New Delhi, February 24
Holding “shoddy police investigation” responsible for acquittal of all the accused in the Jessica Lal murder case, women’s groups today met Delhi Police Commissioner K K Paul, demanding that an appeal should be filed against the verdict and action be taken against the police officers who are guilty of negligence.

A delegation of women’s organisations, including All India Democratic Women’s Association, National Federation of Indian Women, Joint Women’s Platform, Young Women’s Christians Association etc met Paul and submitted a memorandum in which they alleged that there were many points about the case that indicated complicity of the police. “It is shocking that a number of leads were not followed up by the investigating team,” they said, and demanded that the case should be re-investigated by the CBI.

The women’s groups said this was not an isolated case as in recent times, there have been other high-profile cases where police have failed to carry out proper investigation.

Action should be taken against the police officers who have not carried out the investigation properly and with due care, they said in the memorandum. “The officers guilty of negligence should be punished,” the women’s groups demanded.

An appeal should be filed against the verdict of the trail court, they said, adding that in all such high-profile cases, directions should be issued for a proper time bound investigation and swift action against the guilty. The Police Commissioner is reported to have told the women’s delegation that its demands will be looked into and that the department was waiting for the judgement copy to study the details and decide on the future course of action. 

New Delhi, February 24
The condition of the only polyclinic in the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area is so deplorable that most wards of this health centre are only partially functional. The state-of-the- art equipment worth several crores meant for the centre is gathering dust in the absence of proper installation, thanks to the apathy of the council.

According to sources, most rooms of this three-storied health centre are either vacant or have been locked for years.

“Some rooms in the ground floor of this polyclinic are functional and the rest of the rooms on the first and second floor are almost locked. Latest equipment worth several crores meant for the diagnosis of heart diseases and AIDS related tests is gathering dust in the absence of proper care and installation. This equipment is locked in the rooms of the first and second floor of the polyclinic.

For the convenience of patients, two X–ray plants had been installed here about three years back. Now, only one such plant is functional. The second is non-functional and it is being used as a playing table for polyclinic staff these days. An another X–ray plant has been brought here last month from Bhavpur Road but it is yet to be installed,” said a doctor.

A staff member associated with this polyclinic said on condition of anonymity that it was an irony that there were no expert doctors here to check the reports of X–ray, ECG, EEG, pathological and microbiological tests. Due to this reason, these tests are not deemed reliable and fit for further investigations and in the absence of any other option, patients are obliged to go to nearby private labs.

“Seeing the deplorable condition of this polyclinic, the Delhi Government had incepted an AIDS centre here few months back. Initially, the popular Elisa test for AIDS detection had been performed here at a nominal charge of Rs 10. Now, in the absence of an expert microbiologist and non-installation of some new equipment of this test, the centre is partially functional. The centre is being funded by some non-government health organisations besides the health department of the Delhi Government,” he said.

The polyclinic had been incepted way back in June 1983. Prior to that, there was a small homeopathy dispensary there. In 1983, a small ayurvedic centre was also started there. Though there are 12 other dispensaries at various locations of the Lutyens’ zone, this polyclinic is the biggest among them.

According to the president of the NDMC Employees’ Federation, Mr Ganga Ram, the polyclinic had been started for the convenience of lower rank staff of the council. Now, they are forced to go to Palika Charak Hospital for even small tests and ailments.

New Delhi, February 24
Positive conservation action at last seems to be becoming a possibility for the Jama Masjid. There is fresh hope, thanks to supportive move in the form of a key presentation made before the Delhi High Court.

The court as recently as last week heard out at length an ambitious MCD re-development plan. This re-development plan envisages not only bringing the Jama Masjid back to its pristine glory but also clearing the area around it.

Currently, a comprehensive fabric survey study is underway at the mosque under the aegis of conservation architect Naveen Piplani which is supported by the Waqf Board. Mr Piplani hopes to have his final report ready in another 15 days when it will be presented to the High Court.

The MCD project aims at not only restoring the Jama Masjid conservationally but also re-developing the environs of the mosque. The project is scheduled for implementation within two years, and all visual obstructions around the mosque are expected to be cleared.

