Dhaula Kuan gangrape: Verdict likely tomorrow

29 Nov, 2009  PTI

NEW DELHI: More than four years after a Delhi University girl was allegedly abducted and gangraped in a moving car here, a city court is likely to pronounce its verdict on Monday against the lone arrested accused.

Additional Sessions Judge N K Gupta, on the conclusion of final arguments in the sensational case, had fixed the case for pronouncement of verdict on November 30.

The 20-year-old student of DU, hailing from Mizoram, was abducted at around 2.15 am on May 8, 2005 from Dhaula Kuan here when she was walking back home after buying food from a roadside eatery and was raped by four accused in a moving car, the prosecution had said.

The victim, who was later dumped near a Gurudwara in South Delhi, was accompanied by a friend who, however, managed to flee from the clutches of the accused.

Police, however, could arrest only one of the accused -- Ajit Singh Katiyar. The other three accused -- Danda, Jat and Tappe -- evaded arrest and were later declared proclaimed offender during the trial.

The prosecution, on September 9, concluded examination of witnesses with the recording of testimony of investigating officer (IO) Seema Singh as 31st witness.

Katiyar's counsel Manoj Sharma also examined three witnesses and claimed a frame-up alleging that the girl and policemen of Delhi Cantt police station gave contradictory statements regarding the offence and arrest of the accused.

‘Education Is More Important Than Right To Life’

Manipur is boiling in the aftermath of a TEHELKA exposé. TUSHA MITTAL questions Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on his inaction

Photo: SHAILENDRA PANDEY

Thousands of students in Manipur are boycotting schools to protest the fake encounter exposed by TEHELKA. They say the right to life is more important than the right to education and allege that the state does not guarantee them the right to life. Do you think any of their concerns are legitimate?
No. Education is more important than right to life. But the right to life is equally important. It is our responsibility to protect people's lives. We have already had the first round of talks with student organisations and are trying our best to resolve this.

Reports indicate that there have been more than 200 fake encounters in 2009.
That is totally wrong. We ordered a magisterial inquiry immediately after the July 23 incident. We looked at the sentiments of the people after the TEHELKA exposé and met their demands. If the findings and report of the inquiry are not satisfactory, we have no problem handing it over to the CBI. Whoever is found guilty will not be spared.

But the people have more faith in the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC). Why is your government trying to scuttle MHRC'S own inquiry?
We have already started one inquiry under the Commission of Inquiry Act. What is the problem? Is there any difference between this inquiry and that of the MHRC?

The MHRC inquiry began a month before the State's judicial inquiry. Why did you ask the Gauhati High Court for a stay order on MHRC?
If their approach is wrong, how can we accept it? We challenged it in the High Court because our legal expert said that their approach is wrong.

A few hours after the July 23 killing, you stated that Sanjit was an armed militant. After the TEHELKA photographs were published, you admitted you had been misinformed. Could it be the same for other cases?
I don't have any comments to make on Sanjit's killing. Let the judicial inquiry finish and people will know who is responsible. We do not allow or accept any fake encounters.

The Manipur DGP has challenged the veracity of the TEHELKA photographs. He says they are not authentic.
Let us wait until the inquiry report is out.

Instead of being on the back foot, why can't the government own up to its mistake and show that it is willing to make amends?
Let the experts decide whether TEHELKA's photographs are correct. We are not experts. I'm saying that the photographs are wrong. But it needs to be confirmed. Nowadays a lot of advanced equipment is available.

 

The nexus between the politicians, police and the militants in Manipur is no secret. In a recent raid, militants were found sitting in a Congress MLA's house. I have appealed to all my colleagues. We will take legal action if there is any specific information of nexus with underground militants. We will immediately withdraw their personal security. So you accept that such a nexus exists? Earlier it did. We have arrested some underground militants from official bungalows. It is not happening anymore? We hope so.

