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Cabinet meet today as another bus catches fire
Jantar Mantar home to protesters for decades
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Church control in jobs to hit students, fear Stephen’s staff
Cops to buy 75 dogs for Games security
Insurance firms to pay for pillion riders too
HC asks AIIMS to admit OBC candidate to course of choice
Market education abroad: Tharoor
Four held for burglaries
Helmetless bike ride proves fatal for two
Two-yr-old boy crushed to death
7 vehicles stolen in one night
Woman sells plot twice
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Cabinet meet today as another bus catches fire
New Delhi, December 13 The fire broke out at 9 am when the bus reached Sagarpur and the drive noticed smoke from its rear side. Both the wheels of the rear side were jammed and the driver got down. As he tried to find out the cause for jam, he noticed fire. Luckily, nobody was injured. An official of the Delhi Fire Service said that he received a call for fire in the bus at 9 in the morning and two firefighters were rushed to douse it. When they reached the spot, they noticed a minor fire and both the rear wheels were jammed. Today’s fire in the bus was the fourth incident in one month. Two buses caught fire yesterday– one on Mehrauli-Badarpur Road in southeast Delhi while another near Akshardham Temple in east Delhi. Hardly 10 days earlier, a low-floor bus caught fire near Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and on that very day, the Delhi government constituted a high-level committee to find out the cause. The committee had to submit its report within one month. Meanwhile, Delhi transport minister Arvinder Singh Lovely directed the Tata Motors to replace the number of damaged buses as it was in the agreement that if any fire took place within the guarantee period, the motor company would replace the buses. An official of the transport department also said that maintenance was the responsibility of the motor company for 12 years. The company has been paid Rs 50 lakh for it. A team of Tata Motors had also come to Delhi to examine the cause of fire, but their report was not made public by the department concerned. Neither the transport minister nor any senior official of the department was available today for the comment. |
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Jantar Mantar home to protesters for decades
New Delhi, December 13 There are some groups who have been at Jantar Mantar for even decades. Local workers at the street, including police officials, maintain that while some groups with ‘just’ demands have been here for long, there are several others who do not even hold protests any longer, but stay put. As many as 25 permanent groups are currently stationed at Jantar Mantar, apart from the floating population that comes for short-term protests. Rashtriya Viklaang Party, Bahujan Sangharsh Party, All India SC Labour Association and several others can be seen in a single line at the Jantar Mantar street. The oldest is Koyala Khadan Sangh that has stayed put at Jantar Mantar since 1993. Bhageshwar, a senior police official at Jantar Mantar, revealed that managing the rush becomes a headache as at times several groups throng the street for protests. In such cases, the police settles the timing and provide slots for protests so that everything goes smoothly. For those stationed permanently, it all began with setting up small tents outside the street pavements and slowly most of the household luggage finding space inside—right from bedsheets, carpets, clothes to even kitchenware! While some prefer to cook on their own, most of them eat at Bangla Sahib Gurudwara. “With ‘langars’ thrice a day, food is not an issue. Water facilities are provided by the NDMC authorities with a tank always stationed there. A Sulabh toilet right across the street takes care of bathing, and even washing clothes. In case they fall ill, it’s the government’s responsibility. They are rushed to government hospitals in ambulances. What more do they need?” asks a police official at Jantar Mantar. Shopkeepers in the vicinity are not complaining either as they never run out of business. From bread pakodas, tea to samosas, cigrattes and mineral water bottles, everything is available. Requesting anonymity, Malti (name changed) revealed that she had been living with her husband and brother-in-law at Jantar Mantar for almost seven years now and was quite content with the life there. Her husband also started working nearby. “It all began with a cause. But now life has to go on and cannot be ignored,” she said defending her stay there. Such attitude is becoming a headache for the authorities. These permanent tents are posing a problem with the Commonwealth Games due to be held next year. Every now and then one hears of talks to shift them to Burari. Alternative sites are being contemplated. However, the police officials and NDMC denied any such plan right now, but most people at Jantar Mantar said that they might be asked to vacate by the month-end. “The street will have to be renovated. The long-term protesters might be shifted and only daylong protests will be allowed,” commented an NDMC official. |
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Church control in jobs to hit students, fear Stephen’s staff
