New Delhi, April 29
As many as 349 establishments have been sealed today by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in 11 zones in the Capital.

Area wise details of the sealed properties are: Minto Road three, Trilokpuri, Kishan Kunj 40, Lajpat Nagar, Jungpura, Vikram Vihar, Chirag Enclave 34, Rajouri Garden, Kirti Nagar, Vishnu Garden, Shankar Garden, Tilak Nagar 38, Rana Partap Bagh four, Main Sagarpur 22, Sarvodaya Enclave, Lado Sarai, Malviya Nagar and Saket 31, Jhilmil, Seemapuri 27, Naraina one, Narela eight, Shalimar Bagh, Rohini and Keshavpuram 141.

To protect the shopkeepers from sealing, the BJP leadership in the MCD today met union minister of urban development Jaipal Reddy and union minister of state for urban development Ajay Maken, demanding an ordinance on general amnesty scheme.

Talking with the ministers, Mayor Aarti Mehra, Leader of the House Subhash Arya and Standing Committee chairman Vijender Gupta expressed surprise that even after repeated reminders and demands, the government was not bringing out the general amnesty scheme.

Meanwhile, a Congress party delegation comprising DPCC president Jai Prakash Agarwal and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today met Jaipal Reddy and apprised him of the need to put an immediate stop to the sealing drive launched by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Taking exception to the resumption of sealing, Agarwal said it was responsibility of the Congress party to give relief to the people of the Capital. 

New Delhi, April 29
A mechanical snag in a vehicle on much-criticised corridor has caused a major traffic jam near Panchsheel Enclave on Ambedkar Nagar-Moolchand corridor this morning. There was no arrangement of cranes to remove the vehicle from the car track.

It was 10.20 am when the Tata Sumo stopped on the track due to some snag. The driver tried to restart the vehicle but he could not. Finally the occupants of the Sumo pushed the vehicle on the cycle track. By the time it was removed from the track, there was jam from Panchsheel to Moolchand flyover.

Delhi minister of transport Haroon Yusuf had assured that two cranes would be available for 24 hours to remove any vehicle, stuck by chance. But today there was no crane.

Besides, a human chain of BJYM workers on the corridor created further jam on the other side. It was led by the Delhi chief of the BJP, Harsh Vardhan, demanding resignation of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on the corridor issue.

Vardhan said if the corridor is not closed, the BJP will take the issue to the court. People are fed up with traffic jam on the corridor. A large number of vehicle owners have changed their way.

Eight people have already lost their lives on it. Dozens have been injured. Today also four people were injured and they are fighting for life. Despite this the government is not closing the dangerous corridor. It wants to serve only some vested interests, pointed out Vardhan.

He said the Chief Minister is proposing to construct two parallel roads to keep the corridor open. Footover bridges are being constructed. Crores of rupees will be spent on it also. Before starting any project, a survey of its utility is done. The views of experts are taken. In case of the BRT corridor, nothing has been done, added Vardhan.

While Harsh Vardhan was raising slogans against the government, demanding scrapping the BRT project, a car driver stopped and asked him, “You should have raised objection when the government had started the construction of the corridor. You cannot stop it. Now it is completed.” 

Faridabad, April 29
Two persons looted more than Rs 22 lakh from the employees of a private company here this afternoon.

The incident occurred near Nehru Park when two employees parked the company’s car after returning from Axis bank. They had been deputed by the owner of the firm, Vinod Goyal, to withdraw the money. While one of the employees was a driver of the firm, Maa Durga Traders, the other was an assistant.

After they had parked the car outside the office of the firm at Nehru Nagar, an Alto with two persons in it, halted near the firm’s car. While the person at the wheel remained at the seat, the other one got down and hit the assistant, holding the money bag, with the butt of his revolver. He then snatched the bag and the two escaped.

Meanwhile, the police has swung into action. The district police chief has formed three teams, including two comprising personnel of CIA staff, for a follow up on the case. The police set up nakaas at various places. However, the police has not been able to make any headway.

