Politicos go online to boost'19 chances

Candidates who were defeated in the previous elections, and those who are aspiring to receive a ticket, have launched a war of words on social networking sites in preparation for next elections.

Most sitting MLAs and Ministers have also launched their campaigns. They are posting information on the contribution that they have made to the welfare and development of their respective constituencies, along with the figures and graphics.

Meanwhile, defeated candidates have been trying to  highlight the inadequacies , failings and unfulfilled promised of the MLAs.

The social networking sites may play an important role in the election campaign, with the candidates showing an interest in reaching out to the youth and educated class.

Political leaders have created Facebook pages, and they regularly post updates regarding their activities.

Some Ministers have appointed PROs to post updates to the  media and on social media on their behalf. Some leaders have even- thrown parties for the media persons, to ensure that no damaging news about them appears in the media.

Alleti Maheshwar Reddy, the president of the Adilabad District Congress Committee and a former MLA, has been posting on Nirmal DCC Facebook page, to  promote himself and challenge his opponent Allola Indrakaran Reddy.

Supporters of  Jogu Ramanna, minister for forest and environment, regularly post details of the development works  carried out in the Adilabad Assembly Constituency over the past three years, the long- pending Korata Chanaka barrage works that have finally been taken up, and the strengthening of canals under the Satnala irrigation project.

Adilabad Municipal Council Floor leader Bandari Satish of TRS said it was the fact the social networking sites are playing a crucial role in spreading the information across all the sections especially youth and educated unlike in the past and it was easy to get publicity for the activities and reaching out to the voters without any cost.

He said even one can get feedback on the information posted through responses and political leaders could improve their performance with the feed back.

Adivasi girls' gang rape video go viral on phones

Three youth allegedly gang raped a minor Kolam Adivasi girl,16, on the outskirts of the Asifabad town three months ago. 

The issue became known when the video clippings of rape went viral on the mobile phones recently in the area.

Asifabad police conducted an inquiry into the incident after they came to know about the incident through public and registered cases under SC and ST Atrocity (prevention), POCSO Act-2012, Criminal Law amendment act against the culprits July9.

It is learnt that Asifabad police identified three accused and were Macharla Raju, Syed Mathin and Ranjith of Asfiabad town. 

It is said that Raju gave his mobile for repair in which the ‘video’ was stored and  the repairer noticed the video while repairing and copied it on his mobile.  

Police met the girl staying in Tekamloddi village in Tiryani mandal and collected details about the incident.

It is learnt that the incident took place when the girl came to Asifabad for purchasing few things and was with an auto driver at a secluded place on the Asifabad outskirts.

According to police sources, the three miscreants who were following her for some time with criminal intention clicked the photographs of Auto driver Mallesh and girl when they were together near Chinnarajura village, 4 km from Asifabad town. 

The miscreants had started blackmailing the girl to satisfy them otherwise they will inform the matter to her parents and upload their photographs on social networking sites.

The miscreants beat up Auto driver Mallesh of Kagaznagar and another person with them the girl and miscreants took her into bushes and raped her. They also video graphed the crime.

The girl told the police that she did not come out against the accused as they threatened to kill her if she approached the police or informed the incident to others. The Asifabad police shifted the three accused to Kagaznagar  where DSP is investing the case.

No cells in schools , colleges

The Telangana government has banned the use of mobile phones in all educational institutions in the state. The move follows the rise in misuse of cellphones in schools. As of now, neither students nor teachers will be allowed to carry mobiles into class rooms.

Commissioners of school education, Telangana, issued the orders to this effect on December 31, 2014. He has asked the district education officers and the regional joint director of school education to implement the instructions.

The orders stated that ‘use of cellphones in educational institutions is prohibited’ and that “neither teachers nor students should be permitted to carry mobiles in classrooms”.     

Mixed reaction to mobile ban, parents for counseling :

In view of the orders issued by the commissioner of the school education, Telangana issued orders that cellphones would not be allowed in classrooms. The school managements are making provisions for lockers for the safe- keeping of mobiles. 

However, it is not clear if the students can avail of het same facility.

The move was recommended by the Committee on safety and Security of Women and Girls in Telangana under the chairmanship of Poonam Malakondaiah, the principal secretary to the government, agriculture.

She said, “We had undertaken a detailed exercise and the committee spoke to head of over 100 private and government educational institutions found the use of cellphones to be a diversion”.

Students, however, nurse their own concerns. Namerah, a student of Class VIII, said, “It is not that all students misuse the phones. I want a mobile with me so that I can call someone if I don’t feel safe or if something happens.”

Taking pictures or videos of girls will definitely go down if the order is implemented. However, misuse outside the school can’t be ruled out. Students should be counselled in schools”, said Rafia Syeda, mother of three school- going children.

TS United Teachers’ Federation district general secretary A. Venkat welcomed the move and said a few union members including cellpones in the classroom since 2012. He said cellphones disturbs teachers and students.