The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood

Defiant pedestrians

On day 2 of the drive to enforce traffic rules, pedestrians have their way at K.G. Marg in the Capital on Thursday. —Tribune photos by Manas Ranjan Bhui

Motor Act being amended
New Delhi, December 6
The central government told the Delhi High Court Thursday that an amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act 1994 to raise compensation amounts to accident victims had been approved by the Lok Sabha and was pending in the Rajya Sabha.

4,000 home guards to be recruited

New Delhi, December 6
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that 4,000 posts of home guards would soon be filled and they would play a vital role in maintaining the Capital’s security during the Commonwealth Games 2010. She was speaking at the Raising Day parade of home guards and civil defence here today.

A demonstration of self-defence on the occasion of Raising Day parade of home guards and cIvil defence in the Capital on Thursday. —A Tribune photograph

Fund-starved researchers

Members of the Delhi University Research Association demonstrate for the immediate release of fellowship for research students at North Campus in the Capital on Thursday. —Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

Anti-tobacco activists demand a ban on tobacco products in the Capital on Thursday. —Tribune photo by Manas Ranjan Bhui

Human trafficking nexus busted
New Delhi, December 6
A trafficking racket has been busted in the Capital with the arrest of three persons. Rajesh Gandhi, Nirmal Singh and Charanjeet Singh were arrested on Wednesday in the Rohini area where they went to deliver two bogus passports.

WPC deplores political elite
New Delhi, December 6
An umbrella organisation of women’s groups on Thursday lambasted politicians for failing to take proper note of the repeated targeting of women in any attack, as witnessed in West Bengal’s Nandigram and Assam.

NCP demands jobs for Muslims
New Delhi, December 6
Leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party staged a dharna today. They demanded the implementation of Sachar Committee report; arrest of guilty of Gujarat riots and release Muslims lodged in various jails under fake cases.

1 sent to jail for power theft
New Delhi, December 6
A special court of electricity here has remanded Maharaj Singh, a resident of Aradhak Nagar, Seemapuri, East Delhi, to 14 days judicial custody. On August 1, 2006, Singh was caught stealing around 7 KW of electricity from a nearby BSES LV Mains.

Power cut halts operation
Noida, December 6
Power supply has been so shaky here that doctors at the district hospital had to stop an operation in the middle due to a sudden power cut.

DUTA holds dharna over Nandigram issue
New Delhi, December 6
Members of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) had organised a dharna of intellectuals on the university campus today to express their solidarity with the suffering peasants, women and children at Nandigram

Cop dies in office
New Delhi, December 6
Head constable Khalid Beg, 55, died after a heart stroke in the office of the deputy commissioner of police in Hauz Khas. Beg was recently posted to New Friends Colony police station.

