New Delhi, November 6
Hundreds of activists of the Bhartiya Janshakti Party today demonstrated near Chandagi Ram Akhara against the hike in the prices of bus tickets and milk. The protesters burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

A delegation of the party also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister demanding immediate withdrawal of the increased prices.

Addressing the activists, secretary general of the party, Suresh Khandelwal, said by increasing the bus fare and milk price, the Delhi government had betrayed the citizens of the national Capital. During assembly elections, the government had assured the electorates that once voted to power, it would check inflation. But instead of controlling the inflation, the government was increasing the prices, he added.

Khandelwal said that bus fare had been increased by 70 per cent to 80 per cent and the price of student pass had been increased by more that 80 per cent. “To cover the losses of the Delhi Transport Corporation, the government should have curtailed foreign trips and other expenditures of its ministers” he said.

“Class IV employees and daily wage earners are the main victims of the price hikes. It is very difficult for them to survive in the Capital in such a situation. A factory worker who earns hardly Rs 3000 a month cannot live here,” he said.

Khandelwal threatened that his party would launch a movement against the government if the increased bus fare and milk price were not withdrawn.

New Delhi, November 6
Though meat traders have called of their strike and agreed to work at the Ghazipur slaughterhouse, illegal slaughtering is on the rise in various areas of the Capital, say sources.

According to them, most of the illegal slaughtering is being done in Seelampur, Jafrabad, Okhla, Khureji and some other areas.

Sources said illegal slaughtering was being done because the Ghazipur slaughterhouse was not sufficient to fulfill the total demand of meat in the city. The Ghazipur abattoir slaughters nearly 500 animals, but the demand is of 13,000 animals per day, add sources.

Around 3,000 buffalos and 10,000 goats used to be slaughtered in the old slaughterhouse at Idgah.

When contacted for the number of animals being slaughtered at the new abattoir, manager (operation), Ghazipur abattoir, Mujahid Sheikh, and general manager Fazal Qureshi refused to give the details saying they were not authorised to make any comment.

Asked about the illegal slaughtering, municipal commissioner K.S. Mehra said he was not aware of it, but if it was happening, strict action would be taken against those involved.

Mehra added that meat traders had called of their strike just yesterday, so there were few butchers at the new abattoir today. From tomorrow more traders were expected to turn up, he said.

The commissioner said that the Ghazipur slaughterhouse was capable of slaughtering 10,000 animals in two shifts and that this would be enough to meet Delhi’s demand.

Meanwhile, activists of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) today demonstrated outside Pragati Maidan demanding the government not to encourage meat production as it harmed the environment.

The animal rights body had chosen Pragti Maidan for their demonstration because the National Meat and Poultry Processing Board was having a conference over poultry and meat export there.

According to the United Nations, the meat industry generates more greenhouse gasses than all the cars, trucks and planes in the world. “Animal agriculture is one of the world’s largest sources of carbon-dioxide emissions and is the single largest source of methane and nitrous-oxide emissions. It also produces tonnes of manure and other waste products each year, polluting the air, water and soil,” said, Arka Prava Bhar, a PETA member.

According to the report, when animals are raised in close confinement, germs pass very quickly from one animal to another. The report says sick animals— even those near death— are slaughtered and their flesh is processed and passed on to consumers regardless of the animal’s condition.

“We know that meat consumption is linked to heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer,” said Arkaprava Bhar.

He said during the protest two of the PETA activists were wearing bio-hazard dresses to give the message that if the meat industry was not stopped, people would have to move in bio-hazard dresses.

New Delhi, November 6
With the number of dengue cases registering an upsurge, the city health department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have geared up to contain the vector-borne disease.

To plug errors in the record of dengue cases, the government today appointed Dr Charan Singh as the state nodal officer for checking the disease. Besides, all private and government hospitals have been directed to report cases of dengue coming to them, said Delhi health minister Kiran Walia.

Chief medical officer of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Dr N.K. Yadav said that 25 fresh cases were reported in the city today. However, the Delhi health department puts the total number of confirmed cases at 16.

Dr Charan Singh said till 12 noon, 60 people with dengue-like symptoms were admitted to various government and private hospitals of the national Capital. "While reports of people admitted to hospitals today are still awaited, 489 people have been diagnosed with the disease in Delhi," outlined Dr Charan.

Dr Yadav added MCD officials were attending to all complaints on an immediate basis and people were being told about the measures to be taken to eliminate mosquito breeding in their areas. The city civic body would be distributing pamphlets, apprising people about the do's and don'ts of dengue. It is also thinking of taking the help of the Resident Welfare Associations to serve the purpose, he said.

As of now, 44,000 houses have been detected with mosquito breeding sites. Legal notices have been sent to 45,000 houses and 4,900 house owners have been prosecuted.

Noida, November 6
During a meeting held here today, the Noida Board has approved group housing scheme at Sector 137 besides approving liberal norms in view of the ongoing global economic crisis.

While briefing mediapersons after the meeting, chief executive officer Mohinder Singh said: “The Noida board has approved the group housing project at Sector 137. Plot sizes at Sector 137 will be between 51,000 and 1, 00,000 sq m.”

“The residential lay out plan of Sector 70 was also approved by the board,” he said.

The board also approved double-basement parking in industrial sectors. RITES has been appointed as consultant for multi-level parking, foot over bridge and bus shelter projects.

The Noida Board approved the allotments to 183 allottees, who had been suffering since over a decade.

Whereas, the present site is encroachment-free, thus, these will not face problems in getting possession of plots.

