sarthak Kanjilal

Port Blair, Jan 28: Even as the Police has gone tough on import and sale of drugs, youngsters in the city particularly some school students are high on ‘Bhaang Goli’, a new found drug for many in the city.

The drug is fast gaining popularity as it’s easily available in the local markets, affordable and not in the list of banned drugs under the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NCB) Act, 1958.

Charas, ganja and bhang are obtained from different varieties of the same plant called ‘cannabis sativa’. However, Bhaang is associated to Hindu deities and people of these islands are well aware of Bhaang Golo and its availability in the local markets particularly traders of Ayurveda medicines.

As it remains almost undetected after consumption, some students are increasingly getting addicted to Bhaang Goli in the city, according to sources.

Many claims that  if it is taken in limited quantity, Bhaang Goli is good for health as it increases appetite and causes good sleep etc. But in excess, Bhaang Goli pumps up the heart rate, cause psychosis and blood pressure.

Sources claim that about many students of some prominent schools in the city consume Bhaang Goli on a daily basis.

“It’s quite a challenge for the police to check the trade of Bhaang Goli in the city. Several Ayurveda medicines contain Bhaang as an essential ingredient and such medicines are sold legally. School students easily fall into addiction of Bhaang as it remains almost undetected after consumption. Dealers of Ayurveda medicines sell the drugs containing Bhaang in huge quantities without doctor’s prescription,” said a resident of Port blair.

The Police should devise some innovative steps to check the sale of Bhaang Goli in the city. Similarly, efforts like restricting sale of ayurveda medicines that contain bhang strictly on doctor’s prescription will help curb the growing menace of Bhaang Goli to a great extent.

To check how easily Bhaang Goli is available in Port Blair, Andaman Sheekha has sent a decoy customer to buy Bhaang Goli from a prominent shop of Aberdeen Bazaar to our dismay he could easily purchase atleast five balls of Bhaang Goli from the shop at the rate of Rs. 100. This amount is enough to keep a dozens of students high for entire day.

Andaman Sheekha is ready to share all information in this regard with Police, if required, to eradicate this threat from our society.

Senthil Kumar
Kadamtala, February 03: An Elephant namely Sunil killed a Mahout of an another Elephant yesterday noon at 11:30 am at Kadamtala, Photojig.
As per reports, all the Mahout were making their respective Elephants work at Photojig like normal routine. During this one Mahout, Anand came down from his elephant to cut a stick from Jungle.
As per other Mahouts, when Mahout Anand was cutting the stick, Elephant Sunil thought that he is cutting the stick to beat him, as it was done in several occasions in past by Anand. Out of anger the elephant attacked Mahout Anand and grabbed him with his trunk and killed him.
According to reports, the Mahout of Elephant Sunil Mr Arun tried a lot to save Mahout Anand but unfortunately he fell down from the elephant due to which he suffered injuries in his leg.
Mr Arun is now admitted in the Rangat, Primary Health Center, it is learnt.
Sources said that after killing Mahout Anand, Elephant Sunil went inside the jungle. Andaman Sheekha also learnt that the last rites of Mr Anand were carried out today.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, February 03: A newly constructed road at Nayagaon has been damaged by a Bulldozer, leaving residents of the area fuming.
As per reports, since last few days some kind private construction work is going on at Nayagaon near near Kali Mandir and continuously from some days a Bulldozer is moving on the road due to which the newly constructed road which was constructed after years of demand by the resident has already got damaged.
As per the residents, one of the residents of the area who is a Doctor by profession went and complained the supervisor and other staffs of the private firm for not letting the Bulldozer to move on the road but the staffs of the firm used abusive languages against him.
“We have complained the matter to the DC control room and also to the Police and it is more than an hour but nobody came to the spot yet,” said a resident of the area.
However after a large number of residents gathered in the area a team of Police including the Station Head Officer and the Patwari of the area reached the spot. The resident further demanded the police to register a case of public property damage act against the bulldozer and the private firm and also demanded the firm to construct the damaged parts of the road.

DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Feb 02: A deadly accident was reported from Diglipur region where, two Dinghies collided each other near Aerial bay Jetty this evening.
As per reports one Engine Dinghy which was coming from Smith Island carrying teachers collided with an engine less Fisherman Dinghy on the way to Aerial Bay.
The two fishermen in the Dinghy fell into the sea because of the impact of the collision. The dinghy of the fishermen also filled with sea water.
A Coast Guard Jawan of ship C 145 Mr. Ranjan Dutta, EF who was onboard ship heard the screams of the people. Responding with lightening speed, he carried a rope and rescued the both fishermen with the help of the other people. The driver of the Engine Dinghy said to be in the influence of liquor.