Chronology events of rape and murder
of Priyadarshini Mattoo

NEW DELHI, October 17: Following is the chronologyof the events in the sensational case of rape and murder ofPriyadarshini Mattoo.

January 23, 1996: Priyadarshani Mattoo raped and killed allegedly by Santosh Kumar Singh. Delhi police registers FIR.

January 25, 1996: Case handed over to the CBI. Agency registers case.

April 11, 1996: CBI files chargesheet in the case against Santosh Singh.

June 20, 1996: Date of committal of the case to Additional Sessions Judge General B B Chowdhury.

August 29, 1996: charges framed.August 11, 1997: Trial starts in the court of Additional Solicitor General S C Mittal.

January 3, 1998: Prosecution evidence closes. 50 witnesses examined by the court. No defence witness.

April 18, 1998: Agruments closed in the case but was marred by a controversy of allegations of money changing hands ahead of judgement. The case was transferred to ASJ G P Thareja.

April 21, 1998: Case admitted with Thareja.

June one, 1996: Thareja summons two prosecution witnesses — Inspector Lalit Mohan of Delhi Police and Prof G V Rao of microbiological centre.

June one, 1996: CBI submits case diaries before Additional Sessions Judge Thareja.

Nov 30, 1998: ASJ Thareja begins hearing defence and prosecution witnesses.

March 31, 1999: Examination of witnesses closes.

December 3, 1999: ASJ Thareja delivers judgement; Santosh Singh acquitted; CBI lashed for shoddy investigations.

Feb 29, 2000: CBI appeals in Delhi High Court.

April 26, 2000: High Court admits appeal.

Oct 17, 2000: High Court issues bailable warrant against Santosh Singh.

Dec 17, 2001: CBI files appeal for early hearing before High Court.

Nov 25, 2002: CBI files application before High Court for early hearing.

Feb 14, 2003: Accused files application for inspection of files.

March 25, 2003: High Court dismisses the application.

July 22, 2006: CBI files another application for early hearing.

July 28, 2006: Delhi High Court fixes Aug 31 as date for hearing.

August 31, 2006: High Court orders daily hearings in the case.

Sept 27, 2006: High Court reserves judgment in the case. CBI seeks action against five Delhi Police officials.

Oct 17, 2006 : High Court convicts Santosh Singh forraping and killing Priyadarshani Mattoo. (PTI)

No complete ban on polythene carry bags

CHANDIGARH, Oct 17: The Chandigarh administration has decided not to completely ban the use of polythene carry bags but take steps for their proper disposal.

The administration took this decision after considering representations from dealers, manufacturers, traders association, federation of small scall indusries, Beopar Mandal etc. And presentation made by the Central Institute and Plastic Engineers and Technology, Chennai, regarding the proposal of the Chandigarh adminsitration to impose complete ban on polythene bags, according to official sources here.

The administration is of the opinion that a large number of goods like milk, clothes and grocery items dal, atta etc also come in pre-packed polythene bags which are not technically carry bags but are polythene bags and banning the carry bags will only take care of small volume of waste of polythene.

It has been decided that polythene carry bags and other plastic waste can be recycled to covert it into useful items like ropes, sanitary pipes etc.

The Municipal Corporation has set up "Sahaj Safai Kendras" where there is proper provision of segregation of all the bio-degradable and non-biodegradable waste.Polythene carry bags sorted out from the municipal waste at these "safai kendras" could be used for recycling and in road construction.

The Engineering Department and the Municipal Corporation will buy and use the polythene bags in road construction. Therefore, the solution lies in proper collection, segregation and safe disposal of polythene carry bags and not its complete ban, the sources said.

The Union Territory adminsitration will now vigorously enforce its notification of September 16, 2003 vide which no person including a shopkeeper, vendor, retailer or rehriwala etc shall supply any goods in polythene and plastic carry bags of thickness less than 30 micros and of size less than eight inches by 12 inches. (UNI)

DA for Punjab pensioners announced

CHANDIGARH, Oct 17: The Punjab Government has announced the Dearness Allowance (DA) to its pensioners/family pensioners at the rate of five per cent from July one.

The DA has now been enhanced from 24 to 29 per cent, Surinder Singla, Finance Minister said here today.

The arrear of DA from July one 2006 to September 30, 2006 would be paid in cash to the pensioners/family pensioners.

He, however, said that from October, 2006 onwards the enhanced DA would be added in the monthly pension of the pensioners.

He said that with the enhancement of DA the financial liability on state exchequer from July one 2006 to February two, 2006 would be Rs 28.15 crore while the annual liability on state exchequer would be Rs 42.22 crore. (PTI)

Dutt to appear before TADA court today

MUMBAI, Oct 17: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt and other accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case will appear before the TADA court tomorrow in response to a judicial directive issued by presiding Judge Pramod Kode.

The TADA court had yesterday summoned Dutt and 25 others to appear tomorrow. The TADA court has been delivering verdicts in the 13-year- old case since September 12.

All the 26 accused, listed from number 100 to 125 in the chargesheet and out on bail, have been summoned to mark their attendance tomorrow, before the designated court went on Diwali vacation.

