The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood

	Five boys drown in canal Our Correspondent Ghaziabad, August 12 Five boys drowned while bathing in Ganga canal in Hapur on Saturday. In spite of efforts by the divers and villagers, none of the bodies could be fished out. There was a big fair on the occasion of Shivratri at old Shiv Mandir on Friday. Devotees had flocked to the temple since early morning. On Saturday, many children were bathing in the mid-Ganga canal opposite the temple. In the afternoon, 15-year-old Vishal, son of Om Prakash of Babugarh, drowned while bathing in the canal. By the time his friends raised the alarm, he had been swept down by fast currents. The villagers then requested the canal officials to lower the canal gate, so that water could be diverted to one side in order to find Vishal's body. At the platform where Chhoya and Kali join each other, three boys from Chhaprauli were bathing. Sadab, 15, son of Shamsuddin, Rahul, 14, son of Yunas, and Gaurav, 13, son of Babbu, were swept away by strong current. But their friend Aamir was able to swim to bank. He rushed to inform the villagers of the mishap. Some villagers started a rescue operation, but the bodies could not be traced. According to assistant engineer, water had been stopped at Bijnore barrage, but it can take 15 hours for the water level to go down. At Brij Ghat, Sonu Tyagi, 18, had also drowned on Friday night while bathing along with his friends in the Ganga canal. The search operation to rescue him had to be called off due to darkness.
	Security beefed up ahead of I-Day Ravi Bhatia Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 12 Like the last few years, unprecedented security arrangements have been put in place for the Independence Day celebrations and the Prime Minister's annual address from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort here. The stringent security arrangements have been made after reviewing the latest reports of threat perception to the Prime Minister and other VVIPs scheduled to attend the celebrations. While the Red Fort and the grounds around it have already been sanitized and police pickets placed there to ensure that no unwanted object or person is found there, the owners of the high rise buildings along the route which the Prime Minister is likely to take from his residence to the Red Fort have been asked to shut down during the period to prevent any anti-national from taking advantage of the situation. They have also been given written "Dos and Don'ts" instructions. Sharp shooters of the Delhi Police and some para-military forces will be stationed atop these buildings. The markets around the venue have been asked to remain closed as an added precaution. Pill boxes made out of sand boxes have already come up at all the vantage points and major intersections along the entire three kilometer route. These pill boxes will be manned by policemen armed with heavy weapons. Sources said that police personnel in strength would be deployed all along the route and in major markets of the city to prevent any untoward incident. Senior police officers have been asked to monitor the arrangements in their respective areas. And to keep an eye on all these arrangements, a helicopter will maintain an aerial vigil over the venue and the route till the ceremonies are concluded. Also like the previous years, anti-aircraft guns have been set up at various strategic locations all over the National Capital territory of Delhi in case of an aerial terrorist strike. Flights over the national Capital will remain suspended during the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Independence. Spot checking of passengers arriving at the railway stations and the Inter-state bus terminuses was also being intensified with "spotters" positioned at the entry points. Security at the border check posts was also being upgraded. Senior police officers admitted that there were some intelligence reports suggesting that terrorists and anti-national elements could strike during the celebrations but said that there was no cause for alarm. The security system was in place and the arrangements were being constantly reviewed at the highest level to make any necessary changes as and when required.
