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Bodies of men, dogs found in animal shelter
Mediapersons wait outside Sai Animals Welfare Ashram where bodies of two security guards and eight dogs were found in the Capital on Friday.
— Tribune photo
Construction firm manager kidnapped
First Metro substation commissioned
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Muslims offer ‘namaz’ on the occasion of Eid-ul-Zuha at the Feroz Shah Kotla Mosque in the Capital on Friday. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui
Winter blues driving many to psychologists
70s Bollywood to come alive on TV with ‘K for Kishore’
Bomb scare in Noida mall
Women bear the brunt of development drawbacks: Study
Environment awareness through art
Fatmi stresses educational achievement
Book on Guru Granth Sahib released
Conference held on nanoscience
Power scene grim: Vardhan
Wanted criminal nabbed
Delhi gets relief from
cold wave
Boy dies on rail track
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Bodies of men, dogs found in animal shelter
New Delhi, December 21 According to the police, the bodies were recovered around 7 am from a dog shelter, popularly known as ‘kutta ashram’, in South Delhi’s Mehrauli area. The ashram is home to over 70 stray dogs. The police said that Munna, who worked as a guard, discovered the bodies in a room, when he had gone there to clean it. “Munna called us saying that his owner, the caretaker and some dogs are lying unconscious and he was not sure if they were alive,” said a police official investigating the deaths. The deceased were identified as — Vishwant Kumar, 65, owner of the shelter and Shivrat, 35, caretaker. The police have collected some fluids from the spot and said that it appeared to be vomit. “We are not ruling out anything, but prima facie it looks like a case of food poisoning. We are trying to find what they had eaten last. We are also seeking the help of experts,” a police official said. The bodies have been sent for autopsy to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Kumar is survived by his wife and two sons.
— IANS |
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Construction firm manager kidnapped
Noida, December 21 The kidnappers had told the manager’s wife on phone that the car was parked outside the Moradabad bus stand. According to information available, Surya Prakash Srivastava, a manager in a construction company in Sector 136 in Noida Phase-II had started for home at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday. Srivastava is a resident of E-25 Alpha-I in Greater Noida. He had withdrawn Rs 1,000 from ICICI bank in market of Alpha-I at 7.30 pm and told his wife Mala that he would be reaching home soon. But as he did not reach home for quite sometime, his brother-in-law informed Kasna police that Surya Prakash had been missing. However, the police did not start search. At 9.30 pm, Srivastava informed his family that he was going to Lucknow and he will not be able to say more as the cell phone battery was about to discharge. Kidnappers had rung up
Srivastava’s friend Ravi, a resident of Delta at 3.30 a.m. saying they wanted to talk to Srivastava’s wife. When Ravi said his house was at some distance, the kidnappers rang up Srivastava’s brother-in-law in Gurgaon. On Thursday morning, the kidnappers told Surya Prakash’s wife that her husband’s car was parked at Moradabad bus stand. After this they disconnected the phone. In the morning family conveyed to the police these developments. SSP, A. Satish Ganesh, informed the SSP Moradabad that car No. UP-16M 0621 was abandoned outside the bus stand. The car was seized by Moradabad police. A bag, a necktie and thermos flask were found in the car. SSP Ganesh said had the abduction been done for ransom, the caller would not have asked if she had recognized him. Police feel prime facie it appeared to be a kidnapping case. The police have, however, ruled out the possibility of Srivastava’s murder. |
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First Metro substation commissioned
New Delhi, December 21 This substation will supply electricity to the Anand Vihar and Ashok Nagar Lines of the Metro currently under construction. This 66 KV capacity substation has been built using seven Gas Insulated Switchgears (GIS), all imported from Germany, which not only requires less space against conventional substations but are also cost effective, says DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal. The substation was built in 17 months at a cost of around Rs 35.14 crore. Dayal adds that the civil construction was a daunting task as 20,000 metric tones of garbage, which was lying in the area when land was taken over, was removed from the area and had to be refilled for construction to take place. The Indraprastha receiving substation will be drawing a power supply of 66 KV from the IP Gas Turbine Power Station (GTPS), which in turn will be stepped down at this substation to 33 KV for use at stations and to 25 KV for running trains. Presently, DMRC’s power supply demand is met by five substations, which are located along the three operational Lines. They include two substations on Line-I at Kashmere Gate and Rithala; substation on Line-II at New Delhi and two substation on Line-III at Subhash Nagar and Dwarka. Besides these substations, DMRC has also tied up with Northern Railway and set up a feeder post at Shahdara that can take care of an extreme emergency situation enabling trains to move to their respective stations on line-I. Only 20-25 GIS type substations are available in India and Delhi Metro now has three of them—at New Delhi, Dwarka and Indraprastha. DMRC will be commissioning eight more substations to meet power supply requirement of various lines in Phase Two. The Phase Two of the Metro will cover 120 km and will be fully ready by 2010. |
