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Fire in Kirti Nagar lamp unit, two charred to death New Delhi, December 28 The deceased were identified as Bachu (28) and Richu (22). The fire broke out at around 8.30 pm when the factory was closed and a few labourers were inside it. The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) rushed 15 firefighters who took at least two hours to control it, a spokesman of the fire service said. The factory is spread over an area of 400 square yards. According to preliminary inquiry, shortcircuit could be the cause of fire. The labourers were reportedly asleep when the fire broke out. Yesterday was the coldest day of the season so the victim had gone to bed early, he said. The Delhi Fire Service was informed by a man who works in an adjacent factory. By the time the DFS firefighters reached the spot, it had engulfed the entire factory and the material like plastic and electric wires used to manufacture the lamp had caught the fire. The spokesman said that workers should not be allowed to smoke inside a factory and inflammable items should be kept away from electric circuits. Sparking occurs at times which leads to fire, he cautioned. Man killed in jeep mishap A 35-year-old man was killed and his wife sustained minor injuries this morning when a jeep in which they were travelling overturned near the Booster Pump, Josaf Teeto Marg of Defence Colony area. The police said that the incident occurred when the victim Meher Deep and his wife Nikki, residents of Harcharan Farm, Andheria Mor were travelling in a turbo jeep this morning. When the jeep reached near the Booster Pump, it suddenly overturned and seriously injuring Meher, who was declared brought dead in a local hospital. The victim’s wife Nikki has been treated for her injuries. |
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13-mm hole in heart closed without surgery Sonepat, December 28 Dr Batra disclosed that the patient was treated in his Cath Lab where the procedure was done by a team of doctors led by Dr Balbir Singh, a noted heart surgeon, and it took only 45 minutes to accomplish the job. Now, the child is quite all right and will be discharged in a couple of days. Earlier, the treatment of this kind of hole was done through surgery, which was quite a cumbersome affair. But, now with the availability of the Cath Lab and special devices, these holes can be closed without surgery and the patients can be all right within three days and all the complications arising from the heart surgery can be avoided, Dr Batra added. Dr Batra claimed that the Cath Lab was doing a yeoman’s service to the heart patients in this region as the cost of the treatment was much less than charged at the AIIMS and other big hospitals in Delhi and elsewhere in the country. |
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Farmers’ clash sets alarm bells ringing Sonepat, December 28 The administration of both the districts has taken a serious note of the dispute over the ownership of the land in the Yamuna basin. The Rai police in Sonepat district and the Baghpat police have reportedly registered counter cases against the farmers and the police patrolling has been intensified to check such incidents. The Deputy Commissioners of Sonepat and Baghpat have also held meetings to take precautionary measures. The revenue officers of both the districts have been asked to see to it that the situation becomes normal at the earliest. According the reports from the villages—Basodi, Jajal, Jhundhpur, Aterna, Manoli, Dehesra and Baroli, the villagers are scared of going to their fields in the Yamuna basin.. The residents of Jajal village alleged that the UP farmers had taken possession of the village and mines forcibly and the village panchayat had been incurring losses of lakhs of rupees every year. On the complaint of Jai Bhagwan of village Baroli, the Rai police have registered a case against 10 farmers of Ninana village. The Baghpat police have also registered a case on the complaints of the injured persons of Ninana village against half a dozen residents of Baroli and sent the list of names to Sonepat police. However, the Sonepat police did not confirm the report. It is also learnt from the official sources that the commissioners of Meerut division in UP and Rohtak division in Haryana have also directed the Deputy Commissioners of Baghpat and Sonepat to discuss the issue at their level and ensure that no such incident was repeated. It is also pointed out that a high level meeting of the officers of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh is also scheduled to be held at Uttar Pradesh Bhawan in New Delhi on December 30 to discuss the ownership of the land in the Yamuna basin in Faridabad district. |
