New Delhi, August 26
The crime branch has busted an interstate gang of cheats who would lure people on the pretext of arranging bank loans for a fee and then decamp with the money. Three persons—Neeraj Kumar Chauhan, Amit Kumar Sagar and Sachin Kumar Nigam —have been arrested in this connection.

The gang had been active in various states and had duped over 120 people to the tune of over Rs 60 lakh.

The gang used to advertise its services in newspapers in different states to entice people by offering loans on low rates of interest. They would offer loans from banks and charged commission of 1% to 2% of the total amount as their fee in advance. They would hire an office and mention only their mobile numbers in advertisements. After making cursory enquiries on phones, people used to send their papers of property through courier to their office. After some days, the cheats would call the victims and ask them to deposit their service charges, saying that their loan would be sanctioned very soon. They used to ask people to submit their fee in their bank account or would collect cash from them. They would operate from one office for not more than 5-6 months and disappear after that. 

During investigation, it was learnt that the gang had been operating for the last 4 years and was running 14-15 offices in different places in Delhi.  The gang had 15 accounts in different banks. 

Gang leader Anuj Makkad operated from Jalandhar and took a major share of the service charges.

Neeraj Chauhan is a graduate from Delhi University while Sachin and Amit are both schoolmates. Neeraj Chauhan used to work as supervisor while Sachin and Amit did other jobs in the “office”.

New Delhi, August 26
Acting Mayor and chairman of the Sports Promotion Committee Divya Jaiswal today announced that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) would construct a road after the name of wrestler Sushil Kumar.

This is a reward being given by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to Sushil Kumar for winning bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics.

He studied in the MCD school at Baprola village.

Jaiswal said that the Corporation would introduce Abhinav Bindra, who won the gold medal in the Olymlics, Olympians Vijender Kumar and Sushil Kumar to the students studying in municipal primary schools.

A public function will be organised by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to accord civic reception to them. Students of municipal primary schools will be specially invited at this function.

New Delhi, August 26
The Delhi Metro records the maximum ridership on Mondays as compared to the other week days.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) spokesperson Anuj Dayal says that the trend has been consistent since Metro service started in 2002. It reached its peak on August 18 this year when 868,000 passengers travelled by Metro, earning Rs 1.08 crore to the DMRC. It is the highest amount that the Delhi Metro has earned so far on a single Monday.

The ridership on Mondays has always been more than any other day of the week, says Dayal. He added that the Metro recorded higher ridership on Mondays as most of the offices were open and people from outside Delhi returned to the Capital to resume work in various offices.

The outstation passengers enter the city through Shahdara, ISBT, Rithala, Dwarka or Vishwavidyalaya, which are reasonably close to the border areas and are connected by the metro system. They, thus, provide an alternative means of transportation for people living in the suburbs surrounding Delhi.

“The DMRC has therefore been witnessing the maximum sale of its single journey tokens on Mondays which is not matched by other days in the week,” said Dayal.

The average ridership of the Delhi Metro as recorded on Mondays was 6.75 lakhs in January this year, which has increased to an average of 8.40 lakhs for Mondays in August, thereby showing an increase of 25%,” says Dayal.

New Delhi, August 26
Agitated over the proposed visit of Richard Boucher, students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) held a protest public meeting followed by a protest march on campus tonight.

Students said there was nothing academic about Boucher’s visit, as he is official spokesperson of the Bush regime. “His visit has been organised to seek legitimacy for the imperialist project of the US government against which there is mass anger in every country,” said Sandeep, president, JNUSU.

In a press statement, JNUSU said that it is a matter of shame that the JNU administration has chosen to act as the public relations office of the US government.

“Academicians and students all over the world should be standing on the side of victims of American imperialism instead of inviting the butchers to talk in a university,” said Roshan, secretary, JNU Students’ Federation of India.

Students wrote to the university authorities condemning the decision to invite the alleged representative of Bush regime that destroyed countries like Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan.

“We condemn the UPA government and JNU administration that is trying to be allies of America and we will protest the shameful act of organising Boucher’s visit at this juncture,” said Sandeep.

“Our protest against Boucher is a firm dissent against the imperialist policies. JNU students will never sell their conscience and welcome any Boucher of the killer America,” said Pallavi Deka, general secretary, JNUSU.

JNU students said that protests against Boucher were also a voice of solidarity to the millions who were victims of the American imperialist policies.

Amid tight security, JNUSU would organise a protest demonstration at the spot of Boucher’s visit tomorrow. 

Noida, August 26
There is an alarming increase in the cases of gastroenteritis and diarrhoea in Noida and Greater Noida these days due to prolonged heavy rains and contaminated water.

As many as 1800 cases are being reported in the district daily, mainly in Noida and Greater Noida.

