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Metro schedule fails to benefit global fliers
Mother fights for justice against dowry perpetrators
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Soon, Delhi to become
kerosene-free
Chatterati
Tihar Jail inmates on melodious track
MCD plans medical college, 1,000-bed hospital
Two arrested with stolen ATM card
West Delhi Mudrika bus service soon
BJP rally against Chauhan
Stolen newborn’s mother refuses to leave hospital
Dismissed cop held for robbery
Woman attacked by estranged husband
Burgle-and-burn gang strikes again in Delhi
A house in Laxmi Bai Nagar which set on fire after robbery, New Delhi, on Sunday. Tribune photo
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Metro schedule fails to benefit global fliers
New Delhi, March 6 Currently, the trains on the express line run for 16 hours on the high-speed corridor from 6 am to 10 pm. Most international flyers would, however, have to wait for some more time to benefit from the service as most planes fly in and out of the country late at night. The passengers of more than 200 flights would not be able to benefit from the Metro services as of now. "Not only the international flyers, even those taking early morning flights will have to take the road to reach the airport for now," said a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation official. Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (DAMPEL) that manages the line is hopeful to increase the time to 20 hours considering the international fliers, however, that may take some time. Meanwhile, the taxi and cab owners are trying their best to cash in during the night time. "We hope that the airport express line begins operations for full 24 hours. The taxi drivers now leave no stone unturned to overcharge. I have been here at the airport for at least three times in the past seven-eight days and every time one can hear them complain about lesser number of customers they get everyday with the introduction of the Metro. Their excuse for exorbitant charges during night time is now that since they face losses during the day, they have to make up for it in the night," said Keshav Bharti, a city-based sales executive. Fleecing is increasing both outside the IGI Airport and the New Delhi Railway Station, when it comes to international passengers. This has always been a problem, but everyday, there are one or two foreign passengers who do not argue with the high cab or taxi charges and fall prey to the sky-rocketing fares. "Humari rozi roti ka sawaal hai.... kya Karen"? Said Mushtaq Ali, one of the taxi owners outside the New Delhi Railway Station. "One benefit with foreign tourists is that at times they are not much in sync with the rates here. At night time, they have no other option but to hire a taxi or a cab. So we end up making Rs 400 to Rs 500 more than the usual on one trip. Depending on how much we can manage, at times the margin is even more. We are also helpless. The customers are reducing now, if the Metro starts operating during night as well, we will have limited passengers only," he added.
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Mother fights for justice against dowry perpetrators
New Delhi, March 6 Meera's only aim now is to see the in-laws of her daughter, Sonu (21), whose life came to close yesterday due to burns, behind bars. She seemed to be firm as ever, to which even her neighbours at Faridabad's Nehru Colony vouch for as they have seen her live through the difficult tide after she lost her husband Ramesh Chandra years ago. Her determination to strive against odds came to play after she met with a train accident on March 31, 2009, and lost her half left limbs. Even this time, she didn't break down though her daughter had been ailing with 95 per cent burns since February 20 when the victim's in-laws and her husband Ravi Kumar allegedly burnt her at their house Bheem Basti, Old Faridabad, in less than a year of her marriage. On the day of the incident, the victim's mother-in-law, Maya, called Sonu's mother saying that she was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital. After meeting Sonu in the evening, she went back to the Old Faridabad police station for registering a case against Sonu's in-laws, who she believed had burnt her daughter as she failed to meet their dowry demands. However, she was sent back by the police saying that the accused family has already filed a complaint in which the victim had admitted the mishap to be accidental. Apparently, the police's role remains doubtful, as the victim's version didn't tally with the complaint. It was only after the intervention of the National Women Commission on February 3 that an FIR was registered by the police under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 498 (a). Prior to that, southwest Delhi Kapasira's SDM Rajpal Singh recorded the victim's statement. "I was told that no complaint is filed from the girl's side and a report had already been filed by my daughter's in-laws. They took my daughter's thumbprint on a plain paper and the police is involved. Rudely, they said no case would be filed anymore and I could go and report it anywhere. I made several rounds of the police station and also wrote to the area's police commissioner as I got threat call from Sonu's uncle-in-law Ram Singh. Eventually, I approached the Women Commission," Meera told The Tribune day before