N C R   S T O R I E S


 

Lid off certificate racket, two nabbed
CBSE marksheets recovered
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 27
The Delhi Police today claimed to have busted a certificate racket involving the National Open School (NOS) and arrested two persons in this connection.

The kingpin, Ravi Kumar Rohilla, ran tutorial classes for the NOS students, forged certificates, marksheets and identity cards with the help of a computer, said Additional DCP (New Delhi) Ajay Chaudhry.

“Some CBSE certificates and marksheets have also been recovered from Rohilla’s possession. We are trying to ascertain whether they are forged or authentic,” said Mr Chaudhry and added that about 150 applications and identity cards of students have been recovered during the raid at his rented accommodation in Vikaspuri.

“We are also trying to find out whether anyone from the National Open School or the CBSE was involved in the forgery. The exact details would be known when the accused are interrogated properly after we take them into police remand,” he said when asked about the scope of the racket.

Rohilla’s arrest came following interrogation of Sunesh Kumar, who was arrested after a tip-off on the delivery of NOS marksheets near Odeon theatre in Connaught Place yesterday.

Sunesh Kumar was arrested while passing the marksheets to a decoy ‘customer’. On his interrogation, a Vikaspuri flat was raided and a computer, a printer, a scanner and several seals of officials were recovered, said the Additional DCP.

Sunesh told the police that Rohilla was the mastermind behind the racket and had been into the job for several months.

Seven held for cement scam

With the arrest of seven suspects, the Anti-Homicide section of the Crime Branch today claimed to have worked out a racket of storing and supplying adulterated cement of famous Indian brands, including JK and Birla cements.

The suspects were identified as Hasrat, Naseem, Riyaz, Ehsan, Chhuttan, Udai Raj and Uma Shankar. They were arrested from their godown at the Old Palam Road, Shiv Park Colony near Kakrola. Police said that 42 bags of cement, 236 bags of powder, which was used to adulterate the cement, 536 bags of adulterated cement and 3,100 other cement bags, were recovered from the godown. The police received the information on the supply of cement from Kakrola.

The information was developed and a raid was conducted at the godown from where the adulterated cement was seized.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed to have supplied the cement in different parts of the Capital, the police said.
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Spurned lover throws acid on girl’s face

Ghaziabad: A youth from Sangam Vihar, Delhi is reported to have thrown acid on the face of a young girl who had refused to elope with him for marriage.

The girl, with badly burnt face, hands and feet has been admitted to a private hospital in the city yesterday.

According to information, Bhushan of Sangam Vihar, Delhi had come to Usha’s house in Railway Colony, under Kotwali police station, at about 9 am when her mother Kamla had left for her duty in the railway station and brother Kamal, a three wheeler-driver, had also gone out.

Usha’s mother had got a job in the railways in place of her late father who was also in the railways years ago. Bhushan had asked Usha to run away with him so that they could marry, but when she refused, he is reported to have started misbehaving with her. Usha then told her younger sister, Rajini, to run up to the railway station and call her mother home. Bushan then threw acid on Usha’s face, hands and feet and reportedly fled the place. OC

Three policemen held for death in custody

New Delhi: Crime Branch of the Delhi Police arrested three personnel, including an officer, in connection with an alleged custodial death in a West Delhi area which had triggered widespread violent protests in October last year. The arrested cops were identified as Sub-Inspector Rajbir, in-charge of Police Post in Madhipur, Constable Robin Singh and Constable Jay Prakash. They were booked under Section 304 of IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), police sources said.

Another cop Rohtas Singh, also accused in the case, is absconding, they said. One Head Constable Kesar Singh had been arrested earlier. The policemen had allegedly picked up a youth Sushil Kumar from his house, accusing him of tipping off a group of gamblers when they were conducting a raid in the area. Hours later, his condition deteriorated and he was taken to a hospital where he died. The death had triggered widespread violence in the area forcing police to open fire besides using teargas and lathicharge. TNS
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Murders on Sonepat jail premises quite common
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, April 27
The broad daylight murder of the gangster Jasbir, alias Jassu, on the district jail premises on Monday by two other gangsters is not the first incident of crime on the jail premises. Such incidents have taken place regularly. The jail authorities, it appears, have not taken any lesson from these incidents.