New Delhi, December 13 Though controversies arising out of the college’s supreme council’s meetings might not affect the students directly, the teachers are more than apprehensive that the church’s increasing influence in making key appointments is bound to change the outlook of the institute. A section within teachers has expressed objections to the way appointments are being made. “The recruitment of teachers and appointment of faculty would obviously affect students,” said a teacher on the condition of anonymity. “Since its inception, the outlook and profile of the college has been secular even if it is a minority institution,” the teacher said adding, “The church’s control in day-to-day affairs of the college would make one of the best colleges in the country a mere religious institute.” Last year, the college administration faced ire for increasing the quota for Christian students up to 50 per cent. “Though it is the right of a minority institute, the increase in reservation changes the profile of the college which affects the students directly,” said another faculty member at St Stephen’s. The teacher said the college was for students and not the other way around. “It is good for an educational institute to be guided by academicians. The church can also exercise its role as far as religious affairs of minority institutes are concerned,” he said. Talking about the recent controversy of appointment of the college bursar, the teachers said there was a constant attack on the autonomy of the college. “First the bishop stalled the appointment of a bursar then, he illegally appointed another interim bursar when the principal was out on leave for two days,” said the protesting teachers. The teachers have also raised concerns on the alleged violation of Delhi University (DU) guidelines on appointments made in colleges. “The university has clarified that it would not recognise any bursar not recommended by the principal,” the teachers had said in a recent press statement. De-recognition by the university could endanger the college’s UGC grant that pays salaries of teachers and employees of the college. “The church is trying to generate fear among faculty and students by ordering enquiries into protesting sections,” alleged a teacher. He added that the church had been deliberately trying to keep away students from the controversy as if none of the administrative action were affecting them. |
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Cops to buy 75 dogs for Games security
New Delhi, December 13 The Delhi police’s special wing constituted to handle security in the Capital during the Games has placed an order of 75 sniffer dogs. Presently, the police has 15 to 20 sniffer dogs. A hefty amount would be spent on the purchase, training and care-taking of the dogs. A single dog from the point of purchasing to getting trained will cost around Rs 1.5 lakh. The order has been placed for only two breeds of sniffer dogs namely — German Sheperd and Labrador. The dogs will be sent to Tekanpur’s BSF Dog Training Centre near Gwalior in batches. Each batch would have 35 dogs. “The order has been placed to procure 75 sniffer dogs. They will be trained to detect substances like — explosives, illegal drugs or blood,” said a consultant to the Delhi police wing for the Games. Trained dogs will be deployed at various competition and training venues during the Games. However, security experts say that even 75 dogs would be inadequate given the number of important venues to be provided with high-class security. “The requirement for sniffer dogs is going to be far more than 75. On an average, five dogs would be stationed at each stadium. Apart from 14 competition venues, they would be also deployed at training venues, metro stations, bus stands, market places and other sensitive areas,” said S.K. Gupta, former head of Prime Minister’s security wing and also the managing director of a security BCL secure premises. The experts have also expressed the timely training of purchased dogs. “It takes around three to four months to train a particular batch of dogs. Moreover, we don’t have enough expertise to train dogs, except the Tekanpur Dog Training Centre where dogs are trained by the BSF. They also have certain limitations and cannot cater to a sudden huge demand of dogs,” he said. The dogs will be purchased from government agencies like the Indo-Tibtean Border Force, BSF in Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh and Army. |
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Insurance firms to pay for pillion riders too
New Delhi, December 13 There is only one caveat: the vehicle must be insured. Formulating a new comprehensive insurance policy for vehicles, Justice J.R. Midha asked the insurance companies to strictly follow the guidelines to cover pillion riders and passengers of cars and other vehicles. The court gave the ruling after hearing an appeal by Yash Pal Luthra seeking higher compensation on account of his 24-year-old son's death in the Capital in 2006 while riding the pillion of a motorcycle. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT) had earlier agreed with the insurance company's contention that it was not liable for the pillion rider. The tribunal had asked the motorcycle owner to pay over Rs 4,53,000 to Luthra family. The Delhi High Court has reversed the tribunal's ruling. "It is clear that the comprehensive policy of a two-wheeler covers a pillion rider and the comprehensive package policy of a car covers the occupants," the court said. Seventeen insurance companies admitted their liability in respect of the occupants of a private car and the pillion riders of a motorcycle under a comprehensive insurance policy. Following this week's High Court judgement, all accident cases pending in different courts in Delhi will have to adhere to the new guideline. Insurance companies have also agreed to withdraw all appeals filed by them before various high courts in the country on this aspect.
