New Delhi, October 31
Amid heavy security, a 'jagran' was organised on Friday evening at Block number 20 of east Delhi's Trilokpuri locality where clashes between the two communities started and spread to other parts of the locality.

As the prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, banning the "unlawful assembly" of five and more people, were removed from 6 am to 7 pm today, both the communities have also agreed to help each other during their festivals-- including Muharram--as a step towards ensuring peace. After the night of Diwali, the police had issued the prohibitory orders.

The police gave permission to the residents of Block number 20 to hold the jagran from 6 pm to 10 pm today.

Two inspectors, eight sub-inspectors and 40 constables of the Delhi Police, besides three reserve companies, were deployed at the riots-hit site of the Mata-ki-Chowki at Block number 20 today. Three Rapid Action Force battalions were deployed around the block.

"We have also covered 50 terraces (around the venue). Two constables are deployed on each terrace," said a police officer.

On being asked if it was the right time to organise a jagran following the clashes, Sanjay Beniwal, Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range) said, "This is being done to restore peace. I have confidence in getting it done. These are small steps to reach the milestone of normalcy."

The jagran was organised at the site of Mata-ki-Chowki. The jagran organiser, Balraj Kumar Talwar, claims to be an RSS convenor. He says that he was arrested with two of his brothers, Gaurav Talwar, who according to the police is a history-sheeter and Tilak Talwar in connection with the clashes.

Balraj claims to have written a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, demanding a CBI inquiry into the clashes. "This fight started due to anti-social elements only," he said.

On the other hand, Mohammed Saleem, chairman of the committee of the Masjid which is located a few hundred metres from the jagran site, said that the clashes were given a communal angle. "The riots started following a fight between four and six boys. They were drinking liquor near the chowki,” said Saleem.

New Delhi, October 31
Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi today said that the force was "fully dedicated" to strengthening national unity and would work hard towards that goal by serving the people.

On the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 139th birth anniversary, which is being celebrated as 'National Unity Day', Bassi promised that Delhi Police would work with the utmost sincerity to ensure the safety of and unity among the residents of the national capital.

"I would like to assure the people of Delhi that police is going to work hard for the security of its residents... We are fully dedicated to national unity," he said.

Stressing on community participation, Bassi said it remains the priority for his force.

"Community participation in policing remains a priority for Delhi Police. We have organised the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme (NWS) and Business Area Watch Scheme (BAWS) based on the Surat Model along with other schemes for youth and women. We are also organising programmes to ensure safety of the north-eastern people living in the city," he said.

Meanwhile, as part of the function today, the Delhi Police Band today gave a live performance at India Gate.

Delhi Police also organised a march from National Stadium to Amar Jawan Jyoti and back. All the wings of Delhi Police, including SWAT, VAJRA and Traffic Police, participated in the march, which was followed by a 30-minute performance by the Police Band.

The band played patriotic songs like 'Saare Jahna Se Achcha', etc.—PTI

New Delhi, October 31
The Lt. Governor, Najeeb Jung, administered an oath on the occasion of "Rashtriya Ekta Diwas" to all the officers and staff of Raj Niwas today.

He said, "I solemnly pledge that I dedicate myself to preserve the unity, integrity and security of the nation and also strive hard to spread this message among my fellow countrymen. I take this pledge in the spirit of unification of my country which was made possible by the vision and actions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. I also solemnly resolve to make my own contribution to ensure internal security of my country."

Employees, officials and staff members of the Delhi Municipal Corporations also took the pledge of "National Unity" on the occasion at North Corporation's headquarters, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Civic Centre. The pledge was administered by the Commissioner of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, Praveen Kumar Gupta.

They took the pledge that they will dedicate themselves to preserving the unity, integrity and security of the country.

Besides, Delhi Chief Secretary DM Spolia administered the pledge to the principal secretaries and head of the departments.

New Delhi, October 31
Delhi BJP today heralded its election campaign for the three assembly seats in Delhi. Conventions were organized in the areas in which thousands of party workers participated.

Delhi BJP in charge Prabhat Jha, Delhi president Satish Upadhyay, general secretary Vijay Sharma, MPs Ramesh Bidhuri, Parvesh Verma and Manoj Tewari joined the workers' conventions.

