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Two SIs, 7 cops suspended for criminal’s escape
Ill-equipped cops at the mercy of hi-tech criminals
HC frowns at interviews for kids’ admission
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HC guidelines on compensation to accident victims
SC to hear PIL on construction in Ridge area
Serial blasts: Rafiq’s police remand extended
Commission summons UP DGP, Home Secretary
Revenue losses due to official apathy
Permit fee for autos, taxis not to be revised
Bomb scare creates panic in school
Pressure on DC to pull up school management
Mata Sundari College celebrating ‘Sarang’
Businessman jailed for stealing power
Drug racket busted, five held
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Two SIs, 7 cops suspended for criminal’s escape
Ghaziabad, December 9 Dreaded criminal Deepak Jat, wanted for murder, dacoity, kidnapping and other heinous crimes, escaped from the custody of the Noida police on Thursday under a meticulously drawn plan, it has been learnt. He had been brought to Noida for appearance in court from Dasna jail in Ghaziabad in a jail bus. Deepak Jat, it is learnt, had not boarded the prisoners’ bus in Noida for the return journey. The prisoners who travelled in the bus had told Noida police the iron grills of the bus which transported the prisoners back to Dasna jail were intact. This was later confirmed by the SSP, Ghaziabad. The police had sounded a high alert on the highway as soon as Deepak’s absence was noticed as Deepak is an expert in looting trucks and killing truck drivers. Some women criminals also play a significant role in Deepak’s gang. It seems that Deepak has escaped in a planned way with the connivance of some cops from Noida. Some Noida police officers had gone to Dasna jail to talk to some of the prisoners who had travelled in the bus along with Deepak. The prisoners told Noida police that Deepak had not boarded the bus for the return journey. There were 40 prisoners in the bus apart from Deepak Jat. The police had broken the iron grill of the prisoners’ bus later to show that Deepak had broken it to escape from the bus. Deepak Jat is wanted in 32 criminal cases, including those for murder, loots, dacoity, and kidnapping. He used to waylay loaded vehicles on the highway and murder drivers and helpers. The maximum number of cases against Deepak pertain to such crimes on highways. He had used women criminals in his gang to great advantage in getting the trucks stopped. These women would entice the drivers to get the trucks diverted to such routes which were less frequented by police patrols. The trucks would then be stopped where Deepak and his gang would be waiting. Here they would kill the drivers, helpers and loot the goods loaded. Earlier, Deepak Jat is known to have escaped from Bulandshahr jail, but was apprehended again. Once, poison-laced sweets were also recovered from him in 2003. The Ghaziabad SSP, Mr J. N. Singh, said a high alert had been sounded on the highways. Deepak Jat has his own gang in which his father’s sisters and wives of his paternal uncles are members. He is known to get taxis booked through these women and later kill drivers in a savage way. He would severe the victim’s head and throw the naked torso in a lonely place. The gang has murdered 90 persons. Two years ago, Deepak was nabbed by the Rajinder Nagar police, Delhi, and since then he was incarcerated in Dasna jail by the Ghaziabad police.
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Ill-equipped cops at the mercy of hi-tech criminals
Noida, December 9 On December 3, the rifle of a policeman, part of an escorting team, failed him when criminals tried to free another criminal in custody, Sudhir Rajadh, while he was on his way to appear in a court. On the same day, two cops on patrolling
duty in Narora were killed by bandits and their rifles looted. These incidents are a warning to the police force in UP. While the criminals have gone high-tech, the police force is still equipped with antique rifles procured during the Second World War. It is a common knowledge that criminals in UP are equipped with automatic weapons including
AK-47 and AK-56 rifles. Recently, efforts were made to procure some modern and automatic weapons for the police force. However, instead of equipping the constabulary with it, these automatic
pistols and rifles have so far been given as coveted possession to senior police officers, Deputy Superintendents of Police or the gunners of senior officers and VIPs. As these obsolete musket rifles have been poorly maintained the policemen on the street continue to risk their life while
confronting the high-tech criminals. According to sources in the department, most of
the rifles and pistols in police stations have not been used for firing practice for months and even years in some cases. Clearly, the state of affairs here reminds one of the losses suffered by the
Indian Army during the Chinese attack during 1962 for want of modern weapons and equipment.
