Noida, August 12
A team of trade tax officials sent to arrest some trade tax evaders was assaulted on Friday and one officer was even abducted by the tax-evading mafia in Javer area.

The abducted official was later thrown out of a running vehicle.

He has filed an FIR in Javer police station.

According to information available, Assistant Commissioner Trade Tax S.K. Gautam had gone to arrest some tax evaders in Javer area with his team. The team was attacked by Ghaninder, Rakesh, Satinder, Pintu, Dinesh, Rupan and some criminals waiting in a vehicle.

The argument had started when officials asked those sitting in the vehicle to show the documents regarding some goods lying in the vehicle.

When they found that the documents were not in order, the officials tried to seize the goods and the vehicle.

The Javer police registered an FIR while the accused had absconded after the incident. Even a vehicle check was ordered to nab them but of no avail.

This is not the first incident of its type. Information and taxation officers have often been assaulted in the past also, though no action was ever taken.

The officials have pleaded with their higher-ups to sternly deal with such situations.

New Delhi, August 12 
Terming it as a gross deficiency in service, a city consumer court has asked power supply major BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd to pay up Rs 45,000 as compensation to a doctor who lived without electricity for two months despite timely payments of her dues.

The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission headed by Mr Justice J. D. Kapoor and member Rumnittal Mittal, ordering the payment of damages within a month to Dr M. Arora, said, “It is disturbing to note that the grievance of the appellant was remedied only when she filed the complaint before the District Forum and not in the ordinary course.”

The commission, allowing the appeal of Mr Arora filed against the order of a District Consumer Forum which had awarded Rs 25,000 as compensation to her, enhanced the amount to Rs 45,000.

“There was a gross kind of deficiency in not restoring the electricity for two long months and that too after having detected the case of double billing such an action of delinquency requires to be visited with punitive damages as contemplated by the Consumer Protection Act,” it said.

According to Dr Arora, a resident of Janakpuri here, electricity supply to her premises was cut off in April 2005 on account of non-payment of dues though she had paid the dues.

Shocked by this act, she approached the BSES official with the payment receipts. Admitting the mistake, the company officials said two independent bills were wrongly issued for the same electricity connection.

They assured her of immediate reconnection, which happened two months later only when she approached a consumer forum for redressal.

The commission, upholding the forum’s verdict indicting. The power company, enhanced the compensation and said, “On finding that it was a case of double billing, the respondent was supposed to restore the connection forthwith.” 

Gurgaon, August 12
State Vigilance Bureau (SVB) arrested six employees, including a Naib Tehsildar (Sub Registrar) of Revenue department for allegedly taking bribe for executing a sale deed at Ateli, Mahendragarh district in the evening today.

The Superintendent of Police, SVB, Gurgaon Range, informed that Mr Krishan Kumar, a resident of Shahdara, Delhi, purchased an acre of land, costing Rs 3 lakh in village Tajpur in Ateli tehsil. When he approached the revenue officials for registering his sale deed, they allegedly demanded the bribe. Krishan Kumar then complained to the SVB.

A team consisting of 15 officials led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was formed for conducting the raid.

Mr Subhash, a Haryana Civil Services official was appointed as Duty Magistrate.

Naib Tehsildar Hawa Singh took Rs 2,000 via his peon Rohtash, Girdawar Om Prakesh took Rs 1,700, treasury clerk Suresh took Rs 100, computer operator Kamal Kant and Naib Tehsildar’s reader Vinod Kumar took Rs 500 each from Krishan Kumar for registering his sale deed.

The SVB team caught all these six officials, including peon Rohtash red-handed while they were taking the bribe and booked them under Prevention of Corruption Act, informed the SP.

Today’s SVB initiative is considered a bold step as the Revenue department is known for taking regular and fixed commission for registering sale deeds.

New Delhi, August 12
Formerly agitating students at Jamia Millia Islamia are clearly frustrated with what they are describing as a total lack of response from the university administration. “We have lost hope now and there are few to no chances of the administration calling a meeting or acting on our demands. As a result, we plan to restart the agitation by August 16-17,” says Sajid Ali, a former student leader.

Ali further adds, “Our plans are not completed yet but broadly speaking, we will organise a peaceful protest march on August 16 and then submit a memorandum. If they still do not listen to us then we will either restart the indefinite hunger strike or have a mass university lockout.” 

He further stressed, “We expected at least some response from the administration but there has been nothing. This is highly disappointing. Now, we do not expect much from them. Still, we must get justice. Right now, we have delayed the relaunch of the agitation because of August 15 and security considerations that come into play at this time. If nothing is done till this date, then on August 16 we will definitely relaunch the agitation.”