— IANS |
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HC asks AIIMS to admit OBC candidate to course of choice
New Delhi, December 13 A Bench of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S.Muralidhar asked the AIIMS to admit Manish
Patnecha, an OBC candidate who was denied to sit for second counselling against the OBC quota this year after he opted for a seat against the general category. During the second
counselling, he sought to appear against the OBC quota so that he could get admission in a subject of his choice but the AIIMS debarred him, saying that would block two seats.
Patnecha then approached the court, contending a higher ranked candidate from a reserved category should not be deprived of the choice of either a seat or an institution vis-a-vis a candidate of the same social class figuring lower in the merit list. Finding the AIIMS decision unjustified, the court directed it to offer Patnecha the seat in the course of his choice. Earlier this year, a single judge Bench had declined any relief to
Patnecha, ruling that the AIIMS could not be told to have second counselling again and allot him the seat in a course of his choice, cancelling the allocation of the seat to another candidate.
— IANS |
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Market education abroad: Tharoor
He added that despite India being a developing country, there was a great depth and diversity of education pool available here. The minister was talking at an educational summit organised jointly by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Institute of Marketing and Management (IMM) on “Marketing of India’s Higher Education Worldwide: Revisited”.“India has institutes of repute like IIT and IIM; all that is needed is the proper marketing of India’s higher education abroad,” said Tharoor. There was also a domestic demand for higher education and the marketing of education abroad should not be at the cost of Indian students, he added. Foreign education could take place if additional education facilities were generated. This, he said, could stem the exodus of Indian students going abroad for studies. Speaking on the occasion, member of the Planning Commission Narendra Jadhav said Indian universities should set up campuses abroad which would give them global name and Indian teachers could also get exposure abroad, in turn. Summing up the arguments, pro vice-chancellor of IGNOU Latha Pillai said there was a need to develop special hubs of higher education, increasing the number of scholarship for foreign students, providing better infrastructure and introduction of credit system to attract more students from abroad. |
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Rally held to promote cycling
New Delhi, December 13 A representative of the
NCU, Krishnan said that the rally was organised in support of Copenhagen Climate Change Summit. This mode of transport should be promoted in Delhi. People should be discouraged from driving motor vehicles as they are a major source of air pollution in the Capital, he said. He said that rally started at 10:30 in the morning from Moolchand flyover which culminated at 1:30 pm at Ambedkar
Nagar. An official of the transport department said that the DIMTS would start providing cycles on rent from tomorrow. People can hire new green cycles from five stations that have come up on the BRT corridor. The cycle stations are Siri Fort Junction, Andrews
Ganj, Sheikh Sarai, Chirag Dilli and Ambedkar Nagar. The cycle would be available for Rs 10 for four hours. It can also be hired for an entire day and brought to the station in the evening. Those want to get cycles on rent will have to present their identity proof issued by the government and a passport size photograph. Those who want to use their own cycles can get the parking facility at the stations. In the beginning, 10 cycles will be available at each station. It may be increased as per demand. Marshals will be deployed at corridor for safety and convenience of the cyclists. The DIMTS also has a plan to tie up with schools to give children training in the art of cycling. |
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DELHI DIARY
