|
|
|
|
|
Acid attack on woman in East Delhi
Decades-old shopkeepers in Old Delhi fear eviction under amended Wakf Act
|
|
|
BJP slams CM for making 'empty promises'
Equa-thon rams home equality message
5 held with gold worth
Rs 2 crore at airport
Chinese caught with fake e-ticket at IGI airport
|
|
Acid attack on woman in East Delhi
New Delhi, February 9 At about 10 pm on Saturday, the doorbell of her house rang and she went to answer it. As she opened the door, a person threw acid on her and fled under the cover of darkness. The victim was terrified and shouted for help. Her parents rushed to her and found her lying on the floor. They informed the police, who took her to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital. Doctors at the hospital said that just a few drops of the acid fell on the victim's face and body. The local police said that they have registered a case in regard to the incident and launched a manhunt to apprehend the culprit. Investigators are questioning Ranjita's husband as his in-laws suspected his hand. Ranjita is living separately from her husband following a quarrel with him and her in-laws over some issues. |
|
IN FOCUS Syed Ali Ahmed Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 9 With Parliament having amended the Wakf Act bestowing maximum powers to State Wakf Boards on managing properties and enter into fresh lease deeds with the aim of generating revenue, many shopkeepers who have been plying their trade in the Old Delhi area around Fatehpuri Masjid by taking Wakf property on rent face an uncertain future now. Under the amended Act, the Wakf Board can invite fresh bids for renting out its properties ignoring the old tenants though they are bona fide and have been paying rent regularly, many such tenants expressed their concern to The Tribune. According to them, hundreds of commercial properties in Delhi have been having business establishments since 1947-48 and tenants have been paying rent. These shops or business establishments also pay donation money to the Wakf Board whenever tenancy changes hand, even to a legal heir. These properties were given on lease in 1947 for one year and it extended periodically, but the practice stopped when the Wakf officials realised that the new law was going to favour them. Since last November, they even refused to accept the rent, tenants in the area said on condition of anonymity. This move has raised concerns of the 140 tenants in Fatehpuri amid reports that the Wakf Board is formulating a policy to evict the existing tenants, redevelop the area and generate more revenue, but the officials refused to share the plan. Recently a shopkeeper paid Rs 60 lakh to the Wakf Board as donation and so did many others over the few decades, whenever tenancy changed hands. The shopkeepers' efforts to secure legal assistance did not bear fruit. Delhi Wakf Board Chairman Mateen Ahmed told The Tribune that the amended law went against the tenants' interest though it would take up to six months to enforce it as Parliament is yet to approve the rules drafted by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs. Ahmed admitted that plans are on to invite fresh bids for shops through auction after the cancellation of existing tenancy contracts. These tenants can then take part in the auction to be based on the current market value of the property. He said if the properties are leased out at the rate of current market value, substantial income could be generated. The deadline of the ministry to receive suggestions on the draft rules ended on Friday. Mateen said the proposed drafted rules authorized the Wakf Board to renew the lease deed of existing rented properties on fresh terms and conditions. "While executing the lease rent of Wakf properties, it shall be incumbent upon the Wakf Board to invite application from persons desiring to take the property on lease and it could accept the offer from someone who is willing to pay higher lease rent," he said. Mateen explained, "For shops, residential building etc, the lease shall be up to five years; for cold storage, marriage halls, small industries etc, the lease shall be granted up to ten years; for establishing shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, Inns etc, the lease shall be granted up to 30 years; for educational institutions and hospitals, the lease shall be up to 30 years; and for agricultural purpose, the lease shall be granted on year-to-year basis.
