Development fee at Delhi's IGI airport reduced by half from tomorrow

NEW DELHI: Flying out of Delhi would become cheaper from Monday, with the development fee (DF) charged by the operator of IGI airport here being reduced by Rs 100 for domestic and Rs 700 per international passenger.

The decision of GMR-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) to slash the charges followed a directive by Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) for charging Rs 100 and Rs 600 per embarking domestic and international passenger respectively from January 1.

Civil aviation minister Ajit Singh had earlier directed DIAL and Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) to abolish DF at the two airports with effect from Monday.

Following this, DIAL had moved AERA, which, after consultations, decided to slash the rate which would remain effective till April 2016. Till today, DF being charged at Delhi airport was Rs 200 and Rs 1300 for domestice and international passengers respectively.

Welcoming the order, DIAL said in a statement the measure would "enable airlines to reduce the overall travel cost of passengers, thus giving a boost to the Indian aviation sector."

In October, the minister had also directed Airports Authority of India (AAI) not to levy DF at Chennai and Kolkata airports, which are being modernised by it.

AAI was also asked to infuse additional equity of approximately Rs 288 crore in MIAL and Rs 102 crore in DIAL, against its 26 per cent share in the equity in them.

In case DF is abolished, the expected financing gap for MIAL will be estimated at about Rs 4,200 crore and for DIAL at about Rs 1,175 crore.

While DF is levied to meet cash flow requirements before completion of an airport upgrade project, User Development Fee (UDF) is charged for using the completed facility. At present, DF is levied at private-led Delhi and Mumbai airports, among others.

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Flying out of Delhi will be cheaper from tomorrow

NEW DELHI: Flying out of Delhi would become cheaper from Monday, with the development fee (DF) charged by the operator of IGI airport here being reduced by Rs 100 for domestic and Rs 700 per international passenger.

The decision of GMR-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) to slash the charges followed a directive by Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) for charging Rs 100 and Rs 600 per embarking domestic and international passenger respectively from January 1.

Civil aviation minister Ajit Singh had earlier directed DIAL and Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) to abolish DF at the two airports with effect from Monday.

Following this, DIAL had moved AERA, which, after consultations, decided to slash the rate which would remain effective till April 2016. Till today, DF being charged at Delhi airport was Rs 200 and Rs 1300 for domestice and international passengers respectively.

Welcoming the order, DIAL said in a statement the measure would "enable airlines to reduce the overall travel cost of passengers, thus giving a boost to the Indian aviation sector."

In October, the minister had also directed Airports Authority of India (AAI) not to levy DF at Chennai and Kolkata airports, which are being modernised by it.

AAI was also asked to infuse additional equity of approximately Rs 288 crore in MIAL and Rs 102 crore in DIAL, against its 26 per cent share in the equity in them.

In case DF is abolished, the expected financing gap for MIAL will be estimated at about Rs 4,200 crore and for DIAL at about Rs 1,175 crore.

While DF is levied to meet cash flow requirements before completion of an airport upgrade project, User Development Fee (UDF) is charged for using the completed facility. At present, DF is levied at private-led Delhi and Mumbai airports, among others.

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Delhi gang-rape case: Police finalize chargesheet, to cite 30 witnesses

NEW DELHI: Two days after the death of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim, Delhi Police on Monday said it has finalised around 1,000-page chargesheet in connection with the incident and plans to submit it in court on Thursday.

A senior police official said the chargesheet, which is being vetted by legal experts, has cited 30 witnesses in connection with the December 16 incident in which the physiotherapy student was gang-raped and brutally assaulted in a moving bus in south Delhi. The victim died in a Singapore hospital on Saturday morning.

Investigators said they will seek death penalty for the accused in the case.

Six persons, including a 17-year-old boy, was apprehended in connection with the incident, which evoked widespread outrage and anger and triggered violent protests at India Gate and Raisina Hill.

The chargesheet, to be filed in the Saket court, will detail the role of five men while mentioning that a separate report would be sent to Juvenile Justice Board for the trial of the minor boy allegedly involved in the case, the official said.

The chargesheet gives details about the sequence of events, the treatment, shifting of the patient to a Singapore hospital as well as her death, the official said.

Police have slapped rape, murder and other charges against the accused.

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Minor molested in Delhi bus was earlier raped by stepbrother

NEW DELHI: Fresh facts have emerged in the case of a minor girl molested in a bus here with police arresting her teenaged brother for allegedly raping her six months ago and molesting her thereafter.

The tragic story unfolded yesterday after the 16-year-old girl recorded her statement with police.

Her brother Nazakkat Ali (19) was arrested following her complaint.

The girl was molested on Saturday night allegedly by a conductor when she had run away from her house following harassment by her family. The conductor Ranjit Singh was arrested in connection with the case, which comes close on the heels of the brutal gang rape of a girl in a moving bus in south Delhi.

Police went to her house in west Delhi's Khyala yesterday to record her statement during which she told investigators about her ordeal.

A senior police official said her father had married thrice and they were living with his third wife. She claimed that there were problems in the family.

"She also told us that her brother had raped her six months ago and was molesting her thereafter. We have arrested the boy," the official said.

On Saturday night, the girl had left her house at around 9:30 pm and when the bus reached Mandi House at around 11 pm, police personnel noticed the girl inside the bus alone crying.

A case of kidnapping was found registered about her at Khyala police station after her family approached police.

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After glitch, women helpline starts in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Causing embarrassment to the Delhi government, its much-vaunted helpline for women suffered technical glitches soon after launch Monday. Mobile phone users could not connect to its toll-free number 181 before evening.

For a better part of the day, a long beep greeted callers on the helpline which is being operated from chief minister Sheila Dikshit's residence.

A government official explained: "Since 181 is a toll-free number, it takes time for other mobile network providers to get connected to it."

By evening, however, the problem was sorted out and the helpline became accessible also from mobile phone networks like Airtel, MTNL and Vodafone.

Dikshit last week announced the setting up of the helpline in the wake of gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman Dec 16. The woman died Saturday.

Women in distress can seek any help from the round-the-clock facility.

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Five of ten Delhi Metro stations reopen

NEW DELHI: Five out of ten Delhi Metro stations that had remained shut since Saturday were opened on Sunday afternoon, a DMRC official said.

"Five metro stations -- Pragati Maidan, Mandi House, Rajiv Chowk, Barakhamba Road and Patel Chowk -- were opened at 1.10pm. Five other metro stations -- Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Jor Bagh, Khan Market and Race Course -- will remain closed," the official said.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) shut ten stations at 7.40am on Saturday fearing mass protests following the death of the Delhi gang-rape victim in Singapore.

However, inter-change services continued at Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat stations.

"Metro trains were halting at Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat to enable passengers switch trains," the official said.

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Delhi Metro to set up hostel for women staff

NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro will soon have a working women's hostel for its staff staying alone in the capital, a move that comes in the backdrop of the brutal gang-rape and assault of a 23-year-old paramedical student.

The new age transport system has also cancelled the annual celebrations at the Metro Museum and other events relating to the New Year in view of recent incidents in the city.

"Managing Director Mangu Singh has ordered setting up of working women's hostel for DMRC's lady staff staying alone in the city," DMRC spokesman Anuj Dayal said.

The moves comes in the wake of the gang-rape of the 23-year-old that sparked a nation-wide outrage.

Delhi Metro has a number of women staff in all spheres including Train Operators.

Dayal also said Singh has ordered the cancellation of the Metro Museum Anniversary and other celebrations.

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Gang-rape victim's mother admitted to hospital

NEW DELHI: The traumatized mother of the young trainee physiotherapist, who was brutally gang-raped in the capital early this month, collapsed and was admitted to Deen Dayal Uphadyay Hospital after her daughter's body was taken away for cremation on Sunday morning.

"As soon as the body was taken away for cremation, she collapsed," Vimla, a neighbour of the family, told IANS.

The body of the gang-rape victim, who became the focus of countrywide protests and prayers, was cremated here early Sunday soon after it was flown in from Singapore at 3.30am.

Since Saturday evening, a large number of people, mostly neighbours, had assembled outside the family's house in southwest Delhi's Mahavir Enclave to condole the woman's death.

The 23-year-old woman was brutally assaulted and gang-raped Dec 16 by six men in a moving bus in south Delhi before being thrown out of the vehicle. She battled for life — first in Safdarjung Hospital here and then in a Singapore hospital — before dying of her injuries December 29.

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Delhi gang-rape victim's answers to police could be a crucial dying declaration

MUMBAI: Legal experts say that the evidence left behind by the victim of the Delhi gang-rape victim who lost her battle to survive the brutal crime appears to be the strongest and most crucial in the form of a dying declaration in the case to nail the accused.

With the police having invoked the murder charge on Saturday against the six accused after Nirbhaya breathed her last in a Singapore hospital less than a fortnight after her brutal gang-rape on a moving bus from which she was thrown out, it is now their task to expedite the filing of the chargesheet in the case and take it to trial, said lawyers. The police must set a deadline for completing the probe so that the trial takes off soon.

Advocate Shrikant Bhat in Mumbai said, "Since the young woman is now no more, her death which was caused as a result of the brutal assault on her body attracts the murder rap and the law and the maximum punishment for it is death by hanging." He added, that what is crucial is that in this case since the victim was unable to speak due to crime and as reported, answered all the police questions in writing, it would form a critical dying declaration."Such a dying declaration would be very strong as it is in her writing, going by media reports." He added further,"based on the evidence that the police have regarding the identity of the accused, it would be a fit case for capital punishment."

Advocate Hitesh Jain and advocate Rajendra Shirodkar in Mumbai too said that the case would be one where the harshest punishment will be applicable.

Nirbhaya's plight had led to a demand greater protection from sexual violence that impacts thousands of women daily in Indian.

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Delhi Metro stations around Connaught Place to close early on New Year's Eve

NEW DELHI: Three Metro stations in and around Connaught Place will be closed three-and-a-half hours before the usual time on Monday in view of security restrictions due to New Year celebrations.

Rajiv Chowk, Barakhamba Road and Patel Chowk Metro stations will be closed from 7.30pm on New Year's Eve.

