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Poor turnout in DUSU polls
Punjab cops held for abetting terrorist’s escape
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New mode of treatment for head and neck cancer
Metro completes tunnelling for phase I
Small traders perturbed by VAT
Govt told to reply to circular on NIOS students
Lecturer’s body found, husband booked
Worker’s kidney removed during
health check-up
MCD to honour 100 teachers
Cochlear implant screening camp
DU V-C
Hon. Fellow of Ballioi College
Ambitious bank scheme to empower
Reality film fest concludes
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Poor turnout in DUSU polls
New Delhi, September 3 A poor turnout of about 40 percent in the first half (for morning colleges) and about 35 percent in the second half (for evening colleges) is a manifestation of the average student’s apathy towards the hyped DUSU polls. Even in colleges, where the polling turnout was comparatively higher, the students seemed to be more enthusiastic about the college elections than about the DUSU polls. Supporters of the candidates seeking election to the college panels tried last-minute tactics with some even managing to shove bits of paper with the ballot numbers and names into the hands of prospective voters. The voting, which began at 8.30 a.m., concluded at 11.30 a.m. for the morning colleges; it resumed at 4 p.m. and concluded at 7 p.m. for the 13 evening colleges. “According to estimates, around 40 per cent students participated in the polls, which went off peacefully without any complaints of bogus voting and rigging. In some colleges there was very low polling. Colleges like Laxmi Bai and CVS had polling as low as 15 to 20 percent, but ARSD registered almost 90 percent polling”, said the Chief Election Officer, Prof. Rajiv Khanna. The Outer Delhi colleges registered a high turnout as against those in other areas. While most colleges witnessed similar scenes, colleges like Hansraj, Hindu and Law Faculty were abuzz with activity. Roads were strewn with pamphlets, which became manna from heaven for the rag pickers. For a taste of democracy
The turnout was low, but for those who chose to cast their ballot the experience was either exhilarating or plain routine, depending on whether it was their first voting exercise or last. Owing to the limited days allowed for canvassing, the pre-poll fever failed to get translated into a good turnout, much to the dismay of the contestants. Yet, there were many who came “anyway to sample a taste of democracy”. For Narayan, an MA Previous student, this year’s voting was no different from that of the previous years. Visual impairment did not deter him and a few others like him from casting their ballot. Asked why he wanted to vote, Narayan quipped, “It is about the relationship you have with the contestants. If you know them, you want to vote for them. It also makes it easier to get work done”. Issues related to the handicapped are important, but a close second on his list. Quiz most of the students about what they think is important — issues or the equation with the contestants — most will reluctantly concede that they vote for the person they think will listen to them and deliver on promises. “Almost all parties have similar promises to make. There is very little difference as far as issues are concerned, what helps us decide is either the party ideology or the profile of the candidate who we are likely to benefit from”, said Gaurav, a second year student at Ramjas. It is, therefore, no surprise that the DUSU panel was relegated to the background with “supporters” choosing to prioritise the college elections. “We hardly get to see the DUSU panel after the win, when we need help the college union is more accessible”, he added.
Lawyers’ strike
The lawyers in the Capital will observe a strike on Saturday to protest against the police lathicharge on their counterparts in Lucknow. They lawyers have sought immediate action against the culpable police officers. The Delhi Bar Association Secretary, Mr Sanjeev Nasiar, said that all the associations had decided to boycott work in protest against the police high-handedness in Lucknow. Following an emergency meeting, the DBA demanded the dismissal of policemen responsible for the lathicharge in which several advocates were injured.
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Punjab cops held for abetting terrorist’s escape
New Delhi, September 3 Head Constable Raj Kumar and constables Virender Pal, Bhupinder Singh and Surinder Singh were arrested by the Special Cell on charges of “conspiracy” to help Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) terrorist Gursevak Singh, alias Babla, escape here on August 24, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Ashok Chand told reporters here. Gursevak had reportedly given a slip to the Punjab Police personnel who were escorting him in Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, when he was taken there for a medical check-up en route to the Tis Hazari Courts for a hearing. During investigations, the needle of suspicion pointed towards the four cops and they were called here for interrogation, Chand said. “During interrogation, their complicity came to the fore and they were arrested,” he said. Gursevak was accused in a number of terrorist acts like bomb blasts and killings.
