New Delhi, May 24
The crime branch of the Delhi police has arrested three persons in connection with a dacoity that had occurred at the office of Muthoot Finance Ltd in Pandav Nagar on May 10. Apart from some weapons, the police has also recovered a part of the looted valuables.

According to DCP (crime) Ashok Chand, the three accused, identified as Rahul (20), Satish (25) and Mahender (40), were arrested last evening from the Kondli area of New Ashok Nagar.

"The trio was arrested following a tip-off. One country-made pistol, along with two live cartridges and two spring actuated knives, and a Bajaj Pulsar motor cycle and a WagonR car which was found to be used in the crime have also been seized. We have also recovered gold ornaments worth Rs 3 lakh from them," said Chand.

According to the DCP, the accused during interrogation said apart from them, Satpal Singh, Raj Kishore and Pradeep Tiwari were also involved in the dacoity. "Before committing the crime they conducted a reccee of the area and on May 10 around 1.15 pm, Mahender, Satpal and Raj entered the premises of Muthoot Finance Ltd while Rohtash kept a watch near the staircase.

Pradeep Tiwari remained in WagonR and Rahul with the motor cycle. Satpal had donned a turban since he had long hair and beard and he pretended himself to be a Sikh. They decamped with gold ornaments in one bag that they had carried with them and also used a laptop bag of the manager to carry the gold. They also took away Rs 1.5 lakh with them," said Chand.

Satpal, along with his associate Nizam, is also involved in another case of murder and robbery that had occurred on January 31 in Mansrovar Park in which they shot Vinod dead and decamped with Rs 10 lakh.

Investigation further revealed that Raj had deposited approximately 70 gram of looted gold in Mannapuram General Finance and Leasing Ltd at their Bhajan Pura branch. The gold has since been recovered.

Efforts are on to apprehend the remaining accused and to recover the looted property.

New Delhi, May 24
A 45-year-old Canadian origin pilot, who was due to fly BJP national president Nitin Gadkari to Mumbai this morning was arrested at the IGI Airport when security officials discovered a live cartridge in his carry bag.

The pilot identified as Rafel Jose Hubbard was immediately placed under arrest when he failed to come up with a satisfactory reply about .762 mm cartridge in his bag.

According to police officials, Hubbard works with Aero Air Charter Company and was to fly its plane to Mumbai at 9 am when this incident was reported during security check at the general aviation lounge of terminal 1D.

"Hubbard could not come up with a convincing reason as to what a cartridge was doing in his bag. He claimed that he was unaware about it and that he had bought a second-hand bag from Sarojini Nagar market few days ago and packed his things without checking the already existing contents in it. He was arrested under the Arms Act," said the official.

The investigation into the claims of Hubbard is on.

Produced before Dwarka District Court soon after his arrest, Hubbard managed to get bail on a personal surety bond of Rs 25, 000.

New Delhi, May 24
Delhi is the only state where industrial relations are cordial and there has been no loss of man hours due to strike or any industrial agitation. Delhi has fixed the minimum wages which are the highest in the country, said Delhi labour and industries minister Ramakant Goswami at a regional consultation meeting of Twelfth Five Year Plan.

The government has been enforcing all the labour and industrial laws with sincerity. Due to the multiplicity of authorities, the condition of a few industrial estates in the city is not satisfactory. In view of the limited land and pollution concerns, only non-polluting industries are being allowed to be set up. This has resulted in a large number of service sector industries which are contributing substantially to the economic development of the city. He said as many as 2,819 flats out of 3,164 under Rajiv Awas Yojna had been allotted to the industrial labour. Some 1,892 flats were under construction in the second phase. Besides, the Delhi State Industry and Infrastructure Development Corporation had been working on 10 projects to construct 54,000 flats under the JNNURM.

New Delhi, May 24
The education directorate of the Delhi government has been ordered by the Delhi High Court to probe into a Class VIII student's allegation that his name has been struck off the rolls by his school for no rhyme or reason.

Justice Kailash Gambhir ordered the probe while also issuing notices to DAV Public School in Jasola Vihar, south Delhi, seeking their replies by July 4.

"The education directorate is directed to hold a thorough inquiry into the allegations levelled by the petitioner as the matter pertains to a child of Class VIII," said Justice Gambhir in his order.

"Let the allegation against the principal, teachers and his other schoolmates be gone in depth by the education directorate to find out and ascertain the truth," the Judge added.

The court's order came on a petition filed by student's father Amod Shastri who alleged his son was being harassed by schoolteachers and the principal owing to his various acts aimed at exposing alleged corruption in the society, including the school's functioning and the working of the city's police.

In his petition to the court and various other documents attached to it, Shastri said once his son was beaten up mercilessly by a school teacher after discovery of a "sperm-filled condom" inside his classroom with the school authorities suspecting his 11-year-old son was behind the prank.

On another occasion, the school's sports teacher beat him up after making him bow down on his knees without any reason, alleged Shastri. The school authorities have recently struck off his son's name from the list. - PTI

Greater Noida, May 24
Knowledge Park- 4 is being developed as the nucleus of important activities in Greater Noida. According to sources, the park has been selected for developing the first helipad in the hi-tech city, a 20-storey office complex of Greater Noida Authority, offices of a number of multinational corporations, a Metro station and 130-metre-wide express way will also pass touching it.

Whenever some VIPs and political leaders have to visit the area the absence of a helipad is acutely felt. Besides, the area abounds in dozens of corporate offices, many of which being keen to have their own helicopters for the use of their owners and foreign guests. A helipad will fulfil the need of all of them.

