The great Ghaziabad robbery: Just waiting to happen
Parmindar Singh

Ghaziabad, November 20
While criminals in Ghaziabad seem to be having a field day with a major crime taking place almost every week, the police and the State Bank of India authorities have much to explain for the Tuesday bank dacoity in the SBI Gandhi Nagar branch, in which Rs.81 lakh was looted and a security guard lost his life.

Both the sides are engaged in a blame game. The bank has refused to accept any responsibility. If a bank security guard is killed and the bank is looted, it is clearly the responsibility of the police, it is pointed out. The DIG Meerut range, C.B. Rai, also denies that that the police force was careless. “Loot has taken place with the connivance of bank employees. When a bank employee is involved in a crime, the police can do little in the matter,” he has asserted.

The banks, somehow, lack a clear focus on the question of security. Although public funds are at stake, including the safety of a large number of clients and staff, the banks are generally reluctant to invest in security. Able-bodied and experienced security guards could have been easily hired from the police force at a little cost. But instead the Gandhi Nagar management preferred to put guns in the “trembling hands of retired personnel with drooping shoulders,” says a client.

Incidentally, in the SBI branch in Navyug Market, PNB branch, Chaudhry Mode, Allahabad Bank branch, Navyug market, and Oriental Bank of Commerce branch, Rajnagar, the managements have deployed additional security guards at their own cost. But these branches are an exception to the rule. Even though the currency chest contained Rs.61 crore, the Gandhi Nagar branch had only four security guards. One of them, Brijender Singh, was on leave for the past four days. Two guards were generally on duty during the day while at night a lone guard was considered enough.

A large number of empty liquor bottles found on the premises is ample proof that the slain guard Kalicharan was a drunkard. Although bank officers had known about Kalicharan’s weakness, he had been put on night duty for the last 10 days without a break.

It is the duty of the local SO to keep a tab on the security guard at night. However, Kalicharan had not been checked for months, it is learnt. Tuesday night was no exception. Incidentally, the branch is situated at a stone’s throw from the Kotwali police station on GT Road. The alarms in most banks in Ghaziabad have been found to be defective, because they are not checked periodically, a mandatory requirement. The alarm of SBI branch did not operate when its strong room was being cut. However, according to Branch Manager Mormittra Biswas, the intruders had snapped its wire circuit.

The police and bank officials are privately thanking their stars that the intruders could decamp with only Rs.81 lakh. It is believed that an estimated Rs. 61 crore was stacked in this important branch on the day of the dacoity. The police, curiously, have failed to get any clue or leads.

Interestingly, a meeting between district police and bank officials, convened to examine another such incident in State Bank of Patiala in Jindal Nagar, was scheduled for November 11, but could not be held. Perhaps, the officials were waiting for a bigger dacoity to be happen, commented a senior citizen RP Rastogi. A sum of Rs six lakh was looted in the State Bank of Patiala branch.

No interference once poll process has begun: HC
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 20
The Delhi High Court today rejected the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party’s petition seeking a direction to the Election Commission (EC) to allot an exclusive symbol to all its candidates for Delhi Assembly polls.

Justice BD Ahmed dismissed the party’s plea saying once the electoral process was set in motion, no court could interfere in the matter till declaration of results.

Even otherwise, the Election Commission has not faulted or acted unreasonably, the court said.

“Courts are to facilitate the electoral process and not to impede the same,” Justice Ahmed, who had yesterday asked the EC to consider if it was possible to allot an exclusive symbol to all the candidates of Panthers Party here, observed after hearing submissions of EC counsel Pankaj Rai Chopra and Panthers Party President Prof Bhim Singh.

The party’s Delhi Unit chief Sanjoy Sachdev had sought quashing of the EC’s November 17 order allotting Bicycle symbol to the candidates of Panthers Party and Samajwadi Party in 6 and 28 constituencies, respectively.

Prof Bhim Singh had urged the court to ask the EC to issue an exclusive symbol other than Bicycle to both Panthers Party and Samajwadi Party, so as to avoid confusion among voters.

Both Panthers Party and Samajwadi Party are recognised by the EC as state parties in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal, respectively, with Bicycle as their symbol.

As per EC’s Election Symbol Order a state party has exclusive right to use its allotted symbol in that particular state but outside that state the said party would only get preference in allotment of the same and not an exclusive right to use it.

Where two state parties having common symbol put up their candidates in a constituency in a third state, none of them would get the said symbol, instead they would be allotted different symbols.

