The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood

Noida murders: Press meet falls through
Parmindar Singh

Noida, May 18
The Noida police had invited media, including leading TV news channels at 5 pm in SSP’s office for a press conference in connection with the murders of Arushi Talwar and servant Hem Raj in sector 25 Noida two days ago.

The press conference, which was expected to be addressed by the IG Police Zone, Gurdarshan

Singh and Noida SSP A.S Ganesh giving the latest developments regarding investigations on Arushi Talwar and domestic help Hem Raj’s murders in sector 25 Noida, turned out to be a big flop.

After waiting for about 90 minutes, press correspondents, most of whom were made to stand in stifling heat, including half a dozen lady correspondents, were told that the conference had never been called by the SSP. After a while it was said it would be addressed by the Asstt SP, Aklesh Kumar, IPS.

Asstt SP could not answer even simple questions from the media like how the mattress had reached the roof near Hem Raj’s body, what was the time of both the murders in autopsy reports or was there an iota of suspicion on Dr Talwar himself in the case? Since Aklesh Kumar had nothing new to tell the media on the case, it was all over in about 5 minutes.

Many media persons felt it was a ruse used by police bosses to get rid of media persons, who had been swarming the sector 25 near L- 32, Dr Talwar’s residence since morning, to send them to SSP’s office opposite sector 15-A on the pretext of a press conference.

However, it is learnt that the vagina swab of the young victim has been sent for a lab test for determining whether a rape had been attempted on her before she was killed. The report of this test is expected in a week.

Another cop shifted

A second police officer was today shifted , hours after he had said a sharp-edged surgical instrument was used to slit the throats of Arushi Talwar and her servant Hemraj and that both were killed at around the same time.

Superintendent of police (City) Mahesh Mishra was shifted out on Sunday afternoon but his new posting was not immediately announced.

Earlier in the day, citing the autopsy report, Mishra had pointed to the murder weapon, even as he said there was no alcohol found in Hemraj.

Meanwhile, the station officer of Sector-20 police station of Noida has been shifted to the police lines.

45% turnout in cantt board polls
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 18
Forty to 45 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the Delhi Cantonment Board elections polling for which was held today. The polling was by and large peaceful except for some minor incidents of spats between workers of different political parties locked in the contest for eight seats.

The elections to the Cantonment Board are being held after 10 years. Both the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been actively campaigning in the Cantonment Board area which has a total electorate of 63,000.

A large contingent of police and paramilitary forces was deployed in the area to ensure incident-free elections. Senior officers monitored the situation.

The campaigning in the Cantonment Board elections has been strident. While the ruling Congress has accused the local MLA who belongs to the BJP of doing nothing for the welfare of the area, the opposition BJP alleged that the Delhi government had deliberately delayed the elections to the body as they were certain of defeat. The Delhi Pradesh BJP even went as far as to claim that the results to the Cantonment Board elections would be mandate against the Congress governments at the Centre and in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

The entire leadership of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee has been actively campaigning in the area as it does not want a repeat of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections in which the BJP managed to wrest power from it. While the Congress is running the state, the MCD is in the control of the BJP.

Both the Congress and the BJP have moved into the election mode in view of the scheduled assembly elections in November this year.

Jeffrey Archer comes calling
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, May 18
Jeffrey Howard Archer, the English author, actor and controversial ex-politician, who is in the country these days for the promotion of his latest book ‘A Prisoner by Birth’, is charming his way to the hearts of people. Hundreds of fans, mostly youngsters who had grown up reading this Oxford graduate and waited patiently to catch a glimpse of their favourite author at a city book store here, would certainly vouch for it.

“He is a charmer and as good as his books. You cannot help but admire the man,” says Ashish Tandon about his interaction with the master story teller on Saturday evening.

He added that the man appears very humble in spite of his international recognition and standing.

“I have requested him to base the plot of his next novel in India with leading characters to be Indian. Although he has not promised but has assured that he would be willing to do so if a story idea hits him. In fact he asked me to suggest something,” said Tandon. Neha, an avid Jeffrey Archer buff calls her interaction with him as something she would cherish all her life. “I have read five novels written by Archer. After meeting him I have promised myself to read his each and every novel,” says Neha, while flaunting a signed copy of Archer’s latest.

The 68-year-old novelist who became a Member of Parliament at the age of 29 had to cut short his political career after a conviction for perjury and his subsequent imprisonment. However, the controversies which made headlines in international newspapers across the world few years ago seem to have hardly dented his fan following in the country.

“Controversies are part of life of all rich and famous. It does not bother us what Archer does in his personal life as long as his novels are entertaining and paisa vasool” opines Sanjeev, another casualty of Archer’s charm in the city.

