DTC to function as usual: Goswami
New Delhi, February 19
In view of the strike call by some trade unions, including the autorickshaw union, the Delhi government today said that the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has taken all the preventive steps to ensure smooth functioning of the public transport.

Civic bodies fail to release due funds: RWAs
New Delhi, February 19
Over 200 Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in the city have objected to the non-release of funds to them by the Municipal Corporations for the last one year and alleged that political parties are out to destroy their empowerment.

Dreaded gangster gives cops the slip
New Delhi, February 19
An alleged gangster involved in more than 37 cases of murder, extortion and robbery escaped during an encounter with a joint team of the Delhi Police and Punjab Police at Punjab’s Sardulgarh tehsil on Monday. His accomplice was shot at and has been hospitalized.

Two more sleuths held for bid to get Jaitley’s call records
New Delhi, February 19
Two more private detectives were arrested today for allegedly trying to seek the call data records of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley’s mobile phone, police said today.

Anganwadi workers shouting slogans during a dharna for their demands at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

DU students protest ‘police violence’ during Modi’s visit
New Delhi, February 19
Delhi University students and teachers today participated in a protest march which culminated in a public meeting today in response to the “unprovoked violence” by the Delhi police and ABVP activists on students who were protesting against the visit of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi at Sri Ram College of Commerce earlier this month.

Two women succumb to H1N1
New Delhi, February 19
The fatal spread of H1N1 influenza in Delhi continues with two more fatalities reported from Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Apollo Hospital even as the city health officials maintained that there is nothing to panic.

Cyber awareness program
New Delhi, February 19
A “cyber awareness and safety program” for school students was launched by the Delhi police today with a view to spreading awareness about the risks of uninhibited exchange of information on the Internet. — TNS

DTC to function as usual: Goswami
‘All major trade unions have agreed to keep off strike’
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 19
In view of the strike call by some trade unions, including the autorickshaw union, the Delhi government today said that the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has taken all the preventive steps to ensure smooth functioning of the public transport.

Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami said that all the major unions, including DTC Employees Congress, Delhi Parivehn Mazdoor Sangh, DTC Worker’s Union and DTC Unity Centre, have agreed not to participate in the strike.

The depot and regional managers have been directed to ensure the maximum out-shedding of buses. “We have directed all the officers, traffic and technical staff not to proceed on leave. The leave other than medical has been cancelled. The absence of the staff on these two days will be treated unauthorized and disciplinary action shall be taken against such staff,” said Goswami.

He said that the depot managers have been directed to ensure adequate operation in any case. If required, the operational staff can be sent on line on double duty.

They have been directed to report to their depot by 6.00 in the morning to ensure traffic clearance at heavy loading points like hospitals, railway stations, ISBTs, etc, the minister said.

Goswami added that DTC has requested the police authorities to deploy sufficient personnel near DTC depots, terminals and important bus stops to ensure the safety of buses. The bus crew and other on-line traffic supervisory staff have been instructed to inform the police in case of any kind of violence or damage to the buses.

“The commuters have been allowed to carry their luggage in the buses bound for/from railway stations and ISBTs. The crew has been instructed to halt the buses properly and take care of senior citizens, sick and woman passengers. Extra recovery vans of the corporation have been arranged to attend to any damaged or deflated buses,” the minister said.

Civic bodies fail to release due funds: RWAs
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 19
Over 200 Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in the city have objected to the non-release of funds to them by the Municipal Corporations for the last one year and alleged that political parties are out to destroy their empowerment.

Under the citizen-municipal consultative scheme of Resident Welfare Committee (RWC), which was initiated in 2011 under an agreement with the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the civic agencies are supposed to pay Rs 12,000 to each RWA for carrying out developmental works in their area.

The RWAs have also demanded the issuance of registration cards by the mayor’s office and setting up of a formal RWC Management Cell to receive minutes and maintain records.

“We want immediate release of arrears amounting to Rs 12,000 per RWA which is enlisted in the RWC scheme and also enhancement of this amount to Rs 2,000 per month,” said Atul Goyal, convenor of United Resident Joint Action (URJA), an umbrella of several organizations.

