AROUND TOWN

Mock drills test cops at GK,Friends Colony markets
Mock drills were held at two busy markets,New Friends Colony and Greater Kailash-II,in Southeast Delhi on Thursday to check the preparedness of security agencies in case of a terrorist attack. Police said the first bomb call was made around 12.30 pm,stating an explosion had taken place at the Community Centre,New Friends Colony. As the police,bomb disposal squads,dog squads,ambulances,National Disaster Management officials and civil defence volunteers rushed to the spot,the cops declared the call a mock drill. The second call was made at 3.30 pm and the PCR was informed about a bomb explosion at M-block market of GK-II. The call was also declared a mock drill after the required security agencies reached the spot. “We conducted two drills in busy markets in the district,” Sanjay Jain,Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast),said.

Faridabad petrol pump reduced to ashes
FARIDABAD: One person was injured in fire at a Hindustan Petroleum pump in Sector 16 in the early hours of Thursday. The incident was reported around 3 am when a tanker was filling petrol in the pump bunker. A spark is said to have ignited the fuel. “It was a miraculous escape since the fire did not reach the underground storage area due to lack of oxygen,as part of safety measure adopted by the pump. The fire gutted the pump shed,the tanker,a car and a scooter,amongst several other equipment and electronic goods,” a police officer said. Nearly 5,000 litres of petrol was also lost to the fire,which was brought under control in an hour.

Mirchpur: Dalit body wants Hooda to quit
Angered at the repeated denial of justice,the Haryana Dalit Bachao Sangharsh Samiti descended into the capital this Thursday demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and a judicial probe into the Mirchpur incident of April 21. Prominent among those protesting,President of Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas Paswan insisted,“ The perpetrators of this crime should be hanged and the Khap Panchayat should be banned entirely.” A memorandum has been sent to the Prime Minister.

Special pollution check begins Friday
The Enforcement Wing of Delhi’s Transport Department will begin a pollution control drive across the capital on Friday. Delhi Transport Minister Arvinder Singh said on Thursday that all vehicles will be checked and fined,challaned or impounded during the drive.

30 mobile enforcement vehicles have been constituted for the drive,equipped with GPS systems and Remote Sensing Technology to check the pollution level of vehicles without stopping them. These teams will also examine the proper CNG kit and related documents to check the mention of fuel mode on the Registration Certificate.

MCD to change land use for vacant plots
MCD is now looking at the option of slotting vacant plots for commercial use to generate more revenue. Officials said a health centre at Bhishm Pitamah Marg is being shifted and plans are on to use the plot for constructing a shopping complex. “We intend to develop the site under public-private partnership. The cost will be Rs 14-15 crore,” an MCD official said.