	Rape is a crime, not a medical condition: SC New Delhi, December 6 The Supreme Court has held that rape is a crime and not a medical condition, as even partial penetration is sufficient to constitute the offence. Interpreting its earlier ruling in the case, the apex court said that the only statement that could be made by the medical officer was that there was evidence of recent sexual activity. “Whether the rape has occurred or not, is a legal conclusion and not a medical one,” the apex court observed recalling one of its earlier observations. The bench passed the observation, while upholding the conviction of a youth Rajendra Datta Zarekar, convicted to 10 years imprisonment for the rape of a minor girl in Goa’s capital Panaji. A sessions court had in 2004 acquitted the accused of the charge, but the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court on an appeal from the state government reversed the acquittal and convicted Zarekar to 10 years imprisonment, against which he appealed in the apex court. The apex court rejected the plea of the accused that hymen of the victim was found intact and hence he should be given the benefit of doubt. It recalled the ruling of the apex court in 1992 in the Madan Gopal Kakkad case, wherein it was held the even partial penetration was sufficient to constitute rape. The bench also rejected the plea of the accused that he was falsely implicated by the victim’s family who wanted to avoid paying him the debts owed to him. “The rape leaves a permanent scar and has a serious psychological impact on the victim and also her family members and therefore, no one would normally concoct a store of rape just to falsely implicate a person,” the apex court observed, while dismissing the appeal. — PTI
	Shivani murder case R K Sharma alleges witness was planted New Delhi, December 6 Indicating a manipulation by the prosecution in Shivani Bhatnagar murder case, prime accused R K Sharma has claimed that a witness, alleged to have seen him in the vicinity of the deceased’s house, was planted by the police. In his arguments before Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri, counsel S P Minocha claimed that local vendor Arshad Khan, who had purportedly seen Sharma near the victim’s house in Sahiyog Apartments in the Mayur Vihar area, was a witness who was “easily accessible to the police,” and was introduced to give a false statement. Reading from Khan’s deposition before the court, Minocha said that his statement “he had not appeared as a witness in any other case” and that he had never visited the police station, was false as he was “co-incidentally a witness in a NDPS case.” Amidst strong opposition from special public prosecutor S K Saxena, Minocha referred to the statement of a Head Constable of Gokulpuri police station who had stated that Khan earlier came there in relation to a case under the NDPS Act. Minocha also raised doubts on the credibility of Khan’s statement. He claimed that the witness had failed to explain beyond doubt reasons and circumstances wherein he saw Sharma, a suspended IPS officer, at Sahiyog Apartments. The Indian Express journalist Shivani was found murdered at Navkunj Apartments in East Delhi on January 23, 1999. Apart from Sharma, the case also includes — Pradeep Sharma, Sri Bhagwan, Satya Prakash, Ved Prakash Sharma and Ved ,alias Kalu as co-accused. — PTI
	Security beefed up Terrorists have threatened a strike on December 10 Parmindar Singh Ghaziabad/Noida, December 6 Security has been beefed up in Noida, Greater Noida, G.B. Nagar district and Ghaziabad, in view of a recent terrorist threat. The terrorists have threatened a strike on December 10. The authorities are not taking any chances in view of the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary. The Hindus and Muslims celebrate the day as ‘vijay diwas’ and ‘black day’ respectively. Security has been tightened at various sensitive places in the city and suburbs in Ghaziabad. Frisking of people and checking of vehicles has become a common sight. Police personnel have been deployed at petrol pumps and gas depots, Bharat Sanchar Nigam, Doordarshan towers, railway stations, bus stands and various places of worship. SSP Vijay Bhushan said that apart from sensitive places, security at border areas has also been beefed up. Hotels, guesthouses and possible hideouts of terrorists are under the police scanner, he added. He said that security has been increased in the court complexes, in view of the attacks on courts in many towns of UP. Security has been strengthened in Noida and Greater Noida also. SP (rural) A.K. Vijeta has asked the SOs and in-charge of police stations to ensure a foolproof security arrangement in their respective areas. Suspicious persons should immediately be taken into custody. Frisking of individuals and checking of vehicles have been made mandatory. Activities of the clandestinely living Bangladeshis are being watched more closely. Bangladeshis are being watched in Javer and Dankore.
	Motor Act being amended New Delhi, December 6 The central government told the Delhi High Court Thursday that an amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act 1994 to raise compensation amounts to accident victims had been approved by the Lok Sabha and was pending in the Rajya Sabha. The government counsel informed the court that the proposed compensation for victims in case of death has been enhanced upto Rs.150,000 from the present Rs.50,000. He said that as per the amended provisions of the Act, an injured will be given Rs.50,000 for grievous injuries against the present Rs.25,000. The government has suggested a minimum Rs.20,000 for simple injury in the amendment. About a court direction to the government to provide the compensation figure relating to Cost of Living Index (CLI) of 1994 and 2007, counsel said the present CLI is Rs.108,000 in comparison to Rs.50,000 in 1994. Late last month, a bench comprising Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Reva Khetrapal had expressed its annoyance over the meagre compensation given to the accident victims or their families. It had told Blueline bus owners who wanted their confiscated vehicles back: “If you want that your vehicle should be released immediately, deposit Rs.50,000 for serious injury and Rs.100,000 for death or permanent disability... It is very shameful that it takes a whole year to seek compensation. Think about a widow. How will she survive? You feel proud that within one year one gets compensation?” It had directed the central government to submit the figures relating to CLI of 1994 and 2007 within a week. — IANS
	4,000 home guards to be recruited Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 6 Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that 4,000 posts of home guards would soon be filled and they would play a vital role in maintaining the Capital’s security during the Commonwealth Games 2010. She was speaking at the Raising Day parade of home guards and civil defence here today. Dikshit appreciated their role in traffic management during the accidents caused by the Bluelines. She distributed President’s medal to the brave home guards. She said that home guards had been playing an important role in the Capital’s security and appealed them to play a more constructive role in the Capital’s development. Many times, they work under strenuous conditions and it is necessary to provide suitable training to them. She assured that the government would help them tackle their problems. Women of civil defence also showed some self-defence ways.
