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A story of unkept promises in Haryana
UP Power Corpn staff thrashed
Theft in Sushant Lok: Cops play it cool
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HC for closing banquet halls in residential areas
‘Need for coordinated effort to check terrorism’
FIR filed against 103 in Rs 2500-cr land scam
Govt has failed to present full facts before court: Panchayat
‘Pen for Peace’ hopes to facilitate
better Indo-Pak relations
Symposium on marginalisation of Muslim community
Girl among three arrested for auto theft
Public sittings on delimitation of constituencies
Two killed as Sumo hits rickshaw
Triple murder accused freed
Satta racket busted, one held
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A story of unkept promises in Haryana
Faridabad, February 17 A booklet released by the state government titled ‘Haryana - An All-Round Progress’ on page number 21 mentions that work had started for the elevated highway at Badarpur border for decongesting National Highway 2 and Faridabad. But despite approval of the project by the Union Government long ago the work on construction was yet to start. The National Highway Authority Of India (NHAI) has not even invited bids from construction companies so far. It could be some more months before work could begin, said a source in the authority. The need for an elevated flyover at the border had been felt by motorists for long and it had been one of the prominent demands made by the local entrepreneurs and the industrial organisations. Similarly, the claim that four-laning of the Gurgaon- Faridabad road had started also appear to be hollow as no such development had taken place so far, said a local resident who commutes daily on this road. He, however, added three-laning of this road had been a major relief for the people using this stretch. Though the government authorities have mentioned that construction of rain-basera (night shelters) at the bus stands had been going on, no such facility has come up here in the district so far as per sources in the department. “Another major promise that had been made was regarding the construction and repair of all the roads in the city and district but even after 11 months of the rule the majority of the roads in the residential colonies and sectors and the link roads to villages had still been in poor shape”, claimed Master Rishi Pal, a local leader of the Indian National Lok Dal. He alleged that the government had failed to come up to the expectations of the people as there had been an acute and unprecedented shortage of power and water supply in the past several months. The district authorities in a press note issued today claimed that the state government had sanctioned Rs 3.02 crore for maintenance of the roads in the district and the members of the zila parishad had been asked to submit the demand of the fund in their respective area. There had been dozens of colonies in the town that had been facing a heavy shortage of drinking water and demand has been made by certain members of the municipal corporation to launch a scheme on war footing to avoid the problem getting worse in the coming summer season. The authorities were still to take a tough stand regarding the problem of encroachment by influential persons and especially the activity of the land mafia to sell out the land in the Aravalli hills in an illegal manner.
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UP Power Corpn staff thrashed
Noida, February 17 People’s frustration with the failure of power supply and the broken promises of the UP Power Corporation came to the fore when people chased officers and employees of the power corporation and beat them up in the Meerut area. The special raiding squads of the power corporation were taken to task by the irate public. Even in Agra, according to information, a crowd pelted stones and manhandled two Deputy District Magistrates. Half-a-dozen vehicles, including the MLA’s car, were damaged and the crowd chased the cops repeatedly. One cop and one youth were wounded in firing in Agra. Unnerved by the crowd’s menacing gestures, a police inspector and other cops had fired from their service weapons. “When power is not supplied for weeks and months where is the question of stealing power”, said the angry people who had beaten up officers and warned the power employees to remain within their limits. The public had pelted stones at the raiding parties and damaged roadway buses also. Seeing people’s strong resentment with the raids, they have been stopped in Meerut for a few days. Under orders of the Chief Minister, 21 raiding teams had fanned out in different parts of Meerut from control rooms. Out of these, 14 teams had gone to areas from where power theft complaints were received. A raiding team under executive engineer Kuldip Chaudhry had gone to check power thefts at a power loom unit of Haji Yusuf and Haji Aslam in the Gola Kuan area. In view of opposition by the crowd when the team beat a hasty retreat, it was assaulted. Records were snatched and torn and SDO Ajay Garg and other member of the team were beaten up. Executive engineer Kuldip Chaudhry, police CO, Daurala, Brijender Singh, SEM D. P. Srivastava were also beaten up. All of them had to literally run for their life. When they got into a Gypsy, the crowd pelted stones and tried to torch the vehicle too. Later, a traffic jam was organised at the Gola Kuan crossing. Even the checking team had to flee from the Islamabad area. The crowd had snatched a briefcase from team no 8 and crushed it in the Zaide Farms area. The crowd had snatched the records and power metres worth Rs 2 lakh and JE Vijay Tyagi were badly beaten up. Ghaziabad SDO Sanjay Kapur and cashier R. P. Sharma were also heckled and beaten up. In Hapur road, the Sunderlok Colony team was thoroughly beaten up and the records destroyed. Some of the staff sustained serious injuries so that they had to be hospitalised.