	Boy killed by kidnappers Parmindar Singh Noida, August 12 Manjit who had been abducted for ransom from Shahpur village was done to death in Aligarh on the third day of his abduction. His body had been disposed of in a field. The alleged kidnappers have confirmed this during their interrogation by the police. SP City said only the absconding accused Sayed, alias Langra, can throw light on the whole case. The police team sent to Aligarh has not yet recovered Manjit's body. His relatives and friends had gheraoed Sector-39 police station on getting the news of his death. It may be recalled that 12-year-old Manjit, son of Pritam Jatav, had been abducted from Shahpur village temple on July 16. Pritam had accused a temple priest and another villager and suspected them of having kidnapped the boy. On the fourth day of Manjit's kidnapping, the village pradhan had received a ransom call. The police had arrested the priest and a villager. Meanwhile, kidnappers and Manjit's father had been negotiating on the ransom amount through the pradhan's cell phone. The abductors had scaled down the ransom amount from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10,000 while agreeing that the boy could be collected from Aligarh. At this stage, the police started investigations on the phone calls being received on the pradhan's cell phone. During the investigations, police found a telephone number quite familiar. It belonged to one Sayed Langra, a puncture mechanic on Expressway. When police tried to nab Sayed of Chhara police station of Aligarh, he was found absconding, but police rounded up his colleagues, Riazzuddin, Mohbat and Kalva. They told the police that Nitin and Gainda of Shapur village had abducted Manjit and gave him to Sayed in Aligarh. Gainda and Nitan had come to know that Pritam had received a fat amount from Noida Authority as compensation, so they had jointly planned Manjit's abduction. On third day of abduction, Manjit fell seriously ill as he was being given sedative injection.
	Govt may introduce different power tariff rates Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 12 The Delhi government is mulling over the idea of introducing differential power tariff rates during the day to cope with increasing power demand in the city. The proposal envisaged dividing the day into three categories of peak, normal and off-peak hours and the government would charge consumers different rates for these periods, officials said. While tariff would be maximum during peak hours from 7:30 pm to 12 midnight, the off-peak hours from 12 am to 7 am would cost consumers minimum, they said. The remaining time of the day would be considered as normal, the sources said. The government would send the proposal to Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) for approval in a move which would also promote energy efficiency in the Capital. Private power discoms in the Capital have been seeking an increase in tariff rates to tide over the huge losses they are incurring. Meanwhile, it was a powerless Sunday for Delhiites as the city faced a massive shortage of 400 MW because of shut down of the Naptha Jhakri power plant and low frequency in the northern grid due to overdrawing by neighbouring states.
	Artscape Exhibition and Kavi Darbar to commemorate Independence Ravi Bhatia Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 12 From August 13 to August 25, Osian's here is hosting, Shahid, a unique exhibition of photographs, drawings and posters from its archives under its "India in the Making--A Historical Epic III" series. The exhibition has been planned to coincide with the 60th year celebrations of the country's Independence. Also on August 13, The Punjabi Academy here is holding a National Punjabi Kavi Darbar at the Sri Ram Centre For Arts and Culture to commemorate the 60 years of Independence. More than 25 known poets from all over the country are expected to participate in the Darbar which is scheduled to be inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit while A. S. Lovely, Delhi Education, Art and Culture Minister will preside over the function. Harcharan Singh Josh, member, National Minorities Commission will be the Guest of Honour. Con Can Movie Festival Con Can Media Plaza, Japan, in collaboration with Common Man, India, is hosting a three-day international Con Can Movie Festival here from August 31. According to the organizers, the festival will screen 16 new entries out of the 1000-odd short-listed movies from 70 countries. In addition to this, 20 winning entries from the last three Con Can movie festivals will be screened for the benefit of the buffs. A large number of well-known movie festivals from across the globe are expected to participate in the festival. The Con Can Movie Festival is organised by Con Can Media Plaza as a part of its efforts to discover creative talent. While the last three festivals were hosted over the World Wide Web, New Delhi is going to be the first real venue. Exhibition of mix media paintings Gallery Art Positive here is presenting "Images Beyond Infinity", a solo exhibition of mix media paintings by artist Ankur Rana from August 10 to August 20. According to critics, Ankur Rana's paintings are both imaginary as well as real and they always refer to something that itself is both an object as well as an image. This perhaps is the cumulative result of his long association with designing Kashmiri shawls. 