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Cool weather raises poll temperature New Delhi, April 28 Earlier, the Capital and other parts of the north-western region experienced an unusually hot March and April with temperatures staying around four degrees above normal, which was playing a spoil sport for poll campaigners. However, a dust storm in the Capital on April 21 brought much-needed respite to Delhiites by causing a sharp fall in the temperature. Next day again the city was lashed by a heavy shower, preceded by a squall and hailstorm, bringing the temperature down by eight degrees. The 3-cm rain recorded in the evening kept the next day cool at 33.0 degrees Celsius. On April 24 again, rain and hail lashed the city, causing mercury to dip by six degrees. Several other parts of the north-western region also experienced rain and dust storm, bringing substantial relief. The maximum temperature recorded yesterday was 37.1, two degrees below normal. The temperature stayed two degrees below normal today also. The Meteorological Department
(IMD) officials said that the let up in the heat was expected to last for two days more, till the end of April. Temperatures are again expected to start rising from the first week of May, officials added. New Delhi, April 28 Earlier, Arya along with members of the party’s women’s wing marched from Joshi Road – Faiz Road shouting slogans and sporting placards denouncing the Sheila Dikshit government. They held a demonstration outside Varunalaya, the DJB headquarters. In the melee, Arya sustained a head injury. On the occasion, she attributed the water crisis to the wring policies of the Dikshit Ministry. |
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Three killed, six injured in LPG
blast New Delhi, April 28 The deceased have not been identified. The injured had been admitted to a nearby hospital by neighbours and the factory workers, the police said. The incident took place when the victims were at work. Motor cycle dickeys are manufactured in the factory. The workers were engaged in spraying the dickeys when an LPG cylinder exploded, killing the workers on the spot. The police said a case of negligence had been registered and the investigation was on. The Delhi Fire Service spokesman disclosed that eight fire tenders had been rushed to the spot; the blaze was brought under control within half an hour.
Power supply In South Delhi hit After fire The power supply in south Delhi was today disrupted following a fire at the 220 KV station at Lodhi Road. The BSES sources said that of the two 100 MV transformers at Lodhi Road station, which supplies power to several colonies in the southern district, one was totally burnt while the other one was partially damaged. ‘’Due to the extensive damage caused to the transformers, power supply in some areas was disrupted,’’ the sources said. ‘’However, we are trying to get power from other sources and restore supply on a partial basis as the input is not enough,’’ the sources added. The power supply in affected areas would be possible only on a rotational basis as the ‘sourced’ supply was inadequate. The normal supply can be expected by tomorrow evening. Meanwhile, the TRANSCO spokesperson dismissed reports that the breakdown had anything to do with transmission. ‘’There was nothing wrong with the transmission. Only the BSES can say what the reason is,’’ according to Assistant PRO Madhu Malti. TNS
Red alert in western UP Meerut: Security has been beefed up and the Administration has sound a red alert in western UP for the Lok Sabha election, scheduled to be held on May 10, for as many as 18 seats of western UP. Senior administration officials are more worried about caste and communal tension than booth capturing. As many as 8 Lok Sabha seats fall in the Meerut division. In the 1991 general election, there was a communal polarisation in most of the seats in the area. Such polarisation is not evident this time. The main challenge before the administration is, therefore, casteism, not the communalism. The administration has already geared up to meet the challenge of caste tension. As many as 360 villages affected by communal tension and another 879 villages affected by caste tension have been identified by the administration. In Hapur, 195 villages are afflicted with caste tension. The next hot spot is Kairana, where administration will keep an eye on 161 villages. Meerut, Saharanpur and Muzaffarnagar are also prone to communal tension.