However, inter-change will be allowed at Rajiv Chowk station.

Sale of tickets at the three Metro stations will stop at 7.15pm and shutters of all entry gates will be closed at 7.30pm.

"However, interchange facility between Line-2 (HUDA City Centre — Jahangirpuri) and Line-3/4 (Dwarka Sec-21 — Noida City Centre/Vaishali) will remain operational at Rajiv Chowk Metro station till the end of revenue services, i.e., 11pm," a Delhi Metro spokesman said.

Services at all other Metro corridors and stations will continue normally.

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Delhi gang-rape case: 6th accused sent to 12-day judicial custody

NEW DELHI: One of the six accused in December 16 gang-rape of a 23-year-old paramedical student, who died on Saturday, was remanded in judicial custody for 12 days by a Delhi court.

Akshay Singh alias Thakur, who was the last one to be arrested in the case, was produced before additional chief metropolitan magistrate Lokesh Kumar Sharma after expiry of his day-long police custody.

"He (Akshay) is remanded to judicial custody. Let he be produced on January 9," the court said after the police did not seek his further custody.

Akshay had been remanded in police custody on Friday for a day to recover the remaining case property and clothes which he and other arrested five co-accused were wearing while allegedly gang-raping and brutally assaulting the victim in a moving bus here on the fateful night.

After the day-long custody, the police did not seek his further remand as they recovered the articles, which had not been recovered earlier.

The investigating officer in the case told the court that they have seized the clothes of the accused worn on the night of incident and also the mobile of the girl and ATM card of her male friend and other valuables at the instance of accused Akshay.

It also said the victim's male friend, a 28-year-old software engineer had identified the valuables, which were robbed from them after the incident.

The police told the court that the boy had even identified the ring, which his female friend was wearing on that night.

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Delhi govt should accord state funeral to rape victim: Union minister Praful Patel

NEW DELHI: Hailing her as a braveheart, union minister Praful Patel today said the Delhi government should accord the 23-year-old gangrape victim a state funeral as a mark of respect to women of the country.

"Saddened by the loss of a braveheart. Delhi government should accord her a state funeral as a mark of respect to her and to India's womanhood," Patel, who is also NCP Vice-President, said in a condolence message.

Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said "our thoughts and hearts are with the family of the braveheart who left us. This is a time for mourning. We appeal to all our brothers and sisters to maintain peace and calm and pray."

"This would be a true tribute to the bravery and fortitude of the departed soul," Tewari added.

The girl, who was gang-raped by six men in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, breathed her last in a Singapore hospital early this morning after battling for life for the past 13 days.

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Delhi Police invoke murder charges against gang-rape accused

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Saturday invoked murder charges against the six men allegedly involved in the gang-rape of a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus after she died in a Singapore hospital and decided to file the chargesheet in court on January three.

Police said it will be their endeavour to ensure the "harshest punishment in the book" to the culprits.

"We hope to file the charge sheet by the 3rd of January, 2013. Section 302 of IPC, which is the penal section for murder, has been added in the case," Dharmendra Kumar, special commissioner of police (law and order), said.

He said a special public prosecutor of eminence has been appointed to conduct the trial in a fast track court on a day-to-day basis. "It will be our endeavour to ensure the harshest punishment in the book to the culprits," he said.

The autopsy of the victim was done by a Singaporean medical team and the report will be made available to investigators at the earliest.

"In this moment of national grief following the loss of a young and innocent life to a barbaric crime, we appeal to members of public to stay calm and maintain peace.

"We, in Delhi Police, as citizens of this country are equally saddened, if not more. Our sympathy goes out to the bereaved family," he said.

Police had initially booked the six men under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 201 (destruction of evidence), 365 (kidnapping or abducting), 376 (2)(g) (gang rape), 377 (unnatural offences), 394 (hurting in committing robbery) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

The girl had boarded the bus, thinking it to be a legitimate public carriage, from Munirka but was attacked and gang-raped even as her male friend accompanying her tried to protect her. He was also injured in the incident.

The arrested persons are driver Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, Akshay Thakur, Pavan and Vinay. The sixth person apprehended claimed that he is a minor and police have sought the court's permission to get a bone test to ascertain his age.

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Cold wave unabated in north India, 13 more die in Uttar Pradesh

NEW DELHI: The entire north India continued to remain in the grip of severe cold with 13 more people succumbing to the chill in Uttar Pradesh, even as the mercury went up by a few notches in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana.

Delhiites basked under a sunny day today with the sky remaining clear for most part of the day after a misty morning.

Both maximum and minimum temperatures remained a degree above normal to settle at 21.4 and 8.5 degree Celsius respectively against yesterday's 19 and 6.3 degrees.

The Met office forecasts mainly a clear sky with mist or fog in the morning for tomorrow.

Uttar Pradesh, however, continued to reel under biting cold with 13 more persons dying in the state, taking the toll this winter to 62.

While four persons lost their lives in Hathras district, three died in Kanpur Dehat, followed by two each in Mirzapur and Lalitpur and one each in Chitrakoot and Banda districts.

Muzaffarnagar and Kanpur City remained the coldest places with each recording a minimum of 2 degrees, Met sources said.

Night temperature remained to hover below normal in most parts of the state, dipping by as much as 6 to 11 degrees.

In Himachal also, night temperatures plummeted in the mid and lower hills and hovered around freezing point.

Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district remained the coldest place with a low of minus 4 degrees, followed by Kalpa in Kinnaur district with minus 2.6 degree Celsius.

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Delhi gang rape: Supreme Court lawyer appointed special prosecutor in trial of rapists

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court lawyer Dayan Krishnan has been appointed as the special public prosecutor by city police to conduct trial in the December 16 gang-rape of the paramedical student who succumbed to injuries during wee hours on Saturday at a Singapore hospital.

"It is Dayan Krishnan, an eminent lawyer ... He has volunteered to do it free of cost. He will be assisted by two juniors," Dharmendra Kumar, special commissioner of police (law and order), told PTI.

The senior police officer said the harshest punishment would be sought against five accused during the trial after filing the charge sheet by January 3.

The sixth accused is a juvenile and would be tried separately at juvenile justice board.

"We hope to file the charge sheet by January 3, 2013. Section 302 of the IPC, which is the penal section for murder, has been added in the FIR," Kumar said, adding, "It will be our endeavor to ensure the harshest punishment in the book for the culprits."

Police have slapped murder charges as well as sections 201 (destruction of evidence), 365 (kidnapping or abducting), 376 (2)(g) (gang rape), 377 (unnatural offences), 394 (hurting in committing robbery) and 34 (common intention) of IPC against the accused.

The special prosecutor would conduct the trial in a fast track court on day-to-day basis.

Later talking to PTI, Krishnan said, "I had given my consent to conduct the trial."

Krishnan has been representing NIA, Delhi Police and other agencies at various judicial fora in many cases including the Nitish Katara murder case.

The girl, who died today at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore owing to mutiple organ failure, was gangraped, assaulted and then dumped in south Delhi by six persons on the night of December 16.

She and her male friend had boarded the bus at Munirka around 9.45 pm on the fateful night after watching a movie.

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Delhi gang-rape case: Victim 'fighting for her life', hospital says

SINGAPORE: The 23-year-old Delhi gang-rape victim has significant brain injury, infection in lungs and abdomen and she is currently struggling against all odds at Mount Elizabeth Hospital where her condition continues to be "extremely critical", the hospital said on Thursday.

"Our medical team's investigations upon her arrival at the hospital yesterday showed that in addition to her prior cardiac arrest, she also had infection of her lungs and abdomen, as well as significant brain injury," said Dr Kelvin Loh, chief executive officer, Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

In a statement, Dr Loh said, "The patient is currently struggling against the odds, and fighting for her life."

Briefing reporters here on girl's condition, Loh said, "As at 28 December, 11am (8:30 IST) the patient continues to remain in an extremely critical condition."

The girl, who was gang-raped and brutally assaulted in a moving bus on December 16, was brought here in an air ambulance yesterday and admitted to the intensive care unit.

She had undergone three surgeries at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, where she remained on ventilator support during most part of the treatment. Doctors removed major part of her intestines which had become gangrenous.

"A multi-disciplinary team of specialists has been working tirelessly to treat her since her arrival, and is doing everything possible to stabilise her condition over the next few days," Dr Loh said.

"The High Commission of India has been fully supportive in helping the hospital and her family, and ensuring that the best care is made available," he added.

The security was tightened at the hospital, favoured by well-heeled patients, with each visitor screened before being allowed into the ICU.

In Delhi, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi stressed that no time should be lost in bringing the perpetrators of such barbarous act to justice.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured that those found guilty of lapses in the aftermath of the incident will not be spared.

"We are committed to bringing the guilty to justice as soon as possible," Singh said, adding that best possible medical care was being provided to the victim.

The victim's father, who flew in with her, said he was reassured that the best is being done for his daughter.

The girl's family members do not speak English and rely on interpreters to communicate with hospital staff, the Strait Times newspaper reported.

The High Commission of India has assigned a liaison officer with the family.

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Naomi Watts appreciates Vivek Oberoi

Naomi Watts who portrays the role of the tsunami victim in 'The Impossible' has written an appreciation letter to Vivek Oberoi on his contribution towards rehabilitating tsunami hit families in Indian sub-continent.

Vivek had adopted a village in Tamil Nadu named Thevanapattinam in 2004. Naomi was deeply moved when she heard that Vivek has been involved in providing welfare for these families.

Naomi Watts has received a Golden Globe nomination for her outstanding role in 'The Impossible'. 'The Impossible' will release in India on January 4, 2013. The movie is the story of Maria (Naomi Watts), Henry ( Ewan McGregor) and their three children. The family had just begun started enjoying their winter vacation in Thailand when an unexpected tsunami threatened to destroy the entire region on the unforgettable day of December 26, 2004. The story traces the frenzied journey of search, compassion, courage and how the family survives in the darkest hours of their lives, following the wild flood.

The letter from Naomi reads, "Dear Vivek, Words really fail to express how touched I am to see the work you have done for the rehabilitation of the Tsunami-hit families in Thevanapattinam, Tamil Nadu. It takes a lot of courage and immense devotion to be able to take up such a responsibility on one's shoulders...

