Prostitution racket with UAE links smashed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 2
With the arrest of one person, the Crime Branch officials today claimed to have smashed an organised prostitution racket with links in the UAE.

The accused, Shesh Nath Mishra alias Babu Prasad Mishra alias Pappu Tiger (40), hailing from Basti in Uttar Pradesh, who had international connections in emirates like Dubai and Sharjah, was arrested by the sleuths in the Munirka area in South-West district on a tip-off.

The police also rescued a 20-year-old girl and a resident of Pune from the clutches of Mishra. The girl was lured by the accused on the pretext of sending her to Dubai for employment.

The sleuths recovered the passport of the girl with a Dubai tourist visa and a flight ticket for July 1, photocopies of his two forged passports and the photograph of a girl whom he had taken to Dubai and brought back after three months.

The Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), Mr P. Kamaraj, said the accused used to arrange visas for a number of girls wanting to go to West Asian countries who were later forced into prostitution by the local contacts.

Mishra till now has sent more than 25 girls on tourist visas for three months to these countries and charged Rs 25,000 from each of them. Many girls, after the expiry of their visa, overstayed and continued with the flesh trade.

Kamaraj said that Mishra, a carpenter by profession, visited Sharjah on an employment visa and worked in several construction companies. In Dubai, he came into contact with fellow employee, Pappu Driver, and also developed contacts with a number of sheikhs. Later, Mishra used these contacts to procure visas through fraudulent means, which he would sell in Delhi and Mumbai.

During his stay he also made several contacts with the mafia and befriended one Man Singh alias Mana, popularly known as Baba in Dubai.

When Mishra’s labour camp was shifted to Sonapur, he started supplying liquor in the area. He also used a novel method to get rid of his adversaries by informing the police about their nefarious activities and pocketing the reward money. He and his associates — Germany, Narender, Sukha and Deepa – had worked under Baba’s guidance.

Pappu Driver also introduced Mishra to his contact Rani alias Munni in the local brothels. Mishra also met Priya alias Tai, Gauri Kamal and Kali Kamal, who were entrenched in the flesh trade.

It is on their request that Mishra started enticing economically vulnerable girls from Delhi and other places on the pretext of getting them employment in Dubai and Sharjah, said Mr Kamaraj.

Businessman, employee stabbed to death
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, July 2
Panic gripped the business and trading community here after the murder of the owner of a cigarette agency and one of his employees by a gang of armed robbers at Ballabgarh town here last night.

The condition of two other employees of the agency, who were injured in the assault, is reported to be stable. The criminals fled after looting Rs 2 lakh in cash from the shop.

Almost 90 per cent of the shops and commercial establishments downed their shutters today in Ballabhgarh town in protest against the incident.

The bandh call was given by various traders’ associations and the local unit of the Haryana Beopar Mandal. They have sought immediate action against the culprits and beefing up of police security in the markets.

The incident took place at Chawla Colony in Ballabgarh town at about 8 pm when a group of four or five persons armed with revolvers and knives barged into the shop-cum-office of a wholesale supplier of cigarettes. The owner, Mr Ashok Madan, and three others, including salesman Radhey Lal, and two other employees, Jitender and Durga, were busy counting the cash.

Whipping out their weapons, the desperadoes pulled down the shutters. All the four inmates were reportedly tied with a rope at gunpoint and stabbed when they tried to protest. Mr Madan, aged about 38 years, and Radhey Lal died of stab injuries on the spot. Jitender and Durga were injured. They were later admitted to Escorts Hospital where their condition is stated to be stable. Both the injured belong to Palwal town.

The authorities have called in the dog squad and forensic experts but it is learnt that the police are still clueless. In another incident, two motorcycle-borne youths snatched Rs 50,000 from a person at Palwal town yesterday. The victim was on his way to a bank to deposit the money when the incident took place.

Never mind the sun, but pray it does not rain in roofless MCD schools
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 2
Thousands of students enrolled in over 120 schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will continue to be exposed to the vagaries of weather as the civic body has failed to issue work orders for erecting tents on their premises.

