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demented times New Delhi, December 30 The deceased allegedly had an incestuous relationship; they also had some property dispute with their father, Raghubir Singh. When they refused to help Raghubir sort out the property matter, the latter and his other son, Vikram, allegedly engaged contract killers for bumping off the duo. The killers were paid Rs 5 lakh for the double murder. On December 26, two persons had been found dead in K-4, Kewal Park, at around 11 pm. When the police reached the spot, they found Krishan’s body, which had multiple injuries in the abdomen and also bore strangulation marks. Pawan had been shot in the abdomen. The police also found Rs 9,000 and Rs 3,000 in Pawan’s bag and Krishan’s shirt, respectively. During the preliminary investigation, the police ruled out robbery as motive and questioned Raghubir’s wife Savitri (70) and his other son, Dharambir (31), about the movements of Raghubir and Vikram. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West) Sanjay Singh, during questioning they gathered some clues about the possible motive behind the murder and started focussing on the property row. Surveillance was mounted and, finally, on December 29 the police received information that Raghubir and his son would be reaching a house in Nangloi. The police spotted the duo on a scooter (No DL-4SK-8239) at around 7 pm and apprehended them. The duo was questioned in detail and, initially, they failed to give satisfactory replies. Later, they broke down and confessed to having planned the double murder by hiring contract killers — Pankaj (32), a resident of Nangloi, and his associates, Dalip (35) and Uma Shankar (19), for Rs 5
lakh. Krishan was married to one Jaywanti in 1982 and lived with her till 1996. Since the couple had no issue, his wife had been staying separately since 1996 with her father, Krishan’s sister, Pawan, who was not married, had been staying in her brother’s house and over the years they had developed an incestuous relationship. Raghubir had objected to their relationship several times. The problem arose when Raghubir wanted to sell off a 200sq yard commercial plot worth about Rs 60 lakh, which was in Krishan’s name. Since Raghubir was planning to buy another plot in Nangloi, he asked Krishan for help but the latter declined to oblige. Annnoyed, Raghubir decided to eliminate them. As per his plan, Pankaj and associates reached Krishan’s house and killed the duo. Pankaj has been arrested and Rs 1.24 lakh, along with the weapon involved in the offence, have been recovered from him. |
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Brrr...
mercury plummets to season’s low New Delhi, December 30 The weather office said the thick fog has reduced visibility almost to zero. It said today’s minimum was two degrees less than normal, a fall of one degree over the previous day. The day temperature too experienced a sharp fall, dipping to 11 degrees at mid-day. The maximum temperature had shot up to 18.4 degrees yesterday, though the minimum stood at 5.8. According to an Airport Authority of India spokesperson, the early morning flights departed and took off on time but the operation had to be suspended at around 0830 hrs when thick fog enveloped the area. Five domestic flights to Delhi had to be diverted when the Runway Visibility Range (RVR) was reduced to less than 500 meters. The fog also affected the movement of trains and led to the cancellation of a number of them. The Kalindi Express, the Lal Kunan Express and the Magadh Express, cancelled since December 24, have not been restored. The Unchahar Express and the Farkkha Express of yesterday have also been cancelled. Besides a number of trains were running late by several hours. Sonepat: Traffic on the Delhi-Ambala-Kalka (DUK) section of the Northern Railway continued to remain disrupted on account of cancellation of some long-distance trains and the late running of almost all the long-distance and suburban trains. According to a report, the cancelled trains included the Shaheed Express, which runs between New Delhi and Amritsar, and the Unchhar Express, which runs between Delhi and Ambala, for the day. The Delhi-bound Jammu Mail was also running late for more than 10 hours. Likewise, the New Delhi-bound Jhelum Express, the
Bathinda Intercity and the Amritsar Super Fast were running behind schedule. Thousands of passengers, mostly commuters, government servants, milk vendors and businessmen remained stranded at Sonepat and nearby railway stations on account of late running of suburban trains bound for New Delhi, Kurukshetra and Panipat on account of dense fog. A group of irate passengers pelted stones on the Delhi- bound Sachkhand Express at the railway station here as the train did not halt at Sonepat. As a result, the window panes of some coaches were smashed. However, none of the passengers travelling in the train was hurt. The GRP has not yet registered a case in this connection. The trouble arose when the passengers were waiting for the New Delhi-bound Amritsar Super Fast Express, which was running late. When the passengers came to know about the cancellation of the train at the eleventh hour, they rushed to the room of the station superintendent and requested him to arrange for the stoppage of the Sachkhand Express at the railway station. Initially, he agreed to the request but later he expressed his helplessness in this regard. Thereupon, the livid passengers pelted stones on the train. |
