FOUR TIMES UNLUCKY…
Son hires contract killers to eliminate 
businessman father
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18
The South district police today claimed to have arrested four persons for organizing a robbery and trying to murder businessman Ram Prakash Narang. Incidentally, the son of the businessman, Gaurav, is among those who have been arrested.

Gaurav, it is learnt, had made at least four attempts to murder his father, thrice with the help of contract killers and once on his own.

The other accused, who have been arrested, are: Mustakeen alias Ramjane (24), a resident of Bulandshahar, Aarfin (24), a resident of Okhla, and Ramjeet (23), a resident of Sri Niwaspuri.

Ram Prakash informed the police on May 29 that three persons barged into his house, F-130, Lajpat Nagar, at around 9.30 pm and tied both him and his wife. The suspects also threatened his son, Gaurav, with a knife, who handed over Rs 40,000, which was in his coat pocket. The suspects also stole some jewellery before escaping through the back door, which was kept open.

The police subsequently learnt that Ram Prakash, who owns a garment shop in Central Market, Lajpat Nagar, had survived a stabbing attempt in February 2003. The police, after examining the case history, mounted surveillance on Gaurav and found that he was keeping bad company. On September 17, the police laid a trap at Lal Shahi Market at around 10.30 pm and arrested two persons, Ramjane and Aarfin, and recovered knives from their possession.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Vivek Gogia disclosed that during interrogation the duo confessed that they had robbed Ram Prakash on his son’s instructions. The latter had also promised them Rs two lakh for murdering his father.

Gaurav even told the duo that they could keep the looted jewellery. But when the accused did not succeed in their attempt, Gaurav was livid and asked for his share.

Finally, when Gaurav was nabbed, he confessed to having planned the killing for money; he revealed that he was hooked to gambling and drugs. He also wanted to sell the top floor of the house, to which his father was opposed.

Earlier, he had hired another contract killer, Anoop, for Rs one lakh and even given Rs 50,000 as advance. However, the stabbing attempt failed. Last year, Gaurav tried to give his father cyanide in his food, but he again escaped. The fourth time, he had paid Rs 10,000 to Ramjit’s relation, Sonu, to eliminate his father, but even that attempt failed.

Bandhu: He held many charges with aplomb
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18
Delhi Industries Minister Deep Chand Bandhu, who died here last night, was cremated today with full state honours. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Delhi Pradesh Congress chief Chowdhury Prem Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kamal Nath, Ambika Soni and Makhanlal Fotedar paid their last respects to the departed leader at the Nigambodh crematorium.

Opposition leaders, including Madan Lal Khurana, Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma, Harshvardhan, Harcharan Singh Balli and Ramveer Singh Bidhuri, also attended the funeral.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said Bandhu’s death was a blow to both the government and the party.

Her cabinet colleague and Health Minister, Dr A K Walia, said: “The Congress has lost a senior leader who had served both the party and the city’s residents with dedication”.

Earlier, the Delhi Cabinet paid tributes to Mr. Bandhu and passed a condolence resolution that described him as a dynamic and courageous leader who gave a new direction to the departments he held during his two-year tenure.

The resolution further said that in Mr Bandhu’s death, the Capital had lost an experienced administrator and statesman. Besides industries, late Mr Bandhu had also held the portfolios of Labour and Environment.

The Chief Minister said that with the passing away of Mr Bandhu, she had lost a dear and respected colleague who had devoted his entire life to the service of people and the Congress party.

Mr. Bandhu breathed his last in the Apollo hospital last night. Hospital sources said Mr. Bandhu was suffering from meningitis and died of multiple organ failure.

Mr. Bandhu, who was 72, is survived by his wife and two sons. Earlier, senior party leaders, including Ms. Sonia Gandhi, visited his residence to pay their tributes.

GETTING IT RIGHT
MDU sops for sports persons
A. Gulati

Rohtak, September 18
The Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) will spend Rs.48 lakhs on sports activities in 2003-2004, an increase of Rs 11 lakh in last year’s budget allocation. The budgetary, as well as some other proposals relating to sports, got the nod at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the MDU held recently.

