New Delhi, June 25
Delhiites reacted with disappointment and anger as the Union government hiked prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas only a couple of days after the city government had increased the auto and taxi fare.

People with cars and two-wheelers queued up at petrol pumps after the announcement of hike in fuel prices as it would come into effect from the midnight. Even those who had petrol and diesel in tanks of their vehicles rushed to the filling stations and by the evening the filling stations were full of people with vehicles.

In April, the Delhi government had increased the price of diesel by levying value added tax and withdrawing subsidy from LPG. Recently, the CNG price was hiked which resulted in the increase of auto fare. Now the union government has increased the price of petrol, diesel and LPG.

“The Congress party claimed during the lections that it was with the poor people. But its policies are totally anti-people. It has become insensitive. Now the inflation will go up and it will be difficult for housewives to manage their kitchen. Hike in fuel prices will affect the prices of all goods,” said Seema Chauhan, a housewife at Lajpat Nagar.

Asfia Malik, who is a schoolteacher, said gas cylinder is used for cooking in every house. “Daily wage workers and even salaried people will not be able to afford the cylinder now. Its price has increased from Rs 310 to Rs 345,” she said.

Amit, who was at Delhi Gate petrol pump, said on the one hand the government claims that there is nine per cent growth at national level, on the other it is hiking the prices of fuel in a phased manner. It seems only the government is enjoying the strong economy of the country, he said sarcastically.

Resident welfare associations said that it seemed that after the successive victories of the Congress at centre and of the Sheila government in Delhi, both have taken people, particularly Delhiites, for granted.

The government has been fuelling inflation by increasing rates of essential items and justifying them with illogical reasoning. The Delhi BJP protested at Gole Dakhana and Ashok Road today and demanded the withdrawal of hike in fuel prices.

Police arrested its president Vijender Gupta along with a large number of party activists. The BJP has termed the hike a diabolical move against the people of the country. This increase will not only affect transportation costs but will also impact all the items of daily use, said Vijay Kumar Malhotra, leader of opposition in Delhi Legislative Assembly.

New Delhi, June 25
The fate of the food court announced by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in the Outer Circle of Connaught Place for the Commonwealth Games tourists lies in the dark, as the project is facing a legal hurdle.

With barely 100 days to go before the Games, the civic agency has still not kicked off the construction of the food plaza planned to offer the delicacies of Delhi and India.

According to the officials, the MCD does not have right to undertake any construction activity in the area.

“The matter is still under consideration. The court has given the possession of the property to MCD, but the civic body has no right to construct anything in the area,” said Deep Mathur, spokesperson of the MCD.

The property at Minto Road earlier housed a restaurant called ‘Cup and Saucer’.

The previous owner of the property moved the court after the MCD, in accordance with the high court orders, took the possession of the property in January. “We will have to wait till the court gives its order,” Mathur said.

“Though we have got the possession, we cannot take out the owner from there as the order has been stayed,” said Subhash Arya, Leader of the House.

Considering that there is very few time left before the Games, Arya also ruled out the possibility of shifting the location of the food court .

“There is no question of taking it to any other place. We have to wait till the stay is taken back,” he said.

The site was considered as a prime location for the food plaza because of its closeness to New Delhi Railway Station and ITO.

The civic body had made elaborate plans for the food court, which included the allocation of stalls to reputed brands offering international cuisines.

New Delhi, June 25
As the 100-day countdown for the Commonwealth Games begins, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Tejendra Khanna today expressed satisfaction over the preparations for the mega sports event, saying all the projects undertaken to improve the city infrastructure ahead of the Games will be completed well in time.

“I am 100 per cent satisfied with the overall preparations. Everything is progressing very well,” Khanna said during a visit to the Games Village here.

Khanna’s comments came on a day when the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) arrived in India from Pakistan through the Wagah-Attari border.

The QBR was launched by Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace in London on October 29 last year. At the Games Village, Khanna inspected all the 34 residential towers being built by Emmar-MGF Group.

He said the towers, comprising 1,168 flats, will be handed over by the real estate firm to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

The Delhi Development Authority had last year given Rs 700 crore to the real estate firm to complete the Games Village”, Khanna said.

When asked whether there was any problem in the overall preparations, Khanna said he did not want to look back.

“I look into the future. I do not look back. The future is bright.”

On the issue of security, he said the government was working tirelessly to ensure foolproof security to the visitors as well as the citizens of the Capital.

However, he directed to remove the shanties located adjacent to the Games Village.

Construction workers reside in these shanties. The area will be beautified after the shanties are removed, Khanna said.

New Delhi, July 25
The interview committee of B.Tech. program at Jamia Millia Islamia caught as many as eight cases of impersonation on Thursday. The committee found that in six of these cases the students appearing for the interview were not the same as those who had appeared in the entrance test held on May 29. The university, as a matter of policy adopted this year, had photographed all the candidates who had appeared in the entrance test.

The committee observed that the candidates appearing for the interview did not find a match with the photographs taken by the university administration on the day of the test. The names of the six candidates apprehended are Jamil Ahmad, Ritesh Kumar, Mohd. Tabrez Alam, Rashiduzzaman, Zahid Jouhar, Mohd. Mazharuddin.

