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Kidnappers in police uniform held after encounter
Cong road show to prepare chargesheet against Chautala
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Proposal for district status
to Mewat
Allottees of cancelled plots can apply again, deadline extended to Oct
Traffic curbs on 2nd Nizamuddin Bridge Schools move towards bag-free environment
NCERT brainstorming on safety norms
Probe ordered into ‘inhuman’
ragging
MTNL Perfect Health Mela from Oct 29
NRIs to take part in DDA auction in S
Delhi
Rich haul of fake Skyshop goods, four held
CAIT dubs decision on shop timings as illogical
JNU students call off stir
DAV school tops quiz contest
NGO peeved at being left out of Child Welfare Committees
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Kidnappers in police uniform held after encounter
New Delhi, September 17 The suspects have been identified as Narendra Bisht, alias Commando, the leader of the gang, Anil Kumar, Sandeep, alias Sonu, and Suresh, alias Biru. They were arrested from Mahipalpur, where they were moving in police uniforms, the police said. Acting on a tip-off that the gang members were hatching a plan to kidnap a businessman in the Capital, a police team was constituted to trace the gang. The sleuth spotted the gang members at Mahipalpur on two motorbikes. When the police approached the suspects, they tried to speed away. Later, when the police chased them, they fired at the team. But the policemen overpowered them. The police has recovered two pistols, along with 35 cartridges and two motorbikes and uniforms of a sub-inspector and a constable of the Delhi Police. During the last five months, the gang had allegedly abducted a young man from an affluent family in Moti Nagar and had reportedly walked away with a few lakhs of rupees. They had also abducted a Delhi-based hawala operator and asked for a ransom of Rs 6 lakh. The family of a government employee, who is working as an inspector in a transport authority, was forced to cough up Rs 5 lakh as ransom. The gang used to wear police uniform to intercept its targets, the police said.
55-yr-old commits suicide
A 55-year-old man committed suicide in his house in New Seelampuri in East Delhi last night. After a quarrel with his wife over a trivial matter, the deceased, Hari Om, 35, went to the verandah, leaving his wife asleep in the room. When she woke this morning, she found him hanging from the ceiling.
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Cong road show to prepare chargesheet against Chautala
Gurgaon, September 17 Mr Surjewala said that a case will be made out for the dismissal of the present government so that instances of corrupt practices cited in the proposed memorandum could be investigated by the Central agencies. Other members of the Committee include Mr Bhajan Lal, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Mr Birender Singh and Capt. Ajay Yadav. It was constituted on July 29 at the initiative of the AICC-General Secretary and in-charge of Haryana affairs, Mr Janardan Diwedi. The Congress had charged the present INLD government of promoting corrupt practices at its public meeting at Kurukshetra on August 9. The Committee has been entrusted to do follow-up work on the charges levelled in that meeting. The members of the Committee are visiting the districts to collect materials to be incorporated in the charge-sheet/memorandum. The HPCC has also urged the public to come out with details of corrupt practices under the present government. Mr Surjewala said that the memorandum will be ready by the end of this month. Responding to queries from mediapersons, Mr Surjewala alleged that the government had reduced the rate of “Area Development Tax” with ulterior motive, causing heavy financial loss to the government exchequer. According to him, Mr Abhey Singh Chautala and Mr Ajay Singh Chautala had suppressed details of their properties in the affidavits filed by them before the Election Commission in connection with their nomination papers in the last parliamentary elections. Even the properties owned by them, as mentioned in the affidavits, can not be justified on the touchstone of their known source of income. Dwelling the point further, he said that Devi Lal had bequeathed barely 32 acres of land (before 1977) to Mr Chautala. A visit to Teja Khera farm of Mr Chautala and the farm at Lambi near Sirsa-the home district of the ruling clan-would show that Mr Chautala possesses several hundred acres of land. The gazettes installed in the two farms are mind boggling in terms of their money worth, he said and added: “This is only the tip of the proverbial ice-berg.” He stressed that incriminating evidences collected by the Committee was more than enough to convince any one of the culpability of Mr Chautala and his two sons. When asked on the alleged cases of corruption during the Congress rule in the state, he said that the Committee was not assigned to look into it. He, however, stressed that if the Congress came to power, there would be transparency in the administration.
