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CWG media centre work still incomplete
C’wealth Games
Police rules out terror threat to Games
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1 lakh trees need to be cut for Ganga expressway
MCD contractors call off strike
AIIMS faculty to rein in ragging
Delhi police gets notice on Madhuri’s plea
HC issues notice to Vivek Oberoi
Man dies of swine flu in Delhi
Kanwarias ransack Mohan Nagar mall
Boy pays the price for love
Two held for power theft
More rains likely
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CWG media centre work still incomplete
New Delhi, August 5 He said the organising committee (OC) had hired five halls (8-12) in Pragati Maidan. Engineers and technicians have been working there for the past six months. "It is really a tough job. It is being done with the co-operation of local technicians," said Louise, who has come from Australia, especially for the Games. Louise added that there were 35 foreign engineers and technicians at the media centre. "At present, 15 are on duty. The remaining have gone to their homelands. In hall numbers 9, 10 and 11, 85 per cent work has been done. But in hall number 8, hardly 20 per cent work has been over. The condition of hall number 12, which will house the PIB media centre, is slightly better. Electrification work is underway there," he informed. According to sources, the ITPO will charge Rs 50 to Rs 70 crore from the OC for the rented halls. They added that due to the CWG's media centre, the ITPO had to cancel this year's Delhi Book Fair and Bhagidari. Gandhi Mela is oragnised every year on October 2, but this year it will be organised in December. In October, commoners would be barred from entering Pragati Maidan due to security reasons. Besides, all restaurants will be closed before the beginning of the Games. At present, only two restaurants-- Vatika and Crystal are functioning. According to sources, the OC has taken details of all employees of the ITPO to issue special identity cards to them for the Games. Their police verification has also been conducted. They will be given entry passes for vehicles. The OC may take help of the ITPO employees, if needed. The ITPO's Food Plaza is also likely to be completed, which will be used by media persons and other visitors during the Games. |
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C’wealth Games
New Delhi, August 5 Over 3,000 DU students had been left in the lurch after they were evicted from hostels to make space for the Commonwealth Games athletes. The situation is extremely grave for students right now as most PG accommodation in surrounding areas is already exhausted or is simply too expensive as prices are soaring due to the influx of students needing hostel accommodation. In the present situation, there is hope for troubled students as many colleges have decided to offer alternative accommodation and meals free of cost. Kirori Mal College has gone out of its way to accommodate the hostellers in the hostels for wardens that have been lying vacant. This accommodation has been especially made available to physically challenged students and those from economically weaker sections. Attempts have been made to accommodate as many students as possible after dealing with the economically weaker sections. Raina Gupta, a student from KMC, says, "Many of us have been accommodated now in the wardens' hostel, the rooms are comfortable and a large number of students have been accommodated. We are also getting meals at the college canteen. This is a big relief. It was a nightmare to lose a roof over our head when we were evicted from the hostel." Meanwhile, Daulat Ram College has gone out of its way to make evicted hostellers comfortable. Hostellers have been offered accommodation in the seminar halls for the period of the Commonwealth Games. DRC is also providing free accommodation to 50 girls at its airconditioned seminar hall with attached bathrooms. Alongside, students have been provided free meals thrice a day from the college canteen and girls are being given basic facilities like television, electric irons, drinking water and charging points. Miranda House, Hansraj College and Ramjas are providing students with free meals thrice a day at their canteens. The colleges are also trying to help troubled students by helping them search for reasonably priced accommodation. Simran Singh, a student from Miranda House, informs, "It has been terrible since we were evicted from the hostels. The only relief is that the college mess is providing us with free meals. College authorities are also helping us hunt for reasonably priced accommodation but this is not an easy task right now as PG rates are at an all-time high." Another student, Sakshi Gupta from Miranda House informs, "We are in a bad situation after being evicted from the hostels. PG accommodation is available at high rates and reasonable accommodation is impossible to find. However, the college is trying to help us in this search." |
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Police rules out terror threat to Games
