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Two minors raped;
body of one girl found
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Future of polluting units
sealed New Delhi, October 24 The future of 300-odd small-scale industrial units in and around Wazirpur in north-western Delhi is in jeopardy as the Supervisory Group constituted by the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee is likely to direct the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to “initiate the process of closing down the industries” for discharging certain chemicals and for not complying with the apex court’s order to install and operate common effluent treatment plants.
News
Analysis Power of attorney plot
holders in a tight spot Mall culture set to
grip Faridabad Purana Qila fest to
keep alive classical dance, music Drunk goons try to burn
man Residents put Ravana on
a pedestal here! JNU poll: Ideology
takes back seat to local issues Admissions through
draw of lots favoured Goods worth lakhs
gutted 7 months in jail for
acid attack on wife
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Two minors raped; body of one girl found
Faridabad, October 24 Hundreds of residents of local Sanjay Colony here staged a demonstration outside the NIT police station here yesterday, demanding the recovery of the girl, who is suspected to have been raped and murdered by three persons. The incident of the alleged abduction, rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl, who had gone to collect drywood from the jungle of Surajkund on October 21, came to light after the arrest of three persons by the Delhi Police. It is stated that the three accused identified as Bhola, Guddu and Kishan, all residents of Sanjay Colony here, reportedly admitted before the police that they had abducted the victim and killed her after committing the rape. The victim had come to the Bhati mines area along with her mother and sister to collect drywood. It is reported that the victims’ mother and sister had raised the alarm when the accused took away the girl and reported the matter to the Delhi Police, as the spot had been near the border. It is learnt that the accused who were handed over to the local police yesterday, have been giving confusing statements to the police regarding the whereabouts of the girl. The residents of the colony who believe that the girl had been murdered, demanded immediate recovery of the girl and a strict action against the accused. They staged a demonstration outside the police station in the NIT area. The police are reported to have booked a case of abduction so far and started investigations into the matter. In other case, the police recovered the body of a three-year-old girl Jyoti, daughter of one Anangpal of Ferozpur village of the Palwal subdivision of the district, who had been abducted, raped and murdered on October 21. One person has been arrested in this connection.
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Khurana to quit post?
New Delhi, October 24 Mr Khurana’s decision to step down appears to have been precipitated by the change of guard in the party and recent appointment of Mr L. K. Advani as president of the party. Mr Khurana, considered close to Mr Advani, is understood to have made up his mind to resign before the new team of office-bearers is formed by October 27. Mr Khurana was made the Governor of Rajasthan in January this year after he resigned as the President of Delhi Pradesh BJP following the party’s drubbing in Assembly elections in December last year. He had hesitantly accepted the assignment given by the erstwhile NDA government but was keen to return to the politics of Delhi, a city that he considers his “temple.” After the BJP’s setbacks in Delhi in the Lok Sabha elections, Mr Khurana had expressed his desire to the BJP high command to rejoin political affairs of Delhi to strengthen the party. The party high command, however, told him to wait till the Assembly elections in Maharashtra were over and only then take appropriate decision on his decision to step down. Recently after the controversy over the relocation of industries in Delhi, several delegations of aggrieved people met him in Jaipur and requested him to take up their cause. The former Delhi Chief Minister, who is keen to return to active politics, had arrived here on Friday and is believed to have met some the top BJP leadership to convey his intention to quit.