Additional funds for Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Multi-Speciality Hospital were also sanctioned. Nearly Rs 90 lakh were sanctioned to the fire department.

The Noida Board has adopted the state government policy on October 25.

Now, all allottees have been given a benefit to seek exit clause or resettlement that was earlier given to defaulters only.

However, these norms are applicable till March next year.

Moreover, the allottees have been permitted to sublease the portion of plots.

Gt Noida, November 6
A man shot dead his elder brother and injured his brother’s pregnant wife at Dhoom Manikpur village under Badalpur police station last night.

The woman is undergoing treatment at a Ghaziabad hospital.

“Amit Rawal (35) and Manoj Rawal (32) lived at Dhoom Manikpur village. Amit’s wife Bhavna, alias Santosh (32), was pregnant. Manoj who was unmarried wanted to have illicit relations with Bhavna and often passed lewd remarks on her. She told about it to Amit. Last night both brothers had a heated argument and Manoj fired at Amit and Bhavna with a .32-bore unlicensed pistol,” said Baldalpur SHO Laxman Verma.

Verma added, “Amit and Bhavna suffered two bullet injuries each. They were rushed to the Yashoda Hospital at Ghaziabad. Amit died on his way to the hospital. Bullets had pierced through his kidney. Bhavna who suffered bullets on her abdomen is being treated but doctors could not save her 8-month-old baby. Her condition is critical.”

Their uncle Sumant Kumar lodged an FIR. Manoj is absconding.

In another case, a 75-year-old woman’s body was found at Salarpur in Noida today. It appears that some unknown vehicle had hit her. Her body has been sent for postmoretem.

The woman was not identified till late evening.

Noida, November 6
A man, who had shifted to Noida after being driven out of his village in Muzaffarnagar for marrying a woman of other caste, succumbed to family pressure and married again.

However, after learning about the marriage, his first wife has booked him under dowry torture act, and he, along with his father, has been arrested by the Noida Phase II police.

The man has been identified as Awdesh Tyagi and his first wife as Deepika. The two used to stay at a rented accommodation in Gejha.

The incident came to light on Tuesday when the Noida police got the information that Deepika had jumped out of a moving car in the Noida Phase II area. She told the police that her husband had married another woman and he was now taking her to his father’s place in order to kill her. She said that she somehow managed to open the door of the car and escape.

Deepika has lodged a case under anti-dowry laws against Awdesh and his father Pramod Kumar Tyagi. Both the accused had been arrested, said V.C. Tripathi, deputy superintendent of police.

“Further interrogation revealed that the two had love marriage a few years ago and were ousted from their village for this. Thereafter, they came to Noida. However, after some time Awdesh’s family members started provoking him to abandon Deepika. Giving in to their demands, on October 29 Awdesh got married to another woman,” said Tripathi.

New Delhi, November 6
The Anand Vihar police has arrested a woman for allegedly posing as the daughter-in-law of a politician and trying to extort money from a city-based businessman by threatening him of income tax/CBI raids in his office.

Neetu (name changed) was arrested yesterday from near DAV School in Shrestha Vihar, where she was called by the businessman Pradeep Gupta to collect Rs 15 lakh, a part of the total payment.

Pradeep had filed a complaint with the Anand Vihar police, and on the behest of the police, had invited Neetu.

Gupta runs an office Money Matters at Mahajan Towers in Shrestha Vihar. In his complaint , he had alleged that Neetu was demanding Rs 5 crore.

“The caller had told Gupta that he had kept property papers of many for house loan, but was not releasing the loan. She threatened that if he failed to give the money, she would get his office raided by the CBI and the income tax department. She also pretended to be the daughter-in-law of a politician,” said a police official. According to the police, Neetu carried two mobile phones.

According to information, Neetu worked as an assistant manager with construction companies. Her last assignment was with one BPTP Construction Company, Bara-Khamba Road, where she worked till October 9. Presently, she was unemployed.

“She wanted to become a millionaire. She made the first extortion call to Pradeep Gupta on November 4. She saidshe did this for buying a house, her marriage and the treatment of her parents,” said a police official.

Ghaziabad, November 6
The junior section of Delhi Public School, Ghaziabad, has been closed till November 13 after a case of swine flu was detected in the school, the principal said yesterday.

A student of Class III was tested positive for swine flu. Medical official G.K. Mishra confirmed that the student was suffering from the H1N1 infection.

Principal Rita Kapoor told IANS that the junior section would be closed till November 13 and the senior section till November 8.

“We asked the school administration to close till November 13 and advised the family members of the child to keep her in isolation in addition to the medicines prescribed to control the disease,” said Mishra. — IANS

New Delhi, November 6
“A lot has been said about what happened on those three days in the 1984 riots, but still over 1,000 Sikh families in the Capital continue to struggle for a normal life even after 25 years,” said Reema Anand, who released her book “Scorched White Lilies of ‘84”, here today.

She said: “The book covers the journey of 18 women, who fought their trauma and gathered courage to get jobs. It’s a documentation of what they and their families went through in those days and in the past 25 years and how they garnered courage to walk the streets without fear.”

“Some relief was provided, but families still yearn for rehabilitation. There are nearly 250 unemployed families in Tilak Vihar and almost 200 illiterate children. Over 2,500 Sikhs still stand unemployed in Sultanpuri,” added Reema, who has been born and brought up in Punjab.

The book release was followed by a panel discussion, which highlighted factors regarding why rehabilitation has not been possible hitherto.

Reema has even associated herself with the welfare of those living in Tilak Vihar. She has also been bringing out a bi-monthly magazine called “Punjabi Byte”.