New Delhi, August 5 "I can only tell you that there is no specific threat from any terrorist organization in the world as regards to the Commonwealth Games. However, that does not mean we sit relaxed about the security. We are working on our security strategy exactly the way we would have if there had been any threat," said a senior police official, requesting anonymity. The matter was also cleared by special commissioner (Administration) Neeraj Kumar last week when he refuted all claims that the Delhi police had been tipped by the home ministry on the terrorist threat. "There is no specific threat to the Games. However, in view of the security atmosphere in South Asia, we are taking all the possible precautions," Kumar had claimed. The Delhi police is making elaborate security arrangements for the sporting event. According to information, the Intelligence Bureau, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the National Security Guard (NSG) and other agencies are constantly working on the CWG threat perceptions. |
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50-yr-old held for raping DU girl
New Delhi, August 5 Singhal allegedly kidnapped 17-year-old Smrita (name changed) on Wednesday morning when she was going to her college. He stopped his car and asked Smrita about an address. When she responded, he allegedly pulled her in the car and took her to an isolated place where he raped her, said a senior police
official. "Singhal took the victim near Moti Nagar in west Delhi and raped her. Later, he dumped Smrita outside her college and threatened her of dire consequences, if she complained about the incident to anybody" the official
said. Singhal was arrested after the victim approached a police station and filed a complaint. The police took the victim, a first year student in a DU college, to the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital where medical test confirmed sexual assault. A case has been registered against Singhal under various sections of the
IPC, relating to rape and abduction. "During interrogation, Singhal told police that he committed this heinous crime by mistake and would not be able to forgive himself," the investigating officer said. According to the police, Singhal runs a paper producing factory and is the father of three children, including two daughters. "The accused has been sent to 14 days judicial custody and the victim is in hospital," the police said. "I am really ashamed of what my husband has done. Due to his heinous act we will not be able to face society,"
Vibha, wife of the accused, said. She also said her daughters are of marriageable age and her husband's crime has ruined their future. |
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1 lakh trees need to be cut for Ganga expressway
Ghaziabad, August 5 The ministry has held that the project, if pursued, would lead to destruction of around 1 lakh trees along the Upper Ganga Canal stretch that also comprises two rich protected forests and a dense vegetation cover - along the 148-km length from Sanauta in Gautam Budh Nagar to Purkazi in Muzaffarnagar district, near the UP-Uttarakhand border. A report prepared by the ministry's regional office in Lucknow has pointed out that the project will also affect the habitat of some of the most endangered species like snakes, blue bulls, monitor lizards, porcupines, rabbits and rats. The canal has patches of rich forest, inhabited by indigenous flora and fauna, the report has stated. The ministry has criticized the state government for not making a "proper assessment of environment damage" if the proposed work is taken up. "We have known that the state government is going ahead with the project that has huge repercussions on the forest cover and wildlife habitat in the area. It is one of the richest forest stretches of the state," a senior MOEF official said on conditions of anonymity. "There is already a dearth of good forests in UP. Many of them have been destroyed over the last few years. There are few measures to conserve them. Forests seem nowhere on their priority," the official said. The report also maintained that the Upper Ganga Canal, built in 1854, is a "lifeline of a large track of western UP" as "it provides irrigation to the area". The state government has already carried out a survey on the project and completed the demarcation work on the right bank of Upper Ganga Canal for the expressway. Sources said the parties to which the expressway work would be awarded have already been fixed. The state government had submitted four different proposals for seeking forest clearance, before the ministry's Lucknow regional office mentioning the length and area used for the project in four districts - G.B. Nagar, Ghaziabad, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar. "We have returned the proposals back to the state and asked them to submit one consolidated project. Also, since the area involved in the expressway is more than 40 hectares, they would have to submit it directly to the ministry in Delhi," a senior MOEF official said. A detailed inspection of the Upper Ganga Canal was carried out by an MOEF team all along the stretch from Sanauta to Purkazi from June 24 to 26. The expressway is feared to pollute the Upper Ganga Canal that supplies the Ganga water to Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad. The Sonia Vihar treatment plant in Delhi and Pratap Vihar plant are fed through the same canal. |
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MCD contractors call off strike
