TOP STORIES

DEMOLITION 'EXCESSES'
Livid locals take BJP team to task
Faridabad, March 16
The local residents, livid at the excesses during the recent demolition drive in some parts of the town, have started targeting their political representatives. The crackdown in Housing Board Colony of Sector-29 here last evening is a case in point. The bitter residents poured their anger on the politicians and the local authorities. 
Rattan Lal Kataria, MP, being treated at RML Hospital for the injuries he reportedly sustained in a police lathi-charge in Faridabad on Saturday. — Tribune Photo

MCD tribunal headless for five months
New Delhi, March 16
The MCD Appellate Tribunal, created to expedite the process of law, has not been functioning for the past five months in the absence of a Presiding Officer. People aggrieved by the orders of demolition, alteration, relocation or sealing of properties by various urban bodies are bound to move this ‘’headless’’ tribunal which has the exclusive jurisdiction over the matter.

A student at a fashion show held at the Ahimsa Women’s Polytechnic during its Annual Day-cum-Convocation at Delhi Chinmaya Sewa Trust in the Capital on Sunday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Nine NCR towns to get new fire stations
Sonepat, March 16
The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) has sanctioned the scheme for strengthening fire services in seven towns and opening new fire stations in nine towns falling in the NCR at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 7 crore. This includes Rs 5.25 crore as loan component and Rs 1.75 crore as the municipal share.

Theft of deities’ statues: The plot only thickens
Gurgaon, March 16
The followers of Jainism are upset with the failure of the police to solve the theft case of seven statues of deities from a temple in Kasan village near here. More than one month has passed since the incident. The plot only thickens with each passing day.

Driver of ill-fated Baleno arrested
New Delhi, March 16
The Delhi Police today claimed to have arrested the driver of the Baleno which had rammed into an Ambassador car on Prithvi Raj Road near Union Minister for Home Affairs L.K. Advani’s residence. Three MBA students, who belonged to affluent families of the Capital, died in the mishap.

COMMUNITY

Phdcci opposes govt’s power to abolish contract labour
New Delhi, March 16
The provision empowering the government to abolish contract labour must be deleted from the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, the Phdcci said yesterday.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON SONEPAT
INLD govt unable to check cow slaughter: Toghadia
Sonepat, March 16
The general secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Mr Parveen Toghadia, has lashed out at the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) government, headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and alleged that it had failed to curb cow slaughter in Mewat region of the state.

CPI(M) to observe ‘anti-war’ week from March 23 
Rohtak, March 16
The Haryana unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has announced that it would observe ‘anti-war’ week from March 23 to 30. Addressing newsmen here today, Mr Hanan Mollah, MP and in-charge of the party affairs in Haryana, said demonstrations would be held at district headquarters and the masses will be made aware of the ill effects of war during the week.

Haryana traders to down shutters for 48 hours
Sonepat, March 16
The Haryana Pradesh Beopar Mandal has decided to join the all India trade bandh for 48 hours from March 31 to April 1. The bandh call has been given by the Bharatiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal to protest against the implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT).

Human chain to protest US sabre-rattling 

New Delhi, March 16 A human chain was formed by students, teachers, workers, artistes and political activists today to protest against the US plan to wage war on Iraq. Gathered under the banner of “Committee Against War on Iraq”, people from all walks of life joined hands at Mandi House heeding the international call to observe today as ‘Worldwide protest day’. DOWN WITH US JACKBOOT: Left parties workers making a human chain against the possible attack on Iraq in the Capital.

Road in disrepair
Sonepat, March 16
The state government and mainly the Chief Minister claim time and again that the road conditions in the state had been improved by spending crores of rupees on repairs and upgradation, but one of the major district roads—from Sonepat to Khanpur Kalan via Purkhas, has continued to be in a state of disrepair for the last five years despite the repeated pleas of the people of nearly 30 villages located on this road.

NCR BRIEFS
Five nabbed with Rs 5 lakh fake currency
Ghaziabad, March 16
A special team led by the Superintendent of Police (Rural), Mr Anil Kumar, arrested five persons involved in printing fake currency notes. The culprits were arrested after raids were conducted at bus stands under Mussori police station and in Vijay Nagar.

District Bar Council nominations Two years’ RI

ST Bar Assn Train blast condemned

DELHI DIGEST ‘Allotted plots to be distributed’ New Delhi, March 16 The prayers of the 12 thousand beneficiaries of the 20 Point Programme for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) who were allotted plots, but not given possession of, have been answered. Revenue Minister Haroon Yusuf on Sunday declared that plots would be distributed to the families after updating the revenue records.