The court observed that the EC’s order was in consonance with the Election Symbol Order and it did not call for interference by the court.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Candidates worth their weight in 
apples, bananas & coins 
Tribune News Service

Congress candidate from Tri Nagar Anil Bhardwaj campaigned from door to door.

EC divides Delhi into sectors for better management
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 20
The Election Commission (EC) has divided the NCT of Delhi into sectors for better management in the run-up to the December 1 Assembly election. Each sector will be under a sector officer.

According to the arrangements made by the office of the chief electoral officer of NCT of Delhi, the sector officer will travel in a vehicle with a yellow sticker issued by the Election Commission.

The sticker will be for security purposes and help determine the identity of the officials. The observers appointed by the Election Commission have begun work; their vehicles will carry green stickers.

The returning officer’s vehicle will carry a sky blue sticker. Other vehicles on election duty, including buses, will sport a purple sticker. The vehicles of the chief electoral officer and the officials attached to his office will carry pink stickers.

Besides, the Election Commission has appointed 10 special observers. Besides Central Delhi which will have two special observers, the remaining eight districts will have a special observer each. Meanwhile, the office of chief electoral officer informed that the kits were ready for all the polling booths and would soon be dispatched soon. All the material would be distributed from Jharoda Kalan.

Society to witness direct contest
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, November 20
With the filing of nominations for the office-bearers of the management committee of the Tika Ram Education Society, which runs six educational institutions in Sonepat town, the prominent people of the area have started aligning with the candidates of their personal preference cutting across the party lines.

Apparently, there are two panels in the fray – one reportedly enjoying the blessings of the INLD supremo and Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and the other panel claiming the support of Congress and Haryana Vikas Party leaders of the area.

After filing of the nomination papers, the stage is set for direct contest on all the four posts - president, vice-president, general secretary and treasurer. Those who have filed nominations included INLD leader Om Prakash Dahiya and HVP leader Umed Singh Dahiya for president, Jaipal Singh Machhri and Mahender Singh for vice-president, Ram Mehar Chhikara and Manohar Lal for general secretary and Dharam Pal and Virender for treasurer. Besides, Mahender Singh has filed his nominations for treasurer as well as general secretary.

According to election schedule, the last date for withdrawal of nominations is November 22 and the polling will take place on December 7. The Sub Divisional Magistrate, Gohana, Mr Suraj Bhan Jangra, has been appointed as the returning officer.

Move over Daler, Haryana Govt will now 
find us jobs abroad
Jatinder Sharma

Rohtak, November 20
The Haryana Government has created a respectable and reliable outlet for those wanting to go abroad. The Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC), the agency created in early 70s for the development and funding of industrial estates, has been entrusted with the additional responsibility of identifying manpower placement opportunities for Indians in the US and other countries.

The HSIDC has set up a separate cell called Overseas Manpower Placement Bureau to co-ordinate with similar placement agencies abroad for identifying job opportunities for Indians. Mr Randhir Singh will be its Project Director; he is currently General Manager in HSIDC. Haryana is perhaps the first state in the country to officially enter the business of overseas manpower placement. The move has come as a welcome relief to those who are keen to go abroad but are shy of approaching the travel agents for fear of being fleeced as is happening in Punjab and some parts of Haryana. The people now believe that they can try their luck abroad without any fear of being cheated.

The Overseas Manpower Placement Bureau has received its first order for placement of 200 nurses in various hospitals in the US from its American associate, PGS Solutions, LCC, New York. The Bureau has invited applications from trained nurses keen to go abroad. The response was encouraging and the bureau received over 300 applications.

The bureau has shortlisted nearly 40 nurses out of these applicants and they are being trained by Mepco International, an agency engaged by the HSIDC, at Delhi and Panchkula. The shortlisted candidates are being imparted training in NCLEX, IELTS, personality development and communication skills. They are also being educated on the procedure for getting visa.

The New York associate of the HSIDC will take care of the candidates for 40 days during which period these candidates would have to pass NCLEX and IELTS tests. They will be provided lodging and boarding free by the New York company. The nurses, who clear the examinations, will get $ 40,000 per annum and the HSIDC $ 400 per head. According to US-based placement agency, over two lakh vacancies of nurses exist in the US.

Dummy film production co busted
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 20
The Economic Offences Wing claims to have arrested two persons who had cheated more than 300 victims of Rs 1.5 crore on the pretext of offering them roles in films, TV serials, ad films, video albums and on the ramp.

The sleuths, during a raid on Ramsons Productions Company in Greater Kailash- I, seized registers, photos, portfolios, copies of contracts, registrations forms and computers.