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Prison fracas: Chief wardens
suspended Sonepat, April 28 The DGP (Prison) has also deputed Mr Surinder Hooda, Station House Officer (SHO), City police station, for conducting an inquiry into the entire episode. Meanwhile, the police have registered a case under Section 302 and 303 of the IPC against two prisoners, Promod and Satish, and submitted an application in the court for their protection warrants in connection with the investigations in the case. It is stated that the victim was involved in three cases of murder and some other crimes, which were still pending in the courts. The alleged assailants had been also involved in cases of murder, kidnapping and extortion. It is stated that the victim was shifted to Sonepat district jail from Bhiwani on April 13; the alleged assailants were already lodged in the same jail. |
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Father gets bail, son released
instead Ghaziabad, April 28 As a result, instead of Krishen Chander, his son, Dharminder, was released by the jail administration. The girl’s side had accused the father and son of having burnt Anita, Dharminder’s wife, on 11 November in Indira Puri Mohalla of Loni. The father and son had approached the district courts in Ghaziabad, which was trying the case, for bail; however, the plea had been rejected by the local court. Later, they had filed a bail plea in the high court. The high court allowed the bail of father Krishen Chander on April 21. In this regard, a release order was to be prepared for the jail authorities by a local court in Ghaziabad. The court of Addl District and Sessions Judge, P.K. Gupta, while issuing the release order for the jail administration, conveying the high court ‘s decision, had by mistake mentioned the name of Dharminder instead of Krishen Chander on the release order for compliance. Thus, instead of the father, the son was released on bail. |
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Political will lacking to solve problems of industry: GIA Gurgaon, April 28 The disappointment of the industrialists has been given air by the Gurgaon Industrial Association (GIA). In a statement it said that the elections to the Lok Sabha were much important for the industry in the state. But no political parties had approached the GIA so far to discuss the problems and seek suggestions in resolving issues, it was added. The GIA underlined that there were many important matters which should have been on the election agenda of various political parties but the same had been conveniently ignore by them. Taking its argument further, it pointed out that some of the problems faced by the industry were decentralisation of power, red tape, the slow pace of reforms, poor responsive management and implementation of policies. The GIA’s lament was also that while the political parties projected issues like industrial growth and generation of employment they just forgot about the real people who worked round the clock towards achieving the goals. Though they were well aware that the industry needed much attention and support they showed reluctance to use their political will in extending help to them. It further said the reforms taking place in the country were not percolating to the masses. Also, the government’s assertion that the growth and wealth generated by the industry will soon outpace other sectors will not be materialised until the framers of policies address the issues in right earnest. |
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TINSEL TALK Jhajjar: Bollywood personality Suresh Oberoi, father of rising star Vivek Oberoi, has said that he is canvassing for the BJP because the nation needs the services of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whom he described as the greatest living politician of Asia. He was talking to the Press here today. “I have no stakes in politics. I am supporting the BJP as the nation is on crossroads and any change in the leadership would not be good for the people,” said the Bollywood actor. He held that he had no ideological affiliation with any party and he was extending the party support in view of its performance. ``He would prefer the country to friendship or even his family when the stakes were so high for a nation,” said Mr Oberoi, when asked to respond to film star Sanjay Dutt campaigning for his friends, disregarding their political affiliations He felt that priority should be given to experience instead of fresh faces and Mr Vajpayee’s experience had no parallel in the country. Mr Oberoi said that the had a penchant for social service and was always trying to serve people in best of his capacity. He promised that his son, Vivek, would never do a wine advertisement. Panel has rejected only one ad so far New Delhi: The three-member committee, constituted by the Chief Electoral Officer of NCT of Delhi to keep a tab on election advertisements following the Election Commission (EC) directive, has so far rejected only one application by a political party. The Chairman of the Committee and Deputy CEO of NCT of Delhi, Mr G. S. Ghankrokta, has said that the advertisement rejected was submitted by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Besides, 10 advertisements were withdrawn after the committee advised the applicants to do so, he added. The committee had started functioning from April 16, after the EC, acting on the directive of the Supreme Court.
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20 cholera patients report daily in Delhi: DMA New Delhi: The Delhi Medical Association president, Dr I. P. Dhalla, said there were about 350 cases of cholera. He said that the number of cases was more than double as the doctors practicing in the private clinics did not share information about such diseases. Dr Dhalla said there were around 20 cases of cholera reported daily in the city. Even cases of gastroenteritis are on a rise. The figure touches thousand patients per day. He said that the incidence of water-borne diseases was increasing as the people were more dependent on either the ground water or the water supplied by the tankers. In both the cases, the germs of the diseases spread among people. On an average, a family physician treats about 5-10 cases per day of these diseases. He said the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) supplied five lakh litres of water through 1,000 tankers. Instead of supplying it through the tankers, if the DJB provided 100 outlets of water the problem would certainly decrease. Dr Dhalla also suggested that the slum clusters should be shifted to new places where the DJB could provide proper water supply. This would certainly decrease the number of cases of such diseases.
