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November 5, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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Wife arrested for setting paralytic hubby on
fire New Delhi, November 4 Ms Snehlata was arrested today after sustained interrogation by the police. Her hand was suspected in the murder from the very first day. She broke down and confessed to her involvement in the case during interrogation, the police said. In her confession, the deceased’s wife admitted to having set him on fire as she and all her relatives were fed up with his disability. She claimed that every day was a torture with her ailing husband. A day before the murder she hid some old blankets and bed sheets, along with a six-litre tin of kerosene, in the bushes near the Pontoon Bridge. She explained to anxious onlookers that she was preparing for a havan. On the fateful day, she took her husband to the pre-determined spot and set him on fire after dousing him in kerosene. According to the police, Dr R.K. Gupta, who was a reputed physician, was burnt to death in highly mysterious circumstances near Pontoon Bridge on October 24. He received 100 per cent burns and died on the spot. He had gone to Pontoon Bridge for an evening walk along with his wife. During initial investigation Mrs Gupta told the police that some local boys were disturbing them. While she was trying to ward off the boys her husband got burnt. The police initially perceived it to be a case of accidental death. But they noticed several inconsistencies in Ms Gupta’s statement and registered a case of murder and that of tampering with evidence. The mystery deepened following the statement of an eyewitness, who was collecting cow dung in the area. He told the police that Mrs Gupta kept asking him to leave the place. But 15 minutes later, she approached him for help as ``her husband was on fire.’’ When he went to her husband’s assistance, she apparently told him to fetch some water. By the time he brought water, Dr Gupta was dead. The police recovered a matchbox , a candle and a perfume bottle, which was used to burn Dr Gupta. |
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The day Robert Vadra played ball with Rahul
Gandhi New Delhi, November 4 As Rahul and Robert quietly descended on the venue along with Jaipal Reddy, shortly after the match had started, there were pleasant smiles all around. Rahul, who played for the media team, bowled with a lot of gusto to his brother-in-law. But not all deliveries were coming straight as the junior Gandhi was playing cricket after a decade. ``I last played cricket ten years ago,'' Rahul confessed to his team-mates while fielding. While others preferred to cool down during the drinks interval, Rahul and Robert seized the opportunity to practice with each other. Robert came one-down for the 10,Janpath team which mostly comprised securitymen who guard the residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi - all members of the elite Special Protection Group (SPG). The agility and reflexes of the SPG men were evident as they battered the bowlers, one after the other. Though the media fielding was lackadaisical, they managed to run out Robert. It was too late, however, as the 10-Janpath team led by S V Pillai cruised to the required target with six overs to spare and eight wickets in hand. Rahul, who is working in the US, arrived in India a few days back and is scheduled to return shortly. Dressed in cargo trousers and a T-shirt, he snatched time in between the overs to amble along to the SPG guards and inquire about their well-being. Eagle-eyed Robert concentrated on batting, watchful and defensive, trying to stay put for as long as possible. To the few TV cameramen, who managed to get a whiff of the discreet guests, Rahul had a word of advice when they came too close during the drinks interval. ``Do not distract me while I am bowling. You can shoot later as much as you want.'' Whether he was batting, bowling or fielding, Rahul seemed to be making the best of every second he was on the field. He might not have been able to play the game in the ten years he has been outside India, but it is surely as much a part of him as it is of the millions who are wanting India to outdo the Proteas in the first test match at Bloomfontien. |
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Treasure trove awaits art
buffs New Delhi, November 4 Priceless works of contemporary Indian artists, rare metallic crafts, sculptures, clocks, paneling, filigree, photographs and prints, inspired by both the oriental and the occidental strands of thought, will come under the auctioneer’s hammer here tomorrow under the aegis of Bowrings Fine Art Auctioneers. Bidders will seek to acquire the creations of celebrated Indian artists Jamini Roy, Ganesh Pyne, Satish Chandra Sinha, Abdur Rehman Chughtai and Ravi Varma among others as Bowrings resurrects the glory of the past. The auction at the Oberoi will have Jamini Roy’s ‘Mother and child’ competing with Hemendranath Mazumdar’s ‘Memory’. An Ebonised Bracket clock by Bennet, circa 1820s, will come under the auctioneer’s hammer; so will a Renaissance-style Claret jug from 1901. Included in the painting’s section of the grand event are Ganesh Pyne’s `The Head,’ Badri Nath Arya’s `Lanka Dahan,’ Shyamal Dutta Ray’s `Singer and Archibald,’ Herman Muller’s `Shivaji and Afzal Khan.’ Also included is a group of paintings by Sardar Ganda Thakur Singh and an important painting by M F Hussain from his `Kali’ series. Bowrings is India’s first full service auction house and will also undertake valuations for sale, insurance or probate as well as give advice on restoration, preservation and security. |