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Theft in Sushant Lok: Cops play it cool
Gurgaon, February 17 House owner Subir K. Ghosh informed The Tribune that he along with his wife and child left for Kolkata on February 14 to attend a family function after leaving their three servants behind. He was scheduled to come back on February 18. He had informed his servants about his itinerary. Yesterday, he got a call from a neighbour in the morning that his two servants, Suraj and Kalu, were lying in a semi-conscious state and the goods were found shattered in the house. His third servant, Ram Kumar, was missing. He immediately telephoned the police from Kolkata and asked them to take some action. Till last evening, the police did nothing, informed Mr Ghosh, who is also the president of the Sushant Lok Resident Welfare Association. He along with his family came back in the evening and then personally went to the police post. He took both his servants to the police station and asked the officials to conduct a medical test as they were still in a semi-conscious state. Mr Ghosh informed the police that he suspected the role of his servants in the theft as there was no forced entry into the house. The thieve must be known to the servants and had remained in the house for more than five hours while breaking almirahs and other strong doors of the bedrooms and other rooms. They had taken all valuables, including cash, jewellery and diamonds from the house. Thieves had also taken some food and soft drinks before decamping with the booty, informed the house owner. This morning, a national channel flashed the news about the theft and the police started doing some patch-up work, alleged Mr Ghosh. Mr Ghosh further informed that the thieves had adopted the same tactics while committing a theft around six months back in the same colony. They had then stolen goods worth lakhs of rupees. He said that after hiring all these three servants, all aged around 20 years, he submitted their details with photos to the local police station for servant verification. He had also again given their details, including photos, to the police after the theft in his house. If the police had been active yesterday and tried to trace the culprits the thieves might have been arrested, opined Mr Ghosh.
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HC for closing banquet halls in residential areas
New Delhi, February 17 The directions were given while dealing with a PIL complaining about the functioning of commercial farmhouses in the city. The Bench observed that it was not only farmhouses but also scores of banquet halls, which have surfaced in residential areas illegally, causing severe hardships to the general public. Hence, it asked the MCD to take immediate steps to close down such halls. Earlier, the court reiterated that no farmhouses would be allowed to organise commercial activities if the approach road was less that 60 feet wide. Justice Jain refused to buy the argument of the MCD and some farmhouse-owners that the 60-feet width should be computed between two buildings. Meanwhile, the BJP today demanded an amnesty scheme to allow minor violations of building bye-laws in Delhi in the wake of court rulings on the large-scale demolition of unauthorised constructions. “The government should immediately bring an amnesty scheme to help common people except in cases of encroachments and major violations”, BJP spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters. Accusing the Congress Government both in Delhi and at the Centre of being responsible for the situation, he said that ordinary people were facing the nightmare that their buildings would be bulldozed.
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‘Need for coordinated effort to check terrorism’
Manesar (Gurgaon), February 17 The seminar, which commenced yesterday on the premises of the NSG camp premises, was attended by national and international agencies. Delegates from Canada, the UK and Singapore, besides representatives from the police department of states, the BSF, the CRPF, the ITBP, the IB, the NICFS, Delhi, the CFSL, Chandigarh, and Hyderabad, the Army Bomb Disposal Unit, the Bureau of Civil Aviation and the Cabinet Secretariat attended the programme. The overwhelming view at the seminar was that terrorism, as scourge of the modern day, is being confronted in every part of the globe. Geographical boundaries are irrelevant to its presence and proliferation. Also, there has been a paradigm shift in the nature and modus operandi of terrorism and its application of technology. The general view that emerged was that technological advancements had allowed terrorism to take on a new and troublesome characteristic. Improvement in weaponry, computer technologies and global communications had allowed terrorists to transcend national boundaries. The capabilities of terrorists were becoming more sophisticated and destructive with every improvement in technology. The speakers were of the view that international cooperation was one important option to be exercised in the battle against terrorism. Speaking on the occasion, the Director, NBDC, Col Lalit Kapoor, said the bomb explosion in the country in the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 were, respectively, 295, 354, 372 and 233. In effect, there was a drop in the incidents last year. Grenade incidents effected by terrorists also showed marked decline last year. According to him, there has been decline in bomb incidents in many of the states in the year 2005 in comparison to 2004. However, in the national Capital, bomb incidents increased from two bomb explosions in 2004 to eight in 2005. Although bomb incidents in the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir have shown a decline, the total incidents are more than in other states. The state alone accounts for about 42 per cent of the total bomb incidents in the country. In Haryana there was a bomb incident each in 2004 and 2005. The NBDC has been indulging in collating, analysing and disseminating information on bombing incidents to all government agencies. Every year, it hosts an international seminar to bring together like-minded international and national government agencies on a common platform to interact and exchange views on various facets of terrorism. The NBDC also organised an exhibition where the latest weaponry and gadgets used to fight terrorism were displayed.