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Eid celebrated with fervour
New Delhi, December 21 At the historic 17th century Jama Masjid, a massive crowd congregated. Some 50,000 devotees offered prayers there. It was a cause for double celebration as this Eid fell on a Friday. A Waqf Board official informed that the mosque was unable to accommodate the massive crowd that collected and mats had to be laid in alleys around the mosque. This Eid is one of the most important festivals in the Muslim calendar. It commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah’s divine command. The Prophet agreed to Allah’s test and in turn discovered that his son was intact but a slaughtered lamb lay at the altar. Honouring this great test of faith, Muslims around the world sacrifice animals on this occasion to show their faith in Allah. Soon after the morning prayers are offered, the faithful sacrifice goats or other animals in celebration. Meat was also donated to the poor in the spirit of sacrifice. People turned out in new clothes to celebrate the festival and women were dressed in traditional shararas and gararas or flowing divided skirts. Many wore silk burqas and jewellery. Men were more sober, dressed in light-hued kurtas and skull caps. Shops in Old Delhi’s Jama Masjid, in Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, Jamia Nagar and Okhla registered heavy business. Several restaurants run by the faithful were engaged in charity.
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Winter blues driving many to psychologists
New Delhi, December 21 “Winter blues” is a common problem in the West but now psychologists in India, especially in the northern states, are finding more people trooping in with the ailment. “Most people during this season complain of feeling withdrawn, lazy, depressed and even hate interacting with others. They lose interest in life, don’t enjoy any kind of entertainment and have no desire for sex,” J.M. Wadhawan, head of the department of psychiatry at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here, told IANS. Psychologists explain “winter blues” as Seasonal Affected Depression (SAD) caused by biochemical imbalance in the brain due to shortening of daylight hours. M.S. Bhatia, who heads the department of psychiatry at Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, said many patients come during winter because the symptoms beset them in the cold foggy weather. “Even those who are taking regular treatment from us find themselves more troubled at this time of the year, so we increase their dose now and bring it down after the season ends,” he said. Many also complain of body pain, constipation and headaches. Bhatia said those who face the problem of mood swings are the worst affected. “We take this problem very seriously. There are occasions when people commit suicide,” he said. Scandinavian countries report the maximum number of suicides in the world, which is attributed to the bleak winters there. In India, suicides go up during winters, Bhatia said. “Some people who suffer from depression find themselves more anguished during winters as their problem worsens,” Samir Parikh, a consultant psychiatrist with Max Healthcare, told IANS. Deepak Raheja, a senior consultant psychiatrist at Paras Hospital, said these problems are coming to light in the country now as an increasing number of people have become aware of the symptoms. This seasonal disorder happens due to the reduced functioning of the pineal gland, which produces a hormone called Melatonin that is responsible for the feel-good factor. “People feel gloomy and depressed. They can’t sleep, their confidence goes down and they lack the drive to work,” he said. To overcome this they overeat and are then full of misery and guilt, he said. “Some are sometimes not bothered about their health. Also, we find people complain about the loss of libido or don’t want to do anything that gives them pleasure,” Raheja added. Psychologists caution that people should identify their problem to find a cure; otherwise it can lead to a permanent psychological problem. A combination of anti-depressants, counselling and physical exercise could go a long way in providing immediate relief. “We advise people not to wear sunglasses and take up light therapy in which a person uses a lamp that gives out intense light that activates the hormone,” Raheja said. The best medicine, however, would be not to miss the sun—even if bleak—and to indulge in physical activity. — IANS
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70s Bollywood to come alive on TV with ‘K for Kishore’
