New Delhi, July 14
The Delhi government has decided to launch 320 Mahila Suraksha Dals (MSDs) to make the national Capital safer for women and girls.

One MSD each in all 11 districts in the Capital will be inaugurated on the day of Raksha Bandhan as a pilot programme. This decision was taken today at a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, S.K. Srivastava.

"As per the framework of project formulated by MSD Group, it has been envisaged that instead of creating new parallel structures, Awaaz Uthao Project which addresses women safety issues will be renamed MSD and Awaaz Uthao groups will be further strengthened both in terms of composition and functioning," said a senior Delhi government official.

Under this initiative, MSDs at the grassroots level would be used to address the issues of women safety at public places. They would support women in distress, including those who face sexual harassment, assault and rape.

These MSDs will comprise retired army personnel, representatives from the local community (both men and women), NGO representatives, Resident Welfare Association members.

"It is envisaged that these MSDs would act as an effective instrument of change in their respective communities and bring about perceptible improvement in societal mindset," said the official.

The Chief Secretary has decided to launch the project in a pilot mode in strategically identified locations in discussion with the Rajya Sainik Board on the day of Raksha Bandhan. Accordingly, one location in each district has been identified for the launch of the project.

These women's security teams would not be a parallel police force but more like private security guards who would not only undertake safety audits to identify security issues but would also mobilize the local police and administrative machinery to take appropriate action.

The overall objective of forming the MSDs is to make Delhi safer for women and girls.

The existing 50 Gender Resource Centres (GRCs) where Awaaz Uthao project is presently being run with other 30 GRCs would be taken up for setting up MSDs and the project would be extended to the remaining GRCs in phases. 

New Delhi, July 14
Girls below 18 years of age have been the victims in most of the rape cases in the capital and the majority of such cases have happened in residences or involved men known to them, says a study by Delhi Police.

The study was undertaken following a rise in rape cases in the national Capital.

In a whopping 81.22 per cent of the rape cases, women were assaulted inside their homes or at the place of the accused, and around 46 percent of rapes were committed on girls below 18 years, a police official said, citing the study.

While neighbours have committed 21 per cent of the rapes, friends and acquaintances were involved in 41 per cent of the cases.

The study found that in 2.25 per cent cases, the woman's father was involved, in 1.25 per cent cases the step-father, in 0.6 per cent cases a brother, in 1.34 per cent cases the ex-husband, in 1.8 per cent cases an uncle, in five per cent cases a brother-in-law, in 0.3 per cent cases a servant and in 3.5 per cent cases an employer.

The official, who did not want to be named, said the study looked at rapes that took place between January 2013 and June this year.

Girls in the age group of 16-18 years were attacked in 14 per cent cases, in the 12-16 age group in 19.25 per cent cases, between 7-12 years in 6.5 per cent cases, in the 2-7 age group in 7.75 per cent cases.

At least 0.3 per cent of the rapes were committed on girls below two years, the official said.

The study said women in the 18-25 age group were targeted in 27.27 per cent cases and those above 25 years in 25.48 per cent cases.

The assaults took place in shanties (4.5 per cent cases), vehicles (1.5 per cent), parks (three per cent), shops and offices (1.2 per cent), hotels and restaurants (2.5 per cent) and school and college buildings (0.75 per cent).

The study said in 99 per cent cases, the rapists were first-timers, while in 1.16 per cent cases the accused allegedly committed the crime for the second time.

A total of 1,647 rape cases were reported in Delhi in 2013 while 984 such cases have already been registered in the Capital this year.

The study said that in 86 per cent of the rapes, a single person was involved while in two per cent of the cases two people were involved.

In just 1.5 per cent of the rapes, more than two people were involved.

About 64 per cent of the women attacked belong to lower income groups.

The police official said the study will help the force take further measures for checking assaults on women.

The city police had taken a series of steps to prevent sexual assaults on women after the gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman student in a bus in December 2012, but the Capital continues to record a large number of rapes.

National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Mamta Sharma said that Delhi Police should also start a sensitization programme, following the study.—IANS

New Delhi, July 14
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended that the Delhi government pay Rs 5 lakh as monetary relief to the next of kin of Karan Pandey, who was killed in police firing on the stunt bikers at Windsor Place, Ashoka Road in July last year.