With a 12-day-long tour across the country and visits planned to Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore, Chennai Jeffrey Archer is expected to make many friends here and in the process of giving a boost to the sales of ‘A Prisoner by Birth’ which is already catching the eyes of readers of here.

Wedding bells ring for the deaf
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 18
The Delhi Foundation of Deaf Women (DFDW) today organised its annual Pranay Milan Sammelan in the Capital. Over 150 hearing impaired participants from across the country attended the ceremony.

The DFDW found out compatible partners with the help of shaadi. com that sponsored the ceremony. “Throughout the year we maintain the register that contains a matrimonial form filled by guardians. It is attached with a brief history of the family, the bio data of the candidate and a passport size photograph of the candidate,” said Snigdha Sharma, chief executive, DFDW.

Before entering the hall, the participants including their guardians were given a booklet containing details of the girl and the boy candidates. The detail includes the address, age, family background and the preferences of the bride and the groom along with batch numbers.

The ceremony started with an introduction of the participants. The couples communicated in sign language.

“This is a unique ceremony where people choose their partners irrespective of their caste, creed or class status,” said Rajlakshmi Rao, president, DFDW.

Pranay Milan, an annual ceremony has played a crucial role in uniting many hearing impaired couples. “Last year we witnessed the ceremony and decided to be a part of the celebrations this year,” said Vibhas Mehta, business chief, shaadi. com. “We hope that our association with the DFDW will continue.”

Cuban trade team eyes Nano

New Delhi, May 18
A large Cuban trade delegation has arrived in India looking for cooperation in cars, pharmaceuticals, tourism and more. Of course, armed with its famous rum and cigars, the hardline communist state that is gradually opening up its economy to outsiders also has a lot on offer.

“Indian cars like the Nano and Maruti have a potential market in Cuba,” Miguel Angel Ramirez Ramos, Cuba’s ambassador to India, told IANS ahead of the arrival of a large trade delegation to New Delhi from Havana.

The 19-member delegation, led by Eduardo Escandell Amador, the deputy minister in Cuba’s ministry of foreign trade, arrived here on Saturday night. They will be here for 12 days to hold interactions with Indian leaders, government officials and the captains of trade and industry.

The fresh attempt to strengthen trade ties with Cuba is both politically and economically savvy for India. With the Left parties as an important ally supporting the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, deepening ties with Cuba is important for India, which is seen to be close to the United States.

In addition, there are expectations that many foreign companies will try to get into Cuba once the economy opens up. A renewed dialogue on trade and economic ties between the two sides at this juncture can provide the Indian companies with the required launch pad to move into Cuba.

“India has assured us many times that its relations with the US and Cuba are on two different tracks. We are satisfied with that assurance,” Ramos said.

This is the biggest trade delegation that has come from Cuba to India and its arrival here at a time when Raul Castro has taken over the reins from his brother. Tata’s Nano, which has caught the imagination of car manufacturers and buyers the world over, has huge potential in Cuba, says Ramos.

The Nano, better known as the “one lakh car” - available at $2,500 - is one of the cheapest four-wheelers available in the national or international market. The first batch of vehicles is scheduled to roll out by the yearend from the Tata’s new factory at Singur in West Bengal.

Though Indian cars can find a market in Cuba, there are a number of other areas where the two sides can cooperate. The trade delegation represents different sectors of Cuba, from pharmaceuticals and tourism to retail, energy and health. And they have a lot more things to sell. From Cuban rum to cigars, everything will be on offer. — IANS

Artscape
Osian’s offers art advisory services to clients
Ravi Bhatia
Tribune News Service

Striking a mudra

New Delhi, May 18
The recent spurt in the number of people investing in art has simultaneously created a demand for specialist art appraisers and authenticators to give the right advice to investors.

In a bid to take advantage of this situation and to fill the gap to some extent, Osian’s Connoisseurs of Art here has joined hands with Citibank (India) to offer art advisory

services to their clients. Osian’s will provide the expertise to systematically cohere various sources of knowledge and provide objective information on purchasing, preserving, valuing and selling art.

The art collector and investor needs to deeply understand the historical significance, intrinsic value, financial prospects, scarcity, condition, authenticity of the artwork along with understanding the need and nature of provenance and legal title documents.

Sitar recital by Sarada Mukherjee

Osian’s now offers a host of art advisory services such as Documentation and Archiving, Authentication, Certification and Valuation, which is an in-depth investigation process of an artwork involving several stages of research and analysis, insurance advisory services to effectively insure artworks at correct valuations, preservation and restoration,

art and cultural events management, corporate gifting, museum and collection building services for setting up, installing, maintaining and promoting a collection of art, publication and design services and estate planning wherein one could be assisted with trust management and succession planning services and inheritance valuations.

