New Delhi, November 24
A Delhi court today dismissed the bail plea of four men, who were arrested for allegedly molesting girl students on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on Sunday, saying the police probe was still in the initial stage.

The court has also extended the judicial custody of the four by 14 days.

Metropolitan magistrate Ravindra Singh said that the investigation was at a nascent stage and the statements of the victims were to be recorded.

The arrested accused Nitin Kapoor, Gagan Kumar, Ankit Nanda and Amit Chauhan had requested for bail yesterday.

Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta and counsel Sulaiman Mohd Khan said that outraging the modesty of a woman was a bailable offence.

They also argued that the charge of making a trespass was not proven as the accused did not enter any classroom or hostel.

While the prosecutor opposed their plea on the grounds that the police was yet to record the versions of the girl students who were allegedly molested by the four men.

New Delhi, November 24
Setting up an enquiry committee to look into one of the worst incidents of violence on the campus, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) today said attacks on the campus would not be tolerated.

Based on the report of the enquiry committee, the university administration would protest against the Delhi government and Delhi police along with those responsible for ordering lathicharge on students two days ago.

Talking to The Tribune, JNU rector R. Kumar said: “The administration is sensitive to its space, thus, intruders should not go scot-free.”

Promising the students that JNU administration would pursue the case filed against the four outsiders who entered the campus and eve-teased girl students, Kumar said such incidents could not be allowed inside one of the best universities of India.

The committee comprises Prof Rajat Dutta and Prof Sona Zharia Minz. It is expected to submit its report by Friday.

Though the rector said no information about bail application of culprits was available with the university, he said four accused were on judicial custody.

The administration has also asked the police to remove security from outside the JNU gate to reinstall normalcy. However, the private G4 security guards have been deployed and no outsider is being allowed to enter without enquiry.

On the complaint of the students, the JNU administration has called an extended security committee meeting, where in the students’ demand for change of chief security officer would be discussed with the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) and JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA).

The students said four outsiders Gagan Kumar, Nitin Kapoor, Amit Chauhan and Ankit Nanda entered the campus, consumed alcohol openly and eve-teased a girl student on Sunday leading to a confrontation between students and outsiders.

Criticising the Delhi police, JNU students alleged that “when they gathered to protest against the incident and demanded proper action against culprits, the Delhi Police confronted them.”

“We demand an action against this and want the university administration to protest against the authorities concerned,” Sandeep, JNUSU president, said.

New Delhi, November 24
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today stated that with the inauguration of the first-ever air-conditioned circular bus service in Dwarka and launch of smart card-based automatic fare collection system, Delhi has moved a big step ahead in the direction of world-class city. She also inaugurated new Dwarka Sector-8 (Bagdola) DTC bus depot.

The Chief Minister described the launch of circular bus service as a red-letter day for Dwarka as short-distance commuting from one sector to another will become comfortable and hassle-free at a rate which is less than even of non-AC DTC buses in some cases.

The minimum fare in air-conditioned circular service is Rs 2.50 whereas it is Rs 5 in non-AC buses. Commuters in Dwarka circular service will be charged Rs 2.50 per km for a distance up to four km whereas they will have to pay Rs 10 + Rs 1.25 per km for above four km. The maximum fare will be Rs 25. 

Inaugurating the smart card fare collection system, Dikshit stated that her government is keen to bring five to six thousand AC and non-AC buses within one year. Besides, it has been decided to install GPS system to monitor the movement of buses apart from ensuring an excellent maintenance.

She further described Dwarka as one of the biggest sub-cities and congratulated residents on commissioning of a new bus depot with all facilities like pass section, training center, CNG facilities for depot as well as the light vehicle for the public, commercial bank with ATM and a modern workshop within the depot. This depot has been constructed in an area of five acre. Apart from the Dwarka circular bus service, the depot will provide service for another four routes, including Palam AC coach from IGI Airport to ISBT.

Speaking on the occasion, transport minister Arvinder Singh stated that the department had decided to commission one depot every month.  Most of the newly constructed depots are located to facilitate the rural masses of Delhi with a view to providing connectivity to people.  

