New Delhi, June 27
The Delhi University Teachers Association voiced its opposition to the vice-chancellor and the registrar for threatening teachers through various letters written to college principals.

DUTA asserts that the vice-chancellor is taking a strong position against the teachers’ disassociation from the admission process that has created problems for both the varsity administration and the students.

Delhi University teachers have disassociated themselves from the admission process as a mark of their protest against the imposition of the semester system.

Sources within the DUTA say that the vice-chancellor, Deepak Pental, has threatened the teachers and issued a letter addressed to all the college principals recently. DUTA in turn has reached out to the High Court and informed the court that it is not obstructing the admission process in any way but has only appealed to teachers to disassociate themselves from the admission process. However, by the very act of disassociation, teachers have created hurdles for the college principals and numerous students who have nobody to turn to while completing the admission formalities.

Meanwhile, DUTA defends its peaceful movement. Aditya Narayan Misra, the DUTA president, said, “We strongly feel that it does not suit the vice-chancellor to quote ordinance XII to teachers on duties of college teachers while he himself has violated the provisions of the university act, statues and ordinances and indiscriminately been misusing emergency powers. This kind of highhandedness is not to be tolerated! He has subverted the authority of the academic council, executive council and the court.”

DUTA has done its best to inform the Delhi High Court of its version of events. The AAD president, J Khuntia, said, “The vice-chancellor and registrar have completely misled the teachers of the university by giving an impression that they are obstructing admissions and hence can be sued for contempt of court. The truth is different. After listening to DUTA president and other members, the High Court took note of the violations of act, statutes and ordinances of the university by vice-chancellor Prof. Deepak Pental and directed DUTA to file rejoinder within 10 days and listed it for 15 July.”

As DUTA falls into a blame game mode, desperate principals reach out to students personally to solve their problems.

In many colleges, the principal is personally seen moving among students and answering their admission queries. At Hindu College, the cut-off was delayed by a day due to the non-cooperation of teachers. In other colleges, the college administration had to fall back on last years’ cut-off list as there was a paucity of teachers to assist in the computation of the cut-off. And the worst sufferers are students, students have been walking up and down the halls of various colleges, looking for guidance.

New Delhi, June 27
The government would be reaching out to the public as part of its strategy to minimise the use of tobacco and the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), which had got a tobacco cessation centre way back in 2002, is taking the lead by extending the hospital-based intervention to the community.

For the purpose, a sum of Rs 45 lakh was sought and the proposal has already received the government’s approval. Initiated on a trial basis, the project would begin in Delhi’s five localities—Nandnagri, Sundernagri, Shasatri Park, Gandhi Nagar and Hauz Khas and in each of these colonies, one block would be identified to start with and the target section would be the youth and reproductive populace.

“We are taking up the experience of hospital care to the community and for this we are planning to have five outreach clinics. As of date, through the tobacco cessation clinic, medication was provided as per the three-step model—self-help tips, brief counselling and intensive treatment. The new strategy would engage the public for controlling the use of tobacco,” Dr Nimesh Desai, medical superintendent of IHBAS, told The Tribune.

With an integrated approach, through a consortium of NGOs, namely Chronic Care Foundation, the programme would be implemented on a pilot-basis and gradually, based on the assessment of the outcome, it would be extended to other pockets of the city.

“One block would be empowered in each colony with the support of local NGOs and general practioners. There would be health workers who would carry a survey and identify those addicted to some or other forms of tobacco and direct them to the clinic set-up in the area. The main focus would be those within the age group 15-50 years,” said Dr Rupali Shivalkar, programme coordinator of tobacco cessation programme, IHBAS.

Most importantly, the purpose behind the strategic approach is to target the lower stratum of society, especially residing in slums and resettlement colonies, who most of the times discontinue the medication due to the exorbitant costs.

Associated with the project from IHBAS, Suchi Mathur underlined, “To reach out to a larger section of people, the treatment would be made available at 50 per cent subsidised rates. We hope that the step would enable in bringing down the number of people addicted to tobacco.”

Over the years, the number of people turning up at the IHBAS’ tobacco quitting centre has increased from 300, three-four years back, to over 500, but the success rate has been fairly okay, standing at 15-16 per cent.

New Delhi, June 27
Sporadic showers early this morning were of little respite from the sweltering weather that has prevailed in the Capital, with the mercury level hovering above 40 degree Celsius during the day. In addition, high levels of humidity increased the discomfort of the citizens.

