New Delhi, August 19
The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has launched an operation "Khoj" for finding out missing children under the supervision of its member Shashank Shekhar.

Expressing concern over increasing number of missing children in the capital, chairperson of DCPCR Arun Mathur said that under the operation "Khoj" the DCPCR will tap information regarding missing children from all sources and circulate it along with photographs to all networked children's homes for immediate action.

A network of approximately 45 children's homes in Delhi has been created and in case the child is found in one of the homes, the DCPCR will take appropriate steps to identify and rehabilitate the children with his family.

The information will be sought through email ID missingchild.dcpcr@gmail.com and the reply is also expected on the same ID, Mathur said.

He said the DCPCR intends to enlarge the network to include more homes and organize regular meetings for sensitization of the home in charge.

The chairman further said in 2008, 6,268 children were reported missing from Delhi.

In 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 the number of missing children reported in Delhi was 5,946; 5,091; 5,111; 5,248 and 7,235, respectively.

New Delhi, August 19
The Municipal Corporations of Delhi and other agencies have decided to start "Better Delhi Campaign". During the campaign the agencies will complete land mapping of Delhi so that the public services like parking, schools, hospitals, women hostels and land for public conveniences may be marked and works could be started, said Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay.

The decision was taken in a meeting with the Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu who directed all officers concerned that by September 30 land for sanitary field must be earmarked and modernization work for waste management would be started, besides production of power from garbage, he said.

In the meeting, Delhi BJP leaders raised the need for ending the requirement of getting the layout plan passed by the corporations for the plots up to 200 m in Delhi and requested that the building bylaws should be amended appropriately so that there is no need for getting the certificate and other permissions from the architect and structural engineer for small plots, Upadhyay said.

It was also decided in the meeting that all the three municipal corporations, New Delhi Municipal Council and the CPWD will remove the encroachment in the parks and will make special arrangements for the public conveniences for women. Such conveniences for women will be provided in all the big markets of Delhi.

Upadhyay told mediapersons that the corporations would take all the possible steps to provide sanitation and health services in Delhi by October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. BJP legislators will contribute for development through the Delhi government.

New Delhi, AUGUST 19
With an aim to solve the problem of regularisation of unauthorised colonies in Delhi, the Centre will prepare a draft policy on it in the next 15 days.

A concept paper will be prepared within 15 days after which the Delhi government, in consultation with the Union Urban Development Ministry, would prepare an action plan on the regularisation issue, said Urban Development Ministry M Venkaiah Naidu after a three-hour-long review meeting with all the agencies concerned, city MPs and members of the Municipal Corporations of Delhi.

During the meeting the minister felt there is a case for having a fresh look at regularization of all unauthorized colonies in Delhi as all the colonies would not be fully regularised in the existing guidelines as many colonies have come up since the earlier cut off-date 2007.

There are about 800 colonies awaiting regularisation nod from the government.

The Union Urban Development Minister asked that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and all municipal bodies should get all their respective land properties mapped properly using latest GIS and information technology. These details should be made available in the public domain.

The DDA should submit full detail of various pending court cases in respect of its lands and launch a campaign for eviction of its encroached properties and these details should be made available to public.

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) should take over the infrastructure built by the DDA for water supply in Dwarka and other areas on "as where is basis" and the cost of necessary improvement works would be reimbursed by the DDA.

He assured that the Union Urban Development Ministry would take up the issue of enabling water supply through Munak Canal that augments water supply to Dwarka with the Haryana government.

Handing over and taking over of public utilities between the DDA and the Delhi municipal bodies should be done within two months and a standard operating protocol need to be evolved, the minister said.

He said creation of a separate agency for maintenance of public toilets in Delhi on the public private partnership basis to be examined by the ministry in consultation with the Delhi government.

Secretary, Urban Development, to take up with Chief Secretary, Delhi government, to sort out issues pertaining to the DJB.

The municipal bodies to ensure transparency in execution of development works by displaying all details like cost of the work, implementation schedule, name of the agency executing the work, source of funds, etc., through public information display boards.

The Delhi Municipal Act to be amended to enable effective solid waste management on the lines of Mumbai model.

New Delhi, August 19
The Directorate of Education has created a link 'DGS Alumni' (Delhi Government School Alumni) on the Directorate's website in order to connect with other such former students of the government schools who are occupying respectable positions in different spheres of society.

So far, more than 400 alumni have registered themselves at the link www.Edudel.Nic.In, said Padmini Singla, Director, Education, here today.

Singla said that it will be a wonderful opportunity for the entire like-minded citizens who got their education in the government schools, succeeded in their careers and now are in a position to do something for their school.

