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DSGMC factions brace up for
156 missiles, rockets found in Bulandshahr
Another live shell recovered
Roads leading to Presidential Estate being spruced up
Alarming cancer scenario: Support groups can play vital role
Infants can’t take pressure of early schooling: experts
71 Bangladeshis held for illegal stay
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Voters’ ID cards, a good business here
Woman shot at, accused held
Woman done to death for dowry
Make mentally ill aware of their rights, lawyers urged
Justice R.C. Lahoti, Chief Justice of India, being greeted by the mentally challenged inmates of Sudinalay Rehabilitation shelter on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, organised by National Legal Services Authority in the Capital on Sunday. — Tribune Photo
A shoppers’ paradise that was not to be
Disabled Dalit worker alleges witch-hunt
Man burnt alive
Vendor stabbed for refusing donation
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DSGMC factions brace up for legal showdown
New Delhi, October 10 Seventeen members of the DSGMC, including its former president Parmajit Singh Sarna, have decided to serve a notice on committee president Prehlad Singh Chandok, asking him to hold annual elections to the religious body on November 3. Mr Sarna has alleged that Mr Chandok had postponed the elections in an unconstitutional manner. The notice is likely to be served in a day or two. The DSGM chief, however, told The Tribune that the elections had been postponed at the behest of the majority of the members of the committee, of which five were from the Sarna group. He disclosed that the 17 members had served a similar notice a fortnight back, out of which one had backed out. “ Let them serve another notice. If constitutionally the notice is correct, then after verifying all signatures we will hold an executive body meeting to decide the future course of action.” The DSGMC poll was due on September 24 this year but Mr Chandok, at an executive committee meeting held in August, decided to postpone it till January 27, 2005. This was a major gain for Mr Chandok who, despite the stiff opposition from his mentor and predecessor Sarna for the control of the powerful religious body, was able to extend his tenure in the office. The postponement, Mr Chandok pointed out, had been sought in view of the 400th Parkash Utsav celebrations. However, Mr Sarna has said that constitutionally this was wrong as while the president could hold an early election, he could not delay it. “There is no provision in the Delhi Gurdwara Act that says the executive body can postpone or delay the elections.” Mr Chandok has responded by pointing out that the Act also said that once the president has fixed the election date, it could not be changed. Mr Sarna has issued a warning to Mr Chandok that if he does not call a meeting of the general house on November 3, he himself would convene the meeting and conduct elections.
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156 missiles, rockets found in Bulandshahr
Ghaziabad, October 10 With this, the number of such explosives seized so far has crossed 200. The presence of such large number of lethal missiles and rockets in the metal scrap meant for the steel mills in the area, has caused a considerable panic among the residents here. District Magistrate Abhishek Singh told newsmen that two steel companies—Saini Steel and Gangeshwar Steel—were located in the industrial area and it is suspected that the employees might have left these explosives abandoned in the drain to avoid detection because of the increased vigil by the authorities in the wake of the Shahibabad factory blast. According to officials, a scavenger working in a drain in the industrial area in
Kakod, found the explosives which included 63 live missiles. He immediately informed the police. The fire brigade personnel and the bomb disposal squad rushed to the spot and seized the explosives. The entire area was cordoned off and a thorough search of the drain carried out later. The district authorities said that most of the munitions appeared to be rusted but still retained the explosive content. The police said that a case had been registered and investigations were on. The two steel factories had already been searched by a police team a week ago after the blast in Sahibabad.
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Another live shell recovered
New Delhi, October 10 Meanwhile, the police sources said that there are indications from the government that it intends to tighten up procedures through laws so that scrap materials with explosives are not allowed in the country. As of now, the police have recovered hundreds of shells, including some live ones, from different places in and the peripheral areas of the national Capital. The NGS today inspected three containers containing scrap material that were imported from Iran. For now, the security agencies have tightened up procedures and inspection guidelines, so as to keep a close watch on the consignments coming from overseas, said sources in the security agencies.
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Roads leading to Presidential Estate being spruced up
New Delhi, October 10 According to the chief engineer of the NDMC, Mr Y. K. Aggarwal, as per plan almost all the roads in the area — Church Road, North Avenue Road, Teen Murti Road, Tyagraja Marg, Dalhousie Road and Hukumi Bai Marg — will be upgraded and beautified. Apart from this, a large number of flowering trees like Durenta, Hibiscus, Geldiana and Red Grass will be planted on both sides of the
roads. “We have already started the work and the whole beautification drive will be completed by the first week of 2005. In the first phase, we have selected Dalhousie Road, the most important road in this area. More than 50 employees are working day and night to give it a face-lift. Renovation and landscaping works have been started on the road. A sum of Rs 45 lakhs has been allotted for this road alone. “We will plant more trees to give a green look to Church Road. And Rs 55 lakh will be spent on the upgradation of the road connecting Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital to Teen Murti Road, ” said Mr Aggarwal. He revealed that the president himself showed keen interest in the beautification drive. A letter had recently been received from Rashtrapati Bhavan regarding this recently. Last year, the NDMC had initiated a similar beautification drive near the Prime Minister’s residence.
