N C R   S T O R I E S


 

Police chief wants poll decorum
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 26
The Delhi Police Commissioner, Dr K K Paul, today convened a special meeting of leaders of political parties and urged them to advise their cadres to maintain the decorum of model code of conduct during the election campaign.

Among the prominent leaders who attended the meeting included Jagdish Tytler, Prem Singh and Parvez Hashmi from the Congress, Jagdish Mukhi, Dr Harshvardhan and Vyas Dev Mahajan from the BJP and Shoaib Iqbal from the Janata Dal.

In the meeting, which lasted for over an hour, Dr Paul dwelt on various issues related to the election campaign. The discussion also veered around sensitive areas, where the deployment of police personnel would be on a large scale. It was also decided that loud speakers would not be kept on after 10 pm and the use of vehicles would be minimised.

Dr Paul has asked the district police officers to give him a day-to-day report on cases under Defacement of Property Act and those pertaining to illegal liquor. Under the Defacement of Property Act, the police have been instructed to remove election banners and boards installed in public places; in private areas, the MCD will assist the police in removing them.

Besides, video cameras will be installed in polling booths to check any untoward incident.

The sites for public meetings will be allotted on first-come first-served basis and the booking will be done only 48 hours before the meetings to avoid any confusion.

Sixty per cent of the police force from the districts would be reserved for election related duties and the rest will attend to routine chores. Since there are only a few polling booths in New Delhi and Central districts, the police personnel from these districts would be sent to other areas for election related duties.

Special drives would be launched against ruffians and activities of anti-social elements would be kept under surveillance during campaigning. The leaders of various political parties, while promising to maintain decorum during campaigning, voiced their misgivings and sought the help of the Police Commissioner to check the influx of criminals from adjoining states.

Dr Paul has already had several rounds of meetings with senior police officers of the adjoining districts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, to ensure vigil at border check posts.

He had also underscored the need for launching joint operations to unearth illicit liquor and arms, which are used freely during elections.
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Disabled Rights Group takes on ‘uncaring’ EC 
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 26
After making it clear that their franchise can have a substantial impact on the polls results, the disabled group has taken on the Election Commission as well.

Accusing the Election Commission of being “unconcerned” about the difficulties faced by them, a group of physically challenged persons held a demonstration outside the EC office here today, demanding that their right to franchise be respected.

The activists alleged that the recent EC directive for a separate queue for physically challenged at polling booths is “useless”. Speaking on the occasion, Convenor, Disabled Rights Group (DRG), Javed Abidi, questioned as to how a disabled person can reach the booth when there are no ramps for wheelchairs and most of the booths have at least three steps.

Abidi, who met EC Director Ananth Kumar with a delegation of physically challenged persons, accused top EC officials of being “unconcerned” about the needs of the disabled.

“We submitted a petition three weeks ago about the difficulties we face, but top EC officials have not found time to meet us. We hope this demonstration will wake them up from their slumber,” he said.

Abidi has also announced his decision to contest the forthcoming polls from New Delhi constituency as an independent candidate. His decision, he says, is based on his desire to highlight the plight of the disabled.

Speaking on the harassment of the disabled, Abidi said that nearly five crore disabled voters were “routinely” harassed by security personnel and polling officials.

“We are made to abandon our wheelchairs at some distance from the booths and polling officials mock the deaf,” he alleged. Abidi said security and polling personnel should be sensitised to the needs of physically challenged and called for embossing the electronic voting machines with Braille symbols.
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hot seat
DGP denies he is propping his wife in LS elections
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 26
The Director-General of Police, Haryana, Dr M S Malik, has denied the allegations levelled against him by some opposition leaders that he was using the police force to prop up his wife, Mrs K Krishna Malik, who has been fielded by the Indian Lok Dal as its candidate from Sonepat Lok Sabha constituency.

Talking to Gohana-based mediapersons on telephone, he described the allegations as baseless and said that he was committed to ensuring free and fair elections in the state. The police administration, he claimed, had made elaborate arrangements to curb the activities of anti-social elements, so that they did not interfere in the poll process.

He also announced that nobody would be allowed to take the law into his hands and any such person would be dealt with sternly. He also disclosed that adequate police would be deployed at every polling booth for maintaining law and order.

Dr Malik maintained that his wife is a social activist and she was authorised to contest on a party ticket. He also said that he has nothing to do with the prospects of his wife in the elections.

He, however, reiterated that all possible steps would be taken by the police to ensure free and fair elections. He claimed that the law and order situation in the state was under control. He also maintained that additional police force would be deployed in sensitive areas.

The Haryana BJP had reportedly sent a complaint to the Election Commission alleging the misuse of official machinery by the Director General of Police for enhancing the poll prospects of his wife.