New Delhi, August 5 "The federation of MCD contractors association gave us the assurance, after we reached an understanding as regards to the payment of their dues. The contractors have been assured that payment up to September, 2009, will be cleared on priority basis," said Chandolia. The contractors were on strike for the past two weeks. The municipal leaders said a partial amount of Rs 168 crore would be paid to them immediately. The rest Rs 450 crore would be paid later. The civic agency owes over Rs 600 crore to the contractors. The contractors have alleged that they have not been given their dues since September 2009. "The MCD has assured us that it has received Rs 600 crore from the lease premium of civic centre space given to Income tax department, but is yet to get the grant announced by the Delhi government. As soon as the civic body receives it, our remaining payment will be made," said Suinil Vohra, president of the Delhi Municipal Contractors' Association. However, the contractors said that it would be difficult to complete the work before 30August as claimed by the MCD. The cash-strapped MCD is struggling to make payments to contractors as well as give arrears under the Sixth Pay Commission to its employees. |
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Stir by Azadpur traders
New Delhi, August 5 The traders wanted the Delhi government to let them continue the commission agent system that had been going on for years. President of Azadpur Fruit and Vegetable Traders' Association, M. R. Kriplani said that the government had banned the commission system that had been going on for years in the market. The government says that the commission agents should charge their commission from the buyers. If that is done, it will increase the prices of fruit and vegetables, he said. He said that the growers of fruit and vegetables are provided shelter in the market by the commission agents. The growers are also provided financial help for seeds. In lieu of these facilities, the agents demand commission from the growers, Kriplani said. He said that the annual trading of the Azadpur Mandi is approximately Rs 5,500 crore. The commission agents earn Rs 350 crore as commission from the growers. If this amount is taken from the buyers, the prices of vegetables and fruit will increase and the poor man will suffer, he said. It was a one-day token strike today. If the government does not withdraw its order, the commission agents will go on an indefinite strike, he added. |
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AIIMS faculty to rein in ragging
New Delhi, August 5 As per a roster prepared by the academic section of the institute, four faculty members would be on special duty every day for keeping an eye on ragging. The academic section of AIIMS today convened a meeting of the anti-ragging committee, comprising the institute's director as the chairperson along with the dean, registrar and head of the departments, to discuss the measures on checking harassing incidents. "As per the institute's policy, SC order and UGC guidelines, AIIMS strictly prohibits any sort of ragging and observes zero-tolerance towards it. Seniors have been forewarned. Routine inspections are being carried out by faculty as well as security officials to ensure that anything wrong doesn't go unnoticed," said the AIIMS spokesperson, Dr Y K Gupta. In view of making the institute ragging-free, all the six undergraduate hostels for boys and hostel number 10 for the girl students have been under strict vigil of the anti-ragging squad. If any student fails to register his/ her presence during the attendance call, the reason is ascertained from friends and the hostel authorities. "The faculty members have been in regular touch with the fresh batch and if any student is found absent in the class, the matter is followed up. The inspection squad is working in two shifts of twelve hours, starting from 8 am and 8 pm and the AIIMS hostel control room has been manned with the institute's security staff, Delhi policemen, hostel wardens and attendants round the clock," said an administration official on the condition of anonimity. Moreover, the entry to the premier institute, especially the hostel complexes, is restricted due to the latest circular issued to all the residents of undergraduate and postgraduate hostels. They have to carry the identity card for entering the premier institute. Anyone managing to slip through might bump on to the security staff, with a majority of them in civil clothes. Ironically, minor incidents of ragging, including "juniors told to abuse each other, sitting in awkward postures, dancing, etc", continue to happen as told by several first-year students on conditions of anonimity. "The ragging practice is still on though the incidents do not come to light. The vigilance has to be strengthened so that they are reported readily," said Resident Doctors' Association president Dr Debajyoti Karmakar. While the freshers seemed to feel relaxed with the anti-ragging monitoring on campus, the seniors are not very happy. Many like Tungish Bansal of MBBS (second year) feel that the atmosphere has become very inhibited. The flow of communication between the juniors and seniors has become minimal. "Freshers need the assistance of their seniors on several occasions, but due to the security and inspection, interaction is not easy at all," Tungish said. |