Based on a tip-off that a group of persons were cheating youths and children on the pretext of offering them roles in films in Delhi and Mumbai, the sleuths apprehended Neeraj Chaudhary (21) and Satender Verma (22), both residents of Sahibabad and directors of the production company.

The accused used to advertise in leading newspapers, offering youths and kids roles and charging them Rs 200 to Rs 600 as registration fee. They would further charge Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 from registered candidates for preparing their photo profiles.

To those who had paid between Rs 20,000 and Rs one lakh, the accused had even given some scripts of non-existent films like ‘Sajish’ and ‘Doosra Kaun’. They had also promised the candidates that they would be taken for shooting to Mumbai and Delhi, but that never happened, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (EOW) Dinesh Bhatt. The sleuths have also contacted four persons who became victims of the racket — Pankaj Kumar Vats, a resident of Jhajjar, Vinod Panchal, a resident of Rohini, Gaurav, a resident of Rewari and Ms Sanjot, a resident of Mandakani Enclave..

One of the victims, Vats, told the sleuths that after much pressure he was returned two cheques by the company, for Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000, respectively. However, both the cheques bounced. The accused had accounts with SBI, ICICI and PNB in New Delhi and with ICICI in Anderi West, Mumbai.

Big victory for RWA on house registries

Ghaziabad: The Allahabad High Court has accepted the plea of the Resident Welfare Association of Sector-14, Vasundhra, against UP Resident Development Corporation vide which it had challenged UP Avas Vikas Parishad’s order that houses be registered on the basis of the construction cost of the buildings.

in a nutshell
PM rally sends traffic for a toss

New Delhi: The South Delhi residents and commuters had a harrowing time this evening with the traffic jammed for hours together: the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, was to address a rally in the Millennium Park near Chirag Delhi flyover. The traffic was closed from 3.30 pm in the evening, even though Mr Vajpayee addressed the gathering only at around 6 pm, and stayed for about an hour. The commuters had a tough time crossing the Chirag Delhi flyover as all roads leading to the park were closed till the meeting came to an end.

Child falls into tank on school premises, dies

A student of the first standard in Queen Mary School in Sector 25, Rohini, died this morning when she fell into an open underground water storage tank on the school premises. The victim, Asana Chugh, a resident of Sector 13, Rohini, was rushed to the Jaipur Golden hospital where she was declared brought dead. The police said that the incident took place at around 9 am when the kid fell into the open tank.

The police have arrested the Chairman and Administrator of the school, Ved Mittal, and registered a case of negligence against the school authorities.

Power Corpn to attach Property of defaulters

Noida: The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation has collected Rs.15 lakh from two special camps organized in Atta and Nithari village in Noida to augment its revenue collection. The UPPC is to hold similar camps in Sorkha, Sarfalud, Nagli Wajidpur villages also. Besides, the UP Power Corporation has recommended the names of 200 defaulters to District Magistrate for starting attachment proceedings against them as all other means have failed to yield the payment due from them.

HVP leader expresses concern over rising 
incidence of accidents
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, November 20
The general secretary of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP), Mr Rajiv Jain, has expressed his grave concern over the poor state of the roads in the city, which is a district headquarters in Haryana, and urged the state government to allocate more funds for immediate repairs of the roads to avoid further accidents.

In a press statement issued here today, he pointed out that almost all the roads, particularly the Atlas Road, Gur Mandi Road, Old DC Road Murthal Road and the road between Railway Flyover and the Bayyanpur village, need immediate repair and the PWD (B and R) has utterly failed to take steps for their repairs.

He strongly opposed the proposed construction of the dividers on the two-km-long stretch of the road, starting from Gita Bhawan city to the Railway Flyover. A large number of commercial establishments, hotels and restaurants, banquet halls and nursing homes have come up on both sides of the road and the visiting people park their vehicles in front of these commercial establishments, hotels and restaurants, nursing homes and banks etc, he added.

He demanded that the district administration and the PWD (B and R) should make parking lots for the vehicles so that unnecessary traffic hazard do not happen frequently. He, however, warned that if the dividers are constructed on the road, the chances of accidents would increase in the absence of any regular parking places.

The HVP leader also criticised the unsatisfactory and inefficient working of the Sonepat Municipal Council and alleged that the failure of the council to maintain the streetlights has led to the occurring of accidents in the congested lanes and bylanes during the darkness at night.

He also accused the employees of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) of removing the bulbs and tubes from the streetlight points and said that a high-level inquiry into this racket is likely to expose the misdeeds of the officials.

