New Delhi, January 19
With the arrest of two persons, Delhi Police today claimed to have cracked the gang rape case that took place in Mayapuri last year.

A woman was picked up by four persons during early hours and was raped repeatedly in a moving car. After a few hours, they dropped the woman in the Saraswati Vihar area.

The two persons arrested in the case have been identified as Ram Kumar and Niranjan Mandal. Police said that Ram Kumar was a resident of Block-B-1, Hari Nagar, and was picked up last night after the police got the information about the accused.

During interrogation, he revealed the names of other accomplices involved in this case. At the instance of Ram Kumar, police arrested Niranjan from Burari area.

The incident took place on July 20 when a pregnant woman (victim) was going towards open fields early morning. The accused came in a car and abducted her. After a few hours, they dropped her in Saraswati Vihar after raping her repeatedly. The case was registered in the Mayapuri police station.

Police said that after committing the crime, the accused escaped and went to Nepal to evade arrest. After the issue cooled down, they again came back to India when the sleuths arrested them. Police said that both the accused have been convicted earlier in cases of theft and burglary. Police claimed that the accused match the portraits issued immediately after the incident. The car that was being used in the crime was brought by the third accused Anil, alias Sunil. Anil is a professional taxi driver and has also been listed in a number of cases in police stations Shalimar Bagh and Kirti Nagar. 

New Delhi, January 19
Finding the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) guilty of deficiency of service as it raised an ‘astronomical bill’ and disconnected the telephone of a consumer without any enquiry, a city consumer court has asked it to pay Rs 4,000 as compensation, issue fresh bills and restore the connection.

“We have given directions to the senior officials of the appellant (MTNL) that wherever such complaints are made, it is their duty to make enquires as to telephone numbers which are responsible for highly inflated bill by comparing with numbers which the consumer has normally been using to find out nexus, if any,” said State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.

Dismissing the appeal of MTNL, the Commission headed by President Justice J D Kapoor, said “Merely because telephone was fitted with dynamic STD facility does not mean that it cannot be misused by unscrupulous and unauthorised persons with the connivance of the officials of the appellant department.”

The District Consumer Forum, in its order dated May 31, 1999, had asked the company to revise the bill of complainant Amrit Lal Bansal, who had received a bill of Rs 44,462 for 30525 calls for a fortnight in November 1999, and restore the connection after receiving the revised bill

It also restrained MTNL from charging any rentals for that period. However, the number of calls in the past, for the same period, used to be around 1000. But, the company instead of holding an enquiry disconnected the telephone of Bansal. Upholding the order of Forum, the Commission asked the company to pay the amount within a month and said, “It is pertinent to mention that during the period when this question was raised, thousands of complaints were made against the officials of MTNL.” 

New Delhi, January 19
The Delhi High Court today rejected a batch of applications moved by vendors having ‘teh Bazari’ rights seeking permanent occupancy of the historical Jama Masjid area in Old Delhi.

A Division Bench of Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma ruled that the ‘Teh Bazari’ rights were only temporary and as such hawkers could not claim permanent occupancy of the area.

The Bench passed the orders while dealing with a petition filed by the Heritage and Cultural Protection Forum, an NGO, seeking eviction of all encroachers and beautification of the historical site, besides declaring it a protected monument.

The court also accepted the submissions made by MCD counsel Anoop Bagai that the corporation had decided to provide alternative sites for the displaced hawkers.

Earlier, the MCD had sought to evict the hawkers/encroachers in response to a direction of the court. The vendors had then moved the court opposing their eviction on the ground that they had been selling their wares in and around the Jama Masjid for several decades.

New Delhi, January 19
With some of Delhi’s politicians finding their names in the list of those owning unauthorised constructions, Lt-Governor B.L. Joshi today advised the politicians to voluntarily pull down illegal structures owned by them.

He also expressed satisfaction with the court-ordered demolition drive carried out by the MCD in the last one month. “They (the politicians) are responsible people. If something is wrong in their constructions, they should rectify it themselves,” Joshi told reporters when asked to comment on leading politicians, including Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and DPCC chief Ram Babu Sharma, making headlines for allegedly owning illegal constructions.

Joshi said MCD Commissioner A K Nigam has “gone on quite satisfactorily” in the demolition drive and “sizeable” demolitions have been carried out in the Capital.

Backing the demolition drive, he said, “Wherever it was blatant it should continue, and where it can be compounded, thought should be given to it.”

Joshi said the MCD should abide by the court order as far as possible. “Go by what the court has said,” he said.

