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HC questions security cover for 71 persons
HC dismisses petitions on farmhouse weddings
Car theft a roaring trade in Noida
Pensionary relief for spouses of 1984 victims |
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Public places to be made disabled-friendly
Biodegradable implants revolutionising the world of surgery
Faulty recruitment policy blamed for power crisis
Counsel pulled up for delaying Uphaar trial
Norwegian PM visits MCD-run hospital
Notification for acquiring land for SEZ flayed
Desperate for a son, man kills wife by electrocution
Man gets life term for torching wife to death
Attack on lawyer: Police flayed for failure to nab culprits
Cong leader’s house ransacked
Land worth Rs 1 crore freed from encroachers
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HC questions security cover for 71 persons
New Delhi, December 7 A Division Bench of Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma asked the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to produce the files on February 8, the next date of hearing. The court examined the list of 355 central protectees submitted in a sealed cover by Centre’s counsel Meet Malhotra and raised questions about seven protectees under Z Category, 26 under Y Category and 38 under X Category. The Bench also examined the list of persons protected by Delhi Police and expressed surprise on some of the names in the list. It asked Delhi Police counsel Mukta Gupta to bring the files relating to at least three of them on February 8 as it was not convinced that they deserved such protection. Observing that gun-totting security personnel make VIPs easily identifiable and vulnerable to attack, the court favoured a fresh thinking on the VIP security management. It asked the Home Secretary to file an affidavit in this regard by the next date. The court felt that security cover should not become a status symbol or a pretext for getting government accommodation in a VIP area. “We should not go like a colonial system. In a democratic system we should move in an orderly manner,” the Bench hearing a PIL on law and order situation in the Capital observed. It also sought a status report on separation of law and order duty from investigation at the police station level in the Capital as ordered by it earlier. Petitioner Rajiv Awasthi alleged that in most of the cases, security cover had been provided due to extraneous reasons and that the protectees flaunt their protection. He said the MHA has admitted that in certain cases, protectees tried to over play the level of threat to their security in order to become eligible for government accommodation on security considerations. MHA counsel Malhotra placed a copy of the new policy on security to individuals according to which the nomenclature ‘VIP Security’ has been changed to ‘Personal Security’.
He said security cover to any individual is provided either on the basis of the position held by him/her or the threat perception assessed by various central agencies. The court had on November 9 sought an explanation from Delhi police for providing security to some VIPs who “hardly had any threat perception” while the “common man was dying on streets and elderly couples were being strangled to death”. The observation had come after Delhi Police filed a list of 391 VIPs protected by it along with the number of personnel provided to each of them. The list included Gowri Advani, former daughter-in-law of BJP President L K Advani, the son-in-law of former Union Minister Jagmohan, journalist Tarun Tejpal and some lawyers and witnesses in some prominent cases like Rajiv Gandhi assassination and Taj Corridor. “We cannot appreciate this. You have made a mockery of the threat perception. Common man is dying in the streets of Delhi and old couples are being strangulated due to lack of security,” the Bench had said in an apparent reference to the recent serial bomb blasts which claimed 60 lives. Acording to the list furnished by DCP Alok Kumar, Delhi police was providing security to 37 VIPs while the remaining were being protected by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Besides the number of VIPs being protected, the court had sought to know the exact number of police personnel manning VIP security and those deployed on general law and order duty for
common citizens in the capital. In an affidavit filed in the court on October 5, Delhi Police said at present 9,167 police personnel of all ranks were manning
security for the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Judges of the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court, other protected persons, VIP routes and VVIP areas. Delhi Police counsel had earlier said that against the sanctioned strength of 57,233, at present the police force has 54,338 personnel employed with it. Apart from manning of VVIP security by 6,090 personnel, about 1,002 officers and men were looking after the Administrative work conducting Vigilance/Departmental Enquiry and maintenance of transport fleet, she had said. The remaining 47,246 police personnel were exclusively looking after the law and order and other supportive duties for the common citizens here, Gupta had claimed even as Awasthi termed the police claim as misleading and confusing. Awasthi had drawn the court’s attention to an earlier affidavit filed by the police, according to which out of the total 56,000 personnel of Delhi Police, only 27,000 to 29,000 were available for law and order duty and the rest were deployed in VIP security.