The BJP sources had alleged that the police officials were engaged in organising meetings of panchayats in each village of the constituency in support of Mrs Malik on the behest of the DGP. The party even claims to have video recording of these panchayats. The party leaders have threatened to send the recordings to the Election Commission, so that action can be taken against the DGP.
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No escape from choked sewer lines in Faridabad 
Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, March 26
The work of cleaning and maintaining the sewer lines in Faridabad, the biggest city of the state, appears to be in a shambles. While there is reported to be a shortage of basic infrastructure, the functioning of the civic body leaves much to be desired, not being commensurate with its status as a corporation. The mismanagement of the affairs has resulted in several untoward incidents.

The recent death of three workers while cleaning a sewer line in Sector-59 is not the first incident of its kind, but a sequel to a series of such incidents in the last few years. In fact, 19 workers have lost their lives so far, since the corporation came into being in 1994. Although the budget of the corporation has swelled to over Rs 100 crore, it is still to acquire the latest gadgets and equipment to clean the sewer lines, which crisscross several hundred kilometers in the municipal limits. To make matters worse, the army of 300-odd sewer workers has to depend on archaic manual methods to clean the lines which keep getting clogged in a two-km stretch every week.

The members of the corporation have made several attempts to persuade the civic body to acquire automatic cleaning machines, but it is reported that due to shortage of funds and ‘inaction’ on the part of the authorities, the scheme could not take off.

As the pace of addressing complaints of residents has been tardy, many residents have to depend on private services, which charge arbitrary rates to clean the sewer lines. But many a time such workers do not do a good job and leave many manholes uncovered.

It is learnt that the private services are offered mainly by the employees of the Municipal Corporation or their kin. The corporation charges about Rs 25 to Rs 50 per house as sewer fee from every household every quarter. Though the Safai Karamchari Union has demanded safety gadgets like gloves, goggles, safety belt, torch, helmet and oxygen cylinder for every sewer worker, the authorities seem to be unfazed,’’ says a leader of the union

The union — which staged a dharna outside the Corporation's office yesterday to demand adequate compensation and government jobs for the kin of the deceased — has alleged that the official response is lukewarm.

The civic has also not been able to increase the capacity of many sewer lines, which have become narrower. According to a report, the sewer lines in the DLF Industrial area remain choked at all times owing to disposal of industrial waste in huge volumes.

As a result, the untreated sewer water is often seen flowing in the open.

While the town requires at least ten sewer cleaning machines, it is learnt that the corporation has decided to acquire about two such machines in the near future, but these would be deployed in industrial areas only. Most of the roads and low lying areas resemble cesspools in the Monsoon season.
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16-yr-old, mother held for old lady’s murder

Faridabad: The police have arrested a middle-aged woman and her son, who was employed as domestic help, for murdering the mother of the owner of the house where they worked in Sector 28. The accused had looted cash, jewellery and other valuables worth several thousand after murdering the senior citizen on Wednesday last.

According to information, the accused, Rekha, and her son, Rajesh (16), had been working in the house for five years. They killed the old lady when she was alone and decamped with the cash and other valuables. It is reported that while the son of the deceased, who was a widow, had gone to his company office in Noida, his wife was out of station at the time of the murder.

According to the police, the accused tied the victim with a rope before stabbing and strangulating her. The crime was discovered when the deceased’s son returned from office in the evening.

However, the police was soon able to ferret out the culprits who had been holed up in a hideout.

In another incident, a youth who was guarding a truck laden with tyres, was murdered by some unknown persons who escaped with the consignment worth several lakhs. The abandoned truck and the body were found in sector-11 here. The 19-year-old victim was the brother of one Usman , a resident of A.C Nagar. A case has been registered, but no arrest has been made. — TNS
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Narcotics worth Rs 2 crore seized 
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 26
The Delhi Police Narcotics Branch today claimed to have arrested two persons in two different cases and seized two kg of heroin and 100 litres of Acetic Anhydride worth Rs two crore in the international market.

In the first case, the sleuths had received a tip-off on March 23 that a person would be delivering a huge consignment of heroin near Maharaja Agrasen Hospital, Punjabi Bagh. Accordingly, the sleuths laid a trap. The suspect was spotted riding a Pulsar motorcycle (No DL-6SR-6438). He was shortly overpowered and a blue rexin bag containing two kilograms of heroin was seized from his possession. The suspect was later identified as Shammi Kapoor, alias Kala (36), resident of Inderpuri. During interrogation Kala revealed that he is in heroin business for the last one year for the love of lucre. He had been involved in seven other cases of which six related to violations under the Excise Act.