According to police, preliminary investigations revealed that the revolver and razor used in killing Jasbir have reportedly been passed on to the gangsters in a ghee tin by wrapping them in a plastic cover.

It shows the negligence of the jail staff in inspecting the materials being provided to the jail inmates by the people who come to meet them.

As per the police records, the victim Jasbir as well as the alleged accused of his murder—Pramod and Satish—are having criminal background. Jasbir had been booked underer Sections 302, 354, 323, 120, 216, 34, 148, 149 in different police stations in Bahadurgarh and Sampla. Pramod is suspected to be involved in a triple murder at village Badkhalsa last year and cases under Sections 392, 395, 397, 399, 402, 302, 148, 149, 120-B and 34 are registered against him in Delhi, Dadri (Bhiwani), Nangal Garh and Rai (Sonepat). Similarly, cases under Sections 302, 307, 148, 324, 325, 395, 397, 452 in local Sadar police station and under Section 364 in Kairana (UP) police station have been registered against Satish.

It is also pointed out that after a plea of Jasbir’s brother, Sri Bhagwan, he was shifted to Sonepat jail on April 13.

Sri Bhagwan has alleged the involvement of the jail staff in the murder of his brother on the jail premises.

It is also recalled that there was an incident of jail break last year when five undertrials managed to escape from the jail in February 15. However, one of them was nabbed as he could not scale over the jail wall.

Besides, there was an attempt to kill an inmate Rohtas in 2002. Charas was recovered from a prisoner of village Kathura in 2002.
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Shiv Khera drives his point home
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 27
“Stop being a backseat passenger when the driver of your car is leading you nowhere, take control and that is exactly what I am trying to do here,” said management guru, motivator and author Shiv Khera today while kicking off his campaign for the South Delhi parliamentary constituency.

Explaining his entry into politics, Mr Khera, who is making his electoral debut, said good people need to come into politics since life and how it is lived is decided by politics. “If we don’t do something to stop it, we are all traitors,” he said at a news conference.

Mr Khera is contesting as an Independent against Vijay Kumar Malhotra of BJP and RK Anand of INC. On his chances of winning, he said, “I am confident … I am sure they, like me, are sick of corruption and will want someone who thinks like them.”

Mr Khera said he was contesting as an independent candidate as he did not want to toe the line of any political party. He planned to visit the colonies from tomorrow and distribute leaflets with the message that they should get involved in the process.

Meanwhile, the political advisor to INC president Sonia Gandhi, Mr Ahmed Patel, says that the NDA Government led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has devastated the economy and left millions unemployed.

“Unemployment, squalor and hunger have surpassed all limits,” he told a gathering in Mehrauli.

Patel said that suicide by farmers in certain states has exposed the NDA Government’s claims of an India shining. Earlier, Patel inaugurated the election office of Sajjan Kumar, the party’s candidate in the Outer Delhi.
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Artful dodger
IRS officer’s wife caught for cheating

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 27
The Economic Offences Wing has claimed to have arrested the wife of an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer for forgery and bid to dupe a bank of nearly Rs 15 lakh.

The sleuths arrested Ruchi Singh, alias Anamika (37), an architecture graduate on April 24 along with the employee of HSBC bank Devender Bisht (36).

According to the sleuths Anamika had asked for a Rs 14.56 lakh loan from HSBC Bank and was granted the amount for purchasing a land in Gurgaon. She later tried to sell the land to three different persons and planned to flee the country without repaying the loan.

Devender had helped Anamika by certifying the forged documents, submitted by her to procure the loan, as genuine.