The Lt-Governor, however, parried a query on the court’s direction that the water and electricity supply to illegal constructions should be disconnected, saying, “I haven’t seen the judgement.”

On demands for splitting the MCD, Joshi said corruption and division of the civic body were two unrelated things. “There are other solutions for the corruption in MCD. As far as dividing the MCD is concerned, it has to be a political decision,” he said.

When told that the Raj Niwas, the Lt-Governor’s official residence, also had alleged illegal constructions, he said he was open to the idea of getting its papers checked.

He said the demolition drive was a result of people not obeying the laws for a long time. Joshi also informed that he had asked the MCD to make a public appeal that the people should observe self-compliance with the building norms.

“People have started taking shortcuts. And the demolition drive is only a result of such an attitude,” Joshi said.

Meanwhile, Joshi agreed that the building bye-laws needed to be changed so that they were more simple and there was no ‘inspector raj’ involved.

He admitted that the Master Plan-2021 for Delhi was getting delayed. But, he said, the delay was on account of the ongoing process of collecting feedback from the people on the draft plan.

When asked if he had, as reported in a section of the media, directed the MCD Commissioner not to attend the meeting of a high-powered panel set up by Congress to find a solution to the problem of unauthorised constructions, Joshi said the matter had been misreported.

The MCD Commissioner said he was undecided on whether to attend the meeting of the Congress committee or prepare the civic body’s reply to the court. “I told him he could send a junior person to the committee’s meeting and he could prepare for the court’s hearing,” he said.

New Delhi, January 19
The days of bone-chilling cold seem to over in the Capital, what with it being unusually warm during this time of the year. Delhi today experienced a minimum temperature of 11.6 degree Celsius, which was five degrees above normal, even as fog brought down the visibility to 600 metres.

While there were no fog-related delays in flights, train services continued to be affected due to foggy conditions over the plains.

The minimum temperature recorded was 11.6 degree Celsius, five degrees above normal, the Met office said.

However, the Met department has forecast a drop in the night temperature, saying the minimum temperature could drop by a degree or two.

The maximum temperature yesterday was 26.5 degree Celsius, which was also on the higher side at six degrees above normal. Delhiites woke up to a foggy morning with the visibility dropping to 600 metres at 7:30 am.

While flights were not affected by the fog, four trains were cancelled and several others delayed. The trains cancelled were: Kalindi Express from Farukhabad to Bhiwani; Unchahar Express from Allahabad to Ambala; Lal Quila Express from Howrah to Delhi; and Toofan Express from Howrah to New Delhi, according to a Northern Railway release.

As many as 16 trains were running behind schedule, with Saryuyamuna Express coming from Amritsar to Delhi delayed by as many as 10 hours.

Gurgaon, January 19
Almost all elected councillors of the local Municipal Council today blocked the road skirting the General Hospital to press for action against the accused who murderously attacked a municipal engineer when he led a team to stop illegal construction in New Colony this evening.

The elected councillors blocked the road, which also skirts the office of the municipality, for about an hour. This led to a traffic snarl in the area. The blockade was lifted only after the authorities intervened and assured of taking action against the culprits.

According to Ms Sunita Gupta, a councillor, the culprit, Mr Kishan Chand Gupta, was illegally setting up a basement at a site to which the municipality had objected a few days ago. The full House of the municipality had vetoed it and had recommended action.

The Municipal Engineer, Mr Bhopal Singh, along with five others went to the site to stop the construction. No sooner had they reached the spot when at least 12 persons, including Mr Kishan Chand Gupta and his wife, attacked them. According to eyewitnesses, the staff members were seen running helter-skelter in the face of the attack. The special target was the municipal engineer. He ran about the place crying for help with blood oozing from his face. The attackers did not relent and were seen to be in hot pursuit. He ran to the New Colony police chowki to save himself.

From the police chowki, he rang up the councillors for help. He was later brought to the Civil(General Hospital) where his nose was found to be fractured. He had several injuries on his body.

Mr Kishan Chand Gupta, who is said to be running a shop in Sadar Market, alleges that the municipal engineer had demanded money to regularise the illegal construction. According to him, when he did not pay the graft money the municipal staff came knocking at the site. After their arrival at the site, the municipal engineer tried to misbehave with his wife.

The elected councillors debunked the version of the accused and have cautioned that if the illegal construction is not demolished they will launch an agitation. It was a crime to obstruct a government servant in discharging his official duties, they added.

A case had been registered. Mr Kishan Chand is stated to have been rounded up by the police. It could not be verified whether it was a formal arrest by the police.

