IGZP Celebrates Wildlife Week With The Theme Of ‘Human–Animal Coexistence’

Visakhapatnam:The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) is celebrating Wildlife Week from October 2 to 8 with the theme “Human–Animal Coexistence”. The celebration features a series of educational and creative events designed to raise awareness about wildlife conservation.

Despite heavy rains throughout the city, students of all ages enthusiastically participated in a drawing competition held at the zoo on October 2. The competition featured thought-provoking topics, including "Pollinator Engineers: Bees, Birds, and Butterflies", "Marine Biodiversity and Us", and "Human–Elephant Conflict". G. Mangamma, the curator of IGZP, expressed her delight at the enthusiasm shown by the young participants, noting that it reflects their growing interest in environmental issues.

The week-long celebration features a diverse range of activities designed to engage people of all ages. Elocution contests, photography competitions, and awareness programmes are scheduled throughout the week, with schools and colleges particularly encouraged to take part. All events are open to the public, fostering an inclusive environment that promotes wildlife education.

These programmes are organised in collaboration with YouCan, WCTRE, and the Dhan Foundation, who have partnered with IGZP to support conservation outreach and community engagement.

International delegation from Brazil, U.A.E., Sri Lanka begins eight-day visit

Vijayawada:The international delegation from Brazil, the U.A.E., and Sri Lanka arrived in Andhra Pradesh on Friday began an eight-day exposure visit focused on community-managed natural farming (APCNF) in Guntur with a detailed briefing session organised by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) and NOW Partners. This 30-member team aims to gain firsthand experience and deepen their understanding of the agroecology innovations transforming farming systems in the state.

During the inaugural session, B. Ramarao, CEO of RySS, and Neeraja Adidam, executive director, welcomed the delegates and outlined the organisation’s vision. The thematic presentations spanned APCNF’s comprehensive framework, including community mobilisation by women-led Self-Help Groups, scientific principles of Natural Farming, ICT-enabled monitoring, health and nutrition linkages, and market value chains. The presentations highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s farmer-led strategy to restore soil health, improve incomes, and foster ecological sustainability. Following the briefing, the delegation set off for Rajahmundry to observe natural farming fields, with further visits planned across East Godavari and Guntur districts.

The group comprises key figures in global sustainable agriculture, including officials from Brazil’s Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming, cooperative leaders, NGO representatives, and senior academics. The delegation’s visit is steered by Walter Link, founder of NOW Partners, along with Leonardo Andrade, NOW Partners’ Brazil director, and other international collaborators.

Decades-old neglect ends at Ramalingapuram under-bridge

Tirupati:Decades of civic neglect in Ramalingapuram came to an end with the inauguration of long-awaited infrastructure works near the under-bridge. Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy opened the newly constructed CC road, culvert, and footpath, completed at a cost of ₹1.17 crore.

The project, which had remained a demand for residents for several decades, was executed within just 50 days, offering long-pending relief to commuters and pedestrians who faced poor road conditions, waterlogging, and unsafe passage in the area.

Speaking on the occasion, MLA Sridhar Reddy recalled that the works were initiated after a phone call from a resident and credited minister Dr Ponguru Narayana for facilitating their sanction. He said development in Nellore Rural had always gathered pace during his tenure and assured that he would continue working across party lines to keep the constituency’s growth on track. He also acknowledged the cooperation of Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy in securing central support for local projects.

Residents expressed gratitude, noting that the long-neglected stretch had finally been transformed into a safer and more convenient passage. They hoped similar works would be expedited in other parts of the constituency.

Telugu Desam leaders Kotamreddy Giridhar Reddy, former mayor Nandimandalam Bhanu Sri, Corporator Maramreddy Jyothi Priya, Jana Sena leader Noone Mallikarjuna Yadav, and others were present.

Minister assures to look into demands of RTC employees

Vijayawada:Transport minister Mandipalli Ramprasad assured that he would look into the demands of the RTC Employees Union for the purchase of 3,000 new buses and recruitment of 10,000 employees.

The union members called on the minister at his camp office here on Friday and submitted a representation on several issues. They sought the release of arrears pending from August 15 to September 30, amounting to ₹360 crore, and reiterated their demand for the purchase of 3,000 new buses and recruitment of 10,000 employees. They also pressed for the implementation of the Retired Employees Medical Scheme, among other issues.

Gottipati invites French industrialist to invest in AP

Vijayawada:Minister for energy Gottipati Ravi Kumar showcased the wide-ranging investment opportunities in agriculture, food processing, electronics, green energy, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and science and technology sectors in Andhra Pradesh, and invited French industrialists to invest in the state.

The minister took part in a roadshow held in Paris with the support of the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Speaking on the occasion, he said that Andhra Pradesh was implementing the Integrated Clean Energy Policy-2024, designed to attract global investors in the renewable energy sector. He urged French investors to take advantage of the state’s ‘Speed of Doing Business’ initiatives, industry-friendly policies, and attractive incentives.

Three arrested for gang rape of minor in Chittoor

Tirupati:Chittoor district police arrested three men on Friday in connection with the gang rape of a minor girl in Nagaravanam Park near Murakambattu on September 25.

Chittoor DSP T. Sainath told reporters that the accused, identified as M. Mahesh (21), P. Kishore (31) and J. Hemant Prasad (27), intercepted a young couple at the park, assaulted them, robbed valuables, and sexually assaulted the girl. The case came to light when the boy lodged a complaint with the Chittoor Taluk police on September 29.