New Delhi, December 21 ‘K for Kishore’, a show to be aired on Sony Entertainment Television from December 21 on Friday and Saturday at 9:00 pm, will witness 12 talented singers from across the country. These singers have looked upon Kishore Kumar as an inspiration for their singing. They would compete for the title of the most deserving successor to the music maestro. The show will be aired for ten weeks. Music director Bappi Lahiri and playback singer Sudesh Bhonsle will judge these contestants in their ability to match up with the singing skills of the legendary singer. Bappi Lahiri has had a close association with Kishore Kumar. He has worked with the versatile singer in a series of films from ‘Chalte Chalte’ to ‘Waqt ki Awaz’. Besides, Kishoreda was his maternal uncle. While Sudesh Bhonsle completed the unfinished assignments of Kishore Kumar, after his death. They along with the live audience will decide which of the 12 contestants would go on to the next round. Speaking at a press meet in the Capital last evening, executive vice-president and business head of Sony Entertainment Television, Albert Almeida said, the show will have 12 talented voices from across the country. They will recreate the magic of Kishore Kumar by singing his songs. The 20-episode journey will finally lead to the singer closest to Kishoreda, as Kishore Kumar was popularly known in the industry circles. A unique feature of the show will be that unlike other music reality shows, ‘K for Kishore’ will not have an SMS voting system for selecting the best contestant. The selection power has been vested in the judges and the live audience. An added attraction to the show will be the appearance of the 70s heartthrobs like – Devanand, Rajesh Khanna and the melodious Asha Bhonsle. They have had a close association with Kishoreda. They would appear in the special celebrity episodes of the programme. — IANS
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Bomb scare in Noida mall
Noida, December 21 The situation became worse as the bomb disposal squad reached the spot late—after an hour and 20 minutes. An unidentified mobile phone caller had given the information to the Delhi Police control room. It is surprising that no thought has been given by the police administration or state government for equipping the Noida police with a bomb disposal squad and providing it with a dog squad of its own in view of the terror threats and high incidence of crime in GB Nagar district. There was a lot of confusion and panic when three bombs were rumoured to go off in the mall at 6-30 pm, yesterday. There were shoppers and others enjoying movies in its five theatres. About 2,000 persons had to be herded out in no time. All show rooms, theatres, restaurants had been vacated and basement cleared of all cars and vehicles. The premises was thoroughly checked and it turned out to be a hoax. The shopping mall is full of valuable stocks in different shops worth crores, apart from the invaluable human lives involved. Delhi Police control room had received the information through an anonymous cell phone call. Delhi Police had alerted the Noida SP city Paresh Pande at about 5-26 p.m. who in turn flashed a wireless message to all police stations to rush to sector 18 Mall with their force immediately. Requests for bomb disposal and dog squad and PAC force were radioed to Ghaziabad which set in motion a series of hectic actions. The information said within an hour, three bombs would explode in Centre Stage Mall in Sector-18 Noida. SP City Paresh Pande flashed instructions on wireless that the mall should be vacated quickly and premises thoroughly checked with the help of a bomb disposal squad from Ghaziabad. At about 8 pm, all clear was announced by the police, and the public allowed to go in again, SP city said.
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Robbers’ gang smashed, four held
New Delhi, December 21 Manoranjan who was earlier arrested in a robbery case of PS Janak Puri, is involved in two sequential broad daylight robberies of PS Punjabi Bagh. In these two robberies, two different employees of one businessman of Wazirpur Industrial Area were looted in Punjabi Bagh. In the first incident in October this year, an employee of Hightech Grain Processing Ltd. was carrying cash to ICICI Bank, Punjabi Bagh, when he was intercepted and his bag was snatched which contained Rs 2.90 lakh near Central Market, Punjabi Bagh. In the second incident, two employees of the same company were carrying Rs 2.60 lakh hidden in a scooter to ICICI, Punjabi Bagh. They were intercepted, beaten and their scooter was robbed near Transport Company, Punjabi Bagh. The police deployed various sources to gather information on these two robberies. A special team of Crime Branch then received a tip-off that Sonu along with his accomplices will come to rob a petrol pump at Guru Harkishan Marg, Pitampura in the evening. At about 9.10 pm, Sonu came in a car from Rani Bagh side. The Esteem car was signalled to stop. However, it tried to speed away. The car was chased and intercepted by the police party at Guru Harkishan Marg, Mangolpuri. Finding themselves cornered, the occupants of the car got down and fired upon the police party. They were overpowered and their weapons seized while a case under section 307/186/353/34 IPC and 25/27 Arms Act, PS Mangolpuri was registered.
