Greater Noida, November 1
Uncertainty is again stalking the Noida Extension area. The NCR Planning Board has directed that construction work be stopped in all the NCR areas, including Noida Extension and other NCR colonies where the land use has been altered.

The Board has also banned issuance of approval of construction plans for houses and group housing societies. Besides, it has banned issuing of completion certificates for these buildings by development authorities.

Greater Noida Authority has ordered all the builders to stop construction activities. CEO Rama Raman has issued the necessary instructions to all the departmental heads of GNIDA.

After the Allahabad High Court verdict, there was a general expectation among the investors that they would soon get possession of their flats.

The High Court in its verdict on October 21 ordered that the approval of NCR Planning Board be obtained early for all the sectors where the land use had been altered.

Greater Noida officials have personally visited various sites and asked the builders to stop construction activity forthwith.

Noida, November 1
A group of software engineers has taken it upon the task of educating the city people on traffic rules.

The engineers, in the age group of 22 to 28 years, have volunteered to persuade drivers to follow the traffic rules.

About two months back, Abhishek Rai, a software engineer, the brain behind the movement, saw a driver of an ambulance trying to find his way with the siren of the vehicle on. He noticed that other drivers were not letting the ambulance pass, which left him very disturbed. He discussed it with his colleagues, and they decided to do something about it.

Calling themselves "Noida Traffic Police Volunteers", they are working in association with the Noida traffic police. The volunteers can be seen at three important crossings in the city - Rajnigandha, Atta Peer and T-Series - on Saturdays when they have half days off between 8 am and 12 noon. Wearing fluorescent jackets and carrying placards, they cajole drivers to stop at the red light, slow down at the yellow light and wear helmets and seat belts.

"I have always been intrigued by those who drive at break-neck speed, zigzag their way through vehicles and do not wear helmets, though it is for their own safety," said Rai,.

Rai also contacted the traffic inspector, Saiffuddin Beg, who was happy with his movement and assured him of help. After getting the green signal from the traffic police, the volunteers put banners on roads and carried placards on the roads. The traffic police provide them with the jackets every Saturday.

"We started with the Rajnigandha crossing, but now manage Atta Peer and T-Series crossings as well. Soon, we realised that we need more volunteers because the situation at other crossings is not good either. So, we put a notice on the Facebook page of the Noida traffic police, after which people from other IT units have joined our movement. We are now 30, including five girls," Rai said.

"But we want more people to join us," he added.

"I got in touch with the group through Facebook. I am happy that I joined them. It gives me a sense of satisfaction that I am doing my bit for society," said Ravi Kant, another software engineer. He can be seen advising people to slow down at the yellow light at Rajnigandha crossing.

"We have a very small set of goals to achieve. As of now, we want people to stop at the red light, slow down at the yellow light, wear seat belts and helmets, respect the zebra crossing and not honk. Once we achieve this, we will go further," said Kant.

"These youngsters have been on the roads for the last six weeks and I have seen a perceptible change in drivers at these crossings. Recently, an NGO - Centre for Research and Improvement of India (CRI) - also joined the group," said Beg, who is coordinating the movement.

"The strange thing about the Noida people is that they flout the rules intentionally which bothers us a lot. We allowed this group to come on the roads because people's safety is our prime concern," added the traffic inspector.

Noida, November 1
The Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) and several non-profit groups here have protested against the proposed 10 per cent hike in the DND Flyway toll.

Representatives from all over the city will meet the chairperson of the Noida Authority, Balwinder Kumar, to seek a stay or roll back of the proposed hike that is to be implemented from November 2 midnight.

Noida Toll Bridge Company Ltd, meanwhile, has made special arrangements to avoid chaos once the new rates are implemented, like deploying additional staff who will collect cash and give the receipts to commuters in the queue itself.

Hiking of Rs 20 to 22 for cars will particularly create a problem of shortage of coins of Rs 2, especially at rush hours.

The company will also issue booklets with cash coupons so that regular commuters can avoid cash transactions and those interested will also be able to get gold and silver cards while in the queue itself without going to the customer care centre.

New Delhi, November 1
The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has taken action against 732 bus drivers and 722 conductors during a safety drive.

A total number of 32,078 buses were checked during the drive and stern disciplinary action was initiated against the crew who were found negligent towards their duties.

An official of the DTC said that 188 drivers and 312 conductors have been suspended or terminated from their services. Eight drivers and one conductor have been issued chargesheets. As many as 544 drivers and 410 conductors have been issued "warnings".

The objective of the drive was to sensitize the bus crew and check manners of those dealing with passengers besides ensuring overall safety.

In a bid to ensure the security of DTC bus commuters during the festive season of Divali and Bhai Dooj, the DTC launched a special drive from October 18 to 31. It has already experienced some bitter incidents of bomb blasts during such festive seasons.

To avoid such incidents and uphold discipline among the staff, certain guidelines were issued. As a result, no untoward incident was noticed.

