TOP STORIES

Now, Panipat is grappling with encephalitis
Panipat, October 30
What had to happen has happened. Panipat is in the grip of dengue and Japanese Encephalitis (JE). This has spread panic among the affluent industrial community and lakhs of textile workers.

Delhi Sikhs asserting their political identity?
New Delhi, October 30
The members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), who are opposed to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Parkash Singh Badal, today welcomed the dissociation of three popular leaders from the party, saying that their move had empowered the cause of the community living in the Capital.

Woman sacrifices boy, bathes in his blood
Meerut, October 30
Seven-year-old Chatrapal, alias Monu, who was kidnapped 20 days ago from Dehri village of the Rampur Maniharan area of Saharanpur, was sacrificed by a woman from the same village on the directions of two tantriks, all in order to have a son. Crossing all limits of humanity, the woman even bathed in Monu’s blood. The police arrested her, her brother, a tantrik and one other person on Wednesday. As news of the human sacrifice of the seven-year-old boy spread in the area a mob blocked the Delhi-Saharanpur road in protest.

QUIRK OF FATE
Labourers crushed at site, contractor dies of shock
New Delhi, October 30
In an uncanny incident in Narain Nagar, Lalita Park, East Delhi, a building contractor died of sudden heart failure after two labourers were crushed to death while unloading marble slabs from a truck at the site today.

PUBLIC ANGST
Selective demolition irks shopkeepers
Sonepat, October 30
Shopkeepers here kept their shutters down throughout the day yesterday in protest against alleged discrimination in demolishing unauthorised structures in front of the shops by the officials of the demolition squad at Kharkhauda town, 19 km from here, yesterday.

Suffering families rapped by Khap
Rohtak, October 30
The two families of Garhi Sampla village, which are still trying to reconcile to the fate of their missing members, now has to bear the ignominy of having offended the dignity of the Khap (brotherhood) by rejecting the financial assistance offered by them and the government.

Hunt for motive in Jor Bagh murder
New Delhi, October 30
The police today continued their efforts to trace the suspects involved in the murder of a 70-year-old woman at her house in the Jor Bagh area last night. The woman was staying along and had employed three servants and a guard in the house. Two servants have been missing since the murder. The police are now questioning the third servant and the guard to find out the details and the whereabouts of the elusive two.

POLITICS

New Delhi, October 30 The Third Front says talks are still on with the Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party for a possible tie-up ahead of the December 1 Assembly election. Chairman of Third Front Ramvir Singh Bidhuri on Thursday told media persons that Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal had agreed to contest the Delhi polls as part of the Third Front.

COMMUNITY

Charles savours idlis, phirni at Dilli Haat 

New Delhi, October 30 Prince Charles on Thursday spent over an hour at Dilli Haat buying silks with Madhubani painting and Buddha’s motif besides relishing organic food like Ragi idlis, Amarnath pasta and Jhangore phirni. Prince Charles during his visit to Anugriha, a shelter for homeless women at YWCA in the Capital on Thursday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

SPECIAL FOCUS ON ROHTAK

Call to maintain composite character of society Rohtak, October 30 Elaborating on the philosophical aspects of the composite character of Indian society and Hindu religion, veteran journalist Prabhash Joshi said the very concept of religion, nation and patriotism are being systematically distorted.

MDU directed to issue duplicate degree  Rohtak, October 30 The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) to issue a duplicate degree to Rajesh Kumar after he complained that the original degree had been badly damaged.

Parliamentary Committee on tour to increase export of 
Basmati rice
Sonepat, October 30
In a bid to accelerate the export of Basmati rice, a 21-member Standing Committee of the Members of Parliament, headed by Mr Kailash Joshi, visited a number of rice mills in this district yesterday. They had a detailed discussion with the owners of the rice mills and traders about the prospects for increasing the export of Basmati rice.

AHPCWU demands end to ‘victimisation’
Faridabad, October 30
The employees of the Power Corporations in Haryana have asked the authorities to stop the “victimisation” and undue “transfer” of staff on political grounds. The All Haryana Power Corporation Workers Union (AHPCWU) has demanded the acceptance and the implementation of their long pending demands.

NCR BRIEFS
Seven-year term for rapist 
Jhajjar, October 30
The Fast Track Court today sentenced a rapist for seven-year imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 8,000 on him. The person was convicted of raping a minor girl of Ahari village.

Thieves strike in  five houses Raid on petrol pumps

Two youths attacked

DELHI DIGEST Rally against acquittal of Geelani, Guru New Delhi, October 30 The National Akali Dal on Thursday organised a demonstration outside the Tihar Jail to protest against the acquittal of Prof SAR Geelani and Afshan Guru in the Parliament attack case.

CRIME

Canter carrying illegal liquor seized, 4 arrested 
Sonepat, October 30
The officials of the Excise Department, accompanied by the police, intercepted a canter carrying 184 boxes of country liquor worth thousands of rupees and arrested four persons near Sargathal Village, about 30 km from here last night.

