SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI



THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
D E L H I   A N D   N E I G H B O U R H O O D

JNUSU decries Lyngdoh’s remark on ‘younger faces’
New Delhi, October 27
Jawaharlal Nehru University held a massive protest meeting on Monday night under the banner of the Joint Struggle Committee. The meeting was addressed by several faculty members also.

Aarushi Case
Important medical records missing
Noida, October 27
There is a new twist in the Aarushi-Hemraj double murder case of Noida. The original records of the medical tests conducted on Arushi Talwar’s body have reportedly gone missing from the Noida district government hospital, while the hospital pathologist is said to be on leave without information virtually from January this year.

Soldier serves even after death
New Delhi, October 27
S.K. Sharma, father of Virat Sharma of the Indian Navy who died due to a road accident recently, has donated the organs of his brave son. The noble gesture of the soldier’s family at this hour of grief has saved many lives.


EARLIER STORIES



Festive Spirit

The New Delhi Municipal Corporation filled a bus stop roof with dummy gifts on the occasion of Divali at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Monday.
The New Delhi Municipal Corporation filled a bus stop roof with dummy gifts on the occasion of Divali at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Monday. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui
A lady decorates diyas outside her home.
A lady decorates diyas outside her home. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

Last member of Bunty gang held
New Delhi, October 27
The last of the notorious biker gang of Bunty - the absconding 24-year-old who stands accused in 12 cases of murder and attempted murder - which unleashed terror in the Capital with a spate of robberies and unprovoked killings, has been arrested.

Don’t try home remedies for burns, says doctor
New Delhi, October 27
Children should be made aware of fire safety during Divali, as there is an increased risk of fire mishaps during this festival, which features the use of candles, diyas and fireworks. Parents need to be more cautious about children and should take necessary safety measures to avoid any accident, caution doctors.

Less sheen, but Divali still brings on festive mood
New Delhi, October 27
India lit up on Monday ahead of Divali, the festival of lights that celebrates the victory of good over evil, but the glow seemed to have dimmed a little with fewer firecrackers and fewer shoppers.

Assembly Poll
Riot victims seek Akali candidate for Tilak Nagar
New Delhi, October 27
The All India Sikh Riot Victims’ Action Committee has appealed to the Bharatiya Janata Party high command to spare the Tilak Nagar assembly seat for Shiromani Akali Dal candidate. Such dispensation is imperative, said AISRVAC president Mohan Singh.

Crackers burn holes in family pockets
New Delhi, October 27
Divali is just a night span away, but the multitude of brilliant fireworks lighting up the dark sky is visibly less this year - thanks to the exorbitant prices and the Delhi police issuing fewer licences to traders, giving rise to black market in firecrackers.

Dengue, viral fever unabated in Noida
Noida, October 27
The onslaught of dengue and viral fevers continues unabated in Gautam Budh Nagar district.

Tourism dept mulls needs of the disabled
New Delhi, October 27
Ministry of tourism, in association with Svayam, an initiative of Sminu Jindal Charitable Trust, organised a workshop for sensitising engineers and other officials of tourism industry about the accessibility problems of the elderly and the challenged.


DIVALI DHAMAKA: People purchase crackers at Gaushala Ground in Gurgaon on Monday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Kumar Yadav


CALL OF DUTY. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui

Ways to check air pollution in winter discussed
New Delhi, October 27
In order to check rise of air pollution during winter season, chief secretary of Delhi, Rakesh Mehta, at a meeting held here today, decided to launch an awareness campaign against burning of dry leaves and instead taking measures to compost them. He added that a strict monitoring of diesel generators would be done by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

Vardhan poses questions to Sheila Dikshit
New Delhi, October 27
Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan today again asked Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit a few questions. They are: when the prices of petrol and diesel have decreased by more than 50 per cent in the international market, why the Congress government in Delhi is not decreasing the price of oil?

3 die in mishaps
New Delhi, October 27
At least three persons were killed in two different road accidents in the Vasant Kunj and Narela areas of the National Capital Territory of Delhi last night. In both the cases, trucks were involved in the accidents.

Traffic on rail line held up
Ghaziabad, October 27
The rail traffic between Delhi and Howarh remained held up for over an hour due to a fault in rail track between Chipyana and Maripat railway stations yesterday.

Gold worth Rs 2.5 m stolen from temple
New Delhi, October 27
Two caretakers were detained on Sunday after jewellery and ornaments worth Rs 2.5 million were found missing from a temple in North West Delhi.