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Civic bodies ‘helpless’ against builder mafia! New Delhi, December 30 The chiefs of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Delhi Police pleaded before the high court that the law is too weak to combat the menace of the builder mafia. The affidavit was submitted on December 15, following the high court’s direction to come up with a comprehensive and coordinated action plan to rid Delhi of the illegal buildings. In the affidavit the civic bodies and the Delhi Police pleaded that “the involvement of builders is a setback. They undertake illegal constructions and then disappear. This needs to be checked by amending building by laws and making builders liable, even after they have committed an offence.” The affidavit pleaded: “Perhaps, a law that enables the municipal bodies to acquire the property in which serious building violations have occurred and restore it, so that it conforms to the by-laws, before disposing it of, could be contemplated. This would require an amendment in the
DMC Act. The affidavit adds that there is need to make builders accountable. |
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Crackdown on ‘fixed’ meters Panipat, December 30 Following complaints of large-scale power theft in the industrial town, the Managing Director of the
nigam has deputed special teams to conduct raids in the affected areas. According to the in-charge of a special team, in many meters, it was suspected that the inner parts had been removed. The Nigam is still to take a decision about seizure of electricity meters of those consumers who have not been paying their electricity bills. As part of the exercise, the authorities would first disconnect the meters from the electricity poles. Even then, if the pending bills are not paid, the authorities will remove the power meter. According to information, 50 meters have already been disconnected in different sub-divisions of the city. These consumers have been directed to make the payments immediately, otherwise their power would be permanently disconnected. The nigam authorities have also asked the vigilance teams to initiate actions against those consumers who have made cuts in the main supply line from the poles to the meters. The Managing Director had also directed the district authorities that those electricity meters, which have been permanently removed, are not required to be deposited in the stores but installed on the premises of the new consumers.
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New Delhi, December 30 No vehicular traffic would be allowed to move in inner, middle and outer circles of Connaught Place. The police have advised the motorists, who want to travel towards Connaught Place from North and South Delhi, to use Delhi Gate – Tilak Marg route, C Hexagon, Rani Jhansi Marg, Panchkuian Road, Mandir Marg, Park Street and Wellington Crescent. Motorists, who want to travel towards East and West Delhi, have been advised to used Ashoka road, Talkotra road, JLN Marg, Pul Pharganj and DBG Road. People who would like to reach the New Delhi Railway Station are advised to avoid Connaught Place.
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MCD latches on to Sheila’s dream of a New Delhi, December 30 Announcing the decision to launch a sanitation and cleanliness drive, the Municipal Commissioner, Mr Rakesh Mehta, stressed that the exercise will be an outcome of the collective efforts of the department and local residents. He said the participation of safai karamcharis was not enough. Also, efforts will be made to ensure that the spirit of cleanliness is sustained for all times to come. The Municipal Commissioner requested the councillors and chairmen of ward committees to cooperate and guide the municipal staff during the drive. Mr Mehta has directed the officers of Conservancy and Sanitation Engineering Department to ensure that all debris and refuge, collected from market areas, commercial complexes, residential colonies and religious places, be disposed of in sanitary landfill sites. Special attention should be paid to improving the surroundings at the entry and exit points of Old and New Delhi Railway Stations, ISBT Terminus, the domestic airport, markets, religious places and major road junctions. All public conveniences will be cleaned, washed and treated with disinfectants. Anti-fly measures will also be taken. Special cleaning efforts will be made in JJ clusters by involving NGOs and residents. The commercial complexes and market areas will be cleaned at night. Refuge removal trucks will be washed daily and kept clean. The public will be persuaded through NGOs to restrict use of polythene bags and ensure their proper disposal, rather than on footpaths, central verges, drains and sewers. The Municipal Commissioner also disclosed that Special Squads have been deployed in all the 12 zones of the corporation. This squad is equipped with necessary staff and machinery along with a truck. It will promptly attend to complaints of garbage collection. On all road signs, names of lanes will be painted. It will be ensured that all primary schools have proper water facility and electricity. Special attention will be paid to the sanitation of latrines and urinals in schools. All roadsides and MS railings will be repaired and painted. He directed the officers of Slum and JJ Department to ensure that all debris lying in JJ clusters be removed and brick flooring be repaired along with surface drains. All Jan Suvidha Complexes and other buildings belonging to the MCD will be repaired and white washed. Special attention should be paid in JJ Clusters for creating public awareness. Damaged mobile toilet vans lying near JJ clusters should either be removed or replaced. He also directed the officers of Horticulture Department to ensure that all public parks are cleaned of unwanted grass. The masonry structure in parks and gardens be repaired, washed and painted. The Health department has been asked to ensure that toilets in all major hospitals will be washed and cleaned on a daily basis. The hospital buildings will be white washed and hygienic conditions will be maintained. Shopkeepers would be asked to organise small dustbins outside their shops. Action against vendors selling cut-fruits and sugarcane juice will be intensified. |