What has struck many is the ease with which the money was looted. Also, it has surprised many the way the criminals escaped. Nehru Nagar is one of the most busiest sectors. Even a pedestrian cannot move about easily in the area due to congestion.

The police has registered a case in the matter.

New Delhi, April 29
Two motor cyclists looted over Rs 21,70,000 from the employees of a businessman in the Mandawali area of East Delhi last night.

Azad and Imran work with a Sahibabad-based businessman Lalu. Lalu had sent them yesterday to draw the amount from a bank in Connaught Place. The two were on their way to Sahibabad when two men in police uniform asked them to stop the car and show its registration paper and driving license. Meanwhile, two of their accomplices threw red chilly powder in the eyes of Azad and Imran. They decamped with the bag full of money after breaking the window glasses.

A case has been lodged against the unknown persons in the Mandawali police station. According to the police, the robbery could be the handiwork of somebody known to the businessman. “It seems that the robbers knew that a huge amount was being carried in the car. We are checking the antecedents of the employees of the businessman,” said a senior police official. 

New Delhi, April 29
With the assembly elections scheduled for November this year, the Election Commission of India has appointed senior IAS officers of the state government as electoral roll observers. They will oversee the roll preparation and evaluate it regularly.

Archana Arora, commissioner of trade and taxes,has been appointed the electoral roll observer of West Delhi. Rajendra Kumar, secretary of information and technology, has been appointed as the electoral roll observer of North West Delhi. Whereas Manoj Parida, managing director DSIIDC Ltd; VK Dev, commissioner food supplies and JK Dadoo, secretary, environment have been appointed as electoral roll observers of South Delhi, North East and New Delhi and North and South West Delhi, respectively.

The roll observers will visit their allotted districts at least once a week. They will submit a written report along with personal briefing to the Election Commission, when asked.

The Election Commission annually gets the electoral rolls prepared for the country under Article 324 of the constitution.

New Delhi, April 29
Students’ organisations at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have condemned the use of cheerleaders in the Indian Premier League matches. They have sought an intervention of the union minister of sports and the National Commission for Women. Posters have been pasted around the campus demanding an immediate end to the practice.

The Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has been protesting against the trend even outside the venues of the IPL matches dubbing it as a western influence.

“It is strange that spectators who watch cricket for entertainment need to be entertained more through the antics of cheerleaders,” said PK Anand, president, Students’ Federation of India (SFI), JNU. “Such specious logic is being peddled by IPL organisers and their corporate sponsors to justify the commercialisation of the sport and degradation of values.”

“Corporate firms have invested a lot of money in the series. They would do anything to retrieve that money,” said Avdhesh from the All India Students’ Association (AISA). “It is mere commodification of women. It is not that cheerleaders are not being exploited in the process. We want all gender-sensitive sections of the society to oppose the use of women in IPL matches.”

“The IPL organisers are using women bodies to invite people to the matches, which is highly objectionable,” said Renu from the Progressive Students’ Union (PSU).

“I want to ask those, who go to watch these matches, whether they would like to see their sisters and mothers at such places. Such things are being done for sheer commercial motives,” said Maruf from the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI).

According to a press statement issued by the SFI, “Some sections have objected to the presence of cheerleaders for the reason that it is against the Indian culture and tradition. The problem lies in the way women are projected and viewed in the society in general and media in particular.”

New Delhi, April 29
The Delhi Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party, the main opposition party in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, is still undecided as to whom to project as the chief ministerial candidate in the forthcoming assembly elections. And this was precisely why its recent attempts to corner the Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government on various issues lacked sting.

What has made the decision making difficult is the fact that the powers that be realize that the chosen one would have to have a certain charisma to take on the Congress Chief Minister who has already had two successive terms.

Senior Delhi Pradesh BJP leaders said while Harsh Vardhan had been leading the local unit as its president for the last couple of years, there were several factions within the ranks which were trying to operate independently and thus questioning his authority.

He, however, continues to have the backing of the Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh (RSS).

