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mystery visitor New Delhi, January 21 The court had yesterday asked him to submit the copies of his two previous bail applications moved before Additional Sessions Judge Deepa Sharma and Special Judge RS Sharma and directed the police to file the relevant records of the case. Rakesh, who was nabbed on January 2 while allegedly putting the money in a drawer in the office section of Dikshit’s residence, was booked after prolonged questioning, the police said. In his bail application before Special Judge Bhasin, the accused said that he had no criminal history and claimed that his interrogation by the police was complete. ASJ Deepa Sharma and Special Judge RS Sharma did not hear Rakesh’s bail plea, saying the matter did not fall under their jurisdiction. The police are likely to question some staffers of the Chief Minister’s Office as 28-year-old Rakesh, a resident of Rohtak in Haryana, reportedly told the police that he had gone to Dikshit’s residence after an “influential employee” promised a job to him in lieu of the money, the sources claimed. Besides the money, the police had found photocopies of the currency notes, educational certificates, identification documents, a recommendation letter for employment and Rs 240 from him, they said. Rakesh is a high school pass out from Rohtak and he had come to Delhi about four months back. |
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Consumers can seek on-the-spot test New Delhi, January 21 This Cell will operate via a hotline number 55111912, where Consumers can call between 10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday. The Special Meter Cell will look into all queries regarding electronic meters, including doubts about fast movement of meters. Consumers can call the Special Cell and ask for the facility of accuracy check of their meters, which will be conducted on the consumers’ premises in their presence. This standard testing procedure, as ratified by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission, is one of the most scientific and immediate methods for checking the accuracy of electronic meters and is done via a hand held instrument. After the check, a protocol report is given on the spot to the consumer for his record. Post accuracy check, if the meter is found accurate, the nominal fee as prescribed by the DERC (Rs. 50 for single phase and Rs. 100 for three phase) for testing of meters will be charged in the next bill. If the meters are found running beyond their permissible limit of plus three per cent, the meter will be immediately replaced and the bill shall be adjusted accordingly. Further, no testing fees shall be charged in such cases, a release said. Commenting on the facility, Mr Anil Kumar Sardana, CEO, NDPL said, “NDPL has always striven to achieve complete transparency and win the trust of consumers. Consumers confusion has been fuelled by rumours surrounding the new electronic metres. We have started this special meter cell to dispel any doubts and to educate our consumers about the accuracy and benefits of the new electronic meters.” Reiterating that the electronic meters installed by the company are accurate and totally reliable, Mr Sardana also said, “We have started educative drives for our own staff and contractors for instances in which a consumer feels that his meter appears to be fast. This education is also being imparted to our esteemed Consumers. I urge all consumers living in North and North West Delhi to take full advantage of this facility and dispel all doubts they have in their minds, and all this comes at a nominal charge.” |
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Aged father waylaid, daughter gang-raped Rewari, January 21 A case of wrongful restraint and rape under Sections 341, 376 and 34 of the IPC, as well as under section 3 of the Prevention of Atrocities on Scheduled castes Act, has been registered at the Bawal Police station against all the four accused. It is reported that Indraj, a member of the Dhanak community of Kankar village, had taken his ailing married daughter ( 22 ) to Jaipur for treatment. They returned from Jaipur on Sunday night (January 18) by bus, which dropped them near the Jaisinghpur Khera check post on the Jaipur-Delhi Highway, about 22 km from here. Both Indraj and his daughter took tea at a stall the owner of which, in response to Indraj’s specific query , advised them to take a short-cut along the canal to reach Kankar village. Soon after, the tea-stall owner, along with the three others, went after the duo on their bicycles and forcibly restrained them en route. It is further stated that after overpowering the old man, they took turns in criminally assaulting his daughter. Later, the victim, along with her father, somehow reached the neighbouring village of Mohanpur, where they narrated their ordeal to the elders of the Dalit Samaj. The irate elders visited the site of assault and, having assured themselves, they went to the tea-stall, which was lying closed. Later, they went to the police station and recounted the episode. According to Mr Hanif Qureshi , SP, Rewari, the girl had been medically examined and three of the four accused had been identified and apprehended while the hideouts of the fourth accomplice had been raided. The case had been entrusted to Mr. Om Prakash, DSP, for further investigation. |