This was alleged by the Leader of Opposition in the corporation, Mr Subhash Arya, at a press conference here today.

This despite the fact that the Chairman of the Standing Committee, Mr Ram Babu Sharma, had assured the House in the budget session that prefabricated classrooms would be provided in the primary schools run by the corporation as an interim measure till pucca structures were built.

Mr Arya alleged that 1,217 tents were to be erected in 120 schools. In the last summer vacation, short notice tenders were called. They were opened on June 6. Till June 27, no work order was issued and the schools opened on July 1. Due to the lethargy and inefficiency of the authorities, the children were compelled to sit in this humid and rainy weather under the open sky.

Mr Arya also disclosed that there were 16 MCD schools on disputed land. As many as 149 tents had to be erected in these schools. If tents were not provided, children would have to face much hardship.

It is alleged that short notice tenders were floated to ensure that competitive rates were not offered and work was allotted to favourite contractors. It is further alleged that the contractor who had offered lower rates was given the contract for fixing 300 tents whereas the contractor who had quoted higher rates had been given the order for erecting 600 tents. It was also not known who would construct boundary walls and brick pavements to ensure the safety of the tents.

Mr Arya alleged that there was no provision of schools at Bawana and Narela where jhuggi dwellers were relocated. The children of these relocated sites were not getting primary education, which was their fundamental right.

There were 190 working days in MCD primary schools but the Congress administration in the corporation had failed to provide primary education during these working days, he said.

Chairman of the Standing Committee Ram Babu Sharma and Municipal Commissioner Rakesh Mehta said that an inquiry would be conducted into the delay in erecting tents. If any official was found guilty, he would be punished.

Clarifying the matter in the Standing Committee, they said that in 2001-2002, 51 schools were running under tents while 92 schools were partly under tents. In the current session, only 43 schools would be running under tents and 76 schools would be partly covered by tents. In the current session, 30 new schools would be opened in the Capital. Boundary walls made of tin sheets would be erected by the Education Department of the corporation, they assured.

The Director, Education, MCD, assured that tents would be erected in all schools in the Capital by July 5.

CRIME SPIRAL
Robbers strike in DC and SSP’s neighbourhood
Our Correspondent

Ghaziabad, July 2
Robbers decamped with a revolver, live cartridges, cash and jewellery from the residence of a doctor in Sector 14 in the posh Raj Nagar Colony here.

The thieves reportedly broke the padlock of the doctor’s house to gain access to the premises. The house is situated between the official residences of the District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police. The robbers had apparently no problem in walking away with the booty after completing their task at leisure.

Dr Aggarwal and family had reportedly gone on a pilgrimage to Uttaranchal on June 26. Having picked the lock of the main gate, the robbers barged in, broke open a steel safe and looted a licensed .32-bore revolver, five live cartridges, jewellery and cash. Then, they walked away without any eyebrows being raised in this high security zone under the Kavi Nagar police station.

The robbery was discovered yesterday when Dr Aggarwal’s family came back from Uttaranchal and found the house ransacked. A report has been lodged by Dr Aggarwal with the Kavi Nagar police who are investigating.

CISF constable commits suicide

New Delhi: A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) constable, posted at Gate No 9 in the CGO complex, committed suicide on Wednesday morning by shooting himself with his service rifle.

The deceased, Lokesh Vishwas (27), a resident of West Bengal, had joined the CISF in 1996 and was recently married. The incident came to light after fellow security personnel, who heard the gunshot, went to the spot and found Vishwas lying in a pool of blood. The police said that the incident could have occurred between 5 and 6 am.

No suicide note was found and the police said Vishwas had taken the extreme step due to depression caused by family problems. TNS

ENCOUNTER
Criminal behind ransom call to Koirala held
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, July 2
Two dreaded criminals, including one who had made a ransom call to actress Manisha Koirala, were injured in a shootout which lasted for one and a half hour near Bhatgaon village, about 15 km from here, yesterday.

The injured criminals were identified as Joginder of Barwasni village and Sunder of Sargathal village. The police have seized two countrymade pistols, one live cartridge and a stolen Maruti Zen car from their possession.