This was evident during the last few weeks when some local leaders organised demonstrations against the Delhi government on price rise and the BRTS corridor chaos without the blessings of the state unit. This had led to the dilution of the impact and the Delhi Pradesh Congress party took advantage of it.

These leaders said that apart from Harsh Vardhan, there were now four serious

contenders for the Chief Minister’s post if the BJP managed to wrest power in the coming assembly elections. One of these aspirants was said to be Jagdish Mukhi, MLA and leader of the opposition in the Delhi assembly. Mukhi has been quite active in the assembly.

Another name to contend with was that of V. K. Malhotra, BJP MP from South Delhi, who has now been forced to change his constituency because of the recent delimitation.

Sources say that he was likely to move to New Delhi and the party high command may decide to use his experience in local politics.

Vijay Kumar Goel, former MP and union minister and now the national general secretary of the BJP, is said to be another contender. Born and bred in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Goel was active in the Delhi University politics before he moved into national politics. Goel has been regularly holding demonstrations and staging dharnas on almost all the issues. He is also said to be enjoying the confidence of party president Rajnath Singh.

Another name doing the rounds was that of Sushma Swaraj, a former Delhi Chief Minister and a recognized orator, who has been through the nitty-gritty of the Delhi politics. Swaraj had a successful tenure as the Chief Minister before she was moved to the national politics.

Delhi BJP sources claimed that what has added to the confusion is the return of former Delhi strong man and Chief Minister, Madan Lal Khurana to the party fold. Khurana has been lying low at present to avoid any controversy which had earlier forced him to leave the party.

Sources close to him said that the veteran Delhi politician was not the one to stay quiet but at present he was testing waters and would soon emerge on the local stage. 

New Delhi, April 29
Singer Rabbi today joined the Greenpeace activists for highlighting the urgency of creating a National Climate Action plan (NCAP) that focuses on preventing climate change.

Rabbi said, “Everything we do can either hurt or save climate and our future depends on the choices we make. One cannot afford to watch climate change. We cannot live in our cocoon-gated colonies, we need to take a stand on climate change.”

The Greenpeace activists have occupied prime real estate and set up a migrant colony 35-ft above Delhi-Noida toll bridge.

Greenpeace report ‘Blue Alert – Climate Migrants in South Asia: Estimates and Solutions’ by Sudhir Chella Rajan, professor of Humanities & Social Sciences at IIT Chennai, warns if greenhouse gas emissions continue, the global temperature will rise by 4-5° Celsius.

South Asia is likely to face over 12.5 crore climate migrants. These people will be displaced due to the impacts of climate change, including rise in sea level and drought associated with shrinking water supply and monsoon variability. The report further states that if global and local policy measures are implemented to keep global warming below 2° C, the number of displaced can be reduced by 95%.

Speaking at the Sangharsh Rally at Jantar Mantar here, social activist Medha Patkar on behalf of the National Alliance of Peoples’ Movements (NAPM) said, “Every project displaced person in India is a proof of the immorality and callousness of the government. It is shocking that given this track record, the government is not even talking about rehabilitating 12.5 crore people. Acting on climate change can prevent the disaster.”

Climate migrant Sukamal Sahoo from Ganga Sagar in the Sunderbans, who had come to Delhi to demand action from the government, said, “I have lost my home once to the sea and maybe I will again lose it. More than half of Goramara in the Sunderbans, where I lived is under water. Climate change has not only changed my family’s geography but my identity as well. My status as son of the pradhan has been washed away along with my land.”

Climate and energy campaigner Natasha Chandy said, “The Blue Alert campaign in vulnerable to coastal cities. Citizens and coastal MPs want action to prevent climate change. It is shameful that the government is taking climate change callously and putting millions at risk. We demand the government to frame NCAP that aims at containing global warming below 2° Celsius.”

New Delhi, April 29
Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna today gave his assent to the transfers of senior Delhi Police officers including two joint commissioners, three deputy commissioners and two additional deputy commissioners of police.

