New Delhi, November 3
A Blueline bus racing against another bus ran over three people on a pavement, killing one and seriously injuring the other two, early Saturday.

The incident took place near Sangam cinema theatre in the southwest Delhi’s R.K. Puram area at around 6.15 a.m. According to the police, the bus on Route 621 was being driven by the helper and he was racing with another Blueline bus on the same route.

There was no passenger in the bus at the time of the accident.

The three victims were employees of a juice shop in the area and slept on the

said Mohammad Sajib, the shop owner.

Lalan, 20, from Behraich in Uttar Pradesh, was killed. Jumai, 30, and Chhotu, 25 — also from Behraich — were seriously injured. They had been working in the shop for a few years, said Sunil Kumar Jaiswal, a fellow worker.

The three were taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where Lalan was declared brought dead. The other two have suffered multiple injuries, said a police official.

This is the second fatal accident in the Capital since Friday evening.

Saturday’s death takes the number of fatalities involving Blueline buses to 103 this year.

The incident sparked angry reaction from locals. People used sticks and stones to shatter the windowpanes of the killer bus and other buses passing by.

The police said as the violence spread, the normally busy road was blocked for traffic for about two hours. A large number of policemen were moved to the area to bring the situation under control.

The family members of the three have been informed about the accident, the police said.

Some three hours later, a state-run Delhi Transport Corp bus killed a young man at Madanpur Khadar in south Delhi.— IANS

New Delhi, November 3
The Supreme Court has put its seal on the electricity supply companies’ drive to change the old mechanical meters with hi-tech electronic meters in the capital, holding that the benefits of technology must pass on to consumers.

There was no provision in the existing law regulating electricity supply, which “precludes or prohibits the licensee (power companies) to replace one set of meters by another. If such a provision reads into the statute, it would come in way of giving effect to the benefit of new technological development,” a bench of justices S B Sinha and H S Bedi ruled.

The Court said that privatisation of power supply in the Capital was introduced to plug the loopholes that existed in the transmission of electricity that had resulted in huge transmission losses.

It was a part of the national policy of power reforms, the Court said.

The New Delhi Electricity Reforms Act, 2000 was brought to firm up the electricity supply mechanism under the power reforms policy of the Centre, the Court held.

Under the power reforms policy, generation, transmission and local distribution of electricity was separated and provisions were made to set up electricity regulatory commissions in each state, as market regulators to monitor the functioning of private companies and fix power tariff.

Since the direction for replacing the old mechanical meters with hi-tech electronic meters was issued by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission, as per the provisions of the law, “we do not see any illegality in it,” the bench said. “In absence of any statutory provision, we do not see any reason to put a restrictive meaning there to,” the Court added, clarifying that even under the General Clause Act, a statutory authority was empowered to perform such acts which were in public good.

Initially, a consumer - Suresh Jindal had challenged the change of meters by Reliance-owned BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd in the Delhi High Court, on the ground that the old mechanical meter at his residence was replaced by the company even when it was working alright.

But, its installation was perfectly legal, as it was installed under the provisions of the Electricity Supply Acts of 1910 and 1948 and the BSES was required to seek his permission before replacing it, his counsel had argued.

Since the High Court had rejected his petition, he appealed to the Supreme Court, which found no ground to interfere in the impugned judgement and eventually dismissed it.

New Delhi, November 3
The West Bengal police has registered an FIR against CBI director Vijay Sankar and two other officials in connection with mysterious death of Jatin Sarkar, a key witness, in the Nithari serial killings in Uttar Pradesh.

Besides the CBI director, the FIR registered with Behrampur police station under Murshidabad district has named two other officials—SJM Gillani (SP) of the CBI and Dinesh Yadav, the suspended circle officer of Nithari sub -division of the Uttar Pradesh Police.

Cases under IPC Sections 302(murder), 506 (criminalintimidation) 201 (causing disapperance of evidence) and 34(common intention) have been registered against the three top officials.

When contacted by PTI from Delhi, Murshidabadsuperintendent of police Rahul Shrivastava confirmed that theFIR was registered on November 1. However, he refrained from giving further details on the issue.

The registration of FIR assumes significance as on November 1, the Supreme Court had sought a response from the CBI on an allegation made by Bandana Sarkar that the CBI chief and some of its officers had connived with the main accused

Moninder Singh Pandher to give the latter a clean chit in the serial killings that shocked the nation’s conscience.— PTI 

New Delhi, November 3
The India Trade Promotion Organisation is trying to make the 27th India International Trade Fair 2007 (IITF) more visitor-friendly.

Around 7,000 exhibitors from India and thirty-six foreign countries are to participate in the biggest trade event this year. Himachal Pradesh is the ‘partner state’ while Meghalaya is the ‘focus state’ this year.

The fair is significant, as it has strengthened India’s trade relations with neighbouring countries. SAARC countries are taking part with the partner countries status at the IITF 2007.

