TOP STORIES

NDMC cocks a snook at info booths on disabled New Delhi, November 30 There are many denials, which the disabled face. From the right to live with dignity to free access in public places, the challenges are umpteen, and to make things worse is apathy. There is a need for special facilities for the disabled in India as is the case in the West.

Jagmohan in row over ‘misuse’ of position
New Delhi, November 30
An inquiry has been ordered by the Delhi Election office into the allegation of misuse of official position by the Union Tourism Minister, Mr Jagmohan, who sought support for the BJP candidate from Gole Market, Mrs Poonam Azad.

• Tight security in place for polls today

Dreaded criminal shot in encounter
Ghazibad, November 30
A history-sheeter and dreaded criminal of Gautam Budh Nagar, Jeeti, was shot dead in an encounter by the Vijay Nagar police at 10 p.m. last night while his two companions gave the police the slip.

• Two girls crushed under bus
  

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Sushma Swaraj tries to pacify a wailing infant, who happens to be HIV positive. His mother, also HIV positive, looks on. — Photo by Kamal Singh

IN A NUTSHELL
Probe ordered into tanker explosion
Ghaziabad: The District Magistrate has ordered an inquiry into a devastating blaze triggered by a gas tanker’s explosion in village Vet Mode under Simbhawali police station. The explosion had occurred when some anti-social persons were stealing gas from the Indane tankers.

• CBI files gutted

Park Residency case cracked: Contract killers involved
New Delhi, November 30
In less than 48 hours, the Delhi Police Crime Branch today claimed to have cracked the sensational murder case of a restaurant owner, Dilip Surtani, who was shot dead by two persons in the Safdarjung Enclave area of South-West district on Friday.

PLEASE GOD: Social activist Nafisa Ali being greeted at the Prachin Mahavir Mandir, Kashmiri Gate where she tries to seek the Lord’s blessings for the Congress victory. She was accompanied by Jaswinder Singh Honey, president, Youth Akali Dal (MTS) in the Capital on Sunday.

Yet another inquiry hangs fire in MDU
Rohtak, November 30
Strange are the service rule procedures of Maharshi Dayanand University employees: they are seldom taken to their logical conclusion. An interesting case is that of Mr H L Virmani, an Executive Engineer of the university since November 1997, who was suspended from service on January 31, 2001. A charge-sheet was issued against him on May 1,2001.

Most petrol pumps selling adulterated fuel
Sonepat, November 30
Most of the filling stations in this city and its adjoining areas are allegedly selling adulterated petrol and diesel due to the failure of the authorities to check the malpractice.

POLITICS

CAMPAIGN TRIAL
With drums falling silent, the friendly neta surfaces
New Delhi, November 30
The drums and the loudspeakers have been put to rest. However, the ‘friendly neta’ with his team of the faithful is no mood to bid adieu. Knocking at the doors, greeting you on the street and whispering their wish for your support… the drama of pressing the flesh continues!

Poll surveys doctored: BJP
New Delhi, November 30
The BJP today alleged that the election surveys carried out by the newspapers and electronic media, giving absolute majority to the Congress, were ‘manipulated’ and aimed at misleading people and claimed that the party would win at least 45 seats in tomorrow’s Assembly election.

Voters skipped PM’s meetings: Cong
New Delhi, November 30
On the eve of the polling, the Congress said that the voters in Delhi were not impressed by the ‘antics’ of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose meetings drew a thin attendance.

COMMUNITY

India a potential destination for medical tourism
Noida, November 30
India is being recognised as a potential world health care destination in the coming years, says Dr Mashesh Sharma, CMD of Kailash Hospital Noida, who recently attended a meeting of 2003 Asian Venture Business in the International Convention Centre, Okasa, organised by the Asian Productivity Organisation, Tokyo.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON SONEPAT
TUs’ meet to protest against curbs on hartal
Sonepat, November 30
To oppose the apex court’s verdict against the organising of hartal, the trade unions and various government, banks and LIC employees unions have decided to organise a one-day joint convention on December 21 in this city.

