New Delhi, May 5
In an attempt to discourage use of personal vehicles, the Delhi Transport Corporation has launched a park and ride bus service in the New Delhi area.

The service has been launched in association with the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC), Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). 

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Union minister for urban development S. Jaipal Reddy today flagged off the air-conditioned bus service.

The service will start from C-Hexagon at the India Gate and cover various Union government offices located on either side of Rajpath to ease out parking problem in these office complexes and reduce inconvenience to visiting public. 

Presently, the service, which will be available between 8.30 am and 6 pm, will have two routes— P-1 and P-2. Both the routes will originate and terminate at C-Hexagon. The frequency of the buses on the routes will be 15 minutes. 

Route P-1 will cover Jamnagar Hosue, Vigyan Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, Vayu Bhawan, Rail Bhawan, Red Cross, Transport Bhawan and North Block. Route P-2 will cover Andhra Bhawan, IGNCA, Shastri Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, G-Block K. Kamraj Bhawan, Sena Bhawan and South Block. 

The buses will also cover two Metro stations,Central Secretariat and Patel Chowk. 

People can park their vehicles in the parking lot of C-Hexagon and take a bus from there to any of the government office buildings located at Rajpath.

This will also benefit those government officers who are required to visit other ministry offices for meetings.  

Dikshit said the service would be another step in bringing a positive change in public transport system. She expressed confidence that the service would be useful and the DTC would not hesitate in increasing number of buses under the service as per the response, satisfaction and utility of the passengers. 

Reddy said the initiative would go a long way in de-congesting Lutyen’s Delhi.

New Delhi, May 5
Reacting strongly to the negligence in the disposal of radioactive Cobalt-60 by Delhi University’s chemistry department, the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) today staged a massive demonstration in front of the vice-chancellor’s office.

Aditya Narayan Mishra, president, DUTA, said to ensure an impartial probe, the vice-chancellor must step down. DUTA has also called for a visitorial enquiry into the matter, saying those affiliated with DU are likely to be biased.

More than 500 DUTA members participated in the demonstration today, requesting President Pratibha Patil to remove the VC for a fair and impartial enquiry.

“If the person responsible for the problems remains in office, can we expect any fairness? Taking moral responsibility appears to be a ploy to remain in office and exercise his influence on the committee appointed by him,” Mishra said.

“The VC is not just an academic, but also the administrative head of the university whose permission is mandatory before holding auction of waste materials. Not only this, he is also responsible for forming committee for any such disposal. In this case, the VC surprisingly kept silent throughout the episode while the whole country, including Parliament, was groping in dark about the source of the radioactive substance till it was discovered by the Delhi police,” said DUTA vice-president, Sanjay Kumar.

Delhi University has already announced a compensation of Rs 8 lakh for the family of Rajender, a worker who died due to radiation, and a job for his widow. Rajender (35) worked at a shop in Mayapuri scrap market.

New Delhi, May 5
To help avoid long queues at the exit points of Metro stations in the Capital, the Delhi Metro has installed separate gates for smart card users, an official said on Wednesday.

A seven-foot-long steel framed gate has been installed at the Barakhamba Road Metro station on a trial basis. Two such gates will be put up at the Rajiv Chowk station shortly.

“The traffic flow in other stations is being studied,” Anuj Dayal, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation spokesman said.

The new gates will be installed near the existing automatic fare collection (AFC) centres at Metro stations.

“Regular commuters who use smart cards complain about unnecessary delay at exit points because of token users, especially first time users. For the convenience of such card users we have installed special exit gates,” Dayal said.

“Over 55 per cent of Metro commuters are smart card users. This step is a way to encourage commuters to use smart cards as its use will ensure smoother entry and exit from the Metro stations,” Dayal added.

Smart card users get a 10 per cent discount on the fare and they can also avoid long queues at the token counters. Another advantage is that unlike with tokens there is no risk of being penalized for travelling beyond the authorized distance.

