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Eradicating illiteracy is
new Tihar mantra
MCD’s new HQ does not have completion paper
DU evicts errant student from hostel
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Delhi Serial Blasts
3 farmers injured in police firing
Sacked worker tries to kill boss, shoots at boss’s wife
Thieves burn house after heist
Gang supplying maids busted
Youth held with 209-kg ganja
BSP leader's house robbed
Schoolboy stabbed
Stress laid on sustainable development
Cane farmers vie for contest
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Eradicating illiteracy is
new Tihar mantra
New Delhi, February 21 "I have begun with the Hindi alphabet. A couple of them have already learnt to write their names," reveals Amit excitedly about his teaching experience for the last 15 days. And Amit is not the only teacher at Jail number 3. More than 12 inmates have been assigned the teaching responsibility in their wards here. Similarly, all the ten jails commonly known as Tihar Jails have identified their 'teachers' who have taken up the responsibility of eradicating illiteracy from Tihar. In a recent initiative which came into motion last month with identification of 'teachers' in every ward, the Tihar jails new director-general Neeraj Kumar has taken up the mission of eradicating illiteracy from Tihar prisons. According to R N Sharma, DIG (Tihar Prisons), in over 10,000 total inmates at Tihar Jails, as many as 2,500 have been identified as falling in illiterate category and this 'Literacy Programme' has been targeted at such inmates. "While earlier a literate inmate could pursue his higher education in the prisons and many left with graduate and postgraduate degrees, nobody bothered about illiterate inmates. They left as they came. However, all this will change with our literacy programme that would target only illiterates and make them read and write," said Sharma, adding that response has been heartening so far. According to him, a 50-year-old may have inhibitions regarding going to adult literacy classes in his village or city where everybody knows him, but in prisons he has no such inhibitions and is eager to learn. Sandeep Singh, a Kanpur University graduate undergoing trial for a kidnapping case here, says that he gets immense satisfaction when his 'students' come up with correct writing or reading. "Teaching philosophy or politics to a literate is a different thing. But teaching a grown-up writing alphabet is totally a different thing. You have to teach them while keeping the sensitivity of the place, age and their social status. I get immense satisfaction every time one of them writes their name correctly," says Singh, adding that if he could make difference in anyone's life, he would not miss it. What if somebody does not want to learn? "We counsel and re-counsel him until he agrees. The mindset is changing and everybody wants to learn these days," says a senior jail official, adding that criminals are no fools and they know it's in their interest |
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MCD’s new HQ does not have completion paper
New Delhi, February 21 The new headquarters of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Civic Center, at Minto Road is yet to be issued the completion certificate (CC) even though a lot of MCD departments have already shifted their offices to the building. Interestingly, the MCD itself is the body that issues the certificate to buildings in the city. In a reply to the RTI filed by an applicant from Chandni Chowk, the civic agency has admitted that no such certificate has been issued so far. "I had filed the RTI at the city zone office of the MCD as the civic center falls under the same zone. The CC is only given by the zone where the building is located. In the reply, it is clearly stated that, as per the municipal records, there is no such certificate issued so far," said the applicant, Parveen from Chandni Chowk. The MCD's civic center is a 28-storeyed building and has the privilege of being the tallest building in the national Capital. It was inaugurated in April last year by the then outgoing Mayor even as a lot of construction work was still pending. The administrative wing of the MCD has shifted its base to the new building while the deliberative wing is still operating from the old office in Town Hall. The municipal leaders also confirmed that the completion certificate has not been given. "It is true that the MCD, that is responsible for making people follow the laws, is itself not abiding by it. Its right to guide and govern the people of the city will weaken if it does such violations," said Jagdish Mamgain. He said that even the people who have started working from the civic center are facing a lot of problems. "There are no mobile connections, there is no water, cafeteria, eating joints etc," said Mamgain. According to sources, the fire department has also not given the no-objection certificate (NOC) to the civic center, thereby delaying the processing of CC which cannot be issued without having the requisite NOCs from the departments concerned.
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DU evicts errant student from hostel
New Delhi, February 21 A student of Gwyer Hall has allegedly beaten up a mess employee in the hostel and refused to vacate the hostel after several notices. Rajeev Ranjan, resident of room 6 in Gwyer is a student of Phd Sanskrit. He had received many notices both from the hostel and the DU administration, but with no effect. Finally the pro vice chancellor appointed an enquiry committee headed by Prof BP Sahu of the department of history which recommended the expulsion of Ranjan from the hostel. The decision was taken by the university authorities at the initiative of the proctor. Deputy proctors, security staff, hostel warden and the resident tutor at the Hall were present during eviction. Just 15 days back, the university authorities had evicted two students from a hostel after the High Court chided one of them, who had petitioned for relief, for concealing facts about their staying in another DU college hostel earlier in order to avail themselves of cheap accommodation. Soon after, the proctor had asked the hostel authorities to provide a list of non-bona fide residents immediately so that the university could initiate action against defaulters.