'Bindu and Shakti' Studio Vasant is presenting "Bindu and Shakti", a painting exhibition by Kishor Gundigara from August 10 to August 20 on its premises in Vasant Vihar here. Some of the latest paintings of the artist depicting the significance of Bindu (dot) and Shakti (power) will be on display in the exhibition. Festival to promote patriotism The Swar Dharohar Social and Cultural Organisation hosted a two-day Indian Cultural Music Festival to promote patriotism and amity on the 60th anniversary of Independence on August 10 and August 11. A number or renowned musicians and vocalists participated in the festival. Paintings of women in various moods A self-taught artist, Aditya Dev Sharma is holding a solo show of his select paintings at the AIFACS art gallery. The exhibition is on till August 14. The show is dominated by paintings of women in various moods. About the overwhelming presence of women in his works, which tend to switch between realistic touches and the abstract, the artist says, "Women always become the main character in my sketches because no creation is possible without a woman. I feel women are the strongest, they can rule the world." In his more than two decades of dalliance with the brush, he has experimented with oils, acrylic and water colours, trying out various kinds of layers and textures.
	Man gets 10-year term for rape of minor Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 12 A city court has rejected the contention that it was necessary to prove some injury to the private part of the victim to establish an offence of rape. "For establishing the offence of rape it is not necessary there should be some injury on the private part of the girl. The slightest penetration is sufficient for constituting the offence," Additional Sessions Judge V K Bansal said in a case related to the rape of a six-year-old girl. The court awarded a 10-year prison term to the accused Jagdish Kumar, who was held guilty under section 376 (2)(f) of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to rape of children below 12 years of age. "The convict, to satisfy his lust, did not even care for the age of the girl and forced himself upon the six-year-old girl. I do not find that the convict deserves any leniency," the judge said. Lending credence to the testimony of the minor, the court said that she had corroborated the charges against Kumar beyond reasonable doubt. According to the prosecution, the six-year-old girl was raped by Kumar on February 18, 2005, in a park at Malviya Nagar here after he lured her on the pretext of giving her some money. Man awarded RI in robbery case A court here has sentenced a 25-year-old man to seven years' rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 on him for robbing a businessman four years ago. Additional Sessions Judge Braj Raj Kedia held Shailesh Pandey guilty of robbing Rs 40,000 from Pramod Jain, the owner of a steel-sheet factory in Wazirabad here. However, the court acquitted his close two associates Suresh and Shrawan due to lack of evidence. According to the prosecution, two persons snatched Jain's bag containing Rs 40,000, a digital diary and a mobile phone on August 4, 2003 while he was returning home after work. During investigations, Suresh and Shrawan were arrested on November 11 that year. Police recovered a digital diary from the possession of Shrawan. Later, police arrested Shailesh from Old Delhi Railway station on January 13, 2004. The prosecution produced nine witnesses including two sub-inspectors and one eyewitness, Jain - the victim and complainant in the case. The court had on September 16, 2005, framed charges against Pandey. "Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the opinion that ends of justice shall be delivered if the convict (Pandey) is sentenced according to the degree of committing the crime," the judge said in a recent order. Burmese acquitted of murder charge A Burmese refugee, charged with making an attempt on the life of his fellow countryman five years ago, has been acquitted by a court here after the prosecution failed to produce witnesses including the victim. "The eyewitness Dalai and victim Zalor had already left for Yangon. The prosecution contacted United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) but could not bring them for recording their statement," Additional Sessions Judge Arun Kumar Arya said. The court absolved the Burmese refugee Baik Pate, 23, who allegedly tried to kill Zalor on September 23, 2002 by stabbing him following a brawl. According to the prosecution, the refugees, residing at Uttam Nagar here, had organised a party which was attended by the victim, accused and eyewitness Samuel and Dalai. A brawl broke out between them and Pate stabbed Zalor causing serious injuries to him. He was arrested immediately as a complaint was registered with Vikaspuri police station here on the statement of Sameul. The court, while recording the evidence, noted that the prosecution could produce only two witnesses - a doctor and an Investigating Officer in the case. The eyewitness Samuel had died, while the Zalor and Dalai were not traceable. The UNHCR, contacted by the prosecution, said that they had no record of Zalor and Dalai. The court, finding no evidence, exonerated Pate, who was out on bail since August 16, 2005 in the case.