Apart from regular smart cards, Metro offers tourist smart cards for visitors to the city. These cards are priced between Rs 100 and Rs 250 and are valid for unlimited travel for three days.—IANS

New Delhi, May 5
The south district police has arrested a 48-year-old man for allegedly implicating 24 persons in various criminal cases in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Ved Parkash Yadav of Pitampura has allegedly implicated his associates and business rivals in criminal cases. Of them, 15 have spent long time in jail.

DCP (south) H.G.S. Dhaliwal said that Yadav was arrested on May 1. With his arrest, the police has solved nine cases of attempt to murder and cheating. 

The arrest came following investigations into a complaint filed by one Rajesh Kumar. Kumar alleged that Yadav had cheated him of Rs 15 lakh in the selling of a flat. 

“Yadav is a shrewd builder. He usually bought disputed property. After possession, he used to implicate the other party in cases of attempt to murder and cheating to avoid payment,” said Dhaliwal.

Dhaliwal added that Yadav had succeeded in registering nine cases against 24 persons using the same modus operandi. Of these, 15 persons have spent long time in jail. 

“All 24 persons are Yadav’s associates in his property deals. He had to pay dues to them. But instead of paying their dues he implicated them in criminal cases and sent them behind bars,” said Dhaliwal adding that Rajesh Kumar, on whose complaint Yadav was arrested, had bought a Rs 40-lakh flat from the accused. He had paid Rs 15 lakh to Yadav, but was not given the flat’s possession.

Kumar told the police that Yadav had sold the flat to some other person.

Dhaliwal said that Yadav assumed that Rajesh Kumar would not complain against him, considering the fate of his friends who were in jail.

“Yadav used his servants, all illiterates, to file complaints against his associates and rivals. He managed to get their thumb impression on the complaints on some pretext or the other. The servants told the police that they had never filed any complaint in UP or Delhi,” Dhaliwal said.  

Satish Kumar, a servant, told the police that a few years ago Yadav had taken him to Ghaziabad where he was administered anesthesia. When he regained consciousness he saw a deep cut on his back side. 

New Delhi, May 5
Children as young as eight years were found making electrical sockets at a factory in Nangloi when a combined inspection team of the Delhi government's task force on elimination of child labour, local police and labour department reached the spot today.

Acting on a complaint filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, the team along with SDM Nangloi R.P. Singh rescued three children from the factory which was running illegally in the residential area. Authorities said the employer Sunil Kumar remained untraced but a case under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 along with other provisions has been filed.

Similarly, 16 children were rescued yesterday in Rohini from Baba Bakery, owned by Rajesh Lamba, who is a leading exporter of bakery items catering to the USA, Canada and Gulf countries. Falling within 9-14 years, these children, a majority of them from Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, have gone through hazards and suffered burns while working without gloves under temperature as high as 105 degrees, the condition suitable for the activity of yeast for bread production.

"Due to the dense smoke in the factory, my eyes became sore. When things started getting worse, I was told to help in packing. I had to sit on the ground for more than 8 hours at a stretch to earn Rs 20 a week," said Deepak (name changed), who is the youngest child rescued by the team.

Chairperson, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, R.S Chaurasia who led the raid, said, "There were around 70 children working in this factory but all of them escaped as the information about the raid spread. Even the elders who are working here do not receive minimum wages set by the government. If this is the situation in reputed factories, one can only imagine the plight in local production units."

All the rescued children will receive release certificates that would entitle them to the rehabilitation sum of Rs 20,000. 

New Delhi, May 5
With the minimum temperature five notches above average at 28.5 degree Celsius, it was a warm start to the day today for Delhiites. The maximum temperature recorded today was 41.7 degree Celsius. The humidity was recorded at 42 per cent.

Even though there were predictions of thundershowers or dust storm late evening, the relief didn't come.

However, the weatherman has predicted a partly cloudy sky for tomorrow, with the likelihood of dust storm or thundershowers later in the evening.

"There is a likelihood of a dust storm or thundershowers later in the evening tomorrow. But until then, the temperatures are going to soar above average. While the maximum temperature is expected to settle at 42 degree Celsius, the minimum is expected to be at 28 degree Celsius," an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. 