Presently, a makeshift helipad is readied overnight whenever a VIP or a political leader has to visit the area.

The helipad is proposed to be developed on 2.3 hectares at a cost of Rs10 crore. It will have all the needed infrastructure and facilities like a modern car parking, a VIP guest house, and a fire fighting unit. Adequate security arrangements will also be in place in view of the VIP movement and the costly helicopters.

In Knowledge Park-4, Greater Noida Authority proposes to build its grand office complex which will be a 20-storey structure, the design and building plan for which has already been approved.

Besides, it will be connected with the Metro line and a Metro station is likely to be built here.

New Delhi, May 24
A seven-member team from National Human Rights Commission today visited Bhatta-Parsaul villages in Greater Noida to probe complaints of the police atrocities following a farmers' protest early this month.

The team from the investigation division of the NHRC, led by an SSP and comprising two DSPs and four inspector-rank officers, went to the affected areas, according to the rights panel.

"Pained" over violence over land acquisition and complaints of the police atrocities in Greater Noida, the NHRC had on May 12 said it would send an investigation team there.

The rights body had said it had received complaints about the police trespassing into villagers' houses, outraging women's dignity and mercilessly lathicharging farmers demanding more compensation for their land acquired for a road project.

"The NHRC is pained to see complaints and media reports alleging large-scale violence in village Bhatta and other nearby areas in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, leading to loss of life and injuries to several persons, including the officers on the state government duty," it had said.

Four persons, including two policemen, were killed in farmers-police clashes and firing in Bhatta-Parsaul villages on May 7.

Following the incident, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the area and alleged that people were burnt alive and women raped there while National Women's Commission also claimed to have received complaints from the villagers about molestation of women by the police and demanded a CBI probe.

The Uttar Pradesh government has dismissed these allegations. - PTI

New Delhi, May 24
The installation of a device of high-definition video-conferencing technology at Delhi Secretariat is another feather added to the e-governance system of the city government, said Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

This is a big step in the direction of e-governance. The facility will help save time and energy, she said.

With the help of this system, officers and public representatives will be able to submit their suggestions and comments simultaneously which will help in taking on-the-spot decisions. People will become part of the decision-making process. This will also help citizens as well as officers.

The Chief Minister exhorted the officers to make optimum use of this facility that will provide 24 connections at different places. It will also facilitate interaction with the offices of deputy commissioners which are situated at a distance of more than 25 km from Delhi Secretariat. This facility will be extended to other offices, including DJB, which have a direct contact with the common man.

Besides the offices of divisional commissioner and deputy commissioners, the video conferencing is also available at the offices of Lieutenant-Governor, chief secretary and chairman (NDMC), he said.

Ghaziabad, May 24
Before forwarding the mercy petition of Nithari prime accused Surendra Koli to the President, the Uttar Pradesh government has sought from the police its opinion and details of his conduct in jail and the possible repercussions of hanging him as ordered by a CBI court.

CBI special Judge Shyam Lal had earlier this month ordered that Koli be hanged between May 24 and May 31.

The letter from department of law and justice seeking opinion of the victim's family members, along with that of the police and Dasna Jail authorities about Koli's conduct was received by senior SP Gautam Budh Nagar, the police said.

The letter also sought views of the police regarding the fallout of hanging him in nearby circle of Nithari village.

They said the reply has to be sent within a day or two since the stipulated period for hanging Koli expires next week.

The CBI judge had on May 19 asked the jail superintendent to produce the opinion of secretary law and justice about the mercy petition and had fixed May 23 for next hearing.

Since he was on leave yesterday, the hearing was postponed to May 26.

Meanwhile, jail superintendent Viresh Raj Sharma said that in view of the mercy petition, "it is now up to the judge whether he will stay the execution."

The CBI judge had issued the death warrant for execution of Koli after the Supreme Court in February confirmed the death penalty awarded to him in the case related to rape and murder of 14-year-old Rimpa Haldar.

However, on May 7 Koli had applied for mercy to the President of India through the jail superintendent.--PTI

New Delhi, May 24
A young software engineer was stabbed and robbed by some unidentified youths in the Harsh Vihar area of east Delhi last night. The robbers also took away his Santro car and other valuables, including mobile phone.

The victim, Vivek Chaudhary, was returning from IGI Airport when the incident took place around 1 am today.

"Vivek, is undergoing treatment at St Stephen's Hospital after he was stabbed by robbers in the shoulder and thigh. The incident took place on Sewadham Road at Harsh Vihar when Vivek was returning home after dropping one of his friends at the airport," said a police official.

Vivek said he had decelerated the car due to a broken road when a man came running and pulled the key out of the ignition.

"Many other youngsters also joined him and forced him out of the car. When he resisted, they stabbed him and fled with the car, his mobile and wallet," said the official.

New Delhi, May 24
A 40-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in the Jehangirpuri area of northeast Delhi last night.

According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Bobby, an electrician, who was discovered hanging dead this morning by his family.

Although no suicide note was recovered from him, the police investigations points towards financial problems to be the root cause behind Bobby's extreme step.

"Bobby lives in the E-block area of Jehangirpuri with his wife, three children and his father.

He was discovered hanging inside his house this morning after a fight last night.

The body has been sent for the postmortem while investigation in the matter is on," said a police official.

Bobby was finding difficult to meet his ends owing to large family and this often led to the fight in the family.