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HC frowns at interviews for kids’ admission
New Delhi, December 9 A Division Bench of Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma also made it clear that the private schools should not have the discretion to call a particular set of children for interview.
Giving the last opportunity to the schools, the court said the matter was pending for one-and-a-half-year and if the schools failed to come up with any concrete proposal by the next date of hearing on December 19, it would pass appropriate orders.
The court observed that in the absence of any proper alternative suggested by the schools, it might ban toddlers’ interviews from January 2006 onwards. The Division Bench is seized of a petition filed by three parents challenging a single Bench judgement which had on January 12, 2003 rejected the plea for banning interviewing of children and their parents. Petitioners’ counsel Ashok
Aggrawal argued that Yashpal Committee appointed by the Central Government had recommended a complete ban on interviewing of children. He sought a ban on interviewing children on the ground that it was “arbitrary and violative” of their human rights. The practice was violative of their fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 14 (right to equality), Article 21 (right to life & liberty) and Article 21-A (right to education for children below 14) of the Constitution and provisions of Delhi School Education Act, 1973, he has contended. The court disapproved of the idea of lottery system to select toddlers for admission to Nursery and pre-Primary classes. It was also against setting up of an expert committee to examine the affidavits and other material filed by various parties in the case to help it come to a definite conclusion. The court had on May 6, last year issued a public notice to all schools, including unaided recognised public schools, seeking their assistance on this “question of larger public importance”. It had already issued notices to the Union HRD Ministry, Montfort School, Delhi Lt Governor and Director of Education on the matter.
Aggrawal had argued that by subjecting the children to interviews public schools were violating the recommendations of the Kothari Commission (1964-66) and Yashpal Committee (1993) and urged the Court to direct the schools to give admission in pre-primary classes by draw of lots only. There was an increase in incidents involving school buses and asked the Court to order the schools to implement the April nine, 1997 directive of the city Government to give preference in admission to the students residing within a radius of three km, he had pointed out.
Aggrawal had alleged that all the unaided recognised private schools here were forcing children in the age group of three to six years and their parents to appear for tests and interviews for admission in LKG, UKG and Nursery.
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HC guidelines on compensation to accident victims
New Delhi, December 9 If after the expiry of the 90 days appeal period the insurance company fails to pay the amount, it shall be the duty of the banker to deposit the cheque drawn in the name of the claimant with the MACT within one week of the 90 days expiry period, Justice Mukul Mudgal said in his order laying down fresh guidelines for MACTs to discipline erring companies. The directions came on a petition filed by the New India Assurance Company over a claim dispute and questioning the authority of the court to frame such guidelines. Stating that compensation to the victims or their legal heirs was an ameliorative and social piece of legislation, the court regretted that insurance companies take considerable time in making payment even though the Act stipulated payment of the amount within 30 days of the award. Issuing a new set of guidelines for the MACT to observe, the court ordered that henceforth it shall be the duty of all insurance companies to furnish details of its bank account to the Tribunal. In case of existing claims all insurance companies must furnish the same within the next three months, it said. If after the expiry period of the 90-day appeal period the companies fail to file an appeal, then it shall be the duty of the insurance company’s banker to deposit the cheque with the MACT within a week of the order, the court ruled. After receiving the cheque from the banker, the MACT should ensure that the amount is disbursed to the claimant within six weeks.
In case for some reason it was not possible to make payment to the claimant within six months of the issuance of cheques, the MACTs should ensure that such cheques were returned to the insurance companies in lieu of fresh cheques which should be deposited in an interest bearing short term fixed deposit for a six months period. If the directions given by the MACT to the banks are not complied with, the Tribunal may order freezing of bank accounts to the extent covered by the award, the court said.
