New Delhi, June 26
The South-West district police today claimed to have rescued a 14-year-old boy from the captivity of kidnappers, with the arrest of one Sumit Kumar (22) in this connection.

The kidnappers had allegedly demanded a ransom amount of Rs 20 lakh from the parents of the boy for his safe release.

An Indica car, three knives, bag mobile phone, nylon rope, adhesive tape, bedsheet and spare shirt used in commissioning of the crime have allegedly been recovered from the accused.

Anirudh Sharma, a ninth standard student of Hill Grove Public School, was allegedly abducted by unidentified person when he was playing with his friends near his residence in Bhutani Park, Safdarjung Enclave. His father Rajeev Sharma had lodged his missing report in the Sarojini Nagar police station.

During investigations, the police came to know about Sumit Kumar, who used to come to the park and he had developed friendly relations with many children of the area. It also revealed that Anirudh had been taken away by Sumit on the pretext of celebrating his birthday in a white Indica car.

According to the police, near Africa Avenue in R K Puram area, a beat constable Sanjay noticed some scuffle in the back seat of a moving Indica car.

He tried to stop the car but the driver of the car increased the speed of the car. On suspicion, the constable followed the car on his motorcycle.

In panic, the kidnappers threw away the boy from the car near the CNG petrol pump, R K Puram and sped away. After some distance, they allegedly abandoned the car and ran away in different directions. On the basis of car's engine and chassis number, it was found that the car belonged to one Surender Singh.

Who had purchased the car for his son Sumit Kumar. Following the information, he was apprehended from Najafgarh area. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to his involvement in the crime. Constable Sanjay had been given out of turn promotion, said a police officer.

Greater Noida, June 26
Four criminals in an Indica car kidnapped a property dealer in a Honda City car near Mosser Baer factory under Surajpur police station on Sunday night.

After driving for a few kilometres, kidnappers had snatched cash, jewellery, cell phone and Honda City from him and threw him down from the moving car. Later, the realtor had lodged a report in Surajpur police station. Police from all police stations of the area combed the whole belt in search of the criminals, but of no avail.

According to SP, Rural, Awdesh Kumar, the police have got some clues about the criminals.

Dharam Raj, resident of Barola, under Sector-49 police station, Noida, is a realtor who had gone to drop a relative in Delta sector of Greater Noida.

He was on his way to Barola at about 12 at night in his Honda City car No. 16-E-0901 near Collectorate, opposite Mosser Baer factory when four criminals in two Indica cars without number plates overtook Dharam Raj's car.

As his Honda City car came to a halt, armed criminals came out of the Indica cars and overpowered Dharam Raj from both the sides at gunpoint. The criminals took charge of the car and drove towards Kulesra. On the way, they deprived the property dealer of Rs 2,200, a gold chain, a ring, cell phone and his car. They threw him down from the moving car near Daewoo Motors and sped away. Dharam Raj then walked to Surajpur police station and lodged his complaint.

New Delhi, June 26
The first cut off list for undergraduate courses released by Delhi University here has left a large number of students disappointed as it showed an increase of 0.25 per cent to two per cent over last year in almost all the streams.

Humanities also showed a marginal increase with one per cent increase in all the popular courses. But in most colleges, the minimum score for admission in science, which is facing stiff competition from commerce and humanities, has been more or less static. Many students despite scoring as high as 88 to 90 per cent fell short of making it to the merit list for B com (hons) or Bachelors degree in economics.

The university officials have advised the students to wait for the second list, which will be announced on June 30. Students' Welfare dean, Prof S. K. Vij said, "The students need not panic after seeing the first list as the second list will register a decrease, though marginal."

However, there is apprehension among the students that many colleges may not announce the second list and will close the admission.

The university this year sold 1.32 lakh forms for the 35,000 seats available. Of the total number of forms sold, only around 92,000 were submitted. B.Com (hons) and Economics (hons) topped the list with the minimum marks for the admission increasing by at least two per cent. To get admission in B.Com (hons) in Hindu college, commerce students will require at least 94.25 per cent and non-commerce candidates 96.5 per cent. For the same course in Ramjas college, commerce students will need 93 per cent and non-commerce students 95 per cent.