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Defiant Dalits go
ahead New Delhi, November 4 The `diksha’ ceremony organised by the All-India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations was held at Ambedkar Bhawan. The police had withdrawn its earlier permission allowing the conversion rally on the Ram Leela Ground, fearing that it would lead to a law and order problem. The organisers were forced to shift the venue at the last moment. The conversion took place amid chanting of hymns in Pali by Buddha Priya Rahul. The organisers said the ‘diksha’ ceremony was held in different parts of Delhi, Ghaziabad and on the Delhi-Haryana border. “More than one lakh person have embraced Buddhism and have come out of the rigid caste system of Hinduism,” the organisers claimed. The president of the Confederation, Mr Ram Raj, embraced Buddhism along with other members of his family. The Buddhist monk gave him a new identity, Udit Raj. The Joint Commissioner of Police, Mr Ajay Chaddha, said elaborate arrangements were made to prevent the congregation at Ambedkar Bhawan from marching towards the Ram Leela Ground. Addressing the gathering, Mr Ram Raj described the moment as a “historic one as thousands have decided to renounce the centuries-old Brahminical system”. “We have finally been liberated from the clutches of the caste system,” he said. “Although I am overwhelmed by the presence of a large number of Dalits, thousands of my supporters have been detained at various entry points to the city,” he alleged. “Buses carrying people from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab have been stopped by the police and some persons have been taken into custody,” he charged. |
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MTNL union
secretary has assets worth Rs 1 cr New Delhi, November 4 The premier investigating agency has booked Singh in a second consecutive corruption case. He was arrested along with another person on October 22 in connection with the ‘uniform scam’ case. Singh had joined the MTNL in 1978 as a Lower Division Clerk. At present, he is posted as the Section Supervisor in the office of the General Manager (North) of the MTNL here. The seized documents revealed that Singh possessed assets, including 10 acres of land in Behrod on the Delhi-Jaipur road, estimated to be worth Rs 12 lakh, horticulture business and cottages set up on the said land worth Rs 24 lakh and investments to the tune of Rs 50 lakh in Mother Khajani Devi School. The total worth of the seized property is estimated to be Rs 1.03 crore. |
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Fair weather for fair
sex New Delhi, November 4 Replete in the fashionable DKNY’s (Donna Karen New York), or the desi Bal or Beri, young women are seen squatting next to the mehndi wallas patiently waiting for the nimble hands to decorate their delicate ones. And mind you these decorated hands don’t come cheap. During festivals like Teej, Diwali and Karva Chauth the cost of having one hand decorated with henna is between Rs 100-150. “It is not every day that you get chance to wear henna, festivals are special occasions and little bit of indulgence is not unjustified”, says Lata, a 30-something school teacher who had to shell out 200 bucks after a wait of two hours to have her hands decorated. Newly married brides sporting Levi’s and the traditional churras are a common sight. “I feel comfortable in western attire, but I don’t want to miss out on the traditional part as well,” chirped Riya. On festivals like this one sees even the not-so-young enjoying a wee-bit. “When we were young, we had to follow the instructions of the elders, especially our mother-in-law. Now that I am free from that kind of a setup, it is time I did my own thing. My husband and children take the back seat and for once I think of just me,” said Mrs. Kumar whose shopping binge had left her poorer by a “few thousands”. Even in temples that wear a festive look, the deities are often dressed in new and colourful attire, and idols of goddesses in particular are decorated with choicest “sringar”. Nail polishes, lipsticks and sindoor are to name just a few. For the fair sex it is almost a Second Coming. Right from Mother Nature, whose benevolence is exhibited in its pleasant and serene temper, to our today’s woman who knows how to make the most of what is offered to her. |
