Stunt master bludgeons wife with a stone in front of children

Shobha, 34, a working mother of two, was the victim of a brutal murder by her husband in Ganga Nagar.

Shiv Kumar (41), a stunt master for Kannada films used a heavy block of stone to strike his wife in the head, which left her bleeding to death. He killed her for allegedly having an affair.

The only eyewitnesses to Shobha's death are her two young children 14-year-old Hari Vignesh, and 9-year-old Sonia Lady. Both children are expected to testify against their father.

According to Hari, Kumar took his children to his mother's home at around 3 am yesterday, right after the murder.
 

His mother Gauramma, to whom Kumar confessed, spoke to MiD DAY and said, "I am disappointed in my son. He didn't have to kill her. I will tell the court what he has done."

This reporter spoke to Hari who said, "After throwing the stone at my mother, my father took us to our grandmother's house and left us there.
 
I don't know where he's gone. He took his phone and just left us." He added, "I will tell the court what my father did."  Hari and his sister will stay in their grandmother's custody.

Shiv Kumar was arrested later in the day near Nanjappa Circle in Shanti Nagar.
 
Inspector Poovaiah, the investigating officer, said, "We will interrogate him today and take down his confession, after which he will be moved to the Central Jail." 
 

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Paediatricians at pains to explain to jittery parents they must wait a few days more for Serum Institute of India's child-friendly vaccine

Parents in the city are queuing up at paediatricians begging them to vaccinate their children against swine flu since a few children tested positive for the virus recently, but the doctors are asking them to wait a few days more.

The reason is the Serum Institute of India's intra-nasal vaccine that can be administered to children is yet to be introduced in the market.

Schools and rains
With school starting again, parents started pressing the panic button after a couple of children tested positive for the H1N1 virus some days ago. Last year during the monsoon, children passing on the virus at school had been a major cause of swine flu spreading in the city.

The preventive vaccine for H1N1 currently available in the market can be administered only to those above 16 years of age.

The nasal vaccine on its way ” it is expected to hit the market by next month ” can be taken by anyone over three years of age.

"Though I get at least seven to eight queries a day, I have been able to give the vaccine only to three students who were above 16 years of age," said Dr Dilip Sarda, former president of the Indian Medical Association. "Now, that schools have reopened, parents are worried that children may contract swine flu as kids interact with each other at a close range in classrooms. This fear is driving parents to rush to doctors asking for vaccination for their children."

Some parents have even asked doctors to give their children any vaccine for regular influenza, despite knowing that it is ineffective against H1N1, said Dr Sharad Agarkhedkar, head of paediatric department at D Y Patil Medical College.

"Parents have approached me and asked me to give anything that's available," said Agarkhedkar. "But I have asked them to wait for a week, till the nasal vaccine arrives in the market."

Dr Sanjay Bafna, head of paediatric department at the Jehangir Hospital, said that the anxiety among parents was owing to the high number of deaths among children last monsoon.

"With the onset of the monsoon, cases of cough and cold have increased," he said. "In the past few months, people had forgotten about swine flu, but suddenly they have started calling on us again because schools have reopened."
 

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Private taxi drivers and agents outside the airport use everything from fake fare cards and currency notes to sleight of hand to dupe passengers. A MiD DAY expose

The airport cabbies are at it again.

Barely a week since MiD DAY did an expose on private taxi drivers charging Rs 1,000 from the Chhatrapati Shivaji airport to Colaba, another sting operation carried out over the course of the last few days saw MiD DAY's reporters being fleeced using methods that were nothing short of ingenious. Fake fare cards, mysterious technical faults in the vehicles, disappearing currency notes and even fake notes -- you name it, they have it.
Two MiD DAY reporters and two photographers captured these tricks in photographs and on video.

Reporter Bipin Kumar Singh pretended to be a passenger and exited the airport through Terminal 1A yesterday. One of the cab agents approached the reporter and asked him whether he wanted a taxi. When the reporter answered in the affirmative, he was led to a waiting taxi (MH 04 DE 7350).

