News in Brief

Blindness control drive

Patna: K.P. Ramaiah, the commissioner of Patna and principal secretary of social justice and empowerment, on Wednesday launched a nationwide blindness control programme. he programme was launched on the occasion of the 61st birth anniversary of K.P. Yohannan, metropolitan of believer’s church.

Arrest

Patna: Choudhary Nagmani, a clerk at Patna civil surgeon’s office was caught red handed on Wednesday by the vigilance investigation bureau while accepting Rs 3,000 as bribe from one Malti Devi, a nurse posted at a primary health centre at Bikram in Patna rural.

Rahul visit

Patna: The Congress general secretary, Rahul Gandhi, will be in town to participate in a five-day training camp for Youth Congress members from March 12. Around 20 professors of Jawahar Lal Nehru Leadership Institute will impart training to 67 master coaches, 40 Lok Sabha presidents, vice-presidents, general secretaries and 243 Vishan Sabha presidents of the Youth Congress on the Congress’s culture tradition, history, the country’s glorious past and the UPA government’s initiatives and schemes.

Fire

Motihari: Houses and assets of 16 families were gutted in a fire at Gamhariya village under Patahi block on Wednesday. Patahi block development officer Shashi Bhushan Prasad rushed to the spot and distributed foodgrains and kerosene among the victims.

Appointment

Patna: Pashupati Nath Pandey, the former secretary-general of Bihar Chamber of Commerce, has hailed the decision of the state government to appoint Mangla Rai as advisor on agriculture to the chief minister of the state.

Inauguration

Patna: Birendra Kumar Yadav, member of Hindi advisory committee, government of India, on Wednesday inaugurated a workshop on Hindi at Union Bank of India’s regional office in the state capital.