The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood

Woman killed for resisting robbery

New Delhi, January 17
A 20-year-old budding airhostess was stabbed and bludgeoned to death for resisting an alleged robbery attempt by her uncle’s employee here Thursday, but the police are not ruling other motives behind the cold-blooded killing.

Surabhi Kapoor was asleep in the first-floor bedroom of her Rajdhani Enclave house in Saraswati Vihar neighbourhood of northwest Delhi around 3.45 a.m. when the employee, Pawan, 32, walked in.

Pawan had been hiding in the house since Wednesday night, but some police officials also said that he had used a ladder to enter the victim’s first-floor room. Surabhi stayed in the house with her father Dinesh, mother Seema and two brothers. The other two floors were occupied by Dinesh’s younger brothers Aneesh and Rakesh.

Pawan, who had been working as an operator for Aneesh’s cable TV service for the past 12 years, was removing valuables from the room when Surabhi heard some sounds and woke up, the police said.

“When the victim tried to protest, Pawan first struck her head with a hammer and then slit her throat open with a knife,” a senior police official said.

“The family rushed to her room upon hearing her screams. But the accused in a bid to escape also attacked them. Seema’s wounds had to be given 32 stitches, while Dinesh suffered minor injuries,” the official said, adding that the accused had painted his face black and was also wearing black clothes so that nobody could easily identify him.

According to the police, after Dineesh shouted for help, his younger brother and a neighbour entered the room and overpowered the accused after a brief struggle.

Pawan was handed over to the police, and the weapons seized. A team of forensic experts was collecting evidence from the spot.

The family and the police rushed Surabhi and her parents to the nearby Maharaja Agrasen Hospital, where doctors declared Surabhi dead. She had bled heavily from her head and throat. Her body has been sent to a government hospital for an autopsy.

Her parents were discharged after initial treatment.

Pawan during his interrogation reportedly told the police that he only entered the house with the sole purpose of robbery, as he was aware that the family had received some cash through bill collections.

“Pawan disclosed that he had alone hatched the conspiracy but his plans went awry when Surabhi woke up. Pawan said he had to eliminate her to conceal his identity, but the victim’s loud screams alerted her family members,” the official added.

But the victim’s family said that robbery could not be motive as Pawan himself collected the bills and then gave the cash to Aneesh. Dinesh runs a shop in Lajpat Nagar area of south Delhi.

The police officials said Pawan was close to the family and often dropped Surabhi at her institute or at friends’ places. Pawan, who has two children and a wife, had even last night purchased groceries for the family.

Traffic jam before Republic Day

New Delhi, January 17
The very first Republic Day parade rehearsal in the city Thursday threw traffic out of gear despite best-claimed arrangements, leading to over three hours of massive jams on all arterial roads of the Capital.

South-bound traffic, whether from east or north, was worst hit as Rajpath and Vijay Chowk, the core of the Republic Day Parade, were closed to general movement of vehicles, including private cars or public transport, and several thousand people spent from one hour to three hours on the roads.

“It took me nearly three hours to travel from Noida to India Habitat Centre as all the roads from Nizammudin Bridge to India Gate were entirely choked. Roads were just jam-packed with vehicles,” said Meera Thakur, a city-based interior designer.

“I was completely unaware that traffic was diverted because of the rehearsal. Why can’t authorities put signage and educate people well in advance?” asked a visibly irritated Thakur, who missed an important appointment with an NRI.

Abhishek Goswami, a teacher at Venkateswara College in south Delhi, said: “I had to call up my students informing them that the class has to be cancelled as I was stuck near the Rajpath for almost 45 minutes. On normal days, I reach the college in just 15 minutes from the Central Secretariat metro station.”

Not only people suffered the massive jams when the parade rehearsal kicked off around 8 a.m. from Vijay Chowk, US Assistant Secretary of Commerce David Bohigian also became victim to the crippled traffic in the city.

Bohigian, who had to reach the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) for a seminar at 12 noon was delayed by 40 minutes.

After reaching the venue, Bohigian said, “Sorry, I am late due to ongoing Republic Day parade rehearsal.”

The traffic remained crippled till 1 p.m. and foretold the tough days ahead for Delhiites as military men and machines roll down the Raj Path for more Republic Day parade rehearsals. According to Delhi Police, roads within New Delhi parade area would remain closed on Saturday, Sunday and the day after.

The police said some restrictions would be enforced on the movement of traffic crossing Rajpath from 9 a.m. till mid-day on these days to facilitate the uninterrupted movement of the parade.

The police urged those working in the North and South Blocks of the Central Secretariat to move to their offices an hour early to avoid inconvenience.

