NEW DELHI: After days of wrangling over seat sharing, the Congress has finally managed to strike a deal with Babulal Marchandi's Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) for the coming assembly elections in Jharkhand.
As per the agreement, thr congress has left 25 out of the total 81 assembly seats for JVM and has also declined to have friendly fights on six seats.
A formal announcement of the alliance was expected soon.
Despite talks, the alliance was delayed due to tough stand adopted by both the sides. While Marandi, a former BJP leader and Jharkhand's first chief minister, was adamant on 31 seats, the Congress did not want to give him more than 25.
With the deal, the Congress has dumped its six-year old ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha of Shibu Soren.
While a section in the Congress was of the view that the party would benefit by going alone in the assembly polls, the party high command was keen on alliance with Marandi in view of his clean image and potential to cut BJP votes.
On the other hand, a day after the BJP and the Janata Dal(U), colaition partners in Bihar, said they were parting ways to contest on their own in neighbouring Jharkhand, thay came together to announce a tie-up.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was keen on a tie-up between the two parties, prevailed on his party dealers in the neighbouring state. BJP leaders responded by agreeing to let the JD(U) contest 14 seats. Earlier, the BJP was not willing to let the JD(U) contest more than 12 seats when it wanted 18 seats.
Friday, November 6, 2009
At Max: 'They turned away dengue patients'
NEW DELHI: Aditya Sahai, 23, was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Max Devki Devi Hospital in Saket on October 30.
When declared out of danger on November 1, he was advised by hos doctor to shift to a private ward. Except there was no room available.
Sahai had to wait for two days before he got space in a four-seatre shared room.
"They kept saying there was a bed shortage which I believe was true as they refused beds to a few dengue patients," said his mother Poonam Sahai (46).
All private hospitals in the city are facing a space crunch, but they say it is not because of dengue alone.
When declared out of danger on November 1, he was advised by hos doctor to shift to a private ward. Except there was no room available.
Sahai had to wait for two days before he got space in a four-seatre shared room.
"They kept saying there was a bed shortage which I believe was true as they refused beds to a few dengue patients," said his mother Poonam Sahai (46).
All private hospitals in the city are facing a space crunch, but they say it is not because of dengue alone.
DU STUDENT COMPLAINS OF 'RAGGING'
NEW DELHI: A first-year student of a Delhi University college in Shahdara, northeast Delhi, has accused two senior students of beating him and trying to remove his trousers.
The incident reportedly happened on Thursday morning.
Police said the incident came to light when the victim, Mohammed Naved (18) of Shyam Lal College, complained to his lecturer.
The police were called and Naved was taken to a Hospital for medical examination. Police said no case has been registered but they are questioning the two accused.
Naved, a resident of Ghaziabad, is a student of BA pass course at the college.
Police said Naved was going to the restroom on Thursday morning when the accused Deepak Kumar (19) and Mohammed Dilshad (19), both second-year BA pass course students, stopped him.
"Naved in his complained has alleged that the accused first tried to rag him. When he resisted, the two tried to remove his trousers. When Naved further resisted, they started hit him on the head, face and the chest," said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Naved filed a complaint at Shahdara Police Station.
Police said after beating Naved, both allegedly fled from the spot. Naved then went to his teachers and narrated the incident.
In August this year, two students were expelled and one was rusticated from Kirori Mal College in North Campus for allegedly ragging a junior in the hostel.
The incident reportedly happened on Thursday morning.
Police said the incident came to light when the victim, Mohammed Naved (18) of Shyam Lal College, complained to his lecturer.
The police were called and Naved was taken to a Hospital for medical examination. Police said no case has been registered but they are questioning the two accused.
Naved, a resident of Ghaziabad, is a student of BA pass course at the college.
Police said Naved was going to the restroom on Thursday morning when the accused Deepak Kumar (19) and Mohammed Dilshad (19), both second-year BA pass course students, stopped him.
"Naved in his complained has alleged that the accused first tried to rag him. When he resisted, the two tried to remove his trousers. When Naved further resisted, they started hit him on the head, face and the chest," said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Naved filed a complaint at Shahdara Police Station.