Unrest prevailed in Jamia through most of July. Students had been sitting there on indefinite hunger strike for consecutive weeks. Student unrest at Jamia has resulted due to allegations of major injustice meted out to students by the university administration. The main demands of students are immediate commencement of the entire academic session in one round, Vice-Chancellor Mushirul Hassan’s resignation, police action against Proctor Rocket Ibrahim and his son Ejas and re-admission for the rejected students. 

Violence had erupted at the university on July 18 when a student delegation went to meet the VC to register their complaints on the admission process. Students allege that 100 old students were denied admission on unfair grounds. The university authorities contest this statement. However, they have offered to look into the matter. Students allege that en route they were met by the Proctor who threatened them at gunpoint and had them beaten up. Certain students got hospitalised. This has raised student anger at Jamia, resulting in strikes, agitation and protest. The former Proctor had to resign because of vaulting student unrest. A new man has been appointed in his place.

New Delhi August 12
The arrival of shipments of pulse imports from Myanmar is expected to stabilise the prices of pulses even as spot pulse prices in Delhi and elsewhere in the country continue to move upwards. 

In an attempt to stabilise the spiralling pulses prices in view of shortage, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) was allowed to import 34,300 mt of urad and moong through a global contract from Myanmar on zero duty. This consignment is expected to reach India by the end of August. But these imports are unlikely to bring the prices down as the demand and supply gap in pulses in the country is too wide. 

There will still be a shortage of pulses by 1.6 lakh tonnes in the country, experts say.

Still, this, and the media furore about speculation in the futures market that led the National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange to step in to make sure that rising spot prices do not result in high prices in futures markets may help in stabilising the spot pulse prices in future. 

But the possibility that pulse prices will come down is quite unlikely. Delhi Trade Forum spokesperson Hitendra Rathore says that at present the pulses market appears to be almost stable, while adding that prices are more or less going to remain where they are at present as future traders have already invested a lot of money in the commodity.

The prices of pulses have increased by more than 200 per cent in the past two years, but the maximum increase had already taken place till November 2005, he adds.

Though those dealing in commodities futures refute that speculation in commodity futures has really been the reason responsible for price rise, blaming it all on the huge gap in the demand and supply of pulses in the country. 

In Delhi, a look at the retail-end prices of pulses shows that within a month the prices of various pulses, including chhilka, sabut and dhuli varieties of urad, moong, masoor and arhar, have increased by Rs 2 to Rs 5. In fact, urad dhuli is selling at a price between Rs 55 and Rs 65 and clearly is the most expensive dal in the market.

New Delhi, August 12 
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad today marked the beginning of their preparations for the DUSU poll by announcing a war against aerated soft drinks.

Activists of the ABVP staged a protest near Kranti Chowk in the North Campus seeking a complete ban on the sale of soft drinks on campuses and in colleges. “In view of the CSE’s finding that these soft drinks contain harmful pesticides we want the university to prohibit the sale of soft drinks. They should take immediate steps to ensure that the health of students does not suffer,” said Nakul Bhardwaj, state general secretary.

The activists broke soft drink bottles and raised slogans against the multinationals that manufacture and market them. They also burnt the effigies of film stars who are brand ambassadors of various soft drink companies.

The ABVP has also written to the administration in Jawaharlal Nehru University to stop the sale of soft drinks on the campus.

New Delhi, August 12 
A delegation of traders led by Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) general secretary Parveen Khandelwal met Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha L. K. Advani to make him aware of the fear and anxiety of the trader community on the sealing of commercial establishments in residential areas. The delegation also met the Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, and the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra. The Defence Minister patiently heard the delegation members and assured them of resolving the matter.—TNS

Gurgaon, August 12
The newly constituted district unit of the ruling Congress had decided to form an “education cell”, the first of its kind to be set up by any political party in the state to act as bridge between the teaching community and government.

Announcing the intent to form the cell, the president of the District unit of the Congress and party MLA, Mr Bhupinder Singh Chaudhary, said that the move was in conformity of the Congress government’s thrust on education. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was particularly focused on improving the standard of education in the state.

The proposed cell would relay the grievances of the teaching community to the government for redemptive action. Education and good human resource of any state are important cogs in the process of development.

According to him, posts of more than 1,000 teachers in various schools in the district were vacant at the time of the preceding INLD government. The present government will fill up the vacancy at the earliest, he added.