Two other candidates Shaquib Farahan and Mohd Akram, who had come to appear for the interview on June 24, saw that the interview board was verifying the identity of the interviewee. So, they soon left the place.

The interview committee of the B. Tech. program had on three occasions—June 17, 18 and 22—reported cases of impersonation which were duly forwarded to the proctor for necessary action. Jamia’s zero-tolerance policy against impersonation and cheating has paid off this year. Three boys were caught by the university administration for impersonation in its B. Tech. admission test on May 29. Two more impersonators were apprehended in the BDS admission test on May 30 while one was caught in the diploma engineering entrance test held on June 1.

Two more Jamia students were caught in the entrance test of diploma in elementary teacher education on June 6. They were expelled from the university by vice-chancellor Najeeb Jung.

This year Jamia had introduced mandatory photographing of candidates at the test centres before being allowed entry. Besides, the university had also appointed identification officers at all the test centres.

The administration cautioned the officials to be vigilant and ensure that no case of cheating goes unreported.

New Delhi, June 25
Few disabled students have turned up for admissions at Delhi University this season despite the fact that the number of seats available under the differently abled quota has undergone a substantial increase. The number of seats available for disabled students has risen from 1,220 last year to 1,620, which amounts to an increase of 400 seats. Sources at the varsity say that the number of applications from the disabled is fewer than 800.

Deputy Dean Students Welfare, Gurpreet Tuteja says, “The varsity has made considerable preparations to accommodate disabled students. Ramps have been put up and special toilets built, among other measures. However, I doubt whether we will be able to fill all the seats this time.”

Many seats in the disabled quota may remain vacant. Last year itself, some 700 seats under the disability quota remained unoccupied.

Several colleges have adopted measures that are disabled-friendly such as establishing tactile paths, ramps, lifts, building special toilets and a special prospectus. Some colleges like Hansraj, Laxmi Bai College, Miranda House, SRCC and Keshav Mahavidyala have made special provisions that help students mail their assignments instead of making presentations.

Hansraj has gone a step ahead by providing them with free accommodation in the hostels and giving concession in meals.

The Equal Opportunities Cell has been trying to make the DU campus disabled-friendly. The cell has plans for interconnecting college buildings so that the disabled do not have to travel via the regular transport system.

The varsity also started a special low-floor bus service for transporting the disabled students on north campus. However, the bus service has not begun yet due to technical glitches. There are plans to get this service under way by mid-July.

New Delhi, June 25
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) today said that the education in its 249 schools will be imparted in English medium from this year.

The chairman of Education Committee in MCD, Dr. Mahendra Nagpal said that the MCD will extend imparting education in English further to its 249 primary schools. Earlier, this medium was started in only 267 schools.

“These schools are known as Nigam Pratibha Vidyalays. Children who are getting education in English medium in the first standard will continue to be taught subjects in English medium in the second class also. Books for English medium have been procured,” said Nagpal.

He said that all the classes up to Vth standard will be converted into the English medium in five years.

He said that each section of Nigam Pratibha Vidyalay will be of 40 students. The selection will be made by the draw of lots by the committee constituted by the Director, Primary Education.

“The teachers for English medium will be arranged by transfer-posting as MCD teachers are competent and are selected after tough selection procedure. The English medium school will get priority in provision of basic necessities. Funds can also be arranged with the help of local area councillors,” added Nagpal.

Greater Noida, June 25
A 45-year-old woman was stabbed and strangulated at Canikanigarhi village in the Jewar area today by her husband's cousin.

"Investigations revealed that there was a minor clash between children of two families three months ago. The elders also fought in which several persons were injured from both the families. The family of victim Angoori Devi suffered most then. Her husband's cousin Sher Singh was arrested then and got bail later," said Harpal Singh, SHO Jewar.

"Though both the families had resolved the issue, Sher Singh was looking for opportunity to take revenge. Today he found Angoori alone and killed her," the SHO added.

"The deceased Angoori Devi was wife of Daya Ram and accused Sher Singh is cousin of Daya Ram. The victim had gone to field around 4.30 this morning to bring animal feed. When she did not return, her family members went in search of her. They found her lying in pool of blood at the fields. They saw three men running out of the field," said Singh.

"They recognized one of them as Sher Singh, but could not recognize the other two," said Singh.

"The woman had stab wound on the abdomen and there was strangulation mark around neck. The body has been sent for postmortem," said Singh.

"A murder case has been registered against Sher

Singh and two others. Till late evening, the accused were absconding," the SHO added.

Noida, June 25
A doctor who allegedly claimed to be working at a reputed hospital here was arrested while he came to buy goods on stolen a credit card at Spice Mall last evening.

This was the second time that he was using the credit card. Earlier, he had shopped for Rs 40,000 through the credit card in the same mall.

"The accused has been identified as Shibli Mehmood of Chandpur Bijnore. He had been working at the Prayag Hospital for the last one year but was terminated on May 29. He had been looking for a job," said DSP V.C. Tripathi.