It was actually a tough day for many who got deceived by the earlier cloudy conditions. However, the minimum temperature did see a downward shift, while the maximum climbed one degree above the average to 41.1 degree Celsius.

Also, the humidity levels in the city took a high with the maximum being recorded at 77 per cent and the minimum around 60 per cent.

The minimum temperature settled around 27.4 degree Celsius, two notches below the normal for this time of the year.

According to the IMD, similar conditions are expected to stay in the Capital for some time, though on Monday, light rains or thundershowers towards the evening could be possible.

“The city would witness brief spells with thunder activity in the evening. The maximum and minimum temperature tomorrow would settle around 42 degree and 29 degree Celsius respectively,” an IMD official said. 

Transport minister Arvinder Singh Lovely has tried to assuage the public anger over the auto and taxi fare hike stating that the government would ensure that auto drivers, known for fleecing passengers, improve their service.

He said they would be made to install Global Positioning System (GPS) in autorickshaws which would help catch those drivers who turn away passengers.

However, transport officials are sceptical and some believe the only beneficiary would be the manufacturer of the GPS instruments.

New Delhi, June 27
Residents of unauthorized colonies criticized the notice given to the local authorities by the city government with the instructions that no new construction should be carried out in the colonies.

They said that the notice has no meaning until the local authorities become sincere and the DDA constructs houses for the needy. The DDA is responsible for providing accommodation to the citizens of Delhi. But as the agency has failed, the people have built houses in unauthorized colonies.

Most of the residents said that illegal construction is always carried out with the nexus between the local politicians, police and the administration. They have knowledge of their areas. The police, DDA and MCD take bribe from the land owners. In some areas, the police has fixed a rate for builders who construct flats. As many as 60 houses were demolished recently in Jaitpur by the DDA, claiming that these houses were on agriculture land.

Sukhbuir Singh who resides in Jaitpur said, "We had purchased land from farmers. We have documentary proof. When I had started constructing the building, police, DDA and MCD officials had come demanding bribe. No construction could be done without bribing the police."

Kalyan Singh, a resident of Sangam Vihar said that the police has two rates-for individual houses, they demand around Rs 15,000 and for builders, Rs 25,000 per floor.

Nasim who resides in Madapur Khadar and works with the Doordarshan, said that instead of stopping the construction, the government should ban the sale and purchase of agriculture land. A majority of the people who reside in these colonies are poor. Demolition of their houses shows insensitiveness of the government, he said. 

New Delhi, June 27
A 28-year-old man was shot dead while two others were injured after a drunk Delhi Jal Board (DJB) employee opened fire at them when they tried to stop him from entering the brothel situated in a red light district in Central Delhi today evening.

According to the police, the incident was reported around 3 pm from Kotha number 64 on GB road area.

"Kanta Prasad working as a shift in charge at Shahdra DJB office had gone to the red light area on G B Road around 3 pm in a drunken state. Due to his drunken condition, he was prevented from entering the kotha by three men who work as guards and helpers there. However, an argument followed, ending in Kanta Prasad shooting the three men, one of whom died in hospital later in the evening," said a police official from the Kamla market police station.

According to him, the victim Ram Babu (28), Rishal (24) and Badri (32) were rushed to LNJP Hospital where Ram Babu succumbed to his injuries. "Ram Babu was shot in the chest. He died around 6 pm," said the police official.

According to information, Kanta Prasad was beaten up by the three victims before he pulled out his licensed revolver and shot at them. Rishal and Badri were hit by bullet in hands and shoulder.

According to information, Prasad is said to be having relationship with a woman at the kotha and was a frequent visitor there.

"He claims that the woman is married to him. Her sister also works there and today evening he had gone to meet her but being in drunken condition she refused to meet him. When stopped by Rambabu and other guards, Prasad insisted in going after which argument followed ending in his opening fire at them," said a police official, adding that his licensed revolver has been confiscated.

He had got the license from Bulandshahr (UP) in 2001 and had an all-India license last year.

New Delhi, June 27
The crime branch of Delhi police has arrested one Anil Jaat (32), a sharpshooter of the Ashok Rathi gang along with his two accomplices Nitin (25) and Vikash (26), in connection with a businessman's murder in the Katwaria Sarai area on June 3.