2,500 kg adulterated khoya seized
Ghaziabad, October 27
In the second such seizure on consecutive days, the Ghaziabad police today seized 2,500 kg of adulterated khoya (milk product used in making sweets) here.

One killed in accident
Noida, October 27
One person was killed and five others were seriously injured when two trucks coming from opposite directions collided head-on here early today.

Firm manager commits suicide
Ghaziabad, October 27
The regional manager of a private firm allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling fan here.

Avoid crackers: Mayor
New Delhi, October 27
Mayor Arti Mehra today appealed to residents of the city to avoid use of fireworks and crackers keeping in view their impact on the environment.





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JNUSU decries Lyngdoh’s remark on ‘younger faces’
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 27
Jawaharlal Nehru University held a massive protest meeting on Monday night under the banner of the Joint Struggle Committee. The meeting was addressed by several faculty members also.

Many JNU teachers who happen to be architects of the JNUSU constitution and the JNU election process, are currently shocked that JNU elections should be targeted. Reacting to the statement by Lyngdoh in Monday’s Indian Express, in which he had suggested that JNU should field ‘younger faces’ because people over 35 had no place in students’ elections’, JNUSU president Sandeep Singh said, “I do wonder where Mr Lyngdoh got the impression that JNUSU office-bearers are ‘older’ faces? JNU students are not in the habit of electing people of the age of their lecturers as their representatives.”

JNUSU members inform that the students’ struggle should not be trivialised as an attempt to retain ‘older’ candidates. If the Lyngdoh recommendations were to be imposed on JNU, “it will mean the loss of the JNUSU constitution, which is a remarkable democratic blueprint created by thousands of students for the last 37 years. More importantly, it will mean that JNU students will no longer have the autonomy to conduct and regulate their own elections.”

This self-regulation will also be replaced by a code imposed by authorities from outside. Delhi University has had such a code for many decades: yet, every year, the DU code of conduct, and even the Lyngdoh code imposed last year, failed completely to do away with the vitiations like money, liquor, inducements and muscle-power. “JNU’s remarkable achievement of proven, tried and tested, organic, home-grown democracy, will be thrown in the dustbin, to exchange it for a formal code which has failed to achieve its objective. This will be a tragic loss for the student movement. This is why JNU students are fighting to preserve the JNUSU constitution, and JNU students’ rights to decide, through their UGBM, if any changes in that constitution are called for,” says Sandeep.

JNU students reacting to the Lyngdoh committee report inform that students at the varsity have proved their responsibility and respect for democracy: they are quite capable of deciding if they want to vote for a candidate who is aged 29 or 30 years, or if they want to vote for a candidate who has contested elections before.

Speakers at the meeting spoke at length on the stay on JNUSU election, the struggle ahead, the need to unite to defend JNU’s unique democratic culture.

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s stay on JNU’s election process, JNU saw a massive outburst of student protest. All the organizations on campus, JNUSU, and the JNUSU Election Committee rallied as one body to oppose this stay based on the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations and to uphold the JNUSU constitution.  The UGBM held on October 25 saw a massive student assertion, with hundreds of students participated in the UGBM, and expressing their anger against this attack on the JNUSU election process and the JNU student movement.

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Aarushi Case
Important medical records missing
Our Correspondent

Noida, October 27
There is a new twist in the Aarushi-Hemraj double murder case of Noida. The original records of the medical tests conducted on Arushi Talwar’s body have reportedly gone missing from the Noida district government hospital, while the hospital pathologist is said to be on leave without information virtually from January this year.

The tests were carried out to determine whether her suspected killers had sexually assaulted her.

A team of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers had on Saturday visited the district hospital in Sector-39 to collect the original records of the pathological tests carried out on Aarushi’s body, but reportedly returned empty-handed.

A senior hospital official, on the condition of anonymity, said the CBI investigators wanted to match the copies of the records with the documents in the original files.

“They wanted to match the reports since they suspected overwriting in the copies,” the official said.

The official said that on Saturday, the cupboards of the pathology department were broken as the pathologist was on leave.

Confirming that the original records were missing, hospital’s chief medical superintendent S.C. Singhal said, “CBI team was looking for original reports of blood sample, blood serum, white discharge and other tests. They may have found discrepancies or overwriting in the submitted reports and wanted to verify the original records.”

