The Tribune – Haryana buses refuse to enter Delhi; chaos rules at entry points

Geetanjali Gayatri, Tribune news service

Chandigarh, June 15. Misery poured upon thousands of commuters travelling by state-run Haryana Roadways buses to Delhi here today, as the service came to a grinding halt at entry points to the National Capital.

No roadways bus plied beyond the four main entry points to Delhi – Kundli (Sonepat), Badarpur (Faridabad), Tikri (Sirsa) and Siroli (Jaipur) – in response to a token strike call by employees against the alleged “high-handedness” of the Delhi Police and “indiscriminate challaning”.

As harried commuters were left to fend for themselves at these entry points to the National Capital, private bus operators and auto-rickshaws did brisk business. Roadways’ buses of 24 depots and 13 sub-depots lined up along the roadside and at vacant plots on either side of the roads as a “show of strength” before heading back to their respective depots.

Chaos ruled at all entry points as there was a scramble among passengers, forced to alight at the borders, to find a connecting mode of conveyance to take them to Delhi. In Faridabad and Gurgaon, a huge rush was witnessed at Metro stations as commuters, turned away by the roadways, made a beeline for these stations.

The Joint Action Committee of the Haryana Roadways Workers’ Union pegged the loss at Rs 50 lakh and patted itself on the back for its “success”. Its president, Sarbat Punia, maintained that this was the beginning of a long-drawn fight against “injustice” at the hands of the Delhi Police.

“We will gherao the Director General, Transport, on June 28. We not only want the issue of challaning to be resolved with the Delhi Police but also want the department to pay up for the ‘unjust’ challans issued to the drivers. They earn about Rs 10,000 on an average.

If the Delhi Police issues four challan tickets worth Rs 3,000, they end up paying from their pockets. These challans are taking place only because we resist free travel by Delhi cops in our buses,” another leader, Dalbir Nehra, said.

The Department, concerned about the “avoidable” harassment to the 50,000- commuters who use Roadways buses to take them to and from Delhi in the over 1,000 trips, said the protest by the employees sullied the image of the Roadways.

Officials of the Transport Department and the Police Department maintained that at a meeting with the Delhi Police yesterday, it had already been decided that the challaning would be video-graphed while the Delhi Police even agreed to give 10-odd “no challan” days to the Haryana Roadways employees to enable them to comply with various rules.

Director-General, Transport, Arun Kumar, had yesterday, appealed to the union to call off the protest in the interest of commuters as talks were underway with the Delhi Police to address their grievances.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130616/main4.htm

The Tribune – Work begins on ’84 riots memorial in Delhi

Syed Ali Ahmed, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 12. Sikh head priests Balwant Singh Nandgarh of Damdama Sahib, Gurbachan Singh of Akal Takhat Sahib and Tarlochan Singh of Kesgarh Sahib laid the foundation stone of the 1984 Sikh Genocide Memorial inside the Rakab Ganj Sahib gurdwara complex here today.

Iqbal Singh of Patna Sahib and Kulwant Singh of Hazur Sahib were also scheduled to be present there, but they could not make it. The foundation was laid on the gurdwara premises despite Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa’s statement to the contrary yesterday.

The memorial site is located just outside Lucky Shah Vanjara Hall.

The memorial plaque mentions that the foundation stone was laid by Giani Gurbachan Singh, Giani Tarlochan Singh, Giani Balwant Singh, Giani Iqbal Singh and Giani Kulwant Singh in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, DSGMC president Manjit Singh (GK), general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa, senior vice-president Ravinder Singh Khurana, junior vice-president Tanwant Singh and joint secretary Harmeet Singh Kalka.

BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj and Vijay Goel were also present on the occasion. An “ardas” and “kirtan” preceded the stone-laying ceremony, but the gathering on the occasion was not much.

Those often seen holding protests seeking justice for 1984 riot victims on different occasions in the past were also not present on the gurdwara premises today.

Sukhbir Singh Badal told the media that the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had not given justice to the victims of 1984 riots in which thousands of Sikhs were murdered. “Instead of punishing the culprits, the Congress is protecting them,” he said.

This is a memorial to those who were killed in the 1984 riots and would be completed in a year, he said.

When asked if the foundation stone was laid in violation of law, he said, “Was the killing of Sikhs not a violation of the law?”

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130613/main3.htm

The Tribune – Memorial for riot hit at Rakabganj Sahib

Syed Ali Ahmed, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 22. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) today decided to construct a memorial for the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims on the premises of Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib.

