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Soumya-Jigisha Murders
Unmindful of protests, it’s campaigning as usual for Jagdish Tytler
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Sheila meets Sikh leaders
Now, coffee with Vijender
Favouritism case against C.P. Thakur
quashed
12 schools get notice over
Showers cool Delhi
DDA housing scam
Cable operator shot at
Hooch tragedy: Reward announced
Robbers shoot shopkeeper
12 children hospitalised after eating poisonous seeds
Law reaches out to help septuagenarian
Cong leader’s son, 8 others booked for violating code
Noida hospital shootout
Student stabbed to death in Gzb road rage
Gang of teenage bike thieves nabbed in
Ghaziabad
Kohli invites Cong for debate
2 held with tiger skin, barasingha antlers
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Soumya-Jigisha Murders
New Delhi, April 8 The provisions of MCOCA were invoked against Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, Vijay Kumar and Ajay Sethi. Speaking to media today evening, HGS Dhaliwal, DCP (South) revealed that invoking of MCOCA against the accused will help the police in getting confessions made by them before an officer not below the rank of deputy commissioner of police (DCP), admissible in court. “The confessions should be made before a DCP who is not in-charge of the case, only then it is admissible as evidence in the court,” Dhaliwal said. Under the various provisions of MCOCA, the accused will not be granted bail for six months, while an officer not below the rank of assistant commissioner of police (ACP) will be the investigating officer of the case. As per the provisions, MCOCA can be invoked only on a person who has at least two cases chargesheeted against him. The union home ministry had extended MCOCA to Delhi in 2002. The first case was registered the same year against two city businessmen, allegedly linked with Abu Salem, for demanding extortion of Rs 5 crore from a leading Delhi contractor. MCOCA gives immense powers to the police, including witness protection, confiscation of property got through organised crime, interception of phone conversations, and action against those harbouring or abetting such crimes. Soumya Vishawanathan, a TV journalist was found shot dead in her car in South Delhi on September 30 last year, while BPO executive Jigisha Ghosh’s body was found in Surajkund (Haryana) on March 20. She was strangulated to death allegedly by the five accused. |
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Unmindful of protests, it’s campaigning as usual for Jagdish Tytler
New Delhi, April 8 A day after a Sikh journalist threw a shoe at union home minister P. Chidambaram to express his disgust over the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) exonerating Tytler, angry Sikhs disrupted train and road traffic in several places in Punjab. Many Congress leaders said a rethink about whether or not Tytler should be a Lok Sabha nominee was on the cards and a final decision would be taken after Congress president Sonia Gandhi returned to the capital at night. But for the man in the eye of the proverbial storm, it was business as usual. “There were no protests in his constituency. Tytler sahaab went about business like any other serious candidate and he was greeted warmly and affectionately by many,” said a party functionary. Tytler’s first stop was the densely populated Naveen Shahdara area of North East Delhi, where he has been fielded after his earlier Delhi Sadar seat ceased to exist because of the delimitation exercise. Kicking off his campaign early at 8 a.m. and surrounded by a motely group of supporters, Tytler visited his constituents, both young and old. “Around 400 to 500 Sikhs participated in the programme and everyone pledged support. They even donated around Rs 51,000 for Tytler’s campaign,” said Dharmendra Malhotra, a close aide of Tytler. Amid widespread speculation that he may be dropped as a candidate, a seemingly blase Tytler told reporters that the party was “supreme”. He was asked if he would withdraw from the polls but refused to make any more comments. After his morning meeting with Sikh leaders of the area, Tytler made whistle-stop visits to other areas, including Kundanpur, Jagdamba Colony, Khajuri, Karawal Nagar and Welcome, after which he held a meeting of office bearers in Yamuna Vihar. According to his campaign managers, Tytler’s itinerary is full with meetings lined up till the evening and this tight schedule of back-to-back election events would carry on for the next few days. Unless party president Sonia Gandhi willed otherwise. — IANS
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Sheila meets Sikh leaders
