3 held for Sukhdev Vihar murder

With the arrest of Raj Kumar, alias Bhima, 21, kingpin of the Bhima gang, and his two associates, the police claimed to have solved the murder of an 80-year-old man, who was stabbed to death at Sukhdev Vihar of southeast Delhi on November 3.

According to Ajay Chaudhary, deputy commissioner of police (South-East), the motive behind the crime was robbery.

"Bhima's other associates are still at large," said Chaudhary.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/nov/241108-News-Delhi-Sukhdev-Vihar-murder-3-held-Raj-Kumar-kingpin-Bhima-gang.htm

PAPPU WON'T VOTE

Pappu has packed his bags to venture out on some exciting outdoor activities this weekend. He won't vote. The mindset that polling day is a big holiday still prevails, despite an extensive campaign involving parodies and Hindi songs to improve voter turnout. Even Bollywood seems to have failed to woo voters this polling season.

With Delhi Assembly elections to be held on November 29, a Saturday, Delhiites are getting two holidays in a row.

The phones of travel agencies haven't stopped ringing for bookings for the weekend. Most want to head out to nearby hill stations.

According to a travel agent, an increase of 30-40 per cent has been noticed in the bookings for November 28, 29 and 30.

RP Jain from Panicker's Travel at Karol Bagh said, "We have witnessed a sharp rise in bookings, especially by youngsters, for this weekend. Most of them have already booked cabs. The favourite destination is Kullu Manali. However Jaipur, Shimla, Haridwar, Agra and Mussoorie are hot too."

He said more people are calling up to enquire about the latest weekend travel packages.

Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Lajpat Nagar, is planning to leave for Mussoorie on November 28, a day before the polling day. "Two holidays in a row will help me take my family out without hampering my work. Hill stations make for rejuvenating holidays and this is the best season," Kumar said.

Harsh Vardhan, an HR manager with a leading retail chain, said, "Many employees have taken leave on November 28 just to make full use of the long weekend holiday."

However, there are people who are planning holidays but only after casting their votes. Binit Mishra, an employee with a financial company, said, "Voting is our fundamental right. The government has announced a public holiday for us to exercise this right. I have plans to visit Jaipur. We have already booked a cab for the purpose but I'll definitely vote."

With Delhi Assembly elections to be held on November 29, Delhiites are getting two holidays in a row

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/nov/241108-News-Delhi-Delhiites-bags-packed-outdoor-Manali-Shimla.htm

India's golden oldies will fly again

NDIA'S golden warplanes are set to roar out of their retirement.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will again fly its finest old warhorses like Spitfire and Ajeet along with its current fighters MiG and Sukhoi to showcase past triumphs.

The old planes would be ready to fly before the Air Force Day celebrations next October, said Air Force sources. These planes will also be on static display at the Aero India show in Bengaluru in February. The force has decided to revive the Hurricane, Wapiti, Spitfire, Ajeet, HF-24 Marut, Tigermoth and Hunter fighter aircraft from its old inventory.

The IAF is talking to their original manufacturers for servicing arrangements.

"These aircraft were once the pride of the force. We want this generation to know about their history and glory," confirmed a senior Western Air Command officer on Sunday night.

The Spitfire, for instance, was a trailblazer in World War II, and was used in India's wars against Pakistan. Hunter was the most recent one to be phased out. In the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the plane destroyed more than 100 Pakistani vehicles and strategic targets, including Mangla Dam and Sui Gas plant.

The plan is to have one old plane in each squadron at air shows and other important events. The project will commence in phases. Two planes will be serviced in each phase.

"People can have a look at these vintage planes at the Air Force museum, Palam Air Station. We are planning to organise static displays in other events to increase awareness," said the officer.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/nov/241108-News-Delhi-golden-oldies-India-warplanes-retirement-Indian-Air-Force.htm

Metro disaster was averted by a whisker

On November 10, a train on the wrong track near Central Secretariat station rushed headlong towards another coming from the opposite direction. When they braked to a halt, the trains were breathing on each other merely 2-3 metres apart. A driver, two other officials suspended

WHAT could have been one of the country's worst transport disasters was averted by a whisker at Delhi's sparkling new lifeline the Metro rail.