Joginder had demanded a ransom of Rs 22 lakh from Manisha Koirala. Sunder, on the other hand, was a student of class XI at Ramjas Senior Secondary School, Sonepat, until two years back.

Both the injured criminals managed to escape into a sugarcane field, but were captured by a police party led by Mr Paramjit Singh Ahlawat, Superintendent of Police. However, four other criminals, including Surinder alias Baba of Kurar village, Sunil of Bawana village and Krishan of Atta village in Panipat district, managed to escape.

Both the injured criminals were admitted to the local Civil Hospital. Cases under various sections of the IPC have been registered against them. A hunt is on to apprehend the others who managed to escape during the exchange of fire.

The arrested criminals, during the course interrogation, admitted to their involvement in the murder of Joginder, a police constable and resident of Sandal Khurd village, on May 28 last and a woman of Barwasni village in December last year.

The suspects, it is alleged, had also sent a threatening letter to Mr Satpal Bhagat, husband of the woman, in March this year, asking him not to give any evidence against them in the court.

Sonepat reels under marathon power cuts
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, July 2
May and June have been cruel months for residents of this city, owing to the acute power and water shortage. And July and August may prove to be worse. According to a report, a majority of the areas fed by the main feeder remained powerless for four hours yesterday. The power supply went off around 10 am and was restored around 2 pm. This caused considerable inconvenience to thousands of people. Officials of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) had failed to inform the consumers about the unscheduled power cut. Whenever the hapless residents contacted the complaint centres and made inquiries, the responses were rude and indifferent.

Since the feeders of tubewells are connected to the domestic feeders, the water supply to the city is automatically disrupted whenever there is a power breakdown.

The erratic power supply to the main waterworks at Murthal and the boosting stations have also aggravated the water problem.

As it is, there is water scarcity in HUDA sectors and in other Municipal Council areas. Those living on ground floors get water at extremely low pressure while those living on the first and second floors get just a trickle.

Again, the tubewells do not have diesel generators. They stop working whenever there is a power breakdown.

Unable to bear the sweltering heat in the humid weather, the residents of HUDA sectors have been protesting against the apathy of the administration and the local politicians by staging demonstrations almost daily.

Even hospitals are not spared. The indoor patients to have to sit in darkness till the power supply is restored. The diesel generating sets do not function and it is alleged that the fuel is sold in the black market. Then, there is the nuisance created by diesel generators. Whenever there is a power shutdown, the generators are switched on. They not only create vitiate the air, but also add to the noise pollution.

Traders protest against spate of robberies
Our Correspondent

Meerut, July 2
Hundreds of agitated traders today protested against the failure of the police and the administration to curb the increasing incidence of robberies and murders in and around the city.

The traders took out a huge procession and staged a dharna in front of the SSP’s office. They also blocked the traffic leading to the Commissioner’s and the Collector’s office.

Eight robberies in the last three months in the city have rattled the public. However, the police has failed to taken any action, alleged Mr Vinit Kumar Sharda, Mahanagar President of the BJP Vyapar Prakastha (Traders Cell).

Recently, three persons on a motorbike snatched Rs 7.35 lakh from an accountant of a Hero Honda showroom; in yet another incident, a trader was stabbed to death.

Mr Sharda also demanded the removal of SSP Meerut. The traders have threatened to disrupt the traffic after three days if the robbery and murder cases were not solved.

Matan Hail to be developed as model village
in Jhajjar district
Deepender

Jhajjar, July 2
In a bid to check the influx of people in urban areas, the Haryana Government is planning to develop residential sectors in villages with all modern facilities similar to the HUDA sectors in towns.

Mr P. C. Saini, District Town Planner, said that the district administration had chosen five villages in each blocks of the district. These villages are Matan Hail, Salawas, Jahajgarh, Badli and Jasaur Kheri. He said that at first, the plan would be implemented in one ‘model village’ in each district. Matan Hail has been selected from Jhajjar district and development of the other four villages would be taken up after the success of this project.

