New Delhi, January 22
The first ever international Punjabi film festival began here today with some leading names from Bollywood who have their origin in the land of five rivers participating.

Punjabi Academy, a Delhi government body, will screen critically acclaimed and awarded Punjabi films.

The organisers believe that the festival will be a platform for directors, producers and artistes of Punjabi films to discuss and learn different aspects of film making.

Punjabi Academy secretary Rawail Singh said Punjab has the rich culture and history which is very much reflected in its films also and this festival would highlight richness and variety of the region.

The films will be screened at FICCI auditorium and Bhai Veer Singh Sahitya Sadan.

On the first day, Deepa Mehta’s Videsh was the first movie to be screened followed by Kiron Kher-starrer Khamosh Paani and Yaaran Naal Baharan, in which Jimmy Shergil essays the lead role.

Ravi Chopra of Baghban fame and from BR Chopra production house was present today. Delhi government minister Kiran Walia was there as well. Ravi Chopra said Punjabis have enriched Hindi cinema like nobody else but they could have done more for Punjabi cinema. “Punjabi cinema has talent and potential. It is a very inducing culture that has been attracting filmmakers for decades now. But Punjabi artistes, including singers and actors, take to Bollywood. There is nothing wrong with that but their responsibly towards Punjabi cinema cannot be ignored,” he said.

Noted Punjabi actors like Gurdaas Maan, Om Puri, Raj Babbar, Jimmy Shergil, Kulbhooshan Kharbanda, Kulraj Randhawa and Preeti Sapru are likely to visit the festival over the next three days.

Among other movies, Waris Shah, which won the national award for best Punjabi film, will be screened on January 25.

New Delhi, January 22
With three days to go for the annual 8-km Republic Day Parade from Vijay Chowk to Red Fort Precincts, the Delhi police seems to have put its security paraphernalia in place for the D-Day.

Speaking on the security aspects has always been taboo for the police but senior officials, without going into the specifics of the arrangements, assure that they have made arrangements to put in place a ground-to-air security plan in the Capital.

“From land to air, all security precautions have been taken. Things would go smoothly,” assured Rajan Bhagat, ACP, Police Headquarters when asked whether the Delhi Police has upped its ante in the wake of intelligence reports about hijack attempts on airplanes in the city.

The officer said although it would not be feasible to give the number of officials involved in the security arrangements for the parade, it would be suffice to say that the security would not hamper due to lack of men. However, it is a forgone conclusion that the entire Delhi Police Force of about 60,000 men assisted by thousands of para-military men would be on roads.

According to information, anti-sabotage teams have started on vigil round the clock in the New Delhi area from Rajpath to Red Fort while more than 100 CCTV cameras have been put on the parade route. The Delhi police will also deploy mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns, quick reaction teams and sharpshooters of the National Security Guard at various places in and around the parade route.

A senior Police official close to security revealed that although army and para-military forces would be on toes around VIP enclosures and between Vijay Chowk and India Gate, the Delhi police is concerned about the security of entire city and not just the parade route. “It is our failure if any terrorist elements manage to even get into the city,” said the officer, adding that all the city borders would remain sealed till the end of parade on January 26.

Heavy security checks at the borders, railway stations, airports and other vital installations have already begun in the city. The Delhi Police also began the sealing of government and private offices on the parade route today evening.

Ghaziabad, January 22
The Indirapuram police and Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a man who allegedly used to impersonate as DIG, CBI, and extorted money from police officials and officials of various agencies.

STF sub-inspector B.S. Tyagi said that a complaint was received at Lucknow that a person called Javed who identified himself as DIG, CBI, allegedly extorted huge amount from from police officials. He allegedly used to telephone officers and threatened to expose them. By doing this, he managed to extort huge money. However, the accused never gave his full name.

From Lucknow, the report was transferred to Agra headquarters. The Agra CBI transferred the matter to the STF. It was found that the accused was operating from Ghaziabad.

On Thursday, a blue beacon-fitted Tata Safari was noticed near Shipra Mall here. The man inside claimed to be a CBI DIG. When asked he showed his identity card to the team. On scrutiny, it was found to be fake.

However, the accused has confessed to the crime. He revealed that he used to call up police chowki incharges, Ghaziabad Development Authority and Noida Authority officials and demanded extortion. But he never went before them.

At Dhada village too he had extorted money from many people promising them help in procuring their lands.

Earlier he was arrested in 2002 at Dadri and in 2004 at Darya Ganj in Delhi. He had even promised his driver to get him job in the CBI and extorted money from him too.

New Delhi, January 22
While most other projects under Commonwealth Games are running behind schedule, the rugby ground being constructed at St Stephen’s College in Delhi University is set to be ready much before the mega event begins.

DU is hosting the rugby events for the Games scheduled for October this year. The university’s sports complex is being transformed into a world class stadium for the sport featuring the latest astro turf on its ground.