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scourge Faridabad, December 28 The police were able to recover about half a dozen girls trafficked from other states, with the help of an NGO based here. As Haryana has been one of those states in the country where the sex ratio had declined sharply over the past several years, it was the main reason of the enforcement of the PNDT Act here. Mr Rishikant of the Shakti Vahini, an NGO here which plays a key role in rescuing the innocent girls, claimed that the low ratio of girls to the boys had been responsible for many problems. He claimed that many rape cases go unrecorded as the victims had been poor and illiterate. Claiming that the Mahila Cell of the police department here had been inactive and there was hardly villager who knew about the cell and its operation, he said the authorities concerned should set up a ‘rape crisis cell’ to counsel and rehabilitate the victims. Of the 57 cases of murder and rape recorded in 2003, there were many women victims. The rape and murder of 22-year-old girl of sector-7A here on December 6 had been most horrifying and still unsolved. A 25-year-old girl of sector 2 had committed suicide on December 24 when she came to learn that the boy she loved had been arrested by the police in connection with purse snatching and robbery. Earlier, the authorities had been able to recover at least six minor girls trafficked from Assam and West Bengal from the Hathin area of the district in the period between 2002-03, which has been a rather new development from the social point of view. According to Shakti Vahini people, the trafficking of girls for marriages or sexual abuse had been a direct result of the sharp decline in the sex ratio in the region. Certain senior officials of the health department admit that the sex determination tests are being carried out despite the massive campaign to check it. Faridabad had been the first district in the state where the first case under the PNDT Act had been booked against some doctors and owners of the ultrasound laboratories between 2001 and 2003. Although the district health authorities register all the ultrasound machines and centres, it is learnt that the practice has been going on allegedly in various parts of the district. However, the process of repatriation and rehabilitation of the rescued trafficked girls has not started yet officially. One of the girls that had been victim of the racket was recently handed over to his father who had come here with the help of Shakti
Vahini. |
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city in a jam New Delhi, December 28 The fog reduced the visibility to 100 metres during the night and did not allow visibility beyond 200 metres till this morning, making operation of flights and plying of trains virtually impossible. The minimum temperature recorded was 7.6 degree Celsius as compared to yesterday’s eight degrees, the Meteorological department said. Meanwhile, Ghaziabad district authorities have closed all schools from tomorrow to January 5 because of the cold and foggy conditions. Delhi Education Front has also demanded that all schools should be closed during the winter spell. President Mahesh Pal has demanded that schools should be asked to close down for the winter and should not reopen during the week beginning on Monday. |
LJP to contest Lok Sabha, Assembly elections Sonepat, December 28 Stating this, Mr Surinder Singh Hooda, general secretary of the state unit, told mediapersons here today that the party would not enter into any poll alliance with any party in the state, as its mass base had become stronger in both the rural and the urban areas. He also announced that the president of the state unit of the party, Mr Samsher Singh Malik, would contest the next Lok Sabha elections from the Sonepat seat and the party workers have already started the election campaign in his favour. He criticised the ‘anti-farmer’ policies of the INLD government headed by Om Prakash Chautala, and said that the farmers of the state were being harassed. The condition of the farmers and the poor people in the state had worsened further since the formation of the government by INLD in the state, he added. He also alleged that the farmers were not getting adequate remunerative price for the crops marketed by them in the state. He also described the increase of Rs 10 per quintal in the support prices of wheat announced by the Central Government as a joke with the farmers and. Mr Hooda also expressed his grave concern over the frequent earthquake shocks in Jind district and urged the state and the Central governments to take immediate and effective remedial steps to check the tremors, which had caused panic among the people. He disclosed that the party is holding its state-level rally on January 27 next at Panipat and it will be addressed, among others, by Mr Ram Bilas Paswan, former Union Minister and the National President of the party. He said that this rally would expose the anti-people policies of both the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and the INLD government in Haryana. He also said that this rally would demand employment opportunities to the educated jobless youths in the state.  |
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MLA flays Chautala for reversing decision Faridabad, December 28 Alleging that the last minute decision and announcement by the CM not to lay the foundation stone of the much touted jail complex at the village was only a political stunt and wastage of lakhs of public money. Demanding an action against those responsible for preparing the project and then shielding it at the last moment when the CM and his entourage had come here for the laying the foundation stone of the 41-crore project. Alleging a conspiracy to befool people, he asked who was going to bear the expenses incurred on the preparations and the visit of the CM, who, he said, had come by a helicopter to lay the stone. Claiming that this action had sent a strong signal to the public about the difference in promises made and their implementation. He also alleged that there had been a gross discrimination with this district as far as the development programmes and employment were concerned. He added that this was perhaps the first incident of its kind when the CM had declined at the last moment to start a project conceived and publicised by his government. |