PWD set to give a facelift to state roads
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, November 20
With financial provision of Rs 500 crore as loan from the HUDCO, the Public Works Department (PWD) is all set to renovate the roads including the highways in the state measuring more than 2,550 kms. All the formalities of the loan advancement have already been completed.

According to a senior officer of the department at Chandigarh, the year 2004 will be full of responsibilities for the department while utilising the hefty amount to its best possible use. He clarified that most of the loan amount would be used in renovation and upgradation of the state highways. The department had already started preparing maps of the highways and other main roads, which would get the facelift with this financial allocation, he said.

He also added that the work for maintenance of nearly 1,346 km long National Highways passing through the state, has also been assigned to the PWD. He recalled that the workload on the department reduced significantly when the construction of new roads and approach roads in the interior villages was given to the state marketing board more than one and a half year back.

The department is also planning to launch a drive against those who have encroached upon the land adjacent to the National Highways. This step is being taken to ensure road safety and smooth flow of vehicular traffic on the National Highways; the officer added and remarked that the accident incidents have increased due to encroachments near the crossings by the rehriwallas, stray vendors and shopkeepers.

The staff, which became surplus following handing over of some works to the marketing board, would be put on anti-encroachment duties.

It was also informed that the government has sanctioned Rs 20 crore to the department for construction of bridges.

Postal cover to commemorate platinum jubilee of YMCA
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 20
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the New Delhi Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), a special postal cover was released at the YMCA hostel here today.

Speaking on the occasion, Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi Vijai Kapoor congratulated YMCA for their extraordinary service to the youth of the country and said that few institutions are willing to address the problems of the youth directly like the YMCA.

Mr Kapoor, who was the chief guest, said a number of great politicians have been associated with the YMCA. In his address, he said that values are more required in a developing society. The YMCA is doing a great job of instilling proper values among the youth, he added.

The special commemorative postal cover, which was released by Chief Post Master General, Delhi circle, Ms Jyotsna Dinesh, is based on theme of autism. Addressing the gathering, she said that the special cover shows various activities of the YMCA. The cover is of great philatelic importance and is a collector’s item. The cover will be available at all postal counters.

Earlier, president of the YMCA Elwin Nathaniel acquainted the gathering with various activities of YMCA. He maintained that the YMCA is working towards providing a sustainable solution for human development and has launched several programmes for women empowerment and healthcare. At present, YMCA is in the process of restructuring its programme of working with the mentally challenged, he added.

Elaborating on the kind of work that YMCA has done towards nurturing sporting talents in the country, he said YMCA will soon be introducing hockey coaching camps in the Capital.

The postal cover, which has been designed by a faculty member of the Media Studies Centre of YMCA, Mr Nishant David, also carries photographs of Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Dr Rajendra Prasad and Mother Teresa.

SPOTLIGHT
Pollution checking measures no match 
for ground realities
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, November 20
As Faridabad continues to remain one of the most polluted cities of the country measures to curb pollution have not matched the seriousness of the problem so far. Although the district authorities announced yesterday a ban on the sale or supply of loose 2-T Oil (used by two-wheelers) by oil dealers and petrol pumps for the next two months by invoking Section 144 of the CrPC but this step is seen as only a drop in the ocean. The well-known Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) at Delhi had recently stated in its report that Faridabad was one of those NCR towns where the petrol and diesel supply had been found adulterated after samples of petroleum products lifted from here were tested at the laboratories of Indian Oil and at an institute at Dehra Dun at the initiative of certain car companies.

It states that samples from Faridabad had traces of dry cleaning solvents like chloropentene. The tests revealed a high level of adulteration in fuels being sold in the NCR region. There are about 35 petrol pumps in the district and the authorities, including the district Food and Supply officials and the oil companies lift about 20 to 25 samples each month for checking adulteration. Surprisingly, the rate of failure of samples was only one to two per cent only in a year on the basis of these tests. On the other hand many residents of the town do go to Delhi or any other town to have a fuel refill as the credibility of a majority of fuel supply outlets had been at stake following more reports of adulteration surfacing in the past few years, said a resident of Sector 9 here.

Mr L. R. Jagar, a teacher here, said he had been a victim of petrol adulteration as he had to spend over Rs 10,000 on the repair of his car a couple of months ago. A senior official in the Food and Supply Department, on condition of anonymity, admitted that despite hectic checking and lifting of fuel samples each months the culprits were not caught. It is suspected that the laboratories where these samples were being sent were hand in glove with the pump owners and reports do not go against the pumps. It has been revealed that the network of corruption had been so strong that even a pump selling pure products may have to grease the palms of the people issuing test reports of the samples.

