New Delhi, January 24
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his staff made sure that other patients at the country’s premier hospital were not disturbed today.

Manmohan Singh is undergoing bypass surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Ensuring that there was no movement of VIPs in and out of the hospital till the surgery was over, Singh has set an example for other dignitaries.

“We have seen security guards of small-time political leaders blocking staircases and elevators in private wards for hours. But for the first time a Prime Minister is being treated in the hospital. And no inconvenience is caused to the public,” said a nurse.

The Prime Minister had directed the hospital staff yesterday to make sure that least disturbance was caused in its regular functioning.

“Saturdays are generally lean days at the hospital, as most OPDs are closed. Therefore, it was a good day for the Prime Minister’s operation,” said a resident doctor.

Free movement was ensured till the last corner of the cardio ward, where Singh was operated upon.

“The only difference is that today the I-card of every person is being checked. Normally, the hospital staff is not that strict about it,” said Sumantha, a student at AIIMS.

Some relatives of patients did not even know that the Prime Minister was there in the hospital.

“I have been here with my patient for the last one week. I did not know that the Prime Minister was here today. If he is, I wish him speedy recovery,” said Ram Kumar from Haryana.

Another attendant Navdeep said that the Prime Minister’s security guards caused some inconvenience when he went to the AIIMS for his first check-up a few days ago. “When he arrived for the check-up it was quite unorganised. Eventually, the security decreased when he was admitted yesterday. Today, there is no problem,” he said.

Vinod Kumar from Jammu said security guards were not letting more than one person go inside. “Every two minutes the patient requires something. Earlier, they were letting two attendants inside, but today only one of us was allowed. It has become difficult for us,” said Vinod.

The Prime Minister’s family members were present in the hospital only during the surgery.

Besides, the ailing premier also had a surprise visitor, his lookalike Jagmohan Singh. Jagmohan wished him speedy recovery. The media and security guards were stunned by the resemblance. “I have come to wish him a speedy recovery. I have admired him since the first time I met him, i.e. three years ago,” said Jagmohan.

New Delhi, January 24
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi police, investigating the irregularities in the allotment of DDA flats held last month, is now zeroing in on some key officials of two leading private banks who were involved in the loan applications of the main accused M L Gautam’s men.

According to officials involved in the investigation, it is of prime importance to check whether some bank officials passed the loan application despite being aware of forged papers submitted by the applicants. The call details of M L Gautam, a former DDA official, who has come out as the kingpin of the entire scam, showed him in constant touch with two officials of a leading bank in the city.

Armed with the information, the EOW officials have now called them for questioning. “Some of the bank officials are under the scanner and police is questioning them about their role in the passage of loans to the some of the suspects. They have also been called to reveal their relationship with Gautam. But just on the basis of call, we cannot hold them guilty of crime. We need to verify the facts first,” said a police official close to investigation without divulging the name of the bank or person.

According to information, Gautam had been in touch with one of the bank officials almost every day during the filling of application period and sometimes the calls stretched to 20 to 30 minutes. Police is now verifying the role of this bank official.

Meanwhile, printing press owner Satbir, who was arrested from Bahadurgarh yesterday, gave police names of some people who had paid him money for forging papers and documents for some applicants.

Investigators suspect Satbir played a big role in forging identity details, PAN cards and bank details for Gautam’s applicants. The former DDA employee made these applications in the reserved (Scheduled Tribe) category, investigators said.

“Satbir and Gautam have an account in the same branch of a bank. While Satbir used it for financing applications, Gautam also used the account at times for transactions carried out by the people he has named,” said an official. 

New Delhi, January 24
The three-member internal inquiry committee set up by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to investigate allegations of fraud in the housing scheme, has sought an extension of deadline.

The committee, headed by DDA finance member Nand Lal, was supposed to submit its report to the ministry of urban development today.

The internal inquiry will now conclude on January 30, instead of January 24, as announced earlier.

The inquiry is looking into the criterion followed by DDA during the allotment process and the way the software was put to use.

All applications, including general and reserved category, will be analysed by the committee.

Last week, the three-member committee had sought expert’s help to assess the draw process. — TNS

New Delhi, January 24
A five-year-old boy was kidnapped and later killed by his neighbour in the New Ashok Nagar area of East Delhi. The accused was arrested by the police today.

According to information, Harsh (5), son of Sambhu, a vegetable vendor, had gone missing on January 22. Initially, the parents of the boy thought that the boy had lost his way, but when Sambhu got a ransom call later in the evening, he realised that Harsh had been kidnapped and informed the police.

Based on suspicion, the police picked up one Ache Lal Yadav who knew Sambhu and his family. Sambhu and Ache Lal come from the same village in Balia district of Uttar Pradesh and the latter often visited former’s house in Ashok Nagar.

During interrogation, Lal broke down and confessed to kidnapping and later killing the boy. According to the police, Ache Lal picked up Harsh from his school. Harsh went with him easily, as he knew him well. But, he could not find a proper place to hide Harsh and so he killed him and threw his body in Hindon canal. However, even after killing Harsh, Ache Lal kept calling up his family for Rs 20, 000 as ransom for the release of boy. He used to call from a local PCO.

The police, till late evening, was trying to recover the body of the boy. 

New Delhi, January 24
A 28-year-old motorcycle rider was mowed down by a speeding tanker in the Rohini area of West Delhi today morning.