However, the fate of Sanjay Dutt and others will not be decided tomorrow as the summons are only meant to ensure their presence in the court at least once a month, the court sources said.

Sanjay Dutt is listed as accused number 117.

The court will, however, decide the fate of other seven blast acused who are out on bail and had particiapted in the landing of arms and ammunition at Dighi in Raigad district.

With Sanjay Dutt’s presence in the court tomorrow, security has been beefed up in and around the court premises. (UNI)

Mattoo case conviction a "victory of
judicial system": Friends

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: Ten years after he raped and killed Priyadarshini Mattoo, the conviction of Santosh Kumar Singh, son of a former IPS officer, by the Delhi High Court today was hailed as a "victory of the judicial system".

"Today is the victory of Indian Judicial System and victory of the entire media, and the entire nation who stood behind us in this fight against injustice," said Indu Jalali, a childhood friend of Priyadarshini.

Jalali, along with other friends of Priyadarshini and Mattoo family, had started a campaign to garner support for the retrial in the sensational rape and murder case of the law student in 1996.

"We have faith in judiciary and this faith has increased 100 per cent. We never expected such a great response from judiciary as well as from the cbi," said adityaraj kaul, another member of the ‘justice for priyadarshini’ campaign.

"I am very happy. Santosh is found guilty on both the accounts— rape and murder. I know the family very well. Priyadarshini belonged to a very respectable family and it has gone through a very bad phase in last ten years by not receiving justice. Finally, they have something to feel good about," said agnisheker, a family friend and a supporter of the campaign. (PTI)

Seven hurt in grenade blast in Baramulla

SRINAGAR, Oct 17: At least seven persons including three security personnel were injured today when unidentified militants hurled a grenade at a BSF patrol in Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir.

The grenade exploded on the main road near a hospital in the town about 55 km from here at around 1 pm, injuring seven including three BSF men, officials said.

The area was immediately cordoned off by the security forces and a hunt launched for the militants who fled in the the chaos following the blast, they said.

In another incident in the district, militants opened fire on a police party in sopore in the afternoon injuring a policemen was admitted to hospital, they said. (PTI)

Pravin Mahajan’s judicial custody extended till Oct 31

MUMBAI, Oct 17: The Sessions court here today extended the judicial custody of Pravin Mahajan, accused of killing his elder brother and senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, to October 31.

Additional Sessions Judge S P Davare extended Pravin Mahajan’s judicial custody till October 31.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel moved an application asking the prosecution to provide some of the case documents, including the Hinduja Hospital report on Pramod Mahajan, which the prosecution has agreed to serve them in the next date of the case.

The prosecution also informed the court that framing of charges in the Mahajan murder case will begin on October 31.

Immediately after filing the chargesheet in July this year, Pravin had moved a bail plea, which was rejected on August 1 on the ground that prima facie a case was made out against the accused.

Pravin, who is presently lodged in the high-security cell of Arthur Road jail, was arrested by the Worli police on April 22 for allegedly shooting Pramod Mahajan. (UNI)

Rahul to sit on dharna to press for death sentence to Afzal

MUMBAI, Oct 17: Rahul Mahajan, the son of former BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan would sit on a dharna and address a meeting to support the death sentence awarded to Parliament attack mastermind Mohammed Afzal Guru.

"It is a dharna organised by the BJP Yuva Morcha and they have invited me. We will hold a dharna at grant road station and from there we will take out a rally to August Kranti Maidan, where it will culminate in a meeting," Mahajan told PTI here.

"The way the nation is being held at ransom by certain people (asking for clemency for Afzal) is disgusting. How can we pardon a terrorist mastermind? My blood was boiling when I saw the news and when they (BJP) asked me to participate in the morcha, I immediately agreed," he said.

"Of course anyone can file a clemency petition before the President... That is their constitutional right, but nobody has a right to threaten to burn the nation as certain persons have been doing. If Afzal is given clemency, no security personnel will be motivated to save anyone from terrorists again," he said.

Rahul, who has been involved in a drug scandal in Delhi since the death of his father, said he would participate in such programmes in the future as well.

"I have been brought up in the BJP and the party is in my blood. I will definitely participate in such events in future, especially if the issue is close to my heart," he added. (PTI)

Govt to make jewellery hallmarking mandatory in phases

MUMBAI, Oct 17: The Government has decided to implement jewellery hallmarking mandatory in phases, starting from the places where assaying centres are already present, a senior official said today.

"We will not make hallmarking mandatory at places where there are no assaying centres. We will roll out it in phases starting from the places where assaying centres already exist," Ministry of Consumer Affairs Secretary L Mansingh told reporters on the sidelines of a CEO conclave organised by Multi-Commodity exchange of India Ltd (MCX) here.

Hallmarking comprises stringent checks and controls for ensuring the quality and purity of gold is judiciously adhered to. Earlier, the Government had announced to make gold hallmarking mandatory from January 1, 2008. At present, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), a Government agency, grants hallmark for gold as demanded on a voluntary basis.