Police said after beating Naved, both allegedly fled from the spot. Naved then went to his teachers and narrated the incident.
In August this year, two students were expelled and one was rusticated from Kirori Mal College in North Campus for allegedly ragging a junior in the hostel.
From next Sept, New Delhi to airport in 18 minutes
NEW DELHI: How about depositing your large suitcases at the New Delhi metro collection and collecting them at New York?
The Airport Metro Express Line promises you just that.
Metro stations at New Delhi and Shivaji Stadium will have check-in points with automatic baggage handling facility for those heading for the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The high-speed line becomes operational in September 2010.
The maximum fare between New Delhi and the airport will not exceed Rs.150. And the specially designed trains would cover the distance in 18 minutes.
" (This is) being built at a cost of Rs 4, 500 crore," said Mangu Singh, director (works), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), on Thursday. "Almost 90 per cent of the civil work is over for the line."
DMRC is carrying out the civil work for the project being done on a public-private partnership model. A joint venture between Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and Caf will handle the operations on the line for 30 years after which the line will be handed over to DMRC.
"Initially, trains would run every 10 minutes with minimum 20 hours of service per day. In all probability, it would be turned into a 24-hour facility with one-track operations lean hours," said O.P. Singh, chief Project manager, DMRC.
The Shivaji Stadium station being - called as a mini-airport terminal owing to its size - would have state-of-the-art ambience with commercial area, a concourse and platforms 20 metre below the ground level.
A DMRC official said there would be around 40 check-in counters at the station.
The Airport Metro Express Line promises you just that.
Metro stations at New Delhi and Shivaji Stadium will have check-in points with automatic baggage handling facility for those heading for the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The high-speed line becomes operational in September 2010.
The maximum fare between New Delhi and the airport will not exceed Rs.150. And the specially designed trains would cover the distance in 18 minutes.
" (This is) being built at a cost of Rs 4, 500 crore," said Mangu Singh, director (works), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), on Thursday. "Almost 90 per cent of the civil work is over for the line."
DMRC is carrying out the civil work for the project being done on a public-private partnership model. A joint venture between Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and Caf will handle the operations on the line for 30 years after which the line will be handed over to DMRC.
"Initially, trains would run every 10 minutes with minimum 20 hours of service per day. In all probability, it would be turned into a 24-hour facility with one-track operations lean hours," said O.P. Singh, chief Project manager, DMRC.
The Shivaji Stadium station being - called as a mini-airport terminal owing to its size - would have state-of-the-art ambience with commercial area, a concourse and platforms 20 metre below the ground level.
A DMRC official said there would be around 40 check-in counters at the station.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
A green, tasty trade fair
NEW DELHI: The 29th annual India International Trade Fair (IITF) has something on offer for everyone.
While the general public will be able to enjoy traditional delecacies and dances from the length and breadth of India, trade visitors can hone their business skills by participating in a series of topical seminars and conferences during the two-week-long business gala.
Though this year's theme, 'Export of Services' will get prominent display, IIFT 2009 also promises to be a 'green fair'.
Though the fair will start from November 14, it will have a 'pronounced business dimension' for the first five days and will be open to the general public from November 19.
"Pragati Maidan has been declared a 'No Smoking' area. There will be emphasis on promoting jute and khadi bags instead of plastic ones during the fair," Dr. Subas Chandra Pani, Chairman and Managing Director of the IITF said.
In addition to going green, IITF also promises to be a 'tasty' affair'. "We are expecting better food availability - both in terms of quality and quantity," Pani added.
"We are also expecting the 'Dilli ka Khana' pavilion to be another major attraction, sice Delhi is the partner site for this edition of the annual fair."
There will be other attractions on offer. " One of the special attractions of this year's fair will be an exhibition titled 'India - A Space Odyssey', which will celebrate India's achievements in space travel," said Pani.
The fair will feature nearly 7500 exhibitions from India and abroad.