The AGM also approved the proposals tabled by MDU’s Sports Council for enhancing the daily allowances, diet money and cash prizes payable to sports persons. Now onwards, a player will get Rs.90 (instead of Rs.70 given earlier) towards daily allowances during coaching camps. Similarly, during the course of inter-university championship, players will get Rs.150 per day, as against Rs.90 being given till recently. The amount for players’ kit has also been hiked from Rs.300 to Rs 500. MDU’s Directorate of Sports has described these incentives as `best among North Zone Universities’.

A proposal for hike in the sports registration fee from Rs.35 to 60 was also approved at the AGM. A sum of Rs.38 out of the registration fee will be the share of the sports council while Rs.22 will be retained by the respective colleges. MDU’s sports council will be acquiring a new vehicle for transportation of sports persons.

From this year, MDU has decided to introduce three new games — netball, cycling and football — for the purpose of fielding teams in inter university championships. Similarly, wrestling (women) and boxing (women) have been included in the inter college championship. The university will also host the All India Inter University Championship for Softball (men and women), Kho-Kho (men) and squash. The Sports Directorate of the MDU is of the view that hosting of inter university squash championship will help the university in making optimum use of playing arena for the game, which so far has been underutilised.

Panchayat throws a spanner in Tourism Dept works
Ravi S.Singh
Tribune News Service

Damdama(Gurgaon), September 18
The panchayat of Damdama, a hot tourist spot which boasts of a lake, has turned down a swap proposal of the Tourism Department. The Department had offered 10 acres of land in exchange for the site, which it is eyeing for expansion of the Saras tourist complex. The rebuff is now threatening to delay or stall forever the expansion of the tourist complex. The Sarpanch of Damdama village, Mr Ranjit Singh, told the NCR Tribune that the proposal had been turned down as the site offered was not to the liking of the panchayat.

A resident of the village alleged that a part of the land, which the Tourism Department wants to secure from the panchayat, is earmarked for building a stadium.

However, those who know the dynamics of the State’s politics say that the “big brother” district administration can finally have its way, if the government persists with its move. The cross-section of the village is cut-up with the government over the raw deal it has been getting. The residents allege that their houses go without electricity for several hours, sometimes even days. Even when there is no disruption in supply, the voltage is low.

Owing to low voltage and frequent power cuts, the supply of water is also adversely affected. The power and water problem was acute last summer, though the good rainfall has mitigated it somewhat this season. A Dalit basti in the village is facing a problem of a different kind: It does not have a proper water supply distribution network. The main supply source is not satisfactory as the basti is located on an elevated plane. Having given up the hope of being bailed out by the government, the Dalits have gone Dutch to purchase a transformer.

Also, they are upset with the government on another issue. The government had allotted them plots free of cost several years back under a scheme of the Union government. The registries have been done in their favour and the relevant documents have been handed over. But the private parties, from whom the government had acquired the land, are still holding on to the plots. The locals allege that the government is not keen on giving them their due.

Metro inauguration being adjusted for PM 
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18
The protests by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit notwithstanding, the second line of the Delhi Metro is likely to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Addressing the media persons here today, the Chairperson of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Mr. Madan Lal Khurana, said the Board, in its meeting held on August 26, had decided to invite the Prime Minister to inaugurate the Tees Hazari-Tri Nagar section of Delhi Metro on October 2, but the dates were now being revised because of certain reasons.

Mr. Khurana said that a meeting will be held in the Urban Development Ministry tomorrow where the Board members of the DMRC, the Minister, Delhi Lt. Governor Vijai Kapoor and Ms. Sheila Dikshit would decide about the new date.

Hinting that the event could be postponed, Mr Khurana said it would, however, be inaugurated by Mr Vajpayee.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, on her part, in a letter to Mr. Khurana, has protested against the “unilateral” decision of the latter to advance the programme, without taking the state government into confidence. However, Mr. Khurana denied the allegation and said that the question of informing the state government did not arise when the representatives of the state government — the Managing Director of DMRC and the Chief Secretary — were present at the board meeting. 

Baby mix-up at Safdarjung?
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18
A newly born baby was allegedly kidnapped from Safdarjung hospital this afternoon. Poonam (25), a resident of Madangir, was admitted to the hospital in the early morning today. She delivered a baby around 9.30 am.