On self-certification of jewellery, as demanded by a section of jewellers, Mansingh said Indian markets are "not mature enough to allow self certification".

"Unless there is credibility in the certification and there is a statute it is not going to serve any purpose."

Stressing on the need for the country to be a member of Vienna gold convention, Mansingh said, "in Vienna gold convention our objective would be wider. We want the assaying business of the world to come here."

He said, India accounted for 1.5 per cent of global gold jewellery export. "The moment we have credible market and we are a member of Vienna gold convention there is great potential for the global share of exports to come here." (PTI)

HC convicts Santhosh Singh in Mattoo murder case

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: The Delhi High Court today convicted Santosh Kumar Singh, son of a former IPS officer, in the sensational case of rape and murder of Priyadarshni Mattoo.

He was convicted on both counts of rape and murder.

Allowing the CBI appeal against the trial court verdict acquitting the accused, a bench comprising Justice R S Sodhi and Justice P K Bhasin said "the acquittal order passed by the Trial Judge in 1999 has shocked the conscience of the judiciary."

The bench said it would prescribe the sentence of death or life imprisonment to the convict after Diwali vacation.

The court ordered CBI to take Singh, who was present, into custody forthwith.

The court said the overall analysis of the circumstances proved beyond doubt and the evidence is unimpeachable that Singh has committed rape and murder.

"We are of the view to convict him (Singh) under section 302 (murder) and 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code," the bench said.

The court observed that the trial court verdict was "perverse" and shocked the judicial conscience.

The court said the evidence was incompatible with Singh’s plea of innocence and "we held him guilty of the offence he committed".

The bench said it was considering giving Singh either death or life sentence and fixed October 30 for hearing arguments on the point of sentence.

Mattoo, 23-year-old third year law student of Delhi University, was raped and murdered by Singh, who was a year senior to her, at her Vasant Kunj residence in south Delhi on January 23, 1996.(PTI)

Togadia warns against clemency for Afzal

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: The VHP today warned the UPA Government against succumbing to the "forces" opposing the death penalty for Parliament attack mastermind Mohammad Afzal, saying any such act of "terror appeasement" would be an insult to the country.

Flaying the people advocating clemency for Afzal, VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia said, "Parliament was attacked by ‘jehadis’ and our jawans died resisting them ...However, the Congress Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh, and former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah are advocating clemency for the terrorists."

"Why isn’t Abdullah arrested for threatening that India will go up in flames if Afzal is hanged," he questioned.

Such senior leaders should not be asking for clemency for Afzal and trying "indian tolerance", he said." The people seeking clamency for Afzal are interfering with the judicial system and also discriminating on religious lines."

"In 1947, Jinnah broke India, in 1977 Indira Gandhi slapped emergency on India and now the UPA is trying to force ‘terror emergency’ in the country."

Announcing that Afzal would be "hanged" in every village and city on October 20 to express the people’s anguish over the Government’s "dilly-dallying approach" on the issue, the VHP general secretary said 100,000 such programmes would be carried out all over the country.

"When the world is coming together against jehadi terrorism, the UPA Government has been appeasing those who planned the Parliament attack...It also repealed the POTA and talked to Pakistan in Havana while hundreds had died in Mumbai," he added. (UNI)

Tourism could rejuvenate rural economy
of north east: Minister

SHILLONG, Oct 17: Tourism was the key sector which could rejuvenate the rural economy of north east by giving the people their economic empowerment, Meghalaya’s Art and Culture Minister R G Lyngdoh said here today.

"Villagers in the northeast would be able to sell their finished products at their doorsteps rather than sending outside if tourism was properly developed in the region," Lyngdoh said while inaugurating a two-day seminar on `infrastructure development in the north east organised by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).

Calling for looking at the region as a whole keeping aside ‘petty differences and Chauvinism attitude’, Lyngdoh advocated to market the north east in a proper manner so that all the constituent states get benefit from it.

The minister highlighted the transport handicap in the region and mooted an idea of introducing airtaxi from one state capital to another for the convenience of tourists and bureaucrats travelling inside the region.

Later, chairing a technical session on ‘infrastructure requirements - regional perspective’, former Union Tourism Secretary M P Bezbaruah urged the North Eastern Council (NEC) to have a ‘benchmark survey’ on tourism potentials in the region and find out what would be needed in a particular timeframe.

Bezbaruah suggested to identify tourists circuits within the state first for easy flowing of visitors, link these to the regional ones and then connect these to outside the north east or the country.

Citing an example, he said the reason for Guwahati-Bangkok international flight not becoming "successful" was becsuse it was not connected to any circuits either inside the north east or outside the region.

We have to think how to connect the people from south east Asia coming to north east with that of Bodhgaya in Bihar.

Nagaland Tourism Commissioner Khekiye K Sema said Kohima had only one three star hotel and the occupancy rate of the hotel was just 35-45 per cent which prompted the policy makers to decide against more accommodation.

But the issue remained that because of the ‘amplified subject’ of insecurity, occupancy rate was always negligible and because of low occupancy, setting up of hotels a non-priority issue, sema said describing it a ‘chicken or the egg’ syndrome. (PTI)