Mr Saini told the NCR Tribune that the project report of the sector to be developed in Matan Hail village was being finalised. The plans of developing model villages in each district would be submitted to the government by the district town planning offices. After the government cleared them, such sectors could be developed within six months.

The official sources told the NCR Tribune that it had not been decided whether the HUDA, or the Public Works Department or District Development and Panchayat Office would be given the task of undertaking the project. These sources said that sectors would be carved out on panchayat land in the village.

The sector is expected to spread on about 20 acres and the approximate value of the land would be Rs 500 per square yard. All modern facilities, including a shopping centre, bank, clinic, parks etc, would be provided for the residents here.

There are apprehensions about the project in people’s minds. Many residents view it as more of a political scheme, which has been mooted to strengthen the village vote bank of the ruling party. They maintain that if the INLD government is serious on the welfare of rural folks, it should explore and provide employment opportunities to the rural youths, who are straying on to wrong paths in frustration due to unemployment.

Mr Rajesh Dalal, a postgraduate unemployed of Jakhoda village, said that it would be better if the state government ensured adequate civic amenities like health services, water, electricity, pucca streets and transport facilities on the approach road in the village. He maintained the creation of separate sectors for better-off persons in villages would lead to the emergence of social stratification in the countryside too.

Gohana veterinary surgeon falls from roof, dies
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, July 2
Dr Ashok Kharab, a veterinary surgeon of the Gohana Veterinary Hospital, reportedly died on the spot when he fell down from the roof of a house in Guhna village in the wee hours today.

After a post-mortem in local civil hospital, his body has been handed over to his family members.

According to information, Dr Kharab had gone to attend the wedding of the son of an employee of his hospital at Guhna on Tuesday. He made a night halt in the village as the barat returned from Jhajjar late night.

During night, he was sleeping on the roof of the house. At around 3-00 am, he got up to ease himself, but as the roof was not having boundary walls, he fell down and was injured seriously.

The villagers took him to a private hospital at farmana village, but he reportedly succumbed to the injuries on the way. Dr Kharab belonged to Gumana village in Rohtak district.

Bail jumper commits suicide

One 22-year-old Teenu of Sarup Nagar in Delhi has reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself with a rope on a tree in the fields of village Shahpur near Sonepat last night. According to information, Teenu was a truck driver. About three year back, a youth was crushed under the wheels of his truck.

He was released on bail by the court at Sonepat.

However, he had not been appearing in the court for the last many months and hence was declared a bail-jumper. To seek fresh bail from the court, he had come to Shahpur village.

Early on Tuesday morning, he reportedly went to the fields and hanged himself with a rope. His body was seen in the evening by some of the villagers. The police have registered a case and body has been handed over to family members.

Youth attacked, robbed

Four unidentified armed gangsters are reported to have assaulted Mr Surinder of Hassanpur village with swords and injured him seriously while he was on the way to his village about 10 km from here yesterday. According to a report, the gangsters also snatched a mobile phone, a wristwatch and some cash from him before fleeing. The youth was immediately hospitalised and stated to be out of danger. The police have registered the case and launched a hunt for the culprits. The incident has caused a panic among the people of the village.

Two bodies recovered

The government Railway police recovered the bodies of two aged persons lying on the track near the railway crossing No. 27 and Ganaur railway station about 16 km from here yesterday.

According to a report, the bodies were sent for a post-mortem. These bodies remain unidentified.

Motorcyclist assaulted

A youth Raj Singh, going on his motorcycle, was assaulted with sharp-edged weapons by another youth Mangal Singh near Jhundpur village about 15 km from here yesterday.

According to a report, the alleged assailant also sustained injuries when the youth grappled with him. Both the youths were immediately hospitalised. The police are investigating the case. However, no arrest has been made in this connection.

A SPECIAL FOCUS ON PANIPAT
Unauthorised vehicles throw pollution norms
to the wind
Rakesh Bhardwaj

Panipat, July 2
Thanks to the indifferent attitude of the District Transport Office (DTO) and the Pollution Control Department, citizens of the district are forced to inhale polluted air and poisonous gases emitted by unauthorised and outdated vehicles plying on roads, including three-wheelers, maxicabs, trucks and tractor-trolleys. As a result, there has been an abnormal increase in lung ailments like cold, bronchitis, asthma and tuberculosis (TB).

