The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood

	Two held for triple murder in Kasna Parmindar Singh Greater Noida, February 12 The police have arrested two of the accused who had shot dead three persons, including two transporters in Kasna industrial area on February 6. The police claimed to have recovered two revolvers from the accused which were used in the murders. Both the murderers have been sent in 14–day police remand by the CJM court here. The duo confessed that they had killed the three with the help of another associate and the cause of the killing was a dispute over Rs 5 lakh. Both the arrested men denied that UP minister Ved Ram Bhatti or his son Ravinder Bhatti had anything to do with the crime. SSP A. Satish Ganesh, however, said the accused will be subjected to narco and polygraph analysis to get at the truth whether minister Ved Ram and his son were involved in the crime. A report will also been sent to Ballistic Science laboratory in Agra to determine whether the triple murders were committed with revolvers only or some other weapons were also used. SSP said both the transporters Yusuf and Sahabuddin and contractor Suresh were shot dead on February 6 in Kasna industrial area. He said a case had been registered against Ved Ram Bhatti, his son Ravinder Bhatti and his two associates Ravi, son of Rajinder and Ravi, son of Taji. Accused Ravi and Ravi were nabbed by police in Moti jungle on Monday morning. During interrogation, they told the police that Paradise Company had an agreement with the Sahara tempo company of deceased Yusuf and Sahabuddin. Their company owed Paradise company Rs 10 lakh but Yusuf had only paid Rs 4 lakh. There was a dispute regarding the balance amount of Rs 5.50 lakh. The parties had called a panchayat in Chaura Ragunath village and also gone to court but no decision was reached. So Ravi had then decided to murder them with the help of Manoj of Imaliya village, SSP A. Ganesh added.
	Man gets death for rape, murder Our Correspondent Noida, February 12 Sunil Yadav, accused of killing a seven-year-old girl after having raped her, has been awarded death sentence by a session court here. District and Session Judge, NH Zaidi sentenced Sunil Yadav to death on Monday after the charges of rape and murder were proved against him. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on him. According to prosecution, the crime had taken place in Behlolpur village on September 9, 2004. The seven-year-old daughter, Maneka, of S Yadav was sleeping outside the house along with her parents, when Sunil abducted the girl. He raped the girl and when he was seen by some villagers who thought he was a thief, Sunil had strangled the victim out of fear that his crime would become public. Later, Sunil fled from the village. The Noida Sector-58 police had, after registering the case, arrested the accused. After three and a half year’s hearings in the case, the court accepted the arguments of prosecution. The court declared accused Sunil guilty. Session Judge N.H. Zaidi pronounced death sentence on the accused under Section-302 for murder and seven years’ imprisonment for raping the minor girl.
	One-time meal plan for poor Syed Ali Ahmed Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 12 Keeping in view the assembly elections to be held in November, the Congress government in Delhi is making policies to woo voters. The government in a cabinet meeting today approved a programme to provide at least one-time meal to the poor in the Capital. A policy for the establishment of knowledge-based Special Economic Zones (SEZ) has also been approved. Besides, 10 common special courts would be set up to hear the trial of economic offences. The cabinet has also recommended summoning of budget session from March 17 to April 4. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit told mediapersons that her government intended to remove hunger from Delhi. It has been decided to provide at least one-time nutritious food to the poor during lunch hours from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm under the ‘Aap Ki Rasoi’ programme, which comes under Bhagidari scheme. Besides, the government would provide night shelters to those who bring cooked food. She said a policy for the establishment of knowledge-based, pollution-free, IT-enabled services — SEZ had been approved. The proposal must be from specific sectors of electronic hardware and software including information technology enabled services, nano technology, bio-technology, gems and jewellery, non-conventional energy including solar energy, handicraft, fashion and garments (without dying) and higher technical educational institutes for providing world-class manpower. The projects to be located in Narela, Dwarka, Baprola, Najafgarh, Bakarwala, Ghoga on uncultivated or barren land would be considered. The proposal must confirm to the prescribed land use in the Master Plan of Delhi. IT-enabled services SEZ will not require environment clearance. The government would provide basic amenities like sufficient water and power for the units in SEZ.