New Delhi, August 12 
If the candidates in the fray for elections to the Delhi University Student’s Union adhere to the diktat that calls for a ban on pasting posters across the city, there will be no smiling faces, digitally altered, staring down from buses, walls and even billboards.

Each year, candidates spend huge sums of money on the campaign, which includes putting up their posters across the city. 

This year, the university has announced a crackdown on this practice that leaves the city virtually defaced. It has asked all contestants to put up posters only on the “four walls of democracy” that have been provided in the South and the North Campus.

The university’s attempts to keep out hooliganism and money from politics on the campus have resulted in a ban on night campaigning and restricting the poll expenses.

In the model code of conduct announced for the union elections, the administration has prohibited pasting stickers and putting up hoardings and wall writing.

Candidates have been advised against the use of mikes and loudspeakers, both outside and inside the vicinity of the university. A maximum of two cars will be allowed to form the entourage of the candidates.

While candidates can spend only up to Rs 10,000 on expenses related to the poll, outsiders who are not bona fide students of the university have been asked to stay out.

Canvassing at night, which is done mainly in the hostels, has also been prohibited after 10 pm. Acts of violation of the code of conduct will constitute an act of indiscipline as per Ordinance XV (b) of the university, the candidates have been cautioned.

Faridabad, August 12
Avoid a stay in Faridabad specially during the night, if you are planning to come here for a visit in the next few days. This is not a warning by any security agency, but a signal that has come from the power supply department.

The city has been hit by most severe power crisis. Friday night brought a nightmarish experience to the majority with the supply reduced only to two to four hours, making people feel the heat of the power shortage.

“It was one of the worst experiences last night in this summer season,” claimed Kailash of Sector – 10 here. He said the residents here could not get more than an hour supply last night and the cuts had been the longest from 10 pm to 6 this morning.

He said he works in Delhi for work and as he could not sleep properly, he had to take a causal leave.

Claiming that the power supply situation had gone from bad to worse in the past couple of weeks, he said the routine of nearly every person had been disturbed by poor supply.

“We have asked our relatives, who wanted to come over here for a short break in the next few days to postpone their visit in view of the acute power shortage as the frequent cuts had made even the invertors a failure,” said Tarun of Sector- 9 here.

“In view of the crisis, we were thinking of moving out for next few days,” he claimed.

According to Mr Satyavir Sharma, advocate and a resident of Sector-14 here, the power situation has failed to improve in the past one year. People believe that it has happened due to lack of proper planning and its implementation at political levels.

He said the authorities should ensure that there was no major cut during the night.

Mr Trilok Chand Gupta, a social activist based at Palwal town and president of the Citizen Welfare Association also said that the power had been playing truant and the government ought to evolve a strategy to deal with the crisis and provide an immediate relief.

It is reported that the crisis had been due to sharp drop in the availability of supply from various sources, including low power generation from the plants in the state.

Ghaziabad, August 12
Thieves broke into the flat of a deputy general manager of marketing in a private company and fled with cash, jewellery and valuables worth three lakhs of rupees in Vasundhra Colony of Ghaziabad.

Five quintals of iron bars and a bike were also stolen from another house being constructed in Vaishali. Increasing incidents of theft and loot have created anguish among people in Ghaziabad colonies.

In Flat No T-504 of Vasundhra Sector-6, under Indirapuram police station, Rajesh Tiwari lives with his family. As he left for office at 9 am, his wife also had gone out for some work. In their absence, some thieves intruded by breaking the main gate of the flat and stole a laptop, digital camera, still camera, 150 gm jewellery, watches and Rs 2.5 lakh in cash. When the family came to know of the loot in the afternoon, police were informed who have started investigations.

It is the second incident of theft in the area in three months.

In the earlier incident, some men came at the site of a plot No. 307, Sector-IV, Vaishali, being constructed by Manohar Lal during night and sent away the security guard on some excuse. Later 5 quintal iron rods (sarya) were taken away from the site.

After a while, bike of one Ravi Prakash was stolen from E-226A, Sector-2 Vaishali. People in trans-Hindon area are very worried due to the rising incidents of thefts which the police have failed to stop.

New Delhi, August 12
Socio-legal activist of the Ridge Bachao Andolan, Kumar Onkareshwar, and Saket BJP MLA Vijay Jolly jointly demanded a CBI inquiry against the former vice-chairmen of the DDA during whose tenure land deals and auction of land took place for five mega projects in Vasant Kunj and Saket.

They are Mr Subhash Sharma (2001- 2003), Mr Anil Baijal (2003-2004) and Madhukar Gupta (2004-2006), currently Coordinator, Infrastructure Development, Commonwealth Games 2010.

