New Delhi, November 27
To lodge their protest against the Delhi government's modified slum policy, thousands of people from slums across the city today marched to Parliament and urged the government to bring about necessary amendments to ensure their housing rights.

According to them, while the criteria put forth by the government are arbitrary, a clear attempt to drive them out of the city, what is most objectionable is the condition that disqualifies people residing in slums located near footpaths and safety zone of railway, from availing themselves of the rehabilitation benefits.

According to Ramendra Kumar of Delhi Shramik Sangathan (DSS) which has been actively pursuing the concerns surrounding the housing rights of the informal sector workers, such as daily wage earners, rickshaw pullers, vendors and contract workers residing in slums, the government's criteria will declare over 80 per cent families ineligible for resettlement.

"Taking into account the latest draw by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) held on May 25 for nine slums that the government had listed for relocation, the average percentage of eligible families who received demand letters (507 families in the last draw) varies between 10 and 15 per cent of the total families living in slum clusters. Where will the remaining families go?" he questioned.

He said while the cap on income of Rs 1 lakh (BPL slab) has been fixed under the revised norms, the government is also asking for documents of four periods even as the cut-off for rehabilitation has been fixed for 2007.

"What's more, the government is demanding documents from slum dwellers of 1998, 2002, 2007 and on the date of survey. Houses should be allotted with ownership rights," said Ramendra while urging that March 31, 2007 should be the cut-off in all the policy documents.

New Delhi, November 27
The investigation in the case of a multi-crore Stock Guru scam, involving more than 2 lakh victims, has led to the recovery of further Rs 20 crore by the Delhi police.

The long list of items seized by the police during the raids conducted at the residences in Delhi and Mumbai includes wristwatches with spy cameras, gold worth Rs 15 lakh, seven luxury cars, two bikes, revolvers and guns with 400 bullets, 18 Pan cards, 131 cheque books, 75 ATM cards, 20 pair of contact lenses, bank drafts worth Rs 19.96 crore and two international debit cards.

The accused Ulhas Prabhakar Khaire (36) and his Raksha J. Urs (30) were arrested on November 30 by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).

"The investigation has revealed that they were involved in several other cases of cheating, forgery and fraud registered in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Maharashtra, etc. Follow-up raids were conducted in Mumbai and Ratnagiri by the Delhi police teams," said Sandeep Goel, Joint Commissioner of Police.

The police said that the accused had set up a posh office at Maruti Mandir, Ratnagiri. They had also set up four firms.

"According to the investigation, it was revealed that the accused had rented a flat in Omkar Apartments, Lower Parel, Mumbai. They had planned to produce films in Marathi and even short-listed a script. The rent agreement and the security deposit of Rs 1.5 lakh were seized from the landlord," said Goel.

Raksha was sent to the judicial custody on November 16 whereas Ulhas was produced before the court on November 24. The court has extended his police custody for 14 days.

"Accounts of the firm Stock Guru are being scrutinized to ascertain the extent of loss suffered by the public. Further investigation is on to nab the other accused," added Goel.

New Delhi, November 27
A minor argument at a wedding function in the Jaitpur area of southeast Delhi led to the murder of a 25-year-old man on late Sunday night, said the police today.

According to the police, Ravi Kumar, a resident of Sangam Vihar B-Block, was stabbed to death by three persons named Vipin (23), Raman (21) and Raju (21). "The incident occurred during the wedding of Rajender Kumar Shammi's cousin Kuldeep. Rajender got injured in the attack," a police official said.

Rajender said that a ceremony was being held at Shakti Vihar in Mithapur when Vipin, Raman, and Raju stared abusing and misbehaving with people who were having food around 11 pm.

Rajender and Ravi then took them outside the pandal and tried to calm them down. They, however, abused and beat Rajender and Ravi. Raju and Raman then caught hold of Ravi and Vipin attacked him with a knife. "Ravi suffered stab wounds on his neck and abdomen, while Rajender had an injury on his back," the official said.

Hearing the commotion, Rajender's brother Sunil and cousin Gaurav came and rushed them to Samvedana Hospital in Faridabad. Ravi was declared brought dead, while Rajender has been referred to AIIMS Trauma Centre.

Raman was overpowered and beaten up by locals infuriated by the attack.

He was handed over to the police and his questioning led to the arrest of Vipin and Raju.

"It has come to light that the accused have criminal history and had strained relation with Rajender and Ravi," the official said.

New Delhi, November 27
Chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) Safdar Khan and its members Pushpinder Singh and A.C. Micheal today announced that they will donate their one-month salary to Shri Guru Granth Sahib Vidya Kendra on the occasion of Parkash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev.

The announcement was made at the eighth Sikh Advisory Committee meeting of the DMC. Hundred school bags and 100 geometry boxes were donated during the meeting.