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They eat, drink and make merry
While for them, there’s nothing new to celebrate
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Majority of merrymakers prefer alcohol
The disabled demand new legal panel
Woman held for trafficking; 2 girls rescued
2 arrested for watchman’s murder
2 vehicle thieves nabbed
Anti-ragging alarm system launched
Metro Museum celebrates 2nd anniversary
Cold day to usher in New Year
2-yr-old dies in jhuggi fire
LG, CM greet citizens
Man caught with Rs 14,000 fake notes
Neighbours in police net for murder
To impress girl, youth steals car dad had sold
Gang of thieves busted
Robbers threaten family at gunpoint, loot valuables
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They eat, drink and make merry
New Delhi, December 31 Even the teeth-cluttering winds today did not deter the youngsters to put up their best clothes and step out for partying. As the night came by, the city lit up like a bride. The places hosting parties were glamorously decorated, with people walking in dressed in their best attires. "I know it's a chilling night, but the New Year's Eve is worth dressing for. We are heading for Amnesia DJ night at Gurgaon with our friends. We have booked our passes for Rs 12,500 each which include drinks, food and a separate lounge for seating. We are all set to party till the wee hours," said Shirali Chaturvedi, an Oxford University student, in the Capital to celebrate the New Year with family and friends. Divisha, who landed at Capitol in the Ashok Hotel, Chanyakyapuri, with her group of friends, said, "The music here is just fabulous. I can't believe that that the deadlines cannot be extended. After this party we might go somewhere else to party more." Many youngsters also thronged Come-sum and other local dhabas for late-night food after drinks. "By 11 pm, there wasn't enough space to stand in the club, so we friends planned to go on a long drive. We stopped at Haveli on the Sonipat highway and had amazing Punjabi food in the chilly weather. It was the best way to end the year," said Mavik, who partied with his group of friends. There were some who headed out of the city to celebrate the occasion. While some headed to nearby destinations like Kasauli, Rishikesh, Rudraprayag, Dehradun, Smila and Mussorie, others opted for jazzy holiday packages to places like Goa and Bangkok. "We celebrate the New Year's Eve in Goa every year. This year, however, we planned to go trekking and celebrate in the hills. Hence, we are off to Chopta, which is almost 10 hours ahead of Rishikesh. We will detour to Mcleodganj on our way back to Delhi. It's a seven-day trip and we are all set to welcome the New Year in a holiday mood," said Pratima Choudhary, a city-based Radio Jockey. |
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While for them, there’s nothing new to celebrate
New Delhi, December 31 The celebrations for the arrival of the New Year was 'noise' for many who slept on the streets, much before the clock struck '12' midnight. These people were fast asleep. Some of them woke up with a jerk as the fire crackers lighted up the sky. The 10-year-old Ashu, dresses up in what he calls his 'best clothes' - a white red torn pullover that hardly fits him, with a black jeans, that had now turned into a Capri paired up with torn black shoes. He is all set to sell balloons tonight. "I brought hundred balloons and I hope that I would be able to sell all before the year ends," he says. When asked if there is anything new that Ashu wants to do this New Year, he said, "I want to earn a lot of money so that my family could live a dignified life. It is very cold and on the top of it, we have no home. It is a very tough life." Similar was the mood of several homeless people in the night shelters, who had nothing new and different to indulge in. "Such occasions make us feel low. It reminds us of our poverty and helplessness," said Bhagwati (42). "New Year celebration is a thing of rich and elite. People like us who crave for one-time food and blanket find no reason to celebrate. For us, it is just like every normal day," said Umesh Bharat (55), who lives in Motia Khan shelter. Ashok, who run five night shelters in the city, says, "At such days, when the city is enjoying, the NGOs who claim to be attached with the cause of homeless, forget to visit the shelters. They do nothing for these people which can make them feel happy." "However, I have planned to distribute fruit juices to all homeless in the shelter," he added. "Whether it is the government or the NGOs, nobody sponsors anything for the homeless. As we are not a part of the vote bank, the politicians too ignore us," said Meer, who sits with a pack of bidi around the Connaught place circle enjoying the mood of the evening. As the night descended into the first day of the New Year, rows of homeless families were fast asleep on the streets. For them, the arrival of the New Year was just like any other usual shivering night with the same pavement to sleep on, the same common sheets to escape from the wintry waves and the same porridge served for the grand dinner. |