The husband, Vijay Kumar, who works with a courier company in Nehru Place, was shocked when the nurse on duty showed him a baby girl in the afternoon. He insisted that his wife had delivered a baby boy. When the hospital authorities denied a mix-up, he lodged a case of kidnapping in Sarojini Nagar police station.

He has alleged that his baby was swapped by the hospital staff. The case is being investigated.

According to doctors on duty, Poonam was blessed with a baby girl. The baby had been neither kidnapped nor exchanged; nor were outsiders allowed inside the nursery, the doctors insisted.

The police said that a DNA test would be conducted on the baby.

Indian fables make it to global racks
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18
India’s indigenous ‘Lion and Hare’ and ‘Monkey and Crocodile’ will soon join internationally recognisable characters, ‘Pinocchio’ and ‘Cinderella’, on the racks. Ladybird India, which is being launched tomorrow with eight favourite Indian tales and 33 international titles, has tied up with CRY (Child Relief and You) to help educate poor children. The next time you pick up a red Ladybird title off the shelf at your neighbourhood bookshop, a part of the money you pay will go to the CRY’s child development programme.

“It’s indeed a good thing that the reasonably affluent, who can afford to buy these books, can also now participate in helping a poor child learn,’’ says Sayoni Basu, children’s editor at Penguin India, which is publishing the Ladybird titles.

Under the tie-up, two per cent of sales proceeds of every copy sold between September this year and August next year will be donated to CRY towards improving the lives of poor children in its projects across the country. Besides the traditional tales of the hare, who duped the lion, and the crocodile, who kept its heart unharmed from a scheming monkey, the eight Indian Ladybird Favourite Tales, the first Ladybird titles outside Britain, include `The Crab and the Crane’ and `The Crow and the Pitcher’.

The illustrated books, aimed at children from three to five years, will also join the international list of the Ladybird series, making them available across the world. 

Congress promises fair deal to Gr Noida farmers
Parmindar Singh

Noida, September 18
The UP Congress President, Mr Jagdambika Pal, has assured farmers of Greater Noida that there will be no anomalies in land compensation rates. The Congress will take up the issue with Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and ensure that they get compensation at Noida rates. Addressing a Kisan Mazdoor Conference in Noida, he attacked Chief Minister Mayawati for invoking POTA, RSA and other laws to put her enemies behind bars. This had ultimately cost Ms Mayawati her job, he added.

The State Congress President said, BSP had exploited the people and the state in the name of Ambedkar while BJP was exploiting them in the name of communalism. He pointed out that Badalpur’s daughter, Mayawati, never visited Noida even once after becoming the chief minister.

The farmers of Greater Noida, in a panchayat, held in Habibpur village, had decided that they will not allow the Greater Noida Authority to take possession of their land if the compensation rates were not at par with what was paid in Noida.

While in Noida payment was made at the rate of Rs 378 per sq yd, in Greater Noida they have been offered Rs 234 per sq yrd. It was contended that there should be no disparity in land compensation as both the authorities were selling their residential, industrial and commercial plots at the same rate to the public.

ASSAULTING THE AGED
83-year-old found strangled at home
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18
The South district police are hunting for a domestic servant who is suspected to be involved in the murder of Krishan Khanna, 83, a resident of Nizamuddin West. The victim was found strangulated to death in her house in C-12 in West Nizamuddin this evening by her daughter-in-law, Mrs Adesh Khanna, and grand son, Ankit Khanna. At the time of the killing, Mrs Adesh and Ankit were out for some domestic work. The victim was alone with the servant, Hari who, was employed yesterday.

The police said that when Mrs Adesh and Ankit came back from the market they found the victim dead in her bedroom. Strangulation marks were visible on her neck. There had been some ransacking in the house.

Hari had been referred by their former servant, Mahesh, who was visiting his native place. Khannas do not have the permanent addresses of Hari and Mahesh. Nor had they gone in for police verification.

Teenage girls ‘abducted’

Faridabad: Two teenaged girls have been allegedly `abducted’ in the last two days by persons known to them.

