The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EC to probe ‘breach of code’ by Jagmohan
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 18
The Election Commission today ordered probe on the alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct by the sitting New Delhi MP and Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Jagmohan, following a complaint by the Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs Sheila Dikshit.

Commission spokesperson Noor Mohammed said the poll panel has asked the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi to examine the complaint by the Congress against Mr Jagmohan for “violating the model code of conduct” by laying the foundation stone of a subway in his Lok Sabha constituency.

“If the complaint of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is found to be correct, the foundation stone will be removed,” he said.

The Commission today reviewed the poll arrangements with the Delhi Chief Secretary, the Police Commissioner and other senior police officials, he said. It also met the leaders of political parties and listened to their complaints.

Mrs Dikshit met Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy and lodged the complaint against Mr Jagmohan.

“The ceremony is a violation of the Election Commission’s rules and guidelines. It’s a violation of the model code of conduct for candidates,” said Ms Dikshit, emerging from her meeting with the Election Commission at its Nirvachan Sadan headquarters. However, the Union Tourism Minister Jagmohan denied charges levelled by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit that he violated the model code.

“The complaint she made to the Election Commission on my violating the model code by laying foundation stones for two underpasses in lieu of the level crossings at Sarai Kale Khan and Jangpura are absolutely wrong,” Mr Jagmohan told reporters.

“Mrs Dikshit had not checked the facts before levelling allegations. Both these functions had been held about a week before the elections were notified by the Election Commission on February 29,” he said. On the issue of demolition of slum clusters, over which both the ruling Congress and the BJP have locked horns, the spokesperson said the Commission has decided to issue a ‘slip’ to those who have been uprooted for exercising their franchise in the new place.

Observing that the Commission was committed to protecting the voting rights of electorate, Mohammed said the slip could be attached with the relevant Form-6 making them eligible to cast their votes.

Mrs Dikshit also raised the alleged removal of slums in Mr Jagmohan’s constituency. “We told the EC that the removal of jhuggis amounted to depriving its residents of their fundamental right to vote,” she said.

The Commission said all hoardings portraying the achievements of the governments should be removed forthwith. “Any hoardings which are put up by the parties, giving advantage to them, would attract the Model Code of Conduct. It was necessary to remove them,” the Commission said.

A clarification to this effect was given by the Commission after a delegation of Delhi BJP leaders complained to the poll panel that the hoardings carrying the pictures of late Congress leaders still dotted the city while the BJP hoardings carrying the Prime Minister’s pictures were being removed.

A BJP delegation, led by Prof V K Malhotra, complained to the EC that the Delhi government was not complying with the Commission’s directive for the removal of government-sponsored hoardings and posters. A large number of posters bearing the picture of Mr Rajiv Gandhi are still seen at various places, Prof Malhotra added.

Labour board to complain to EC against Verma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 18
Alleging that the ‘Social Security Scheme’ of the Centre was a ‘political stunt’ by Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma, the Delhi Labour Welfare Board (DLWB) today opposed its implementation, saying that it would ask the Election Commission to intervene and save the people from this ‘hoax’.

DLWB Chairman Sukhbir Sharma said 259 million people of the unorganised sector, for whom the scheme has been launched, were being duped under the garb of being provided ‘social security’.

Reacting to the reports that the BJP office in Maharashtra had been distributing ‘Social Security Scheme’ forms with the party’s ‘Lotus’ symbol on it, Mr Sharma said at a press conference here that this was not only violation of the model code of conduct but also abuse of power.

“Mr Sahib Singh Verma should be debarred from contesting elections for this ‘fraud on the people’ and a judicial inquiry ordered into the launch of the scheme which was done with mala fide intentions, ” Mr Sharma said.

Stressing that the entire scheme had been brought keeping in view the general election, Mr Sharma said, “The scheme should be scrapped immediately as it lacks the support of legislation, and no scheme can be enforced or implemented without an Act being passed.”