It has asked the Delhi Chief Secretary to submit the proof of payment along with the action taken report on the departmental proceedings initiated against the delinquent police officials within six weeks.

The Commission had taken cognizance of the incident on the basis of an intimation received from the Deputy Commissioner of Police and complaints. On the basis of material on record, the Commission observed that the enquiry magistrate had found that:

There was an error of judgment on the part of the inspector to open fire at the rear tyre which resulted in the death of Karan Pandey who was pillion-riding the bike driven by Puneet Sharma.

New Delhi, July 14
Unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants shot dead a Delhi Police constable near his residence at Jyoti Nagar in Northeast district this morning.

According to the police, the constable, Shivraj Singh, 45, had left his home in Jyoti Nagar area around noon to meet someone when two men came riding a motorcycle. They opened fire at him and fled.

Singh, who was hit by a bullet in the chest, was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead.

An eyewitness told the police that the two men came on motorcycle and had a heated argument with Singh before they opened fire. The police said they suspect personal enmity, but are investigating other motives as well. The eyewitness could not note down the registration number of the motorcycle, the police said.

Singh is survived by wife and a son.

According to the sources, the constable was posted at police station Jafrabad that is a very sensitive area.

New Delhi, July 14
Hot and humid conditions returned to haunt Delhiites today, a day after heavy rains lashed the national Capital bringing much needed relief from sizzling temperature that prevailed in the city for last several days.

Although the day temperature settled at 36.6 degree Celsius today which was substantially lower than yesterday's 40.2 degree Celsius, it was still three notches above normal.

The city received 25.6 mm of rains in the last 24 hours ending at 8:30 am. No rain was recorded in the city between 8:30 in the morning to 5:30 in the evening today, MeT department said.

However, the rain caused the humidity levels to rise, which was recorded at 62 and 88 per cent during the day.

Rains yesterday also caused the minimum temperature to plummet to 25.9 degree Celsius, a deg C below normal, after it had hovered above the 30-degree mark for almost the entire last week. Yesterday too, it had settled at 30.5 degree Celsius.

The weatherman has forecast partly cloudy sky with possibility of rain or thunderstorms in some parts of the city tomorrow.—PTI

New Delhi, July 14
The department of Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs took up a drive against the vegetable retailers indulging in overcharging the customer, using uncertified weights and measures, and prosecuted 137 retailers.

They were booked for selling packaged commodities in violation of the Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011.

Commissioner, Food and Supplies, S.S. Yadav said that 67 teams of the department comprising department officers, inspectors and zonal officers raided 563 retail outlets in different areas of the city.

"The teams prosecuted 137 retailers for various violations. These retailers on conviction may face imprisonment up to seven years," he said.

Yadav said that the government has taken a serious note of the complaints of overcharging by retailers, sale of packaged commodities in violation of the packaged commodity rules and use of faulty measuring devices. Strict action is being taken against retailers involved in such malpractices.

"The department has warned the retailers of serious action in case they indulge in such malpractices. People may lodge complaint or seek information by calling helpline number 1967. Complaints may also be sent telephonically," said Yadav.

New Delhi, July 14
In its tirade launched against the fraudulent dealers and tax evaders, the Delhi Trade and Tax department has taken stringent action against 65 bogus dealers and tax evaders.

Giving information, Commissioner (Trade and Taxes) Amit Yadav said that the Enforcement Branch of the department has raided a number of premises of the dealers by constituting various inspection teams.

Yadav said that 65 bogus and high-risk dealers with fake declared turnover of Rs 2777.73 crore in 2013-14 were booked and registration certificates of these dealers cancelled. Input Tax Credit (ITC) of Rs 9.74 crore was also disallowed during this week.

"To curb the menace of tax evasion, the department has taken action against the violators. During the week ending July 11, action against bogus dealers was intensified through raids conducted by Value Added Tax inspectors who visited such dealers," said Yadav.

"The department is committed to ensuring the recovery of tax by taking stringent action against fraudulent dealers and tax evaders," he said.

The Commissioner (Trade and Taxes) announced that the raids would continue and the action against such bogus and fraudulent sale-purchase dealings would be intensified by the department.