The DSGMC president, Manjit Singh (GK), said a committee consisting of architects and Sikh historians would decide the shape of the memorial.

About 14,000 Sikhs are believed to have been killed during the 1984 riots, about 4,000 in Delhi alone. The government puts the casuality figure in Delhi at 2,733.

“As the victims have not been given justice, we decided to raise a building in their memory. Last year we had decided to construct the memorial at a park in Punjabi Bagh. But this was opposed by the government,’ Manjit Singh said. Asked about government permission, he said this was not required.

The SAD in charge of Delhi affairs, Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, said the memorial would be for all those who believed in justice.

General secretary of the DSGMC Manjinder Singh Sirsa said a resolution to construct the memorial was passed by the General House, with three members against it and five in its favour.

A senior member of the DSGMC, Avtar Singh Hit, said: “We will raise the memorial at any cost.”

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130523/punjab.htm#12

The Tribune – Riot victims disrupt rail services in state; In Delhi, angry protesters scuffle with police; several SAD leaders injured

Kuldip Bhatia & Ashok Kaura

Ludhiana, May 5. More than 12 trains running on the Amritsar-New Delhi and Jammu-New Delhi sections were delayed by hours owing to the “rail roko” protest by 1984 riots victims here today.

They were protesting against the acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a riots case.The victims, including a large number of women, squatted on the rail track near the Jagraon bridge in the morning. They raised slogans against the Congress-led UPA Government and the judiciary and brandished swords and sticks.

Owing to heavy police deployment and adroit handling of the situation by senior police and Railway officials, the protesters were prevented from reaching the local railway station.

More than a dozen main route trains, including Shane-Punjab, Shatabdi Express, Jalandhar-New Delhi Intercity, Amritsar-New Delhi Intercity, Amritsar-Chandigarh Intercity, Chhattisgarh Express, Malwa Express, Garib Rath, Sachkhand Express, Pashchim Express and Amritsar-Haridwar Janshatabdi were delayed, some for five hours.

Phagwara: Riot victims and activists of the Sikh students Federation , demanding action against Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar disrupted rail movement at various sections.

Amritsar mail, Andaman express and a goods train were stopped near Ludhiana, New Delhi-bound Shatabdi Express at the Phagwara railway station , Garib Rath Express at the Phillaur railway station, Amritsar-Chandigarh Superfast Express at the Jalandhar railway station, Nanded Sahib-bound Sachkhand Express at the Beas railway station and Ravi Express at the Batala railway station during the protest.

Railway Sources said the trains were stopped by the authorities only at main railway stations to prevent harassment to commuters. Activists of the Janta Jal Sewa Samiti, Phagwara, led by Vipin Khurana and former Nagar Council president Malkiat Singh Ragbotra served sweet water to stranded passengers.

New Delhi: A scuffle broke out between Sikh protesters and the Delhi Police while the former were on their way to the Prime Minister’s residence to submit a memorandum seeking Sajjan Kumar’s speedy trial in the High Court.

Sajjan Kumar was last week acquitted by a Karkardooma court in a 1984 riots case. At least 90 protestors were arrested and seven members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), including Manjinder Singh Sirsa, SAD’s general secretary, president of Youth Akali Dal, Kuldeep Singh Bhogal, and Onkar Singh Thapar, received minor injuries. At least nine policemen were injured too. While the protesters claimed that the police had
hit them with lathis, the Delhi Police denied the same.

“We wanted to submit a memorandum in support of Nirpreet Kaur and others on fast at Janat Mantar. We proceeded towards the PM’s house but were stopped and hit with lathis even though the march was peaceful. Three of our members suffered injuries and were hospitalised,” said Manjit Singh GK, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president. He said he and his colleague Avtar Singh Hit were
taken into custody.

Deputy Commissioner SBS Tyagi refuted the allegations. “Police barricades were damaged. We had to detain 90 protesters who were later let off. Those injured were admitted to RML Hospital.”

At 2 pm as the protesters, including Aam Aadmi Party and BJP activists, marched from Jantar Mantar towards the PM’s residence, they crossed two barricades at Parliament Street even as the police personnel tried to stop them. The 2,000-strong crowd then tried to break the third barricade but were stopped. “The Delhi Police lathicharged the protesters for demanding justice but they failed to do anything against those responsible for the 1984 massacre,” said the DSGMC chief.

On being released, the protesters resumed their protest at Jantar Mantar.

