New Delhi, Dec 31 (UNI) Despite having all kinds of latest and most advanced facilities, criminals still find it easy to dodge the police and take liberty to commit crime at will in the national capital.
In view of the upcoming Commonwealth Games in October next year, several new police stations, increased police personnel, latest weapons, vehicles and other security equipment were added in the paraphernalia of the Delhi Police.
However, it seems that the criminals are running ahead of the police as the crime rate has increased this year in comparison to last year.
The most problematic among all the criminals were auto-lifters as more than 27,000 cases of motor theft were recorded during the year, which, according to the police, was 25 per cent higher than 2008 and constitutes about 15 per cent of total crimes committed in Delhi.
A senior police official told UNI, ''Motor Vehicle theft is the biggest crime in the capital that the police have been dealing with. We have found a significant increase in such cases this year.''
The Delhi Police also took several steps to reduce the motor theft cases like sending out letters to vehicle owners requesting them to install security gadgets in their vehicles.
To help them further, the police would also provide them the contact numbers of dealers of such devices in their area.
''Police alone can not prevent vehicle thefts as there are a huge number of vehicles in the city. People have to invest some money in this,'' Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal had said in a press conference held earlier this year.
In addition to the motor vehicle thefts, crimes committed by biker gangs also remained a major concern for the Delhi Police.
Incidents related to such crimes were reported from all parts of the National Capital, mainly South Extension, Saket, Madangiri, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Sangam Vihar, Dwarka, Dabri, Punjabi Bagh, Rajouri Garden, Ashok Vihar, Maurya Enclave, Keshavpuram, Rani Bagh, New Delhi, Seelampur, Bhajanpura, Shakarpur and Mandawali.
These gangs were involved in snatching and robbery as, according to the police, around 14,000 calls received till November 30 were only about snatching by biker gangs.
Out of 14,000, around 800 cases were recorded, which was lower than last year that saw 870 cases.
On an average, the biker gangs struck twice every day and have killed four people so far this year.
The officials informed that a special training programme was introduced at Chawla training camp this year to train all the new recruits in handling the biker gangs.
Likewise, the Delhi Police also started a motorcycle verification campaign. Within five months of its initiation, around three lakh motorcycles were verified. The official noted that due to verification, many criminals were also identified resulting in solving of many cases.
Referring to the heinous and non-heinous crimes committed in the city this year, a senior police official said there was a significant rise in such cases. Total number of cases of heinous crime reported till November 30 was 1278, as compared to last year's 518, while non-heinous crime were 43,414 as against last year's 38,765.
As there were claims made by the police about the reduction in crime figures, many argue that police do not register FIRs to present a rosy picture.
Earlier this year, a sort of debate was started in media about the registration of FIRs and many people expressed their concerns over it.
Police have also devised other ways to show a downward trend in the crime graph as it has started treating the crime of loot under section 382 of IPC which deals with theft cases instead of heinous crimes.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Don't help Soren becoming CM, appeals Shashi Nath Jha's family
New Delhi, Dec 26: Family and friends of Shashi Nath Jha, slain PA of Shibu Soren, here today appealed to political parties not to help him reaching the helm.
Expressing concern about their security, the family of Shashi Nath Jha told mediapersons, at a conference, that his position in power would hamper the path of justice and it was not good for the society, state and country.
''If he becomes Chief Minister then the Governor would be asked for the permission to arrest him which, we fear, will never come our way,'' Jha's friend Mukesh Baba said.
Jha's family and Mr Baba had filed a petition in the Supreme Court which the latter accepted. As Mr Soren has failed to submit his reply within stipulated time the court has fixed the date for hearing on March 8, 2010.
On Mr Soren being given a clean chit by the Jharkhand High Court on August 22, 2007, Jha's brother Vijay Nath Jha said, ''It took several years for the High Court to come to the decision. Ignoring all the witnesses and proofs, the Judge set him free without even providing any reason or basis for the judgement.''
On the issue of political parties supporting Mr Soren after the recent elections in Jharkhand, Mr Baba said, ''He is a murder accused and had been absconding from law earlier. If he becomes the CM, what image would it create? There is a question mark on the stability of the government also as there is a hearing in the case after three months only.''