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FIR filed against 103 in Rs 2500-cr land scam
Greater Noida, February 17 The district administration has included this land again under gram samaj in revenue records after cancelling all fictitious and fake documents. District Magistrate Santosh Yadav said on the order of Revenue Board member George T Joseph who is probing Moti Goel’s land scam in Ghaziabad and GB Nagar inquiry into the other land scam is on. During this probe, it came to notice that 1300 bighas land in Dankaur village of Sadar tehsil under gata nos 39, 419, 406, 408, 417, 397, 386, 416, 178, 278, 329, 1087, 1117, 256 was entered under gram samaj. This land was entered in the revenue records against the name of 102 persons. Consolidation officer Rajiv Gupta had probed this matter and found that this gram samaj land had been entered against their own names in connivance with the revenue staff. Former Lekha Pal Rakesh Kumar had been the kingpin in this fraud. The DM said this land had been cancelled from the revenue records and again included under gram samaj land. On the District Magistrate’s order, a case has been registered at Dankaur police station against 103 persons, including Rakesh Kumar, for fraud and tampering with revenue records.
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Govt has failed to present full facts before court: Panchayat
New Delhi, February 17 The Panchayat warned the Delhi Government that people of rural areas would be forced to take to the streets if preventive steps were not taken soon. Addressing a press conference here, the Gram Vikas Panchayat leaders said all preparations had been completed for the February 19 Mahapanchayat at Rajghat. It was shocking that the Delhi Government had not sent its representative to the court hearing on February 16 to apprise the court about the factual position about the ‘Lal Dora’ areas and also about the 1963 notification of Ministry of Home that clearly states that the building bylaws would not be applicable in the ‘Lal Dora’ and ‘Extended Abadi’ areas of the Capital, a leader said. What is even more shocking is that the court was not even informed about the constitution of the high-powered committee constituted by the Union Urban Development Ministry, he alleged. The Panchayat members said the whole incident had brought out the real face of the government.
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‘Pen for Peace’ hopes to facilitate
better Indo-Pak relations
New Delhi, February 17 In the event to held between February 21-23, Jamia has taken special care to bring together ordinary artistes and not just ‘big names’ found at most Indo-Pak interactions. This is the idea behind the holding of the ‘Pen for Peace,’ an interaction between Indo-Pak artistes, which hopefully will improve the relations between the two countries. “We are making a genuine effort to bring together people who have not been to India before and who would ordinarily not get a chance to meet and interact with their counterparts,” said Rakshanda Jalil, spokeswoman of Jamia. A series of programmes have been planned at this landmark Indo-Pak get-together, including an exhibition of books and paintings from Pakistan, an art show and readings from Baluchi, Sindhi, Urdu, Punjabi and Siraiki literature. Moreover, discussions and workshops will also be held on many issues including “Challenges to Peace in the New World Order”, “The Future of India-Pakistan Relations” on February 22. Cultural programmes including light geets and ghazals from Pakistan and Mushaira will also be held. A discussion will also be held on “The Role of Art and Literature in Promoting Peace” on February 23. Later, there will be readings from Pakistani literature as well. There will be considerable interaction among the delegates, students and the faculty at Jamia as the delegates from Pakistan will be put up at the university guesthouse.
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Symposium on marginalisation of Muslim community
New Delhi, February 17 Prof. Mujtaba Khan, honorary director of the centre, focused on the plight of the marginalized and stressed that while the policy of reservation has brought empowerment to the SCs and the STs to an extent, the Muslim community which is an unrecognized marginalized section of the mainstream continues to drift towards ignorance and backwardness. He added that there is a need to bring in a policy of reservations for this section as well. On the other hand, Prof Imtiaz Ahmad of JNU while referring to the controversy over the reservation of Muslims felt that the ‘non-marginalized’ within the marginalized should be kept out of the purview of reservations. Even as the debate is on, Rev. Valson Thampu, Member National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, felt that there is a strong need to put an end to fragmentation among the marginalized communities and generate a sense of togetherness and solidarity within the oppressed communities. He felt education is only a creative strategy for the growth of liberation and denial of education is a strategy for dis-empowerment. He added that unity among the marginalized sections is a must for their progress as a whole. Appreciating the unique combination of Dalit and Minority studies, Prof. K.S. Chalam, Member UPSC, felt that this unit helps understand the problems facing the marginalized in a holistic manner. Taking a thread from the history of reservations, he felt that the geography of illiteracy in India is wherever the majority Muslims and Dalits live. The Marginalization of the Muslim community is a much-debated subject and this seminar helped put the controversy in proper perspective and raised fresh issues as well. The Dr K.R. Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minority Studies at Jamia came up just last year and has been conceptualized as a rallying point for all the inter-related issues concerning
Dalits, Minorities and other marginalized and socially excluded sections of
society. The centre aims at generating academic debates and discussions, formulating them in a non-partisan and plural manner within a framework of egalitarian social solidarity as the ideal. Since then, the centre has held a series of rather pertinent and socially alive seminars, symposiums and workshops.
