Custody death: Mob goes berserk
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 21
At least 25 policemen were injured and several vehicles damaged when an irate mob pelted stones and indulged in arson in the congested Madipur area of Punjabi Bagh here, following the death of a youth in police custody early this morning.

Angered by the death of the youth, hundreds took to the street and attacked the Madipur police post where the incident allegedly took place. They pelted stones at the policemen and set fire to a local transport bus and a few other vehicles parked near by. The entire area was cordoned off for more than two hours as the crowd went berserk.

The police fired teargas shells and resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the mob. Though the protestors dispersed initially, they returned after some time and attacked the police with a vengeance; the authorities were constrained to requisition for additional force. Senior police officers also rushed to the spot to help defuse the tension. District police officers said that the situation was tense but under control.

Joint Commissioner of Police (South) Satish Chandra told reporters that the youth, identified as Sushil Kumar, was arrested last night on charges of gambling. He complained of uneasiness and chest pain around 2.30 a.m. and was taken to the Maharaja Agrasen hospital where he died about half an hour later. His death was attributed to a heart attack.

The agitated residents of the area, however, alleged that the youth died because of police excesses. An inquest will be conducted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate; in the interim, the body has been sent for a post-mortem examination.

Sources said that Sushil was picked up by the police as part of a drive to curb gambling in the city during the festive season. He was taken to the Madipur police post under the Punjabi Bagh police station, where he was allegedly beaten up by the policemen during interrogation.

According to another version, Sushil Kumar was standing on the balcony of his house when a police party arrived to round up some people who were reportedly gambling there. On seeing the police, the persons ran away. The policemen concluded that the suspects had managed to escape because they had received a signal from Sushil.

Incensed, the policemen dragged Sushil out of the house, beating him at the same time. They then bundled him into a car and took him to Madipur police post, where he was allegedly tortured. Mr Chandra said five policemen — one Sub-Inspector, one Head Constable and three constables — have been suspended for laxity, leading to the death of the youth. An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the circumstances in custody leading to Sushilil’s death.

Meanwhile, armed pickets have been posted in the area and additional police personnel are camping at the police post. Senior police officers have been asked to keep an eye on the situation.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) has sought an investigation into the alleged custodial death of Sushil Kumar in Madipur. Reacting to the “brutality” by the men in uniform, DPCC president Prem Singh said exemplary action should be initiated against the guilty police personnel. He also sought a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of the deceased.

Mr Prem Singh told mediapersons the Delhi Police was functioning high-handedly and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had done precious little to regulate the working of the police force. The Union Government, he said, seemed to be least concerned about the worsening law and order in the Capital.

Women protest dress advisory
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 21
The members of the All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA) today staged a demonstration against the authorities for issuing a warning to women, asking them not to move out late in the evening and dress “properly,” in the wake of the rising rape incidents in the city.

“The warnings should be issued to men committing such crimes, instead of the victims”, the AIPWA said, in a memo to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi. In a city like Delhi, where a large number of women were working, such warnings would only demoralise them further and force them to stay within the four walls of their homes, besides encouraging the anti-social elements, it said.

The association said that the dress code advice smacked of patriarchal attitude, which was in complete discord with modern times. The AIPWA demanded that a set of norms and guidelines for checking crime against women be drawn up with the help of women organisations and progressive lawyers.

It also demanded that tinted glasses and playing of music at high volume be banned in vehicles. The AIPWA said the audacity with which anti-social elements were operating in the most protected and posh areas of the Capital proved the total failure of the law enforcing agencies. In the last one month the Capital has witnessed an increase in the number of rape cases, the latest being that of a Swiss embassy staffer and molestation of an Indian film-maker on the night of October 14 outside the Siri Fort Auditorium, where the 34th International Film Festival of India was on.

Earlier, the question of security of women in the Capital was raised on account of the brutal rape of a nurse by a ward boy in the Shantimukund hospital and of a college girl by the President’s special security guards in broad daylight.