The traffic police of the district, who confine themselves only to penalising two-wheelers, and the district administration are equally responsible for the hazard caused to public health.

According to available information, the district has a minimum of 1,200 three-wheelers of which more than 40 per cent are those banned by the Delhi Government from plying there for having completed 15 years on road. They were allegedly sold in Sonepat and Panipat districts at throwaway prices. It is alleged by some three-wheeler drivers have converted their engines into diesel engines. Moreover, they mix kerosene with diesel in a bid to cut cost, thereby making the vehicle emit Carbon Monoxide (CO), which is known to be very harmful. As they overload the vehicles, the emissions are the maximum.

The same is the case with maxicabs, which are mostly operating without permits and without observing any traffic rules. Be it the Sanoli road, Gohana road or Assandh road, overloaded maxicabs and autorickshaws are a common sight. Drivers along with their helpers can be seen negotiating with the passengers for rooftop and inner seats.

Another source of traffic hazard and pollution is tractor-trolleys, which are estimated to be around 1,200 in number. It is strange that most of these tractor-trolleys are without any numberplates. Though they are supposed to be used for agriculture purposes, operators of these vehicles are least bothered about their area of operation, They can be seen moving about in the city, working for export houses, transporting commercial goods to the railway station and flouting traffic rules, creating huge traffic jams.

The DTO does not appear to have taken any initiative to enforce pollution control measures on these unauthorised vehicles. If the department checks them at regular intervals, pollution in the city would have been reduced.

Asked to comment on the issue, DTO Ram Kumar Beniwal told the NCR Tribune that he and his staff are checking them. He confirmed that 15 to 20 buses were operating without permits on the Sanoli road earlier. He claimed that it was he who had taken the initiative and challaned them. With these buses going off the road, there is added rush resulting in maxicabs overloading with passengers on the Sanoli road.

But why doesn’t he challan them for overloading? He claimed that two challans are being issued for overloading on an average in a month. What else he could do, he asked.

A scooter owner, Mahender Sharma, alleged that the officials are busy filling their own pockets rather than increasing the revenue of the government. He alleged that both the DTO and the traffic police are working for their own benefit and whosoever can pay Rs 100 can move about in the town freely without a helmet, registration certificate or pollution under control certificate.

In fact, driving a vehicle without the RC could invite a penalty of Rs 2, 000 to Rs 5, 000 and without helmet Rs 100 to Rs 300. The penalty for the first offence of having no pollution certificate will be Rs 1,000, the DTO said.

It is another matter that people manage to ply their vehicles without any of these certificates. As a result, pollution in the city is on the rise and with it, the number of patients with lung troubles. It is reported that that every fourth person of the city is afflicted with respiratory diseases.

Parties dub Rs 20 hike in MSP of paddy a joke
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, July 2
The leaders of various political parties and farmers’ organisations have criticised the central government for announcing an increase of only Rs 20 per quintal in the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy for this season. They termed it as non-remunerative and a joke on the farmers.

The general secretary of the Haryana Vikas Party, Mr Rajiv Jain, said today that the central government had played a trick by merging the last year’s drought relief of Rs 20 per quintal with the MSP of this procurement season. “In fact, the increase is zero as paddy was procured last year at the same MSP of Rs 550 for general variety and Rs 580 per quintal for grade A variety,” he added.

Mr Jain assailed the INLD government led by Mr Om Prakash Chautala for not raising its voice in support of the farmers for higher remunerative prices for paddy. He remarked that instead of pleading with the Centre, the state government had increased the prices of fertilisers by imposing VAT and other taxes.

A Bharatiya Kisan Union leader, Braham Singh, said: “The hike is an anti-farmer step of the anti-farmer governments at the Centre and in the state. The BJP-led government at the Centre is not interested in safeguarding the interests of the farming community and its all measures are aimed to benefit the business communities at the behest of multinational companies and capitalists.” He threatened that the BKU would protest against the “anti-farmer” policies of the Centre. He demanded that the government must reconsider the increase in MSP.

