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August 13, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Some feel on Cloud Nine; others under the weather New Delhi, August 12 Office-goers and schoolchildren were in particular harried on the first day of the week because of the traffic jams. The situation at the infamous ITO crossing was particularly acute with vehicles running from bumper to bumper at a snail’s pace. Those caught in the jam said that it took them anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour extra to reach their destinations. Hassled traffic policemen scurried around trying to untangle the long queues. The snarls continued throughout the day. Reports of similar traffic tangles were received from South, West and North Delhi areas of the National Capital Territory (NCT). Compounding the problem of water-logging was the large-scale digging of roads in various areas as the MCD noticing the lull in the monsoon, decided to improve the shining hour by starting the so-called ‘development works’. Ironically, it took the plunge only after receiving a dressing-down from the Delhi Finance Minister that “it was not spending the funds allocated to it”. The residents of the upmarket Indraprastha Extension in East Delhi were the worst affected as not only the stretch of road in front of Saraswati Kunj apartments has been left in disrepair for almost three years now but fresh digging has also started on the same road in front of Ekta Apartments and Link Apartments. With this road witnessing some of the heaviest vehicular traffic, there was chaos all round and little relief in sight. According to the Met Office, the Capital recorded between two and four millimetres of rain and it is likely to continue during the next couple of days. |
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3 contract killers held; blind murder case solved New Delhi, August 12 On the fateful night of July 9, the deceased Singh was shot dead by the unidentified assailants at night around 11.15 pm outside his house in Tilak Nagar. When the area chowkidar Bahadur came to his rescue, they shot him as well. The police found out that the deceased used to live at Richmund Hills in New York and was employed as a gurdwara ragi-cum-carpenter. During his stay there, he befriended one Amar Singh, a taxi driver in 1998. Hailing from Hardwar, Amar Singh belonged to his community. He persuaded Hoshiyar Singh to get his life insured for $10 lakh (About Rs 5 crore in Indian money). Amar became his nominee. The deceased kept paying the premium amount to the insurance company till November 2001. Later, the deceased returned to India and started living with his family. However, Amar kept paying his premium amount. After a while, Amar called Hoshiyar Singh and asked for his fake death certificate, so that he could claim his insurance amount to be shared equally. After discussing this issue with his wife, Singh refused to agree to Amar’s plan. Infuriated over this, Amar Singh came to India in February, bandied words with Singh and went back in a huff. Upon reaching the USA, he persuaded one Davender Singh, alias Kaka, a worker in a factory in New York, and a resident of Khayala, Tilak Nagar. Davender agreed to eliminate Singh after coming to India for his marriage in May this year. According to the plan, he came and joined with his close friend Gurpreet Singh, alias Sonu, who later contacted his maternal uncle Ghanshyam Singh, resident of Muzaffar Nagar. Ghanshyam then introduced them to Rakesh, Gullu and Kukka and finally they decided to x-out Singh. Davender Singh and Sonu assured Ghanshyam, Rakesh, Gullu and Kukka that they would be paid Rs 2 lakh immediately after the execution of the plan. The accused were brought to Delhi, and had done an identification drill the previous day. Later on the fateful night, the accused came and waited outside the house of the deceased and when Hoshiyar Singh came out, they fired at him. As the chowkidar came to his rescue, they fired at him as well and fled from the spot. During investigation, when the police got details about the insurance policy of the deceased, they found out Amar Singh’s involvement in the murder plot. The three accused who were nabbed confessed to their crime while the search is on for other accused Rakesh, Gullu, Kukka, Richpal and Amar Singh. The police are in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs to have the extradition of the main accused Amar Singh from the USA. |