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In search for alternative modes of transport New Delhi, November 4 It is singularly non-polluting and definitely easy on the ears. Have manpower, will travel is all that is needed. Another means of locomotion that is competing for attention are the electric driven vehicles. They are making a statement of their own. At Chandni Chowk, the experiment with three-wheeled auto-rickshaws is proving the point while at the Taj in Agra, four-wheeled electravans are becoming an essential part of the landscape. The judicial intervention, upholding the right to livelihood has come as an incentive for those advocating the greater use of them. Another contributory factors are inner-city logjams of vehicles. Over the years, the cycle-rickshaw has already demonstrated its efficacy in the subtle decongesion that has been going on within the Walled City. Aware of the connectivity through the crowded “qatras” and galis, the rickshaw pullers can easily maneuvers their cycle-rickshaw through the narrow bylanes connecting major commercial and residential segments. The commissioning of the Metro rail and the beautification drive at the Old Delhi Railway Station should also become the occasion for designating a legitimate place for the cycle-rickshaw and the nascent electric-powered vehicle. The Delhi High Court, in a recent order on a petition filed by the Cycle-Rickshaw Operators Unions, had directed that a committee, comprising the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic)and the Additional Commissioner (Headquarters), Municipal Corporation of Delhi(MCD), to identify additional stands and halting points for the 99,000 cycle rickshaws. However, current practices in the MCD and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) leaves much to be desired. In the MCD area, cycle rickshaws are seized by the authorities and often retained for 15 days after which they are sent to dumps where they are junked. In the NDMC area, any cycle rickshaw caught within its zone are seized by contractor, and dumped under the Safdarjung flyover to be crushed and sold as scrap. Most of the seizures take place on roads leading to the Kalavati Children’s Hospital and the Lady Harding Hospital. Unfortunately, there are no other means of transportation through the narrow by-lanes to reach the hospitals. After a directive from the Prime Minister, it has been decided to end licensing and the practice of destroying cycle-rickshaws. Instead, there will be “zoning,” where registered cycle-rikshaw will be allowed to ply. This could become a means for a massive decongestion programme while at the same time, ensuring control of vehicular emission and noise pollution. As a means of livelihood too, the cycle-rickshaw provides the rickshaw pullers a livelihood somewhat higher than the minimum wages prescribed by the Labour Department of the National Capital Territory.(NCR) No wonder, the Prime Minister has shown keen interest in this mode of transportation whose social purpose is obvious. Electric traction, on the other hand, is also proving to be an efficacious (and non-polluting) means of transportation within crowded localities. Under the assistance programmes of the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources through the city-level Delhi Energy Development Agency (DEDA), three-wheeled auto-rickshaw has been plying on an experimental basis between the Red Fort and Fatehpuri in Chandni Chowk. The vehicle has proved popular. Together with the cycle-rickshaw, it has demonstrated a viable alternative system of transportation. Around the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Electravan produced by the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd(BHEL) fulfills the need for a non-polluting, noise-free means of ferrying tourists to the historic monument. There are five producers of battery-powered vehicles in India and they are serviced by scores of producers of ancillary equipment like gears, controllers and power-pack for electric-driven vehicles. They have formed an association and have approached the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources and the Ministry of Finance that excise duty be eliminated or reduced to half from the present 16 per cent; import duty on mechanical items either be eliminated or reduced to 5 per cent(from 30-40 per cent); low-interest loans through the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA); and income tax benefits to purchasers of electric vehicles. (Cecil Victor is a free-lance journalist) |
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SHOWCASE New Delhi, November 4 Designer suits A leading name in the readymade suit market globally, Givo has launched its winter collection with the introduction of European designer suits for the first time in the country. These exquisite and exclusive designer suits are ideal for club wear, partywear, leisure wear and are geared towards comfort, style and feel. They are designed to make the wearer stand out and spell a fashion statement for himself. The suits are in different cuts and have designs like single breast zip opening shirt collar, four button front yoke shirt collar, five buttons front yoke two-inseam pocket shirt collar. The suits are made from fully mechanised Italian machines from finely crafted and handpicked Italian polynosic fabric.
