TOP STORIES

IN PEOPLE’S COURT
Cong hung up on dates, BJP on scam 
New Delhi, February 4
The Congress as a defender of democratic principles and the BJP as a crusader against corruption have taken to people’s court two different issues, even as uncertainty over the dates of the civic polls persists.

Sheila to hit poll trail
New Delhi, February 4
With campaigning for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls gaining momentum, candidates are vying with one another to rope in senior party leaders for boosting their electoral prospects.

A bewildered child outside New Delhi Railway Station on Monday. —Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Commuters cool their heels at entry, exit points
New Delhi, February 4
Once again, the commuters in the Capital had a harrowing time today when nearly 60,000 autorickshaw and taxi operators went on a day-long strike to protest against the mandatory installation of electronic meters on their vehicles.

Protestor says it with engine oil
New Delhi, February 4
Virendra Sharma, a resident of Shahadra, was overpowered and handed over to the police after he had smeared Mobil oil on the face of the Municipal Commissioner, Mr S. P. Aggarwal, at the main entrance of the Town Hall today.

THE ACHIEVERS
Selfless to core, in service of these lesser children

New Delhi, February 4 “Anath Kaun Hai, Jab Bhagwan Sath Hai” (No one is an orphan, when God is with him). Thus spake Maithili Sharon Gupta, the famous national poet. Lawyer-turned-social activist Viresh Pratap Chaudhary has strived hard to live up to the image of an angel of mercy for hapless children.  Inmates at the orphanage.

Youth strangled by aunts, grandmother
Noida, February 4
In the wild west (read western Uttar Pradesh), incidents of crime generally go unnoticed. Only the most heinous crime makes people sit up. One such crime recently shook the calm environs of village Joligarh, which falls under police station Agoutta in Bulandshahr.

Visitors at Pragati Maidan during the last day of World Book Fair 2002 in the Capital on Monday. —Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Negligence took care of him
Faridabad, February 4
The death of a youth in the emergency ward of the local civil hospital has put the authorities concerned in a spot as the relatives of the deceased allege carelessness on the part of the doctors. Arjun, a resident of Kapra Colony (D-Block), was taken to B K Civil Hospital here after he had complained of pain in his stomach a few days ago.

• Schoolgirl crushed

COMMUNITY

Auto-taxi strike has rickshaw-pullers sweating with a smile

New Delhi, February 4 The crippling autorickshaw-taxi strike in the Capital today had millions fuming, but not Sune Singh, a cycle-rickshaw-puller, who was more than happy. Like scrawny-looking Sune Singh, rickshaw pullers across the city made hay, as harried commuters flocked to them in droves after nearly 55,000 autorickshaws and 13,000 taxis went off the roads to protest against the Delhi Government’s order to install electronic meters to prevent tampering.

TAKE IT EASY: A taxi driver relaxes in the Capital on Monday. Tribune photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Ration card holders left with a beggar’s choice
Sonepat, February 4
Widespread resentment prevails among the families living below the poverty line against the frequent closure of ration shops for most part of the day in the city and other parts of the district, especially in the villages.

Crackdown on commercial residences imminent 
Noida, February 4
Noida is likely to crack the whip on those who continue to use residential premises for commercial activities. And there is no dearth of such owners who are running commercial establishments in residential areas with impunity.

LJP: HUDA divesting poor of land
Rohtak, February 4
The Haryana unit of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) has urged the government to revise the land acquisition policy for the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and regularisation of the unauthorised residential colonies in the state.

FACE TO FACE
‘We will form the government in Punjab’
At a time, when the Congress party is facing a real test in Punjab, the veteran Congress leader, Mr Harvendra Singh Hanspal, (64), general secretary, Minorities Wing, All India Congress Committee (AICC), and chairman of Disciplinary Action Committee, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), is sure of the Congress’ win in the assembly elections. 

NCR BRIEFS
Parties flay Badal for SYL statement
Rohtak, February 4
Various political parties have condemned the recent statement of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, regarding the SYL canal issue even after the orders of the apex court.

1,700 treated MDU appointments Teachers absent Housewife raped Aid to Dalit girls Evasion detected

Crop lost in fire Hospital waste Pistol snatched Donations stolen Hit by train MLA visits ward

L-G reviews progress of Millennium Park project
New Delhi, February 4
The Lt Governor, Mr Vijai Kapoor, today visited Millennium Park near Sarai Kale Khan ISBT to get a first-hand knowledge of the progress of the project. The park is being developed in a longitudinal strip of about 3 km along Ring Road from Sarai Kale Khan to Bhairon Road and would be spread in an area of 85 acres.

Post office opened in Sector Gamma
New Delhi, February 4
Good tidings for the residents of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) areas. 

• Minor fire at New Delhi House causes scare

CRIME

Dreaded criminal nabbed
New Delhi, February 4
With the arrest of a dreaded criminal, Azaz Ahmed, the South district police today claimed to have solved more than 25 cases of robbery, snatching and auto-lifting. The accused had absconded for the past two years and finally he was nabbed when he came to meet his wife in Malviya Nagar today.

Youth strangulated

Two commit suicide

EDUCATION

CPM flays move to privatise non-performing schools
New Delhi, February 4
The Delhi Government’s proposed move to privatise non-performing schools run by the state government in the National Capital Territory came under sharp attack from the Communist Party of India (Marxist). 

MCD asks teachers to complete syllabus
New Delhi, February 4
The Municipal Commissioner, Mr S. P. Aggarwal, declared before the House of the MCD that 6,300 teachers of the corporation’s schools, who were on strike for 24 days, would be given their salaries provided they complete the syllabus for the students. 

CULTURE

Pomp and show mark Greater Noida carnival 

Noida, February 4 Greater Noida celebrated its 12th Foundation Day by organising a week-long carnival from January 23 to 28. The extravaganza was a great success, judging from the various activities organised and the crowds that thronged it from all over. The organisers had catered to all tastes, ages and social strata. A folk dance on the 12th Foundation Day of Greater Noida.

SPORTS

Indian pugilists corner eight golds in YMCA Junior Boxing

New Delhi, February 4 Indian pugilists exhibited their superior class when they garnered eight of the ten gold medals at stake in the seven New Delhi YMCA Junior International Boxing Championship held at the YMCA ring, Jai Singh road, in the Capital on Monday. Khimand Belwal in red (Ind-Y) outguns Arun Singh in blue (Ind-G) in the 48-kg weight category in the 7th New Delhi YMCA (Junior) International Boxing Championship-2002 in the Capital on Monday. —Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

India eyeing Olympic gold in boxing
New Delhi, February 4
Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) working president R S Dalal announced here today that India would spare not effort in winning a gold medal in boxing in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Top Asian players for Honda Masters
New Delhi, February 4
The Hero Honda Masters 2002 will witness one of the best fields to have ever assembled on Indian soil for any Asian PGA Tour event after seven of the top ten players from the 2001 Order of Merit entered the tournament.

Rajeev fashions XANSA’s victory
New Delhi, February 4
A brilliant 52 not out with five boundaries by Rajeev Khanna helped XANSA beat Canon India by six wickets in the 9th Teri Cup Cricket Tournament organised by TERI (Tata Energy Research Institute) at the Teri Oval, Gurgaon.