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IN PARLIAMENT New Delhi, August 12 Mr Rajagopal said the technology for manufacturing state-of-the-art metro coaches is presently not available in the country. Therefore, out of a total requirement of 240 coaches, the first batch of 60 coaches are being imported and the remaining 180 coaches will be manufactured in the country with progressive increase in indigenous content. In reply to another question, the minister said the union government had agreed in principle, to regularise those unauthorised colonies which had come up in Delhi upto March 31, 1993 and which conforms to the guidelines formulated for the purpose. He maintain that the Delhi government had demanded that the cut of year for the purpose should be 1998 and the Centre had constituted a committee to examine the guidelines and to suggest modifications, amendments required, to facilitate the expeditious regularisation of unauthorised colonies. The committee has recently submitted its report. The Urban Development Minister, Mr Anant Kumar, said the Centre cannot accept the Delhi Assembly resolution recommending transfer of Delhi Development Authority to the Delhi government as Delhi is not a state. It is a union territory with an elected legislative assembly. He said the government of NCT of Delhi is not competent to legislate on matters relating to land, which is in the domain of Centre. The constitutional provisions relating to land matter are specific to NCT of Delhi. Since the other state governments are competent to legislate on matter relating to land under their domain, development authorities in other states function under the respective state governments. Mr Rajagopal informed the Rajya Sabha that the MCD has stated that there are 17 packaged drinking water manufacturing companies functioning in the Capital. Out of this five companies are licensed/registered with MCD under adhoc policy, six companies are operating under stay orders and prosecution action has been initiated against the remaining six companies. The Bureau of Indian Standards has also informed that no license has been granted by them in Delhi for packaged natural mineral water, he said, adding that MCD had indicated that initially there were 50 such water plants in its area. As a result of action taken by them, 26 units have closed down and seven units have been sealed. On the question of whether Punjab and Haryana High Court has given any interim/final order regarding Baba Mastnath Dental College,
Asthal, Bohar, Rohtak, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Mr A. Raja, informed the Rajya Sabha that the court has directed the Vice-Chancellor of Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Secretary Medical Education, Secretary Finance and Director Medical Education of the Haryana government and Principal of BRS Dental College, Kotbilla and DAV Dental College, Yamunanagar and the counsel for the petitioners to work out the details of the solution in relation to various issues involved in the case and the matter would come up for hearing on August 20. The Minister informed that the MCD has stated that CT Scan machines installed in their two hospitals are out of order and no enquiry has been conducted in this regard. He said that the MCD had asked the manufacturers of machines to get the machines repaired. The manufacturers informed the MCD that it was not advisable to get these machines repaired, as the repair was not economical. The MCD had purchased the machines costing over Rs 2.35 crore each and were installed in 1993, but they stopped functioning in 1999. Mr Raja said there is no proposal to bring the sale of blood under a price control system. Asked whether one unit of blood is being sold at a minimum of Rs 2,000, he said blood is not sold as such, as professional blood donation has been banned. However, some expenditure is incurred by the blood banks for processing of blood towards mandatory test for transfusion. This expenditure, estimated to be around Rs 500 per unit of blood, is recovered from patients in the form of service charges by the blood banks. It is true that private bloods banks often undertake additional tests, over and above the mandatory ones, and as such, possibly the service charge recovered by these private blood banks varies. |
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NH-58 blocked for 5 hrs after Dalit’s murder Meerut, August 12 The highway was blocked for more than five hours. Long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of the highway. The angry villagers were demanding the immediate arrest of persons of the Gujjar caste who, they alleged, were involved in the murder. The son of the deceased lodged an FIR and charged that his father, Baghmal, 45, had gone to irrigate the sugarcane fields of Ram Karan Gujjar on Sunday evening. When Baghmal did not return home till late in the night, his son Jagvir went to the fields in search of his father but could find no sign of him. Then a group of villagers searched for him. Baghmal’s body was found in a nearby sugarcane field. He had been stabbed to death. His body bore several deep wounds. His son informed the police and charged that his father had been done to death by the Gujjars. Several Dalits gathered on the spot and when the police official ordered a post-mortem examination, the aggrieved villagers stopped the police from sending the body for the examination. A sufficient number of women and children of Dalits joined the mob and started shouting slogans against the police. They lay the body on National Highway 58 and blocked the road. Soon, a mile-long queue of vehicles formed on both sides of the highway. The mob even manhandled the SHO who informed his superiors. Soon, SHOs of Partapur, T P Nagar, Nauchandi, Delhi Gate, Brahampuri and Railway Road police stations rushed to the spot with forces. CO II Somitra Yadav and the Additional City Magistrate