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Future of polluting units sealed
New Delhi, October 24 The Monitoring Committee had given industrial societies time till October 15 to pay their share of money for setting up the CETPs for treating hazardous waste and to operate them according to prescribed norms. As per the Supreme Court order, the industrial societies were to bear 50 per cent of the total cost whereas the Delhi Government and the Union Government would pay 25 per cent each. Accordingly, the industries were given time till August 31 to fulfil all the necessary conditions. The deadline, which was later extended to October 15, expired last week. Well-placed sources told The Tribune that the 300-odd industries, including certain pickle manufacturing units, “will have to go”. The sources said that these industries would have to be shifted elsewhere or shut down. According to the sources, the Monitoring Committee is expected to issue “advance orders” to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to set in motion the process of removing the pickle units for discharging certain acids. “We might, however, choose to delay the closure of other industrial units till October 31 so that the industries have time to pay up their share towards setting up the common effluent treatment plants,” the sources said. The Monitoring Committee is learnt to have held talks in this regard with the Delhi State Industrial Corporation
(DSIDC). The DSIDC was entrusted with the task of setting up the plants in select industrial areas in Delhi. The DSIDC is understood to have conveyed to the Monitoring Committee that nine treatment plants are operational and one plant was in the process of being set up. “We are waiting for discussion on the status report with the chairman. We will take a final view then,” said a source. The threat of closure looms large over the industries because the DSIDC has maintained that it would become difficult for it to operate the plants beyond a reasonable period of time unless the industrial societies paid up. The industries are reluctant and claim that the sum involved is steep. The matter traces its origin to a public interest litigation petition filed in the Supreme Court. The apex court set up a Monitoring Committee which, in turn, constituted a Supervisory Group headed by Prof Siddiqui of Aligarh to prevent the banks of the river Yamuna from turning into an illegal waste dump and to hold talks with the industrial societies for setting up of CETPs in nearly 14 places, including the GT Karnal Road.
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News Analysis Ravi Bhatia Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 24 This, despite the fact that Dr Harshvardhan was re- elected as the Delhi BJP’s president for the second successive term only a week ago amidst rumblings that the state unit had remained somnolent and its performance in the recent elections a lacklustre one under his leadership. Highly placed party sources said that some radical changes were likely to be made in the state unit to galvanise it into activity once the leadership completes the formality of electing the national office bearers after the meeting of the national council scheduled for October 27. These sources do not rule out the possibility of Khurana being given an active role in “reorganising” the Delhi unit even though the state unit did not do well under his presidentship in the Assembly elections. It was precisely for this reason that he was eased out to a gubernatorial post. A former chief minister of Delhi, Khurana is considered to be an old strategist and an Advani loyalist who can at least exert some influence over the considerable Punjabi population of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. With his Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) background he may also be able to mollify the cadre which has been sulking for some time now over the issue of dilution of Hindutva. In his return to active politics once again, party observers also see this as a move by the old guard to reassert itself. The old guard had been virtually sidelined as the active organisation work was slowly taken over by the younger lot — or the “second generation” as they are now being increasingly referred to — over the last couple of years. But this political jostling within the ranks of the state unit may cause more problems than throw up solutions. Some of the old guard like Mr Sahib Singh Verma, a former chief minister of Delhi and also a former MP, who has kept to himself after his defeat, may also stake his claim if Khurana is given an active role. So would others who were vanquished in the Lok Sabha polls in the NCT of Delhi. Even though Khurana and his bete noire Sahib Singh Verma have adhered to the truce hammered out by the party high command a couple of years ago, yet when it comes to the affairs of the NCT of Delhi both want to maintain their superiority and influence among the ranks.
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Power of attorney plot holders in a tight spot
Noida, October 24 About 70% houses in these nine sectors are built by the people who are power of attorney holders, according to the office-bearers of the Association of the Power of Attorney Plot Holders. Most of these house owners, who are members of the Noida Power of Attorney Plot Holders Association, are pensioners and senior citizens who had built their houses by spending their lifelong savings and made Noida their home some 10 to 15 years ago. According to the president, R.C. Sharma and secretary, S.D. Anand of the association, they have been going from pillar to post for the last 15 years, but neither the Noida Authority nor the District Administration officers have ever tried to understand their problems. There are more than 350 power of attorney plot holders in Sectors 55 and 56 alone. A sum of Rs 300 was being charged as a transfer fee during the early 90s, but the transfer of plots in those sectors was temporarily withheld by the Noida Administration as per an order by Addl. CEO, Noida. The power of attorney holders were told that when the Noida administration opens transfers of ownership of these plots, the agreement signed vide registered lease deed shall be followed. But their hopes were shattered when the Noida administration opened transfers in 1997 for three months only, when a transfer fee equal to 10% of the prevalent market rates for those plots was levied instead of charging 20% of the profit earned by the seller as per the lease deed. The Plot Holders Association lodged its protest against the notification and requested the administration to charge 20% of the profit earned, i.e. as per the agreement arrived vide lease deeds. The association sent its appeals to the then Chief Minister, local MP, MLA, as well as to the Minister of Urban Lands. But nobody heard their pleas. In 2003, the administration invited applications by the owners of flats/houses held by them on the power of attorney. They were offered transfers in their names by paying an amount equal to 30% of the original allotment price. The association approached the Noida Authority again and requested them to let the residential plots held by the power of attorney plot holders be transferred in their names on the same conditions, i.e. charge 30% of the original allotment premium of their plots. However, the administration did not agree and informed that they are to pay 15% of the prevalent market rate. The association again agreed to pay even 37.5% of the allotment value of their plots, only to settle the issue once and for all. The Noida administration, however, refused to agree.
