New Delhi, March 15
The Delhi Assembly session began on a stormy note today as opposition BJP raised a din over price rise and the alleged incompetence of Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government. Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna had to make his speech amidst noisy protests.

Khanna’s speech centred around the coming Commonwealth Games and Delhi’s preparedness for the mega event while the opposition members raised slogans like “Jo sarkar nikammi hai who sarkar badalni hai… Sheila Dikshit murdabad”.

BJM members were on their feet the moment Khanna mentioned the inflation issue, but he went ahead with his speech and ended it within 15 minutes without unveiling any major policy initiative. Khanna said price rise was a global phenomenon though the Delhi government had initiated multi-pronged measures, including regulatory controls and action against hoarders.

For the Games, Delhi is doing its best not only to put up a good sporting infrastructure but also upgrading its infrastructure, he said.

The Delhi government has to construct four stadiums and two of them–Talkatora and Ludlow Castle—are complete while the remaining two–Chhattrasal and Shivaji—are nearing completion.

“Transport system has also been improved with low-floor buses and Metro. All major roads are being widened and parking facilities being built in NDMC area,” Khanna said.

The government is also setting up medical centres at competition venues and improving hospitals, he added.

The LG said keeping in mind the requirement of uninterrupted power supply during the Games, the government had made preparations for long-term availability of electricity on a sustained basis. It has installed various projects–Pragati-based power project at Bawana, coal power project in Jhajjar and gas-based plant in Rithala. The water treatment capacity has been increased to 826 MGD from 790 MGD by commissioning the Nangloi treatment plant and recycling plants at Haiderpur, Bhagirathi and Wazirabad.

As far environment, the government has banned manufacturing and sale of plastic bags of less than 40 micrones. It has also increased its forest area from 30 km in 1998 to 300 sq km.

Besides, there is remarkable improvement in education sector. The board results of government schools are at par with those of the public schools. The CBSE result for Class X was 48 per cent in 2005 and it went up to 89.44 per cent in 2009. The senior secondary result had improved from 76.44 per cent to 87.14 per cent. As far as technical education is concerned, the government has opened Delhi Technical University, he said.

New Delhi, March 15
An argument between sons of a Rajya Sabha MP and an RJD MLA turned violent as a group of people threw stones at a police station. The police personnel were forced to lob teargas shells to control the mob. 

The incident was reported late last night from the Jamia Nagar area of south-east Delhi.

Last night, Faizal and Farhan, sons of Rajya Sabha MP Pervez Hashmi (Congress), entered into an argument with Okhla MLA Md Asif Khan as they allegedly tried to overtake Khan’s car.

However, a police official said, “There was no issue just a political rivalry between the MP and the MLA.”

According to sources, when the police failed to lodge a case against the MP’s sons, around 200 supporters of the MLA marched to Jamia Nagar police station and pelted stones. As the mob turned violent, the police lobbed four teargas shells to control the mob.

There were reports of police personnel firing in the air, but the police denied it.

“We have received complaints from both the sides, but no case has been registered as of now. However, a case of rioting has been registered against those who threw stones at the police station,” said a police official.

Residents of the area said there had been dispute between the MP and the MLA in the past, as they belong to different parties.

Hashmi is the former representative from Okhla while Khan is the MLA from the constituency under which Jamia Nagar too comes.

Khan won the by-election to Okhla after Hashmi resigned from the seat following his nomination to the Rajya Sabha. 

Meanwhile, policemen have been deployed in the area and security has been stepped up at the New Friends colony residence of Hashmi.

New Delhi, March 15
An almost complete boycott of the Delhi Technological University’s (DTU) mid-term examination by over 3,000 students left its administration stunned and it was forced to invite agitating student leaders for talks in the evening to end the impasse. However, it did not bear any results.

The administration had been boasting that only a handful of students was involved in the agitation, which has been going on for a month over its takeover by the state government from the Delhi University, and hoped that most students would turn up for the examination. However, only a tiny fraction of students appeared amidst the heavy presence of riot police on the campus.

The DTU spokesperson told The Tribune late evening that talks between students and top administrative officials were under way.

She said the attendance of students appearing for B.E. and B.Tech was thin while exams for M.Tech courses saw students appearing in full strength.

“Total 88 students appeared for undergraduate examinations in the afternoon shift for IV and VIII semesters,” she said.

However, student leaders said students kept away from the examination and were backing their boycott call. “We had told the administration that students were unhappy with the so called upgradation of the institute and more than 90 per cent would boycott the exams,” said Ravi Shekhar, president, DTU Students Association. He said the college campus had only water cannons and police forces, but no students.

The university campus located on the outskirts of the Capital has been almost deserted as most students have left for their homes due to the existing situation at the Delhi College of Engineering that has been taken over by the Delhi state government and converted into a state university. 

New Delhi, March 15
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has initiated a drive against the use of plastic bags by seizing them from shops in its area. An awareness awareness campaign ‘No to use plastic bags’ has also been kickstarted, targeting residents, traders and students.

