New Delhi, September 24
The railways today diverted 24 trains and cancelled 10 others because of the Yamuna having crossed the danger mark.

Following a rise in the water level, the old Yamuna Bridge was closed for rail and road traffic since 3 am, northern railway officials said. As a result, 26 trains have been diverted, 27 short-terminated and 10 others stand cancelled, he said.

The water level of the river rose because of the release of 4,00,000 cusecs of water into the western Yamuna from the Tajewala barrage.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has set up special camps for those who have had to abandon their homes in the low-lying areas around the banks of the river because of the floods.

The authorities said the situation was being constantly monitored. They claimed that the water had now started receding but the river was still flowing above the danger mark.

According to an official of the Flood and Irrigation department water level may recede till tomorrow evening. Two days back Haryana had released three lakh cusec water that was the reason for increasing the water level in Delhi. Now it has started releasing 50-60 cusec water which will not have any effect in Delhi.

The official said that last evening Old Yamuna bridge was closed. Seventy-nine trains for Old Delhi Railway Station were diverted yesterday to different stations, spokesman of Northern Railway, Rajeev Saxena said. However, today these trains have been restored.

The spokesman said that trains like Aala Hazrat, Bareli-Okha, Mahananda and some other trains of long routes were cancelled. Trains for Rishikesh were stopped at Sahibabad railway station.

Besides, Kalka Mail, Ahmedabad Mail, Awadh-Assam, Brahmputra, Unchahar, Amrapali, Moori Express, etc were diverted to Nizamuddin and New Delhi railway stations.

Passenger trains were also affected with the decision to close Old Yamuna Bridge.

Passengers had to face a tough time boarding their trains.

Chaos was seen at the railway station and people were seen standing at inquiry to find out the latest schedule of their trains. Serpentine line was seen at the window to get the tickets cancelled. Many passengers decided to postpone their journey. 

Faridabad, September 24
The flood water from the Yamuna has damaged standing crop and vegetables in the fields of low-lying villages in the district during the past 24 hours. The district administration, however, heaved a sigh of relief in the evening following receding of the water level in the river.

The situation became grim with total water released from the Okhla barrage crossed about one lakh and seven thousand cusecs mark early this morning. The report in the evening available with the administration, however, was that the release of water receded to about one lakh cusecs.

The authorities say that the water level in Delhi part of the Yamuna has already started receding and things are now under control. However, the overflowing water from the Yamuna started entering the fields of low-lying villages since yesterday. Standing crops in Dulepur, Latifpur, Chaisa, Kabulpur, Manjahauli, Khadirpura, etc have been totally damaged. The main crop in them was paddy and vegetables.

Although the district administration claimed that there was high alert and all the preparations have been put in place to meet any eventuality, the opposition parties have alleged apathy on the part of the authorities.

A state leader of Haryana Janhit Congress, Col. Mahender Singh Bisla alleged that in Sahapura Khadeda, the authorities had not

provided motorboat to the people. The village falls across the Yamuna and its fields have been inundated. He cautioned that in villages like Dulepur, the flood water had reached at the doorsteps of the houses. If the water level in the river rises further, there will be heavy damage to property.

He urged the administration to be extra vigilant. On the other side, the administration has stepped up its vigil. Vigilant committees have been set up in every village where the residents maintain round-the-clock vigil.

New Delhi, September 24
Investigating agencies believe that Atif Bashir, the Indian Mujahideen (IM) mastermind allegedly responsible for the serial blasts in the Capital on September 13, and who was later killed in a police encounter, had links with Dubai and was involved in hawala transactions.

The suspicion was consolidated after the special cell of the Delhi police and the UP Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) traced a bank account of the slain terrorist in Pawai, Azamgarh (UP) through which transaction of Rs 3 crore was done in the last five months.

“Surely, somebody has been sending money to Atif from somewhere and it was certainly not for a noble cause. We are working on the route of this money and, hopefully, will get some lead soon,” informed a senior special cell official.

The investigation agencies believe that the money could have found its way into Atif’s account from Dubai or any of the Gulf countries, especially since it has happened so in the past.

Mohammad Saif, who was arrested by the special cell after the encounter in L-18 flat of Jamia Nagar, has told the police that Atif used to give the money to all terrorists as per the needs of the individual.

