India's paralympics athletes are in London on their own, sans escorts, coaches and any help, whereas the officials are on the trip there accompanied by their families. Weightlifter Farman Basha said officials did not even allow his coach to accompany him.

Among the officials on the junket are Paralympic Committee of India president Sultan Ahmed, also the union tourism minister of state. He made an appearance at the games with his wife, as has treasurer Gurcharan Singh who arrived with his wife and daughter. PCI general secretary Ratan Singh has taken along his son Amar Singh as an official.

Critics call this the depths of crass Indian babudom, and another gesture of poor taste and bad choices.

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An Assistant superintendent of police of the East Godavari Rampachodavaram division Naveen Kumar, filed a complaint against his boss, District Superintendent of Police Trivikram Varma, alleging that he faced a threat to his life from him. He also alleged that he was being harassed by Varma.

It is alleged that Varma developed strong links with a gang of drug smugglers and Naveen had recorded evidence of the connection, that showed that Varma was receiving protection money from the smugglers. Since Naveen took charge of the division a few months ago, he has been at loggerheads with Varma.

Efforts to contact Varma for his version on the complaints have resulted in a refusal by him and the police concerned

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Ex Joint Director-General of Civil Aviation, A K Sharan, who was suspended after being found guilty of fraud, has been reinstated and no action was taken against him. Commenting on the surprise move, a senior commander said with this, the civil aviation seems to be sending a message that misuse of power and use of fraudulent means to help one's kin acquire a pilot's licence is acceptable.

Last year the DGCA ordered an inquiry to investigate if Sharan had used his power to help his daughter fraudulently obtain a commercial pilot's licence, and he was found guilty and action was recommended against him. A year later the ministry said its own investigations found Sharan guilty and asked the Central Vigilance Commission to initiate proceedings against him.

Recently all these issues were set aside and Sharan was cleared to resume his post and head the air transport department.

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'Save the Yamuna' activists held a march in Agra demanding to know what had happened to the thousands of crores of rupees supposedly spent on cleaning the river. They demanded a 'white paper' on all the expenditure incurred by the local, Uttar Pradesh and central authorities.

President of the movement "Wake up Agra" said the treatment plants along the river bank were not working and the sewage of the city continued to flow directly into the river, polluting the community water resources, which in fact is a criminal offence. One activist drew attention to the heaps of leather cuttings from shoe factories piled along the river bank, that pollute the water.

The UP Pollution Control Board resists the move, denying it is polluting the Yamuna.

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Former Army Chief General V K Singh, speaking at a national conference on 'Eradication of Corruption : Social Responsibility and Challenge' in Patna, said corruption has spread like a cancer that eats into the vitals of the country.

General Singh spoke on the issue of black money that dogged the country as corrupt persons have stashed their enormous ill gotten wealth in foreign venues, money so big that the country could fast-track development of infrastructure and provide civil amenities to its citizens if it could be brought back.

He encouraged his listeners to fulfill the dreams of the freedom fighters and provide equality to all citizens, and the founding of a socio-political and economic system based on equity and justice.

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