In the second case, the sleuths received information that a chemical supplier would be coming to Delhi with an Acetic Anhydride consignment in a Tata 407 vehicle. Accordingly, a trap was laid on March 24 near Ramlila Ground, Ajmeri Gate. At around 4.15 pm, the suspect was spotted and a team immediately overpowered him. The suspect was later identified as Chakkrapani, alias Ashok (45), resident of Meerut. The sleuths also recovered five drums of Acetic Anhydride from the Tata 407 vehicle. 
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Colony for criminals
Our Correspondent

Noida, March 26
The sprawling Khora Colony on National Highway 24 is fast becoming a haven for criminals. And the police are finding it an uphill to make the criminals abandon their hideouts.

The criminal dens in Khora colony had reportedly figured in a meeting of senior police officers of Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad last week. Many criminals, after committing crimes in Delhi, Haryana, Ghaziabad, are known to go into hiding in Khora colony.

Houses and lanes here have no systematic numbers, roads are in a state of disrepair and drains are overflowing at all times. There are no streetlights either. All these add to the difficulties of the police team trying to ferret out criminals from this pocket borough.

Result: criminals from other states have made this illegal and sprawling colony their home. Their colony reportedly gets protection from some politicians. Most of the tenants, according to sources, come here to spend the night only or when they want to take a break. No wonder, the colony thrives on trade in drugs, illegal liquor and arms.
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Hooda flays Chautala for neglecting party workers
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 26
Reacting against the announcement of INLD nominees from different parliamentary constituencies, Mr Joginder Singh Hooda, president of Haryana Loktantra Raksha Manch, has criticised Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala for neglecting the dedicated party workers.

In a press statement here, Mr Hooda who has been staunch supporter of Ch Devi Lal, pointed out that Major-General (retd) Bhim Singh Suhag who has been fielded from Rohtak seat, Swamy Dharam Dev from Mahendergarh seat and Balwant Singh from Ambala had made hardly any contribution for the cause of the party.

He has also recalled that while nominating for Rajya Sabha seats, the Chief Minister had favoured those who have never worked for the party.

He explained that Rajya Sabha MP Harender Malik has been staunch supporter of Ch Charan Singh, Fakir Chand is a retired government officer and has contested 1991 Assembly election on HVP ticket and Rao Man Singh is a retired IPS officer under whose orders as SP, Devi Lal workers used to be lathicharged mercilessly during Nyaya Yudh agitation.

Similarly, Sumitra Mahajan is the wife of Mr O. P. Mahajan, who was a minister in Bhajan Cabinet, when three Lok Dal workers were shot dead during Haryana Bundh agitation in 1986, he said.

This kind of negligent attitude of the Chief Minister and INLD supremo towards the dedicated party workers would certainly spread resentment and dissatisfaction among them, he said and added that the party had faced many ups and downs successfully only because the workers have remained committed and loyal to the leadership of Ch Devi Lal in the past.

Mr Hooda also did not spare HVP chief Bansi Lal for similar attitude pointing out that the Rajya Sabha MP Swaraj Kaushal who was elected to the Upper House as HVP nominee, has been star campaigner of RSS and is the husband of BJP leader Shushma Swaraj.
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BJP demands judicial probe into non-construction of water plants
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 26
The Secretary of the Delhi Unit of BJP and the Leader of Opposition in Standing Committee, Mr. Vijender Gupta, has demanded a judicial inquiry into the non-construction of water supply plants at Bawana, Okhla, Dwarka and Nangloi, though these are plan schemes and the Central Government is providing the required funds as and when demanded by the NCT Government of Delhi.

He said that the population of Delhi had been recorded at 100 lakh in 1997-1998, which was now estimated to be 150 lakh. Based on the minimum estimated water requirement of 180 litres for per day per person as per norms, the water requirement of the Delhi residents will be 27,000 crore litres per day. On the other hand, the installed capacity which was 26, 199 crore litre in 1997-98 is same. Not a single plant proposed to be constructed for boosting water supply to the additional 68.160 crore litre has been completed though the availability of funds was never a problem being Central Government scheme under approved plan.

Due to lackluster policy of the NCT Government of Delhi, half of the population should be ready to be thirsty and without water for all other daily requirements in the coming summer season.

The water supply problem will be more acute than the estimated shortage because nearly 45 per cent of the potable water is being wasted due to non-timely attendance of the leakage. Sine the Congress party has formed the government in the national Capital, no efforts have been made to increase the water supply.

The Congress government is contemplating to privatise the Water supply, which is not in favour of the poor citizens of the Capital.

In this way, the government is bent upon to doll out thousands of crores of the Delhi Jal Board properties and funds to their pre-selected private parties who after getting the whole system under their monopolistic control, as is the case of privatisation of erstwhile Delhi Vidyut Board will loot as much as they can, from the poor and hapless public without providing better water supply and other allied services.
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Faridabad to get Rs 741 cr loan from banks for development
Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, March 26
The district will be able to get a loan worth about Rs 741 crore from various banks for development in the coming financial year of 2004-05. This was disclosed in the Annual Credit Plan released here by the Additional Deputy Commissioner on Wednesday evening.

