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DDA denies scam in draw
Light showers wash away Delhi fog
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Flight, train schedules normalise
1 dead, 4 injured in pile-up due to fog
Till Jan 14, Gurgaon schools will open at 10
Illiterate youngsters turning to crime
Design for ministers’ bungalows okayed
Son cremates man mistaking him for father
Cheating case: Car dealer’s bid to get FIR registered
Ex-Congressman to contest LS poll from Faridabad as Independent
Step India’s no-smoking campaign on Orkut
Protest against Israel’s action in Gaza
Police gets custody of IM suspect
DU officers demand parity in pay
Bank robbery bid in Kalkaji foiled; two held
Bawana to have better roads soon
US embassy building turns 50
Man goes missing from Faridabad
Ghaziabad gets elite police force
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DDA denies scam in draw
New Delhi, January 5 Denying the allegations of allotment of flats meant for SC and ST members to others, they said that the department concerned of the DDA had checked everything minutely before finalising the draw. Application forms were accepted from August 6 to September 16. Only three months were left to make scrutiny of documents of six lakh applicants for 5,236 flats. Three documents, photos of the applicants, address proof and PAN cards were required to apply for the flats. These documents of the applicants were checked. If documents were found genuine, then only applications were accepted. Later, three lists were prepared–application numbers, random number of applications and draw list. Process of draw was monitored by the judges who were not the DDA officials. They were outsiders. There was no chance of scam, they asserted. Any investigating agency can check these lists. The earnest money of applicants whose names could not appear in the draw list is being returned. Till January 31 it will be returned, said the officials. Saying categorically that the draw will not be cancelled, Asma said that so far only draw had been announced. Now thorough investigation of documents of persons whose names have been announced in the draw are being made. The documents will be checked again at the time of issuing allotment and demand letters. If documents are found forged, the allotment will be cancelled, security amount forfeited and criminal cases will be registered. The DDA has kept 200 applicants in waiting list to adjust against the rejected names in the draw list. When asked about allotment of five fats in the name of one person, she said that in case addresses were different, photos were also different. There can be more than one person of single name in a city. The DDA had rejected 130 application forms when it found that people had submitted more than one application. Around 1400 applications were rejected as they were of the same family. Citizens were informed through advertisements that only one person of a family could apply for the flats. Citizens were also informed against taking the help of property dealers to submit the application forms. When asked that the DDA constructed flats for citizens of Delhi, how outsiders were allotted flats, she said that not only Delhiites any citizen of any part of the country could apply for flats. This is not illegal. Meanwhile, leader of opposition in Delhi assembly, Vijay Kumar Malhotra demanded that earnest money should be refunded to the unsuccessful applicants for DDA flats with interest and the scam should be referred to the CBI. |
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Light showers wash away Delhi fog
New Delhi, January 5 Weather officials have predicted more rain in the next few days. Delhi received 0.2 mm of rainfall, taking the minimum temperature to 8.3° Celsius, one notch above the average for this time of the year. The maximum temperature recorded was 18° Celsius. The mercury had dipped as low as 4° last week. “The western disturbance coming from the Jammu region has brought rain to the northern plains. The disturbance is likely to stay for a day or two and we can expect light showers in the northern region, including Delhi,” said an official at Safdarjung meteorological department. “The maximum and minimum temperatures in the Capital are likely to increase following the western disturbance,” the official added. Monday morning, the visibility was around 500 metres. The visibility at the Capital’s Indira Gandhi International Airport was normal and flights were running on schedule, an airport official said. But passengers at various railway stations had a harrowing time as several inbound trains from Punjab, northeast, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu were running five to ten hours late. The cascading delays of the last few days continued to affect train services. Indian Railways’ prestige train New Delhi to Howrah Rajdhani Express, which was scheduled to start from New Delhi at 5 pm on Sunday, finally started at 5 am today. — IANS |
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Flight, train schedules normalise
New Delhi, January 5 The visibility at the airport was recorded at around 2000 meters from main runway and 1400 meters from the new runway. The northern railways also saw smooth train movement out of Delhi. “There were no major delays in the train schedules. However, the trains that were listed cancelled in the railway notice stand cancelled till further notice,” said Rajiv Saxena, spokesperson, northern railways. The weatherman recorded the maximum temperature at 18-degree Celsius today, which is four degrees below normal. The minimum temperature was recorded at 8.3 degree Celsius. Tomorrow is predicted to be one degree warmer with the minimum temperature expected around 9 degree Celsius. |
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1 dead, 4 injured in pile-up due to fog
Noida, January 5 The mishap occurred when a truck, which had broken down in the middle of the road near Sultanpur ki puliya on Expressway, was hit by a dumper. The fog was so dense that the dumper driver Rajesh could not see the truck. Rajesh, who belonged to Kasganj died on the spot. After sometime, an Icon car carrying two women and a child collided with the ill-fated dumper. The two women, Sudha and Nupur and the child, were seriously injured and were rushed to Noida’s Vinayak Hospital. Soon after, another dumper hit the Icon car from rear. Driver of this dumper, Devinder of
Aligarh, was also seriously injured and rushed to the district hospital. The heavy fog this season is not only causing accidents, almost every day, but is also leading to incidents of road rage. Recently, when a Santro and an Innova car collided near Pari Chowk in Greater
Noida, youths in the Santro car beat up the occupants of the Innova car.