As a celebrity it is important for us to realize that we can act as catalysts for change but unfortunately few take any real measures. Your effort to bridge this gap deserves appreciation from all quarters.I salute you on behalf of the entire team of 'The Impossible' for adopting Thevanapattinam and providing relief work to the Tsunami victims."

--
A drop of ink can make a million think

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Constable's: Delhi Police asked to preserve Metro CCTV footage

NEW DELHI: A court here asked the crime branch of Delhi Police on Friday to preserve the CCTV footage of Rajiv Chowk and Rithala Metro stations as evidence in the case of the death of constable Subhash Chand Tomar in violent protests at India Gate against the December 16 gangrape incident.

"Since the investigating officer (IO) has already taken steps for preserving CCTV footage, there is no harm if the CCTV footage is preserved to serve the ends of justice.

"Therefore, IO is directed to do the needful regarding the preservation of the CCTV footage pertaining to stations Rithala and Rajiv Chowk dated December 23, 2012 for relevant time and DMRC is also directed to preserve the same at the instance of IO. Application stands disposed of accordingly," metropolitan magistrate Ambika Singh said.

The court's order came on the plea of two accused in the case, Kailash Joshi and his brother Amit, seeking directions to police and DMRC to preserve the December 23 video footage of Rajiv Chowk and Rithala Metro stations to prove their pleas of alibi.

The two have contended that they were not part of the protests in which Tomar was grievously injured and at the relevant time they were travelling in metro trains.

Besides the two brothers, six others — Nafees, Shankar Bisht, Nand Kumar, Shantanu Kumar, Abhishek and Chaman Kumar — have been made accused for allegedly taking part in protests which later turned violent and in which Constable Subhash Chand Tomar had allegedly got injured and later succumbed to his injuries. All eight are now facing murder charges.

Both DMRC and police today submitted their respective status reports in the case.

DMRC in its one-page status report said, "... it is being submitted that available footage of the CCTV camera installed at Rithala and Rajiv Chowk metro stations for date December 23, 2012, from 3pm to 6pm, has been preserved in the system and is available for aid in the investigation for the police.

"The CCTV footage will be made available to the court/investigation agencies whenever required."

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Constable's death: Delhi Police asked to preserve Metro CCTV footage

NEW DELHI: A court here asked the crime branch of Delhi Police on Friday to preserve the CCTV footage of Rajiv Chowk and Rithala Metro stations as evidence in the case of the death of constable Subhash Chand Tomar in violent protests at India Gate against the December 16 gangrape incident.

"Since the investigating officer (IO) has already taken steps for preserving CCTV footage, there is no harm if the CCTV footage is preserved to serve the ends of justice.

"Therefore, IO is directed to do the needful regarding the preservation of the CCTV footage pertaining to stations Rithala and Rajiv Chowk dated December 23, 2012 for relevant time and DMRC is also directed to preserve the same at the instance of IO. Application stands disposed of accordingly," metropolitan magistrate Ambika Singh said.

The court's order came on the plea of two accused in the case, Kailash Joshi and his brother Amit, seeking directions to police and DMRC to preserve the December 23 video footage of Rajiv Chowk and Rithala Metro stations to prove their pleas of alibi.

The two have contended that they were not part of the protests in which Tomar was grievously injured and at the relevant time they were travelling in metro trains.

Besides the two brothers, six others — Nafees, Shankar Bisht, Nand Kumar, Shantanu Kumar, Abhishek and Chaman Kumar — have been made accused for allegedly taking part in protests which later turned violent and in which Constable Subhash Chand Tomar had allegedly got injured and later succumbed to his injuries. All eight are now facing murder charges.

Both DMRC and police today submitted their respective status reports in the case.

DMRC in its one-page status report said, "... it is being submitted that available footage of the CCTV camera installed at Rithala and Rajiv Chowk metro stations for date December 23, 2012, from 3pm to 6pm, has been preserved in the system and is available for aid in the investigation for the police.

"The CCTV footage will be made available to the court/investigation agencies whenever required."

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No upper-age limit for nursery admissions

NEW DELHI: The issue of the upper-age-limit for admissions into nursery, KG and Class I has been settled for this round of admissions with a total reversal of the decision taken by the Delhi School Education Advisory Board on December 19.

Following a flurry of representations, the board met again on Thursday to remove the upper age limit for nursery (which had been fixed at three-years-11-months-30-days), KG (four-years-11-months-30-days) and Class I (five-years-11-months-30 days). But the matter will not rest completely. According to a statement, the Education Department will form a committee to look into the "issue of age" for academic year 2014-2015.

"There were representations received to increase Minimum Age of Nursery Admissions on account of fixing uniform upper age limit for Nursery Admissions....Since the admission cycle is to start in a few days, Minister of Education, Prof. Kiran Walia said we cannot tinker with the age related guidelines at this late stage as it would lead to lot of confusion," says the statement.

"We were asking for an upper age limit because there was a lot of confusion among parents about which class their kids are eligible for. Moreover, some schools made age an admission criterion with points allotted for it. But we wanted an age bracket of at least two years which is what the Kendriya Vidyalayas have," says Sumit Vohra, founder, admissionsnursery.com, who had demanded a widening of age-bracket. Social Jurist, Khagesh Jha also points out that "status quo" doesn't imply "whatever the schools were doing but what the law prescribes." "The 2007 order fixes minimum age for pre-school, pre-primary and Class I but also says, "there is no bar to children older than the ages specified in this clause being given admission to these classes," says Jha.

Meanwhile, schools have begun posting their point systems on their websites and categories that had parents perturbed last year have appeared again. There are points for vegetarians (5), non-smokers (5) - "How will you verify the claims?" asks Vohra -- and teetotalers (5) at Mahavir Senior Model School (Sangam Park Extn, G T Karnal Road); Cambridge Primary School (News Friends' Colony has points allocated for "Cultural Linguistic integration and parents with inter-cultural background" (10).

On a positive note, the second school has 12 points for "compassionate grounds" which also includes physically disabled parents. Socially active parents stand a better chance in some schools. Cambridge is also offering 10 points for "Parents' contribution to the community" and "children of State/National Awardees" will get 5 points at Bal Bhavan Public School (Mayur Vihar).

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Delhi gang-rape case: Eyewitnesses asked to join probe in constable death case

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have asked two youths, who have contradicted investigator's version on constable Subhas Tomar's death, to join the probe.

Police have sent notices to Yogendra and Paoline in connection with the investigations into the case.

RML medical superintendent Dr T S Sidhu has also been asked to join the probe after he said Tomar did not suffer any external or internal injury.

A controversy has erupted over the cause of death of Tomar during violent demonstrations last Sunday with eyewitnesses and a government hospital claiming there were no injuries on his person while the postmortem report contradicted these versions.

The Delhi Police had on Wednesday released excerpts of report of the post mortem done by a board of doctors in the the government Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, where he died on Tuesday.

"Myocardial infarction (cardiac arrest) and its complications that could be precipitated by multiple ante-mortem (before death) injuries to neck and chest produced by blunt force impact," additional commissioner of police (New Delhi) K C Dwivedi had said quoting from the report as the cause of 47-year-old Tomar's death.

However, two eyewitnesses claimed that they did not spot any injuries on his person when they tried to revive him after he collapsed near India Gate on Sunday during violent protests against the gang rape of a girl in a moving bus on December 16.

Medical superintendent of RML Dr T S Sidhu, said, there were "no major external injury marks except for some cuts and bruises.

..In all our records, there are no severe internal injuries recorded but the post-mortem will tell everything."

Yogendra and his friend Paoline, who had rushed Tomar to the hospital, contradicted police version that the Constable was beaten up by protesters leading to his death. He fell down on his own, they said.

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Delhi gang-rape case: Victim's treatment at Singapore may stretch to many weeks, govt says

NEW DELHI/SINGAPORE: The 23-year-old Delhi gang-rape victim was admitted on Thursday morning to the Mount Elizabeth Hospital's intensive care unit in Singapore in an extremely critical condition.

"The patient arrived at Mount Elizabeth Hospital's intensive care unit this morning in an extremely critical condition," a spokesperson of the hospital said.

"She is being examined and the hospital is working with the Indian high commission. We request that the privacy of the patient and family be respected," the spokesperson said.

As the treatment of the Delhi gang-rape victim Nirbhaya( a symbolic name given to the victim by the TOI) started at Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore, the Union government in New Delhi on Thursday said that the medical process may stretch to many weeks and India would bear all the expenses.

It also said the condition of the victim continued to be critical.

Updating her condition and the government's decision to airlift her to Singapore, Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said, "arrangements have been made for the family to accompany her as the treatment may stretch to many weeks."

He also said that the government had opted for Singapore considering her condition and travel time.

"Considering the travel time, the doctors have suggested Mt Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore. Government have ordered India's high commissioner in Singapore to make necessary arrangements. Indian doctors have spoken to the doctors of the said hospital and shared the details of the patient", said the home minister.

About the decision to take her abroad, he said, "We are all aware of the critical condition of victim. Since the day of the incident, it has been our endeavour to provide her the best of medical care. Despite the best efforts of our doctors, the victim continues to be critical and her fluctuating health remains a big cause of concern to all of us.

Government had stated that it will spare no effort for her treatment. Therefore, when we were advised by a team of doctors that she may be shifted abroad for treatment, the government decided to meet all the costs thereof".

(With inputs from PTI)

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Protesters stopped from marching to India Gate

NEW DELHI: Scores of people today marched towards India Gate from south Delhi demanding better safety and security against the backdrop of the gang rape and brutal assault of a young girl in a moving bus 11 days ago.

Around 500 people, including girls, marched from Nizamuddin in south Delhi to India Gate but were stopped at the Zakir Hussain --Subramania Bharti Marg crossing, near India Gate, leading to traffic jams.

The protest march came amid prohibitory orders placed in and around India Gate after the violence during protests against the gang rape.

The protesters were demanding sacking of Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, fast-tracking pending sexual assault cases, special session of Parliament for enacting strong laws against sexual offences and better security for women.

