Prostitution racket busted
New Delhi, February 26
With the arrest of two persons, including a girl, the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police claimed to have busted a gang involved in prostitution. The accused persons arrested have been identified as Adil Khan (24) and Neeta (24).

Woman gets husband killed
Greater Noida, February 26
A woman, who wanted to marry the son of her husband’s brother, got her husband killed with the help of two other relatives. His body was dumped in a wheat field. A chit found near the body with the deceased’s name and address proved the couple’s undoing, the police said.

Man shoots at brother, self
Ghaziabad, February 26
An industrialist under Kavi Nagar police station area fired shots in his own house, injuring two elder brothers and himself on Thursday night. Vikram Behl, the industrialist, was drunk at that time. He fired shots as he felt slighted after being snubbed by the wife of his elder brother.

Role of police under scanner
New Delhi, February 26
A panel discussion on “Policing the Police”, was jointly organised by the Delhi Administration Officers Academic Forum and the India International Centre in the Capital on Saturday.

‘World-class facilities at New Delhi Rly Station’
New Delhi, February 26
The New Delhi Railway Station will be converted into a modern world-class station, the Union Railway Minister, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, told the nation this morning. He presented the Railway Budget in the Lok Sabha.

Meet on disaster management in schools
New Delhi, February 26
A daylong conference on ‘Safety, Security and Disaster Prevention in Academic Institutions’ was organised in the Capital by the International Institute of Security and Safety Management.

Make science simple for kids: Yashpal
New Delhi, February 26
A function was organised by the Delhi State Science Teachers’ Forum on the occasion of the National Science Day at the Bal Bhavan Public School, Mayur Vihar, in the Capital.

Perspective: Science Day: Need for bold initiatives

BVN children steal the show
New Delhi, February 26
It is that time of the year at Birla Vidya Niketan, Pushp Vihar, when the children make an all-out effort to impress their parents, appreciating not only what they have done for them, but also thanking the teachers.

3.5 lakh kids to be given polio drops
Noida, February 26
A target of administering pulse polio drops to about 3.5 lakh children up to 5 years of age in the district has been fixed for the campaign being launched from February 27. Twenty-four district level officers have been appointed as sector magistrates to oversee the programme along with normal inspection staff.

Cops among 7 get contempt notice
Ghaziabad, February 26
Seven persons, including SO of Loni police station and another policeman, have been served with a contempt of court notice for attempting to occupy plots of land of two persons despite a stay order.

Prostitution racket busted
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 26
With the arrest of two persons, including a girl, the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police claimed to have busted a gang involved in prostitution. The accused persons arrested have been identified as Adil Khan (24) and Neeta (24).

The police said that the two accused were operating from the South Delhi area.

The police have registered two separate cases in Chanakya Puri police station. The gang was operating under the name of John and Eric, the police said.

A decoy customer was sent to strike a deal with them after the police received a tip-off that they were operating from the South Delhi area.

The police said that the kingpin of the prostitution racket was one Qamar Jahan Begum, alias Ammi. She was earlier operating from Dilshad Garden and had shifted to Saket and adjoining areas.

Auto-lifter held, several cases solved

With the arrest of one person, the East district police claimed to have solved six cases of auto-lifting that were registered in the Anand Vihar area. The accused has been identified as Sunil, alias Monu, alias Nand Kishor. The police seized one Maruti car (HR-26J-0095) that was reportedly stolen from Ghaziabad.

The accused told the police that he belonged to a middle class family and had developed expertise in stealing motor vehicles. The police disclosed his involvement in eight cases of motor vehicle theft in Delhi and two cases in Ghaziabad.

Gang of dacoits, burglars busted; five arrested

With the arrest of five persons, the Delhi Police claim to have busted a gang of dacoits and burglars who were active in different parts of the city. The accused have been identified as Sher Singh, Ashok, Virender, Jeet and Ram Phal. They were arrested while they were about to strike in the Anand Vihar area in East district.

Acting on a tip-off that the accused were going to assemble near Karkardooma in Anand Vihar police station area, the police raided the premises and recovered three button-operated knives, two big screwdrivers from them. The police said that there were two cases registered in Anand Vihar police station against the accused persons. — TNS

Woman gets husband killed
Our Correspondent

Greater Noida, February 26
A woman, who wanted to marry the son of her husband’s brother, got her husband killed with the help of two other relatives.

His body was dumped in a wheat field. A chit found near the body with the deceased’s name and address proved the couple’s undoing, the police said.

The lovers are cooling their heels in jail now. On February 18, the body of a 38-year-old man was found from a wheat field in village Maqsoodpur under Rabupura police station.

A photo and a chit with “Thakur Das, village Pisawa, district Aligarh” written on it, was found by the side of the body with several injury signs on head, neck and face.