Based on the victim’s statement, additional sections under the Pocso Act and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were invoked. Following the directions of SP Tushar Doodi, three special teams were formed to trace the accused, who had gone absconding. They were arrested near Chennamma Gudipalli Road in Chittoor town, and their mobile phones were seized.

DSP Sainath said Mahesh had earlier faced a case of eve-teasing a minor in 2019, while Kishore was booked in 2022 for illegal liquor sales. He noted that the trio habitually targeted lone women and couples in secluded places, recorded videos, and blackmailed them.

Appealing for stronger preventive measures, the DSP urged the forest department and municipal bodies to enhance security and install CCTV cameras in park areas. He also advised parents to monitor their children’s movements and asked educational institutions to spread awareness among students.

Nellore police invoke PD Act against notorious rowdy-sheeter

Tirupati:The Nellore district police have invoked the Preventive Detention (PD) Act against a notorious rowdy-sheeter, identified as Goni Ramu.

Police records show that 26-year-old Ramu, originally from Ambedkar Colony in Venkateswarapuram and currently residing at Wood House Sangam in Nellore city, has a long history of criminal activity. A rowdy sheet has been opened against him at Nawabpet police station, and he is facing charges in 15 cases, including two murders, six attempted murders, two robberies, two thefts, and three cases of grievous assault.

District superintendent of police Dr Ajita Vejendla said the decision was necessary to maintain public peace and prevent disruption of law and order by repeat offenders. She reiterated that the police would continue to keep a close watch on rowdy-sheeters and anti-social elements.

“Those who repeatedly indulge in crimes will face strict legal consequences under the PD Act, including imprisonment or externment from the district,” the SP said. She appealed to the public to cooperate with police by reporting unlawful activities in their areas, assuring that immediate action would be taken.

MBBS student found dead in Nellore hostel room

Tirupati:A first-year MBBS student was found dead in her hostel room on Thursday at A.C. Subba Reddy Medical College in Nellore.

The police identified the student as Bannela Geethanjali, a 19-year-old from Bandi Atmakur in Nandyal district. She had returned to the hostel the previous night after the Dasara holidays.

According to reports, Geethanjali shared her third-floor room with three other students. Two were still away, and the third, Hima Nandini, was present on Thursday morning. The two had breakfast together, after which Hima Nandini left for an anatomy exam and invited Geethanjali to join her. Geethanjali said she would follow shortly.

When she did not attend the exam, a professor and the hostel caretaker went to her room and found her hanging.

According to Dargamitta circle inspector Roshaiah, the room was locked from the inside. The police are investigating the reasons behind the suicide.

The victim's parents told the police she had been unwell recently and was treated at a hospital before returning to the hostel. A case has been registered based on their complaint, and the investigation is ongoing.

Bawaria gang member held

Visakhapatnam:The Vizag city police arrested one of the members of the notorious Bawaria gang in connection with nine chain-snatching incidents and two bike thefts that occurred across Vizag city. The arrested person was identified as Dharmendra Kumar, alias Kumar (34), a native of Alauddinpur village in Uttar Pradesh.

DCP (crime wing) K. Latha Madhuri said Dharmendra Kumar had been involved in 24 criminal cases registered across the country. She said that the gang comprising four members, Dharmendra Kumar, Suraj, Kapil, and Hazare Singh, arrived in Vizag city on September 17 from Delhi.

The gang stole two bikes in the city and used them to commit a series of crimes on the same day from 6 pm to 9.30 pm. They committed seven chain-snatching offences in parts of the city. During a snatching attempt at Birla Junction locality in the city, the locals noticed the gang and chased two of them, Kapil and Suraj. However, the duo abandoned one of the stolen bikes at Urvashi Junction and fled from the city.

After weeks of investigation, the police managed to nab one of the members of the gang . The police recovered `70,000 in cash and one stolen bike from the accused.

Former deputy CM PA arrested, released on bail

Anantapur:Former deputy CM Amzad Bhasha’s PA Sheik Khaja was arrested by the Kadapa police following a complaint by the TD politburo member R. Srinivasa Reddy over controversial posts against the Kadapa MLA R. Madhavi on Thursday. A team of police reportedly detained Khaja in Hyderabad and shifted him to Kadapa. Sources said the TD leader lodged a complaint with the Kadapa police over posts on social media against the Kadapa MLA R. Madhavi a few days ago.

Kadapa police registered a case based on the complaint and detained him in Hyderabad and shifted him to the Kadapa Police Training Centre on Thursday night. The family members of former deputy CM Amzad Bhasha’s PA reached the Police Training Centre and alleged the arrest was illegal without giving any notices. The YSRC leaders and family members of Khaja blamed the police for acting according to the TD leaders and harassing the YSRC leaders and supporters through false cases.

The police produced Khaja at Kadapa court, and the court granted bail for him.

Man arrested for filming woman in lodge bathroom

Vijayawada:A forty-year-old man identified as Peethala Ankammaraju has been arrested; his mobile phone was seized and sent to judicial remand when produced before a local court here on Friday.

According to Governorpeta police, a woman along with her family members checked into a lodge located at Governorpeta on September 26. When she was taking a bath in the bathroom, the accused, Ankammaraju, hailing from Dharanikota in the Palnadu district and staying in the next room to her room, was taking a video of her through the common mesh to the bathroom on his mobile phone. The woman who noticed it raised an alarm, and her family members immediately rushed to the next room.

However, the man ran away from the room by carrying his mobile phone. Based on a complaint lodged by the victim, police booked a case under relevant sections, took up the investigation and arrested him.