New Delhi, February 22
Ankit Minocha, 32, a businessman of Mehrauli, was shot dead and his friend injured by unidentified assailants near Buddha Jayanti Park here today.

Police has registered a case of murder but the culprits have not been arrested so far.

According to the police, Ankit, Mahender and their friends whose names were not disclosed by the police came to Karol Bagh to meet a car dealer whom Mahender had given Rs 10 lakh. Mahender wanted his money back which resulted in a heated argument.

While they were going back to Mehrauli in a Santro car, an Indica car overtook them near Buddha Jayanti Park. The occupants in the Indica car fired at them. Amit and one of his friends sustained injuries. They were taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre where Amit was declared brought dead. His friend is still admitted to hospital, the police said.

The assailants escaped in their car. They could not be identified. There was chaos on the road just after the firing. Traffic was stopped. Police force reached there and took the victims to hospital.

Later, forensic experts reached the spot to take a view of the scene of crime. Blood had spilled on the road and smeared the black Santro of victims.

The police said that around eight rounds of bullets were fired. Business rivalry was suspected to be the cause of murder.

New Delhi, February 22
If you are planning to visit a doctor on Monday or for that matter even later, look out! Resident doctors working in various Delhi government hospitals, medical colleges, research centres and dispensaries are going on an indefinite strike from Monday.

The protest is against the pay scales of doctors and nurses, which according to them are very low. According to sources, doctors and other medical staff are demanding implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission and promotion in their posts.

A total of 75,000 workers from 36 institutes of Delhi will stop their services from Monday onwards, say sources.

Moreover, 2.5 lakh workers from 86 government health institutes across nation will also support the protest.

Member of the All India Health Appliances and Workers Confederation, Ram Kishan says, “We have three demands. These include formation of a para-medical council like other councils, continuation of patient care allowance, making it equal to the nursing allowance and check on the corporatisation of health sector.”

New Delhi, February 22
Delhi Metro, the first railway project in the world to be registered for carbon credits by the United Nations, has been certified to have prevented over 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.

Calling it their contribution in the fight against global warming, the Metro officials said it could only be done by reducing the power requirement and by adoption of regenerative braking systems in the Delhi Metro trains.

The certification report was given by Germany-based validation organisation, TUV NORD, that conducted an audit on behalf of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“Under the regenerative braking process for which DMRC earned carbon credits, whenever trains on the Metro network apply brakes, three phase-traction motors installed on these trains act as generators to produce electrical energy that goes back into the Over Head Electricity (OHE) lines,” said Anuj Dayal, spokesperson, Delhi Metro.

He added, “The regenerated electrical energy that is supplied back to the OHE is used by other accelerating trains in the same service line. The process reduces about 30 per cent of electricity requirement.”

New Delhi, February 22
Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi, Tejendra Khanna today announced a plan to set up sewage treatment plants (STPs) at 18 major sewage drains falling into the river Yamuna.

The 1,500-crore project is a part of the Yamuna Action Plan II-Clean Yamuna Manch to ensure that only clean water from the entire city flows into the river, the Lt-Governor said.

The work to clean the Yamuna has been entrusted to the Engineers India Limited (EIL), he said while flagging off Yamuna Rally at Jamia Millia Islamia organized by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in collaboration with ACORD.

More than 5,000 citizens comprising RWAs, NGOs, university and college students, NSS, NCC, Civil Defence, MCD, and eco clubs participated in the colourful pageant as leader of change to highlight the causes of pollution and motivate Delhiites towards action for change.

The Lt-Governor also unveiled a creative mascot, which will continue giving messages in public interest to the citizens on Yamuna pollution and action by various stakeholders.

Addressing the huge gathering, the Lt-Governor said that sewage water flowing through the major drains of the city like Najafgarh drain, Shahdara drain, supplementary drain (Upper Portion), etc. will be treated before being allowed to flow into the river Yamuna.

New Delhi, February 22
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided not to change the question pattern for Class X and Class XII exams and keep it similar to 2008 examination pattern. This news will give relief to some 14.5 lakh students appearing for CBSE exams this year.

The paper pattern will be based on the understanding and analyzing ability of the students rather than memorizing the subjects. The Board had introduced 20% questions on analytical skills last year. The sample papers have been made available by CBSE on their website.

“There is an increase of nearly 1.5 lakh students appearing for the CBSE exams this year as compared to 13 lakh students last year,” said M.C. Sharma, examination controller, CBSE. The Board has also considered the wastage of papers in the answersheets and reduced the number of pages in it.

Greater Noida, February 22
A youth was killed on the spot while another was injured by gunshots fired in a marriage procession on Saturday in Devta village falling under Dankore police station. The shots were fired when the bridegroom was mounting the horse.

Those killed and wounded were identified as Sanjiv and Lala, respectively.

Both were members of the band party. Lala, who is Sanjiv’s brother, was rushed to Kailash Hospital in Greater Noida and is currently in a critical state.

The accused who fired the gunshots fled after the incident. The police is investigating the matter and is trying to trace the accused.

The marriage was of one Biddu, son of Prem Pandit of Devta village. In the evening, at the time of the departure of the marriage procession, relatives and friends started singing and dancing. Some of the relatives were firing in the air from their guns and revolvers.

It was then that a group of drunk revelers got into a competition over firing of shots and the bullets fired by them in the drunken state hit the victims.

Sanjiv and Lala belong to Khadli village in Greater Noida.