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HC dismisses petitions on farmhouse weddings
New Delhi, December 7 “Enough is enough. You have deliberately booked these farmhouses knowing fully well that there is a court order against organising functions in such farmhouses,” a Division Bench of Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma said rejecting the applications. “They feel that rule of law does not exist and there is rule of jungle...The stay was never vacated,” the court said. On behalf of the applicant parents, senior counsel Mukul Rohatagi submitted they should be given one time exemption to hold the marriages as they did not have enough time to shift the venue. The marriages were scheduled at Shubham Garden tonight and Star Garden, Nivedita Garden, Green Village and Sagar Garden between December 10 and 12. While staying the MCD resolution, the court had yesterday observed that farmhouses facing 60 feet wide road may be allowed to hold such functions. It had also issued a contempt notice to MCD Commissioner Ashok Kumar for allegedly failing to implement its July 6 order banning use of farmhouses for organising social functions in violation of Delhi Master Plan and sought Kumar’s personal presence on January 13, the next date of hearing. The Bench directed SHOs of the areas concerned to seize the goods from the farm houses holding functions in violation of its order.
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Car theft a roaring trade in Noida
Noida, December 7 Automobiles worth over Rs 5 crore have reportedly been stolen from here during the past six months and sold elsewhere. Most thefts and carjacking incidents here are accomplished by thieves from these eastern states, say the police. Most of the vehicles were stolen from areas under Noida’s Sector 20 police station. The car thieves are apparently attracted by the large number of modern cars in this hi-tech city which they steal, leaving the police clueless. According to police statistics, some 187 cars were stolen from Noida in past six months, while unofficial sources put the number of such stolen cars at 205 for the same period. Fifty cars were stolen from areas under the Sector 20 police station alone between June and November this year, 34 from the Sector 24 police station, 33 from the Sector 39 police station, 25 from Phase-II and 15 from the Sector 49 police station areas. Most of the car thieves, it is observed, have a preference for high-powered cars of top brands like Lancer, Santro, Maruti Zen, Scorpio vehicles etc. More than 12 car thieves from different gangs have been nabbed, most of whom belonged to Haryana, say the police. Most of the members of the notorious gang of Sameer belonged to Aligarh and Ghaziabad. Car stealing and selling is like any other trade. Thieves normally steal only cars of those brands for which “orders have been placed with them”. Again, time is the essence in this trade like any marketing operation. Within two to three days, car of the desired brand are stolen and supplied to the “customers”. There is a complete network of gangs of car thieves who observe some standard norms, says SSP Piyush Mordia. Some gangs just break up the cars and sell their parts while some others specialise in dispatching complete units to ”their masters” in the north-eastern for supply to their clients. Atta Market, Sector 18, Defence Colonies in Sectors 21, 25 and 29 and Jaipuria Plaza, Sectors 37, 40 and 41and Sectors 58, 55 and 62 are the areas haunted by the car thieves. Besides cars parked outside factories, offices and hospitals are also an easy target. Thieves abound in Salarpur, Chhalera and Hoshiarpur villages, say the police.
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Pensionary relief for spouses of 1984 victims
New Delhi, December 7 A total of 359 families are benefiting from the monthly pension of Rs 1,000, given to the riot victims who are over 60 years of age and also to the widows who could not be provided with employment or who were incapable of doing a job. “The Cabinet also decided to extend the pension scheme for another five years,” Delhi Development Minister Rajkumar Chauhan said after the meeting. The decisions will be implemented with immediate effect, he said. The scheme of granting monthly relief or pension was started in August 1987 on an ad hoc basis for 10 years and Rs 400 per month was given at that time.The amount was raised to Rs 1,000 per month in March, 1990 for 10 years. In another decision, the Cabinet has given its nod for the creation of 42 posts in different scales for the New Computer Branch in the district courts.
