New Delhi, January 21
As the protest of the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet ministers to demand the resignation of five Delhi Police officers ended this evening, 26 police personnel and about 15 Aam Aadmi Party supporters were left injured in clashes.

As the agitation that started on Monday morning near Rail Bhavan reached its second day, the police became more concerned of the security threats due to the presence of several 'anti-social' elements, while keeping in mind the Republic Day parade.

Clashes between the police and Kejriwal's AAP supporters were reported near Rail Bhavan. The incidents took place near the barricades that the police had set up. The objective of the barricades was to prevent the 'anti-social' elements from entering the protest site, which is close to not only the Republic Day parade venue but also Raisina Hill, where important government offices are located.

According to the police, 26 police personnel, including an Assistant Commissioner of Police, were injured in clashes with the AAP supporters.

"We are registering a case in regard to the clashes that took place today and on Monday. These cases will be registered for the violation of section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc), causing injuries to police personnel and damaging public property," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi District) S B S Tyagi. The cases will be registered at Parliament Street Police Station. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which is implemented in the New Delhi area prohibits the assembly of five or more persons.

At about 2.15 pm today, two Delhi Police officers were injured during stone pelting, allegedly by the protesters at a barricade, located near Shastri Bhawan. One of the officers suffered an injury near his eye.

Ravi Shankar Tiwari, a journalist, is an eyewitness to the incident. "People were pushing the barricades. The police tried pushing them back and one of them slapped a protester. The protesters then started hurling stones at the police and this cop was injured," said Tiwari.

A journalist with a leading Hindi daily was also injured during this incident. Eyewitnesses claimed that the journalist who identified himself as Narendra was trying to jump over the barricades. "He was on the other side of the barricades with the protesters. As he tried climbing over the barricades, the police personnel had to push him back. Someone's hand came on his face and his spectacles broke," said eyewitnesses. Narendra was bleeding from the bridge of his nose.

Seeing him, several AAP supporters started shouting slogans against the police. They tried escorting Narendra to the seniormost police officer at the protest venue to 'show what the police had done'. But Narendra quickly pushed himself away from the protesters and rushed out of the protest site through a narrow opening of a barricade near the Press Club of India.

"You see what is happening. It is lawlessness," said a police officer at the protest venue. "There are a lot of anti-social elements. Terrorists can take advantage of it," said the officer.

New Delhi, January 21
A large number of activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) today protested at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Delhi Law Minister Somnatah Bharti for his alleged 'unlawful and anti-women' activities.

Addressing the youth who had gathered at Jantar Mantar braving rains and cold, president of the Delhi BJP unit Vijay Goel said, "It is deplorable that the AAP with the support of the Congress is holding the whole Delhi to ransom to protect a minister who has misbehaved with women and has been indicted by court for professional misconduct as an advocate and who has been taking law into his hands."

"The Chief Minister and his colleagues have no regard for our polity and sacred institutions like the Army. It is clear now that the AAP is actually controlled and run by Maoists and they are targeting to disrupt the polity of this country. The aim of the AAP is to create a situation of anarchy which is a manifestation of the Maoist ideology," he added.

"A greater cause of worry is that the Congress is supporting the AAP. It also shows the true character of these two parties. They can go to any extent to serve their political interests. They are not bothered about the hardships faced by the people of Delhi," said Goel.

"People want respite from inflation. They want cheaper power, clean water, good education, cheap ration, development in unauthorised colonies. Nothing has been done by the AAP government in this regard except making some flashy announcements. Arrogance and negativism is the hallmark of the AAP-Congress alliance," he added.

The BJP will not allow this anarchy to prevail in the city. "Either the government should work for people or it should go. It has no right to continue, if it cannot work for people," said Goel.

New Delhi, January 21
All the four Metro stations in North Block which were closed upon the directions of the Delhi Police in view of a dharna here by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have been reopened.

"The stations reopened at 8.08 pm," an official in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said.

The four stations - Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan and Race Course - were completely shut since 6 am today in keeping with police's instructions. The secretary to the Delhi Transport Minister, Saurabh Bhardwaj, had written to DMRC Managing Director Mangu Singh this afternoon seeking reopening of these stations.

"Law and order is the subject of the police and the DMRC had forwarded the letter to the Delhi Police after it arrived from the (transport) minister's office," said the official.

The dharna came to an end tonight after two police officers were sent on leave in an agreement reached with the party.

Kejriwal had demanded suspension of five police officers for alleged dereliction of duty.

New Delhi, January 21
Endorsing the demands of the guest teachers sitting on dharna outside Delhi Secretariat, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) today asked the Delhi government to listen to them or the party will join them from tomorrow.

DPCC president Arvinder Singh and former MLA Mukesh Sharma said the issue of regularization of temporary teachers and contract employees was among the 18 points raised by the AAP before forming the government.

The temporary and guest teachers working in the government schools have been sitting on dharna in front of Delhi Secretariat for the past seven days, demanding regularization of their jobs. Despite intense cold and rain, the teachers have continued their dharna.

Accusing the Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, of running away from his promises, Arvinder said that he is diverting people's attention from the main issues of welfare. "He has lied to teachers, and now to cover up those lies, the Chief Minister is not even bothered to meet them," he said.

A Congress delegation, including senior leader Jagpravesh Kumar and Arvinder, met the teachers today.

New Delhi, January 21
An eight-year-old boy died while his sister and mother were battling for their lives after their father allegedly tried to poison his entire family over financial worries, the police said.

The 35-year-old man, too, has been hospitalised as he slit his throat and wrist.