The Second Labour Commission in its report had called for a legislation to protect the interests of the unorganised sector (workers), but Mr Sahib Singh bulldozed this scheme without the backing of a legislation or discussing it with parties concerned like the trade unions, employers’ representatives, NGOs and the like.

“The scheme cannot be implemented as there is no law to decide the powers under which action could be taken for not following the provisions of the order. Neither has any law been enacted to carry out the scheme,” he said.

Cops fail to crack child kidnap case
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 18
The patience of the parents of kidnapped child of village Farmana and of the people of nearby villages has run out due to the failure of the police to rescue the child even after four days.

The three-year-old child Ojaswi Sharma was found missing on March 14.

The residents of seven villages, including Farmana, Nizampur Majra, Ridhau, Mozam Nagar, Jasrana, Guhna and Mahipur held a panchayat late last night and decided that if the police could not find the child by March 18, the villagers would stage dharnas on all the four roads leading to Farmana from Gohana, Kharkhoda, Sonepat and Rohtak and in front of the offices of the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police in Sonepat.

Meanwhile, the police teams which went to several places to ferret out the child returned empty-handed. Moreover, the police have not been able to establish whether the kidnapping has been done for ransom or to take some revenge. The kidnappers have not made any demand to the child’s parents so far.

On the complaint of the parents, the police have reportedly taken two youths—Sunil and Naresh in custody, but have failed to make any breakthrough in the case..

The incident has spread a panic among the villagers and they have not been allowing their children to move out of their houses alone.

It is recalled that Ojaswi Sharma was found missing when he came out of the house late evening on March 14. His father, Dr Dharmenra Sharma suspecting it be kidnapping and lodged a complaint with the police same evening.

A deputation of the villagers also met the DC and the SP.

According to police sources, the cops hope to crack the case soon.

OZ WOMAN MURDER
Committee to keep tabs on pre-paid services at airports
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 18
The Delhi Traffic Police today claimed that the case of the 59-year-old Australian woman, who was killed by a 24-year-old pre-paid taxi driver in the wee hours on March 17, was solved due to the efficiency of the traffic police and also because of the proper records maintained by them at the pre-paid taxi booth at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

In order to make the functioning of pre-paid system secure and people-friendly at the airports, a coordination committee has been set up today under the leadership of Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Qamar Ahmed with the representatives of taxi unions, other taxi and tour operators at the airports and a member from the Airport Authority of India (AAI).

The committee, according to the traffic police, will review the functioning of the pre-paid services at airports and shall take proactive steps to enhance the security of the passengers availing themselves of the pre-paid service at the airports.

In fact, after receiving several complaints from the public about the problems like overcharging, refusal to ferry passengers, misbehaviour and harassment by the taxi and TSR drivers, the traffic police in 1986, had set up these pre-paid taxi booths at the airports, railway stations, ISBTs and other market places.

At present, there are about 619 taxis in the international airports and as many as 570 taxis in the domestic airport have been providing the pre-paid facility. There are also three other taxi counters apart from the traffic police pre-paid booth at the Indira Gandhi International Airport like the Nitin Travels and booths maintained by the ITDC and Delhi Tourism.

The pre-paid booths at the airports have been upgraded and computerised to keep a proper record.

Under the prepaid service, every passenger on approaching the booths has been issued a receipt with taxi no., destination, driver’s name and the amount charged. It is only when the driver after dropping the passenger to the destination and getting the signature in the receipt, can claim the money from the booth. Even a complaint card has been provided to the passengers, so that they can lodge the complaint in case of any problem in the taxi or misbehaviour by the driver.

The traffic police claimed that there is an intensive supervision of the traffic inspectors in whose jurisdiction such pre-paid booth falls.