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SYL canal construction to be
taken up Sonepat, December 28 The Chief Minister, who was meeting the people of Pipli village in Sonepat district under the fourth phase of the ‘Sarkar Apke Dwar Programme’ yesterday, said that the state would receive adequate water for irrigation after the completion of the SYL Canal. While attending to the grievances of the people of Gopalpur, Rampur and Pipli, he announced a number of developmental works for the area. Addressing the people of the area, he launched the fourth phase of the ‘Sarkar Apke Dwar Programme’ from village Ferozepur
Bagar. Mr Chautala assured the people that steps were being taken to improve the irrigation system in the region. The damaged watercourses were being repaired and the base level of canals was being improved to ensure irrigation water to the tail end villages. He said that the ambitious ‘Sway Jal Dhara’ scheme was being implemented to improve the availability of safe drinking water for the villages. Under this programme, the villagers would have to deposit 10 per cent of the project cost while the remaining 90 per cent expenditure would be made by the state government. He said that under another project aimed at improving sports facilities in the villages, the government would spend Rs 2.25 lakh if the Gram Panchayats deposited Rs 75,000 for the construction of sports stadium. He reiterated the commitment of the state government to provide basic facilities to the people in the villages, which would be at par with those in the urban areas. A scheme had been introduced to develop residential sectors, similar to urban areas in villages, he added. He urged the people to pay their electricity bills on time so that the government is able to provide uninterrupted power supply to the villages. He announced a number of development works for the villages of the area, including the construction of a new six bay bus stand at Kharkhoda. While urging the people of Kharkhauda to deposit the arrears related to electricity bills, amounting to Rs 1.20 crores, Mr Chautala said that this entire amount would be utilised for the development of the town. |
G.T.Road Panipat, December 28 With the efforts of the Haryana Highway Patrolling, the graph of deaths has come down but there is increase in the number of injured people on the G.T. Road. By the end of November, as many as 136 cases of accidents were registered, 83 persons died and 113 were injured as compared to 152 cases registered with 74 deaths and 130 injured in the previous year relating to Babarpur post covering the area of Bastara to Sewah. Similarly, on the Samalkha Highway Patrolling post, as many as 55 cases were registered, 27 people died with 47 injured in accidents as compared to 70 cases registered with 49 deaths and 73 injured in the year 2002, in the same period. This year, too, the number of causalities was higher on the Babarpur checkpost. The Haryana Highway Authorities, however, are of the opinion that the statistics as compared to previous years are less. The credit for a little improvement goes to the public awareness programme conducted by the Highway Patrolling Squad of the state government. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Haryana Highway Patrol Police, Mr Saurabh Singh told the NCR Tribune that to reduce traffic problems on G.T.Road, all the traffic centers of Highway Patrols would be inter-linked with internet soon. As a result, the problem of traffic jams would be effectively attended to. He also added that even a scheme of a by-pass has already been submitted to Haryana Government for necessary action. Speaking on the performance of Haryana Highway Patrolling Squad staff, the SSP said that their staff took pains to dispatch the injured persons to the hospitals and saved many innocent lives. On the question of traffic jam situation, the SSP said that a proposal of a by-pass has been submitted to the state Government in which two by-passes, one from “Kachhi canal” to Refinery from Delhi side and the other one from “Babarpur to Risalu village.” According to SSP, this will ease the situation. Police vans with latest equipment and internet facilities would be arranged to curb the traffic snarls on the highway, to enforce use of helmet for two-wheelers and fixing of seat belts for four-wheelers in a specified speed limit would also save the precious lives on the highway for which a proper public awareness programme would be launched soon, he added. |
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Special Focus on