He also expressed wonder on how the BJP leadership was behaving after the elections. ''Many senior leaders in the BJP were earlier openly calling Mr Soren a murderer but now they are defining him as clean,'' Mr Baba asserted.
He appealed to the Election Commission to stop such criminals and tainted people from contesting elections. ''If it will not be stopped a crop of such politicians will grow and affect the democracy,'' he stated. When quizzed about the threat to their lives, Mr Jha said, ''We have written to all the authorities about providing security to us but to no avail. We got no reply.''
''The Supreme Court is our last hope for justice,'' he said with tears in his eyes.
Shashi Nath Jha's daughter, Preeti Jha, also requested the Prime Minister to give justice to her father.
''I have no other demand. Just give us justice,'' she said.
''If the government can not give us justice at least hand over the remains of Shashi Nath Jha so that his last rites could be performed.'' Mr Baba requested.
Links:
http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-19224.html
http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20091226/1413029.html
Give some 'happiness' to war widows: Sudesh Singh
By Amit Chaudhary
''Armymen sacrifice their lives fighting for us but it is unfortunate that their families live miserably after their death or retirement,'' Ms Singh said, who lost her husband after a long and painful battle with cancer in 1979.
Remembering her suffering after the death of her husband, she said, the families of Defence personnel should be taken care of properly by the government and providing ''shelter and security'' is the foremost responsibility of the government.
Ms Singh started social work when she was in her teens only, though she began working for widows and their families in 1974, who were left abandonned by the government. She said she could identify herself with them.
In 1975, she arranged the re-marriage of 47 war widows of different castes and creeds in Chandigarh, where she had set up her base after the death her husband Major General Gurbaksh Singh, a gallant soldier who was awarded Padma Shree, Distinguished Service Order(DSO) and Order of British Empire(OBE) for his services during Second World War.
However, she had to shift to Shimla in Himachal Pradesh from Chandigarh in 1980s due to security reasons.
Though, the Bharat Gaurav awardee Ms Singh believes that only getting them re-married is not enough as they should be properly rehabilitated. ''We talked to some universities to reserve some seats for the widows so that they can get quality education,'' She elaborated.
Due to her constant and sincere efforts, Himachal Pradesh University and Jammu and Kashmir government have both reserved seats in various courses.
Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had hugely commended her efforts and she was made a member of All India Congress Committee(AICC).
When she shifted to Shimla, she was appointed as the Chairperson of Himachal Pradesh Handloom Board. She claimed to have worked quite efficiently while holding the post but she was removed from the post after the change in government and, more painfully, she was considered an ''outsider'' even after working so earnestly for the welfare of the people of that region.
She now feels broken, tired and aloof. Indifferent behaviour of politicians towards her and hatred of other widows towards her. She said, ''The people who have power only look for two things, money and easy availability. We are not easily available to anyone. I will not stoop low or succumb to any pressure. Being a soldier’s wife, I consider myself a soldier.'' During the talk, she got nostalgic and recalled the time when her father was killed by the invaders in Muzaffarabad (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) after partition and she along with her mother and two sibblings spent life in captivity. It was much later that the family was rescued, due to the efforts of late Sarojini Naidu.
Considering the difficulties Ms Sudesh G B Singh has faced in her life, she is an appropriate example of strength and bravery, who has always kept her pace ahead of life despite endless adversities.
She has spent over four decades in the service of people and considers herself a very rich person, not in worldly goods, but in spirits.
She was the first lady commander of the women’s wing of Home Guard and Civil Defence in New Delhi. She is also largely associated with the promotion of cultural activities. She is also the president of International Punjabi Society, which is another feather in her cap.
She also visited Afghanistan as a representative of World Health Organisation(WHO) to propagate family planning and help them to discard Purdha (veil) System. She was also invited by the Return Services League(RSL) of Australia as a goodwill ambassador. Her work was much appreciated by the Indian Government.
Ms Singh regretted the fact that while other countries like Australia, England, Korea and Japan have given her so much of respect and recognition, but in her own country she always felt ignored.
Ms Singh lamented that despite her dedication to the cause of war widows, ex-servicemen and her family's ''sacrifices'' for the nation, she got nothing in return not even ''respect'' a martyr’s wife should get. ''Politicians pay only lip service to us but do nothing for our welfare,'' she bemoaned.