While the general public will be able to enjoy traditional delecacies and dances from the length and breadth of India, trade visitors can hone their business skills by participating in a series of topical seminars and conferences during the two-week-long business gala.
Though this year's theme, 'Export of Services' will get prominent display, IIFT 2009 also promises to be a 'green fair'.
Though the fair will start from November 14, it will have a 'pronounced business dimension' for the first five days and will be open to the general public from November 19.
"Pragati Maidan has been declared a 'No Smoking' area. There will be emphasis on promoting jute and khadi bags instead of plastic ones during the fair," Dr. Subas Chandra Pani, Chairman and Managing Director of the IITF said.
In addition to going green, IITF also promises to be a 'tasty' affair'. "We are expecting better food availability - both in terms of quality and quantity," Pani added.
"We are also expecting the 'Dilli ka Khana' pavilion to be another major attraction, sice Delhi is the partner site for this edition of the annual fair."
There will be other attractions on offer. " One of the special attractions of this year's fair will be an exhibition titled 'India - A Space Odyssey', which will celebrate India's achievements in space travel," said Pani.
The fair will feature nearly 7500 exhibitions from India and abroad.
Cong ruckus at MCD meet
NEW DELHI: Congress leaders created a ruckus during the Standing Committee meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday.
The meeting had to be dispersed after the Opposotion continued raising slogans demanding a CBI probe into alleged irregularitiesat an under-construction multistorey by a private developer in Greater Kailash II.
Congress leader Jai Kishen Sharma raised the issue showing copies of Standing Committee decisions from previous years and newspaper reports about a dharma (sit-in) by a group of residents on October 2.
"Building by-laws permit 12 metre peripheral open space for plots with a size of 10, 000 sq m or more while for those less than 10, 000 sq m, the space allowed is 6 metre. This builder has shown the plot to be less than 10, 000 sq m to get greater floor area ratio," Sharma alleged/
His party colleague Khavinder Singh said: "GK II is already densely populated. The multistorey building would mean additional houses, which will surely strain resources like power, water and sewerage. The MCD officials have neglected these aspects while sanctioning the building plan."
Standing committee chairman R.K. Singhal said he was aware of the issue and had verified that all requisite permissions were in place for this private group housing society.
Singhal asked the MCD commissioner to submit a detailed report in three days.
The meeting had to be dispersed after the Opposotion continued raising slogans demanding a CBI probe into alleged irregularitiesat an under-construction multistorey by a private developer in Greater Kailash II.
Congress leader Jai Kishen Sharma raised the issue showing copies of Standing Committee decisions from previous years and newspaper reports about a dharma (sit-in) by a group of residents on October 2.
"Building by-laws permit 12 metre peripheral open space for plots with a size of 10, 000 sq m or more while for those less than 10, 000 sq m, the space allowed is 6 metre. This builder has shown the plot to be less than 10, 000 sq m to get greater floor area ratio," Sharma alleged/
His party colleague Khavinder Singh said: "GK II is already densely populated. The multistorey building would mean additional houses, which will surely strain resources like power, water and sewerage. The MCD officials have neglected these aspects while sanctioning the building plan."
Standing committee chairman R.K. Singhal said he was aware of the issue and had verified that all requisite permissions were in place for this private group housing society.
Singhal asked the MCD commissioner to submit a detailed report in three days.
Army chief advocates zero tolerance to terror
NEW DELHI: Three weeks ahead of the first anniversary of the Mumbai attacks, Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said on Wednesday that India had repeatedly allowed perpetrators of terror attacks to get away.
It is for the first time that a service chief has articulated such a point of view. The tough talking army chief asked the country to say no more to terror attacks.
Speaking at a CII seminar on Network Centricity and National Security, Kapoor said, :The US has not allowed a second 9/11 to happen, nor has Indonesia allowed a repeat of Bali bombing. India has allowed people to get away after the Parliament attack, Delhi blasts and finally the 26/11 incident. The time for all of us has come to say no more ( to terror )."
Kapoor's comments come on the heels of Chidambaram's warning on November 1 that India would retaliate if 26/11 - type attacks were repeated. Kapoor said the country could not afford to witness thr repeat of a 26/11-type attack.