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Mall culture set to grip Faridabad
Faridabad, October 24 A large number of locals had assembled at Sector-12 here recently to take part in the inauguration ceremony of a new multiplex named as “SRS World’’, promoted by the BTL Group. “While one shopping mall has already been functioning in Sector-15-A, just on the National Highway, the opening of the next such centre seems to have pleased the residents, who earlier had to go to Delhi for shopping of the latest brand of items,” says Mr Anil Jindal, director, SRS World. He claims that besides shopping, the crowd will have a variety of entertainment offers as the new complex will have three PVR cinemas at one time. Only one PVR cinema has been available so far in the town, whose tickets are too costly. “Opening of more state-of-the-art cinemas and shopping facility will surely brought the rates to an affordable level and the average consumer was surely set to be the beneficiary,” says Saurabh, a resident of Sector- 16-A. He claimed that the condition of the majority of the cinema halls had been poor and not worth visiting, especially for the families. He said he was sure that PVR and other modern cinemas halls coming up in the multiplexes will keep this aspect in mind while deciding the rates of the tickets, besides the shops and showrooms, who will have to brave the competition from other shopping malls. According to SRS World owners, their multiplex had several unique features which include a glass tunnel, a swimming pool at the rooftop, three silver screen cineplex, a terrace garden, a restro bar, a discotheque and a special club. It is claimed that the spot had been located in the heart of the town with spacious roads and ample parking. It will be formally thrown open to public on November 12. It may be recalled that the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has sold about a dozen sites for the multiplexes in the town in the last three years. They are mostly located near the main Mathura Road. This has opened a goldmine for the Authority.
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Purana Qila fest to keep alive classical dance, music
New Delhi, October 24 It is aimed at insulating the rich Indian culture from the Western onslaught. The festival will begin with different dance schools sending the audience into raptures. A 52-feet-long stage has been specially created for the performers and to facilitate an unhindered view for the thousand-plus audience which is expected to turn up. The organisers are sure that along with the big names, the ambience that they have taken pains to create would draw crowds. Among the major dance forms that will be performed during the five-day event are Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam and Bharatnatyam. Raja and Radha Reddy, Neena Prasad and Sharmila Biswas from Kerala, V. P. Dhananjayan from Chennai and Kumudini Lakhia from Gujarat are some of the performers at the festival. Celebration of dance forms also aims at doing its bit to put the Purana Qila on the tourist’s map. Special arrangements like a battery-operated bus to ferry audience from the parking to the venue have been ensured for the success of the event.
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Drunk goons try to burn man
Noida, October 24 The vagabonds reportedly beat up a number of passers-by also who tried to rescue the victim. They later burnt down his handcart. Some people who put off the flames rushed the victim with 40% burns to Dharamshila Hospital. The victim was later referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi as his condition deteriorated. The Sector-20 police have registered a case and arrested one person. Veenu and Raju of Trilok Puri, Delhi, had a brawl with some goons near Gail office on Friday evening. The rogues had first taken drinks at Veenu’s cart and later beat him up. One of the assailants brought petrol and sprinkled on Veenu, son of Pyare Lal, and a match was put to him. The drunks then burnt down his cart also. Some passers-by heard Veenu’s shrieks and somehow extinguished the flames and rushed him to Dharamshila Hospital in Mayur Vihar, Delhi. Raju Bhaskar in his report to the Sector-20 police station said Satinder, alias Buboo, Bhandhari, Subash and their companions had beaten up Veenu and tried to burn him after sprinkling petrol on him and later burnt down his cart. The police, who have registered a case under Section 326 and are investigating the matter, said the quarrel had started on the positioning of the carts at the roadside.
