New Delhi, September 21
An air of uneasy calm prevailed in Seelampur area a day after a violent clash between the police and a mob left four people dead and a hundred injured. The bodies of the victims were handed over to families in the presence of heavy deployment of police, BSF and RAF.

Sources said that the police first appealed to the family members of the deceased not to take the bodies home as this could escalate tension in the area. But they ignored the appeal, saying that some religious rituals were necessary before the burial of the bodies.

Ms Sayeeda, mother of Ashraf (15), one of the victims, said that the body of her son was handed over to her only after she kept pleading to local police officials.

In the beginning, she was told that some legal procedures were to be completed before handing over the body. However, the body was handed over after the intervention of some “influential people” of the area, she claimed.

She said, “My son was innocent. He was a student of class VI in Government Boys Senior Secondary School in Seelampur. After returning from his school at 2 pm, he had gone outside to see the scene of traders’ bandh.”

He was taken to GTB Hospital in a police vehicle after being shot and died at 7 pm. Ms Sayeeda alleged that her son could have been saved if proper medical attention had been given to him. “He was not operated upon. We are poor people. If we had been rich, the doctors would have saved my child,” she said.

Ms Sayeeda and other eye-witnesses claimed that the police fired directly at the victims. A number of bullet marks could be seen on the walls of their houses, they said.

The main market of Seelampur was closed today in protest against the police “brutality”.

The local residents also alleged that the police dragged ‘innocent’ people out of their homes at night and arrested them on charges of rioting. They claimed that those who bribed the police were released, while others were put behind the bar. Sixty eight people have been sent to judicial remand in this connection.

New Delhi, September 21
To ensure that ‘genuine’ traders are not mistaken for ‘anti social elements’, identity cards and badges may be issued to over 100,000 of them Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).

Its president, Mr Praveen Khandelwal, explaining the rationale behind the move, said, “None of the three people who died, or those injured and arrested in Wednesday’s violence in Seelampur locality was a trader.”

“We presume that some anti-social elements want to bring disrepute to the traders’ community by instigating violence,” he claimed.

Mr Khandelwal said identity cards and badges would be provided to over 100,000 traders. “The I-cards will have the full address and photograph of the trader as well as details of the business carried out by the person. This will help in easy identification and in separating them from the non-traders,” he said.

Trade associations will also hold meetings to discuss the issue of the proposed identity cards and on the suspected involvement of miscreants in the Seelampur violence during the clash between traders and police yesterday.

The traders have also demanded a high-level enquiry into the violence to identify the culprits behind the violence. Meanwhile, various trade bodies are holding a ‘maha panchayat’ (mega meeting) on Sunday to decide their future course of action with regard to the ongoing sealing drive.

New Delhi, September 21
The Lt. Governor of Delhi, Mr B. L. Joshi, today appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony and not take the law into their hands.

“Citizens of Delhi have a long tradition of maintaining peace and harmony. Concerns of the people have been taken note of with due seriousness,” he said.

New Delhi, September 21
Holding the Delhi Government responsible for yesterday’s violence in several parts of the Capital, the Delhi unit of the BJP today demanded resignation of Chief Minister Ms Sheila Dikshit.

The party unit’s president, Dr Harsh Vardhan, said that unauthorised constructions and shops had not been built in Delhi in a day. “The officers and Congress leaders were aware of it,” he pointed out.

He said that the killing of four ‘innocent’ persons during the bandh was the result of Congress party’s failure to find a solution to the problem in time.

However, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Ram Babu Sharma claimed that yesterday’s violence was a result of the confusion created by the BJP. “The government has already notified 2200 roads for mixed land use and commercial activities. Sealing is not being carried out on the notified roads,” he said.

New Delhi, September 21
Asserting that the bureaucracy cannot act in a “capricious or arbitrary manner” while amending rules, the Delhi High Court has stayed the proposed recruitment of 1,204 primary school teachers by the Delhi Government.

It, however, granted permission for issuing a fresh advertisement for the recruitment, provided that the maximum age limit of 42 years for women and 32 years for men was followed.

The court passed the direction on a batch of writ petitions filed by candidates holding diploma in Elementary Teacher Education (ETE) challenging the decision of the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSB) to reduce the maximum age limit for the post of Assistant Teachers (primary) from the existing 42 years to 27 years.

The Board, which is the recruiting agency for the Directorate of Education Delhi Government, had invited applications for filling up 1,204 Assistant Teachers posts in various government schools in the Capital after fixing the maximum age limit at 27 years, through a newspaper advertisement on July 27.

However, the ETE candidates challenged the move on the ground that the age limit cannot be reduced with retrospective effect as it would affect thousands of candidates aspiring for the posts.

The petitioners contended that many of them pursued the course in question only because the maximum age limit was 42 years. It was contended that the action of the Government to abruptly reduce the age criterion was arbitrary and unconstitutional as the principles of natural justice were not observed.

In its reply the government took the plea that the age limit was reduced to infuse quality education in government schools and claimed that older teachers were found wanting in imparting the required quality of education.