Police announced that they will not be allowed to move ahead to India Gate due to prohibitory orders. They said if the protesters wished, they would ferry them in a bus to Jantar Mantar or Ramlila Maidan to continue their protest.

The gang rape of the 23-year-old girl has sparked outrage across the country and there have been demands for stringent punishment for the criminals.

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Parliamentary panel questions Delhi Police chief

NEW DELHI: A parliamentary panel on Thursday questioned the Delhi Police chief over the gang-rape incident in the capital and said deficiencies like vacancies at officer level and lack of vehicles to patrol the streets existed.

Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home to face questions on 'growing atrocities against women in Delhi'.

Home Secretary R K Singh, who was also to appear before the panel, could not attend the meeting.

Kumar informed the panel about the sequence of events of the incident and said the police control room vans reacted "promptly" after receiving the phone call about the crime.

He is learnt to have told the committee that police investigations helped nab the accused within days of the December 16 gang rape of a 23-year-old in a moving bus in the capital.

During the course of the police commissioner's deposition, Congress member Sandeep Dikshit, who had recently demanded the resignation of Kumar in the wake of police action against protesters on Sunday, is understood to have said there was a disconnect between officers sitting in rooms and those on the ground.

He said that officials below Station House Officer rank act on their own giving little regard to orders from superiors.

Dikshit is the son of Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit who had been demanding that the Delhi Police be brought under the control of the city government. The Delhi Police is under the direct control of the Home Ministry.

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Delhi gang rape: 6th accused sent to police custody for a day

NEW DELHI: One of the six persons, allegedly involved in the gang rape of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus here on December 16, was on Thursday remanded in police custody for a day by a Delhi court for recovering the clothes worn by various accused on fateful night.

Akshay Singh alias Thakur, who was the last one to be arrested in the case, was produced before additional chief metropolitan magistrate Lokesh Kumar Sharma after he underwent test identification parade (TIP) at Tihar Jail yesterday.

Akshay was arrested on December 21 and underwent TIP on December 26 during which the victim's male friend, a 28-year-old software engineer, had identified him as one of the persons involved in the incident.

Delhi Police sought two days' remand of the accused for recovering remaining case property and clothes which Akshay and other accused were wearing while allegedly committing the crime.

Seeking his remand, the police also said he has to be taken to Noida in Uttar Pradesh for recovery of the articles.

The court, however, remanded him in police custody for a day saying, "Noida is in Delhi National Capital Region and the place of the incident is also within two-three kms from here (Saket court). I don't think you (police) need 48 hours for it.

"In case you require further custody, you can seek extension later on."

The police, meanwhile, informed the court it has also booked Akshay in another related case of robbing a carpenter, Ramadhar Singh, of his valuables prior to picking up the victim and her male friend.

Ramadhar had been thrown out of the bus after he was robbed, the police said.

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Constable Subhash Tomar died of heart attack triggered by internal injuries, postmortem report says

NEW DELHI: The postmortem report on the death of Delhi Police constable Subhash Tomar, who died while on duty during the protest at India Gate against the gang-rape of the 23-year-old girl in a moving bus, says that he died of heart attack triggered by injuries.

Talking to reporters, a spokeman for the Delhi Police on Wednesday quoting from the postmortem said, "Tomar died of myocardial infarction (heart attack) which was precipitated by multiple injuries caused by blunt object(s)."

There had been widespread speculation on the real cause of Tomar's death with the government insisting that he was hit by the protesters, while protesters who were present on the spot and tried to help him said that he collapsed on his own.

Earlier, a journalism student Yogendra, who claimed to be a witness, said constable Subhash Tomar fell down on his own, contradicting police version that he was beaten up by protesters leading to his death.

"I was at India Gate with a female friend who was injured. I saw one policeman who was running after protesters and then suddenly collapsing. We rushed towards him and some policemen were also there. Suddenly, the policemen started running after other protesters.

"So I rushed to a nearby PCR van. They took him to hospital. I also went in the same vehicle. I saw him in hospital and his body didn't have any injuries. He wasn't trampled by a mob, he wasn't assaulted. The claims of police are false. I am surprised to hear that 8 were arrested over Subhash Tomar's death," he claimed.

Doctors at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital said the constable had no major external injury marks when he was brought to the hospital and that he had suffered a heart attack.

"He came in a state of total collapse and our doctors revived him and as he was not stable, we shifted him to the Intensive Care Unit. He was on ventilator," Dr TS Sidhu, medical superintendent of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital said.

He said there was no "major external injury marks except for some cuts and bruises".

Asked whether is it was a case of cardiac arrest, the doctor evaded a direct reply.

"I don't know. That is not my comment. He came, he was in serious shock and we revived him. In all our records, there are no severe internal injuries recorded but the post-mortem will tell everything," he said.

Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party demanded sacking of Delhi police commissioner alleging that the police were misleading people by arresting eight "innocent youth" in connection with the incident.

Reacting to Yogendra's claims, Kejriwal said his account was opposite of what police said. "Is police lying?" he asked.

(With inputs from PTI)

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A museum in west Delhi collects community's local history

NEW DELHI: Delhi is pasted in the tapestry of India's antiquity. It speaks of great kings and queens, invaders, battles fought and forts built. Repositories of the ancient memorabilia are the museums. But in restoring the city's royalty, the common man has been forgotten.

Shadikhampur, an urban village located in west Delhi, has a rich history upheld by its community members. It evidently got lost in the vivid mess of urbanity.

In an initiative to resurface its community's history, Jana Natya Manch,a left-wing theatre group in collaboration with the Ambedkar University of Delhi (AUD) is organizing a neighbourhood museum beginning today.

The exhibition will be put up in Safdar Studio, a part of an adjoining cafe cum bookstore, popularly known as May Day, a cubbyhole for Left-wing idealists and theatre enthusiasts.

The idea was grafted by Surajit Sarkar who works with AUD. The exhibition has been curated by Sarkar and Sudhanva Deshpande, an old associate of Janam and the editor of the publishing house Left Word books.

The scheme of the exhibition is to record the community's local history, attract its dwellers to visit and form a cohesive bond among each other and recount their days of yore.

"It is a bilingual exhibition in which the local residents will be able to watch their own stories and will also interest the other community members to eventually reveal the tales of their forefathers," says Komita Dhanda, coordinator of this project.

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Photographer Bartholomew recreates memories of another day

NEW DELHI: The most distinctive memories of one's life are those that are etched firmly onto a photographic plate and reproduced on a single sheet of paper.

Getting transported into a window of urban landscapes while bringing animation into the world of theatre is precisely what Pablo Bartholomew achieves through his chronicle titled, Calcutta Diaries, that was recently showcased at the Art Heritage Gallery.

A self-taught photographer who uses his camera as a lucrative tool to formulate culturally enriched ideas in a lucid manner, Bartholomew's photo journey focuses predominantly on the years that he spent in Calcutta during the mid-1970's in a quest to explore the crux of identity and society.

The exhibition displayed in four parts — Grandmother, Satyajit Ray, Everyday life, and Chinese community - was retrieved from Calcutta's beloved past and brings out the timelessness of every fragment. All photographs were shot in black and white, with clear tonal contrasts and crude textures.

The first section, The Grandmother Series, has a peculiarly striking image of Pablo's aging grandmother as she walks in her front yard. The snapshot contrasts the perspective of her innocence against the cold setting of the dilapidated framework.

A perfectly-placed vintage car in the vicinity, removes all forms of anonymity that the viewer may possess. Although Pablo's grandmother series may at first come across as in soothing lull, there is an underlying tone of energtic youthfulness that he captures in her enthusiastic actions.

As one trots further into the gallery, the bold and piercing eyes of Satyajit Ray which are intensely arrested in time and space catch one's attention.

Pablo is said to have spent many days on the sets of Ray's films in 1976, working in a close merging environment with young artistic minds.

One such image titled 'Satyajit Ray in his editing room' exudes a playful passion with which Ray, his son, and the crew members soak in the satisfaction of their work. Every image in this particular series holds motion and magnanimity to it.

A set of three cryptic photographs of Ray at his home brings out the simplicity that thrived in his life. Iconic in every sense, a beautiful interplay of light and dark along with the stark geographical imagery of Ray's windows is highlighted by Pablo.

Art house manager Varsha Jain, explains how Pablo tries to capture themes of daily life in Calcutta by contrasting enduring images with politically relevant topics. A half naked peasant sleeps blissfully against political graffiti on the pavement symbolizing the oblivion and harsh destiny that befalls him.

In a very Marxist explanation, she says, "He depicts how ironical the scenario poses to be. The peasant lies as a unchanging backdrop to the larger power struggle in the country." His stills on everyday life are tales of paper toy vendors, sweet shops, the trams across the street, hand drawn rickshaws, and the chaos and actuality of the locals. These photographs depict poverty yet marked by a sense of positive empowerment in his endeavours.

A visitor to the gallery remarks, "These images are incredibly outstanding. He manages to get the depth of field in his work. With great technique and creative flow he manages to capture simple day-to-day activities in such an impacting way."

Pablo's final series of the 'Calcutta diaries' on the second floor of the gallery displays the widespread Chinese community that was prevalent in Calcutta during the 1970's. They are relatively absent now, but he portrays them in their niche with breathtaking passivity.

Photographs include ordinary moments of everyday life: a father and daughter making food at home, a youngster getting his ear pierced, a little Chinese girl sitting pensively on a scooter, a man jumping from one roof to another. Freedom and uninhibited warmth is what we decipher so intensely.

Pablo says, "My engagement with the Haka Chinese community in the Tangra area, this group who lived, owned and ran leather tanneries was my first endeavor to document a community in transition, coming to terms with themselves, closed but proud, and friendly. A way to look into my mixed Indian and Burmese origins."

Art curator, Amal Allana said, "The show strives to recover Pablo's own past through the process of 'accumulation' - a gathering of memories in photographic form and a percolation of life's essential impulses via an assimilation of ones prior existence."

A collection of photographs that transports one into a fantastic period of Calcutta's history, Pablo has made it an impeccable display of raw art through modestly sized and viably entrusting frames. Within the parameters of his frame he manages to grasp all possible intricacies of the past.