|
|
BJP slams CM for making 'empty promises'
New Delhi, February 9 Commenting on the latest developments on the Jan Lokpal Bill, Goel said, "Even Anna Hazare has clearly said in an interview to a newspaper published today that the Jan Lokpal Bill passed by the Centre is good enough and it has strong provisions for having Lokayuktas in the states. Then why Kejriwal is pushing for his own version of Jan Lokpal. It is clear that he is a rebel without cause and does not want to focus on key governance issues." Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel said his party is going to take on the AAP government tomorrow at the tea party, which is expected to be attended by more than 10,000 people and where the party hopes to connect with people of Delhi through its philosophy - "Vikas Bhi, Imaan bhi, Garibon ka samman bhi." "It appears there is no law and order in the state. The Centre and the Delhi government are busy fighting with each other with no one having either time or inclination to ensure safety of an average Delhiite in the city," said Goel while addressing participants of a huge car rally held in the city to express support for the BJP's prime ministerial candidate. Goel said, "All of us are witnessing how people from Northeast are feeling harassed in the city. Women are feeling unsafe here. But the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues have no time for such important matters. What has AAP government done to check this spurt in crime?" "No one is concerned about governance in the city. The Congress-AAP alliance has pushed the city into a state of anarchy. It is strange that while on the one hand the Congress is criticising the AAP, on the other, it is supporting it. Why it does not withdraw its support to the AAP," asked Goel. |
|
SIT formed to probe Manipuri girl's rape
New Delhi, February 9 Sources said that it will collect the remaining evidence. The victim's statement has been recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Under this section, a statement is recorded by a magistrate and used as evidence during trial. The girl was staying with her aunt in Munirka. On Friday night, she had gone to the market when she was accosted by the accused, Ashish Tokas, alias Vicky. He allegedly confined her to a room where he raped her. Sources said that Tokas had been arrested earlier also for allegedly being involved in a molestation case. The police are creating a watertight case against Tokas. People from the Northeast today staged a protest outside the Patiala House Courts complex in Delhi to demand justice for the girl and strict punishment to Tokas. Students from Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University also joined the protest. |
|
Equa-thon rams home equality message
New Delhi, February 9 The purpose of this run, flagged off by Anup Soni, television actor and led by Major D.P. Singh, India's first amputee marathon runner and Kargil war survivor, was to bring disability to the centre of the development agenda and to advocate equal and fair opportunities in every sphere of society. This was also an occasion to draw attention to the Disability Bill which is slated to be tabled in the upcoming parliamentary session. Delhi Drummers, a group of drumming enthusiasts, warmed up and cheered the participants that included the disabled, schoolchildren, sports persons, celebrities, government officials, corporate and civil society groups. The two-hour-long run, organised by VSO India, concluded with a rousing performance by the 'Wheelchair Dancers' from Ability Unlimited. Sam Sharpe, country head, DFID India, congratulated VSO India on such a unique initiative to create awareness about the attitudinal discrimination against the people with disability, who remain one of the most socially excluded groups. Secretary of Department of Disability Affairs, Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Stuti Kackar pledged that the government would take all measures possible to put an end to discrimination against people with disability. Applauding VSO's innovative campaign strategy, Ms Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator of India, recalled for the benefit of the audience that India was the seventh country to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD). Amidst great cheer, Anup Soni urged the participants to carry forth the message of equality beyond Equa-thon. "Let us not forget our purpose of walking together," he said, "once we leave this stadium." While concluding the event, Praveen Kumar of VSO India said "The main objective of Equa-thon was to drive home the message that the people with disability are an integral and significant part of society and should neither be shown sympathy nor isolated."
|
|
5 held with gold worth
Rs 2 crore at airport
New Delhi, February 9 Three of them were allegedly found carrying 8.9 kgs of gold in pockets of trousers worn by them, a customs official said. During interrogation, they told the customs officials that the gold was given to them by some passengers who had come from international flights, he said, adding that the total value of the gold is Rs 2.28 crore. Two other passengers who had allegedly given gold to the trio were also arrested by the customs officials. In a separate incident, customs officials arrested two passengers for allegedly trying to smuggle in gold worth Rs 53 lakh at the airport. They had come from Jeddah and Dubai respectively yesterday and were hiding about two kgs of gold worth Rs 53.38 lakh in their clothes, the official said.
— PTI |
|
Chinese caught with fake e-ticket at IGI airport
New Delhi, February 9 The man who was caught by the CISF on Friday has been identified as Qiao Anquan (28). He had allegedly made a fake e-ticket of the China Eastern Airline which was bound for Shanghai. CISF PRO Deputy Commandant Hemendra Singh said at 2.40 am, CISF staff noticed Anquan roaming at the check-in area of the terminal three. They questioned him and found the e-ticket. "We checked with the airline concerned, who informed us that they had no booking under Anquan's name.," said Hemendra. Anquan was later handed over to the police.
— TNS |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Classified Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Call it an unintended consequence, yet hundreds of traders and decades-old shops in the Old Delhi area face an uncertain future.