According to police, Thakur was employed in a company in Delhi. His wife Namita lived with her seven-year-old son in the village. Thakur Das’s nephew Sanjay had developed illicit relations with his wife Namita. After a while, both of them decided to marry and eliminated Thakur Das. They dumped the body in a wheat field, but a chit with his name and address of his village landed them in jail. The chit was written by Sanjay, the handwriting experts have averred.

After intensive interrogation, they confessed to have murdered Thakur Das. Rammu, alias Ram Kumar, a cousin and one Umashankar had helped Sanjay in the murder. Thakur Das was called by Namita at a Palwal village, Maqsoodpur for buying a tractor. In the village, he was given sedative-laced drinks and was killed subsequently.

The police have recovered a screwdriver, a muffler and a dagger from Sanjay, SP rural MP Singh said.

Man shoots at brother, self

Ghaziabad, February 26
An industrialist under Kavi Nagar police station area fired shots in his own house, injuring two elder brothers and himself on Thursday night. Vikram Behl, the industrialist, was drunk at that time. He fired shots as he felt slighted after being snubbed by the wife of his elder brother. Vikram also sustained two gunshots during attempts by the family members to disarm him. Profusely bleeding, the brothers were rushed to the Yashoda Hospital.

The police seized the licensed revolvers of all of them. Vijay Behl, Vinode Behl and Vikram Behl, all sons of K.N. Behl, live in Sector KE-11 with their families.

According to the Police Circle officer, Dr Dharamveer Singh, the youngest brother Vinode Behl had come home drunk on Thursday night. When he said something to the wife of his elder brother, Vijay, she snubbed him for being drunk.

Vinode then lost his cool and started firing from his .32 bore licensed revolver. Instead of his sister-in-law, the shot hit his brother Vijay. The other brother Vinode was also wounded .

While the family members were trying to save the situation and snatch Vikram’s revolver, Vikram also became a victim of two bullets, in the confusion. The family has so far remained silent about the incident. — OC

Role of police under scanner
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 26
A panel discussion on “Policing the Police”, was jointly organised by the Delhi Administration Officers Academic Forum and the India International Centre in the Capital on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, the former Union Home Secretary, Mr N. N. Vohra, highlighted the role of the police force in the enforcement of law and order and the expectation that it would safeguard the Constitutional rights and liberties of the citizens. While discussing the Dharmveera Commission Report, he said that many of the Commission’s recommendations were yet to be implemented by the states.

He also highlighted the problems of criminalisation of politics and politicisation of the police forces that were adversely affecting the working of the police force in the country.

Participating in the discussion, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Farooq Abdullah, categorically blamed the political structure that allowed undue interference in the working of the police force.

“The political system has to change from the top to change the working of the police force. Corruption is everywhere, so why should everyone point their finger only at the police,” he asked.

“The police force is doing an excellent work under the circumstances they function. It’s a tough job and I am talking of my own experience. The police are not to be blamed unnecessarily,” Mr Abdullah added.

On a different note, the former Governor of Manipur, Mr Ved Marvah, said that it is important to understand, “who will police the police when the law enforcement agencies themselves violate the law.” According to him, the police are accountable to the political executive, police hierarchy, judiciary and the public.

He also said that the public expects security of life and reasonable state of public order from the police, and when the police fail to fulfill the expectations of the public, they become targets of criticism.

Mr Marvah said that the political executive has a very important role to play in policing the police, and the problem arises when the political masters utilise the police for their own agenda.

The former Chief Secretary of West Bengal, Mr Ashok Kapur, talked about the malpractices in the police force as highlighted by the National Constitutional Review Committee set up under the former Chief Justice of India, M. N. Venkatacheliah.

According to him, the Committee’s report in 2002 highlighted a large number of indiscriminate arrest of innocent people and recommended that all statements in serious cases should be recorded by magistrates and not by the police.

‘World-class facilities at New Delhi Rly Station’
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 26
The New Delhi Railway Station will be converted into a modern world-class station, the Union Railway Minister, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, told the nation this morning. He presented the Railway Budget in the Lok Sabha.

“All efforts will be made to complete the process relating to the sanction of an action plan for converting the New Delhi Railway Station into a world class station,” he said.

The process will be set in motion after the proposed Rail Land Development Authority will through public-private partnership develop surplus land adjoining railway stations and goods sheds for constructing warehouses and logistics parks.

“In the coming years, we propose with the help of this authority to develop Metro stations into world class modern stations and extended passenger amenities through construction of food plazas, shopping malls, etc., on vacant land,” he said.

Meet on disaster management in schools
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 26
A daylong conference on ‘Safety, Security and Disaster Prevention in Academic Institutions’ was organised in the Capital by the International Institute of Security and Safety Management (IISSM).

The conference, addressed by Mr Raj Lakha, CEO, Safety Solutions, the United Kingdom, drew attention to the need for disaster management in schools.

