New Delhi, February 3
In a letter to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), the Delhi government today suggested suspending the distribution licences of Reliance-owned two power distribution companies BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd (BYPL) for their inability to supply power in the city due to inadequate funds.

The government has offered to take over the functioning of the distribution utilities and also suggested the appointment of its officials as the administrative officers.

"As the discoms are unable to supply power to consumers of Delhi due to financial difficulties, it calls for revocation of their licences by DERC under Section 19(d) of the Electricity Act, 2003," said the letter.

Discoms allege that they do not have adequate funds because of which they have not been able to pay NTPC for purchasing power. NTPC, which is a major supplier of power to the power companies, is maintaining that it will not be able to supply power beyond February 10 unless payment for the purchase of power is done by these companies.

NTPC currently supplies 3,176 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Delhi's discoms. Of this, 2,072MW is supplied to the BSES discoms.

In the letter addressed to P.D. Sudhakar, Chairman, DERC, Delhi's power secretary Puneet Goel said in case these discoms continue with their stand, DERC may have no other option than to suspend their licences immediately, as a first step, under para 13 of the terms and conditions of their distribution licences.

"Extensive blackouts in the city due to financial difficulties of two discoms are not acceptable," said the letter.

The Delhi government showed its willingness to take over the power companies in case of suspension of discoms' licence and asked the Regulator to identify the officials in consultation with the Chief Secretary.

"Suitable officers will have to be appointed as administrative officers of BSES discoms. It is requested that officers who could be appointed as administrative officers may be immediately identified in consultation with the Chief Secretary," said the letter.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has already issued the necessary instructions to the Chief Secretary on this matter.

The government will also clear the subsidies of the power companies by February 15.

New Delhi, February 3
The Delhi police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the death of Nido Tania, a student from Arunachal Pradesh who succumbed after being allegedly beaten up by some shopkeepers here.

According to the police, the SIT has been constituted under the direct supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-East) P Karunakaran. Police have already made three arrests in the case.

"We have identified six persons, out of whom two are juveniles, three accused have already been arrested in the case," said a senior police official.

In a statement released today, police claimed Tania was not left on the spot by the two police officials after bringing him back from police station and that he was not assaulted a second time by the shopkeepers, as alleged by some relatives and friends of Tania.

"During investigation and videographic analysis, it has emerged that Nido Tania was brought by PCR Van to the police station from where he was taken for inquiry to the spot by two police officers but he was not assaulted again there.

"He was brought back to the police station by both the police officers and later handed over to a friend of the family Vinod R Bansal and his friend Varun with whom he left the police station," the statement said.

Relatives of Tania, who was a BA first year student at a private university, alleged he had an altercation with some shopkeepers in Lajpat Nagar in south Delhi on Wednesday after they made fun of his hairstyle, following which they allegedly thrashed him.

"In view of the gravity of the matter, a Medical Board for forensic examination was constituted in AIIMS whose final report is awaited to finalize the investigation," the statement said.

A senior police official said the final post-mortem report from the Medical Board of doctors of AIIMS is awaited.

This final report will also take toxicology report from CFSL/CBI into 
consideration.

Tania, son of an Arunachal Pradesh Congress MLA, had an altercation on January 29 at around 1:30 PM with some local shopkeepers in Lajpat Nagar. On January 30, at around 5 PM he was brought dead in AIIMS.

A case under section 302 (murder) IPC and 3 of SC/ST Act was registered in this regard, the police said. — PTI

New Delhi, February 3
Representatives of several Northeastern students' union today met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanding speedy justice for Nido Tania, a student from Arunachal Pradesh who died following an alleged attack by some shopkeepers here.

The students' delegation, accompanied by union minister of state for Minority Affairs Ninong Ering, submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister in this regard.

They also demanded formation of a committee under Delhi government to look into all cases of racial discrimination not just for the people from the Northeast but also people coming from all parts of the country.

Another demand in the memorandum was to include history and culture of Northeast in Delhi education syllabus.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Kejriwal, activist Binalakshmi Nepram said the Chief Minister had assured them of taking up the issue with the LG and press for immediate police action in the case.

Representatives of the students unions said they will sit on an indefinite dharna from today at Jantar Mantar.

"Kejriwal has also assured us that that he too will join us in the protest," said Nepram.

She alleged that even after three days of the incident, "police are trying to shield the culprits".

"Police have done a lot of blunders, they first made the victim sign a paper saying that he is medically alright, the FIR was not filled immediately. They are now claiming that until the viscera report is out, they do not know the cause of death," she said.