A DFSC official said that on the instructions of the Supreme Court they had identified at least two laboratories which would be testing the samples without any fear or favour.

While the government in Delhi has already taken several tough measures to check the pollution the state government is still to rise from its slumber, says social activist O. P. Sharma. He said the authorities in the Capital had not only shunted out the polluting industries and made the CNG operated commercial vehicles a must. But the situation was still pitiable in Faridabad. While CNG was still a dream here, the authorities here had allowed several of the dyeing and hazardous units which had been closed in Delhi to relocate in the town.

There are thousands of outdated and illegal vehicles running on the roads here. These include about 14,000 three-wheelers, autorickshaws and a large number of commercial vehicles, including trucks, mini trucks (tempos), tractors and buses which were more than 20 years’ old. The Delhi Government had banned plying of vehicles which were more than 15 years old. Moreover, the introduction and development of the Metro in Delhi is likely to bring the pollution level under control in the coming years. The state government has been unable to get sanction of extending the Metro to Faridabad, one of the biggest satellite towns in the NCR. Notwithstanding the claims of the pollution control board, several industrial units here had been causing air and water pollution without any check.

Polluted water could be found choking sewers and lying in open in some areas, including the DLF industrial area and parts of the NIT here. The Chief Minister during the last meeting of the District Grievances and Redressal Committee had warned an official of the thermal plant here for not checking pollution caused by the waste released by the plant in some colonies of the NIT. It is learnt that while the majority of industrial units have installed effluent treatment plants (ETP) the operation costs were high. Many units do not use these regularly.

About 20 to 25 per cent of the electroplating units operating in Ballabgarh town are still to shift to Sector 59, a special zone created for such units.

Special Focus on ROHTAK
Unions join hands to fight back govt’s 
retrenchment policy
Jatinder Sharma

Rohtak, November 20
Various employees unions of the Irrigation Department have joined hands to fightback the threatened retrenchment because of the policy of right sizing and down sizing of the state government.

The Irrigation Department employees union will hold a meeting on December 4 to chalk out its future course of action. They will also hold demonstrations on that day in front of the office of the Executive Engineer.

In a statement, Mr Karan Singh Lamba, a leader of the employees union, alleged that out of 1,114 employees, working in different irrigation departments in Rohtak and Jhajjar districts, 313 are likely to be retrenched. He said that 14 categories of employees, like sweepers-cum-chowkidar, mali-cum-chowkidar, dafedar, storekeeper, earthwork mistry, store munishi, time clerk, foreman etc, would be declared surplus after the right sizing process was completed.

Similarly, 314 employees of Rohtask circle are being declared surplus, he said. The employees who are likely to be declared surplus are - clerks 18, peon 20, T-mate 98, operator 25, fitter 7, chowkidar 24, draftsman 9, tracer 4, beldar 20, mate 15, artifisher 3, telephone attendant 4, mali 2, foreman 11, assistant foremen, JE 8, chargeman 5 etc.

Mr Lamba alleged that all the 355 posts, which were lying vacant on January 1 this year, have been abolished in the name of right sizing of the department. The government has imposed ban on new recruitment in the irrigation department since 1982. Over 37 percent employees are short in various departments of the irrigation department as per norms, he said.

Nearly 40 to 50 persons are employed during the flood season in the district by the Drainage Department of the Irrigation Department on daily wage basis. These employees are later removed from service.

Mr Lamba said that the Irrigation Patwar Union, Delhi and Haryana would also meet on December 4 at Rohtak and stage dharna in front of the office of Executive Engineer to protest against the threatened retrenchment in name of right sizing and down sizing the departments.

The union, which have formed a joint action committee, include the Canal Patwar Union, PWD Mechanical Workers’ Union, All Haryana Field Karamchari Union, fourth class Union, SC/BC Kalyan Sangh, Clerical Union, Singler Union, Driver Union, Revenue Clerical Union etc.

November 26 to be observed as Anti-Dowry Day
R. D. Sapra

Sonepat, November 20
In order to eradicate the social evil of dowry, the Haryana Government has decided to observe November 26 as Anti-Dowry Day throughout the state in coordination with social activists and non-government organisations (NGOs).

According to official sources, it has appointed city magistrates and SDMs as anti-dowry officers and given wide powers to them to deal with the cases relating to dowry demands. The state government has also drawn up a programme for creating awakening among the youth against the evil and social effects of dowry.

