New Delhi, August 2
A large number of activists belonging to various Hindu organisations today demonstrated at Jantar Mantar to pressurise the Union government to restore the land allotted earlier to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SANSB).

The activists gathered at Jantar Mantar and marched towards Parliament.

Barricades were erected to stop the marchers, however, when they tried to break the barricades, the police had to use water cannons. Some of the activists were also arrested but were later released.

Addressing the demonstrators, national secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Khem Chand said, “If the land was not restored to the SASB, we will take the matter to the streets. Today’s protest in Delhi is to alert the UPA government that any delay in this regard may cause serious consequences.”

Convener of the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti and national president of the Dharma Yatra Maha Sangh, Mange Ram Garg said that Jammu region had been reeling from violence for the last 33 days, but the state government has kept mum.

The violence has claimed four lives and injured many, still neither the state nor the union government was bothered.

Mahant Surendra Nath Avdhoot of Kalka Peeth, Delhi; Ramesh Prakash, state head, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS); Kailash Singhal, regional organising secretary,VHP; Swadesh Pal, state president, VHP; Satyandra Mohan, state general secretary, VHP; Harsh Vardhan, state president, Bharatiya Janata Party; Ashok Kapoor and Sailandra Jaishwal, state chief and deputy, Bajrang Dal, were amongst those who addressed the gathering.

New Delhi, August 2
Rectifying some of the discrepancies in this year’s admissions, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration would issue tonight another admission list of selected physically handicapped (PH) candidates.

The decision was taken after yesterday’s demonstration at the administrative block of the university followed by several rounds of meetings with the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU).

“The authorities told us that the list is on its way. We are waiting for it to be displayed shortly,” said Sandeep, president, JNUSU.

Notwithstanding the 3 per cent compulsory reservation, a sharp fall was observed in the admission of PH category students in the university. “JNU administration decided that there cannot be any further reservation after the SC-ST and OBC quota together amounts to more than 50 per cent,” said Sandeep.

However, the administration forgot about the Supreme Court ruling that puts PH and women’s reservation beyond the purview of other reservations.

Meanwhile, the student organisations do not seem to be satisfied with just one move of amendment.

“Our main objection is to the seat cut in the university. There is a considerable decrease in the seats offered by the university this year. For example, seats offered for BA Russian course are almost half to what was offered last year,” said Roshan, secretary, JNU Students’ Federation of India (SFI).

When the student community expected this year’s admissions to be more representative of the deprived sections, some of the departments at JNU do not have a single OBC admission.

The JNUSU office-bearers claim that JNU authorities have misinterpreted the Supreme Court ruling on OBC reservations.

“This is an understanding of the casteist sections at the university. They (administration) want to escape the responsibility of the students coming from deprived sections so, they are trying to stop them at the primary level itself,” said Sandeep.

Students have also alleged that JNU director of admissions does not have a clean past. “Before this he was working in close connection with some highly communal elements,” said Sandeep.

While the new PH list would ease tension between the students and administration, the admission row is far from being resolved.

“We are not going to take this agitation back till all the discrepancies are sorted,” said Sandeep. 

New Delhi, August 2
In memory of the eminent writer, first Prem Chand memorial lecture was organised by the Centre of Indian Languages, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Professor Mohd. Hasan, a renowned Urdu scholar and professor emeritus JNU, delivered the first memorial lecture. Professor Hasan focused upon the social concerns of Prem Chand as expressed through his novels.

He also analysed the art of his fiction in reference to the depiction of social reality in his novels. Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Wardha and professor emeritus of Jawaharlal Nehru Universityn, Namvar Singh presided over the ceremony.

In his presidential remarks, Namwar Singh appreciated the decision to start the new academic session every year with Prem Chand memorial lecture.

“This lecture could focus not only on the fiction or writings of Prem Chand, but also on his social concerns. Scholars could be invited to speak on women, Dalits, communalism, patriotism and other concerns expressed by Prem Chand in his writings,” he said.

New Delhi, August 2
Hustle and bustle could be felt on the campuses of colleges affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University today, as they opened for the new session.

Over 14,000 students attended the orientation programmes organised by various departments on the first day.