Surprisingly, Singhal disclosed that the pathologist had been on leave since January 21 and has reported only for four days in March from 26 to 29, but amazingly the test slides were inspected by her and the reports bore her signatures.

He added that the hospital was looking into what prompted her to conduct such sensitive tests when she was not on duty since March 30.

City magistrate of Noida, Sanjay Chauhan said, “I received a letter from a Noida official that the CBI team wanted some records from the pathology department of the district hospital in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case.

Since the records were inside almirah, and the pathologist was not present, it was broken in my presence.

Dr Lokesh Kumar, Dr Sadhna Singh and Dr P.K. Jah, were also present there.”

CBI spokesman Harsh Bhal, however, declined to comment saying that the investigation was in a sensitive stage and we would not like to comment on this.”

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Soldier serves even after death
Ravi Bhatia
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 27
S.K. Sharma, father of Virat Sharma of the Indian Navy who died due to a road accident recently, has donated the organs of his brave son. The noble gesture of the soldier’s family at this hour of grief has saved many lives.

Virat had met with a road accident on October 18. He had sustained severe head injuries and battled for life at the Army Hospital (R&R) here. He was declared brain dead on October 24.

Virat’s liver has been transplanted to a serving soldier who was suffering from liver failure due to budd chiari syndrome, a condition where veins of the liver are blocked.

One of his kidneys has been transplanted to a serving soldier with terminal kidney failure while the other has been given for transplant at AIIMS.

The corneas have been transplanted to two patients, one of whom is a young girl from Bihar who had lost vision in one eye due to viral infection. The valves have been preserved for subsequent transplantation, a hospital spokesperson said.

Medico-legal formalities were involved, as Virat’s was a road rage case. Delhi police SHO (Dhaula Kuan) and head of forensic medicine at Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College were prompt and provided all help to the family to facilitate organ donation.

Low awareness about brain death and organ donation has been a matter of concern in our country.

To spread awareness about these, the armed forces constituted the Armed Forces Organ Retrieval and Transplantation Authority (AORTA) in April 2007.

AORTA at the Army Hospital (R&R) here coordinates the activities related to spreading awareness on brain death and organ donation within the armed forces.

As of now, a total of 57 patients have been declared brain dead at the Army Hospital (R&R). Thirty-five cases have been counseled for organ donation. In 17 cases, relatives of the deceased agreed to donate the organs of their loved ones.

The donated organs and tissues (liver, kidneys, corneas and heart valves) have been successfully transplanted to the needy in the hospital.

The liver transplant team has performed 16 deceased donor liver transplantation, the most such transplantation by any institution in the country.

Besides, the Armed Forces Organ Retrieval and Transplantation Authority has initiated organ sharing by giving kidneys to AIIMS and to the Command Hospitals at Lucknow, Pune, Mumbai and Bangalore.

The campaign has seen over 2,000 soldiers and their family members pledging organ donation in cases of brain death. Senior armed force officers and commanders have pledged their organs in case of brain death and have motivated men under them to do the same.

The campaign has encouraged the entire military unit pledging for organ donation in case of brain death.

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Last member of Bunty gang held


Om Shiv in police custody. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui

New Delhi, October 27
The last of the notorious biker gang of Bunty - the absconding 24-year-old who stands accused in 12 cases of murder and attempted murder - which unleashed terror in the Capital with a spate of robberies and unprovoked killings, has been arrested.

Om Shiv, alias Kallu, before being overpowered by sleuths of the Delhi police special cell from the Uttam Nagar area on Sunday, fired in the air. He carried a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head.

Deputy commissioner of police (special cell) Alok Kumar said Om Shiv worked for the biker gang of Om Prakash alias Bunty and was involved in 19 cases of murder, attempt to murder and robbery.

An illicit countrymade pistol of .315 bore, one live cartridge and a stolen Esteem car were recovered from his possession.

“Om Shiv in his questioning said he is a matriculate and a good friend of Bunty’s brother Sonu. He joined the Bunty gang in 2006 when he was arrested in a case of attempt to murder in the Badarpur area,” Kumar said.

“Bunty helped Om Shiv with finances to secure bail on the condition that he had to join his gang after release. Later, he joined the Bunty gang to make quick money,” Kumar added.

Bunty and Rajesh alias Panni were shot dead by a Delhi police team on Auustg 25. Their third accomplice Israil was nabbed four days later and the fourth identified as Raghav Verma was arrested subsequently. Another member Nasir alias Zakir was arrested in July.