According to the plan prepared by the officials of the Syndicate Bank, functioning as lead bank here, as many as 180 branches of various banks will be providing this loan to various agencies and individuals for several schemes during the period. Over 44,000 persons and institutions are likely to get benefit with the credit plan. The officials also released a floppy of the plan and claimed that it was the first time that the plan had been put in an electronic version for the benefit of the clients. The plan outlay shows an increase of about 24 per cent in the funds this year in comparison to the last year’s credit limit.

While the total priority sector advances have been kept at Rs 587.80 crore, the non-priority sector would be getting about Rs 153.48 crore during the financial period. The allocation for the priority sector include - Agriculture-284.78 crore; Small Scale industries- 146.68 crore and Rs 156.34 crore for other priority schemes. Out of the total plan, about over Rs 21 crore will be contributed by the government sponsored schemes like the Pradhanmantri Rojgar Yojna and other such schemes.

In the Primary sector, the share of the crop loan in the credit has been maximum at Rs 212.94 crore. The total loan for this sector has been pegged at 284.78 crore. While the share of the commercial banks in this will be around 54 per cent the District Cooperative banks and the branches of the Regional Rural banks will be contributing up to 31 and 7 per cent respectively.

The total amount to be disbursed as loan by these banks will be about Rs 587.80 crore. Last year, the total credit released for disposal under this plan had been about Rs 600 crore. Regarding blockwise distribution Faridabad tops with an amount of about Rs 252.62 crore, which comes to about 43 per cent of the total. Palwal and Ballabgarh subdivisions take the second and third spots with their share of 19 and 13 per cent respectively.

Mr A. Gopal, Manager of the District Lead Bank, said that the Credit Plan had been a time-tested tool used by the banks and other development agencies to achieve various policies and objectives during a particular period of time. He said that the plan was prepared after collection and consolidation of the credit plan of every individual bank in the district. He said due care had been taken to project proper flow of credit to various activities, especially the agriculture and rural development and small scale industries. Mr R. S. Kharab, Deputy Commissioner, who released the plan, hoped that the plan would be able to achieve the target easily and come as helpful in achieving good results. Mr N. N. Reddy, General Manager, Syndicate Bank and officials of the NABARD and the Reserve Bank were also present on the occasion.
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NDMC holds blood donation camp
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 26
The New Delhi Municipal Council in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Delhi in Safdarjung organised a blood donation camp at Palika Kendra near Sansad Marg today.

The employees of the civic body voluntarily came forward for blood donation but most of them could not found fit for reasons of suffering from hypertension and low HB. In the camp, facility for sugar test on nominal charges of Rs 10 was also extended. Inaugurating the blood donation camp, Mr U. K. Worah, Secretary, NDMC, urged the officers and employees of the civic body to come forward to donate blood, which can be used for saving precious human life.

He further exhorted the employees saying that such type of donation can save 100 lives for those who have no source to satisfy the need. Mr Worah said that the civic body would organise such blood donation camps in collaboration with the Rotary International in other parts of the NDMC area also. The donors should understand that blood donation do not affect health. It is better to donate once in three months to balance the health.
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Citizens demand walled city development board
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 26
Criticising the existence of multiple administrative authorities, trade organisations along with people’s groups in the walled city have decided to launch a joint movement for the formation of a ‘walled city development board’.

They have also placed the blame for the poor infrastructure facilities in old Delhi on the multiple administrative authorities.

“Lack of co-ordination amongst government agencies, including MCD, Jal Board, DDA and MTNL, have failed the people,” said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary-general of Confederation of All India Traders.

Unregulated traffic, poor sanitation facilities and interrupted power supply hamper business prospects, Khandedwal said.

“A special board should be constituted exclusively for the walled city in such a manner that all the concerned agencies of the government function under one roof,” demanded Dharmvir Sharma, secretary of Nagrik, a leading social body of Chandni Chowk.

The initiative for setting up a special development board, which has been taken up by CAIT and Nagrik, will help in greater co-ordination, he said.
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Farmers threaten stir over erratic supply of canal water
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 26
Representatives of various farmer organisations today criticised the working of the Rai and Gohana Water Service Divisions. Unsatisfied with the functioning of the Irrigation Department, they have urged the state government to order a high-level probe into the complaints of the farmers about the inadequate and erratic supply of canal water to the tail-end villages.

The representatives of these organisations have urged the state government to direct the district authorities to visit these villages and verify the complaints of the farmers without any further delay.

They also warned that an agitation would be launched if the authorities failed to take any action on their demands.