According to CMO, Dr MPS Verma, at the out-patient wards of three community health centres and 18 primary health centres in Gautam Budh Nagar district, about 600 cases of gastro and diarrhoea cases were reported.

At Noida district hospital over 200 cases of these ailments are being reported daily, says Dr. Verma.

Almost all big hospitals are getting 200 cases each daily, while the nursing homes get over 800 cases daily. While a majority of cases are mild in intensity who do not need hospitalization, only 10 per cent patients need to be admitted to hospitals, says Dr. Verma.

District health authorities have been asked to take random samples from potable water reservoirs and get them tested in labs.

Institutions have also been issued instructions for use of chlorine at water sources and for cleaning water supply tanks.

Outbreak of diarrhoea and gastroenteritis has not surprised the residents as dirty water is being supplied in Noida.

The water supply for first 20 minutes is foul-smelling, according, to federation of resident welfare associations of Noida (FIRNWA) president, N.P. Singh.

According to Noida Authority CME, Yadav Singh underground water reservoirs are cleaned periodically or whenever some complaints are received.

He said water samples are tested from reservoirs regularly for E-Coil etc.

New Delhi, August 26
Delhi health minister Yoganand Shastri said that the government has made all the arrangement to control the dengue fever that is increasing in the national Capital. Sufficient platelets are available in hospital. He said that 34 hospitals in the Capital are equipped to handle dengue cases and sufficient relevant drugs are also available to deal with an outbreak.

The minister instructed the health department officials to issue chalans to the owner of buildings for non-compliance of anti-larval measures.

He said this month 60 cases of dengue, 139 cases of cholera and 22 cases of malaria were reported. He also instructed the MCD and NDMC to specially check the construction sites and empty plots for mosquito breeding and provide more work force and equipment to the affected zones like Najafgarh and Karol Bagh. He also asked the deputy health officer to involve RWAs and local communities in anti-dengue programmes.

New Delhi, August 26
The scene is hotting up at the Delhi University Students Union elections with the NSUI determined not to take the university’s decision of disqualifying three of its candidates lying down, despite the varsity extending the last date for filing nominations by a day.

A clearly miffed sitting president of the DUSU, Amrita Bahari said, “It is not fair on the university’s part to disqualify three of our important candidates. We will not take this lying down and have moved the court. The court hearing on this matter is scheduled for tomorrow.”

She added, “The proctor had said that the principal has to certify the proposer and the seconder for the candidate and this is not stated in the form.” The disqualified candidates had held a press conference in the city on the matter this Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the NSUI spokesperson Quintal Krishna said on a more sober note, “The three candidates who got disqualified were aspirants. Our candidates are still to be finally decided. On the whole, we stand by the position that these three should not be disqualified and I think justice will be done on this matter.”

Some strong contenders for the DUSU elections from the NSUI are: Sonia Sapra for president, Amit Chaudhry, Amandeep Solanki, Mahendra Nagar and Bhavna.

Meanwhile, the ABVP is not too happy about the varsity extending the date for filing nominations by a day. The general feeling within the ABVP is that the extension of the nominations date to Wednesday will go in favour of the NSUI and indicates what they have called the “partisan attitude” of the university administration.

Campaigning is on in full swing across North and South campus. Quintal Krishna, NSUI spokesperson said that, “things are great right now. We have extensive internal campaigning on and the attempt is to reach out to every single student. We prefer individualized campaigning and have a 10-member unit working on it currently”.

He added, “Our agenda is to make DU a world-class university and this is what we have been trying to do. We have many students participating in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.

Attempts are also on to get representation for students in the varsity’s executive council and to set up a separate hostel for Northeastern girls.”

The next few days will see hectic campaigning at DU with elections slated for September 7.

Faridabad, August 26
The young Congress MP from Rohtak, Deepender Singh Hooda today made out a strong case for the party to reach out to the youths to impress upon them the secular agenda of the organisation.

Deepender was here to mobilise support for the NSUI candidates in the fray in the Delhi University Students’ Union election going to be held next month.

Addressing a gathering of youths organised by the youth wing of the organisation and the NSUI, he said the need to reach out to the youths is to ensure that the young minds are not influenced by the divisive agenda of some political parties which indulge in castetist and communal ideologies.

The Congress MP asserted that in the coming elections for students’ union of Delhi University, the union related to the INLD and ABVP would not be able to match up to NSUI.

He urged upon the youths related to the Congress as well as the leaders of the party not to take the student unions’ election lightly.

The activism of the Congress MP to garner support for NSUI candidates appears to be rooted in common sense.

A large number of students falling in the areas of NCR, especially Faridabad and Gurgaon are enrolled with Delhi University.