CEC seeks report on irregularities
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 12
The Election Commission has sought an action-taken report from the Delhi Chief Election Office regarding irregularities in electoral rolls that had come to light two years ago.

The Commission has also asked for details of action taken against officials found responsible for the discrepancies that occurred mainly in the form of duplication of photo identity card numbers.

According to sources, the Commission had found that over 10,000 electoral cards from blocks in west Delhi were of the same number series.

Following an investigation, the CEO had chargesheeted three senior officials, including the then deputy commissioner of west Delhi and two sub-divisional magistrates and five junior officials, holding them responsible for the fault. The officials were identified as the then deputy commissioner K S Dagar and SDMs S N Meena and S N Yadav.

The junior officials who were responsible for the error were S C Bhardwaj, J C Satija, Jagraj Singh, D P Mudgal and H C Mittal, sources said. The CEO has sent a reminder to the city government about taking action against erring officials following the Election Commissioner's intervention. The election office has also issued a show cause notice to Sanjay Saxena, deputy commissioner of west Delhi, asking him to explain his 'oversight' on the allegations.

Recently, the election office conducted another probe on a complaint from one Ramudesh Mahto that lower division clerk N S Rana in the west Delhi deputy commissioner's office had asked for a bribe of Rs 500 for including his name in the electoral rolls. Rana was suspended after investigations.

Fashion designer burnt
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 12
Fashion designer Mona Suri was burnt by two unidentified men yesterday evening. Attackers came down to Mona's Greater Kailash house and threw acid on her when she opened the door. These men then set her on fire and fled the scene.

Mona, who was living in the house with her husband, daughters and mother-in-law, has sustained 80 per cent burns. She has been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital and is said to be in a critical condition.

Victim's mother-in-law has also sustained burns when she tried to save Mona.

According to the victim's family, Mona was receiving threat calls. However, the reason behind the attack has not been established as yet. The family suspects one girl in her workplace. Police sources are not even denying the possibility of someone from the family behind the attack.

Meanwhile, the criminals have been absconding and the police are trying to get to the root of the case.

MLA to protest power tariff hike
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 12
Close on heels of plea by some distcoms to the DERC seeking a hike in power tariffs due to shortfall in their revenues, Congress MLA Mukesh Sharma will sit on an agitation at the Delhi Secretariat from tomorrow to demand immediate reduction in domestic power tariff.

Sharma said he was taking this step after his repeated requests to the DERC for not entertaining BSES's petition, seeking a hike in power tariffs, were turned down.

GT Road jammed as truck crushes cyclist

Greater Noida, August 12
The G.T. Road was jammed for about two hours by angry people after the death of a cyclist who was crushed by a mini truck in Dadri on Saturday.

A cyclist was knocked down by a Tata-407 truck on G.T. Road under Dadri police station area. The youth was rushed to Dadri Hospital but he succumbed to his injuries on the way.

The driver of Tata-407 was able to flee along with the vehicle after the accident.

According to police, Surendra S/o Sunneri of Anandpur was going from village to Dadri on bicycle on Saturday afternoon. Near police post, a Tata-407 hit the cyclist from the rear, injuring him grievously.

From Dadri hospital, Surendra was referred to AIIMS, but he breathed his last on the way.

During the last one week, three people have died, while another twelve were injured in road accidents in the area. Six of the accidents took place on G.T. Road between Secundrabad and Lal Kuan, Ghaziabad. — OC

ASI injured in mishap
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 12
One ASI Asharam Yadav was seriously injured today after a truck him while he was signalling it to stop. Asharam was posted at the Vasant Vihar circle.

The injured had been on duty in front of the Shiv Murty on the National Highway 8 when he asked the truck driver to stop for a check. Instead, the driver, Tyyab Hussain decided to zoom away and ran into Asharam.

The injured has been rushed to Fortis Hospital where he is said to be serious.

Abducted businessman returns home

Gurgaon, August 12
A senior executive with the MNC Adriot Quest, whom police believed was kidnapped from here, returned home early today. Deepak Mendiratta was believed to have been allegedly abducted nine days ago and returned home at 12.30 am.

There were reportedly bruises on his body. Police suspect Mendiratta himself staged the abduction as he was facing a financial crisis. His family said no ransom calls were received.

He has been admitted to a hospital here, police said. — PTI