From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 6, Issue 48, Dated December 05, 2009

Mega dams possible in NE: expert

Ajit Patowary
GUWAHATI, Nov 28 – Mega dams in the NE region are possible.
Technology these days has advanced so much that there can't be any
reason as to why apprehensions should be there on such dams in any
part of the earth. This answer came from renowned earthquake engineer
of the country Prof DK Paul, president of the Indian Society of
Earthquake Technology (ISET), to a question on the issue following an
expert lecture organised by the Guwahati chapter of the ISET here last
evening. Prof Paul delivered the lecture on 'Retrofitting the
Buildings Vulnerable to Earthquakes'.

Explaining his point on the mega dams, Prof Paul said, big investments
would give big returns. Dams are built in high-seismic zones nowadays.
What is important in this case is that such structures should be
designed and executed properly, he said.

Prof Paul is also the chairman of the Working Committee of Experts for
Vulnerability Analysis and Risk Management of the National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA).

He said in reply to another question, that high-rise buildings are
possible even in high-seismic areas like Guwahati or Assam. From the
earthquake point of view, height of the buildings is not a problem.
Japan and Taiwan, for instance, have high-rise buildings.

There should not be any inhibition on high-rise structures. Technology
has so advanced today that such structures are possible everywhere, he
maintained.

On the issue of seismic surveys proposed and carried out respectively
by the Oil India Ltd and the ONGCL respectively on the bed of the
Brahmaputra and near the archaeologically important monuments, he said
that any study for better understanding of the condition should be
allowed.

In reply to a question on the non-inclusion of the suggestions of
experts engaged in the preparation of the seismic micro-zonation
report for Guwahati, in the city master plan prepared by the Guwahati
Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), he said that unless an
expert committee was constituted, such recommendations could not be
implemented. He admitted that there was a big gap in executing the
recommendations and making the recommendations. This should be
removed, he said.

It needs mention here that Prof Paul, the present Head of the Centre
of Excellence in Disaster Mitigation and Management, IIT, Roorkee,
also headed the expert group that prepared the micro-zonation report
for Guwahati, as its chairman.

On the issue of earthquake prediction, Prof Paul said that he did not
believe in such predictions. "Whether you predict or fail to predict
an earthquake, you will have to live in the same house in which you
are living with your family.

"Therefore, the point is to make the structure of your house safe, so
that you can live in it safely. Prediction of an earthquake is not a
solution to your problem," Prof Paul said assertively. The questions
were asked during the interactive session that followed the lecture.

Prof Paul, while delivering his lecture, praised the building
structures of Assam, saying that buildings here are mostly constructed
adhering to the safety standards, compared to the buildings in other
parts of the country.

Senior engineers like Indrajit Barua, present in the function,
supported the views expressed by Prof Paul on the above issues.

Prof Swami Saran, Prof Emeritus of the Department of Earthquake
Engineering, IIT, Roorkee also addressed the function. Guwahati ISET
chairman Prof G Sarma, its General Secretary J N Khataniar and Dr
Biswajit Sarma also addressed the gathering.

The function was also attended, among others, by Dr Utsav Kalita,
former Professor of IIT, Guwahati, Dr S K Deb, Head of the Department
of Civil Engineering, IIT, Guwahati and Prof Dulal Goswami of Gauhati
University.

The ISET, Guwahati chapter was set up in 2001 with the aim to provide
a common platform to engineers working in various fields and to make
the people aware of the technological advancements made in dealing
with earthquakes.(AT)

DoNER directs NE on student security

Dimapur | November 26 : The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has asked the resident commissioners of the north eastern states in Delhi to prepare publicity plans for their respective states on the 'North East Connect.' The North East Connect is a cell launched by the ministry to cater to security issues of north eastern students and youths based in Delhi.
According to a note today, a meeting was held at Sikkim Bhavan on November 23 with officials of the Ministry of DoNER and several decisions were taken. The resident commissioners are to publicize through the local Media in the respective states about the Do's and Don'ts for students and youth of the state and precautions to be taken before leaving for Delhi and during their stay at Delhi. The RCs will also prepare a directory of the youths or students of the respective state staying in Delhi to facilitate coordination. It was informed that the Ministry of DoNER will bear the expenses for the stated activities.
The activities of North East Connect will be in accordance with the Zero Tolerance Policy adopted by DoNER, which will act as a facilitator and coordinator with the respective law enforcing bodies and students of the NE region. This will be done through offices of the RCs and students' bodies and citizen bodies of the NER within Delhi/NCR, the note informed.