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Workshop on climate change to have Indian, German
experts New Delhi, April 28 The workshop is being organised by the Indo-German bilateral project, Watershed Management, under the German Technical Agency (GTZ) to generate awareness of adaptation among Indian farmers affected by climate change. The use of adaptation offers a practical response strategy to the key problems of global environment and the needs and problems faced by the poorest. Dr Hoff from the Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research Telegrafenberg, Germany, and Dr Kalipada Chatterjee, Development Alternatives, New Delhi, will be the keynote speakers during the workshop. Recent surveys have shown that climate change, which includes drought, flood, extreme temperatures and other natural hazards, has been affecting the poor in developing countries as most of them are dependent on natural resources. It has become common knowledge that the capacity to respond to climate change is the lowest in developing countries. In India almost three fourths of the population relies directly or indirectly on agriculture for livelihood. Climate change has been taking its toll every year in terms of human lives and livelihood and has a profound effect on agriculture, including crops, livestock, water resources, forestry and fisheries. |
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Yet another waterless day for Sonepat
residents Sonepat, April 28 According to a report, the stoppage of water supply without any prior notice by the Public Health Department (PHD) has forced the residents to purchase water at the rate of Rs 2 per bucket to meet their requirement. The stoppage of water supply in the evening in this part of the city is still continuing and the officials of the PHD were not bothered about the public complaints in this regard. Many residents alleged that they have been facing the water shortage since March 15, the day when the water supply has been curtailed by the PHD without any reason. The water supply is inadequate and erratic with low pressure in the morning and they cannot store the water on account of this, they added. Some other residents said that they have to fetch water from distant places to meet their requirement, as the water in the interiors is salinity and unfit for human consumption. They alleged that the PHD has utterly failed to make alternative arrangements to supply water to the residents through tankers etc. The representatives of some women organisations have blamed the officials of the PHD for water crisis and alleged that the district authorities too have remained silent spectators on this issue. They also threatened to launch an agitation and gherao the officials if the supply of water was not restored in the evening immediately. |
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Sangh protests against privatisation policy of Jal
Board New Delhi, April 28 The water is one of the natural resources of the country and to sell it on higher price is unfair. If it is privatised, it will benefit the politicians as well as the capitalist. Incompetent officers are being appointed at important position who are tarnishing the image of the board. The DANICS officers have not been appointed in ‘Bottling Plant’ though they are competent enough to manage the things in the plant. Automation system at Haidarpur Water Treatment Plant is not functioning. Instead of repairing it, the politicians are contemplating to privatise the department. A few days back, water was supplied by tankers, which is not practical. In such a big city, tankers cannot be alternate of general water supply. The government is considering to privatise two water supply centres in South Delhi instead of improving the general water supply. According to the DJB Act’s section 55, the department can decide the rate of water. Despite this, the government is planning to constitute Regulatory Commission to decide the rate of water. A few official visited foreign countries to see how water is supplied in those countries but no improvement have made in smooth supply of water in the Capital, he added. The memorandum questioned of the benefit of the officials’ visit to foreign countries. The Sangh members appealed the Chief Minister that not to privatise the DJB as its employees were competent enough to provide smooth water supply to the residents of the Capital. They require CM’s cooperation and competent leadership. |
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NCR BRIEFS New Delhi, April 28 Additional Sessions Judge R. K. Jain also ordered the convict Angrej (28) to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 in addition. The nine accused set free by the court are - Dinesh, Anil, Ashok Jain, Inaam, Nagender Satra, Sukhbir Sharma and Manjeet all belonging to Panipat in Haryana besides Ashwani and Surender, both from Delhi. Prosecution could prove its case beyond reasonable doubt only against Angrej, the court said, adding that since there was no substantial evidence against the other nine, they were given the benefit of doubt. On February 5, 1999, rice mill-owner Ram Gopal, along with his brothers Anil Kumar and Rajender, came to Delhi in their car. They withdrew Rs 15 lakh from a bank and had been returning to their village. As they reached near Alipur, a car hit their vehicle. Soon another car came and stopped near them and three men emerged from the vehicle and snatched the keys of Ram Gopal’s car. When the driver resisted, they shot and injured him. Later, they took the money away from the boot of Gopal’s car. A week after the incident, the police apprehended the convict Angrej and another accused Surender. Free eye-camp
A free eye camp was organised today at Tagore Public School, Gandhi Nagar by a well-known social service organisation, Tarun Mitra Parishad, in association with Mitra Sangam Delhi. Lal Bihari Tiwari, MP inaugurated the camp by lighting the lamp. The chief guest, Mr Arvinder Singh, Minister of Education and Tourism of Delhi Lovely, appreciated Tarun Mitra Parishad and Mitra Sangam. Two youths missing
Sonepat: Two youths, identified as Vikas (16) and Rinku (13), are reported to be missing since April 25 at Gopalpur village in this district. According to a report, the parents of these youths have reported the case to the police. Vikas had appeared in the class 10 examination whereas Rinku was studying in class 8. It is stated that Vikas and Rinku had gone out on their motorcycle when they were found missing.
