CHENNAI, India — An Indian doctor who secretly filmed his patients and put their naked pictures on the Internet was sentenced to life in prison yesterday. Three accomplices of orthopedic physician L. Prakash were sentenced to seven years each by a court in the southern city of Chennai for helping him run a pornographic racket on the Internet. Thenkodi Wilson, a public prosecutor, told reporters that Prakash was found guilty of filming his women patients on a hidden camera and running the videos on paid websites.
SIMI Ban
NEW DELHI — India yesterday reimposed a ban on an Islamic students’ organization. The Press Trust of India, quoting unnamed government officials, said the ban, which was first imposed in 2001 on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), was renewed after its expiry last night. New Delhi says it suspects links between SIMI and pro-Pakistan organizations which are blamed for carrying out attacks in India. “The decision to continue the ban on SIMI was taken as the group continues to indulge in unlawful activities,” the agency quoted the unnamed official as saying.
Botched Surgeries
BHOPAL, India — The Madhya Pradesh government has ordered an inquiry after nine people lost their eyesight after surgeries were carried at an eye camp in Seoni district last week. A total of 35 patients were operated upon at a special eye camp on Jan 28 organized by the Mission Hospital at Lakhnadon town in the district. Nine of the patients complained of blurred vision initially and later were unable to see anything. They were shifted to a private hospital at Nagpur where they are undergoing treatment.
By-Election Results
RAIPUR, India — Chhattisgarh’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday won the by-election to the state assembly from Keshkal constituency by a margin of 21,886 votes. BJP’s Sevakram Netam defeated his nearest rival of the Congress Budhsan Markam. In neighboring Jharkhand, The Communist Party of India won the Simeria assembly by-election by over 7,000 votes. CPI’s Ram Chandra Ram got 30,700 votes, defeating Jharkhand Vikas Morcha - Democratic candidate Jai Prakash Bhokta. The Congress finished third and the Bharatiya Janata Party fourth.
