ROW OVER PG ADMISSION
Doctors lock up counsellors in PGIMS
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, May 25
A row over the norms adopted in the admission to the PG courses in the Pt B D Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences here came to a boil when aspirants, all doctors, from the general category, locked up all members of the counselling board in the administrative block and staged a dharna this afternoon.

According to information, the aspirants in the general category and those from the Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) had reached the administrative block of the institute for counseling. (They have sought admission to the PG courses after qualifying the combined entrance examination conducted by Maharshi Dayanand University.) Trouble erupted between these two sections of doctors over the norms adopted in counselling.

The doctors in the general category argued that the HCMS doctors, who had secured at least 50 per cent marks in the entrance test, were eligible for admission to the courses as per the norms laid by the Medical Council of India. They also pleaded that the reserved seats for the HCMS doctors, falling vacant after the admission process, should be converted into general category seats. It is learnt that only one HCMS doctor was eligible for admission, if these conditions were applied.

On the other hand, the PGIMS administration pleaded that the state government had revised the norms and the qualifying marks had been reduced from 50 per cent to 30 per cent for the HCMS doctors.

However, this did not satisfy the general category candidates who insisted on postponing the counseling, so that they could seek a ruling from the court tomorrow. When they failed in this attempt, the agitated general category doctors locked all members of the counselling board — comprising Dr Babu Ram, nominee of MDU, Dr S. S. Sangwan, Dean, PGIMS, and three heads of different departments — inside the counselling hall. The protestors also shouted slogans against the state government and the Director of the PGIMS. Some windowpanes of the hall were also broken during a scuffle between the two camps. The ‘hostages’ were freed at around 3.30 pm.

The general category candidates also faxed separate letters to the higher authorities seeking immediate suspension of the counselling process. A delegation of the doctors also met Dr Virendra Singh Poonia, Director, PGIMS, who expressed his inability to do so in view of the government norms. When contacted, Dr Poonia said he was not competent to take any decision at his level in this regard as the norms of the counselling had been framed by the state government and MDU. However, he said he had apprised the government of the incident that took place on the campus today. 

Sultanpuri double murder case cracked
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 25
With the arrest of two drug addicts, the North-West district police today claimed to have cracked a case of double murder.

On May 22, two persons, including a 21-year old woman, were killed at a house in Rama Vihar in Sultanpuri. The accused — Sandeep (40) and Sukhjinder alias Sukh (22), both residents of Amritsar — were arrested by the police near Gurdwara Shishganj in the Chandni Chowk area.

The deceased, Meena (40), wife of Nand Lal Azad, an employee in DDA, and Gaurav (18), a friend of Azad’s son Gulshan, died on the spot while Purnima (21), Azad’s daughter, is battling for her life in the hospital. Gulshan (14), who had locked himself in the kitchen at the time of the incident, later gave an account of the killings to the police. The deceased, it is learnt, were involved in supplying drugs. Incidentally, Azad was away to his native when the incident had occurred.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West), R S Yadav, disclosed that since there was no evidence of forced entry or the house being ransacked., they had to examine other possibilities.

Eventually, it came to light that the entire family was involved in drug peddling. For instance, Azad’s second wife Meena’s daughter, Purnima, was married to one Ravi Pandey (25), a known drug peddler in the area. Meena, Purnima and Gaurav were Ravi’s conduits.

The two accused, Sandeep and Sukhjinder, had procured 50 gm of smack for Rs 10,000 from Gaurav, for which they had paid Rs 7,000 as advance. However, the smack turned out to be of an inferior quality. So, they decided to meet Gaurav again and have it replaced.

The duo came to Delhi in an Indica car (No PB-02-8464) and asked Gaurav to meet them in Rama Vihar. In the meantime, they went to Chandni Chowk and purchased a dagger, just in case Gaurav failed to deliver good quality smack.

Later, the accused went to Gaurav’s house, where the latter, Punima and Meena made fun of them and asked them to leave the house. They also hurt Sukhjinder’s religious sentiments. Livid at their conduct, Sukhjinder stabbed Meena, Gaurav and Purnima. Gulshan ran and locked himself inside the kitchen.

