|
|
|
|
|
Elderly man found strangled at home
They wanted to leave building
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Police, MCD in blame game
Body of a 7-yr boy retrieved, a day after
Relatives of the victims check the list outside the LNJP Hospital in New Delhi on Wednesday. Tribune
photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui
Illegal buildings a major issue: CM
HC rules in favour of
St Stephen’s
Maps for special areas okayed as
per master plan
MCD negligent: Old City residents
Residents of the Chandni Mahal area speak to the media against builders, the MCD and the Delhi police in New Delhi on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui
Asked to stop, speeding vehicle crushes cop
BJP for better disaster management
|
|
Elderly man found strangled at home
New Delhi, September 28 The police believes that it is the handiwork of someone known to the victim. "The incident came to light around 7.40 am when Setiya's daughter went to serve him tea. She found him lying dead with a rope around the neck. The room was ransacked," said a senior police official. He added that the victim stayed with his daughter and son-in-law. Because of old age, Setiya lived on the ground floor of the house while his daughter and her husband lived on the first floor. The murderer's entry to the house was friendly, indicating that he was known to the victim, said the police. "The family told us that Setiya went to sleep in his room around 10 pm and they went to their floor soon after," said the official. The official added that though Setiya's room had been ransacked, the family had reported that nothing had been taken. The body has been sent to DDU Hospital for postmortem.
|
|
They wanted to leave building
New Delhi, September 28 While the grief-stricken relatives of the deceased waited for the bodies outside Maulana Azad Medical College mortuary, families of the injured remained stationed outside Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital. Razia Begum, whose three family members are injured, had tried to shift out of the ill-fated building two months ago, but could not because the owner of the building Zakir (who lives in the same locality) refused to return the advance rent, forcing the family to stay there till September. Razia's 40-year-old husband Mohammed Sajid and two sons -- Aquib (13) and Mohammed Faiz (6)-- are admitted to the emergency ward with head injuries, while her other children Rameez (8) and Saima (12) have suffered head and soft tissue injuries and are at the disaster ward of the hospital. "Five members of my family have been injured. They were about to leave for the evening namaaz when the building fell. My husband and Rameez were on the second floor where Munni Devi (now dead) lived and I was coming down the stairs when I saw mud from the roof falling. I rushed back as my two children were on the third floor. But before I could reach there, the wall fell," said Razia with tears in her eyes. Like many families which lived in the ill-fated building, Razia's family had also complained to Zakir about the poor condition of the building, but he paid no attention. "We had been staying on a rent of Rs 3,000, but wanted to leave. Almost two months ago, we told Zakir about it, but he compelled us to stay back till the end of this month," said Razia. Nasir (55), a resident of the building who has suffered head injuries, is still ignorant about the death of her mother Fatima. Nasir's younger brother Firoz (30) is also admitted to the disaster unit of the hospital. He was rescued by his friend Salman (19), who is also injured. Salman, Shoaib (25) and Firoz were returning from work. As they reached Feroz's building, Salman and Shoaib saw him off and proceeded. However, minutes later, the building collapsed. Salman and Shoaib pulled out Firoz from the rubble, but suffered multiple injuries themselves. "As I and Shoaib took out Firoz, a part of the roof came down and I was buried. Shoaib is also injured. Firoz lost his mother and niece. His brother is also injured," said Salman. Angry with the builder and owner of the building, several other families said construction work in the front of the building's main gate had affected its wall strength. "The danger was evident. A peepal tree near the building was razed about 15 days ago. This could have weakened the wall. But the builder didn't listen to us," said a family member of a victim.
