New Delhi, January 9
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) evicted over 400 homeless people from Pul Mithai, Sadar Bazar areas today as the city reels from severe cold wave.

In the most shocking action against encroachment, the MCD, along with railway officials and Delhi police personnel, used force to throw out over 400 homeless people, including children, from under a railway bridge.

The eviction started at 11 am and continued till 4 in the evening. Many people taken out of the area are working as labourers in a Commonwealth Games project.

According to eyewitnesses, the police seized the belongings of the homeless while the rest were put on fire.

“The police attacked women and children with lathis. The evicted people were sitting out in the cold with their meagre belongings,” said Raj Bhushan, an eyewitness.

The MCD was recently pulled up by the Delhi High Court for demolishing a night shelter and directed to prohibit evictions of the homeless in winter.

Instead of taking emergency measures to provide adequate shelter to them, the MCD is evicting them from places where they work, relax and sleep.

Shockingly, no leader in the civic body, including the area councillor, has any information about the action.

“There is a walled city redevelopmental plan. So the action must have been taken place for development,” said Satish Mahroliya, the councillor of the area, who was not in the city.

He said that the redevelopment of special zone areas, including walled city, its extension, Pul Mithai, Karol Bagh, Malkajung and parts of Kashmere Gate will rehabilitate only residents of the area and the rest will have to be removed.

An NGO, Shahri Adhikari Manch, arrived to help the poor, but one of their volunteers was detained by the police, said its member.

“The evicted people are construction workers for the Commonwealth Games. In the absence of any housing provided by the state, they were forced to sleep out in the open. Their eviction by the MCD is a blatant violation of their human rights,” said Mansoor Khan, a member of the NGO.

New Delhi, January 9
A labourer was charred to death while many received injuries in a fire that broke out at labourers’ shanties at Khel Gaon project site near Akshardham Temple in east Delhi this morning.

The deceased has been identified as Menka.

The cause of the fire has not been ascertained yet.

Fire department officials said that they received a call around 4:50 am after which 13 fire engines were rushed to the spot.

“The situation was brought under control by 6:30 am. Menka who was sleeping in a temporary shed could not escape and was caught in the fire. Seven shanties were gutted in the fire,” said a fire department official.

The Delhi police officials said that some labourers were injured while trying to escape. The shanties were reportedly provided to the labourers by a contractor. The labourers were using them as temporary shelters and the cabins were inside the barricaded area of the Games complex.

DCP (east) K.C. Dwivedi said, “We have registered a case of arson caused by fire. But the identity of the person in-charge for cabins and accommodation is being established and he would be held liable. We are trying to identify the contractor or sub-contractors responsible.”

The fire left several cabins charred, with many labourers losing their clothing and belongings.

New Delhi, January 9
A day after the national Capital recorded the lowest day temperature in the last five years and a thick fog cover wreaked havoc on rail and flight schedules, Delhiites on Saturday woke up to a relatively clear day with a slight rise in the mercury level.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature recorded this morning was two degrees above the average at 9 degrees Celsius.

Even though the maximum temperature rose considerably to 17.8 degrees Celsius, it did not offer much comfort to the city residents.

The weatherman has predicted a shallow fog in the morning tomorrow with the minimum temperature of 9 degrees Celsius.

The maximum is expected to settle at 19 degrees Celsius.

Just yesterday, Delhi had recorded the lowest day temperature in five years—at 12.1 degrees Celsius.

It was a well nine degrees below the average for this time of the season.

The general visibility this morning was around 800 meters that had dropped to less than a metre or two yesterday which remained below 50 metres till 10 a.m.

“The visibility this morning is much better than yesterday. Over the weekend, shallow fog is likely to continue,” said a Met department official.

New Delhi, January 9
Among several cultural destinations in the Capital, the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) on Friday launched Azad Bhawan as a new cultural hub in the city.

It will be the first centre in Delhi that will house an art gallery and an auditorium. It also scores over the others as one would not require any ticket for entry.

The ICCR plans to promote Azad Bhawan as another popular hangout zone for art lovers in the Capital. The renovation and upgradation of the bhawan is being carried out.