‘Fluxus in Germany’

The National Gallery of Modern Art along with the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhawan is holding an exhibition “Fluxus in Germany From 1962-1994”, a long story with many knots from May 15 to June 4. Fluxus artist, Ben Patterson, was also present during the inaugural ceremony to explain the art form.

Paintings expo

Dhoomimal’s City Gallery is Presenting “The Gallery Collection”, an exhibition of paintings by various artists. The exhibition, which opened on May 16, will continue till May 30

Jagannath Astakam

Aastha Gandhi, a student of Nrityashilp, run by the Guru Surendranath Jena Odissi Dance Foundation, presented her solo performance at the Triveni Kala Sangam here last week.

Aastha began her performance with an ode to Lord Jagannath by performing the Jagannath Astakam and concluded with Dasavatar, the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

Sitar recital

The India International Centre (IIC) here is presenting a sitar recital by Sarada Mukherjee from Kolkata at its auditorium on May 23. Sarada is a disciple of the late Pt. Aparesh Chatterjee. She will be accompanied on the tabla by Durjay Bhaumick.

On May 26, the IIC will present a Bharatanatyam recital by Swati Biswas of Delhi in its auditorium. A disciple of Guru Jayalakshmi Eshwar, Swati has been performing for the last several years.

‘Agnishikha’

On the auspicious occasion of “Buddha Poornima”, a spiritual organization AKK Revelation is organising “Agnishikha”-The Torch of Peace, a spiritual and cultural programme at the Russian Science and Cultural Centre here on May 19.

The occasion also marks the completion of 2550 years of “Maha Parinirwan” of Lord Buddha.

Highlights of the programme include a spiritual discourse by Oma-The AKK, a performance by well-known international Singing Bowl Music healer Ms Massonnaud Odile from France, live performance of Trans Music Band and recitation of poems by well-known poets.

Population in jails double their capacity

New Delhi, May 18
Delhi jails are bursting at the seams having to lodge convicts and undertrials nearly double their capacity and over 60 per cent of the inmates have been identified as youths below 30 years.

Nine jails in Tihar complex and one in Rohini has 11,234 prisoners, which includes 2,200 convicts and 9,014 undertrials, as against a capacity of 6,250.

According to the latest statistics, there are 10,769 male prisoners as against the lodging capacity of 5,850. There are 465 women lodged in Delhi jails, while the capacity is 400. The age profile shows that 60 per cent of the prisoners are under the age group of 18-30.

While there are 5,561 prisoners, including 125 women, under the age group 21-30 years, 1,249 (including 22 women) inmates are under the age bracket 18-21 years.

There are 3,855 inmates who are between 30 and 50 years, while 515 were between 50-65 years. The women population in the two age groups are 245 and 65 respectively. Fifty-four prisoners, including eight women, aged above 65 years are also currently in Capital’s jails.

Among the 2,200 convict population, there are over 1,000 people who are sentenced to above ten years or life term.

Life termers top the list with 747, including 32 women, while 295 prisoners (including 10 women) are lodged in the jail for above ten year term.

There are 470 those who are serving imprisonment of 5-10 years, while 229 are imprisoned for a period of 2-5 years, besides 450 inmates are serving sentences ranging from one-month to two years.

Among the 9,104 undertrials, 1,903 have been lodged for about one month, while 1,883 are lodged for a period of one-three months.

Over 1,400 undertrials have been lodged for over two years which included 190 prionsers who were in jail for over five years.

A total of 491 foreign nationals, including 53 women, are also presently undergoing their sentences in the Capital’s jails. They include 76 convicts, including one woman. There are 398 foreign undertrials (52 women) and 17 detenues also. Jail officials believe that the pressure on Tihar Jail will ease once the proposed construction of Rs 168 crore prison complex begins at Mandoli in East Delhi.

The government is planning to construct 6 prisons in Mandoli on 68 acres which can lodge 3586 inmates. There is also a proposal to construct a new Open Prison in Baprola over a plot of land measuring 125 hectares besides two other prisons in Narela and Pappankalan in South-West Delhi. — PTI

Haryana releases Delhi’s water share
Syed Ali Ahmed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 18
Level of water in ponds of Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant and Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant has increased yesterday after the Haryana government has released Delhi’s share of water.

Haryana had stopped giving Delhi’s share of water three days back with the result that production of potable water had come down and supply was affected in Gole Market, Sarojini Nagar, R. K. Puram, Dhaula Kuan, INA, Janpath, North Avenue, Aurangzeb Road, Karol Bagh, Civil Lines, Model Town, Kingsway Camp, a large part of walled city, Janakpuri, Shalimar Bagh, Rohini, Pitampura, Pashchim Vihar and Outer Delhi.