During interrogation, Anamika told the sleuths that she had made a deal with a Gurgaon resident Dr Shamat Hussain for selling the land for Rs 16.5 lakh and took an advance of Rs 1.5 lakh. The deal later fell through as the No Objection Certificate (NOC) submitted by Anamika was forged.

Thereafter, Anamika made another deal with S M Talwar of Mayapuri area for Rs 10 lakh and took an advance of 3.70 lakh and an agreement was signed between the two on January 27 this year. She gave an address in Dusseldorf, Germany as her place of residence.

Meanwhile, HSBC officials on a tip-off that the accused was trying to sell the land without their consent, filed an FIR with the police against Anamika.

Investigations revealed that Anamika was actually Ruchi Singh but had changed her name to get the loan from HSBC and in this she had been helped by Devender Bisht who was a DSA with the bank.
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BSNL yet to recover Rs 28 crore
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, April 27
The office of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) here is still to recover an outstanding amount of about Rs 28 crore from the consumers here. The department had launched certain schemes including the registration of legal cases against the defaulters. At least 10 such defaulters had already been booked, say the officials.

According to the BSNL authorities, the department was able to recover about Rs 59.29 lakh from several consumers in the past one year through the rental waiver scheme. It restored about 2,489 connections after the consumers cleared their dues. The department in the district billed an amount of about Rs 118 crore during the financial year 2003-2004 and was able to realise revenue to the tune of Rs 109 crore. The revenue per line of the BSNL stood at about Rs 764.42 instead of Rs 744 previous year. According to the officials of the department, although 6,000 connections had been surrendered last year the total number of the BSNL connections had increased and at present the number of connections in the Faridabad area was about Rs 1.38 lakh.

It is claimed the department had been able to provide better services since it was converted into a corporation.
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Raja Nahar Singh Palace, the latest hotspot
for TV serials

Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, April 27
The historical Raja Nahar Singh Palace at Ballabgarh town here, which had been taken over by the Haryana Tourism and converted into a heritage motel-cum-restaurant last year, seems to be emerging as a favourite spot for producers of teleserials and TV programmes. The latest one to join this series is the programme titled ‘Dhoom Machi Hai Dhoom’ being telecast on Aaj Tak.

This programme, named as Qawwali, has a satirical production concerning the ongoing election process and the poll. The producers of this series have already shot four episodes and the fifth one is being shot at present. While the Haryana Tourism authorities have claimed that they charge about Rs 15,000 per day for the location, the owners of the programme have reportedly paid an amount of about Rs 1.5 lakh as rent and other charges to the department concerned.

The Divisional Manager, Haryana Tourism, Mr S.P Jain, said this heritage motel which was started in September last, had now started attracting tourists as well the local people as the place had a history attached to it and the ambience here was of a palace. He claimed the spot would be able to earn a revenue of about Rs 3 lakh during this month only.

He added the shooting of at least eight tele-serials and videos of songs had already taken place here in the past about six months. He declared that the department had decided to write to producers and film makers of Mumbai to include this spot in their list of locations as this spot had not only been a historical place but was also quite affordable. The department had opened a bar here a few months ago in order to attract more customers as the city has very few spots having a bar licence.

Although the spot faces a disadvantage as far its location and approach are concerned, the officials feel that opening the palace for use of parties, get-togethers and marriages had brightened up its prospects. They say that the spot provides people viable alternatives in terms of the charges for the spot for holding functions. While the rent for using the lawns per day was about Rs 35000 the residents could also opt for a package including catering and food at the rate of Rs 100 to 300 per plate, depending upon the cuisine and choice of the food served.
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ELECTIONS 2004

INLD workers in Rohtak not happy with party nominee
Our Correspondent

Jhajjar, April 27
The ruling INLD has been facing an uphill task in the Lok Sabha elections on account of the stiff opposition posed by various communities and the nonchalant attitude of the local workers who have been feeling disenchanted on account of their feelings being ignored in the selection of the nominee from Rohtak constituency.