BRAINSTORMING
Security experts to suggest measures to make Tihar Jail escape-proof
J. T. Vishnu
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 18
Perturbed by the escape of Sher Singh Rana, the key accused in the Phoolan Devi murder case, and several other unsavory incidents, the NCT of Delhi has set up a five-member security experts committee to look into the jail escape and also recommend measures to upgrade security, both in terms of equipment and security systems in Tihar Jail.

The security experts committee, which has been formed with the approval of the Lt-Governor of Delhi, Mr Vijay Kapoor, will start functioning immediately and submit its recommendations within 15 days.

The five-member committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Special Commissioner of Police (Administration and Security) S. K. Kain with members like Additional Commissioner of Police (Security) J. K. Sharma, Deputy Director (Tech) Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, Additional Secretary (Home) NCT Delhi A. S. Dagar and Deputy Commissioner of Police (3rd Battalion) Purshotam Dass.

Principal Secretary (Home) NCT Delhi R. Narayanswami in a letter on March 16 had intimated the Delhi Police Commissioner, Dr K. K. Paul, about the formation of the committee.

Sources said that the government of NCT Delhi had been concerned for sometime over the recent escape of an undertrial prisoner involved in a murder case from Tihar Jail complex as also over some attempts at jailbreak in other parts of the country. In view of this, it has been decided that a committee of security experts should look into security at Tihar Jail and suggest measures to upgrade security both in terms of equipment as also in respect of security systems.

The committee will review the present deployment of paramilitary forces at Tihar complex as also put security measures in place to safeguard the jail from external armed intervention. Besides, it would also suggest improvements and upgradation in respect of the deployment pattern of paramilitary and other security forces in the complex and appropriate measures by way of upgradation of equipment and systems with a view to protect the jail from external armed strikes and prevention of consequent large scale jail breakout.

Earlier, there were several complaints reported to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) about the various problems encountered by the prisoners in Tihar Jail. Incidents of prisoners entering into some nefarious activities in collusion with the jail officials were also reported to the commission.

POLITICS

BJP candidate faces dissidence in hometown
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 18
Despite the efforts of the general secretary of the state unit of the BJP, Mr Veer Kumar Yadav, to pacify dissidents in Gohana during his recent visit, the BJP nominee from the Sonepat parliamentary constituency, Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, continues to invoke the ire of dissidents in his hometown.

The dissident members of the state executive, Devender Pawar, former office bearers Rajinder Bharti, Dr Yogesh Almadi, Nafe Singh, Jagat Singh and Surat Ram Azad, issued a statement on Wednesday levelling serious allegations. They accused him of changing parties like one changes one’s clothes and neglecting the party workers.

Asking Mr Sangwan not to make unnecessary comments, they alleged that after becoming an MP on the BJP ticket Mr Sangwan had been favouring the INLD and Congress workers and had never given importance to the BJP workers.

Taking serious note of Mr Sangwan’s allegation that Mr Anand Singh Hooda had burnt the BJP flag the dissidents warned such statements would not be tolerated and they might lose their patience. They have demanded an apology from Mr Sangwan for his remarks against Mr Hooda.

Meanwhile, the INLD has started mobilising different sections of society for their active involvement in election campaigning to support the party candidate, Ms Krishna Malik. The backward cell of the party held a meeting at Gohana under the chairmanship of district president Gulab Singh Jogi and finalised the election strategy to motivate maximum numbers of people of backward classes.

The Independent MLA from Sonepat, Mr Dev Raj Dewan, also held a meeting of his supporters and finalised the tour of Ms Malik in the villages of his constituency. He also informed that the Chief Minister would inaugurate the election office of the INLD candidate at the local Geeta Bhawan Chowk on March 20.

Amid speculation of a possible tie-up between the BJP and the HVP, HVP nominee Jagbir Singh Malik has been campaigning vigorously and attracting sizable gathering in the villages. According to general secretary Rajiv Jain, Mr Malik will be campaigning in the Bahadurgarh assembly constituency on March 18, Rai constituency on March 19, Rohat on March 20 and Kailana on March 21.

