Senior citizens slain in bed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11
The West district police are hunting for a Nepali servant who is the prime suspect in the murder of an old couple at their residence in Janak Puri this morning. This incident has highlighted yet again the vulnerability of senior citizens living alone in the Capital.

The deceased, a retired bank official, Dharamjeet Singh Mongia (70), and his 65-year-old retired education officer wife, Santosh Mongia, were found stabbed to death in their house. They had stab injuries on their necks, the police said.

According to the police, the double murder was discovered by their part-time maid when she came for work at around 8.30 am. The couple had no children and lived alone. They had a full-time servant from Nepal, Deepak, who used to do household work.

The police suspect the involvement of Deepak as he has been missing since morning. However, the police do not have the address of the servant. His verification was not done even after repeated pleas of the residents of the area.

The police said that since there was nobody in the house to tell what was missing, it was difficult to ascertain the loss. However, the police suspect robbery to be the motive behind the crime.

Seeing the condition of the house, the police believe that the couple were murdered early morning and some valuables and cash had been stolen.

The couple were found in their bed. Their bedsheets were lying in a pool of blood. There were bloodstains on the floor also.

The police have constituted a special team to trace the suspect. A list of Nepali servants and others, working in the locality, has been made. A few of them have also been questioned to find out the whereabouts of the suspect.

The police are trying to find out whether someone other than the servant came to the house in the morning.

Murder of guard solved

Noida: The police claim to have arrested two accused in connection with the murder of a guard and theft of goods worth a lakh from a factory in Sector 6. The Sector-20 police also claimed to have recovered from the accused the goods stolen, along with some other goods stolen earlier. The police said they had been able to get full details of the dacoity in Sector-6 with the arrest of the accused.

The accused have confessed to the murder. They also took the police team to the place where they had hidden the stolen goods and machines. The vehicle in which they had transported the looted goods has been impounded.

Shailender, one of the accused, was an employee of another garment factory in Sector-6; the plot was hatched by his brother and other accomplices. OC

legal corner
HC nod to rehabilitation of Yamuna slum dwellers
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11
Paving the way for removal of unauthorised settlements on the banks of the Yamuna in the city, the Delhi High Court today asked the authorities to go ahead with the implementation of the rehabilitation scheme, envisaging the simultaneous eviction and allotment for those affected.

Vacating the stay on the implementation of the scheme, a Bench comprising Chief Justice B C Patel and Justice B D Ahmed, directed the authorities to carry out the rehabilitation strictly in tune with the scheme, keeping the commercial settlements of the jhuggi cluster out of its ambit.

The court directed the civic authorities to ensure basic amenities like drinking water, sewerage system, electricity, schools and hospitals before providing an alternative site to the jhuggi dwellers.

An undertaking in this regard was taken by the Centre. Solicitor General Kirit Raval placed before the court a short affidavit on the issue.

A single Bench, in its February 5 order, had directed the authorities to maintain status quo on the implementation of the scheme after six petitioners from Sanjay Amar Colony of Yamuna Pushta had approached it, alleging discrimination by the officials in issuing ‘Allotment Slip’ for the resettlement colonies and failure to provide basic amenities at the new site.

Disposing of the petitions, the court directed the Slum and J J Department of the MCD to provide alternative accommodation to the six petitioners temporarily till their grievances were looked into. The court asked the petitioners to approach the Additional Commissioner of the department with documents for redressal of their problems.

Placement agency to pay for poor service: A consumer court has directed a placement agency in the Capital to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation for rendering deficient services and causing inconvenience to a client by not providing a servant despite having taken a commission for the work.

North District Consumer Forum directed M/s R K Helpline, a registered agency under the Delhi government, to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation besides returning the commission and litigation costs amounting to Rs 3,200 to P M Gupta.

The agency had taken a commission of Rs 2,500 from Mr Gupta on March 2, 2003 for providing a maid for household work and promised a regular service for one year.

