New Delhi, February 19
The Supreme Court today stayed the award of death sentence to lawyer Santosh Kumar Singh in the Delhi University student Priyadarshni Mattoo rape and murder case, admitting his appeal against the conviction.

Santosh, who was a senior student in the law faculty was found guilty of raping and murdering his junior student Mattoo at her Vasant Kunj flat by the Delhi High Court. He challenged the conviction as well as the award of death penalty to him.

The High Court in its judgement passed in October last year had convicted Santosh, a son of former DGP J P Singh after he was acquitted by the trial judge in December 1999.

Admitting his appeal, a Bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Mr Justice R V Raveendran said that pending the decision on his petition, the High Court’s order of execution of the convict would stand stayed.

Admission of appeal in murder cases is a statutory provision and till it was decided, the stay on sentence would consequently be ordered by appellate court.

Santosh had alleged that the High Court had failed to appreciate the evidence properly as there were various loopholes in the investigation by the CBI and forensic report on blood samples.

Mattoo was murdered at her house in the afternoon of January 23, 1996 and the High Court Bench of Justices R. S. Sodhi and P. K. Bhasin had said that there were sufficient evidence on record to prove the guilt of Santosh, a practising lawyer, now confined to Tihar Jail.

Trial judge G P Thareja in his December 3, 1999 judgement, had given him the benefit of the doubt, saying that the CBI had bungled in the investigation to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt though he knew that he was the person who had committed the crime.

But the High Court termed the trial judge’s verdict as “perverse”, while allowing the appeal of the CBI. It said that there were enough “circumstantial evidence” as presented by the CBI, which established beyond doubt the chain of events in the case and these did not indicate any innocence of the accused.

He was awarded death sentence by the High Court, holding that the case had “shocked its judicial conscience” because he had taken away a young life that too of a fellow law student.

New Delhi, February 19
The Delhi High Court today dismissed the bail plea of R K Sharma, suspended Haryana cadre IPS officer and a key accused in the Shivani Bahtnagar murder case.

Justice Ravinder Bhatt, who had on February 15 reserved the order after hearing the arguments on the bail petition of Sharma who is in jail following his surrender in 2002, rejected his application.

Seeking his release, Sharma had submitted that he had no criminal background and had been suffering from serious ailments, including spinal chord problem for which he underwent a surgery.

It was also argued that there was no chance of him influencing the witnesses as the trial court had already completed the recording of evidence with the examination of 209 witnesses.

Earlier, Sharma, in his statement before the trial court under Section 313 of the criminal procedure code, which entitles an accused to get his version recorded, had accepted that Shivani was a family friend.

The trial court would continue to record Sharma’s statement in the case on February 20, the next date of hearing.

Sharma along with five co-accused— Pradeep Sharma, Satya Prakash, Ved Prakash Sharma, Ved, alias Kalu, and Sri Bhagwan—are facing trail in the case. Bhatnagar was found murdered at her East Delhi apartment on January 23, 1999.

As per the prosecution, Sharma along with five accused had conspired to eliminate Shivani as he wanted to end the relationship. 

New Delhi, February 19
Security at all vital installations across the national Capital has been tightened in the wake of strike by militants on Samjhauta Express which left nearly 66 passengers dead.

Road barricades have been placed by the police on important roads and security has been beefed up at railway stations.

Extra-precautionary measures are already in place to ensure safety of the Delhi-Lahore bus service. Security has been further beefed up at Ambedkar Bus Terminus from where the Delhi-Lahore bus service ‘Sada-e-Sarhad’ is scheduled to leave for Lahore tomorrow.

Access control at all the government offices was being monitored closely while strict vigil was being kept at all entry and exit points of the national Capital. Specific instructions have been issued to security agencies to keep a special watch at places of religious congregations, which could be targeted by militant groups, sources said.

The police has also ‘sensitised’ shopkeepers in busy market areas, which bore the brunt of serial blasts in 2005, and vigil is being maintained for any suspicious-looking person or activity.

Metal detectors have been placed at all the entrance points of busy markets and people are being frisked.

In airports, the already alert security was further beefed up with additional rounds being conducted by the Quick Reaction Team.

Nuclear facilities throughout the country, which would seem to be on top of the militant lists, were also asked to further tighten the security.

“More personnel have been deployed at all sensitive places, including metro and railway stations. We are keeping a tight vigil. Our men are alert,” a police official claimed. 

New Delhi, February 19
The president of BJP’s Delhi unit, Dr Harsh Vardhan, has demanded resignation of the Home Minister and Railway Minister in view of the bomb blasts in Samjhauta Express.

