Schoolchildren of Delhi participating in a rally against the sealing of their schools and coaching centres, at Jantar Mantar in the Capital on Sunday. —Tribune photo by Rajeev Tyagi

Protest march by CAIT leads to traffic jams
New Delhi, January 7
Traffic in several parts of the Capital, particularly in the Connaught Place and ITO areas, was thrown out of gear because of a march by schoolchildren to protest against the sealing of tuition centres and coaching institutes in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Carrying placards and raising slogans against the ongoing sealing drive of commercial units running in residential areas.

Two hospital employees arrested in rape case
New Delhi, January 7
Two hospital employees have been arrested in connection with a rape case of a woman who was admitted to a North-East Delhi hospital last week, but the main suspect is still on the run.

Second Mindmine Summit 2007
New Delhi, January 7
After the last year’s success, Hero Mindmine Institute, a strategic business unit of Hero Corporate Services, has organised the Second Mindmine Summit 2007 at the Hotel Taj Palace here.

Artscape
Cultural bonanza at Neemrana Fort
New Delhi, January 7
The Neemrana Music Foundation is organising a series of cultural and musical events from January through March at the historic Neemrana Fort Palace just one and a half hours’ drive away from the national Capital on the Delhi-Jaipur highway.

Free cancer detection camp held
New Delhi, January 7
A free cancer detection camp was organised by World Cancer Care Foundation at its New Friends Colony campus here today. A panel of experts screened about 100 patients. The panel advised that taking some precautions and some medications at the time of pregnancy could mitigate the increasing cases of hereditary cancer.—OC

New Delhi, January 7
The tussle between officers and public representatives in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) over the maintenance of public lavatories led to the transfer of Director-in-Chief, Department of Environment Management Services (DEMS), Mr Anil Prakash. He has been transferred to the Slum and JJ wing as a Chief Engineer.

He received the transfer order late last evening a few hours after the Director-in-Chief was reportedly slammed by his political bosses for the delay in awarding contract to a private company for maintenance of the lavatories. His fault was to insist the corporation to award contracts to one agency in two zones, sources said.

Stating that total number of lavatories in 12 zones were 1,455, Mr Anil Prakash suggested before his political bosses at the Standing Committee meeting yesterday that if two zones were given to one contractor, the toilets would be maintained in a better manner. In contrary, it would be difficult for one contractor to maintain all the toilet blocks, he had claimed.

This idea was against the strategy of political bosses in the corporation and they fired upon the Director-in-Chief and issued transfer order to a non-lucrative post, sources said.

The Standing Committee members pressurised him to issue contract to single company to maintain the entire toilet blocks. Before issuing the contract, the MCD should repair the toilet blocks completely. The condition of the contract should be that the company will deposit bank guarantee of Rs one crore and Rs one crore security.

Earlier, the toilet blocks were maintained by the Sulabh International. However, six months back, the MCD withdrew the contract from the company.

The MCD claimed that all the toilet blocks would be maintained in a proper manner and new lavatories would be constructed before the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. “If the speed of development is so, it will be difficult to meet the deadline,” sources said.

New Delhi, January 7
The victims of Uphaar cinema hall tragedy today told a Delhi court that there was an urgent need to summon senior police official Amod Kanth in the case saying that he was aware of the fact that the grant of permission to close the exit gate and gangway would amount to compromising the safety of the auditorium.

Kanth was the then Deputy Commissioner of Police (licensing) in Delhi when the fire tragedy had struck killing 59 persons during the screening of the film ‘Border’ in June 1997.

Counsel K T S Tulsi, appearing on behalf of Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), submitted this in a written argument in the court of Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Mamta Sehgal who adjourned the matter till January 10 to hear the final defence arguments.

Most of the safety rule violations in the cinema hall were grossly overlooked by its owners, for which the license was suspended in 1983 and had remained so upto the date of the incident of fire, the written argument said.

The violations in the closure of the vertical gangway by the side of the wall reducing the width of the gangway, closure of exits were not pointed out, perhaps for the reason that they were approved by the then DCP (licensing) Amod Kanth, it stated.

The evidence on record showed that all the accused persons had the requisite knowledge that their acts were likely to cause deaths of persons sitting in the balcony, the argument said.

The accused persons acted with gross recklessness and culpable negligence and failed to maintain a reasonable care for the cine-goers, it charged.

The sanctioned building plan for the hall was provided for 250 seats in the balcony whereas 302 seats were found to be existing at the time of the incident, which completely violates the building bye-laws which came into force in 1959, Tulsi stated in his submission.

The second-floor balcony in which 59 people were asphyxiated to death was overcrowded by an addition of another 52 seats, the prosecution said.

Of the 16 accused originally named in the case, four have died during pendency of the trial.

The remaining 12 accused, including the owners of the cinema hall, Sushil and Gopal Ansal, have been charged with offences like causing death by negligence, causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others and relevant provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

An eight-seater box was covering the exit passage in the balcony and a nodal gangway was reduced in such a way as to restrict passage, the submission said. 