Members demand cancellation of shops’ auction
Sonepat, November 30
In reply to the clarification sought by the Commissioner and Special Secretary of the Panchayat and Development Department over complaints of alleged irregularities in auctioning of as many as 20 shops by the Khasrkhoda Block Samiti, about five members of the samiti have demanded the cancellation of the auction.

It’s a nightmare to travel in suburban trains
Sonepat, November 30
Suburban commuters in Sonepat and the surrounding areas face a lot of hardships because of the alleged indifference of the railway authorities to their problems such as late running of the suburban trains and inadequate coaches in them.

NCR BRIEFS
Six villagers assaulted
Panipat: Six persons of village Nanhera in Panipat district have reportedly been injured when a dozen armed persons from village Kakora of Shamli Tehsil in Uttar Pradesh attacked them on Friday evening. The Kakora villagers were reportedly accompanied by the tehsildar.

• Three hurt in accident

• MDS entrance results

CRIME

Three women strangulated in their house
Meerut, November 30
Fear gripped the city after three women of a family were found dead in their house. After hearing the news of the gruesome incident, a large number of people from the nearby areas gathered at the site and protested against the police.

• Three dry days; illicit liquor seized

EDUCATION

PRINCIPALSPEAK
Vegetarianism and its virtues
I would like to begin by recounting an incident. The incident involves a six-year-old-girl whose parents took up a posting in Saudi Arabia. She was your usual happy go lucky youngster, preoccupied with dolls and fantasy world and of course food, and being a non-vegetarian her food largely comprised butter chicken and grilled chicken and other such delicacies.

Gurukul institutions set the tone for rejuvenation
Sonepat, November 30
The recent decisions of the management committee of Kanya Gurukul Khanpur Kalan and Gurukul Vidyapeeth, Bhainswal Kalan, are claimed to have set the tone for rejuvenation of the working of these educational institutions, which, otherwise, were known for becoming ‘Rajniti Ka Akhara’ of the local politicians in the past.

New pattern of honours courses from next session in Haryana
Rohtak, November 30
The Commissioner of Higher Education, Mr Dhanpat Singh, said that the honours courses in Haryana were being restructured on the pattern of the Delhi University. This was being done to bring uniformity in the curriculum of all universities in the state and also to improve the quality of education of honours courses.

HEALTH

Aggarsain Hospital to start free OPD
Panipat, November 30
With the aim to provide the best possible medical services at affordable prices, Maharaja Aggarsain Hospital, which is run by Aggarwal Charitable Trust, Panipat, has planned to introduce “Free Evening OPD” from December 1 and free medical check-ups of the schoolchildren.

SPORTS

Jindal Steel power to Hari Singh Polo Cup
New Delhi, November 30
Jindal Steel and Power recorded their third title victory of the season when they toppled defending champions Royal Kashmir Army 13-6 in the final of the Rabo India Maharaja Hari Singh Cup Polo Tournament at the Jaipur Polo ground on Sunday.

Low-scoring matches in Subroto Cup
New Delhi, November 30
The Subroto Cup Football Tournament witnessed low-scoring matches at the Ambedkar Stadium on Sunday. Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa Higher Secondary School, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) registered their first win in two matches when they scored a narrow 1-0 victory against American College Higher Secondary School, Madurai (Tamilnadu) 1-0 in a listless contest.

Pahari Dhiraj cash in on Central Bank
New Delhi, November 30
Pahari Dhiraj cashed in on the weak spots of Central Bank of India to record an exciting six-run victory in the DDCA A-I Division match at the RSC ground. Central Bank scored 162 for 9 in 40 overs.

Another batch comes out fit and ready

New Delhi, November 30 Another batch of fitness trainers passed out of the Reebok Instructor Certification Programme, which started in August this year. The certificates were presented by national bodybuilding champion Prasad Kumar G. ‘Mr India’ Prasad Kumar G presenting the Instructor Certification Programme certificates to successful candidates in the Capital in the presence of well-known trainer Nisha.