The project aims at restoring the historic pedestrian link and targets at creating proper tourist facilities, toilets and drinking water. It also mentions demolishing a drawbridge in the vicinity and building a plaza in its place. Plans are also online for creating underground parking lots.

Mr Piplani informed ‘The Tribune’ that currently “the Jama Masjid structure has weathered considerably and is in a state of natural decay. Further, a lot of structures have come up both around and within the mosque and these are causing a lot of stress to the original structure”.

He listed some of the more immediate problems saying, “There are numerous surface cracks, the outermost stone veneering of the Jama Masjid is decaying and there is an efflorescence of salts. In addition, there is leakage in the dome and patches of dampness have come up. This issue needs to be addressed immediately.”

Right now even a lay observer walking around the mosque comes across soot on the walls, vegetation growing in and around the structure, obstructive walls and structures that have been made both inside and outside the mosque which take away from it, and not to forget cracked sandstone steps over which most visitors tend to stumble.

Mr Piplani in his preliminary findings has called for the cleaning of marble and sandstone surfaces, restoration of original architectural features as per the original design and construction system, replacement of missing or damaged marble and sandstone members as per the original design, replacement of damaged members in marble stone flooring and domes with new ones as per the original design and removal of vegetation growth.

The list is endless to a work which will clearly be massive and would hopefully restore the Jama Masjid to its original glory.

New Delhi, February 24
Striking lawyers, allegedly affiliated to the Delhi Bar Association, today turned violent, attacking staff and ransacking courts, including that of the District Judge and of CBI, at the Tis Hazari complex here. According to a police complaint filed by District Judge S N Dhingra, “hoards of lawyers of Delhi Bar Association entered in groups, manhandled litigants, threw articles at judges, snatched files from litigants and broke name plates”.

Agitators even broke open the doors of the judges’ chambers after they had retired and tried to manhandle them, the District Judge added.

The courts of CBI Special Judges Ved Prakash Vaish and Sunil Gaur, Senior Judges Siddarth Sharma and Praven Singh bore the brunt of the attack.

“All the affected judges have filed individual complaints against the lawyers with my office and they have been forwarded to the High Court for recommendation of proper action,” the District Judge told reporters.

He also gave special written permission to the media to bring cameras inside the complex to take photographs of damaged courtrooms and government property.

However, office-bearers of the Delhi Bar Association denied having had any hand in the incident. “Some persons have impersonated lawyers and ransacked the courts,” DBA Honorary Secretary Sanjeev Nasiar said, adding that an enquiry should be ordered into it. The advocates have been on an indefinite strike from January 2 against the setting up of a new district court in Rohini. 

New Delhi, February 24
The Indian Cancer Society assisted by leading artistes has year after year attempted to highlight the need of cancer awareness and for patient care. They are presenting a concert led by Ashwini Bhide Deshpande accompanied by Sudhir Pande on the tabla and Mehmud Dholpuri on the harmonium tomorrow.

In the past, they have worked jointly for this great cause with artistes like Birju Maharaj, Ustaad Shujaat Hussain Khan and Shubha Mudgal. Chief guests on the occasion are the Air Chief Marshal and Mrs Tyagi.

Ashwini Bhide is a leading vocalist of the Jaipur Atrauli Khayal Gayaki tradition which began under the tutelage of her famous mother, Manik Bhide. Her other gurus include Pt Narayanrao Datar and Pt Ratnakar Pai. Their guidance and her own mature introspection have led Ashwini to new horizons of discovery and delineation of Hindustani classical music.

Despite being an avowed classicist, Bhide is equally at ease with light music like Thumri/Dadra and Bhajans or Abhangs. Ashwini scores the music herself for her devotional performances and her book ‘Raarachanajali’ contains many bandhish’s composed by her. 

Noida, February 24
In an effort to streamline power supply, criminal cases were registered against 23 persons for power thefts and Rs 4.83 lakh penalties imposed by seven teams of the Paschimanchal Power Distribution Corporation in the district. The seven teams inspected 131 different places in the district.