CRIME

Truck loaded with urea worth lakhs stolen from Old DC Road
Sonepat, March 16
A truck, loaded with urea worth several lakhs of rupees, was allegedly stolen from the Old DC Road area here last night. According to a report, the owner of the truck has stated to the police that he had parked his truck No H.R. 46 A-4773 near Deepak Mandir last night but it was found missing this morning. An FIR was lodged in this connection. Further investigations were on.

Satta racket busted
New Delhi, March 16
With the arrest of four persons, the Delhi Police today claimed to have busted a satta racket in Adarsh Nagar. The suspects were identified as Ram Gopal, Umesh Kumar, Narender Aggarwal and Pappu Jain. They were operating a satta racket from a rented room in Cable Park area in Adarsh Nagar.

BUSINESS

SHOWCASE
A sophisticated composition to facilitate summer romance in casual wear
Giovani’s Spring-Summer 2003 collection, “Summer Romance,” comprises executive wear, casual suits, jackets, shirts and knitwear for both men and women at very affordable price. Giovani’s fabric orientation is towards extreme sophistication among blends like linen, cotton, viscose and silk. These blends are calmer in appearance but seemingly sophisticated in composition.

EDUCATION

SCHOOL BUZZ
Time for adults to learn lessons from eco-conscious kids
Noted wildlife painter David Shepherd on the basis of his interaction with schoolchildren said, “Children show more concern for the environment than heads of most MNCs and states. Their concern for environment is far greater.”

An appeal for peace Annual Day Seminar on pre-school education

Messages from  Mother’s Pride Course for teachers

PRINCIPALSPEAKS The unifying colours of Holi: A route to world harmony The festival of Holi fills our life with colours and joys. It celebrates victory of ‘good’ over ‘evil’ and carries the holy message of universal brotherhood. The delightful spray of colours brings everyone together to share the joys of the day, sweets and embrace their friends and foes alike. If observed in the right spirit, it is a day when nothing is taken amiss, all is forgiven and differences are forgotten.

COURTS

Court raps police for showing leniency towards industrialist 
New Delhi, March 16
Stringent strictures were passed against the Delhi Police by a Delhi Court today for admitting industrialist G. Sagar Suri of Delhi Auto and General Finance Ltd. (DAGFL) to a private hospital while executing a non-bailable warrant (NBW) in a cheating case filed by the SBI Home Finance.

HEALTH

Over 200 specialists take part in endovascular meet

New Delhi, March 16 The first-ever scientific meet of Endovascular Intervention Society of India held here was attended by more than 200 super specialists from India and renowned faculty from the USA, Germany and Italy. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at the first-ever meeting of Endovascular Intervention Society of India.

SPORTS

Tarun Gupta’s knock ousts Sonnet
New Delhi, March 16
A fine unbeaten knock of 59, laced with six fours and off 75 balls by Tarun Gupta, helped Delhi Blues beat Sonnet Club by two wickets and enter the semi-final of the fourth Roshanara Cup Cricket Tournament at the Roshanara Club ground.

Sachin Khurana stars for Malviya
New Delhi, March 16
A dashing unbeaten 74 by Sachin Khurana and a devastating 4 for 25 by T Anand helped Malviya Club beat Chand Khanna Club by nine wickets in a Super A Division match of the DDCA League.

Vijay Bahadur shines  in SBI victory
New Delhi, March 16
A brilliant all-round performance by Vijay Bahadur Mishra (101 and 4 for 31) enabled State Bank of India trounce United Cricket Club by 56 runs in an A-I Division match of the DDCA League at the RSKP ground.

Kirti Azad hits century for Constitutional Club 

New Delhi, March 16 Centuries by former India players Kirti Azad and Ajay Jadeja helped Constitutional Club defeat Australian High Commission by 110 runs in a league match of the second Commonwealth Cricket Tournament at the Nehru Stadium ground. Former Indian Test player and Member of Parliament Kirti Azad and Delhi and District Cricket Association vice-president Suresh Chopra felicitating Union Minister Sahib Singh Verma at a DDCA function.

BSES sail past Grey Worldwide
New Delhi, March 16
BSES defeated Grey Worldwide by 93 runs in the ESPN Star Sports Challenger Cricket Cup.