Fruit basket The Home Store has introduced a golden beaded fruit basket. The basket stands on a curved body and also has a stand and two wheels. Priced at Rs 399, the basket gives the look of a caravan.
Leather sofas Angelo has offered discount in its range of leather sofas up to 30 per cent during the festival season. A five- seater Angelo leather sofa is priced between Rs 65,000 and Rs 70,000. The complete range of the branded furniture will be on display in an exhibition at GK Residency for three days from November 9.
Basmati rice Daawat, the premium Basmati rice, has launched 2-kg festival packs for the current season. The festival pack is priced at Rs 128 and available in easy-to-carry nitrogen flushed corrugated box packaging. Daawat has recently appointed culinary expert Jiggs Kalra as its brand ambassador. The company undertakes stringent ISO 9002 and HACCP quality checks.
Food hampers Fast food major Nirula’s has introduced handcrafted assortments and hampers for the current festival season which are available at all Nirula’s pastry shops from November 4. The festive offer also includes gift baskets, assorted chocolates, chocolate truffle balls pack, sweet candy mix, condiment gift hamper, chocolate brownies, walnut cake, fruit cake. The customers can also select from a range of cakes, chocolates, cookies and confectionery, which are available at 12 pastry shops of the fast food chain.
Men’s store Men’s garments products manufacturer, Kapish Products Limited, has opened its new showroom under the Cantabil brand, which was inaugurated by model Divya Khosla. This is the seventh Cantabil exclusive men’s store in Delhi. Cantabil is an Italian brand, manufactured and marketed in India by Cantabil International Private Limited. The Cantabil leisurewear range is being launched all over the country as a premium men’swear brand. The range of products include men’s trousers, shirts and ties made of fabrics such as polynosics, chinos, wrinkle- free silk denim, poplins, twills, etc.
Anti-UV glasses Thukral Optics Private Limited, a Delhi-based optical equipment manufacturing company, has launched ARC+, a next- generation anti-radiation coated (ARC) lenses. The lenses are sold under the brand name, St Martin. The glasses protect the eyes from being affected by the ultraviolet light.
Kodak Holidays Photo-equipment manufacturing major, Kodak, has launched a free holiday scheme for its customers. Under the scheme, the purchasers of Kodak KB 10 cameras could win a free holiday for a family of four every year for 50 consecutive years in India and abroad. The promotion will be run nationally across India and will be supported by print and television advertising. The scheme, which was started on October 1 this year, will remain open till December 31 this year. Consumers can buy the KB 10 camera costing Rs 995 and send in the contest coupon printed on the pack to the address mentioned. The contest comprises five questions of which four have be answered correctly. An independent panel of judges will then conduct a lucky draw from the entries received and select the winners.
