TOP STORIES

Khurana, Congress power play
hots up
New Delhi, July 18
The battlelines have been drawn as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Madan Lal Khurana readies to take on the combined might of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) led by Subhash Chopra and the Government of NCT of Delhi headed by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

• Contractors turn on the screws

FOLLOW-UP
Campus rumpus: MDU’s security officer suspended
Rohtak, July 18
The Deputy Chief Security Officer of Maharshi Dayanand University, Mr Ishwar Singh Sharma, who was involved in a midnight scuffle with the then Registrar, Mr Sat Pal Singh Dahiya, on June 30, has been placed under suspension by the Vice-Chancellor, Maj. Gen. (retd.) Bhim Singh Suhag.

PGIMS Forensic Dept under scanner
Rohtak, July 18
The Medical Council of India (MCI) will conduct an inspection of the Forensic Department of the Pt. B.D. Sharma Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) to assess the standard of examination before recognising the Post-Graduate (PG) degree of this department.

Unlocking the secret of the Iron Pillar

New Delhi, July 18 The mystery surrounding the Iron Pillar near the historical Qutab Minar in the Capital has been the fascination of hundreds of tourists and scientists, who have thronged the area every day for centuries. Almost after 1,600 years since the pillar was erected, scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, have claimed that they have unravelled the mystery – why it has not corroded over the years.  Love never rusts.

CLOUDED HOPE. Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Tantrik bid to rape married sisters
Rewari, July 18
The monstrous act of a self-styled Tantrik Karan Singh, who allegedly attempted to rape two young married sisters in Karoli village on Monday, has brought this tiny hamlet again in the headlines. According to information available here, when Bala Devi, wife of Krishan Singh, and her younger sister Suman Devi, wife of Ishwar Singh, were alone in the house, the Tantrik ‘improved the shining hour’ and indulged in the ugly act.

Bid to hustle Dalits out of village
Faridabad, July 18
‘Dalit’ families at Mohna village of the Ballabgarh sub-division in the district are in a panic for they have reportedly been asked by the dominant ‘upper’ caste community to leave the village.

COMMUNITY

IN PARLIAMENT
1.78 lakh cases pending in Delhi High Court
New Delhi, July 18
The Delhi Government has proposed a 1000 mw coal-based plant in Korba-Chattisgarh pit heads for supply of power to the NCT of Delhi, the Minister of State for Power, Ms Jayawanti Mehta, informed the Lok Sabha today.

Declare Haryana drought-hit: CPM 
Rohtak, July 18
The CPM and the CPI have urged the government to declare Haryana as drought-affected immediately and stop recovery of agriculture related loans, exemption of loan interest apart from other emergency measures under a contingency plan, including additional allocation of power supply to the agriculture sector.

Shot in the arm for beleaguered Medical Suptd
Panipat, July 18
Even as yesterday’s dharna by the Anti-Corruption Manch against alleged irregularities by the local Civil Hospital authorities proved to be a damp squib, the Medical Superintendent (MS), Dr M.S. Randhawa today got a shot in the arm when employees and doctors pledged their support to him against attempts by certain vested interests to bring a bad name to the hospital.

Mob goes on rampage in Meerut  over power cut, injures 15
Meerut, July 18
At least 15 persons were injured and several vehicles damaged as a 1,000-member strong mob of traders and residents of Lal Kurti market and locality went on rampage and blocked traffic on Delhi-Dehra Dun highway, Garh Road and three other roads in Meerut city today. Most of the injured were passers-by and motorists.

Mind-healer to reveal secret of self-improvement
New Delhi, July 18
Shiv Khera, well-known educator, motivator and author of the best seller, “You Can Win”, is chanting the mantra for success at a series of public programmes— Blueprint for Success— across the country. The three-day programme is organised by Qualified Learning Systems Inc. Mr Khera will conduct it on July 25, 26 and 27 at Radisson Hotel here. 

FARIDABAD
‘Hawans’, fast to please rain gods
Faridabad, July 18
‘Hawan’, ‘yagya’, prayers and even hunger strike have become the means to please rain gods as the monsoon has failed to keep its date with the region. While residents are upset over the delay in the annual rainfall and feeling the pinch of the resulting situation, they have taken to various means to break the clouds.

Karamcharis hold MCF responsible  for death of two
Faridabad, July 18
Hundreds of safai karamcharis of the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad (MCF) and their family members held a demonstration and blocked the National Highway (Mathura Road) No 2 for sometime today in protest against the death of two employees in Ballabgarh town last evening.

NCB in the dock for burning drugs
New Delhi: The Pollution Control Board (PCB) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) may get embroiled in a legal battle over the burning of seized drugs on the banks of the Yamuna last month with the former serving a notice on the enforcement agency.