However, the maid sent by the agency left without intimation within a week on March 8 and even stole Rs 3,000 from the house. The agency, thereafter, provided a replacement on March 12, but withdrew her two days later without assigning any reason.

The complainant alleged that the agency had promised to return the commission, but they had neither provided a replacement since March 14 last year nor returned the amount accepted as commission.

In the absence of any representative of the agency, which did not respond to the forum’s notice, the forum passed an ex parte order in their absence. 

DPCC decries razing of JJ clusters 
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Ch Prem Singh today condemned the demolition of the JJ clusters in Safdarjung Enclave, near Kamal Cinema, by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

Ch. Prem Singh said the BJP-led Government was selectively targeting the Congress support base in view of the Lok Sabha elections.

He said the jhuggi dwellers were being uprooted and banished to the remote corners of Delhi where even the basic facilities were lacking.

The DPCC president, who rushed to Safdarjung Enclave on hearing of the demolition drive, condemned the police action against the jhuggi dwellers who were teargassed and lathi-charged when they resisted the move.

Ch. Prem Singh took up the matter with the DDA and the police authorities and pleaded with them not to demolish the clusters at least till March 31, when the school exams would be over as the children of the clusters attend the neighbouring schools. But the DDA and the police officials went ahead and drove the bulldozer over the clusters.

Ch. Prem Singh said the JJ clusters at Safdarjung Enclave were more than 20 years old and the dwellers possessed ration cards and their names were in the voters’ list as well.

He said those thrown out of the JJ clusters were being offered tiny plots in the far-flung areas where even the basic facilities like electricity, water, roads, schools, hospitals, markets and bus service were lacking.

He demanded that each jhuggi dweller should be given a plot measuring not less than 25-gaj, as was done during the Congress regime.

Ch. Prem Singh said if the campaign was not stopped forthwith, the Congress would resort to dharnas and chakka-jams.

city scare
SI among two injured in blast near IIT flyover
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11
Two persons, including a sub-inspector were injured in a bomb explosion occurred near IIT flyover in South Delhi this evening. The injured were identified as Suleman, Sub-Inspector posted at Rashtrapati Bhawan and Gopal Singh, a pedestrian. They were admitted to a hospital by a police Control Room van. The sub-inspector was going home after doing his duty, Deputy Commissioner of Police Deepender Pathak said.

He said that the blast was of low intensity explosive device, which exploded at 6.45 pm, peak traffic hour. Two cars, Zen and Santro, DTC bus and a scooter of the sub-inspector were damaged in the blast. There was a small crater on the explosion site. The explosion took place a few feet ahead of the Zen car. The Santro car was in front of the Zen and the DTC bus was adjacent to the Santro car. Window screen of both the cars and bus were damaged. However, drivers of the car escaped unhurt.

The DCP said that the actual nature of the explosive would be confirmed after the report of forensic experts. The experts gathered splinters from the spot to examine in the laboratory.

The DCP did not rule out the involvement of militant organisation in the explosion, saying that it was too early to name any outfit in the blast. This is a matter of investigation and he assured that the culprit would be arrested soon, he said.

He said that such type of explosions occurred earlier also in the Capital and the suspects were arrested.

Joginder Attri, owner of the Zen car, who was one of the eyewitnesses, said he saw one red colour object in front of his car. By the time he stopped the car, it exploded and splinters hit the windscreen of the car. There was no one on the road. It was low intensity explosion. Just after the explosion, the traffic was stopped and the police posted near the IIT flyover reached there and the entire area was cordoned off.

The police said that the car owners were made to sit in the bus where they were reportedly questioned. Identity of the Santro car owner could not be confirmed, the police said.

RWAs allowed to help in enlisting eligible voters
Abhay Jain

Gurgaon, February 11
Enlarging the role of resident welfare associations in the election process, the Election Commission has empowered the associations to authenticate the residents of their localities and help them get their voter I-card. According to People’s Action, a leading NGO, more than one lakh voters are still be enrolled in Gurgaon city constituency.

