New Delhi, December 30
Those planning to spend New Year’s Eve partying outside will have to wrap up well. The weatherman has predicted a further dip in the temperature and a foggy night.

The mercury is likely to plummet to 5 degrees Celsius tomorrow on the night of December 31.

The chilly weather will be coupled with a “foggy” morning and evening and a “partly cloudy sky” during the day.

“Fog is going to persist in the Capital for the next couple of days with visibility reduced considerably,” said a Met Department official.

Cold wave continued to sweep the city today, with the minimum temperature dipping to 5.2 degree Celsius for the second time within a week.

The city had also experienced a minimum of 5.2 degree Celsius on Saturday.

Today’s minimum is two degrees below normal for this point of the season. The minimum temperature yesterday was recorded at 6.2 degrees while the maximum was 21 degrees

More than 20 flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) which were delayed today as heavy fog on the runway brought down the visibility considerably.

“Twenty two domestic flights at Delhi airport were delayed due to the reduced visibility owing to the fog,” said an airport official.

The fog reduced speed on the roads as well, as visibility came down to 300 metres. The minimum temperature dipped to 5.2 degrees Celsius. 

New Delhi, December 30
Exotic music by national and international DJs, swanky club interiors, unlimited booze, exotic menus — welcome to the New Year extravaganza in the national Capital.

It is not for no reason that Delhi is termed the ultimate destination for party hoppers. People from nearby cities, including Jaipur, Chandigarh, Patiala, throng the Capital on the New Year Eve to be a part of some of the most happening parties.

New Delhi, December 30
Hundreds of angry people vandalised the office and set afire the car of an alleged cheat in the Mangolpuri area of outer district, last night.

The situation came under control only after a senior police officer reached the spot and pacified the people. However, heavy police force was posted in the area to stop any further vandalism.

According to information, chit fund fraud of about Rs 20 crore has surfaced after the police received around 30 complaints in the past few days against one Rakesh Mishra.

The complainants said the investors were promised double and triple their principle amount in a stipulated time period by Rakesh and his company.

Yesterday night, when the investors came to know that Rakesh had cheated them, they vandalised his office at J-Block in Mangolpuri and set his scooter and an Esteem car on fire.

According to the police, Rakesh had been running his office for the past one year with the name ‘Banking Networking and Bharti Chit Fund’.

“His father Jayesh and brother Mukesh Mishra used to lure people to invest money in their scheme. They used to promise investors that their deposited money would be doubled in few months. They initially paid some money to some of the investors to win their confidence. However, of late, after they had collected huge amount, they stopped coming to office,” stated a senior police officer.

The police said it was looking into the matter and denied having arrested anybody so far. 

New Delhi, December 30
As the season of nursery admission progress, the parental agony also increases for despite the ban on conducting interviews, almost all the schools are conducting them. Most schools are terming these ‘interviews’ as ‘informal interaction’, but parents know that it is an ‘interview’ with a different name.

Sagarika Deb, a harassed parent who has been trying to get her daughter admitted to Sanskriti School, said, “We were told that there would be no interviews this time round, but we are going through a full-fledged interview in the ‘informal interaction’. My daughter was also questioned and asked to identify objects and colours. I was asked specifically about the locality where I live, questions pertaining to my career and also why we want to send our daughter to Sanskriti.”

A teacher of Sanskriti School, who did not want to be named, said, “The informal interaction is somewhat like an interview, but I think it is important for how else you will select students. It is important for the school administration and teachers to get to know parents, especially the background they come from and the values they follow.”

Another parent Shilpi Khanna said, “I have applied in at least three schools for my son’s admission and have received the interview call from Springdales. Of course, the school is calling this an informal interaction. We were asked a whole lot of questions about our educational background, careers, locality we live in, expectations from the school and why we chose Springdales. I hope my answers will be enough to get my son a seat at the school.”

A core area on which schools seem to be focusing their questions is career and educational qualifications.

