New Delhi, October 17
The Delhi government has escalated its efforts towards making Diwali pollution free and environmental friendly by conducting anti-fire cracker campaign in full swing.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will constitute seven teams to visit various areas to check the level of noise pollution ahead of the festive season. It is working in close coordination with all enforcement agencies to monitor the level of noise pollution.

"The team would work in coordination with Divisional Commissioners (DCs) assisting them in discharge of their duties. DPCC teams will randomly check the shops selling fire crackers in order to ensure that they duely comply with the government's notification regarding the sound emitting fire crackers," said a senior government official.

The Delhi Police will ensure that the total number of licences issued this year should not exceed that of last years. The licencing department of the Delhi Police has been asked to issue suitable instructions to the district-level licensing authorities regarding the same. The police will also ensure that no fire cracker is sold after 10 pm.

The licencing unit will randomly check the wholesale godowns in order to ensure strict ban on imported fire crackers. The team would also ensure that stipulated information regarding the chemical content and noise level is duly displayed on the fire cracker boxes.

All licences granted would have to be mandatorily displayed on the official website of licencing unit and on website of the DPCC.

"Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and police officials have been asked to constitute inspection teams for ensuring strict compliance with the apex court orders enforcing a carpet ban over use of sound emitting fire crackers between 10 pm and 6 am," the official said.

The team will be equipped with noise meters to enable them to monitor on spot noise level and these instruments will also help in addressing any future compliant with regard to noise pollution.

Strict action would be taken against the violators.

New Delhi, October 17
The senior Delhi Police official who was allegedly assaulted in a case of road rage in south Delhi yesterday is recuperating from his injuries at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)and is likely to be discharged tomorrow.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Amit Singh had suffered a fracture in his nose when three persons, including a juvenile and his mother, attacked him when he tried to intervene in a fight between his driver and them as the car driven by the minor had hit Singh's official vehicle.

The trio was apprehended by the police after the attack while Singh was rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre from where he was later shifted to AIIMS.

"Singh's condition is stable. He was brought to the AIIMS Trauma Centre last evening. He had minor injuries on his head and face including a fracture on the nasal bone which is not life threatening. He is recuperating at the department of ENT at main AIIMS. He is likely to be discharged tomorrow," said AIIMS spokesperson Amit Gupta.

The 17-year-old juvenile has been sent to a remand home after he was produced before a Juvenile Justice Board. Rajni, the minor's mother and her live in partner Yogesh were arrested on charges of attempt to murder, assault, obstructing public servant in discharge of duty, etc. Yogesh had prior criminal record as well.

The duo was produced in the Saket Court today after which they have been send to 14 days judicial custody. — PTI

New Delhi, October 17
Following the clamour of the student activists of Delhi University, DU officials are understood to have "agreed" to the demand of restarting re-evaluation of answer-sheets in its colleges.

The move assurance came following a protest by the ABVP and DUSU against the DU administration today to demand reintroduction of re-evaluation, special chance and supplementary exams at Arts Faculty.

During the day the administration invited student leaders for a meeting where they agreed to restart re-evaluation, said a spokesperson for the ABVP. — TNS

New Delhi, October 17
A court here today reserved for October 20 its order on quantum of sentence against five men, convicted in the sensational 2010 Dhaula Kuan abduction and gangrape case, with the Delhi Police seeking life term for them, saying they "left a scar" on the 30-year-old victim.

"The incident of abduction and gangrape has left a scar on the victim's mentality and it also degraded and humiliated the very dignity of the victim in the society," public prosecutor Satvinder Kaur told Additional Sessions Judge Virender Bhat during the arguments on quantum of sentence.

The court, after hearing the submissions of the police and the counsel appearing for the five convicts, reserved the order saying, "Heard the arguments. Order reserved for quantum of sentence for October 20." On October 14, Usman, alias Kale, Shamshad, alias Khutkan, Shahid, alias Chhota Billi, Iqbal, alias Bada Billi, and Kamruddin, alias Mobile, all residents of the Mewat region in Haryana, were convicted for the offences under Sections 365 (abduction), 34 (common intention), 376(2)(g) (gangrape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) with 34 of the IPC.

During the hearing, the lawyers appearing for convicts, pleaded for leniency citing their poor financial background and other responsibilities of their respective families.

At the outset, the court asked the defence lawyers, "You are asking for a lenient view. Can there be a lesser sentence less than 10 years, which is the minimum punishment for the offence?" For the offence of gangrape, the maximum sentence prescribed under the law is life term while the minimum is 10 years rigorous imprisonment.

After the order was reserved, family members of the five convicts pushed through the security personnel standing at the courtroom's gate and came near the judge's dais demanding that their pleas should be heard. — PTI

New Delhi, October 17
A 27-year-old woman from Mizoram was murdered in south Delhi last night.

The woman has been identified as Juliet. She stayed at a one-room rented accommodation at Munirka in south Delhi. She worked for a company in Gurgaon, Haryana, according to the police.

Yesterday about 11 pm, Safdarjung Hospital informed the police that a woman was admitted there. She had died.

"Her close friend, Virendra Singh, had brought her to the hospital," said a police officer, privy to the details of the case. Singh belongs to Haldwani, Uttarakhand.

The police have registered a case of murder at the Vasant Vihar police station. A medical board of doctors has been constituted for the post-mortem. Her family has been informed about her murder. The post-mortem will be conducted after their arrival in Delhi. The post-mortem will also reveal if she was sexually assaulted before the murder.

"A party was held at the victim's home last night. The people who were there are with us and we are questioning them. Action will be taken on the basis of the post-mortem report and the details that will emerge from our questioning," said the officer.

New Delhi, October 17
A 72-year-old man died while two others suffered injuries after a speeding car hit a rickshaw and an auto-rickshaw this morning, the police said.

The accident was reported around 5.35 am from Welcome colony in east Delhi.

Balmukund, Lal Bahadur and Tej Ram were injured and rushed to a hospital where Balmukund was declared dead while the other two are recovering.

The police said Balmukund was waiting for a bus by the side of the road when the car hit him before colliding with a rickshaw and an auto-rickshaw standing at the same spot.

Amit, 22, the car driver, who was drunk at the time of the accident, was arrested from the spot. — IANS