Satta racket smashed 
New Delhi, October 30
With the arrest of three persons, the East district police today claimed to have busted a satta racket during the New Zealand vs Australia cricket match. The satta was played for Rs 14 lakh and the accused were receiving clients from Mumbai and Jaipur.

Housewife commits suicide
Sonepat: A young housewife Mrs Kavita (28) was reported to have committed suicide by hanging herself with a rope in her house at Harsana Kalan village about 5 km from here last night.

BUSINESS

340 fair price shops open in Sonepat
Sonepat, October 30
The Haryana Government has opened 340 fair price shops in Sonepat district for the distribution of rationed commodities like levy sugar, subsidised atta and kerosene oil among the families living below the poverty line (BPL).

EDUCATION

Jamia Millia students threaten strike
New Delhi, October 30
Unable to meet the Vice-Chancellor today to seek a settlement of the ongoing stir in Jamia Millia Islamia, the students have threatened to go on a strike. “We were assured that the Vice-Chancellor will meet us today, but when we went to his office we were not let in. The V-C refused to meet us and also gave no reasons for calling off the meeting,” said an agitating student.

Hindu College to honour alumni
New Delhi, October 30
From a humble beginning way back in 1899 to its present status, that of a leading educational institution in the country, the Hindu College is celebrating its success as that of its distinguished alumni.

CULTURE

ARTSCAPE Remembering the renaissance man The Gallery for Indian Art here is organising a five-day nostalgic treat for the art lovers, ‘Damayanti’, in the Capital, by showcasing the select works of the legendary artist, the late P. Khemraj. Widely known as the ‘renaissance man’ of the Indian art, Khemraj had given a new dimension to modern art with his colourful and often mind-boggling depiction of the female form. The exhibition will be on from November 2 to November 7. Apart from the visual treat, in the memory of the late painter a musical evening, will also be held on November 1.  An artwork of late P. Khemraj.

MUSIC ZONE
Penaz panache
She holds overseas audiences spellbound
Penaz Masani, the lady with a golden voice and a charming personality, is back in India after a very successful trip to South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal. She gave some enthralling moments to these countries with her soulful ghazal singing.

SPORTS

Gyan Bharti lift Bon-Ton cricket title 

New Delhi, October 30 Superb all-round performances by skipper Manav Sharma (43, 4 for 65 and 4 for 85) and Ankur Julka (89 n o, and 3 for 42) helped Gyan Bharati School to lift the Bon-Ton Trophy for the first time since the tournament started six years back by defeating Modern School, Barakhamba by 40 runs. Electing to bat first, Gyan Bharati School at one time were 80 for 5, but a match saving partnership of 89 runs between Chetan Logani (42) and Kushal Sthapak (41) helped them to reach 201 all out in 59.2 overs. Sanjeev Madan during the toss with Surya Azad and Manav Sharma.

CEAT announces cricket rating awards
New Delhi, October 30
CEAT Cricket Rating yesterday announced the winners of the 8th Annual CEAT International Cricket Rating Awards for the year 2002-2003. The awards, a-la Oscars for the international cricket fraternity, are to recognise the sterling performance across 8 categories. The awardees will be honoured with exclusive trophies and prize money worth rupees two million.

Bollywood actress Sonali Bendre presenting the trophy to players of Kirori Mal College, where she witnessed a basketball competition in the Capital on Thursday. — A Tribune Photograph

Players of Govt Model Sr Secondary School, Jalandhar and Army Boys Sports BRC Danapur during the 32nd Junior Nehru Hockey Tournament at Shivaji Stadium in the Capital on Thursday. — Photo by Kamal Singh.

Cyber Media Cricket tourney from November 1
New Delhi, October 30
The Cyber Media Cricket Tournament, the popular annual event, organised by Cyber Media India Ltd. (CMIL), will be held in the Capital from November 1 to January 4, 2004.

Neha clinches U-12 title in TT
Sonepat, October 30
Neha of Sirsa clinched the title of under-12 girls’ section of Haryana State Table Tennis Championship by defeating Rashu also of Sirsa by 11-1, 11-8, 6-11 and 11-7. Third place of this section went to Minakshi of Bhiwani who defeated Anchal of Sirsa by winning three out of four sets.

Inter-University Softball Championship
Rohtak, October 30
Delhi University and M. D. University (MDU) won their matches convincingly in the men and women sections respectively of the 10th All India Inter-University Softball Championship being held at Maharshi Dayanand University. Delhi University defeated Utkal University with 13-0 margin.

Rahil Ganjee extends lead at HT Pro Golf
Gurgaon, October 30
Rahil Gangjee fired six birdies but still submitted a card of two under 70. Yet, it was enough for the Kolkata-based pro to extend his lead to two strokes at the end of the third round of the Rs 8-lakh HT Pro Golf 2003, the seventh leg of the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour at the Classic Golf Resort today.