300 taken ill in Hauz Khas
Tribune News Service and agencies

NEW DELHI, Nov 25 — At least 300 slum dwellers of Gautam Nagar JJ Camp in the Hauz Khas assembly constituency were taken ill after consuming savouries distributed by unidentified party workers this morning.

Of the 107 patients under observation at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences and Safdarjung Hospital, one is reported to be serious.

Doctors at the AIIMS suspect that the savouries might have been laced with atropine, a chemical. Although no arrests have been made, the police has registered medico-legal cases and a case under Section 328 of the Indian Penal Code.

By 9.45 am, the road leading to the Emergency Ward of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences was crowded with children and adults complaining of vomiting, headache, nausea, giddiness and tremors. Others were rushed to Safdarjung Hospital across the road.

Doctors and paramedics lost no time in attending to these patients. A mixture of salt water and Digene was given to them as first aid.

The Medical Superintendent of the AIIMS, Dr Ravinder Kumar Pandhi, however, said 175 patients were brought to the institute for treatment. "Of them, 25 might have gone home after taking treatment. We have sent back 140 patients. At present, 60 persons, including 53 children and seven adults, are under observation."

Dr Pandhi said there was no case of food poisoning. He pointed out that food poisoning occurred after the intake of stale food which had certain kind of bacteria formation. "The symptoms of vomiting, nausea, headache, giddiness and tremors in some children indicate the presence of atropine-like substance. This chemical can cause dilation of pupils and even tachyrcadia."

The Superintendent said samples of the savouries had been collected and would be sent for testing to the food laboratory tomorrow.

Expressing gratitude to the nurses and the paramedics, Dr Pandhi said, "The very fact that we were able to sort out everything in just two hours shows that we are well-equipped to attend to such emergencies."

The Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital, Dr R.N. Salhan, told TNS that the symptoms of disorientation, giddiness, headache, vomiting and dehydration indicated food poisoning. "Some patients showed symptoms of intake of dhatura — a herb-like plant which people are accidentally exposed to. Atropine, the active ingredient in dhatura is given in small doses to some patients before surgery where we want to nullify the action of organophophorus," he explained.

Dr Salhan said 18 patients came to Safdarjung at about 11 am and another 39 were brought to the hospital in three ambulances.

Stray poll violence in Delhi
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 25 — The Capital today witnessed stray incidents of poll-related violence during polling.

None of the incidents, however, disrupted the voting to the 70-member Delhi Assembly.

The first incident was reported from the Seelampur area of North-East Delhi this morning when supporters of an Independent candidate allegedly fired at activists of a rival candidate over the issue of setting up a table for a polling agent. No arrests were made.

The Delhi police control room stated that booth-capturing reports had been received from the Karawal Nagar Assembly constituency in North-East Delhi and also the Bhatti Mines polling station of the Mehrauli constituency in South Delhi. On receiving the information the police swung into action and chased away the miscreants.

The Congress candidate from Mandawali and East Delhi, Mrs Meera Bhardwaj, and her agents alleged that they were manhandled by activists of the rival group in the presence of the police. The disturbance took place following information, that Mrs Bhardwaj's name was missing from the voters list though she belonged to the area. After an argument, she managed to cast her vote.

Heated exchanges between supporters of the BJP and the Congress were also reported from the Gole Market Assembly constituency. The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mrs Sheila Dikshit, is contesting from Gole Market while the BJP candidate is Mr Kirti Azad.

 The South Delhi area, where the Election Commissioner, Mr G V G Krishnamurthy had said that 31 stations were sensitive, witnessed a major incident of food poisoning this morning. About 1000 people fell ill after consuming "namkeen" allegedly distributed in a jhuggi cluster by a candidate from the Hauz Khas constituency.

The Delhi police arrested more than 2000 persons with criminal records from different parts of the Capital as a precautionary measure. A total of 79 illegal weapons were seized and 289 unlicenced weapons surrendered.

To ensure a free and fair poll the police had deployed 40,736 of its personnel and 8000 Home Guards. Apart from these, 30 companies of the paramilitary forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force, the Rapid Action Force and the Border Security Force had also been deployed.

Poll vignettes

NEW DELHI, Nov 25 (PTI) — Minorities and elders took the cake when it came to exercising franchise today, even as party activists resorted to old tricks to hoodwink poll officials.

Voters in burquas and fez caps were a common sight at polling booths in predominantly Muslim localities like Seelampur, Seemapuri, Tughlakabad and Babarpur while even nonagenarian Christian voters walked all the way to the polling stations, their physical handicap notwithstanding.

"We will ensure the defeat of this anti-minorities government", said Salima Bi, a voter in Seelampur.

Stating that the minorities voted "en bloc", local BJP leaders took solace, saying "even we have our committed voters including members of minorities".

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Interestingly, burquas were not confined to Muslims alone. Many bogus voters found in the black veil the perfect disguise to hoodwink poll officials.

A teenager boy was caught "black veiled" at a polling station in Jaffrabad area under Seelampur constituency by a polling agent. His masculine hands gave away his identity.

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The elders seemed optimistic while youngsters chose to enjoy the day at popular haunts like Appu Ghar, Pragati Maidan, India Gate, Qutab Minar and cinema halls across the megalopolis.

"We are voting because it is our duty but our children have not come to vote as they are not happy with the present political scenario", an elderly couple at Dilshad Garden said.

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The scene in the rural pockets of the Capital was a picture in contrast. A festive mood prevailed in areas like Mahipalpur, Badarpur, Palam and Mehrauli.

Men and women attired in their best queued up outside polling stations while elders who exercised their franchise sat around discussing politics.

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Most polling booths in posh upmarket areas like Vasant Kunj, Vasant Vihar, Press Enclave and Preet Vihar wore a deserted look till afternoon as voters in Marutis and Cielos trickled in with indifference writ large on their faces.

While polling officers in the posh localities had a gala time with snacks and tea, officials at rural booths with heavy turnout found themselves at their wit’s end.

One of the polling booths at Babarpur was an Amazonian fortress with an all women team in charge.

"After all it is a battle between two women — Sushma and Sheila. Who else can be more impartial?" asked one of them.