Later, the police unearthed some diaries and documents in which Sandeep’s name was mentioned. They also learnt that Sandeep was a drug addict, which in turn led to the unravelling of the double murder mystery.

Driver dies in scuffle with envoy’s son
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 25
The police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder following the death of the driver of Senegal ambassador in the Taj Palace hotel last night.

Dilaver (32) reportedly had a scuffle with the ambassador’s son, Mansoor Ali (24), over the possession of car keys. Mansoor also reportedly hurt his arm in the scuffle.

The police are preparing a detailed report, which will be submitted to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), since the ambassador and his family enjoy diplomatic immunity. Manzoor Ali is the son of Senegal ambassador Al Manzoor Diop.

According to the police, the incident occurred at around 10.30 pm when the Africa Day was celebrated in the Durbar Hall of the hotel. Midway, Manzoor came out of the hotel and insisted that the car keys be handed over to him; however, Dilaver refused to oblige.

Enraged, Manzoor got into a scuffle with Dilaver and pushed the latter, who fell down and became unconscious. Soon after the incident, Manzoor again went back to the hotel.

Dilaver, who was rushed to the RML Hospital, was declared brought dead. Manzoor was taken to the AIIMS for first aid and later to the RML Hospital.

The police have registered a case under Section 304 of the IPC. 

Panipat DC, MC chief spat erupts in public
Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service

Panipat, May 25
The verbal duel between the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Mulk Raj, and the Municipal Council (MC) president, Mr Sanjay Bhatia, on the issue of corruption has reached a flashpoint.

In fact, the war of attrition between the two erupted at a public function yesterday with both district functionaries openly clashing on the issue of corruption.

This flare-up needs to be seen against the backdrop of the DC taking a special interest in the removal of encroachments from the ward of Mr Harish Sharma, an influential BJP councillor, a couple of months back.

Since then, the BJP and the deputy commissioner have been on a collision course.

Things had come to such a pass that the license of Mr Sharma’s depot was cancelled a few days back, allegedly at the behest of the district administration.

The BJP had hit back by demanding a high-level probe into the alleged irregularities in the development of parks, a pet project of Mr Mulk Raj. The parks had been in a state of neglect for years and a few crores have been spent on sprucing them up. Mostly, the funds have come from the Residents Welfare Associations and the Panipat Refinery. The BJP has defended its call for a probe as crores of rupees had been spent on the project by the administration.

However, what set the stage for the showdown between Mr Bhatia and Mr Mulk Raj is that the former has been harping on the issue of the corruption in the district administration.

Upset over the allegations against his officials, levelled by the local BJP leadership, Mr Mulk Raj reportedly flew into rage at the public function and asked the party leaders, including councilors, to come clean on the corruption issue. Mr Bhatia was the target of his verbal attack; however, the MC chief kept his cool and a major showdown was averted.

Late last night, the DC, through the District Public Relations office (DPRO), issued a press note urging the political parties to sink their differences for the development of the city. Interestingly, there was no mention of Mr Bhatia and the fracas between the DC and the MC chief in the press note.

The press note also claimed that every street in the city would be re-carpeted. Of course, the note does not say where the funds will come from.

Wheat stocks lying at mandis damaged due to rain
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, May 25
It is feared that wheat worth lakhs of rupees packed in gunny bags at various grains markets of the district and those lying uncovered at godowns of various procurement agencies has been damaged due to the recent rain.

According to a report, wheat procured by the state and central government agencies could not be lifted and was soaked. It will not be possible to unpack the heavy stocks and dry it. It was to be lifted and sent to godowns and plinths hired by the procurement agencies but the authorities were caught unawares by the sudden showers. Thousands of gunny bags filled with procured wheat stocks have been damaged.

Representatives of the Congress, the Haryana Vikas Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Nationalist Congress Party have expressed their grave concern over the non-lifting of wheat stocks from the mandis by the officials of the procurement agencies.