Cop held for demanding
Rs 100 as bribe
The Anti-Corruption Branch of the Delhi Police has arrested Head Constable Bijender Singh for demanding and accepting Rs 100 from complainant Pramod Kumar. Bijender is posted at Narela police station. According to the police, the complainant had gone to the NDPL office in Narela after parking his motorcycle outside the office. When he came back, he learnt that his motorcycle had been towed away by the police as it was lying abandoned. He went to the ACP’s office and got the release orders. When he reached the police station, the accused demanded Rs 100 to release the motorcycle. Meanwhile, the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police arrested one person for carrying 15 cartons of illegal liquor that were stocked at his residence in JJ Colony, Shakarpur. The accused has been identified as Jony, alias Kalu Ram. In another case, the Timarpur police in North district arrested one person for carrying 90 quarters of illicit liquor. The person has been identified as Shivaji (35), a resident of Wazirabad. He was arrested from the T-point in Wazirabad. The police also arrested one Razia Begum (45), a resident of Wazirabad. She was carrying 12 bottles of country-made liquor. In another incident, the local police in Chandni Chowk arrested one Shukni Mandal for allegedly carrying 1.5 kg ganja. A case has been registered with the local police station.
One held for raping minor
The Delhi Police have arrested one person who was allegedly involved in kidnapping and raping a minor girl in Sultan Puri area. The accused has been identified as Rakesh, alias Ricky (27). According to the police, Rakesh, a resident of Sangroor, Punjab, used to visit to his brother in Sultan Puri frequently. In that locality, one Tulsi Ram used to live with his daughter. One day, the accused kidnapped Tulsi Ram’s 14-year-old daughter and took her to Sangroor and raped her repeatedly. After a few days, Rakesh was arrested by the local police in Sangroor in a theft case. Later, he was put behind bars and the girl somehow managed to escape from captivity. After reaching her house in Sultanpuri, she narrated her ordeal. The medical check-up confirmed rape. A case has been registered in this regard. He was absconding ever since he was released from the jail in Punjab. On September 1, the police received a tip-off that Rakesh would visit his uncle’s house in
Sultanpuri.
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New mode of treatment for head and neck cancer
New Delhi, September 3 Dr Puneet Gupta, Senior Consultant, Cancer Medicine, at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital told TNS here today that this is the first time that the therapy has been given in India. The therapy is chosen in cases where radiotherapy and chemotherapy have failed. Dr Gupta, who learnt about this therapy during his training at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, said that presently monoclonal antibody therapy is used in advanced cases of cancer and which are not yielding to other therapies. The trials are on to use this therapy in advanced cases as the first line of treatment. The oncologist further explained that the therapy is possible through blood (intravenous) in an intensive care unit. It cannot be rendered at home or in a ward. The patient has to be continuously monitored for heart rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure and respiratory rate. Special watch is kept to aggressively treat bronchospasm (breathlessness) and hypotension (low blood pressure), which may be the induced side-effects. These can, however, be managed under expert care in the ICU. The drug comes in liquid form and has to be given through a very special filter of 0.2 micron. The first dose is double the subsequent doses, which are given every week. The injection known as Erbitus has to be imported from Germany where it is manufactured by Merck. The total therapy costs about Rs six lakh. The oncologist’s decision to continue the injection depends on the response of the patient. Dr Gupta said that head and neck cancers are the most common cancers in India. According to an estimate, 60 per cent of all cancers reported in India fall in the aforesaid category. The major causes of such cancers are tobacco consumption and poor oral hygiene. The traditional treatment uses surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