Rally in Amritsar

Amritsar: The 1984 Sikh Katle-am Pirit Pariwar Sangharsh Committee held a protest rally against the acquittal of senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 riots case. The protesters raised slogans against the UPA Government. Committee president Kashmir Singh Saggu alleged that the Congress and the CBI had colluded to ensure that Sajjan Kumar was acquitted. (TNS)

‘Lathi charge’ flayed

Amritsar: Avtar Singh Makkar, SGPC chief, has flayed the “lathi charge” on DSGMC office-bearers and SAD leaders in New Delhi. He said the UPA Government should deliver justice to the Sikhs by putting all those behind the 1984 riots behind bars. “The government should listen to the voice of the community rather than resorting to oppressive measures,” he added. (TNS)

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The Tribune – Delhi rape accused held; victim stable; Anguish, shock grip Capital Protests in front of police headquarters, AIIMS

Shaurya Karanbir Gurung and Ananya Panda, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 20. Delhi police today arrested Manoj Saha, a garment factory worker from Bihar, for his alleged involvement in the brutal rape and torture of a five-year-old girl in the national capital, an incident that resulted in protests at several places in the national capital here.

Manoj (22) was picked up by a team of Delhi police from Chiknauta village in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, from his in-laws place where he reportedly fled after committing the crime fearing the victim had died.

Manoj had allegedly kidnapped the minor from the Gandhi Nagar locality in East Delhi on April 15.

The police said Manoj allegedly kidnapped the victim from outside her residence, confined her in his apartment located on the ground floor of a building. The victim’s family resides on the first floor. He allegedly raped and tortured her there before taking a train to Bihar the same evening.

Manoj was brought to Delhi from Patna this evening. Investigators will also ascertain if another person is involved in torturing and raping the victim, East District Deputy Police Commissioner Prabhakar said.

The girl’s mother had told police that the victim, who was playing outside their home, went missing around 6 pm. “We have got the transit remand of Manoj. We will have to interrogate him to ascertain the facts,” Prabhakar said.

AIIMS Medical Superintendent DK Sharma said: “A detailed examination last night showed the evidence of perineal injuries. A colostomy procedure was done to divert her stool. Surgical dressing for her perineal injuries has also been carried out. She is now conscious and alert. She is talking to her parents. She is recovering and responding well to treatment.”

Under observation of a team of eight doctors, her condition was described as stable. The infection is localised and has been managed well. She is currently fed through intravenous drip strong antibiotics and nutritive care. Reconstructive surgery will take some more days, the doctors said.

A sense of anguish and shock gripped the capital. Praying for victim’s speedy recovery, President Pranab Mukherjee stressed on the need to take urgent steps to bring the perpetrators to justice immediately.

Vice President Hamid Ansari echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that unless collective steps are taken to urgently change the regressive mindset, the country would lose the right to be called a progressive society.

Meanwhile, protests were held in front of police headquarters demanding the resignation of the Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar. Agitators expressed their anger by waving currency notes at police personnel following the allegations of the victim’s family that the investigators had tried to bribe them to hush up the case.

He thought the girl was dead

Manoj Saha was picked up by a team of the Delhi Police from Chiknauta village in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. Fearing that the victim had died, Manoj had fled the Capital on April 15.

Another shame: 13-yr-old gang-raped

A 13-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by eight men, four of whom were known to her, the police said on Saturday.

Three of the eight men have been held. The victim is undergoing treatment at the Hedgewar Hospital in east Delhi.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130421/main1.htm

The Tribune – Delhi again, five-year-old raped brutally; protests erupt

Shaurya Karanbir Gurung and Ananya Panda, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 19. A five-year-old girl who was abducted and brutally raped, allegedly by her neighbour in east Delhi’s Gandhi Nagar locality, is battling grave injuries, after doctors operated on her to remove a plastic bottle and a candle from her genitals. The gruesome incident once again reminded people of the brutal rape and murder of a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus last December.

Protests by people outside the Swami Dayanand Hospital in east Delhi, where the victim was admitted for initial treatment, turned violent with a police officer seen slapping a girl for which the Commissioner of Police suspended him and ordered an inquiry.

The victim was later shifted to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where Medical Superintendent Dr DK Sharma said a team of doctors from the gynaecology and paediatrics departments evaluated the condition of the girl and later shifted her to the paediatrics surgery ward.

“The future course of treatment will be decided after another detailed examination of the girl. She is stable and has been shifted to the general ward,” he said.

Earlier, Medical Superintendent of the Dyanand Hospital RK Bansal said, “She is serious, though stable. She is better now and was speaking also. We conducted an operation to remove a candle and a 200ml bottle of hair oil from inside her. There were injuries on her face, lips and cheeks. It seemed there had also been attempts to strangulate her.”