The four-year rule of the INLD led by Mr Om Prakash Chautala now seems to be boomeranging on the party as an anti-establishment factor is active among the common electorate.

This is being reflected in the low turnout at political meetings. The party activists are also unhappy with the high command’s decision to field the Vice-Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University, General Bhim Singh Suhag (retd), as he has never been a cadre man and has no direct or indirect interaction with the grassroots workers.

Enraged over the workers’ coldness in canvassing for the party and tacit revolt against General Suhag, Mr Chautala lost his temper during filing of the nomination by the candidate at Rohtak recently and detached his party from the MLA from Jhajjar, Mr Dario Singh Rajora, who had won the assembly election last time as an Independent courtesy the INLD and also supported the government in the Assembly. The Chief Minister has given a warning to the workers.

The most vocal opposition has come from the traders’ communities as the traders’ unions active in the state have been organising meetings urging opposition to the INLD government. This hostility between the traders and the state government is as old as the INLD government itself. With each passing day the traders’ disenchantment continues to grow.

Haryana was one of the first states to adopt and implement value added tax (VAT), inviting the wrath of the traders’ class. A long battle was fought by the traders on various issues with the community accusing the Chief Minister of hurting their interests. As if this was not enough frequent incidents of robbery, murder and extortions have given sleepless night to the community.

Another important factor is obviously the lack of civic amenities in the countryside.

All efforts of the district administration at the behest of the state government to create a favourable atmosphere by its generous acts and Mr Chautala’s frequent visits to every corner of the state for inauguration or laying the foundation stone of any project have failed to have any impact on the masses.

However, the efforts of the government are now set to boomerang on its party candidates as the people are seeking clarifications from the candidates as well as party workers regarding the announcements made.
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HVP demands recall of returning officer
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, April 27
A deputation of the Haryana Vikas Party called on Mr Noor Mohammad, Deputy Election Commissioner in the office of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in New Delhi, yesterday and demanded immediate transfer of the Returning Officer of the Sonepat Lok Sabha constituency and declaration of Mr Jagbir Singh Malik as the candidate of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP).

The members of the deputation included Mr Jagbir Singh Malik, former minister Rajiv Jain, HVP general secretary Ramesh Khurana, Mr Rajpal Arya and Mr Bijander Chaher, an advocate of the Supreme Court. The members of the deputation informed Mr Noor Mohammad that the Returning Officer had wrongly declared Mr Jagbir Malik as an Independent candidate instead of the HVP candidate. Mr Mohammad heard the complaints of the deputation patiently and assured that he would inform the Central observers in this regard. He also assured that if the complaint was found correct then Mr Malik would contest the Lok Sabha elections on the HVP ticket.

Earlier, hundreds of the HVP workers and supporters reached the office of the CEC. Many of them were stopped by the police on the Ring Road near Majnu Ka Tila. The agitating workers and the supporters shouted slogans like “ Sonepat DC hatao” and “Loktantra Bachao”, “Chautala Sarkar Murdabad”.

Later, the workers sat on a dharna there for an hour. Addressing the workers, Mr Malik alleged Mr Chautala had targeted him so that he could not contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Sonepat seat.

Mr Rajiv Jain said that the ruling INLD did not want to face the challenge posed by the HVP candidate as the real contest was between the HVP and the INLD. He appealed to the party workers and supporters to remain united and face the challenge posed by the ruling INLD on this issue.
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Haryana DGP’s wife gives details of assets
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, April 27
The ruling INLD candidate, Mrs Krishna Malik, wife of the DGP, Haryana, Dr M. S. Malik, who is currently on leave, yesterday filed an affidavit before the returning officer, Mr M. R. Anand, and gave the details of her assets as follows: cash Rs 1.25 lakh, bank deposits Rs 4.55 lakh, cash with her husband Rs 24,500 and bank deposits Rs 5,04,620 lakh, LIC policy of Rs 6 lakh, financial documents Rs 65,000, 86 tolas of gold worth Rs 4.30 lakh, financial documents with her husband Rs 1.75 lakh, seven tolas of gold worth Rs 35,000, LIC policy of Rs 6.60 lakh, agricultural land worth Rs 52 lakh and housing land worth Rs 15 lakh, agricultural land worth Rs 11 lakh and housing land worth Rs 15 lakh with her husband.

