Families of Uphaar fire victims appeal to President for rigid laws

October 11th, 2009 DODA - The State Government of Jammu and Kashmir distributed aid worth 2.28 crore rupees as relief among 60 militancy-hit families of Doda district. At a special event organised here today, the state-level lawmaker, Wajeed Wani, distributed the gratis amount to the victims.

August 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday stood by its probe report in a Delhi court on giving clean chit to former Indian Police Service officer Amod Kanth in the 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy case in which 59 people died of asphyxia. "There is nothing to suggest any criminal intention on the part of Amod Kanth as alleged by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT)," the probe agency, in its reply to the protest petition of the AVUT, said.

June 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Members of 28 families, who had lost 59 of their loved ones in the Uphaar cinema hall tragedy, observed the 12th anniversary of the tragedy on Saturday and demanded a suitable legislation to tackle similar man-made disasters and firmly punish the offenders. "The offenders of such (Uphaar tragedy) crimes are often booked for causing death due to rash and negligent acts, which is a bailable offence," Neelam Krishnamoorthy of Association of Uphaar Tragedy Victims said.

June 3rd, 2009 AHMEDABAD - The unfortunate victims of the communal riots that took place in Gujarat in February, 2002 lament over the fact that they have not yet received any compensation from the government. More than 2,000 people were killed in riots, which broke out after a suspected Muslim mob had torched a train, burning to death 59 Hindu pilgrims and activists.

May 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Mothers of crime victims in the capital Thursday urged people not to vote for the parties which have fielded candidates with criminal record. Many mothers of victims exercised their franchise but a dejected Savita Ghosh, whose daughter Jigisha, a young IT executive, was murdered in March, refused to vote, saying there was nobody to vote for who would guarantee protection from crime in Delhi.

April 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday gave a clean chit to former Delhi Police officer Amod Kanth in connection with the Uphaar fire tragedy case of June 13, 1997. Kanth was accused of illegally allowing the retention of 37 extra seats in theatre, where a fire claimed 59 lives 12 years ago.

April 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Friday gave a clean chit to former Delhi Police officer Amod Kanth, who has been accused of allowing more seats than legally permissible at the Uphaar cinema theatre which caught fire in 1997, claiming 59 lives. The move comes as a setback to the Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT).

April 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Friday gave a clean chit to former Delhi top cop Amod Kanth, who was accused of negligence in the Uphaar fire tragedy of 1997 when a cinema theatre here caught fire, claiming 59 lives. The move comes as a setback to the Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT).

April 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Amod Kanth, a former Delhi police official who was Friday given a clean chit by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Uphaar fire tragedy of 1997, said the allegations against him were 'personal' and had no basis. 'There is nothing at all against me.

March 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court has rejected the plea of Uphaar Cinema owners and real estate tycoons the Ansal brothers for handing over to them the cinema hall, which was sealed after a fire tragedy that killed 59 people in 1997. In their plea, the Ansals stated that they wanted the cinema hall for its productive use.

February 18th, 2009 PATNA - A soldier was killed after being set ablaze Wednesday night by his wife and in-laws in a Bihar town following a family dispute, police said Thursday. Sunil Kumar, 22, was allegedly set on fire by his wife and in-laws at Yadavnagar in Muzaffarpur district, about 70 km from here, following a heated exchange over a family dispute.

January 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday expressed shock at the death of five infants in a fire in a hospital in Punjab's Patiala town and has sanctioned compensation of Rs.100,000 each for the families of the victims. Manmohan Singh, who is recuperating after coronary bypass surgery, has sanctioned Rs.100,000 each for the families of the deceased from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, an official said.

January 16th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Victims of the Uphaar tragedy along with various civil society groups here Saturday launched a citizen's campaign to spread awareness about safety at public places and ensure effective implementation of safety laws and regulations. Association of Victims of the Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) also launched an online petition rememberuphaar.com.

January 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - With an aim to ensure proper and effective implementation of safety laws and regulations, the Association of Victims of the Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) will initiate a citizen's campaign Saturday. Also, a demonstration will be held to seek justice for the victims of Uphaar tragedy.

January 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - There was a strong possibility the Ansal brothers had provided a job to a court employee who was sacked for tampering with trial court records in the case of the Uphaar cinema fire tragedy at their behest, the Delhi High Court said Wednesday. 'It is a strong circumstance against you (Ansals) that you provided employment after he (Dinesh Chand Sharma) was dismissed from his job,' Justice S.