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Centre rules out giving control of police to Delhi govt

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday ruled out giving control of the city police to the Delhi government for now, saying the responsibility of law and order in the capital should remain with the central government.

"Successive governments have maintained that the responsibility for law and order in the capital city should remain with the central government. That is the practice in most capitals (across the world)," Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters here after a meeting of the Cabinet.

He was replying to questions on comments by Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit on the issue of control of the Delhi Police, which functions under the Union home ministry.

At the same time, he said this was not the time to debate positions.

"Let us restore normalcy in Delhi. These issues can be flagged for debate," he said.

Chidambaram said the issue of control over the Delhi Police was also debated during his tenure as the Union home minister.

"I felt that this (current) arrangement is an appropriate arrangement," he said.

Chidambaram said some changes were carried out during his tenure by way of involving the lieutenant governor a "little more" and by consulting the chief minister "more often".

"But, if further changes are required, we can look into that. This is not the time to debate these matters," the finance minister said.

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Constable Subhash Tomar had injuries, says postmortem as row rages over death

NEW DELHI: A controversy raged today over the cause of death of constable Subhash Tomar during violent demonstrations last Sunday with eyewitnesses and a government hospital claiming there were no injuries on his person while the postmortem report contradicted these versions.

The Delhi Police late in the evening released excerpts of report of the postmortem done by a board of doctors in the the government Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital, where he died on Tuesday.

Following contradictory versions, Delhi Police asked its crime branch to investigate the case in which murder charges have been invoked.

"Myocardial infarction (cardiac arrest) and its complications that could be precipitated by multiple ante-mortem (before death) injuries to neck and chest produced by blunt force impact," additional commissioner of police (New Delhi) KC Dwivedi said quoting from the report as the cause of 47-year-old Tomar's death.

The Delhi Police statement came on a day when various claims emerged about the cause of Tomar's death with two eye-witnesses claiming that they did not spot any injuries on his person when they tried to revive him after he collapsed near India Gate on Sunday during violent protests against the gang-rape of a girl in a moving bus on December 16.

To add to this, medical superintendent of RML Dr TS Sidhu, said, there were "no major external injury marks except for some cuts and bruises ... In all our records, there are no severe internal injuries recorded but the postmortem will tell everything."

Asked whether it was a case of cardiac arrest, Sidhu said, "I don't know. That is not my comment. He came, he was in serious shock and we revived him. He came in a state of total collapse."

A journalism student Yogendra and his friend Paoline, who have rushed Tomar to the hospital, contradicted police version that the constable was beaten up by protesters leading to his death. He fell down on his own, they said.

Yogendra claimed, "I was at India Gate with a female friend who was injured. I saw one policeman who was running after protesters and then suddenly collapsing. We rushed towards him and some policemen were also there. Suddenly, policemen started running after other protesters.

"So I rushed to a nearby PCR van. They took him to hospital. I also went in the same vehicle. I saw him in hospital and his body didn't have any injuries. He wasn't trampled by a mob, he wasn't assaulted. The claims of police are false. I am surprised to hear that eight were arrested over Tomar's death," Yogendra claimed.

Paolin said she saw him falling down. "We removed his jacket and shoes. I asked whether he can hear me and then I asked him to breathe ... He was sweating profusely and there were no injuries on his body. If we had not been there, he would have been dead on the spot," she said.

Tomar's family refuted the claims of an eyewitness, saying he died after suffering injuries caused in the chaos.

"My father died because of the chaos during the protests at India Gate. Protesters pushed him, they trampled upon him. He had internal injuries. The claims that he did not receive injuries are false," Tomar's son Aditya said.

Tomar's family claimed that the policeman did not have a history of heart problems. "Tomar was attacked by protesters. He did not suffer from any heart-related problems," Tomar's relative Naveen Chaudhary said.

The postmortem report said Tomar's third, fourth and fifth ribs on left side had fractures and there was "mid-calibaculur bleeding" at several places.

Police sources saideffusion of blood was present in tissues and neck muscles and ante-mortem injuries were caused when the body suffered heavy blows from a blunt object.

"He had a lot of injuries. His ribs had fractures. These multiple injuries aggravated his condition and led to cardiac arrest," Dwivedi said.

Asked whether after the postmortem report, police would initiate action against doctors at RML, Dwivedi said he has no comments to offer as investigations were with Crime Branch. "I can't comment on doctors or eyewitnesses comments," he said.

Police have slapped murder charges in the case. Earlier, eight persons, including an activist of Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were arrested on Monday on charges of attempt to murder.

Following the claims of the eye-witnesses, AAP demanded sacking of commissioner Kumar alleging that police was misleading people by arresting eight "innocent youth" in connection with the incident.

Kejriwal said Yogendra's account was opposite of what police said. "Is police lying?" he asked.

AAP chief spokesperson Manish Sisodia alleged police was "politicizing" Tomar's death to cover their mistakes and demanded that Kumar be sacked.

"Delhi Police should have dealt with the matter with sensitivity and honoured the constable's death. But, the police have politicised the death to cover their own mistakes. We feel that the Delhi Police are involved in a conspiracy. The police commissioner should be sacked," he said.

Meanwhile, the Union home ministry has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of Tomar.

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Gang-rape case: Metropolitan magistrate records victim's statement again

NEW DELHI: After controversy erupted over recording of the 23-year-old gang rape victim's statement, her fresh testimony was taken on Tuesday by the metropolitan magistrate, police said.

"A fresh statement of the girl has been recorded by the metropolitan magistrate," a senior police official said.

Controversy erupted over the recording of the victim's statement after Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit complained to home minister Sushilkumar Shinde that senior police officials "interfered" in the process and sought an enquiry.

In a letter to Shinde, Dikshit cited a communication to her by Deputy Commissioner (East) B M Mishra that sub divisional magistrate Usha Chaturvedi claimed that three senior police officers had prevented the video recording of the victim's statement. It was also alleged that the police officers wanted the SDM to use a questionnaire they prepared.

It later turned out to be an open war between Dikshit and Delhi Police, who demanded a probe into the "leakage" of her letter to the home minister.

Delhi Police came out with a strong denial and also demanded a high-level probe into the "leakage" of Dikshit's letter to Shinde.

"We deny the allegations levelled by SDM Usha Chaturvedi. Delhi Police demands a high-level inquiry into the leakage of a top-secret letter written by the chief minister to media," Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said.

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SDM not pressurized, did not make any complaint: Delhi Police chief

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar on Tuesday strongly refuted the charges of police officers trying to pressurize the sub-divisional magistrate who was recording the statement of the gang-rape victim.

Addressing a press conference here, Neeraj Kumar said sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Usha Chaturvedi was briefed by the police before recording the statement because she requested this.

He also questioned why she recorded the statement if she found the atmosphere not right for it.

"If the situation was not suitable for recording the statement, she should not have recorded it," he said.

"She made no complaint to us. Then all of a sudden, we were told a complaint was filed and a copy of the complaint was given to the media. It is very sad, because it can affect the investigation," he said.

He also said that the SDM had initially said she was busy and gave a time of 6pm.

"Later she said there was pressure and so she would now come at 5pm. She came to the Delhi Police headquarters, from where she was escorted (to the hospital) by ACP Vasant Vihar," he said.

Chaturvedi has complained that senior police officials tried to interfere when she recorded the 23-year-old rape victim's statement. The complaint has been sent to the Union home ministry, under whom the Delhi Police come, by chief minister Sheila Dikshit, recommending high-level probe.

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Delhi: 5 Metro stations open to public again, 4 still shut

NEW DELHI: After being shut for three days in the wake of protests over the gang rape incident, all nine Metro stations in Central Delhi were opened for public this evening.

Rajiv Chowk, the busiest station that sees a footfall of 5 lakh a day, Barakhamba Road, Pragati Maidan, Mandi House and Khan Market, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan and Race Course stations were opened for traffic in phases.

All the nine stations, except Rajiv Chowk, had closed their doors for public since Sunday after the Delhi Police asked the DMRC to shut down operations in these stations.

While Rajiv Chowk was open on Sunday, it remained shut yesterday and today.

The metro stations were shut to prevent protesters from reaching India Gate.

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Delhi: 5 Metro stations open to public again, 4 still shut

NEW DELHI: After being shut for three days in the wake of protests over the gang rape incident, all nine Metro stations in Central Delhi were opened for public this evening.

Rajiv Chowk, the busiest station that sees a footfall of 5 lakh a day, Barakhamba Road, Pragati Maidan, Mandi House and Khan Market, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan and Race Course stations were opened for traffic in phases.

All the nine stations, except Rajiv Chowk, had closed their doors for public since Sunday after the Delhi Police asked the DMRC to shut down operations in these stations.

While Rajiv Chowk was open on Sunday, it remained shut yesterday and today.

The metro stations were shut to prevent protesters from reaching India Gate.

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All nine metro stations reopened

NEW DELHI: After being shut for three days in the wake of protests over the gang rape incident, all nine Metro stations in Central Delhi were opened for public this evening.

Rajiv Chowk, the busiest station that sees a footfall of 5 lakh a day, Barakhamba Road, Pragati Maidan, Mandi House and Khan Market, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan and Race Course stations were opened for traffic in phases.

All the nine stations, except Rajiv Chowk, had closed their doors for public since Sunday after the Delhi Police asked the DMRC to shut down operations in these stations.

While Rajiv Chowk was open on Sunday, it remained shut yesterday and today.

The metro stations were shut to prevent protesters from reaching India Gate.

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Most black money outflow from India through exim bill fiddling, says new report

NEW DELHI: Nearly 97 percent of the black money that was illicitly taken out of India to be stashed away in foreign countries was generated through deliberate mispricing in import-export orders, says a startling report recently released by the New York based advocacy organization Global Financial Integrity (GFI).

India lost a staggering $1.6 billion dollars, that is, about Rs. 72,000 crore in 2010 through illegal outflow of funds to foreign countries, the new report has revealed. For the decade 2001 to 2010 the total loss due to such outflows was estimated at $123 billion, or an average of $12.3 billion every year. Of this, nearly $120 billion, that is, 97 percent was due to trade mispricing.