"I am a proud product of a government school myself. It struck me that it would be a good idea to provide a common platform to all the alumni of government schools where they can come together and contribute in their own ways for their alma maters," she said.

On the same way, the alumni of Shakti Nagar No 1 Government Boys School has formed an association named 'Shakti Nagar No 1 Old Boys Association'(SHOBA.

The association had donated two water coolers, two air-conditioners to the school and recently has created a smart class at the cost of around Rs 9 lakh. — PTI

New Delhi, August 19
An alleged gangster wanted for the murder of a Delhi Police constable last month was killed in an encounter by the Delhi Police Special Cell in north-east Delhi in the wee hours today.

The deceased has been identified as Firoz, alias Fauzi, who belonged to Loni in Ghaziabad. According to the Special Cell, Firoz was allegedly involved in 17 cases of murder, attempt to murder, assault on police personnel, robbery and the Arms Act in Delhi and Ghaziabad. In February, he had allegedly fired at a journalist, Mohammed Shahid, for resisting payment of protection money by his brother. His brother owns a medical store in Loni.

During the same month, Firoz allegedly fired at a police sub-inspector Azad Singh and his team, who were trying to apprehend him in Loni, according to the police. He had fired a second time at a police team in Loni on June 9.

He was wanted in the murder of Delhi Police constable Shivraj Tomar on July 14.

Tomar, who was posted at the Jafrabad police station in north-east Delhi, was heading there when he saw two persons on a motorcycle without a number plate. They were not wearing helmets and were driving fast. According to a police officer, Tomar may have identified them as criminals whom he was aware about. He tried to apprehend him. The person who was driving the motorcycle sped away, but the pillion rider ran towards the side lane. As the constable was about to pin him down, the person allegedly took out his pistol and shot the constable in his chest from point blank range. The constable later succumbed to his injuries. Tomar was the only bread winner for his family. He is survived by his wife and son.

The police did not know the identity of the killer. The police with the help of their informers identified him as Firoz. The police started searching for him. "Many people were questioned about Firoz. He had managed to hide in Loni, Trans-Yamuna area of Delhi, Meerut, Yamuna Nagar in Haryana and Ajmer in Rajasthan," said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell).

The police was tipped off that Firoz would come to Sonia Vihar to meet a person today. At about 5 am, he reached the Pushta Road in Sonia Vihar on a Yamaha RX100 motorcycle with an Uttar Pradesh number plate.

"He was identified and directed to surrender. Finding himself surrounded by the police, Firoz took out his pistol and fired at them. A shot fired by Firoz hit inspector Shiv Kumar on his bullet-proof jacket and another shot hit a Gypsy. The police fired back in self-defence. The accused sustained bullet injuries and was taken to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, where he was declared dead," said Yadav.

Another accused, Firoz, alias Billori, involved in constable Tomar's murder also apprehended.

New Delhi, August 19
Four persons, one of them a juvenile, allegedly murdered a small-time cloth vendor after taking him to be a member of a rival gang, said a police officer.

The incident took place on August 11 when the four accused allegedly stabbed to death 28-year-old Amit in the Dakshinpuri area of south-east Delhi.

"Gaurav, Nitin and Mahesh, along with a juvenile, were involved in the crime. All four have been arrested," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) P Karunakaran.

According to the police, there was intense rivalry between two groups of anti-social elements, operating in the area and they would be involved in frequent clashes.

"It was a case of mistaken identity. They mistook the victim as a member of their rival gang," he said.

A case in the matter has been registered at the Ambedkar Nagar police station. The juvenile has been sent to an observation home, the officer said, adding that the three accused are in the police custody. — PTI

New Delhi, August 19
A 23-year-old Afghan national was arrested for allegedly raping a woman in Hauz Rani, south Delhi, and was released by the police today after she backtracked at a city court.

According to the police, the man was released after the 22-year-old woman allegedly stated at the Saket Court that he did not rape her.

The police further said that the woman's friend, another woman, had called the police at about 3.15 am today, stating that the woman was "raped by her boyfriend" and then thrown on the street.

The two women were then taken to the Malviya Nagar police station to officially lodge a complaint.

"The women were in an inebriated state and refused to co-operate with us. When we asked if the victim is willing to undergo a medical examination, the she refused. They also went back and forth on their statements," said a police officer. The officer said that it took a couple of hours before the women could finally regain their senses and record an official statement.

The accused, Afghan youth, who works as a waiter at a restaurant in Hauz Rani, was arrested based on the woman's allegations.

However, the woman later backtracked. "She told the judge of a local court that she was not raped. We had to release the accused from our custody," said the officer, adding that the court did not take action against the women.

The women, both residents of Munirka, work at a beauty parlour and were known to the Afghan national for the past several months.