The biker gang first made news July 5 when its members gunned down property dealer Sonu, 25, outside his Sangam Vihar residence. That day, they also shot at a man and robbed his Pulsar bike in the same area.

After that, the trigger-happy gang carried out a series of robberies, including of Pulsar bikes, and killed five people in South Delhi. — IANS

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Don’t try home remedies for burns, says doctor
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 27
Children should be made aware of fire safety during Divali, as there is an increased risk of fire mishaps during this festival, which features the use of candles, diyas and fireworks. Parents need to be more cautious about children and should take necessary safety measures to avoid any accident, caution doctors.

“The most important thing regarding burn injuries is that 95 per cent of them are accidental and can be prevented with little care and precautions. People try their own home remedies which wouldn’t help. One needs professional help,” says Dr Devansh, plastic surgeon, Max Healthcare.

“Divali is the festival of lights and happiness and that is what it should be. Playing with firecrackers is fun, but it should be handled carefully. Our research has shown that maximum accidents occur due to mishandling of firecrackers like Anaar, Rockets and candles,” says the plastic surgeon.

The doctor suggests that one should never wear loose fitting or flowing clothes while exploding crackers as these are difficult to control. It is advisable that people should wear well-fitting clothes for the festival.

Also, contrary to the common belief, pure cotton is not good for the occasion because if it catches fire it causes more extensive burns than a synthetic fabric. According to the doctor, mixed fabric is the most dangerous fabric for the festival.

Doctor Devansh suggests that crackers should always be lit by using a sparkle (fuljhari) especially when lighting an Anaar or Rocket. One can also use an incense stick that keeps simmering at the end. Firecrackers should be lit in an open area and a bucket of water should always be kept nearby. The diyas and candles should not be placed any where near the passage, as it can be dangerous for children.

“The best is to say no to firecrackers. This would surely mean a happy and safe Divali,” says Devansh.

But in case of an accident, the best first aid for burns is to pour water and not to douse the fire with blanket, if water is available, suggests the medical expert.

Keep the burnt part immersed in water or in running water for at least 20 minutes, as this reduces the depth of the burn and reduces the chance of scar and then consult your doctor, he suggests.

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Less sheen, but Divali still brings on festive mood

New Delhi, October 27
India lit up on Monday ahead of Divali, the festival of lights that celebrates the victory of good over evil, but the glow seemed to have dimmed a little with fewer firecrackers and fewer shoppers.

The mood in the Indian Capital, for instance, was distinctly sober with the usual cacophony of firecrackers missing and markets that are usually swarming with enthusiastic shoppers at this time of the year reporting thin crowds.

While economy blues dampened spirits, for many, the recent blasts also cast a long shadow.

“There is a lurking fear that something untoward may happen whenever and wherever there is a crowd. Popular market areas like Connaught Place and Sarojini Nagar which are thronged by shoppers, especially before the festivals, are therefore avoided by a lot of people this time,” said Rajiv Mehra, a shopkeeper in Janpath, a buzzing street market near Connaught Place.

On September 13 last month, 26 people were killed in a series of bombings targeting the busy market areas of Connaught Place, Karol Bagh and Greater Kailash M block. Three years ago, on October 29, 2005, just three days before Divali, enthusiastic shoppers were caught unawares when powerful blasts rocked the Capital killing 61 people, including 34 at the Sarojini Nagar market.

Some of that fear still lingers.

Kavita Das, a homemaker, observed that the usual excitement in the neighbourhood was also missing.

“Generally the neighbourhood resounds with sound of crackers on the days before Divali. But this time, even the kids seem to have lost their excitement in our neighbourhood. There’s a dent in the festive mood,” Das told IANS.

At homes, however, the festival that transcends boundaries of religion and is celebrated across the country still retained its charm and spirit. Preparations for the festival were on in most homes.

“We generally give a fresh coat of paint to our house before Divali and this year is no different. The days preceding the festival are very busy. There’s so much of cleaning to be done, savouries to be prepared and the family puja to be organised,” said Rakhi Misra, a schoolteacher in Chanakyapuri.

Ashmita Singh, a student, added: “Decorating the floor with colourful rangoli patterns is something I look forward to the most on Divali. My sisters and I start preparing the rangoli early in the day amid a lot of merry making”. — IANS

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Assembly Poll
Riot victims seek Akali candidate for Tilak Nagar
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 27
The All India Sikh Riot Victims’ Action Committee (AISRVAC) has appealed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) high command to spare the Tilak Nagar assembly seat for Shiromani Akali Dal candidate. Such dispensation is imperative, said AISRVAC president Mohan Singh.