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Delhi Serial Blasts
New Delhi, February 21 Accusing the Gujarat jail authorities for not complying with the court's order, additional sessions judge Santosh Snehi Mann said that it was due to the jail superintendent that the court had to delay its order to frame charges against the accused and sought an explanation from him by March 8, the next date of hearing. "It is non-compliance of the court order, for which the jail superintendent of the Sabarmati Jail is required to explain," the court said while issuing fresh production notices against all the 13 accused, 11 of whom are lodged in the Sabarmati Jail. The court pulled up the Ahmedabad police commissioner who had sent a copy of the order to the Delhi police, seeking armed escorts for ferrying the accused from the Sabarmati Jail to Delhi, terming the communication to be an "interference with judicial matters." The judge said, "The court had directed the jail superintendent to ensure the presence of the accused before it. Why the commissioner of police is in the picture here ... I fail to understand under what authority, the commissioner has assumed the role, responsibility and authority to intervene in the judicial matter," the court said. The court had recently discharged one of the accused in the case, Salman, after finding no material evidence to support his involvement in the blasts. The court will frame charges against Mohammed Shakeel, Mohammed Saif, Zeeshan Ahmed, Zia-ur-Rehaman, Saquib Nisar, Mohammed Sadique, Kayamuddin Kapadia, Mohammed Hakim, Mohammed Mansoor Ashgar Peerbhoy, Mubin Kadar Sheikh, Asif Bashiruddin, Mohammed Akbar Ismail Chaudhary and Shahzad Ahmed. Five cases were registered in connection with the serial blasts at Gaffar Market in Karol Bagh, Barakhamba Road in Connaught Place, M-Block Market in Greater Kailash and the recovery of a bomb near the India Gate. Of the 14 accused, five were arrested by the Delhi police following an encounter in the Batla House area here on September 19, 2008. Four were apprehended by the Mumbai police, three by the Uttar Pradesh police and one each by the Hyderabad and Madhya Pradesh police. |
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3 farmers injured in police firing
Greater Noida, February 21 The incident occurred late afternoon in Bhatta-Parsaul locality of Greater Noida under Dankaur police station. The district magistrate of Noida, Deepak Agrawal said the farmers were staging a dharna at the Yamuna Expressway site office at Dankaur. Late in the afternoon, a truckload of police force of the Provincial Armed Constabulary was returning to Meerut after performing their duties for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's visit. The driver of the three-tonne vehicle parked the truck near the area to relieve himself. The farmers mistakenly thought the police force had arrived to take action against them in view of their ongoing tussle with the district administration. The farmers attacked the PAC truck and kidnapped a sub-inspector and snatched his Light Machine Gun (LMG). When the district administration came to know about the incident, it tried to rescue the officer but the farmers got violent and clashed with the police. During the exchange of firing, three farmers sustained bullet injuries. The injured farmers were taken to the Kailash Hospital where attending doctors declared their condition stable. The injured farmers were identified as Ravinder, his wife Manviri, and Laveen - all residents of Bhatta Parsaul. "An FIR is being lodged against the farmers who had kidnapped a PAC officer without any provocation. Their dharna had nothing to do with this PAC episode. The farmers' demand cannot be fulfilled. They are demanding too high compensation for their land. Other demands are also not genuine," said the district magistrate. The farmers' leader Manvir Singh Teotia said: "The farmers' demands are very genuine. The state has acquired the precious land at a throwaway price for private builders, which is totally an unlawful act. We have demanded to accommodate the children of the farmers in jobs and that the quota percentage be hiked from 5 to 25 per cent." -- IANS
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Sacked worker tries to kill boss, shoots at boss’s wife
New Delhi, February 21 According to the police, the accused, identified as Wasim, is on the run and the victim, Shahnaz Begam, is recuperating at a city hospital. A case of attempt to murder has been lodged at the Bhajanpura police station on the complaint of Begam's husband Shahbir Khan. Hailing from the Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh, Wasim had joined Khan's embroidery unit six months ago, but was often seen drinking at work. About a week ago, Khan sacked him and Wasim had threatened him of dire consequences for doing so. "Despite repeated warnings, Wasim did not mend his ways, after which Khan sacked him about a week ago. Before leaving, he had threatened Khan that he would kill him. Today morning, around 9.30, he reached Khan's home with the intention to kill him. He fired at Khan, but his wife Shahnaz Begam came in between and was shot in the arm. Failing to reload the pistol, Wasim fled the spot," said the official, adding that Begam was rushed to LBS Hospital where her condition is said to be stable.