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Metro completes tunnelling for phase I
New Delhi, September 3 The final breakthrough was witnessed by DMRC Managing Director E. Sreedharan and DMRC Chairman Anil Baijal. Describing the event as a major happening, Mr Sreedharan said during tunnelling, the engineers had to face many challenges due to difficult ground conditions below the surface and the need to ensure complete safety of the buildings at the top. Tunnelling activity was carried out in extremely difficult areas like Nai Sarak, Chawri Bazaar, Chandni Chowk and Hauz Qazi as these areas have very old buildings. The 11-km-long underground corridor of the Metro running from Delhi University to Central Secretariat (Line II) involves tunnelling over a distance of 4 km, using rock-boring machine and earth pressure balance machine. The underground Metro corridor is being opened in two stages with Delhi University to Kashmere Gate section being opened in December 2004 followed by an extension of this line-up to the Central Secretariat in June 2005. The twin tunnels of Up and Down movement of the trains have been made using high quality reinforced concrete of M-45 grade and the tunnel is expected to have a life of 120 years. The finished internal diameter of these tunnels is 5.7 m. The DMRC has introduced the new Austrian tunnelling method to speed up the progress. The process started in August 2002 and has been completed in two years. The remaining 7 kms of underground line II is being constructed using the cut and cover method. Tunnelling was adopted in those areas where the surface disturbance was not possible in places like Connaught Place, Chawri Bazaar, New Delhi Station and Delhi Main Station. Two different types of machines were used depending upon the condition of soil. Rock tunnel boring method was used between Delhi Main and Chawri Bazaar as they are designed to cope with the hard, abrasive ground conditions which contained quartzite. Earth pressure balance tunnel boring machine, purchased from the Bangkok Metro, was used between Patel Chowk and Connaught Place and from Kashmere Gate to Delhi Main and between New Delhi and Connaught Place. The Austrian tunnelling method was used between Chawri Bazaar and New Delhi. This method was introduced at a later stage as an additional tunnelling technique to ensure that the Metro meets its deadline.
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Small traders perturbed by VAT
Noida, September 3 The state government, however, has its own reservation on the subject. But many leading entrepreneurs of Noida feel the uniform rate of taxation will ultimately benefit all. They are thus in favour of VAT. The rates of taxation in many states like Delhi, Punjab are lesser than raw material in UP. Noida traders have to compete with the traders in Delhi and Punjab and in this race, the Noida entrepreneurs are usually the losers. According to senior vice-president of Noida Entrepreneurs Association, Vipin Malhan, the uniform rates of tax will benefit all entrepreneurs. Only the tax evaders are opposing VAT, says Mr Malhan. All Noida entrepreneurs are votaries of VAT, feels Mr Malhan. Two representatives of businessmen’s bodies, UP Udyog Vapar Pratinidhi Mandal’s cashier, Laxmi Narin Agrawal and pressident of UP Samajwadi Vapar Mandal, Radhey Shyam Gupta, however, feel that VAT will result in exploitation of small traders. Small traders, Mr Gupta says, are not able to keep systematic accounts. The government should exempt traders with an annual turnover of Rs 50 lakh from VAT. If VAT is implemented after some amendments as desired by the trading community, they will have no objection to it. Laxmi Narin Agarwal is, however, in favour of Additional Production Tax in place of VAT. He says trade tax and Central Trade Tax (CST) yield an income of Rs 125 lakh crore to all governments annually. The Central Government earned a revenue of Rs 10,000 crore from the taxes on textiles, tobacco and sugar. If the same tax is imposed on a number of other commodities, it will boost the tax kitty tremendously. In the counties where VAT is enforced, full computerisation has taken place and the business community is also educated. But in India, not more than 15 per cent people have properly understood the implications of VAT.