According to a complaint lodged with the police, a girl studying in a school was allegedly abducted from Sector-28 by her classmate, identified as one Rahul. It is alleged that Rahul persuaded the girl to elope with him, promising to marry her in due course. The suspect is learnt to have forced the girl to take cash and valuables worth Rs 60,000 with her. In another case, a youth, identified as Mantu, `abducted’ a 15-year-old girl of Mujesar slum colony in a similar fashion. TNS

Overflowing sewers, poor power supply 
plague Sonepat
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, September 18
Established in the early 1951 in the hope that it would serve as a model for the industrial areas elsewhere in the state, the Sonepat industrial area today is a dream turned sour.

According to a report, the power supply is punctuated by interruptions. Civic amenities such as drinking water, sewage and roads are crumbling. A general feeling of ‘non-development and apathy’ permeates the air.

Most industries belong to the small-scale sector and produce a diverse range of products such as electronics, machine tools, automotive components and pharmaceuticals.

Power supply, rather lack of it, appears to be the most endemic problem. Industrialists complain of frequent and unannounced power cuts. Erratic supply causes underutilisation of machines, resulting in a lower rate of production. This is especially true of textile machines.

According to many industrialists, power supply trips at least nine to 10 times in a single eight-hour shift. In summer, this results in virtual chaos. Power cables have not been replaced since this industrial area was set up five decades ago.

Most industrialists have installed diesel- run generators but they say they are harassed by the officials of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) as permission is required to use the generators.

According to an industrialist, additional energy generation charge levied on the use of generators and arbitrary penalties for overloading raise the total cost per unit of power considerably.

An official of the UHBVN admits that the Nigam officials are aware of the problem facing the industrialists but says that the situation is beyond UHBVN control.

Other civic services in this industrial area are no better. No water tap had been provided either by the industries department or by the public health department in this industrial area. Even the pipelines have not been laid in it. The industrialists are forced to use hand-pumps.

Overflowing sewers are also a major problem. The blocked sewer lines and open manholes result in sewage spilling onto the roads. Many side lanes are waterlogged. The sewage not only ruins roads but also becomes a major health hazard. Sewer lines have been clogged for years, said many industrialists.

After years of wear and tear and lack of maintenance, the roads exist only in name, raising the cost of transportation.

Some industrialists have a different story to narrate. According to them, many problems of the industrialists are of their own making because of their faction-ridden organisations.

Other industrialists complain that the authorities of the industries department had been indifferent towards them and harassing them on one pretext or the other for making money. The single-window system introduced by the state government had failed, they alleged.

The industrialists complained that not only the high government officers of the department but the local officials also seldom visited the area to know the problems. But they would not forget to summon the industrialists for collecting funds! Similar situation persists in the industrial belt on G T Road—between Kundli village and Haldana border.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON ROHTAK
Murder of journalist condemned, CBI probe sought
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, September 18
Different journalists’ organisations have condemned the murder of a Kaithal-based journalist, Mr Parmanand Goyal today and demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident. Mr Goyal was shot dead near his house this morning.

The Haryana Union of Journalists (HUJ), Haryana Patrakar Sangh and Shramjivi Patrakar Sangh have criticised the incident and termed it as an attack on the freedom of press.

The HUJ president, Mr Virender Singh Chauhan, alleged that there had been an increase in the violent incidents against the scribes in the region, while the government had adopted a careless attitude towards such incidents.

He said the present incident could have been avoided had the government taken proper action into the murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati a few months back.

He sought the immediate arrest of the culprits and police protection to the members of the family of deceased to inculcate a sense of security among them.

Mr Sanjiv Saini, district president, Haryana Patrakar Sangh, Mr Jagjit Singh, district president, Shramjivi Patrakar Sangh and Mr Lokesh Jain, director, Siti Cable, Rohtak, have also condemned the incident and demanded the immediate arrest and action against the assailants.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee and the Lok Janshakti Party have also demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident.

In a statement here today, the HPCC chief, Mr Bhajan Lal, alleged that the government had failed to protect the lives and property of the people. He demanded that the Chief Minister should resign with immediate effect, owning responsibility for the unfortunate incident.

Capt. Shamsher Singh Malik, state president, Lok Janshakti Party, said the murder of Mr Chhatrapati had stunned the people in the region. He alleged it was an “evil attempt” to throttle the norms of democracy and the freedom of the press.