Joint commissioner of police (riot cell) MS Sandhu has been posted as joint commissioner of police (P&L) while, joint commissioner of police (security) KD Singh has been posted as joint commissioner of police (riot cell). Also, BS Bola, DCP (7th battalion, DAP) has been posted as DCP (1st battalion, DAP) and Prabhakar, DCP (EOW) has been posted as DCP-HQ Traffic (HQ). DCP (licensing) Arun K Kampani will take charge as DCP (7th battalion, DAP). He will also look after the work of DCP/anti-riot cell. Meenu Chowdhary, additional DCP-I (South West) has been posted as DCP (licensing) while, Sanjay Kumar, additional DCP (North West) has been posted as DCP (vigilance).

Joint commissioner of police (P&L) AK Sinha will retire tomorrow. 

New Delhi, April 29
A 24-year-old man was arrested today for allegedly raping his teenaged relative at her home, taking the number of such incidents in the Capital to 15 this month.

The police swung into action after the victim’s family and relatives staged a protest at Swaroop Nagar police station for nearly one hour.

The police said that the victim’s family alleged that their distant relative Udham Singh raped their 14-year-old daughter at their Swaroop Nagar home on Friday, while they were away.

Singh, a resident of Ghaziabad, was presently staying with his sister in the same area.

The victim’s family and relatives, who approached the police in the morning, staged a protest at the police station after allegedly being refused registration of their case.

“No one at the police station listened to us,” said a relative of the victim.

However, deputy commissioner of police (Outer Delhi) Sagar Preet Hooda denied the allegations.

“The girl was taken to a hospital for medical examination. We have registered a case and the suspect has been arrested,” Hooda told IANS. — IANS

New Delhi, April 29
With over 330 rape and molestation cases reported in the first four months this year, the national Capital seems to be justifying the infamous tag of ‘rape capital’.

According to the official figures, 121 cases of rape and over 210 cases of molestation have been registered till April 29. Out of the 14 women raped in the city this month, eight were minors.

The gory acts made the parliamentary committee on women and child development summon Delhi Police Commissioner YS Dadwal and ask him to submit a report on cases of crime against women in the recent past stating the action taken by the police.
‘’We have arrested the suspects in over 90per cent cases. In majority of the cases, persons known to the victims were behind the crime,’’ a senior police official said.
In 98.28per cent of the 581 rape cases registered last year, the suspects were known to the victims and had been interacting with them in the normal course of life.

While 658 rape cases were reported in 2005, the figure fell to 609 in 2006. Molestation cases were recorded at 762 and 713 in 2005 and 2006 respectively. While 835 such incidents were reported in 2007. 

New Delhi, April 29
A city court is likely to announce on Wednesday the quantum of sentence to lieutenant colonel (retd) S.J. Choudhary, who has been convicted of murdering Krishan Sikand here in 1982.

Additional sessions judge Mamta Sehgal on Monday held Choudhary guilty under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosives Act.

The sentence can vary from death sentence to life imprisonment. — IANS

New Delhi, April 29
With the arrest of five persons, the North West district police has claimed to have solved the murder of businessmen Raghubir Mittal and his nephew Pawan Mittal, who were shot on April 21 in the Saraswati Vihar area of the Capital. Their driver, Sandeep had also received two bullets. The assailants had looted Rs 2,60,000 after shooting the businessmen.

Netrapal, an employee of the Mittals, Ezaz Ahmed, Afzal, Zaheer Ahmed and Manoj were arrested after the police checked the antecedents of the deceased’s servants. It zeroed in on Netrapal, as he was found to be irregular at work before the murder.

Netrapal disclosed that he had informed his friend Manoj that Raghubir Mittal carried huge cash everyday in the evening. He also shared the information with his brother-in-law Ezaz Ahmed. Ezaz has been involved in various cases of crime. Ezaz formed a gang with Amir alias Lambu, Zaheer, Afzal, Sahib, Bittoo, Alisher, Pauva and others. Zaheer, Afzal and Bittoo were directed to monitor the activities of the businessmen. Sahib was asked to arrange for a vehicle and Amir was asked to arrange for the weapon to execute the crime.

