TOP STORIES

CM gives Smart Card a smart twist
New Delhi, October 30
“Smart Cards that promise benefits for senior citizens would become available from April 1.” – Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said after inaugurating the commencement of work for laying of internal sewers in Brahmpuri X Block and Gautam Vihar trans-Yamuna. That was on January 20.

Metro Ordinance out, to Sheila’s discomfort
New Delhi, October 30
President APJ Abdul Kalam has promulgated the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Ordinance 2002. The Union Cabinet had on Monday recommended as much to the President. 

A view of the first-ever underpass flyover of its kind, which was inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at Punjabi Bagh crossing on Wednesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Jasbir Jassi, who released his cassette in the Capital recently. — Photo by Anil Sharma

A 16-yr-old keeps track of pennies in this bank
New Delhi, October 30
For 16-year-old Anuj, the fact that he gets to handle accounts in a bank is both a matter of pride and immense responsibility. It was his inclination for numbers that got him his present job. Like a professional he explains how he maintains the registers and logbooks, keeping track of every single penny in the bank.

Panipat refinery develops 500-acre green belt 
Panipat, October 30
Living up to its reputation, the Panipat Refinery of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has added another feather to its cap by developing a 500-acre green belt and ecological park around the refinery.

He lapped up his curse for 12 years
Rewari, October 30
At first glance, there seems to be nothing special about the marble trough lying at the ancient temple of Baba Mohan Das in Bharawas village near Rewari. But the marble trough carries with it a historic curse, which was hurled by Baba Mohan Das at his disciple Gopal Das, who as a result had to undergo the most harrowing time for 12 long years at a stretch.

Dye house owners call off strike 
Panipat, October 30
Following an offer of negotiations from the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, the dye unit owners today called off their three-day-old strike. Confirming the development, the president of the Panipat Dyers Association, Mr Yash Pal Malik, told ‘NCR Tribune’ that the association had received a message from Mr Chautala calling them for talks.

Ransom season in Sonepat
Sonepat, October 30
Residents of this city are in the grip of fear following the receipt of ransom threats by lawyers, traders, shopkeepers and other wealthy persons during the past few days. According to a report, the police have failed to achieve breakthrough in any of these cases so far.

Dulina kin appear before inquiry panel
Jhajjar, October 30
Family members of the Dalit victims, lynched by a frenzied mob in Dulina village, today appeared before the one-man inquiry commission headed by Mr R. R. Banswal in the local rest house here. The commission recorded their statements.

COMMUNITY

Barrier-free flats for kin of Kargil martyrs 
New Delhi, October 30
As a tribute to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in ‘Operation Vijay’ during Kargil War and also to those who were permanently disabled in the operation, the DDA has constructed the ‘Veer Awas Complex’ in 5.6 hectares of land in Sector 18-A of Dwarka.

NCR BRIEFS
Bus service from Ballabgarh to Baijnath
Faridabad, October 30
The Haryana Roadways here will start a new long-route bus service from Ballabgarh to Baijnath in Himachal Pradesh from November 1. According to the General Manager of the Haryana Roadways, Faridabad, Mr S. S. Dalal, the bus will touch Chandigarh, Una, Ropar, Nangal, Jawalaje, Chentapurni and Palam Pur before reaching Baijnath.

Soldier cremated One killed in road mishap

Villagers block traffic

DELHI DIGEST Salaries on ATMs for cops New Delhi, October 30 The Delhi Police have introduced the system of electronic clearance of salary for its personnel through Automatic Teller Machines. A Memorandum of Understanding was today signed by the Delhi Police Commissioner, Mr R. S. Gupta, and the UTI chairman, Mr P. J. Nayak, finalising the agreement.

CRIME

Cops register dowry case after dilly-dallying
Ghaziabad, October 30
Umesh, a woman harassed for dowry by her in-laws in Moradnagar for a long time during which she lost her yet-to-be-born child, had to fight a long battle with the police for the registration of a case.