“People are strongly advised to avoid crossing Rajpath till the departure of parade on Rafi Marg, Janpath and Man Singh Road,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Qamar Ahmed said.

Ahmed advised commuters to take Ring Road-Ashram Chowk-Sarai Kale Khan and I.P. Flyover route to reach Rajghat. People can take Aurobindo Marg-Safdarjung Chowk-Kamal Attaturk Marg-Kautilya Marg-Mother Teresa Crescent-Baba Kharak Singh Marg route to reach New Delhi areas, Ahmed said.

Motorists coming down Vinay Marg, Shantipath and going to New Delhi and beyond should take routes of Sardar Patel Marg-Panchsheel Marg-Simon Boulevar Marg-Shankar Road-Park Street-Mandir Marg-Mother Teresa Crescent-Baba Kharak Singh Marg and proceed further to north Delhi or New Delhi, he said.

The top official also said that general traffic from north side of Rajpath would not be allowed to cross Rajpath to go towards south via Rafi Marg-Janpath and Man Singh Road.

“Motorists are requested to take Ashoka Road or Rajendra Prasad Road and C-Hexagon to proceed to South Delhi or advance their journey on the rehearsal days and cross Rajpath by 9 a.m. to avoid inconvenience,” he added. — IANS

Nithari case
RTI panel’s role decried
Parmindar Singh

Noida, January 17
The Right to Information Commission in UP has become ineffective and its result can be seen on RTI offices in Noida and elsewhere in the state, said eminent social activist and noted Gandhiite, Sandeep Pandey. Lucknow-based Pandey was talking to a group of correspondents in Noida, with special reference to Nithari on Wednesday.

“The way the RTI Commission was functioning in the state, it could invite people’s wrath one day like Naxalism,” Panday warned.

Sandeep Pandey, a B.Tech from Banaras University who had done his Ph.D. from California and taught at ITI, alleged that the way UP RTI Commission had conducted itself with regard to the Nithari episode, it was simply shocking. It was clearly seen acting in a highly partisan way as it was shielding the guilty in this inhuman case.

Before talking to the media, Pandey had inspected the area around Moninder Singh Pandher’s house, D-5 in Nithari.

He said state Right to Information Commission had failed to discharge its responsibility in an impartial way, and was seen to be protecting the guilty in the case. “Nithari serial killings and rape of innocent girls had shaken the world but it had failed to move the UP Right to Information Commission, Noida Authority or the State Administration. The commission appears to have become subservient to the official and political forces, that is why instead of replying to the questions connected with Nithari serial killings, the commission was seen blatantly shielding the officials.”

Activist Lokesh Batra had even filed an appeal with state RTI Commission on not being provided with the answers to questions connected with the Nithari episode. But sadly the UP RTI Commission has only tried to protect the guilty officials.

Pandey alleged that the “Nithari episode had exposed an insensitive and anti people’s stance of pillars of democratic framework—Noida Authority, state police and even National Commission of Women. Had these organs of democracy functioned with a sense of responsibility, the lives of Nithari children could have been saved”, Pandey said. All these organs of the state must share equal amount of responsibility and guilt in the case.

Pandey said the state RTI Commission slaps a fine and later condones it. It has become a farce. It is on record that the UP State RTI Commission has not recovered penalty imposed by it from a single person so far.

“The commission had bluntly refused information on Mian Ganj Development Block development done under the National Rural Schemes. Information sought by as many as 52 villages Panchayat under RTI Act was never supplied to them. The Panchayat was told to deposit Rs 1.58 lakh. This information is time-barred now,” he pointed out.

Pandey said fictitious master rolls are prepared where the same man’s thumb impressions are used for dozens of people. That this illegal practice is a fact has been accepted by the RTI Commission in Lucknow, he asserted.

The activists will demand a change in the attitude and procedures by RTI commission which will be linked with the Nithari episode. In case they do not get a suitable reply, a dharna and a hunger strike may follow, the activists warned.

On 15, 16, 17 of next month, a camp will be held in Hyderabad to create awareness about RTI. Similar camps were held in UP in July 2006, in Bihar in February 2007 and in Andhra Pradesh during May to acquaint the people with the provisions and their rights under the RTI Act, Pandey said.

Govt promoting Urdu, says CM
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 17
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today stressed the need to impart modern education in madrassas. Medium of instructions in madrassas is Urdu which is a beautiful language. Everybody likes the language whether he knows it or not, she said.

Inaugurating a daylong convention of Urdu medium schools of seven northern states in Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), she said that Delhi government had declared Urdu second official language and all facilities were being provided to make it a people’s language in the national Capital.