The agent asked him where he wanted to go and the reporter said Santacruz. "That'll be Rs 900. Pay Rs 500 now," said the agent, showing the reporter a fake fare card as proof.

The reporter promptly took out five Rs 100 notes and handed it over to the agent. The agent counted the money, pocketed three notes through a sleight of hand and told the reporter that he had paid only Rs 200.

When the reporter protested, the cab driver intervened and insisted that the agent was telling the truth and he had indeed paid only Rs 200. The reporter paid the agent another Rs 300 and boarded the taxi, which dropped him to Santacruz.

The driver asked for the remaining Rs 400, and, on getting them, asked the reporter whether he wanted to check into a hotel. The reporter said no, and the cabbie drove away, having charged our reporter
Rs 1,200 for a ride that lasted not more than 20 minutes.

The same reporter was outside Terminal 1B on Monday. An agent in a black shirt asked him where he wanted to go, and he said Saki Naka. The reporter paid Rs 900 for an air-conditioned cab and boarded one with the licence plate number MH 04 CE 8633.

The reporter noticed that there was no air conditioner in the cab after they had travelled for five minutes and pointed out that he had paid for an AC cab. The cab driver promptly turned around and drove him back to the airport.

When the reporter challenged the agent, he arranged for an AC cab. The reporter spoke to the cab driver Radhe Shyam and asked if it wasn't illegal for private taxis to be charging much-higher fares than what was set by the government. The taxi driver, Radhey Shyam, said it was, but added that the agents and the police got their cut from the fare and hence, nobody brought it to the notice of the authorities. "We have to charge so much because at least Rs 200 per trip has to be paid to the agents. The police get their cut too," he said.

When the taxi reached The Leela Kempenski Hotel near the airport, Shyam stopped the cab, saying that there was some problem in the engine and asked the reporter to get off. He said he would send another taxi to take the reporter to his destination but no cabbie turned up. The reporter stood there for more than 45 minutes, having paid Rs 900 without even getting to his destination.

A Vardhajan, an airline passenger from Chennai, had a similar experience. "I landed from Chennai, hired a cab to Pune and was dropped near Kalyan. The cabbie told me there was some technical problem and he would send another cab, which never happened. I even tried contacting the police, but to no avail," he said.

Reporter Ketan Ranga exited Terminal 1B yesterday and an agent approached him. The reporter said he wanted to go to Andheri and the agent, Jagjeet Singh, said the fare was Rs 750. When the reporter said that it seemed too high, out came the fake fare card again.

Left with no choice, the reporter proffered a Rs 500 note as an advance.

The agent took out a wad of notes from his pocket and put the note between them. Moments later, the reporter saw the agent tear another note of the same denomination slightly. He handed the torn note over and asked for another one. The reporter said he had seen the agent tear the note and refused.

When the puzzled reporter narrated the incident to a source-in-the-know, he said that many of these agents keep fake currency notes, which they use to dupe passengers.

On the way to Andheri, this cab driver too told the reporter about agents and policemen getting a cut out of the earnings from charging high fares, which is illegal.
 

(malathi)

Liquor sales touch new high in the national capital

The mercury is rising, prices of public transport have gone through the roof, people are being killed in the name of family honour but it seems that it will take a lot more to dilute the undying spirit of Delhi.

Figures provided by the state excise department serve a proof to corroborate the statement. Liquor sales in the national capital have recorded a stupendous growth of 35 per cent in the first quarter of this year. The sales recorded April-June 2010 are at a whopping Rs 424 crore as compared to Rs 308 crore for the corresponding period last year.

Though price rise is considered an obvious reason for the enhanced revenue but the per month sales figures indicate a direct relationship between the heat and liquor consumption.
"Sales have shot up in the last two months while it was more or less the same in the months of February and March," said an excise department official, requesting anonymity.

Delhi State Industrial Development Corporation (DSIDC), which began the year with a monthly sales figure of Rs 54.98 crore, has recorded a sale of Rs 60.38 crore in the month of May. But the sales dipped heavily in March to Rs 46.24 crore. "It's a fact that people consume more liquor as the temperature goes up during the summers. This year as there was no rain and the mercury broke several records, the consumption of beer and whiskey has gone up drastically," said a DSIDC official.