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Alarming cancer scenario: Support groups can play vital role
New Delhi, October 10 These figures are terrifying. But then cancer itself is a terrifying word and however educated or informed a woman might be, she likes to believe that it will never happen to her. She denies its existence, and in the process, ignores early warnings, delays examinations, thereby reducing the chances of early detection and survival. On Breast Cancer Day on Saturday, women who have had a brush with the dreaded disease, came together on a common platform to learn to help others cope with cancer and its aftermath. Studies say that on an average those who receive information and emotional support fare better than those who do not. At the meet organised by Cancer Sahyog, a unit of the Indian cancer Society, support groups of survivors and caregivers interacted with experts and learnt how to provide emotional, social and psychological support to those still suffering. Treatment of cancer is long, painful and expensive. Even in government hospitals, the cost of drugs, borne by patients, can be close to Rs 1.5 lakh. The good news, however, is that breast and cervix cancers are particularly amenable to detection in screening. If detected and treated early enough, there is not only a chance of complete recovery, but other options are also available, including preservation of the affected breast. According to president of the Cancer Sahayta, Ms Renuka Prasad, even though most women worry about being afflicted with the disease, yet something prevents them from going in for check-ups. Which is why cancer has to be detected early. Early detection can save your breast, life and money. Every woman should see an oncology surgeon or breast specialist once in three years after she is 30 years old and once every year after the age of 40. If you are over 40 years old, ask for a mammogram. If you are under 40 years and have a family history or other risk factors, ask when to begin screening from your doctor. Once a month from the age of 20, start self-examination. The president of Cansupport, Ms Harmala Gupta, a survivor herself, talked about the importance of persons with basic learning skills and personal experience of cancer providing emotional support. Union Minister of State for Tourism Renuka Chowdhary, who also spoke to the participants at meet, urged women to go in for early detection and advised those affected to learn to cope with life after cancer. “ After mastectomy a woman feels as if her life is over. But we are like mother Earth. There can be devastations and famines, but she is green again. Life will carry on. The most important thing is to believe that life will carry on.”
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Infants can’t take pressure of early schooling: experts
New Delhi, October 10 Admission tests and interviews of little children for nursery and KG classes as well as coaching in preparatory schools was harmful for kids, paediatricians said in an affidavit submitted in the Delhi High Court. Nursery and KG admission procedures of many leading schools in the Capital subject children to gruelling tests and interviews, including elements of formal learning like numbers and alphabets, which the kids should actually be learning in subsequent years, the doctors said. Parents unnecessarily pressurise their children and preparatory schools also focus on formal teaching, which was seldom required. It should be understood that forcing formal learning was counterproductive at this small age, the affidavit said, quoting a study conducted by the doctors. Paediatricians highlighted the negative impact of early schooling on the physical, mental and emotional health of the children. The study showed a rising trend of behavioural problems like bed-wetting, teeth grinding and temper tantrums among one-fifth of the children, who were pushed into schooling at a very tender age. Children were too young to handle the separation from a secure home environment. Many of the children start reporting disturbances in their sleep pattern and having nightmares, the affidavit said. Twenty-two per cent of the children below four years were still bottle-fed before they wake up, as there was very little time for breakfast, it said. The study revealed that on an average a child had 33.2 minutes to get ready for school in the morning; as a result, 82 per cent of schoolchildren have no time to have ‘motions’ in the morning. Incidence of recurrent respiratory infections and fever was increasing as a result of overcrowded classrooms in street-corner preparatory schools, it added. Pain in the hands, back and legs were noticed among one-fifth of the children because of excessive writing work and disproportionately heavy weight of the school bag, it said further. Making them sit for long hours in crammed chairs and desks inhibits their body movements and ability to explore their environment, which was extremely detrimental, the affidavit stated. The study brought out that children below the age of five years could not be expected to read or write. All that they could possibly do was copy a circle or a cross. Children below the age of five years, when exposed to formal learning like reading, writing, arithmetic etc, do so by rote or photographic memory, which is very well developed at this age. However, as they do not comprehend different shapes and sizes, they do not have much comprehension of letters, numbers etc and, hence, have to re-learn everything at the age of six or seven years, it said. By bombarding their brains with formal learning at a young age, they were deprived of stimulating environmental learning experiences, which should be the major source of learning at this age and from which they benefit, the doctors said.