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All quiet in Noida, except for dharnas Noida, January 21 Peaceful dharnas were held at DM’s residence in Noida, outside Surajpur Collectorate, at Dadri Bus stand, in Kasna, on Kheri Mode and outside the district courts in Phase-II. The police have not, however, lowered their guard and the necessary security arrangements continue to be in place, in view of the grimness of the situation. The Samajwadi Party activists, who were not to be seen all these days, were today spotted drumming up support for the government’s order to scrap GB Nagar and eight other districts. Union Minister Ashok Pradhan and his party colleagues are busy advising the activists to maintain peace. “We shall not rest till the district status of G.B. Nagar is restored,” they asserted. The police and the PAC jawans were seen patrolling sensitive pockets in the area. The BSP is also starting its campaign at the Kasna collectorate with a dharna and a Jan Jagaran (awakening rally). Preparations are also afoot for a Mahapanchayat on January 24 and a ‘District’ Bandh on Janaury 29. There were no reports of any untoward incident in the district. The administration has, however, said that all troubleshooters will be firmly dealt with. Noida gets Ganga water:
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BPL families hit hard by black marketing of ration Sonepat, January 21 It may be recalled that according to a report the officials of the Chief Minister’s Flying Squad had seized the records from the offices of the District Food and Supplies Controller and the CONFED for scrutiny. Also, the officials had recorded the statements of the owners of the fair price shops and certain officials of the Food and Supplies Department as well as the CONFED in this regard. Moreover, they had sought copies of the names of the ration cardholders belonging to the BPL families. However, the fate of this inquiry has not been known to the public so far. When the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Balwan Singh, had gone on an inspection round in the city, he had found most of the fair price shops closed. Subsequently, he had directed the officials of the Food and Supplies Department to take action against the erring depot holders. The DFSC, it may be recalled, had suspended the supply of some depot holders and issued show-cause notices to others on the directive of the DC. However, resentment prevails among the BPL families against the supply of sub-standard wheat and wheat flour by the owners of the fair price shops in connivance with certain officials of the Food and Supplies Department. A 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 faulty weighing, over-charging and diversion of kerosene oil to the black market. Many consumers also alleged that they were deprived of their monthly ration of levy sugar and kerosene oil as the rationed shops remained closed for most of the day. As a result, the BPL families were forced to visit the shops a number of times to get their ration commodities. They also alleged that there was no fixed timings adhered to by the owners of the fair price shops for opening and closing of these shops. They alleged that only the ration cardholders from the general category were being supplied kerosene oil while they were being discriminated, more so since the bulk of the kerosene oil was being sold in the black market by owners of the fair price shops. 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 malpractices and irregularities of the owners of the fair price shops. A number of BPL families said that raids on the shops of the halwais and commercial establishments would show the extent of the irregularities practiced by the owners of the fair price shops. Unfortunately, the state government has been unable to evolve a formidable system of enforcement in the Food and Supplies Department, which could ensure that the subsidised ration supply reaches the people for whom it was meant. Moreover, even public complaints were received about the irregularities committed by the holders of these outlets, the politicians and the bureaucrats use their influence to force the officials of the Food and Supplies Department not to take action against them. In such a situation, dealers without political backing are the only ones who are caught and penalised. Consumers alleged that almost all the offices of the Food and Supplies Department have turned into “dens of Corruption” and no work could be done without greasing the palms of the officials. It is alleged that some officials have had “lucrative postings” for the past three decades or so in the office of the DFSC, with the result that they have amassed wealth by minting money from the owners of the fair price shops while releasing the supply of rationed commodities. Similarly, these officials have been receiving monthly “nazranas” from the owners of the petrol pumps and the brick kilns regularly. It is no wonder if some think that the state government has declared their posts as “non-transferable like the Indian postal order”. |