Mrs Malik owns a house in Delhi which costs Rs 20 lakh and her husband had houses worth Rs 24 lakh at Panchkula and Gurgaon. The total movable and immovable property cost Rs 1.79 crore.

On the other hand, the HVP candidate, Mr Jagbir Singh Malik, has assets worth Rs 47.50 lakh. He has Rs 1,548 in cash and bank deposits to the tune of Rs 1.09 lakh. His son had a bank deposit of Rs 2.10 lakh. Mr Malik had two cars and had purchased shares worth Rs 1.80 lakh. He has agricultural land worth Rs 6 lakh and housing land worth Rs 5 lakh, three shops worth Rs 15 lakh and two houses worth Rs 12 lakh besides 36 tolas of gold worth Rs 2 lakh with his wife.
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20 candidates for Sonepat seat

Sonepat, April 27
As many as 20 candidates are in the fray for the Sonepat Parliamentary constituency. According to a report, five of the 20 candidates belong to recognised parties, including Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan (BJP), Mrs Krishna Malik (INLD), Mr Dharampal Singh Malik (Indian National Congress), Mr Sugan Chand Gupta (Bahujan Samaj Party) and Mr Kirpal Singh (Janata Dal-secular).

The Haryana Vikas Party candidate, who had failed to submit the party’s letter for his candidature, had been declared as an independent candidate by the Returning Officer. He has been allotted the election symbol of ‘lock and key’. OC
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Ghaziabad divided into 170 sectors for polling

Ghaziabad: The district administration and police have finalised the strategy to ensure peaceful and orderly voting.

Ghaziabad district has been divided into 170 sectors for the purpose. Besides, 33 zones and 123 super zones have also been carved out in the while area.

Some 75 barriers will be put in place three days before the polling dates, it is learnt.

Mr Vijay Kumar Garg, officer-in- charge of the election cell, said apart from the full force of 32 police stations in the area paramilitary and central forces would also be deployed at barriers and in various sectors for maintenance of law and order. All 80 police posts would be used as checkposts during election days.

It had been decided that one sector would have a maximum of six polling centres. A sub-inspector would be officer-in-charge of each sector and each polling centre would have two armed policemen.

At all 33 zones an inspector or DSP would be designated as officer-in-charge of the zone, Mr. Garg said. Sixty highway patrol cars would be deployed on district highways for security and law and order. Besides, 16 companies of paramilitary forces would also be deployed for security and maintenance law and order. Outside force would be deployed in the interior parts of the district, Mr Garg said.

Sensitive and super sensitive polling centres had also been identified and a flag march would be conducted before the polling day, Mr Garg added. OC
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Cong takes stock of poll scene
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 27
The political advisor to INC president Sonia Gandhi, Mr Ahmed Patel, today took stock of the party’s preparations for the May 10 Lok Sabha election in all seven parliamentary constituencies in NCT of Delhi.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Prem Singh, all seven candidates and certain legislators met with Patel at the 2, Talkatora Road office of the party.

Later, they all posed for the photographers. The picture of them standing shoulder to shoulder, as Patel was to say later, “showed that the party is united and will give a befitting reply to the BJP”.

Patel exuded confidence that the party would win all seven Lok Sabha seats in NCT of Delhi. “A secular government will be formed at the Centre with NDA Government ousted from power,” he said.

The interaction with the media persons followed a meeting in which all of the party chalked out a common strategy. During the past month, the party has seen infighting over the distribution of tickets.
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BJP to launch extensive campaign in Haryana
Our Correspondent

Rewari, April 27
The state BJP general secretary, Mr Veer Kumar Yadav, has stated that the party was leaving nothing to chance to ensure a landslide victory in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Haryana.