Dream kitchen India’s leading dishwasher brand, Vim Bar, has announced a new scheme, the “ Ek Kitchen Ho Sapno Ka” offer, during the festival season. The scheme offers the opportunity to win Vim dream kitchens worth Rs 2 lakh each or Prestige kitchen sets & Prestige kitchen appliances or a 25 per cent discount on all Prestige products. Under the scheme, inside every wrapper will be an icon of the gift to be won, which ranges from the mega-prize of a dream kitchen to 25 per cent off on Prestige products. The offer is valid till November 15. |
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Cops deny harassing
Pak official New Delhi, November 4 The Delhi Police detained Mr Gulam Shabbir Khan on November 1 for receiving secret documents from civilian staff posted at Naval Headquarters here. Mr Khan was receiving these documents from an assistant in the Directorate of Marine Engineering at Naval Headquarters. “We detained all of them but when Gulam identified himself as a staffer of the Pakistani High Commission we handed him over him to the Ministry of External Affairs for further action as he enjoyed diplomatic immunity”, said police sources. In fact, a senior police official denied the Pakistani authorities claim that Gulam had gone to the Old Delhi area for purchasing grocery and said he was detained in East Delhi. Pakistani officials had yesterday alleged that one of their staffers was detained and harassed by the Indian authorities. |
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Congrats, kudos NCR Tribune Thank you readers! Ever since the launch of The NCR Tribune, we have been overwhelmed by the response from our readers and well-wishers. We carried some of the letters we have received so far on the OPED page of the main edition on October 31, 2001. We are carrying the second batch of the letters today as an expression of our gratitude. For the people, from the region Sir, It is a matter of joy that The Tribune, Chandigarh has launched its National Capital Region edition from Delhi. I am sure that apart from catering to the demand of Punjabis in Delhi, the NCR edition will also be of great interest to people from this region who go to Delhi on short or extended visits. I congratulate you and the rest of The Tribune family on this commendable initiative.
Mr D S Jaspal
All success I wish you every success in your expanded efforts. With all good wishes, Mr Gurbachan Singh, Happy for NCR I was happy to learn about the launch of your new National Capital Region edition from Delhi. I send you my good wishes for all success in the new venture. With regards. J. F. Rebeiro
(IPS) Carve a niche Please accept my heartiest congratulations on the launch of the National Capital Region edition of The Tribune from Delhi. I am sure this 121-year-old daily will carve a niche for itself in Delhi also. With regards. Ashok
Tandon, Balanced daily I am profoundly happy that you’ve launched The NCR Tribune from the Capital. It has been my privilege to be associated with The Tribune `institution’ for more than four decades as a reader and as a contributor. It has a distinct identity in the region and reflects at the same time the national feelings — obviously an identity of a balanced daily. While the present-day journalism is engaged in the pursuit of the ‘hot’ and so-called ‘investigative’ material, The Tribune provides us maturity and wisdom as it did in the day of your predecessors. Mr Hari Jai Singh, you’ve taken long and effective strides in maintaining the cherished standard. I am reminded of an incident in 1977. When some papers were gaining popularity by projecting the anti-Congress phenomenon, Mr J M Sharma wrote to me that it was just a temporary phase and that people would return to the wisdom of The Tribune when they are clearly settled. And he proved correct. Wish you all success with all my profound regards. Dr Mohindar Pal
Kohli, For right info Thank you very much for launching the National Capital Region edition from Delhi. After having served the nation for 120 years, I hope it will provide the right information to the Capital in addition to the other states. I must congratulate you for this important event, and I know it is at your initiative that this decision is taken by your Trust. With best wishes and kind regards, Virendar M
Trehan, India’s window I am glad to know that The Tribune is bringing out a Delhi edition. It is a tribute to your leadership. I am told that The Tribune is the one paper that is being read in Pakistan. If that is so, it is certainly doing a great service for us. Regards, K.F.