The AISRVAC has appealed to the Bharatiya Janata Party to give chance to the Akali Dal candidate to contest from Tilak Nagar constituency.

Thousands of riot victims live in the area in miserable condition.

Nothing had been done so far to redress their grievances, he said. BJP MLA O.P. Babbar has never visited the riot victims.

There is scarcity of drinking water, proper roads, schools and sewerage. The riot victims have not been rehabilitated and accused of the 1984 riots are still scot-free, he alleged.

He said that only a Sikh representative could understand the travails of riot victims.

The Akalis have always championed the cause of the riot victims at various forums and in parliament.

The AISRVAC has alleged that the saffron party exhumes the wounds of riot victims every election to garner votes but when it comes to punishing the accused it has no action plan.

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Crackers burn holes in family pockets

New Delhi, October 27
Divali is just a night span away, but the multitude of brilliant fireworks lighting up the dark sky is visibly less this year - thanks to the exorbitant prices and the Delhi police issuing fewer licences to traders, giving rise to black market in firecrackers.

Many customers were seen haggling with vendors selling firecrackers in the black market.

“I have gone to three markets in South Delhi. None of them was selling firecrackers. Finally I was able to find a vendor selling it in black here but at exorbitant prices,” said Rahul Rao, who was out with his family for Divali shopping.

Rao had to settle for four small boxes of firecrackers for Rs 300, which normally would have cost 50 per cent less.

Byomkesh Arora, another city resident, said he has not bought any firecrackers this year, as they are too costly and “not easily available”.

Many vendors complained that the issuance of licences has become stringent this year, forcing them to either sell in black or not sell at all.

“I have been selling firecrackers for the last 15 years, but this Divali the police has denied me a licence,” said Kaushal Gupta, a trader in R.K. Puram in South Delhi.

“Only 12 licences have been issued in all in the market - unlike past years when even small roadside shops were given licences,” Gupta added.

A trader in Rani Bagh, in North West Delhi, requesting anonymity, said, “I had stocked crackers worth nearly Rs 4,00,000 but the police refused to give me a licence. What can I do? I am forced to sell it in black now.”

Keeping in mind the law and order situation and the spate of bomb blasts in Indian cities over the past few months, the Delhi police has become stricter while issuing licenses. — IANS

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Dengue, viral fever unabated in Noida
Our Correspondent

Noida, October 27
The onslaught of dengue and viral fevers continues unabated in Gautam Budh Nagar district.

In Noida Medicare Centre, there are about 15 patients suffering from dengue. Besides, a large number of viral patients are being treated in OPD of the hospital. However, Dr Ajay Agarwal, physician of NMC, blamed the people also for this state of affairs. “People expect everything to be done by the government agencies”.

“They cannot keep even their own homes and bathrooms clean,” chided Dr Agarwal. “That is one of the main reasons of these ailments continuing for so long,” he added.

There are over a dozen suspected dengue patients in Kailash hospital too and at least double this number of viral fever patients, says Dr Mahesh Sharma, head of the hospital.

Closely following viral fevers and dengue is chickengunia, a disease more prevalent in South India. But during the last three years, this has also affected NCR and Delhi, say the doctors.

Chickengunia has similar symptoms as dengue and causes severe joint pains. If treatment is not given on time, it causes stiffness of bones. Kidney, liver and lungs can also be damaged. Though fatal cases are only 2 per cent, the disease is highly painful. Therefore, doctors should be consulted at the earliest signs, advise the specialists.

Says Dr Bir Singh of Medical Department of AIIMS, “Rapid urbanization and industrialization have contributed in no small measure to the spread of this disease through Aedes mosquito, which breeds very fast. That is why the Chickenguniya cases have increased in north India also.

Tracing the history of Aedes mosquito, doctor said it was first found in Egypt in 1779-1780 and later in 1897 in Australia. It first appeared in the Philippines, Asia, in 1954 and in 1958, it was found in Thailand.

Its main symptoms are high fever, stiffness in joints, pain in throat and below the eyes, weakness, loss of appetite and pink or red rashes or small blisters on the body, added Dr Bir Singh.