As many as 20 business overseas delegations have confirmed their visit during the fair.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will play an important role during the fair from November 14 to 27.

Tickets for the fair will be available at all Metro ticket counters. The metro will also increase the frequency of trains to Pragati Maidan. The ring railway will make the Pragati Maidan station operative during the fair. The DTC will provide special trade fair bus services in the Capital and the NCR.

Tickets at discounted rate can be purchased at all DTC bus depots. Keeping in mind the flow of traffic in and around Pragati Maidan, parking facilities, to and fro shuttle service and ticket counter, will be located at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, National Stadium, India Gate, Delhi Zoo, Boat Club, Central Secretariat Metro Station. Paid parking arrangement is being made at Bairon Marg (Opposite Gate 1) and Railway Container Depot.

Clean and hygienic environment will receive added attention. There will be more workforce. Besides, paid toilets will be functional. Safety and security, will be a prime concern. CCTV at the fair ground and inside the halls has been raised to 40 numbers.

New Delhi, November 3
Chairman of the standing committee Vijender Gupta said that the MCD would construct road from IGNOU road stretch to Madangir village at an estimated cost of Rs 614 lakh. He said this today while inspecting the Said-Ul-Ajaib Ward in Mehrauli.

He directed that the work should be taken up within three months. The road is broken and has no proper drainage system. During the rainy season water collects on the road and it becomes very difficult to drive. The MCD will widen it and build a drainage system.

He also directed that school buildings should be constructed at Madangir village and Said-Ul-Ajaib.

New Delhi, November 3
The Akhil Bhartiya Gurjar Sangharsh Samiti (ABGSS) national president, Chaudhary Sukhbir Singh Jaunpuria, today appealed to Gujjars of all regions to pressurise Rajasthan as well as Central governments to include Gurjjars in the Scheduled Tribe list.

He demanded this at a rally on the Ramlila Maidan here .The ABGSS’other demands include registration of cases against politicians and officers of the Meena community who were involved in killing of Gujjars during the movement in Rajasthan; CBI inquiry into the killings, compensation to those who were killed and injured during the movement and government job to the victims’ next of kin; withdrawal of the cases against the Gujjars in various states; reserved status for Gurjar- dominated constituencies; a Gurjar regiment in the Army and inclusion of the Gurjari language in the Constitution’s eighth schedule.

The ABGSS patron Ramvir Singh Bidhuri also moved a resolution proposing that in case the Rajasthan government did not confer the Scheduled Tribe status to Gujjars in the state by Divali, the Gujjars would not celebrate the festival this year.

Jaunpuria warned the government that if steps were not taken to redress their grievances, they would be forced to spread their agitation nationwide. Gujjars were forced to launch this agitation because Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje didn’t keep her poll promise of getting the community Scheduled Tribe status.

The Gujjar leadership in the state as well as at centre tried to pressurise the BJP leadership in the state to fulfill its commitment. But it gave no attention to the Gujjars demand. The government as well as officers of Meena community attitude towards them proved fuel to the fire. They allegedly tried to suppress the movement by killing Gujjar movement activists. Now the Gujjars have decided to have their right at any means. They are scheduled tribe and they will get listed the community in the tribes list, Chaudhary Sukhbir Singh said.

Today lakhs of Gujjars from various states gathered at Ramlila ground to show their strength to the government, he said.

Prominent among those who spoke at the rally include Col. Kirori Singh Bainsla, All India Gujjar Sangharsh Samiti Patron and MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Samiti’s patron Dr. Yashbir Singh, Baba Balwant Singh from Punjab, former minister of Maharashtra P. K. Anna Patil, former Finance Minister of Haryana Katar Singh, former minister Virender Singh and former Home Minister Ranjit Judev of Uttar Pradesh, former IG of Jammu and Kashmir Masood Chaudhary and other Gujjar leaders from Uttrakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Gujrat.

They said that they had been raising the demands for the last six months and the setting up of a committee to deal with the situation no longer could satisfy them. It is now a direct ultimatum to the government to come out with a concrete solution to the problems faced by the Gujjars and fulfill their demands to avoid any kind of confrontation. 

New Delhi, November 3
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that his government was committed to tackle the problem of unemployment by providing sufficient job opportunities for the youth.

He said that the government was committed to make Haryana the topmost state in the country. He was addressing representatives of local bodies and entrepreneurs, who had come from across the state to hail the state government’s announcement to waive off house and chulha tax from urban and rural areas respectively.

Hooda claimed that a new power project would be launched every year in the state.

He said that in the past three decades no power project was launched in the state. But, under the present government, construction of the first unit of 300 MW Deen Bandhu Choturam Thermal Power Plant at Yamunanagar was completed in 27 months.

The second unit of this plant would be commissioned in February 2008, he added.