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Majority of merrymakers prefer alcohol
New Delhi, December 31 Seniors and other professionals in the age group exceeding 30 and below 40 have budgeted their New Year's Eve expenses within the range of Rs 10,000 and would like to make merry in most of budgeted hotels and restaurants in NCR, said a survey report conducted by Assocham. The source for the Assocham's findings is hospitality industry itself as the Assocham has a large number of them as its members who briefed it of the latest emerging trends available with them for the New Year's Eve celebrations. According to findings, consumption patterns of merrymakers would be oriented mostly towards alcoholic beverages, buying of quality cosmetics, fancy and fashionable clothes, mobile SMS, sweets, greetings cards, gift items, etc. Delhi alone is witnessing a growth nearly 30 per cent in occupancy levels this December while room rates have moderated 30-35 per cent. |
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The disabled demand new legal panel
New Delhi, December 31 The process of drafting a new law for the disabled seems to have come to a deadlock, with the two opposed coteries of the 27-member appointed committee still standing at loggerheads on the issue of having either a Disability Law Code (DLC) with multiple legislations or a comprehensive legislation. Voicing out strong resentment against having a DLC with multiple legislations, the section has demanded the reconstitution of the entire committee in addition to the appoinment of a new legal panel as it feels that the current committee has come up with a shoddy work despite being given three extensions and more importantly, it doesn't represent the voice of the people for whom the law is meant. "The committee has dismal representation from the community and then the committee, comprising old people put out the rough draft which was ill-prepared and one-sided. It failed in its task even after eight months, with three extensions and now it has asked for another till March-end. We have no hope with the current committee and a new committee is the only way out," Javed Abidi, chairperson of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled Population (NCPEDP). Even as the final draft for the Rights of People with Disabilities 2010 has failed to sail through the aspirations of the section's represenatives in the civil society, the group, represented by the chairperson of the committee Sudha Kaul and the legal consultant for the new disability law Dr Amita Dhanda-in favour of DLC, is going to meet the Union minister of social justice and empowerment Mukul Wasnik tomorrow morning at 11 am to discuss the matter followed by another meeting of the committee with the minister in the evening. The committee, according to the diasbled section, is leaning towards having a bouquet of legislations- Bill on Disability Rights, with the National Trust Act, the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), the Mental Health Act along with another law on Disabled Rights Authority-thus creating a multiplicity of authorities and ignoring the voices of the ground. Importantly, one comprehensive disability legislation has the backing of former chief justice of Delhi High Court Justice Ajit Prakash Shah, who feels that comprehensive statute holds merit over a "code" of multiple legislations as multiple legislations are more likely to create a scattered web of enactments making the law confusing. |
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Woman held for trafficking; 2 girls rescued
Ghaziabad, December 31 The police said that it had received a telephone message from the Assam police a week ago about three Assamese girls having been sold here. The anti-human trafficking cell traced the woman, but has been able to find only two of the three trafficked girls. During interrogation, the woman confessed to having bought a girl. She revealed her identity as Parul, a resident of Shastri Nagar in Ghaziabad. On her tip-off, the police found the girl at a roadside dhaba. She revealed that another girl was sold in B.B. Nagar town of Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. The police rescued the second girl also. The Assam police had informed that the three girls from Fakiraganj town of Dhubri district of Assam were abducted and sold in Ghaziabad. The girls were identified as Momrin Khatoon (25), Abida Khatoon (22) and Mazida Khatoon (16). "Mazida Khatoon was rescued from one Jai Singh's house in B.B. Nagar and Momrin was found from a dhaba in Shastri Nagar locality of Ghaziabad where Parul had placed her on a job to clean utensils," said a police official. "Jai Singh fled from the house, while Parul was arrested. The two girls have been lodged in Nari Niketan in Meerut and a hunt is on to rescue the third girl," SSP Raghvir Lal said in a press conference. "The Assam police is expected to reach Ghaziabad within two days," added the SSP.