New Delhi, April 8 The meeting assumes importance as various Sikh organisations held a protest at Jantar Mantar here against the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) clean chit to Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in a case relating to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. — IANS |
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Now, coffee with Vijender Gupta
New Delhi, April 8 “This is the time when people resort from shoes to roller to get themselves heard. I want to reach out to voters and listen to them over the warmth of a cup of coffee,” said Gupta. The campaign tries to reach out to voters of the area, particularly the youth in an unconventional way. Talking about the campaign, Gupta said the idea is to rise above the political blame game and bring to forefront the problems that people face. “We want youths come forward and talk about the problems. We believe for the last few years they did not get appropriate space and place in our politics and governance,” he said. The three-week campaign will have one session a week. Each time a youngster will be invited over a cup of coffee and discuss the problems of the area with the BJP leader. “If someone wants to share an idea over a cup of coffee, we will invite him or her for a discussion in an informal set up. With this campaign, we aim to make people believe in the seriousness of our political process,” said Gupta. Vijender Gupta, who is also the MCD Standing Committee’s chairperson, launched his website to get familiar in the constituency which has been in favour of Congress’ Kapil Sibal for the past 10 years. His website carries information about his carrier, family, education and political background. |
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Favouritism case against C.P. Thakur
quashed
New Delhi, April 8 Thakur, a BJP leader, was accused of irregularities in allotment of commercial units within the premises of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. Justice M.C. Garg granted relief to the former minister by setting aside the trial court order in July last year that took cognisance of the offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI had registered an FIR against Thakur in August 2004 on the charge that he indulged in favouritism in the allotment of a shop in the PGIMER, Chandigarh. The CBI had lodged a preliminary inquiry against Thakur and Capt. Singh in this case on Oct 1, 2002. According to the probe agency, Singh was granted lease of the shop in 1970 on a monthly rent of Rs 360. The lease expired in December 1977, but Singh continued to occupy the shop illegally till January 2001, when he was finally evicted. Last year in July, a CBI court issued summons to Thakur after taking cognisance of favouritism charges. The court’s direction came after the investigating officer (IO) of the CBI, inspector S.S. Yadav, filed a closure report. He claimed that the probe could not proceed in the case as the central government had not accorded the sanction required to prosecute the former minister. —
IANS |
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12 schools get notice over fee hike
New Delhi, April 8 The schools are Hillgrove School, Army Public School, Vidhya Bharti School, Mt Abu School, Nutan Vidya Mandir, Vivekanand School, Little Flower Public School, Cambridge Foundation School, Rajouri Garden, Ramjas School, Anand Parbat and S D Public School. The schools have been asked to follow instructions being issued by the directorate from time to time. Education minister Arvinder Singh Lovely directed all deputy directors of the department to be in their respective offices to redress grievances of parents of this issue. The parents could meet them between 10 am and 12 noon on all working days. The parents have also been requested to submit their complaints to the respective deputy directors, so that necessary action could be taken immediately without any delay. The minister has made it clear that no school would be allowed to effect a fee hike without due approval of the general body of its parent teacher association. It has also been made clear that the schools would not be able to delete name of any student and deny issue of report card on the basis of alleged non-submission of enhanced fee. He has also decided to regularly monitor the situation on a weekly basis.
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Showers cool Delhi
New Delhi, April 8 “The reason for such untimely weather is a low pressure belt over Rajasthan. Western disturbances are active, due to which rain and thunderstorms are likely in the capital region,” said an official at the India Meteorological Department. Till 10.00 am, Delhi received 4.7 mm of rain.