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‘Feedback response system’ has New Delhi, January 21 “The analysis done on the new system by the Deputy Commissioners of Police of these three districts came out to be satisfactory as most of the complainants were pleased with the officers and investigations carried out by them,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) Satish Chandra. In South-West district, about 54.72 complainants showed their satisfaction and an equal number gave positive response in the other two districts. “We are looking for more public participation and to improve the public face of the police,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West) Tajendra Luthra. The crime rate in the three districts also showed a decline in 2003. In the South district, the overall IPC crimes came down by 10 per cent while the heinous crime was down by 6.4 per cent and non-heinous crime by 10.1 per cent. In the South-West district, dacoity came down by 50 per cent, riot by 12.5 per cent, rape by 22.72 per cent, house theft by 10.20 per cent and burglary showed a decline of 1.74 per cent. In the West district, the overall IPC crimes showed a decline of three per cent and heinous crimes came down by four per cent in 2003. In 2003, the West district claimed that the working out rate was improved to 70 per cent, the working out rate in heinous crimes was improved to 80 per cent. “In 2004, the West district police will ask public for better participation and cooperation to improve the crime control and detection. Besides, the feedback system from the complainants will be strengthened to build their satisfaction level,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Satish Golcha. Strengthening of Adoption of Senior Citizens Scheme, setting up of Criminal Allotment System to make the beat constables more responsible and establishment of Chotta Aman system in sensitive crime prone areas would be the major focus of South district in 204, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Vivek Gogia. |
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Official apathy leads to widespread misuse Faridabad, January 21 An immediate outcome is that a large number cylinders meant for households use are diverted to either vehicles running on gas or for commercial use in the market. Moreover, the increasing use of LPG cylinders in vehicles without proper kits poses a great risk to the safety of the travelling passenger. The diversion of the cooking gas to the black market for other commercial purposes has also given an impetus to stealing of gas from the cylinders midway and supplying underweight cylinders to the consumers. Although the Delhi Government has notified the use of domestic LPG gas cylinder in vehicles as not only dangerous but also illegal, the violation of which would attract hefty fine or punitive action, there has been no awareness drive or any information campaign launched here so far in this connection. According to reports, there could be hundreds of vehicles, especially cars and vans in the district, which are using LPG gas cylinders without proper kits. At least two cases of vehicles catching fire due to such cylinders were reported in the last two years. Sharing his “frightening” experience, a resident of sector 9 here who had recently gone to the national Capital, found that the Maruti Van in which he was travelling was emitting a foul smell as it was running on LPG cylinder. He said that many of the taxi operators and those engaged in ferrying schoolchildren in the town were using LPG cylinders to run their vehicles. He said it was not known whether the LPG kit used by them was authorised or not. Most of the vehicle owners who have been using LPG gas cylinders meant for household use were getting their supply directly from the gas agencies and outlets. While complaints regarding short supply of gas in LPG cylinders have been common, the authorities are still to take the necessary measures to check the menace. Few months back the police had arrested some persons in the NIT area who had been involved in stealing gas midway from LPG cylinders. Reportedly, the menace continues due to the increasing demand for LPG cylinders in the black and grey sector. A social organisation, ‘Punarjagran Sanstha’, has asked the UP Government and the authorities concerned to initiate adequate measures to stop the misuse of the LPG cylinders, which has increased with the widespread use of this illegal practice. |
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Passengers stranded as train services go for a toss Sonepat, January 21 The cancelled trains included the Delhi-bound Kalka Mail and the Ambala-bound Unchhar Express running between Allahabad and Ambala Cantt. The Shaheed Express, popularly known as the Flying Mail, running between Darbhanga (Bihar) and Amritsar was running late indefinitely. The Barauni Express running between Barauni and Amritsar was behind schedule by more than four hours. Similarly, several other long distance trains, running between Delhi and Amritsar as well as Delhi and Jammu Tawi, were late, stranding thousands of passengers at Sonepat and nearby railway stations. Meanwhile, Sonepat city and its surrounding areas experienced yet another day of cold weather today, which was made worse by a light shower in the morning. However, there was no fog in the morning. The sky was still overcast with more rains expected. Most of the people preferred to stay indoors to shield themselves from the biting cold. Attendance in most Government offices was thin. Most of the government schools in the urban and rural areas were deserted. |