The NDMC officials said that circulars have been sent to sanitary inspectors, resident welfare associations, market traders associations, schools, colleges, corporate houses, government and and non-government organizations to prohibit the use of plastic bags by the department of Environment, Delhi government. Circulars in this regard have also been issued to restaurants and eating joints

A team of health department officials raided shops and seized plastic bags located at Connaught Place, Netaji Nagar Market, Begum Zaidi Market, Moti Bagh, East Kidwai Nagar Market and Sarojini Nagar market.

In order to restrict the use of plastic bags and ensure proper disposal of non-biodegradable garbage the Delhi Government had enacted a law ‘the Delhi Plastic Bag’ (Manufacture, Sales and Usage) and Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 2000 with specific rules.

A total of 15 kg plastic bags have been seized in a single phase of the Sarojini Nagar market area from vegetable vendors and shopkeepers of readymade garments.

“During the drive health education unit of NDMC also organised interactive session with RWAs, MTAs and schools on the subject. During these sessions, residents, traders and students are advised to use jute bags, cloth bags and paper bags instead of plastic carry bags. We are also carrying out an awareness campaign through vehicles, mounted public address system for the general public,” he said.

New Delhi, March 15
A city court today directed the medical superintendent of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to constitute a medical team that to find out the age of suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative, Salman Ahmed. The court has asked the premier hospital to submit the report by March 22, the next date of hearing.

The court of chief metropolitan magistrate Kaveri Baweja issued the directions after Salman’s counsel, Iftekar Ansari, filed an application before the court stating that Salman, accused in September 13, 2008 Delhi blasts, was a juvenile when the incident took place.

To support his argument, Ansari produced Salman’s Class X marksheet of the UP board that which shows his date of birth to be October 3, 1992.

However, additional public prosecutor Rajiv Mohan argued that the documents seized by the police from Salman counters his date of birth as printed in his Class X marksheet. The police had seized a health card issued by the UAE ministry of health and a Nepali passport. They show his date of birth as May 27, 1985.

Mohan added that even during his medical examination the accused had said that he was of 20 years. Even before the court, Salman had said that he was 20 years’ old at the time of blasts.

“In view of the contradictory claims with regard to the accused’s age, let the medical board conduct an ossification test on him and furnish the report by the next date,” the court said.

Besides, the court directed the investigating officer to verify the marksheet produced by Salman’s counsel with his Matric certificate and submit a report on March 22.

Salman Ahmed, alias Chhotu, was arrested on March 6 by the anti-terrorism squad of the UP police from Siddarth Nagar, 300 km from Lucknow. He was produced before the court after his eight-day police custody ended today. 

New Delhi, March 15
Keeping an eye on the upcoming Commonwealth Games, Delhi Metro has restored and handed over most of the arterial roads of the city which it had taken over for the second phase of Metro construction.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has already restored more than 30 kms of roads and is expected to complete the handing over of all the roads under its occupancy within next month.

A total of 45 kms of roads were affected due to Metro construction during Phase II. “While 30.36 kms of roads have already been handed over, another 3.6 kms of roads have been restored and are ready to be handed over to the civic agencies which were maintaining them earlier,” said Anuj Dayal, spokesperson, DMRC.

A 4.40-km-long stretch of Vikas Marg, an arterial road connecting ITO with East Delhi, was handed over to the Public Works Department (PWD) in February. The Yamuna Bank to Anand Vihar Metro corridor passes through this stretch of Vikas Marg.

The Mehrauli to Gurgaon road on the southern fringes of the city acts as an important connection between Delhi and the satellite city of Gurgaon. The Qutub Minar to HUDA City Centre corridor of Delhi Metro mostly passes through this road.

“A 6.80 km stretch of this road, which was affected due to Metro construction, has been restored and handed over to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in February,” said Dayal.

A 350-metres stretch of Baba Kharak Singh Marg connecting the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara and Rajiv Chowk at Connaught Place outer circle was closed for traffic from one side in March 2008 for the construction of the Airport Express link. The road has been entirely relaid and opened for traffic. It has been handed over to the NDMC for streetscaping work ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

Portions of GT Karnal Road, which connects important landmarks of the city such as Delhi University and the wholesale vegetable and fruit market in Azadpur, were also taken up for Metro construction on the Vishwavidyalaya to Jahangirpuri corridor. The road was restored to its original position and handed over in September last year.

A busy stretch between Dhaula Kuan and RTR flyover on National Highway 8 was also affected due to the construction of the Airport Express link. The stretch has been repaired and will be handed over early next week.

Some other important roads such as Press Enclave Road in Saket and the East End Apartments road in New Ashok Nagar have been completed and offered to PWD for taking over.

A few other roads such as Humayun Road, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, a section of Mathura Road, Rohtak Road, Rafi Marg and Raisina Road are also being repaired. All these roads will also be handed over to their authorities by the end of next month. 

Noida, March 15
The district labour department has identified 94 handicapped employees and registered them under the ESI & PF scheme.

It has appealed to industrialists to inform the department if they have any handicapped employee.

Assistant labour commissioner Atal Kumar said, “Under the scheme, the employer share of ESI and PF in respect to employees having 40 per cent or more physical disability, is given by the central government. This amounts to around 10 per cent of the worker’s salary. This year, 94 such employees have been identified in Noida.”