The Congress is yet to announce its candidate.

Filing TDS in electronic form made mandatory
Our Correspondent

Noida, March 18
In order to be more consumer-friendly and provide maximum convenience to income tax payers, the Income Tax Department (ITD) has made it mandatory for corporate deductors to furnish their TDS returns in electronic form.

According to the Joint Commissioner, Income Tax, Mr S. Rahman, “ The Finance Act, 2003 amended Section 206 (iii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, with effect from June 2003 has made it mandatory for corporate deductors to file their tax deduction at source (TDS) returns on computer media.

For this purpose, the Central Board of Direct Taxes has notified a scheme for electronic filing of TDS returns on August 26. However, it is not compulsory for non-corporate deductors to file their TDS returns electronically. They will continue to do so with their respective income tax offices.

The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, TDS and Survey, Noida, Mr B. K. Dixit, adds that “details in this regard are available at the website of the Income Tax Department at and at .

From July 31, 2003, onwards all TDS returns have to be filed only in new forms i.e. form n no 24, 26 and 27A. TDS returns filed by a deductor in the old TDS returns form after July 31, 2003, will not be in conformity with law. Such deductors are advised to file their TDS returns in new forms”.

To educate tax deductors about the new scheme and remove their misgivings and doubts, a seminar was organised at Hotel Radisson, Noida, on “Income tax awareness and e-TDS provisions’.

Information about tax information network facilities was also made available to the income tax payers. Chief Commissioner R. R. Hota of Income Tax, Meerut, presided over the event. “Easy accessibility, fast recovery of data, less paperwork, easy scrutiny and enhanced revenue will go a long way in making life easier not only for the department but also the taxpayer”, she said.

EVMs in 16 UP dists out of order
Our Correspondent

Ghaziabad, March 18
With the Lok Sabha poll almost at hand, the electronic voting machines (EVMs) of as many as 16 districts in UP are reported to be lying out of order.

Now the district administration of Ghaziabad, which has been assigned this work, has decided to get these EVMs repaired. At least six engineers of Bharat Electronics will shortly start the salvage operations.

Additional District Election Officer and Additional DM Rakesh Chandra said the defective electronic voting machines from Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muradnagar, Bareilly, Agra, Mainpuri, Badayun, Eta, Mathura, Bijnore, Saharanpur and Muzzafarnagar had been brought to Ghaziabad for repairs. Engineers of Bharat Electronics Ltd had been asked to bring these voting machines to functional status.

Each voting machine comprises two parts, control units and ballot unit. In all, some 1,031 defective ballot units and 628 control units had already been brought to Ghaziabad. All these machines would shortly be repaired, ADM Rakesh Chandra said.

Bharat Electronic Corporation had supplied the EVMs to the Central Election Commission. The Chief Election Officer of UP has decided that these machines be got repaired in Ghaziabad instead of their being transported to Lucknow. EVMs from 12 districts of four divisions have already been brought to Ghaziabad.

ADM Chandra said the district administration would organise a training programme to acquaint the voters with the use of electronic voting machines in towns as well as in rural areas.

Abandoned kids get a shot in the arm
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 18
As part of its ongoing social responsibility efforts, Seagate Technology today announced its support for the SOS CVI programme to help provide basic healthcare and education for underprivileged children. SOS Children’s Villages of India (SOS CVI) is one of India’s premier organisations providing family homes for abandoned children.

The Seagate programme will be part of the SOS CVI’s outreach project that aims to help integrate children from underprivileged communities into society. To facilitate this effort, SOS has established 34 children’s villages spread across India. The Seagate sponsorship will enable children from the region near the SOS CVI in Faridabad to access their facilities and services, including a balanced diet, functional education, basic medical care and regular medical check-ups, recreational facilities and quarterly educational trips.