The St Stephen’s football ground is being converted into a practice field for the rugby players, who would be boarded across the DU hostels during the games, and would be ready by March, said SK Chakravarthy of the department of physical education.

“We have offered our ground to be used for practice by the international players for the rugby event and it would be world class,” he said.

Chakravarthy said a special turf was being laid out and they were making arrangements for warming up machines, medical facilities and special rooms for the players. “The physiotherapy laboratory of the college would also be made available to the players,” he said.

The college authorities said the ground would be ready before time. Though the deadline for the ground to be completed is March, the department officials said most of the work was already over.

More than 70 per cent work has already been completed on the court, they said.

The college is also one of the chosen accommodations for some rugby players. “The North campus colleges would provide accommodation to the players and we are giving some blocks of our college residence for the purpose,” said Chakravarthy.

New Delhi, January 22
Temporary night shelters erected by the revenue department of the Delhi government are lacking basic facilities, including electricity and potable water.

The night shelters have been erected for homeless people after the court direction. Blankets, quilts, beds and water for drinking are provided by the government or by the NGO that has been given contract to maintain the shelter.

The night shelter located at Sarai Kale Khan near petrol pump has a capacity of 100 persons but it has only 10 blankets, 30 quilts and 60 tables. There is no arrangement for electricity and drinking water. During the day, there is no caretaker. All the responsibility has been given to a person who pedals a rickshaw in the day and stay in the shelter in the night.

Preferring anonymity, he said that it was difficult for him to work for his livelihood. The inmates bring water for drinking from a nearby petrol pump. When asked how they protect themselves from the cold without blankets, a woman said that some of them have their own warm cloths for the purpose.

Another temporary shelter in Yamuna Bazar has capacity of 100 persons but 150 homeless sleep there in the night. The approach road is full of dirty water due overflow of sewage.

A man sitting outside the shelter said that sewer line on the main road of Yamuna Bazar is never cleaned. Even officials of Ashrya Adhikar Abhiyan, the NGO that maintains the shelter, do not ensure cleanliness there.

Yet another shelter that was erected last evening has a capacity of 100 persons with sufficient blanks but there is no electricity arrangement and drinking water. It has 97 blankets and carpets are there on the tables. Dinner and morning tea are also served to the people who stay there.

The SDM, Rajiv, in charge of the temporary revenue shelters of the Delhi government, said the government had given contract to the Indo-Global Service Association to maintain the temporary shelters. It has been given 400 blankets for use in the shelters.

New Delhi, January 22
The traffic going chaotic in Cannaught Place due to heavy construction work has taken a toll on the number of subways proposed by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) in the Outer Circle.

The Lieutenant-Governor (LG) has directed the NDMC to build only four subways at the crossing where they are most necessary with the help of Delhi police and renovate the existing ones. The original proposal was to come up with eight new subways.

Also, the NDMC has scrapped the plan to convert the Outer Circle road into a concrete one.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of NDMC officials with the LG along with traders and Delhi police officers.

“The barricading from M and N blocks will be removed. It was put as a part of NDMC’s plan to start converting the Outer Circle road into a concrete road,” said a senior member of the New Delhi Traders Organisation.

However, NDMC officials deny that the construction of four subways has been dropped from the proposal. “We will take it in a phased manner. Four subways will be taken in the first phase and the rest will be decided further,” said NDMC spokesperson person Anand Tiwari.

However, the façade restoration work and the work of services corridor have been allowed to continue, which has also been complained about of its apparent slow pace by the traders.

“The façade restoration work is extremely slow and we doubt whether the civic agency would be able to complete the work before games. The same is the case with the work of corridor services, which is also going at a snail’s pace and we are not sure that the people would not be able to use the services,” said another senior member.

Witnessing the traffic going haywire in CP, the Delhi traffic police had withdrawn the non-objection certificate to carry on the construction activities in the Outer Circle.

New Delhi, January 22
With the intervention of the university administration, a mobile library was reinstated at Delhi University’s (DU) North campus today after being attacked twice in the last two days.

The library of a leftwing publishing house Janchetna was attacked by alleged Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) supporters.

“I have spoken to the police and full security would be ensured to the library van till the time permission has been taken from the officials concerned,” said Gurmeet Singh, proctor, DU.

Incidents of minor violence started at the Arts Faculty building at North campus on Wednesday when some alleged ABVP workers attacked the mobile library near the Arts Faculty building alleging that the van was distributing some “anti-national” printed material.

“These students came and started throwing books out of the van and attacked the vehicle,” said Mahesh Mohan from SFI. He said the most of the students who attacked the van were outsiders and had nothing to do with books. “This group who vandalised the exhibition was lead by one of ABVP’s last year’s candidates so one could obviously see the direct sponsorship,” said Robert Rehman from DU arts faculty.