Two die of dengue in Noida

Nodia: Dengue has claimed its first two casualties in Gautam Budh Nagar, including an 18-year-old youth who succumbed to dengue yesterday. Three other patients in Kailash Hospital are critical. With this, the number of dengue patients has gone up to 177 in GB Nagar district. According to the CMO, Noida, Dr R. C. Gaur, Minto, son of Raghuber of Laharli village in Dadri, who was suffering from dengue, was brought to Kailash Hospital, Noida, on Sunday where he breathed his last late in the night. Earlier, a woman of Khorli village near Dankaur railway station had also died of dengue in Bulandshahar Government hospital.

The CMO has confirmed 10 new dengue patients. The Noida Chapter of the Indian Medical Association has called upon the district health authorities and the Noida administration to take effective steps and tackle the problem on a war footing. The association also claimed to have set up a monitoring cell for the district to ascertain the veracity of figures in the context of dengue fever. OC

MCD admits laxity in checking dengue
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 21
The Municipal Commissioner, Mr Rakesh Mehta, accepted today that the MCD could not take preventive measures on time this year which resulted in the outbreak of the dengue fever. Had the preventive measures been taken in August instead of September, the situation of the dreaded fever would have been different. Still there were only 13 deaths and 1,663 dengue cases in the Capital so far which indicated that even the belated measures had paid off to some extent.

The MCD alone cannot control the dengue fever. The co-operation of public is necessary as Aedes mosquitoes generally breed in houses and at work places, the MCD Commissioner said.

While addressing the media after a press visit to the MCD hospitals, he said that the MCD was not allowed to do development work, including cleanliness in unauthorised colonies, which was one of the reasons of the outbreak of the dengue fever in these localities. Development in these colonies is like “harboring a criminal”. The apex court has directed the authorities concerned not to undertake any development work in unauthorised colonies.

According to the figures of the dengue patients, the dreaded fever is under control. Its figures are coming down every day and it is showing a downward trend. The MCD is considering a “dengue prevention programme” to take necessary steps to prevent the disease just after the end of the rainy season every year, the Municipal Commissioner said.

Meanwhile, attendants of patients in Swami Dayanand Hospital in trans-Yamuna area today gheraoed the commissioner in protest against inadequate arrangement for the treatment of the patients. They complained that the patients were not admitted immediately to the hospitals. They are not being provided with the medicines from the hospitals. Temperature drops during night but all patients are not provided with blankets. They are forced to bring them from their homes. Most of the patients come from the unauthorised colonies where the poor live and they do not have the capacity for treatment in private hospitals.

According to the MCD records, Shahdara South and North are the most affected areas where hundreds of residents have suffered from the dreaded fever. Still no fogging and anti-larva spray arrangement have been made in these localities, the area residents said.

The Commissioner also visited Shastri Park where the health department of the corporation did fogging and spray. However, the residents complained that today was the first day in the season when the fogging was being done. A number of residents have suffered from dengue and other viral diseases which are caused by the mosquito bite. 

DAV students get taste of corporal punishment
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 21
In a case of corporal punishment, two class XII students of DAV School, Dayanand Vihar, were brutally beaten up, allegedly by their physical instruction teachers. The parents of the boys have further alleged that the bodies of their wards were covered with bruises, caused by the thrashing.

“These boys were playing basketball during a free period when they were caught by the teachers, Mr. Navin and Mr. Joshi, who also seized the ball the boys were playing with”, said the President of the Delhi Abhibhavak Mahasangh (DAM), Mr. Vijendra Kumar.

With the school authorities not taking any action in the matter and the police, too, not registering an FIR, the students have now approached the DAM. “The Medico Legal Case (MLC) report shows that the students have been seriously injured: they have both received injuries in the head, and Atul’s eardrum is suspected to be perforated,” pointed out Kumar.

The boys, Vishal Mittal and Atul Gupta, were allegedly beaten up “mercilessly” when they went up to the teachers to claim their ball. “The ball belonged to the boys and when they asked for it the teachers began thrashing them. They were slapped and their heads were banged against the walls,” alleged Kumar.