“Seagate believes it has a role to play in enhancing the quality of life in the communities in which our employees live and work,” said Mr Sharad Srivastava, country manager for Seagate in India. “Our partnership with SOS Children’s Villages of India is an affirmation of our commitment to our communities for improving the lives of children.”

“It is indeed unfortunate that many children even though living in a family environment are still deprived of a real childhood,” said Mr Pradeep Singh, National Director of SOS CVI. “We are thankful to Seagate for their support in our project to reach out to underprivileged children in the vicinity of our villages by welcoming these children and providing them with a nourishing meal, education and recreation facilities,” he added.

Seagate will closely monitor the progress of these children over the year and evaluate the success of the programme with a view to extend it to other areas.

JCB India holds training camp for staff
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, March 18
The JCB India Limited, a leader in the construction and earthmoving equipment segment in the country, has organised hands-on training programme at Suraj Kund here for its staff and dealers. The 11-day programme will conclude tomorrow. Mr Sandeep Singh, Director (Marketing), said the programme was designed to enhance familiarity and comfort while using the JCB machines and equipment as well as provide the latest update on the technology and equipment available in this segment. He said this would help the dealers and employees to augment their expertise in order to translate it to enhanced customer satisfaction and a comprehensive product support. He said the programme originated at JCB headquarters and had been immensely successful. The programme has so far been attended by over 250 participants, he added.

The JCB India Limited is located at Ballabgarh town of the district and is a 100 per cent subsidiary of the JCB Worldwide, a $ 1.75 billion company based in the UK. The company offers 11different machines in four product types such as backhoe loaders, loading shovels, tracked excavators and skid steer loaders. The company, which started its work in 1980, now has a network of about 37 dealers and 140 outlets. While it was initially started as a joint venture with Escorts and was known as Escorts JCB Limited but last year the JCB took over by increasing its stake to 100 per cent. According to company officials, JCB India had been able to retain its growth rate its machines reaching over 20,000.

The company has at least 600 employees at the site and it produced more than 3500 machines from its factory at Ballabgarh in 2003. `Today the company (JCB) was one of the top five construction equipment manufacturers in the world and had plants in four continents’, said an official.

Man shot dead after dispute over missing engine parts
Our Correspondent

Jhajjar, March 18
One person was shot dead in Malikpur village of Jhajjar district last evening. According to the police sources, the deceased, identified as Mahavir, and his brother, Rohtas, had gone to the fields to irrigate their crops yesterday, where a dispute took place with one Prem Singh of the same village over a missing engine parts. Later, when Rohtas and Mahavir entered the village in the evening, they were attacked by a group of 12 persons armed with gun and other sharp-edged weapons.

Rohtas told the police that one Vinod shot at his brother, who was killed on the spot.

He also identified Ashok, Prem, Sudesh, Rajbir, Narender, Chhaju, Same Singh, Sukhbir, Yudvir, Anand and Darshan as having attacked him with lathis and other sharp-edged weapons.

The villagers took him to the Civil Hospital in Jhajjar, where the doctors referred him to the PGIMS at Rohtak.

The police have registered a case under Section 302 IPC and Arms Acts against the 12 persons named in the complaint and have started investigation in the case.

Flying squad attacked by villagers

A flying squad was reportedly attacked by villagers in Dighal village of the district this afternoon when they foiled the attempts of the villagers, gathered outside the examination centre, to facilitate the use of unfair means in the ongoing Board examinations. The students later boycotted the paper following the controversy.

According to sources, a flying squad of the district administration led by Mr Rajpal Singh, Special Collector, detect the use of unfair means during the Class 10 Mathematics paper. A police jeep of the SHO, Jhajjar, had also accompanied their car.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Mohinder Kumar, said the villagers gathered outside the school and started pelting stones on the cavalcade as soon as they reached the school building. Later, the crowd went on a rampage and damaged the windowpanes of the vehicles and overturned the vehicles.