The convenor of the NGO told press persons that the Election Office has authorized them to assist it in filling up form no 6 for registration of eligible voters and form no 8 for carrying out corrections. People’s Action, with the help of more than 50 resident welfare associations, has started distributing forms to the residents in their respective localities. The last date for depositing the forms is February 16 and that is why we are using different modes to distribute the forms, disclosed the convenor Inder Nath.

The office bearers of the welfare associations will approve these forms and residents are not expected to file any affidavit. In the conventional system, the residents have to give an affidavit to establish their bona fides.

Now, the residents have to just fill up Form No. 6 and attach a photocopy of the ration card/passport/telephone or electricity bill, said Col Rattan Singh, the coordinator of the voter registration drive.

SHO faces attempted rape probe

Meerut: In a shocking case, a guardian of the law allegedly turned into a law-breaker and attempted to rape a woman inside her house. The SSP Meerut has ordered an enquiry into the allegations against the SHO, Medical Police Station. A gazetted officer of the rank of Dy SP, would conduct the probe.

The matter has reached the senior government officials at Lucknow. Several local political, social and women organisations have made representations to the police officials, demanding the immediate suspension of the SHO, P P Singh.

According to sources, the victim made a representation to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Meerut, Mr Badri Prasad Singh, complaining that on February 2, she went to the District Jail, Meerut, to meet her husband who was lodged there. Once inside the jail premises, the SHO allegedly threatened her that she should not support her husband, or else she would face dire consequences.

Again on February 7, the SHO allegedly reached her house in a white Maruti car and entered the house on the pretext of interrogating her.

Suddenly, the SHO locked the house from inside and tried to rape her, it is alleged. He fled when the woman raised a hue and cry. She received injuries while trying to repulse his advances.

She also alleged in front of some journalists that the SHO snatched her mobile phone and threatened her of dire consequences, if she dared to tell anybody about the incident.

Meanwhile, considerable panic has gripped the police and the administration departments and senior police officials have started a damage-control exercise. OC

Tainted DU teacher barred from exam work
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11
Following accusations that there has been no timely action against a teacher who failed to conduct examinations in a fair manner, the Delhi University Vice-Chancellor is reported to have announced that the teacher in question has been debarred from all examination work till the enquiry against her is completed.

In the meeting of the Executive Council (EC) here last evening, the Vice-Chancellor pointed out that the rules for appointing examination superintendents for correspondence courses have also been changed after the incident.

Prof. Deepak Nayyar was recently accused of “hushing up a major examination scandal”. The allegation was made following the university’s failure to ‘take action’ over a complaint filed by the flying squad in November last year pertaining to the irregularities during the examinations.

The flying squad had reported that instead of two invigilators in one room, there was just one invigilator for four rooms at a centre where the examinations were being conducted for the correspondence students. The university is yet to present its report of the committee set up to examine the complaint.

Meanwhile, the EC accepted the recommendations of the enquiry committee on Shyam Lal College and authorised the Vice-Chancellor to expand the college governing body by inducting additional nominees of the university.

The committee has also held the college responsible for not filling up the post of principal and teachers on permanent basis.

The meeting accepted the recommendations of the Academic Council on the revision of courses in M.Com., MIB, MHROD of the Department of Commerce, B.Sc. Hons in Botany and B.Sc. Pass Home Science. 

HVP promises to slash electricity charge
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, February 11
The Haryana Vikas Party (HVP), if comes into power after the Assembly elections, would introduce the flat rate on electricity bills for tubewells and electricity charges would be reduced in the domestic sector.

This assurance was made to the people by Mr Rajiv Jain, general secretary of the state unit of the party while touring the urban and rural areas of the district to mobilise the people for February 29 next at Jind.