He said the preliminary enquiry had made it clear that the terrorists had loaded the bombs in brief cases in the Delhi-Attari Samjhauta Express in a planned manner at Old Delhi Railway Station.

“The Central Government has been claiming that Delhi is in high security cordon. Everybody knows that Samjhauta Express was a prime target of terrorists. In spite of this, no fool proof arrangement has been made by the concerned authorities. The explosion is a complete failure of Indian intelligence system,” he said.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said that since this was an international train, its security should have been handled like at the airports.

“The militant strike has been carried out to coincide with the visit of Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Khursheed Mahmood Kasuri tomorrow. By exploding the bombs, the terrorists have clearly indicated that despite such efforts for peace, India will always be at their target. The bomb blasts in Samjhauta Express is a slap on the face of the lax administration and hollow internal security system of India,” he said.

Dr Vardhan charged the ruling party with compromising with the security and dignity of the country as per its policy of appeasement and ‘low grade vote politics’.

He said it was high time for the government to wake up and ensure internal security of the country. “Afzal Guru should be hanged immediately. For those terrorists imprisoned in India, special courts should be constituted and hearings should be done on day to day basis. Terrorists should be punished sternly. Only then such incidents will decrease in the country,” Dr Harsh Vardhan said.

Ghaziabad, February 19
How irresponsible the police force can be in its working is clear from the fact that at least 1,000 important files are reportedly missing from the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ghaziabad. These files are reported to be containing official correspondence on important issues.

A circle officer (DSP) is learnt to have filed a report in this connection at the Kavi Nagar police station. There is a commotion in police circles after the filing of this FIR.

It may be added that five years ago, a similar case of missing official correspondence and record had come to the notice of the DIG range during his inspection of SSP Ghaziabad’s office. The DIG had ordered a probe into the matter, but it too was conducted in a slipshod manner and with the transfer of some of the personnel, the enquiry had got derailed.

The issues like law and order and the internal security can have very dangerous repercussions.

It is common knowledge that Pakistani citizens overstay in this area. Terrorists with explosives and arms engaged in anti-national activities are nabbed from various towns almost on a regular basis.

About five months ago, the enquiry report was handed over to CO, Udhey Shanker who has found that between the years 1975
and 2001, some 1096 letters and documents have gone missing without their having been entered in the records. At least there was no proof of some 1062 communications and documents.

After interrogating the policemen concerned, the CO came to the conclusion that some of the missing records pertained to the character rolls of the police personnel concerned, apart from those concerning law and order and internal security issues.

Some of the police personnel against whom enquiries had been ordered could have been involved in the exercise of disappearance of the files from the police record or those who had been punished for various omissions so that with the records not available, they could get away with their shady past, CO Udhay Shankar added.

Ghaziabad, February 19
The state administration has taken action against the senior police officers of Ghaziabad for their failure to protect the main accused of Nithari killings, Moninder Singh Pandher and Surinder Koli when they were taken to Gahaziabad court by the CBI on January 25.

The state government has suspended the police Circle Officer, Ram Mohan Singh and transferred out SP city Govind Agarwal for their failure to protect the Nithari accused who were beaten up by the Ghaziabad advocates and the public on the court premises.

In the meanwhile, the SSP Ghaziabad had reinstated on February 13 the three cop suspended on January 25.

These cops included the SO Kavi R K Paliwal, police post incharge, district court, and SI Ichha Ram LIU.

But significantly no action has been taken against six advocates who were named in the FIR.

The CBI had, however, filed FIR against about 300 unidentified persons who took part in the assault on January 25.

It may added that the transfer of the cops was on the basis of reports of CBI and LIU. 

New Delhi, February 19
Several Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) have expressed deep concern at muteness of Delhi government over increasing prices as during last few months, the grocery budget of a household has gone up by more than 40 per cent, with the rate of inflation increasing from 4.04 per cent in February last year to 6.58 per cent this year.

“With prices of all essential commodities and groceries showing a sharp rise, the common man is feeling the pinch. Prices of wheat flour, edible oils, pulses, rice, dairy products like milk, butter and ghee, and poultry products like eggs are spiralling. Eggs are selling at Rs 34 a dozen,” said Mrs Ritu Bhatia, secretary, Vivek Vihar, Block B, RWA.

“Issuing whole sale price advertisements in newspapers (unbelievable rates for general public) and opening five stalls selling poor quality onion for the Capital’s population is the solution found by Delhi Government to control inflation. It’s a cruel joke being played by Delhi Government on residents. This is coupled with blame game,” said Wing Commander J.S.Chadha, president, East of Kailash RWA Federation.