“Atif would order food and other requirements of each and everyone and pay up the bills, including travelling expenses. Nobody ever asked him where the money was coming from and nor did he tell anyone,” Saif had told the police.

The special cell team has taken Saif to Azamgarh and other parts of the country to verify his statements and trace other suspects.

According to the police, while 13 people were directly involved in the blasts, there were bound to be their dormant partners and sympathisers who helped the terrorists in their nefarious designs.

With five of Atif’s accomplices who played a major role in the serial blasts, in the police net currently, the security agencies are also trying to probe any links these people could have had with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, based in Pakistan.

“When we come across a suspect we question him on a variety of subjects, ranging from whether he has a girlfriend to his favourite dish. It may seem pretty harmless questions but sometimes can give a very important lead. We have asked them about Dawood and though they have denied any links with him, we can never be sure,” said the official.

During the investigation, the names of some minority educational institutions having links with the arrested terrorists have also come up.

New Delhi, September 24
Jamia Millia Islamia university remains in the nerve centre of the investigation on the Delhi blasts suspects with the shadow of suspicion falling on three of its students, one dead and two under arrest. However, facing difficult times students and faculty are getting together to weather this traumatic situation.

Vice-chancellor Mushrul Hassan addressed the students on Wednesday in a bid to allay obvious tension. He also rallied to their defence simultaneously lashing out at the media for its insensitivity.

Mushirul took the media to task saying, “The arrest of two students of this university is an isolated incident. And Atif, the suspected terrorist who died, took admission only this August. Jamia is and will always be a secular and reputed educational institution.” Mushirul stressed that the finger of suspicion cannot be raised at the university and at the student community for isolated cases “that are not proven”.

Sarcastically he said, “I have never seen so many of the media persons come to any of our functions when we invite them. What have you come here today for? To look for some terrorist?”

He also raised a rather pertinent point saying that, “just because some forces are vandalizing churches and killing Christians in Orissa, does it mean that the entire Hindu community of the state is like that? Then why should such incidents paint a bad picture of the Muslims at large?”

Reportedly, the vice-chancellor stressed before the students that, Jamia is unequivocally against terror and violence. Nothing can justify the killings of innocent people since it is contrary to all civilized norms. Also, as the custodian of the secular inheritance of Dr Zakir Husain and others and as the guardian of all the students under his care, he said, “I am dutybound to protect the interests of all my students.”

Students on the other hand feel rather shaky, says Shiraz, “I have been in Jamia for some time and belong to Delhi but never have I gone through an experience like this. We feel very insecure in the hostel. There has been checking and the way people look at us or talk to us is not right. I have the option of going home to my parents in Delhi but others are not so lucky they are either staying in rooms in Jamia Nagar or in the hostel and there is a great sense of insecurity.”

Anwar, a second year student very reluctantly gave his name, “I don’t really want to talk about this. It is not very nice what we are going through, it is extremely distressing. I am from a small town in eastern UP and am here for education, none of us is a terrorist? They cannot pick us up until proven. This will only alienate us.” 

New Delhi, September 24
Eleven days after the Delhi serial bomb blasts, 24-year-old Neha Sharma believes that life would never be the same again.

Lying on bed number 2 in the neuro surgery ward of the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Neha recollects how she used to try new hair-dos each day.

“She had long hair and she adored them. She was extremely sad after she realised that the doctors shaved them off,” said Pooja, Neha’s sister.

The doctors said that Neha sustained serious head injuries in the blast and so her head had to be cleaned before starting the treatment.

On September 13, Neha and her colleague Shama Arora visited the Hanuman Mandir at Connaught Place before moving towards the Central Park where they became victims of the bomb blast.

Both were rushed to the hospital in a semi-conscious state. Shama is being treated for front head injuries.

“They worked in a share trading firm in the Kanchanjunga Tower on Barakhamba Road. One can’t say that she would have been safe had she not gone to Central Park because Barakhamba Road was another site of the blasts,” said Pooja.

Neha’s family said that it was their faith in god that has kept their hopes alive.

While Shama has been shifted to the general ward, doctors said that Neha would most likely be discharged in two days.