This is a strategy in which an importer declares a higher import value to the customs department than the value of goods recorded by the exporting partner country or, an exporter understates the value of goods exported in relation to the imports recorded in the importing partner country. In either case the balance of funds remains abroad. International trade data reveals this discrepancy when partner trading countries values of goods traded are compared.

The figures released by GFI put India in the 8 ^th place in a ranking of 143 developing countries according to the amounts flowing out. China tops the list with $274 billion average outflow every year between 2001 and 2010. In 2010 China lost 420.4 billion. The developing world as a whole lost $5.9 trillion in the decade.

Illicit outflows from India are much lower in 2009 ($0.28 billion) and 2010 ($1.61 billion) than they were on average for the rest of the decade, according to the GFI report. Dev Kar, lead economist of GFI and co-author of the report told TOI that the fluctuations in illicit outflows from year-to-year are sharp and unpredictable and it is only over a longer period that real trends emerge.

"While a complex mix of macroeconomic, governance, and structural factors are responsible for the cross-border transmission of illicit funds over the long run, they first need to be generated internally as and when overt and covert opportunities present themselves to those willing to take advantage of them," Kar told TOI in response to an emailed query. The Indian figure of $123 billion is actually not the whole amount that was spirited away from the country evading taxation. The estimates provided are likely to be extremely conservative said Dr. Dev Kar.

"They do not include trade mispricing in services, same-invoice trade mispricing, hawala transactions, and dealings conducted in bulk cash," explained Kar, who previously served as a senior economist at the International Monetary Fund. "This means that much of the proceeds of drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other criminal activities, which are often settled in cash, are not included in these estimates."

"If we had reliable figures or estimates on these exclusions, without question our estimates of illicit flows from emerging market and developing countries would be much higher," the report says. Even then, $123 billion is a massive amount of money for the Indian economy to lose said Dr. Dev Kar, GFI Lead Economist and co-author of the report. "It has very real consequences for Indian citizens. (It) could have been used to invest in education, healthcare, and upgrade the nation's infrastructure. Perhaps last summer's electrical blackout would have been avoided if some of this money had remained in India and been used to invest in the nation's power grid," Kar said.

The report-the first by GFI to incorporate a new, more conservative, estimate of illicit financial flows-found that all developing and emerging economies suffered US$858.8 billion in illicit outflows in 2010, just below the all-time high of US$871.3 billion set in 2008-the year preceding the global financial crisis.

Wealth Drain

Illicit Financial Flows (2001 - 2010)
India	$123 billion
China	$2,742 billion
Russia	$152 billion
Brazil	$3.5 billion
South Africa	$84 billion
All developing countries	$5,859 billion

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I was not ordered to return: Delhi's Lt governor Tejender Khanna

NEW DELHI: Delhi's Lt governor Tejender Khanna on Monday denied media reports that he cut short his US visit following a communication from the government.

"I was not ordered to return," Tejender Khanna clarified in a press meet.

Tejender Khanna said that two DCP officers have been asked to give explanation about the Delhi gang rape case. The Lt governor admitted that the Delhi Police failed to perform its duty in this case. The bus with tinted glasses should have been stopped by the police, he said.

Earlier, media reports said Khanna, who was on a personal visit to the US cut short his stay following a communication from the Union home ministry in view of the volatile situation in the capital, and returned on Sunday night.

He held meetings with a number of women groups on Monday morning and assured them all necessary steps to instill confidence among women, which had been shaken following last Sunday's brutal rape in a moving bus here, will be taken.

Khanna has also invited for talks a number of student leaders who are involved in the ongoing protests.

The Delhi Police functions under the Union home ministry and the Police Commissioner reports to the Lt Governor as he is the administrative head of the police force.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Gang rape case: Delhi turns into fortress, 2 ACPs suspended

NEW DELHI: Delhi on Monday turned into a fortress a day after violent protests rocked India Gate which was kept out of bounds for people but protests continued in the city which witnessed traffic mess hassling office-goers, students and others.

As the outrage continued over the December 16 gang rape of a 23-year-old student, police said chargesheet will be filed "within a week" in the case even as two assistant commissioners of police were suspended and explanations sought from two DCPs on why the crime could not be prevented.

In a fresh appeal for peace, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured that government will look into delay in response in the gan grape case as also all aspects concerning the security of women while asking people to desist from violence.

Cutting short his visit to the US, Delhi Lt governor tejinder Khanna returned to the capital and held discussions with senior police officials and women's groups to chalk out a plan for improving safety of women in the capital.

"We have suspended two ACPs Mohan Singh Dabas (traffic) and Yagram (PCR). I have instructed the police commissioner to seek explanation from DCPs Premnath (traffic) and Satbir Kataria (PCR) and will decide on further action after that," he told reporters.

The condition of the victim has deteriorated and she remained in a critical condition at Safdarjung Hospital, doctors said. "She is still in a critical condition and not out of danger," doctors said.

Security personnel kept Rajpath, the stretch linking India Gate and Raisina Hill leading to Rashtrapati Bhavan, locked down with barricades and heavy deployment of personnel with riot-gear besides disallowing traffic on Rajpath and closing down nine Delhi Metro stations.

It was chaos on roads as police restricted vehicular movement around India Gate leading to huge traffic jams in central Delhi, including near ITO, Mathura Road and roads leading to the VIP areas.

At Jantar Mantar, a number of protesters gathered to demand speedy punishment for the criminals involved in the gang rape but no violence was reported.

Today's protests appeared muted as police did not allow anybody to reach near India Gate or Raisina Hill, which saw pitched battles between security forces and protesters on Sunday leaving around 150 injured from both sides.

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Delhi gang rape case: Victim's condition very serious, doctors say

NEW DELHI: The condition of the 23-year-old gang rape victim deteriorated on Monday with doctors saying that she is "not as good" as on Sunday.

"Her condition has deteriorated... She is very serious, very critical and still not out of danger," one of the doctors attending to her at Safdarjung Hospital said.

Dr B D Athani, medical superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital, said last night, the victim developed tendency for internal bleeding and now she has reduced capacity for coagulation.

"Her bilirubin level has decreased to 5.5 and her lycolyte count is 6000. These parameters are after supplementation of platelet. She continues to remain on ventilator. She is not as good as yesterday and she is para sick. She is running fever of 102 to 104," he said.

This is because of sepsis and it is a matter of "serious concern", he said.

"The victim was subjected to psychiatric counselling today. Her parents were also given counselling. In that, it was found that the victim was relatively composed and that she neither showed anxiety or depression," Athani said.

The paramedical student, who was gang raped last Sunday night in a moving bus here, was also administered another four bottles of platelet-rich plasma.

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Delhi Metro starts eight-coach service

NEW DELHI: Commuters on the Jahangirpuri-HUDA City Centre corridor can heave a sigh of relief as Delhi Metro has inducted its first-ever eight-coach trains on Monday, which would provide more space and save the commuters from the perennial jostling.

"The first two eight-coach trains started functioning at 11.30am today. The eight-coach trains were introduced to mark the completion of 10 years of its operations in Delhi," a Delhi Metro official said.

According to Delhi Metro officials, the eight-coach trains will have a capacity of carrying about 2,400 commuters, or nearly 300 passengers in each coach.

"Out of 68 eight-coach trains, 37 will ply on the Yellow Line (Jahangirpuri-HUDA City Centre) and 31 on the Blue Line (Dwarka Sec-21 to Noida City Centre/Vaishali) ... these will be inducted in a phased manner," the official said.

Delhi Metro has also decided to reserve more seats for senior citizens and the disabled.

"Four additional seats will be earmarked for senior citizens and physically challenged people in the coach having train operator's cabin and eight seats in the middle coaches," the Metro official said.

At present, the six and four-coach trains have four seats reserved for the aged and the disabled in each car of a train.

Delhi Metro has also initiated programmes like exhibitions, quiz contests, and sale of commemorative smart cards, which will go on till December 31.

Due to protests in the city, DMRC has postponed its ten-year anniversary celebrations, which were supposed to be held on Monday at Rajiv Chowk.

The new age transport system had scheduled a programme on Monday to celebrate completion of 10 years of its operations in the capital, with union urban development minister Kamal Nath and Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit slated to take part.

The Delhi Metro normally makes over 2,700 trips a day, covering about 70,000 km and carrying around 1.8 million passengers on weekdays.

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Delhi gang rape case: Police drive away protesters from India Gate

NEW DELHI: Delhi police and paramilitary personnel on Sunday evening fired teargas shells and repeatedly used batons to drive away protesters from the India Gate, TV channels reported.

Earlier, the heart of the Indian capital turned into a battle zone on Sunday as thousands massed to denounce the brutal gang rape of a young woman, with clashes between police and protesters leaving many injured.

By early evening, three huge bonfires had been lit near India Gate, a World War I monument whose lawns have been besieged by thousands since a 23-year-old was raped in a moving bus, leaving her battling for life.

The more frenzied ones uprooted wooden barricades erected for the January 26 Republic Day crowd control and set them on fire.

Witnesses said several people, including security personnel, were injured.

But even as a section of the vast crowd indulged in violence, breaking police barricades and overturning a handful of vehicles, the mass of young men and women remained peaceful.

Many of them held hand-written posters and waved Indian flags. Some gave fiery speeches.

Unlike Saturday's equally massive protests, many middle-aged also poured in Sunday, urging the government to amend laws so that rapists get heavier punishment.

The violence subsided after some 90 minutes of running battles during which crowds charged at security forces around India Gate and retreated in the face of teargas and batons.

"We hope these protests wake up the government," said Rakesh Kumar, a businessman in south Delhi who was at the site with his wife and two young daughters.

The younger protesters were more militant and angry.

Pallavi, a 25-year-old working for a multinational, said: "The government is sleeping... The law against rape must be stronger and should be implemented properly."

Delhi University student Hemant said the protests would continue "until we are assured that girls are safe in Delhi".

The foggy and chilly Sunday began on a quiet note at the protest venue, with only a small group who had spent the night present. By early morning, crowds began to pour in, shouting slogans.

