New Delhi, November 4
A Muharram procession, Tazia, was carried out in Bawana and the riot-affected Trilokpuri locality in Delhi under heavy security cover today.

For a few days following Diwali, Trilokpuri had witnessed heavy rioting between two communities residing there. Bawana in outer Delhi also had tension when a "Mahapanchayat" was held at the town area on Sunday. Hundreds of locals had attended it and they demanded that the Muharram procession should not arrive at the town and should confine to the JJ Colony only. After the police intervened, the two communities agreed that the procession will not cross a canal separating the JJ Colony and the town.

In Trilokpuri today, six companies of the Delhi Police and a few hundred Central Armed Police Force personnel were deployed, while the procession was conducted. The Delhi Police also used two mini-drones to keep a watch on the procession. There was no outbreak of violence today.

The Tazia was attended by more than 700 people and also led by members of the non-Muslim communities as a show of unity.

At about 4 pm today, the devotees dispersed after visiting the Karbala in Mayur Vihar Phase-1.

"Everything is under control. We have been closely working with the people of Trilokpuri and it is by the sheer will of the residents here that peace has returned. Members of all communities have participated in the Jagran which was held in Trilokpuri last week and today the Muharram. This is a positive sign," said a police officer.

Even in Bawana there was no untoward incident which took place while the Tazia procession was carried out.

The procession was only confined to the JJ Colony. Earlier, the procession started from the colony, arrived at the town and then returned to the colony.

"The devotees did not inflict injuries on themselves as part of the mourning and there were no stunt performances with weapons and fire," said a local. He said that the procession was carried out from 12 pm to 8 pm.

About a thousand security force personnel, including the Delhi Police, were deployed in the area and the routes of the procession were being closely monitored by them.

"There was a lot of planning for the procession keeping in mind the current tense situation in Delhi," said another police officer.

The Special Branch (Intelligence) of the Delhi Police was in touch with the members of the two communities to prevent the spreading or rumours.

A group of Jawaharlal Nehru University students had reached the area and tried to stage a protest against the "Mahapanchayat', but the police asked them to leave. "Their protest could have aggravated the situation, and we did not want to take any risk," said the police officer.

New Delhi, November 4
The Delhi State Assembly elections will once again see a three-cornered fight between the Aam Admi Party (AAP), BJP and Congress.

While AAP is hoping to recreate the history, BJP is riding high on its recent performances in Haryana and Maharashtra. Things have not changed much for Congress, but it is still expecting to improve its tally by raising recent issues like death of Delhi police personnel and price rise.

As it became clear through the day that the national Capital would see a fresh round of elections early next year, activity at the offices of all the three political parties heated up.

Although, BJP has not yet zeroed in on its chief ministerial candidate, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said that the elections are most likely to be 'Kejriwal vs Mukhi', Jagdish Mukhi being the seniormost leader of BJP.

"BJP does not have any better candidate than Mukhi. He is the best leader in the party. They should announce any other name if they have one," he said, while addressing reporters.

Indicating that he will contest from his present constituency of New Delhi, Kejriwal said he does not see any reason not to do so.

He said the party will fight mainly on the agenda of making Delhi the first 'corruption-free state' in the country and making it the most developed city in the world.

"Why aren't they declaring their chief ministerial candidate? What's the delay?" asked Kejriwal.

AAP member Manish Sisodia said that Congress was the least of their worries. "Congress is not even in the race in Delhi, the people have to choose between AAP and BJP," Sisodia said.

Kejriwal was confident that AAP will emerge this time with full majority with minimum 45 seats. The party had last time secured 28 seats in the 70-member House.

"We will form government with a clear majority as we will win on minimum 45 seats," said Kejriwal.

He alleged that after all attempts by BJP leaders' attempt to 'poach' AAP MLAs failed, the Centre was compelled to dissolve the assembly.

The BJP government has failed to check price rise and that the law and order situation in Delhi is deteriorating fast, he said.

Delhi BJP too held a meeting of the newly appointed office-bearers and senior leaders at party office today. The party made it clear that the elections will be fought against the entire opposition and not with any particular party.

"The people of Delhi had opted for a new experiment in the last elections, but the convenor of AAP Arvind Kejriwal betrayed them.. The people of Delhi will take him to task through the ballot," said Satish Upadhayay, president Delhi BJP.

"The people of Delhi now understand how NGO activists raise the issues, provoke the emotions and take advantage of it for their personal benefit. We will witness the reaction of the people in the forthcoming elections," he said.

Delhi has been under President's rule since February this year after the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government stepped down.

New Delhi, November 4
The Capital will host a National Children Film Festival (NCFF) on November 14-16, coinciding with Children's Day. Seemaa Desai's "Pappu Ki Pugdundi" will open the extravaganza, the theme for which is 'Swachhta'.

To be organised by Children's Film Society India (CFSI), which has been engaged in providing value-based entertainment to children through films over the years, the fest will now happen every alternate year, just like the International Children's Film Festival, said a statement on Tuesday.

The fest will be held at the Siri Fort Auditorium, and the opening ceremony will be followed by the premiere of "Pappu Ki Pugdundi", CFSI's newest film. Extensively shot in Himachal Pradesh, it stars Hardik Khanna as Pappu, Atul Parchure as Genie and Amitabh Bhattacharya and Jaswinder Gardner as Pappu's parents.

The opening events would have cultural programmes by children and a performance by Shiamak Davar's troupe on the theme of 'Swachhta' or cleanliness, which is being widely promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Entry for the film's screenings will be free. However, the entry for children will be regulated through the educational institutions on a first come first served basis.

During the NCFF, select children's films will be screened, providing an opportunity to the children of Delhi to experience some qualitative and purposeful films.

Plans are also in place for film workshops to get kids acquainted with the basics of filmmaking. These workshops will be conducted by experts from the film institutes for a group of talented children. — IANS

New Delhi, November 4
Three people, including an Amity University student, have been arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau in Delhi for allegedly procuring high quality hashish, commonly known as Malana cream from Himachal Pradesh.

The consignment of hashish was meant for Amity University students, according to Rohit Sharma, Zonal Director of the Delhi Zonal Unit, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

The accused who were arrested by the NCB on Sunday have been identified as Ramlal and Krishan Chand, who hail from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh and work as a driver and a cleaner, and Raghav Sehajpaul (22), a Noida resident and a student of the Amity University.

The NCB had seized 1.5 kilograms of hashish allegedly from the accused. "The hashish is from the hilly tracts of Himachal Pradesh and is known as Malana cream. It was brought from Manali to Delhi via a Volvo bus plying between the state and Delhi. The driver and the helper of a bus, who were acting as carriers on behalf of their suppliers based in Himachal, have been apprehended. They have been identified as Ramlal and Krishan Chand," said Sharma.

The two men had allegedly brought many such small consignments of hashish.

On being tipped off about the two men, the NCB laid a trap for them in Timarpur, where most of the buses coming from Himachal Pradesh come to a halt.

"When the two men alighted from the bus, the sleuths caught them while they were handing over a part of the consignment to one Raghav Sehajpaul, a Noida resident and a student of Amity University," said Sharma.

Raghav revealed that he had allegedly become involved in drug trafficking to earn easy money. "Initial investigations have revealed that a part of the seized contraband was meant for the students of Amity University," said the officer.

According to the NCB, the present seizure of hashish is likely to lead them into unravelling a deeper nexus between the hashish suppliers based in Himachal Pradesh and the student community of Delhi.