“We want her to return to her normal life as soon as possible, but we also know that injuries are more mental than physical,” said Pooja. 

New Delhi, September 24
The Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre yesterday held a free heart check-up camp in Tihar Jail. The camp was inaugurated by Dr Aparna Jaswal, consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist of the institute.

Through this initiative, the Escorts institute will take its 20 years of experience in cardiac care to the women inmates of Tihar jail. Tests like ECG, echocardiography, blood pressure, blood sugar random, height and weight records were conducted free of charge.

Dr Jaswal said, “We are happy to bring quality cardiac care for the women inmates of Tihar Jail. Today, heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. These check-up camps will help in creating awareness amongst them about growing cardiac ailments”.

She added that this was a first camp for women inmates of Tihar Jail and they would like to arrange more such camps for them.

Brijesh Kumar Gupta, official of Tihar Jail, said, “It’s a moment of pride for all of us to be associated with the leading cardiac institution of Delhi. This free camp conducted by renowned doctors will benefit our inmates. Our inmates would be made aware of existing heart problems, their symptoms and precautions which can be taken to avoid them.” 

Gurgaon, September 24
Lauding the pioneering role of the Haryana government for formulating welfare schemes for the labour class and implementing them, union secretary of the labour ministry Sudha Pillai today asked the other northern states to emulate the Haryana model.

Presiding over a special group meeting of the northern region on the ‘Implementation of building and other construction workers Act 1996 and bonded labour (Abolition) Act 1976’ organised in the Haryana Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) here, she even told Haryana labour commissioner NC Wadhwa that it would be a learning experience for other states in this regard if he could visit them to educate as to how Haryana devised and implemented such schemes successfully.

The state government had implemented the laws related to labour welfare way back in 2006.

She also exhorted the labour secretaries of Haryana, J&K, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Chandigarh who were present at the meeting to follow in the Haryana footsteps.  

In his presentation, Wadhwa explained that the state government would provide health insurance to the labourers on the pattern of the Rastriya Swasthaya Bima Yojna under which the BPL families of up to five members were given indoor treatment facility of Rs 30,000 per annum with free insurance of Rs 75,000. Besides, the medical bills of actual expenses incurred on treatment of chronic diseases like cancer, AIDS, TB and heart diseases would be reimbursed up to Rs 1 lakh per year. This facility would be available to five members of a labourer’s family.

He said free travelling facility for religious or historic places, once in four years, to the labourer’s family would be provided and provision of mobile toilets, mobile fair price shops, mobile dispensary vans at the hutments was also being made. Financial assistance for marriage of wards of labourers up to Rs 2000 was being given and, in addition, a kanyadaan of Rs 5100 at the marriage of a daughter of a labourer was being given by the state government. 

Faridabad, September 24
The union minister for housing and urban poverty alleviation, Kumari Selja has cautioned the officials to redress the grievances of the public about their exclusion from the Below Poverty Line (BPL) list, at the earliest.

The minister, who was here to attend a private function last evening, said that there have been several complaints that a large number of deserving families have been omitted from the BPL list. On account of the wide-ranging allegations, the state government has asked families excluded from the BPL list to file complaints.

The area Congress MP, Avtar Singh Bhadana, who was also with the minister, averred reports of large scale mismanagement in the preparation of the BPL list in the state.

The statement of the minister assumes significance as she is known to be a person of few words, not only among the political leaders in Haryana, but in the country.

With regard to Faridabad, Selja said that the construction works on the Badarpur flyover, which is considered to be the lifeline of Faridabad’s future growth and development, would commence soon. She said that the Centre was focused on the growth and development of Faridabad and to restore its earlier glory. She said that under the Jawaharlal Urban Renewal Mission, the Centre will provide a sum of about Rs 3,000 crore in phases for the development of Faridabad.

She further said that 4,000 houses will be set up under rehabilitation programme for those residing in slums and jhuggis in Faridabad. She also said that the UPA government at the Centre was committed to the development of urban poor. However, she said that the development plants and the funds released by the Centre for poverty alleviation in the country would see fruits only if the money was invested in development plans in a right manner at the implementation stage.

New Delhi, September 24
The Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) in an emergency meeting today called upon the centre to announce 40% interim relief for working journalists to mitigate the hardships caused by low wages and spiralling inflation.