The land for the mega projects in Vasant Kunj is worth Rs 1180 crore. Fifty-four acres of Saket Mega Malls prime land was auctioned for Rs 260 crore for building five malls by DLF, Select, TDI, Unitech and Uppal Builders worth Rs 1000 crore. These malls were “environmentally unsound” but approved by the DDA, they alleged.

However, the construction of these malls was stopped by the Supreme Court on May 1, 2006, on a petition by the Ridge Bachao Andolan.

Kumar Onkareshwar and Mr Jolly alleged that the mega malls in Vasant Kunj and Saket had violated the Environment Protection Act of 1986. The mall owners allegedly did not obtain environment clearance as per the government notification. Any project more than Rs 50 crore needs environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest.

In case clearance was not taken from the Environment and Forest Ministry, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee was required to invite public objections or suggestions or comments and conduct a public hearing, they said.

Mr said the DDA failed to perform its strategic role as the custodian of public land in the Capital.

New Delhi, August 12
Children can now talk directly with President APJ Abdul Kalam with the Rashtrapati Bhavan today launching a multi-media studio. The state-of-the-art studio built by the public sector Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd. will allow the First Citizen to interact live with children from across the country, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesman said.—TNS

New Delhi, August 12
The Heritage India Foundation today organised a kite exhibition at the Chawri Bazaar Metro station. The exhibition includes various kinds of kites. Former Union Minister Vijay Goel said a kite museum should be set up in Chandni Chowk so that the ancient sports of kite flying could be protected. This would highlight the history of colourful kites also. He said that kites had been objects of interest and fascination for people not only in India but also abroad. The government had not taken immediate steps to save this sport. 

Faridabad, August 12
The district police have nabbed at least five suspected ISI agents here in the past three months. These include a Pak national who had been living here illegally and perhaps working as one of the main coordinators of such activities in the region. The latest breakthrough came recently when a dismissed BSF personnel identified as Mohammed Abdul Rajjak was arrested from Ballabhgarh here. He had been living under a disguised identity and the police had been looking for him for quite sometime.

According to the local SSP, Abdul Rajjak had been the fifth such person in the district who had been arrested for their role in supplying vital and secret information to their mentors across the border.

He said this accused who was a resident of Naharpur village in the Mewat district had been residing in the district under a fake identity.

He claimed that Rajjak had been dismissed from service by the BSF several years ago, when he failed to report for duty after going on leave.

It is revealed that the accused had been a part of the gang operative in the region for the past several years, which was perhaps led by one Azad, alias Khalid, a Pakistani national. He was arrested by the local police from Gandhi Colony in the NIT here on May 17.

It is claimed that the arrest of Azad led to the revelation of more names involved in this work and the police caught four more persons since then.

The other persons who have been nabbed in the past three months include Munajhid, Mehmooda and Haroon, all residents of Mewat district. All of them have been in judicial custody and reportedly admitted to their involvement in the anti-national activities.

Faridabad is among those sensitive districts in the state, which has been prone to such activities and it is suspected that there could still be more anti-nationals who have been evading the security agencies.

It is learnt that several such persons have been active and keep changing their residence.

The police here have also arrested several Bangladeshi nationals and illegal migrants over the past couple of years, but the exact number of such persons was still to be disclosed officially. The police officials believe that such persons could be actively involved in various criminal and anti-state activities and there is an urgent need to prepare a record of such migrants, normally living in the congested slum areas and jhuggi clusters in the city. Faridabad has a large number of such colonies mostly illegal in various sectors.

It may be recalled that a terrorist of Lashker-e-Toiba, who was gunned down by Delhi Police in June had got a house in Ballabhgarh here as a hideout in June.

New Delhi, August 12 
Police have arrested a person in Nabi Karim area of Central Delhi for allegedly sexually molesting a three-and-a-half-year old. The accused, Pervez (28), was arrested after a complaint was made with the police on the last night’s incident, according to a police official.

The victim was caught and molested on the road near her house, said the official.—TNS

Greater Noida, August 12
Several persons were injured in a clash between the supporters of wrestlers participating in a wrestling competition organised as an annual feature in Alauda village here on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

During the competition, which was being watched by hundreds of spectators, a group of supporters of a wrestler, who was defeated, suddenly started firing causing injuries to several persons. One youth, Kalwa, who sustained serious injuries on neck. Many panic-stricken people were seen running towards fields to escape from the firing.

By the time police reached the spot, the miscreants had vanished. The police have been deployed in the area.

According to the villagers, an argument had ensued between the supporters of winner and loser of the match.