“The auditorium and gallery are being incorporated with the best amenities. We are planning to come up with a cafeteria and a library on the premises. It will not take long for Azad Bhawan to make a mark in the art and culture circuit of the city,” said Virendra Gupta, director general of ICCR.

The launch came with the inauguration of a weekly named “horizon” series with a cultural programme at the auditorium and an exhibition of art work at the gallery.

The horizon series will showcase a new performance and a new artist every Friday, so as to reach out to maximum art practitioners in the city.

As the first part of the series today, ghazal singer Fareed Ahmed Khan mesmerised the audience, while Bharati Dayal’s Mithila paintings found many takers.

Azad Bhawan will pitch in emerging artists who will be the brand ambassadors of India at international festivals. Budding artists will be able to get in touch with ICCR authorities. They will have to undergo a grilling process to showcase their talents at Azad Bhawan.

Talking about the location of Azad Bhawan at ITO, he said, “The place is a bit far from the other cultural centres which are very near to each other. It is different and new. We are sure that we will be able to attract maximum people.”

Not just Indian, but even international performers will be able to get in touch with the ICCR. The functioning of the council will continue in the same way; however the bhawan will prove to be an alternate platform. The artists who will feature at the bhawan will be sent on international forums by the ICCR to project the best of Indian culture.

“There is so much talent in the country, but lesser avenues to showcase them. The exhibition so far has seen a positive response, and the best part is that ICCR makes sure that your work reaches those who value art and admire it,” said Bharati Dayal. 

New Delhi, January 9
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today launched another round of pulse polio campaign in the city by administering polio drops to children below five years of age.

“Delhi is all set to succeed in the pulse polio immunisation programme slated for tomorrow. The city has already achieved zero polio level, though the level has fluctuated due to import of virus from the neighbouring states,” Dikshit said. For the first time, a joint team of health experts from Japan and Hong Kong will help health personnel in making the progrmamme successful.

Health minister Kiran Walia said 8,200 polio booths would be set up across the city to administer polio vaccine to children between the age group of 0-5 years.

Around 35,000 workers and employees of the health department would be deployed for the programme.

The stalls would be stationed at railway stations, ISBT, major temples, Metro stations, millennium park, zoo and many other places. Apart from this, a door-to-door week-long survey would also be conducted under the search and immunization pulse polio campaign. 

Around 17,000 workers in 9,200 teams would visit different colonies, including slum and JJ clusters, to look for children who are yet to get the drops.

New Delhi, January 9
Pointing to the deepening unrest in Andhra Pradesh over the demand for a separate state of Telangana, former Union minister Suresh Prabhu bemoaned that inclusive growth has become rhetoric as discontentment is growing at an alarming level across the country.

“Gradually many instances like Telangana are coming to the fore and amidst chaos, the component of happiness is missing from the Indian social fabric. Even a small country, Myanmar, can be ranked at a higher level in terms of happiness,” he said while delivering the inaugural SBI lecture series on “Governance for Inclusive Growth”, anchored by IC Centre for Governance (CfG), a civil society think-tank in collaboration with India International Centre. Prabhu is currently associated with several UN programmes.

“At a time when the country is facing turmoil at all fronts, bureaucratic reforms are of paramount importance which have not happened. They are the prerequisite to the launching of any development programme,” remarked Prabhu Further, he went on to list the inevitable aspects of the current development models and the mixed reactions to them.

“There are sections opposed to the various industrial projects like the farmers who face displacement and resettlement thereafter on the one hand, while there are others who welcome them as job-generators,” Prabhu said. Thus, there is a constant tussle and India, being the second fastest growing economy after China, stands as a paradox, he pointed out.

The former minister also lamented the poor public delivery systems in India, saying, “India is behind Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in providing effective public delivery systems.” However, he cautioned that privatisation is not the way out. Instead, delivery systems at the state level should be improved.

President of CfG and former Cabinet secretary Prabhat Kumar stated, “Due to gaps in agricultural production, employment generation, human development indices and the reducing poverty, there have been many nations like South Korea and Taiwan with market-based capitalism; Cuba and China with party-led socialism; Sri Lanka and Jamaica following mixed economic ideologies, which have stolen a march.over India.”

He said economic ideologies are no constraint for ensuring progressive governance and government is the main actor which has to chalk out a policy framework for governance and an effective delivery system. 