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Six of family booked for dowry death as body cremated in a
hurry Faridabad, April 28 The police had also booked six persons in connection with the alleged dowry death of a woman who had been married to one Aslam of Punhana village. The police had also received a complaint from a woman resident of Sector 21-D here regarding the harassment she was subjected to by her husband and in-laws. The complainant had alleged in her application sent to the women’s cell of the police recently that as she had lodged a dowry harassment complaint earlier against her husband the latter was threatening her with dire consequences. Meanwhile, in another incident a woman resident of Pemakhera village in the district was killed after she was got seriously injured while working on a harvesting machine. It is reported that the victim, identified as Sharifan, wife of one Shamim, got her hand entangled in the machine accidentally and before she could be rushed to the hospital she succumbed to her injuries. This is perhaps the first case of death during harvesting operations in the district this year.
Rehearsal held for May 10 poll The district election authorities today held a pilot rehearsal for holding the elections scheduled on May 10 in the Faridabad constituency. Addressing the officials and employees put on election duty, the Central Observer appointed by the Election Commission, Mr S. Bhale Rao, asked the staff to check and re-check the material being supplied to them and ensure that all formalities and preparations for conducting the elections in a free and fair manner were accomplished in time. He said what was required was team work, cooperation and dedication on the part of the election staff so that there was no scope of any kind of complaint or any irregularity. He said the staff should see that there was no political slogan or material written or pasted on the walls of the polling booth before the polling begins and the official in charge of the station should not leave the place and keep the election material, including the EVMs, in his safe custody. He said if there were people queuing up in a line to cast their vote even around 5 pm such voters should be allowed to cast their vote. He said the officials on duty should not help a voter press the button on the EVM but tell them how to use it without touching the machine itself. He said the voters’ list supplied by the election office should be believed by the officials and not the list supplied by any polling agent. The officials were asked to use the prescribed vehicle and the route after the polling was over. The authorities concerned stated that although about 92 per cent of the voters had been issued identity cards the rest could use any of the 14 valid documents prescribed by the Election Commission to establish their identity. The officials were directed to provide a ramp for the benefit of the physically challenged voters at the polling stations. The staff was asked to maintain the secrecy of voting and requested not to hand over the EVMs even to the policemen or the police parties and stated that the cops would have to follow the orders and instructions of the polling officials during the process. |
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Vegetable seller killer nabbed Ghaziabad, April 28 The history sheeter who belongs to Bavarya gang criminal, was arrested after an encounter. The accused had murdered a vegetable seller on March 13, the police said. Forty cases of murders, decoity, loots etc are registered against him. A 12 bore local pistol and some cartridges were also recovered from him on frisking, the police claimed. Inspector Vijay Chaudhry of Sihani Gate said a man was seen near Pran Garhi in the wee hours who tried to flee on seeing the police, but was nabbed by the cops. Mr Chaudhry said there were 40 cases registered against the dreaded criminal Madan, who is wanted in 40 cases of murder, attempt to murder, loot, dacoity, way lying and under Arms Act, Gangster Act, Goonda Act etc. |
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Inter-state chain snatcher
arrested New Delhi, April 28 The sleuths received information that a snatcher, Ram Chander, Gupta alias Ramu, resident of Krishna Nagar, has been committing chain snatchings in the moving trains, and accordingly laid a trap by sending a woman Geeta Devi with gold ornaments in the train. Accordingly, the sleuths apprehended Gupta when he tried to snatch the gold ornaments from Geeta Devi. During interrogation, the accused told the sleuths that he has been involved in the crime for the past one year and used to dispose off the gold ornaments to goldsmiths in the Western Uttar Pradesh. Three get life term for killing shopkeeper Three accused have been sentenced to life imprisonment for killing a shopkeeper in Uttam Nagar area of West Delhi over a monetary dispute in January 2001. The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr R. P. S. Teji, also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each on Dal Chand, Kamal Mani and Bijender, who stabbed to death 30-year-old Srinath near his shop after a verbal duel on January 17, 2001. Mr Teji found the accused, residents of Mohan Garden in Uttam