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Proposal for district status
to Mewat
Faridabad, September 17 Moreover, according to observers, it will also “end” the demand for converting Palwal sub-division into a separate district. Even though certain Hindu organisations have raised objections over converting Mewat into a district, their protest has been weak and without any political backing. Most of the political parties are in favour of this proposal to make Mewat into a district in the last Assembly elections, the present government is bent upon making political capital out of the move. According to political observers, this decision could benefit the ruling party in the next Assembly elections. The INLD candidate from Faridabad Parliamentary seat had been able to garner the maximum votes from the Mewat belt in the last Lok Sabha elections. This area falls within the Faridabad Lok Sabha constituency, although large chunk of its area is located in the Gurgaon district. Although most of the political leaders and activists support the move to make Mewat a separate district, they have tried to show a distinct stand so as to make political capital out of the move. Congress leader Ved Prakash Vidrohi claimed that the district status to Mewat was long over due as development works in the backward region had suffered. He claimed that the ruling party may not be able to reap any political benefit in the next elections on this count, as the people will be looking at the performance of the present government. The Chautala government had more ‘failures’ than ‘achievements’ to its credit, and the people were bent upon “throwing it out of power in the forthcoming Assembly elections,” he added. On the other hand, a local leader of the INLD said this was a timely move and it would certainly have a positive impact for the party in the next polls.
—TNS
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Allottees of cancelled plots can apply again, deadline extended to Oct
Noida, September 17 Moreover, the Noida Authority has extended the last date for the receipt of applications for the allotment of industrial plots from September 20 to mid-October 2004. The top brass of the Noida Authority had allegedly been brought under tremendous pressure to allot plots to a selected few during the last days of the Mayawati government. The Mathur Commission probed all the 345 cases in connection with the illegal allotment of plots. It may be recalled that the state government had found allotment in 294 cases to be legal in all respect after the receipt of the Mathur Commission report. Now, the government has decided upon the 51 cases, which were found by the Mathur Commission to have been done ignoring all rules and procedures. The administration is learnt to have decided to take strong action against the officers found guilty of favouritism or bypassing the procedures and rules in the allotment of the plots. An explanation had been sought from these officials. On receipt of the written explanations, a strong action is likely to be taken against the officials involved, it is learnt. The Noida Chairman, Mr Dev Dutt Sharma, has made the cancelled plots available for allotment to the public after the receipt of government orders. It has increased the number of plots of less than 2000 sq meters size available for allotment. As such, the Chairman has decided to extend the deadline for the receipt of applications from those whose plots stand cancelled.
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Traffic curbs on 2nd Nizamuddin Bridge
New Delhi, September 17 Traffic will also be diverted between 8 am and 11 am. Vehicles coming from the Ghazipur side and Uttar Pradesh Link Road and bound for the Bhairon Road side of Ring Road will be diverted on the southern carriageway of the old Nizamuddin Bridge. Traffic from Ghazipur side and from the UP Link Road bound for Nizamuddin side of Ring Road
will ply on the two lanes open for traffic on the second bridge.
The Ghaziabad-bound traffic can use the downstream carriageway of the old bridge from 0800 hrs to 1100 hrs, but proceed straight under Akshardham Setu. It can also use the downstream carriageway of the old bridge, except between 0800 hrs and 1100 hrs. Right turning from NH 24 bypass to UP Link Road will not be permitted under the Akshardham Setu, the traffic police has said.