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71 Bangladeshis held for illegal stay
Noida, October 10 Though 13 men, 23 women and 35 children were nabbed, a large number of Bangladeshis managed to evade arrest during the police action. The police and the local intelligence unit had conducted simultaneous raids in different areas in Phase-II. There was commotion in Bangladeshi’s jhuggi clusters on seeing the policemen closing in. However, the cops were able to corner and arrest 71 of them. S.P. City A.K. Jain said the police had information that a large number of Bangladeshis were living in slums in Banghel and hosiery complex. Their arrest has created a commotion among Bangladeshis living elsewhere in Noida. The police are trying to collect information about the criminal elements among them who have contributed to the police department’s headache. Surprisingly, everyone knows that a large number of Bangladeshis live illegally in Noida. Most of them posses ration cards and driving licences also. On the basis of these documents issued by the government departments, these foreigners manage to get bail from courts. The police, LIU and the district administration have failed to take any action against the pimps and agents who facilitate the issuing of these documents to the Bangladeshis, which support their claims to become bona fide citizens later.
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Voters’ ID cards, a good business here
Faridabad, October 10 According to reports, several residents of Adarsh Colony in Ballabhgarh town here were allegedly duped by some persons, who had been selling ‘affidavits’ to those wanting to have the voters’ identity cards. It is learnt that one such person had been operating from a dharamshala in Ballabhgarh and charging from Rs 40 to 50 for each affidavit. The affidavit was needed as a proof of residence for the persons, who do not have a ration card or other such proof. It is stated that the affidavit paper prepared and sold here has a blank space for filling up the name and address of the applicant. Every applicant was also being charged for a separate form available free from any election office. Some of the residents identified as Triveni, wife of one Chhaterpal, Rajender, his wife Shakuntala, Nirmala Devi and Shiv Kumar, all residents of the Adarsh Colony have lodged a complaint with the local officials after their applications were turned down by the election office. They were told that they should produce the required documents instead of the affidavit, if they wanted to get their cards made. It may be recalled that the process of preparing the cards for the all the eligible voters had been going on in the district at present and was likely to be over by the end of the month.
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Woman shot at, accused held
New Delhi, October 10 During investigation, she revealed that two youths in their early twenties had tried to molest her while she was moving near the railway track. When she resisted, they fired at her from a country-made pistol. After the incident, the duo escaped from the spot. The police said that the person who shot at the woman was later identified as
Suleman; he is reportedly involved in a number of criminal cases. The police have arrested Suleman and seized two live cartridges and a country-made pistol from his possession. The details of the other accused are still unclear.
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Woman done to death for dowry
Noida, October 10 The Sector-24 police have arrested Rahul, his father and mother. Sudesh’s father Madanpal, the police said, had accused his daughter’s in-laws of having tortured her for dowry and ultimately done her to death. Her in-laws had been demanding a motorcycle and Rs 50,000 from her for the past sometime. For her inability to bring in these things, she was killed and the case was made out to be a suicide, Madanpal alleged. The police are awaiting the postmortem report. The police SO Vir Vikram Singh said nothing could be said till the autopsy report was received. Meanwhile, on the basis of the statements of Sudesh’s parents, her husband, father-in-law and mother-in-law have been arrested.
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Make mentally ill aware of their rights, lawyers urged
Gurgaon, October 10 Addressing a function to mark the World Mental Heath Day, organised under the aegis of the District Legal Services Authority, Mr Anand made a fervent appeal, especially to the lawyers and the NGOs to help the mentally ill in not only educating them of their rights, but also ensuring that they got their due. Mr Anand said that the extant laws were enough to provide remedy to the needy sections of society. What was, however, needed from the society at large was benevolence of heart and dedicated efforts to provide help to the target groups. He made out a strong case for frequent and meaningful interface of the Bar and the NGOs in this context. Besides judicial officers and a large number of members of the district Bar, several representatives of the NGOs and medical practitioners also participated in the function. In their presentations, a number of speakers dwelt on the provisions of the Mental Health Act, 1987.