The terrified officials rushed for cover inside the school. The DC said that the student left the examination centre midway when they realised that the use of unfair means would not be possible.

Later, a heavy police contingent was deployed at the centre to bring the situation under control. A case has been registered against some of the persons involved in the violence, said the DC.

New courses introduced

The P.D.M. Religious and Educational Association will be introducing B. Pharmacy and the MBA courses from the coming session.

The PRO of the institute, Dr Rajesh Kumar, said here today that the Haryana Government had provided sanction for the two courses.

The institute has allocated 60 seats in each of the two courses, the spokesperson said.

The chairperson of the institute, Mr Bimla Singh Prabhu, said that the PDMREA is aiming to get the status of a deemed university.

DGP accused of misusing police force
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 18
The sitting BJP MP from the Sonepat Lok Sabha constituency, Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, has accused the Director-General of Haryana Police, Mr M. S. Malik, of misusing the police force and other official machinery for furthering the prospects of his wife, Mrs Krishan Malik, who has been fielded as an INLD candidate from Sonepat Lok Sabha constituency.

Talking to mediapersons at Gohana town, he urged the Chief Election Commissioner to order a high-level probe into the use of police vehicles, official telephones and wireless sets of the DGP and take action against the DGP if he was found guilty of violating the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections. He also alleged that motorcycles, telephones and wireless sets of the Police Department were being misused to further the cause the INLD candidates.

UHBVN employee killed

An employee of the UHBVN was killed and three others sustained burn injuries when they touched high-voltage transmission line while repairing the damaged transformer at Naya Bans village, about 15 km from here yesterday. According to a report, the victim was identified as Raghbir, an ALM of Panchi Jatan village, whereas the injured employees were identified as Jai Bhagwan, Badlu and Sahab Singh, all ALMs. The injured persons were rushed to a private nursing home from where they were shifted to the Community Health Centre at Ganaur for treatment. The condition of two of the injured was stated to be serious. On receipt of information, the officials of the UHBVN arrived at the Community Health Centre and assured the injured employees of all possible assistance on behalf of the Nigam. The employees had gone to the village for repairing a damaged transformer of a tubewell.

In another case, a youth, identified as Surinder, reportedly committed suicide by taking sulphas tablets in his house at Juan village, about 15 km from here last evening. According to a report, he took this extreme step following the death of his wife, Kavita, who had committed suicide by set herself ablaze after a quarrel with him. It is stated that both the victims were married about 10 months back.

The police have registered the case and further investigations were in progress. The police have sent the bodies for the postmortem examinations.

Dowry harassment case

A housewife, identified as Teena of Barwasni village, has lodged a complaint of dowry harassment against her husband and her in-laws with the Ganaur police. The police have started investigations into the case it. However, no arrest has been made in this connection so far.

Housewife commits suicide

A housewife, identified as Santosh, reportedly committed suicide by taking poison in her house at Dabarpur village, about 20 km from here last evening. According to a report, the police have registered the case and further investigations were in progress. The body has been sent for the postmortem examination.

10 persons injured in group clash

At least 10 persons were seriously injured in a group clash at Shahpur Turk village, about 10 km from here last evening. According to a report, the clash took place after a dispute over an injury to a dog. The injured persons were rushed to the local civil hospital for medical treatment. The police have started investigation into the case. However, no arrest has been made in this connection.

Raid at tantrik’s shop

The officials of the Health Department conducted a surprise raid at a shop of a `trantrik’ on the Pio Munyari Chowk of the National Highway No. 1, about 15 km from here last evening. According to a report, the officials seized some herbal medicines for testing. The raid followed public complaints alleging that the `tantrik’ had been cheating the people on the pretext of providing herbal medicines for all kinds of diseases.

Taxman as brand ambassador
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 18
The Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Mr Prakash Dubey, has been roped in as the brand ambassador for Fuji Films. He is a photograph with rare passion. He has four coffetable books to his credit, including ‘Omar and I’, ‘Mahakumbh at Prayag’, and ‘India-Images of Nature’.