While Kirorimal has fixed its cut off at 94 per cent, commerce students aspiring for Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) need 94.75 per cent and non-commerce students, at least 96 per cent.

For an Economic honours course in Hindu, an aggregate of 92 to 96 per cent has been set as the benchmark. While in Hans Raj, it is 93 to 94 per cent, in Lady Sri Ram, the cut off is 93.75 per cent. In Miranda House, an aspirant requires a score between 91 and 94 per cent.

The cut off in English Honours is between 84 and 92 per cent.

New Delhi, June 26
Yoga promises preventive cure and cheap treatment of diseases to a large section of population in the country, which is unable to pay medical costs.

Yoga exponent Swami Ramdev, whose Divya Yog Mandir Trust, has brought out a book 'Yog: In synergy with medical science' today quoted a UN report to say that only 35 per cent people get medical treatment in the country. He said nearly 93 per cent of the total health care cost is borne by individuals and government contributes only about seven per cent.

The book, written by Acharya Balkrishna, was released by Railway Minister Laloo Prasad here. Terming the book as a 'milestone' for future research on Yoga and modern medical science, Swami Ramdev claimed, "It will help save medical costs."

Swami Ramdev is leaving on a 70-day world tour.

Laloo Prasad urged Swami Ramdev to not pay too much heed to criticism, he even offered him a suggestion to appoint confidential people at key posts in his pharmacy to prevent any adulteration of medicines. Laloo said that life was akin to a railway platform where each person gets down to meet others before embarking on the next journey.

Gurgaon, June 26
The state government has ordered a probe into the demolition of dustbins by Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), last Friday, which were installed by the authorised private parties for the purpose of displaying advertisements following an agreement with the government.

The Commissioner Gurgaon Division Avtar Singh has been asked by the chief secretary of Haryana Prem Prasanth to probe into the issue. The probe is said to be ordered at the behest of the Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

A few months back, the state government had decided to allow putting up advertisements by those parties who created public utilities like kiosks, bus queue shelters, unipoles, police posts and public toilets out of their own funds. The private parties were given the projects after making bids at a public auction. This was under the scheme of Build, Operate and Transfer where by they were to hand over the created utilities to the government after five years.

In all, the government had grossed a sum of about Rs 60 crore by way of the bid money.

The private parties, who have set up the dustbins, made a representation to the Chief Minister and urged that their auction money be returned as the government had breached the contract by demolishing the dustbins. Highly-placed sources in the government say that the two senior officials, who had come to Gurgaon and allegedly ordered and supervised the demolitions, have alleged before the chief secretary that the dustbins were not installed at the authorised sites. They said that the demolitions were based on inputs from the local administrator, HUDA, S.P.Gupta, who verified about the illegalities of the sites.

In fact, the Director Town and Country Planning, who was also officiating as the chief administrator, HUDA, on the day when demolition was carried out, is reported to have stated that Mr Gupta made the orders for the demolitions. However, Gupta denied it. He said that even if he made the orders, the Estate Officer should not have allowed the demolitions after the sunset.

Ghaziabad, June 26
The general manager of a private company in Ghaziabad had to face the ire of his women colleagues who thrashed him thoroughly, accusing him of sexually harassing them and making advances towards them.

Two women, a receptionist and another employee, along with some other colleagues beat the GM V.K. Gupta. The staffers smashed the wind screen of Gupta's Santro car and damaged his office furniture also.

V.K. Gupta was eventually taken away by police.

The circle officer A.K. Singh has ordered that an FIR be registered in the matter. Pooja, who was working as a receptionist in the company, alleged that Gupta used to harass her daily.

On Saturday, he had even indulged in some vulgarities.

It was also alleged that V.K. Gupta often wanted to take the women colleagues to hotels for lunch.

Pooja and her colleague Mamta Nithani had taken the lead in thrashing Gupta. They were joined by other staffers, including some men who had masked their faces. The GM was beaten up with sandals, chapals and his clothes were torn.