Finally, a crackdown on brothels
Meerut, October 30
Twelve sex workers and two brothel owners were arrested by the police after a raid on several brothels in a red light area with the help of women cops. At least four other brothel owners and several sex workers escaped, taking advantage of the mob that had gathered there. The police sealed the brothels in the presence of the Magistrate.

Woman poses as govt official, cheats schools
New Delhi, October 30
The South-West district police today claimed to have arrested a woman who was allegedly involved in several cases of cheating. She used to pose herself as an official of the Ministry of HRD and Ministry of Culture. The police recovered Rs 1,48,500, two laptop computers and one mobile phone from her possession.

Youth shot dead at rly station
Rohtak, October 30
A youth was shot dead at Kharawar railway station in broad daylight today. According to information, Leela alias Sanjay and Anil of Kharawar village came on a motorcycle and Anil opened fire on Daljit, who was playing cards along with his friends at the railway station of Kharawar village, at around 10 am today.

BUSINESS

Airtel expands network in Delhi
New Delhi, October 30
Bharti Cellular has announced scaling up of its network to double its current capacity to cater to the fast paced growth of mobile telephony in Delhi. The Airtel network in Delhi currently manages more than 150 million call minutes every month and with the scaling up of the capacity it can cater to the needs of more than 1.5 million customers.

EDUCATION

Is unbridled privatisation of education recoiling?
One of the striking issues that came to the fore during the recent DUTA strike was the increasing privatisation of education without ensuring the necessary standard. It attempted to highlight the obscure situations prevalent in private and 'self-financed' universities.

Career fair ‘Protest Day’ by ABVP DU Course revised Inter-college debate

Cultural festival War despatch APTECH foundation week celebrated Conference on  publishing

HEALTH

Haryana sets aside Rs 2 crore for Devi Rupak Yojna
Rewari, October 30
The Haryana Health Minister, Dr M. L. Ranga, at a press conference here yesterday informed that Devi Rupak Yojna, recently launched by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, was an enterprising scheme targeting population explosion, female foeticide and the increasingly disproportionate male-female ratio.

Focus on mind to treat cancer: Kalam
New Delhi, October 30
The President, Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, today stressed for the need to improve the psychological health of the cancer patients. He asked the medical community to help improve psychological health to help patients fight the disease and recover faster. “Introduce human loveable elements in treatment.

Self-help interactive CD on heart care 
Noida, October 30
Mrs Suhsma Swaraj, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, yesterday formally launched an interactive CD that aims at educating the people about basic issues related to heart care at the inaugural function of the medical conference on cardiology, Cardiocon 2002.

SPORTS

Uneasy calm prevails in Delhi Ranji team
New Delhi, October 30
Palpable tension and an uneasy calm prevailed as the Delhi Ranji Trophy team went through their paces at the National Stadium cricket ground on Wednesday. Chief coach Bishan Singh Bedi and his deputy Yashpal Sharma hardly exchanged any words when the players were sweating out at the "nets" of coach Sunita Sharma.

ICICI Bank down Delphi Auto
New Delhi, October 30
ICICI Bank defeated Delphi Auto by 49 runs in the second Eventus Cup Cricket Tournament at the Palam ground. Sunil Gulati played a vital knock for ICICI as he steered them to 125 after they struggled at 76 for 8 with a best knock of 49. Sunil was adjudged the man of the match.

Carmel Delhi crush Lucknow in basketball
New Delhi, October 30
Carmel Delhi beat Carmel Lucknow 25-13 in the Mother Veronica Inter-School Basketball Tournament, played at the Carmel Convent School court.

Shivalik swamp Ropar
New Delhi, October 30
Shivalik School, Chandigarh swamped NCC, Ropar (Punjab) 8-1 in the 31st Nehru Junior Boys Hockey Tournament at the Shivaji Stadium on Wednesday.

ADMINISTRATION

Company lockout: Labour officials told to take action
Faridabad, October 30
The district authorities have directed the Labour Department to take immediate action into the reported `lockout’ in an electrical instrument manufacturing unit and the alleged retrenchment of about 350 employees without any notice. The orders to this effect were issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, here today on a complaint submitted by the workers union in the Open Darbar held at Bachat Bhawan.