Upholding the aggrieved candidates’ plea, Justice J.M. Malik maintained that the paramount function of the State is to serve its people.

“They have to take care of the rules already framed by them. It is not understood how they have made the amendment without thinking about the fate of these persons, who have already cleared ETC. The respondents (Government) are not supposed to ruin the career of a number of persons out of blue,” Justice Malik said.

Holding that right to fair treatment is an essential inbuilt of natural justice, Justice Malik observed, “Rule of law posits that the power is to be exercised in a manner which is just, fair and reasonable and not in an unreasonable, capricious or arbitrary manner leaving room for discrimination.”

Accordingly, the court stayed the recruitment, but granted permission to the government to issue a fresh advertisement for the recruitment by retaining the existing age criterion.

New Delhi, September 21
A court today sentenced a man to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment for raping a woman at her home in North-West Delhi.

Finding Sanjay Kumar guilty under Sections 376 (rape) and 448 (house-trespass) of the IPC, the Additional Sessions Judge also imposed a fine of Rs 1,500 on the convict.

The convict also took away some jewellery, including gold chains, and Rs 9,000 from the house, they alleged.—OC

New Delhi, September 21
For the construction of a flyover and traffic intersection in south-west Delhi, nearly 9.5 acres of defence land in Cantonment area would be handed over to the Delhi Government.

The Union Cabinet today cleared the proposals for transfer of 8.628 acres of land for the construction of Dhaula Kuan flyover and 0.8065 acre for improvement of a traffic intersection on the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway (NH-8) in the same area.

The Cabinet also decided to transfer 5.349 acres of land of the Ordnance Depot, Shakurbasti, for construction of a 400 metre-long stretch of a road in the area.

The construction of the flyover is expected to ease traffic congestion in the Capital. The PWD has been entrusted with the responsibility of constructing a major multi-level flyover at Dhaula Kuan crossing.

The construction of the missing stretch of the road in Shakurbasti would benefit commuters travelling from Britannia Chowk on the Ring Road to the Outer Ring Road.

Faridabad, September 21
The decision of the state government to put the new education policy on hold to consider the demand for an amendment in its provisions has been criticised by parents’ organisations here which want the government to involve them in the process.

The education department has been warned of serious consequences if the government bends the rules under pressure.

The Haryana Abhibhawak Ekta Manch (HAEM), the leading parents’ welfare body of school and college students in the state, has shot off a letter to the state Education Minister regarding the issue.

The parents’ body urged him to consider the views of parents in discussions on the proposed changes in the Education Rules Act- 2003.

It claimed that there was no need for amending the rules and virtually accused the government of giving in to lobbying by private schools lobby, which has been opposing the implementation of rules.

The HAEM has expressed concern over the department’s failure to involve parents in meetings regarding the demand for revision in the rules.

It said any change in the rules would affect lakhs of students and their parents directly.

According to Mr O.P.Sharma, president of HAEM, the developments so far in this connection had given an impression that the government is working under ‘pressure’ of private schools’ lobby, which allegedly enjoy political patronage.

Asking the government to involve the parents in the process, the HAEM has threatened to move the court if there was no positive response in this respect.

Meanwhile, certain irregularities have been reported in the posting of teachers in government schools and the appointment of supervisors and invigilators in the ongoing semester exams of the government schools in the region.

According to sources in the education department, underage male teachers have been posted in government girls’ schools in the district against the norms set by the government.

There are at least half a dozen cases in the district where male teachers under 50 years have been posted in the girls’ schools. Some of the tainted teachers have also been given exam duty in the ongoing exams in government schools, claimed a source.

Gurgaon, September 21
In a move to implement an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, a monitoring committee under the chairmanship of Administrator, Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), has been constituted to monitor unauthorised construction and encroachment around a 900 metre radius of the Air Force ammunition depot here.

The four-member committee includes the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Senior Town Planner, and District Town Planner (Enforcement) (DTP-E).

Mr S. P. Gupta, Administrator, HUDA, said that various decisions were taken to implement the court's order in its first meeting held yesterday.

Notices would be issued to all persons found indulging in unauthorised construction or encroaching upon public land. Thereafter, the details of the defaulters would be posted on the websites of HUDA and the district administration.

He said that it was also decided that various departments like Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (DHVNL), Public Health, Municipality, BSNL and HUDA which were providing their services such as electric, water and sewerage connections, telephone lines and constructed roads in these areas, would be asked to disconnect these. The departments would also be asked not to provide such services in future, he added.

To ensure that junior level staff of the DTP (E) did not manipulate the records, it was also decided that videotapes of all unauthorised construction and encroachment would be made and after that if any new illegal construction was noticed, the concerned JE would be held personally responsible. A copy of the survey report would also be sent to all members of the monitoring cell.

An application for early hearing would be submitted in the High Court where different courts had granted stay to the defaulters, he said, adding that the stay would be vacated to take action against them.