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Schools move towards bag-free environment
New Delhi, September 17 Among the first to introduce lockers for students, in which they can store their books and copies, is the Birla Vidya Niketan at Pushp Vihar. Now, the students, specially of the junior school, can simply carry a small satchel to school which has the capacity for two work books, a pencil box and a lunch box. The initiative was taken following the concern expressed by the chairperson of the school, Mrs Sarla Birla. The parents’ body was also involved while designing the satchels. Dr Rekha Ranade, the principal of the school, is confident that the system would be successful because of the school’s philosophy that subjects done well in the school and facts reinforced periodically leave no room for tuition at home. Besides, since the students have to personally look after their lockers, it has instilled in them an extra sense of responsibility. According to Dr Ranade, the extra time available with the child at home also ensures his all-round development and a carefree childhood. On its part, the authorities have chalked out detailed schedules of work at school, which are forwarded to the parents. Besides extra time is being allotted at the beginning of each work schedule, to ensure that no child, who needs extra attention, goes unnoticed. With this initiative, the school hopes to set an example which others can emulate.
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school buzz Smriti Kak Ramachandran Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 17 The day-long ‘expert group meeting on a training programme for ensuring health, safety and well-being of children in schools’ was attended by representatives of Red Cross, IGNOU, WHO, UNICEF, Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas among others. The meeting coincided with the apex court’s directive to all states to formulate a comprehensive time-bound report for carrying out reforms in the safety standards prescribed for schools. “The meeting focussed on three major areas — teacher orientation, school buildings and mid day meals — which have been highlighted by the Minister of HRD Arjun Singh in his letter to all states for ensuring quality educationon”, said an official of the NCERT. He added, “Teacher orientation involves talking to teachers and explaining to them what can be done for ensuring the welfare and safety of students. School buildings are an area of concern and they should be free of all inflammable and toxic materials and should have adequate number of safety exits, proper supply of water for fire extinguishing and also enough portable water for consumption”. The concept of supplying healthy and hygienic mid-day meals to children was also deliberated upon. “The letter recommended steps for storage and serving of the mid-day meal, how it should be done was also discussed. It was also mentioned that all cooked meals should be tasted by an adult before being served to students,” said the official. The participants will now revert to the NCERT with their suggestions and recommendations, which will then be used to compile material for training. The training material will focus on various issues, including health care, hazards and epidemics, medical attention, safety measures in school buildings, storage and serving of nutritious mid day meals, man made and natural hazards and disasters, road, rail, air traffic accidents and integration of content related to hazards, disaster management and epidemics in school curriculum. The training will be carried out in two phases, between September 2004 and 2005, where the training materials will be readied and designs of training will be developed by all states. During the second phase between September 2005 and September 2006, training programmes would be organised for teachers and teacher educators at all school levels. “NCERT being an apex organisation in school education will identify areas of safety for children and the training programme would identify skills to be developed in students and teachers and also the teachers’ role in health, safety and nutrition of students”, said the official.