University School of Management Studies, B-School of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), is holding a two-day orientation session ‘Parichay’ for students, which includes activities like — faculty interaction, business quiz and guest lectures, followed by a lunch with the faculty.

Whereas, University School of Information Technology introduced freshers to the course, faculty laboratories. University School of Biotechnology, University School of Basic and Applied Sciences, University School of Environment Management, University School of Humanities and Social Sciences and University School of Chemical Technology also had similar freshers’ orientation.

University School of and Legal Studies of the university conducted lectures from eminent legal experts like — S.N. Singh, dean, Faculty of , University of Delhi and K.C. Mittal, president, Delhi High Court Bar Association as a part of its orientation session. Students were also shown a video on the activities of School.

A visit-cum-orientation session for freshers was also organised by University Information Resource Centre (library) of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. The freshers, who were bubbling with enthusiasm, were taken to the library and were given information about books and reference material available.

New Delhi, August 2
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is getting all set to train paramedics in fields like — cardiology, maternal health and hospital administration for Delhi hospitals. IGNOU signed an agreement with the city government in this regard today.

More and more paramedics are needed, as hospitals are often understaffed. It will enable scores of hospitals in the Capital to get trained paramedical staff in 12 disciplines.

Indira Gandhi National Open University will provide admission to learners sponsored by the government of Delhi, distribute self-instructional material, provide study centres for various courses and academic counseling and allow usage of satellite communication for tele-conferencing and interactive video councelling.

Besides fresh candidates, the city government would sponsor in-service candidates for various programmes in IGNOU. IGNOU will provide 10% discount on fees for candidates sponsored by the government.

“Strategies would be developed to design and implement courses for medical education and training programmes,” the agreement said.

Ghaziabad, August 2
Four persons, including a woman, were crushed to death as the lintel of an under-construction factory in Mussori-Gulawtty industrial area came crashing down on them yesterday. About a dozen other workers are still believed to be under the debris.

The rescue operations were carried on under the supervision of Ghaziabad district magistrate, Deepak Agarwal and SSP Deepak Rattan.

SSP said it is not possible to say as to how many persons were working at the site at the time of the accident.

The factory was being constructed on UPSIDC plot No. F-467 in Phase II of Industrial Area. All the four walls had been raised and lintel was being laid on them at night. A makeshift lift had also been installed for carrying the building material to roof level.

According to two workers, Ramte and Shahid at about 8-15 p.m. yesterday the lift, after becoming loose and out of control had hit one of the walls which crumbled down in no time. With this part of other walls and lintel also came crashing down on a number of workers. One woman and three men are feared to have died in the accident. People were frantically trying to locate their nearer ones in the debris. One Haji Yaseen of Delhi is reported to be the owner of the factory.

Some people said about 40 labourers were working at the site at the time of accident, most of them hailing from Bihar and Moradabad. Many workers, including women, are still believed to be buried under the debris.

DM and SSP said that more than two dozen workers had been pulled out of the debris by the night while a few more are believed to be still buried. Efforts are being made to dig them out. The injured had been rushed to the District and other hospitals. Two of the killed workers have been identified as Shahid and Arif.

DM, SSP and other district officers and police contingent were present at the site till late in the night.

New Delhi, August 2
A minor fire broke out in Qutub Hotel in Katwaria Sarai around 8 a.m today. The fire did not cause much damage.

However, a hotel staff Nishant, 23, and a security guard, Ratnesh, 25 fell unconscious after being engulfed by smoke while dousing the flames. The duo was taken to near by All India Institute of Medical Science where they were discharged after primary treatment.

According to available information, the fire broke out in an air conditioner on the second floor of the hotel. About ten fire tenders were pressed into service and it took more than an hour to douse the flames. 

New Delhi, August 2
With the arrest of Mehtab Jahan, 42, resident of Turkman Gate and her son Ashim, 21, the North district police claimed to have busted a gang involved in circulation of fake Indian currency. Fake currency amounting to Rs 10,000 (of Rs 500 denomination) has been recovered from their possession.

The arrests were made on the basis of information received by the Lahori Gate police on July 31. It was learnt that the mother-son duo was involved in circulation of fake currency in the Lahori Gate area. It was further learnt that the two would come near Baker Watch Company. Accordingly, a trap was laid near the Monastry gate on Ring Road and were arrested after the informer, recognised them.