Gurgaon, January 19
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, CID, Mr M. S. Ahlawat, has started investigation into an allegation of dereliction of duty by the Gurgaon Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mr Hanif Qureshi, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr Vikram Kapoor and the Sub Inspector, Ms Nirmala.

It may be recalled that a complaint had been lodged with the Inspector General of Police, Gurgaon Range, Mr Mohinder Lal, by Mani Chhabra that the police had failed to arrest his wife and his in-laws, who had been involved in harassing his mother, forcing her to commit suicide by jumping from the eighth floor of her flat in Sushant Lok apartments on September 30, 2005.

The Deputy Inspector General, of Police, CID, Mr M S Ahlawat who is conducting the inquiry, informed The Tribune that Crime Investigation Department (CID) had started its investigation into the matter. Mani Chhabra had alleged in his FIR lodged in police station under IPC Section 306 that his wife Alokya had been torturing his mother mentally on the instigation of her father and mother.

Mr Chhabra alleged that the local police did not arrest his wife Alokya, her mother Lila Syal and her father Col B R Syal and gave them sufficient time to approach the different courts.

Mr Chhabra alleged that the police failed to arrest Alokya even after the local court, District session court and even the Punjab and Haryana High Court rejected her anticipatory bail applications. Later, Mr Chhabra met the Inspector General of Police, Gurgaon Range, Mr Mohinder Lal, and complained to him against the involvement of senior officials in not arresting his wife.

Based on the direction of Mr Lal the local police arrested Alokya on December 8, 2005.

Her father and mother had been arrested earlier by the police, revealed Mr Mohinder Lal to the Tribune.

Mr Ahlawat further said that prime facie, Senior Superintendent of Police Hanif Qureshi and the Investigation Officer (IO) Sub Inspector Nirmala seem guilty of dereliction of duty. However, the complete picture would come out only after the completion of the inquiry.

However, SSP Hanif Qureshi told The Tribune that the local police did its best to arrest the culprits but they were untraceable. He said he would put his version to his seniors as the matter is in the court.

As far as the conversation between him and Alokya is concerned, he did not make any outgoing calls to her but attended the calls made by her, who explained to him her innocence in the case, added the SSP.

Noida, January 19
With the refusal of the Reliance Infocom to furnish details regarding Amar Singh’s phone tapping, the special task force (STF) has failed to make any headway in the probe into Samajwadi Party general secretary’s phone tapping case.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ram Badan Singh, who is leading the STF team, said instead of furnishing the details, Reliance Infocom has emphasised on the legality of the issue and failed to furnish the information sought.

He said the STF will send a legal notice to Reliance Infocom for furnishing the details if needed.

On the other hand, it is learnt that Hutch has informed the STF that it will send a reply after consulting its legal cell.

The DSP said he had not yet contacted the Delhi Police in this connection. In case some help was necessary from the Delhi Police, the STF would go about it in a legal way, he said.

It may be recalled that Samajwadi Party leader, Ashok Singh Chauhan, had filed a report in Noida also in connection with Amar Singh’s phone tapping controversy.

Mr Chauhan had asserted that telephones were being tapped illegally. 

Gurgaon, January 19
The District Town and Planning (Enforcement) Department and the office of the District Development and Panchayat Office today jointly wielded the long handle and demolished constructions besides clearing other encroachments on about 10 acres of land at Basai village opposite Sector 10 of Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA).

The order for demolition was given by the Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, Mr R. P. Bhardwaj. In a statement, Mr Bhardwaj said no illegal constructions would be allowed to come up. He let out a stern warning to the land mafia that the administration would have to pay the price if they indulged in illegal colonisation.

The miscreants were trying to set up an illegal colony in the area. According to sources, the authorities had earlier issued notices in connection with the illegal colonisation in the area. About a dozen bulldozers were pressed into service to clear the encroachments.

According to official version, Mr Umed Aggarwal, Mr Rakesh and Mr Hitesh Aggarwal were behind the move of illegal colonisation.

Although the office of the Deputy Commissioner intervened and razed about four constructed houses, two real estate offices, eight boundary walls and electricity poles, many wonder how so many constructions could come up without the department concerned getting to know about it. The 10 acres of land falls in the controlled area. Only a few days back, the Deputy Commissioner, at a joint meeting with the officers of the department concerned, had virtually dusted up the provisions of the Haryana Urban Act and the directive of the Haryana Government against illegal colonisation. He had particularly mentioned the clause for procuring “no objection certificate” with regard to purchase of pieces of land in about 50 villages. Also, the certificate was to be procured in case of purchase and sale of land in and outside the municipal limits.

Almost all areas of Basai village fall in the urban estate of Gurgaon. Hence, the land is on a premium here.