It was decided that the notice for recovery of the expenditure incurred on account of removal of encroachment would be sent to the defaulters and if they failed to deposit the arrears, further action under Land Revenue Act would be initiated against them.

At the time of removal of encroachments in thickly populated area, sufficient police force, including lady constables, and necessary equipment would be deployed.

It was also decided that in the next meeting, the head of the various concerned departments would also be called for better coordination and supervision.

A number of illegal colonies, farm houses and banquet halls have come up around the ammunition depot. The administration had not done anything concrete to minimise these unauthorised constructions.

However, a number of affected persons lamented that first the administration was not able to provide sufficient houses to the weaker sections of the society, and now it was planning to demolish their houses that were constructed by spending hard-earned money.

Noida, September 21
A cancer hospital is to be set up by the Centre here as part of the Insititute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology (ICPO), which was formally inaugurated by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, yesterday.

Announcing the decision, Mr Ramdoss pointed out that 130,000-odd women fall victim to cancer every year, out of which over 74,000 succumb to the disease.

Formally inaugurating the new campus of the Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology (ICPO), the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, said a cancer hospital would soon be set up in Noida as part of ICPO.

Some 130,000 women, he said, fall victim to cancer every year in India out of which over 74,000 women die of cancer.

He said one of the biggest causes of death in woman was breast cancer.

The hospital will have complete facilities for cancer treatment and research. The findings of research in cancer at the institute will be shared with other medical and research institutes, he said. Apart from treatment, new research will focus on preventive oncology.

Women usually have cancer of breast or uterus and work is on for developing a vaccination for its prevention. Some Indian medicines like turmeric have been found very useful in fighting cancer, Dr Ramadoss said.

The Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dr Nirmal Kumar Ganguly said that the council, with the help of the Union Ministry of Health, proposes to set up a network of modern research centres in different regions of the country.

Apart from ICPO, Noida, work on cancer is progressing well in New Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad. ICPO has done good work on detection of cancer in initial stages as well as on its remedies about it, he added.

Dr John W. Sellors, Senior Medical Advisor, Programme for Appropriate Technologies in Health (PATH), USA, said “Significant benefits will accrue from research on pregnancy-related cancer, but we shall have to wait for 10 to 20 years for it.”

New Delhi, September 21
The Delhi High Court today directed the Delhi Government to take steps to prevent further pollution of the Yamuna river with plastic bags during the festive season of ‘Navratra’ and ‘Dusshera’.

A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma asked the authorities to “take steps to prevent further pollution of the Yamuna river keeping in view of the upcoming festivals”.

Hearing a PIL filed by Vinod Kumar Jain, the court directed the authorities that the Delhi Plastic bags and Non-biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 2000 and further amendment to the Act in 2005 be implemented in totality.

The petitioner prayed for direction to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, the Delhi Government, the Department of Law of Delhi Government and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to implement the Act for the use of bio-degradable plastic bags in the Capital.

In view of the festivals, people would be throwing plastic bags containing ‘religious wastes’ along with the idols further polluting the holy river, prayed the petitioner.

The state government had made the use of bio-degradable plastic bags mandatory in five and four star hotels, Mother Dairy outlets, liquor shops, restaurants, eateries and shopping malls. — UNI

New Delhi, September 21
With the arrest of three persons — Nasir (33), Rashid (28) and Nafees (36) the police today claimed to have busted a gang of car thieves and recovered five luxury cars from their possession.

Some machinery used for tampering with engine number and chasis numbers of stolen cars has also been seized from Modipuram, Meerut. Two grinder machines and seven body plates of damaged vehicles have also been recovered at their instance. With their arrest, the police claimed to have solved 36 cases of auto thefts.

Following a tip-off, Nasir and Rashid were arrested from Lajpat Nagar when they were allegedly moving around suspiciously in a “stolen” car.

On interrogation, the accused reportedly revealed that one Nafees running a workshop in Meerut was also involved with them. He has also been arrested.

New Delhi, September 21
Pilgrims from Delhi to the Char Dhams, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kerdarnath and Badrinath, would now also have the luxury to stay at the scenic Maneri area with a major hospitality chain in the Uttaranchal region opening special camps there.

After the stupendous success of its luxury tented accommodation at Char Dhams for the spiritual traveller, Leisure Hotels Ltd has added a fifth camp in Maneri for the pilgrims and the corporate traveller. The Maneri camp is located at a distance of 22 km from Uttarkashi on Highway no 108, just before a village called Sainj.

The camp, although operational throughout the year, would be used as a transit point for the Char Dham pilgrims from May till October. —TNS

Ghaziabad, September 21
One man and two sisters riding a motorcycle were crushed by a tanker near Modi Nagar Tehsil on Delhi-Meerut highway yesterday.

The sisters were coming back after M.Ed. examination at Ch. Charan Singh University. The bike was being driven by their nephew. The police have arrested the driver.

The accident took place at 2 pm on Thursday. Sunder Kumar, a resident of Pratap Vihar, Ghaziabad was returning from Meerut.