accompanied the police force and tried to clear the national highway but failed. The SSP, Mr Mukul Goel, the SP (City), Mr D. K. Chaudhry, also rushed to Bhoor Baral village and the Partapur police station to negotiate with the villagers. The police used force but failed to clear the road. The police could not even persuade the villagers to send the body for examination as the villagers were demanding the arrest of the Gujjars involved in this case. Police officials also faced a hard line as the matter was directly related to the Dalits. No police official was ready to take any chance as the matter was of a sensitive nature. Soon, the SSP sought the help of the SHO of women’s police station to clear the highway as women formed a sizeable majority of the agitators. SHO Madhu Malti arrested some women with the help of lady constables. The other police officials ordered the force to disperse the mob. Later, the body was sent for an autopsy. Police officials assured the Dalits that they would arrest the killer soon. |
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Industrialists
bite off more than they can chew Gurgaon, August 12 These industrialists have moved court and the commission even while the government has announced reduction in the charges and committed its willingness to negotiate with the industry-related organisations on the issue. The government and its agencies, which should have resolved the issue promptly, allowed it to hang fire for several months on end. They allegedly kept on confusing the industrialists even while the entrepreneurs were under growing discomfiture as they faced the possibility of paying penal interest on the proposed EDC in case the issue was not resolved. Surprisingly, even while the matter is sub judice, the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) has issued a letter on behalf of Mr M.K. Miglani, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, that the issue is being considered by the government. The assurance, however, has a rider attached, saying that Huda is examining the matter. An industrialist expressed his misgivings, saying that there was no need for the HSIDC to bring Huda into the picture as industrial plots were allotted by it and it had served the notices for collection of EDCs to the industrialists. The letter was in response to a representation by the GIA reminding the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) that Mr Miglani had assured to resolve the issue. The HSID slapped a sum of Rs 402 per sq m on the units under the head of EDC a few months back, raising the hackles of the industrialists on the ground that the plots were allotted to them more than two decades back and the ‘ex post facto’ application of charges either by way of EDC or enhancement were against the grain of a welfare state. They based their argument on the thesis that that when a plot is allotted all kinds of charges are intrinsic in the money that is paid by the allottees before taking possession. The Gurgaon Industrial Association (GIC) and the Gurgaon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the two main representative organisations of local industrialists, raised the issue with the government on various platforms. Lately, the Chief Secretary of the state, Mr L. M. Goyal, announced scaling down of the charges to Rs 300 per sq m along with further announcements of concessions with regard to collection of the dues. The commitment was made on a demand of the GCCI at an annual general meeting of the Confederation of Indian Industries. While the GCCI is said to be unhappy over taking the issue to the court by certain industrialists even while talks were taking place with the government for more concessions, the GIA lamented that the industrialists were forced to do this. The president of the GIA, Mr J. N. Mangal, said it would have been better if they had not done so but they acted on their own after realising that the talks with the government on the issue were leading to a
dead end. |
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NGOs asked to provide healthcare to govt school
kids New Delhi, August 12 The government spokesperson on Monday said the Cabinet had approved the scheme that aims to gradually replace the School Health Scheme (SHS) in vogue in 1200 schools. The spokesperson said the expenditure to be incurred on this scheme would be less than the expenses that are being incurred on the SHS. Another improvement over the SHS will be reaching out to 1200 schools and 12 lakh students instead of the current 436 schools and about four lakh students. The involvement of NGOs would entail diversion of the posts created in the SHS and creation of a structure that would ensure district-level supervision along with co-ordination at the level of the state. |