A Rashtriya Lok Dal leader, Tara Chand Mor, said there had been an increase in the prices of fertilisers, other agriculture inputs like diesel, electricity, insecticides, pesticides, seeds etc this year. But the government has not taken into account this while fixing the MSP for this season. He demanded the MSP should not be less than Rs 600 per quintal for common variety and at least Rs 650 for A grade varieties.

Rs 2.75 cr sanctioned for prawn cultivation
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, July 2
The Haryana Fisheries Department has introduced a pilot project for the cultivation of prawn in fresh water in an area of 100 hectares so as to provide an opportunity to the fish farmers in the state to enhance their income.

According to a report, the Central Government has sanctioned a grant of Rs 2.75 crore for the implementation of the scheme. Prawn was being cultivated in saline water in the areas adjacent to the sea where it was being produced at a rate of 1,000 kg per hectare in about six to seven months.

At least 26.79 lakh seeds of prawn had already been produced from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and sown by the farmers of Haryana during this year. The farmers were being given subsidy ranging from 50 per cent to 100 per cent under the scheme for the development of fish ponds, seed and feed, training and study tour.

As many as 82 fish farmers and officers of the Fisheries Department had already been on a study tour to Andhra Pradesh. Arrangements would also be made to provide loans to the farmers through banks to enable them develop their fish ponds.

The Central agencies were also guiding the farmers in cultivation of prawn. Steps were being taken by the Fisheries Department to enable the fish farmers achieve the production target of 1,000 kg per hectares. The farmers were also being encouraged to take up the farming of prawn in saline water and marshy areas.

NCR BRIEFS
Widow’s body found in well
Our Correspondents

Jhajjar, July 2
The body of about 27-year-old widow was reportedly recovered from a well in Bamnoli village of the district yesterday. The police have registered a case of murder and started investigation.

The police sources said that the deceased, identified as Reeta, a mother of four, was reportedly thrown in the well after the killing. Her hands and legs were found tied with ropes. The police said that the village chowkidar Ramphal found the body in the morning while going to the fields outside the village.

The chowkidar told the villagers about a floating body in the well. It was identified as that of Reeta, whose husband Balkishan had died about one and a half years ago.

The villagers said that after the death of her husband, she was not in good terms with the family members and they often quarrelled.

However, her body was sent for a post-mortem at PGIMS Rohtak.

Woman set on fire

Rohtak: A woman was set ablaze allegedly by her in-laws at Balambha village today. The deceased identified as Sudesh was married to Sukhbir at Ritauli village in 1995. The police have registered a case under Section 306 of the IPC against the in-laws of the victim.

Youth found dead

A youth was found dead in his PCO at Ekta Colony here last night. According to information, Sonu (25) had been running a PCO at Ekta Colony. He was found dead by some of his family members when they reached the PCO after waiting for him late in the evening.

A bottle of liquor was lying beside him and blood oozing out of his mouth. The relatives of the deceased alleged that the youth had been killed while the police tried to hush up the case. No FIR has so far been registered in this regard so far.

MCF gives tubewells to pvt firm

Faridabad: As a part of the ongoing `privatisation’, the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) handed over 60 more tubewells to a private company for operation on contract basis. These include 28 tubewells in Ballabgarh and 32 in Old Faridabad.

The number of tubewells handed over to private hands has reached 180 so far. There are 405 tubewells in the town. The programme held here last evening was launched by the State Minister of Civic Bodies, Mr Subhash Goyal.

NHPC Director

Mr S K Garg has taken over as Director (Finance) of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). He was earlier Executive Director (Finance) of the Indian Oil Corporation. The NHPC has its National Headquarters here.