 

Morung Express News

Eight North East Boys Beaten in Gurgaon by Landlord, Two Seriously Injured Racial Attack Continues in National Capital Regions

For Immediate Release

Eight North East Boys Beaten in Gurgaon by Landlord, Two Seriously Injured

Racial Attack Continues in National Capital Regions

 

New Delhi, November 26, 2009

 

Racial Discrimination never ends to North East people in Delhi and National Capital Region. The matter has been put up to high level of police authorities and government heads. Still the crime continues and north east people brutalised. Eight boys from North East India are brutally beaten by property owner at Sikanderpur, Gurgaon, Harayana today afternoon at around 3 PM. The rented rooms are locked by the house owner and boys and girls forced out without any shelter.

 

According to source reaching to North East Support Centre & Helpline, Mr. Guddu S/o Ramher Yadam, a resident of Sikanderpur attacked on two northeast boys living in his rented house. Mr Guddu gather his neighbouring friends and started attacking other North East boys living in surrounding rented rooms. They punched on face, kicked on chase, chased them and fled to neighbouring homes and none came to rescue them. Two of them severely injured bleeding from mouth and nose.

As soon as the matter was brought to the notice of North East Support Centre & Helpline, Spokes person Mr. Madhu Chadnra contacted Mr. Anil Dawal – Deputy Commissioner of Police – Crime Branch Gurgaon, who was on his office trip to Rajasthan. The same was informed to Sub-Inspector Naresh Kumar of Crime Branch who informed SHO of DLP Phase 2 Police Station. The victims are taken to police station, no medication attention is provided until filing of this report. The written complaint is submitted to the concern police station. Mr. Naresh has assured North East Support Centre & Helpline to book the culprit repeatedly.

 

The victims informed North East Support Centre & Helpline after submitting the written complaint in local police station that police is bringing the culprits and negotiating the compromised. This is the shame on police part, which has played this dirty game of delay and reluctant to take the complaint and book the culprits according to the law of the land. The very mindset of police is sole responsibility of such repeated crimes on northeast people. Failure to take the law on the culprits has given wrong signal to commit the crimes. Until and unless, police perform their duty irrespective of people and communities, northeast people in Delhi and NCR will continue to suffer. All the promises from Prime Minister of India, Home Minister, Delhi Chief Minister remind just in air and not materialise any of their commitment, in spite of the fact that racial discrimination face by the community has reached at peak.  

 

In the month of November, the following crimes has already happened

On November 6 – A 20-year-old girl from Ukhrul district, Manipur belonging to Tangkhul tribe, was molested by her Show room manager in Metropolitan Mall, Gurgaon at 9.20PM after rejecting his advances by showing nude pictures in computer.

On November 4 – A 22-year-old boy from Churachandpur district, Manipur belonging to Paite tribe, was beaten by locals at Sikanderpur, Gurgaon at 9PM

On November 3 – Two boys of age 20s from Ukhrul district, Manipur belonging to Tangkhul Naga tribe, working in Mall in Gurgaon were severely attacked at 9PM in Sikanderpur Gurgaon, Haryana by locals.

On November 3 – Two girls of age 20s from Ukhrul district, Manipur belonging to Tangkhul Naga tribe, working in Mall in Gurgaon were attacked and pushed in drainage in Sikanderpur, Gurgaon at 8 pm. They managed to run away from the scene.

North East Support Centre & Helpline (www.nehelpline.net) is combined initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to women, North East People and tribal communities of different states.

 

 

Released by

 

 

 

Mr. Madhu Chandra

Spokes Person

North East Support Centre & Helpline