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‘Unilateral’ drafting of Metro Bill decried New Delhi, August 12 The government spokesperson said a committee comprising Transport Minister Ajay Maken and the Secretary (Transport) will examine the provisions of the Bill and make recommendations for the Cabinet’s perusal. The objections pertain to a particular provision in the Bill vesting in the Government of India the powers to frame rules. Also, the provision allowing the Centre to delegate its powers to any office or authority subordinate to it. “So what if the Centre has pumped money into the Metro Rail Project? It is the Government of NCT of Delhi that is answerable to the people of Delhi and therefore should have a say in how it should be run,” is how a minister offered to react. The minister went on to suggest that not only have the Government of NCT of Delhi’s “interests” been ignored but no dialogue had taken place between the governments before formulating the legislation. “The Government of NCT of Delhi has had no say whatsoever in all this. There is therefore a need to put the legislation in perspective and in proper context,” he said. The Metro Rail is touted to be a milestone in the transportation sector. Much is at stake for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA Government at the Centre and the Congress-led Government of NCT of Delhi. |
Too little sops cast a cloud over Haryana farmers’ hopes Faridabad, August 12 With regard to the announcement regarding waiving of land tax
(maalia), people from villages and experts in the agriculture sector describe it as misleading and false as they claim that maalia is no more existent, as it was abolished about 16 years ago. They say even if it was applicable it could be affecting only the big farmers and not the small or middle-level farmers in Haryana. About ‘abiyana’, it is learnt that only one per cent of the irrigation done in south Haryana is through canals as a majority of the farmers are dependent upon tubewells or the rainy season. “Waiving the ‘abiyana’ would not have any visible impact on the condition of the farmers facing the worst drought in several decades”, said Suray Pal, a resident of Banchari village in the district. Mukut Lal Sharma, a former Sarpanch of Chirawata village in Palwal subdivision, said the announcement of waiving of the `maalia’ and ‘abiyana’ was no relief to farmers of the district or the region as the changes were only on records. The president of the Haryana unit of the Janata Dal (U), Mr Ved Prakash Vidrohi, said the announcement was only a political stunt and the government had failed to give any visible relief to the farmers so far. He said although the Chief Minister had convened an all-party meeting at Chandigarh on August 14 on the issue it may not help to achieve anything concrete as the Chautala government had been adopting a dilly-dallying attitude towards giving any financial compensation to the affected farmers. Describing the meeting as a political drama, Mr Vidrohi said the announcement regarding waiving of the land tax and water tax was only an eyewash. He said if the state government had been really worried or concerned about the drought-hit people, it would have started the food-for-work programme and job guarantee scheme in the affected areas. Demanding compensation of at least Rs 2000 per acre, the JD leader asked the government to waive the interest on loans taken by farmers and a rebate on the electricity charges in rural areas. Expressing similar views, a former minister and RPI MLA from Palwal, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, said that instead of making misleading statements and claims, the state government should come out with an aid package for farmers, which should include waiving a part of loans, power bills and all types of recoveries from farmers. Stating that Haryana’s share in the Agra canal had been reduced from 27 to 9 per cent in the recent past, he said the ‘abiyana’ charged was unjustified. He also alleged that the Power Department had been charging a flat rate from farmers using tubewells whereas electricity meters had been installed about four months ago in the district. He said the decision of the Haryana Government to keep pending the recovery or collection of power bills and loans was improper as farmers would not be able to clear the heavy backlog in one go in future. Mr Yudhvir Singh of Sondh village, who had contested the last assembly election from Hathin, said compensation less than Rs 2,000 would not be acceptable as input cost for a farmer in one acre had been between Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. He has demanded ‘proper’ and immediate relief to the drought-hit farmers. |
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FOLLOW-UP Panipat, August 12 At a meeting of village elders at Chhajpur village, near here, Rjapur and Bhainswal villages of Panipat block decided to support the campaign. A meeting to make more villages participate is being called in Kabri village. A decision to involve more communities in the campaign was also agreed upon at the meeting. Meanwhile, the panchayat has decided to add more guidelines to its existing code with a view to reducing marriage related expenses. Under the new rules, the “dakshina” of a Brahmin could not exceed Rs 125. Similarly, the sisters-in-laws would not get more than Rs 51 for hiding the shoes of the bridegroom and the amount involved in playing the “kagna” would also be the same. Meanwhile, with an eye on the next general election, the Lok Janshakti