Nagar, guilty of murdering the shopkeeper selling electrical equipment. Security employee found dead A 66-year-old employee of one Superior Security Service was found dead this morning in the office with sharp injuries in the Pancheel Vihar area of South district. The death of the victim Raj Mangal Srivastav, resident of Muzzafar Pur, was discovered by the office sweeper, Prem Nath, at around 6 am this morning. The police was informed about the death around 7.45 am. A case of murder has been registered in the Malviya Nagar police station. The police said that the victim has been working for the past one year in the accounts section and used to sleep in the office at A-47, Pancheel Vihar. Gang of auto spare parts thieves busted With the arrest of three persons, the Crime Branch has claimed to have busted a gang involved in the auto spare parts theft in Delhi. The sleuths seized auto spare parts worth Rs 2 lakh from a factory in Adarsh Nagar. The accused were identified as Manish Kumar (24), resident of Adarsh Nagar, Vikas Arora (24), resident of Adarsh Nagar and Promod Gupta (38), resident of Shahdara. The sleuths received a secret information that one Manish was trying to sell some auto spare parts in a factory and accordingly apprehended him. The accused told the sleuths that they had stolen these spare parts from a factory Taruna Auto Private Limited in Adarsh Nagar and had disposed off some spare parts to one Pramod Gupta in Karol Bagh. |
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150 WT passengers booked in Sonepat Sonepat, April 28 According to a report, all the ticketless passengers were tried on the spot and a sum of Rs 1.20 lakh was recovered as fine from them. The officials checked 303 UP passenger train, 3 DPM shuttle, 4 DPM shuttle, 5 DPM shuttle, Dadar-Amritsar Express and the Malwa Express. About a dozen milk vendors, however, succeeded in fleeing leaving their containers there. The checking staff seized the milk containers at the Sonepat railway station for auction. Women hold demo Large number of women of Ashok Vihar, Malviya Nagar and Vikas Nagar held a joint demonstration outside a place near the Deputy Commissioner’s office here today in protest against the non-supply of water for the past 10 days by the Public Health Department. According to a report, they raised slogans against the Government and the officials of the PHD and warned that if the supply of water was not restored immediately, they would be forced to gherao the DC and the SE of the PHD on this issue. Criminal arrested A man, Rajesh, son of Mr Rajbir of Khewra village, has been arrested by the Himachal Pradesh police in cooperation with the Rai police in a special raid conducted jointly at his house in Khewra village about 13 km from here yesterday. According to a report, the culprit was wanted in a murder case registered against him in the Raj Garh police station on January 2 last. It is stated that the culprit had gone to Himachal Pradesh to celebrate the New Year there. During his visit to Raj Garh an altercation took place between him and the victim. Thereafter, he murdered the rival and returned to home immediately after committing the crime. The culprit was produced before a Judicial Magistrate here today and the police was allowed to take him to Raj Garh for further interrogation in the case. Woman commits suicide Kamlesh, a 22-year-old woman, was reported to have committed suicide by taking sulphas tablets in her house at Kurar village about 10 km from here last night. She took this extreme step after a family quarrel. The police sent the body for the post-mortem examination, a report said. |
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Four truck hijackers arrested Ghaziabad, April 28 The gang had looted a truck laden with iron rods in Bisarkh on March 24. They had unloaded sarya (iron rods) from the truck after making the driver unconscious and had fled after dumping the empty truck at Noida. Police have recovered the sarya (iron rods) worth Rs 1 Lakh, two local revolvers and knives from their possession. The SO, Mr Anil Somarya, said that on Savery Mode (Bye-Pass) four men were found in suspicious circumstances last night. They fired on the cops when chased by the cops. The criminals who were arrested after a brief encounter, identified themselves as Rakesh alias Fauji, son of Jagdish of Kasna, Vijay alias Babloo, son of Brij Pal of Macwana, Meerut, Anuj alias Sandeep, son of Jagdish Gupta of Macwana, Meerut, and Ramu son of Jagveer of Declcha, Bagpat. The criminals were planning to commit a big crime, police said. They used to hitch hike on trucks as passengers and would render driver and helper unconscious and later loot the truck at a lonely place, son of Anil Somarya said. They had travelled as passengers in a truck on March24, beaten up the driver and dumped him unconscious in Phase-II police station area of Noida. Later, they had looted the truck full of iron rods. They guided the police to recover iron rods worth Rs 1 lakh on criminals. All the four criminals were living in Vijay Nagar Sector-9 in rented house for the last two months. On search, goods stolen by them from elsewhere were also recovered from their house. |
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