Though the data related to the kind of liquor, which was consumed the most, is yet to be jotted down officials said sale of whiskey and beer touched an all time high in the capital. "Whiskey is preferred across all sections of the society. The consumption is higher in the lower income group while beer on the other hand is more of an elite product. More than any other alcoholic product, beer sales rise in proportion to the sweltering Delhi heat," the official added.

Prices of the liquor too have gone up last year, adding to the revenues. "Of course the prices have a direct bearing on the increased revenue. But the demand too has gone up mostly in category of whiskey and beer," the official said.

DSIDC have 104 shops in the capital and contributes to 20 per cent of the revenue earned by the excise department.

Delhi Consumer Cooperative Wholesale Stores Limited (DCCWSL), which has a total 84 shops in the capital, recorded sales of Rs 16.20 crore in the month of April while in the month of May the sales dipped to Rs 14.50 crore. "But last year in the month of April we earned only Rs 11.20 crore. May was again a more profitable month with sales of Rs 12.80 crore but this year in the month of May our sales were at Rs 14.50 crore," said a DCCWSL official.

Rs 424 cr Delhi excise department revenues for the first quarter of 2010
Rs 309 cr Revenues for the same period during 2009

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When you celebrated completion of first year in office, last year, dissidence erupted and the Reddys were in the lead. This year, no voice is heard against you. Can we say this is your political achievement?
I don't term that as an achievement. There were some differences and now they are sorted out. I am happy that we could sail through the turbulence.
 
 
CM Yeddyurappa claims to have taken strict action in clearing drains to avoid floods in the city this monsoon.
 Adding to it, Congress, the principal opposition party, is caught in a case of irregularities in utilising flood relief funds.
Everybody knows that the opposition party has flawed. But I want it to be strong because the government can function effectively when opposition parties are strong.  One needs to have integrity and I wish my friends in the opposition understand this.
 
While the Global Investors Meet (GIM) was about to change your 'pro-farmer' image, you chose to announce your night's stay at a farmer's house. Was it not a politically clever move?
No, I never do things with political intentions. Who said that the GIM was an anti-farmer move? Farmers will benefit from the investments we attracted at the meet because most of the industries are coming up in rural areas.
 
Majority of the investment coming through GIM is from the steel industry, and your detractors are terming it as a backdoor entry for mining lords into iron mining.
You are wrong if you are thinking that the GIM will encourage illegal mining because the policy won't encourage ore exports, while it pushes minors to sell the ores to the indigenous steel plants. The central government is taking effective steps in this regard, and they will have our full co-operation.
 
While excise minister Renukacharya wants to extend the deadline on the nightlife in the city, the home minister is striking down the idea. Why the confusion?
There's no confusion whatsoever. The government is not considering the idea of extension, and I have strictly warned the Renukacharya against issuing unilateral statements regarding
the issue.
 
Rajeev Chandrashekar's move to build a military memorial in the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park is bringing a bad name to the government.
It is the government's decision to build a military memorial and he is assisting the government in the project.
 
Now that monsoon has started. How will the government avoid  another Abhishek?

We are witnessing flash floods in the city due to drains and lake encroachment. We have taken strict action to clear them, and I hope another incident like that will not be repeated.
 

(malathi)

Proves Delhi's Babus with rampant abuse of acs

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Bureaucrats, who walk the power corridors in New Delhi, are no strangers to the might of the pen they wield on the nib of which lies the destiny of several crore taxpayers.

Illegal? About 80 per cent of the total ACs in use by govt babus are
illegal, an RTI has revealed. Some of them at Shastri Bhawan

And therefore, they must have thought they were entitled to realise their hard work's worth in the form of benefits only their seniors are allowed.

So while you were sweating it out in the torrid Delhi heat with power discoms shedding load every now and then, the babus in the department of revenue, ministry of power, ministry of petroleum and ministry of human resource development were chilling out with 682 air-conditioners installed at their offices.