MAF meet on July 5

The annual general meeting of the Manufacturers Association Faridabad (MAF) will be held at the Hotel Hill View at Surajkund here on July 5. According to Mr Navdeep Chawla, president of the MAF, the association office-bearers’ directory would be released and several awards will also be presented. TNS

DELHI DIGEST
Nomination for Speaker’s post to be filed today
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 2
Nomination for the post of Speaker will be filed tomorrow when the Delhi Legislative Assembly meets for a day-long special session.

The session was necessitated on account of Prem Singh’s resignation from the post last month.

Prem Singh, who had been Speaker of the Assembly for the last four odd years, resigned after he was told to lead the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC). Subhash Chopra, whom Prem Singh replaced, is the likely contender for Speaker’s post.

Chopra’s nomination is expected to pass muster since the Indian National Congress (INC) has the majority in the House.

His nomination is not likely to face opposition although moves are afoot to offer a symbolic fight for the post of Speaker.

The name of two-time legislator Ram Bhaj is doing the rounds for a possible contest. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claims that the INC made no attempts to forge a consensus and propped up Subhash Chopra’s name without consulting the Opposition.

Subhash Chopra represents the Kalkaji constituency in the Assembly.

Udyog Shiromani Award

Mr Ashok Jain, Managing Director, Bharat Industries, has bagged the Udyog Shiromani Award for year 2003 for excellence.

The award has been instituted by the Institute of Economic Studies.

Mr Jain, a mechanical engineer, has developed a fuel-saving device for automobiles, a solar car battery charger and twisted rust-proof spiral type iron pipes for home decoration.

The award to Mr Ashok Jain was presented by Mr Bhisham Narain Singh, former Governor, Andhra Pradesh at a function held in New Delhi recently.

Insurance branch opened

A new branch of the National Insurance Company was inaugurated by the Additional General Manager, Dr RK Kaul, at Scope Tower in Laxminagar district centre. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kaul said that their regional office in association with the Delhi Government was working on an action plan to cover all government officials under the health insurance policies and it is expected that the similar scheme will be initiated in all the states.

He said that during the financial year 2002-3, company has grown by an unprecedented

LLB result

The result of LLB Entrance Examination 2003 conducted by the Delhi University has been announced. The results will be put up at the Faculty of Law and will also be available at the website

Decomposed body

A decomposed body was recovered from a drain near Dayal Singh College in South district this evening.

There was no injury mark on his body. The body has been sent for a post-mortem in the AIIMs to establish the cause of death, police said.

Antyodya Ann beneficiaries
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, July 2
The authorities will identify about 4,000 more families to be included under the category of ‘very poor’ in the list of ‘Antyodya Ann Yojna’ of the Union Government. As many as 8,832 families have already been included in the list.

Such families are given around 35 kgs of wheat at Rs 2 per kg, per month against their ration card.

With the government deciding to increase the percentage of such families under the scheme, from 15.3 per cent to 23, more such families are required to be identified and included in the list.

According to information, fresh survey will be done only in the rural areas as the authorities said that such families have already been identified in urban areas.

President of the Janata Dal (U), Haryana, Mr Ved Prakash Vidrohi, however, alleged that the identification of ‘poor families’ had been done in a discriminatory manner.

Second language status to Punjabi hailed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 2
The Punjabi Sikh Naujawan Manch, in its meeting chaired by Jathedar Karan Singh, today welcomed the decision of the Delhi Government to grant the second language status to Punjabi in Delhi.

The ‘Manch’ gave the credit to Ms Sheila Dikshit and Mr Madan Lal Khurana. Over 80 per cent people in Delhi understand and speak Punjabi, said Jathedar Karan Singh. He said that differences among people and communities could be solved only by promoting feelings of brotherhood.

Mr Raja Singh Sethi, president of Shiromani Gurudwara Sewadar Committee, requested the Delhi government to write the names of bus stops, railway stations, courts, bus terminals, schools and colleges in Punjabi all over Delhi.

Venture into risky research, young scientists told
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 2
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Director R A Mashelkar today urged the budding scientists to venture into new and risky research instead of limiting themselves to routine science.