Party (LJP) today decided to project its national president, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, as the first “Dalit” Prime Minister of the country. Announcing this at Sonepat, about 53 km from here today, the president of the Haryana unit, Capt Shamsher Singh Malik
(retd), claimed that the Mr Paswan enjoyed the support of all strata of the party for his value-based politics. Capt Malik was addressing the party workers after launching the membership drive of the party in the district. Claiming that the LJP was the only party fighting on issues such as corruption, unemployment, social and economic equality, he said the party would launch an agitation on these issues in front of Parliament in September. It was the endeavour of the party to involve all sections of society in its fight against the present oppressive political, social and economic system, he added. Terming the Haryana Government’s drought relief of Rs 2,500 per hectare as “inadequate” and a joke played on the farmers, the LJP chief demanded compensation of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per hectare. He also termed the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Ajit Singh, as “anti-farmer” since had failed to tour the state himself or send any government delegation to have an on-the-spot assessment on account of the drought. Demanding the resignation of 10 Haryana MPs who were supporting the NDA-led government for their failure to take up the SYL issue with the Centre, Captain Malik said the least the MPs could have done was to abstain from the Vice-Presidential elections today as a mark of protest. The state general secretary and the spokesman, Mr Surender Singh Hooda, informed that under the drive over 1 lakh active members would be enrolled in the next about two months. The active members
would, In turn, enroll 25 members each. Mr Sarvesh Gupta, president of the Sonepat district unit, also spoke. |
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FACE TO FACE
IN an industry cluttered with false promises and unsustainable claims, Delhi-based Springwel Mattresses Ltd., is slowly and steadily carving its own niche in the mattress industry. In just six years, Springwel has lived up to its assurance of providing products of international quality. In an interview with the ‘NCR Tribune,’ the managing director of Springwel Mattresses, Mr Paramjit Singh, talks about his company, his aspirations and above all, his vision. When did you launch this concept of spring mattresses in India and why? I had gone on a work-related visit to Korea where I was extremely impressed and fascinated by the concept of spring mattresses. It was then that I decided to introduce this product in India thought it meant not only importing the technology but also investing heavily to set-up a manufacturing unit for these mattresses. Our efforts have obviously paid off because in the last six years, we have had phenomenal growth rate. The company has achieved 78 per cent growth in comparison to last year. How are spring mattresses better than the coir or rubberised versions? Spring mattresses are in vogue the world over. People prefer these for various reasons including therapeutic reason. By gently conforming to every body contour, Springwel provides superior back support and outstanding pressure relief. Reliving pressure reduces the tossing and turning that interrupts sleep and brings oxygen and nutrients to tired and aching muscles. In addition, they are breathable, having the unique quality of keeping the body cooler in summer and warmer in winter. These are the qualities that have impressed the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, Vasant Kunj, to fully endorse and support our product. Is there any research which substantiates your statement? Research has shown that the inner spring mattresses create the least amount of low back muscle strain while lying in supine and side position. According to a world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon and chief of staff at Campbell Clinic, Dr Robert Tomme, ‘The inner spring mattresses are the most correct sleeping surface.’ Orthopaedics world over support this claim when they say that maintaining the spine in its normal position, a slight ‘S’ is important for a healthy back. Springwel mattresses fulfil this criterion and provide support at the heavier body points such as the shoulder and hips, not letting these heavier parts to sink too deeply. Thus, allowing the spine to retain its proper shape. According to a recent study, Springwel mattresses have the power to reduce the severity and frequency of a back pain by up to 33 per cent. But why are Springwel mattresses more expensive than other mattresses in the markets? Springwel mattresses have been designed to impart a luxurious look. It is also a fact that these help the designers to express themselves better. Springwel continues to be the favourite choice of many interior designers. With elegant looks, graceful contours, refined styling, profusion of colours and world-class material, the price is certainly justified. Since this is still a nascent market, how do you plan to increase your growth? Since the company came into existence in 1996, it has witnessed a phenomenal growth rate. In comparison to