— IANS |
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2 arrested for watchman’s murder
New Delhi, December 31 The watchman, Inderdev Mandal, was found dead in the Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar area on October 11 this year. According to the police, the accused killed Mandal when he resisted them while they were trying to commit theft in a shop. Mandal worked as a watchman in a shop of wooden planks in Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar. He was allegedly found dead with an injury on his head. The iron gate of the shop was ajar and his body was lying near a saw machine in a pool of blood. The police made enquiries from the shop's owner, employees and residents of the area. Two labourers who had come to the shop in the morning to take the delivery of wooden planks said that they had seen four boys talking to the watchman in the shop. Two days ago, the police learnt that one of the accused persons lived in JJ Camp, Bhalswa, leading to the arrest of Ali Hasan. Hasan told the police that he and his associates Yusuf, Shabbu and Taharuddin, all residents of JJ Camp in Bhalswa, were involved in the crime. "At Hasan's instance, his associate Yusuf was arrested, while Shabbu and Taharuddin are absconding. Efforts are being made to arrest them," said Chhaya Sharma, DCP (outer). The accused men told the police that on the night of murder, they had come to Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar to commit theft. They targetted a shop of wooden planks, but it was locked from inside. One of them climbed the shop's gate, opened its door and entered the shop. The watchman who was sleeping inside woke up and started shouting at them. They overpowered him and Hasan hit his head with a jackrod and fled. According to the police, the accused used to roam around G.T. Karnal Road, near Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, and nearby markets during the wee hours to target shops and factories to commit theft or robbery. It they spotted a truck parked at the roadside, they would commit theft and would not hesitate to assault, if anyone resisted them. |
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2 vehicle thieves nabbed
New Delhi, December 31 The arrest came after the officials of Anti Auto Theft Squad of North District received information that Azad with his one associate, who were active in autolifting would pass through G.T Karnal Road, Shakti Nagar Chowk on a stolen Splendour motorcycle. Acting upon the information, a police trap was laid down at old GT Karnal Road near Ganda Nala, Roop Nagar, leading to arrest of two persons after they failed to provide papers of the bike. During interrogation, the accused disclosed that they had stolen many motorcycles from the jurisdiction of North and North-East Districts. Some stolen bikes were even sent to remote villages of district Bijnaur UP. They used to identify the target vehicles in the daytime and at night, they gathered at the settled place to steal that vehicle. "Both of them used to open the targeted vehicle with the help of master key. After stealing the vehicle, they sold those vehicles assuring that they would provide the original documents very soon. Four more motorcycles have been so far recovered on their instance. Further investigation is in progress to effect more recovery," said Rupinder Kumar, Additional DCP (North). |
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Anti-ragging alarm system launched
New Delhi, December 31 On the occasion, SWI also launched an emergency alarm system - Eyewatch - which will help prevent, contain, and possibly save people from the harsh consequences of ragging and help women, old people in case of emergencies. Explaining the system, Dhaul said, "It is an easy to use and install individual emergency alarm system and is expected to give instant coverage of any untoward incident faced by students. It is hoped that this will only help in curbing ragging, but it'll also provide proof to the various agencies, to take suitable action against perpetrators of various crimes like rape cases, kidnapping, attacks on senior citizens and much more." Additionally on this occasion, a special preview of movie "Hostel" a film on ragging, directed by Manish Gupta, was also held, along with interactions with some of the well-known names involved with 'anti-ragging campaign', like Rajendra Kachroo of Aman Movement, Ajay Govind, Delhi Representative, Society Against Violence in Education (SAVE), Dr Samir Parikh, consultant psychiatrist, Chief Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Science and Tanvir Aeijaz, hostel warden, Ramjas College. Manish Gupta, director of Hostel movie, said, "This sadistic practice has become a ritual wherein students are beaten up, stripped, paraded naked, and even raped by their seniors. Since victims of ragging find it humiliating to report sexual abuse to their parents or others. Most ragging-related crimes go unreported. Sadly, these very students who suffer silently at the hands of their seniors - in turn vent their frustrations by ragging their juniors in the following years. Thus, this cruel practice continues year after year and has claimed (and is still claiming) the lives and careers of innumerable students." |
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Metro Museum celebrates 2nd anniversary