On getting the information about the incident, the Kavi Nagar police took the GM and staff members to the police station.

Gupta claimed that the charges of sexual harassment were not correct and he was innocent.

The women employees had even called some TV channel crew for live coverage of the thrashing of the General Manager.

New Delhi, June 26
The leader of opposition in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Jai Kishan Sharma today accused the BJP of failing to complete the work of de-silting of drains before monsoon.

Sharma said that de-silting process began in March this year before the coming of BJP in power. The work had to be completed by June 30 but BJP failed to do it, he alleged.

He claimed that till yesterday, out of 1,265 nallahs with the MCD, the desilting work had been completed only at 219 nallahs, while 901 nallahs, the work was in progress. "As many as 145 nallahs are left out where the work has not since been started," Sharma added. On the other hand, he claimed, nallahs under the PWD had been de-silted.

Addressing a press conference, Sharma said that in Civil Lines zone, the work of desilting of even a single nallah had not been completed as yet.

Similarly, in South Zone, which is the area of Arti Mehra, mayor of Delhi, the work of desilting had been completed at two drains only, he alleged.

He said that there would be acute waterlogging in almost all areas of Delhi during the monsoon.

New Delhi, June 26
The Delhi government today reiterated its constructive co-operation to military administration in providing amenities like drinking water and electricity in Delhi Cantonment area apart from the possible incentive as per the existing policy to make the area encroachment-free. The military officers also assured their timely help to the Delhi government in organising Commonwealth Games, Disaster Management and other unforeseen situations.

It was also decided during the Civil-Military Liaison Conference 2007, organised by the home department of the Delhi government, that quarterly interaction between civil authorities and military would be revived.

The conference is a regular feature held annually to maintain harmonious relations between the civil authorities and the Army. It provides a joint forum to find out amicable solutions to various problems relating to them in a shortest possible time-frame.

The meeting was presided over by the Lt. Governor Tejendra Khanna and attended by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, chief secretary Ramesh Narayanswami, the Commissioner of Police, the vice-chairperson of the DDA, chief executive officer of the Delhi Jal Board and principal secretaries of the Delhi government and GOC-in-C Western Command General Daljit Singh, GOC Delhi Area Major General KJS Oberoi and other senior army officers. Addressing the conference, the Lt. Governor said that the government of Delhi would continue to extend all possible support and would have no objection in reviving quarterly joint review by the principal secretary (home), city government and the GOC of Delhi area. He added that his government would very shortly conduct a review of disaster management system in the Capital wherein military officers would also be invited.

Dikshit also assured that the Delhi government would do whatever possible to provide recognition to gallantry awardees and 'Vir Naris' in Delhi. She said the government had given employment to 1500 ex-servicemen in its various offices. The process of adoption by Army personnel would be simplified and the government would provide all help for establishment of a hospital.

New Delhi, June 26
The Special Cell of Delhi Police today claimed to have busted an international counterfeit currency racket backed by ISI with the seizure of Rs 33 lakh fake currency notes in the denomination of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500.

Three persons - Mohd Jamil (21), Mohd Naeem (20) and Mohd Muslim (23) have allegedly been arrested in connection with the seizure near Nizamuddin Railway Station yesterday night. On interrogation, the accused had allegedly revealed that they used to supply these counterfeit currency from Pakistan concealed in diner sets, card boards, cartoons etc to avoid suspicion, said a police 
officer. 

New Delhi, June 26
The Crime Branch of Delhi Police today claimed to have recovered two rare antique idols of Lord Mahavira worth crores in the international market from Roshanara Bagh area with the arrest of a sales manager of a private company, Onkar Nath Saxena. He was there to meet a customer to sell the idols for Rs 75 lakh.

During interrogation, he allegedly revealed that one Shantu, a resident of Kasgang, had given him the idols to sell off on 25% commission about six months back. The idols are about 1,000 years old. Efforts are being made to nab other persons involved in the racket, said a police officer.