Blaming the officials of the department, they demanded the immediate suspension of the Executive Engineers and their subordinate staff responsible for the scarcity of canal water even during the period of rotation.

They said that this was required in order to ensure an independent and impartial inquiry into the working of these divisions.

They also blamed the officials of these divisions for not getting the canals, distributaries and minors cleaning up despite instructions issued by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala.

They alleged that the desalting and deweeding operations carried out in the past by the officials were merely an eyewash.

They alleged that the erratic supply of canal water for irrigation purposes have adversely affected their crops.

Train halt demanded

The Daily Railway Passengers Welfare Association today urged the Railway Ministry to make provision for the halt of the 4521-UP New Delhi-Bhatinda Intercity Express at Sonepat, Panipat and Karnal.

In a press release, it was pointed that it would enable the long-distance passengers to board this train at these railway stations. It was also pointed out that passengers could travel to the national Capital in shorter duration. Moreover, it claimed that the government was incurring heavy losses, as most of the compartments remained empty.

The association further pointed out that Sonepat, Panipat and Karnal were important business centres, which were visited by large number of outstation passengers.

Brothers sentenced to 10 years RI

The District and Sessions Judge of Sonepat, Mr B L Singal, yesterday convicted two brothers, identified as Raman and Gagan of Chandigarh, and sentenced them to 10 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 3,000 each or in default of payment of fine, to undergo further two years rigorous imprisonment in a case of loot.

According to the prosecution story, the accused had snatched a Tata Sumo from Mr Jaswinder on July 19, 1999. The culprits had hired the vehicle at the Karnal bypass for Delhi. When the vehicle reached Qumashpur Chowk on the G T Road near Sonepat, they forcefully pushed the driver out of the vehicle and escaped with the TATA Sumo. Both the culprits were arrested by the Rai police and their challans were sent to the court.
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SPEAKING OUT

DO YOU HAVE A GROUSE?

Do you have a grouse against the apathetic attitude of the authorities? Are you fed up with the dilly-dallying tactics of officialdom and the stranglehold of red tapism? If so, please write to us. We have a full half page every week reserved just for you. The letters should be clearly marked, Speaking out, NCR Tribune, First Floor, Dyal Singh Library Building, 1 Deen Dayal Upadhaya Marg, New Delhi-110002.

IT is a matter of grave concern that dreaded criminals who were involved in murder cases and were behind bars in Tihar Jail managed to escape from the tight security, which is perhaps on paper only. As a matter of fact, Tihar Jail is dreaded for the tough rules to be followed by prisoners. But the escape of Sher Singh Rana, key accused in the Phoolan Devi murder, has put a big question mark on the working of Tihar Jail administration.

It is satisfying to note that the NCT of Delhi has set up a five-member security experts committee to look into the jail escape and also recommended measures to upgrade security, both in terms of equipment and security system in

Tihar Jail. It is hoped that after their recommendation the security arrangements in Tihar Jail would be foolproof.

— Subhash C. Taneja, Rohtak

Reining in erring private schools with a heavy hand

This is with reference to your Sonepat correspondent’s news report “ Haryana Board Exams: Copycats to Get the

Stick” (NCR Tribune dated March 15). According to the news report, Mr Rakesh Gupta, Secretary of the Board of School Education, Haryana, was critical of some private schools indulging in unscrupulous practices to gain cheap popularity in their areas of functioning. Mr Gupta further said that the board would opt for stringent measures if the authorities of such schools did not mend their ways. It may also be pointed out here that the Secretary of the board is reported to have earlier said that at least 50 per cent of the private schools recognised by the board were involved in fraudulent practices. (NCR Tribune, September 20,2003 - HSEB Does Soul Searching to Arrest Falling Education Standards)”.

It has been noticed, of late, that the private public schools have started raising voice through the media and the politicians against the Haryana School Education Rules 2003, which were issued by the Haryana Education Department, to rein erring private schools indulging in commercialism, fraudulent practices and financial exploitation of the parents.

In the given context any pressure from the private school to scrap the Haryana School Education Rules, 2003, or tone down certain provisions of the said rules should be strongly resisted by the Haryana Education Directorate to curb commercialisation of school education and fraudulent activities of private schools of the state. In fact, the Haryana School Education rules are modelled/drafted on the lines of the Delhi School Education Rules, 1973, which are in force in Delhi State since 1973”.

— O. P. Sharma, Faridabad

Learning life’s little secrets

M. P. K. Kutty in the article, “Learning Lessons Everyday in the School of Life”, in NCR Tribune dated March 21, has stated we are ordinary mortals and can make of us what we wish after learning lessons from life.