SONEPAT Sonepat, December 28 According to a report, trucks, which come here to pick or offload goods regularly, are parked here for days in front of the makeshift repairing garages. At many places, trucks are parked in double rows on the road causing traffic bottleneck and reckless honking of pressure horns. A number of residents have been killed and inured by speeding vehicles on this road in the past few years due to the unregulated traffic. The visibility during the night in the area was extremely low due to the absence of streetlights. Even though a number of electric poles have been erected on the central verge of this road, they were usually without tube lights. A number of poles erected on the central verge have been knocked down by trucks maneuvering for parking space. The problems of the resident on this road have aggravated after the shifting of the office of the ‘Sonepat Truck Operators Union’ here. Consequently, even the trucks affiliated to the ‘Sonepat Truck Operators Union’ have started diverting their vehicles on to this road. As a result, the designated parking places for the trucks have been abandoned. The residents have pointed out that such activities making their lives miserable should not be permitted by the authorities concerned. However, the residents alleged that repeated representation to the traffic and civic authorities had made no difference to their plight. The district administration too had remained a silent spectator. The Residents Welfare Association had demanded the immediate shifting of the office of the truck operators union from the Sonepat-Bahalgarh road. The residents have demanded action against the truck drivers found violating the traffic rules and regulations in this respect. |
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Chautala harassing farmers: HVP Sonepat, December 28 He alleged that the present INLD government, headed by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash
Chautala, was harassing the farmers on one pretext or the other. The farmers were being arrested and prosecuted in the name of power theft, he alleged. This, he said, had caused strong resentment among the farmers. He also alleged that the power supply was inadequate and erratic and the people in the rural areas had not been getting regular power supply. The high power tariff and the new electronic meters have added to the woes of the people in general and the farmers in particular, Mr Jain said. The HVP leader also refuted the claim of the Chief Minister about the generation of excess power by Haryana and its supply to other states. He accused the Chief Minister of fooling the people in this regard. Instead, he said, an acute shortage of electricity in the urban as well as the rural areas was a living reality for the people of Haryana. He also alleged that the people in the urban areas were being harassed by the authorities by declaring residential colonies as illegal. Similarly, the civic bodies had launched campaigns to recover ‘taxes’ from the school managements despite the fact that the school buildings had been constructed several years ago. He assured the people that all the ‘anti-people’ decisions taken by the Chautala government would be reviewed if the HVP came to power in the Assembly elections. |
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Tributes paid to jawans at CRPF 64th New Delhi, December 28 The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr I. D. Swami, decorated 50 officers and jawans with gallantry and distinguished medals. He also presented the best group centre trophy to GC Jallandhar, best battalion trophy to 22nd Battalion, best operational battalion in Jammu and Kashmir to the 114th Battalion, best battalion in North East to the 53rd Battalion and the best cost effective and financial discipline trophy to the 124th Battalion. In his welcome address, the Director General of the CRPF, Mr S. C. Chaube, said that the force had made supreme sacrifices to keep intact the integrity and unity of the nation. The current year, he pointed out, was very challenging and 170 militants had been killed and 1,957 apprehended from various parts of the country. Earlier, Mr Swamy took a general salute at an impressive parade, commanded by Commandant M K Dubey. There were 10 contingents, including one mahila contingent. |
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BJP warns against hike in water tariff New Delhi, December 28 Delhi Pradesh BJP president Dr Harshvardhan had yesterday voiced a similar concern when he said that the government should shore up its resources in order to pull Delhi back from the brink of
bankruptcy. Goel, in a statement released to the media, said the proposed increase in water tariff immediately after the Assembly election was a “betrayal” and that the government should instead endeavour to make available potable water to more numbers of people. |
‘Good Fortune’ devices to help turn negative energies into positive ones REIKI master Nalin Narula and Clairvoyant expert Renoo Narula have launched a range of fascinating ‘Good Fortune’ devices under the Star Light brand for harmonising natural and individual energies. These products are the result of distilled knowledge of universal energies, Vaastu and Vedic science, Chinese Feng-Shui, Tibetan Tantra, Judaism and other theologies and esoteric knowledge that help to turn negative energies into positive ones. The range of devices include wind chimes, pyramids, yantras and keychains made of different materials in various shapes and sizes. Nalin Narula said: “We felt there is a need for correctly made good fortune devices based on our studies over many years.” Electrolux Kelvinator Limited has launched