The smart card is based on the latest technology as it would be able to complete transaction in 300 mili second.  The DTC has decided to install 20,000 smart card machines in its 10,000 buses. 

The smart card system has been implemented by DIMTS. The system is very convenient for the passengers, as they need not buy ticket from conductor every time. 

Dwarka circular service (+) and (-) will cover Dwarka More, Dwarka 6 and 7 crossing, Sector-10 Metro station, Sector-8 DTC depot, Sector-22 and 23, Sector-22 Government Senior Secondary School, Sector-23 Pochan Pur, Sector-19 Modern International School, Sector-19 Pocket-3, Sector-18 B DDA Flats, Sector-12 Pocket-8 DDA Flats, Sector-12 Ashirvad Chowk, Sector-4, Sector-6 DDA Shopping Centre and Dwarka More. 

The routes to be operated from the new depot are RL-77, RL-75, Palam Coach, 724 Extension and Dwarka Circular.

Ghaziabad, November 24
Hopes for an early completion of the Anand Vihar and Vaishali Metro extension line have been revived with the announcement of releasing the final installment of Rs 80 crore by the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation yesterday. It will be the final installment of the Rs 260 crore, which the GDA had to pay to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

“We are confident that the Metro will run on this line from May 2010,” said a senior GDA official.

The 2.67-km-long stretch is expected to cost Rs 260 crore. Of this, Rs 130 crore had been released after DMRC and GDA signed an MoU. Also, Rs 50 crore was subsequently released by the GDA as part of the second installment.

The two agencies recently held a meeting to sort out all contentious issues so in order to ensure the early completion of the project. Sources said: “The corporation was working in tandem with the authorities concerned for the quick completion of the link”.

GDA officials said they had asked DMRC to produce a detailed report of the work completed on the Anand Vihar–Vaishali, Sector-4, line before they release the next amount of Rs 80 crore. “We are satisfied with the report, hence, the decision to release the money by this week was taken,” an official said.

New Delhi, November 24
The semester system continues to draw flak from Delhi University (DU) faculty members.

The Delhi University Teachers’ Association organised a seminar on ‘Desirability and Feasibility of Semester System at Undergraduate Level’ today.

Apart from teachers from different colleges, Prof Anand Kumar from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Prof Tabrez Alam Khan from Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Prof Subrata Mukherjee and Prof Deepak Pental, vice-chancellor, DU, participated in the seminar.

They pointed out the drawbacks of the proposed semester system and expressed concern over the fact that the system was being imposed without any discussion with the bodies concerned of DU.

DUTA president Aditya Narayan Misra said, “The semester system is not feasible. It has been imposed on the university without discussion. We will not take this. It has many drawbacks, especially the examination pattern.”

Prof Anand Kumar expressed satisfaction over the existing model in DU. However, he said, “Necessary changes should be initiated, keeping in view the requirements and priorities with regard to the Indian scenario and without following the globalisation model as propagated by the west, blindly.”

He added, “DU should take more time to look into the feasibility and desirability of the system. The model should be thoroughly studied before it is implemented.”

While Prof Subrata Mukherjee suggested, “DUTA should develop an alternative academic answer to the semester system.”

Prof Tabrez Alam questioned the feasibility and desirability of the proposed model not only in DU’s context but also in the context of the changing scenario in higher education.

The teachers spoke against introducing semester system at the undergraduate level because of the lack of infrastructure to conduct two exams in a year for nearly 3 lakh students. It would prevent timely declaration of results, dilution of honours courses, discriminating students from School of Open Learning who constitute half the strength of DU, reduction in teaching position and workload in future, non-availability of time for personality development of students through co-curricular activities and unmanageable teacher-pupil ratio.

New Delhi, November 24
One of the most inseparable features of the trade fair all these years has been the different national and international cuisines that it offers.

A mouth-watering favourite is from Karachi, Pakistan. One of the most hard to resist delights at the fair is the chicken offering at a Pakistani food counter just adjacent to ‘Bharat ka Khana’ food court. ‘Warsi Food’ has been participating at the fair for more than four years now. The non-vegetarian food makes the visitors lick their fingers here. As the closing day nears, people are thronging to get a delightful bite of ‘haleem chicken’ or ‘katakat chicken’ at this food corner.