Sensitising people to the
plight of shelterless New Delhi, December 30 Actionaid with support from Delhi Tourism has organized a music concert on 31st December 2003 at the Delli Haat lawns. There would be an enactment by the street children from Chetna, on the issues and hardships faced by them in their daily lives. Next will be an unique music performance by Gautam Ghosh and his well-known band-Ind Tranzit. The music the band plays is not rehearsed or on scripted music. Above all, it’s an effort to bring different sounds from different countries on a common platform, which spiritually unites all of mankind. This is a territory into which even the most gifted of bands hesitate to tread, as such jamming either requires oodles of musical memories or an awesome talent for connecting with the audience. “Dilli Haat during this festive season is the right platform for Karm Mitra to reach out to maximum people and ask for a support for the shelterless and street children, innumerable of whom die every year during winters. We want to encourage masses as even a little contribution from each one of us can make of lot of difference to the lives of these underprivileged,” said Mr Jeroninio (Jerry) Almedia, chief executive, ActionAid India Society. ActionAid through this initiative aims to draw support for the homeless and street children, one of the 8 beneficiary communities under ‘Karm Mitra’ programme.  |
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Farmers being motivated to install solar-powered tubewells Sonepat, December 30 Stating this here today, the additional deputy commissioner and chief executive officer of the agency, Mr Rajiv Ranjan, said that this programme was launched by the agency in 2001-2002 with financial grants from the Central Government and state government. Under the programme, he said, the farmer is required to deposit Rs 40,500 in the agency’s office and out of the total cost of Rs 3,23,500, grants of Rs 2.43 lakh and Rs 40,000 are contributed by the Central Government and state government respectively as grants. Giving technical details of the solar-energised tubewell, Mr Ranjan stated that the tubewell is run by a five horse power motor and every day it can pump out around 1.40 lakh litre of water, which is sufficient to irrigate at least one acre of land in a day. This tubewell is very beneficial to those farmers who are not having electricity connection on their tubewells and running those by diesel engines, and this practice is proving more suitable in those areas where the level of sub-soil water is less than eight meters, Mr Ranjan explained. Appealing to the farmers to derive maximum benefit of the programme, the ADC made it clear that the applications are entertained on first come first get basis. And the target of the programme is to install 20 tubewells this year. The agency has already helped the farmers to install 35 solar-energised tubewells in the district after launching of the programme in the district, he added. |
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Special
Focus on gurgaon Gurgaon, December 30 The main commercial areas - Sadar Bazaar, New Railway Road, Old Railway Road, where shopkeepers have encroached upon six to 10 feet of space on the main road in front of their shops. Among the residential colonies, Sector 4, Sector 7 and Jacobpura, people have occupied the open space permanently for greenery and parking purposes. The roads in the Sadar Bazar, the main market of the district, are used by the shopkeepers for displaying the commodities. About five to 10 feet of the space is covered with the salable items. New Railway Road is the place where the encroachers have gone to the extent of covering even more than fifteen feet and are blocking the road in front of their shops. The shopkeepers at Old Railway Road, Khandsa Road, are no different in the race of occupying the open space. Even more disgusting is the fact, the district administration, residential welfare associations and vyapar mandals keep on watching the day-to-day increasing encroachment by the people and taking no actions to remove the unauthorised buildings built on the public land. Almost in every press conference, the issue is raised but the officials just offer lip services. Either the problem is evaded by the officers by calling it “all pervasive” or by promising to take stringent actions against the encroachers. But, finally, to much annoyance of the denizens, the problem goes on aggravating each day. Recently, Mr Y. K. Gupta, Executive Officer of the Municipal Council, said that the MC would take stringent actions to remove the encroachments. Even the councilors of the MC have passed the resolutions a number of times to remove the encroachments, but no practical actions have been taken to implement it. The issue, problem for the commuters, has reached such high proportions that the prices of the shops is decided after considering the space lying in front of it. The common pretext taken by the residents - making green-belt around the house. The residents themselves are no less to be blamed. Once Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) appealed to the residents to remove illegal constructions and encroachments and later on even issued notices to those who were found violating the by-laws of construction. The masses are still waiting for a concrete action. |