her daughter's death. This paper has a copy of the complaint submitted to the commission. She had in a way accepted the fatal blow after doctors had found her prognosis to be poor as she had suffered critical thermal, facial and respiratory burns, but Meera's spirits seemed to be resolute. "I may lose my daughter, but I'll fight for justice. I never asked for anything else from God - I lost my husband, I brought up my children who are my only bank possession. I married my daughter off on April 14 last year and since then her in-laws had been harassing her for money. I gave Rs 25, 000 and after that they had been demanding a motorcycle," she said. Unable to see her daughter during her excruciating last days, the hapless mother would caress her without looking into her eyes and recollect the gone-by days when she brought up her children with a paltry Rs 750 that she got as the widow pension from the Haryana government. "Thinking me to be handicapped, they have killed my daughter for dowry," said Meera, ready to take on the perpetrators of her daughter. While the accused family couldn't be reached despite many attempts, Meera amidst all grief has just one wish that no family should be faced with such a predicament. |
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Soon, Delhi to become
kerosene-free
New Delhi, March 6 The Delhi government, along with the union government, has been giving final touches to a scheme which will replace kerosene oil stoves with LPG and further provide subsidy through banks to the poor. This will make Delhi a kerosene oil-free state. This announcement was made today by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit while inaugurating a free Mega Health Mela at Jaffrabad in northeast Delhi. DJB vice-chairman Mateen Ahmad and other senior officers were present on the occasion. The camp was organised to inform people about the healthcare facilities for the poor in the area. It was organised by Deputy Commissioner (Rrevenue), Samajik Suvidha Sangam, Health Department and other agencies. The Chief Minister said the city government had been providing top priority to fulfill the needs of the poor. Two more dispensaries would be commissioned in the Jaffrabad area. She also said the physical fitness of women was crucial as they had to contribute to their homes and at other social-level functions. Precautionary measures were necessary for all persons, including women and children. Instead of going to the hospitals located at long distances, the patients should first go to dispensaries located nearby their localities, she suggested. A large number of doctors and para-medical staff were present in the camp. The camp was provided check-ups and treatment for various diseases, including ENT, prenatal care, paediatric, diabetes, orthopedic and general medical problems etc. Medicines were provided free of cost in the camp. Apart from this, information on de-addiction, Stree Shakti Programmes, disaster management, PDS and election cards was also provided. |
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Power, money make a heady cocktail
by Devi Cherian Rain or shine, nothing can stop the extravagant weddings in the Capital. During the wedding season this year, one noticed that marriages are no more just a sacred union of the families or the bride and groom. There is nothing personal about them. From the elaborate card boxes filled with gifts worth thousands you are in for fun as you unwrap the box. Bollywood stars dancing to Mika's and Sonu Nigam's start from the sangeet to the reception; event managers flying in chefs with ingredients from all over the world. Exotic flowers and unique arrangements worth crores are what you will see. While a majority of people still live below the poverty line in this country, one is astonished at the insensitivity of show-off money. But of course each to his own. Last week there was a wedding where the huge gardens of a bungalow in Sainik Farms were covered with parquet wood so that the heels of the hoity-toity Delhi women would not sink in the garden. This is the wedding where Rahat Ali had come to perform, after which the guy got into so much trouble. This is also where gifts were given in abundance and a white Rolls-Royce was displayed and then presented to the son-in-law. The second one was of a Delhi politician's daughter where a helicopter was given in dowry. But the weather played a spoiler here and the helicopter could not land much to the disappointment of everyone. Fifteen thousand people attended this wedding and the attendants were given Rs 11,000 each as shagan. The total cost of this wedding is estimated to be Rs 250 crore as gifts like silver biscuits, safari suits, etc. were given to all who attended various functions of the wedding. Here the venue set up over a barren land was modelled on Venice, the Italian city. It clearly was the biggest Gujjar extravaganza in the entire community belt of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan. The father of the bride and the father of the groom are both Congress leaders from Delhi. Along with politicians, businessmen and Bollywood stars attended this large wedding. Well, political power and money always made a heady cocktail. Showing off wealth and connections
