TOP STORIES

8 pc decline in heinous crimes:
Police chief
New Delhi, January 5
The Delhi Police today claim that the overall crime rate during the year has shown a notable decline: in heinous crimes by eight per cent and in non-heinous by four per cent as compared to the crimes of previous years.

…but crime against women increases New Delhi, January 5 The Delhi Police today conceded that the city is unsafe for women as the cases in the crime against women category have shown an increase during the year 2003. MY VISION: Delhi Police Commissioner R.S. Gupta during his annual press conference in the Capital on Monday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

Arrest warrants: HC restrains trial court
New Delhi, January 5
The Delhi High Court has directed the trial court not to issue arrest warrants against any person, after having taken cognizance of an offence and issuing summons, unless the person is either absconding or fails to appear in court despite summons having been served upon him.

CONSTANT VIGIL: Security guards keeping a watchful eye on the India Gate covered by a thick layer of fog on Monday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

DIFFICULT CHAPTER
Haryana pvt school owners seek changes in education rules
Sonepat, January 5
The Haryana State Private School Owners Association has sent a 19-point memorandum to the Haryana Chief Minister, through the Deputy Commissioner, demanding amendments to the new education rules, 2003.

WINTER WOES
Cold wave refuses to relent
New Delhi, January 5
Delhiites woke up to a morning that held out no hope of the cold wave subsiding, with the minimum temperature dropping again, to the second lowest of the season at 4.6 degree Celsius, and the sun taking longer to show up.

IRBT SYSTEM
Delhi, satellite towns to have better links
New Delhi, January 5
Connectivity of the satellite towns with the Capital will improve after the states concerned begin drawing up a blueprint for introducing an Integrated Rail and Bus Transit system.

COMMUNITY

Encroachments cause traffic jams: R S Gupta
New Delhi, January 5
Delhi Police Commissioner R. S. Gupta said that traffic regulation and its control had been challenging in the Capital due to encroachments of footpaths and pavements by shopkeepers and others, severe constraints of parking space, poor drivers’ training and public indiscipline.

Singer Mikka and Bollywood actor Anupum Kher during the opening of the third mall, ‘P.P.Design Estate’, with the owners of the showroom at Green Park in the Capital on Monday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal BJP activists burning an effigy of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit against the continuing power problem at JJ.Colony in Wazirpur area in the Capital on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

SPECIAL FOCUS ON FARIDABAD
Destitute woman beaten up by policemen
Faridabad, January 5
While the police department in the district as well as in the state may be claiming success in the month-long ‘sadbhawana campaign’, which ended recently, the cops on the other hand seem not to have learnt any lesson regarding their behaviour and handling delicate matters involving human angle.

Cable operators exploiting consumers
Faridabad, January 5
The cable operators in Faridabad seem to be having a field day in the matter of charging the monthly subscription fee from the consumers. While there is no parity in the these rates the cable operators here perhaps are free to go for a hike at any time of the year and leave the consumers helpless.

Mata Sheetla Devi Temple to get facelift
Gurgaon, January 5
The renowned Mata Sheetla Devi Temple and its complex here will be developed and beautified to give a push to the religious tourism. The proposed development would be on the pattern of the Mata Mansa Devi Temple at Panchkula so that it could emerge as a centre of attraction and devotion for the pilgrims, according to the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala.

COLD COMFORT: A woman trying to provide warmth to her child on a chilly afternoon in the Capital.

Wounded rabbits left at the mercy of nature
Meerut, January 5
Golden Ram Ecological Park has turned into a “graveyard” for over 45 rabbits due to the “irresponsible and negligent attitude” of the Army officials. Some of the rabbits kept in the park were found sick while at least 6 of them were seriously wounded for over a month without medical care.

Probe into contract irregularities called off
Noida, January 5
A probe into scams and irregularities in works and contracts worth Rs 43 crore committed during Ms Mayawati’s regime is understood to have been called off by the Noida Authority.

HVP for roll back in increase in water rate
Sonepat, January 5
The general-secretary of the Haryana Vikas Party, Mr Rajiv Jain, has criticised the decision of the state government to increase the water rate by 15 per cent. He described the decision as “unjust and unwarranted”.

FACE TO FACE
Moral standards depressing
All-round falling standards disturb Surinder Singh Johar, noted journalist and writer on the Punjabi affairs. Johar, who has published about 20 books in English and Punjabi on Punjabi culture, Sikh Gurus, history, and fiction, is pained at the disorientation of those who are responsible for inculcating the values of our culture among the younger generation.