In this connection, I wish to say that for learning lessons everyday in the school of life we first have to understand `life’s little secrets’. I would like to share some of these secrets with NCR readers, which have been penned by eminent thinkers:

* Face the truth fearlessly and accept it bravely. For, truth always wins in the end.

* Be always ready to say yes: to others, and to life itself. The wider you can open the door, the brighter, happier and more intelligent you’ll become.

* Cleverness does not win in the end. Truth wins. Victories that are won by cleverness are like mist on a river, which disappears in the morning sunlight.

* Life is a bumpy parade of ups and downs, of successes and disappointments. Why bounce along on square wheels? Be like an eagle, soaring high above life’s hills and valleys. In your heart, be free!

* Life is more enjoyable when we like others than when we look down on them. Be like the humming bird, which concentrates on brightly coloured flowers and sweet fragrances.

* When people ask you what you want to be when you grow up tell them, “ I want to be useful! I want to be happy and to make others happy. I want people to know that I’m their friend.

* Be good but don’t be too good! Be serious, but not too serious! Have fun. Enjoy life! The secret of living well is to live always with a happy heart.

* When things happen to you, whether good or bad, stop for a moment, think what they mean. For there’s purpose to life’s events even if it is to teach you how to laugh more easily or not to cry too hard.

— Ashwani Kumar, Faridabad

Students made scapegoats

The Punjab Board of School Education, Mohali, has cancelled its matriculation and senior secondary examinations. The latest dates for matriculation and senior secondary examinations are April 1 to 6 and April 1 to 11 or slightly amended, respectively. The students have been made scapegoats for the racket involving the leak of papers. No punitive action has been suggested/taken against the Chairman, the Secretary or other responsible officers who enjoy autonomy and dignified standing. The Chief Minister and Education Minister are busy in the Lok Sabha elections to be held. Cancellation of the examinations has wasted the precious labour put in by the students. The sacrilege of the board examinations of such a mammoth proportion has shocked them, their parents and the honest people who pine for fair administration. The malpractices of such serious nature put a question mark on the state’s administration. It is doubtful whether the probe into the matter will be just in the presence of the authorities who are holding their positions/posts and are suspect for the role played by them. Unless they are suspended till the inquiry report comes out no fruitful result will come out. Who will compensate the students for the fear, the traumatic experience and loss of merit they may undergo as a consequence of their stringent schedule of re-examination?

— Ujjal Pal Singh, Faridabad

Awaiting land compensation

Disappointed from all quarters, I approach you to help me out for receiving compensation for my land. The facts are as under:

We purchased a piece of land in Hasanpur village in Bahadurgarh village in Haryana. The Haryana Government acquired this land on January 6,1977. In keeping with the law compensation was payable on the day of acquisition. As many as 26 years have elapsed. Despite the high court order no amount of compensation has been paid. The most astonishing factor in this case is that the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh had granted my appeals, RFA no 915 of 1982 decided on 30.3.83, RFA no 708 of 1982 decided on 19.4.89, RFA no. 915 of 1994 decided on 3.2.1995 and RFA no 708 of 1994 decided on 3.2.95. I am sorry to say that not a single order have been okayed by the LAC.

There is no legal reason to hold back these payments. The only factor for the delay could be that we have not paid any commission to the patwari concerned and the staff of the LAC office, Faridabad.

I am 81years old and suffering from BP and urinary trouble. Tension and depression have assailed me. Two operations are also due. I am not in a position to bear any more tension. In these circumstances I have had to sell my house and shop in Bahadurgarh.

Nor am I in a position to spend any more in the case. So I again request you to please help me in obtaining my compensation in my lifetime.

— V. P. Malhotra, Ghaziabad

Help and be helped

Principal Madhu Chandra in her article, “Pray Follow the Golden Rule” (NCR Tribune dated March 22), has very aptly stated in the concluding para, “Do unto others what you desire to receive most. The most precious in you, hold to a toast. Let goodness beget goodness, please let it sprout”.

In this connection, I wish to share with NCR readers an anecdote which I came across in a book of quotations, “Reflections in Time”.

“After his death a man was once taken to see both heaven and hell. In hell there were a lot of people sitting around a table on which there was laid a sumptuous feast.

But they all were starving and crying out in their anguish. Their arms were much too long to convey the food to their mouths. Then he was taken to heaven, where there was an identical scene, people sitting around a sumptuous feast; here too, their arms were too long to feed themselves. But here, there was no starvation and all were satisfied. They were all busy feeding one another!”

— Anup Kumar, New Delhi

Wearing the jewel of optimism

We tend to develop a propensity to make our mind work according to change in situations and the attitude of various people around us.