At another reception, the pandal-makers left nothing to imagination. In a flight of fancy they even recreated the iconic shop facades of luxury brands like Gucci, Chanel and Prada to give the befuddled locals a sense of awe. This was matched by the wedding cake, a replica of the Eiffel Tower, true to detail down to little figurines of local artists doing streetside portraits. Elsewhere in the Capital, a politician hosted his best friend's child's reception at a five star. But what caught everybody's eye were the 'costumes'. The men both family and friends in the inner circle had outfits that outshone the women, including stone-work and embellishments on gowns that matched the finery. Singers crooned away in the corner but the long lines were full of politicians, out for an evening break after the budget session. Right from the President of India to hotelier Chatwal of America and Mukesh Ambani from Mumbai, you name them and you found them--media barons to actors. The old days of friends and family bestowing blessings on couples are clearly over. It's now the parents' turn again to flaunt their wealth, their connections and their taste. Some even walk off without greeting the newly weds. It's just another networking evening with their smiles in place and of course eyes searching for the rich, famous and powerful. |
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Tihar Jail inmates on melodious track
New Delhi, March 6 Today,
they stare in amazement as he belts out songs on his keyboard as part of
one of the 10 bands in the jail - a testimony to the success of reforms
at the India's largest prison. "Music brings positive energy. And
because it can reform the inmates' lives in a big way, we have recently
provided bongo, drums, guitar, keyboards and other instruments to
them," said Neeraj Kumar, director general (prisons). "Music
motivates the inmates and uplifts their spirit. We will do a study on
the impact of music on them," he added. Recently, a music room was
also set up in every prison on the premises. There are 10 sub-jails
inside Tihar Jail, which houses around 10,500 prisoners. The
authorities have also roped in professional music teachers. Deputy
Inspector General RN Sharma said: "Ten music experts come to teach
the inmates, one for each sub-jail". All this has struck a chord
with the inmates. Not only have they shown keen interest in learning
music, but have also formed bands - belting out everything from
devotional numbers to Bollywood chartbusters. Pathi Ram, a prison cook,
has formed a band called the Cook Band, where he plays the tabla. Describing
a typical day, Ram said his band members - dressed in their striped jail
uniforms - play religious songs set to Bollywood tunes. "The other
day we had 20 spectators who were listening to our music," Ram
added. Taj Mohammad said he had come a long way from his days of
despair and depression. "During our recreational time, when I come
down to the music room, the whole environment reminds me of some
memories that either made me smile or a bit teary. I always wanted to be
a choreographer and musician, but life brought me here instead," he
said with a faint smile. "Music changes our thinking process. It
takes away our worries and makes us feel like we are not very far away
from home. Every day it instils hope in us that we will get
justice," said Amit Saxena, 32, an undertrial who has been in jail
for the past seven years on a murder charge. There are around 300
inmates learning various instruments. — IANS |
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MCD plans medical college, 1,000-bed hospital
New Delhi, March 6 The proposed college and hospital will be on public-private partnership basis and a few private firms have agreed to work with this project. It will be a Rs 600-crore project to come up near Rajan Babu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis. The project will come up over 50 acres of land of RBIPMT which is a 1,155-bedded hospital with a sprawling campus of 78 acres in Kingsway Camp, he said. The private firm will build and operate the hospital and college for 30 years. It will refurbish the RBIPMT into a modern hospital and also build a general hospital. The refurbished RBIPMT will have to be transferred to the MCD within two years of entering into the agreement for PPP. The firm will also have a nursing college, a college of hospital administration and a pharmacy college. The nursing and pharmacy colleges are to be completed in three years and will also have 200 seats each. The medical college will come up in five years.
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Two arrested with stolen ATM card
New Delhi, March 6 The police took action following a complaint was filed by Daulat Ram Pawar, general manager of RBI, who claimed that he had lost his bag containing a debit card and a mobile phone in Karol Bagh on February 23. The police said that the CCTV footage of the ATM centre from where the money had been withdrawn was examined. The details of payments made through the credit card for carrying out purchases were also verified. During investigation, the police came to know that two mobile phones had been purchased with the stolen debit card. Accordingly, technical surveillance in respect of the stolen mobile phone and the purchased mobile phones was mounted and the accused were traced, the police said. They disclosed that they had gone to Karol Bagh where they found the bag containing a debit card, a mobile phone and some documents. They took it away. They made purchases from Noida, the police said.