Lashing out at the Chautala government for heavily taxing the business community in the state, he also said that Form ST-38 would also be removed, residential houses would be exempted from the house tax and the “Bhatti Tax” on halwais would be abolished. He also promised that the HVP if voted to power, would ensure round the clock power supply, exempt the self-occupied houses from the purview of the house tax and provide unemployment allowance to the educated jobless youths in the state.

Mr Jain lambasted the Chautala government for the deterioration in the law and order situation in the state and announced that there would not be any place for the criminals in the state. Such anti-social elements will not have any place in the state to vitiate the peace during the Bansi Lal’s regime.

He also criticised the Chautala government for creating problems for the maxi-cab operators alleging that these vehicles were indiscriminately used by the INLD in their rallies in other states without paying any fare. Many of them were challaned in Rajasthan and fined up to Rs 35,000 by the Rajasthan authorities for plying illegally, he said.

Welcoming the snapping of alliance between the INLD and BJP in Haryana, the HVP leader said though it was too late decision, but it would prove beneficial for the people of the state.

He said that the people of the state were fed up with Chautala government and they were waiting for the Assembly elections to teach Mr Chautala a lesson for adopting anti-people attitude. 

Anti-encroachment drive fails to have lasting effect
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, February 11
The anti-encroachment campaign launched by the district administration here has failed to have any lasting effect. The municipal and HUDA land, which had earlier been vacated, has been occupied once again. Encroachment and grabbing of land has led to traffic hazards apart from regular traffic jams on the city roads.

In effect, most of the roads in the city have been encroached upon. Residents in Model Town, eight-marla colony and Ashok Nagar (kutche quarters) areas and HUDA Sectors 14 and 15 have encroached upon public land and built private lawns in front of their houses.

Obviously, it has resulted in narrowing of roads, obstructing the free flow of traffic. The shopkeepers in the Button factory area have encroached upon the land meant for park. Repeated complaints made by the residents have made no difference in the attitude of the authorities concerned.

Even the embankments on the drain No. 6, passing through the city, has been encroached upon by the people, who have constructed pucca houses and structures.

The district authorities have also failed to take any action against these people. Similarly, most of the footpaths in the mandi and other areas of the city have been reoccupied by the shopkeepers, though the authorities had got it vacated after stiff resistance.

The orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court banning commercial activities in the residential houses of Sectors 14 and 15 have not been implemented by the HUDA authorities. 

Noida connectivity set to improve
Parmindar Singh

Noida, February 11
The Noida town is slated to undergo a revolutionary change in next two years. The route of Metro rail passing through Noida has also been given a clearance. Besides, a third route will connect Noida with Greater Noida and a bridge on the Hindon river in Sector-123 near Pathla Kanjarpur will connect Noida with Greater Noida. This will be linked with highway connecting Greater Noida. The possibility is that Metro rail link to Greater Noida will pass through this highway.

This was revealed by the CEO-cum-Chairman of Noida Authority, Mr Vinode Malhotra, here.

According to informed sources, the blueprint of the survey commissioned in November 2003, has been reviewed by the chairman entailing a total distance of 6.5 km from Trilokpuri to Noida. The Metro rail route comes along the canal from across Dharmshila Cancer Hospital and touches Noida in Sector-1 through New Ashok Nagar. From there, it was to take Vijayant Thapar Marg, reach Sector-32 via DND Road between Sector 27-28 and the police post in Sector-18 and Nithari village in Sector-31.

But from this route a lot many shops in Atta would have to be demolished, besides highly valuable land from Ashok Marg to Shivalika Apartments in Sector-32, was also to be used.

But now, the Metro route will take a turn from Sector-37 crossing instead of Atta Sector-27 and pass just opposite Golf Course on Capt Shashi Kant Marg and reach City Centre in Sector-32 via Government College. As per Noida Authority plan, a metro terminal was to be constructed in Sector-78.