The growing tendency and change in behaviour is attributable to the changing lifestyles and the consequent increased stress levels that have taken a toll on the health of pets, claim doctors. In cities like Delhi where nuclear families are more prevalent, the pets hardly get the attention they require. They end up spending most of the time either in play centres or find themselves locked inside the houses, waiting eagerly for their owners’ return. The neglect and loneliness rob them of the obedience they are known for, giving way to a rebellion. Marshals vs
MLAs
Just days before the winter session of the Delhi Assembly was to commence, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and leader of the opposition Vijay Kumar Malhotra locked horns during the inauguration of the orientation programme for
MLAs. The Chief Minister said that marshals in the Assembly were strong enough to remove agitated MLAs from the Well of the House. In response, Malhotra said BJP MLAs were strong enough to face the marshals. But they summed up their speeches, claiming that Delhi MLAs were sincere and they seldom came to the Well. Catch ‘thieves’ in Parliament
A middle-aged jocular head constable (HC) named after a popular Hindi filmstar attracted unwanted attention from his colleagues last week when he landed up at the police station on a fancy modified motorcycle. The HC’s explanation that bike belongs to his college-going son and that he bought it on instalments did not stop others from pulling his leg which ranged from ‘catching a big fish last night’ to ‘an attempt to impress a lady constable at the police station’. When pointed that the cop could easily catch a thief on the racy bike, he retorted, “Aaji haan chor pakde ja rahe mahare
pe, saare to Parliament main baithe aaj. Batao kiski himmat hai inha pakdane
ki.” JNU’s open secrets
The Democratic Students’ Union (DSU) —- that has the backing of left-wing Naxalities —- has opposed the demand of other students in Jawaharlal Nehru University
(JNU) for an increase in campus security following a recent incident of violence. In its campaign against the campus surveillance by university security services, the DSU has argued that students would not feel comfortable under CCTV cameras. Perhaps, Naxalites would not want the ‘open secrets’ of JNU jungles to be revealed. From the narrow passage
Delhi Assembly Speaker Dr Yoganand Shastri smiled as he made his way through a narrow passage to reach the lawns of the Old Secretariat building. On the lawns tea was being served to mediapersons following a conference in the Old Secretariat. Due to maintenance work going on at the building the only way to enter the lawns was the narrow passage. Dilli dilwalon
ki
“Dilli dilwalon ki.” Hasan Saifi (38), an autorickshaw driver who lives with his family in a temporary dwelling at
Nizamuddin, exemplifies the phrase. He says that even though everything from food to electricity in the city has become expensive, there are still some things which are always priceless and always at people’s reach. Delhi is a city where everybody can survive. “I ran away from my home in Assam when I was seven years old. This city gave me shelter; I met the love of my life here and got married. I have two beautiful children. I have been driving the auto in the city for five years. All I want now for my kids is education.” Massive traffic jams, increasing crowds in malls, long queues outside restaurants and house-full boards at multiplexes are giving the city residents a hard time. A highly placed official came out with a shocker saying workers pouring in from neighbouring states were creating all that
“ruckus”. — Contributed by Syed Ali Ahmed, Sandeep Yadav, Akhila Singh, Ananya Panda and Jyoti Rai
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Foggy but warm Sunday
New Delhi, December 13 The temperatures, however, are above the average for this time of the season, the weather official said. The city recorded a minimum of 11.7 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal. “With mist in the morning, Delhi will see a partly cloudy sky with possibilities of thunder in some areas,” said the official of the Indian Meteorological Department. The maximum temperature recorded Saturday was 24.1 degrees Celsius. The city Wednesday saw a minimum of 8.3 degrees Celsius, the lowest for the month till now. The coldest day of the season so far was November 28 when the minimum temperature dropped to 7.9 degrees Celsius.
