Pistorius due back in court for culpable homicide ruling

Oscar Pistorius the blade runner has been cleared of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp but the sprinter could still be convicted of culpable homicide for his negligent shooting that led to the death of his girlfriend. Judge Masipa ruled that the prosecutors led by Gerrie Nel had failed to prove that Pistorius intended to kill Steenkamp after an argument. He, a double-amputee and renowned in world athletics can get a guilty verdict. Jugde Thokozile Masipa has cleared him of premeditated murder on the Valentine’s Day 2013. The judge proclaimed that the accused had acted hastily using excessive force making his conduct negligent. She dismissed the defence arguments about Pistorius’ heightened sense of fear because of his disability. The defence had rallied that the shooting of Steenkamp was a tragic accident as Oscar had mistaken her for an intruder hiding behind a locked toilet door. When Judge Masipa delivered her not-guilty decision on the primary charge of premeditated murder Pistorius sat sobbing with tears streaming down his cheeks. Oscar can face up to 15 years in prison for culpable homicide though it has no minimum sentence. This case has attracted the attention of millions around the world who admired Pistorius running on prosthetics as his lower legs were amputated as a baby. He had reached the semi-finals of the 400 metres at the London Olympics in 2012. He has been a global inspiration for his grit and a hero in South...

Sania Mirza condemns BJP leader’s comments

Renowned tennis player Sania Mirza has condemned the comments of a Telangana BJP leader hailing her as Pakistan’s daughter-in-law. Sania retorted back saying that she was an Indian and will always remain one. K Laxman, a BJP legislator from Telangana, has questioned the credentials of Ms Mirza, 27 as brand ambassador for India’s youngest state as she is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. The statement has been widely criticized creating a furor of sorts. Mirza’s family belongs to Hyderabad for more than a century and she can never be branded an outsider. Sania added that she was hurt that time was being wasted on such a petty issue as she has been living in Hyderabad since she was 3 weeks old. The ruling TRS, headed by K Chandrasekhara Rao, defended its decision on Ms Mirza. Hanumantha Rao of the Congress, a parliamentarian from Telangana is among those who disagree with Ms Mirza’s new post as she hasn’t worked in Telangana before. This is in direct contrast to the announcement proclaiming that she would serve as Telegana’s brand ambassador by Telangana CM describing Sania as the daughter of Hyderabad while sanctioned a crore for her coaching and...

Jammu and Kashmir faces worst flood in decades

Over 23,000 people have been rescued in Jammu as flash floods have stalled all activities in the state over the last week. Schools have reopened after a week. The extent of damage and inundation can be gauged from an aerial view of the flooded areas in Srinagar. Due to incessant rain for days Jammu and Kashmir has been battling one of the worst floods in decades with rivers in the region in spate. Over 200 people have died and thousands are stranded across the state including Srinagar. Suction and submersible pumps from Vishakhapatnam and Jodhpur are being sent to the severely affected areas. Overturned heavy vehicles are a common site after roads have caved in as a result of the flash floods in Srinagar. The Army is rescuing stranded civilians and tourists round the clock and busy in setting up temporary relief camps. Langars are being established and drinking water being supplied to all stranded in the floods. 260 NIIT students struck at Srinagar were transported to Leh for being airlifted to New Delhi. Landslides have become rampant causing grievous hurt to people and property. Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami has been reviewing rescue and relief efforts in flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir. Rehabilitation measures include power supply and road connectivity. About 153 deaths have been reported across Jammu division. Around 20,000 houses have been partially or completely damaged while about 2,500 livestock have been perished. The National Highway has been restored for light motor vehicles. Armed forces have rescue over 1.10 lakh people in relief operations in flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir. More than 30,000 troops have been deployed along with 84 helicopters and transport aircraft of the Air Force. Army has deployed more than a total of 224 boats of Army and 148 of NDRF’s inflatable boats for rescue operations. Thirteen tonnes of water purifying tablets and six water filtration plants with a capacity to filter 1.2 lakh bottles per day have been provided at...

Movie Mary Kom an inspiration to all women

The hindi movie Mary Kom is a significant sport biopic about a woman boxer from the side tracked North-East India who struggled against the odds to become a champion only for her passion and fearlessness. Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra is seen in this Sanjay Leela Bhansali film directed by Omung Kumar as Mary Kom. The film inspires viewers drawing them to the edge of the seat. It also unfailingly raises the quotient of nationalism in all watching the movie together uniting them at the end to stand up and salute our national anthem. The movie constantly pushes at the tear ducts and even the hard types will find their eyes get moist through it. An overdose of emotions and spirit unfailingly touches all and lingers long after one leaves the theater seat. The biopic is about MC Mary Kom a five-time boxing world champion and Olympic bronze medalist from India. The story depicts how Mary goes on to become a champion boxer only due to her passion for the sport. The incredible support of her husband Onler Kom played by Darshan Kumar will be an eye opener to many n today’s society where more na d more women are professionally occupied. The film is a great effort of put forth the obstacles that sport persons in India face to follow their passion and make the country proud in the international arena. Kom is stubborn, short-tempered and quick to pick a fight. This angry young lady changes in nature once she is endowed with twins but not her zeal to get back into the boxing arena for winning bouts. Chopra is very efficient in depicting this subtle change from tom boy to doting mother. Debutant Darshan Kumar turns in a candid performance. Chopra though bearing no resemblance to the real life shero Mary Kom is very convincing in boxing gloves, shorts, helmet and bouts. The grime, bruised and bloodied Priyanka is so credible that she never allows the audience a chance to check whether she has succeeded in becoming a look alike. The harshness and raw appeal in the movie is a plus point that adds to the level of difficulty that Mary encountered in her path to becoming a successful boxer being a woman and a mother. Her problems compound as she belongs to the neglected North-east...

Oscar Pistorius verdict is not guilty of premeditated murder

The Judge adjudged Oscar Pistorius to be not guilty of premeditated murder but is yet to announce whether he is guilty of culpable homicide. The blade runner could however walk free as culpable homicide has no minimum jail term. Judge Masipa ruled that Pistorius could not have foreseen he would kill the person behind the toilet door. The judge also added that there was not enough evidence of premeditated murder. The judge also stated that Pistorius had not been candid in explaining why his gun was fully loaded. However the judge did complied with the view that the accused did not suffer from a mental defect. Upon reading out the chronology of events on that ill-fated Valentine’s Day of 2013 when his girlfriend died it proved that some evidence by witnesses was corroborating while some were conflicting. Judge Masipa relayed that the court would rely on technology in terms of phone records that could be more easily verified rather than upon the memories of neighbors. The judge also added that witnesses stated that they had heard screams from a woman in distress and three sounds resembling gunshots. Pistorius had described the incident as tragic and declared that he had mistaken the deceased for an intruder. Judge Thokosile Masipa reads out that in the early hours of 14 February 2013, the accused shot and killed Steenkamp, the deceased who was inside the locked toilet. The final decision will come only after summarizing the testimony of all 37 witnesses and an in-depth reasoning on her assessment of each account of witnesses, including Pistorius. She will then give her own findings and opinions based on personal interpretation abiding by the law. The final verdict will state whether the 27-year-old Pistorius is guilty of murder and other changes. Pistorius could also be acquitted as he may be found not guilty of either murder or culpable homicide if the judge feels that he had no intention to...