the all-new Ozone- Steel Finish refrigerator. This model is an addition to its most popular frost-free range of refrigerators – the ‘Ozone’ range. The Ozone range of refrigerators come with the World’s First, Life Nourishing System, which not only enhances the freshness of food but also prepares the taste. It is targeted at consumers who seek pride in owning a new age frost-free refrigerator; prefer fresh and tastier food, superior performance, user-friendly features and stylish products. A baby touch Burberry, a lifesytle brand, has introduced Burberry Baby Touch, a collection of lightly scented products created with babies in mind. The line is composed of a delicate fragrance in two versions, (one with and one without alcohol), a tender massage oil, gentle body shampoo and soothing milk body lotion. Everything is as soft as can be that’s why a little lamb logo appears in every box and bottle. Each formula has been formulated in order to minimise allergy risks and tested under dermatological control by the Bio HC laboratory. Racing to destination Mattel Toys has launched the Hot Wheels Grand Prix Program. Now the purchase of a Hot Wheels “offer car” can take you to the ultimate racing destination in the eastern hemisphere – the Malaysian Grand Prix (Sepang) in March 2004. The Hot Wheels Grand Prix offer is valid on purchase of Hot Wheels “offer cars”, which bear Hot Wheels Grand Prix Stickers. Wishing
New Year ITC has introduced a range of 784 new designs of Expressions greeting cards to help people wish New Year to their friends and loved ones. Mr Chand Das, CEO, ITC cards, said: “This is an important season with almost 20 per cent of sales for the entire year coming in during this period. We have planned for the big occasion with the launch of a new expression range that will excite consumers with 784 new and innovative designs.” The Panacea Biotec limited has launched the first ever Piles Management System through its ‘ThankGod’ product range, which includes ThankGod Capsules, Cream, Isabgol and Husk. The company has pioneered this category by offering a complete range of products to take care of the discomfort caused by piles. Rajesh Jain, JMD, said: “The piles management kit has been specially designed for integrated management of piles. Our vision was to provide a comprehensive solution for first and second degree piles patients.” Franco Leone, the Indian cynosure designer label of International quality and design in leather footwear, has launched Ruff ‘N’ Tuff shoes for men. This new collection of Franco Leone has been designed particularly keeping in mind of the latest fashion trend loving men. India book A collective offering from Encyclopaedia Britannica and The Hindu Group have launched the India Book of the year. An enthralling storehouse of knowledge, the book has been put together with Encyclopaedia Britannica’s unmatched wealth of information and scholarship, the editorial expertise along with The Hindu’s authentic reports and analyses of Indian events gathered through its wide network of correspondents and writers. Photographs and graphics lend additional vividness to the features. Time out TAG Heuer, a leader in luxury sports watches and chronographs since 1860, has launched The Link New Collection in India. As part of the global launch, TAG Heuer brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan has unveiled the collection in New Delhi. “My formal association with TAG Heuer is only a few months old, but I have been a great TAG Heuer fan for many years,” said Khan. Centrestage mall Lee Cooper has opened its first exclusive outlet at the Centrestage Mall in Noida. In a bid to turn the shopping experience into fun, the new store at the Centrestage Mall lays special emphasis on ambience coupled with calm and relaxed shopping atmosphere, which is a sure Mantra to soothe people’s senses while shopping. With its unique, trendy and affordable collection of jackets, sweatshirts, pullovers, cardigans and trousers, it promises to fulfill the customers needs. Fairness cream Nature Essence has introduced fairness cream bleach, which lightens hair to match the skin colour and makes the skin fair and glowing. The most important aspect of this product is the fact that its mild formula gives more natural texture with no irritation to the skin. The gold bleach is a special kind of treatment designed to lighten the skin’s unwanted hair so that it could match with the colour of the skin. Rudraksh & Chameli from T-series T-series has released the music for the film ‘Rudraksh’. With the film promos and music already setting the TV screens on fire, this Mani Shankar film has music by the dynamic trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. A collection of nine songs, the lyrics were written by Sameer and Arun Bhairav. T-series has released the music for another film ‘Chameli’. The Sudhir Mishra’s film, the music is scored by Sandesh Shandilya and Irshad Kamil has penned down the lyrics for the film. The film has eight songs. Chew up Dalmia Consumer Care has launched Chabaaza, a well-researched, new chewing practice – that delivers the satisfaction without any adverse effect on the quality of life. It contains no supari or other harmful ingredients like gambier, magnesium, carbonate that are known to cause oral cancer. |
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