PUNE: In a unique gesture, the Six Seater Rickshaw Sanghatana will offer free rides to commuters on August 15, marking 50 years of the nation's Independence and two years of its establishment.

Pune Municipal Commissioner Ramanath Jha had declared a ban on these vehicles from August 15. Free rides will be offered to commuters from Swargate to Katraj Ghat, Pune Station to Chandannagar, Pune station to Wadgaonsheri, Pune station to Lohegaon, Pune Station to Vishrantwadi, Pune Municipal Corporation to Aundh, Pune Municipal Corporation to Sanghvi, Pune Municipal Corporation to Pashan, Swargate to Sinhagad Road and Swargate to Hadapsar.A mammoth rally of 100 `raths' will be organised by the National Integration and Propogation of Universal Brotherhood Committee and Zilla Parishad Secondary Education Department to commemorate the golden jubilee of India's independence in the city on August 14.

RI for former MLA and 14 others

BRAHMAPURI: The Judicial Magistrate, First Class, K W Nagrale, has found former legislator Namdeorao Donadkar and 14 others guilty in Moushi riots that broke out in 1988. Donadkar was elected on Shiv Sena ticket, but later defected to Congress,. Riots broke out in Moushi village, after the demolition of Dr Ambedkar's statue, allegedly on the provocation by some Shiv Sena activists on February 21, 1988. Six persons were killed during the subsequent police firing to bring the situation under control and many were injured.

Augustine Tower to be reconstructed

PANAJI: The Archaeological Survey of India is considering a proposal to reconstruct the broken tower of St Augustine in Old Goa. In this connection, Ajai Shankar, director general of the ASI visited Old Goa to see the feasibility of the project. After completion of the tower a telescope would be installed on top in order to enable the visitors to have a view of the surrounding areas. Introduction of the special heritage post box at a height of 150 ft, with the special permission of the Post and Telegraph Department is also under active consideration.

Lawyers to gherao PM, CM on Aug 1

PUNE: Members of the Pune Bar Association will gherao Chief Minister Manohar Joshi and Prime Minister I K Gujral during their visit here on August 1, to protest against the severe crunch of stamp papers in the district. This was decided by the Pune Bar Association at its general body meeting. There is an overall shortage of stamp papers in the Pune district and the bar association had twice complained to the State Govt requesting them to take immediate measures.

Akola DSP transferred to Mumbai

AKOLA: In a sudden reshuffle, K L Bishnoi, District Superintendent of Police, was transferred to Mumbai. R K Sahay took over charge as the DSP in Bishnoi's place. Bishnoi's unexpected transfer has surprised the district police and local people. However, it is said that the riots in the district following the Mumbai desecration incident might have prompted the decision to transfer Bishnoi. Dismissing the rumours over Bishnoi's transfer as baseless, senior police official Pankaj Gupta said Bishnoi was transferred to Mumbai as he had to depose before the court in connection with the bomb blast case.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.