He has held five solo exhibitions, two of them at the invitation of the National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai.

DELHI DIGEST
INLD to oppose new property tax
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 18
The Indian National Lok Dal has opposed the implementation of the new property tax in the unauthorised colonies of the national Capital.

The president of the Delhi unit of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Mr. Hari Singh Rana, opposed the implementation of property tax in unauthorised colonies.

In a joint statement with secretary, Mr Kuldeep Singh Kirari, he said that the government had hardly provided any facilities to them, and therefore, had no right to collect tax from them.

They alleged that the Congress and the BJP had worked against the interest of the people.

The BJP was making a symbolic opposition to the new system of property tax assessment. The BJP is supporting the Congress in implementing the unit area method for the assessment of property tax, they alleged.

The leaders of the INLD have warned of stiff opposition if the new system of property tax collection is implemented in the Capital. They claimed that the INLD would contest all the seven parliamentary seats in the national Capital.

The party leaders will be holding a meeting tomorrow to chalk out their strategy for the coming parliamentary elections, they said.

Five injured in cylinder explosion

Five persons were injured seriously when a cylinder exploded in a house in the Seelampur area of North-East Delhi today. The explosion took place in the morning in the house of one Alam (28), an employee in a photo-frame shop. Alam’s mother, wife and two daughters also sustained serious burn injuries. The injured were rushed to the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital where their condition was stated to be serious. The blast caused a small fire, which was brought under control fire tenders rushed to the spot.

Navratra Mahotsav

The preparation for the ‘Navratra Mahotsav’ by the Indraprastha Kala Sanskritik Parishad in Kali Mata Mandir at Deepali Chowk in Pitampura is in full swing.

The president of the Parishad, Mr Ram Kailash Gupta, said that the Navratra would begin on March 21. Sadhvi Ritambhra, Amarjit Singh ‘Bijli’, Narender Chanchal, Piyush Kailash and Bhajan Samrat Anoop Jalota would sing bhajans in honour of Maa Durga.

NCR BRIEFS
Gang involved in printing fake currency busted
Our Correspondents

Noida, March 18
The police claimed to have busted a gang involved in printing and transferring fake currency. Fake currency notes worth lakhs along with printing machines were also seized by the police. Acting on an input of an informer, the police had nabbed two criminals, who had come to sell Rs 2 lakh fake currency notes in village Sutyana, said the district police chief.

The criminals were identified as Amit and Bablu alias Ravi Shankar, residents of Memoora.

During interrogation, they revealed that the four members of the gang were involved in selling fake currency notes in the market.

Based on the information provided by them, the police raided Kheri Masana village and arrested the other two criminals and seized printing machines and fake currency.

Tumor removed

Greater Noida: A team of doctors removed a 200 gm tumor from the stomach of a 2-year-old boy. The doctors claimed that this was the first case of its kind in the area in which such a large tumor had been removed from the stomach a 2-year-old boy.

Dr V.P Singh and Dr. Satinder Kumar operated upon the child and removed the tumor. The child is said to be feeling normal and relieved after the operation.

Body found

Ghaziabad A body of a young man was found from the railway line near Daulat pur. Both the legs of the victim had been severed from the knees.

Surprisingly, the Kotwali police are describing this as a case of suicide. The victim has not been identified yet. Some Delhi and Ghaziabad telephone numbers and addresses were found in a diary recovered from the victim’s pockets. He had wound marks on his neck and stomach.

Superintendent held

Rewari: A superintendent-in-chief of the Haryana Board of School Education, identified as Mukesh Kumar Yadav, was arrested by the Bawal Police for being drunk during duty hours on March 15.

Moreover, fourteen students appearing in the examination at center no. B-2 at Govt. Senior Secondary School for Boys at Bawal, were arrested by the police on charges of unruly conduct.