Earlier, a condolence meeting was held here and two-minute silence was observed by the journalistic community of the town.

CM misleading on foreign investments: Vidrohi 
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, September 18
The Haryana Pradesh Janata Dal (U) president, Mr Ved Parkash Vidrohi, has accused the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, of providing “wrong and baseless information” in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha about the foreign investments in the state during his regime. He said the figures made available in the Lok Sabha and the Haryana Vidhan Sabha were contradictory.

In a signed press statement issued here today, he said that if a head of the government provides wrong information, the democratic set-up in the country would be ruined. He said that either the Union Government or the state government was misleading the people about the foreign investments in the state. He demanded the publication of a white paper on this issue so that the people could know the truth about the foreign investments in the state.

Mr Vidrohi also alleged that the Chief Minister was in the habit of misleading the people on some pretext or the other and as a result, the people of the state were fed up by his false promises about the power and water supply.

Referring to the Best Bakery case, the Janata Dal leader demanded immediate imposing of the President’s rule in Gujarat and the dismissal of the Narinder Modi government in view of the Supreme Court’s “stinging indictment” of the Modi government for its failure to protect the minorities in the case.

Veterinary staff rushed to check spread of ‘galghotu’
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, September 18
Following reports of the outbreak of contagious disease “galghotu” among the livestock of Kheri Bilandpur and Bhaira Rasulpur villages in the district, a team of veterinary doctors and other staff have rushed to the villages. The team led by the Deputy Director, Dr J. P. Aggarwal, has started the diagnosis and treatment of the affected animals. According to information, initial reports from Bhaira Rasulpur village indicated that a number of animals had been affected by the disease.

The villagers had alleged that the Animal Husbandry Department had not taken precautionary measures to control the spread of this contagious disease, which had resulted in the death of more than a dozen cattle in the village.

It was also alleged that the disease had spread among the cattle of the neighbouring village Bilandpur Kheri, where the death of four cattle had been reported.

When contacted, Dr Aggarwal confirmed the death of two-three animals due to “galghotu”, but denied any outbreak of the disease on a large-scale. He explained that the cause of the death of the majority of the cattle was due to protozoan, generally known by the name “Surra”, which is not contagious. “Surra is like a malaria and is caused by particular flies,” he added.

A team of one veterinary surgeon and six veterinary livestock development assistants were camping in the villages. The entire livestock in the two villages had already been vaccinated against “galghotu”, he said, and added that vaccination would be carried out in nearly a dozen nearby villages as a precautionary measure.

He also pointed out that the livestock owners, by and large, refuse to get their milch animals vaccinated during the routine vaccination programmes of the department due to the misgivings that it would result in the reduction of milk of the animals.

‘Find a new you through meditation’
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, President, World Council of Religions, delivered a talk today on “Personal Transformation through Meditation” to a fully packed Kamani Auditorium at Mandi House.

Addressing the gathering, he said people are finding themselves in continual tension. Stress-related illnesses are on the rise and many people have interpersonal problems and are unhappy in their relationships. There is conflict at the level of the family, and hence the community, nation and the world.

People are trying out a variety of means to escape the pains and disappointments of life.

Many of the greatest mystics, philosophers, thinkers, saints, and founders of religions have spent their lives in lasting peace and happiness through meditation only, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji said.

In the past decades, more people are coming to the same conclusion. Many hospitals and medical centres have begun to offer courses in meditation to help patients improve their health.

The World Council of Religions President said meditation puts us in a relaxed state and recent scientific studies confirm that it can improve our physical, mental and spiritual spheres of our life.

Whether it is called concentration, inversion, prayer or meditation, each religion and philosophy, speaks of it as a way to get practical knowledge of our soul and of the divine power within. The practice of meditation is simple and anyone can do it. We can sit in a comfortable position in which our body can stay still for the longest possible time. We close our eyes to put our attention at a point between and behind our eyebrows, or the third or the single eye, and gaze ahead of us in the darkness, he said.

As the mind is in a continuous state of activity, saints, mystic and the scriptures advise us to keep it occupied with the silent mental repetition of the Lord’s name. This helps our attention connect with the inner divine light and sound, contacting which within ourselves, we experience a profound peace, bliss and happiness.