The initials slogans, mainly condemning the December 16 rape, later turned anti-police.

Having barricaded all the roads leading to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and government offices close by, security forces sprayed water and fired teargas at the crowds demanding death to the rapists.

Prohibitory orders banning the assembly of five or more people were clamped in parts of the city centre in a bid to prevent the demonstrators from marching to the presidential palace or Prime Minister's Office.

The continuing protests over the rape -- the victim is in critical condition at the Safdarjung Hospital -- found their echo in the political circles.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday promised a group of young people that speedy action would be taken against the accused and they would also be charged with attempt to murder.

This was her second meeting with some of the protesters.

A huge crowd had camped out outside her 10 Janpath residence on Saturday night. To the surprise of many, she came out past midnight, sat with them and spoke for some 20 minutes.

The day's protests also drew political activists. But most appeared to be people with no particular affiliation.

Amid all this, yoga guru Ramdev reached the Jantar Mantar protest site also in the city centre standing atop a bus. Later, many of his supporters made their way to India Gate shouting slogans.

Earlier, police evicted protesters from near India Gate but succeeded only partially.

Many young men and women were grabbed and forcibly led away towards parked buses. But many slipped through.

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit appealed for calm but said she did not approve of police action against the young.

Authorities shut eight Delhi Metro stations but that seemed to have no impact on the crowds.

(With inputs from IANS)

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Delhi gang rape case: Victim put on ventilator again

NEW DELHI: The 23-year-old gang rape victim was again put on ventilator on Sunday after doctors subjected her to various tests as her condition continued to be critical.

The victim, a para-medical student who is battling for life at Safdurjung Hospital here, was off ventilator since Friday but due to some respiratory problems she was put on ventilator again on Sunday evening.

"We are subjecting her to all examinations and procedures. She continues to be critical," Dr B D Athani, medical superintendent of Safdurjung Hospital, said .

The girl's family members said that she was put on ventilator in the evening after doctors diagnosed "some problem".

Doctors had said on Saturday that the rape victim is psychologically "composed and optimistic" about her future and has started communicating.

They had also said they are keeping the patient on high doses of antibiotics and high standards of hygiene -- two important factors for preventing infection.

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Delhi gang rape case: Constable critically injured in clashes at India Gate

NEW DELHI: A constable is battling for life in a government hospital after he was critically injured in violence at India Gate where people were protesting the gang rape of a young girl in a moving bus here.

"Constable Subhash Tomar is fighting for his life," Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said .

Protesters and police were clashing continuously at India Gate during the day. Doctors said the constable has suffered critical injuries.

Several other policemen were also injured in the incident.

Around 100 protesters, including media personnel, were also injured in violence.

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Delhi gang rape case: Violence at India Gate, hooligans 'hijack' protests

NEW DELHI: Hooligans and some political elements on Sunday hijacked the peaceful protests in the Capital over the gang rape of a young girl resulting in violence and attacks against public property and police, which retaliated with teargas and water cannons that led to injuries to persons on both sides.

Police said one additional DCP, an ACP and a constable were seriously injured in the violence as protests at the Central Vista entered the third day prompting clamping of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in New Delhi district banning the assembly of four or more persons.

The Vista is the 3-km broad avenue from India Gate that leads to Raisina hill where the PMO, Rastrapati Bhawan and home ministry among other offices are located.

The constable identified as Subash Tomar was admitted to RML hospital and reported to be in a critical condition, Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar said.

Around 100 protesters and some media personnel were also injured in the violence, police said.

Police also resorted to lathicharge and lobbed around 150 teargas shells to disperse the protesters.

Special commissioner of police (law and order) Dharmendra Kumar blamed "hooligans" for the violence during protests against the gang rape of 23- year-old girl in a moving bus last Sunday night and said unruly elements have "hijacked" peaceful demonstrations.

Delhi Police in its report to Union home ministry said that some "vested interests" had joined the protesters and were instigating violence.

Protesters led by yoga guru Ramdev and former Army chief V K Singh clashed with police at Jantar Mantar on Sunday afternoon when they were prevented from marching towards India Gate.

Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia sat on a dharna near Hyderabad House on Ashoka Road, close to India Gate.

The youth outfit of BJP also took part in the protests. Dharmendra Kumar disclosed that a former Chief Justice of India will constitute the Commission of Inquiry which will go into the gang rape incident, lapses by police and measures to be taken to ensure safety of women in Delhi and other parts of the country.

The girl was again put on ventilator after doctors at Safdarjung hospital subjected her to various tests as her condition continued to be critical.

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Dikshit meets Shinde on law and order situation in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Sunday met Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde for a review of the law and order situation in the capital.

Dikshit drove to Shinde's residence immediately after presiding over an emergency Delhi Cabinet meeting which expressed serious concerns about the prevailing situation.

The Cabinet discussed the situation prevailing in the city following violent protests at India Gate against the gang rape of a young girl in a moving bus last Sunday.

Sources said the Cabinet felt that concrete measures must be taken to instill confidence among woman in the city.

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Delhi gang rape case: Victim gives statement to SDM

NEW DELHI: The 23-year-old gang-rape victim on Saturday recorded her statement before a sub-divisional magistrate about the December 16 incident.

The young paramedical student, who is in a critical condition at Safdarjung Hospital here on Saturday "told the SDM about the entire incident", said a police official, adding that her statement is now admissible in court.

The woman was tortured and subjected to brutal gang-rape last Sunday night on a moving private bus when she and a male friend were going home after catching a film.

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Delhi gang rape case: Victim gives statement to SDM

NEW DELHI: The 23-year-old gang-rape victim on Saturday recorded her statement before a sub-divisional magistrate about the December 16 incident.

The young paramedical student, who is in a critical condition at Safdarjung Hospital here on Saturday "told the SDM about the entire incident", said a police official, adding that her statement is now admissible in court.

The woman was tortured and subjected to brutal gang-rape last Sunday night on a moving private bus when she and a male friend were going home after catching a film.

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Massive protests over Delhi gang rape, PM meets Shinde

NEW DELHI: Police fired teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge and use of water cannons on Saturday to disperse thousands of people who had gathered at Raisina Hill close to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to protest against the gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman in a bus six days ago.

But the government said it was already acting on the protesters' demands and appealed for calm.

Some of the protesters, who were injured in the police action, were taken to a hospital.

Police first used water cannons to disperse the crowd but as the protesters did not budge, they used teargas shells and wielded sticks.

Policemen were seen chasing people, many of them students. Some protesters resorted to stone-pelting too.

As the people reassembled, police again used water cannons to disperse them.

Apart from Raisina Hill, protesters had converged at India Gate too.

Minister of state for home RPN Singh said police had been asked to exercise maximum restraint and the government was acting on people's demands.

The minister told a news channel that police could not allow people to break barricades and enter government buildings.

Calling for calm, he said there was no police action at places where protesters were peaceful.

Some people, he said, were trying to make it an unruly mob.

"I'm not justifying use of teargas," RPN Singh said but added that there were attempts to break barricades in the sensitive area close to the President's house and other key government offices.

"Government is hearing them (the protesters) loud and clear," he said.

Police would seek maximum punishment for the guilty in the gang rape case and strict steps were being taken to ensure safety of women, he added.

Police have arrested all the six accused in the case.

The rape victim is currently battling for her life in a hospital here.

RPN Singh said the government was willing to talk to the people but the protest should be orderly.

But the protesters, which included school students, lambasted police action and said they would stay put.

"We were protesting in a peaceful manner. They started beating us. Is this democracy? We are just demanding a strong law," Ritika, a college student, said.

"We are not afraid of police action. We'll come here daily till we get justice," said Ruchi, another student.

"Why teargas shells; why lathicharge; why water cannons? We are students, not terrorists. Why so much police here; why don't they stand on the road to stop crime?" she added.

Protestors were carrying posters and banners.

"My tight top, high heels are not an invitation," read one poster.

Another read: "Law of zero tolerance for rapists."

The protesters started arriving at India Gate since early morning and were joined by former army chief Gen VK Singh.

They then began marching towards the high-security Rashtrapati Bhavan on Raisina Hill but were stopped by security personnel, who had put up barricades.

Outrage has been swelling across the country after the woman was tortured and subjected to brutal gang rape in a moving private bus on December 16 in Delhi while she and a male friend were going home after watching a film.

PM MEETS HOME MINISTER

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday directed home minister Sushilkumar Shinde to ensure sense of security in Delhi and see that incidents like last Sunday's gang rape do not recur.

The directive came when Shinde called Singh to brief him on the situation in the aftermath of the gang-rape incident, sources said.

Shinde told the Prime Minister that he was personally monitoring the situation.

Sources said the Prime Minister told Shinde that he should ensure a sense of security in the capital, whose law and order is the direct responsibility of the home minister.

Singh asked Shinde to take all measures to see that there is no recurrence of the incidents like the recent gang rape of 23-year-old girl who was also brutally assaulted by the six accused.

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Arrest of six gang rape accused painstaking operation: Police

NEW DELHI: The six accused in the brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old woman here were arrested following a "painstaking and meticulous operation", Delhi Police said on Saturday.

"We have arrested all the six accused involved in the Sunday's rape incident. It was a painstaking and meticulous operation... our team has done a good work," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chhaya Sharma told media persons here.

Police also said that the victim, who is admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital, gave her statement to a sub-divisional magistrate.

"She was very eager to give the statement and was happy to hear that all the accused were caught," Sharma said.

Outrage has been swelling across the country after the woman was tortured and subjected to brutal gang-rape in a moving private bus Dec 16 in Delhi while she and a male friend were going home after watching a film.

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Delhi rape: Sonia seeks swift action, protests continue

NEW DELHI: As protests over the horrendous gang rape incident intensified, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking for swift and immediate action in the case.

She also wanted the Prime Minister to ask the home minister to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to protect the victim, who is undergoing treatment in a city hospital.

With the incident fuelling widespread outrage, Gandhi is learnt to have stressed for "action with immediate effect". Her telephonic conversation with the Prime Minister follows two strongly-worded letters from her to home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Delhi chief minister Shiela Dikshit on December 18.