Following a complaint made by the center superintendent, Mr. Birbal, the police took the superintendent -in-chief, Mukesh Kumar Yadav, to the community health center, Bawal, where his medical examination revealed that he was under the influence of liquor. The arrested persons were produced in the court here on March 16 and remanded to judicial custody by Mr. A. K. Singhal, Judicial Magistrate ( First Class).

However, the Judicial Magistrate (First Class ) ordered all of them to be released on bail if they furnished a surety of Rs. 10, 000 each.

CRIME

Escape bid by three juvenile delinquents foiled
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 18
The alertness displayed by a safai worker foiled an attempt made by three juvenile inmates of the Bal Sudhar Graha. The three were re-arrested by the staff yesterday.

These juveniles inmates, who managed to escape from the precincts of the Bal Sudhar Graha, were spotted by safai worker Ram Kumar who raised the alarm.

Thereupon, the staff swung into action and they were overpowered.

This incident came to light when two groups of inmates clashed with each other in the Bal Sudhar Graha, resulting in injuries to one of them. The injured inmate was rushed to the local civil hospital for treatment and was stated to be out of danger. The police have registered a case against one inmate, Praveen, in this connection and started investigations.

However, no case has been registered against three inmates who managed to come out from the Bal Sudhar Graha through the way to the toilet. The officials of the Bal Sudhar Graha are reportedly hushing up the case in this regard. Meanwhile, security at the Bal Sudhar Graha has been beefed up and a contingent of four security guards has been deployed in and around the Bal Sudhar Graha as a precautionary measure.

According to another report, the Murthal police re-arrested Sanjeev, a prisoner and a resident of Hassanpur village, when he was coming out from his house last night.

Sanjeev, who was undergoing imprisonment for life in a criminal case, had succeeded in escaping from the district jail on January 13 last. Sanjeev made an attempt to escape but the police officials foiled his attempt and overpowered him. A case has been registered against him and further investigations are in progress.

Five undertrials attacked in Tis Hazari Courts
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 18
Five undertrials were injured in a lock up at the Tis Hazari Courts when they were attacked by two other undertrials today. The injured were identified as Pradeep, Parveen, Rajesh, Rakesh Gupta and Jahangir. They were allegedly attacked by fellow under trials, Titu alias Irfan and his associates, Manoj Tyagi and Jai Ram.

Irfan attacked Pradeep and Parveen with a surgical blade while they were having their meal inside the lock up. Manoj and Jai Ram assisted in the attack.

Later, they attacked Rajesh, Rakesh and Jahangir in similar manner. During interrogation, Irfan disclosed that he did not attack the victims out of animosity or anger, but for getting undertrial status so that he could frequently come out of jail for appearance in the court. Presently, he is serving life sentence in a murder case, the police said.

MCD official held for taking bribe

The Anti-Corruption Branch of the Delhi Government claimed to have arrested a MCD official, identified as Tilak Raj Mehndiratta, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 800. The official posted at Chowkhandi, promised to favour the complainant, Matroo, to obtain duplicate documents of plot of land.

Matroo had lost the documents of his land in the JJ colony, allotted to him 30 yeas ago. He met Tilak Raj Mehndiratta so as to get the duplicate papers of the plot. The official allegedly demanded Rs 1,000 for providing the duplicate documents. However, he agreed to do the ‘job’ for Rs 800.

The complainant reported the matter to the officials of the Anti-Corruption Branch, who conducted a raid and arrested the official red-handed, the police said.

Woman commits suicide

A woman, identified as Sonu (25), resident of Bharat Nagar, reportedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance. She was taken to the Holy Family Hospital, where she was declared brought dead. She was married two years ago and had a son. An inquiry by the SDM is being conducted to get to the bottom of the case. In another case, a woman, identified as Sunita Sharma (25), committed suicide last night. She was married two years ago. The area SDM is conducting an inquiry into the matter, the police said.