A dreaded criminal Jamshed, alias ‘Disco’, wanted for dozens of case of loots and thefts, has been arrested by the Sector-20 police with half kg ganja. He had come face to face with the police a number of times, but managed to give the cops the slip. According to police, the patrol party of Sector-20 police team had caught Jamshed at Sector-15 while he was loitering in a suspicious manner. He had tried to sprint away, but was ultimately nabbed. On frisking, half a kg of ganja was seized from him. SO Sector-20 police, R. N. Yadav said the accused had given his name as Jamshed, but he was identified as Disco by some cops. Yadav said Jamshed was a dreaded criminal who had formed his own gang which was a dab hand at thefts, loots and cheatings.
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Residents put Ravana on a pedestal here!
Greater Noida, October 24 The people of Bisarakh hold Ravana in high esteem, as according to a legend, Bisarakh is the birthplace of Ravana, who had meditated and worshipped ‘Shiv Ling’ here. A pleased Shiva then granted Ravana his covetous wishes, as the legend goes. While the whole country had organised Ram Lilas for 10 days and finally burnt the effigies of the troika of demons, people of Bisarakh had not carried out these rituals. According to a legend, people of Bisarakh believe Vishveshewar Muni had his asharam here after whose memory Bisarakh town derives it name. Vishveshewar Muni was reported to have set up ‘Shiv Ling’ here and done intense meditation on it. During this meditation, Ravana was born in the ashram here. The Muni was quick to realise that Ravana would be a great scholar. As he grew up, Ravana had also meditated on Shiv Ling. Shiv Ling of Bisarakh is considered to be unique as no identical Shiv Lingha been found anywhere else. According to villagers, well-known Tantaric Chandraswami had come here in 1984 and had the place dug up at various points to find out and assess the real significance of Shiv Ling here. Since Chandraswami could not find any other clue even after about 20-ft digging, the exercise was called off. But a unique shankh (bugle) with 24 mouths, ancient idols, coins and some historical insignias were discovered during the excavation. A tunnel connected with a nearby well was also discovered during the digging. The shankh (bugle) is said to be of the Mahabharata era. The shankh was not seen later, according to knowledgeable people. As per the legend, anybody who meditates near this Shiv Ling will have his wishes granted. Many leaders, including former prime ministers and ministers, are known to have come here to pay their obeisance. Late Sanjay Gandhi had visited the temple in 1977 and planned to construct a suitable memorial. According to Devinder Mukhiya and others, people in Bisarakh hold Ravana in high esteem and worship the Shiv Ling.
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JNU poll: Ideology takes back seat to local issues
New Delhi, October 24 “We are prepared for the contest, which will in all probability be between AISA and SFI. The ABVP has weakened and the NSUI, which is perceived to be a party of opportunists, has no takers owing to its lack of ideology. If the NSUI is confident of replicating its performance in Delhi University here, it will be proved wrong, because JNU has always been a left stronghold,” claimed Ena Panda of the SFI. She added, “We have challenged them even during their so-called golden period, and this is clearly not the golden period for the Congress. Therefore, there is no reason for the NSUI to be over-confident.” While the NSUI is considering raising “local issues”, it is smug in the realisation that raising its voice on issues like allocation of hostels and Internet facilities have won it support. “We will be looking at routine issues that a student in JNU has to face. Problems of water and electricity, clean and healthy food in the hostel mess, more hostels and buses for students would be our concerns,” said spokesperson Kuntal Krishna. The ABVP, on the other hand, would raise the issue of “the lessening of the importance of the JNUSU”. Said national president Jatin Mohanty, “We will work for the revival and enhancement of JNUSU’s image, which has taken a beating, apart from raising the issues of modernising the library, equipping it with more books and an overall improvement in the infrastructure.” Both the AISA and SFI, predictably, will choose to focus on “communalisation, privatisation and corruption”. “We want to keep out the communal forces (read ABVP) and those who rely on muscle and money power. JNUSU should not be lacking in intellectual input,” said Ena. AISA’s contender for the President’s post, Mona, said her party’s focus would be on “democratisation of the institutions on the campus and the need for seeking the participation of the students in all aspects, including having a students’ representative in the Academic Council”.