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Probe ordered into ‘inhuman’
ragging
Noida,
September 17 A delegation of students met the Additional District Magistrate alleging ragging in the institutes in spite of the strict instructions against it by the district administration. It was alleged that freshmen were forced to undergo inhuman ragging by the senior students. A case of ragging had also come to the notice of the Kasna police a week back. The students complained that the anti-ragging teams of the colleges have proved
unhelpful. Some of the freshmen are on the verge of leaving the institutions because of their inability to continue with such inhuman practice. Prof. A. K. Pahari of J.N.R.T Collage said a warning had been issued in all the cases brought to the notice of the anti-ragging committee of the college. Body found Noida: A resident, identified as Pradeep Saxena, informed the police about the body. The police have sent the body for the postmortem examination. It was revealed that a message, “Bhaiya, Bhabhi goodbye, give my body to my parents after my death,” was written on one of the hands of the deceased. One Shyam from Bijnore identified the body as that of his brother. He said that the deceased had come to Noida three months back in search of work.—OC Residents
oppose tax
on ‘breathing’ Noida: The residents of Noida, especially the senior citizens are aghast at the proposal to tax the walkers and joggers in Noida Stadium. “We had heard that water will be sold in ‘Kal Yuga’ but nobody had ever dreamt that citizens will have to pay a tax for breathing fresh air in a garden, green belt or a stadium,” said one senior citizen. The local MLA, Mr Nawab Singh Naggar, has strongly opposed the proposed tax and supported the stand of the residents. The Noida Authority has decided to charge an entrance fee at the rate of Rs 300 per annum and a registration fee of Rs 1000. The argument of the Noida Authority is that the tax will be used to provide better facilities at the stadium and will also ensure that anti-social elements do not enter the premises. However, the residents feel that the authorities could have spared the regular joggers and walkers for three hours in the morning and the evening.—OC
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MTNL Perfect Health Mela from Oct 29
New Delhi September 17 He was speaking to mediapersons here today at a conference organised regarding the 10-day ‘MTNL Perfect Health Mela’, to be held at the Talkatora grounds from October 29. The mela is being organised by the Mahanagar Telephone Limited (MTNL) and the Heart Care Foundation of India in association with the Government of NCT of Delhi and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The aim of the mela is to make the people aware and educate them about preventive strategies of various diseases. Speaking on the occasion, the President of the mela, Mr K.K. Aggarwal, said health problems should be dealt with a strategy involving exercise and lifestyle changes. He said most of the diseases had their root in stresses and strains of modern-day lifestyle and could be corrected at home. The MTNL Chairman and Managing Director, Mr R.S.P. Sinha, said the mela would present new modules and concepts to tackle health problems. The CMD of the Punjab National Bank, Mr S. S. Kohli, advocated for a soft window to meet the financial needs of the people. The PNB and the Punjab and Sindh Bank are among the financial institutions, which are the co-organisers of the mela.
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NRIs to take part in DDA auction in S
Delhi
New Delhi, September 17 The auction of the plots will take place on October 18, 20 and October 26 at the Auction Hall in Vikas Sadan. Out of 105 prime residential plots identified for auction, 92 plots are in Jasola, nine in Green Park, two in Safdarjung Enclave and one each in East of Kailash and Saket, the Commissioner of Land and Disposal, DDA said. Announcing this, the Commissioner said that it had always been the endeavour of the DDA to offer the best to the customers to provide them with a lifetime opportunity to make their own dream houses at prime locations in the national Capital at a reasonable price. The decision will not only expand the clientele of the DDA, but will also be a dream offer for an entirely new set of investors. This is a golden opportunity for both public sector and private sector banks to build residences for their employees in the Capital. These plots are strictly for residential purpose and not for undertaking any commercial activity. Anybody bidding for the plot should, therefore, take the necessary precautions not to violate these rules, the commissioner said.
DDA vice-chief gets bail
New Delhi: Former DDA Vice-Chairman Subhash Sharma was today granted bail in one of the DDA scam cases registered against him. Special Judge Pratibha Rani granted bail to Sharma and middleman Dharamvir Khattar after they furnished personal bonds of Rs 2 lakh each and sureties of a similar amount. The CBI had filed a chargesheet against Sharma and Khattar on July 15, 2004.—TNS
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Rich haul of fake Skyshop goods, four held
New Delhi, September 17 The Mumbai-based Skyshop had complained to the Special Cell of the Delhi Police that duplicate and substandard goods were being sold in the market under its brand name by one of its franchises in Delhi. The sleuths of the Special Cell investigated the matter and raids were conducted in three outlets of TVC Skyshop — at Lajpat Nagar, in Rajouri Garden and in Prem Nagar. During the raids in Rohini, many duplicate TVC goods were recovered. Duplicate hologram stickers of the TVC, price tags, duplicate certification and packaging material were also seized. The accused have been identified as Rajiv Kumar, Manish Suri, Dinesh Suri and Dinesh Chand Mehta. During questioning, Dinesh Suri disclosed that he had worked as Director, Sourcing, TVC Skyshop, and was in-charge of procuring goods for the company from the manufacturers. In 1999, his elder brother, Manish Suri, opened a franchise of the TVC Skyshop in Prem Nagar. Subsequently, his brother-in-law Rajiv Kumar also opened a TVC outlet in Lajpat Nagar. Dinesh Suri utilised his knowledge for procuring substandard goods from the open market. Fake TVC stickers were affixed on the substandard goods and they were sold to gullible customers as Skyshop goods. Fake certificates were also kept ready to endorse the goods that they were selling to customers, the police said.