Different views of Noidaites are also having a bearing on the whole issue. The Chief Architect and Town Planner of Noida Authority said that NCR Planning Board had estimated Noida’s population by 2021 to be 12 lakhs, while Noida Authority’s estimates peg it at 21 lakh. Rites had taken it to be 15 lakh in their planning.

The revised and amended report on this project will be made available by next month (March 2004) by Rites and by September 2005, work on this project is expected to be taken in hand by which time phase I work of Metro rail in New Delhi would have been completed.This project will have to be completed before the Commonwealth Games by 2009.

Lt-Gen Bhardwaj takes over as DGAFMS
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11
Lt-Gen J.R.Bhardwaj has assumed the appointment of Director General Armed Forces Medical Services and Senior Colonel Commandant as head of three medical service. He was commissioned in the Army Medical Corps on June 1, 1965. He takes over from Lt-Gen B. N. Shahi, who has retired. A recipient of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal, Lt-Gen Bhardwaj is also Honorary Surgeon to the President of India.

A graduate of Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, he obtained his diploma in clinical pathology and MD in Pathology from Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune.

He did his advanced training in Histopathology and Ph.D in Neuropathology from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh (PGIMER).

A renowned Neuropathologist and a postgraduate teacher, he has held many prestigious appointments including Professor and Head of Department of Pathology AFMC, Pune, Senior Advisor and Head of Department of Pathology at Army Hospital (Research and Referral), Delhi Cantt, Additional DGAFMS and Director General Hospital Services (Armed Forces) at Ministry of Defence, New Delhi.

ncr briefs
Smuggled goods worth Rs 16 lakh seized 
Our Correspondents

Noida, February 11
Foreign textile worth Rs16 lakh, which was being smuggled into Noida via Kalindi Kunj without paying the trade tax, was confiscated by the mobile team of the Trade Tax Department. According to department sources, a trade tax of Rs.2 lakh was payable on this consignment.

All entry points from Delhi are being patrolled by mobile trade tax teams under a special campaign to check smuggled consignments.

When the trade tax teams stopped the vehicle (No.HR-38-H 8611) coming from Delhi side loaded with foreign clothes at Kalindi Kunj, the driver did not have the necessary documents. A trade tax of Rs.2 lakh was recovered from the trader.

The Joint Commissioner, Mr S. S. Sinha has emphasised the need to make this campaign more effective by keeping an eye on unconventional routes and entry points.

Children awarded

Charu Joshi has bagged the President’s Award for creative performance in Kathak dance for the year 2002-03. Charu is confident that this award will spur her to perform better in the in future.

While Charu Joshi, a student of XI class in Army Public School, has been specially drawn to arts and culture, she has won many awards at school level also. Apart from being an excellent dancer, she is a good tabla player and a talented vocal singer also. Sumeer Thukral, a resident of Sector-19, has bagged the ‘Rashtriya Bal Shri Award’ for the year 2002.

Youth shoots two after altercation

Sonepat: A youth, identified as Narinder (18), and his uncle, Balbir, sustained bullet injuries when they were shot at with a gun by one Sunil at Busana village, about 50 km from here yesterday. According to a report, the shooting incident took place after Sunil was struck by a cricket ball while he was passing by in the village.

It is stated that Sunil was not satisfied with the apology offered by Narinder and his associate. After an altercation at the spot, Sunil brought out a gun from his house and fired at Narinder. In anger Sunil went to the house of Narinder and informed his family members that he had shot Narinder. When Narinder’s uncle, Balbir, rushing towards Sunil, he too was shot at by the culprit.

Both the injured persons were rushed to the PGIMS at Rohtak for further treatment and are stated to be in serious condition.

The incident has caused panic among the residents of the village. The police have registered the case in this connection and further investigations were in progress. However, the alleged assailant is absconding and a hunt is on to apprehend him.

Theft committed

Thieves reportedly stole a variety of goods worth several thousands of rupees from a shop near the OBC Bank at Kharkhauda town, 19 km from here last night. According to a report, the stolen property included a coloured TV, some cash and other valuable goods. The owner of the shop has lodged a complaint with the police and further investigations were in progress. This incident has caused panic among the shopkeepers and residents of the town.