In view of resistance and even violence in some places in Meerut, Agra and Aligarh, the campaign was kept secret to such an extent that even the team leaders were unaware of the area where they would be asked to conduct raids.

The MD of Paschimanchal Power Corporation, Mr Alok Sinha, had called all the senior officers in Noida Sector-38. Subsequently, seven teams were formed under an executive engineer with officers from district administration and police department.

During a raid in Behlolpur village a farmer was found running his tube-well with illegal power connection by using 7.5 kw power. A 150-metre cable was used to connect the tubewell to the source. Later, an FIR was registered against him. In another case, a fine of Rs 80,000 was imposed for power theft in Jhundpura.

Among the villages raided by the team included Naya Bans, Atta, Chhachera, Harola, Chaura Ragunathpur, Hoshiarpur, Soherakha, Sarfabad, Navada, Wajidpur, Chhijarsi, Nithari, Gojha, Kakarala, Nangla, Nangli, Salarpur and Bangel. Raids were also conducted in industrial sectors such as Sector 7, 9, 10 and residential sector-20.

There were reports of clashes in Sector-10 between raiding parties and the industrialists. The shopkeepers in many areas downed their shutters and disappeared as soon as the news about the raiding party’ arrival spread, said the Deputy GM.

New Delhi, February 24
Delhi Police have arrested seven persons, including two builders, for cheating a bank to the tune of Rs 2 crore by submitting forged documents.

The two builders, Naveen Aggarwal and Kapil Dhingra, along with 11 others, duped Standard Chartered Bank by submitting fake surety papers to secure loan on ten properties prior to selling to the alleged borrowers, who were enticed into the crime with a reward of Rs 3 lakh and a flat.

After submitting the requisite documents like voters ID card, PAN card etc., they applied for loan in the name of each accused. They were assisted in the crime by the then manager of the bank Sanjay Nagpal and another employee Shashi Kant, who ensured that no bank official could contact the borrowers of the loan.

Those arrested included the two builders, bank manager Sanjay Nagpal and four borrowers. While the builders and the manager have been sent to police custody till February 25, four others have been remanded to judicial custody of 14 days. 

New Delhi, February 24
Seven Additional Judges of the Delhi High Court have been appointed as permanent Judges of the same High Court.

Those appointed as permanent Judges are: Justice Jaspal Singh, Justice Manju Goel, Justice Anil Kumar, Justice Gita Mittal, Justice Shripathi Ravindra Bhat, Justice Rekha Sharma and Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

Their appointment will come into effect from the day they assume charge of their respective office. —TNS

Noida, February 24
In Uttar Pradesh, every cop’s dream is to somehow manage a posting in Noida, which is considered both coveted and prized one. If he then becomes power drunk, one can’t blame him.

Leave aside the commoner, the man in the uniform hardly cares even for a senior bureaucrat. The Secretary, UP Housing and Planning, Mr Avanish Kumar Srivastava, who was in Noida on an official visit, was at the receiving end recently.

The cop, identified as N P Singh, not only misbehaved with Mr Srivastava, but was even prepared to assault him. Even after the Secretary had identified himself, the cop continued to misbehave. Somehow Mr Srivastava was able to save himself from the cop’s wrath.

Mr Srivastava later rang up the SSP to complain about the cop’s behaviour, who had parked his two-wheeler across the road near a pan shop in Sector-58 Noida.

When Mr Srivastava asked the cop to remove his scooter to the side so that his car could pass, he refused to oblige. Mr Srivastava even tried to counsel him.

The senior bureaucrat has requested the SSP to try and change the working culture of the police and take strong action against the constable. 

New Delhi, February 24
A Delhi court has re-issued the production warrant against dreaded poacher and smuggler Sansar Chand, presently lodged in a Rajasthan jail, for initiating trial in six cases pending against him in the Capital.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjiv Jain has ordered that the accused, charged under the stringent MCOCA, be produced before him on March 10 in the cases registered by the Delhi police and later transferred to the CBI.

The poacher was earlier produced before a Special court for the first time in the capital on February 16.

The accused is presently lodged in jail in Manak Chowk in Rajasthan where he, along with his son, wife and two others are facing trial in a poaching case.