In a joint press statement issued here, they also took a serious note of the non-lifting of wheat stocks from Gohana grain market, which were procured three years ago. They demanded stern action against the officials found responsible for the damage.

ENTRAPPED
Notorious ‘Maruti’ killed in encounter
Our Correspondent

Ghaziabad, May 25
Nisha alias Maruti, a notorious criminal of Meerut, who had a reward of Rs 5,000 on his head, was killed by the Masori police in an encounter yesterday night. A police rifle, which he had snatched from a cop, along with live cartridges were recovered from him.

According to SSP Chander Prakash, an informant had tipped off the police that three armed criminals were hiding in the jungle of Kazipura village, Musori. Cops from the Musori, Pilkhua and Vijay Nagar police stations closed in on the area. Finding themselves trapped, the criminals tried to escape after opening fire at the police party. The cops retaliated and Maruti was hit, but his two associates managed to escape. The injured criminal was taken to the district hospital, Ghaziabad, but declared dead on arrival.

He was later identified as Nisha, originally from Muzaffarnagar but currently living under the Saroorpur police station area in Meerut.

A .303 police rifle and a number of cartridges were recovered from him, which he and his accomplices had looted from a cop of the Saroorpur police station.

As many as 46 cases of dacoity, murder and looting were registered against the slain criminal in Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar districts.

CRIME ON WHEELS
Delhi trader shot dead in running train
Our Correspondent

Ghaziabad, May 25
Four assailants murdered a Delhi trader in a running train and looted two cell phones and Rs 25,000 from him soon after the train left the Ghaziabad station yesterday evening.

Sachin Jain, a young trader, used to get furniture made in Delhi and supply it in Ghaziabad. He was returning to Delhi by the EMU train after collecting Rs 25,000 from his clients yesterday. Within five minutes of the train leaving the Ghaziabad station and before it had reached Sahibabad, four criminals tried to snatch his bag at gunpoint. Sachin resisted their attempts and raised an alarm. At this, one of the robbers shot him in the stomach with a country-made pistol and snatched the bag and two mobile phones.

When the train slowed near the Sahibabad station outer signal, the miscreants descended and escaped in two different directions. No one in the compartment challenged the assailants, the police said. The police were informed of the incident by passengers when the train reached Sahibabad railway station. The bleeding trader was rushed to a private nursing home by the police but was declared brought dead.

Incidentally, this is not the first such incident. Over a month ago, a young passenger was stabbed in a running train. He died by the time he was rushed to a nursing home near Sahibabad railway station. Commuters Manohoar Lal and Banarsi Das pointed out that criminals generally struck between Ghaizabad and Sahibabad railway stations. Neither the GRP nor the UP police had taken any steps to safeguard the life of the commuters, they alleged.

Two suicides in the same street: Cops suspect pact

NEW DELHI: A 17-year-old girl and a youth, who were living in the same street in Prashad Nagar area in Central district, consumed poison last night and died. The police suspect it to be a case of suicide pact.

In the first case, Shashi Bala, a class XII student in Sarvodya Vidyalaya, celebrated her brother’s birthday last night and went to sleep around 12.30 am. In the morning, Bala’s parents found her vomiting in the bathroom. She was taken to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital where she was declared brought dead. She is suspected to have consumed poison.

Tarun Jiwani (22), originally a resident of Mata Rameshwari Nagar and an employee in a workshop in Todapur, consumed poison at his house located in the same street last night. The police said that Tarun reached home from night duty and complained of uneasiness. . He went to the bathroom, where he was found unconscious by his mother. Tarun was also rushed to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital where he was declared brought dead. Both the deceased, it is suspected, were having an affair. The police have initiated inquest proceedings in both the cases. 

COMMUNITY

CIVIC CORNER
Delhi’s gain is Khora’s loss; relocated units suck all water
Parmindar Singh

Ghaziabad, May 25
The receding of the water table to a depth of more than 80 feet has rendered all hand pumps dry and created an unprecedented water crisis in the sprawling Khora colony between Noida and Ghaziabad. This has happened due to the indiscriminate use of water by about 250 illegal polluting dyeing units, which were relocated from Delhi six years ago.

