TOP STORIES

Mystery death of Natasha at Hyatt

New Delhi, March 17 Natasha Singh, 31-year-old estranged daughter-in-law of former Union Minister and senior Congress leader K. Natwar Singh, was found dead under suspicious circumstances at the terrace garden of a five-star hotel in South Delhi early this morning.

Congress leader Natwar Singh along with his wife and daughter leaving after seeing the body of Natasha at Safdarjung Hospital in the Capital on Sunday.

• ‘She had no suicidal tendencies’

MCD POLL
Congress bogged down by rebels

New Delhi, March 17 Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders patch up their differences to join the campaigning for the civic polls, the Congress is grappling with the problem of rebels who have jumped into the fray as independents after being denied tickets.

An elephant and a camel on the way to participate in an MCD election rally. —Photo by Anil Sharma

200 houses razed in Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad, March 17
Over 200 houses were demolished and valuable land worth Rs 10 crore was freed here today in a joint anti-encroachment campaign by the Nagar Nigam and district administration.

Development zilch in Jhajjar
Jhajjar, March 17
The Municipal Committee of Jhajjar has achieved the dubious distinction of not taking up any of the development projects it had proposed to undertake during the current financial year, 2001-2002. 

There’s more to Punjabi culture than just ‘balle balle’

New Delhi, March 17 If the youths of today were told that the pop music dished out with bhangra beats is not the true depiction of the Punjabi music, they would raise their eyebrows. Little do they know that the rich culture of Punjabi music comes from the Sufi tradition. Apart from the music, the Punjabi literature and language have also been affected by the numerous invasions through the Hindu Kush region. Though the invasions resulted in the confluence of different traditions, it also took its toll on the true Punjabi identity.

Tent house godown gutted
New Delhi, March 17
Tent material worth lakhs of rupees was gutted in a fire that broke out in a godown of Rama Tent House in the Sarai Kale Khan area opposite Gurdwara Bala Sahib on Outer Ring Road in South Delhi this afternoon.

Schoolgate: CBSE rules given the go-by
Faridabad, March 17
Several schools in the town have been violating the CBSE rules and norms in the matter of upgradation. The Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda), which has allotted land to such schools, seems to be just a silent spectator. 

COMMUNITY

THE ACHIEVERS
Her golden touch turns old tyres into ritzy furniture

New Delhi, March 17 Finding it difficult to get rid of that old set of tyres? Feeling cheated that you are getting peanuts as exchange price for the fortune you spent on them four years ago? Bothered by the plumes of smoke from the old tyres which the night watchman has set ablaze to keep warm? Six years ago, diagnosed with a potentially debilitating even life-threatening neurological condition Rama Anand didn’t know whether there was anything left to hope for.

Midas touch: A wealth of furniture from throw-away tyres.

NCR BRIEFS
Fake currency notes recovered 
Rohtak, March 17
Meham police arrested two youths on the charge of possessing fake currency notes worth Rs 800 near the bus stand of Chandi village on Saturday evening. A police team nabbed the two youths at the village bus stand following a tip off and recovered counterfeit currency notes of Rs 100 denomination from them.

Two Killed Life term awarded

Women’s college

CRIME

Murder accused remanded in police custody 
Sonepat, March 17
All the five students of a local school, arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping and murder of a 17-year-old youth, Vipin, here on March 8, were produced before Mr S. K. Sardana, District and Sessions Judge, who remanded them to police custody till March 20 for further investigations.

Youths try to snatch  question papers
Rohtak, March 17
Two motorcycle-borne youths made a futile attempt to snatch a bundle of question papers related to the ongoing board examinations at the nearby Samar Gopalpur village at gunpoint on Saturday evening. According to information, Mr Om Prakash, a teacher, was returning home from the school with a bundle of question papers for the examination scheduled to be held the next day. 

BUSINESS

Corporate office of US co launched
Gurgaon, March 17
The infoUSA, a USA-based multinational company, on Sunday launched its corporate office for India here at a public function. This development is yet another example of the importance that Gurgaon has come to acquire in the corporate world.

SHOW CASE
Perfumes inspired by the surrealistic art of Salvador Dali
The Dali line of fragrances has been launched in the country. The fragrances would be retailed by the House of Baccarose through exclusive counters at all leading shopping destinations.

Lip liner Spring collection Tooth powder

Herbs for the body Superior sockets Casual & trendy

EDUCATION

SCHOOL BUZZ
These children are ready to enter the school of life
It was a day with a difference. No bags loaded with books, no tension about what will happen in the maths class. It was instead a jovial and carefree mood. G.H.P.S India Gate saw its students in an altogether different form. It was time to bid adieu to the class 12 students. Nostalgia seemed to have taken precedence over excitement, but the well-orchestrated cultural programmes had everyone making merry.

Tots’ graduation day Design your watch Play schools

For gum-chewers Annual Day

Thus laments a parent
A first-hand account of the plight of a parent whose four-year-old is about to start school. For starters, you are made to stand in serpentine queues just to be able to grab that precious little admission form that can take you a step further on the steep climb to your destination. 

University education must for progress: Defence Secy
Noida, March 17
Defence Secretary Yoginder Narain, a former student of Allahabad University, has said that giving university education to each citizen can play a very useful role in the development of the country. He has also called upon senior citizens to come forward to work for the welfare of the society and development of the country.

78,000 to receive IGNOU degrees on March 21
New Delhi, March 17
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will award degree and diploma certificates to more than 78,000 students on March 21 at its 13th convocation here. Around 9,300 students will be attending the convocation in person at its headquarters and 21 regional centres all over the country.

COURTS

Ghaziabad consumer forum sits for 105 days only 
Ghaziabad, March 17
The Ghaziabad District Consumer Forum, which had functioned only for 105 days during the past year due to strikes and other problems, had disposed of 585 cases and ordered the payment of over Rs 12 crore as compensation to various complainants.

Cases solved in three months

No fee for filing complaint

HEALTH

Ombudsman must for govt hospitals: Panel
New Delhi, March 17
Expressing concern that several medicare facilities in the central government-run hospitals in the Capital exist only on paper, a Parliamentary Committee on Health has said there is an urgent need to change the work culture and create an “ombudsman” type of machinery.

SPORTS

Cricketer Paul Strang of Zimbabwe tries his hand at golf in the Citibank tourney. A spectator during the final day of the Royal Challenge Open Golf Tournament 2002 at Delhi Golf Club.— Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Bopanna, Srinath seeded for India F2
New Delhi, March 17
Rohan Bopanna and Prahlad Srinath are the only Indian players to be seeded for the $10,000 prize money India F2 Men’s Futures Tennis Tournament to be held at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) deco-turf courts from March 18 to 23.

Run for health to create awareness
New Delhi, March 17
“Health is wealth” is a cliched saying, but it’s an accepted fact that “people with inadequate physical activity and no regular exercise are more prone to health disorders than the active people”.

The tale of a striking sportsperson
Faridabad, March 17
John David is described as a man of discipline, determination and dedication by his disciples. The three day’s they claim had made him a known figure in the skating arena of the country.

Vaibhav Dua stars in Winsom’s big win
New Delhi, March 17
A fine all-round performance by Vaibhav Dua, who scored a century and then took three wickets, enabled Winsom beat Ashirwad Club by 105 runs in a Super A Division match of the DDCA League at the Yamuna Sports Complex I ground.

• Krishna Verma League