CBI told the court that they wanted to first begin trial in the case filed by the Kamla Market police and later entrusted to it, in which 41 leopard skins were seized and other wildlife articles recovered. There are five other cases against him in the capital.

The CBI had in December 23 filed a chargesheet against Sansar Chand, also known as Veerapan of North India, and his four associates under MCOCA, an Act which has been used for the first time in wildlife cases, for alleged poaching of tigers from Sariska wildlife sanctury.

The agency says it has succeeded in “unravelling Chand’s organised crime syndicate” and “established the entire chain of events from inception stage of wildlife products to its final circulation in the market” and also got information about his various accomplices.

There are around 57 cases under the Wildlife Act registered against him and his family members in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Greater Noida, February 24
A criminal case has been filed against the then assistant consolidation officer and seven others in a land scam allegedly worth Rs 2500 crore in Sadar Tehsil under Dankore.

Cases against 102 persons were also filed in this case last week. The accused consolidation officer, Ajay Podwal, is currently posted as consolidation officer in Hardoi.

According to the District Magistrate, 102 persons had got this land fraudulently transferred into their names under Gata Nos- 271, 232, 329, 361 and 379. A case was registered against all of them in Dankore police station last Thursday.

According to sources, Suresh, Kamlesh and Nathy among the accused had allegedly sold 45 bigha land of their share for Rs 50 lakh to Sumesh, Sharda and Suman of New Delhi.

The then assistant consolidation officer, Ajay Podwal, had allegedly registered or cancelled this land in their name without a scrutiny. According to sources, the buyers should have got these transaction cross-checked since it was gram samaj land.

Faridabad, February 24
The district unit of the union representing the interests of ‘Gramin Chowkidars’ (rural security guards) staged a protest demonstration here today and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the local officials demanding revision in their pay scale.

Presently there are as many as 10,000 gramin chowkidars employed by the village panchayats in Haryana. According to a spokesperson of the ‘Haryana Gramin Chowkidar Sabha’, there has been no revision in the monthly payments of the gramin chowkidar in the last one decade.

The payments made to them are mentioned as allowance and they are thus not considered employees of the State. The spokesperson said the government had once raised this allowance by just Rs 100.

They are important part of the development work in the village, he said. Moreover, the sarpanch and other office-bearers often use this staff for private works, making them do many thankless jobs, he added. They have been denied old-age pensions and do not have the status of a class four employee, the spokesperson said.

The Sarva Karamchari Sangh , Haryana, has also appealed to the Chief Minister to regularise the chowkidars as class four employees and grant them the minimum pay scale applicable.

Bulandshahr, February 24
Armed criminals looted Rs 30 lakh of the District Cooperative Bank near Agora police post under Khurja Dehat police station in Bulandshahr.

The Assistant Accountant of District Cooperative Bank, K Prasad Sharma along with his guard Moolchand and jeep driver Naresh Chand had withdrawn Rs 30 Lakh from the Punjab National Bank on Thursday and left for Pahasu in a jeep (No UP-13-586).

Mr Sharma was on his way to deliver Rs 20 lakh in Pahasu branch and Rs 10 lakh in Gulawatty branch. On the way, four criminals forced the jeep to stop after forcing their car (No DL-83-2185) in front of the jeep.

Pointing guns at the Assistant Accountant Sharma, guard and driver, the criminals took the safe key and escaped with the cash box containing Rs 30 lakh. They also took away the gun of the guard.

An alert has been sounded and road barricades were put up and vehicles were being checked. However, the police are clueless so far.

Ghaziabad, February 24
A man masquerading as a Senior Superintendent of police (SSP) of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) was arrested by the SO, Modi Nagar police station yesterday.

Bakshi Suresh Vaid had the gift of the gab and tried to impress the policemen on duty with his fluent English. A resident of Geeta Colony, New Delhi, Bakshi Suresh Vaid is said to be an expert cheat.

He entered the Modi Nagar police station and addressed the inspector in charge of the police station in immaculate English after introducing himself as an IPS officer presently posted in IB as an SSP.

However, it did not take the experienced Modi Nagar police long to see through Bakshi’s pretence and arrest him eventually.