On the fateful day, Ezaz, Alisher, Amir, Sahib, Afzal, Zaheer and Bittoo stopped the businessmen’s car near MM Public School. Amir fired indiscriminately at the Mittals and they fled from the spot with the bag containing cash.

The police has recovered the pistol used for committing the crime and a portion of money. 

New Delhi, April 29
A fire broke out in a plastic factory in North West Delhi’s Samaypur Badli area at around 12:30 a.m. today, fire department officials said. Five firemen were injured while trying to control the blaze.

The situation was brought under control by 5 a.m. Twenty-five fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained. 

Noida, April 29
A month ago the Noida Authority had hiked the rates of land and flats as a result of which the prices of plots and flats appeared to have gone through the roof. A house on 120 sq mt commanded a price of Rs 30 lakh.

But buyers for such highly priced houses and plots have also become rare, while real estate and builder companies are keen to sell property at rebate.

Big builders like Uniteque, Omaxe Owicron and Ansal, which sell houses, are offering a rebate of 15 to 35 per cent on lump sum payment but the prices of the freehold flats, houses and apartments range from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 1 crore per unit.

A rebate of 10 per cent on a house worth Rs 30 lakh, 20 per cent on Rs 60 lakh and 30 per cent on an apartment worth Rs 1 crore is being offered. That means that for a house of Rs 1 crore, one could get a smaller house worth Rs 30 lakh, free.

Says secretary of NCR Builders Association, Ajay Dankad, “Development authorities are constantly hiking the land rates and construction costs are also going up in keeping with the general price index. In the circumstances, the prices of houses are bound to go up.”

The scenario from Delhi to Indirapuram now resembles the one from Mumbai to Lok Khandwala–it has become a concrete jungle with high-rise residential buildings, providing a new skyline for all the developing sectors of Noida–with Greater Noida not much far behind.

Land rates in this part have a tendency to rise these days. Thus rates of land were hiked by the Noida Authority for 13 record times during past eight years and the hike affected was from Rs 2,800 to Rs 33,000 per sq mt in the period.

From June 25, 2007 to July 16, 2007, land rates were hiked from Rs 13,200 to Rs 38,700 and from July 17, 2007 to date, they were from Rs 12,000 to Rs 33,000 per sq mt.

Owing to high land rates, investors are also shying away from any deal. Some investors are still there but they appear to be on their backfoot.

While the Noida Authority has braced itself with a proposal to hike the land rates by another 33 per cent, the proposal is understood to be part of the agenda for the 150th Noida board meeting scheduled for May 1. With its passage the land rates in Noida will touch another high.

Like Ghaziabad Developing Authority a few years ago, the buildings and apartments are being constructed in Noida also but there is a scarcity of customers. Companies are devising marketing strategies to rope in new clients.

According to a realtor who did not want to be quoted, some buyers were preferring NH- 24- Indirapuram over Noida now. Only a few investors were showing interest in Noida but of late they are not seen either. Even resale prices have fallen in Noida due to rising land prices, he added.

New Delhi, April 29
Amity has started a six-month course in business management for defence personnel on the University campus in Noida.

The course under the directorate general resettlement (DGR), ministry of Delhi aims at providing second career option to retiring/retired defence personnel. Twenty-eight officers including five women have been enrolled.

Balvinder Shukla, director general, Amity Business School apprised the students with the course. The course will include organisational behaviour, accounting for managers, quantitative methods, economic analysis, business communication and management information systems.

Major general SG Chatterjee, VSM, DGR talked about the increasing demand of ex-servicemen in the industry. He said that because of globalisation and economic growth there is a need for qualified and disciplined manpower in the industry.

Amity Business School is currently conducting two courses in business management, one for defence personnel and the other for personnel below officer rank (PBOR). Over 100 personnel are attending the courses.