The DAM, along with the shocked parents of the boys, have now written to the Directorate of Education, seeking necessary action against the accused. “ The incident occurred on October 17 and the police is yet to file a case. The school principal is not reachable, so we have taken up the issue with the Directorate”, said Kumar. He went on to add, “It is a shame that despite a court ruling banning corporal punishment in schools, we still have such instances of students being badly beaten up.’’

Atul’s father, Mr. Brih Bhushan Gupta, told the NCR Tribune: “The school principal has sent away the boys and is yet to take any action against the teachers. Mr. Joshi had inflicted such punishment in the past too, but no action had been taken against him”. He added, “Despite two MLCs the police is yet to register our complaint. The children are not just grievously injured, they are severely traumatized as well”.

Red brigade stuns Saffron in JNU poll
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 21
The Red brigade continued to steal a march over the Saffron and the Green outfits, bagging three of the four seats in the central panel of the JNU Students Union for the second consecutive year.

The Students Federation of India (SFI) walked away with the posts of President, Vice President and Joint Secretary with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI) taking a bow. Mona Das of the AISA won the Post of General Secretary and polled 1064 votes.

Rohit of SFI won the post of President for the second consecutive year; he polled 1082 votes. Ena Panda and Murtaza of the same party won the posts of Vice President and Joint Secretary, polling 1117 and 984 votes respectively.

Premchand of NSUI, fighting for the President’s post, polled 537 votes, Mukesh Mishra of ABVP polled 535 and Inteshar of AISA 481. Fighting for the post of Vice President, AISA’s Dheeraj polled 334 votes, ABVP’s Dhananjay got 753 and NSUI’s Allimullah got 485. For the post of general secretary, Ramesh Babu polled 556 votes and Ninad Shankar of NSUI polled 331; Gautam Chakravarty of ABVP, fighting for the post of Joint Secretary, polled 566 votes and Preeti Rekha Gogoi of the NSUI polled 791. 

Unsafe Delhi
NCW holds meeting with top cop
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 21
The National Commission for Women (NCW), headed by its Chairperson Poornima Advani, today held a meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner R. S. Gupta and demanded immediate action against the rapists involved in the Swiss diplomat’s rape case. The commission members also asked Mr Gupta to take effective steps to eliminate the “feeling of insecurity” among women in Delhi.

The NCW members and women’s activists also sought ‘pro-active’ policing that is ‘sensitive’ to the sufferings of the fair sex and expressed dissatisfaction over the effectiveness of the measures taken after the rape of a medical student last November.

NCW Chairperson Poornima Advani said, “Women are not feeling safe in Delhi. The police must ensure their safety through effective measures. A message should go that instills confidence among women.”

She also said the police had taken steps after the rape of Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) student last year “but these are insufficient because sexual assaults are still taking place”.

She attributed the responsibility of preventing such crimes to the Delhi administration also, asking it to undertake proper mapping of the Capital to identify “crime-prone zones” and ensure proper lighting of campuses to prevent such incidents.

“There has to be coordinated and holistic approach of all agencies concerned,” the NCW Chairperson said, pointing out that rapists were not afraid because of “poor conviction rate.”

US-bound bedsheet consignment replaced
with sand

Panipat: In an interesting case, sand from India found its way to the USA instead of bedsheets, which an American entrepreneur had ordered from Panipat.

However, before the container could reach Mumbai, three Delhi-based persons, Anil Gupta, Subhash Kumar and Vakil Ahmed, allegedly broke into it at Tughlakabad (Delhi) and replaced the bedsheets with sand. When the container reached Mumbai, the unsuspecting port staff dispatched the consignment to the US. When the precious cargo was reportedly opened, the American industrialist was in for a shock. The local exporter, Mr Lalit, also got the shock of his life when he was informed that his consignment contained sand instead of bedsheets. TNS

RAPE ON THE RISE
Other NCR towns not safe either
Our Correspondent

Gurgaon, October 21
Besides Delhi, Gurgaon and its surrounding districts have also witnessed an increase in rape and molestation cases since the past two years.