These polluting units are among hundreds of those which were set up in Ghaziabad colonies on being virtually expelled from Delhi following a Supreme Court decision.

Of these, over 250 dyeing units for jeans and other garments are functioning in Khora colony alone. All these units have sunk powerful submersible tubewells with a boring of about 5 inches width, which pump out lakhs of liters of underground water daily. Then this chemically polluted and hazardous water is allowed to flow in the colony’s open drains or stagnate in the open.

The officials of the Pollution Control Board have also termed the recession of the water table as an alarming problem.

Three years ago, the underground water table of the colony stood at 25 feet. Now it has gone to a depth of 80 feet or even more.

Many inhabitants like Mr M. D. Chauhan, Mr S. K. Yadav and others said that their hand pumps were throwing up salty, polluted water, which was unfit for human consumption.

Another resident, Mr S. P. Sharma, said that all dyeing units were using powerful submersible pumps whose polluted and hazardous water is allowed to flow or stagnate in the colony, posing a serious health hazard to the residents.

Three-wheeler drivers throw traffic out of gear in Ghaziabad
Our Correspondent

Ghaziabad, May 25
The administration does not seem to have a control over the dark smoke-spewing three-wheelers which not only pollute the city but also cause a hindrance to the orderly traffic.

The cut-throat competition to attract passengers and complete more trips than others results in a haphazard traffic and also poses a threat to the life of many.

The coming up of new colonies and increasing population have also meant an increase in the number of three-wheelers, further causing pollution and confusion on city roads.

The administration finds it hard to rein in the drivers and bring a semblance of order on the roads the way it has been done in Rohtak.

In Rohtak, it may be recalled, three-wheelers were divided in two categories: one bearing even registration number and the other odd. Each lot would ply on alternate days. This had resulted in less pollution and less crowding of city roads.

In Ghaziabad, three-wheeler drivers seem to be a law unto themselves. They chart out their own routes. The administration or the traffic police does not have a say as to how many vehicles will ply on different routes.

On congested routes, the number of three-wheelers is increasing by the day. They stop anywhere to pick up or drop passengers, throwing the traffic out of gear.

This exercise results in traffic jams on busy roads like GT Road, Rakesh Marg Mode, Chaudhary Mode, Clock Tower, MMG Hospital, Delhi Gate and Hapur Road trijunction, New Bus Stand, etc. They have routes in Raj Nagar, Kavi Nagar, Nehru Nagar and many other colonies also.

ROAD RAGE CASE
PCR ‘responded on time’ to Josh’s distress call 
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 25
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. R S Gupta, has refuted the allegation that PCR vans fail to respond on time to distress calls. Referring to a recent case — where the truck driver mowed down a businessman, Rajinder Singh Josh — he pointed out that contrary to media reports the PCR van had reached the spot within minutes of being contacted.

He said an inquiry was conducted by the Jt. CP Vigilance, Ms. Kanwaljeet Singh Deol, wherein it was confirmed that the PCR van wasted no time in reaching the spot.

As per the enquiry report, the PCR van was first contacted on May 21 at 10.48 p.m.; the Central Police Command Room directed the nearest PCR at 10.49 to reach the place. It was pointed out that the North West District Control room was also asked to depute an officer to carry out the investigation.

At 10.50 p.m., another call was received from Dr. H L Kamboj of Delhi Hospital, asking for a PCR van to carry an injured person to another hospital. The PCR van, the report points, out reached the place of incident near Azadpur Subzi Mandi at 10.53 p.m. and on finding no one there rushed to the Delhi Hospital.

Later, at 10.59 p.m., the PCR van left with the injured person for Babu Jagjivan Ram hospital and took 11 minutes to reach there. The inquiry report pointed out that there was no delay in the police response to the distress call.

Nonetheless, the Commissioner of Police has asked the officers to find out ways to improve the police response to emergency calls.

It may be mentioned that on the night of May 21, Rajinder Singh Josh and his son Pukhraj Singh were returning home in their Maruti car. Pukhraj was driving.