New Delhi, May 5
A major fire gutted a factory in the Okhla industrial area here today, the Delhi Fire Service said.

No one was injured in the incident.

The fire started around noon in a sanitaryware factory and was brought under control after three hours but the cooling process is still on, a Delhi Fire Service official said. Twenty-four fire engines battled the flames.

“Our investigations have found out that an electrical short circuit caused the fire in the factory,” a police official said. -- IANS

New Delhi, May 5 
A young reporter working with a Hindi news channel was killed today evening while covering a fire incident in the Dwarka area of south-west Delhi. 

According to information, the reporter got buried under a wall that collapsed due to a cylinder blast. 

“Ajay Tiwari (25), a reporter with Sahara News Network, was covering the incident for the channel when the debris fell from the first floor of the building. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but succumbed to his injuries,” said the police. 

According to fire officials, the incident took place at a clothes godown in K-24, Sector 4, Dwarka. 

“The godown is close to Rajapuri Chowk and we got a fire call around 4.16 pm. Fourteen fire tenders were rushed to the spot and they are still to return back,” said a fire official around 9 pm, adding that shortage of fire dousing material was hampering the teams effort to control the fire. 

The cause of fire is yet to be ascertained. Ajay Tewari, hailing from Arra district of Bihar, is survived by wife and a 3-year-old son. 

New Delhi, May 5
Students today filed their nominations for the students' union election on May 7 at Vardaman Mahavir Medical College of Safdarjung Hospital. The institute is going for the polls for the first time.

Among various posts, the berths of the president, vice-president and general secretary have in a way been reserved for the three third year students who stand unopposed, today being the only day for filing and withdrawal of nominations.

"This clearly brings out the unquestionable faith and support that the students repose in us. For me, this would create a channel for better interaction among the students," said third year student Karan Vatsya, who is contesting for the post of the president.

The issues that would occupy the fulcrum of the agenda for the polls would include ensuring adequate provision of hostel, cafeteria and playground among others for over 500 graduate and postgraduate students, who would be casting their ballots on Friday.

The result would be declared on May 8, following which a committee of eight to ten members would be formed. 

New Delhi, May 5
Clubfoot patients will now be able to get non-surgical treatment at nominal charges in Delhi, state health minister Kiran Walia said on Wednesday.

International organisation Cure Clubfoot Worldwide will provide technical know-how, training and treatment shoes free of cost to five Delhi government hospitals -- Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya, Balmiki Maharishi, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash, Guru Tegh Bahadur and Deen Dayal Upadhayay.

The state government on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect with the organisation.

"Cure Clubfoot, on a pilot-project basis, started working with some hospitals of the city last year. After seeing their credentials and work, we signed the MoU with them," Walia told reporters.

Clubfoot is a congenital deformity in which the affected foot appears rotated internally at the ankle.

Walia said at least one child out of 750 is born with clubfoot in the city and 842 children with the congenital birth defect were treated last year.

"Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) will work at the grassroot level to make people aware that the disease is curable," she added.

The surgical process to cure clubfoot is common in the developing countries. The organisation uses the non-surgical casting procedure, which is said to be economical.

Cure Clubfoot Worldwide has been working in 17 countries to eliminate the disease.

E. Andrew Mayo of Cure Clubfoot Worldwide said: "The MoU is just a formal agreement according to which we will provide technical know-how and training. Besides, we will organise refresher courses for doctors here." — IANS

New Delhi, May 5
Jamia Millia Islamia is launching an independent inquiry into suspected irregularities in appointments and promotions during the tenure of the previous vice-chancellor, Prof Mushirul Hasan, it is reliably learnt.

The decision was taken by the executive council of Jamia Millia Islamia at its meeting April 29, university sources said.

The university had received a number of representations and complaints from the government regarding alleged irregularities involving at least 50 appointments for faculty and other positions during the tenure of Hasan, who was vice chancellor from 2005 to 2009.

As per the executive council, the inquiry is likely to be conducted by an independent authority, possibly a retired judge.