As per police records, in the current calendar year till October 15, as many as 31 cases of rape were registered in Gurgaon, 28 in Faridabad, 11 in Rewari and nine in Mahendragarh district. In the previous two years, Gurgaon witnessed 27 cases in 2002, 32 cases in 2001, in Faridabad 37 cases in 2002, 37 cases in 2001, in Rewari 14 cases in 2002, 11 cases in 2001, and in Mahendragarh district 14 cases in 2002 and 10 cases in 2001 were reported. In the whole Gurgaon range, 90 cases of rapes were lodged in these four districts in 2001 and 92 cases in 2002. However, in the current year till October 15, 79 cases had been registered. Gurgaon recently witnessed two major cases which became the talk of the town. In one case, a schoolgoing girl was allegedly raped by a student of the same school in which she was studying. The boy reportedly first offered her a lift and then took her to a lonely place and allegedly raped her. In the other case, five youths used hidden video and still cameras to shoot girls in objectionable positions, who were later blackmailed.

Armed men rob idols from temple

Ghaziabad: Armed men robbed precious idols, artefacts, jewellery and valuables from Sidh Devi Temple in Dasna town under the Mussori police station on Sunday night.

The looted articles included silver mukuts (crowns), costly items presented by devotees and Rs 40,000 in cash. The 90-year-old priest, Baba Ramnand Giri, who resisted the dacoits, was shot at with countrymade revolvers and wounded in the stomach. Though one of the criminals was overpowered by the priest and a few others, he was soon freed by his cohorts who fired shots in the air to terrorise the temple inmates.

The SSP, Mr Jaynarain Singh, has promised the culprits will be nabbed before long. The incident had happened at about midnight when the temple priest was sleeping outside his room on a wooden bed. OC

COMMUNITY

Arrest of Cong MLA ‘politically motivated’
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, October 21
The Haryana Congress has condemned the arrest of Mr Jai Prakash, MLA from Barwala and described the move as politically motivated.

In a statement here today, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee chief Bhajan Lal alleged that Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala had been trying to gag the voice of the Congress by registering ‘false’ cases against its leaders. He said the Chautala government had registered such cases against nearly 40 leaders of the party and several party workers so far to terrorise them. Mr Bhajan Lal said the arrest of the Congress MLA on flimsy ground had exposed the frustration of the Chief Minister. He claimed that the party would not deviate from its course of action and boldly face the ‘cheap tactics’ adopted by the government.

Mr Surender Dalal, general secretary, Haryana Youth Congress, alleged that the state government had been trying to gag the democracy. He charged the Chief Minister with behaving in an autocratic and dictatorial manner. He said the Opposition leader in Haryana Assembly, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, enjoyed a status higher than that of a cabinet minister. However, he alleged Mr Hooda was not allowed to meet Mr Jai Prakash at Hisar on Monday at the behest of administration which deserved sharp criticism.

Mr Subhash Batra, a former minister and Mr Shadi Lal Batra, president, District Congress Committee (Urban) also termed the arrest of Mr Jai Prakash as gross violation of democratic norms and an ‘evil attempt’ to frighten the Congress leaders.

MDU office-bearers

The newly elected office-bearers and members of the executive committee of Maharshi Dayanand University Non-teaching Employees’ Association took the oath of office in a ceremony held at the University College here today.

President Radhey Shyam Sharma, vice-president Jagdish Singh, general secretary Mahender Singh Kundu, joint secretary Suraj Bhan, treasurer Tilak Raj Ahuja and members of the executive committee were administered the oath by Mr Poonam Chand Rati, president, Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana.

HVPN to launch stir from October 29
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, October 21
The employees of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN), under the banner of ‘All Haryana Power Corporation Workers Union (AHPCWU), has decided to launch a statewide agitation from October 29 to press upon the state government to end ‘victimisation’ and find solutions to the various issues of concern.

A spokesman of the union said here today that the agitated employees would organise meetings at unit level on October 29 and prepare a line of action at the local level.