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Govt told to reply to circular on NIOS students
New Delhi, September 3 Justice C. K. Mahajan asked the government to file its reply as to why those students who seek admission to government-run schools after having passed out from NIOS are asked to adhere to a separate set of rules. In a petition filed by the Social Jurists, the court was informed that more than 10,000 students, who have passed class X from NIOS and secured less than 55 per cent aggregate marks, have been denied admission in government schools because of the arbitrary conditions spelt out in the circular. The petitioners claimed that the Directorate of Education, in a circular, had listed that NIOS students are eligible for admission to government schools if “they have studied relevant subjects, acquired at least 55 per cent marks in aggregate and the applicant is not more than 17 years of age as on September 30, 2004. The directorate had also said that admissions were subject to “availability of seats and that the class strength should not be beyond 40”.
HC dismisses plea against admission policy on boys
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea alleging that the new policy laid down by the Delhi Government for admission of children of weaker sections of society in unaided private schools, which were allotted land on concessional rates, was discriminatory against boy students. A Bench comprising Chief Justice B. C. Patel and Justice B. D. Ahmed said the application could not be entertained as the policy was framed on the high court’s directive, which was issued while disposing of a writ petition. However, the Bench allowed the Children Welfare Association to file a fresh petition. The association had sought impleadment in the writ, raising the issue of granting admission to the children of weaker sections of the society on freeship in public schools. The court had directed the Delhi Government to ensure that all unaided recognised private schools having received land on concessional rates should admit 25 per cent of its students from the weaker sections of society. The Association had contended that the new policy laid down by the Directorate of Education on April 27 was discriminatory for it defined the weaker sections in Delhi to mean “the child whose present annual parental income limit is Rs 48,000 for boy students and Rs 60,000 for girl students”. The Association said “there were many families which had only a boy child and their annual earnings were between Rs 48,000 and Rs 60,000.
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Lecturer’s body found, husband booked
Faridabad, September 3 In the first incident that shook the residents of Sector 21-A here, the police seized the body of a young lecturer of an engineering college, who was found murdered in the college hostel, housed in a kothi here. The victim, identified as Sonia, was working as warden of the hostel. She had been visited by her estranged husband a couple of hours before the murder. It is alleged that her husband, who was reportedly upset by the divorce case filed by her wife, strangulated her after some arguments in the hostel and fled from the spot. The woman’s body was found by the security guard of the hostel. A few hours earlier, the security guard had informed the victim about the entry of her husband in the hostel compound. The accused, identified as Rohtash, has been booked by the police. The police have also booked a case of dowry death at Softa village of the Hathin subdivision in the district. It is alleged that a young woman, identified as Shabnam, was allegedly murdered by her in-laws. In another case, a youth Santlal of Gothra village has been booked for beating up a married woman of the village. It is alleged that she was beaten up as she had resisted the molestation attempt by the accused.
Girl gunned down
Noida: Some criminals barged into the house of one Munna Khan at Mohalla Vapariyan in Jhajhar and shot dead his 12-year-old daughter Reshma. The sound of gunfire woke up the villagers, but the intruders fled from the scene. The assailants had come at 2 am and shot at the girl who succumbed to her injuries on way to hospital. Incidentally, the assailants had climbed to the terrace of the house and then came down in the compound from the stairs and fled by the same route. Two of the assailants were seen fleeing, but could not be identified. The police have registered a case against the unidentified assailants and sent the body for post mortem. The case will soon be cracked, the police
said. — OC
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Worker’s kidney removed during
health check-up