Expressing solidarity with the Confederation of Newspaper and the News Agency Employees’ Organisations, the DUJ has decided to hold a march to Parliament during the forthcoming session.

The Union’s other demands include abolition of contractual employment of journalists, amendment to the Working Journalists’ Act to bring electronic and web media persons under its purview and constitution of a media commission.

The Union has also demanded an end to rampant unfair labour practices in the newspaper industry.

Greater Noida, September 24
Two senior police officers have been transferred for their inability to prevent the lynching of L.K. Choudhary, CEO of a multinational firm, in this industrial township near Delhi.

A mob of retrenched workers bludgeoned Choudhary to death in his office on Monday.

As a result, assistant superintendent of police (Greater Noida) Babu Ram has been transferred to Bulandshahr, while circle officer Brijesh Kumar Gautam has been transferred to Agra, said Amardeep Sinagh, spokesperson of the Noida police.

The officer in charge of the Bisrakh police station, Jag Mohan Sharma had been suspended earlier for being lax in the discharge of his duties.

While Surendra Kumar Verma would replace Babu Ram, three new officers will join at the deputy superintendent level - Rajiv Narayan Mishra from Meerut, Shailendra Lal from Agra and Rajesh Kumar from Jalaon have been ordered to report at Gautam Budh Nagar, the spokesperson said.

Choudhary, heading Italian auto components manufacturer Cerlikon-Graziano Transmissions India Pvt Ltd, was lynched on Monday afternoon when about 150 workers, who had been retrenched, barged into the factory premises in block 14 of Udyog Kendra in Greater Noida.

Earlier on Monday, factory sources said, a mob had brutally beaten over 50 workers with iron rods, hockey sticks and heavy axles, resulting in heavy bloodshed. Five workers were seriously injured.

As many as 63 people have been arrested for the murder.

“Out of 19 identified people we have arrested 13, while 50 people have been arrested under the unidentified category,” the police spokesperson had said on Tuesday.

Work in the firm has stopped since Monday. The chairman of the company, Marcello Lamberto, is expected to arrive in India and visit the factory later on Wednesday, said factory manager Lalit Kumar Gupta. —IANS

Ghaziabad, September 24
Two workers were killed as the earth foundation dug up for an under-construction tower basement near crossing Republic on NH-24 came crashing on them late last night. About a dozen labourers were buried under the debris.

The police and administration started the rescue operation soon after the accident. Five workers were pulled out from the debris.

The district magistrate said accident had taken place due to negligence of the contractor, who would be booked under harsh clauses.

At 7 pm on Tuesday, the work of Cosmos Builders was in progress at crossing Republic. Earth had been dug up to 30 ft deep for the foundation of the tower. Iron rods were being tied for the lintel of basement roof. Earth was piled up on all the four sides. About 20 workers were working on the site at that time. Suddenly a huge earth mound piled up after digging crashed over a dozen labourers. Two workers, Sanjul and Usman Shiekh died in the accident.

The police and fire brigade, which reached the site, were able to pull out five workers. The rescue work continued till late in the night and the injured were admitted to a private hospital.

Ghaziabad, September 24
The special operation group (SOG) and the police from three police stations of Ghaziabad, in a night-long operation on Monday, arrested three interstate vehicle thieves. The criminals were nabbed from Ganga Canal culvert near Dhaulana.

On the basis of information provided by the arrested thieves, the police has recovered 33 vehicles stolen by the gang from the areas in Ghaziabad district alone. These included 20 cars and 13 bikes.

The police had received reports that a vehicle thief gang was very active near Dhaulana. A SOG team was formed which conducted a raid near Ganga Canal.

When challenged, the accused had fired at the police. But the police team managed to apprehend – Wasim, Mukesh and Arif – all residents of Gautam Budh Nagar. Four stolen vehicles were seized from the spot.

During interrogation, they told the cops that their gang was active in Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Meerut, Delhi and some other adjoining areas. On the basis of information provided by them, the police recovered 20 cars and 13 two-wheelers from Mussori, Vijay Nagar, Dhaulana and Murad Nagar. Till date the gang has stolen over 40 cars, the police said.