New Delhi, January 9
Two drug addicts were arrested for allegedly killing another addict and setting his body on fire here, the police said today.

On Thursday, the police found a partially burnt body in the Sabzi Mandi area of north Delhi. The body was identified as that of Kallu, a local drug addict.

“The body had several injury marks on the head and face. Besides, the blood-stained clothes, a key ring with one key and a Rs 10 note was found lying near the body. Local drug addicts were questioned and it was found out that Kallu was last seen with two other drug addicts — Bhim and Raju,” a senior police official said.

The two were arrested on Friday.

“Raju confessed that he alongwith Bhim killed Kallu while they were taking drugs. He disclosed that Kallu owed Rs 1,000 to him. While taking drugs, Kallu fished out his purse to give a Rs 10 note to Raju to buy a candle. But when Raju saw money with Kallu, he demanded his money back,” the officer added.

The police said an argument ensued between Raju and Kallu. Raju started hitting him with stones and Bhim also joined him. Once they were sure that Kallu was dead they brought rags and after putting them over the body, set it on fire to disfigure him and hence hide his identity. — IANS

New Delhi, January 9
Angered by the inflated bill, four men allegedly attacked and seriously injured a snacks shop owner in the Chanakyapuri area of New Delhi district. The incident took place on Thursday night.

The victim, Rakesh, is admitted to AIIMS trauma centre where he is battling for his life.

According to information provided by police, Rakesh was attacked by four persons after a minor argument. All the four persons— Ravi Lal, Arjun, Rambir and Dambir—have been arrested and are in police lock-up.

Rakesh runs a snacks shop in the Yashwant Place area of Chankayapuri. 

“Around 7 pm, the four accused went to the shop and ordered some food. When Rakesh presented the bill for Rs 2,500, the four objected to the amount and said that it was inflated. Even as Rakesh agreed to lower the amount by Rs 300, the four did not agree and fished out some sharp-edged weapons and attacked him,” said a police official.

Rakesh sustained several injuries on his body and his condition is said to be critical.  

“Ravi, Arjun, Rambir and Dambir were arrested from the spot and a case under Section 308 has been registered against them,” said the police officer.

Further investigations in the matter are on. 

Greater Noida, January 9
Three persons were killed and several injured in different road accidents in Greater Noida since Friday night.

Two persons were injured today morning when a car collided with a vehicle due to poor visibility caused by fog near the DND flyover in the Noida area.

In another fog related accident reported today morning from the Hindon Bridge connecting Noida and Ghaziabad, five persons were injured. They have been admitted to Noida hospitals.

However, like today’s accidents, the victims of the mishaps that took place on Friday were not fortunate enough to escape with just injuries.

“On Friday night, a speeding truck hit a motorcyclist on G.T. Road near Loharli village under Badalpur police station area. The motorcyclist died on the spot. The victim was identified as Mukesh Singh, a resident of Bulandshahar. He was going to Ghaziabad when the mishap took place,” said S. K. Verma, superintendent of police.

In another accident, that took place on Friday night near Samtel Factory in Greater Noida, two persons on a motorcycle were injured when an unknown vehicle hit them. One of them, Bhagwan Sharma, died, while the other, Praveen Sharma, was admitted to a local hospital.

The third accident was reported from the rice mill area in the Badalpur police station area. One Babu Khan died on the spot and three others were injured when an unknown vehicle hit their bikes. 

Ghaziabad, January 9
The Ghaziabad Development Authority has initiated plans to launch Indirapuram Phase II project.

After Meerut divisional commissioner fixed the land compensation rates of Rs 1,000 per square meter for Kanavani village, the GDA has speeded up their plan to develop Indirapuram Phase II.

The 220-acre land of Kanavani village as per revenue records falls under Gautam Budha Nagar district. The GDA in consultation with Gautam Budha Nagar administration has fixed January 18 as date for consultation with Kanavani farmers.

“As many as 900 HIG apartments will be set up in Kanavani. The size of the flat will be 2200 to 2500 square meter and the number of storeys in a tower will be 15. A total of 11 towers will be developed. The projected cost of the flat will be around Rs 30 lakh to Rs 40 lakh,” said Narinder Kumar Chaudhary, vice-chairman, GDA.