A case has been registered at Lahori Gate police station and further investigation is on.

The accused disclosed that they worked as roadside cloth vendors. About a fortnight back, a stranger came to them and offered to pay them Rs 400 in lieu of circulating fake currency of the amount Rs 1000.

New Delhi, August 2
A city court on Saturday held two cab drivers guilty of raping, killing and looting an Australian tourist in the Capital, a crime that had made headlines in 2004.

Additional sessions judge Vinod Kumar convicted Jyotish Prasad and Ashish Kumar for murdering Dawn Griggs, 59, within hours of her landing at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.

The court held them guilty under section 302 (murder), 376 (rape), 394 (robbery) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The sentence will be pronounced on August 4.

Griggs, who arrived here from Hong Kong in the early hours of March 17, 2004 to enroll herself in a meditation course, had taken a pre-paid taxi from the international airport and was later found murdered in a nearby field.

During the hearing, the two accused had alleged that they had been framed as the police was under pressure to crack the case.

“Just to impute motive for the offence, the police planted on the accused some travellers’ cheques and 300-400 Hong Kong dollars allegedly belonging to the victim,” defence counsel Vikas Arora had claimed.

But public prosecutor Vinod Kumar Sharma, while wrapping up the arguments, claimed there was sufficient evidence against the accused and they, by their dastardly act, had earned a bad name for the country. — IANS

Greater Noida, August 2
SSP R.K. Chaturvedi has suspended Kasna station officer Amarjit, as a man detained in Kasna police station died in the ICU of Kailash Hospital, Noida today morning, allegedly due to police beating.

Sub-inspector Sangram Singh has been posted in his place.

Krishna, 40, a gardener working in Galgotia Engineering College, Greater Noida, was accused of stealing fans and some other articles from the college premises.

The Kasna police arrested him yesterday around 6 p.m. The police allegedly beat him up. This caused some internal injuries to him.

Later, he allegedly tried to commit suicide by strangling himself with his shirt. He was taken to Kailash Hospital in Greater Noida at night. From here, he was shifted to the ICU of the main Kailash Hospital in Sector – 27, Noida. Krishna died around 7 a.m.

His family that lives in Kondli village of Kasna alleged that Krishna had been severely thrashed in police custody.

SSP R.K. Chaturvedi said Krishna’s body had been sent for autopsy and the report was awaited.

Noida, August 2
With the arrest of six persons, the Noida Police on Friday claimed to have busted a gang of car thieves active in the national capital region.

The six have been identified as — Shamshad, Jalaluddin, Ram Niwas, Irfan, Irshad and Anwar. Eleven cars and three live bullets have been recovered.

According to the police, the gang was involved in at least 18 cases of car thefts in Noida.

“We arrested them from Sector —93. All are the residents of Noida and nearby places,” said the police official. — IANS

New Delhi, August 2
The BJP has demanded that the DDA should be brought under the Delhi government as soon as possible. At present, it is under the union government.

The main objective of the DDA is balanced development of the national capital region and providing flats to the people of Delhi at fair price. It has failed completely in its objective, said chief of Delhi unit of the BJP, Harsh Vardhan.

The DDA has diverted from its main objective and now the situation is such that it has adopted the policies of big builders. This is why in its allotment scheme which is to be launched soon, the price of the flats has been fixed from Rs 7.2 to Rs 77 lakh. The amount of registration has been fixed as Rs 1.5 lakh which is not only difficult for the people of low income group to arrange, but also for the people of middle income group, he said. 

Noida, August 2
Following a threat to blow up a private news channel in Film City, Sector-16A, Noida, police force and anti-terrorist squad immediately took position around the channel premises.

The threat was sent to the news channel through an e-mail from California in USA. The same ID had been used in the Email threat sent to Ahmedabad city in Gujarat, it learnt. ID “alarbigujarat@yahoo.com” had been used in the message sent to news channel. The threat had created panic in Noida. The time for explosion had been mentioned at 8 p.m.

The message said, “Today we shall blow up your office. You have spoken a lot against us. We shall certainly win this war. Stop us, if you can.” The receipt of this threatening Email had created panic in news channel office.

Thepolice was immediately informed. Apart from police and local intelligence unit, bomb disposal squad was summoned from Ghaziabad.