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Admissions through draw of lots favoured
New Delhi, October 24 In an affidavit filed in the Delhi High Court through counsel Ashok Agrawal, the Group’s Secretary Radhika Menon, said the schools should not ask “non-essential” questions about parents’ job, salary, car brand and “what can you do for the school?” in the registration forms, as it would reduce bias in the principal/selector’s mind. The group comprising eminent educationists and activists suggested that schools should reduce the area to one km or even less than that, to automatically reduce the number of applicants. The affidavit has been filed in response to the court’s request for assistance from all bodies, individuals and schools interested in the matter. The court is seized of a petition filed by three parents challenging a single Bench judgement of the same court, which had on January 12 last year rejected the plea for banning interviewing of children and their parents. The group, which felt that children should not be brought to schools for interactions, also recommended some role for Resident Welfare Associations in the selection process.
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Goods worth lakhs gutted
New Delhi, October 24 About 35 fire tenders have been pressed into action to douse the flame. However, no causality was reported as at the time of the fire the factory was locked and no one was inside. The watchman of the area informed the Delhi Fire Service that the fire had erupted inside the factory.
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7 months in jail for acid attack on wife
New Delhi, October 24 Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Manoj Jain also imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on convict Amar Singh, a 62-year-old man, who poured acid on his wife’s face. “Though the act of the convict is of a serious nature, yet I cannot lose sight of the fact that he is in his 60s. He also candidly admitted his guilt immediately after his wife entered the witness box to depose against him,” the judge said. On May 23, 2003, Singh poured acid on his wife Santosh Devi at their Nabi Karim residence here, after accusing her of infidelity.
Introduction for the young
The Delhi Pradesh Brahman Sabha will organise an introduction programme of young boys and girls who are interested in getting suitable proposals. The programme will be held at 9 am on November 7 in Sanatan Dharm Mandir, Saat Manzila, in Tilak Nagar. The general secretary of the Sabha, Pandit Ramesh Ramdev, said that registration work of such youths have been started in the Mandir. The interested parents can get registered the names of their sons and daughters. Such introduction programmes have been organised at least 11 times in the past, resulting in thousands of young girls and boys succeeded in tying the nuptial knot. Besides, the Sabha publishes a monthly magazine, ‘Brahman,’ in which matrimonial articles are published. People can contribute articles to the magazine. He appealed to all Brahmin families to become a member of the magazine.
Pay tax before Oct 31 and get rebate: MC
The MCD Commissioner, Mr Rakesh Mehta, has stated that October 31 will remain the last date for making payment of property tax with rebate of 15 per cent for timely payment. He reiterated that the date will not be extended in any case. Addressing a press conference, he said that the property owners must, therefore, deposit their property tax within the stipulated date to avail themselves of the attractive rebate. He clarified that under the new Act of property Tax, there is no provision for further extension. Under the new act, the defaulters will have to pay penalty up to 30 per cent of tax and interest at 12 per cent per annum. The Commissioner expressed happiness over the fact that there has been good response to the special camps organised by the Property Tax Department at Dwarka to resolve queries and problems of taxpayers at personal level. There were 12 particular focal points of operation. Each point received about 500-600 forms from nearby societies. The revenue collection was encouraging high at Rs 2.5 crores. These camps worked from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.
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One run over by tractor
Hapur (Ghaziabad), October 24
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