Minister of state for defence M.M. Pallam Raju who inaugurated the two-day seminar called for synergy among various intelligence agencies to prevent a repeat of another 26/11-like attack.
It is for the first time that a service chief has articulated such a point of view. The tough talking army chief asked the country to say no more to terror attacks.
Speaking at a CII seminar on Network Centricity and National Security, Kapoor said, :The US has not allowed a second 9/11 to happen, nor has Indonesia allowed a repeat of Bali bombing. India has allowed people to get away after the Parliament attack, Delhi blasts and finally the 26/11 incident. The time for all of us has come to say no more ( to terror )."
Kapoor's comments come on the heels of Chidambaram's warning on November 1 that India would retaliate if 26/11 - type attacks were repeated. Kapoor said the country could not afford to witness thr repeat of a 26/11-type attack.
Minister of state for defence M.M. Pallam Raju who inaugurated the two-day seminar called for synergy among various intelligence agencies to prevent a repeat of another 26/11-like attack.
Kashmir pre-paid mobile ban leaves 20, 000 jobless
SRINAGAR : The ban on use of pre-paid SIM cards for mobile phones in Jammu and Kashmir has not only created difficulties for about 3.8 million users but has rendered more than 20, 000 people, mostly youth, jobless.
This was stated by Bashir Ahmad Dar, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir STD and PCO owners Association.
"I think the ban was part of the political package which the Prime Minister offered the people of the state," he said sarcastically.
On October 31, the home ministry, citing security concerns, had announced that new SIM pre-paid cards would not be issued in the state and old ones would not be renewed. The ban came into affect a few days after the Prime Minister offered fresh talks with Kashmiris.
"On an average, each person (dealing in pre-paid SIM cards and recharging them) used to earn Rs. 8, 000 - 10, 000 a month. Now they are on the street. Unemployment in the state is at its peak. How can the government do this?" Bashir said.
He said the instructions of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India were followed strictly while verifying credentials of users. " For pre-paid and post-paid cards, the verification process is the same. How then are pre-paid cards a security threat and post-paid cards are not?" Bashir asked.
Mushtaq Ahmad, 29, who lives in the outskirts of Srinagar said, " I had taken a loan from a bank to start an outlet selling SIM cards and recharge coupons. How will I repay the loan?I am a graduate and there are no jobs in Kashmir. How can I earn for myself and my family? Where do they (government) want to push us?"
Ahmad and dozens of dealers like him running STD ( subscriber trunk dialing) kiosks and PCOs (public call officers) gathered at a park in Lalchowk in the centre of Srinagar on Wednesday to plan a coordinated programme for mass protests aganinst the ban.
In Jammu, home minister P.Chidambaram said on Wednesday, " Don't hype the issue as its in the interest of security of the country and don't send an alarming picture. We have called for a meeting with service providers and we have to reconcile the security of the country and the interest of service providers and whatever decision is in the interest of the country will be taken."
This was stated by Bashir Ahmad Dar, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir STD and PCO owners Association.
"I think the ban was part of the political package which the Prime Minister offered the people of the state," he said sarcastically.
On October 31, the home ministry, citing security concerns, had announced that new SIM pre-paid cards would not be issued in the state and old ones would not be renewed. The ban came into affect a few days after the Prime Minister offered fresh talks with Kashmiris.
"On an average, each person (dealing in pre-paid SIM cards and recharging them) used to earn Rs. 8, 000 - 10, 000 a month. Now they are on the street. Unemployment in the state is at its peak. How can the government do this?" Bashir said.
He said the instructions of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India were followed strictly while verifying credentials of users. " For pre-paid and post-paid cards, the verification process is the same. How then are pre-paid cards a security threat and post-paid cards are not?" Bashir asked.
Mushtaq Ahmad, 29, who lives in the outskirts of Srinagar said, " I had taken a loan from a bank to start an outlet selling SIM cards and recharge coupons. How will I repay the loan?I am a graduate and there are no jobs in Kashmir. How can I earn for myself and my family? Where do they (government) want to push us?"