	MCD not taking any step on desealing: DPCC Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 12 Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Jai Prakash Agarwal said that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) should have issued the order that would entitle citizens to deseal their premises and resume work. He alleged that the BJP-ruled MCD was trying to mislead people on the issue of sealing and demolition. He alleged that despite the Centre’s order to deseal commercial establishments, the MCD was not taking any step. He said this while addressing a demonstration against the BJP at Laxmi Nagar in East Delhi. The DPCC president held that the MCD’s aim was to act against people’s interest. He alleged that the saffron party was indulging in anti-people activities. The BJP councillors were busy in corruption and its leadership was doing nothing to discipline them. The BJP was afraid to de-seal the premises, as it feared the credit would go in Congress’ way, Agarwal said. He added that citizens of the Capital would give a befitting reply to the BJP in the coming assembly elections.
	Shah Rukh to anchor quiz show Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 12 The king of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan was in the city on Tuesday to mark his yet another comeback on television. King Khan would be anchoring a unique quiz show called “Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain?” The show would have adult contestants testing their wits with a group of sprightly 10-year-olds. Excited about anchoring the second quiz show after “Kaun Banega Carorepati” Shah Rukh said, “I was very keen to do this show because of the education aspect attached to it, which has been an integral part of our culture.” The game show is based on the international series “Are you smarter than a 5th grader?” where adults from all sections are asked questions from the level of grade school. “The game show would have the maximum prize money given by any other show on Indian television,” said Uday Shankar, CEO Star India. “Rs 5 crore has been biggest amount so far.” “I always wanted to work with children and here I would get a chance to share the classroom with five other kids, who would be selected from all over the country,” said Shah Rukh Khan after he cycled down to the stage. “The selection of these kids in itself is going to be awareness based.” “My own children wanted to be on the show when they saw the preview with me and I am sure the rest of the children would want to participate as well,” he said. “This way it would encourage children to learn more.” With a promise of bringing healthy entertainment to the living rooms of the families across the country, the show would be aired soon on Star Plus.
	Niche book shop culture catches on Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 12 The moment you step into “Bookwise” and look around the 2800 square feet of well-groomed space filled with book racks, one thought strikes you: it’s different. Welcome to the niche shop, probably the first of its kind in Delhi. “Bookwise” also denotes a subtle change that is sweeping Delhi – more and more Delhiites are getting conscious of the importance of books, particularly the specialised books, and want to possess high-priced books. No wonder then that “Bookwise” boasts of extremely expensive books, costing as much as Rs 25,000 apiece. Well, not all 4000-odd titles in the book store in Shahpur Jat are that pricey. Many books are moderately priced between Rs 300 and Rs 500. Book lovers are not only allowed to browse through the books freely without hangers-on breathing down their necks, they are made comfortable by the hosts Aarti and Somesh Wallia and even served coffee and cookies. Aarti explains how “Bookwise” is a niche shop and predicts that Delhiites are going to have more of such niche shops. Aarti claims that her collection on culture, lifestyle, interior designing, art and sculpture is the best in the city. She also keeps books on erotica, cookery, textiles, fiction and non-fiction. Unlike other book stores, here you don’t have racks and racks on Sidney Sheldon or Irwing Wallace or Jeffrey Archer. Instead, “Bookwise” has separate display racks for books on shawls, fabrics, tie and dye, embroidery, stained glass, carpets and rugs and even erotica. Aarti explains that her clients are professionals who specialise in different areas. That is why jewellers visit her shop to pick up books on jewellery designs and interior designers come for a vast variety of books on the subject. “Bookwise” has hundreds of titles on a topic like stained glass. As more and more people are getting conscious of beautifying their houses, they are taking recourse to do-it-yourself books to make their dream houses. That is why “Bookwise” is emerging as a favourite haunt of young urban professionals. The bookshop also offers gift cards, stationery and other beautiful paper items. One thing is not compromised in this elegantly furnished and subtly lit-up shop: the display of books. The display has been done tastefully, allowing maximum frontal view to the books. The books have been arranged category/subject-wise, making selection swift and easy. The spectrum of books covers many areas (with interior decoration being the point of focus): travel, religion, spirituality, art (traditional and contemporary), craft, gardens and landscape, mind-body-spirit, food & beverage, textiles, cinema, erotica, sharing space with the latest bestsellers and the all-time favourites. To especially watch out for are the ‘bargain book of the month’ offers when one coffee-table book is available at 50% discount or sometimes even more! Aarti says her objective is ‘to achieve a classic balance between price and selection’.