In her letter to Shinde, the Congress president had said "It is a shame for us, who are responsible for the security of our cities that a young woman can be raped in a moving bus in the capital of the country and flung on to the street."

She had also noted with concern that it was a "matter of shame" that such incidents happen with painful regularity.

Gandhi had also visited the Safdarjung Hospital the same day to inquire about the condition of the 23-year-old victim, who was in a critical state, after Sunday night's incident.

In the letters, Gandhi had sought "strictest possible measures" to ensure that there is no recurrence of such a barbaric crime.

The Congress leader said in her letter to Dikshit that "such violence and criminality needs not only to be condemned, it calls for a concerted effort to fight it."

Describing the incident as a "monstrous crime", Gandhi said this deserves not only universal condemnation but also the "Government's most urgent attention".

"It is imperative that the police and other agencies concerned are sensitised to the dangers that our daughters, sisters and mothers face everyday. The security agencies must be motivated, trained and equipped to deal with the menace. I hope you will initiate immediate action to remedy the situation," Gandhi told the home minister.

Meanwhile, sustained protests over the gang rape of the 23-year-old paramedical student erupted in Raisina Hill, the seat of power, as thousands of youth clashed with police undeterred by the repeated use of water cannons, teargas shells and baton charge.

Demonstrators comprising girls and boys gathered right from the morning at India Gate and marched to Raisina Hill where Rashtrapati Bhavan and Prime Minister's Office are located.

The looked a battle ground as their repeated attempts to break the barricades and reach Rashtrapati Bhavan invited at least six rounds of spraying of water jets, teargassing and cane charging, injuring around 30 protesters.

Some policemen were also injured in the throwing of stones and other missiles at them. Police vehicles were also damaged in the violence.

As high-drama played out at the Vijay Chowk, near Parliament House, political parties condemned the police action and demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh make a statement.

The Prime Minister called home minister Sushilkumar Shinde to his house and discussed a series of steps to ensure safety of women in the capital and to ensure that swift justice was meted out to the criminals involved in the bestial act on Sunday night.

The protesters fought pitched battles with the police through out the day. Reinforcements were rushed as the Rapid Action Force joined in attempts to contain the situation.

As the dusk fell, candlelight marches were taken at the India Gate, the scene of protests in the last few days.

The protest at the Raisina Hill had turned violent in the evening when a group of protesters pelted stones and threw water bottles at police who used force and resorted to lobbing teargas at them, injuring many.

At around 5:30 pm, students protesting against the gangrape clashed with police near the VVIP gate of Parliament here following which personnel used force to disperse them.

With night settling in, it was complete chaos at Raisina Hills as people ran helter-skelter. Some policemen were seen throwing back stones at protesters.

Meanwhile, the 23-year-old gangrape victim has given a "fearless and bold" statement before a magistrate about the brutal assault on Sunday night and wants her tormentors to be swiftly brought to justice.

The statement was recorded before a Sub-Divisional Magistrate by the girl at the Intensive Care Unit of the Safdarjung Hospital where she has been undergoing number of surgeries and medication since her admission there on Sunday night.

Delhi Police said the girl's statement corroborates with the version of her male friend who was also assaulted brutally by six men inside a moving bus on Sunday last.

"We are continuously in touch with her parents. She is stable and she got her statement recorded in the presence of a Sub-Divisional Magistrate. She has given a fearless and bold statement. It corroborates with what her male friend has told us," Chhaya Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South, said.

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HC slams Delhi Police for being 'evasive' in rape report

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Friday slammed the police for being "evasive" in its probe status report in providing details of its officers on patrol duty in the area covered by the bus in which a young paramedical girl was gang-raped for about 40 minutes.

"In the (earlier) order, the police commissioner was also directed to file a report giving details of the police officers patrolling in the area and the action taken in this aspect.

"On this aspect a report is filed... We have gone through the report and we are not convinced. None of the details of the police officers have been mentioned," a bench headed by Chief Justice D Murugesan said.

The court expressed its unhappiness and said, "We make it clear such a report, giving all the details, be filed without any delay."

The bench, also comprising Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, made the observation after perusing the status report filed by Delhi Police through its DCP Chhaya Sharma in pursuance of the earlier order by which the court had taken suo moto cognizance of the incident.

The hearing commenced with the court posing a query as to why the report was "evasive" about the details of the police officers who were on patrolling duty during the time when the girl was sexually assaulted and beaten for about 40 minutes in a moving bus on Sunday night.

During the hearing, Justice Murugesan expressed his anguish and said, "It is an evasive report. You have not given any detail of police officers who were on duty. We will write in our order that a comprehensive report is not filed."

Najmi Waziri, appearing for the city police, tried to pacify the bench saying "I agree that more details should have come before the court. Entire bureaucracy is seized of the matter and our primary focus is to investigate the case."

He assured the bench that a more elaborate report will be filed later.

The court has now fixed the matter for further hearing on January 9.

The bench had on December 19 taken suo motu cognisance of the gang rape incident and had decided to monitor its probe by directing police to carry a "high standard" investigation and file the chargesheet only after the court's perusal.

"Nobody is safe," the court had said noting that such incidents repeatedly happen in the city.

It had asked the police how the bus, having tinted glasses, kept plying on busy roads for 40 minutes and the sexual assault remained undetected.

The court had directed the Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar to file a status report within two days giving all details.

During today's hearing, the court directed the Delhi Government to look into the lack of infrastructure and other facility at Central Forensice Science Laboratory(CFSL).

"We are informed that there is no director at the CFSL and there are two deputy directors in the CFSL who are not competent and leads to delay of one to two years in the investigation.

"Evidence is lost. They don't accept any sample as there is shortage of chemicals also. If it is so, then please rectify it immediately," the bench said.

The court, however, disallowed the plea of a woman lawyer that the 23-year-old girl be shifted to Apollo Hospital here.

"As far as this request is concerned, we have already noted in our previous order that the victim, if possible be shifted to a super speciality hospital for the best treatment," it said.

The court allowed the submission of Waziri that the report be kept in sealed cover as it contains crucial and sensitive information relating to the ongoing probe in the case.

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Infection could spread in Delhi rape victim: Doctors

NEW DELHI: The 23-year-old Delhi gang-rape victim was "stable" but there was a danger of infection spreading in her body in the next few days, a doctor said here Friday adding that the infection hasn't "flared up" as of now.

"Her WBC (white blood cell) count is 1,500 which is low and this means that she is less immune to infections... These are early signs of sepsis," B.D. Athani, medical superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital, told reporters here.

Sepsis is a potentially deadly medical condition characterised by a whole-body inflammatory state caused by severe infection.

"To fight the infection, we are administering antibiotics to the patient. We are also maintaining the highest levels of hygiene in her ward. I request members of the public to try and not visit the victim's ward, so that its level of hygiene is maintained," he added.

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Infection spreading in Delhi rape victim: Doctors

NEW DELHI: The 23-year-old Delhi gang-rape victim was "stable" but there was a danger of infection spreading in her body in the next few days, a doctor said here Friday adding that the infection hasn't "flared up" as of now.

"Her WBC (white blood cell) count is 1,500 which is low and this means that she is less immune to infections... These are early signs of sepsis," B.D. Athani, medical superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital, told reporters here.

Sepsis is a potentially deadly medical condition characterised by a whole-body inflammatory state caused by severe infection.

"To fight the infection, we are administering antibiotics to the patient. We are also maintaining the highest levels of hygiene in her ward. I request members of the public to try and not visit the victim's ward, so that its level of hygiene is maintained," he added.

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Did not have courage to meet gang rape victim: Sheila Dikshit

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday admitted that she did not have the courage to meet the victim of a brutal gang rape in hospital and also that she is unhappy with Delhi being labelled as India's rape capital.

Dikshit, India's longest-serving woman chief minister, also said that her "hands are tied" regarding law and order as it does not fall under the Delhi government.

Delhi has reported over 600 cases of rape this year, according to police.

Dikshit said the rape of a 23-year-old woman by six men five days ago "has touched the pinnacle of cruelty and insensitivity both by police and society". Her comments come as widespread protests have broken out in the capital and in other places over the gang rape.

"I frankly did not have the courage to see her, I only met her parents and doctors. It would not have been right to break down in front of her parents. The incident has touched the pinnacle of cruelty and insensitivity both by police and society," Dikshit told a news channel.

"This case is the most painful thing I have seen happening as chief minister or a citizen."

On Delhi being labelled as "rape capital", the chief minister said: "I do not like my city being described as rape capital but it is out in the open that it has become one. I have a daughter and daughter-in-law. I am concerned about all girls in the city."

On her government's role with regard to the law and order situation, she said: "I do feel my hands are tied because law and order is not under me (Delhi government). Unfortunately I do not have the police under me...if police were under me I would have suspended a few policemen. The buck stops with the police commissioner and (Delhi's) Lt. Governor. I have not had a word with the Lt.Governor (Tejendra Khanna) yet , he is not here," she said.

Dikshit also said her government is striving to make Delhi a safer place for women,

"We need to strive towards a situation where girls do not need to be escorted. Where people think of a girl, irrespective of her attire, as sacrosanct. I will not make false promises but I am striving to make it better," Dikshit said.

Dikshit said her government has decided to bring out a draft bill, which would act as a deterrent to crime.

"We called NGOs and police a few days back and decided to make a draft bill, a bill which acts as a deterrent. Once it is made we will send it to the centre," she said.

Hundreds of people have rallied in protest in the capital in the five days since the incident.

On Friday, protesters converged outside the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the president's official residence, demanding action against the rapists. On earlier days, protesters had shouted slogans outside the residence of Dikshit, the police headquarters, Jantar Mantar and India Gate.

The victim, a physiotherapist intern at a private hospital, is still critical. Her intestines had to be removed due to the brutality of the torture she was subjected to by the rapists.

The rape and torture occurred Sunday night, when the woman and her male friend boarded a private bus in south Delhi after watching a movie. She was brutally assaulted by six men while her male friend, who tried to save her, was also beaten up by the rapists.

Both victims were stripped and dumped by the roadside near the domestic airport, after the nearly 40-minute ordeal in a moving bus.

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