Sometimes, in our life, we face certain critical situations, wherein we possess a robust passion to make our most loved friend’s life more comfortable and happier but because of some unfortunate thread of time being tied all around us make the other person analyse our good endeavours, somewhat, in a completely wrong dimension. In such a situation, one experiences an ineluctable feeling of guilt of having done something wrong. Even time doesn’t seem to let go beyond its threadly arena to let one clarify their positive attitude which seems like an abstruse argument. In such a quagmire, one need not feel sad or broken-hearted. Instead, one can overcome this guilt by being loyal to either your own self or to any other person you can completely submit yourself to. That special person could be god, your teacher, a small, cherubic child, your grandma or any other person. One can relate himself to god by being loyal to god and one knows that he hasn’t meticulously tried to make anyone and you know it well and your god also knows it well. It’s just that the wrong timing does not allow us to overcome this feeling of guilt, while we still know that the other person is taking us the wrong way. We possess a power of self and can seek god in this self by being loyal to our soul, where we have given a special space to that special person we are truly loyal to till the time you and your loyalty knows that you are right. Your mind would not give any space to those feelings of guilt.

Mind knows practicality and one needs to spark it by being loyal to the self and god as a whole, thereby resuscitating the ambience of peace around you and within your body. Loyalty occupies more space than guilt and has the strength to extirpate it till the time it knows that you’re right. Attitude changes with time so let’s dwell learning behind sadness by wearing the most exquisite jewels of optimism forever.....

— Akanksha, Rohtak

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NCR BRIEFS
Rs 21 crore budget deficit for Noida 
Our Correspondents

Noida, March 26
The Noida Authority presented a deficit budget of Rs.21 crore for the financial year 2004-2005. In effect, the revenue receipts have been pegged at Rs.1061 while the expenditure is estimated at Rs.1082 crore.

The Noida Authority incurred an expenditure of Rs.976 crore as against a revenue of Rs.870 crore during the financial year 2003-04. Moreover, it has reduced the interest rate by 2 per cent on residential properties.

A new sector will be developed where a youth hostel will be constructed, said the Chairman-cum-CEO, Mr Vinod Malhotra.

He said the works on additional infrastructure and maintenance will be taken up on priority basis. The development of Metro Rail on priority basis has also been included in this draft.

The CEO said 50 cusec additional Ganga water will soon be made available to the residents in Noida. It has also been decided to appoint a chairman to the Sports Trust.

The Noida Authority will effectively address the problem of waste management and disposal in the town, the CEO said.

Another important area engaging the attention of the Noida Authority was to increase the green belt, parks and develop sufficient parking facilities at suitable locations, said Mr Malhotra.

Five criminals nabbed

Ghaziabad: The Sihani Gate police have arrested three criminals and seized three knives and 55 pouches of smack from them. In another incident, the Kavi Nagar police have nabbed two drug smugglers.

In the first case, three criminals were found moving suspiciously on Thursday near a nursing home in Patel Nagar by the Sihani Gate police.

The arrested persons were identified as Mukesh Bati, son of Suresh Bati, Ashok, son of Girdhari Jativ and Raju, son of Rambhool of Pilkua. Three knife and 55 pouches of smack were seized from them.

In another case, the Kavi Nagar police claimed to have recovered drugs from two criminals arrested near Govindpuri police post. The two persons were identified as Promod Kumar and Vinod Kumar Jatav of Mata colony.

The Vijay Nagar police claimed to have nabbed a criminal wanted in a murder case. Pankaj, son of Jagdish of Sen Vihar, was arrested from Vijay Nagar bypass yesterday.

Train bogie catches fire

Sonepat: Panic prevailed at the railway station here last evening when a bogie of a passenger train (3 KDM) bound for Delhi caught fire as a result of short circuit.

According to a report, the passengers of the compartment got down in panic and raised an alarm.

Later, the authorities succeeded in bringing the fire under control. As a result, the train was delayed for about half-an-hour.

Two youths, identified as Ashu (16) and Devinder (17), are reported to be missing from their houses in Sector 14 of this city.

According to a report, their parents have informed the Superintendent of Police, Mr Kuldip Singh Sihag, and urged him to take immediate steps to trace them. The police are investigating into the case.
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DELHI DIGEST
Call for prioritised common agenda for poor people
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 26
Speakers at the first-ever international conference on livelihood and trade options in medicinal plants and herbal products have called for the establishment of a prioritised common agenda to make the sector work for the poor.

The two-day conference organised by Oxfam GB was inaugurated by Dr. Manju Sharma, Advisor, Ministry of Science and Technology. Prof. M. S Swaminathan, eminent scientist and Director, MSSRF, speaking on the occasion said the main issues involved could be represented as four C’s—-conservation, consumption, commercialisation and convergence.

He said “organic farming of medicinal plants should be promoted and health literacy movements should include ayurvedic, siddha and other Indian systems of medicine in their ambit”.