In a telephonic talk with this correspondent this morning, he informed that the state unit of the BJP, in close collaboration with its central campaign committee, had chalked out a comprehensive programme for intensive campaigning by the top brass of the party from April 30 to May 8 throughout Haryana.

Mr Yadav disclosed that at the outset the External Affairs minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, would address election rallies at Bahadurgarh (in Sonepat constituency) and Rohtak on April 30. On May 2, a mammoth election rally would be addressed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Jhajjar, which would serve as a nucleus for the neighbouring areas of the Rohtak, Mahendergarh, Bhiwani and Sonepat constituencies.

Close on its heels, Mr Venkaiah Naidu, BJP president, would make a whirlwind election tour of Sirsa, Kaithal, Jind and Bhiwani on May 5,while election rallies at Jagadhari (in Ambala constituency) Kurukshetra, Karnal and Sonepat would be addressed by Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj on the same day.

Subsequently, the Union Law Minister Mr Arun Jaitley, would address election meetings at Gurgaon and Faridabad, the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Raj Nath Singh at Mahendergarh or Narnaul, Safidon and Bond or Mundhal (in Bhiwani constituency) and noted film star and Rajya Sabha member Hema Malini at Rewari, Faridabad, Panchkula and Panipat. The dates of their election tour, which would fall after May 5, were being finalised, he added.

Besides, noted film star Dharmendra would make an election tour of Fatehabad (in Sirsa constituency), Meham (in Rohtak constituency), Hansi (in Bhiwani constituency) and Hisar on May 8.

Mr Yadav candidly admitted that this time the main contest in Haryana was going to be between the BJP and the Congress, which now seemed to be in a fragile condition because of its internecine factionalism, increasing defiance among the party ranks over the distribution of the party tickets and several other potent factors. Simultaneously, he went on to say that it was now being widely felt that the INLD and the HVP too had been marginalised to a very great extent.

All this, he claimed, showed beyond any shadow of doubt that with the Atal wave sweeping the country, the BJP was expected to come out with flying colours at the hustings in Haryana.

Sonia to address rally on April 29

The Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, will address an election rally in the afternoon at the ITI Maidan in Mahendergarh on April 29.

Congress candidate Rao Inderjit Singh said that it would be a historic rally and party workers as well as their supporters from Nangal Chaudhary, Narnaul, Ateli, Mahendergarh, Rewari, Jatusana, Bawal, Dharuhera, Pataudi, Sohna and Gurgaon areas of the constituency would participate in it.
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Voters can produce alternative documents

Bhiwani, April 27
The district election officer and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr D. D. Gautam, said that as per the directions of the Election Commission voters could exercise their franchise by producing any alternative document besides voter identity card.

The voters could exercise their franchise by producing driving licence, PAN card, identity cards, issued by state, Central government, local bodies or industrial units to their employees, accounts pass book opened on or before March 31, 2004 in banks or post offices, students identity cards issued by the recognised educational institutions on or before March 31, SC, ST certificates issued by competent officer, pension documents, ex-servicemen pension book, widow pensioner or such documents.

Following withdrawal of nomination papers yesterday, there are now only 16 candidates in the poll fray. Earlier, 35 persons from different political parties and as independent had filed their nomination papers.

During inspection six papers had been cancelled. The district election officer and deputy commissioner D. D. Gautam said that INLD candidate Ajay Singh had been allotted his party symbol ‘Spectacles’, Congress candidate Kuldip Singh ‘Palm’, Ram Bilas of BJP ‘Lotus’, Ramanand of BSP ‘Elephant’. OC
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COMMUNITY

SOS Children’s Villages of India gets largesse
from Herbalife
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 27
SOS Children’s Villages of India (SOS CVI) received a contribution of Rs 15,00,000 from Herbalife International for their upcoming project at Panvel in Mumbai. Mr Manoj Shirodkar, Country Director, Herbalife International, today handed over the cheque to Mr Pradeep Singh, National Director, SOS CVI, at a function at Hotel Park Royal International in Delhi.