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Thieves burn house after heist
New Delhi, February 21 According to the police, Sanjay Jain had gone to attend his nephew's wedding last night when a group of thieves first ordered the erection of a tent outside the house and later committed the theft. The incident came to light around 1.30 am when neighbours informed Sanjay over phone regarding a fire in his house. In a statement to the police, Sanjay said that everything, including his clothes, had been burnt in the fire. "Nothing is left and it is difficult to calculate what the thieves took and what they burnt," said a police official quoting victim. According to information, the fridge, sofa, fans, beds etc have been completely charred. According to police, the thieves were aware about the movement of house owner and after he left for the wedding ordered a local tent owner to erect tent for a function outside the victim's house. "They booked the tent in the name of Sanjay Jain itself. Later they entered the house and committed theft and then burnt down the house. They had booked the tent for only three hours from around 8 pm to 11 pm," said the official adding that it is the handiwork of some local gang. The incident comes only a day after Delhi police has arrested Sanjeev alias Sanju, the gang leader of the fire gang known to burn houses after committing theft. The police has registered a case in this regard and further investigations area on.
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Gang supplying maids busted
New Delhi, February 21 With their arrests, the police claims to have solved a case in which a senior IAS officer, working in National Security Council, was also duped. The arrested have been identified as Lokesh (23), Shashi Kant (20) and Shekhar (19). The arrests came after investigation was taken up on the complaint of one Vandana Kini, an IAS officer, who reported that on February 2, she contacted one Deepak Kumar, after seeing an advertisement in a newspaper. Kumar told her that he would provide a maid to her and charge Rs 13,000. On February 6, a person came to Kini's house along with a maid. He got some contract papers signed which stated that the girl would work for a year in their house. Thereafter, the complainant gave Rs 14,600 which included the commission of the agent, the girl's salary and conveyance charges to the man. In the evening, the complainant found the maid missing. She tried to contact Deepak, but all the numbers mentioned in the newspaper advertisement were switched off. On February 19, the police arrested Lokesh, Shashi Kant and Shekhar from Burari. The police recovered fake documents and visiting cards from their possession. "They used to give advertisements in newspapers using the names of fictitious placement agencies," said the police. The maids were brought from Jharkhand and Bihar and asked to run away from the house once they receive the payment from the customers, the police added. Efforts are being made to nab the leader of the gang, Annu."He has previously been arrested in a rape case committed in district Gumla, Jharkhand," said the police.
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Youth held with 209-kg ganja
New Delhi, February 21 According to Ashok Chand, DCP (Crime), the accused, Virender Singh (37), was arrested yesterday from near Yamuna Bank Metro depot. "We have seized 209 kgs of ganja and a Chevrolet Tavera car used for transporting the contraband from him. A case under the appropriate sections of the law has been registered," said Chand, adding that Singh is a postgraduate in commerce from Delhi University. "Singh's family is involved in criminal activities. His mother is a notorious bootlegger and is involved in 34 criminal cases. Initially, he earned his livelihood by selling garments, but then he got into drug trafficking," said Chand, adding that Singh had revealed that the contraband came from Orissa. The drugs are transported to Mathura from Orissa in oil tankers. At Mathura, he collected the consignment and brought it to Delhi. Here, it was sold in the areas of Sultanpuri, Nandnagri and Sonia Vihar. The approximate cost of the seized ganja is Rs 10 lakh.
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BSP leader's house robbed
Ghaziabad, February 21 Two women entered the house of Ranbeer last night followed by their marked armed accomplices, Ghaziabad SP (Rural) M.M. Baig,
said.-- PTI |
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Schoolboy stabbed
New Delhi, February 21 According to the police, Rahul, a student of class XII, was on his way to school when Bikkiallegedly attacked him after a fight related to an old issue. The incident was reported from block-8 of Trilokpuri around 9.30 am. "According to the statement of Rahul, he was going towards his school and was passing through block-21 of Trilokpuri when he met Bikki on the way. The two began a quarrel over some previous matter after which Bikki pulled out a knife and stabbed him in abdomen," said a police official Bikki has been detained in this connection.Rahul has been admitted to LBS Hospital and his condition is stable. |
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Stress laid on sustainable development
New Delhi, February 21 The meet, the university said today, was on "Excellence & sustainable development: emerging global trends." Khurshid called for sustainable development in all fields and said the society needed to accept wrong decisions as "honest mistakes" while savouring the fruits of right decisions. He said there was a need for an educational system having no disparities between the rich and the poor. It should provide them the same platform for their mental development, leading to the sustainability of the nation and, eventually, the world. |
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Cane farmers vie for contest
Bavali, February 21 The first winner bagged a motor cycle, while the runners-up got a television set and a bicycle. All the participants were awarded lunch boxes. Nearly 1,150 sugarcane cultivators turned up to participate in this competition in which a team of government officers judged the quality of sugarcane on the basis of the length of sugarcane sticks. The event was organised by a progressive farmer and social activist Rishipal Tomar to mark the 108 birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Charan Singh, who hailed from this area, known as UP's sugarcane belt. A group of state agricultural scientists interacted with the sugarcane cultivators. Tomar said that it was his attempt to educate and inspire farmers about new techniques of sugarcane cultivation. |
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