Sant Rajinder Singh Ji said meditation does not eliminate the problems of worldly life, but we get a new angle of vision and will power to face problems and conduct our life amicably.

On another level, it helps us to increase our powers of concentration and efficiency and we get enhanced productivity and success in daily life, he said.

Himachali Mela to be held on September 21 

New Delhi: Himachali Mela, the annual function of Jankalyan Sabha, Mandi, would be held on September 21. It would be held on the eve of the traditional ‘Sair Festival’ of Himachal Pradesh in the Saha Auditorium of Shree Gujarati Samaj, where large number of Himachalis residing in Delhi will participate.

NCR BRIEFS
Two youths killed in bike accident
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, September 18
Two youths were killed and another was seriously injured when their motorcycle rammed a Tata 409 on the National Highway No. 71 near Chidana village about 50 km from here last night.

According to a report, the victims were identified as Rajinder of Binjol village in Panipat district and Devinder of Mandi village in Panipat district. The injured youth was identified as Satyapal, alias Pala, of Gudda village in Panipat district. He is undergoing treatment at the PGIMS, Rohtak. His condition is stated to be serious.

Suicide by youth

A youth Sunil is reported to have committed suicide by shooting himself in a field near Sisana village about 25 km from here yesterday. According to a report, an affair with a girl is stated to be the cause of the incident.

Contractor robbed

Five unidentified armed miscreants are reported to have robbed Karamvir, a contractor of Bidhlan village, while he was returning to his village about 10 km from here last night.

According to a report, the miscreants also assaulted him and injured him for snatching Rs 12,000 from him. The contractor was immediately hospitalised and is stated to be out of danger.

Farmer electrocuted

A farmer Ramesh was electrocuted while he was returning to his house at Bad Khalsa village about 13 km from here last night. According to a report, a live wire was snapped. It was lying on the way in the street. He was touched with it and died on the spot.

War Heroes and Martyrdom Day function

Narnaul: The Haryana Government has decided to observe Haryana War Heroes and Martyrdom Day, which falls on September 23, in a grand way. A state level function will be held at Narnaul, to be presided over by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. A number of programmes will also be organised at all district headquarters on this day as a mark of respect to the martyrs of Haryana who had laid down their lives while safeguarding the unity and integrity of the nation.

Education board to honour supervisors

Bhiwani: The Haryana School Education Board has decided to honour superintendents and supervisors of examination centres and officers of district administration and police personnel, who would render outstanding service in the smooth conduct of the board examinations.

Man held for rape of daughter

New Delhi: North-East district police today arrested a resident of Welcome Colony who allegedly used to rape his 14-year-old daughter. His wife died a few years back. They earlier lived at Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh and came to Delhi recently. Yesterday the victim told her neighbour that she was often raped by her father.

The neighbour then reported the matter to the police. The victim has been medically examined and her father arrested, the police said.

DELHI DIGEST
Rashtriya Parivartan Party to contest 
in Delhi, Rajasthan
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18
Rashtriya Parivartan Party, led by Rajya Sabha MP D P Yadav, is going to contest the Assembly elections in Delhi and Rajasthan. Mr Yadav, whose party is joining the former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar-led Third Front, said here today that his party would field youth and women as candidates.

A formal announcement about the formation of the Third Front would be made in the first week of October, he said.

Eye surgeon’s house burgled: Unidentified youths today burgled the house of Dr Rajesh Kumar who resided in government flats in Motia Khan. The victim is an eye surgeon in Babu Jagjeevan Ram Hospital while his wife Dr Sunita practises at Patpargunj. The incident came to light when the couple reached their house in the afternoon. Only a gold chain was found missing while Rs 32,000 and other gold jewellery were intact. A case of burglary has been registered, police said.

CISF guard killed in shoot-out: One Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) guard was killed and another seriously injured in a shoot-out at the Purana Qila Road residence of a judge last night.

Police said constables Suresh Kumar and Kartar Chand, posted at the residence of Mr Justice O P Dwivedi, opened fire at each other following an altercation.

Both the constables were rushed to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in a serious condition. While Suresh Kumar died shortly, Kartar Chand survived after undergoing a surgery.