Ahmad and dozens of dealers like him running STD ( subscriber trunk dialing) kiosks and PCOs (public call officers) gathered at a park in Lalchowk in the centre of Srinagar on Wednesday to plan a coordinated programme for mass protests aganinst the ban.
In Jammu, home minister P.Chidambaram said on Wednesday, " Don't hype the issue as its in the interest of security of the country and don't send an alarming picture. We have called for a meeting with service providers and we have to reconcile the security of the country and the interest of service providers and whatever decision is in the interest of the country will be taken."
PM apologises for patient's death
NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday expressed regret over thr death of Sumit Verma (32), who died in Chandigarh on Tuesday when security restrictions following Singh's visit prevented him from getting treatment in time.
"I am writing to express my profound sense of sadness at the death of your husband yesterday," the PM said in a letter to Verma's wife.
He added that he'd noted the inconvenience caused to the public by VVIP security."I have issued instructions so that in future authorities are more sensitive."
Verma wasn't allowed to enter the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Research while the PM was delivering a lecture inside.
"I am writing to express my profound sense of sadness at the death of your husband yesterday," the PM said in a letter to Verma's wife.
He added that he'd noted the inconvenience caused to the public by VVIP security."I have issued instructions so that in future authorities are more sensitive."
Verma wasn't allowed to enter the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Research while the PM was delivering a lecture inside.
Delhi institute on Lakshar radar
FRIGHTENING : Two top boarding schools were also targets
NEW DELHI : The National Defence College ( NDC ) in the capital and two leading boarding schools in a north Indian state are on the hit list of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lakshar-e-Tayyeba, a senior home ministry official said on wednesday.
The United States's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) learnt of the Lakshar's attack plans during the interrogation of Lakshar operatives David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana.
The FBI had recently arrested Chicago-based Headley and Rana for plotting terror attacks against a Danish newspaper.
On Tuesday, prosecutors revealed documents that accused the two of discussing the attack on the NDC.
The papers were unsealed before a Chicago court hearing Rana's bail plea. Rana, a Canadian national, was born in Pakistan.
The NDC trains military and civilian officersfrom India and abroad about strategic aspects of national defence.
Indian security officials, who had similarly colleceted intelligence about other installations on the Lakshar's hit list, said the FBI had shared the information "quite some time back".
"The state governments concerned had been sensitised to the threats," said an intelligence officer. " Surveillance and security levels have been raised accordingly."
"I think there is a constant review of threat perceptions and targets... and we work on the safeguards adequately," said minister of state for defence M.M. Pallam Raju.
NEW DELHI : The National Defence College ( NDC ) in the capital and two leading boarding schools in a north Indian state are on the hit list of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lakshar-e-Tayyeba, a senior home ministry official said on wednesday.
The United States's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) learnt of the Lakshar's attack plans during the interrogation of Lakshar operatives David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana.
The FBI had recently arrested Chicago-based Headley and Rana for plotting terror attacks against a Danish newspaper.
On Tuesday, prosecutors revealed documents that accused the two of discussing the attack on the NDC.
The papers were unsealed before a Chicago court hearing Rana's bail plea. Rana, a Canadian national, was born in Pakistan.
The NDC trains military and civilian officersfrom India and abroad about strategic aspects of national defence.
Indian security officials, who had similarly colleceted intelligence about other installations on the Lakshar's hit list, said the FBI had shared the information "quite some time back".
"The state governments concerned had been sensitised to the threats," said an intelligence officer. " Surveillance and security levels have been raised accordingly."
"I think there is a constant review of threat perceptions and targets... and we work on the safeguards adequately," said minister of state for defence M.M. Pallam Raju.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Mamata's Durontos too fast for passengers
NEW DELHI : The Durontos is turning to be a bit too fast - for passengers and their relatives and friends.
Since its launch, the "fastest trains in India" have been reaching destinations much before time.
Result : travellers have often surprised their relatives and friends with calls from stations, at times two hours before their expected arrival.