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Tourism dept mulls needs of the disabled
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 27
Ministry of tourism, in association with Svayam, an initiative of Sminu Jindal Charitable Trust, organised a workshop for sensitising engineers and other officials of tourism industry about the accessibility problems of the elderly and the challenged.

S. Banerjee, secretary, tourism and Sminu Jindal, founder of Svayam, were also present at the workshop.

The agenda for the workshop was to sensitise the 60 participants, who are involved in maintaining tourism-related properties in various parts of the country, about how best they can incorporate features that enhance accessibility. It included understanding of international practices for barrier-free and inclusive environment.

Representatives of the Archeological Survey of India and Delhi Transport Corporation, who are working closely with Svayam, also shared their experiences through brief presentations.

S. Banerjee said, “The ministry of tourism is proud to be associated with Svayam for this workshop and we stand committed to extend our full support to make this a complete success. Sensitising the key officials involved in maintaining public infrastructure, he stressed the fact that by making tourist sites accessible we are not doing a favour to the disabled but, in fact, we are doing a favour to ourselves as this makes good economic sense because with this, more tourists—domestic and international—would visit. So the tourism ministry needs to gear up to welcome visitors with diverse needs and promote an inclusive environment for all.

He also announced that from year 2007-08, the ministry of tourism has instituted an Accessibility Award, which will be awarded to the most accessible tourist sites / hotel or any such facility.

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Ways to check air pollution in winter discussed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 27
In order to check rise of air pollution during winter season, chief secretary of Delhi, Rakesh Mehta, at a meeting held here today, decided to launch an awareness campaign against burning of dry leaves and instead taking measures to compost them. He added that a strict monitoring of diesel generators would be done by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

The meeting reviewed the plan to set up 500 Pollution Under Control Centres and the commissioner of transport said that the networking of all the 599 centres with the department of environment through a computerised system would be completed within a month.

The meeting was attended by Bhure Lal, chairman of the Environment and Pollution Control Authority (EPCA); Sunita Narain, chairperson, Centre for Science and Environment; MCD commissioner; secretary, Environment and Forest; transport commissioner; secretary, power and representatives of the NDMC and police.

Lal desired that the MCD should take measures to ensure that non-destined vehicles do not enter Delhi and the toll operator should be given clear directions in this regard.

It was decided that efforts should be made to see that there is a check on haziness in the air which is normally found in winter season in Delhi.

It was also decided to appeal to the public to desist from bursting fire crackers, which adds to air pollution. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) would be monitoring the air pollution level after Divali to assess the impact of crackers on the environment.

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Vardhan poses questions to Sheila Dikshit
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 27
Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan today again asked Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit a few questions. They are: when the prices of petrol and diesel have decreased by more than 50 per cent in the international market, why the Congress government in Delhi is not decreasing the price of oil?

The Congress-led UPA government is going to decrease the price by reducing tax on the fuel being used in aeroplanes, but petroleum minister Murli Deora has stated that the prices of petrol and diesel will not be lowered for the common people. Why?

Where have the claims of Delhi government to sell essential commodities at cheap rates vanished? Where have the shops for selling pulses, edible oil etc. at cheap rates disappeared?

Why wheat, rice, sugar, oil, etc are not being provided through the government’s ration shops? Are not these ration shops medium of earning for the Congress leaders?

The government should reply that what steps it has taken to control the mandi mafia active in all the mandis of Delhi. Is the government itself not protecting the mafia?

Vardhan said that all the essential commodities such as tea, sugar, fruit, vegetables, ghee have gone out of the reach of general people.

He asked why the Delhi government is not taking measures to provide relief to the people in the markets. There is abundance of artificial mewa in the market, but the government has not taken any step to ban it.

The Delhi BJP president said that the government is only concerned about the interests of one per cent rich people who use air services. The government is going to provide relief to them by reducing tax on fuel to the private and public sector air companies. It does not care about the interests of common people.

The Delhi government had announced that it would provide pulses and edible oil to the people at cheap rates. It was also decided to open government sales centres in entire Delhi. But there is no such centre, he said.

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3 die in mishaps
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 27
At least three persons were killed in two different road accidents in the Vasant Kunj and Narela areas of the National Capital Territory of Delhi last night. In both the cases, trucks were involved in the accidents.

According to the police, a truck first rammed into a motorcycle and then into a car on Mahipalpur Road late last night. The motorcyclist, Rajinder of Uttam Nagar died on the spot while the driver of the car Rai Singh was seriously injured. Rai Singh was on the way to the airport to drop his son when the accident occurred. The police said that the deceased Rajinder was also a relative of Rai Singh and was also on his way to the airport to see off his relative.