This is not the first time when gunshots fired as part of marriage or other celebrations have claimed a live. Incidentally, dozens of similar accidents have taken place in Dankore previously also. But no one seems to have learnt a lesson from previous tragedies, as firing of gunshots continues unabated in marriages in the area.

New Delhi, February 22
To a tourist guide Jantar Mantar is a famous destination in the national Capital. A marvel of the Rajputana architecture, it is an outdoor astronomical observatory that was built in 1710 by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II.

But for a Delhiite, Jantar Mantar is a rally point where protests are a regular activity, especially when Parliament is in session. This increases the business of vendors.

Shyam Kumar who runs a tea stall at Jantar Mantar, aptly called Parliament Street ever since political and non-political rallies found a place here, sells tea at Rs 4 per glass. His son helps him in his work. Shyam Kumar wishes to continue the same business as it keeps his family “happy and contended.”

“Thousands of people come here daily. Some sit for days and some for hours. Most of them prefer tea. These rallies have contributed significantly in our earnings,” he said.

Rajkumar who sells ‘fruit chaat’ at Parliament Street also shares the same feeling. He shifted here two months ago and is contented with his earnings. Earlier, he used to sit at Daryaganj. He said, “People frequently visit my chat corner, especially those who participate in rallies. On an average I earn around Rs 600 to 700 daily.”

Transporters and farmers who were protesting at Jantar Mantar recently were found buying coats and neckties. A protestor, on the condition of anonymity, had said, “They are selling a well-stitched cloth just for Rs 200. This is too cheap. I bought three coats.”

Moving from Parliament Street to Regal cinema in Connaught Place, one can find many roadside shops that sell tie just for Rs 40 with a branded sticker. Shops selling sunglasses, belts and coats are also noticeable. This attracts many protestors, who come from diverse parts of the country, and thus increase the earnings of these shopkeepers.

Rajkumar Lamba, owner of ‘The Cute Shop’ manages to sell more than 17 coats in 10 minutes while a stream of protestors tread the road. He said, “We usually make profits during the day when rallies end. These stuff may not attract a Delhiite, but for others it is good-looking and cheap.”

Apart from these shopkeepers, roadside salesmen who catch almost every pedestrian at the inner circle of CP become too active when these rallies end.

Bajri, watchman of a jewellery shop, said, “There are over 15 to 20 such salesman in the area. You can find them sticking with one or the other protestor selling handkerchiefs, socks, birds and so on.”

The protestors are also interested in these materials.

Sunil Kumar Verma, 15, who sells coloured birds, said, “One pack costs me around Rs 20 and I sell it for Rs 35 or 40 and sometimes even Rs 50. During rallies I earn much more than what I earn in a normal day,” he said.

According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), over 700 tourists come in to see Jantar Mantar every day, while according to the police several thousand protestors assemble here daily when Parliament is in session.

Though regular protests at Parliament Street irritates office goers, it has been making good deals for the shopkeepers around.

New Delhi, February 22
A solo exhibition of paintings, “Indian Moments” by German artist Kirstin Pukall is being held from February 21 to February 28 at the Kirstin Pukkal Studio in Panchsheel Park here. Kirstin’s new series transports the viewer on a unique visual journey into the myriad faces and lives of India with their own stories to tell. Her creative repertoire includes figurative and abstract paintings in acrylic; all stirred by the diverse sounds and sights of the subcontinent. It is evident that her creative expressions resonate with a hidden energy that intuitively ignites a dialogue with the viewer.

According to critics, the choice of colours in her art is an extension of her personality vivacious and effervescent where reds, greens and blues all vie with one another for space on the canvas. Kirstin weaves human figures into her poetic use of colour and play with multivariate textures. Texture, being a significant element in her work, is achieved by different techniques. Finally, all of Kirstin’s works collectively portray the artist’s view on life and a mature handling of her chosen medium. Coupled with her skillful use of imagery to put forth her thoughts, each painting is remarkable in its technique and the use of colours.

This distinctive presentation reflects and captures the various nuances of a rich colour palette, the matchless artistic style and dynamic composition.

Noida, February 22
The gangs of bike-borne robbers continue to terrorise Noida residents, targeting people at their will without any fear of the police. Four incidents of loots by bike-borne robbers were reported on Friday night.

A lady officer with the environment department of the Delhi government, a DTC official and two youths fell pray to these robbers. The police has started investigating the cases.

In the first incident, Malini Rawat, a resident of Oriental Insurance Apartments in Sector-62, who is an under-secretary in the department of environment in Delhi, had just stepped out of her house when two bikers suddenly appeared. They pushed Rawat hard and fled away with her purse, which contained a demand draft for Rs 2.10 lakh, a cell phone, some documents and other valuables. She has reported the matter to the Sector-58 police station.

In the second case, which took place in Sector-19, Rajiv Bohra, a DTC officer, had gone to buy medicines at around 10 pm. On the way he was attacked by bikers who snatched his purse and mobile phone. He has registered a complaint in this regard at the Sector-20 police station.

Another incident of loot took place with Deepak Kumar, a resident of F block of Sector-20. He was taking a stroll near his house at around 10.30 p.m. when two criminals on a motorbike snatched his mobile phone and fled away.

In the fourth incident of loot that took place in Sector-11 near Metro Crossing, Vijay Kumar’s cell phone was snatched by two bike-borne bandits at around 11 p.m. 

These, and similar prior incidents, seems to prove that criminals, especially bike-borne bandits, continue to hold Noida residents at ransom, while the police looks on helplessly.