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West Delhi Mudrika bus service soon
New Delhi, March 6 This decision has been taken after a long discussion as West Delhi is a vast area and has far-flung villages where public transport service is very poor. Commuters have to wait for hours for buses. The Trans-Yamuna had the same problem, but with the launch of Mudrika service, residents are happy as frequency of DTC buses has increased. Sources said that with the commissioning of this service, far-flung areas of the west and outer Delhi will be connected to the main city. Dwarka will also get the benefit of this service. The Mudrika buses will have to complete distance of 45 km every day and it takes at least two and a half hours to complete one circle of West Delhi. Local MP Mahabal Mishra said that this might start from the next week. The buses will bear two symbols -- minus and plus. The minus will have limited stoppage and fast service while plus have more stops. The buses will be driven anti-clockwise. Each side will have 12 buses. They will be started from Madhu Vihar via Dwarka Sector 2, the sources said. |
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BJP rally against Chauhan
New Delhi, March 6 The candle march passed through Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street police station and again came back to culminate at Connaught Place. The party workers raised anti-government slogans. Many traders and local citizens participated in the march. Addressing the meeting, Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta said that on February 24, his party had taken out a march at Jantar Mantar, demanding the minister's removal. The government was so panicked that it allegedly ordered the police to attack the demonstrators who sustained injuries, said Gupta. In spite of the recommendations of Lokayukta, Raj Kumar Chauhan has not been removed. The candle march was taken out so that the people of Delhi might be able to know the reality of this government, he added. The Leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, said that citizens had been suffering due to corruption and price spiral for the past 12 years.
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Stolen newborn’s mother refuses to leave hospital
Ghaziabad, March 6 The baby was born in MMG Hospital on February 26 and was allegedly stolen the same day by a suspected woman, who still remains at large. While a magisterial probe is being conducted by SDM Mahender Kumar with the statements of hospital employees and the father, CMS Dr Kiran Mallick said the woman had been discharged from the hospital and now the police would be called to get her discharged. SP JK Sahi said the sketch of the woman, who was suspected of kidnapping the child, had been released. Earlier, District Magistrate (DM) Hredesh Kumar recommended the suspension of eight hospital employees, including
CMS Dr Mallick, in this matter and on the DM's initiation, the police registered a case.
— PTI |
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Dismissed cop held for robbery
New Delhi, March 6 He was wanted in two cases of robbery in Kundli and Gannaur in Haryana. A reward of Rs 5,000 was there for information on his capture, the official said. He had served in RPF as constable for eight years. He along with his associates had committed armed dacoity on Shyalda Express near Muradabad in Uttar Pradesh and robbed from scrap dealers. He remained in judicial custody for more than eight months. He was later dismissed from service, he said.
— IANS |
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Woman attacked by estranged husband
New Delhi, March 6 The victim who resided at Mangolpuri and worked with a leading hospital in Delhi was married five years ago and had a son. She had been living separately for the last three years due to a domestic dispute. The son is living with the woman. The police said the husband of the woman was drunk when he attacked her. He was on a motorcycle borrowed from his brother-in-law on the pretext of buying meat from market. He is absconding. |
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Burgle-and-burn gang strikes again in Delhi
New Delhi, March 6 "Sunil Sharma, who works with the cabinet secretariat and lives in Laxmi Bai Nagar in south Delhi, had gone with family to Haryana for a wedding," a senior police officer said. On Saturday night, the neighbours noticed smoke coming out of the house and called the fire brigade and the police, the officer said. "We have registered a case and are investigating the matter," he said. According to police, gang consists of mainly minors and they target locked homes of government officials. The gang operates mostly in Sarojini Nagar, R.K. Puram and Laxmibai Nagar areas of south Delhi. The gang's kingpin, Sanjeev was arrested from Sarojini Nagar on February 19.
— IANS |
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Even as most passengers to the international airport are now relived and eased after the Airport Express Metro line started its commercial operations from New Delhi Railway Station to Indira Gandhi International Airport 10 days ago, passengers of international flights during early morning or late night lights hours are still relying on autos and private taxi services and paying a higher price.
New Delhi, March 6