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Public places to be made disabled-friendly
New Delhi, December 7 Making the announcement here today, Mr Ramesh Negi, Managing Director DTTDC, said all constructions would be made disabled-friendly following the success of Dilli Haat, which has recently been awarded the National Award for Promotion of Barrier Free Environment for the year 2005. Dilli Haat, which is the country’s first barrier-free public place, that allows access to persons with disabilities, was recently presented the award by the President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, on the World Disability Day. Addressing the media here today, Delhi Tourism Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said the award for Dilli Haat is in recognition for the joint efforts of DTTDC and an NGO Samarthya. Highlighting the efforts made in the endeavour to make Dilli Haat barrier-free, the Minister said Samarthya began by conducting access audit of Dilli Haat and co-ordinated with the architect, engineering department and officials. Among the changes made were levelling of the front plaza flooring, demarcated pathway, lowering of ticket counter and merging of level differences, and providing a total of 17 small and big ramps with handrails at two levels. These changes have made it possible for the disabled to access the Dilli Haat office, exhibition halls, stalls, STD/ISD booth, eating stalls and drinking water facility. In the second phase, the first-ever unisex accessible toilet in the public place, as per international standards with signage were installed.
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Biodegradable implants revolutionising
New Delhi, December 7 In general, biodegradable materials are polymers made from lactic acid molecules similar to those in the human body, which after implantation degrade naturally in a specific period of time. While these synthetic implants because of their efficacy in terms of maintaining stability and acting as carriers for grafting substances, are gaining popularity around the world, India is no exception. Introduced in the country about three months ago, bioabsorbable implantology is now possible in almost all the major hospitals. Applied for the first time in orthopedic surgery in 1984 by scientist Rokkanen in the treatment of internal fixation of ankle fractures, use of these biodegradables in the areas of Craniomaxillofacial (CMF), neurological surgeries, spine surgeries and orthopedic procedures is increasing day by day. These polymers are available in forms of screws, rods, interference and custom instruments for various clinical applications. Contrary to titanium and steel, these polymers do not require removal or replacement as they automatically get mobilised over a period of time. Equally effective in treating diseases, deformities, trauma and a variety of soft and hard tissue procedures as well as in dental surgeries and sports medicines, these implants enjoy many advantages over permanent metal and non-absorbable implants. In contrast to their metallic counterparts, these polymers, once implanted, degrade and get eliminated from the body through the natural process of excretion and exhalation. The period of biodegradation however, depends on factors like contact with body fluids, temperature, motion, molecular weight, geometry of the material and the tissue that is implanted. “The degradation period of these materials may vary from region to region in the human body. While polymer implanted in the wrist and ankle may take as much as 37 weeks to get metabolised, it may only take 24 weeks when it is something to do with the facial region,” said Dr Suneel Kumar, senior consultant HOD orthopedics, Balaji Action Medial Institute, New Delhi. While metallic implants need to be removed because of osteopanea, corrosion and irritation, biodegradables, on the other hand, remain in the body for long potentially avoiding such problems in the future. “Indeed it is little expensive but as there is no need for a second surgery or chances of getting cross infected, the technology, thus proves to be economical in the long run,” added Dr Suneel, explaining the cost-effectivity of the implants. Moreover, these polymers do not obscure either radiographs of MRI/CT scans allowing an accurate evaluation during the healing process. However, these polymers do have the disadvantage of having less strength than metal causing tissue reaction, osteolysis and are unsuitable for comminuted and unstable fractures. Yet their multiple usage, safety and bio-compatibility are something, which cannot be ignored. Providing scope for more natural healing process, these implants are indeed revolutionising the world of surgery giving a new dimension to medical science.