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SOS honours brave children New Delhi, January 21 Mr Justice A M Ahmadi, former Chief Justice of India was the chief guest. Air Chief Marshal (Rtd) Mr O P Mehra and Air Marshal (Rtd) Mr S S Malhotra were the guests of honours. The chief guest, Mr Justice A M Ahmadi, and Mr J N Kaul, president, SOS CVI, felicitated 26 young children of different states of the country with certificates, mementos, bags, sets of books, SOS calendar 2004, Young Ambassador badge. They were also given cash awards—Rs 2,100 to the Bharat, Sanjay Chopra and Geeta Chopra awardees and Rs 1,100 to the rest of the awardees.. These children are honored at the Republic Day parade where they prominently participate, riding on the elephants as pride of India. SOS has been
honouring such brave children since 1995. Being a premier organisation for childcare, SOS has encouraged and boosted their morale and instilled in them social, educational and developmental values. Speaking on the occasion, Mr J N Kaul, president, SOS CVI, congratulated the recipients of National Bravery Awards 2004, He said, “We extend our warm congratulations to you, dear children on receiving this special honour. It gives us great happiness to felicitate you on this special day. Your compassion and selfless gesture for fellow human beings will be a source of inspiration for thousands of children and very specially, a good example for our children growing up in SOS Children’s Villages across the country.” Mr Pradeep Singh, National Director, SOS CVI, Principal of SOS HGS, Faridabad, mothers, children, co-workers along with several other dignitaries including SOS sponsors, friends, media were present on the occasion to boost the morale of these brave children. The children of SOS also performed a small cultural show. |
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Office-bearers of Institute of New Delhi, January 21 Mr Mahesh Athavale has contributed several articles in newspapers and journals and co-authored book on “Secretarial Practice and Mercantile Law” for students. Mr Athavale is a member of the ‘Corporate Laws Sub-Committee of
Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture, Pune. Mr R Ravi, 51, (B.Sc., B.L., FCS) has been elected as the vice- president of ICSI, with effect from January 19, 2004. Mr Ravi is presently managing director and company secretary in Cameo Corporate Services Limited, Chennai. He has been re-elected as the central council member of the ICSI for the second successive term. Earlier, Mr Ravi was the chairman of ‘Southern India Regional Council’ of the ICSI. He organised innumerable professional development programmes, national seminars, workshops and colloquium for Southern India Regional Council. Mr Ravi has richly contributed in subjects relating to legal matters, public issues, share transfer and depository services for the students of the ICSI, staff, officers of some banks and employees of SPIC and MAC group of companies. |
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Sant Rajinder Singh Ji gets doctorates for New Delhi, January 21 The conferring of doctorate degrees took place on January 10, 2004, at the Auditorio del Colegio San Agustin in Lima before an audience of 3,500 people. The solemn occasion began with Handel’s Halleluiah chorus. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, entering the stage during the oratorio, drew spontaneous applause as everyone rose to their feet in tribute to the spiritual leader, a release said here today. Srta Fabiola Pasapera, representing the mayor of Lima, and Dr Benjamin Boccio-La Paz, Rector of Universadad Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, welcomed the spiritual leader. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj later inaugurated the 20th Human Unity Conference at Peru. Following the national anthems of Peru and India, Rector Dr Benjamin Boccio-La Paz and Vice-rector Dr Isaac Roberto Angeles-Lazo of Universided Federico Villarreal, each named Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, Doctor Honoris Causa for his work for world peace, unity and global harmony. Two years ago, the national minister of education, the rector of the council of 70 universities of Peru, and Dr Boccio-La Paz met to discuss the necessity of introducing spirituality into higher education. Recognising Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s intellectual achievements, his humanitarian work, and his efforts for world peace, they invited him to Peru. Shortly thereafter, they chose to honour the spiritual leader by conferring the degree, Honorius Causa, from Universidad Inca Garcilaso de la Vega for the spiritual leader’s efforts in education for a peaceful world. The doctorate presented by Universided Federico Villarreal, honoured Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Mahraj’s efforts in bridging science and spirituality, facilitating human unity through communication. Accepting the awards, the spiritual leader said, “It is a great honour to receive these doctorates from the two universities. I feel, these doctorates are not for me, but for the message that I bring—the message of spirituality, the message of love, unity and peace, the message of non-violence. And it is heart-warming to see that educators in this area recognise the importance of this spiritual message.”