"My uncle's family waited over an hour for me at Nizamuddin because the train from Pune reached early," said Cyril N., an MNC executive who lives in Dwarka.
For instance, the twice weekly Duronto from Pune reached Delhi before time all of last month - sometimes at 5.50 am against the scheduled time of 7.10 am.
"Since there are only 'operational stops', the trains do not get delayed anywhere,"aid Anil Saxena, Indian Railways spokesman/
The Durontos also benefit from being rail minister Mamata Banerjee's pet project. Sources say not wanting to invite her wrath, all zones and divisions give the trains the green light on a priority basis - ahead of even Rajdhanis.
Since its launch, the "fastest trains in India" have been reaching destinations much before time.
Result : travellers have often surprised their relatives and friends with calls from stations, at times two hours before their expected arrival.
"My uncle's family waited over an hour for me at Nizamuddin because the train from Pune reached early," said Cyril N., an MNC executive who lives in Dwarka.
For instance, the twice weekly Duronto from Pune reached Delhi before time all of last month - sometimes at 5.50 am against the scheduled time of 7.10 am.
"Since there are only 'operational stops', the trains do not get delayed anywhere,"aid Anil Saxena, Indian Railways spokesman/
The Durontos also benefit from being rail minister Mamata Banerjee's pet project. Sources say not wanting to invite her wrath, all zones and divisions give the trains the green light on a priority basis - ahead of even Rajdhanis.
Madhu is a 'simple human being' like me, says father
JAGANNATHPUR : Far away from the controversy surrounding his son Madhu Koda's alleged involvement in a Rs. 4, 000-crore scam, farmer Rasika Koda, 68, leads a simple life tilling his half -acre land here in southern Jharkhand.
Rasika Koda spoke to Hindustan Times on Tuesday morning while he was having rice and daal ( pulses ), squatting on the floor on his threadbare house in Patahatu, a non-descript village 250 km south of Ranchi.
"Madhu is a simple human being like me. His character is clean," Rasika said as he hurried off to work in his field with wife Kuni Kui, 60.
"My son is paying the price for being one of the most popular chief ministers and tribal leaders the state has ever produced," Rasika said, blaming the Congress for "framing" him in corruption cases.
When Madhu Koda became Chief Minister in September 2006, he invited his father to stay with him in his plush office bungalow but the latter declined. "I feel uncomfortable in the city," he said.
Rasika said his politician-son sneds his parents some money regularly and helped them expand their land to the half acres they now own.
With 25 houses, Patahatu village saw electricity five years ago when Madhu Koda was a cabinet minister in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government headed by Arjun Munda.
Most residentas of the village haven't heard of the controversy in which Madhu Koda finds himself. And they aren't bothered.
"There is no telivision in our village. Newspapers don't come here either as no one subscribes to them," said, B. Hembrom, 40, one of the few women in the village aware of Koda's alleged crimes. She works as a saleswoman at a medicine shop in Jagannathpur town, 7 km from the village.
Muhammad Gulshed, 19, who owns a shop selling mobile phones at Jagannathpur market said, "There must be something wrong at the bottom of it all, else the raids would not have continued for so long." But he quickly added,
"Koda is a nice human being, and if he contests again, we will certainly vote for him."
Rasika Koda spoke to Hindustan Times on Tuesday morning while he was having rice and daal ( pulses ), squatting on the floor on his threadbare house in Patahatu, a non-descript village 250 km south of Ranchi.
"Madhu is a simple human being like me. His character is clean," Rasika said as he hurried off to work in his field with wife Kuni Kui, 60.
"My son is paying the price for being one of the most popular chief ministers and tribal leaders the state has ever produced," Rasika said, blaming the Congress for "framing" him in corruption cases.
When Madhu Koda became Chief Minister in September 2006, he invited his father to stay with him in his plush office bungalow but the latter declined. "I feel uncomfortable in the city," he said.
Rasika said his politician-son sneds his parents some money regularly and helped them expand their land to the half acres they now own.