Hapur (Ghaziabad), September 3 His kidney had been reportedly removed by the owner of a factory where he was working. The owner had it transplanted in his own body in a dubious manner. The twenty-six-year-old expert mason of yesteryears, Sikander today faces a grim future, while the factory owner Sushil Arya is living happily after duping a simple man. The crafty factory owner had lured Sikander to Amritsar on the promise of a cushy job three-and-a-half years ago. On the pretext of getting him medically examined, the factory owner had reportedly got Sikander’s kidney removed and had it transplanted in his own body in a private nursing home there. Sikander was working as a Raj Mistry in Fatepur area of Delhi when Sushil Arya, a businessman of Lawrence Road, Delhi, chanced to meet him. Arya told Sikander that he was proprietor of a big construction company where he needed an experienced foreman to supervise the work of 250 masons and artisans. After keeping him in Delhi for a couple of days, Sushil Arya took Sikander to Amritsar, where he said his project was under construction. Here, he made Sikander fill a form for employment in Arya’s company. He was then taken for a health check-up in a hospital as part of recruitment formalities. He was admitted to the nursing home on some pretext. When Sikander regained consciousness, he was on life support system. After staying in Amritsar at Kashmir Avenue, Sikander was brought to Delhi and kept at Lawrence Road for a couple of days. Nobody ever told him what the matter was. He had become just a shadow of his former self. On his persistent queries one day, Sushil’s wife Aarti told Sikander that one of his kidneys had been removed to save the life of her husband. According to Sikander, he was paid Rs 5,000 and told to come after a month when he would be given a remunerative job and his family would also be looked after. When he went there after a month, he was threatened and shooed away. Keshav Puram police station did not register his report. On his petition to the Delhi Police Commissioner, a report was registered in Lahori Gate police station in May 2001. The police conducted a raid to complete the formality. No action was taken subsequently, says Sikander. Till now, his two younger brothers had been helping him, but they too have now expressed inability to help him. This has brought Sikander and his family to the brink of starvation. According to Sikander, he has approached the Delhi Chief Minister, Hapur Palika Chairman Dharam Pal and many others, but got nothing save promises. Ghaziabad MP Suridner Goel had given Sikander letters for AIIMS, New Delhi and Hapur government hospital for treatment. However, a fat sum of money was demanded from him in both the places. It may be recalled that the Punjab government had taken a harsh action on some doctors and nursing homes in Amritsar when the news of kidney scandals in the city had made headlines during 2001.
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MCD to honour 100 teachers
New Delhi, September 3 The Mayor of Delhi, Mr A. R. Verma, will be the chief guest; Deputy Mayor Ramesh Dutta, Chairman of the Standing Committee Mukesh Goel, leader of the House Satbir Singh and leader of the Opposition Subhash Arya will also grace the occasion. The chairman of the Education Committee, Mr Thakur Das, will preside over the function. On the occasion, the municipal teachers will present cultural programmes. The Mayor said that for the Municipal Awards, 100 teachers have been chosen from among 18,000 in three stages. A committee had been constituted to select the teachers for the awards. Twenty Headmasters, 72 general, five nursery, one physical, one music and one arts teacher will get the award. This year out of a total of 100 award recipients, 77 were women. The winners will get a cash prize of Rs 5000, a commendation certificate and a memento.
NDMC awards
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has announced the names of 13 teachers from different schools for the ‘NDMC Teachers Award-2004’ on the eve of the Teachers Day. The teachers have been honoured for their meritorious and excellent performance in the field of education and co-curricular activities. The teachers selected for the NDMC awards include Mr Bahori Lal, Vice-Principal, NP Senior Secondary School, Tilak Marg; Mr T. D. Sharma, Lecturer, NP Boys Senior Secondary School No. 1, Mandir Marg; Mrs Usha Arora, Lecturer, NP Co-Ed Senior Secondary School, Ansari Nagar.
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Cochlear implant screening camp
New Delhi, September 3 According to Dr A.K. Lahiri, Chairman of the E.N.T Department of the hospital, the Cochlear implant system is a technologically advanced medical device, which enables adults and children with severe hearing impairment to hear sound, understand speech and speak. The implant has two parts-internal and external. The internal part is implanted surgically into the bone behind the ear, under the skin. A part of this implant goes into the cochlea. This part is not visible from outside. The external part is worn on the outside just like a hearing aid. It is available either as a pocket model or behind-the-ear model. It consists of a microphone and a speech processor. Dr Lahiri explained that sounds and voices are picked by the microphone and sent to the speech processor, which codes the sound. This coded sound is transmitted from the external part to the internal part in the form of radio waves. The inner part converts the coded sound into electrical signals, which are picked up by the hearing nerves. These signals are then recognised by the brain as hearing. The cochlea looks like a snail and houses the delicate neuro-epithelium (cells) and hearing nerves. Damage to cochlea causes deafness, which varies in degrees depending on the extent of damage. Meningitis and viral infections can also cause damage to cochlea.