CRIME

Cops, villagers foil bid to free criminal from bus
Jhajjar, July 18
A sensational attempt to get a criminal free was foiled by escorting policemen with the help of fellow travellers of a Haryana Roadways bus in which the former was taken to Rohtak after presenting him in Tis Hazari courts in Delhi and villagers of Jakhoda today on the National Highway No 10 here today.

Servant helps three to  rob house
New Delhi, July 18
Three youths armed with country-made revolvers robbed Rs 20, 000 and jewellery from the house of a businessman in Ashok Vihar, Phase III. The businessman, Madan Lal Jain, has his shop in Loha Mandi in Naraina. The victim’s domestic servant allegedly was also involved in the robbery, the police said.

Farmer killed for Rs 60,000
Noida, July 18
A farmer, on his way home from Delhi on a tractor-trailer, was murdered three days ago. He was murdered for Rs 60,000 that he had got after selling off wheat. His body was recovered by the Babugarh police opposite a crusher on the Bankhanda road on Wednesday.

Retired Wing Commander shoots self
New Delhi: Retired Wing Commander, K.N. Sinha, reportedly committed suicide by shooting himself in his right temple with his licensed weapon at his residence in Sainik Farm in South Delhi today.

BUSINESS

Industry urges scrapping of NPA Ordinance
Gurgaon, July 18
The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and the Gurgaon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) today made out a strong case for the repeal of the Non-Performing Asset (NPA) Ordinance saying that its promulgation was ill-timed and that its operation would adversely affect the industry.

Innovation is the name of the game as Khadi gets hep
New Delhi, July 18
Innovation in the textile industry is perhaps the only way to keep it going. A little bit of this and a little bit of that, a snip here and a tuck there, fashion and designing rest on these techniques. Combining the qualities of one to create a better and a new fabric seems to be the mantra of designers the world over.

CULTURE

ARTSCAPE
DD: Time to keep pace with the changing times
Ever tried watching a programme on the national network? It is a nocturnal paradise. A sleeping pill for the non-sleepers. A person can sleep even during the day. They are a drag. These are some of the comments of Delhiites, who tried to watch the national channel over the week. The comments were solicited in a random spot survey to ascertain the views of the public.

Art for purpose Kahani Darbar

For art lovers

SPORTS

Haryana KO Punjab in judo

New Delhi, July 18 Defending Champions Haryana defeated Punjab 3-2 in a tough final to retain the men’s title in the National Federation Cup Judo Championship at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium in the Capital on Thursday. Sandeep Singh in red belt (Haryana) pins down Karambeer Singh (BSF) in the National Federation Cup Judo Championship 2002 at the Talkatora Stadium in the Capital on Thursday. Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Kalmadi hails Malhotra's appointment
New Delhi, July 18
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi on Thursday hailed the appointment of senior vice-president of the IOA Vijay Kumar Malhotra as the Chairman of the recently revived All-India Council of Sports (AICS).

Raman Gujral hits century
New Delhi, July 18
A remarkable century knock of 112, studded with 14 boundaries by Raman Gujral, helped Hari Nagar Sports Complex Coaching Centre beat Khalsa Cricket Club by 56 runs in the first Hari Nagar Sports Complex Cricket Tournament and claimed four points.

Priyank powers Salwan to victory

New Delhi, July 18 With a fiery bowling spell form Priyank Shandilya, including a hat-trick, powered Salwan Public School to a 4 runs victory over North Delhi Cricket Academy in the ‘Pool B’ league match of the first Shiv Narain Khinchi Memorial (Under-15) Cricket Tournament being played at Salwan School. Priyank (25, for 15) declared the Man of the Match. Priyank Shandilya receiving the Man of the Match award.

St. Marks School beat Blue Star
New Delhi, July 18
Dashing knocks by Hanshit Sinan (81) and Saransh Sharma (78), and fierce bowling by Nipun Malhotra (4 for 3) helped St. Mark School, Meerabagh defeat Blue Star Club by 261 runs in the first Master Prabhu Dayal Memorial Under-15 Cricket Tournament at the Ashok Vihar ground.

Pawan Chauhan deadly
New Delhi, July 18
A devastating bowling performance of 6 for 41 by 14-year-old left-arm spinner Pawan Chauhan helped DAV School, Shalimar Bagh beat Maharaja Agarsen Sports Club by 73 runs in the Maharaja Agarsen Under-19 Cricket Tournament at the Picknick Hut ground.

ADMINISTRATION

MCD to introduce unit area method to assess property tax
New Delhi, July 18
The first meeting of the experts committee on the introduction of property tax assessment in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was held today at India Habitat Centre under the chairmanship of Mr K. Dharamarajan, IAS.

Encroachments on nullah razed
Rohtak, July 18
demolition squad of the district administration today cleared encroachments on the nullah passing along the Malgodam road here. Four shops constructed in an unauthorised manner in front of Durga Bhawan temple were also razed with the help of JCB machine.