It is said that before opening fire at each other, they had some heated argument over availing leaves with head constable Bor Gohin.

White paper sought on gurdwaras: The president of Shiromani Gurudwara Sewadar Committee (women), Bibi Arvinder Kaur at a meeting today demanded that a white paper be issued on the number of gurdwaras in the country. All gurdwaras are not covered under the Sikh Gurdwara Act.

She alleged that several Singh Sabha officials were engaged in corrupt practices. The principled people who follow the traditions of Sikhs should be allowed to head the Sikh Sabhas and all the gurdwaras should be controlled under the Sikh Gurdwara Act.

Raja Singh Sethi, president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Sewadar Committee, called upon the Election Commissioner to prepare a fair voter list for the forthcoming elections as several applications are still pending in this regard.

Load-shedding: North Delhi Power Limited (NDPL) today announced load-shedding tomorrow due to maintenance work at 1/7 Sub Station in district Rohini and on the LT overhead lines from 10 am to 4 pm. The affected areas will be pocket G-21, 22, 23 and 24 in Sector 7, Rohini. 

CRIME

Travel agent, woman held for visa racket 
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18
The IGI Airport Police today claimed to have arrested two persons including a woman on the charge of visa racket. They were identified as Sopa, travel agent and Sonam, alias

Tashi Dolma. The police arrested Sonam from the airport when she was intended to go to the USA last night. At the time of clearance, her Tibetan identity certificate, issued from Delhi, was found to be forged.

On the scrutiny of her documents, arrival stamp of immigration and return visa were also found forged. During interrogation, she disclosed that her agent, Sopa, lived at Majnu Ka Tilla. A police team was then sent to arrest him but he was not found. A raid was conducted at his Connaught Place hideout and he was arrested.

During interrogation, he admitted to his involvement in the case. He used to stay in different hotels in Delhi to hide himself. He would target girls who had lust for going abroad. He charged Rs 7 lakh for fake documents, police said.

Held for duping contractor: The Economic Wing of the Delhi Police arrested Dheeraj Aggarwal from Gurgaon who had allegedly cheated a building contractor out of Rs 11 lakh.

The suspect and his father B.K. Aggarwal used to cheat contractors on the pretext of providing contract for constructing housing societies in the manner of M/s Green Village Society located at Ghaziabad. The racket came to light after an FIR had been lodged by Kewal Bhalla, a resident of D-933 New Friends Colony.

Both the suspects posed themselves as reputed promoters, associated with a number of societies promoting residential complexes including Shiv Kunj Awas Vikas Samiti, Green Village Society etc. They invited tenders recently to construct a society and assured the complainant that he would be allotted construction work worth Rs 20 crore.

The complainant signed an agreement with the suspects and paid Rs 11 lakh including Rs 3 lakh as earnest money. Subsequently, it was found that the suspects neither owned the land nor was there any housing project.

B.K. Aggarwal was arrested in June this year following which his son Dheeraj went underground. He was also arrested on Tuesday from Gurgaon, police said.

Lid off unit selling adulterated ghee
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, September 18
The police unearthed a unit engaged in manufacturing and selling adulterated ghee following a raid conducted at a house in Sector 15, a residential colony of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) here last evening.

According to a report, the police also seized more than 100 tins of ghee, 50 empty tins, a packing machine and several packing bags from the house.

However, the house owner was not present at the time of the raid.

This action followed a tip-off received by the police officials that a fake ghee manufacturing unit was functioning in this house. Thereupon, the police swung into action and raided the place.

It is stated that the house owner has already set up a ghee unit in the industrial estate of Murthal from where the ghee is transported to this house. It is packed here in different brands for selling. The police have registered the case and further investigations are on. A hunt is on to apprehend the culprits involved in the racket.

According to another report, the police carried out a number of raids at different dairy units at Ganaur, 16 km from here yesterday and seized a large quantity of ghee tins from them.

It is alleged that the owners of these dairies were engaging in mixing refined oil in desi ghee before packing it in the tins.

A case has been registered and further investigations are on. However, no arrest has been made so far.

The police conducted these raids following the receipt of information about the sale of adulterated desi ghee in the town and its adjoining areas.