Seven persons injured
Sonepat, January 5
Seven persons, including three women were injured when a three-wheeler collided with a Maruti car on the G T Road near Kurar village, about 10 km from here last evening. According to a report, the three-wheeler overturned in the accident.

DELHI DIGEST
Birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh celebrated
New Delhi, January 5
The birth anniversary of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was celebrated in the Capital on Monday. The programme started early in the morning with the recitation of Sukhmani Sahib and Nitnem. Gurpurab was also celebrated in the other Gurdwaras where langar was served to the devotees.

• Attack on ‘cattle squad’

• Loadshedding

NCR BRIEFS
People fed up with Chautala govt: HVP
Jhajjar, January 5
The senior vice-president of the Haryana Vikas Party, Mr Manphool Singh, said here today that the people of the region were fed up with the lack of governance and basic amenities, especially in the villages.

• Honour for District Red Cross Society

• No let-up in cold wave

• State-of-the-art helicopter

CRIME

Butana shootout: Second victim succumbs to injuries
Sonepat, January 5
The second victim of Butana village shootout, Baljit, also succumbed to injuries in the PGIMS, Rohtak, while being operated. His body was brought to the village and cremated last evening. The police, on the other hand, have failed to nab the alleged accused.

EDUCATION

Teachers’ association seeks action against V-C
Bhiwani, January 5
All India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation and Haryana Government College Teachers’ Association in a fax message sent to the Governor has demanded to withdraw agenda item No 34, pertaining to proposed disciplinary action against Mr Wazir Singh Nehra, president, Maharshi Dayanand University Teachers’ Association Rohtak.

HEALTH

‘Bone Health Camp’ inaugurated in Capital
New Delhi, January 5
A free ‘Bone Health Camp’ was inaugurated by Mr Devendra Raj Ankur, Director, National School of Drama, at the Yoga Hall this morning. The four-hour camp was organized by the Arthritis Foundation of India to create awareness and provide treatment to osteoporosis patients.

SPORTS

AITA scheme proves big hit with juniors
New Delhi, January 5
The well-co-ordinated plans initiated by the All-India Tennis Association for the development of junior tennis is bearing the expect fruits as the Indian juniors have attained high rankings in the ITF (International Tennis Federation).

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Vikram Verma, watched by Asian Football Confederation secretary-general Peter Velappan and All India Football Federation president P R Dasmunshi, lighting a lamp to inaugurate the ‘Vision Asia’ Football Conference in the Capital on Monday.

South Delhi Colts move up
New Delhi, January 5
A stylish half century by Gurkamal Singh and deadly bowling of 4 for 26 by Binny Sudan helped South Delhi Colts beat Chetan Sharma Academy by two runs in the fifth R G Williams Memorial Under-15 Cricket Tournament at the Frank Anthony School ground.

Star Sports to telecast Tata Open
New Delhi, January 5
Star Sports will cover live the Tata Open Tennis Championship, starting at the Nugaambakkam Stadium in Chennai on Monday. The Tata Open is South Asia’s only ATP International series event, and one of only seven in all of Asia. The mega event offers a prize money of $400,000.

India trounce Singapore
New Delhi, January 5
An unbeaten knock of 78 by Karan Goel and deadly bowling by Ashutosh (3 for 22) and Asim Gupta (3 for 13) enabled India beat Singapore by eight wickets in the Commonwealth Under-19 Cricket Championship at the K D Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow.

Umaid Nagar annex Maharaja’s Cup
New Delhi, January 5
Umaid Nagar defeated Jodhpur Thunderbolts 7-4 to lift the coveted Stainless India Polo Tournament for the Maharaja’s Cup at Jodhpur on Sunday.

DSA to hold open trials
New Delhi January 5
The Delhi Soccer Association will hold open trials-cum-coaching-camp from January 7 at the Ambedkar Stadium to select the Delhi team for the National Under-21 Football Championship for the Dutta Roy Trophy to be held in Haryana.

PGDAV beat Bhagat Singh
New Delhi, January 5
PGDAV College defeated Bhagat Singh College by seven runs and entered the semi-final of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Inter-College Cricket Tournament at the Bhagat Singh College ground. Bhagat Singh scored 143 for 7 in 25 overs.

• GE Capital enter semis

• Prachar beat Dronacharya