Body found

The body of a youth, identified as Vinod (20), was found hanging in his house at Khewra village, about 13 km from here last evening.

According to a report, the police believe it to be a case of suicide and have sent the body for the postmortem examination. Further investigations were in progress.

Delhi digest 
New Delhi World Book Fair from Feb 14
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11
The 16th New Delhi World Book Fair, the largest book event in the Afro-Asian region, would begin in the national Capital from this weekend and would see 1,205 participants from over 17 countries exhibiting their latest titles here.

The nine-day fair, to be held in the Capital from February 14, would not only serve as a window to the world of books but also focus at India’s contribution to the rich heritage of humankind and world civilisation, National Book Trust Chairman B K Sharma told mediapersons here today. “The World Book Fair is not just a showcase of books alone. It opens up innumerable avenues for stimulating our mind, a platform where serious issues of common concern are deliberated. Ideas that shape our future and world discussed,” Sharma said.

Illustrating the theme of 16th World Book Fair, “India’s Contribution to World Civilisation in the Field of Science and Technology,” he said an exclusive pavilion displaying books in all Indian languages and audio-visual materials based on it would be the special highlight of the fair.

A two-day international seminar on ‘Civilisation interfaces and the Contemporary Global Context: An Indian Perspective’ has been organised as a part of the fair, which would see the participation of eminent speakers like D P Chattopadhyaya, Chandan Mitra, Subhash Kak, S Gurumurthy and several others, he said.

Prohibitory orders: The Delhi Police will ban loudspeakers, gatherings and slogan-shouting near examination centres ahead of the March 1 CBSE examinations. Police Commissioner KK Paul today issued the order banning carrying of arms and explosives, stones, placards and banners within 200 metres of the examination centres. The prohibitory orders will be effective from February 29 till March 13. Processions and gathering of people near the examination centres are also prohibited. The use of loudspeakers will not be allowed within one kilometre of the examination centres. The CBSE examinations begin March 1.

SYL canal protest 

Sonepat: Large number of workers affiliated to the ‘Nehri Pani Lao Sangharsh Samiti’ and the ‘All India Krishak Khet Mazdoor Sangthen’ took out a procession here yesterday in protest against the non-completion of the SYL canal in Punjab and the non acceptance of number of long-standing demands by the state government.

CRIME

Woman throws kids into canal
Our Correspondent

Jhajjar, February 11
In a bizarre incident, a 30-year-old woman took the life of her two children by throwing them in a canal in Bisan village of the district. The District Police Chief, Mr H. S. Doon, told a press conference today that Kamla, wife of Ram Kishan, a CRPF Jawan, has reported to the Beri police station that her two children Amit (7) and Anju (9) disappeared when they had gone to their grandfather’s room for sleeping on February 5.

The SP said that the blind case of missing children was cracked on Tuesday, when the police interrogated Kamla at her house. During interrogation, she confessed to have thrown the children to Deam in Jawaharlal Nehru Canal near Beri village. She admitted that she took them to Beri on February 4, and thrown them in the flowing canal.

The mother revealed that the children were born from his neighbour Ranbir (50), with whom she had an illicit relationship right from her marriage. She also confessed that she was illiterate and married to Ramkaran at the tender age of 13. Ranbir, his lover, was the middleman in her marriage with Ramkaran.

She revealed that Ranbir forcibly started having physical relationship with her. Consequently, she became the mother of two children. Whenever she got pregnant from her husband, Ranbir forced her to undergo an abortion, she said.

Eventually, her relations with Ranbir turned sour about seven months ago after a land dispute with her family. Subsequently, Ranbir reportedly started taunting her that she has been nourishing his blood, openly, she told.

Wearied with the taunting of Ranbir, Kamla decided to kill both the children, and start a fresh life with her husband.