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SC to hear PIL on construction in Ridge area
New Delhi, December 9 A Bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker said the writ will be treated as an application and tagged it with the Forest matters which the apex court has been dealing for past several years. The PIL filed by an NGO, Ridge Bachao Andolan, has alleged that constructions for monumental projects like shopping malls etc were being undertaken in the ridge area in contravention of the apex court order of 1997. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, alleged that the construction activities were taking place in 92 hectares of DDA allotted land and in 330 hectares of Army land. He submitted that these areas have been identified by various committees as ridge areas and constructions were going on in complete violation of the apex court order. The Supreme Court has been monitoring various environmental related issues. In a separate case, the Supreme Court has sought a report from the Central Registrar of Multi-State Co-operative Societies on the possibility of reviving the Super Bazar, which was wound up in 2002, leaving several people jobless. A bench comprising Justice B P Singh and Justice Arun Kumar directed the Central Registrar to explore the possibility of reviving the Super Bazar by holding discussions with the representatives of the Department of Consumer Affairs, NDMC, DDA, workers and others and submit a report within six weeks. The court also directed him to hold discussions with the Indian Labour Co-operative Society and the Indian Potash Ltd, which had offered to take over all assets and liabilities of the Super Bazar. Noting that the workmen were willing to give up their arrears of wages, compensation and other dues if they were re-employed, the court said in an order on Wednesday that the Central Registrar should look into the possibility of the parties getting into an amicable settlement for revival of the Super Bazar. Pointing out that the Indian Labour Co-operative Society and Indian Potash Ltd had already offered to give Rs 50 crore for the revival, the court asked the Central Registrar to also consider the possibility of raising loans or subsidies from government agencies and also see whether the two parties interested in revival could raise their offer beyond Rs 50 crore. The order was passed during the hearing of a petition by the Super Bazar Karamchari Dalit Sangh which had moved the apex court against a Delhi High Court order dismissing their writ challenging the winding up of the Super Bazar.
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Serial blasts: Rafiq’s police remand extended
New Delhi, December 9 Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Madhu Jain extended Rafiq’s custody by 13 days after the Special Cell officials, who are now probing whether he had a role in the assembling and planting of the bombs, sought more time for his interrogation. Initially police was of the view that Rafiq was only instrumental in arranging funds for carrying out the blasts in Sarojini Nagar and Paharganj markets, besides planting explosives in a bus. The blasts had claimed 67 lives and left over 200 injured. Police sources said new-found evidence following the arrest of some other co-accused from Jammu and Kashmir indicated that Rafiq was personally involved in the handling of the bombs. The Special Cell believes Rafiq was one of the “contacts” who had visited Dar during his stay in a Karol Bagh hotel in the first week of October. Police is believed to have brought a witness in this regard who was to be confronted with Rafiq in a test-identification parade in the Tihar Jail yesterday. But Rafiq had refused to subject himself to the test.
Rafiq was arrested from Jammu and Kashmir on November 21 on information provided by another accused Tariq Ahmed Dar during his interrogation.
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Commission summons UP DGP, Home Secretary
Noida, December 9 Taking a serious view of the case, the commission has summoned Principal Secretary, Home, Alok Sinha and DGP Yash Pal Singh to Delhi. They have been directed to personally appear before the commission on December 14. The order has created a commotion in the police department of UP. Senior police officers are trying to get away without personally attending this hearing. On September 26 last year, three Dadri junk dealers, Arshad, Aasif and Meherban, had been apprehended by the Kasna police. Third-degree methods were allegedly used on them. During interrogation, Arshad had succumbed to the police torture. After this, the police had allegedly taken Aasif and Meherban to a lonely place and got rid of them also. When the issue was highlighted in the local press, the government had to cut a sorry figure. Additional DG Bua Singh had personally inquired into the matter. Kasna police station SO, Alok Sharma, Head Constables Ravi Dutt, Ram Sanchi, Kuber Pal and seven cops were suspended and the inquiry entrusted to the CBCID. The CBCID had filed a charge sheet against all these cops in a court. The commission too had started hearings of the case. Meanwhile, all efforts to trace the three junk dealers were to no avail. The state government and the Noida police find themselves on a sticky wicket. The SSP and the District Magistrate, GB Nagar, had recommended that the state government should grant some financial assistance to the victims’ family from the CM’s discretionary funds. It is a mystery how much monetary help has indeed been given. Senior police and administrative officers are trying to depute some junior officers to the Minority Commission by citing some other more important and pressing engagement for absenting themselves, it is understood.