New Delhi, January 7
With night temperature hovering around 4 degree Celsius, the Capital and its adjoining areas are experiencing an unprecedented cold spell since the past one week.

The meteorological department informed that the temperature plummeted to 4.2 degree Celsius last night, which was three degrees below the normal. People residing on footpaths had a harrowing experience last night due to lack of space in night shelters. However, air and rail services from the Capital were not disrupted, as there was no fog in the morning.—OC

New Delhi, January 7
The Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, today dedicated a coffee home, two community halls and a senior citizens’ recreation centre to residents of Vikas Puri after addressing a public meeting where she also announced a number of development projects which would be completed soon to bring entire West Delhi on a par with South and New Delhi as far as state-of-the-art development is concerned.

Ms Dikshit said Delhi was much ahead on the path of development. The progress made during the past eight years was a shining example of development, which had helped in providing all required amenities to the people. She expressed confidence the socio-cultural life of West Delhi would definitely get a positive boost with the opening of a coffee home constructed by the Delhi Transport and Tourism Development Corporation and proposed the commissioning of a modern district cultural centre to be constructed by the Sahitya Kala Parishad at an estimated cost of Rs 21 crore. The centre would have an open-air theatre, an auditorium and a library.

While referring to various welfare schemes and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) initiated by the Union Government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Ms Dikshit disclosed Delhi was bound to get a huge amount for upgradation of useful infrastructure in the Capital, which would accelerate the pace of making Delhi a world-class city.

She added the entire Delhi would benefit from the proposed schemes, which included commissioning of three 66 KV grid stations under the Hastsal constituency to ensure uninterrupted quality power supply.

Ms Dikshit further said a 200-bedded hospital would also be constructed at Hastsal. Land had already been allotted for this. Apart from this, a 100-bedded hospital at Baprola and a dispensary at Bindapur Pocket-III would come up to provide better and advanced healthcare to all residents of West Delhi. She disclosed the Hastsal constituency in West Delhi would also have an institution of importance with the shifting of the Gems and Jewellery Institute of the DSIIDC from Okhla for which 136 hectares had already been acquired.

Delhi Tourism and Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely assured the new district cultural centre at Vikas Puri would be constructed on a fast track and commissioned within a year. While responding to a demand for upgradation of a primary school up to senior secondary level raised by local MLA Mukesh Sharma, Mr Lovely announced action would be taken in consultation with the MCD.

He further said Delhi had been developing its tourist destinations keeping in view the ensuing Commonwealth Games. He added the green cover in Delhi would be further extended to make it a clean and green city.

Local MP Sajjan Kumar also addressed the gathering. He disclosed a new university already announced by Ms Dikshit would be set up in the Outer Delhi parliamentary constituency. Local MLA Mukesh Sharma gave an account of completed development works under his constituency.

He said residents of his constituency were thankful to the government for sanctioning a number of development projects, including 66 KV grid station and hospitals in the constituency. He further demanded setting up of a modern socio-cultural centre in Vikas Puri on the lines of Poorva Sanskritik Kendra already commissioned in East Delhi. 

Gurgaon, January 7
The aggrieved family members who had lost their relatives at the hands of maxicab serial killers demanded today that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should be asked to investigate the barbaric incidents as the Haryana administration had failed to solve the case.

Some relatives of the affected families and leading social workers today organized a meeting in Gurgaon and decided to hand over a memorandum to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Tuesday, via the Commissioner of Gurgaon Range, urging him to direct the state government to take speedy measures as was being done in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of Nithari incident.

The state administration and police department have done nothing to provide solace to the victims’ family members even after two months of arresting the nine accused, said R S Kuntal, whose 17-year-old son Pradeep Kuntal has been missing since August 2006.

In the meeting, it was revealed that out of the 26 murders which had allegedly been committed by the nine accused, the police had produced the challan only in one case in the court even after two months whereas it was promised by the authorities then that all cases would be handled expeditiously, regretted Sunil Jain, whose son Sachin Jain was allegedly murdered by the gang.

Tej Singh, who lost his 55-year-old father Mahabir at the hands of maxicab killers, lamented that the investigation being done by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohinder Lal, had not been completed yet. All administrative and police officers who were directly responsible for the gruesome incidents must be suspended immediately, it was reportedly demanded in the meeting.

Social workers and other prominent persons of Gurgaon demanded that the state government must immediately give a financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh and a government job to the next of kin of every victim.

On the one hand, senior leaders of the Congress and even UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had visited Nithari village to pacify the affected families, on the other, the party had not directed the Haryana government to do anything for the affected families, lamented the speakers in the meeting.

The barbaric murders committed by the gang on the pretext of providing lift in the maxicab could have been avoided if there was a safe and efficient public transport network within the city. The passengers are forced to take the lift in these unauthorised vehicles as there is no public transport system in the district. The administration had then promised to improve the transport system, but not a single vehicle has been added, mourned Mr Jai Bhagwan whose brother Mahender Singh was allegedly murdered by the maxicab gang.

