New Delhi, January 13
Issues of parliamentary elections are likely to be discussed at BJP's national council and national executive meetings to be held from January 17 to 19, sources said.

More than 10,000 delegates from all over the country are likely to attend the meetings.

BJP national president Rajnath Singh along with other senior leaders of the party will hoist the flag to start the event. While the national executive meeting will be held at the NDMC convention centre, the national council meeting will be held at Ramlila Maidan.

"The party has set up committees to look after various aspects of organising this event. So we have committees on parking, food, security, reception, transport, media, sanitation, health, etc. We are trying to ensure that the common people do not face any problem due to our programmes and there is a smooth movement of traffic, especially in the central Delhi area," said Vijay Goel, president of the Delhi BJP.

Delhi BJP is setting up special counters and registration desks for delegates at the railway stations and inter-state bus terminals in Delhi so that delegates coming from other states do not face any problems.

"We have assigned work to our legislators, councillors and various party office-bearers and the party cadres are all geared up to make this event a huge success. BJP's flags, hoardings, banners, etc will be put up all over the city reminding the citizens that all of us have to work together for the betterment of the country," said Goel.

New Delhi, January 13
From the moving trial of great ancient Greek philosopher Socrates to Aurangzeb's ascendance to the Mughal throne and some complex yet heart-wrenching stories of Russian great Chekhov! For the theatre lovers of Delhi, all these and much more will be up on stage during the five-day Delhi Natyotsav this month.

Some widely different stories and plays have been put together to be staged during the theatre festival at Shri Ram Centre Auditorium and will offer a mix of emotions and experiences for the audience. With some prominent episodes in history forming the background of most of the plays being directed by eminent theatre persons, the festival hopes to offer a rich theatrical experience.

Presented by the Delhi Government and the Sahitya Kala Parishad, the festival of theatre from January 20-24 will see the participation of some renowned theatre personalities. The opening day will be presided over by Waman Kendre, the director of the National School of Drama.

"We have brought together some plays which have been appreciated and loved by a wide audience over the years. Some of the most respected names in Indian theatre are participating in the five-day festival which will present a rich mix of historical and contemporary stories. We are sure Delhi's discerning audience will love every presentation," says J. P. Singh, Assistant Secretary (Drama), Sahitya Kala Parishad.

The festival will begin with 'Chekhov ki Duniya', an endearing play directed by Ranjit Kapoor. The play is a set of six different stories from the rich ensemble of eminent Russian writer Anton Chekhov weaving together different experiences of human emotion, sublime relationships, struggle in poverty and the excesses of a world riddled with inequality.

New Delhi, January 13
Strengthening the community and police relationship, Delhi Police have launched the neighbourhood watch scheme in some residential colonies in the New Delhi area, as a means of involving the communities in policing.

The New Delhi District Police have started the neighbourhood watch scheme (NWS) in the residential colonies of A and B Block in the New Delhi area, Pandara Road and the railway colony, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Barakhamba Road Police Station.

To start the NWS, a meeting between Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi Range), M K Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi District), S B S Tyagi, other police officers and the office-bearers and members of the local Resident Welfare Associations was convened on Sunday.

According to Tyagi, the NWS includes the formation of committees and conducting regular meetings to create awareness on several aspects of the area and the safety of the residents.

"The members of the committee would meet the local police officers once a month. They would remain in regular touch with the beat patrolling staff to ensure better vigilance in their areas. The scheme also seeks to encourage the members to share each other's contact information for better response during an emergency. The NWS will make communities more alert about their surroundings," said Tyagi.

With the help of the NWS, the police seek to involve the community in reducing crimes like theft, burglary and snatching.

"The NWS members will help us in restricting the entry and movement of unauthorised hawkers and vendors in their areas," said the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

It was also decided at yesterday's meeting that servant and tenant verification would be conducted every Saturday from 11 am to 12 pm. 

New Delhi, January 13
At least six armed robbers allegedly held a businessman and his employees hostage for about 20 minutes in north Delhi's Lahori Gate today, and stabbed one of them before stealing Rs 12 lakh cash.

According to the police, the incident took place at about 3.45 pm in the shop of Suresh Chandra Mittal, who owns a business of dry fruits and spices. "The assailants struck when Mittal was on the ground floor of the shop in Naujiya Market and his workers, including Om Prakash, were working on the first floor," said a police officer.

The robbers allegedly entered the shop disguised as customers. When they were inside the shop, they covered their faces with handkerchiefs and overpowered Mittal at knifepoint. They then started ransacking the shop. When Om Prakash heard the commotion, he went downstairs and was overpowered. When he tried to resist them, they allegedly stabbed him.

The robbers obtained a locker's key and took out Rs 12 lakh and fled the shop. Although, the victims' were forced to lie on the floor, gagged and tied with ropes, they managed to free themselves and raise the alarm. Om Prakash was rushed to a nearby hospital and was discharged after treatment.

New Delhi, January 13
Two men have been arrested for allegedly procuring semi-automatic pistols from Madhya Pradesh and selling them to criminals in Delhi and Muzaffarnagar.

The arrested men have been identified as Dinesh Dabur, alias Habu Singh (25), and Sunil (27), who are residents of Khargone in Madhya Pradesh. They were caught from Delhi and Agra on Sunday. "We seized two consignments of 16 semi-automatic pistols from them. The consignment was to be supplied to criminals in Delhi and the national capital region," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav.

According to Yadav, Dinesh and Sunil allegedly belonged to a gang that procured semi-automatic pistols from Balwadi in District Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. Their interrogation has revealed the involvement of an MP-based illegal arms manufacturer.

"He manufactures and supplies the illegal firearms to his contacts in Delhi and the national capital region through Sunil and Dinesh. It is also revealed that the two men supply a consignment of firearms every fortnight in Muzaffarnagar, Agra, Aligarh, Hathras and Delhi," said Yadav.

A study conducted by the Special Cell revealed that in most cases of gun-running, the weapons were manufactured and supplied from District Dhar and Khargone in Madhya Pradesh and Munger in Bihar. The weapons were then smuggled into Delhi.