|
|
HC rules in favour of
St Stephen’s
New Delhi, September 28 "Sandeep Dikshit and other members of the alumni society are restrained from using the name 'St Stephen's College Alumni Association'. They are also restrained from using the official crest, logo or motto of the college and the domain name St Stephen's alumni.co.in," the court order read. In May this year, Dikshit and the principal of the college, Valson Thampu, had an ugly public spat wherein the Congress leader had made comments like Thampu was running the institution like a communal body. Dikshit then launched a parallel alumni association and registered it in July. Thampu retaliated and issued a "cease and desist" notice to the association almost three weeks ago, asking the members not to use the name of the college. However, according to the court order, the organisation will be entitled to use the name "Association of Old Stephenians", provided that it will display a disclaimer on its website that it is not the official alumni association of St Stephen's College and has no connection or affiliation either to the college or the St. Stephen's College Alumni Association. Expressing gratification at the order, Thampu showed his anguish at being "forced" to litigate in order to protect the image, integrity and interests of the college and its nationally cherished academic heritage. "All alumni are dear to St Stephen's and me. And no one who wants to serve the institution will ever meet with any hindrance or disfavour. But, at the same time, no one will be allowed to defame or cheapen the hallowed temple of learning or degrade it into a theatre of power-mongering or adventures of arrogance," said Thampu. The Sandeep Dikshit camp, on the other hand, is also satisfied with the order as it allows them to use the word "Stephenians", which Thampu had strongly objected to initially. Media coordinator for Dikshit's Almuni Association, Ashish Joshi said, "The court has allowed the use of the word, 'Stephenians', as part of the name of our association. |
|
New Delhi, September 28 The blame game started as a senior MCD official claimed that the civic body had informed the police a fortnight ago about "dangerous" digging activity being carried out by the owner of the building which collapsed along with another yesterday. The official claimed dDC (City Zone) Krishna Kumar wrote to the SHO of the Chandni Mahal police station that illegal construction was taking place in one of the buildings, which collapsed yesterday, but alleged that the police did not take any action. However, JCP (Northern Range) Sudhir Yadav denied the allegations and claimed the police had not received any complaint from the deputy commissioner regarding the illegal construction. "As per the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, the deputy commissioner has to give a complaint in writing to the police about the activity. Here, we have not received any complaint but a copy of the letter given to the owner of the building asking him to stop the illegal construction. There was no specific instruction or direction in the communication received by us. It was just a copy of the letter given to the owner on September 16 and we cannot take action on this," Yadav said. However, he said, the police had gone to the spot and had asked the contractor and owner not to carry out any illegal activities there on September 25. "The police's role was limited in this case," he said. - PTI
|
|
Illegal buildings a major issue: CM
New Delhi, September 28 Sheila, along with health minister AK Walia, today visited Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital to meet the injured. The Chief Minister instructed the doctors to provide all possible care and treatment. She also directed hospital authorities to ensure treatment free of cost of all injured admitted there. They will also be provided medical health care, if required, even after their discharge from the hospital. She announced ex gratia to the kin of the deceased and injured persons, respectively. In the case of death of a major person, Rs 2 lakh and in case of death of a minor person, Rs 1 lakh will be granted. In case of a serious injury, Rs 50, 000 will be granted as assistance. An amount of Rs 1 lakh will be released as financial assistance in case of orphan. Sheila said she was in touch with MCD commissioner KS Mehra who has already ordered a probe into last night's collapse in the Chandni Mahal area. "I don't want to point fingers at anybody, but those who are responsible for the incident, be it the MCD or the police, must take responsibility and take corrective steps," she added.
|
|
Body of a 7-yr boy retrieved, a day after
New Delhi, September 28 With a heavy heart and tears in the eyes, Aman's relatives said his life could have been saved, if the rescue work had been done speedily. "The rubble has been removed and no more body has been found," said a senior police official. Meanwhile, the body of Munni Devi, one of the deceased, was brought to her relatives' house from the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital mortuary. "Her body was brought around 2.15 pm today. She lived in the building," the police official said. The Delhi police has registered a case under Section 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case has been registered against Anil, the owner of the building, and Jalaluddin, its builder. Angry over the incident, residents of the area complained that several buildings at Chandni Mahal and nearby localities were in a dilapidated condition. "Some buildings in Chandni Mahal have been recently constructed or renovated. Though they look good from outside, they are in a deplorable state inside. The police should be blamed for allowing the construction of such weak buildings. They take bribes and allow the construction. Other places such as Kala Mahal and Suiwalan also have similar weak buildings," said Raizuddin, a resident of Chandni Mahal. "I live in the building just behind the one that collapsed yesterday. Two more floors are being constructed in my building. I don't know how safe it is as the building has a weak foundation," said Vicky, another resident of the area. "Most of the buildings in this locality are old and weak due to lack of proper upkeep," said Mohammed Tasha, who had come to Chandni Mahal from Seelampur to meet his brother who stays near the ill-fated building. |