Speaking at the eighth annual Prof. G Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture here today, he said, “In science, only those are remembered who say either the first word or the last word. Whereas standard science management practices tend to avoid conflicts. Such people create conflicts. India has not done it often enough. Why? Because, among other things, we have not dared, risked, gambled or deliberately funded risky research.”

Dr Mashelkar emphasised that young scientists should challenge the assumptions continuously and refrain from a prejudiced and preset mind. “Nothing is final. Strive for creating something better than the best. Indeed risk-taking must become a part of the national innovation policy,” he added.

Calling for promoting a certain amount of “irreverence” in Indian science, he said the difficulty with science was not with the new ideas but in escaping the old ones. To create extra space for risk-taking, it was essential that changes were brought in personal attitudes and funding patterns while respecting the occasional mavericks and rewarding risk- takers.

He said this would add to the joy of doing science and then only, “will Indian science make that difference, that much-awaited difference ”.

Haryana Govt plans to generate power from garbage

Sonepat, July 2
The Haryana Government has drawn up a comprehensive scheme to generate power from garbage to overcome the power crisis in the state. According to a report, 792 MW of additional power was generated during the present tenure of the INLD government, whereas only 118 MW of additional power was generated when the Congress was in power and 199 MW of additional power during the Haryana Vikas Party’s tenure.

The state government has also launched a number of water conservation schemes in the flood-prone areas so as to conserve rain water for irrigation purpose and protect the area from floods, it is claimed. OC

CRIME

Three held for pulling wool over the jewellers’ eyes
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 2
Three persons who posed themselves as exporters of gold and diamond jewellery and cheated many jewellers in Delhi were apprehended by the Crime Branch. The sleuths have recovered gold and diamond ornaments which include 29 diamond rings, 25 carat diamond pieces, melted gold weighing 150 grams and electronic weighing machine.

The accused Vikram Bhatnagar (35), resident of Mayapuri, Satpal Sharma (38), from Jammu and Manoj Solanki (23), resident of Nasirpur had cheated many jewellers in Delhi by asking them to bring jewellery to their office and then later vanish with the same. Three cases reported from Patel Nagar, Janak Puri and Rajinder Nagar have been worked out.

The police received a complaint from a jeweller that some persons posing themselves as exporters cheated him to the tune of Rs 18 lakh worth of gold ornaments. The police while investigating the case came to know about another case using similar modus operandi.

Gang of dacoits held

The East district police today claimed to have nabbed a gang of dacoits belonging to ‘Sumesh Pal Gang’, involved in several cases of dacoity, robbery and attempt to murder in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Two countrymade weapons, two knives and four live cartridges were recovered from their possession.

The accused Sumesh Pal (28), resident of Shahdara, Lokesh (21), Shekar (20) and Rakesh (23), all residents of Ghaziabad were arrested by the special staff while they were near ISBT Anand Vihar to commit dacoity in a petrol pump.

BUSINESS

Haryana Vyapar Manch seeks VAT removal
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 2
A delegation of Haryana Vyapar Manch submitted a memorandum to the Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister, Mr Sharad Yadav, demanding the scrapping of Value Added Tax (VAT) in Haryana.

The president of the manch, Mr Sanjay Sethi, informed the minister when they called on him on Monday that due to the implementation of this tax in Haryana region, the consumer items had become costlier by 15 per cent to 35 per cent. Several items had been brought under the tax net. Thus, the traders were bound to hike the prices and ultimately the consumers would suffer, he said. In rural areas, there was confusion regarding this tax.

It was introduced in Haryana area in April and in a short span, it had hampered the overall business of the state, he said. It was amazing that in the whole country, it had been implemented only in Haryana. In the absence of other option, merchants and traders of this state had started buying consumer items from other states. Keeping the interest of merchants and consumers in mind, a new tax policy should be introduced in lieu of VAT, Mr Sethi demanded.

He said that state-wide bandh organised by the Haryana VAT Sangharsh Samiti today was to oppose this tax and for the introduction of a more consumer and merchant-friendly tax policy. VAT was not in the interest of merchants and consumers. Even Finance Minister Jaswant Singh had said in Parliament that this policy should be implemented uniformly in all states.