The DTC deployed all its officers and other traffic supervisory staff in the field between 8 am and 10 am and 5 pm and 7 pm.

During the campaign, drivers and conductors were told about their mistakes and the passengers were also educated on safe boarding and alighting. They were warned against any unattended or suspicious object lying around their seat in the bus.

The crew was instructed not to leave the stationary bus unattended. The timekeepers and checking officials were instructed to remain mobile at the terminals during the drive.

New Delhi, November 1
Twenty cars and some old motorcycles, carpets and empty boxes were destroyed in a fire at BSF parking this evening. The BSF headquarters is located in the building in CGO complex.

The Delhi police said that the fire engulfed 20 cars and some obsolete BSF motorcycles after it spread from burning tyres kept in the basement.

"The incident was reported about 5.30 pm today. A fire erupted in the basement parking of the BSF office. Some cars and a few old BSF motorcycles were burnt. The fire spread from some tyres kept at the basement," added the official.

New Delhi, November 1
There was a huge crowd at the ghats on the occasion of Chhat pooja when about 40 lakh people of Poorvanchal thronged here to worship the god Sun at the sunset today.

This year, the devotees were happy as the arrangements were better at the ghats in comparison to last year. The traffic was well managed as the traffic police and volunteers helped in getting the vehicles parked at the parking lots. Last year it was managed by the volunteers only.

Traffic jam was seen at Old Yamuna Bridge and Wazirabad where one side of the road was blocked.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also visited various ghats to extend her greetings and best wishes to devotees and offer prayers, describing the Chhath an important festival of prosperity and joy.

The festival was celebrated with religious fervour and devotion.

Chairman of the Tirth Yatra Vikas Samiti Gajbhan Mukut Sharma was also present on the occasion.

Dikshit visited the residence of former Chief Minister of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav and extended her greetings and offered prayer.

She said the festival had been nurturing social and cultural values of Poorvanchalis settled in the Capital city. It also helped in strengthening social bonds apart from disseminating message of brotherhood, co-existence and mutual cooperation.

New Delhi, November 1
For the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the only thing achieved in the past 27 years of long struggle is disappointment and injustice.

The candlelight march at India Gate today bought back the memories of two and a half decades old massacre of thousands of Sikhs on the streets of Delhi, Kanpur and other places, following the assassination of Indira Gandhi. The march was organized by the Sikh Forum and other groups to demonstrate their angst against the government and the judiciary.

More than 150 people gathered to pay their homage to those who died in the crime. Though they are doing their best to keep the struggle for justice alive, they have lost the battle in their heart of hearts.

"I am just doing my duty. Otherwise I know that nothing is going to happen," said Nirpreet Kaur, who lost her father in the riots. She is also the prime witness in the case against Sajjan Kumar, who is a former member of Parliament.

For the last 27 years, the victims have been demanding justice and punishment for those guilty of the crime. Far from being convicted and punished, the accused have continued to contest elections and enjoy seats in power.

"We organize such gatherings not to demand anything from the government as we know that will be useless. We have come here to remember those who were killed without any crime," said Tarlochan Singh, sitting MP, Rajya Sabha.

"In fact, the government erased all the evidence against the leaders. There are no FIRs, no records, no witnesses. The government destroyed everything to save the perpetrators," he said.

However, the Congress party has been forced by the public to draft a bill, addressing the question of prevention of communal violence.

"It was government-organized violence. Despite irrefutable evidence of the meticulous planning involved, including weapons and arson material distributed to the murderous gangs from Congress party offices, none of the leaders of the party who masterminded the genocide has been punished," said RS Chhatwal, a retired Wing Commander who has been supporting the struggle of the victims.

"People of our country are not communal. It is the Indian state that is communal. The ruling party and the state were responsible for the crime, not the ordinary people," he added.

New Delhi, November 1
A 68-year-old man, facing trial in a murder case in a Meerut court and held guilty for raping a minor for over five months after abducting her, has been sentenced to five years in jail, two years less than the minimum seven-year term prescribed for a rapist.

Additional Sessions Judge Virender Kumar Goyal showed leniency to Baghpat-resident Anwar as he suffered from bone tuberculosis and backbone cancer, besides his utter poverty amid the responsibility to look after his 95-year-old mother and his six children, including a visually impaired one.

The court sentenced Anwar to five years in jail while setting off the part of his sentence against four years and 11 months of imprisonment already undergone by him as undertrial.

"After considering the facts and circumstances and the fact that Anwar remained in custody for the past about four years and 11 months and he was suffering from incurable diseases and also his age and family circumstances, I am of the opinion that there are adequate and special reasons to impose a sentence for a term less than seven years," the court said.

"Accordingly, a sentence of five years simple imprisonment is imposed," the court added, while also fining him Rs 25,000, which, if recovered, would go to the victim.

Seeking leniency for Anwar, amicus curiae Sadhna Bhatia submitted he has six children out of whom one was visually impaired and Anwar was suffering from incurable diseases.

His wife, who too was an accused in the case, died five years back and he has to take care of his 95-year-old mother also, she said.