"On June 14, he purchased goods worth Rs 40,000 from the mall using the credit card. He claimed that a rickshaw puller had given him a purse that contained the credit card. In stead of informing the police or handing over the purse to the doctor who owned it, he purchased goods on the credit card," said Tripathi.

"Dr Naresh Vohra of Sector 41 had lodged a credit card theft complaint at the Sector 39 police station on June 14.

On investigation, it was found that the credit card was used to make some purchase. The accused was identified through the CCTV footage captured at the mall. Last evening, the accused came to another shop in the mall to buy goods when the police nabbed him," said Tripathi.

"Garments, jewellery, shoes and other goods that he had bought has been seized," said Tripathi.

New Delhi, June 25
The outer district police has nabbed Kukki, alias Sunny Dev, wanted in the murder of Ram Niwas, a member of Vijay Bodha gang in Jind, Haryana.

Kukki (23) of Rohtak, who had allegedly killed Ram Niwas on May 13, was arrested from Rithala Metro station in the Rohini area two days ago on a tip off.

DCP (outer) Chhaya Sharma said a trap was laid in the area. The police chased a car that belonged to Shamsher Nagoora, a sharp shooter of Vijay Bodha gang. "The car stopped near a red light and two persons came out of it. It appeared that they were waiting for someone. Seeing the police, they tried to flee. But the police party apprehended Kukki. One semi-automatic pistol was seized from him. Five live cartridges of 7.65 bore were found from the magazine of the pistol," said Sharma.

Kukki disclosed that he along with his associates-- Shamsher Nagoora and Devender Kala-- had murdered Ram Niwas of village Khatkar in Jind.

Kukki further disclosed that Nagoora had been the right hand of Vijay Bodha for a long time, but in the past few days Ram Niwas had managed to come closer to Vijay Bodha. This angered Nagoora. Besides, he was having a dispute with Ram Niwas over the distribution of an extorted amount. Ram Niwas denied giving Nagoora's share. This angered him even more. In February, the two had pledged to kill each other in a marriage function at Hissar. Since then they were looking for a chance to eliminate each other.

New Delhi, June 25
A 55-year-old woman was stabbed and injured by her mentally unstable son in the Jyoti Nagar area of north-east Delhi, today evening.

According to the police, the incident was reported around 3.30 pm from house number 335 in lane number 5 of the Durgapuri area.

The victim, Brahamadevi, has been admitted to the Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital and her condition is said to be stable.

"Brhamadevi lives with her husband Rajbahadur and their four sons in the Durgapuri area. One of her sons, Pawan (27), is said to be slightly unstable and is under medication. Today evening, Brahmadevi went to his room to give him medicine, but Pawan got angry over something and attacked her with a kitchen knife. The victim has received wounds on the face and was rescued by her husband and other members of the family," said a police official from the Jyoti Nagar police station, adding that Pawan ran away from the house after the incident.

Pawan has cleared his Class XII exam and is doing a computer course. Family members told the police that though Pawan got violent sometimes, he had never attacked anybody before.

New Delhi, June 25
The outer district police has arrested one Harshpreet Jolly (29) along with two girls for posing as a Delhi police constable when stopped by the traffic police in the Rohini area yesterday night.

According to the police, Jolly was held with two girls, who corroborated his claim of being a police official. One toy revolver resembling the official revolver of the Delhi police was also recovered from his possession.

The incident took place on the diving road of Sector 15-16, Rohini, outside the Delhi transport authority office during a routine vehicle check.

"The driver of vehicle was asked to produce the registration certificate of the vehicle and his driving license, but instead of showing these documents, Jolly produced the identity card of a Delhi traffic police constable. His two girl friends also corroborated his version and asserted that the checking staff must have faith in the identity card," said Chhaya Sharma, DCP (outer), adding that on checking, the identity card was found to be forged.

Jolly used to show Delhi police identity card to the traffic police to escape being challaned when caught violating traffic rules.

Jolly would also use the card at parking places to save fees and gain entry at the VIP functions.

New Delhi, June 25
Jawaharlal Nehru University has signed a memorandum of understanding with the state-run communication firm MTNL under which it will provide Wi-Fi connectivity to all the JNU hostels at its cost to ensure that students, staff, and faculty are able to access Internet.

The MOU was signed here today in the presence of minister of state for communications and information technology Jatin Pilot and JNU's VC BB Bhattacharya.

MTNL has offered to facilitate the students of the university to access the local area network (LAN) of JNU using MTNL 3G network, an official statement said.

Pilot said all MTNL users in JNU would shortly be able to make free calls to one another and students will have to pay only Rs 199 in place of Rs 599 per month, MTNL's commercial rate for this service. They would also be able to access Internet service using high speed browsing.

Cautioning MTNL and JNU authorities on the misuse of the facility, the minister asked to ensure safety and security of the network.

The MoU says that MTNL would be the preferred telecom service provider to JNU.

Pilot said MTNL has set up four additional 3G towers on campus to cover the sprawling JNU campus. The capital expenditure for this is being incurred by MTNL as part of its corporate social responsibility, he added.