The driver of the truck ran away after the accident. The police said that a case had been registered and efforts were being made to trace the truck driver.

In the other accident, a concrete mixer truck knocked down a motorcycle killing both the riders on the spot. One of the victims was identified as Rakesh of Narela who used to work as a contractor. Efforts were being made to identify the other victim. The driver of the truck escaped after the accident. Efforts were being made to trace him.

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Traffic on rail line held up
Our Correspondent

Ghaziabad, October 27
The rail traffic between Delhi and Howarh remained held up for over an hour due to a fault in rail track between Chipyana and Maripat railway stations yesterday.

As the mail express trains remained held up at Ghaziabad, Sahibabad, Maripat and Chipyana railway stations between 4-30 and 6.00 p.m., passengers became restive and created commotion at Chpyana and Maripat railway stations.

According to reports, there was a dislocation in the track between Chipyana and Maripat railway stations while some people said the track had broken down. Though the railway authorities denied that there was a break or dislocation in the track.

As the rails were changed on the track near Chipyana, it caused a number of trains including long distance train to be held up at various stations viz Ghaziabad, Sahibabad, Chipyana and Maripat from 5.30 to 6.30 p.m.

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Gold worth Rs 2.5 m stolen from temple

New Delhi, October 27
Two caretakers were detained on Sunday after jewellery and ornaments worth Rs 2.5 million were found missing from a temple in North West Delhi.

The ornaments on an idol of goddess Durga, a gold flute on the idol of Lord Krishna and two idols of Lord Shiva and goddess Ganga were found missing from Sanatan Dharam Mandir in Model Town-II when temple priest Pandit Jagdish Sharma opened the temple doors in the morning.

The grills of the temple were also found broken.

The police said that the arrested caretakers stayed inside the temple which was locked from outside in the night.

DCP (North West Delhi) N.S. Bundela said that they were suspecting an insider’s hand in the burglary.

However, Sanatan Dharam Mandir chief Suresh Gupta suspected that outsiders too could have committed the burglary. — IANS

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2,500 kg adulterated khoya seized

Ghaziabad, October 27
In the second such seizure on consecutive days, the Ghaziabad police today seized 2,500 kg of adulterated khoya (milk product used in making sweets) here.

The police has seized the tractor-trolley which was carrying adulterated khoya from Muradnagar in UP to Delhi and arrested the owner of the milk products firm.

“Om Prakash who was behind this business has been arrested. The khoya was being transported to Delhi. Our team intercepted the vehicle at Meerut road in Ghaziabad,” Vijay Bhushan, superintendent of police, said.

On Tuesday, 50 tonnes of adulterated khoya was seized in the Massoori area of the city.

The administration has, meanwhile, intensified its random checks on sweetmeat shops across the city to detect adulteration. — IANS

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One killed in accident

Noida, October 27
One person was killed and five others were seriously injured when two trucks coming from opposite directions collided head-on here early today.

According to the police, a truck loaded with building raw material was coming from the Yamuna side while the other truck loading paints was coming from the opposite side and the two collided head-on at the Sector-37 crossing around 3 a.m. Six persons sustained injuries.

The injured were taken to a hospital where Vijay Pal Singh was declared brought dead while the condition of others was stated to be serious. — IANS

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Firm manager commits suicide

Ghaziabad, October 27
The regional manager of a private firm allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling fan here.

“Vijay Pratap Singh, 50, of Meerut-based Global Weaving Limited, committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling fan in his company’s flat,” a police official said.

The landlord called the police after a foul smell started emanating from Singh’s room.

The door was broke open. Singh was found hanging from the ceiling fan. They also found a note which said that his family and friends should not be informed of his death. — IANS

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Avoid crackers: Mayor
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 27
Mayor Arti Mehra today appealed to residents of the city to avoid use of fireworks and crackers keeping in view their impact on the environment.

Fireworks and crackers emit Carbon dioxide. Crackers also contain other toxic ingredients including lead and barium in powder form, which pollute the air and water.

Crackers when exploded emit potassium perclorate, which adversely affect thyroid glands. Their noise scares kids and pets.

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10 bettors held
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, October 27
Ten persons were arrested today from a house in Sector-21 B in connection with betting on the ongoing ICL matches.

Rs 1 lakh was seized from them. However, they were let out on bail.

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