The production capacity of Haiderpur treatment plant is 200 million gallon daily (MGD) which had come down to 80 MGD. Wazirabad’s production was reduced from 120 MGD to 50 while Chandrawal’s capacity has come down from 90 to 40 MGD, sources said.

The sources said that the level of water in Chandrawal pond should be 710 feet and Wazirabad should be 674.5 feet. But these levels had come down after the Haryana government had stopped supplying raw water. This was violation of Supreme Court direction given in 1994.

However, Haryana has released the share of Delhi water today after a talk by the Chief Minister. But there is no improvement in water supply so far. It may be improved next morning, the sources said.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also assured today that water supply will be improved within a few hours. Delhi has been insisting only that much share of water which was prescribed as per 1994 water sharing agreement though the demand in Delhi has gone up with the increase in its population.

She said that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been able to streamline drinking water supply with its effective management system and its water conservation initiatives.

IGNOU to train anganwadi workers
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 18
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) launched a special pilot project of training 1000 anganwadi workers of Vidisha district in Madhya Pradesh.

Funded by UNICEF, the project is likely to be introduced in 30 districts of Madhya Pradesh. “Vidisha has been selected keeping in view the high rate of malnutrition in the district,” said V.N Rajasekharan Pillai, vice-chancellor, IGNOU.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between IGNOU, UNICEF and the department of women and children development of Madhya Pradesh for imparting training to improve skills of field-level functionaries. “IGNOU will develop the course material and the related audio and video,” said Ravi Mohan, chief PRO, IGNOU. “Provisions of teleconferencing and time slots on TV channels would also be made by the university,” he added.

The components of the proposed training involves community health, infant care, innovative ways to combat malnutrition, nutrition during pregnancy, special needs of adolescent girls, anemia, issues related to women empowerment, immunisation and water purification.

CAIT demands law of accountability
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 18
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has demanded a law of accountability in the administration to discipline the bureaucracy of the country.

It will promote good governance, said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general, CAIT. The CAIT intends to launch a nationwide campaign and form a coalition with civic, consumer and social organisations to make the government frame the law. It also plans to launch a nationwide signature campaign to mobilise people and get wider support.

Khandelwal said that even after 60 years of independence, the administration in the country is perverse, arbitrary, unreasonable, unjust, biased, oppressive and discriminatory. The administration generally fails to discharge its duties. Even for the redressal of an ordinary grievance or complaint, one has to run from pillar to post, which defies the fundamentals of democracy.

Stressing the need of administrative accountability, Khandelwal said that in a democracy the administration is duty bound to inform the public about its actions and decisions, justify and suffer punishment in the case of a misconduct.

Unfortunately, in India, the bureaucracy has no accountability, which has led to rampant corruption. The system has no transparency. Sealing of business establishments in Delhi is one such example where the Centre in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court admitted the failure of government agencies in discharging its obligations. The traders were made scapegoats and the concerned officials and government departments remained untouched.

Police raids cyber cafes
Our Correspondent

Ghaziabad, May 18
After the serial bomb blasts in Jaipur last week, the Ghaziabad police raided all the cyber cafes in Murad Nagar on Saturday in view of the reports that some E-mails had been sent from a cyber café in Shyam Park Extension, Sahibabad to news channels.

A new terror group, Indian Mujahidin Sangathan had taken the responsibility for the Jaipur serial blasts on May 15.

Dy district magistrate Pawan Kumar and police circle officer Atul Kumar Srivastav raided all the cyber cafes on railway road, Murad Nagar and served a notice on all café owners. They were ordered to allow the use Internet in the cyber café only if somebody showed their identity cards and gave phone numbers.

Srivastav ordered the staff officer police station, Murad Nagar, Jatinder Kumar to keep a strict watch on all the cyber café in the town and keep inspecting them regularly.

This is said to have created a panic among all the cyber cafe owners in the town who were seen pulling down their shutters, one after the other.

Ensure regular power supply, CM tells companies
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 18
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has instructed power distribution companies (BSES and NDPL) to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the Capital.

Speaking in a three-day workshop of Bhagidari scheme, the Chief Minister said that power companies have been told to ensure proper supply even if they need to purchase power from other states at higher rate.

Dikshit stated that she has been interacting with members of resident welfare associations (RWAs) and government officers through video conferencing.

This has helped in strengthening the Bhagidari initiative.

My Delhi, I care fund is for carrying out such developmental works that have not been executed yet.

She said that the government would also constitute civic clubs in schools.

The RWAs are being provided porta cabins for carrying out their office work.

She exhorted RWAs to contribute in making Delhi a better city by the Commonwealth Games 2010.