Investigators said the victim was abducted allegedly by her neighbour on Monday and was confined to a flat on the ground floor of the building in which she stayed with her parents on the first floor.

On Wednesday, girl’s parents approached the police after they heard screams of a girl from the room of their neighbour.

The accused, who has been identified as Manoj, is at large. The incident caused a massive uproar outside the Swami Dayanand Hospital. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and leaders, including Gopal Rai and Manish Sisodiya, staged demonstrations outside the hospital, demanding the victim be shifted to a better-equipped hospital like AIIMS.

The number and ferocity of protesters grew with the passing of the day. They gheraoed AK Walia, state Minister for Health and Family Welfare, who arrived at the hospital around 3 pm. MP Sandeep Dikshit, who arrived with the minister, also faced protestors’ wrath.

The two politicians managed to break through a tough barrier of protesters, who raised slogans against Sandeep’s mother, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. In the melee, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bani Singh Ahlawat slapped a young female protester thrice.

Briefing the media, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East District) Prabhakar said the victim’s mother reached the Gandhi Nagar police station on April 15 at 8.30 pm. She complained that her daughter had been missing since 6 pm the same day. A case of kidnapping under was registered under Section 363 of the IPC at 10 pm.

A search was launched for the girl. On April 17, the victim’s mother informed the police that she heard cries of a girl, coming from the ground floor of a building in Gandhi Nagar. The victim stayed with her parents on the first floor of the same building. The police barged into the ground floor residence, which was rented by accused Manoj. They found the girl and took her to the Swami Dayanand Hospital. Her medical examination confirmed she was sexually assaulted.

“We have thereafter added Sections of 342 (wrongful confinement), 366 A, 376-A (rape) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC in the FIR. Sections 9 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual offences Act have also been added,” he said.

“We have identified the accused. Two teams have been sent to search for him,” he added.

Sources said the teams had been sent to Muzaffarpur in Bihar.

“As the landlord of the building didn’t reportedly conduct tenant verification of the accused. Therefore, we have registered a case against him also,” he said.

There is also a report appearing in the media that the local police allegedly tried to pay some money to the father of the victim to hush up the case. Joint Commissioner of Police (Vigilance) has been asked to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within 24 hours.

Pending the inquiry, Inspector Dharam Pal Singh, SHO of the Gandhi Nagar police station, and Sub-Inspector Mahavir Singh, the first investigation officer in the case, have been placed under suspension.

When reporters asked DCP Prabhakar as to why the victim was not taken to a better hospital than Dayanand, he said, “We always take victim to the nearest government hospital. Later, the state government decided to keep her at AIIMS.”

When asked why the police did not go to neigbour’s residence at the ground floor after a case of kidnapping was registered on April 15, he said until the victim was found, her family didn’t suspect the neighbour.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130420/main2.htm

The Hindu – Delhi Police failed to tackle crime against women: National Commission for Women chief

New Delhi, April 19, 2013.  National Commission for Women Chairperson Mamata Sharma on Friday demanded action against Delhi Police, including its commissioner, accusing it of “failure” to tackle crime against women.

Her comments came as a five-year-old girl, who was raped allegedly by her neighbour in east Delhi’s Gandhinagar area after holding her captive for four days, battled for her life in a hospital.

“Such incidents (rapes) are on rise in the capital, we want some action, even at the level of Delhi Police Commissioner. It’s high time that Union government should take some action,” she said.

Observing that Delhi Police was not under the city government, Ms. Sharma said, she would write to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Monday.

Expressing her inability to take up the matter and get her shifted to AIIMS from Swami Dayanand hospital on Friday, she said, “I will be taking it up on Saturday. Friday is a holiday, I will take it up on Saturday and will myself visit the girl and provide her whatever help we can do.”

“I am going to get the girl admitted in AIIMS on Satur,” she said even as the city administration prepared themselves to shift the girl on Friday itself to AIIMS or LNJP Hospital.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delhi-police-failed-to-tackle-crime-against-women-ncw-chief/article4633816.ece

The Hindu – ‘Spiritual guru’ involved in BSP leader killing identified: police

New Delhi, 3 April 2013. Investigators have identified the “spiritual guru” who is suspected to have hired shooters for Rs. 50 lakh to Rs. 1 crore to kill local BSP leader Deepak Bhardwaj.

Sources said they have zeroed in on the spiritual guru following investigations into the details provided by the two alleged sharpshooters Sunil Mann and Purushottam Rana.

