New Delhi, November 7
Hundreds of students from JNU, DU, Jamia Millia Islamia and a large number of UPSC aspirants today held a protest at Jantar Mantar against the exclusion of foreign languages as optional subjects from the UPSC and the new Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) pattern introduced in the exam.

After raising slogans against the Congress-led UPA government, they also sent a deputation to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) demanding a thorough review of the UPSC syllabus and exam pattern.

The delegation submitted a memorandum to DoPT Minister Narayanswamy. Students have demanded the restoration of 'foreign' Languages, taught in Indian universities in the List of Subjects of UPSC Civil Services Exam and granting of three additional attempts and age relaxation to the candidates who are caught in the transition of syllabus change of 2011 and 2013, among others.

"Why should Arabic and Persian which have centuries' long history of teaching-learning in India be called 'foreign'?" read some of the placards held by protestors during the demonstration called by Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU). This is the second protest by JNUSU while a massive online campaign is under way on a petition on the same issues.

"The UPSC's decision of excluding languages such as Arabic, Persian, German, Spanish and Russian from its entrance exam is downright discriminatory. The same government which is speaking of 'globalisation' is excluding these languages which are being taught in UG/PG/Research level in several universities across the country," said JNUSU president Akbar Chawdhary.

Doesn't it make more sense that in the present context, graduates and postgraduates with full training in foreign languages from our universities be encouraged to take up jobs in UPSC? he asked.

According to JNUSU general secretary Sandeep Saurav, the new CSAT-based UPSC exam pattern is discriminatory and discourages the level playing field.

"The new CSAT-based UPSC exam pattern is a definite disadvantage for the non-English speaking, rural and humanities candidates," he added.

"Why is the govt curtailing the opportunities of Madarasa-trained students in premier job avenues, when Arabic and Persian have centuries- long history of teaching-learning in India?" he questioned.

Further, Akbar said in view of the national ramification of UPSC's policy decisions, JNUSU has contacted and also received support from students and teachers of various universities.

New Delhi, November 7
Around 20,000 people have been booked under various sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Defacement of Property Act by the Delhi Election Office in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections.

The Chief Election Officer, Vijay Dev, said that under the Model Code of Conduct, a total of 338 First Information Reports (FIRs) had been lodged against political parties till yesterday. In general, a maximum of 233 FIRs were lodged in which 92 were against the Aam Aadmi Party, 77 BJP and 64 were against the Congress.

In the call centre-cum-control room, 21 complaints were pending from nine districts. However, the Election Officer said complaints from three districts have already been disposed of. Out of a total of the collective 4,397 complaints received at CEO Headquarters, all nine district control rooms and online, 4,254 complaints have been disposed of and remaining 143 complaints are in process for disposal by the office of the CEO.

In these complaints, 2,683 were received online and rest of them received through phone calls, fax, emails and messengers.

"We instructed that all complaints to be disposed of and the action taken report should be entered in the system within 24 hours of receiving of complaints. The Returning Officers are also instructed to take action accordingly by 5 pm on the same day to dispose of all such complaints," said Dev.

Around 995 persons are booked under licensed arms, 41 unlicensed arms and 54 cartridges seized, 285 persons are bound down under Sections 107/116 of the CRPC and the DP Act whereas 1,825 bottles, 555 half, 25,967 quarter, 394.07 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor, 2,123 bottles, 536 half, 20,496 quarter, 1,313.84 litres of country liquor and 250 beer bottles have been seized.

More than five-thousand hoardings have been removed from different parts of the city. "Around 5,796 hoardings were removed from public property till date, out of which seven were removed yesterday whereas a total of 237 FIRs were lodged in this regard," he said.

A total of 3,174 hoardings (defacements) of private property were removed out of which 12 hoardings were removed on November 6, whereas a total of 78 FIRs were lodged for defacement of private property.

New Delhi, November 7
In a joint letter written to the President, BJP's chief ministerial candidate Dr. Harsh Vardhan, state party chief Vijay Goel and Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly Vijay Kumar Malhotra have demanded a punitive action against Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for misleading the people of Delhi.

They said in 2008, Dikshit had distributed provisional certificates to 50 lakh residents of unauthorized colonies through Congress president Sonia Gandhi with the assurance of regularization for ensuring victory in the forthcoming elections.

Lakhs of rupees were spent by the government on the advertisements, the BJP leaders said.

The government distributed provisional certificates to the residents of the unauthorised colonies which came up on public land like gram sabha land, forest, Ridge area, ASI land, water bodies and the land under notified area only for securing votes.

The BJP leaders said that Dr. Harsh Vardhan had filed case in the court of the Lokayukta of Delhi against the Chief Minister for misleading the people by misusing her position and influencing the voters and requested the Lokayukta to take action against her.

The Lokayukta ordered an enquiry on the complaints of Dr. Harsh Vardhan in September 2010 that found that the Chief Minister gave false assurance for securing the votes in the assembly elections.

Again on September 4, 2012, just before the assembly elections, the Delhi Government issued notifications separately for amending the rules on the regularisation of unauthorized colonies.

The purpose was to get the votes of about 50 lakh people of unauthorized colonies by misleading them in the elections, the BJP leaders said.