last year, the company witnessed 78 per cent growth. Its has a network of nearly 300 dealers across the country and with ambitious plans to expand its operations in states such as Gujarat, West Bengal and Bihar, the company is poised for a major leap forward in the current financial year. Could you elaborate on your future marketing plans? We have made our expansion plans based on extensive market research. We realise that there are potential customers for quality mattresses in each and every corner of the country, but they have to be educated about the various advantages of using spring mattresses. In order to spread information regarding the advantages of using spring mattresses among the common masses, the company aims at investing nearly 10 per cent of its annual revenue in promotional activities like direct marketing, road shows and advertisements. Could you explain some of the specific features of Springwel mattresses? Springwel mattresses are designed and manufactured in a state-of-the-art plant, with fully computerised Swiss machines imported from Spuhl, Switzerland. Moreover, we use superior tapestry (high quality jacquard polyester viscose), high density PU foam, extra thin cotton felt and breathers that allow air to flow freely. Springwel mattresses now come with a revolutionary ‘perfect support system’ (PSS) technology. As part of this system, the specially designed foam pillars made of extruded polyethylene foam, placed around the entire perimeter, provide not only sleeping support but more sleeping surface. What is the range that is available to the consumers? The Springwel range, consisting of Bonnel, Pocketed and Pillow Top mattresses, comes in attractive colours, different thickness and custom made sizes, with spring base and head rest optional. These are highly flexible, anti-fungal and with non-sagging properties. Do you have any new products lined up in the near future? We are all set to provide the Indian consumers with internationally available items like adjustable beds, mattress fitted with massagers etc. On an average, a person spends one third of his life in bed, why not spend it in luxury? |
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Wanna eat, drink and be merry? Come to Manesar New Delhi, August 12 Built on an area of approximately 4100 sq ft with about a seating capacity for 135 guests, this new restaurant combines clear, contemporary and functional planning with simple detailing. The guest experience begins from the moment one arrives at the parking lot itself. Large parking areas have been built within the green spaces surrounding the “Drive Through” for those who prefer to stop and eat. A highly efficient order taking and serving window with two car lengths between them translates into a minimum of waiting time between placing and receiving an order. This restaurant is a stand alone “Drive Thru” complete with double height space for the play area-the PlayLand, a double mansard roof, the clearly defined drive through lane, serving windows, and all of this set amid lush green surroundings. This restaurant has friendly access right from the parking up to the store. Large glass windows allow natural light to penetrate deep into the seating area and also allow a clean view of the well-manicured green surroundings. This energy management, coupled with the water treatment and “zero-drain” facilities and systems (water harvesting), make it an extremely eco-friendly restaurant. Among the other environment-conscious aspects, there is a unique water harvesting system installed where the ‘effective micro-organisms’ (EM) method is used to treat the effluents from the restaurant to bring the BOD (biological oxygen demand) and COD (chemical oxygen demand) levels down to well within the pollution control standards. This results in processed water that is safe for discharge as well as reuse for agricultural purposes. The modern ‘open’ kitchen in steel is juxtaposed with the warmer browns and wood tones of the dining spaces. The queue areas are defined by a red dome and different seating styles around tables, along benches, and on high top stools are artfully laid out to create different seating spaces. Speaking on this occasion, Mr Vikram Bakshi, MD (North India), and joint venture partner of McDonald’s India, said, “The launch of this restaurant is our tribute to Manesar. With the opening of this restaurant, people in and around Manesar will be provided with the unique McDonald’s experience every time they visit us. This is yet another feather in our cap and is our third highway restaurant, the other two being at Mathura on the Delhi-Agra highway and at Doraha on the Ambala-Ludhiana highway, which is a great achievement for us. Ever since we opened five years ago, we have received tremendous support from our consumers to expand to places where our customers wanted us. I look forward to setting up at other locations too, to provide a great eating-out experience.” |