Around 1 pm on November 10, an operator drove a train on to the wrong track between Central Secretariat and Patel Chowk Metro stations. The train, after de-boarding passengers at the terminating point, Central Secretariat, took the wrong track on its way back towards Vishwavidyalaya, said a senior official of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), requesting anonymity.

And sure enough, a train was coming headlong towards it at 60-70 km per hour.

If the trains had not screeched to a halt barely 2-3 metres apart, hundreds of lives would have been lost, the Rs 30-crore-apiece trains would have been seriously mangled, the signaling system would have collapsed, and the city's eight lakh Metro commuters would have had a traumatic day returning home.

Besides, it would have taken weeks to get the tunnel, signals and electrical system back in shape.

he DMRC spokesperson refused to comment. Raj Kumar, director (operations), DMRC, did not respond to MiD DAY's calls on his cell phone and residence number and did not reply to text messages.

However, MiD DAY has learnt the erring driver, a traffic controller and a station official have been suspended. A high-level Metro rail committee is investigating the mishap-that-wasn't.

"There was a change in instructions for trains from that day," said the official who spoke asking not to be named. "There must have been a communication gap between the driver and the control room." Earlier, the trains, after de-boarding passengers, would start their return journey on the track straight from the platform.

But from that day, they were supposed to move to the siding a temporary parking space for trains before starting the return journey.

Also, on his return journey towards Vishwavidyalaya, the driver had mysteriously crossed on to the same tracks that he had taken to arrive at Central Secretariat.

What exactly transpired is likely to be clear only when the inquiry committee submits its report.

Where were the auto brakes?
One of the crucial angles the inquiry committee is investigating is why the automatic brakes of the train on the wrong track had failed.
"Probably its safety switches were off and it did not stop at a 30-metre distance from the other train on the same track, a point when the automatic brakes are supposed to come alive," said a DMRC official, requesting anonymity.
The train on the wrong track kept running till the drivers slammed the manual brakes when they were barely 10 metres away from each other.

Track record
Nov, 2008 Accident averted barely an hour after a person was run over by a train at Janakpuri station on the Indraprastha-Dwarka line.
July, 2008 A collision was avoided at Rithala station after the signals failed.
Aug, 2006 A Metro engineer died and another was hurt on the Shahdara-Rithala line when a train hit them while they were repairing track cables.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/nov/241108-News-Delhi-whisker-trian-mishap-Metro-disaster-Central-Secretariat-station-metro.htm

Fake gun for real bank robbery in Noida

Armed with a toy gun and a knife, two robbers barged into a Noida bank and fled with Rs 5 lakh on Thursday.

In the incident, which unfolded like a scene in a bollywood potboiler, two unidentified people aged around 30 arrived at the Canara Bank brach located in Sector 63.

Ironically, even the security guard at the branch Krishna Veer Singh a retired 19 Jaat Regiment soldier, could not identify the fake gun.

According to the police, the robbers came on a bike. One of them pointed the fake gun at the guard while the other directly went to the cashier Mukesh Gupta, who was then busy arranging currency notes. Both the culprits had their helmets on so that nobody could identify them.

On August 27, we had warned the bank manager to appoint an armed guard but they didn't listen to us," said the Noida SSP, R K Chaturvedi. However, a bank official alleged that the Noida police was not issuing an arms license despite repeated requests.

There was no CCTV in the bank leave alone other electronic safety gadgets. The robbers threw the fake revolver and the dagger near the bank before escaping.

"We have lifted fingerprints of the culprits from the cash counter" said Chaturvedi.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/sep/120908-Canara-bank-robbery-Rs-5-lakhs.htm

Fighting graft the SMS way

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is getting around 1,000 calls each day in response to its recently launched SMS campaign against corruption.

Though most of the calls are of frivolous nature but the officers say overall the large number of calls shows active participation by the people in the drive against corruption.

Call me

The agency has provided mobile and land line numbers where people can register their

complaints.

CBI director Ashwani Kumar, calling it a positive use of technology to bring down the corruption cases, said, "Awareness among the public is the best possible way to fight corruption in government offices and now a days almost everyone carries a mobile.