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Women bear the brunt of development drawbacks: Study
New Delhi, December 21 Titled ‘Resources Rich Tribal Poor’, the report by international development agency ActionAid, Indian Social Institute (ISI), and LAYA - an NGO based in Andhra Pradesh working on tribal rights issues - says that when it comes to development projects which in turn cause displacement, women are the worst sufferers. Joseph Marianus Kujur of the ISI - who was the research co-ordinator for the study conducted in four resource rich states — Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh, said from being abused to carrying a heavier work load, it is the women, who are the worst sufferers, while the world chants that development is taking place. “We conducted the study in five districts of the four states, which despite being rich in natural resources are continuously getting a raw deal, as people keep getting displaced because of various development projects.” “In all of this, it is mostly the women who suffer the most. The number of trafficking cases and violence against women increase as well as the work load,” Kujur told IANS, when the report was released on Wednesday. Kujur said that in 2006-07, more than 40 girls who were trafficked from the tribal belts of Jharkhand and Orissa were rescued from New Delhi. “Since they are displaced from their homeland, the women’s work load also increases. For instance, if they had to walk a distance of three to four km to collect firewood and water, after being resettled to a new place, they have to walk as much as 15 km.” — IANS
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Environment awareness through art
New Delhi, December 21 Parul Wadhva of the Khoj International Artists Association, who is the co-ordinator of the residency, said that the main aim of the event was to spread awareness about environment to the section affected by it - the masses. “The aim of the residency, which is being held for the second time in Delhi, is to spread awareness about the ecological challenges that we are facing in today’s times through the medium of art. “The variety of events is huge but in all of them, a common aim runs through,” Wadhwa told IANS. The residency, which started on December 15, had Rahel Hegnauer, a Swiss artist conducting a tour on the banks of the Yamuna river and testing the various samples of water. “The aim of this residency was to tell people that the Yamuna needs help, immediately. It is no longer that clean stretch of water, which they have been imagining it to be... It has become like a drain,” Wadhwa said. Besides, there was a residency in which Pradip Saha, an Indian artist, has put an installation in Connaught Place depicting the chaos
and congestion on roads. — IANS |
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Fatmi stresses educational achievement
New Delhi, December 21 Fatmi went on to say that, “the story of India’s educational achievement is one of mixed success. On the downside, India has 22 per cent of the world’s population but 46 per cent of the world’s illiterates, and is home to a high proportion of the world’s out of school children and youth.” However, Fatmi added that on the positive side, India has made encouraging progress in raising student participation in schools. The minister stressed that the time is now ripe to focus on quality school education across India. He underlined the fact that, “with the phenomenal expansion of education at all levels in the country, the management of quality in education has become a major challenge. The challenge is greater in case of school education.” |
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Book on Guru Granth Sahib released
New Delhi, December 21 The book presents an account of the composition of the holy book. It deals with the setting up of
gurdwaras. It also includes the statements of the former President, APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, when they visited Amritsar on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the installation of the holy book. The author has dealt with the life of the Gurus and has discussed the teachings of Guru Nanak. The last chapter of the book talks about the importance of women in Sikhism. Guru Nanak did not attach any impurity to women and advocated the equality of both the genders. |
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Conference held on nanoscience
New Delhi, December 21 The event aimed at providing a multidisciplinary view on various facets of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Over 22 foreign and more than 100 delegates from across India attended the conference. Prof Joseph Chapman, president, NDSU inaugurated the conference. |
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Power scene grim: Vardhan
New Delhi, December 21 He alleged that the government had not yet fulfilled the announcement made by the CM in August, about reducing the rate of power supply for those consumers, who used 200 units of electricity per month. “The Chief Minister had advertised in newspapers that consumers, who consumed up to 200 units of electricity per month, would be supplied power at the rate of Rs 1.40 per unit. Five months have elapsed since the announcement was made, but the power companies are serving bills at the old rate of Rs 2.40 per unit”, held
Vardhan. He added that loadshedding continued in the national Capital. |
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Wanted criminal nabbed
New Delhi, December 21 Mohd. Arif has been involved in several cases of murder, attempt to murder, riot and other heinous cases in the area of Seelampur Police Station. |
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Delhi gets relief from
cold wave
New Delhi, December 21 |
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Boy dies on rail track
New Delhi, December 21 The deceased, Sumit, who was standing near the wash basin, fell on the railway track, after the train jerked. The railway authorities have conducted the postmortem of his body. His body has been handed over to his family. Sumit was travelling with his parents. They had boarded a train for Vaishno Devi from
Baghpur. |
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Scooterist killed
New Delhi, December 21 |
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New Delhi, December 21