Unlawful
Interestingly, more than 545 out of these are running in contravention of the rules set by the Directorate of Estate, ministry of urban development. The department is responsible for the administration and management of the office buildings of various government departments.
According to the rules, officers only of the rank of joint secretary and above are entitled to get an air-conditioned office. Most of these offices are situated in the North Block, Shram Shakti Bhawan and Shastri Bhawan.
The order by the Directorate of Estates was later amended in view of the computerisation of various departments, with the officials demanding air-conditioners to maintain digital devices.

Exceptions
"The department concerned may send a proposal for provision of air conditioning which could be considered subject to availability of funds and certification by CPWD. It is however important to note that any proposal needs to be examined carefully in the context of the power shortages and the CPWD needs to ensure that adequate power supply is available before air-conditioning facility is provided in an office," the amended order by the Directorate of Estates said.
Response to right to application pleas to the department of revenue, ministry of power, ministry of petroleum and ministry of human resource development revealed that they had 243, 95, 114, and 238 air-conditioners on their premises, respectively.

The plea exposed how various government departments were rampantly abusing the provision of air-conditioning in offices belonging to junior officers.
Repeated attempts to reach CPWD officials for a response went in vain. However, sources in the central public property administrator stated that it has already been overburdened with the power demand.
Bridge the gap

"The gap between supply and demand of power is widening by the day. The power load from these department is too much," said a CPWD officer, requesting anonymity.
However, the accused ministries and departments have rejected the charges, saying air-conditioners have been installed at the offices only after the approval of concerned senior officers.
 

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Railway, police negligence and transport strike contributed to Kurla accident victim losing his life, say eyewitnesses

Besides causing inconvenience to an embittered public already battling the rains, the taxi and auto strike yesterday played a prominent part in a senior citizen losing his life.

 
Heartless city: The 70-yr-old was injured while crossing the tracks. As there was no ambulance available the railway porters left him outside the station
 
According to railway officials, Ahmed Ali Khan (70) was crossing the tracks at Kurla station at 11.05 am yesterday when he was struck down by a CST-bound local leaving platform no 5. Eyewitnesses said the railway staff took 10-15 minutes in getting a stretcher for Khan as he lay injured on the tracks. They then took him outside the station and waited by the roadside for the police to get transport for him to be admitted to a hospital. This, despite a High Court order in 2004 as well as last year asking the railways to make ambulances available outside each major station.

Police officers from a nearby chowky reached the spot within five minutes but left Khan bleeding profusely at the roadside for nearly 20 minutes as they could not find a cab or an auto to take him to the station.

Drivers afraid
"His stretcher was kept by the roadside and he was losing a lot of blood. The police had three or four jeeps stationed there, but did not use them and searched for an auto or taxi instead. Nobody agreed as they feared being assaulted by their fellow drivers for violating the strike," said an eyewitness.

Finally, more than 45 minutes after Khan's accident, a taxi driver agreed to go to Sion Hospital after a cop threatened to take action against him. Khan was admitted to the hospital at 12.30 pm and succumbed to his injuries a few hours later.

 
HELP IN VAIN: Imran Khan, the taxi driver who took the victim, Ahmed Ali Khan, to the Sion Hospital. PIC/KAZIM SHAIKH
 
"I was not ready to take the person to the hospital as we were warned against venturing out on the road during the strike. But, seeing the victim's condition and due to police pressure, I took the bleeding man to Sion Hospital. The cops were giving me the fare, but I refused," said Imran Khan, the taxi driver who took the victim to the hospital.

'We will inquire'
The railway police confirmed the accident and said they had registered a case of accidental death. When Central Railway PRO, Srinivas Mudgerikar, was informed about the incident, he said, "During an accident, we try our best to take the person to the hospital as soon as possible and the railways foots the bill for the transport.

In serious cases, we either inform the nearby police station or the ambulance agencies working on contract with us. If there was any negligence and the person was left on the road without trying to take him to the hospital, we will look into it and conduct an enquiry."