With 25 houses, Patahatu village saw electricity five years ago when Madhu Koda was a cabinet minister in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government headed by Arjun Munda.
Most residentas of the village haven't heard of the controversy in which Madhu Koda finds himself. And they aren't bothered.
"There is no telivision in our village. Newspapers don't come here either as no one subscribes to them," said, B. Hembrom, 40, one of the few women in the village aware of Koda's alleged crimes. She works as a saleswoman at a medicine shop in Jagannathpur town, 7 km from the village.
Muhammad Gulshed, 19, who owns a shop selling mobile phones at Jagannathpur market said, "There must be something wrong at the bottom of it all, else the raids would not have continued for so long." But he quickly added,
"Koda is a nice human being, and if he contests again, we will certainly vote for him."
German embassy staffer, family robbed
NEW DELHI : A German embassy official and his family were robbed at gunpoint in their Vsant Kunj farmhouse in South Delhi, police said.
The incident was reported around 3 am on Tuesday after four armed men wearing monkey caps barged into the farmhouse, the police said.
" The accused tied up the security guard and locked him up in one of the rooms outside the farmhouse. They entered breaking the windowpanes as there were no iron grills," said H.G.S. Dhaliwal, deputy commissioner of police ( south ).
The incident took place at Silver Oak - a farmhouse allotted to D. Dulce.
At the time of the incident, Dulce was present in the farmhouse with his wife and two small children. One robber held the family at gunpoint while the others ransacked the premises, the police said.
"The robbers stayed at the house for about half an hour. They took away Rs. 25, 000, apart from Jewellery and valuables. They did not harm the family," said the officer.
The official called up the police control room ( PCR ) and a team was rushed to the scene of crime around 3.30 am.
"The accused were carrying country - made firearms and knives,: said the officer.
Police said they have registered a case of robbery at Vasant Kunj and are probing the matter.
The incident was reported around 3 am on Tuesday after four armed men wearing monkey caps barged into the farmhouse, the police said.
" The accused tied up the security guard and locked him up in one of the rooms outside the farmhouse. They entered breaking the windowpanes as there were no iron grills," said H.G.S. Dhaliwal, deputy commissioner of police ( south ).
The incident took place at Silver Oak - a farmhouse allotted to D. Dulce.
At the time of the incident, Dulce was present in the farmhouse with his wife and two small children. One robber held the family at gunpoint while the others ransacked the premises, the police said.
"The robbers stayed at the house for about half an hour. They took away Rs. 25, 000, apart from Jewellery and valuables. They did not harm the family," said the officer.
The official called up the police control room ( PCR ) and a team was rushed to the scene of crime around 3.30 am.
"The accused were carrying country - made firearms and knives,: said the officer.
Police said they have registered a case of robbery at Vasant Kunj and are probing the matter.
Raja hints at lower mobile tariffs
Press Trust of India
New Delhi : Telecom Minister A. Raja on Tuesday indicated that termination charge - a levy paid by an operator to the network on which a phone call ends - can come down further, lowering mobile tariffs.
"I requested the operators, the termination charge can come down by 2010 and accordingly, tariffs can be reduced," the minister told reporters after meeting CEOs of telecom companies here.
He said local call charges could come down to as little as 10 paise a minute and STD tariffs to 25 paise a minute.
" I have also asked them to utilise optimally the USO fund to enhance telecom infrastructure in rural areas. The government is in the process of simplifying the rules for getting funds from the kitty," he said.
The government has over Rs. 16, 000 crore in the Universal Service Obligation fund, a kitty for subsidising rural operations.
He sais increasing rural teledensity was a top priority of the government and that the operators must go to rural India and set up telecom infrastructure there.
The government has set a target of 10 million broadband subscribers in rural areas in the next two years and asked the service providers to make efforts to meet the targets.
Raja has convened a meeting of CEOs of telecom operators, equipment manufacturers and Internet Service Providers ( ISP ).
He is likely to meet the equipment makers on Wednesday and discuss the steps to be taken to strengthen rural infrastructure.
This will be followed by a meeting with the ISPs.