New Delhi, December 31 Students from various schools across the city, from standard five to ten participated in the competitions. While the quiz competition was oriented towards increasing the awareness of students about the Metro - its rules and regulations, the drawing competition was based on the theme 'Delhi Metro - the city's lifeline'. These competitions are expected to help the students in becoming aware about the rules and regulations in the Metro, which will help them to maintain better discipline. The Metro Museum has been organizing visits for schoolchildren on a regular basis with the same purpose. On the January 1, 2009, the Metro Museum, the first of its kind in South Asia, was presented as a New Year gift to the people of Delhi. A treasure trove of display panels, historical photographs and exhibits about the Metro, the museum traces the genesis of the Delhi Metro. In the last two years, the DMRC has further enriched the museum with more exhibits and information panels. Specially designed Delhi Metro key chains have been added recently to the souvenir counter of the museum as a sale item. Miniature train models, Metro tie pins and cufflinks are already available at this counter. There are a total of 26 informative panels in the museum along with working models of the Operational Control Centre (OCC) and a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). Various other exhibits are also on display such as a miniature of the Delhi Metro mascot, station models, a detailed route map and much more. During these two years, the museum has been visited by a number of national and international delegations and has earned a lot of appreciation for its displays and its academic significance especially for the students and researchers studying about modern mass transport systems. |
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Cold day to usher in New Year
New Delhi, December 31 The Met department said the first day of the New Year will be colder than normal. The maximum temperature today was four notches below normal and settled at 17.8 degree Celsius, while the minimum was four degrees above normal at 11 degrees. The humidity level oscillated between 98 per cent and 65 per cent. The Met department has forecast a similar day tomorrow with the sun likely to be shining bright during the day while foggy conditions could prevail in the morning. “The maximum and minimum temperatures tomorrow (Saturday) are expected to be at 17 and 7 degree Celsius,” the Met department official said. With weather being largely clear, air operations continued to be almost normal with cancellations and diversions of no flights. Though, an airport spokesperson said some flights were delayed. |
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2-yr-old dies in jhuggi fire
New Delhi,
December 31 "The cluster of slums known as Kashmiri juggis was engulfed in fire which lasted for over three hours today," said a fire official, adding that about eight fire engines were rushed to the spot. "We also recovered the charred body of a two-year-old boy Prasanjit. We have handed over the body to the police," said the official, adding that over 100 jhuggis have turned into ash. |
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LG, CM greet citizens
New Delhi, December 31 The LG has renewed his appeal to the citizens to remain alert about potential security threats and to promptly inform security agencies regarding any suspicious objects, persons or activities. Offering his good wishes to the citizens of Delhi, the LG said that peace was a shared requirement for worshippers of all the religions. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has conveyed her New Year greetings to all Delhiites. |
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Man caught with Rs 14,000 fake notes
New Delhi, December 31 His arrest was made on December 25 on a tip-off. Paswan told the police that after marriage he had shifted to Gurgaon. He originally belongs to Hazaribagh in Jharkhand. He used to obtain counterfeit notes from one foreign national and dispose those in Bihar, Gurgaon, Delhi and other parts of the country. |
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Neighbours in police net for murder
New Delhi, December 31 On December 30 around 10.55 pm, the deceased Jai Prakash's (32) father Gyan Chand was standing outside his home with his son when the incident took place. The accused are Chand's neighbours. The accused got annoyed and started hitting Prakash with a brick on the head and fled, said a senior police official. Prakash was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. The arrests were made after investigation was taken up on the complaint of Gyan Chand. Jasbir Singh told the police that the verbal duel he had with Prakash angered him. He felt that Prakash was making fun of him, so he hit his head with a brick. |
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To impress girl, youth steals car dad had sold
New Delhi, December 31 According to the police, accused Gaurav Arora, stole the car his father had sold to another person. He was arrested from Vasant Vihar in south Delhi on December 25. "Arora needed the car to impress his girlfriend, so he stole the car with the help of a duplicate which was with him," a senior police officer said. The arrest came following a complaint by the new owner of the car. "Further investigation revealed that the car was registered in the name of his father but since his father was unable to pay the installments for the car, he sold it to one Sanjay who resides in Kalkaji. "The accused stole the car from Kalkaji and was arrested when he came to a restobar in the Basant Lok market in Vasant Vihar. He was using the car (Honda City) with a fake number plate," the officer added. Arora, who belongs to a well-to-do family, is now doing an event management course, the police
said. — IANS |
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Gang of thieves busted
Noida, December 31 SP H.N. Singh, said, "One of the gang members used to work as guard and the members robbed the goods by overpowering the other guards at gunpoint. They even drugged the two guards at garment factory and robbed goods." "The arrested thieves were identified as Roshan Singh Rana, alias Ranvir, Amit Choudhary and Sonu, alias Surinder Kumar. |
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Robbers threaten family at gunpoint, loot valuables
Ghaziabad, December 31 The incident took place last night when two robbers entered the house of Dheeraj Kumar, threatened the family members at gunpoint and escaped with valuables worth two lakhs, they said. Investigations into the matter were on, police added.
— PTI |
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