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A shoppers’ paradise that was not to be
Noida, October 10 The Sector-18 Commercial Complex Association (CCA) has often been leading its members to the Noida Authority’s offices, with their pleas for some relief. “There is an immediate need for streamlining the traffic movement in the sector by marking the entry and exit routes to facilitate a one-way traffic. This will go a long way in easing the flow of traffic,” says S.K. Jain of Sandyz. Complains S.K. Singhal of Singhal Electricals, “Several rickshaws moving around or simply blocking the streets create chaotic conditions, though they provide the only mode of transport to the majority of the shoppers.” Says Ashish Bhayana, owner of the Chinese restaurant, Bamboo Shoots, “A large number of hawkers selling eatables and cheap wares within the sector is not only a traffic hazard but also encourages unethical trading, besides being an invitation to the unscrupulous elements in the vicinity.” Self-appointed parking contractors have become a nuisance. They simply put up their boards and start charging parking fees, even though they are not authorised to do so. Rohit Garg of Nathu Sweets says that as the density is increasing in the market, the load on the infrastructure facilities is also increasing. The result? Constant power breakdowns, filth lying all around, mushrooming encroachments and several cases of public harassment. Did we ask for all this when we set up the shop here, a few years ago? complains restaurateur P.K. Darbari of Doosri Manzil. “The constant and uncontrolled flow of migrant population into the city has led to an unrestrained manifestation of beggars within the market complex, who persistently harass the shoppers,” regrets the restaurateur. Another glaring lapse in planning the market is the absence of fire-fighting facilities. No fire hydrants have been provided in the first place. On a number of occasions when the showrooms were gutted, the lack of fire hydrants, absence of snorkel to help firefighting on higher floors was acutely felt.
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Disabled Dalit worker alleges witch-hunt
Faridabad, October 10 He had been able to get the orders of his pre-mature retirement reversed and was re-instated in June last. However, the department officials reportedly stopped his salary for the intervening period between his ‘retirement’ and re-instatement. They also delayed his wages for about three months after he had joined the duty again. He has now challenged the action of the authorities and approached the ministry concerned for justice. Some of the Dalit employee organisations, including the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations and the Federation of All India SC/ST Employees have taken up the issue and sought action to redress the grievance of the employee besides an action against the officials concerned for ‘victimising’ the employee. The Union Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, Dr Shakeel Ahmed, has assured an action into the matter in response to a letter written to him by Mr Udit Raj, National Chairman, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, recently. Similarly, Mr
J.R. Antwal, Chairman of the Federation of All India SC/ST Employees, in his communication to the Chief Post Master General, Haryana Circle, has sought a remedial action into the complaint by Mr
Rathee, who has alleged that the department had cut down his basic salary and other allowances, with the plea that it had been recovering the pensionary benefits and gratuity paid to him after his retirement in February, while he has claimed that he had already refunded the amount to the department and submitted all the relevant documents. He has claimed that despite all the formalities, the department had not released his full salary and allowances so far, though over three months had passed.
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Man burnt alive
Ghaziabad, October 10 Pradeep Saxena, alias Titu, of Giri Market Colony was burnt in the morning on October 7. He had been rushed into the house of one Dhanno while in flames. He was shouting all along, “save me save me”. Dhanno’s son Narinder had put a blanket around him and poured water on him to extinguish the flames. Narinder had also informed the police who rushed the badly charred Pradeep Saxena to SGTB Hospital, Delhi. Saxena, alias Titu, used to live with wife Usha, three kids and his mother in Ashok Vihar Colony of Loni. His wife Usha alleged that her husband had been living with another woman Neelam, alias Kiran, in a rented house in Giri Market Colony for the past six months. Usha is a Class IV employee in Ashok Hospital. On October 7, the police informed her that her husband had been burnt. No report has been filed in the case so far.
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Vendor stabbed for refusing donation
Noida, October 10 It is learnt that four men were going around collecting donations for Navratri Puja at 9 p.m. in Khora Colony market under Indirapuram police station on Saturday. When they approached a vegetable seller Jatinder Sharma for contribution, Sharma refused to give any money. But the four were bent on collecting the amount. This resulted in an altercation following which the four thrashed Jatinder Sharma. But when he did not agree even then, the four attacked him with knives. The stabbing incident at 9 p.m. created a commotion in the weekly Saturday mart. Many people fled after closing their shops. By the time the police reached, the assailants had escaped. The police rushed Jatinder Sharma to a private nursing home in
Loni. No formal report has been lodged in the case. The police said they are investigating the matter.
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Gurgaon, October 10
Of the estimated 25 lakh patients currently under treatment, 45 per cent are women. One out of every 12 Indian women is likely to get cancer in her lifetime, breast and cervix cancer being the commonest. And one woman out of 28 in Delhi will develop breast cancer at some point in her life.