''To make your voice heard you should have someone, who have faced the difficulties and understand your pain, to speak for you but there is no one who can raise voice for us in the Parliament,'' Ms Singh said.
She also advocated the need of creating a separate cell for the welfare of war widows headed by a person who understand the needs and sufferings of widows.
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Sanjay Suri's heart bleeds for Kashmir
New Delhi, Dec 27 (UNI) Emphasising that ''GenNext'' needs to connect with the cause of Kashmiri Hindus, Bollywood actor Sanjay Suri today said his generation might be the last whose ''heart bleeds'' for Kashmir.
Speaking at the Panun Kashmir Foundation Convention here, Suri, who himself is a Kashmiri Hindu, said, ''If next generations do not learn about our culture, our history, our belongings and connect with the cause, there will not be anyone to raise voice for us and I am afraid that the cause will die.''
He appealed to all the Kashmiri Hindus to educate their children and make them aware of their culture and that they belong to Kashmir.
''Once we are broken, we will never be able to go back to where we belong to,'' Mr Suri warned.
Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan G Parthasarthy was also present among the distinguished guests at the Convention.
Amid apprehensions about worsening situation in Kashmir, Mr Parthasarthy said, ''India is not a fragile state. We have shown a lot of resilience in face of terrorism.''
''Once we are broken, we will never be able to go back to where we belong to,'' Mr Suri warned.
Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan G Parthasarthy was also present among the distinguished guests at the Convention.
Amid apprehensions about worsening situation in Kashmir, Mr Parthasarthy said, ''India is not a fragile state. We have shown a lot of resilience in face of terrorism.''
He stated, ''Kashmir is not a cause of our problem with Pakistan but a symptom of our problem with the neighbour.''
Saying that Army, as an institution, is very dominant in Pakistan which throws a difficult challenge to India, he opined that India needs to develop its internal structure so strong which can deal with any challenge and the leadership should think on the lines of giving fitting diplomatic reply to the enemy.
Commenting on the presence of strong separatists in the Kashmir Valley, Mr Parthasarthy said, ''I do not believe in buying peace with the appeasement of separatism.''
Commenting on the presence of strong separatists in the Kashmir Valley, Mr Parthasarthy said, ''I do not believe in buying peace with the appeasement of separatism.''
Supporting the cause of Panun Kashmir, the veteran diplomat advised, ''Never ever give up and keep educating succeeding generation about the heritage of Kashmiri Hindus.''
Internet is a great medium to make your voice heard and you people can keep your movement alive through websites, he added.
Links:
Kashmir times : http://www.dailykashmirimages.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17134:my-news&catid=1:news
Sheila ''misleading'' people, alleges Khandelwal
New Delhi, Dec 27 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister's statement that one per cent increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) would have no impact on common man did not go down well with Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal, who today called it ''misleading''.
Talking to UNI, Mr Khandelwal said, ''The statement of the Chief Minister was misleading as all the commodities on which VAT has been increased are of common man's use.'' Ms Dikshit made the statement in an interview with a news agency.
The VAT was recently increased by one per cent on 176 heads by the Sheila government in Delhi.
Mr Khandelwal stated that the increase in VAT would increase in the prices of raw material, finished goods, plants and machineries subsequently increasing the base price by five per cent.
He informed that the government had to increase the tax rate to compensate the loss incurred due to expected phasing out of Central Sales Tax (CST) in September but it did not happen.
''So logically VAT should not have been increased as CST did not phase out,'' Mr Khandelwal argued.
''The government has betrayed not only the people but also the other states as it was agreed that no state will increase the rates of VAT,'' he alleged.
It is against the agreed principles of 21-point convergence signed by all the states, he added.
Demanding the roll back of hike in VAT rates, Mr Khandelwal said it was ''illogical'' as Goods and Services Tax (GST), a uniform tax applicable on all the states, would be levied from next financial year.
Talking to UNI, Mr Khandelwal said, ''The statement of the Chief Minister was misleading as all the commodities on which VAT has been increased are of common man's use.'' Ms Dikshit made the statement in an interview with a news agency.