A truck reportedly rammed into their vehicle. There was an exchange of hot words and Mr Josh reportedly came out of his car and demanded that the truck driver hand over the registration papers, so that he could lodge a report with the police.

Mr Josh reportedly climbed on to the step of the truck which was resented by the driver and his helper. He was reportedly hit with a rod, as a result of which he fell down and was crushed under the rear wheels. The driver fled the spot with the truck immediately.

It has also been reported that some truck drivers sitting near the scene had also joined with the erring truck driver. Some of them had allegedly pinned Mr Josh down even as the first driver ran his truck over him.

His son had alleged the next day that the PCR had responded rather late to the distress call made by him. 

SPECIAL FOCUS ON SONEPAT
Tragedy in sewer tank: Unions demand more compensation
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, May 25
Though the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) authorities have paid Rs 25,000 each to the dependants of the three casual labourers who died of gas poisoning in a sewer tank of the project’s main pumping station at Gohana last Sunday, the Haryana Backward Classes Federation and the All Haryana PWD Mechanical Employees Union are not satisfied. They have demanded at least Rs 10 lakh to each victim’s family, government job to one member of each family and action against the YAP’s engineers responsible for the tragedy.

A meeting of the district unit of the Haryana Backward Classes Federation was held at Gohana on Saturday, which was presided over by its state president, Om Prakash Verma. In the meeting, the federation reiterated its three demands and threatened to launch an agitation to press for the same.

In the meeting, SDE Vikram Singh and Junior Engineer Rajbir Rathi were squarely blamed for the tragedy. The meeting alleged that that the victims were taken forcibly by the officers to work in the 35-deep tank despite the holiday on Sunday and also without any safety precautions.

The All Haryana PWD Mechanical Employees Union, in an emergency meeting at Sonepat last evening, formed a ‘Sangharsh Samiti’ to vigorously pursue its demands of compensation, government job and action against the officers.

Mr Dilbagh Singh has been unanimously nominated the convenor of the samiti, which includes Jai Prakash Sharma, Ramesh Chan, Bijender Khasa, Kuldeep, Jaibhagwan, Chander Shekhar, Rajpal Sharma and Bhupinder Singh as members.

In the meeting, the compensation of Rs 25,000 each to the families of the victims was termed as a `dirty joke’. The union also alleged that the government had not taken any action against the erring officers.

Moral education camp held
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 25
Jain Paath Samiti, Dharampura, in association with the Digamber Jain Naitik Shiksha Samiti, organised a moral education camp here.

The Union Minister of Labour, Dr Sahib Singh Verma, was the chief guest on the occasion. Emphasising the need for moral education, Dr Verma also pointed out that to maintain good health, one should turn vegetarian and inculcate good eating and living habits.

The camp gave lessons on moral education, upkeep of the environment and non-violence to more than 400 children. A rally was also organised on the occasion. Children took the oath to remain vegetarian at this special rally. 

NCR BRIEFS
10 injured in group clash
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, May 25
At least 10 persons including a woman were injured in a clash between two groups that had taken place at Larsauli village about 15 km from here yesterday.

According to a report, lathis and other weapons were freely used in the brawl. The injured were identified as Saheb Singh, Jai Kishan,Ram Kumar, Mehtab, Mange Ram and Ms Aita, Ranbir and his brother Sukhbir and Ajit. All were immediately hospitalised. They are stated to be out of danger.

A dispute over the land is stated to be the cause of the fracas. The police have registered the case and investigations were on. However, no arrest has been made so far.

Mother, son injured

A youth Ravi and his mother Mrs Nirmala Devi of Nand Nagari (Delhi) were injured when the scooter on which they were travelling, rammed a tractor trolley on G T Road near here last evening.

It is stated that Ravi lost control of the two-wheeler which resulted in the accident. The tractor driver took them to the Civil Hospital for treatment.

Cardiac camp a huge draw

Gurgaon: A free cardiac/heart camp organised by the management of local Umkal Hospital today was a big draw.