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Lt-Gen Ramji Rai takes over as DGMS
New Delhi, September 3 Lieutenant-General Ramji Rai is from the first batch of graduate wing of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune. The Army Medical Corps will be headed for the first time by an alumnus of the AFMC. He succeeds Lieutenant-General S. P. Kalra, AVSM, who retired on August 31, 2004.
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DU V-C
Hon. Fellow of Ballioi College
New Delhi, September 3 Deepak Nayyar was a student at Ballioi College, as a Rhodes scholar, where he obtained a B.Phil and a D.Phil in Economics. Some of the Honorary Follows of Ballioi College are Haraid V (King of Norway), Edward Heath (former Prime Minister of Britain), Christopher Hill (eminent historian and former Master of Ballioi College), Colln Lucas (former Master of Ballioi College and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford), Ved Mehta (columnist and novelist), Christopher Paten (former EU Commissioner and now Chancellor of the University of Oxford), and Tuanku abdul Rahman (former Prime Minister
of Malaysia). Last month, Professor Nayyar was also elected as a Member of the Board for the International Association of Universities, which is based at UNESCO in Paris. Professor Nayyar is Chairman of the Board of Governors of the World Institute for Development Economics Research, UNU-WIDER, Helsinki. He is on the Board of Directors of the Social Science Research Council in the United Sates.
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Ambitious bank scheme to empower
Meerut, September 3 On the occasion, an agriculture exhibition was also organised where thousands of kisans were being educated on fisheries, dairy industry and other farming activities and agricultural equipment. Mr Bijan Ray, General Manager, Allahabad Bank, Head Office, Kolkata, inaugurated this mega-agricultural camp where a loan of Rs 15.27 crore was distributed to the needy farmers. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bijan Ray, GM Allahabad Bank, HQ, Kolkata, said that the doors of Allahabad Bank are always open for farmers. He said that a target of Rs 3,016 crore had been fixed for 2004-05 against Rs 848.24 of year 2003-04 which is more than 300 per cent increase from the previous years. Mr Khan Moh Usman, Assistant General Manager, Allahabad Bank, Meerut Region, told The Tribune that the bank was committed to the welfare of farmers and a systematic plan had been adopted by the bank to achieve the target in which branches of the bank will be more farmer-friendly. Besides, the bank will also have tie-ups with several companies which produce farming equipment. Mr Khan Moh Usman, AGM, Allahabad Bank, said that dairy, afforestation and horticulture projects will also be supported monetarily by the bank. To educate the farmers, a magician, V Samrat had already been hired by the bank who is publicising various policies of the bank in rural areas, through his magic. Present on the occasion were chief manager Rajvir Singh besides thousands of farmers of western UP.
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Reality film fest concludes
New Delhi, September 3 Four of PSBT’s documentary and reality film won awards in the non-fiction category. The award winning films include `Seeds of Life’ (English) which won the award for the Best Agriculture Film (Producer-Rajiv Mehrotra and Director-Usha Albuquerque), `Fiddlers on the Thatch’ (English) won the award for the `Best Educational/ Motivation Film’, Producer-Rajiv Mehrotra / Director-Trisha Das, a Special Jury Award has been announced for `The Lijjat Sisterhood’, Producer-Rajiv Mehrotra/Director-Kadambari Chintamani and Ajit Oomen, while the award for the Best Music Direction has been awarded to Julius Packiam for the film `Fiddlers on the Thatch’, Producer-Rajiv Mehrotra / Director-Trisha Das.
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