	Human trafficking nexus busted Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 6 A trafficking racket has been busted in the Capital with the arrest of three persons. Rajesh Gandhi, Nirmal Singh and Charanjeet Singh were arrested on Wednesday in the Rohini area where they went to deliver two bogus passports. The gang was operational in Delhi and Punjab mainly where they allegedly lured people to go to America. Charanjeet ,a resident of Punjab,used to arrange air tickets for their customers. The alleged accused used to convince unemployed people to go to the developed countries. The customers would not know till the end that the nexus arranges the documents fraudulently. Two passports found on them were issued from Delhi and Jalandhar, respectively.
	WPC deplores political elite New Delhi, December 6 An umbrella organisation of women’s groups on Thursday lambasted politicians for failing to take proper note of the repeated targeting of women in any attack, as witnessed in West Bengal’s Nandigram and Assam. The president of Women Power Connect (WPC) Ranjana Kumari was referring to the stripping and beating up of a tribal woman in Assam and the reported rapes by political workers in Nandigram. She told press reporters on Thursday that women’s security should be the national agenda . “At least for one day, politicians should have the decency to bow their heads in shame at such incidents,” said Kumari. She also demanded to set up a central commission for providing security to women in conflict. “Usually in such conflict situations, the primary responsibility to protect is with the police, but they have usually turned out to be mute onlookers. We have lost all trust in the police,” she said. — IANS
	NCP demands jobs for Muslims Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 6 Leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party staged a dharna today. They demanded the implementation of Sachar Committee report; arrest of guilty of Gujarat riots and release Muslims lodged in various jails under fake cases. Addressing the gathering Tariq Anwar said that demolition of the Babri Masjid was very unfortunate. This incident has tarnished the image of the country as the mosque was a symbol of secularism in the country. Muslims are economically backward. They should be given opportunities in government as well as private jobs.For this the implementation of Sachar committee report was important. Ramveer Singh Bidhuri said that the Muslims were the largest minority in the country. They comprise 20 to 25 per cent of the total population but their ratio in jobs was nominal. The government should make a policy to provide them jobs. Later ,the NCP leaders condemned Shiv Sainiks who allegedly attacked the activists of the All India Muslim Majlis Mushawrat for sitting in a Dharna at Jantar Mantar.
	1 sent to jail for power theft Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 6 A special court of electricity here has remanded Maharaj Singh, a resident of Aradhak Nagar, Seemapuri, East Delhi, to 14 days judicial custody. On August 1, 2006, Singh was caught stealing around 7 KW of electricity from a nearby BSES LV Mains. A penalty of Rs 2.1 lakh was imposed on him. When he did not pay the amount within the given period, a case was filed against him. The court was to give its verdict in the case on September 11, 2007. But, a BSES enforcement team caught him stealing electricity for the second time in a year before the date on which the verdict was to be announced. Singh was caught stealing over 1.86 KW of electricity, at his residence, by directly hooking from a nearby BSES LV Mains. A penalty of Rs 19,221 was slapped on him. When he failed to deposit the amount within a given timeframe, the BSES lodged an FIR at the Seemapuri police station. Subsequently, he was arrested.
	Power cut halts operation Our Correspondent Noida, December 6 Power supply has been so shaky here that doctors at the district hospital had to stop an operation in the middle due to a sudden power cut. The government district hospital, unlike most private hospitals here does not have an emergency power back-up, which often stalls the normal work i.e.., the treatment of patients, path lab activities and investigations. On Wednesday, chaos was seen in the government hospital in Sector-30 here, when there was a sudden power shut down and an operation was in progress. A makeshift generator could also not help, as kerosene or diesel was not available. Hardesh of Sadarpur Chhalera colony was to be operated at 10.30 am, but there was a sudden power cut. They had to wait till 11.40 am, when Subhash, a doctor, informed the authorities. But, this stste of affair continued for the next 45 minutes, as the chief medical superintendent was not present in the hospital. The operation could start at around 12.30 pm. A ten minutes’ operation took over two hours. The patient, his wife and relatives suffered mental trauma during this period. The CMS said that a small operation needs to be carried out for the removal of stone, which normally taken about 10 minutes. He reprimanded the hospital staff. He said that operations had been started in the hospital from the previous day, after a gap of six months. The generator was repaired, but no body bothered to procure diesel or kerosene oil for it. While it was a minor operation, which doctors luckily had not yet begun but had it been a bigger and risky operation, the patient could have died on operation table. This is the height of negligence in a government hospital, the harassed family members of Hardesh sighed.
	DUTA holds dharna over Nandigram issue Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 6 Members of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) had organised a dharna of intellectuals on the university campus today to express their solidarity with the suffering peasants, women and children at Nandigram Aditya Narayan Misra, president, DUTA, says, “We at DU express our solidarity with the peasants, who have been victimised. We have organised a dharna to register our protest against the violence that they have undergone.” The DUTA members feel that the horror of Nandigram raises the issue of social and moral sensitivity on matters that could create major socio-political problems. The Nandigram episode raises issues like, ‘Should the current industrialisation take place only for the benefit of big corporate houses’, and ‘Shouldn’t the West Bengal government have tried to settle the Nandigram issue through administrative, democratic and political means, instead of brutality and coercion. Other questions raised were, is it correct for persons holding constitutional posts like — Chief Ministers to encourage private armies to settle socio-economic issues; should violence, including state violence, play a role in settling matters in the public constitutional domain? Is eye for an eye an acceptable policy for action in a democracy?