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Delhi police gets notice on Madhuri’s plea
New Delhi, August 5 Chief metropolitan magistrate Kaveri Baweja issued notice to the Delhi police, seeking response on the application filed by Gupta's counsel Joginder Dahiya. In the application, Dahiya has sought a copy of e-mails that according to the police were shared by Gupta with the officials in Pakistan. He has also sought the other materials that the police relied on. Accepting Gupta's plea, the court has provided her with a book on the Information Technology Act and a set of documents containing the chargesheet filed against her. The court has fixed the matter for August 18. It is likely that the police will file its response that day. On July 20, the Delhi police had filed a chargesheet against IFS Grade-B officer, seeking her prosecution under various provisions of the Official Secrets Act and the Indian Penal Code. In the over 700 page chargesheet, the police had stated that the Indian junior diplomat had been accused of being in touch with two ISI officials, Mubshar Raza Rana and Jamshed. She had planned to marry Jamshed. The police has claimed to have recovered 19 e-mails in her Inbox, 54 in sent items and three contacts of Pakistani handlers. The Delhi police's special cell had arrested Madhuri Gupta on April 22 from the national Capital on her arrival from Pakistan. She was arrested on a complaint filed against her by additional secretary in the ministry of home affairs Ashok Tomar. In the complaint, Tomar had alleged that Gupta had passed secret information to Pakistani intelligence agents-- Mubshar Raza Rana and Jamshed, personally as well as by using electronic means. |
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HC issues notice to Vivek Oberoi
New Delhi, August 5 Justice S. Ravindra Bhat issued notices to Vivek, along with his father Suresh Oberoi and his sister Megha Oberoi, who are also partners in the firm. They have been asked to file their replies by November 1. The recovery suit has sought Rs 4.86 crore as damages from the actor. As per the suit, Vivek in 2003 entered into an agreement with the company to do stage shows in Canada and US. But later on he failed to perform citing bad health. By that time, Vivek and his company had received an advance amount of $3 lakh from Mehta Entertainment. The entertainment company, thereafter, sent many letters to the Oberois to return the amount but getting no response, shot off a legal notice to Vivek's firm. Thereafter, several legal notices were sent in 2008 and 2009 but the actor failed to respond. Finally, the firm approached the Delhi High Court.
— IANS |
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Man dies of swine flu in Delhi
News Delhi, August 5 While the casualty report is yet to reach, he added, eight people, including a child, have been confirmed to be suffering from the disease today. Meanwhile, according to the data of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, ten new cases of the vector-borne disease surfaced today, pushing the total number of dengue cases to 86. |
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Kanwarias ransack Mohan Nagar mall
Ghaziabad, August 5 A resident of Gandhi Nagar, Delhi, Davinder Kumar, was sitting near the mall gate when the guard threw his kanwad and slapped him. The matter was resolved only when the mall management apologised. In another incident at Muradnagar, a Kanwaria got injured when a bike hit him. This made Kanwarias furious. They blocked the traffic for two hours on the highway. Around 25 Kanwarias were returning from Haridwar when one of them, Neeraj, was injured by the bike. The mob damaged eight vehicles. At Modi Nagar, bikers were attacked by Kanwarias. Three youths were injured in the attack. The injured were identified as Angad, Rehman and Aatish. Their bike had touched some Kanwarias. Later, police officers reached and pacified the mob. |
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Boy pays the price for love
Bulandshahr, August 5 They were produced before the panchayat which held that as they are from different castes, their relations cannot continue. The panchayat further told them that as it was their first mistake and both had promised to obey the decision of the panchayat, a lenient view was considered. The panchayat then directed the youth to pay Rs 50,000 to the girl and both should give in writing that they would not meet again. The boy's father paid Rs 50,000 to the girl's father while both the youngsters wrote on stamp paper that they would not meet again. They further told the panchayat that they would treat each other as brother and sister. |
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Infant’s body found in dustbin
New Delhi, August 5 "We have kept the body for identification and postmortem would be conducted after three or four days," said a police official, adding that investigation was on. |
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Two held for power theft
Noida, August 5 Two vehicle thieves nabbed
The Sector 20 police arrested two vehicle thieves, Akhil and Sirajuddin, residents of Meerut. They were arrested from near the Radisson hotel area last night. A stolen Swift car was recovered from them. |
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