Mr Shirodkar, while addressing a gathering of more than 300 Herbalife distributors, said, “Herbalife has been associated with SOS Children’s Villages of India since the past five years. SOS CVI, which has been working for children in need for 40 years, is a very reliable and transparent organisation.” He also said, “The Herbalife family would like to increase their interaction and involvement with SOS India in the near future.”

On the occasion, Mr Pradeep Singh, National Director, SOS CVI, said he was thankful to Herbalife International for their contribution to SOS India to reach out to many more children in need in the country. He was happy that many members of Herbalife had made an effort to come and personally meet the children. He appreciated this noble gesture which mattered more than the finance provided. Mr Pradeep Singh invited all those who had not yet visited Children’s Village. He also said, “ I am glad that big organisations like Herbalife International are accepting social responsibility and supporting NGOs which are working for a noble cause”.

Children from SOS Children’s Village presented a colourful cultural show for their friends from Herbalife International. The organisation has been supporting SOS Children’s Villages of India for the past five years.

Recently, the Herbalife organised a fun-filled event with magic show, games and food stalls for the children at SOS Children’s Village, Greenfields, near New Delhi.
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Sonepat residents grapple with water crisis
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, April 27
The entire old section of the city with a population of nearly one lakh remained waterless last evening following a disruption in the water supply system. However, no reason has been forwarded by the officials of the Public Health Department (PHD) in this regard.

People, particularly women, were seen carrying pitchers on their heads and fetching water from distant places to meet their requirements. Many people alleged that the water supply was still erratic and the pressure was always low. Their complaints in this regard to the officials concerned have fallen on deaf ears.

The situation in other parts of the city is worse on account of inadequate and erratic supply of water. The residents of Indira Colony have been denied water for the past two weeks thanks to the failure of the operators of the tubewell installed in the municipal park to ensure regular water supply.

According to the residents, they have approached the Executive Engineer of the PHD with a complaint regarding non-supply of water for days together many a times during the past few days but he had failed to take any action against the erring operators.

Meanwhile, the Residents Welfare Association and the Sonepat Citizens Forum as well as representatives of various political organisations, social and voluntary organisations as well as trade unions have expressed concern over the inefficient and unsatisfactory working of the PHD and demanded stern action against the officials and subordinate employees found responsible for the water crisis in this city, which is a district headquarters in Haryana.
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ncr briefs
PM to address rally in Khurja on May 7

Our Correspondents

Bulandshahar, April 27
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will address a public rally in support of BJP candidate, Ashok Pradhan on May 7.

Union Minister of State Ashok Pradhan is facing a stiff challenge from the former Uttar Pradesh Revenue Minister Ravi Gautam, who had switched from BJP recently and is contesting the Khurja Lok Sabha reserved seat as a BSP candidate.

Though the Prime Minister’s programme does not include addressing a public meeting at district headquarter, Bulandshahar, where former Chief Minister Kalayan Singh is contesting as a BJP candidate for the Lok Sabha seat, his supporters in the party are understood to be trying to include a public meeting at Bulandshahar in Prime Minister’s programme.

Farmers of Haryana and UP clash over land

Sonepat: An attempt by the farmers of UP to reap the standing wheat crop along the Yamuna embankments at Pabnera village inside Haryana was foiled by the farmers of Haryana with the help of the police yesterday.

According to a report, the farmers of UP also fired in the air to scare away the farmers of Haryana so that they could reap the wheat crop.

Moreover, the attempt of the UP farmers to burn the wheat crop was foiled by the alert farmers of Haryana. Later, the farmers managed to reap the standing wheat crop in the presence of the police.

SP candidate off the contest

Rewari: An independent candidate, Mr Om Prakash Engineer, has withdrawn from the contest in favour of the Samajwadi party candidate, Mr. Raghu Yadav.