On the ambulance not being available at the station, he said, "We have ambulances only at CST and Kalyan stations."
 

(malathi)

The union home ministry has asked President Pratibha Patil's office to reject parliament attack convict Afzal Guru's mercy plea, informed sources said.

Guru is on the death row since 2002 for the 2001 parliament attack. His wife Tabassum filed a mercy petition with the Rashtrapati Bhavan four years ago.

The sources said the mercy petition was sent to the home ministry for its view and it returned the file last week, rejecting the plea because of the heinous nature of the crime.

With the home ministry recommending that the plea be rejected, it is now up to the president to take a call on the fate of Guru, exercising her powers under Article 72 of the constitution.
 

(malathi)

The union home ministry has asked President Pratibha Patil's office to reject parliament attack convict Afzal Guru's mercy plea, informed sources said.

Guru is on the death row since 2002 for the 2001 parliament attack. His wife Tabassum filed a mercy petition with the Rashtrapati Bhavan four years ago.

The sources said the mercy petition was sent to the home ministry for its view and it returned the file last week, rejecting the plea because of the heinous nature of the crime.

With the home ministry recommending that the plea be rejected, it is now up to the president to take a call on the fate of Guru, exercising her powers under Article 72 of the constitution.
 

(malathi)

Wazirpur Gujjar clan says the shooters avenged the insult to their 'culture'

The civil society has hit the streets against it. The highest court of the land has censured it.
Yet Khaps are alive and kicking, both literally and figuratively. Forget about the badlands of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, the Delhi chapter of the age-old panchayats have come forward in support of the murders of Kuldeep and Monika by the latter's brothers at Ashok Vihar in northwest Delhi.

The couple was found murdered, both shot in the head, on Sunday night. When MiD DAY reached Monika's house in Wazirpur in north Delhi, the elders of the Gujjar community, to which Monika belonged, justified her brutal killing.

"Why should we regret? They (Kuldeep and Monika) got what they deserved. They broke the age-old traditions of our community. They caused immense embarrassment to us," said Ravinder Naagar, a village elder at Wazirpur.

When this correspondent tried to take out his camera, they warned him of dire consequences. They also refused water to the journalists who went to meet Monika's family members.

"Their mistake stripped Monika's family of their honour. We cannot allow our girls to marry with boys of other castes," said another villager, refusing to be named.

Kuldeep, who belonged to the Rajput community, had married Monika in 2006.

Monika's brothers Mandeep and Ankit had shot Monika in her Ashok Vihar flat while they gunned down Kuldeep in his esteem car, on Sunday night. Both Mandeep and Ankit are absconding. The role of the third accused, identified as Nikku, is also under the scanner. The police have detained seven family members of Monika who were let off after questioning.

YET ANOTHER KILLED FOR HONOUR 
Even as the police was investigating the double murders of Kuldeep, 26, and Monika, 23, another body was found in a Santro car (No. DL 8C L 2006) from Ashok Vihar, H-Block on Tuesday morning. As the body had started decomposing and was found near Kuldeep's residence, the police got suspicious. They called Monika's brother Sandeep Singh Naagar for identification of the body. Sandeep told the police that it was Shobha, 20, a cousin of Monika and sister of her killer Mandeep.
"Shoba's family told us that she had gone with Mandeep on Sunday evening to locate the address of their sister Khushbu who had also married a boy from other case, Ravi. Shobha had eloped with a Muslim boy, a year ago. But she returned home," said NS Bundela, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North West).
"We are on the heels of Ankit and Mandeep and raiding their possible hideouts. There is a possibility that all three murders occurred on Sunday night. We have announced reward on the heads of the accused," Bundela added. 
Two more sisters of Mandeep had married boys of other castes and the police have assured safety of their lives. "We cannot disclose their identity and location, as they may also be targeted," the DCP said.
According to the police, Ankit had taken the Santro car from Kuldeep's cousin Rahul in which Shobha's dead body was found and Mandeep borrowed an I 10 car (No. Dl8CS 3600) from his friend Manavendra Sharma on Sunday before committing the murders. The I10 car is still missing.

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