The language is being liked by a large number of people though some people are not able to read and write it but they really love this language as this has been nurtured in our country.

She added that her government had been providing help to promote the Urdu language. Part-time Urdu teachers have been appointed and their remuneration has also been enhanced. They are also being exhorted to earn by taking up translation work to supplement their income. Urdu Academy in Delhi has been rendering substantial contribution and its functioning has been commended. There would be no dearth of funds for promotion of Urdu as this language is associated with the composite culture of Delhi.

The convention has been organized by the Academy of Professional Development of Urdu medium teachers in the JMI. Around 200 Urdu teachers and scholars from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir have taken part in the convention.

Union minister of state for the human resources development M.A.A. Fatmi in his remarks stressed the need of linking Urdu with profession and employment. He appreciated the role of JMI in promoting Urdu.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister laid foundation stone of auditorium in Gargi College, Delhi University.

Fewer kids ‘out of school’ now: Report

New Delhi, January 17
The number of unlettered children in rural areas of India has gone down by nearly 33 percent in a finding that is bound to have a positive effect on the country’s overall literacy rate.

The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) by the non-government body Pratham found that only 4.2 percent children in rural India in the six to 14 age group are out of school as against 6.6 percent in 2006.

Among the states, Orissa tops the list for most out-of-school children (eight percent) followed by Meghalaya (7.5 percent) and Kerala is at the bottom, according to the study released in the Capital.

While only 0.4 percent of rural students in Kerala are not enrolled in schools, the figure is 0.5 percent in Goa, one percent in Himachal Pradesh, 1.1 percent in Puducherry and 1.2 percent in Tamil Nadu.

The report surveyed over 700,000 children and visited 13,000 schools across the country.

Over 500 representatives of Pratham visited over 16,000 villages before compiling the final report.

Rural India accounts for nearly 70 percent of the school-going children in the country.

Among the states Bihar and Rajasthan have made considerable progress.

While 12.5 percent rural children from Bihar were out of school in 2006, the figure was 6.5 percent in 2007. Similarly, from Rajasthan’s record of 10.8 percent children out of school in 2006, it was 6.5 percent by the end of 2007.

“Across the country, the proportion of children in standard one who could not even recognise alphabets has dropped from 38.4 percent in 2006 to 31.9 percent in 2007.

“The proportion of children in standard one and two who can recognise letters, read words or more has gone up nationally from 73.3 percent in 2007,” the study revealed.

Besides, 50.1 percent of rural children can read letters and words.

“A high percentage of young children in Jammu and Kashmir and in the northeastern states can read letters (in English) and more. A higher percentage of older school-going children (standard three to five) in most of the northeastern states are able to read English sentences as compared to other states,” the study said.

“In Gujarat, where English is introduced in class 5, 74 percent of children learn to read alphabets or write words by standard 4.

But by standard 6, 25.8 percent children can read sentences, well below the national average of 42.4 percent,” it unveiled.

Overall, states like Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are the front-runners in showing improvement.

India’s literacy rate currently stands at a little over 65 percent. — IANS

Remove Thampu campaign gaining ground
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 17
“Rev. Valson Thampu, the OSD and acting principal, St Stephens College, does not possess even the minimum eligibility for the post of principal as laid down by university regulations and must be prevented from becoming one or continuing in the position he is currently holding,” says Dr S. S. Rathi, the chairman of Academics for Development (AAD) and former president of the DUTA.

He further adds that, “according to a Supreme Court ruling no relaxation in minimum regulations is allowed even in minority run institutions. Thampu has no business to continue in office. The university has the power to interfere in this case and should.”

Dr Rathi has strongly urged upon DU vice chancellor Prof. Deepak Pental “to urgently take steps so as to ensure the immediate removal of Valson Thampu from the office of OSD as officiating principal at St Stephens College.” Meanwhile, a submission was also made before the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions on the issue and the NCMEI in its order dated January 16 has allowed “the respondent university for taking any corrective measures in the matter.”

The university has termed the appointment of Thampu as “illegal.” In its submission before the NCMEI, DU has earlier stated that, “Valson Thampu is not eligible to be appointed or considered for the post of principal under the University of Delhi in terms of Ordinance XXIV and Ordinance XVIII.”

There is anger within sections of the faculty in DU against Thampu as he served show-cause notices on two senior women teachers of the college recently on an unsubstantiated issue. Thirty-three permanent teachers of St Stephens out of 50 have expressed their concern on this extreme act. DUTA president, Aditya Narayana Misra, informs that, “in the St Stephens episode the faculty’s freedom of expression is clearly being attacked by Thampu. He is trying to harass the teachers. The teachers have appealed to DUTA for help and this matter raises the most fundamental issue-the freedom of expression of faculty members. St Stephens has been boiling with this issue and currently there are many harassed teachers at Stephens.”