— IANS |
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Man kills senior citizen for ‘eyeing’ his wife
New Delhi, December 13 Mukesh Kumar was arrested on Saturday for killing Devender Kumar
Marwah, 68, at his first-floor house in the Rajouri Garden area on December 4. He had earlier worked as driver for Marwah’s son, who stays on the ground
floor. Mukesh Kumar, who lives near Marwah’s photostat shop in Kirti
Nagar, was a regular visitor to the house. “Kumar once took a loan from
Marwah, who kept his mobile phone as security. Marwah happened to see the photo of Kumar’s wife on the mobile phone and had bad intentions towards her,” deputy commissioner of police (west Delhi) Sharad Aggarwal said. “Kumar got to know about it and was annoyed. At the same time, Marwah started pressing him for repayment of the money immediately. When Kumar visited Marwah on December 4, the latter started again demanding his money. Kumar, who was already under mental stress, assaulted Marwah with an iron pipe, killing him,” he added.
— IANS |
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Four held for burglaries
New Delhi, December 13 The suspects were identified as Mohseen Khan, Ajai Kumar, Ravi Kumar and Deepak
Parekha. During interrogation, the suspects admitted to have committed burglaries in South Delhi areas, police said. Murder solved
With the arrest of Mukesh Kumar, a murder case of an elderly man, Devender Kumar
Marwah, in Rajouri Graden in West Delhi has been solved. One gold chain and four gold rings were recovered from his possession. |
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Helmetless bike ride proves fatal for two
New Delhi, December 13 The two men were identified as Ram Avtar, 23, and Sunny, 22, who was driving the vehicle, when the accident occurred near Talkatora Stadium around 5 am. “They were thrown off the bike and their heads hit against the divider. They were taken to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where doctors declared them dead,” a policeman said. According to the police, the two were on way to the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara with other friends, who were in a car. Ram Avtar was from Bihar and Sunny from Uttar Pradesh. They both worked in a factory in the Chokhandi area of the Capital.
— IANS |
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Two-yr-old boy crushed to death
Greater Noida, December 13 The workers held a demonstration demanding compensation and action against the driver. The vehicle was removing the building material from the site to one side. Some children of workers were playing nearby. The vehicle crushed the boy, Ismail, whose head had come under the wheel and he died on the spot. Angry workers demanded immediate arrest of the driver. The parents of the deceased are from Cooch Behar in Bengal. Police and the contractor reached the spot. Police assured people that action would definitely be taken against the driver. |
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7 vehicles stolen in one night
Noida, December 13 The police has registered reports for all incidents. The thieves drove away with Ajab Singh's new Bolero car from Sector25-A near Adob Crossing. Singh, a resident of Dankore, had come to Noida. While they stole Suman Kumar's Innova car from Sector-94. Kumar had come from Himachal Pradesh. In Sector-63, the thieves fled with the bikes of Manish Pathak and Ram Avtar. After this, a tractor trolley belonging to Subender Mukerjee was stolen in Sector-10. The thieves then went to Sector-15 and drove away with the scooters of Anil Kumar and Imran Khan from Sector-7. |
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Woman sells plot twice
Noida, December 13 All the related documents and correspondence have been sealed. The fraud came to light when the file of transfer of plot reached the department in Greater Noida Authority. The man who was buying the plot as the second owner tipped the police about the deal. The case pertains to plot No. B-16 in Sector–93 Noida which was allotted in 2004 to the Kanpur resident, Akram Kalam, who had earlier sold it to BSF IG B.S. Sidhu of Mumbai CRPF in March 2009 for Rs 68 lakh. As Sidhu also got the wind of the latest development in the case, he contacted senior police officers. The Kotwali Sector-20, Noida, was then asked to interrogate property dealers related to the case. |
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New Delhi, December 13
Don’t take us for granted! This message is coming from pets in the city. Of late, there have been bizarre incidents of pet dogs turning hostile to their owners to the extent of sending them to hospitals.