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Revenue losses due to official apathy
Faridabad, December 9 The illegal movement of overloaded trucks laden with
materials like stones and crushers has not only resulted in a huge loss
of revenue to the government but has been causing damage to the roads
and the environment. The Tribune has procured some of the receipts
issued to a contractor involved in the transportation of mined material,
which clearly shows the ‘violation’ in this regard. The receipts
have been issued by the Department of Mines and Geology, Government of
Haryana. While the government allows a truck carrying mined material to
load a total weight of 9 metric tonnes for a truck having six tyres and
15 metric tonnes for a truck with 10 tyres, the receipts procured
clearly mention the weight filled in these trucks as 18 and 28 metric
tonnes respectively. It is revealed that the actual load of such trucks
is several times more than the permissible limits. According to sources,
the apathy of the authorities has ensured that that even as the revenue
department makes losses, the officials pocket the extra money charged
from the transporters. It is learnt that crores of rupees that ought to
go to the government in form of sales tax and penalty was going into
private pockets. It is alleged that these violations have been going on
with the full knowledge of the Sales Tax Department. It may be mentioned
that the Deputy Commissioner had recently ordered action including
impounding against such overloaded vehicles.
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Permit fee for autos, taxis not to be revised
New Delhi, December 9 The government has decided not to revise the permit fees for auto-rickshaws and taxis for the time being. The fee was last revised in August, 2004. The Transport Department’s proposal to reduce permit fees was not accepted by the Department of Planning and Finance. It was pointed out that the government is keen to ensure proper functioning of the electronic meters. Meanwhile, it has also been decided not to shift the Mehruali Bus Terminal from its existing site. This is being done keeping in mind the convenience of the passengers.
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Parking advisory for Kotla Test
New Delhi, December 9 Besides, parking is strictly prohibited on Bahadurshah Zafar Marg and Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg. The officials have also advised that the people who intend to witness the cricket match should try to use public transport to avoid parking and traffic hassles.
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Bomb scare creates panic in school
New Delhi, December 9 Authorities of the Bal Bhavan Public School in Lakshmi Nagar area received a call shortly after 12 p.m. that a bomb had been planted in its premises. Bomb disposal squad and fire tenders were rushed to the spot and conducted a thorough search after evacuating the school, but nothing suspicious was found, fire department said here.
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Pressure on DC to pull up school management
Faridabad, December 9 A PIL filed by the Faridabad Abhibhavak Manch has already been pending
in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in connection with the subject. Office-bearers of the manch here had a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner yesterday where
they submitted a letter and details of various developments that had taken place in the past few years. While it alleged that there had been a deliberate delay on the part of the authorities concerned in implementing the rules and regulations, the manch claimed that ‘failure’ of the officials to act properly and on time had been causing a lot of agony and harassment with both students and parents being victimised by the managements of various schools. These managements had no fear of any law or regulation. The manch, which lodged its protest on not providing it the time to meet by the office of the Deputy
Commissioner against two requests made earlier, appealed to the authorities to take up the matter
raised by it in a serious manner. Enclosing a copy of the rules and regulations of
the Haryana Government framed in 2003 and plot allotment conditions of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), it claimed that various private and
public schools affiliated to the CBSE and the Haryana School Education Board had been openly flouting the rules and the authorities concerned had been just ignoring these, leading to mass exploitation of the students and their parents. It said a meeting chaired by the then Deputy Commissioner had been held on May 3, 2000, here which all officials and Principals of the various schools had attended. They had resolved to implement the rules and regulations strictly, but said none of the guilty had been punished so far despite the fact that there was no
proper response to the notices served to some of the schools found guilty of the violations by the office of HUDA here. It is stated that the present DC, Mrs G. Anupama, who was Additional Deputy Commissioner then, had also attended that meeting. The manch has also lodged its protest over
senior officials attending the functions of the schools which had been issued notice for alleged violations of rules by the
authorities concerned as chief guest. The violations include arbitrary hike in fees and other charges, denial
of admission to the local and poor students and proper representation of
the HUDA officials in the management of the schools. HUDA is authorised to cancel the lease or allotment of the plot and resume it in case the violations
continue, as per the conditions attached. The DC has now asked the manch officials to meet her on December 22.