Nepram also demanded the Centre enact an anti-racial discrimination law to prevent the repetition of such incidents.

"More than 60 per cent of young people who come out of Northeast to study or work are living in Delhi. We are treated like second class citizens here. This issue is not just concerned with Delhi government but also the Centre. We demand that an anti-racial discrimination law be enacted," she said. — PTI

New Delhi, February 3
The strike called by traders of fruit and vegetables market, Azadpur Mandi, saw a mixed response as only a few agents dealing in fruit closed their outlets.

"This is not going to affect the smooth supply of fruit and vegetables across Delhi and adjoining areas," said Education Minister Manish Sisodia.

The strike also included over 2,000 commission agents working in the market, which is considered to be Asia's biggest fruit and vegetable wholesale market.

The traders and exporters, who gathered at the entry gate of Azadpur Mandi to hold the protest, were addressed by the office-bearers of the Chamber of Azadpur Fruit and Vegetable Traders.

The strike was called to protest the abolition of a 6 per cent commission charged to the farmers.

"It was a High Court order and we had to implement it. There is no second opinion about it," said Labour Minister Girish Soni. The High Court in its judgement last year had stated that the agents would be permitted to charge a 6 per cent commission, on the value of the produce, from bulk buyers and not from the farmers.

Subsequently, the APMC Azadpur had issued a circular last month directing strict compliance of the court order with immediate effect.

"Only a section of commission agents who deal in fruit are on strike. These agents used to collect 6 per cent commission from both the farmers and buyers, which was illegal," said Soni.

New Delhi, February 3
Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel today led a 3-km-long march in the walled city to protest the mishandling of power sector by the AAP-Congress alliance government, leading to hike in power tariff.

The BJP has been protesting on the streets for the last two days against the power crisis and hike in power tariff.

Goel hit out at the attempts of AAP leaders to divert attention of people from the power crisis and its lack of performance by making wild allegations against BJP. It is his own party's contradictions that have created a crisis for the AAP.

Goel said, "During the AAP-Cong alliance, not even a single promise has been fulfilled. There is a complete chaos and anarchy. People are fed up of political acrobatics of Kejriwal and his colleagues. The government is falling under the burden of its non-performance.

“No one else needs to do anything. Anyone who raised questions within the AAP is forced to leave. It is clear that the AAP-Cong alliance has betrayed people of Delhi and is unfit to rule. If this government cannot deliver, it should quit."

New Delhi, February 3
A 50-year-old man was found hanging from the ceiling fan at his residence in Sunlight Colony area of south-east Delhi here this morning.

According to police, the deceased was identified as Dharampal, a native of Gonda, Uttar Pradesh. Dharampal used to be the personal secretary of ex-MLA from Jangpura, Tarwinder Singh Marwah.

However, Dharampal had resigned from the post a couple of years ago citing health-related issues.

He was said to have been living in stress for the past several years.

Police claimed to have recovered a suicide note written in Hindi in which he has held no one guilty for his extreme step.

A call was made to police in this regard at around 9.10 am after which a police team rushed to the spot. Dharampal was found hanging from the ceiling fan inside his room in Hari Nagar ashram area.

He was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

The body was sent for post-mortem. Police ruled out any foul play in this regard. The investigations are on— PTI

New Delhi, February 3
Four more men were arrested today for allegedly physically assaulting and molesting two Manipuri women in South Delhi on January 24.

A total of five persons have been arrested in the case. On Sunday, the police arrested 32-year-old Prem Chand in connection with the case.

The other accused are identified as Bharat, alias Gulli; Yogesh, alias Bona; Manoj, alias Panchhi; and Bhagwan Das, alias Goldi.

On January 24, at about 9.30 pm, one of the two victims, who work at a shopping mall, went to a shop in Kotla Mubarakpur to buy some Manipuri herbs. The shop was run by one of her acquaintances. A man in his mid twenties was walking his dog with a leash, which became entangled around the woman's leg. She panicked and in her bid to get away from the dog she started kicking it. The dog managed to free itself.

The man started arguing with the woman while her friend, who is the shop owner, tried to intervene. The man identified as Prem Chand, owned the dog.

Their argument soon turned violent as Prem Chand allegedly started beating both the women with the help of a few men. The accused allegedly molested them. They passed lewd and racist remarks at the victims.

The women went to the Kotla Mubarakpur police station at around 10.35 pm and narrated their ordeal. The policemen then sent both the victims to a nearby hospital where they were given medical assistance.