The IISSM has chartered a plan to devise security and safety in educational institutions.

The purpose is to provide, “senior decision makers from Indian schools, universities and colleges with a strategic overview of how to plan, do, check and act with regard to on and off campus serious and imminent risks to students, staff and visitors,” it was pointed out.

Aimed at educational institutions, the exercise will enable them to understand the importance of strategic health, safety and welfare issues, oversee the change management programme to ensure that health and safety as well as crisis, business continuity management issues are fully understood and focus on a range of cases studies from around the world showing how countries across the world train their staff in safety and crisis issues.

The workshop caters to ‘Use of management systems in preventing crisis in schools and universities - case studies of serious and imminent dangers in academic institutions’ and ‘Risks and Threat’ assessment if schools and universities’.

While the former aids in helping develop fire safety management system, fire emergency plan, basic and practical actions to be taken in the schools and fire Marshall training, the later focuses on hazards posed by environment, psycho-social hazards, ergonomic hazards and biological hazards.

IISSM offers consultancy service and runs customised and thematic courses covering all subjects.

Make science simple for kids: Yashpal
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 26
A function was organised by the Delhi State Science Teachers’ Forum on the occasion of the National Science Day at the Bal Bhavan Public School, Mayur Vihar, in the Capital.

Speaking at the function, eminent scientist, Prof Yashpal, highlighted the importance of science and emphasised the need for satisfying the queries of a child in an easy manner. He also highlighted the need for coordination between spirituality and science.

The Director of Education, Mr Vijay Kumar, emphasised the importance of the overall development of a child and to make the child a good human being in all respect.

The participants also remembered one the greatest scientist, Prof C. V. Raman, whose works provided a new dimension to the subject. As many as 400 teachers attended the function from different schools of the national Capital.

The aim the Forum has been to spread scientific approach and knowledge among the schoolchildren in the national Capital.

BVN children steal the show

New Delhi, February 26
It is that time of the year at Birla Vidya Niketan, Pushp Vihar, when the children make an all-out effort to impress their parents, appreciating not only what they have done for them, but also thanking the teachers.

They put up a grand show on Appreciation Day, which was celebrated on the school premises today. Belying their age, the tots enthralled the gathering with songs and dances.

While the KG children put up a bravura performance on the theme, ‘Festivals of India’, those from nursery, dressed up in the costumes of foreign countries, performed some of their dances. — TNS

3.5 lakh kids to be given polio drops
Our Correspondent

Noida, February 26
A target of administering pulse polio drops to about 3.5 lakh children up to 5 years of age in the district has been fixed for the campaign being launched from February 27.

Twenty-four district level officers have been appointed as sector magistrates to oversee the programme along with normal inspection staff.

Some 59 sensitive and most sensitive areas have been identified where these specially appointed magistrates will ensure that all children up to 5 are given pulse polio drops.

Presiding over the meeting of the pulse polio task force, chief development officer, Gautam Budh Nagar, R.S. Geherwar said the officials found negligent in their performance will be severely punished.

He said the objective this time was to ensure 100 per cent success in the campaign. He advised officials to work exactly as per micro plan. From February 28, some 556 teams each comprising 5 members will be pressed into service to go from door to door and administer the drops to the kids. Some 77 mobile teams and 63 supervisors are also being deployed for the campaign.

On every 100 families, one local official has been appointed to keep an account diligently, said Dadri Medical Officer, Dr OP Agrawal. CMO Dr Vinod Kumar, Dr SC Singal, Dr OP Agrawal and Dr Smita Paliwal of W.H.O. and other officers attended the meeting.

Cops among 7 get contempt notice
Parmindar Singh

Ghaziabad, February 26
Seven persons, including SO of Loni police station and another policeman, have been served with a contempt of court notice for attempting to occupy plots of land of two persons despite a stay order.

The accused have been asked to be present in the court on March 14.

According to information, Yaqoob, son of Idris and Mohd Rafique, son of Mohd Rahid of Ashok Vihar, Loni, had purchased a plot each of 50 sq yd, 15 years ago.

Some strongmen had tried to usurp these plots with the connivance of the police. They had also demanded Rs 1.50 lakh each from Yaqoob and Idris. The victims had secured a stay order for ‘non-interference’ in the plots. But the Loni police sealed the plots on its own. When in spite of a court order, Yaqoob and Idris did not get any relief; they again went to the court.

The victims had accused the Loni SO Hyder Raza Zaidi, Nithori police post constable Usman, Abrar, his son Farhan, Dilshad, son of Arshed Ahmed of Ashok Vihar, Loni, Zahid of Ashok Vihar and Rajesh Chauhan, of contempt of court.

Civil judge VP Pathak while hearing the Yaqoob case, sent a contempt of court notice to all the accused. All the accused have been ordered to be present in the court on March 14.