He said demonstrations and dharna would be held at the sub-divisional level on October 31 against the ‘irrational’ transfers and keeping ‘genuine’ demands pending.

He alleged that a number of employees, including those in Panipat were transferred due to political reasons. He claimed that a number of employees were transferred after a contractor of the HVPN was offended by the ‘exposure’ of his corrupt practices.

He argued that if this was the ‘prize’ for honesty and opposing the corrupt practices by contractors, then it would be extremely difficult for honest people to stand against corrupt officials.

An organiser of the union, Mr Subhash Lamba, said the second phase of the stir would begin on November 7 and would focus on the issue of the regularisation of the services of all the part-time employees.

He said despite hundreds of posts lying vacant, there were large number of employees who had not been regularised despite assurances.

He said the amendments made by the state government on the issue of providing jobs on ex-gratia ground was against the interests of the staff, and demanded that all those waiting for employment be absorbed. He said the employees would protest against the issuance of commercial charge sheets and the policy of awarding meter reading work to private contractors. 

BPL families allege diversion of rationed articles
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, October 21
There has been no let up in the diversion of the rationed articles, particularly levy sugar, wheat or wheat flour and kerosene oil to the black market. Despite the ongoing inquiry, the ration cardholders have been deprived of their rationed commodities. The inquiry officials of the Chief Minister’s Flying Squad have seized the records from the offices of the District Food and Supplies Controller and the CONFED for scrutiny.

Moreover, the officials have recorded the statements of the owners of the fair price shops in this regard and sought the names of the ration-card holders belonging to the BPL families.

According to a report, resentment prevails among the BPL families against the supply of sub-standard wheat flour and wheat by the owners of the fair price shops in connivance with certain officials of the Food and Supplies Department.

A large number of BPL families alleged that the complaints made to the authorities concerned in this regard have fallen on deaf ears.

Some consumers have complaints about the sub-standard quality of levy sugar, faulty weighing, over-charging and diversion of the rationed sugar and kerosene oil to the black market.

Consumers also alleged that in the absence of any proper monitoring mechanism by the authorities, the owners of the fair price shops do not issue receipts to them.

The consumers alleged that they were deprived of their monthly rations as the fair price shops remained closed for most of the day. The bulk of the kerosene oil was being sold in the black market by owners of the fair price shops, it was alleged.

A high-level inquiry into the public complaints in this regard was likely to expose the misdeeds of the officials of the Food and Supplies Department and the irregularities of the owner of the fair price shops. 

SONEPAT
CITU for Rs 4,500 per month as minimum wage 
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, October 21
The district committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has urged the state government to fix Rs 4,500 per month as the minimum wage of a worker employed in the industrial and agricultural sectors.

This demand is contained in a resolution adopted at the eighth annual convention of the district unit of the union, which concluded here recently. Mr Howa Singh, president of the district unit, presided over the convention. The convention was also addressed by Mr S. N. Solanki, president of the state unit, Mr Satbir Singh, general-secretary of the state unit, Mr Janardan Prasad Kothari, leader of the ‘Sarv Kaamcheri Sangh’, Haryana, Mr Jai Bhagwan, leader of the ‘Kisan Sabha’, Haryana, and Mr Balbir Saini, leader of ‘Khet Mazdoor Union’.

They criticised the anti-worker attitude of both the Centre and the state government. They warned that if anti-worker policies continued, the people will have no alternative but to launch a countrywide agitation to force the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre to accept their legitimate demands.

The convention also urged the Centre to amend the Payment of Wages Act and abolish the limit set on bonus. It also demanded the construction of an ESI hospital at Sonepat and grant of unemployment allowance to the jobless educated youths.

It further demanded the guarantee of work to the farm labourers round the year and increase of wages for the unskilled and brick-kiln workers in the state.

The convention also opposed the recent verdict of the Supreme Court prohibiting strikes and announced that the trade unions would continue their struggle against this verdict.

Policemen salute their brethren died on duty
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 21
Several officers and men of the Delhi Police and various Central Police Organisations today observed the Commemoration Day at New Police Lines and paid tributes to the 958 policemen who had sacrificed their lives this year while performing their duty.