It was also pointed out that the demand for medicinal plant-based raw materials is growing at 15-25 per cent internationally. The international conference will also debate issues of trade barriers, market awareness, inequitable trade practices and operational frameworks.

Gurmat Samagam at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj

A special Gurmat Samagam will be held at Lakhi Shah Vanjara Hall, Gurdwara Rakab Ganj on March 27.

The event is being organised as part of the 500th year birth celebrations of Guru Angad Dev. The Guru, who was born on March 31, 1504, in Muktsar, preached the gospel of Guru Nanak Dev and laid stress on education for children.

He is also known to have made major contributions in the spread of Gurmukhi script and Punjabi language. The former Jathedar of the Sri Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, will also speak on the occasion.

The programme will begin with the recitation of the Sri Rehras Sahib and will be followed by Shabad Kirtan by the Ragi Jathas. Eminent Sikh scholars will share historical facts with the audience. A langar will also be organised on the occasion.

New Director for SAIL

Mr Gyan Chand Daga (52) has taken over as the Director (Finance) of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). Prior to this elevation, he was Executive Director (Consumer Sales) in the marketing division of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC).

SAIL is poised to execute its growth plan over the next five years. At this juncture, Mr Daga, with his rich experience in marketing and finance, will have a vital role in contributing to the future development of the SAIL. During his 28 years of experience with the IOC,

Mr Daga has worked in diverse disciplines, including international trade in different capacities. He has also worked in the corporate office and as regional head in the IOC’s different marketing zones. Besides, he had a stint as Executive Director (Finance) in the marketing division. He had also attended several national and international conferences and seminars in India and abroad.
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House Tax Inspector held for taking bribe
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 26
The Anti-Corruption Branch of the Delhi Government today claimed to have nabbed an Inspector with the House Tax Department, posted in the Special Cell in Shahdra Zone, for demanding and accepting Rs 15, 000 as bribe.

The arrested Inspector, identified as Vinod Kumar, demanded the amount from Dinesh Rana in consideration for clearing the house tax bill of his property in Dilshad Garden, which was rented to the Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation (DSCSC) Limited for running a liquor outlet, said Mr Paldan, the DCP, Anti-Corruption Branch.

The complainant met the property tax inspector last week in connection with his pending property tax and handed over a cheque of Rs 35, 000 in advance. The Inspector instructed him to meet him after a week. When the complainant met the Inspector in his office in Geeta Colony, he demanded Rs 15,000 for clearing his pending house tax case. On the basis of his complaint, a trap was laid by the Anti-Corruption Branch in the office, which led to his arrest, the DCP said.

Satta racket busted

With the arrest of 12 suspects, the Anti- Homicide Section of the Crime Branch today busted a satta racket. The suspects were identified as Manish Kumar, Avdhesh, Vivek Kumar, Inderjeet Rathore, Vijay Garg alias Narender, Kajor, Bhagwan Dass, Vijay Kumar, Narender Kumar, Suresh Gupta, Suraj Pal and Minu.

The Anti-Homicide Section received a tip-off that Manish Kumar was running a satta racket from his shop located in Mini Market, Jalebi Chowk, in Sultanpuri area of North Delhi. The sleuths conducted a raid after verification of the information and arrested the suspects. The police said that Manish Kumar was the chief organizer of the satta while Avdhesh Kumar alias Rinu, Vivek Kumar and Inderjeet Singh Rathore were working as his associates. (Parchi Writer).

The police seized Rs 10,090 and three notebooks with details of the numbers and the amount at stake.

It was revealed that Montu used to collect the entire amount put on bet within an hour. Montu used to collect about Rs one lakh daily as stake money from different gamblers in the city, the police said. 
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Petrol pump robbery foiled 
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 26
The Crime Branch today arrested four robbers who were planning to rob a petrol pump in New Ashok Nagar area. The robbers were identified as Ravi Rana, Sanjay, Ajay and Bhupinder. One Ambassador car, one loaded country-made pistol and iron rods were recovered from their possession, the police said.

Four sentenced to seven years in prison

A city court has sentenced four persons to seven years imprisonment for looting jewellery and other valuables worth lakhs of rupees from a house. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 2,200 each in addition to the imprisonment.

Six armed persons, identified as Satpal, Tirath Singh, Hem Singh, Madan Lal and Bansi Lal, entered a house in Golf Links on May 2, 1983, and looted jewellery and other valuables.

Chand Sur, the owner of the house, her granddaughter and two servants, identified as Harshit and Trilok, were present in the house at the time of the incident. Ten months later, in another case one of the culprits, Satpal, was arrested by the Darya Ganj police. During interrogation, he confessed about the dacoity and identified his other associates involved in the crime. As a result of raids conducted at different destinations, the police was able to arrest all the accused and also managed to recover the goods looted in the dacoity.
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