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ROHTAK Rohtak, August 12 The Dalit leaders appealed to the SSP, Mr Alok Rai to suspend the ‘erring’ police staff and order a probe into the incident so as to inculcate a feeling of security among the masses, especially the downtrodden. In a letter written to the SSP, the complainant Pyare Lal, resident of Pir wali gali on Jind road here stated that he was sleeping on the rooftop of his house on July 23. His brother-in-law scaled the wall of his house and got him down at gunpoint at around 2 am. Pyare Lal said his wife, Bimla and brothers-in-law, Satyanarayan and Rajbir also forcibly entered the house and snatched an amount of Rs 86,000 at gunpoint, which he had earned by selling cattle. After committing the crime all the three miscreants beat up Pyare Lal with an iron rod and left him unconscious. The complainant said the matter was reported to the Gaukaran police post and he was admitted to the civil hospital by a constable. He said he remained admitted to the hospital from July 24 to 30. But, he alleged no action was taken by the police during this period despite his repeated requests. Moreover, he alleged the police infuriated at his repeated approach to them and resorted to third degree treatment to him and kept him in illegal confinement for several hours. The dalit leaders expressed surprise as the district police chief, in place of taking action against the ‘erring’ staff of Gaukaran police post, referred the complaint to the same
post. They warned that an agitation would be launched if the staff of concerned police post was not suspended and an inquiry was not ordered into the incident. The SSP could not be contacted in this connection despite several attempts.
Special assistance The University Grants Commission (UGC), approved special assistance plan for Sociology Department of the Maharshi Dayanand University for five years with effect from April 1,2002 to March 31,2007. A spokesman of the university said today that the UGC programme of special assistance intends to raise the quality of teaching and research in the concerned department through constant effort. The essence and aim of the scheme is combination of teaching and research to encourage group research efforts in pursuit of excellence, he added. He said the UGC had identified two thrust areas for implementation of this special assistance plan in Sociology Department of the university, which are -Studies in Social Transformation and Rural Social Formation. The objective and focus of studies and research would be on caste, community, factions and local level institutions in agrarian society. The emphasis would be on change and transformation, gender and deprived sections of the rural society. Prof K. S. Sangwan, Head of the Sociology Department, has been appointed coordinator of the programme. The UGC approved financial assistance to the tune of Rs 31.50 lakh for five years. The amounts include a non-recurring assistance of Rs 7 lakh for equipment. Prof Tulsi Patel, Head of the Sociology Department of Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi and Prof Ranvinder Singh Sandhu, Sociology Department, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar were nominated as nominees on the advisory committee of the special assistance programme. |
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DELHI DIGEST New Delhi, August 12 The need for a police station in the area is felt after considering its huge populace and being a communally sensitive area. Mr Kapoor said that the building of the new police station would be constructed keeping in mind the historical background of the area. The project was delayed after the demand for more personnel was not approved by the government. Once the new police station is set up, police presence in the locality would be enhanced. Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office Vijay Goel, Delhi Health Minister A. K. Walia, Delhi Police Commissioner R. S. Gupta and Joint Commissioner of Police Ajay Chadda besides other senior police officials were present at the function.
New session at IGNOU The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has opened admissions to its various degree and diploma programmes for the January 2003 session. The last date for submission of application forms without late fee is August 31. |
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NCR BRIEFS Panipat, August 12 The Minister of State for Energy, Ms Jayanti Behn Mehta, and the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, will be prominent among those, who will address a public meeting here.
Watchman dead A watchman of the Shiv handlooms in Des Raj Colony, Suresh (35), fell to death from the roof of the factory on Sunday night. According to the information, he had woken up from his bed to answer the call of nature.
Crushed to death Faridabad A Railway employee was crushed to death by a speeding Roadways bus near Ballabgarh town here this morning. The victim identified as Rajender Yadav had been employed in the Indian Railways. He was going on a bicycle when the accident took place. He was taken to Bhadshah Khan Civil Hospital, where he was declared brought dead. A case has been booked.
Boy killed Rewari The deceased was a student of Class XII of the local Government Senior Secondary School. The staff and students of the school observed a two-minute silence in his memory this morning after which the classes were let off.