Parents face yet another problem—of providing requisite documentation to schools along with the forms. Many schools are asking for voter identity cards, passports or government accommodation as a proof of address. This is posing a problem to parents who are not able to provide these documents. For instance Springdales School, Pusa Road, is asking for voter identity card and passport as address proof. Sujata Maleyvar, the schools admission in charge, said, “The basic idea is to get authentic documents that cannot be tampered with and this is why we have asked for voter identity cards and passports. I feel this is only a reasonable demand of the school.”

Malti Sinha, a parent who is trying to get her son admitted to Springdales, said, “I thought I will give MTNL bills, phone bills and electricity bills as address proof, but the school refuses to accept them and is asking for voter identity cards or passport.”

Another parent Mukesh Gupta said, “I have applied at Tagore International at Vasant Vihar for my son’s admission, but the school is asking for educational qualifications. I had to dig out my class X and XII certificates. Besides, the school is asking for voter identity cards, passports or government accommodation as residence proof. However, I have old address on my passport, where we no longer live.”

New Delhi, December 30
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) would introduce three major centres of nano sciences, informal economy and media studies in the coming year.

“Separate centers in these three fields have already been approved and work on them should get over by the next year,” said R.Kumar, JNU rector.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) gave a nod to these centres this year and passed the funds for the same after going through the JNU proposal.

Though it did not bring any respite to the political clout in JNU, the passing year brought good news for hundreds of girl students struggling for hostel rooms, with the opening of much awaited Koyna Hostel.

Though all student organisation came under one umbrella to unanimously fight for their right to hold JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) election, 2009 marked two years of Supreme Courts’ ban on them. This year, the case was finally transferred to the Chief Justice of India for his consideration on the matter as the court observed that students were openly flouting Lyngdoh Committee recommendations.

The year 2009 started with lot of noise on the JNU campus as the university administration implemented 18 per cent OBC reservations during admissions. Four per cent OBC seats were still left vacant till the end of admissions.

While students said the administration was not complying with the Ministry of Human Resource Development’s guidelines on the implementation of OBC reservation, the authorities maintained that due to the already existing deprivation points policy of JNU, the number of OBC students admitted in the university was high.

The university has also been in news for being the first campus visited by Rahul Gandhi as he went on to address the youth of the country placed in various universities. Though the Congress MP had to face hooting that JNU students are infamous for, he became the first one from the party to pull a huge crowd in the university.

Recently, JNU saw one of the biggest brawls in its history when cops beat up the university students following a tiff between four drunken outsiders who allegedly molested some students.

The university has been the breeding ground for intellectual class in almost all political parties, though association of its students with the ultra left Maoist outfits has also come to the light in the ongoing Kobad Gandhi case where some students had allegedly assisted the top Maoist. 

New Delhi, December 30
Even after getting an annual sanction of Rs 60 lakh from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the number of night shelters in Delhi is decreasing.

According to MCD leaders, Delhi had 42 night shelters last year, but the count has come down to 27 this year.

The MCD raised the issue of miserably-running night shelters in the Capital at its standing committee meeting, today.

The MCD leaders disclosed the fact that the corporation provided Rs 60 lakh annually for the upkeep of night shelters which were apparently decreasing in numbers.

“We do not have even a single night shelter for women or children,” said Vijender Gupta, BJP leader and ex-chairman, standing committee.

Most of these shelters are in the busy areas like market places and near railway stations.

“Maximum night shelters are located near bus stands, railway stations and the Walled city. We do not have shelters in other parts of the city. The functioning of 15 of these shelters which offer accommodation at the cost of Rs 6 per night are taken care by NGO Ashraya Adhikar Abhiyan (AAA),” said J.K. Sharma, leader of opposition.

The rest of the shelters are jointly run by the MCD and the AAA.

The civic body had earlier passed a proposal to provide one night shelter in each zone, but the decision was never implemented.

The capital currently has 27 shelters, of which, 17 are permanent.

The others have been set up for the winter in community centres or school buildings. Then there are 20 tents put up in 13 high requirement areas.

These numbers can in no way match the needs of the estimated 2,00,000 homeless people in Delhi.