She also showed to the court several photographs showing Anwar in a bed-ridden condition, unable to do his natural chores. - PTI

New Delhi, November 1
A man, facing trial for attempting to rape a minor, has been let off by a Delhi court after it found him to be mentally challenged with a mental age of a five-year-old child.

"It is clear from the opinion of the medical board of Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) as well as the disability certificate of accused that as on the date of the alleged incident he was suffering from severe mental retardation and was unable to understand the nature of the alleged act or its implications," Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Sharma said, while discharging Trilokpuri-resident Sattar Ali in the attempted rape case.

Ali had been arrested for trying to rape an eight-year-old girl in March. While discharging him, the judge said the case fell under Section 82 of the IPC which says nothing is an offence, if done by a child under seven years of age.

"It is also to be borne in mind that the doctors of the board at IHBAS have opined his (Ali) mental age to be between five and seven years and by virtue of that fact as well, his case falls under general exceptions provided under Section 82 of the IPC," the judge said.

The court also gave him the benefit of Section 84 (act of a person of unsound mind) of the IPC which provides that nothing is an offence, if committed by a person who, because of unsoundness of his mind, is incapable of knowing the nature of the act at the time of doing it.

As per the prosecution, the victim's mother, while searching for her daughter, saw from the window of Ali's house that her daughter was lying on the floor and he was trying to rape her. Ali fled the spot as she raised an alarm, the police said.

The mother reported the matter to the police on March 10 and Ali was arrested a few days later, it said.

While discharging Ali, the court cited the mother's statement to point out that Ali had left the window of his house open while trying to rape the minor, while "no sane person would commit such a dastardly act in general public view." One of the clinical physiologists at IHBAS had told the court that he had an interview with Ali's physically challenged wife, who revealed that the accused required physical and verbal prompting to perform day-to-day activities but he did not know the consequences of sexual behaviour.

Citing the doctor's deposition and medical reports, the judge said the fact was that Ali had an unsound mind, suffering from severe mental retardation and had been declared having 90 per cent mental impairment. - PTI

New Delhi, November 1
A student of the Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (DIPSAR) has reportedly committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in her hostel room located on the college campus.

The deceased has been identified as Shivani Rana (18), who was pursuing a diploma in pharmacy at DIPSAR. She was a student of first year and was admitted to the college on July 15.

Shivani is a native of Bharal village, Bagpat district in Uttar Pradesh.

A police official said they were informed about the incident around 8 pm yesterday.

"We found her hanging from a ceiling fan in her room. She had left a note addressed to her father, Prem Singh Rana. She came to Delhi for the first time this year. On Sunday, she had come back from her village after Diwali break. She was staying in a room which was divided into four sections. Her other three roommates were still on leave," said the official.

He added that Shivani was taken to the AIIMS hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead. The body has been handed over to the family after postmortem.

Her relatives said she could not have committed suicide and instead suspected that she was possibly murdered.

"After attending her class, she went back to her room yesterday. She had earlier spoken to her parents at 3 pm. Shivani also telephoned a friend around 4 pm, asking her to come to the room. When the friend came, the door of Shivani's room was locked. The friend then went to the computer lab assuming that she would be there," said Shivani's maternal uncle, Jagmal Singh.

"Shivani probably had committed suicide between 4 pm and 5 pm. But, we were told about the incident around 8 pm. The college authorities had initially informed us that she fell off the stairs and was severely injured. Around 10 pm we were told that she had committed suicide. It seems like a murder case, because there was no stool beneath the hanging body. The room adjacent to hers appears as if a violent confrontation took place there," Jagmal added.

Jagmal said Shivani was a brilliant student and did not have family or financial problems.

"She received a scholarship to study in DIPSAR. It does not seem possible that she committed suicide, because she probably did not have any issues. Her father is a well-off man," added Jagmal.

A college authority felt that Shivani could not have been murdered.

"She stayed in a girl's hostel and according to her classmates, she was an introvert person. We don't suspect anyone of murdering her. In her suicide note, she addressed her father and briefly said that she was apologetic for her actions. Around 7.30 pm, her friends had told the warden that Shivani was not opening her door. The police arrived at the hostel at 8 pm and broke open the door. It found her hanging by a dupatta from the ceiling fan," said the college authority.

She is the eldest child of her parents. She has a two-year-old sister and a brother, Shubham, who studies in Class X.

Shivani has been studying in boarding schools since Class VI, according to her relatives. She studied at the Jawahar Navodaya Vidayala in UP before joining DIPSAR.

Noida, November 1
A 27-year-old software engineer was crushed to death and he colleague critically injured when a speeding dumper hit their motorcycle here on Tuesday, the police said.

Rupali Sharma of Garden Express Apartments in Indirapuram died instantly when the dumper hit them from behind on a Sector 62 road. Her colleague Tarun Goswami is in hospital with critical injuries.

Rupali worked for a leading software multinational. The bumper driver fled from the spot, the police said. —IANS