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Mata Sundari College celebrating ‘Sarang’
New Delhi, December 9 On the first day, students put up nine shows, including Guru Nanak paper reading, debating and poetry competition, Sanskrit recitation, Ad Mag show, and Henna and Rangoli designing. Sri Guru Gobind Singh College bagged the first prize in the paper reading contest, Miranda House won the poetry competition, while Khalsa Morning stood first in Ad Mag and Zakir Hussain was the best debating team. SPM College team won the ‘Kabaddi’ match and Jesus and Mary College won the volley ball game. The second day saw students lighten the mood
with Antakshari contest, One Act Play, and music contests. The final day will have students competing in general quiz, solo and group dance.
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Businessman jailed for stealing power
New Delhi, December 9The court of the Karkardooma Metropolitan Magistrate has sentenced one person to two years’ rigorous imprisonment, besides ordering him to pay Rs 6.089 lakhs, in a case related to theft of electricity.
The accused was charged with using electricity supply directly (illegal hooking) from the LV mains for industrial use and thereby, making unlawful economic gains. The accused admitted to the theft but pleaded for release “on probation” on account of good conduct and behaviour. He was also willing to furnish and undertaking that he shall not commit such offence in future. “I am not inclined to release the accused on probation. The accused has not committed the offence in any heat of the moment. He has committed the offence with considerable pre-meditation and deliberation for unlawful economic gains. The accused was found indulging in direct theft of electricity from the DVB LV main for industrial use and connected load of 29.48 KW was found,” the magistrate observed, adding that “this court is not oblivious of the fact that electricity theft has become a menace and is increasing by the day”. Saying that “the greatest incitement to the crime (power theft) is the hope of escaping punishment,” the Metropolitan Magistrate sentenced the accused to a two year rigorous imprisonment and ordered the accused to pay a sum of Rs 6,00,899/- by way of compensation to the DVB or its successor (BSES) within one month. The court also said that in an event of non payment of the ordered compensation within the prescribed period, the accused shall further undergo six months simple imprisonment. In another case, a man convicted in a power theft case, was today sent to jail for six months after he failed to pay the fine of Rs 32,979.
“As the accused has failed to deposit the penalty, hence he is taken into custody and sent to jail for serving the sentence imposed on him,” said Sanjay Sharma, Special Metropolitan Magistrate, while
sending the convict Keshar Dev to jail.
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Drug racket busted, five held
New Delhi, December 9 The five, who were allegedly indulging in supply of cocaine to “high-profile” clients in night clubs across the city, were arrested from Malviya Nagar and Jangpura areas of south Delhi, Deputy Commissioner of Police A S Cheema said. Acting on a tip off about a possible drug deal in Malviya Nagar area, police intercepted and arrested three distributors – Tahir Lone, Umar Rahim and Shafat Ahmed Khan – and seized 22 grams of cocaine from them on Wednesday, he said. On their interrogation, it was revealed that one Imtiaz Ahemed Peer was supplying the drugs to them and police laid a trap for him at his residence in Jangpura, he told reporters. Imtiaz alias Raja along with his associate Ezas Ahmed Jala were arrested after several hours of wait in the wee hours of yesterday and 105 grams of cocaine and one kilogram of charas and 13 ecstasy tablets were seized from them, he said. The gang had been using mobile phones extensively to get in touch with customers and to deliver drugs to them, he said. Police have also seized two cars used by the gang. All the accused hail from Srinagar and had been active in the national Capital for some time, he said.
Police is also verifying the call records of their mobile phones to track the whereabouts of their high-profile clients.
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