According to police, accused Nitin and Vikash had professional rivalry with Harvinder Singh, who owns a shop in Katwaria Sarai, and this led to the murder of the businessman.

On interrogation of the three accused, the story behind the murder unfolded. Nitin and Vikash disclosed that they had an old rivalry with the victim, Harvinder Singh. About two months ago, one Honey, cousin of Nitin, was murdered in Katwaria Sarai village and Harvinder Singh then celebrated by distributing sweets in the village. Consequently, Nitin and Vikash decided to kill him and hired two sharpshooters of the Ashok Rathi gang.

"On June 3, Jaat and his accomplice Sudhir came to Singh's shop and shot him dead. Sudhir, who is involved in more than 30 criminal cases and has jumped parole, is absconding," said a senior police official.

According to police, Jaat had been released from Bhondsi Jail in the last week of February 2010. He was in need of money to pursue 20 criminal cases in court. He started taking contracts for killing people and killed three persons in the last two months, the police official said. 

Greater Noida, June 27
A youth was shot dead in the Dadri area today. Agitated residents blocked the GT road for an hour demanding the arrest of killers.

At Mohalla Nai Abadi, residents saw the body of a youth lying in a pool of blood.

They informed the Dadri police who took the body and sent it for postmortem.

“The deceased was identified as Wasim Khan. He had five bullet wounds on the body. His family said he had no enmity with anybody. They suspected that his friend Montu with whom he had gone last night might be involved in the murder,” said Rahul Kumar, deputy superintendent of police.

“A murder case has been registered against unknown persons at Dadri police station. His friend Montu and other suspects were being questioned,” said Kumar.

As the deceased and suspected killer were from different communities, senior district and police officers immediately rushed to the site and deployed PAC men to prevent any communal clash.

Recently at Kalunda village, communal clash had erupted after the murder of a youth.

New Delhi, June 27
The Delhi Metro has created another record by lifting four coaches with a crane and placing them on the track of an elevated corridor of the upcoming Central Secretariat-Badarpur line, an official said TOday.

After being lifted by a crane, the coaches were lowered on a ramp which helped them glide towards the track at the Lajpat Nagar station.

The coaches will be used for trial runs, starting in the first week of July, on a section of the the line that will be completed by September.The operation started at 11 pm on Saturday and ended at 4.10 am on Sunday, a Metro official said.

The coaches, weighing about 42 tonnes each, were lifted and lowered by a 270 tonne crane that was equipped with a special adjustable boom that helped in their quick stabilisation on the track. This was the first time in the country when standard gauge Metro rail coaches were lifted by cranes and stabilised on tracks with a slope. For this purpose the coaches were fitted with special lifting lugs to facilitate quick and smooth lifting by the crane, the official said. The operation was a great engineering achievement as the coaches were stabilised on a gradient (slope) of about 4 per cent.

The coaches were lifted and lowered on the track as there was no other way to bring them to the station.

Trial runs on the 20.16-km Central Secretariat-Badarpur standard guage line will start in phases from the first week of July and go on till the line is opened to the public in September, ahead of the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games. The coaches were brought on trailers from the Mundka Standard Guage depot and lowered on the ramp between Jangpura and Lajpat Nagar stations. -- IANS

Ghaziabad, June 27
The family of a 19-year-old B.Tech. student, studying in a reputed college at Modi Nagar, has disapproved her marriage with an auto driver and is now forcing the man to give divorce. The girl, on the other hand, has threatened to commit suicide if separated from her husband.

The auto driver Ajit Kumar used to carry her to college. Both are from different communities.

The girl's parents, living in Kanpur, alleged that the driver had coaxed their daughter and married her at a temple without getting their consent.

After the girl finished semester exam this month, she asked for Rs 20,000 from her parents for a college tour. Her family sent her the money. Then the family waited for her return to Kanpur after the trip. When she did not return, the family members got upset.

Meanwhile, their daughter called them a few days ago and informed that she had married and the man was an auto driver. She further told them that the money she had asked for was not for excursion, but was for honeymoon. This made the family scared who immediately reached Modi Nagar. In spite of the resistance of the family members, she was bent on living with the driver. She threatened that if she was forced to get divorce, she would commit suicide.

The SSP Ragubir Lal said the matter is being investigated. If the girl does not want to go with them and request security, she will be provided with it.