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Youth killed as car rams motorcycle Sonepat, December 30 According to a report, the victim was going to his house on a bicycle when the accident occurred. However, the driver of the Maruti car drove away the car and escaped. The police have registered the case against the car driver for rash and negligent driving causing death. The police have launched a hunt to apprehend him. According to another report, two persons, Kishore and Rozkhan, were injured seriously when their motorcycle was hit by a truck on the Sonepat-Meerut inter-state road near Khewra village, about 13 km from here last evening. Both the injured persons were rushed to the local civil hospital for treatment and were stated to be out of danger. The injured persons belonged to Baghpat (UP) and were returning to Baghpat from Sonepat on a motorcycle. The truck driver, however, managed to escape. The police have registered a case against him. A hunt is on to apprehend him. Meanwhile, one person was killed and two others seriously injured when their motorcycle was hit by a Haryana Roadways bus on the Sonepat-Gohana road near Kheri Damkan village, about 30 km from here last night. The victim was identified as Dalbir and the injured were Parveedn and Suresh, all residents of Jauli village in this district. Both the injured persons were immediately hospitalised and were stated to be out of danger. The three persons were going from Gohana to Jauli village on the motorcycle. The police have arrested the bus driver on the charges of rash and negligent driving causing death. People fed up with
INLD: Cong Mr Azad Singh Nehra, secretary of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), has claimed that a Congress wave was sweeping Haryana. He claimed that the Congress party would return to power under the leadership of Mr Bhajan Lal. Talking to mediapersons here today, he said the Congress party alone could provide a corruption-free and stable government in the state. The people, he said, were fed up with the regime of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the style of functioning of Mr Om Parkash Chautala. He also said that the INLD came to power on account of false promises. He alleged that none of the promises made by Mr Chautala had been fulfilled. Referring to the factionalism in the party, he said that there was total unity in the organisation. The Congress party, he said, was a big house and at times differences of opinion was natural. However, it was incorrect to say that the party was faction ridden. He hinted that the Congress High Command would be able to sort out the differences among some of the state leaders. Mr Nehra said that Mr Bhajan Lal had emerged as the leader of ‘36 biradaries’ and would be a strong contender for the post of the Chief Minister if the Congress party came to power in the next Assembly elections. Mr Bhajan Lal, he said, had already assured the scrapping of all taxes levied by the INLD government, increase in the old-age pension from Rs 200 to Rs 300 per month, reinstatement of all the employees dismissed by the present government and providing interest free loans to the farmers and artisans. |
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Sonepat: A blot on the landscape? Sonepat, December 30 The growth of unauthorised colonies on the periphery of the city is seriously affecting the development of the city. There are about 100 such unauthorised colonies within the civic limits, which are fast growing into slums. The embankments of Drain No. 6 has been illegally occupied by the squatters. Palatial houses have been constructed on either side of the embankments of the drain in the absence of any action against the land grabbers. Rampant corruption and petty politic among the authorities seems to have insulated them from the people. The civic authorities are hardly bothered about the problems of the people. The people have to sweat it out in the summers without electricity and water. With the onset of the rainy season, they are left to cope with water-borne diseases due to the unhygienic conditions around them. The conditions have been always bad in the walled city. People do not remember the last time when the roads and lanes of the inner city were repaired. The safai karmacharis of the Sonepat Municipal Council are hardly ever seen during duties hours. The formation of an elected municipal council had generated hope that things would take a turn for the better. Sadly, however, most of the councillors have been busy with petty politics with the sole aim of making money at the cost of the common man. Most of the sewerage pipelines have remained choked for years in this city. The drains have been left choked for months with the result that heaps of garbage are a common sight on the roads. At many places the streets are always submerged under water in the absence of proper drainage facilities. Those living in the slums are the worst sufferers. Heaps of garbage and absence of drainage facilities have resulted in the outbreak of malaria and other water-borne diseases here. In the absence of traffic sense, people hardly bother about traffic regulations. In the absence of the road dividers, some of the main