The case was reported in the Farsh Bazar area of central Delhi where Ajay lives along with his wife Ritu (30) and their two children, Vedika (9) and Krishna (8).

Ajay, who used to teach dance, yoga and aerobics in the locality, was for a long time caught in financial crisis, police said.

"Last night, at about 11 pm, he dissolved Alprax in milk and gave it to his wife and children. As they fell unconscious, he slit their throats with a sharp weapon.

"He then slit his own throat and wrist," a senior police official said.

Before taking the step, Ajay sent an SMS to his brother-in-law Satbir, which was timed for delivery at 4 am. As soon as Satbir received the SMS, he rushed to Ajay's residence along with his wife even as the duo notified police about the case.

A police team reached the spot and took the family members to GTB hospital where Krishna was declared dead while Ajay, Ritu and Vedika were admitted to the ICU with doctors saying that their condition is critical. — PTI

New Delhi, January 21
Reacting to the audit to be carried out by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG), Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) today said that it is already audited as per the provisions of the Companies Act and the company complies with the directions of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had asked for the audit after coming into power early this month, alleging that the three discoms--Reliance Infrastructure-owned BSES Yamuna, BSES Rajdhani and TPDDL--manipulate accounts to seek increase in tariff.

The company senior official said that it has no objection to any other audit being undertaken in accordance with law as long as its 'purpose' and 'scope' is clear.

"The company has written to the Delhi Power Department to detail the terms and conditions and scope on which the proposed audit is to be conducted. But till date, we have received no response or clarity on the issue," said a TPDDL spokesperson.

Three teams from the office of the CAG visited the offices of the three Delhi private power distribution companies yesterday, to start a scrutiny of their financial accounts.

According to sources, the audit came to a halt after the discoms sent a letter to the national auditor, alleging that the 'audit was not legal'.

According to a TPDDL official, the company had approached the CAG to audit its accounts in 2002 after taking over the distribution services in North and North West Delhi. "At that time the CAG stand was that since the discom is not a government-owned company under Section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956, the CAG cannot appoint a statuary auditor for the same," the official said.

New Delhi, January 21
Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung congratulated the children who have been given the 'National Bravery Award 2013' and wished them success in life and prayed for their good health and bright future.

A total number of 25 children have been selected for the awards. Five of them have been given the award posthumously.

The most-coveted Bharat Award has been conferred on a Delhi girl, Mahika Gupta (9), who displayed exemplary courage in saving her brother's life from the flood at Kedarnath (Uttarakhand.) The prestigious Geeta Chopra Award has been conferred on Malika Singh Tak of Rajasthan who displayed rare grit and determination in fighting off her molesters. The Sanjay Chopra Award has been given to Shubham Santosh Chaudhari of Maharashtra for saving two children when their school van caught fire. Kumari Mausmi Kashyap and Aryan Raj Shukla, both from Uttar Pradesh, have been given Bapu Gaidhani Awards posthumously.

Mausmi Kashyap sacrificed her life in trying to save her friend from drowning in the Gomti river, while Master Aryan Raj Shukla lost his life in saving his four friends from drowning in Saryu river. Sanjay Navasu Sutar and Master Akshay Jairam Roj from Maharashtra will also receive the Bapu Gaidhani Awards for displaying outstanding courage in fighting a leopard.

Other recipients are Tanvi Nandkumar Ovhal (Maharashtra), Kharibam Gunichand Devi (Manipur), Remlalhruaitluangi (Mizoram), the late M. Khayingthei (Manipur), Vanlalhruaia (Mizoram), Kangleinganba Kshetrimayum (Manipur), Sagar Kashyap (New Delhi), the late Malsawmtluangi (Mizoram), Hani Ngurdinthari (Mizoram), Master S.S. Manoj (Karnataka), Subin Mathew, Akhil Biju, Yadhukrishnan V.S. (Kerala), Shilpa Sharma (Himachal Pradesh), Saurabh Chandel (Madhya Pradesh), Master Abhishek Ekka (Chhattisgarh), Master Rohit Ravi Janmanchi (Maharashtra) and the late Master L. Manio Chachei (Nagaland).

New Delhi, January 21
Mercury plummeted as intermittent rain lashed the Capital today, with the maximum temperature recorded several notches below normal at 14.6 degree Celsius, throwing city traffic out of gear.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 10.2 degree Celsius, three notches above the normal.

The city recorded 4.8 millimetres of rain between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm today.

The humidity level oscillated between 100 and 93 per cent.

The weatherman has predicted cloudy sky with possibility of light rain or thundershower in the capital city tomorrow.

According to the MeT department, maximum and minimum temperatures are expected at 15 and 12 degree Celsius.

The situation turned worse for commuters in the morning rush hours as authorities closed four Metro stations and barricaded all major arterial roads in Central Delhi where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was staging a dharna.

New Delhi, January 21
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh G.K. today welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court which commuted the death penalty of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar.

The DSGMC took up the case of Bhullar at different levels. "Bhullar never deserved the sentence as the basis on which he was sentenced to death was weak and one of his companions was acquitted," said Manjit Singh, adding that Bhullar is not mentally sound now which is yet another reason for commuting his death sentence.

The apex court gave its judgement on a Public Interest Litigation seeking commutation of extreme penalty in the case as there was an inordinate delay in the disposal of mercy petition by the President, he said.

The DSGMC took up the case of commutation of death penalty to Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar at different levels. In a communication to the German embassy, the DSGMC had appealed to the German government to build pressure on the Indian government for waiving the death penalty as when Bhullar was extradited from Germany, it was agreed by the Indian government that he would not be given death sentence, he said.