While addressing the workers, Jha expressed hope that “after Maharashtra and Haryana, Delhi too would give a gift of hat-trick of wins to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and strengthen his hands”.

Delhi BJP president said, "Since yesterday when we decided to contest the by-elections, party workers from all over the city are approaching him to express their desire to work for the campaign on these seats.

This has given me strength to believe that the party will win these seats with unprecedented victory margins."

Ramesh Bidhuri, who has been an MLA of Tughlakabad since 1998, said, "I believe people and workers of the area will value his work and make the party candidate victorious by an unprecedented victory margin."

Parvesh Verma, MP from West Delhi, said, "People of Mehrauli blessed me with victory which further gave me a chance to contest parliamentary elections. I am confident that the BJP candidate in the assembly will emerge victorious with thumping majority."

New Delhi, October 31
Indira Gandhi was not only an iconic leader of the country, but also a historical figure in world politics, who had left an indelible imprint in the minds of people, said DPCC president Arvinder Singh Lovely on the occasion her 30th martyrdom day.

Paying homage to the late Prime Minister, Lovely said Indira Gandhi was one of the greatest leaders of the Indian politics who understood the pulse of people, and the demands of the country to take it forward on the path of development. She took historica decisions in eradicating poverty and unemployment.

He said she was one of the few chosen leaders of the world who would be remembered for ever. She was a modern, inspiring leader who always looked ahead with hope.

She played a vital role in making India a nuclear and economic power, and with the help of Soviet Union, the country became a space power to be reckoned with.

New Delhi, October 31
DTC has spent Rs 47,795 in pursuing litigation against a former conductor for allegedly charging 5 paise less for a ticket 41 years ago, the state-run public transporter today told the Delhi High Court.

The submission was made before Justice Hima Kohli in response to the court's query regarding the amount of money that Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) spent in pursuing the matter since February 1982.

Singh, in 1973, had allegedly charged a woman passenger 10 paise for a 15 paise ticket and the incident came to light when a flying squad of ticket-checkers boarded the bus.

The flying squad of DTC had decided that he had cheated the Corporation and had been negligent and thereafter, a departmental inquiry was conducted and he was found guilty of causing a loss of 5 paise to the public exchequer.

His dismissal from service was ordered on July 15, 1976 on the grounds that he was a repeat offender and Singh had challenged the same before a labour court.

The labour court in 1990 had ruled in his favour and had directed DTC to reinstate him with full wages.

DTC, thereafter, challenged the labour court verdict in the high court which in 2008 dismissed the corporation's plea.

DTC again moved the high court through the present review petition, contending that an employee who cheated the government can't be allowed to go scot-free.

The transport corporation has also opposed Singh's demand for back wages.

DTC has alleged that Singh had allowed ticketless travel to several passengers.

The high court had also sought information regarding the dues payable and already paid to the former DTC conductor Ranbir Singh.

In response to this, DTC has submitted that it has paid over Rs 1.5 lakh of the total amount of about Rs 4 lakh, which was payable to Singh as salary, gratuity, pension, pay fixation etc since his dismissal from service in 1976 till his retirement on September 30, 2002.

DTC also told the court that Rs 2.72 lakh remains to be paid to him.

Meanwhile, the counsel for Singh sought time from the court to peruse the affidavit filed by DTC, which was allowed by the court. — PTI

New Delhi, October 31
A 50-year-old man died and 19 people, most of them government employees, were injured when a mini-bus they were travelling in turned sideways after its front right wheel came off near the Defence Colony flyover in south Delhi this morning.

The deceased has been identified as Dharmendra Arora. There were about 25 passengers inside the bus when the accident took place near the Jangpura Metro station.

The bus owner, Baljeet, who was driving the vehicle, has been arrested for rash driving and causing death by negligence. The police will consult mechanical experts to ascertain if the wheel came off because of poor maintenance, overloading or any other reason.

One of the injured persons, Sunita Toppo, said that a group of government employees had hired the bus to travel back and forth to their offices. The bus would start moving from Pushpa Vihar and pick up people on the way to offices in South and New Delhi.