roads in the city have turned out to be ‘free for all’ path. Buses, three wheelers, tempos, rehris and rickshaws can be seen plying on these roads at the same time. Encroachments on government and municipal land with the help of unscrupulous elements in the administration have become the order of the day. Unauthorised constructions are also going on under the very nose of the civic authorities. Stray animals roaming freely in the city and even in the mini-secretariat and tehsil building have become a menace for the residents. Stray animals, particularly pigs, have not only led to the creation of unhygienic condition, but has been a major cause for road accidents here. The pathetic condition of roads have been overlooked by the PWD (B and R), the municipal council, the market committee and the HUDA. Almost all the main roads are unfit for use by vehicles. Even when they are repaired from time to time, it hardly lasts for few months. Moreover, due to the poor planning, the roads get damaged frequently. Laid lower than the surrounding area, which is contrary to the basic rules, the roads are covered with dirt and water. Frequent digging of roads for laying of underground cables by different departments has played a major role in the damages caused to the roads. With a population of over 1.50 lakh, Sonepat is one the biggest industrial township of the state. However, it has only a dozen or so tubewells for supplying drinking water. The abnormal and unplanned growth of the city has created a very serious drainage problem. In most of the areas, the storm water is disposed of through underground sanitary sewers, which was a time consuming process. The manholes of sewers at most places are missing and serve as death traps in the absence of proper street lighting. Streets remain enveloped in darkness at night. Stagnant water and slush, which has piled up in the vegetable market, has become a big health hazard, serving as nurseries for the mosquitoes. Heaps of garbage continue to stink without anyone bothering to clear it. The areas earmarked for the development of parks have gradually become dumping grounds for the garbage due to the absence of maintenance. The increase in the number of dairies and transport companies in congested localities have added to the problem. |
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NCR
BRIEFS Panipat, December 30 The executive officer of the Panipat Municipal Council, Mr. S.K.Vats, informed the NCR Tribune that the impact of filing cases in the court was such that everyday the council has been receiving between Rs 50, 000 to Rs100,000 as house tax from defaulters. A number of defaulters have also approached the tax branch of the council to get their accounts settled, he said. He hoped that other defaulters would voluntarily come forward to settle their dues so that the authorities did not have to take recourse to legal action against them. Demonstration against
contaminated water supply Sonepat: Large number of residents, including women, held a demonstration in front of the office of the Superintending Engineer, Public Health Department, here today to register their protest against the erratic and contaminated water supply and poor sewerage system in the Lal Darwaza area of this city. Carrying ply cards and raising anti-government slogans they marched through the main bazars of the city. They met the officer and reminded them the sewerage system had been blocked for the past many days and the employees of the department had failed to redress their grievances in this regard. Moreover, the water supply system was inadequate and erratic. The contaminated water supply had led to a number of people falling ill. The irate residents also warned that if their demands were not fulfilled they will intensify their agitation and launch a gherao of the officials concerned. Indica car stolen An Indica car was allegedly stolen from a garage at Rohna village, about 15 km from here last night. According to a report, the owner of the car had lodged an FIR with the police in this connection. According to another report, the thieves reportedly took away goods worth several thousands of rupees from a shop and fled after setting the shop on fire at Ganaur, 16 km from here last night. A case has been registered in this connection. |
Shoppers offer several incentives to woo customers Gurgaon, December 30 This New Year, fun and frolic reaches its frenzy at DLF City Centre with the ‘Festive Bonanza Offer’. All you have to do is to visit the centre and drop your visiting card in the bowl kept at the information desk. A lucky draw will be taken out and the winner along with the person who picks out the winner will win a gift voucher from City Centre. If your name is not there in the first draw then don’t be disheartened because there will be a total of five draws that will be held everyday at 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Amidst all the celebrations, the shoppers can also spurge on the many discount deals being offered at various outlets at the City Centre. The ‘Life style Store’ is organising a ‘Well-O-Fortune’ promotion. One can win a free trip to Singapore, gift vouchers of Lifestyle and many more prizes. All you need to do is shop at Lifestyle for Rs 1,500 or more to get a coupon. Samsung, the world leaders in technology, has also organised a two-day activity wherein they gave away free popcorn, candy, sweets and balloons to all the visitors to the mall. They have also organised a buggy and two while horses and a live Santa to interact with children. |
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