Deepender also said that the office-bearers of NSUI and Indian Youth Congress must ensure that the maximum youths are roped in with the party organisation.

Noida, August 26
Valuable artifacts and jewellery worth Rs 20 lakh were stolen from a jewellery factory in Sector-10 in Noida on Saturday night. A report in this regard has been lodged by the proprietor, Gautamjeet Singh Johar, in Sector-20 police station.

An employee and two security guards of the factory have been detained by the police for questioning.

According to Gautamjeet Singh, a resident of Delhi, he had locked the factory premises before going home on Saturday night. The thieves broke into the factory by removing the A/C fitted on the first floor of the building.

Johar said that he was informed about the incident on Sunday afternoon by the security guard Narinder Singh.

In a second incident, thieves broke into a house when inmates were away and decamped with valuables and household goods.

The incident took place in the house of Manish Prasad, who lives in E-407 in Panchachuli Apartments in Sector-61. Prasad had gone out for three days with his family. When they returned on Monday they found that the padlock was broken.

Manish has filed a report in Sector-58 police station.

Noida, August 26
Two workers at an under-construction factory in Sector-63 in Noida, got buried under debris on Monday when a wall at the site collapsed. One of the killed workers could not be identified, while the other has been identified as Prempal, 30, the police said.

A woman labourer, Rajeshwari, 35, was seriously injured in the head. She was rushed to Fortis hospital.

The factory building was being constructed at plot no. C-118. A tin shed was being fixed after raising a wall on one side. Another wall was constructed a day earlier. Due to heavy downpour on Monday, the plot was filled with water. Suddenly, at around 6 p.m., the wall collapsed burying the labourers.

The police station in Sector-58 was informed about the accident. On getting the information, ASP and SP City and other police officers from the police station reached the site. The police had to clear the debris with the help of a JCB.

According to police, the owner of the factory is one Sudhir Dhingra and if relatives of the deceased file an FIR against him, action could be taken against him.

New Delhi August 26
In this era of bewildering flux of ideas, the ancient connection between science and spirituality is quite interesting that can be dated back to 5,000 years. The subject has been of profound significance, being debated at many national and international forums. The Second World Convention on Yoga, Science and Spirituality was held on similar lines on August 23-24 at Chinmaya Mission in the Capital.

It was an open forum, wherein the integration of science and spirituality, and most essentially, the part that spirituality has in weaving a happy and healthy society was presented threadbare. The podium was shared by national and international luminaries from the medical fraternity and the spiritual world to discuss the need for working towards the co-existence of the energy therapies and the modern medicines.

Gastroenterologist Dr. S. K. Sama, an advisor to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and founder of World Academy of Spiritual Sciences (WASS) said, “Both are tributaries of science. One is modern, based on materialism and the other is timeless creation with a subtle energy dealing with inner consciousness.”

People are still ignorant of the ideal connection that these two tenets of knowledge share. Science and spirituality need to be conjoined to provide authenticated holistic healing to people suffering from mental or physical ailments. This amazing amalgamation of science and spirituality can truly transform life into a celebration.

According to Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, yoga is a true example of it. “Yoga stabilises the mind and strengthens the body both internally and externally. It maintains irregular lifestyles by maintaining equilibrium in their body. As a whole, yoga strengthens the mind, body and soul,” he said.

Prof. S. C. Manchanda, consultant cardiologist of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said, “Despite numerous scientific advances, the present-day man is under tremendous stress, consequently, suffers from various diseases like heart ailments, diabetes, anxiety, depression, which can be prevented by meditation power of yoga, stress management and balancing mind body and soul.”

The guest of honour, Dr. Harsha Vardhan, president of BJP said, “Today in almost 150 universities, all the Indian spirituality texts are researched with the scientific paradigm in India as well as abroad.”

He added, “In modern times, things have changed. Even the WHO has added spirituality to the real definition of good health. Yoga and particularly the Patanjali form is the finest healer in the 21st century.”

Dr. Manchanda said, “Yoga is highly therapeutic. It has reportedly relieved and healed ailments like acidity, high-blood pressure and kidney problems through the regular practice of yoga.”

Thus, spirituality in all its forms rejuvenates our body mechanism, leaving us refreshed and mellow. There is a deep-seated connection between our mind and body, and it profoundly impacts our overall physical health and sense of well-being.

The occasion was also graced by Dr. Najma Heptulla as chief guest along with many other participants including Dr. Kiran Bedi, Ms. Indu Jain, Dr. R.K.Srivastava, Anil Kapoor, Gopal Subramaniam. Anupam and Kiran Kher.

The two-day annual conference was organised by WASS, to hold an interaction between the spiritual masters and scientists on the same platform so that spirituality can be projected in a scientific manner by scientifically validating spirituality discipline like yoga.