The VAT was recently increased by one per cent on 176 heads by the Sheila government in Delhi.
Mr Khandelwal stated that the increase in VAT would increase in the prices of raw material, finished goods, plants and machineries subsequently increasing the base price by five per cent.
He informed that the government had to increase the tax rate to compensate the loss incurred due to expected phasing out of Central Sales Tax (CST) in September but it did not happen.
''So logically VAT should not have been increased as CST did not phase out,'' Mr Khandelwal argued.
''The government has betrayed not only the people but also the other states as it was agreed that no state will increase the rates of VAT,'' he alleged.
It is against the agreed principles of 21-point convergence signed by all the states, he added.
Demanding the roll back of hike in VAT rates, Mr Khandelwal said it was ''illogical'' as Goods and Services Tax (GST), a uniform tax applicable on all the states, would be levied from next financial year.
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Saturday, December 12, 2009
Fair, ambitious, legally binding treaty to save planet: CSCC
The Climate Satyagraha Camp coalition (CSCC), a group of several big NGOs like Greepeace, Oxfam India and WWF as its members, today organised a rally from Rajghat to Parliament street here and a signature campaign to press for a ''fair, ambitious and legally binding treaty to avert catastrophic climate change.''
Archbishop of Delhi Vincent Concesseo while flagging off the six km rally said, ''The time for everyone to act is now - especially the leadership.''
Saying that people are not going to accept anything short of a real deal as an outcome of the Copenhagen talks, Climate Satyagraha Camp coalition Spokesperson Ajay Mahajan, while talking to UNI, said developed countries are responsible for the grave situation the world is facing today so ''the onus is on them to lead the world out of this crisis.''
He said, ''The people in western countries living completely a wasteful life. The way they live, it will need many earths to sustain their lifestyle.'' They go around in big cars, travel so much in planes and use much more resources than they are required to lead life, he added.
''In America, for example, there is no rail network to commute between two cities. They travel by plane even if they have to go to a neighbouring state. They are so much dependent on oil and it is pretty obvious why they are so much after oil fields,'' Mr Mahajan said.
The campaign was organised in 14 cities across the country. Around 30 thousand people including civil society groups, artists, and youngsters from schools and colleges signed and wrote their message on the 700 metre long banner unfurled by the CSCC, which they called 'Fabric of Hope' on the Global Day of Action.
The banner will become part of the ''sign a real deal'' wall at the Climate Satyagraha Camp at the Constitution Club from December 13 onwards.
''In America, for example, there is no rail network to commute between two cities. They travel by plane even if they have to go to a neighbouring state. They are so much dependent on oil and it is pretty obvious why they are so much after oil fields,'' Mr Mahajan said.
The campaign was organised in 14 cities across the country. Around 30 thousand people including civil society groups, artists, and youngsters from schools and colleges signed and wrote their message on the 700 metre long banner unfurled by the CSCC, which they called 'Fabric of Hope' on the Global Day of Action.
The banner will become part of the ''sign a real deal'' wall at the Climate Satyagraha Camp at the Constitution Club from December 13 onwards.
Global Climate Campaign member Naveen Mishra said, ''Millions of people in India are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Our monsoons are being hit, and so are our glaciers receding rapidly. We cannot squander this opportunity to avert runaway climate change. Our message to the 120-odd Heads of State who would arrive next week in Copenhagen is loud and clear: The time to change the future is now.''
Advising that India should change its attitude towards climate issues Mr Mahajan asserted that rather than 'adapting' from western countries it should make its own efforts to 'mitigate' the effects of carbon emission on the environment.
When asked if he wanted to extend any message on behalf of the coalition to the leaders meeting in Copenhagen Mr Mahajan said, ''No business as usual while our climate and planet is in peril. The deal should be about people and nature and not about emission, omission and commission.''
When asked if he wanted to extend any message on behalf of the coalition to the leaders meeting in Copenhagen Mr Mahajan said, ''No business as usual while our climate and planet is in peril. The deal should be about people and nature and not about emission, omission and commission.''
''They should not get lost in jargons, denials, lies and unnecessary arguments. Reality of climate change should not lose behind these arguments and jargons,'' he added.
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