New Delhi, November 7
A 38-year-old woman was allegedly strangulated by unidentified assailants during a robbery bid today at her house in east Delhi's Mayur Vihar Phase-III, police said.

The deceased, identified as Madhubala, was at home with her children, Himanshu (14) and Himanshi (9), when the robbers struck. Her husband Ajay Gupta, a jeweller, was away when the incident took place this afternoon, police said.

"There were five robbers, one of them, posing as a courier agent, gained entry into the house with his accomplices in tow.

“Once inside, they threatened Madhubala about harming her and the children and asked her to hand over money and other valuables.

"They locked the two children inside one of the rooms and searched the house. Meanwhile, sensing an opportunity, Madhubala tried to raise the alarm. But she was thwarted by the robbers who then strangled her and fled the spot with the booty," said a senior police official.

After the robbers' escape, the children somehow called for help following which neighbours informed police.

Madhubala was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was declared dead.

"The value of the articles looted is yet to be ascertained. A case has been registered at New Ashok Nagar police station under sections of murder, trespass and robbery. Several teams have been formed to crack the case and a probe is on," the official added. — PTI

New Delhi, November 7
The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police arrested a sub-inspector (SI) on the alleged charges of extortion while two others (constable and head constable) are absconding.

The SI was identified as Nagender Kumar. His accomplices, who managed to escape, were identified as head constable Amit and constable Kaushal, said a police officer.

According to the police, Sanjay Kumar, who runs a coaching centre in Jaitpur and makes e-tickets, got lodged a complaint yesterday that the accused came to his coaching centre claiming that they were from the Crime Branch. They told him that printing of railway tickets is illegal and seized hard disk of his computer, registers, etc.

The accused took him to the police post near Nehru Place and also called his father there. In the police post they allegedly demanded Rs 5 lakh for their release. When the complainant paid Rs 1.5 lakh, the accused policemen released them.

When team of the Crime Branch reached Nehru Place police post, Amit was found sitting on driver's seat of Ritz car. When Amit was asked to stop, he opened fire on the police and fled away. Thereafter, the police apprehended Nagender at the instance of the complainant. All of a sudden, Nagender pushed away inspector Manoj Kumar of the raiding party and started running towards commercial area in a bid to flee. When he was chased, he also fired three rounds at the police. However, no one sustained any injury and Nagender was overpowered after a brief scuffle.

New Delhi, November 7
Police appealed to commuters to avoid the routes that have Chhath Puja sites as there might be traffic jams due to the rush of devotees tomorrow.

The Chhath Puja sites are Purvi Ghat, Wazirabad; Ram Ghat, Sur Ghat, Shyam Ghat Near Wazirabad (West); Kudasia and Geeta Ghat near Chandgi Ram Akhara Ring Road; Pantoon Pul Geeta Colony Pusta; Rainy Well Shakarpur and IP Estate; ITO Yamuna River Eastern and Western sides; Bhairon Marg Pantoon Bridge; Kalindi Kunj; Bhalasva Lake; Pusta Thokar No. 11 in front of Bank Enclave; Haiderpur Canal Bawana Road near telephone exchange; Haiderpur Canal in between Badli and Sector -15 Rohini; Haiderpur Canal Iron Bridge and B Block Shalimar Bagh to Prem Bari Pul, Ring Road; Haiderpur Canal Keshavpuram; Kondli Canal New Ashok Nagar; Ganda Nala Pulia, Paschim Vihar; Hindu Vihar near Railway Line in Prem Nagar, Shiv Mandir, Inder Enclave, Sultanpuri; DDA Park Sector -10 Narela; DDA Park, Police Station Kalkaji; Jai Vihar, Nangloi and Mahavir Enclave Telephone Exchange.

New Delhi, November 7
Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern Range) R. S. Krishnia inaugurated the neighbourhood watch scheme in Mangolpuri and Deepali Enclave in Outer district for enhanced coordination between the communities and the police.

The residents of Deepali Enclave got installed 40 CCTV cameras which cover the entire area consisting of about 450 houses. A separate control room has also been established to monitor the cameras round the clock, Krishnia said.

They have also installed 20 speedbreakers in the Deepali area in order to provide safety and security to the residents. Besides, they have engaged the services of 25 security guards. With the help of this scheme, the police seek to involve the community in checking the property-related offences like burglary and snatching, increasing police-community relations and reducing juvenile delinquency, he said.

The Neighbourhood Watch Scheme includes the formation of communities, issue of ID cards and holding of regular meetings to create awareness on several aspects of the security of the area.

Members of these communities would meet the police officers of the area once a month.

New Delhi, November 7
An exhibition 'Czech Castles' was organized today by the National Museum of the Czech Republic and the Embassy of the Czech Republic, in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India and the Ministry of Culture.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Jan Kohout, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jiri Balvin, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic and Chandresh Kumari Katoch, Minister of Culture of the Republic of India, at the iconic Red Fort's 'Quarter Guard' Gallery.

The exhibition presents a selection of 37 most interesting castles and chateaux of Bohemia and Moravia, two of the historic areas that make up the Czech state. The criterion for the selection of the localities has been their historical significance as well as their architectural and artistic value.

The inauguration ceremony was accompanied by live performance of the Czech classical music group 'Spork Quartet', which has performed all over the Czech Republic and many other parts of the world and will be performing in Delhi for the first time.