Rajnish and Navin from Dilshad Garden of Delhi had gone to Greater Noida for some work in their Innova car. As they approached Pari
Chowk, an auto suddenly came in front of their car. As the driver of Innova applied brakes, a Santro car following it, bumped into it. Soon, half a dozen young men travelling in the Santro came out and assaulted the two and fled thereafter. Apart from causing accidents, road rages, the fog has also brought good times for criminals, who taking advantage of the poor visibility have become more active in the NCR region, particularly targeting lone walkers in night. |
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Till Jan 14, Gurgaon schools will open at 10
Gurgaon, January 5 The schools will now start at 10 in the morning. However, the closing time will remain the same. The orders have been issued under Section 144 of the Cr PC and will be applicable from immediate effect. Any school found violating these orders, would be liable to action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. The order has come as a relief to the school children, especially the small kids up to primary level, and their parents, who were in a fix about how to send theirs wards to school in the chilly weather. The opening time of most of the schools in Gurgaon is 7.45 am, which means that children have to leave their homes latest by 7.15 am. |
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Illiterate youngsters turning to crime
New Delhi, January 5 An analysis of the latest crime statistics provided by the Delhi police in its annual review report confirms that large numbers of youth are taking to criminal means either to take revenges or to make quick money. Almost every kind of crime in the city has been dominated by youths in the age group of 18 to 25. Even in the most heinous of crimes like murder, 60 per cent of those arrested last year (2008) were below 25 years of age while 95 per cent of them were first timers with no previous criminal record. Around 891 people were arrested for 518 murders in the city last year with 93 per cent of these being illiterate or school dropouts. The figures for 2007 were not much different with 92 per cent murder accused being first timers while 70 per cent were illiterate. In crime related to attempt to murder (307 IPC), out of total of 650 arrested, a whopping 90 per cent were “novices” in the field of crime while 57 per cent were in the age group of 25 years. Ninety one per cent of those caught under this head were again found to be illiterate. In dacoity cases, 56 per cent of the 93 people arrested last year were youngsters and 85 per cent were first timers while 89 per cent of 1,022 arrested in robbery cases were novices. Seventy three per cent of those arrested for robbery were below the age of 25 years. Similarly, 89 per cent of the 1,208 people arrested for snatching were first timers, with 76 per cent being below the age of 25 years. In rape cases, 66 per cent of the accused were below the age of 25 years while the percentage for the same in molestation cases was 70 per cent. Acknowledging the finding, a senior police officer agreed that the trend needs to be arrested before it is too late. “This is a worrying trend and can be attributed to unemployment and disparities in income. Youngsters represent a vulnerable lot and fall easy prey to criminal gangs who use them for committing crimes,” a senior police official said. Meaningful employment and education are the recommended recipes to divert youngsters from crime, believe police officials. |
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Design for ministers’ bungalows okayed
New Delhi, January 5 Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit stated that her government had decided to construct bungalows for the ministers as only two of them have been allotted official bungalows. She stated that allotment of bungalows to the ministers would enhance their proximity to the people in central Delhi apart from making their functioning smooth. The design prepared by the PWD has been approved by the cabinet. Four bungalows are proposed to be constructed over a plot measuring 15931.22 square meter at 8, Raj Niwas Marg. The site is presently vacant. Another two bungalows are proposed to be constructed over a piece of land measuring 8011.01 square meter at 3, Attaur Rehman Lane. The bungalows have been designed as double-storeyed structure, keeping in mind the requirements of the minister’s office. Living rooms have also been planned on the ground floor. A presentation was made before the cabinet on Yamuna Interceptor Sewer Project. The Engineers India Limited (EIL) has been appointed as consultant which prepared a detailed project report (DPR). The report is being scrutinized by a high-powered screening committee in the DJB. It is proposed to lay interceptor sewer along Najafgarh, supplementary and Shahdara drains. Around 80 per cent of the work is expected to be completed before the commencement of Commonwealth Games 2010. The Chief Minister stated that the issue would be discussed in a joint meeting to be attended by all stakeholders before presentation of the DPR in the board meeting of DJB. The sewage treatment plants at Dwarka, Najafgarh, Keshopur, Nilothi, Coronation Pillar, Rohini, Rithala, Yamuna Vihar and Kondli would be upgraded for an effective silt removal and intercepting pollutants falling into the river Yamuna. This would go a long way in making the Yamuna a clean river. It is expected to award the work in March or April. |