Mr Vijay Raghavan of Mehrauli RWA Federation says, “As compared to last year, the grocery budget for my family of four has almost doubled. Last year, we were spending Rs 2000 a month on groceries. Now, we are spending Rs 4000 a month. Only those families whose income has increased by a minimum of 12-15 per cent, are able to take this price rise. Others have been forced to cut down on their budget reserved for entertainment, socializing and leisure activities.”

The prices of wheat flour, pulses like urd, moong and rajmah; and spices like saunf and black pepper, have seen the maximum rise in the past one year. The price of wheat flour has gone up by Rs 15 per 10 kg. (from Rs 125 per 10 kg in February 2005 to Rs 140 a kg now). Branded wheat flour prices have increased from Rs 140 per 10 kg to Rs 155 per 10 kg now. Prices of other commodities have also gone up.

New Delhi, February 19
To provide relief to the poor families living below poverty line, residents of jhuggi clusters and resettlement colonies, the Delhi Cabinet today decided to subsidise Arhar and Chana, the two most consumed pulses, by 25 per cent.

The Chief Minister categorically underlined commitment of her government to provide essential commodities to the economically weaker sections at most reasonable rates.

She added that Arhar Dal and Chana Dal would be supplied through the Public Distribution System (PDS). Four kilograms of Dal, two kilogram each Arhar and Chana, per card per month on subsidized rates would be provided to BPL, Antyodaya (AAY) and Jhuggi Ration Card (JRC) holders.

In all, 5,04,336 families would be benefited which include 3,78,947 BPL families, 57,336 AAY families and 68,053 JRC families.

Ms Dikshit expressed confidence that this would provide substantial relief to the poor families. The Dal would be procured either from Kendriya Bhandar or from any Government-nominated agencies as these items are not procured by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

She disclosed that Arhar Dal would be made available at the rate of Rs 24.75 and Chana Dal at the rate of Rs 27.75 per kg against present approximate market rates of Rs 33 and Rs 37 per kg respectively.

She added that this would help in ensuring minimum level of nutrition to underprivileged of Delhi. Delhi Government would have to bear an amount of Rs 1,76,51,760 approximately per month to provide subsidy on dals. Delhi Government had also increased monthly quota of kerosene from 8 to 22 litres for cardholders of these three categories.

It may be recalled that the Delhi Government had earlier made available two most consumed Dals to all the residents of Delhi, irrespective of their economic status, through Kendriya Bhandar and Mobile Vans stationed at all rationing offices.

The Department of Food and Supplies at present is involved in providing subsidized food articles at prescribed rates to the cardholders of Delhi. However, it is providing only four commodities that are wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene through its PDS. 

New Delhi, February 19
The Director General of BSF, Mr A K Mishra, today inaugurated a two-week training programme on ‘Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technology’ for BSF officers.

The programme was organized by the Centre for Disaster Management Studies under the aegis of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that remote sensing and satellite technologies had become essential part of security all over the world.

“India is a huge country sharing more than 14,000 km of border with her six neighbours. Most border areas have inhospitable terrain like the ice-capped mountains of Himalayas or swift rivulets. Infiltration along these borders is thus easy,” he said.

“For border surveillance we need persistent coverage over previously exposed areas. The large amounts of data generated can make sense only if automation is achieved to a certain level in processing it and in identification of possible areas of intrusion. Towards this end, we need to equip BSF with positioning systems like Global Positioning System (GPS) and feed the data real time into GIS,” he said.

New Delhi, February 19
The Delhi Government has decided to install escalators in newly constructed Foot Over Bridges (FOB) at ITO and Maharani Bagh for public convenience, sources said.

According to the sources, the escalators are being imported from Australia at the price of Rs 1 crore each. A total of two escalators are being imported.

The Australian company has been awarded contract to install the escalator and maintain them for five years. The maintenance will be free of charge during the first year.

The government will pay to the company for the next four years.

A senior official of the PWD said that the deadline to install the escalator was July but it would be installed by the end of April.

The PWD appointed guards at both the escalators after getting information that aluminum plates bolted on stares of the FOB were being stolen. The guards are on duty for 24 hours, the sources said. 

Faridabad, February 19
Employees of the power department in the district took part in the district level demonstrations here today on a call given by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the leading employee organizations in the state, against the ongoing privatisation and the policy of outsourcing in the department.

Dharnas and demonstrations were held at around 25 spots, including the thermal power plant in Sector 23 here and the sub-division offices.

The employees asked the government to revert the policy of privatisation and close down the outsourced Customer Care Centers. Besides, they asked the government to fill up the vacant posts.

According to a spokesperson of the JAC, the protest today had been the part of the first phase of the agitation programme launched by the committee after both the leading staff bodies, the All Haryana Power Corporation Workers’ Union and the HSEB Workers’ Union, joined hands a couple of weeks back to steer the agitation against the policies of the government.