"It is a speedy as well as people friendly measure to tackle the issue," he added.

Awareness drive

The SMS is part of a public awareness campaign launched by the CBI to bring down the cases of bribing and corruption in government offices in National Capital Region (NCR).

"At times it is really difficult to answer each and every call but we are committed for the success of this campaign and we appreciate the people who are calling us," said a senior CBI officer.

Tie-up

"We have tied up with the mobile services providers and the SMS is being sent to almost every mobile. We want to make the people aware that CBI is ready to take up the genuine cases and they can approach us," said a CBI officer.

Successful

The campaign was first launched in Mumbai around six months back and as per records available with the premier investigating agency it was able to register several genuine cases. "So far we have received tremendous success and we are planning to extend this campaign to other states under different CBI zones," said the officer.

Frivolous calls

But on the flip side the agency is quite baffled with the frivolous complaints and the incidents where people are calling with malicious intention only to settle scores.

"A huge number of calls are from the people who want to complain about the bad behaviour of their neighbour or getting fined by the traffic cops. We need people to come forward with serious complaints so that we can plan and set trap to catch the guilty," said the officer.

Free of cost

So far no time limit has been set for the plan and the mobile companies are also providing the service free of cost.

"The basic purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness among the people and we want to make them understand that CBI is there to take up their rightful case," said the agency.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/sep/120908-CBI-sms-drive-corruption-huge-response.htm

Cell thieves beware!

You may not have to seek the help of cops to track your lost mobile if it has a simple software installed in it.

Interestingly, the software does not only track your phone but also help you retrieve your lost data.

The software Micro Mobile Controller System has been developed by Micro Technologies and it can be downloaded from the website www.microlmts.net at an annual subscription of Rs 499 only.

The software helps in remotely managing your mobile handset with the help of an add on recipient mobile number.

Mukund Gupta, COO, Micro Technologies said, "The Micro Mobile Controller will make managing and securing mobile phones easier. It provides an extraordinary backup facility of the data in your mobile. Micro Mobile Controller discourage mobile theft."

The software creates a backup of all contact details and registered owners can retrieve or delete the contact details, share data through MMS and SMS with the add-on user's mobile. It is also clubbed with basic security features of tracking the SIM card of the lost/stolen phone by the location of the nearest cell tower.

How it works

As soon as you download the software in your mobile a hidden icon is saved in the handset. At the time of downloading the softward, it will ask you to provide two add on mobile numbers.

When your mobile goes missing and a new SIM card is inserted into it, an automatic message would be sent to the add on numbers informing about the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, SIM card number and mobile tower location.

Retrieving info

The unique feature of the softwared enblaes the user to delete or retrieve the data stored in the lost mobile. For this the user can make use of the two add on numbers and not just that once the data is saved at an alternative location, the same can be deleted from the lost mobile without even the new user coming to know about it.

Tracking the phone

Micro Mobile Controller System keeps track of the new user by giving details of all the calls received and made by the phone along with details of the nearest network tower.

Backup data

The user gets an ID and password at the time of registration, which can be used to create a web account where one can create a backup of all the personal details stored in the phone like contacts and audio/video files.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/sep/120908-mobile-software-cell-thieves.htm

Ansals behind bars

Eleven years after they were accused of criminal negligence in one of the most protracted legal battles the Uphaar tragedy case real estate barons Gopal and Sushil Ansal finally went behind the bars.

The two brothers managed to evade the prison all these years but their bail plea was cancelled by the Supreme Court on Wednesday after the apex court observed: "Tampering with court records is a serious offence, worse than murder and dacoity.

"Elated victims

The words have given new strength to the Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) with its chief Neelam Krishnamoorthy saying, "Finally the fight which we started a decade ago reached its conclusion. We are really happy."

The Ansal brothers entered the Patiala House Courts in the afternoon when the time given to them to surrender was about to expire. They surrendered before additional session judge (ASJ) I K Kochar who sent them to 14-days judicial custody.