Bangladeshi criminals held
New Delhi:
The alleged criminals were declared proclaimed offenders by the court and wanted in several cases of murder and Arms Act. They were identified as Mohammad Khokan, Mohammad Khlil Batiyat and Mohammad Farooq. The suspects were arrested on the charge of dacoity in West Bengal. During interrogation, they admitted to their involvement in crime cases in Delhi. Thereafter, the West Bengal police informed the Delhi Police and a team of Northeast district police was sent there and brought the accused to the Capital, the police said.—TNS
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CAIT dubs decision on shop timings as illogical
New Delhi, September 17 It said that only select markets would make arrangements for extended hours of shopping; all other shopping establishments will down their shutters at the usual time in the evening. The Office-bearers of the CAIT told media persons the Government of NCT of Delhi and Delhi Police would be under obligation to provide complete security late into the evening. An office-bearer said that barring a few, all markets would open only six days a week. He also said that the wholesale trade of Delhi would close at the usual time (7.30 pm). The CAIT, meanwhile, has invited the chief minister, legislators and others to participate in a seminar it is hosting at the Vithal Bhai Patel Bhawan on Tuesday. The seminar will elicit the opinion of all stakeholders because, as the office-bearer said, the government did not take the traders into confidence before ordering extended hours of shopping.
270 soldiers donate blood
New Delhi:
This is the first time that such a large number of donors from a single artillery regiment have donated blood. Lt-Gen Ranbir Bakhshi, MC (retd), the oldest living artillery officer in the country, inaugurated the blood donation camp. 150 Field Regiment was raised in 1979 by Lt Col (Later Brig) L. M. Segat. The Regiment has served with elan in all sectors and terrain along our borders and it is now known as a frontrunner unit of the Indian Artillery. The
Regiment is presently being commanded by Col V. K. Tiwari. The Regiment also organised a fete for orphans and underprivileged children. 100 such children were given an expose on the weapons and equipment held by the regiment. A song and dance programme was also organised in which the children participated whole-heartedly. The children were given a meal and they departed in very high spirits.—TNS
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JNU students call off stir
New Delhi, September 17 She added, “The VC has agreed in principle to our demands. He assured us that the modalities for appointing a student’s representative to the Academic Council and for setting up a grievance redressal cell would be worked out. A high-level three-member committee headed by a senior academician would work out the details”. The NSUI, which was also backing the agitation, too has relented. “It is important to the NSUI that the VC has agreed to our demands. Since the JNUSU had refused to take up our demands, we had to approach the VC,’’ explained Madhumita of the NSUI.
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DAV school tops quiz contest
New Delhi, September 17 DAV Centenary School bagged the first prize in the final stage of the quiz held here today. Kulachi Hansraj Model Public School and Delhi Public School walked away with the second and the third prizes. The contest was divided into three rounds. Students were asked questions on soy and health. A talk on ‘Nutritional Health Benefits of Soyamilk’ by Dr Kavitha Reddy preceded the
contest.- TNS
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NGO peeved at being left out of Child Welfare Committees
Faridabad, September 17 The “non-inclusion” of any NGO in these committees was a serious issue and it was against the principles of cooperation that normally was important for the success of development schemes. The matter will be taken up with the Union Government and the State authorities shortly, the spokesperson added.
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