Rustamji, Good for Delhi I am very glad to know that you have launched your National Capital Region edition of your paper from Delhi. Needless to say that The NCR Tribune will be a grand success in New Delhi, it will also contribute its thought provoking and independent views to the readers of the region. Once again, I offer you my best personal wishes on this happy occasion. With personal regards, Roshan
Wadhera, Well-edited paper The Tribune is a complete newspaper. It is a credit to keep the flame burning all these years — a century and a quarter. The Trust deserves congratulations for taking the cause of journalism uninterrupted amidst all odds and adverse situations. It shows your indefatigable courage, strong determination and single-minded devotion. It has stood the test of time. Ever since I came to Ferozepur, I have been going through your paper with keen interest. I have become a fan of your newspaper and will miss it after I go back to Jamshedpur. I have long been associated with JRD Tata Steel and browsed through various newspapers. The Tribune has got a special place in my heart. I take this opportunity to extend my heartiest congratulations to you, which you really deserve for taking out a well-edited newspaper, for bringing out an edition from Delhi. The coverage is wide and balanced, the editorial frank and thought provoking and the articles are analytical and factual. With the best compliments, B. B. ‘Akul’ A Tribune fan I would like to congratulate the Tribune Trust for bringing out the New Delhi edition of their paper. I belong to the fading generation who grew up with The
Tribune and is still addicted to it. I am delighted to read the introductory write-up, A Matter of Trust, by Mr Hari Jai Singh which succinctly chronicled the history of The Tribune from its inception and its unique position among the country’s print media. That the paper has grown from strength to strength over a century is indeed a matter of pride for every
Punjabi. I vividly recall my student days when I began reading The Tribune more for improving my English and enhancing my vocabulary than for any news or editorial comments. My earliest memory of the news items which attracted my attention were the Quetta earthquake in May 1935 and Shahid Ganj episode in Lahore later in the same year. The editorial chair of The Tribune has been occupied by many distinguished and noted personalities in the field of journalism like Kalinath Ray, J. Natarajan and Prem Bhatia. For over sixty years, I have kept my bond with The Tribune even during my diplomatic service abroad. A little over 10 years ago, when I started working on my first book, Lahore - A Sentimental Journey, The Tribune provided me with important source material. Going through the microfilms of The Tribune issues of 1930s and ’40s in the India Office Library, London was a delightful experience. In fact, the reproduction of contemporary advertisements in my book was a novelty highly appreciated by the readers and acclaimed by the media. I wish all success and popularity for the new edition of The Tribune. Pran Nevile |
Cops thwart
dacoity New Delhi, November 4 All five had planned to assemble near Dada Bari Jain Mandir in the Mehrauli area. Acting on a tip -off, the police immediately rushed to the spot and arrested Ashish Kaul, alias Anshu (26), a resident of Garhwali Colony, Mehrauli, Naresh, alias Raja Kaushik (24), also from Garhwali Colony, and Manoj Kumar, alias Bihari (28), a resident of Nat Colony in Mehrauli. Three countrymade firearms along with 10 live cartridges were seized from their possession. The interrogation revealed the accused was planning to commit a dacoity at a petrol station on the Andheria Mod in Mehrauli. The Mehrauli police has registered a case. A manhunt is on to nab the other two who fled from the spot. Fatal accident: A Maruti car near Jia Sarai reportedly hit a 45-year- old labourer on Outer Ring Road on Saturday night. The victim was identified as Ramesh, a resident of Shahpur Jat. Ramesh was immediately rushed to AIIMS where he died on Sunday morning. The victim was a house painter. The accident occurred when Ramesh after finishing his job was reportedly waiting for an autorickshaw in Jia Sarai to go back home. Hauz Khas police have registered a case of causing death due to rash and negligent driving and are investigating the case. |
Business
powwow on IMT campus New Delhi, November 4 Titled Synergies 2001 Series, the series will be attended by academicians and leaders from the corporate world. IMT Director Sharat Kumar said there had been a strong response to the initiative from corporate managers and people were keen to discuss issues in the backdrop of the current context. Many leading personalities and corporate leaders have confirmed participation in the round-table discussions. The IMT boasts of a strong visiting faculty and has been visited by leading names in the corporate world, including Mr Mukesh Ambani, Mr Sunil Mittal, Dr Vinay Bharat Ram, Mr P. M. Sinha, Mr Palani Kumar and Mr R. J. Masilamani. The institute has also introduced a graduate school contest and a compact disc on the recent human resource development meet. |
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Initially billed as an AICC versus media match, there was no indication of the duo coming for the game even as the journalists kept quizzing AICC media department secretary Tom Vaddaken - who organised the match - about the likely composition of the team playing against them. The few journalists who reached the stadium this morning, despite the humid conditions, were expecting to see some senior Congress leaders like Natwar Singh, Oscar Fernandes and Ambika Soni in pads. 
Batting for the media team which was captained by Javed M Ansari, Rahul played some delightful strokes. He was finally caught trying to hit a boundary. The media team scored 141 in their allotted 25 overs.