The 91-year-old university, set up by nationalist Muslims in the wake of the non-cooperation movement against British rule, has 18,000 students and 800 staff on its rolls. Its nine faculties run about 200 courses.

Its present vice-chancellor, Najeeb Jung, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, joined the university as its 13th vice-chancellor over nine months ago.

Among his illustrious predecessors have been former President Zakir Hussain, who was vice-chancellor for 22 long years and whose 41st death anniversary was observed at his mausoleum in the university on May 3.— IANS

Ghaziabad, May 5
The Ghaziabad Central Bureau of Investigation Court has deferred the arguments on the quantum of punishment to accused Surinder Koli for rape and murder of seven-year-old Arti, till May 12 due to the strike by lawyers.

Ghaziabad Lawyers Association today struck work in protest against advocates being beaten up in Kanpur.

A special CBI court judge A.K.Singh had on Tuesday convicted Koli guilty of rape and murder of Arti. She had gone missing from her home in September 2006. She was amongst the 19 women and children whose skulls and bones were found in a drain behind the house No D-5 Sector 31.

The court did not find the involvement of Pandher in this case with the CBI claiming that he was out of town.

The victim's father Durga Prasad, however, was not satisfied with punishment of only Koli.

He has decided to move the Supreme Court in this regard.

New Delhi, May 5
An Afghan national Sayed Salem and his Nepali accomplice Anand Kumar were arrested by the special cell of Delhi police for allegedly facilitating the immigration of Afghan nationals to Australia using Cambodia and Indonesia as transit points.

According to police, they are wanted in immigration cases of Airport Police in Kolkata (WB).

According to a senior police official, a raid was conducted at Kashmiri Park, Jangpura Extension and both the racketeers were apprehended yesterday. "The gang used fake Nepalese passports and were facilitating the immigration of Afghan nationals to foreign countries using Cambodia and Indonesia as transit points," said a senior police official.

During interrogation, Sayed Salem revealed that since the Australian government is not issuing visa to Afghan nationals, he had arranged fake Nepalese passports for six Afghan nationals who were arrested in Kolkata on April 21, 2010. "They were all destined for Australia using Cambodia and Indonesia as transit points. These Nepalese passports were arranged by Jeevan, Anand and Hari, all residents of Nepal and given to Salem. He further charged US $3,500 per person for facilitating the fake passports," said the officer.

New Delhi, May 5
A Delhi court today sent a Singaporean national to 14 days' judicial custody for allegedly carrying seven kilograms of hashish.

Metropolitan magistrate Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler sent Lee Weiqi, a resident of Bukit Batok in Singapore, to Tihar Jail till May 6 after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) submitted that it did not require to quiz him in custody.

"The accused, in his statement, admitted to the recovery and seizure of hashish from his possession. He has also confessed to his complicity in the drugs trade," special public prosecutor for NCB, said.

Weiqi was arrested after a tip-off by the NCB officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport here on May 2.

NCB, which also recovered the contraband from his possession, would soon be filing a complaint under various provisions of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act on conclusion of the ongoing probe in the case, the prosecutor said.

The contraband has been sent for forensic examination, he said.

Greater Noida, May 5
A man employed in an eatery under the Kasna police station was beaten to death by another worker over tip. His body was found outside the eatery this morning.

A murder case has been lodged against the accused who is reportedly absconding.

The victim identified as Raju (46) of Aurangabad in Bulandshahr worked at Sharma Dhabha in Kasna town. The accused, Ashok, from J&K also worked there. Last evening, Ashok and Raju had a dispute over tip. However, the eatery's owner, J.D. Sharma, had intervened and resolved peace between them.

In the night when the eatery closed, Raju was sleeping outside the dhaba. Ashok reportedly beat him to death. Since then, Ashok has been absconding. In the morning when the eatery's owner saw Raju lying in a pool of blood, he informed the police.

The police sent Raju's body for an autopsy without informing his family. Raju's in-laws from Sirsa village rushed to Kasna. They were joined by villagers who jammed the road and demanded compensation for the deceased’s family.