Misra further inform that, “an OSD/ principal and an acting principal cannot become principal according to UGC norms until the person has a PHD degree and this is not the case with Thampu.”

Sources within DU inform that later this week this entire matter complete with Thampu’s eligibility for the post he currently holds is due to come up at a key meeting with the VC, the DUTA and the AAD are all set to take the issue up at the meeting.

Sting operation: Channel CMD summoned

New Delhi, January 17
A city court Thursday summoned the chairman and managing director (CMD) and chief executive officer (CEO) and former reporter of LIVE INDIA, a private news channel, to appear before it April 7 in the defamation case filed by Uma Khurana, a government schoolteacher involved in the fake sting operation purporting to expose a prostitution racket involving schoolgirls being allegedly run by her.

Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjay Jindal summoned the CMD, CEO Sudhir Chaudhary and reporter Prakash Singh to appear personally before it April 7.

Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya teacher Uma Khurana after suffering from mental agony for almost two months filed a criminal defamation suit against the private news channel.

In her complaint filed against the TV channel and its CEO, Khurana said she has undergone untold mental agony, harassment, humiliation and earned a bad name in the eyes of the public and society.

In her complaint, she also said that Sudhir Chaudhary had full knowledge that this fake sting would defame her if aired (it was aired on Aug 30), and yet went ahead with broadcasting it with the mala fide intent of maligning her.

Soon after the sting operation was aired on the channel, violence broke out in Daryaganj area of Delhi where the school is located.

An angry mob not only assaulted the teacher, but damaged public property before the police rescued her. — IANS

Sublime encounters
Tribune News Service

‘Untitled’ by Ambadas

New Delhi, January 17
“Sublime Encounters, a retrospective master abstractionist Ambadas is presently underway at Delhi Art Gallery, here.

“Ambadas’ paintings are filled with a raw, explosive energy that occupies each and every corner of the pictorial space. He has precariously relocated himself in an in-between space, a buffer zone between India and Norway, two cultures and two worldviews The mysterious nature of his work, however, has been consistent over fifty years,” says art critic and curator Roobina Karode.

Ambadas, however, continues to feel nomadic; still wandering like a sage, his art bears testimony to his state of being. The conflicting emotions associated with physical migration and spiritual resistance has at times made it hard for his spirit and form to adjust to one another. Often disoriented within his own spaces of the everyday, he lives secluded and almost reclusively in the old and beautiful Norwegian house that faces a boulevard. In his works from the 70’s and 80’s, his oils had a dark and earthy feel about them. The surface of the painting opened craters for the eye to enter into the interior of the womb/seed.

His watercolours of 1970’s exude the feeling of an unstructured terrain, a mysterious expanse that holds many other worlds in it.

Ambadas relishes being witness to colours that applied on a wet base expand and stretch to make their own routes on the surface.

From the burdened impasto strokes of his early canvases, Ambadas has arrived at a lightness of being in the works done in the 1990s, where the quivers of the brush leave behind notations as fragile as wood shavings.

Ambadas works with the unpredictability of the final image, oblivious to what will eventually emanate.

What is most intriguing is the artist’s sensitive dialogue with the medium and surface, resulting in microscopic veins and eruptions and bubbly texture difficult to achieve purely by human skill.

The show, spanning the artist’s work from 1965 to 2005 ,has been curated by Roobina Karode. A book titled “Sublime Encounters: Ambadas (1965-2005)”.has also been released.

Ambadas has been living in Norway since 1972 .A founder of the GROUP 1890, founded in Delhi in 1962,whose “reject the vulgar naturalism of Raja Ravi Varma and the pastoral idealism of the Bengal School, down through the hybrid mannerisms resulting from theimposition of concepts evolved by successive movements in modern European art.”

Ambadas’s chosen trajectory also dismisses the trappings of the external world.

He is always in search of something that transcended the visible and recognizable. He primarily indulges in random wanderings and chance discoveries.

He says; “I just begin with the outline of some kind of a shape and then it starts developing. Drawings are neither preliminary sketches for my paintings nor for retention of ideas. For me everyday ritual of drawing is a compulsive need, almost in the same way that personal diaries are written.”

As one of the pioneering artists who initiated the possibilities of the non-representational genre or ‘abstract art’ of painting in India, he is quite unlike his contemporaries who either shifted from abstraction to figuration or vice versa.