Yesterday, several Leftwing students organisations took out a protest march against the attack when students from ABVP confronted them. Hundreds of students were reportedly shouting slogans at each other. The confrontation only stopped after the administration asked members of Janchetna to take the van out of university.

However, the administration’s attitude sparked off resistance amongst students and a delegation went and met the DU proctor today. “I have asked students to put the van at the same spot today itself,” said Gurmeet Singh adding that the university was a place for books and knowledge.

Even after the administration’s assurances, ABVP students said they would not let the “anti-national” forces stay at the university.

New Delhi, January 22
Electricity woes of Dwarka residents are expected to lessen as Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit inaugurated a Rs 14-crore grid sub-station in the area today.

The grid sub-station built by BSES Rajdhani Power Limited will have an initial capacity of 40 MVA, which will be expanded to 65 MVA in few months.

“This grid sub-station has features like state-of-the-art numerical relay for protection, 66 KV feed through underground cables to enhance system reliability and green cover around the grid,” said an official spokesperson of the company.

“Besides improving power supply situation for over 20,000 consumers in Sectors 12, 13, 17, 18, and 19 and adjoining areas of Dwarka, this grid will provide electricity to hotels Ramada Plaza and Park Plaza that have been constructed to cater to visitors of Commonwealth Games. Guru Govind Singh IP University, Delhi Jal Board pumping station and EROS Metro Mall are amnong others to benefit,” said Gopal Saxena, CEO, BRPL.

New Delhi, January 22
A Delhi court today sentenced a Pakistani national, Zaffar-ul-Haq, to six years’ rigorous imprisonment for opening fire on police officials and Army personnel during search operations at Pathania Tir village in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir in 2004.

Slapping a fine of Rs 3,000 on the convict, additional sessions judge Brijesh Sethi held him guilty under Section-307 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), Section-5 and 25 of the Arms Act and Section-2 and 3-A of the Egress and Internal Movement (Control) Ordinance.

Urging the court to give maximum punishment to Haq, special public prosecutor Bharat Bhushan Sharma stated, “…the convict is a Pakistani national and had no authority to enter India. Therefore, no leniency should be shown to him and he should be given the maximum punishment.”

However, defense counsel Dinesh Sharma sought leniency for Haq arguing that he had entered India unknowingly and no injury was caused to any police official during the alleged firing. He stated, “The convict’s father has expired during the trial and he is left with an aged mother who is dependent on him.”

The fact that nobody was injured in the incident worked in Haq’s favour, as the court said, “He entered the Indian territory without any permit or authority. The fact that no injury was caused to any Army or police official, six years of RI will be sufficient.” The court also ordered, “After he has served the sentence, he be deported to Pakistan.”

On January 1, 2004, while police officials of Mendhar police station and Army personnel of 37 Rajputana Rifles were carrying out search operations, they were attacked by militants Haq and Shoukat. The two opened fire on the search party. While Shoukat died in encounter, Haq was apprehended.

The police had claimed to have seized AK-47 rifles, 60 cartridges and four magazines from Haq.

Haq has admitted that he is a Pakistani national. He told the court that he had come to attend the marriage of his relative near the border and inadvertently entered India. However, the court did not accept his version.

The case was transferred to Delhi on the Supreme Court’s order on November 10, 2008.

New Delhi, January 22
A 22-year-old woman allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself in the Mangolpuri area of outer Delhi last night. She allegedly took the extreme step after a fight with her husband.

Sonia was found hanging from a rope in her bedroom by her husband Kishore. The incident was reported from S-Block in Mangolpuri.

“Sonia was taken to a nearby private hospital but was declared brought dead. The body has been sent for postmortem to the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital. While no suicide note was found, her husband said that he had a fight with her over food last night after which she killed herself. Further investigations are on,” said a police official.

However, Sonia’s father Madan Lal alleged that Kishore killed Sonia. He alleged that she was being mistreated for bringing less dowry and was under depression for long.

“Kishore never treated her well. After Sonia delivered a girl, he often beat her up. Lately, he was demanding a flat,” said a police official quoting Madan Lal.

Meanwhile, the area SDM has been informed about the incident and an enquiry is being conducted.

Kishore who works in a private nursing home was married to Sonia over two years ago.

New Delhi, January 22
The south district police has arrested two members of a syndicate suspected to have links with ISI, Pakistan who were involved in circulation of fake Indian currency notes printed in the neighbouring country within Indian market.

The police said Rs 1.35 lakh fake Indian notes in the denomination of Rs 500 notes have been recovered from Md Hamid (23) and Malkiyat Singh (23). “Standard security features like Water mark, security thread and paper quality used in the currency notes is of quality which makes it very difficult to detect these fake notes with a naked eye,” said HGS Dhaliwal, DCP (South).