The committee, comprising representatives of industry and labour, the district collector, police commissioner, district superintendent of police and labour officials, is meant to quell the labour unrest and violence which has already claimed one life in the area.

It was slated to talk with unions of entrepreneurs of ailing units within a week after being set up while hammering out solutions within a month. However, nothing happened even as the deadline passed. Controversy marred its constitution following the nomination of district Shramik Sena (the Shiv Sena's trade union wing) President Sunil Bagul, who had been accused of extortion.The Nashik Industries and Manufacturers' Association had, in fact, submitted a memorandum to the police and the chief minister naming Bagul as an extortionist.

Bank theft? That'sdumb

Two thieves pretending to be deaf and mute made off with Rs 15,000 from a local bank but were caught in the act by alert bank staff on Wednesday. Perumal Rangan (19) and Govinda Krishna (21) entered the Dwarka branch of the Bank of Maharashtra, pretending to be deaf and mute. Flaunting certificates which claimed they could neither speak nor hear, they duo asked for financial assistance.

As they put on their act, they noticed that a customer, Shivkumar Sharma, had withdrawn Rs 15,000 from his account. Distracting him, they stole his money and left the premises.

NASHIK NOTEBOOK

However, Sharma soon discovered the theft and alerted the branch manager, Narendra Bhattacharya, who summoned the police. Some bank staffers tried to chase the thieves, who escaped in an autorickshaw. They were finally arrested en route to the railway station.

The brazen thieves kept up their act at police station for a while before confessing. They admitted to stealing a certificate from a deaf-mute person in atrain, where they hatched their plot. Both hail from Tamil Nadu.

Stir for poultry workers

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) will stage a dharna at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on May 25 to draw the government's attention to the plight poultry workers of the C and M Group. Addressing a rally here, CITU General Secretary Dr D L Karad accused the management of resorting to transfers and suspensions to silence the workers.

A riot at the Vani Khurd poultry farm in Dindori had led to police firing, which injured one person on February 8. Subsequently, a sacked woman employee committed self-immolation in the company's premises on April 2, blaming the management for her plight.

"Sanvidhaan Bachao" stir

The Republican Party of India (RPI) will launch a countrywide `Sanvidhaan Bachao' (Save the Constitution) to protest against the Vajpayee government's move to review the Statute, according to RPI member of Parliament Prof Jogendra Kawade.

Accusing the government of attempting to ``tamper''with the basic structure of the Constitution when the country is facing more pressing issues like poverty, unemployment and atrocities on backward classes and women, Kawade said the government is trying to set up a dictatorial regime in the country. The RPI along with secular parties will soon therefore launch an agitation to condemn the move.