The situation is expected to worsen when the mercury level dips below five degrees Celsius.

New Delhi, December 30
In the wake of global environmental concerns, the United Nations has observed 2009 as the International Year of Natural Fibres. And marking its culmination in India, the United Nations in India today inaugurated a special exhibition at Dilli Haat.Union minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor inaugurated the weeklong exhibition.

Tharoor said, “The government will take steps to promote natural fibres.”

“The purpose of the exhibition is to provide a specific market for natural fibres. While the world talked about global warming in Copenhagen, natural fibres can be used more to provide sustainable environment. ,” said Shalini Diwan, director, United Nations information centre.

The exhibition has been divided into two sections. One section has 15 stalls consisting of products made from natural fibers. While the other has products made by women artisans from Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

One can get winter and summer garments, decorative items, wall hangings made of natural fibres like jute, cotton, coir, ramie, flax, cashmere and silk here. The products proved to be a hit as the sales shot up as the day proceeded.

“The cloth feels different. Synthetic fibres can never give such look, shine and grace at such affordable prices. The best part is these items last longer. They do not leave colour like most synthetic clothes,” said Plavita, a housewife shopping at the haat.

“The need of the hour is to strengthen local products which would provide livelihood to crores of skilled laborers in rural India. Such exhibitions act as platforms to showcase the talent and strength of the nature,” said Jaya Jaitley, president of Dastakari Haat Samiti.

The exhibition also featured products from several South Asian countries.

“The whole South Asian region is disturbed. If women from these countries are provided with sustainable livelihood, the financial crisis can be addressed to certain extent,” she added.

Noida, December 30
The Noida Board in its 166th meeting has approved three group housing schemes for Sector-104 and 137. It has also given nod to construct underground parkings below parks at five different sites in various sectors.

Chief executive officer of the board Mohinder Singh said, “The board has approved one housing scheme for 64,600 sq metre plot in Sector-104 and two for 51,000 and 60,000 sq metre plots in Sector-137.”

He added, “ Five underground parking lots below parks have been also approved. These include 11,440 sq metre parking lot in Sector-1 block B; 8,395 sq metre parking lot in Sector-3 block F; 8,000 sq metre parking lot in Sector-12 block H; 5,000 sq metre lot in Sector-58 block B and 8,800 sq metre lot in Sector-5 near Harola.”

“The board has also given its nod to non-residential use on 50 per cent area of residential plots allotted to farmers whose land has been acquired for development. Non-residential activities allowed include running clinic, dispensary, paying guest accomodation, PCO, mobile repair kiosks, TV repair shops, library, music, dance, tailoring, cooking training centres, provisional store, telephone tower vending booth, ATM booth and watch repair shops. However, these will be applicable only once the state government gives approval. We are sending the proposal to the state government,” informed Singh.

“The board has given approval for traffic park development at Sector-108. The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has been allotted 31,878 sq metre plot to construct an inter-state bus depot as per international standards,” Singh said.

The Greater Noida Board has given approval for the Jail site. The selected site was earmarked in the Luxor area. Presently, the district’s undertrials were being kept at Dasna Jail in Ghaziabad which has become overcrowded. The jail authorities had requested for land so that an additional jail could be constructed.

The board has also approved two 700 KW sub-stations to be set up at Sirsa abd Gharbara.

New Delhi, December 30
With the arrest of six persons-- Deepak Kumar, Mahender, Satender, Vinod, Amar Nath and Harish Joshi-- the inter-state cell of the crime branch has claimed to have busted a gang of thieves and receivers allegedly involved in the theft and further sale of surgical equipment from government hospitals like AIIMS, Safadarjung, Din Dayal Upadhyay, Hari Nagar, Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar, Lady Harding Medical College & Hospital and Guru Gobind Singh.

The police has recovered Rs. 2.90 lakh along with surgical instruments worth Rs 3 lakh and house breaking instruments from the arrested accused.