The state government has also issued instructions to all educational institutions directing them to make students aware of this evil and take a pledge not to take dowry at the time of their marriage.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Government has taken strict measures to curb the menace of foeticide by imposing a ban on sex determination test in the ultrasound clinics in the state. However, this ban is being flouted by some unscrupulous owners of such clinics.

It is stated that the measures initiated by the government were only to check rampant foeticide as it had created a piquant situation. The ratio of female and male children has recorded an important change in Gohana subdivision of this district. During the past nine months as many as 833 new births were registered with the Health Department of which 477 were male children and others were female children. In January this year as many as 99 children were born and these included 61 male kids, in February out of 70 children 40 were male children. In March against 54 male children, 36 female children were registered. In April 40 male and 34 female, in May 43 male and 38 female, in June 51 male and 31 female, in July 54 male and 47 female, in August 70 male and 46 female and in September 63 male and 55 female children were registered.

NCR BRIEFS
Two get life term in murder case
Our Correspondent

Jhajjar, November 20
The fast track court of Mr D. D. Yadav today awarded life imprisonment to two persons and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each in a murder case in Bahadurgarh. According to information, a manager in a factory, Balati Textiles, situated on the Jhajjar road in Bahadurgarh, was strangulated to death on the factory premises on June 9, 2002.

The police registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC on the complaint of factory owner Dinesh Gupta. The police arrested two employees of the factory in this connection.

The fast track court sentenced both the accused, Dines (22) and Devender (21), to life imprisonment. They hail from Modinagar in Ghaziabad.

Dulina accused ‘should be strictly punished’

Faridabad: The Haryana unit of the Janata Dal (U) has demanded strict punishment for all those who had killed the five Dalits at Dulina village of Jhajjar district last year.

In a statement, the party chief, Mr Ved Prakash Vidrohi, said although the state government had made an announcement on the directions of the NHRC to give relief of Rs 5 lakh to kin of each of the victim and a state government job to one dependent justice would be done only after the culprits were punished. He said the action taken against the policemen was very mild. He said the government should also issue a statement about the legal action being taken against all those who lynched five innocent persons in October last year. He said the accused should not go scot-free as the incident was very serious as far as the social set-up in the state was concerned.

Stones pelted against temple wall demolition

Ghaziabad: People pelted stones on the office of the nagar nigam in protest against the demolition of a wall of a religious place under construction by the side of a drain in Vivekanand Nagar Colony in Loni.

Traffic was also blocked on the road for about two hours or so by the protesters.

The demolition was carried out by a nagar nigam squad. The livid crowd had also damaged the JCB driver by pelting stones and with lathis. Even JCB driver Padam Singh was beaten up by the crowd.

After some time a posse of the Kavi Nagar police came and persuaded the people to stop the protest. Driver Padam Singh had lodged a report with the Kavi Nagar police about the attack on the JCB and on him.

The nagar nigam had also impounded two vehicles full of belongings of encroachers from the bus stand crossing to the Meerut octroi post and recovered a fine of Rs 1,200.

Eight hurt as bus collides with dumper
Tribune News service

New Delhi, November 20
Eight persons were injured when a Haryana Roadways bus collided with a Delhi Metro Rail dumper (truck) in the Civil Lines area early this morning. The Haryana Roadways bus which plied between Delhi and Shimla overturned after colliding with the truck near Majnu Ka Tila. Eight persons, including three women travelling in the bus, sustained injuries. They were admitted to a nearby hospital. The accident case is being investigated by the Civil Lines Police.

Drive against eve-teasers: The Railway police unit of the city police carried out a special one-day anti eve-teasing drive on Wednesday in various trains passing through Delhi, instilling confidence among the women and fear among ruffians. During the drive a total of 107 eve-teasers travelling in the ladies compartments or troubling ladies at other places while commuting were booked under provisions of the Indian Railway Act and were produced before the Railway Magistrate.

Bangladeshi burglars held: The South-West district police on Thursday claimed to have busted a gang of Bangladeshi burglars with the arrest of two suspects. They were arrested from near Pusa Institute. They were identified as Akhtar Khan and Abdul Haq. They were involved in a number of burglary cases in Delhi and Gurgaon. Two self-actuated knives, a suitcase containing house-breaking equipment, including a screw driver, a pipe rinch were seized from the possession of the accused at the spot. Stolen property, gold and silver ornaments, a VCD player, five wristwatches, and two cameras were recovered from their hideouts, the police said.