He said the second phase of the agitation would start from February 22 in which district-wise demonstrations would be held and the agitating staff would gherao the senior officials of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN).

Faridabad, February 19
The mini-secretariat building complex in Sector 12 here, which houses the offices of the senior district officials, continues to be a victim of poor maintenance. While the problem of parking appears to have worsened, the cleanliness of the complex is the issue that has been attracting the attention of the people visiting this building of the district administration.

The building built at a cost of about Rs 12 crore had been inaugurated by the former Chief Minister, Mr O.P.Chautala, on December 7, 2004.

Some cleanliness work had been taken up by the district authorities about six months ago when the problem was highlighted in these columns.

It was perhaps the impact of the report carried out by this newspaper, that the administration had provided chairs in the corridor at the ground and other floors for the visitors and ensured cleaning of the staircases and the verandahs of the building.

This exercise perhaps did not last long and the things seem to have gone back to square one, claimed Vikas, a resident here.

He said the public toilet at the right hand corner of the ground floor of the building had been in a poor shape.

Stating that while the toilet had been stinking, the water could be seen spread on the floor and even outside the main door and one has to be careful to avoid stepping in the pool of water flowing from the washbasins and the toilet booths, which have no taps or pipes for proper carriage.

He said all the accessories in the toilet had been either removed or not replaced for long and many visitors would like to avoid using such a spot.

According to A.S. Barak, another visitor, the staircases may have been displaying the images of the god and goddesses, but there had been marks of ‘paan’ spits all around. Though glass doors had been installed at various places, the cleaning was missing, he said.

He said the parking area inside the building complex had been virtually taken over by the parking contractor, while it was meant for the official vehicles, resulting in severe chaos for the vehicles entering or logging out.

He said instead of allowing small kiosks of tea stalls on each floor, the administration should provide a comprehensive canteen, which could be easily located in the basement area, which had been lying unused so far.

According to reports, a move had been made to provide parking space for private vehicles outside the complex several months back, but no plan could be finalized.

The office of the Public Relations department here had to abandon the ‘dish’ installed for DTH TV in the office due to damage to equipment and the cable wire by some unscrupulous elements.

The building houses the offices of the Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner, City Magistrate, SDM, District Revenue Officer, District Development and Panchayat Officer, SSP, Deputy Director (Agriculture), among others.

New Delhi, February 19
Rakesh is a 13-year-old, trafficked from his native village at Saharsa in Bihar to a village near Amritsar in Punjab in 2001. There, he lived a life of slave along with some other children for five long years. They used to stay in a cowshed and work up to 18 hours every day.

To ensure that they worked longer hours, they were given a drug to keep them awake. Finally Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) rescued him along with other children in 2006. “I cried a lot and missed my mother every day. I lost any hope of ever meeting her. But when I saw her, I could not even communicate my tale of woes to her as I had completely forgotten my mother tongue Maithili.

He is joining the South Asian March against Child Trafficking along with several other children and youth with similar tales of horror from February 25 in Kolkata.

New Delhi, February 19
An NGO has claimed that six children had gone missing in South-West Delhi on a single day, but police denied it.

Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said no child had gone missing as per police records.

“I can confirm that no child has gone missing from Dwarka (South-West Delhi) on February 9,” he said.

Earlier, child helpline officials had said a two-year-old girl was among six children, aged between two and 12, reported missing from Dwarka and adjoining localities on Friday.

The helpline said they had received distress calls from the parents of six children on Friday, saying their wards were missing. They all are slum-dwellers.

It also said one of the children was rescued from Gurgaon after a woman informed the child helpline. 

Gurgaon, February 19
Two youths indulged in loot and firing at two petrol pump stations in different incidents, last night in Manesar Police Station area, near here.

The youths first looted cash of about Rs 15,000 at Sai Baba Petrol filling station and later visited nearby station called, Vikas Anand station.

In their second venture, they met resistance from a staff member. Enraged, they fired upon him from close range. The police have registered FIRs but no arrest has been made.

New Delhi, February 19
The Shahi Imam of the Fatehpuri mosque has asked the Delhi Government to ensure there are no power cuts during Friday prayers.

In his appeal to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Power Minister Harun Yusuf, Mufti M. Mukarram said load-shedding should not be resorted to in places where religious activities took place on specific days.

For the Muslim community, Friday was considered the most auspicious day of the week.

It had been observed that when Friday namaaz was on load-shedding took place, causing inconvenience to the faithful, Mufti Mukarram said in a release.

“So, we request the government to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the namaaz hours on Friday”, he added.

He also asked Ms Dikshit to discontinue load-shedding during the day.