The officers and men saluted the valiant role of the policemen from the Delhi Police, Central Police Organisations and also the policemen of various states.

Delhi Police Commissioner R S Gupta who read out the names of the policemen who sacrificed their lives, placed wreath along with the Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) P C Sharma and other senior officers.

As a token of respect, sarees and shawls were presented to the widows and dependants of the 12 policemen of Delhi Police who died while performing their duties.

Mr Gupta said that there is a rapid increase in the responsibilities of the police force due to the increasing threats of destructive forces to the internal security of the nation.

He also announced various measures adopted by the department for the welfare of the police personnel and said that the increase in internal contribution towards the welfare fund has allowed the department to enhance these aids.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON GURGAON
INLD roots for a ‘Defence University’ in Gurgaon
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, October 21
The local unit of the ruling INLD has taken up with the Chief Minister the issue of the setting up of a ‘Defence University’ in Gurgaon, should the Centre agree to the project in Haryana. The Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Assembly and local MLA, Mr Gopi Chand Gehlot, said that he had spoken to the Chief Minister on the issue. He said the Chief Minister has an open mind on the issue of setting up the university in Gurgaon.

According to him, the Centre plans to set up a ‘Defence University’ in the country. The Haryana Government had already staked its claim to the Defence Ministry for setting it up in the state.

Mr Gehlot, a senior leader of the INLD, said that there are three sites and the proposed institute could be set up on any one of them. According to him, Mr Chautala has also taken up with the Prime Minister the extension of the Metro Rail to Gurgaon. He was hopeful that the Centre would give a sympathetic consideration to the proposal.

The plan to set up the ‘Defence University’ is in addition to a move to set up a ‘Sports University’ in Haryana, preferably at Gurgaon, he added.

Mr Gehlot lauded the state government for initiating several developmental schemes, especially in Gurgaon. He said that he had had launched a programme, ‘MLA Aaap Ke Dwaar’ in his Assembly constituency on the pattern of

‘Sarkar Aap Ke Dwaar’ programme conducted by the state government.

The programme had been launched to keep himself posted of the various problems of the people, he said.

There are 31 wards in the city and 32 village panchayats-all forming part of the Gurgaon Assembly segment.

He said that the administration had identified 20 colonies in the city, which would be provided all the civic facilities by the end of this financial year.

Responding to a question regarding the reluctance of the dairy owners to shift their business to the special zone created by the local municipality in village Khedki Majra, he hoped they will cooperated with the administration. He assured that the municipality will provide all civic facilities in the zone. The site will be linked with canal based water scheme, he added.

NCR BRIEFS
Chains snatched from two women
Our Correspondents

Noida, October 21
The incidents of snatching of chains are increasing in Noida. Three miscreants snatched gold chains from two women near Naya Bans under Sector-20 police yesterday afternoon.

First they allegedly teased the women and when they resisted their move, they snatched the chains from their necks and fled away.

Earlier on October 18, a woman in a rickshaw was deprived of Rs 10,000 by two criminals while there was sufficient police presence around in the Gole Chakkar area.

On October 19, two criminals have looted the gold chain of a women in Sector-1. Again on October 20, three criminals had snatched gold chains from two women near Gole Chakkar area.

Kusum Devi and Lata Srivastava had gone to Naya Bans area for some shopping. While they were going on foot near the bus stop, three miscreants blocked their path and started teasing them.

When the women resisted their attempt, they suddenly snatched their gold chains and fled. By the time the people around could make out as to what had happened, the miscreants had already disappeared from the area.

The Sector-20 police, however, maintain that nobody had come to lodge a complaint with them.

The almost daily incidents of loot and assault on women in Noida have sufficiently demoralised people. The police, it seems, have failed to check such incidents, giving a free rein to the criminal elements.

Demand for formation of Ahir regiment

Rewari: Former Union agriculture minister Rao Birender Singh, a champion of Ahir politics, has asserted that the longstanding demand for the creation of an Ahir regiment in the Indian army was genuine and justified.