New Delhi : Telecom Minister A. Raja on Tuesday indicated that termination charge - a levy paid by an operator to the network on which a phone call ends - can come down further, lowering mobile tariffs.
"I requested the operators, the termination charge can come down by 2010 and accordingly, tariffs can be reduced," the minister told reporters after meeting CEOs of telecom companies here.
He said local call charges could come down to as little as 10 paise a minute and STD tariffs to 25 paise a minute.
" I have also asked them to utilise optimally the USO fund to enhance telecom infrastructure in rural areas. The government is in the process of simplifying the rules for getting funds from the kitty," he said.
The government has over Rs. 16, 000 crore in the Universal Service Obligation fund, a kitty for subsidising rural operations.
He sais increasing rural teledensity was a top priority of the government and that the operators must go to rural India and set up telecom infrastructure there.
The government has set a target of 10 million broadband subscribers in rural areas in the next two years and asked the service providers to make efforts to meet the targets.
Raja has convened a meeting of CEOs of telecom operators, equipment manufacturers and Internet Service Providers ( ISP ).
He is likely to meet the equipment makers on Wednesday and discuss the steps to be taken to strengthen rural infrastructure.
This will be followed by a meeting with the ISPs.
CEO ARRESTED FOR STEALING BLACKBERRY AT DELHI AIRPORT
Nov 04, 2009
New Delhi : The CEO of a company with the annual turnover of Rs. 1, 100 crore ( Rs 11 billion ) who himself earns around Rs. 63 lakh ( Rs 6.3 million ) a year was arrested at the airport here on monday for allegedly stealing a Rs. 20, 000 BlackBerry.
Sanjay Somany (50), who is also the managing director of Hindustan National Glass and Industries Limited was held by the Central Industrial Security Force ( CISF ) on arrival from Chennai on an Air India flight. The phone was recovered from the aircraft toilet.
Somany was later released on bail. If the charges of theft and retaining stolen propert are proved, he may be looking at up to seven years in jail.
According to CISF officials, N.K Puri, a passenger on Air India's Delhi - Mumbai flight, found his blackberry missing after security check. " Puri had put the phone on a tray/ When he picked his belongings, the phone was missing," a CISF spokesperson who didn't want to be named said.
A CISF personnel had noticed a person in blue pick up the phone and then board Air India's Delhi-Chennai flight."We identified the person with the help of passengers and crew of the Chennai's flight. At Chennai airport, our officials kept an eye on him," the spokesperson said.
Hindustan National Glass vice-president R.L. Khandelia, however, said : " He was never arrested. There was an misunderstanding that was sorted out."
New Delhi : The CEO of a company with the annual turnover of Rs. 1, 100 crore ( Rs 11 billion ) who himself earns around Rs. 63 lakh ( Rs 6.3 million ) a year was arrested at the airport here on monday for allegedly stealing a Rs. 20, 000 BlackBerry.
Sanjay Somany (50), who is also the managing director of Hindustan National Glass and Industries Limited was held by the Central Industrial Security Force ( CISF ) on arrival from Chennai on an Air India flight. The phone was recovered from the aircraft toilet.
Somany was later released on bail. If the charges of theft and retaining stolen propert are proved, he may be looking at up to seven years in jail.
According to CISF officials, N.K Puri, a passenger on Air India's Delhi - Mumbai flight, found his blackberry missing after security check. " Puri had put the phone on a tray/ When he picked his belongings, the phone was missing," a CISF spokesperson who didn't want to be named said.
A CISF personnel had noticed a person in blue pick up the phone and then board Air India's Delhi-Chennai flight."We identified the person with the help of passengers and crew of the Chennai's flight. At Chennai airport, our officials kept an eye on him," the spokesperson said.
Hindustan National Glass vice-president R.L. Khandelia, however, said : " He was never arrested. There was an misunderstanding that was sorted out."
Welcome to Our Blog .................
I am an amateur providing you all that entertaining Delhi news just for fun, and to make my Delhi always updated and smiling.
Thank You
Thank You
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)