— IANS |
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DDA housing scam
New Delhi, April 8 Filing the chargesheet in the court of additional chief metropolitan magistrate Amit Bansal, the EOW slapped several charges against the accused, including Sections-419 (cheating by impersonation), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 34 (common intention), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code. Those named in the chargesheet are property dealers Laxmi Narayan Meena, a resident of Rajasthan’s Jhunjunu, Deepak Kumar, Raju Ram and Vijay Pal and M.L. Gautam, a retired DDA employee. The court, meanwhile, has extended the judicial custody of all accused. Over 5,00,000 people had applied for 5,238 flats under the DDA housing scheme 2008 and the draw of lots was held on December 16, but soon there were allegations that it was rigged. — IANS
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Cable operator shot at
New Delhi, April 8 According to the police, the incident took place around 11.30, and as per the statement given by Krishna, he was probably shot at over business-related issues. “We are working on the case and many names have cropped up during the investigation. The antecedents and whereabouts of these people are being checked. We shall arrest the culprits very soon,” said a police official close to investigation. Krishna received a bullet in his left leg and has been admitted to Saroj Hospital. “He is out of danger,” said a police official. Meanwhile, the firing of bullet close to residential area in night caused panic among the residents. “There seems to be no fear of law and police in the area. Hardly a day passes when unsocial elements don’t indulge in fights and brawls here,” said Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Block-B where the incident took place. However, contrary to residents’ allegations, the local police insisted that night patrolling has been increased and that things were under control. Youth robbed of Rs 2.25 lakh
A motorcycle-borne youth was robbed of Rs 2.25 lakh by three robbers near Akshardham temple flyover in East Delhi last night. The victim, Praveen, who works with a timber merchant in Sector 21, Noida, was on his way back home from work when the car-borne robbers accosted him and snatched the bag containing the cash. According to information, Praveen was carrying the money to be delivered to one of the company’s suppliers in Delhi. The robbers also took away Praveen’s mobile phone. |
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Hooch tragedy: Reward announced
New Delhi, April 8 “Strenuous efforts were made by the police to prevent and detect this illegal trade, but it is suspected that a large stock of spurious liquor is still undetected,” said assistant commissioner of police (Headquarters) Mohan Singh Bais here. “The commissioner of police has announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh to anyone who gives some information or clue or renders help leading to the unearthing of the source of adulteration or manufacture of the illicit liquor,” said Mohan Singh. Although the locals claim that more than 30 people have died due to consumption of spurious liquor, police has so far registered 12 cases and suspended 15 personnel, including the station house officer and two sub-inspectors of the Khyala police station. The angry residents of the area allege that the sale of spurious liquor cannot take place without the connivance of local police.
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Robbers shoot shopkeeper
Gurgaon, April 8 The two assailants had actually come to loot the shop. After taking the cash they tried to flee the spot, but Ratan opposed and ran behind them. It was then that one of them shot at him. He was rushed to civil hospital where he died. According to an eyewitness, the accused were wearing school uniforms. The police has registered a case against unknown criminals and is searching for them. However, they had not achieved any breakthrough till the report was written. Meanwhile, more then 200 members of market association gathered outside the civil hospital and protested against the incident, saying that such incidents were happening on a daily basis. The agitators jammed the road for more then four hours. It was then that the police commissioner and the joint police commissioner reached the spot and assured them that they will solve the case as soon as possible.
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12 children hospitalised after eating poisonous seeds
Gurgaon, April 8 Five were admitted to Mamta Hospital, four in Shree Balaji multi-specialist hospital and three in civil hospital. Dr Balram from Balaji hospital said that these children are out of danger now. He said some were discharged. Dr Balram explained that Jetropa is a poisonous plant and it creates gas in the stomach. The patient can also die if large quantity has been taken. Ranveer, father of one of the children, mentioned that his daughter was playing in the ground and she gulped the seed and got unconscious. She was taken to the hospital immediately but is out of danger now.