Her husband, Ramkaran, said that he had come to know about her wife’s relationship with Ranbir way back, and even left her to her parental house in Dighal. But her parents and a village panchayat sent her to his house every time. He also told the police Ramkaran was the father of two children.

He said that her wife telephoned him to Delhi and said that she has decided to kill her children, as they are not born by him. He asked them not to do so and left for his house immediately. Kamla, however, repent her decision to kill her children. The police took Kamla into custody after registering a case under Section 302, 120B, 201 of IPC.

Woman robbed of jewellery, cell phone 
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11
Three youths armed with knives robbed a mobile phone and jewellery worth thousands of rupees from the house of a resident of Masjid Moth this morning. The victim, identified as Arpana Vishwanath, was alone in the house when the incident occurred. The youths knocked at the door and forcefully entered the house when the door was opened.

They robbed her at knifepoint. A case of robbery has been registered in Chitrajan Park, the police said.

In another case, a jeweller of Chandni Chowk, identified as Devender Dass, was robbed of Rs 60,000 and jewellery by four miscreants. They entered the shop on the pretext of purchasing jewellery and tied the two servants with a cord. The Chandni Chowk police is investigation the case.

Meanwhile, three suspects escaped with cash from the shop in Uttam Nagar. The suspects had gone inside the shop on the pretext of purchasing goods, the police said.

In yet another case, Maniram, who runs a Mother Dairy Milk shop in Shastri Nagar, was robbed of Rs 12,000 by unidentified youths last night. The incident took place when the victim was going to his house after closing down his shop. The case was being investigated by the police.

Job racket busted
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11
With the arrest of a doctor, identified as Dr Mohammad Nizam, the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police today claimed to have busted a manpower racket. A number of other suspects were absconding.

Dr Mohammad Nizam, resident of Noor Nagar in Jamia Nagar area, duped innocent persons by promising jobs abroad.

Their modus operandi was to advertise for semi skilled labourers and strike deals with individual aspirants after taking anything between Rs 50, 000 to Rs 2 lakh.

Later, the candidates were charged Rs 2,000 for medical examination at Modi Research and Diagnostic Centre, Taimur Nagar, near New Friends Colony. Later, they closed their office and advertised from a different address, the police said.

After receiving a complaint from a victim, the sleuths of the EOW conducted raided KayBee Travels, at Lajpat Nagar-II, and seized seventeen passports, advertisements pamphlets and over 450 medical certificates.

A large number of victims, mostly from UP, intending to go abroad gathered near the travel agency during the raid. Mohammad Imran, a tailor, said that he had been duped of Rs 2.75 lakh by the proprietors of the travel agency. He had given the money to Mohammad Shahid Khan, brother of the suspect and a partner in the firm. At the time, the travel agency was functioning from the BBC Complex, Kilokari, near Ashram Chowk. Though, he was sent to South Korea on an assignment, he was deported from the airport due to lack of necessary documents.

The travel agency was not registered with the Protector General of Immigrants, Ministry of Labour, the police said.

Cash, gold ornaments looted
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, February 11
Armed persons looted the house of one Irshad Khan at Palra village, about 15 km from here last night. According to a report, the miscreants knocked at the door of Mr Irshad Khan and forcefully entered the house when he opened the door.

The miscreants immediately locked the house from inside and escaped with goods worth about Rs 35,000, including four tolas of gold ornaments after threatening them with pistol.

The miscreants also beat up Mr Irshad Khan and other members of his family and threatened them with dire consequences if they raised an alarm.

Later, Mr Irshad Khan informed the police about the incident. However, the police have failed to find any clue of the people involved in the incident.

According to another report, four armed miscreants forced their way into the house of Mr Surinder, a constable of the Railway Police, at Bandepur village on the outskirts of the city last night and ransacked the house. The miscreants reportedly escaped with about Rs 10,000 in cash and other gold ornaments from the house. The police have registered the case.