Jaiswals of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

The other day I overheard about Raja Ram Shastri of the Jaiswal community of Hyderabad. I heard that he embezzled and skimmed money from several Jaiswal community members of Hyderabad and the Munna Lal Charitable Trust. The Munna Lal Charitable Trust was established to serve the needy among the Jaiswal community. I don't know the details or whether this info about embezzlement is true, but what is known is that this accusation of alleged embezzlement is made by more than one member of Jaiswal community of Hyderabad. By writing this I do not wish to defame Raja Ram Shastri. In fact, I truly do not wish to defame any Jaiswal community member. I hope that eventually there will be a debate on this lingering issue. Stay tuned in for more. Vanakkam.

At the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards function in Bangkok in June 2008, Aishwarya Rai Bacchan got into higher spirits, say eye-witnesses.

The Bachchans were staying at the plush Dusit Thani hotel in Bangkok. Just before the fashion show, before the award ceremony, Abhishek Bacchan and Aishwarya Rai Bacchan were seen coming down the steps of the hotel.

Our (Times of India) source tells us that Aishwarya Rai seemed very high-spirited and was talking loudly. Too loud for the comfort of her husband Abhishek, apparently. For, Abhishek rebuked her for her loud volume and asked her to quieten down.

After that too, Ash was in no mood to listen. Says the eye-witness, “She continued with her extra-loud self-expression, until Abhishek took her to the lobby and made her sit down there, to calm her down. For a while, things were rather quiet, until Ash suddenly decided to pipe up all over again. She continued arguing at the top of her voice, until Abhishek, sensing that the situation was getting embarrassingly out of control, beckoned his personal security guards and asked them to escort his wife to her room.”

The guards followed his bidding. And all was well with the Bachchan dignity all over again.

Source: Times of India

Hyderabad traffic police have classified 20 main roads in the city as the ‘most dangerous’. But if one goes by the number of fatal accidents, all city roads look dangerous. A grossly understaffed traffic police wing and reckless motorists who pay scant regard to rules are the main reasons for the city roads becoming totally unsafe.

Here's a list of some of the issues that I observe:

1. Signal jumping
2. Rash and negligent driving
3. Haphazard parking
4. Wrong side driving
5. Lack of enforcement
6. Driving without helmets
   

Deccan Chronicle reported that more and more students in the Hyderabad are taking to a life of crime to enjoy a lavish lifestyle. The pocket money they get from their parents is not enough for hi-fi parties, costly clothing and stylish bikes. So they adopt the dangerous but tempting route of crime chain-snatching, theft of mobile phones and stealing of vehicles. Police records show that youths from well-to-do families are increasingly being caught committing crimes in the Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Recently, the Banjara Hills police arrested six students, aged between 19 and 22, who had entered the world of crime to live a hip life. Among those arrested were students of professional colleges. Their tactic was to waylay women pedestrians in secluded areas and snatch their chains and mangalsutras. After stealing valuables and selling them, the youth would splurge the money on expensive meals, liquor, fashionable clothes and accessories. The desire to have more from life is pushing them to crime, said a police officer. The arrested youth confessed that they spend the money to take girlfriends to expensive hotels and restaurants for dining, and to buy them costly gifts.

In 2007, the city police arrested nearly 2,000 students, aged between 17 and 25, on charges of chain-snatching, mobile phone theft and vehicle theft. Of them 50 were caught from within the SR Nagar police station limits. This year, more than 900 students have been arrested. Most of the youngsters select isolated areas and residential colonies to commit crimes. Their favourite spots are Banjara Hills, SR Nagar, Malakpet, Dilsuknagar, LB Nagar, Langar Houz, Sanathnagar, Asifnagar, Kukatpally, Narayanaguda, Chikkadapally and Jubilee Hills. They choose these areas because they can easily escape after committing the offense.