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Faulty recruitment policy blamed for power crisis
Faridabad, December 7 “At least 35000 posts in various cadre have been lying vacant in the State Power Department, now known as Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN). The Power Department in the State is on the verge of collapse due to the acute shortage of manpower for both the office and field staff,” said the spokesperson of the All Haryana Power Corporations Workers Union (AHPCWU). The General Secretary of the AHPCWU, Mr Subhash Lamba, said here today that the Union had launched a stir at the sub-divisional level to draw the attention of the government regarding the problems faced on account of the staff shortage. Claiming that the employees were being overworked, he flayed the policy of contractual recruitment, which had resulted in revenue losses and affected the efficiency of the department. Stating that the government was still to reinstate about 1,700 employees removed from service by the previous INLD government-led by Om Prakash Chautala, the Union has demanded the immediate regularisation of part-time and adhoc staff and end to the privatisation process in the department.
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Counsel pulled up for delaying Uphaar trial
New Delhi, December 7 The case was being prolonged even though the matter was being taken up for hearing for 10 days of the month on directions from the Delhi High Court, the court said.
The court added, “as the case is being delayed, the prosecution is also directed to see that the summons of the witnesses to be produced by the accused are served on the dates fixed”. In the latest developments in the case, defence witness retired Deputy Chief Fire Officer N K Batura deposed before the court on behalf of accused H S Panwar that he had inspected Uphaar Cinema “many times” according to established procedure before the tragedy occurred.
H S Panwar was a Divisional Officer posted at the Bhikaji Cama Place Fire Station at the time the fire broke out in the south Delhi cinema hall in 1997, which killed 59 people and injured 104.
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Norwegian PM visits MCD-run hospital
New Delhi, December 7 He appreciated the services being rendered by the hospital to women and children in the filed of primary health. He expressed concern that more than seven million children in the world did not receive any kind of immunization. These children become prone to fatal diseases due to lack of immunization facilities in developing and under developed countries. The Norwegian Prime Minister visited the hospital vaccination centre where he evinced keen interest in the vaccination being done by the Kasturba Hospital. He himself administered polio dose to a couple of babies. He has come to the Capital to attend the meeting of Global Alliance for vaccination for immunization which is providing vaccination to all the countries around the globe. It is also engaged in funding for vaccination, research and development of more vaccines for immunization against different diseases. The Prime Minister of Norway visited the Kasturba Hospital with a delegation of 31 members including 12 members of Norwegian media. Also present on the occasion were India Ambassador to Norway, Mr Mahesh Sachdeva, Norwegian Ambassador to India, Mr Jon Westborg, area Councillor Ms Talat Sultana, Additional Commissioner (Health and Education), Mr Manoj Parida, Director (Hospital Administration), Dr Madhu Jain, Medical Superintendent of Hospital, Dr. Pushpa Bhatia and senior doctors.
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Writer paints her last song
New Delhi, December 7 After authoring more than a dozen books in English and Hindi and holding as many as eight solo painting exhibitions, Vijaya has now come up with another exhibition displaying her recent works of art. Inaugurated by Haryana Chief Minister Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda today, the seven day long event is being held at the Indian International Centre Annexe. Titled “The Last Song,” the oil painting exhibition is based on the themes of women, Ganpati and paintings of Raja Ravi Verma. “Painting for me is a niche for hiding myself. As comfortable and peaceful as a mother’s lap, I find painting a means to get rid of worldly tensions,” said Vijaya Goel describing the significance of art in her life. While around 50 paintings were displayed here, most of them showed her fascination for women and mountains. Using tints and shades of bright colours, her paintings managed to have a hypnotic effect on the visitors. Vijaya feels women and mountains are the mightiest creations of God. Explaining that she got the encouragement to paint in her childhood when she received a prize in school from the then Union Education Minister Abdul Kalam Azad, she said she is not very keen to have any painting exhibition in the future. “That is why I have titled it ‘The last Song’, she said. Appreciating the skills of the painter, former Indian Ambassador to UK and well-known literary person Mr L.M. Singhvi present on the occasion said “Vijaya’s paintings are an amalgam of truth, beauty and goodness. She has the fingers and expressions of an artist. No matter she never had a formal training, her paintings are always exceptional.” Vijaya declared on the occasion that out of the total money collected by the sale of these paintings, 50 per cent would go to the KLM Trust, an NGO spreading awareness about the adverse effects of intoxicants. Apart from paintings, some of her books like Badi Amma, Room on the Top Floor, Across The Desert and Women Poets of India were also put on display though not for selling purpose. Now a trained gemmologist, the writer cum painter is also working for various literary and cultural
organisations.