A large procession would be held on Tuesday before submitting a memorandum to the Gurgaon Commissioner. It would be sent to the Prime Minister in which all sections of people: industrialists, businessmen, entrepreneurs, social workers, resident welfare associations (RWAs), non-government organizations (NGOs), religious and social organizations, bar members, chartered accountants, doctors, etc would participate and lodge their protest over the ‘inaction’ of the state government, claimed Mr Jain.

In the memorandum, the Prime Minister would be urged to take remedial steps and ensure that such incidents do not reoccur in any part of the country, said Mr Sunil Jain. 

Noida, January 7
A prayer meeting was held here today outside the residence of the main accused in the Nithari serial killing case, as the Noida Residents’ Welfare Association threatened to start an agitation from Shivratri if their demands for converting the site of the grisly murders into a monument was not met.

Prayers at Nithari village in the morning started with chanting of ‘Gayatri mantra’.

Later, the Noida Resident Welfare Association, which held the prayer meeting, threatened to start an agitation if their demand for a monument at the site of the incident was not met.

“We want D-5 bungalow to be converted into a monument, failing which we would start on agitation from this Shivratri,” said Munna Kumar Sharma, secretary, Federation of Noida Residents’ Welfare Association.

Social activist Prof Shanta Sinha, who visited the village, said there was a need to set up a data bank on missing children in every district headquarter.

“This is not an alone incident, it has to be examined on a larger basis. The government needs to first set up a database of missing children in every district,” Magsasay Award winner, Prof Sinha said.

A group of lawyers from the Supreme Court, who visited the site today, promised all help for the victims in their litigations.

“We are here to see how we can help to reach the root cause of the incident. We would be available for any help to the victims,” said Mr Ashok Agarwal, secretary, Social Jurists, a Supreme Court lawyer’s forum.

New Delhi, January 7
Traffic in several parts of the Capital, particularly in the Connaught Place and ITO areas, was thrown out of gear because of a march by schoolchildren to protest against the sealing of tuition centres and coaching institutes in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Carrying placards and raising slogans against the ongoing sealing drive of commercial units running in residential areas, the protest march was organised under the aegis of the Education Forum of the Confederation of All India Traders ( CAIT) which has been at the forefront of the battle.

Vehicular traffic was diverted to other roads, leading to congestion and traffic snarls even though the volume of traffic was less on Sunday.

It took the traffic policemen several hours to restore normalcy on these roads.

Leaders of the Education Forum claimed the closing down of tuition centres and coaching institutions would affect the studies of lakhs of school and college students. They urged the authorities to make necessary amendments in the draft Master Plan 2021 to ensure such institutes were not closed down. All such institutions have been served notices to close down before May 18, 2007.

Meanwhile, Mr Viresh Pratap Chouhary, President of the Citizens’ Council of India, today urged the authorities to include representatives of the people while finalising the Master Plan 2021.

New Delhi, January 7
Two hospital employees have been arrested in connection with a rape case of a woman who was admitted to a North-East Delhi hospital last week, but the main suspect is still on the run.

A 37-year-old woman, who was admitted to Swami Dayanand Hospital, was allegedly raped by one Rakesh (24) on December 27, police said today.

Rishi (32), a ward boy, was arrested on charges of threatening the woman with dire consequences if she revealed about the incident while Sanjeev (35), a technician, was nabbed for allegedly molesting her, they said.

The police said Rakesh was on the run, they added.—OC

New Delhi, January 7
After the last year’s success, Hero Mindmine Institute, a strategic business unit of Hero Corporate Services, has organised the Second Mindmine Summit 2007 at the Hotel Taj Palace here.

The world’s renowned speaker, author and consultant Michael J. Gelb, who has conducted out-of-the-box workshops for global corporations like British Petroleum, DuPont, IBM Nike and Microsoft will be coming to India for the first time in the second week of January.

Mr Gelb, whose revolutionary book, ‘How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci’ has sold over 500,000 copies and has been translated into 24 languages, will address delegates at two sessions at the Second Mindmine Institute Summit.

Besides addressing the inaugural session on the first day, Mr Gelb will share his insights and creative thinking techniques at a special plenary session on January 12.

This year’s theme of the Summit is: Imagining. Investing. Inventing: ‘The Global Indian Manager’. 

New Delhi, January 7
The Neemrana Music Foundation is organising a series of cultural and musical events from January through March at the historic Neemrana Fort Palace just one and a half hours’ drive away from the national Capital on the Delhi-Jaipur highway.

The cultural bonanza will be kicked off with a sarangi recital by the famous Fakruddin Dholpuri on January 12 followed by a sitar recital by Hindol Dev on January 19. The foundation will stage the famous play, “The Chairs,” by Engene Lonesco on January 27. The play will be performed by members of the Company Theatre. On February 3, it will be an evening of western classical music with the Delhi String Quartet all set to enthrall the audience.

A painting by Vasundhara Tewari Broota.

A percussion recital (mridangam) by the well-known artiste, Lalgudi Sriganesh, will be presented on February 9 while the famous vocalist, Amjad Ali Khan, is scheduled to regale the audience on March 10. The Oxford University Band will perform on March 25. The series of events will be brought to an end with a Kuchipudi performance by none other than the famous Yamini Reddy on March 31.