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Law reaches out to help septuagenarian
New Delhi, April 8 Prem Kumari, 75, had filed a petition in the court through her youngest son Kuldeep Jain, who she lives with, seeking direction to her three other sons for sharing the costs and also to the government to help out, under the Maintenance and Welfare of Senior Citizens Act notified last year. The court, after hearing Prem Kumari’s plea, earlier this week issued notice to the Delhi government and her three sons and asked the government to provide proper medical aid and other facilities to her and file a detailed report by May 5, the next date of hearing. Prem Kumari stays in East Delhi’s Shahdra with Kuldeep, who is in his late 40s and is a teacher in a government school. Kuldeep has been taking care of his mother for the past 15 years but has now expressed his inability saying his house is small and his responsibilities towards his family have also increased over the years. He filed the petition through his counsel Namita Roy, who asked for directions to the three brothers Vinod, Rajesh and Praveen, who are also teachers. The petition also highlighted the fact that under the Maintenance and Welfare of Senior Citizens Act there is a provision that the government will take care of such abandoned senior citizens and the police can also take action against those who dump their parents. “Section 24 and 25 of the Senior Citizens Act state that the government will take full care of the stay and medical facilities and other necessary requirements, but has failed to comply with any of these since its notification,” argued Namita Roy before Justice Ravindra Bhat. She also told the court that the construction of an old age home is still hanging fire between different government departments and asked the court for immediate relief for the 75-year-old. —IANS
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Cong leader’s son, 8 others booked for violating code
Greater Noida, April 8 Vikas had allegedly distributed Rs 11,000 among voters of a particular community, claiming the money was to help children, on Sunday during a public meeting at a madrasa. Distributing money to voters and holding a political meeting at a religious place violate the election code. Besides, according to sources, permission had not been sought from the district election office for holding the meeting in the madrasa. By distributing cash and not seeking the district election office’s permission to hold the meeting, Vikas has invited action under the election code of conduct. |
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Noida hospital shootout
Noida, April 8 The incident had left two persons injured. Mahesh Sharma told the police that the shooters had fired at his brother, Naresh Sharma, who resembles him. He said that his other brother Ajay and city BJP chief Sanjay Bali were also present there at the time of the shootout. Two motorcycle-borne men had opened fire at the main gate of Kailash Hospital around 10.15 pm on Monday night. They reportedly fired about 12 rounds. Eyewitnesses claimed that the assailants carried pistols in both hands. According to Sharma’s report filed at the Sector-27 police station, the hospital’s security guards – Naval Avtar Yadav and Dinesh – also opened fire in retaliation. The assailants shot at and injured both of them. They then fled on a motorcycle that an accomplice of the duo had kept ready for them. “Criminals in the city have become so fearless that they carry out such attacks at places so near to the residences of the district magistrate and the senior superintendent of police,” said Sharma. He added that he had informed the Election Commission about the breakdown of law and order in Noida. Meanwhile, the police is investigating the incident and would come up with the details in a day or two. Incidentally, of the dozens of cameras fitted in the hospital, the camera near the main gate was not functioning at the time of the incident.
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Student stabbed to death in Gzb road rage
Ghaziabad, April 8 Kuldeep Tyagi was riding his bike around 10:30 p.m. and his friend, Tejvira, was riding the pillion. On seeing him zipping by, three boys followed him and started competing with him, CO Rahul Srivastava said. When Kuldeep slowed down, one of them came to him and asked him to race with them. When he persisted, Kuldeep pushed him back. Seeing this, the other two men drew out knives from their pockets and stabbed Kuldeep in the abdomen, the official added. His friend rushed him to hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries today, Srivastava said. A case has been registered against the unidentified assailants, he added. —
IANS |
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Gang of teenage bike thieves nabbed in Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad, April 8 Circle officer Rahul Srivastava said the gang was busted when police officials signalled a two-wheeler to stop at Dabur crossing in Ghaziabad’s Indirapuram locality on Tuesday night, but the rider tried to flee instead. The two-wheeler rider was soon caught and during interrogation, he revealed that he was part of a gang of automobile thieves. He identified himself as Aswani, a Class XII student of a school in Delhi, Srivastava said. Acting on the information he gave in his confessional statement, the police nabbed six other members of the group. Apart from Aswani, three others were also found to be students of Delhi schools and were identified as Sunny, alias Sonu, Ravi and Shailendra - all Class X students. The names of the schools they studied in were not disclosed. The three other gang members were Gaurav, Udairaj and Bhole. All of them were below 18 years of age, Srivastava said. — IANS
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Kohli invites Cong for debate
New Delhi, April 8 The Congress government in Delhi has claimed to make the capital a world-class city, but so far nothing looks world-class here. Adulterated liquor is being sold openly in Sultanpuri, Mangolpuri, Badli, Haiderpur, Jahangirpuri and other areas. More than one dozen people have died after consuming adulterated liquor in the Raghubir Nagar area. Suppliers of the liquor have not been arrested yet, he stressed.
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2 held with tiger skin, barasingha antlers
Ghaziabad, April 8 On being interrogated, Omendra and Anees confessed they bought the contraband from Dehradun and were taking the skin and antlers to Delhi to be delivered to an international smuggler, the police said. — IANS |
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New Delhi, April 8
Gurgaon, April 8
Gurgaon, April 8