“The political parties are trying to muzzle the citizen participation in governance at every level. The BJP leadership is purposely refusing to pay out the allocated funds to RWAs,” he said.

The members of URJA said in spite of support of the RWAs for the RWC scheme, each party is trying to either control the scheme or destroy it. “Political parties must understand that the RWA movement is neutral and must stay neutral if the citizen-government participation has to work,” said Wing Commander J.S. Chadda, co-convenor of URJA.

Dreaded gangster gives cops the slip
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 19
An alleged gangster involved in more than 37 cases of murder, extortion and robbery escaped during an encounter with a joint team of the Delhi Police and Punjab Police at Punjab’s Sardulgarh tehsil on Monday. His accomplice was shot at and has been hospitalized.

Neetu Dabodha, alias Surender Malik, managed to escape, but his accomplice, Dayanand Pahelwan was found with a gunshot wound on his head. Neetu’s two other accomplices, Vikram and Alok Gupta, were arrested.

The joint operation was conducted after investigators were informed that Neetu and his accomplices, who belong to Karnal in Haryana, were hiding at Sardulgarh under fake identities.

Delhi Police teams reached Punjab and informed their counterparts there. On Monday, the police was tipped off that Neetu would be travelling in an Innova car and arrive at Sardulgarh to meet his accomplices there.

A joint team of Delhi Police and Punjab Police was created and deployed at strategic locations in Sardulgarh. At 3.45 pm, the police tried to intercept Neetu’s car, but the occupants fired at them. “We retaliated and a brief encounter took place. Police officials escaped unhurt, though Neetu sped away,” said Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) S N Srivastava.

The police tracked Neetu’s car at Haryana’s Hisar district, but they didn’t find him in it. They said he was driving the vehicle. They also found bloodstains on the driver’s seat. His accomplice, Pehalwan, was lying inside with a gunshot wound on his head. Srivastava said he was rushed to hospital.

A case in this regard was registered under Indian Penal Code and Arms Act with Sardulgarh police station.

According to the police, Neetu is allegedly involved in more than 37 cases of murder, kidnapping for ransom, extortion, carjacking, and contract killing.

Two more sleuths held for bid to get Jaitley’s call records
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 19
Two more private detectives were arrested today for allegedly trying to seek the call data records of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley’s mobile phone, police said today.

Anurag Singh, a resident of East of Kailash, and Nitish, who stays at Uttam Nagar, were arrested from west Delhi’s Mukundpur. A total of four men have been arrested for their involvement in the case. On February 14, the Delhi police constable, Arvind Dabas, was arrested while a private detective, Neeraj Kumar, was apprehended yesterday.

Sources said Anurag was allegedly involved in the phone-tapping case of Rajya Sabha member Amar Singh in 2006. The police believes that Anurag is the mastermind in the Jaitley case.

DU students protest ‘police violence’ during Modi’s visit
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 19
Delhi University students and teachers today participated in a protest march which culminated in a public meeting today in response to the “unprovoked violence” by the Delhi police and ABVP activists on students who were protesting against the visit of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi at Sri Ram College of Commerce earlier this month.

The protest held under the banner of Krantikari Yuva Sangathan and other organizations on campus demanded an apology from the Delhi police for brutally beating up students and a roll back of the FIRs against eight students and one teacher following the incident.

The protestors today also expressed their disappointment over the university administration’s “continued practice of encouraging a substantial and armed police presence on campus”.

Two women succumb to H1N1
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 19
The fatal spread of H1N1 influenza in Delhi continues with two more fatalities reported from Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Apollo Hospital even as the city health officials maintained that there is nothing to panic.

The number of victims who succumbed to the flu this season has now reached 11 while the cumulative for the people who have been infected by the virus stands at 510 with 53 new cases recorded today by the health department.

“Two women, one 36 years old died at Apollo Hospital and another 45 years old gave in to the virus at RML Hospital. One of them was diabetic while the other too had associated illness,” said H1N1 nodal officer.