The accident is reported to have taken place around 5 am on the road dividing Sectors 6 and 7 of Rohini. The police said that the deceased has been identified as Vishal, a resident of Punjabi Basti in the Anand Parbat area.

According to the police, Vishal’s bike was hit by a speeding tanker, which dragged him for about 20 metres inflicting severe injuries. The tanker driver managed to flee from the spot along with the tanker.

A security guard of a nearby house reported the incident to the police, which took Vishal to Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The security guard told the police that the tanker was running at a very high speed.

According to information, the victim worked with a private firm and was the only earning member of his family. “He is survived by a wife and a two-and-half-year-old daughter,” said a police official. A case has been registered in this regard and the police is making efforts to arrest the absconding driver of the tanker. However, without the registration number of the tanker, the task seems to be difficult. 

New Delhi, January 24
Metro services will be partially hit on the Republic Day and the Beating Retreat ceremony on January 29.

Train schedules of Line-II from Central Secretariat to Vishwavidyalaya and Line-III from Indraprastha to Dwarka Sector-9 have been modified.

On January 26, no Metro service will be available from Central Secretariat to Rajiv Chowk till 12.30 pm.

Similarly, there will be no Metro services between Indraprastha to Barakhamba till 1 pm. Services on Line-I from Dilshad Garden to Rithala will be normal.

On January 29, Metro services will not be available from Central Secretariat to Rajiv Chowk from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Services on Line-I from Dilshad Garden to Rithala and Line-III from Dwarka Sector-9 to Indraprastha will be normal.

Feeder Bus Service will be available on January 26 only after 1 pm on Pragati Maidan to Mayur Vihar Phase-I route. Other information regarding Feeder Bus Service will be available at the concerned Metro stations.

Moreover, Metro parking lots will remain closed from 7 pm on January 25 to 1 pm on January 26 for security reasons.

New Delhi, January 24
In view of Supreme Court’s continuing stay on Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) election of 2008, an Urgent General Body Meeting (UGBM) started on campus today to extend the tenure of JNUSU.

The UGBM was called in compliance with Article 14 (ii) of JNUSU constitution, which assigns the student community to formulate majority opinion on extension and functioning of the JNUSU office-bearers in every three months in absence of fresh union elections.

“JNU student community is waging a continual struggle against attempts of delegitimising the JNUSU constitution, our unique election process and democratic ethos. Since the case of stay order on JNUSU elections is still pending in the court, we want to seek further extension of JNUSU’s tenure,” said Shephalika Shekhar, vice-president, JNUSU.

After the stay order on JNUSU elections was imposed last year, the office-bearers from then got an extension of their tenure for three months on October 25.

This is second UGBM called for an extension after the stay order was imposed.

Total six resolutions are expected to be placed in the UGBM.

One of the crucial resolutions to be presented would deal with the functioning of both JNUSU and Joint Struggle Committee, which was formulated to fight the stay order in Supreme Court.

“Since the incumbent union is in office under exceptional circumstances, where students from across the political spectrum have given it an extension, it is imperative that the JNUSU leadership adopts a more democratic approach in its functioning,” said Roshan, JNU secretary, Students’ Federation of India (SFI).

The UGBM that is likely to get over by early morning tomorrow would also demand for the Joint Struggle Committee to repot its actions in front of the students within 24 hours.

“Through this UGBM we also want to condemn the role of JNU administration that is taking advantage of the fact that there is no elected students’ union and behaving in an insensitive manner,” said Roshan.

JNUSU office-bearers alleged that the administration was flouting its written commitments.

“The administration has denied student representation in important committees. The union representatives are not invited in meetings of crucial decision-making bodies like Academic Council. Clearly, the administration has many things to hide,” said Shephalika.

The second hearing of the JNUSU’s stay order would be on February 2. The further course of action of the Joint Struggle Committee would be decided after that.

Earlier, former JNUSU office-bearers including Prakash Karat, Anand Kumar, Digvijay Singh, KM Chenoy, DP Tripathi and Kavita Krishnan met the Chief Justice of India to express their concern about the stay order. 

Gurgaon, January 24
Deputy commissioner Deepti Umashankar feels that the women of the country are lagging behind in many areas. There is need to work towards women empowerment and make society believe that women can be achievers.

Umashankar said this after inaugurating a camp and a seminar organised by the Paras Hospital to celebrate National Girl Child Day here today.

The deputy commissioner said, “Lack of awareness on different issues related to girl child such as anaemia, malnutrition, sexual education, child marriage, schooling and unequal standard of living in society remains a troublesome issue.

Further, psychological issues like low self-esteem and acceptance of suffering by women aggravate the problems.”

She added, “Although sufficient laws are in place to provide desired status to the girl child in society, enforcement of these laws needs to be improved. We need to take a holistic view of the problem and need to conduct social awareness campaigns.”

Umashankar also highlighted the need for affordable healthcare and appreciated the hospital for its initiative.
She congratulated Dr Bhwana Singh, the only lady cardiac surgeon of Haryana and one amongst the very few lady cardiac surgeons in the world.

Dr Singh has been involved in more than 1,000 beating heart bypass surgeries and heads the cardiac surgery department of the hospital.
On the occasion, more than 200 children underwent haemoglobin test for anaemia detection and received consultation from pediatricians, dieticians and gynaecologists.