Soon after the formal withdrawal of his nomination papers, he made this announcement at a press conference here yesterday. Mr Raghu Yadav and other associates were also present on the occasion.
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Delhi digest
Merger of 50% DA in basic pay under consideration

New Delhi, April 27
Merger of 50 per cent DA in basic pay of the NDMC employees is under consideration as the council employees are drawing salary in accordance with two different pay scales that is from fifth Central Pay Commission and Shiv Shankar Scales.

In view of the model code of conduct, the council will consider the matter after the general elections are over. The merger has been recommended by the Union Ministry of Finance from April 1, as per notification of the Central Government.

Jat Mahasabha supports Dharmendra

The spokesman of the All India Jat Mahasabha, Mr Tara Chand Mor, said that the Sabha will fully support Dharmendra, who is contesting from the Lok Saha election from Bikaner in Rajasthan. He has decried the false notion spread in some newspapers that Dharmendra does not belong to Jat community. Dharmendra is Jat of Punjab and has served as president of the Jat Mahasabha in Mumbai. He has brought glory to the name of his community by emerging as a superstar and in his capacity would work selflessly for the people of Bikaner, Mr Mor said.

Procession

The Shia Muslims will take out a Chehallum procession tomorrow in memory of late Hazrat Imam Zainul Abideen, son of Hazrat Imam Hussain. Route of the procession will be Pahari Bhojla, Bazar Chitli Qabar, Matia Mahal, Chowk Jama Masjid, Chawari Bazar, Hauz Qazi, Ajmeri Gate, Pahar Ganj Bridge, New Delhi Railway Station, Chelmsford Road, Connaught Place, Parliament Street, Raiseena Road, Krishna Menon Marg, Tuglak Road, Aurbindo Road, Jor Bagh and culminated at Karbala. The procession will start at 3 pm. TNS
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Power shutdown

New Delhi: The NDPL today announced power shutdown for Wednesday in Moti Natgar, Civil Lines, Keshavpuram and Shakti Nagar district of the power company. The affected areas in Moti Nagr will be part of Naraina village from 8 am to 12 noon, in Civil Lines, Khatik Basti from 11 am to 4.30 pm in Keshavpuram part of C block Industrial Area, part of C-8 MIG, LIG Residential Area, from 10 am to 5 pm in Keshavpuram, part of Hansa Puri Gali number 250, Gurdwara Gali number 9, Jai Mata Market and Gali number 243 and in Shakti Nagar the affected areas will be Harijan Basti part of New Rohtak Road from 10 am to 4 pm. TNS
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CRIME

Nepali gets RI for possessing charas
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 27
A Nepali national was sentenced to 30 months rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 40,000 for possessing 500 grams of charas by a city court here today.

Additional Sessions Judge B L Garg found Srilal, a 33-year-old native of Dolpa district in Nepal, guilty of illegally possessing the banned substance. Srilal was arrested on December 2, 2001, with the drug near Red Fort.

Youth shot dead by intruders

Ghaziabad: A youth was shot dead by intruders in his house in Ikram Nagar Colony in Loni early today morning. The victim, Istegar (27), son of Intezar Ali, was running an embroidery shop in Ikram Nagar, Loni.

According to the Loni SO, Mr Vishesh Kumar Singh, Istegar’s brother lodged a report in the police station against the assailants.

The murder took place at 4.45 am today when power in the colony had been switched off, SO said. The victim’s wife was also sleeping in the room at the time of the murder. Somebody had fired shots at Istegar at about 4.45 am. When his mother and brother Zulfikar came down from their first floor room on hearing the shot, they found him in a pool of blood. He died on the spot.

According to police, his wife stated that she had not seen anybody firing at Istegar.

Housewife commits suicide

Sonepat: A housewife, identified as Darshna (22), was reported to have committed suicide by taking sulphas tablets in her house at Tharu Uldepur village, about 5 km from here last evening.

According to a report, she took this extreme step after a family quarrel. The police have sent the body for the postmortem examination. Further investigations were in progress.
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