“A survey was carried out on direction from Mohinder Singh, chairman and chief executive officer of Noida Authority who is also the labour commissioner of Noida,” said Kumar.

“Last year, there were 63 handicapped employees. Of these only 30 were found working. Rest 33 had left the job. Employers are motivated to employ handicapped people,” said Kumar.

New Delhi, March 15
It has become a familiar story. Seventeen-year-old Santosh (name changed), accused of heading a gang of juveniles involved in burglaries and then setting the houses on fire to do away with any clues, once again escaped from a remand home in the Mukherjee Nagar area of north-west Delhi last night.

This is his fifth escape in the last seven years.

Santosh, who was apprehended by the south district police on March 9 while trying to rob a house, escaped with 26 others, injuring three guards in the process. Two of the juveniles were later spotted and brought back to the juvenile home.

“Twenty-seven juveniles escaped from the remand house by scaling the boundary wall. They had a scuffle with three guards of the home. The guards were injured in the incident. However, we have brought back two of the juveniles,” a said a senior police official adding that Santosh’s escape was a cause of worry.

“He has escaped from the juvenile home at least five times in the last seven years. In December, he will become an adult,” said the officer.

Santosh was caught on March 9 when he was trying to rob the house of one Lalita in Pillanji village of Sarojini Nagar. When Lalita and her son resisted his attempt and the police coming to apprehend him, Santosh hit himself on the head with a brick to terrorise the complainant and escape.

However, he was caught. 

The police believes that Santosh and his gang of juveniles is involved in more than 100 thefts and burglaries for over the past few years and has set fire on at least eight houses.

Greater Noida, March 15
The Greater Noida police has arrested a man for strangling his wife to death.

The man allegedly killed his wife on his way home from his in-laws’ place. After killing her, he dumped her body in the jungle and fled.

The woman’s body has been recovered.

The man allegedly killed his wife as he was having an affair with another woman and the victim was an obstacle in his relationship.

The complainant, Rashid of village Khajpur under the Jevar Kotwali area had got married his daughters Vakeela and Sabeela to Aakil and Mubark respectively. Aakil was allegedly having an affair with another woman. To marry that woman, Aakil wanted to divorce Vakeela. This had become a cause of discord between the couple.

As a result, Vakeela had returned to her parents’ house.

On Friday, Aakil had gone to his in-laws’ and bring Vakeela back. They started for their home in the evening. On the way, Aakil strangulated his wife in the forest outside the village. After dumping her body in the jungle, Aakil fled.

When he reached home Aakil’s parents asked him about Vakeela. He told his parents that Vakeela had refused to come. When Vakeela’s father rang up her in-laws’ house, he found that she had not reached there. At this Vakeela’s family got worried and they informed the police.

Aakil was arrested. During interrogation, he broke down and confessed to have killed her on the way. The police recovered Vakeela’s body from the jungle at Aakil’s instance.

New Delhi, March 15
A city court today sent godman Shiv Murat Dwivedi, alias Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanandji Maharaj Chitrakootwale, to Tihar Jail for a day.

The court denied the plea of Delhi police special cell which wanted the accused’s remand as it failed to produce the case diaries. Dwivedi’s police remand under MCOCA ended today.

The court of special judge S.K. Sarwaria denied the plea and pulled up the investigating officer for not producing the diaries recovered from his property in Chitrakoot. The court said, “The investigating officer is directed to present the diary in person, only then we can consider the Delhi police plea.”

In the plea, the special cell had sought five more days to interrogate Dwivedi, accused of running a multi-crore prostitution racket.

According to sources, the police had seized eight diaries of Ichchadhari baba from Chitrakoot. The police wanted to verify the entries made in his diaries that entail the transactions carried out by him.

Dwivedi’s counsel opposed the police’s plea saying that he had already remained in police custody for 11 days.

On March 8, Dwivedi was sent to police custody. The police took him to places like Chitrakoot in UP and Noida to get details about the multi-crore sex racket that he ran.
Arrested on February 26, with a man and six women, including two air hostesses, Dwivedi has allegedly been involved in four cases under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and one case of robbery. A fresh arrest against him was registered on March 9 under the provisions of the MCOCA.

New Delhi, March 15
The south district police has arrested a 38-year-old priest for raping a 30-year-old mentally unstable woman in the Saket area last month.

The accused Santosh Kumar Tiwari, a priest in a temple at Pushp Vihar, was arrested after the victim’s brother saw him in Saket market yesterday.

The incident came to light when someone intimidated the police about two persons fighting in the area. The victim’s brother told the police that Tiwari had raped his sister nearly 45 days ago. “The victim’s brother beat Tiwari when he saw him in the Saket market area. When we arrived, he told us about Tiwari’s misdeed,” said an official from Saket police station.

DCP (south) HGS Dhaliwal said Tiwari had been arrested and investigation was on.

Tiwari has reportedly been on the run ever since he raped the woman on February 4.

“The victim told her family about the incident the same day. However, Tiwari had managed to flee,” said a police official.

The victim’s family did not report the matter to the police, as they thought it would be an embarrassment for the family.