State urban development, labour and employment minister A C  Chaudhary lauded the Chief Minister for waiving off the house and chulha tax.

He said that it was a ‘Divali gift’ to the people of Haryana.

New Delhi, November 3
Former union health minister Shatrughan Sinha inaugurated the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s anaemia control programme today to control anaemia in children.

Sinha said that there should not be any loophole in the implementation of the programme. He said that the programme launched by the MCD for the benefit of its ten lakh primary schoolchildren would be a trend setter in the nation. He added, “We have not been able to eliminate polio completely because of certain lacunae in its implementation. Such lapses should be avoided.”

Mayor Arti Mehra said that anaemia was the main cause of tiredness and lack of activity in children and youngsters. The iron-deficient disease should be treated at an early age. The MCD aims at reaching out to children from economically weaker sections of the society.

Chairman medical relief and public health committee V.K. Monga informed that the MCD’s health and education departments would collaborate to treat anaemia. The MCD is trying to provide nutritious diet to schoolchildren through mid-day meal scheme.

Former Delhi health minister Harsh Vardhan said that as far as health was concerned, India was sixty years behind the developed nations. “ The anaemia control programme is a positive step to control anaemia,” he said.

Noida, November 3
A drug peddler and his accomplices smashed the head of a sub-inspector and some police personnel, while they raided his house here. The attack was so sudden that the police team could not retaliate in self-defence.

Sector 24 police team had raided the house of one Projot in Sector 10 here.

SI Inderish Chahar, in-charge of Sector 22-12 police post, SI Koshlinder Singh and constable Pritam Singh had gone to raid Projot’s house in civil clothes. When they tried to nab Projot, he along with some of his accomplices attacked Koshlinder and Pritam. They hit Koshlinder with a hard object on his head. Pritam was also injured.

They fled from the scene of crime, after realising that the men that they had attacked were policemen. Later, SO Sector 20 police station reached the spot with a bigger contingent. One and a half kgs of Ganja was found from Projot’s house.

The police is trying to nab the suspect and his accomplices.

New Delhi, November 3
Professor Mushirul Hasan, vice-chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia inaugurated the MCRC building on the university’s campus yesterday. Rs 2.5 crore is spent on its construction.

The MCRC building has a library on its ground floor. It contains books, journals and audio-visual material on media studies and film-making.

The first floor has a multimedia lab. It contains all software required for media training like — FCP for non-linear video editing, NUENDO for digital audio editing, CORAL DRAW for designing, QUARK EXPRESS for print journalism, Adobe PHOTOSHOP CS3 for photo editing and web facilities for online journalism.

Jamia seems to be making up for its long years of neglect by upping in infrastructure.

The recently made classrooms on the second and third floors can accommodate 50 students each. Each of them have a 100cm plasma screen, playback facilities, speaker system and computer with Internet connection for teachers and students.

The second floor of the main MCRC building will house an animation lab, a photography lab and the media resource centre archive. 

New Delhi, November 3
The results of the recently held JNU polls are likely to be out today late in the night or by Sunday morning. The poll registered 68 – 70 per cent polling. This has been an unusually politicised poll with pre-election violence on religious issues.

Students at the JNU are eagerly awaiting the results. “We feel that our vote is vital, considering the circumstances that have preceded the poll,” said Pallavi, a student studying at the varsity.

The JNUTA president, Prof Chaman Lal said, “Students are enjoying themselves, as they await the results. We expect the results to be out late by Saturday night or by Sunday morning. The counting has started.”

Student organisations like the NSUI, ABVP, AISF and SFI have fielded candidates for all posts. The SFI and the AISF are contesting the polls together. The BSP’s Bahujan Student Front has entered the poll fray for the first time. Candidates from the Youth for Equality are also contesting the elections.

The out-going president Dhananjay Tripathi (SFI), out-going general-secretary Sandeep Singh (AISA), Amit Singh (ABVP), Tauqir Alam (NSUI) and Babita Sharma from the Youth for Equality are contesting for the president’s post.

Saurav Dubey and Ankita Bhatta from the ABVP are contesting for the posts of vice-president and general secretary respectively. While, Shabir Alam and Kavita Sharma from the NSUI are contesting for the posts of vice-president and general secretary respectively. Roshan Kishore from the SFI/AISF is contesting for the posts of vice-president while, the SFI/AISF’s Fauzan Abara is contesting for the post of general secretary. The Youth for Equality’s Sujeet Kumar is contesting for the vice- president’s post.

This year, the issues range from better facilities on the campus to more scholarship programmes. 

New Delhi, November 3
A large number of social organisations in Gujarat have begun networking among themselves to start a non-political election campaign against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state ahead of the assembly polls scheduled for December.

Father Cedric Prakash, a human rights activist from Ahmedabad said, “We plan to convert the initiative into a civil society movement, to make the people of Gujarat aware of the truths.” — UNI