Noida, January 19
Armed criminals forcefully entered a powerhouse near Ghojha in Sector-105 and escaped with electric components and gadgets. In the incident, which took place on Sunday night, the intruders overpowered the security guard Ram Vir and loaded electric components and gadgets in a truck, including a transformer, 10 fans, cell phones and escaped.

It may be recalled that bandits had beaten up employees at rainy well and looted copper wire worth lakhs on Saturday.

Two incidents of loot at power stations on two consequent days was a matter of serious concern, the police said.

The Sector-39 police have registered a complaint in this regard and are investigating the case. The police circle officer, K.K. Gautam, said the police are trying to nab the culprits as soon as possible.

Bulandshahr, January 19
Two brothers first strangled their father and later dumped the body behind bushes on the Khurja road here. While they were trying to flee, the two were nabbed by the police.

According to the police, the duo had confessed to their crime. Meanwhile, the body has been sent for autopsy.

On Tuesday night, the police patrol vehicle sighted a Maruti van (DL5CB-8534) about 2 km ahead of Secunderabad at about 11 pm.

When the police questioned the two occupants, they became a little nervous. They were brought to the police station. They identified themselves as Sanjay and Babloo Bhardwaj, sons of Har Prasad, resident of Jagat Puri, under the Mansarover Park police station in Delhi. When asked what they were doing in the bushes they tried to beat about the bush but when interrogated sternly they blurted out that they had killed their father and dumped his body there.

The SP City said the deceased Nand Kishore had deserted the two brothers, their mother Rajbala and sister some 30 years ago and gone somewhere. Har Prasad, a head constable in Delhi police had adopted Rajbala and her children and put the boys in some business.

About a year ago, Nand Kishore came back to his family. Nobody in the locality knew anything about Rajbala’s first husband Nand Kishore. In the meantime, Sanjay and Babloo had married and had become fathers of two and three children, respectively. Sanjay and Babloo became afraid that when people in the locality saw Nand Kishore coming to their residence frequently it would be very embarrassing for them. They would lose respect in society.

On Tuesday again, Nand Kishore had come to meet his sons and told them he was living with his parents in Kota. Sanjay and Babloo somehow took Nand Kishore into confidence. They left their house with Nand Kishore in a Maruti van. On the way, they strangled him with a rope and dumped his body in the bushes, the SP City said.

Noida, January 19
Students in schools and colleges are often known to bunk their classes, but 24 teachers were found playing truant from the teachers’ training centre.

This is the state of affairs at the Dadri teachers training centre at BRC. A sudden inspection visit had brought out the fact that at least 24 teachers had bunked their class. The district education officer has ordered deduction of a day’s wages from the missing teacher’s salaries. He has also called for an explanation from the in-charge of BRC, Mr Deep Chand.

A special teachers’ training programme had been chalked out for science and mathematics teachers. This programme is being conducted in Dadri since January 15 and will continue till January 21. As many as 60 teachers of primary schools are being imparted training. —OC

New Delhi, January 19
Three unemployed youths in three different incidents committed suicide during last 24 hours in the city. The deceased have been identified as Surjeet Jha, Shiv Raj and Anil.

In the first incident, Surjeet Jha, a resident of Naharpur Village in Rohini, hanged himself last night. He had been unemployed for the last four months. He came from Gorukhpur to Delhi to get a job.

In another incident, Shiv Raj (32), a resident of Vijay Vihar, Rohini, hanged himself from ceiling last night. He had also been unemployed for the last six months, said the police.

The third incident took place in Mangol Puri where one Anil (25) ended his life by hanging himself from ceiling.

Police said he was also unemployed and consequently mentally disturbed. For some days, he had remained hungry for want of money to purchase food. 

New Delhi, January 19
A petrol pump office was destroyed today in a fire in the area of Pitampura in Northwest district. No person has been reportedly injured in the incident. According to the fire officials, the fire started at around 8 am.

Immediately after the incident, the fire and police departments were informed. The fire officials said that six fire tenders were sent to the spot and it took 15 minutes to control the fire. 

New Delhi, January 19
Two persons were killed and around 50 persons seriously injured after a private bus carrying about 70 passengers collided with a speeding truck. The accident took place near Ghazipur red light at around 2 am in east district.

According to the police, the accident took place when a private bus in which the persons were going to attend a marriage collided with a truck. The bus driver thereafter lost control over steering and the bus turned turtle injuring the passengers on board.

The deceased have been identified as Mohan (35) and Habiz (65). The injured have been admitted to the GTB Hospital where the condition of 15 persons is said to be serious.