He said it was a matter of concern that instead of viewing things in the right perspective, successive governments had ignored the demand.

At a press conference held here recently, Mr Rao gave a vivid account of his efforts for the formation of an Ahir regiment.

He said that the Ahir jawans had repeatedly showed their mettle in the wars against the Chinese as well as the Pakistanis. The record of one Paramvir Chakra, one Ashoka Chakra, 26 Vir Chakras and numerous Sena Medals won by the Ahir jawans and officers was proof of their sacrifice, valour and gallantry.

He expressed the hope that the government. would view things in the right perspective and take steps to create an Ahir regiment in the Army.

Scooter rally

Rohtak: Ambedkar ‘Chhatar Kalyan Sangh’ organised a scooter rally on the university campus and submitted a memorandum to the vice-chancellor on Monday, demanding reversion of those university teachers to colleges who were not involved in research work.

DELHI DIGEST
Traders rally against TIN, burns effigy
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 21
Traders owing allegiance to the Forum of Delhi Trade Associations (FDTA) on Tuesday held a demonstration against the proposed introduction of Traders Identification Number (TIN) from November 1.

Hardening its stand, the FDTA said that indirectly the TIN was a precursor to the enforcement of Value Added Tax (VAT) from the next financial year in the Capital.

Representatives of 100-odd associations and federations converged at Ghanta Ghar in the Walled City and expressed their resentment by burning the effigy of the TIN.

President of FDTA Vijay Gupta said Finance Minister Mahinder Singh Saathi had assured that the traders need not fill the TIN forms but the sales tax commissioner was continuing with its implementation.

Traders have already met Lieutenant-Governor Vijai Kapoor and apprised him of their problems in detail. FDTA general secretary Rajendra Gupta said the authorities concerned were preparing a background for the implementation of VAT indirectly by asking the
traders to submit their TIN forms duly filled before the end of the current month.

FDTA vice-president Susheel Goel, in turn, said the traders were annoyed with the details required to be filled in the TIN forms as those details were in no way related to the Department of Sales Tax.

The FDTA said the next course of action would be chalked out after Diwali if the Government of NCT of Delhi failed to stop its implementation.

Jat Mahasabha takes a dig at CM

Accusing Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala of promoting corruption and nepotism, the All India Jat Mahasabha has said the Chief Minister had done nothing beyond erecting the statues of Devi Lal and naming parks and roads after Devi Lal.

Spokesman of All India Jat Mahasabha and convenor of Haryana Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti Tara Chand Mor on Tuesday said the Chief Minister had broken every promise he had made.

Mr Chautala, he said, withheld the decision to grant reservation to Jats in the government service.

“Though Chautala had promised to do this immediately on the eve of the granting of reservation to Jats in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh,” Tara Chand Mor said, “he reneged on his own promise and has yet to offer reservation to Jats after so many years.”

CRIME

Mother poisons four kids
Our Correspondent

Rewari, October 21
A young woman Pinki gave poison to her four children–Govind, Chhotu (both sons), Puja and Deepa (daughters), and then herself consumed it at Dharuhera, 20 km from here yesterday. They were living in a rented accommodation in Shiv Colony which lies on the Dharuhera-Nandramour Bas Road.

The word about the mishap soon reached the neighbours who informed the authorities of the Omax Auto Industries, Dharuhera where Pinki’s husband Mukesh Kumar was employed.

The Dharuhera police were also informed following which Pinki and her four children were rushed to the Raman Munjal Hospital, Dharuhera where Chhotu was declared dead while Pinki and the remaining three children, who were all in a serious condition, were referred to Safdrjung Hospital, Delhi after they had been given the first-aid at the Raman Munjal Hospital.

Pinki also passed away at the Safdarjung Hospital during the night. The three children, namely Govind, Puja and Deepa, were still getting treatment at Safdarjung Hospital.

It is stated that the family feud led Pinki to take the extreme step.

Her husband Mukesh Kumar is a resident of Munger district of Bihar. The Dharuhera police are conducting the investigation.