	Book studies middle class consumption patterns Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 12 “I dare say this that the Indian, Chinese and the American middle classes have more income then their counterparts in Europe,” said author and academic, Professor Christophe Jeffrelot. He was in the Capital to release an interesting book on ‘Patterns of Middle Class Consumption in India and China’. The book is a collective work and has contributors from China and India though it has been co-edited and conceptualized by Jeffrelot and Peter Van der Veer. Jeffrelot went onto comment that perhaps a most worrying trend with the Indian middle class is that while this class enjoys political influence, it is not interested in going to the ballot and this is a “worrying trend”. Jeffrelot also stresses that the book “is not merely a comparative study of patterns of middle class consumption in the two countries but is rather a comparative study of lifestyles.” Prof Dipankar Gupta offers an insightful comment on the book lightly criticizing saying, “I believe the middle class in Europe evolved as a project in the mid 19th century. Over a period of time, a middle class society evolved however in our case, we have not tried to build a middle class society as a project.” Another contributor to the book Dr Patricia Uberoi commented on the growing dilemma in Chinese capitalist development. “Look at it, does China want to be seen as a consumerist society possessing a middle class? This may not be the case given China’s recent history. The Chinese academics are really in a fix on how to deal with a Chinese Middle Class when they are supposed to be classless.” Prof Manoranjan Mohanty from the Institute of Chinese Studies comments, “this book is an important contribution to comparative social science. The social science presented in this book is creative but without making a break from the dominant stream. It takes the third world experiences very seriously and contributes to the process of economic reforms.”
	Student beaten up Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 12 A student and his family members were beaten up by the staff of his school for allegedly not contributing some money for the farewell party. The incident happened at the St. Giri Senior Secondary School. Ankur Mittal has alleged that the teachers from the school have been forcing him to deposit Rs 100 for a farewell party that was actually cancelled. The victim was also denied his admit card for not giving in to the demands. The family had registered a complaint regarding this with the administration of the school. Some teachers have allegedly been calling at his residence and pressurising him to take the complaint back. Meanwhile, the teachers manhandled Ankur and his brother Rajendra. The duo have been admitted to the Ambedkar Hospital. The police, however, are waiting for the medical report to take further action.
	Respite from chill Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 12 There was some respite from the cold wave sweeping the National Capital Territory of Delhi for over a week as the minimum temperature rose to 5.5 ° Celsius. Rhe Met office said the decrease in the intensity of the cold northwesterly winds led to the rise in minimum temperature, from 3.8 ° Celsius yesterday to 5.5 ° Celsius today. Even though the minimum of 5.5 ° Celsius still remained five degrees below normal yet the weatherman said the cold wave sweeping the Capital was over.
	Walia for more community halls Tribune News Service New Delhi February 12 Delhi finance, planning and power minister A. K. Walia has urged the DDA and the MCD to commission more community halls and allot more plots for this purpose. He expressed dissatisfaction over acute shortage of the community halls in East Delhi which is causing inconvenience to the residents and causing traffic jams. Walia stated that due to lack of adequate number of community halls in Trans Yamuna area, the residents are forced to solemnize marriages on roads resulting in traffic snarls. One third of total population of Delhi is putting up in East Delhi where adequate infrastructure for community services has not yet been developed. The residents are forced to run here and there for getting their booking confirmed for social functions. Some families are also forced to arrange their gatherings for marriage and other social functions in nearby states where adequate security has not been ensured. Walia called upon the DDA and MCD to coordinate their efforts in providing adequate number of community halls.
	Man shot at Tribune News Service Faridabad, February 12 Three youths opened fire on an employee of a private firm injuring him in village Gharauda, about 20 kms from here this morning. The worker has sustained injuries on his body. The assailants escaped after the incident. The police have registered a case in this connection and said that hunt is on to nab the accused.