|
Maps for special areas okayed as
per master plan
New Delhi, September 28 The building plan in these areas would be sanctioned according to it. Chairman of the standing committee Yogender Chandolia said the building bylaws in special areas such as Walled City, Walled City Extension and Karol Bagh, unauthorised regularised colonies and village population areas (lal dora) had been prepared as per the MPD-2021. "The maps for plots that fall under approved or notified layout plan area will be sanctioned as per the provisions of these rules and the maps for the plots those fall beyond the purview of these areas will be sanctioned as per the master plan," said Chandolia. He added the department had already asked the officials concerned to sanction maps in special areas, unauthorised regularised colony and lal dora areas as per the notified building bylaws. "The maps will be sanctioned in entire lal dora area by considering it as residential area according to the master plan or zonal development plan and re-development plan if necessary. However, the conditions of approved layout plan for the area will not come into force. It would be pertinent to provide true information about ownership of the plot, its shape and size for the sanction of the map," he said. He said 100 per cent covering would be permitted in the lal dora area. The constitution of group housing would also be allowed as per the provisions of the master plan. |
|
MCD negligent: Old City residents
New Delhi, September 28 The incident has yet again raised fingers at the civic agency for its alleged negligence in dealing with the illegal constructions and unsafe buildings. Locals allege that there is a nexus among the police, MCD officials and builders, which allows illegal constructions in the locality. Though the civic agency has ordered an enquiry into yesterday's building collapse, people of the area allege that the corporation does not pay attention on sanctioning the building plans of the area. "Most of the buildings in these areas are not sanctioned by the MCD. Municipal officials say they do not have the provisions to approve the building plans of such areas," said Jehangir, a resident of Jama Masjid. "When a building is constructed, neither MCD officials nor the police bother to inspect it, but if anybody carries out repair work in his building, men from both the agencies come to seek money for allowing it," said Alauddin, another resident of the area. "The buildings here are of a substandard quality and have been constructed in a haphazard manner," he said. Showing anger, agitated locals today raised slogans against the politicians and police. However, MCD officials said investigating officials had been asked to submit their findings in three days and action would be taken against the guilty. Municipal commissioner KS Mehra said he had directed the director of the vigilance department to conduct an enquiry into yesterday's incident. "Taking into consideration the magnitude of the issue, we have entrusted the enquiry to the director of the vigilance department," said Mehra. On the allegation of a possible nexus between builders and MCD officials, Mehra said it would be investigated. "We have asked for an enquiry into the role of builders and MCD officials. Action will be taken against the defaulting persons or officials," he said.
|
|
Asked to stop, speeding vehicle crushes cop
New Delhi, September 28 The incident was reported around 7.35 am from the toll road going towards
Noida. "Head constable Nehander Singh (46) was killed and constable Ankit Tomar (24) was injured when they tried to stop a Tavera car that was over speeding. The driver of the car, instead of stopping the vehicle, hit the policemen and sped away. He was later arrested. The cops were rushed to Max Hospital," said a police official. The incident took place when a traffic police team, conducting a surprise check on the toll road, found that a vehicle was being driven beyond the permissible limit of 70 km per hour. "The victim police officials waved the vehicle to stop, but the driver ran over the policemen. Police officials, however, managed to note down the registration number of the vehicle and arrested the driver later in the day," said the official. The driver has been identified as Yash Raj (28), a resident of Sector-12 in
Noida. While Singh was a resident of Hapur (UP) and had joined the Delhi police in 1989, Tomar hails from Baghpat district of UP and had joined the force two years ago. |
|
BJP for better disaster management
New Delhi, September 28 The party spokesperson said last night when the incident of building collapse happened, it was felt that the government's disaster management was not apt to handle the situation. It also demanded a judicial inquiry to find out the actual reason for the incident and which agency is responsible for the cause. The Leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, said whether it was a terrorist attack, house collapse or inundation of the city due to heavy rains, the lack of apt quick response teams for the disaster management was causing utmost inconvenient to the
Delhiites. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Classified Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Onlookers were dumbfounded this morning when they saw the body of seven-year-old Aman being extricated from the ruins of a residential building at Chandni Mahal in Old Delhi that collapsed late evening yesterday. The incident claimed seven lives and left 22 injured. All dead persons were cremated today.
New Delhi, September 28