When asked whether they have arrested the accused, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chhaya Sharma told PTI they have not taken him into custody.

Sources said the spiritual guru had in possession vast tract of lands which he allegedly acquired through various means.

However, they said he allegedly got into a fight with Bhardwaj over a land issue. The spiritual guru is said to be hailing from Bahadurgarh.

Investigators said they were probing whether he acted on his own or whether others were also involved.

Bhardwaj was shot dead in his farmhouse in south Delhi’s Rajokri on March 26 and four persons were arrested in the case.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/spiritual-guru-involved-in-bsp-leader-killing-identified-police/article4576032.ece

The Tribune – US says 1984 riots not genocide

I think that we should :

- Come up with a clear definition of ‘genocide’ based on International Law, Human Rights Conventions etc

- In the mean time campaign for acknowledgement that grave human rights violations took place in the period from the late eighties till the early nineties

Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

Washington, April 2. The Obama Administration today refused to declare the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India as genocide, but noted that grave human rights violations had occurred.

The White House response in this regard came months after a section of the Sikh community in the US launched an on-line petition campaign urging the Obama Administration to recognise the 1984 riots as genocide.

The petition created on November 15, 2012, had generated more than 30,000 signatures within weeks. Each petition that crosses the threshold of 25,000 signatures is reviewed and receives a response.

“During and after the 1984 violence, the United States monitored and publicly reported on the grave human rights violations that occurred and the atrocities committed against members of the Sikh community,” the White House response said.

It noted that the US State Department’s Official Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, for example, covered the violence and its aftermath in detail, with sections on political killings, disappearances, denial of fair public trials, negative effects on freedom of religion, and the government’s response to civil society organisations investigating allegations of human rights violations.

“We continue to condemn — and more importantly, to work against — violence directed at people based on their religious affiliation. US Government efforts to protect the rights and freedoms of all people have long been a feature of our foreign policy. Our diplomats regularly report on and speak out against violence against minorities around the world,” the White House said in response to the online petition. (PTI)

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130403/main4.htm

The Tribune – Modi trains guns on Congress, Gandhi family

Ashok Tuteja, Tribune News Sservice

New Delhi, March 3. As he targeted the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family for all the ills afflicting the country, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi clearly emerged as the tallest leader of the BJP that concluded its three-day meet here today. There was the a growing clamour within the party’s rank and file to nominate Modi as the party’s nominee for the prime ministership.

On his part, Modi chose his words quite carefully, avoiding making any direct reference to his prime ministerial ambition, though it was quite clear from his nearly 50-minute extempore speech that he considered himself the most suitable candidate for the country’s top political job.

Modi’s popularity among the party’s top office-bearers from across the country was quite evident as the crowd at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium broke into applause and raised slogans in his favour as soon as he got up to deliver the address.

With senior party leaders, including party patriarch LK Advani, hearing him with rapt attention, the Gujarat “strongman” was at pains to emphasise that the candidate for the Prime Minister’s post was not an issue in the party.

He accused the Congress of sacrificing interests of the nation to serve the interests of one family. Advani’s own speech towards the fag end of the meet was relegated to the background with the spotlight remaining firmly on the Gujarat CM.

Modi was unsparing in his attack on the Nehru-Gandhi family while heaping praise on late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and the current President Pranab Mukherjee, both of whom belonged to the Congress. Shastri united farmers and changed the face of the country, while Mukherjee would definitely have been a better choice for the prime ministership than the present incumbent Manmohan Singh. “But Mukherjee was not allowed to become the PM since Congressmen were worried what would happen to the family if he were to occupy the post.”

Comparing the Congress with termite, he said, “The country is sinking. The poor are under the burden of price rise. We cannot even feel if there is a government at the Centre or not.”

While drawing attention to the governance formula he has adopted in Gujarat, Modi was also appreciative of the work being done by the BJP governments in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Goa.

“Freeing the nation from the Congress rule would be an act of patriotism. It would be a task as great as that our freedom fighters did,” he said.

In his speech, Advani claimed the popular mood in the country was of anger and revulsion against the Congress-led government. “Many factors are feeding this mood, but the chief amongst them is the firm belief among all sections of society that this is the most corrupt government in the history of Independent India.”

He said the BJP leaders and workers could take pride in the fact that they belonged to a party that valued and promoted internal democracy and not to a dynastic party.

He said the BJP must work closely with like-minded parties-both those within the NDA and those outside-to reassure the people that a strong, viable non-Congress alternative, with an agreed agenda of good governance was available to them.

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