Two managers of the theatre, Ajit Chaudhary and Nirmal Singh Chopra, were also sent to judicial custody. The accused were taken into the custody by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) immediately on the conclusion of the surrender formality.

Free birds

In last 11 years the two main accused managed to stay out of the jail for almost the entire period. Though Sushil served a 40-day prison term, his younger brother Gopal has managed to stay out. Though no family member of the Ansals was present, families of the victims were in the court premises since morning and were looking apprently pleased.

Convicted

The Ansal brothers, who remained out on bail during the trial in the 11-year-old case, were sentenced to two years jail term on November 23, last year, after being convicted under a milder penal section 304A (causing death by rash and negligent acts) of the IPC.

The tragedy

At least 59 people, including 22 children, were killed and over 100 injured in the fire in Uphaar cinema hall during the screening of J P Dutta's multi-starrer Border.

The victims choked to death when a short circuit caused the blaze. The people in the balcony stood no chance. Exit routes had been blocked to squeeze in a few extra seats. The Ansals were sentenced to two years in prison but were later granted bail.

Missing link

It was immediately challenged by the families of victims, who said the sentence was a joke.

The evidence that the Ansals are accused of destroying documents that prove they were involved in the day-to-day running of the theatre was a concerted attempt to distance themselves from the tragedy.

The documents were filed in court but went missing almost five years ago.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/sep/120908-Ansals-behind-bars-Uphaar-tragedy.htm

Wah! Its a dog's life anyway

By: Bhawna Gandhi Date: 2008-07-18

IF Rajesh Bhatt of Palam Vihar, Gurgaon has his way, 'man's best friends' will have a plush resort to themselves by September for spending vacations while their masters are away on tours or holidays, upgrade their skills by way of expert training and enjoy all the luxuries of a five-star 'chhutti' being pampered like privileged guests.

Bhatt's love for dogs inspired him to turn his farmhouse into a resort for dogs, which would provide boarding facility for pets, whose owners want to leave on vacation or go abroad.

Training & comfort

"There are many resorts for humans all over the globe. Now it's the time for a change," Bhatt says on why he wants to turn his farm house into a dog house.

The farmhouse presently houses a day boarding facility for dogs, which are also given basic obedience training. With 18 dog trainers and seven dog walkers in his team catering to guests from all over Delhi and NCR, Bhatt feels that there is scope for more.

"People come with complaints that their dogs have grown irritable. One reason for that can be less exercise. A dog not only wants food to eat but at the same time it is very important to take him for regular walks. Generally pets are not allowed in parks and other public places so people bring them to my farm house," says Bhatt.

Rajesh turned his childhood love for pets into a career and now after 22 years of hard work and dedication he has been able to carve a niche for himself, providing special facilities for dogs and customized training to them and their owners.

Boarding facility at the farmhouse can cost from Rs 200 to 500 per day depending on the facilities asked for, including food charges. A/C rooms are also available for those dogs that live in similar environment and dormitory rooms are also available.

"We have beds in our boarding house for those pets that are in a habit of sleeping on bed," a dog trainer Parvesh kumar said. Rajesh also adopts stray dogs. Rajesh's institution also imparts dog training and dog walking facilities.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/jul/180708dnews2.htm

Dikshit angry with metro

By: MiD DAY Correspondent Date: 2008-07-18

Water seepage, improper lighting, non-cleanliness and awful infrastructure at Delhi Metro stations made Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit 'unhappy' on Thursday morning who undertook a surprise visit of Metro stations.

A Delhi government spokesman said, the chief minister received general complaints through e-mails and letters from commuters.

She was accompanied by the chief secretary Rakesh Mehta, her principal secretary PK Tripathi and commissioner, transport RK Verma visited the Metro network at central secretariat.

The spokesman said, "She was satisfied with maintenance of the coaches. Signages was also in perfect position. However, she noticed deterioration in cleanliness," adding that she was concerned over the seepage at Rajiv Chowk station.

The CM instructed the DMRC to take all possible measures to ensure cleanliness and better service. Recently, a monitoring committee comprising of the MCD, DMRC and the Delhi police has also been constituted to oversee maintenance outside the stations.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/jul/180708dnews7.htm