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Notification for acquiring land for SEZ flayed
Gurgaon, December 7 Mr V. P. Bajaj, President and Mr K. C. Papreja, General Secretary, Gurgaon Industrial Association, have flayed the notification of the Haryans Industries Department (No. 32/6/2002-41B1 dated December 6, 2005, under the provisions of Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act) for the development of Special Economic Zone. Mr Bajaj said that more than 100 small and medium-scale units were operating in village Khandsa and Narsinghpur for more than a decade and employing over 5000 workers. Mr Papreja informed that the industrial community had severely protest when the Haryana Government had issued notification under Section–6 of land acquisition some year back. A petition had also been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Mr Papreja said that the GIA was yet to understand the logic behind this acquisition of land for SEZ purpose when it is already in the industrial zone. He sought the re-identification of the area so that the existing industries and other plots for industrial purpose could be exempted from acquisition. On the order of the High Court, the Haryana Government had constituted a ‘Task Force Committee’ to examine the land acquisition cases. It may be mentioned that though the Gurgaon Industrial Association had requested the Committee to hold the meeting at Gurgaon, the committee decided that the next meeting would be held at HSIDC office, Panchkula, December 10, 2005. It would be difficult for all the affected entrepreneurs to visit Panchkula, added Mr Bajaj.
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Desperate for a son, man kills wife by electrocution
Noida, December 7 According to Mr Anil Pratap Singh, SO police station Sector 39 here, nine years ago Anis Ahmed had married his daughter Furquan to Qyum, a mason. The couple had three daughters but did not have a son. Qyum started beating her up. On Tuesday morning, Qyum had reportedly thrashed his wife with a belt and later touched a live electricity wire with her body. Furquan’s elder daughter was watching the whole scene. After having killed his wife Qyum is said to have informed the police. When the police reached his house, he was weeping bitterly, saying that his wife had died of electrocution. Qyum accompanied the police to the district hospital in Sector 30 where doctors had declared his wife Furquan dead. As the police started interrogation, Qyum’s elder daughter told the police what had actually happened. But by then Qyum had slipped away, leaving his wife’s body. On the basis of a written statement by Furquan’s father, the police have registered a murder case and are trying to nab Qyum. In another case, a drunk man in Malakpur village under the Surajpur police station in Greater Noida shot at his wife for taking too long in bringing hot food for his dinner. His wife, injured in the feet, slumped to the ground. Their young son reportedly snatched the gun and tried to smash the licensed weapon by hitting it against the floor repeatedly. The woman was rushed to a Noida nursing home where she said the gun was fired by mistake. According to the SO Surajpur police station, Arun Chauhan of Malakpur village was a realtor. As he reached home on Tuesday evening, he asked his wife to bring him hot food. Annoyed at the delay, Arun took out his licensed weapon while his wife and others tried to snatch the gun from his hand. He fired a shot, hitting his wife Manju in the feet. The police took the gun and have requested the District Magistrate to cancel its licence.
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Man gets life term for torching wife to death
New Delhi, December 7 The victim in her statement before the SDM had charged her husband with setting her on fire after dousing her with kerosene at their home in east Delhi. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) B R Kedia handed down the punishment to Anil, 27, after rejecting his leniency plea that he had no vicious antecedent and slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on him. The ASJ, however, acquitted the convict from the charge of dowry harassment as the prosecution failed to prove the same.