At the end of the one-day camp, about 250 registrations were made. Many in the medical community find it a good turn-out considering that the patients in Gurgaon generally go to Delhi for getting cardiac ailments treated.

Incidentally, Umkal Hospital was the first to add Cardiac Cath Lab in Gurgaon. The management claims that the recent addition of Cardiac Catheterisation Lab at the hospital has made the availability of the critical cardiac care at Gurgaon. The machine is said to be the first of its kind in the area.

The team of doctors in the camp was headed by Dr Umesh Gupta, Medical Director of Umkal Hospital. As part of awareness on the details relating to cardiac problem, Dr Gupta, a recipient of Bharat Gaurav Award, 1999, stressed the fact that high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol were major risks for heart attack. TNS

DELHI DIGEST
Health centre opens in trans-Yamuna
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 25
Health Minister A.K.Walia on Sunday inaugurated a health centre at Surajmal Vihar in East Delhi. The Department of Public Works (PWD) has constructed the three-storied health centre at a cost of Rs 74 lakh.

On the occasion, the minister said the trans-Yamuna was becoming self-reliant in health and education. He said 24-hour emergency and maternity service had begun in Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, Khripur. A 300-bed trauma centre had become operational in the Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital.

Litterbugs challaned

The New Delhi Municipal Council’s second anti-littering court at Lodhi Garden netted 27 defaulters and realised Rs 3,650 as fine on Sunday. The first anti-littering court was held on May 11, 2003 in which 32 defaulters found littering were challaned and a sum of Rs 1,950 collected as fine. The NDMC also organised a Lok Adalat at Palika Kendra to dispose of cases pending in the courts. The Lok Adalat was held under the aegis of the Delhi Legal Services Authority. Additional District Judge Sangita Dhingra settled eight cases out of 11 across the table and three were adjourned to the next Lok Adalat. The cases placed before the Lok Adalat pertained to two civil and three commercial, electricity and estate departments each. The cases had been pending for over 10 years.

SGSC plea

National president of the Shiromani Gurudwara Sewadar Committee, Mr Raja Singh Sethi has appealed to Jathedar of Sri Akal Takth, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti to summon Akali leaders Prakash Singh Badal and Gurcharan Singh Tohra and seek an apology for what he alleged is the harm they caused to the Sikh community and Punjab. Speaking at a meeting held here, Mr Sethi said both the leaders should unite and seek an apology from the Sikh Panth and work for the uplift of Punjab and India.

Mr Sethi said that the educated Sikh youth should come forward to solve the problems of the people in Punjab and help the state prosper.

Secretary of the panel, Mr Amar Singh urged the Sikh organisations to hold ‘Shastra Vidya’ all over the country.

CRIME

Transporter shot dead in sleep
Our Correspondent

It is stated that some persons woke up after hearing the shots. They had seen two youths scaling the walls of the victim’s house. They chased the alleged assailants but failed to apprehend them. The incident has caused a panic among the villagers.

Woman run over by train

An unidentified woman was run over by a train between Sonepat and Sandal Kalan railway stations near the cooperative sugar mills here last night. The body remains unidentified. The GRP has sent it for a post-mortem.

Youth assaulted

A youth Dharamvir was injured seriously after being assaulted by two unidentified motorcycle-borne youths near Railway Colony at Gohana town, 35 km from here last night.

According to a report, the injured was immediately hospitalised and stated to be out of danger. The police are investigating the case. No arrest has been made so far.

Carjacking case solved
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 25
With the arrest of five persons, the North-West district police today claimed to have solved a carjacking case that happened on Kankar Khera Road on November 21, 2002. On the fateful night, one Rahul Jain, a resident of Rana Pratap Bagh, was robbed of his Santro car and a mobile phone by three youths on a Hero Honda motorcycle.

The accused — Sumeet alias Ambuj (21), Sunil (22), Yashpal alias Sonu alias Ganju (22), Pawan Kumar Tomar (23), all residents of Sultanpuri, and Munna Kumar Kesari (31), a resident of Shanti Nagar — were arrested.