Robbery bid foiled With the arrest of three members of a gang of robbers from a spot in Azad Nagar here in the wee hours today, the police claim to have failed a robbery bid by the trio. Besides, the police have also recovered from them a sum of Rs 700, which they had looted at knife-point from a passer-by Vineet Yadav of the Gujarwara Mohalla here on Sunday evening, according to Mr Hanif Qureshi SP, Rewari. They were booked under the Sections 382, 398 and 401 of the IPC. |
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Plant at least one tree: Mayor New Delhi, August 12 |
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Five killed in Faridabad Faridabad, August 12 Two persons going on a motor-cycle and a bike were killed when two vehicles coming from opposite directions hit them near Ajronda Chowk and Ballabgarh. In second case, a man Aslam (24) died when he was electrocuted near Anaj Mandi at Hathin. In the third case dead bodies of two unidentified youths were found on the railway treck near Mewala-Maharaj Pur and NIT railway crossing. In a separate case, two youths, identified as Vijay and Vikas were injured seriously when they were shot with a country-made pistol in Dayalpur village on Sunday, about 18 km from here. It is reported by the eyewitness that a gang of about eight persons, came in the village on a Tata-vehicle and fled away after shooting the above two youths. Six persons travelling in a 3-wheeler were injured when the overloaded three-wheeler overturned on Mathura Road today. Police have registered all the cases and making enquiries. |
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Man stabbed to
death by friend New Delhi, August 12 Murder Attempt Rohit, 30, a resident of Mohan Baba Nagar, was assaulted by three persons in Badarpur area on Sunday evening. The victim had borrowed Rs 20,000 from one Arvind Sharma and there was a dispute between them over the money. Arvind Sharma along with two others came to the house of the victim and allegedly assaulted him and also fired a shot at him. Though bullet did not hit him, he sustained some minor injuries. Arvind has been arrested while his associates are absconding, the police said.
Robbed of 2 lakh An unidentified youth robbed Rs 2 lakh from a general merchant in Ambedkar Nagar area on Sunday. The incident occurred when the victim, Harish Chand, was going to his house after closing his shop in the evening. While he was on his way, the suspect tried to snatch the bag in which the victim was carrying money. When the victim resisted, the suspect stabbed him on his shoulder and fled away with the bag, the police said.
Extortionist held West district police arrested a dreaded extortionist who was a dismissed constable of the Delhi Police from Jageer Palace hotel in Kirti Nagar after a brief encounter. The police had an information that he would come to the Capital to meet his associates and extort a builder in West district. The police checked out the list of the guest in the hotel and found the name of Vishwas Rati of Dehradun. The police party in plain clothes laid a trap around the room and knocked at the door. He pierced from the room and fired at the police team. Finally policemen over powered him. During interrogation he disclosed that he entered the crime world in 1999. He was arrested in UP in 2000. Later he came out of jail and started committing crime. The UP police declared a reward of Rs 30,000 and the Delhi Police Rs 10,000 for his arrest. He also disclosed that he came to the Capital to extort money from two builders and wanted to kill them in case they refused to give the money. He has approximately 35 members in his gang. So far five members have already been killed. He further disclosed that he used to purchase arms from a constable of UP police. He was also planning to buy an AK 47 rifle, the police said. |
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Drive to crack down gangsters Faridabad, August 12 |
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Pak spy arrested Noida, August 12 Mamoor had been asked to create disturbances around 15th August by ISI, the police said. Four cantonment areas were Babugarh, Meerut, Mathura and Roorkee. A diary has also been recovered from the spy giving the names and addresses of some other agents. SSP R. N. Kathoriya said according to officers of Army Intelligence, an agent was passing on information to Pakistan via Saudi Arabia from Serai Chhabila. A police party and army personnel arrested Mamoor, son of Ibrahim from Serai Chhabila. A diary recovered from his house gave detailed information about four cantonments of the areas as well as about arm training camps. Mamoor said he had visited Pakistan twice and his brother-in-law Afzal too has come India twice from Lahore. Afzal had introduced him to ISI officials in Lahore. He used to send information through Dr Rashm but he was arrested on May 24. |
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