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Son cremates man mistaking him for father
Greater Noida, January 5 Suraj of Patari village in G.B. Nagar was admitted to the GTB Hospital for treatment of his intestine. His son and other relatives mistook another person, Swaraj who had just died, for Suraj. While, Suraj was still recuperating at the hospital. By the time they realised it was not Suraj, Swaraj had already been cremated. The angry family members of Swaraj were pacified at the police’s intervention. Suraj (60) of Patari village in G.B. Nagar had been admitted to ward no. 149 of GTB Hospital. Swaraj (60) of Khurja was too admitted in the same ward and had been suffering from the same ailment. Swaraj died on Sunday morning. When the hospital staff called Swaraj’s relatives, outside ward no. 149, Suraj’s family members thought they had been called in. Thinking that Suraj had passed away, they took Swaraj’s body and cremated him. When Swaraj’s wife did not see her husband on the hospital bed, she raised a ruckus. By the time, Swaraj’s son Chanderpal reached village Patari near NTPC where he learnt that his father had already been cremated. |
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Cheating case: Car dealer’s bid to get FIR registered
Gurgaon, January 5 Rakesh Yadav, resident of sector 21 here, is making rounds of the Civil Lines police station to get a case registered. He was cheated out of his car by one Vikrant Kalra in connivance with one of his acquaintances Vicky. “I have been making rounds of Civil Lines police station for lodging a cheating and forgery case but in vain,” said Yadav. He told The Tribune that he deals in sale and purchase of cars in old DLF. According to Yadav, a person named Vikrant Kalra approached him for buying a car on December 10, 2008. He had received a call from his
acquaintance Vicky who requested him to give try of the Honda City car no HR51-C-9200 to
Kalra. Yadav alleged that both have been missing with the car since then. He went to the Civil Lines police station on December 16 but the daily dairy entry was made only on December 26. Yadav mentioned, “Vicky is an acquaintance and I thought that he would come back after a drive but when he didn’t return after so many days I decided to lodge an FIR against them.” Yadav claimed that he made a complaint to the SHO, Civil Lines, but the FIR hasn’t been lodged till date. “Sometimes police officials say that they are busy and other times they said that the opposite party is a big shot,” says Yadav. He plans to send copies of complaint to the Chief Minister and DGP, Haryana police and other high officials. It is only last week the commissioner of police had announced that citizens of the city would be able to lodge a complaint via SMS and need not visit police stations. A police official on the condition of anonymity said that several police officials here have connections with powerful politicians in Haryana and central government and they don’t bother about the orders of the commissioner of police, Gurgaon. Meanwhile, Ashok Kumar, SHO, Civil Lines, said that the case was registered by ASI Pradeep Dapar on December 26. The police officials would be calling Yadav tomorrow and investigate the matter. |
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Ex-Congressman to contest LS poll from Faridabad as Independent
Faridabad, January 5 He clarified he would contest as an independent candidate but would consider if any political party offered him a ticket. Announcing his candidature, Nagar criticised the sitting Congress MP from Faridabad, Avatar Singh Bhadana, for allegedly neglecting the constituency. He alleged Bhadana was in league with land mafia and an FIR had also been registered against him. He further alleged that Bhadana had been misleading people in the name of carrying out developmental works in Faridabad. He had not taken any initiative for the progress of Faridabad, Nagar added. He was also critical of the INLD saying that its government had issued the licenses for all malls standing in Faridabad. Some of them are still being constructed while many have started functioning. He also criticised the INLD in reference to former Chief Minister and party supremo Om Prakash Chautala’s
statements in which he had criticised the present Congress government of taking away farmers’ plots and giving them to industrialists and business houses to set up malls. While he resigned from the party, Nagar held the post of convenor of the OBC cell in Haryana Congress. |
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Kirtan, vichar mark gurpurb