As per the prosecution, the convict married the victim Poonam in 2001, and under the influence of liquor used to physically and verbally abuse her. On the night of October 29, 2002, the convict, after coming back to their residence in Trilok Puri area of east Delhi, started fighting with his wife without any provocation. Later, the convict took out the container of kerosene and torched the victim after dousing her. Eleven days later, the deceased, after recording her dying declaration to the SDM, succumbed to her burn
injuries. Additional Public Prosecutor Rita Dutta examined 26 witnesses to prove the case.
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Attack on lawyer: Police flayed for failure to nab culprits
Gurgaon, December 7 The victim, identified as Kulbhushan Bhardwaj, has alleged that he had to face the wrath of the miscreants as he had once headed an agitation for a public passage around a land on Meharauli Road, which was released by Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). Irked over the police delay in the arrests, a delegation of lawyers met the district police chief, Mr Hanif Qureshi, on Monday and urged legal action to force the accused to subject themselves to the legal process. The lawyers asked the police chief to issue warrants and take measures in getting them declared offenders by the court. Mr Qureshi assured the delegation that coercive measures against the accused would be taken shortly. Many feel that the police was buying time so as to frustrate the victims and create a situation for compromise between the two parties. The District Bar Association had also observed several days of strike to press for the arrest of the culprits. Senior BJP leaders of the state had submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, Mr R.P. Bhardwaj, immediately after the attack on the lawyer and demanded the arrest of the culprits. It may be recalled that armed criminals had attacked the lawyer at his residence. His mother and his brother were also seriously injured along with him in the incident.
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Cong leader’s house ransacked
Ghaziabad, December 7 The house of Inderjit Singh Titu, a transporter who is also a Congress leader and chief of the Mahanagar Youth Congress, was targeted by armed criminals who not only walked away with a rich booty but also injured Inderjit Singh’s wife and daughter with a blade and a knife. Later, they herded the whole family in a room, locked them and fled. The neighbours said at least six criminals barged into the Congress leader’s house late last night when only his mother Prakash Kaur, wife Devinder and daughter Nisha were at home. The intruders overpowered the women at dagger-point, locked them into a room and ransacked the entire house. After half an hour Inderjit Singh also returned from Noida. The criminals threatened him and snatched a briefcase containing Rs 4 lakh. Later, the intruders pushed Inderjit Singh also into a room before fleeing. The family members raised the alarm and neighbours freed them. The SP City, the CO-I, the SOs Sihani Gate and Kavi Nagar police stations rushed to the spot. According to neighbours, four criminals were inside while two were keeping a watch outside the house and they were all between 20 and 25 years of age.
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Land worth Rs 1 crore freed from encroachers
Ghaziabad, December 7 According to sources, some 50 acres of GDA land is currently under encroachment by people. In spite of mounting campaigns, the GDA has been unable to get the encroachments vacated as a lot of local people would gather there in support of the encroachers. Plot nos 7/3 and 7/4 situated in Nehru Nagar III F were got vacated by the GDA. Mr S. P. Singh of the Land Department was in charge of the operation. As people collected to oppose the operation, the Sihani Gate police cops and the GDA security personnel thwarted all designs of the encroachers and slogan raising people. The cops resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd and take possession of two 1,000 sq mt plots which had been under illegal possession of the people.
— OC
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DDA goes online
New Delhi, December 7 Earlier, this facility was available only during office hours on weekdays through information kiosks. A DDA spokesperson said the website has been set up to provide transparency, dissemination of information and help speedy transaction. All information about functioning of the DDA, including various documents, policies, programmes, status of registrants and allotments, is available on the website.
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Woman killed in jhuggi fire
Noida, December 7 The firemen struggled for over an hour to control the blaze. According to a report, a mini gas cylinder is known to have caused the fire. The woman was killed while attempting to salvage her belongings from the
jhuggi that had been engulfed by the blaze.
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