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DELHI DIGEST New Delhi, January 21 The Delhi Pradesh BJP said that the campaign will familiarise the people about the achievements of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government over the past five years, including the Golden Quadrilateral that connects the national highways. The party said that the Atal Sandesh Abhiyan will also highlight the achievements of the NDA Government in information technology, telecommunication, education, national security, agriculture and economy. The campaign will aim to spread the feel-good factor among the people of the Capital, the party said. The office-bearers and workers alike would participate in the month-long campaign in the run-up to the Lok Sabha election, the party added
. Loadshedding in Pitampura:
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ncr briefs Sonepat, January 21 According to a report, Rajbir who was tied with ropes and had multiple injuries, was admitted to the civil hospital in this city by some passers-by. It is stated that when Rajbir was brought on a motorcycle, he was being beaten with lathis and iron rods by the miscreants. As some passers-by raised the alarm, they fled after throwing him in a pit along the railway track. The miscreants also tried to burn him but failed in their attempts. A dispute over the land is stated to be the cause of the attack. The police are investigating the case but no arrest has been made in this connection.
Farmers warn distillery officials The farmers of Jahri village today threatened to gherao the officials of a distillery if its management failed to grant compensation for the losses to their crops by the discharge of the polluted water. According to a report, the officials of the Agriculture Department, on the instructions of the Deputy Commissioner, visited the site and made inquiry into the complaints of the affected farmers. They will submit their reports to the DC for further action.
Electricity metres removed The UHBVN has removed the electricity metres from the premises of as many as 752 consumers who have been declared defaulters for non-payment of penalty of about Rs 47.83 lakh in spite of repeated notices. According to a report, the Nigam officials have prepared a list of the defaulters for taking penal action against them.
Spate of thefts alarms Bhiwani Bhiwani: Pooh-poohing the claims of strict police bandobast in the town, thieves broke into several shops and slipped away after stealing goods worth hundred of rupees besides cash last night. The police have registered cases and started investigation. The traders have demanded immediate arrest of the thieves and recovery of their valuables. It may be mentioned that costly ornaments, cash and other valuables were stolen from two shops and a house on Monday night also. The accused are still at large. According to report, burglars broke into an attached shop at Hansi Gate and decamped with cash and about one dozen attaches. A morning walker informed the shop owner of the theft. The owner has stated the cost of stolen attaches as Rs 25,000. The burglars later broke into the shutter of an audio-cassette shop and stole cassettes. They threw out the counter of the shop before fleeing. Suspecting the hand of a single gang behind the series of thefts, a report said that burglars stole ‘currency garlands’ worth Rs 45,000 from a shop at Ghantaghar Chowk and looted Rs 1,300 and half a dozen shoes from a shoe shop. It is learnt that a few morning walkers noticed two burglars entering a shop. As they gave a chase to them, the culprits escaped by jumping into the hospital building. A number of thefts had been reported from Charkhi Dadri town also last week. Not a single case could be solved so far. The traders say that they have reported the incidents to the police but it is just a formality. |
Inter-state gang of autolifters smashed New Delhi, January 21 The notorious autolifters of the Dharampal gang were identified as Dharampal, alias Pale, (40), Manoj Kumar Rathi and Sunil Kumar Yadav—all residents of Najafgarh. While Dharampal was intercepted near a DTC depot in Najafgarh by the sleuths, his two accomplices were apprehended by the Malda Police, Kolkata. A stolen Scorpio vehicle was seized from their possession.. The Crime Branch sleuths received a tip-off that Dharampal and his gang members had become active in Delhi and were operating from the Najafgarh area. The sleuths later caught Dharampal. The police also received information that his gang members were moving in Kolkata to sell a stolen Scorpio vehicle and accordingly informed the Kolkata police. On January 17, when the Kolkata police were conducting checking in the Malda area, they spotted the duo in a Scorpio vehicle. It was found to be a stolen vehicle. During interrogation, the accused revealed that they were targeting luxury vehicles in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for disposing them of in North-Eastern states. For this purpose, the gangsters used to conduct recce in vulnerable areas were the vehicles could be stolen. They also used sophisticated drilling machines to break open the locks of the vehicles. After stealing the vehicles, they used to change the numberplates, chassis number, engine number and used to arrange for fake documents to facilitate the selling. The gang members also carried the fake documents along with them while travelling to dispose of the vehicles to avoid police suspicion. |
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