New Delhi/Noida, January 5 The programme started early in the morning with the recitation of Sri Sukhmani Sahib and Nitnem, followed by Shabad Vichar and Shabad Kirtan performed by Ragi Jathas. On the occasion, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit congratulated the Sikh sangat and thanked all the members for their support in the Vidhan Sabha elections. The DSGMC and the Akali Dal (Delhi) honoured her with Siropao, robe of honour. The birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh was also celebrated with pomp and show in Noida’s main gurdwara in Sector-18 today. From the early morning, Ragi Jathas performed Shabad Kirtan and distinguished speakers presented Gurmat Vichar on the tastefully decorated gurdwara premises. Among others Ragi Jathas of Bhai Harjeet Singh of Jawadi Kalan in Ludhiana, Bhai Sarabjit Singh from the Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, Bhai Mangal Singh from the UK sang the Shabad Kirtan . Bhai Gurbachan Singh from Thailand spoke on the life, teachings and philosophy the Guru Gobind Singh. Children’s programme was presented in the evening session. Over 10,000 devotees had Guru ka langar (community meals) in both the afternoon and evening Diwans (sessions). |
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Step India’s no-smoking campaign on Orkut
New Delhi, January 5 The campaign was jointly launched by Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) and Step India foundation (SiF). The foundation recently released 5,000 posters and pamphlets in DU colleges to be circulated across the city. SiF president Basant Jha informs, “We plan to make Delhi a smoke-free city by the end 2009 and this can only be achieved with the government’s support, especially the health ministry. The campaign has been highly successful in DU and other universities. We now wish to extend the campaign across Delhi.” Jha added the campaign was based on information technology (IT). The SiF is also publicising about the campaign on social networking sites like Orkut. A promise pad for people and by people through IT would also be started that would be displayed around the world. Besides, the SiF has demanded from the Indian government to release postage stamps on ‘No-Smoking’ to diffuse the message in rural areas of the country, where 75% population live. Step India also plans to send a delegation to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and union health and family welfare minister Anbumani Ramadoss for immediate action on no-smoking postage stamps. According to the data collected by SiF, India’s population is 113 crore and 48% of this are youngsters. Of these, 52% college-going men and 7-9% college-going women smoke. Further, an alarming 14% school-going students consume tobacco products. Of these 17% consume tobacco products due to their parents while 15% consume it due to peer pressure. Girls mainly smoke out of peer pressure. In India 40% of health problems are related to tobacco, two-third deaths are due to tobacco. Tobacco consumers have declined from 52% to 26% in the USA and 32% to 8% in Australia. But in India it has increased from 15% to 26%. |
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Protest against Israel’s action in Gaza
New Delhi, January 5 The demonstration was organised by Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). Protesting against the alleged Israeli terrorism in Palestine, the protestors shouted slogans against Israel. They condemned the alleged Israeli invasion of Gaza. “After the air strikes, Israel has started ground attacks in Gaza, which is causing huge civilian casualties. We condemn the UPA’s silence on the issue and urge the Indian government to clarify its stand,” said Roshan, secretary, JNU-SFI. Both the SFI and the DYFI have demanded the immediate withdrawal of Israeli army from Gaza strip. “We want Israel-sponsored terrorism to end immediately and extend our solidarity to the Palestinian liberation movement,” said Puran Chand, secretariat member, Delhi DYFI. The protestors also criticised America. “We condemn the hypocrisy of the United States in condoning Israeli terrorism and blocking the UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” said Ritabrata Banerjee, general secretary, SFI. |
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Chidambaram visits Police Headquarters
New Delhi, January 5 Chidambaram held a meeting with Delhi police officers, including commissioner Y.S. Dadwal to review the security scenario of the city and the functioning of the force. At the meeting, which was also attended by Lt. Governor Tejinder Khanna, Dadwal made a presentation before the home minister. The commissioner is understood to have briefed Chidambaram about the strength of the force, its deployment, future plans including introduction of e-challan system besides, raising the issue of shortage of staff. “We had a very informal and frank conversation with the home minister and briefed him about our working and grievances. The minister has assured us to look into our demands in order to ensure better policing in the city,” said a senior police officer. |
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Police gets custody of IM suspect
New Delhi, January 5 Duty metropolitan magistrate Gaurav Rai granted the remand till January 15 after the police said it needs to take Hakim to Lucknow and Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. Hakim was brought to the Capital on Saturday from Lucknow after the Uttar Pradesh Police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested him.