Keeping in view the recent increase in incidents of burglary and theft from government hospitals of Delhi, the crime branch of the Delhi police was tasked to identify and apprehend the criminals. The police team prepared a list of suspects and zeroed in on Deepak Kumar, a nursing assistant at Safdarjung Hospital and presently attached to the operation theatre. His activities were kept under surveillance and a list of his possible accomplices was prepared.

"On December 27, we received information that Deepak, along with his accomplices, would be coming near the Safdarjung flyover to hand over a consignment of stolen surgical items to Amar Nath. A team was deployed near the flyover and it spotted Deepak along with three other persons-- Mahender, Satender and Vinod," said Neeraj Thakur, additional CP (crime).

Deepak Kumar, Mahender, Satender and Vinod were arrested on the spot while Amar Nath and Harish Joshi were arrested later. Instruments used for committing crime-- two big iron rods, two hacksaws and blades and screw driver-- were recovered from the accused.

According to Thaukur, Deepak and his accomplices have been stealing surgical and other items from government hospitals since 2004. Normally, they used to commit theft on weekends or the day before any holiday between 9 pm and 1 am. They would commit burglary after breaking the locks or cutting window grills. Interrogation of the arrested persons has revealed that on the day of the arrest, they had planned to commit theft at Bara Hindu Rao Hospital and had already done a survey of the hospital.

Deepak and Mahender are employed with Safadarjung Hospital and so are well aware of surgical items which could be easily sold in the market. Amar Nath works as a as pump operator with the CPWD and his work place is located on the campus of Safdarjung Hospital. It was here that he came in contact with other accused. Harish Joshi owns a shop Sai Surgical in the Bhagirath Place market. It was from his shop that the accused used to dispose of the stolen surgical items to buyers from all over the country.

With these arrests, more than a dozen cases of burglary and theft committed in the government hospitals of Delhi have been solved. Further investigation is in progress. 

New Delhi, December 30
With the arrest of a man, the central district police has solved a murder committed in the Ajmal Khan Park area on the intervening night of December 27-28. The victim’s mother found him stoned to death in the morning.

The accused identified as Sharvan (33), a rag picker and resident of the area, had allegedly killed Sonu (15) who sold bidis and cigarettes at a bus stop near Jeevan Mala Hospital, New Rohtak Road. Sharvan has confessed to the crime.

The police said that Sonu had got a new blanket that night but it was found missing in the morning on December 28. In the night, Sonu used to sleep in his stall at the bus stop.

Local intelligence pointed that some one might have murdered Sonu for the blanket. Those sleeping on pavements in the nearby areas were checked. 

The police team found Shravan sleeping near Gangeshwar Dham Temple near Ajmal Khan Park with the blanket.

“It was biting cold that night. Sharvan saw Sonu sleeping there with a new blanket and pulled it. Sonu recognised Sharvan as he used to purchase bidis and cigarettes from him. Sonu started shouting. In order to save himself, Sharvan hit Sonu with a brick on his head and fled with the blanket,” said a senior police official.

New Delhi, December 30
Four women, including a 12-year-old girl, died at a shelter for mentally challenged persons at the Rohini area in the past 24 hours.

The police said four deaths were reported from Asha Kiran, an NGO in the Avantika area of Rohini’s Sector 1.

The police has ruled out any foul play after preliminary investigations.

“The first death was reported around 7.30 pm last night. Angoori suffering from TB and asthma died on way to hospital,” said the police.

While 34-year-old woman Meena Payal was found dead in her bed by the caretaker who had gone there to give medicines to her.

“Meena went to sleep after dinner. When the caretaker went to give her medicines, she was found dead,” said the police.

A 21-year-old woman died in her bed last night. “Sangeeta, who crippled from hands and legs, was suffering from TB and was bed-ridden since 2004. She was also found dead by the caretaker last night.

Twelve-year-old Deepti died after suffering fits this morning. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was declared brought dead.

“Investigations suggest all of them, who were mentally challenged and were suffering from different ailments, died due to sickness. We have sent their bodies for post mortem and are awaiting their reports before taking any action,” said a senior police officer.

There are about 800 mentally challenged inmates at this NGO.