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Garden festival begins with ‘Colours of Spring’ as theme
New Delhi, February 17 The three-day festival, with ‘Colours of Spring’ as its theme this year heralding the onset of the spring of bloom, showcases classification of herbs, shrubs and flowers in a creative splurge. Organised at the ‘Garden of Five Senses’ for the fourth consecutive year, the Garden Tourism Festival being held between February 17-19, envelops a bunch of small gardens with specific themes like ‘Colours in Landscaping’, ‘Garden of the Orient’, ‘Garden with Arbour’, ‘Terrace Gardens’, ‘Decorating Accents in Landscaping’, and ‘Indian Gardens’ for the discerning visitor. With more than 15,000 plants on display including pot plants, foliage, hanging baskets and the like by the President’s House, Horticulture Department, Ohara School from Ikebana, Delhi Dahlia Society, All India Kitchen Association, various corporate houses among others, the fest also has a special section for medicinal plants and cut flowers. Part of Delhi Government’s ‘Clean Delhi Green Delhi’ campaign, the GTF is organised by Delhi Tourism with support from ‘Incredible India’ and Government of Delhi.
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Girl among three arrested for auto theft
New Delhi, February 17 The police said that Pooja’s father is a manager in Indore and fluent in English language. Rohit is a school dropout. He had recently opened a spare parts shop in Gandhi Vihar, Delhi. Rajesh was helping Rohit in his business. In another case, the Delhi Police arrested seven persons who were allegedly involved in auto lifting cases. The accused were allegedly involved in more than nine cases of auto lifting. The seven accused have been identified as Rajesh Kumar (20), Vikash (20), Ravi Kant Tiwari (20), Raj Kumar (18), Chand Khan (21), Mohinder Singh (25) and Naushad (20). The police said that the accused were involved in the auto thefts that
took place at Pandav Nagar and Vasant Kunj from where they picked up four Maruti cars and one motorcycle. The police said that the accused were from lower middle class families and wanted to earn quick money.
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Public sittings on delimitation of constituencies
New Delhi, February 17 The sittings, to discuss the proposals of the Delimitation Commission, will be conducted at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium, CEO R K Srivastava said in a statement. The proposals for Assembly constituency nos. 1-19, 20-37, 38-54 and 55-70 will be discussed in four sessions – between 1000-1330 hrs and again from 1430 hrs — over the two days. Persons who have made written suggestions to the Commission in response to a January 27 notice would be given preference at the sittings against those who have registered with the office of the CEO for making oral submissions, it added.
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Two killed as Sumo hits rickshaw
Ghaziabad, February 17 C.O. Ram Mohan Singh said Mukesh, a resident of Sudamapuri, was going on a cycle rickshaw with his wife Lalita, nephew Sunil, 6, and his own child to meet his sister in Hind Nagar. A rashly driven Tata Sumo coming from bypass Vijay Nagar crushed the rickshaw puller and hit Mukesh and his family. Rickshaw puller Bharat and Sunil died on the spot while Mukesh, Lalita and others were seriously injured.—OC
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Triple murder accused freed
Ghaziabad, February 17 Five years ago, on April 26, this sensational crime had taken place at midnight in Phaphrane village in the house of Mahavir Singh, whose wife Mahendri, son Ravinder and daughter in-law Promila had been murdered by unknown assailants. Vijay Phapharana, son of Mahinder of the same village, and 10 others were accused of this crime.
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Satta racket busted, one held
New Delhi, February 17 The police claimed to have recovered five Reliance landline phones, five mobile phones, one colour television, and other accessories from his possession. Besides, the police also claimed to have recovered betting slips worth Rs 1.86 lakh from his possession. The police said that the accused was a 10th passed and was running his transport agency in the name of Balaji Roadways at Apsara border.
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