— IANS |
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DU officers demand parity in pay
New Delhi, January 5 They expressed anguish at the ‘indifferent attitude’ of the ministry of human resource and the UGC on the revision of pay scales of registrars, deputy registrars, deputy finance officers, assistant registrar, administrative officers working in central universities and colleges. The officers complained, “While the government gives good packages to university and college teachers, it has ignored the demands of other staff. The current decision has created such a disparity between the teaching staff and the officers for the first time in 60 years. Notification no. 1-32/2006-U.II/U.I (ii) dated 31.12.2008 issued by the human resource ministry on the revision of pay scales of teachers and other officers working in central universities and colleges has confirmed the discriminatory approach of the government. As per the notification, teachers will get grade pay of Rs 6,000 in the pay band of Rs 15,600 to Rs 39,100 at the entry level. While assistant registrars, administrative officers will get grade pay of Rs 5,400 in the pay band of Rs 15,600 to Rs 39,100 at the entry level despite similar qualification. — TNS |
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Bank robbery bid in Kalkaji foiled; two held
New Delhi, January 5 Three men reached the Central Bank branch of Kalkaji in the afternoon. One of them entered the bank premises and demanded money from the cashier at gunpoint. However, a bank employee lunged himself over the lone robber and overpowered him. But before the robber could be disarmed, he fired and ran outside injuring the employee in the process. The policemen outside the bank were also injured as they tried to retaliate to the firing. Initially, the three robbers managed to flee from the bank leaving behind the bike on which they had come. The injured policemen chased them but could not catch them. “After an hour or so while the police was taking the statement of bank employees, two men came and started the bike. They were carrying arms but were arrested,” said a senior police officer. Meanwhile, the police has assured to get hold of those involved in the robbery bid soon. |
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Bawana to have better roads soon
New Delhi, January 5 “Under this project, a network of 140 km that includes all Master Plan roads and sectoral roads are being strengthened at a cost of Rs 69.75 crore,” said DSIIDC managing director Manoj Parida. The DSIIDC will use rubber-bitumen mix to strengthen roads. This will increase the life of roads by two to three years. ‘’The rubber mix does not allow water to seep, thus increasing the durability of roads,’’ said Parida. ‘’There was less traffic when the Bawana industrial estate was developed in 2003. Therefore, temporary roads were constructed. However, keeping in view the increased movement of heavy and medium vehicles, we have decided to strengthen the roads,’’ Parida confirmed. He informed a Gujarat-based company had been given the contract for developing roads. The firm will maintain these roads for the next five years. The officials believe that over 16,000 industrial units will move to Bawana industrial area in the coming few years. According to Parida, apart from strengthening of roads, road signages of international standards are also being developed in the industrial estate. |
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US embassy building turns 50
New Delhi, January 5 It was also a nostalgia trip for many long-time residents of Delhi like Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who recalled how one could see this magnificent landmark from anywhere in the city in those days when there were not many trees in the embassy compound. “It was and is a landmark in the city. It is a source of great aesthetic pleasure and a symbol of great friendship between the two countries,” Dikshit, who was chief guest, said with US ambassador David Mulford at her side. “The US-India partnership is broad, deep and flourishing. This building has served generations of American diplomats working in its service,” Mulford said while recalling the formal opening of the chancery building on January 5, 1959 in the presence of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
— IANS |
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Man goes missing from Faridabad
Faridabad, January 5 His father Vinod, a resident of Kanahai village near here, told the police that his son Prashant a student of Manav Rachna Polytechnic was putting up in a hostel in Faridabad. He left the hostel on Saturday around 2 pm to get medicine but never returned. He had also taken Rs 500 from his friend. Vinod said that Prashant had to take an examination today. He said the family was clueless about his whereabouts. Vinod is a driver in a private company here. A case has been registered in Sector 40 police station. |
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Ghaziabad gets elite police force
Ghaziabad, January 5 The 100 member force of the Quick Response Team (QRT) would be trained and equipped to fight the terror. “The force would be trained and equipped to handle any emergency,” SP Vijay Bhushan said.
— IANS |
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