“The crowd has been increasing ever since the fair began and the sales have gone up,” said Suleman, one of the cooks at the counter.

One serving of haleem chicken is at Rs 150 and katakat at Rs 200. Visitors often go in for more than one serving. Many people get things packed for their dear ones.

Another delicious option is the “Pakistani chole bhature” priced at Rs 50 per plate.

Owner of Warsi Foods, Nasr Khan said, “We have always received a warm welcome here. For the past some years, biryani had been the most popular item on the menu. But this year, besides biryanis, people are going crazy with different styles of chicken offerings. From kababs, tikkas to haleem, katakat, afghani, sindhi and multani preparations have become quite popular.”

“People have been complimenting and even tipping the cooks. The acceptance means a lot to us. Everyone asks us if we will be back the next year. Surely, we will be back with more delicacies from the heart of Karachi,” he added.

“I have become one big fan of the katakat chicken here. I am getting some packed for my husband,” said Manjusha at the stall savouring chicken with rumali rotis.

Rohit Khanna, another visitor, said, “It’s amazing that even being in the Capital, I have never had such good chicken. The preparations, the smell and the taste are just unbeatable. I wish they would open up a place in Delhi as well.”

Noida, November 24
Five children have tested positive to the swine flu virus in this town adjoining the national Capital. While report of the sixth child whose sample has been sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Delhi, is awaited.

The six kids include three boys and three girls aged between 7 and 12 years.

With this the number of children afflicted by the swine flue virus has shot up to 12 in Noida.

On Monday too, reports of three children were sent to the NICD.

However, all children have however been administrated with Tami Flu drug.

The number of suspected children has also gone up. The parents of many children who had been sent home from school have approched government hospitals to get their children treated.

Chief medical officer of Noida district hospital Dr Raj Rani Kansal said the samples of five children were tested in private labs like — Dr Lal’s Pathology Lab and Relegare.

New Delhi, November 24
A granthi, two sewadars, a policeman and two passers-by were allegedly injured by a man at a gurdwara in Amar Colony last evening.

The accused has been arrested and identified as Umesh, the police said.

The police refused to disclose his credentials.

Assistant commissioner Ranbir Singh said he was not entitled to give any information to the Press. Additional commissioner of police Ravinder Singh Chahal was not available for comments.

While going towards south east Delhi to probe an eve-teasing incident, the Delhi Police noticed commotion in the gurdwara.

As soon as ASI Ranbir Singh entered the gurdwara, he was attacked by the suspect with a naked sword.

However, he was nabbed with the help of passers-by and cops.

Delhi unit president of SAD (Badal) Manjit Singh GK said two sewadars Narender and Pritam were also injured.

The injured were admitted to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) trauma centre. Sewadars were discharged after the first-aid but granthi is still under treatment.

Condemning the attack, he appealed to the police to find out the motive of the attack. He said when the suspect attacked, the granthi was performing path of the Guru Granth Sahib.

New Delhi, November 24
With the arrest of five persons, the police has busted gang that had reigned terror in Delhi and NCR areas.

The police has foiled their bid to commit dacoity in a nationalised bank at Jangpura-Bhogal by breaking open the currency chest last evening.

An Indica, three loaded pistols, two button actuated knives, house breaking implements and gas cutter machine have been seized.   The accused have been identified as Mustkim (35), Rahis (21), Nand Kishor (21), Satbir (28) and Parvez (20).

“Five members of the gang, including Mustkim, and Rahis were arrested around 5.40 pm yesterday from near Jangpura flyover, where they had come in a Tata Indica car,” said HGS Dhaliwal, DCP (south).

Mustkeem disclosed that he had committed various crimes in UP. “He survived a police encounter two years ago. Mustakim has also committed a dacoity at his landlord’s house and killed the landlady. He spent two years in jail,” Dhaliwal added.

He had also kidnapped his niece from Bijnour four months ago and had been evading arrest since then.

Several cases of Arms Act, Gangster Act have been registered against him and a reward was declared for his arrest in UP. Mustkeem is a professional gas cutter and welder.