TOP STORIES

CM, L-G in a frantic hurry to woo voters
New Delhi, January 2
As the elections to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi are expected to be held in the next eight weeks, the `developmental’ activities in the Capital have assumed a hectic pace.

Minorities panel almost defunct
New Delhi, January 2
The Delhi Minorities Commission, an autonomous body set up to protect the interests of minorities in the National Capital Territory, has become virtually defunct with members boycotting the commission to protest against bureaucratic interference.

Criminal killed in encounter
Ghaziabad, January 2
Garh police killed one of the two criminals who were fleeing after snatching a motorbike DL-3SN 2347 from one Kuldip Singh of Rampura village under Babugarh police station yesterday evening.

Protesters burning an effigy of President Pervez Musharraf in the Capital on Wednesday.

DVB clamps peak summer power curbs
New Delhi, January 2
The Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) on Wednesday issued the Delhi Electricity Control Order, under which the power supply to hotels, guest houses, cinema halls etc as well as buildings, having a load of 50 KW or more, would be discontinued between 6 am and 10 am and 6 pm and 10 pm till January 31.

Contract killer held in Saket
New Delhi, January 2
A special team of South District police arrested two dreaded criminals, involved in more than 20 cases of sensational dacoities, robberies, murders and encounters with the police, yesterday from the vicinity of PVR Saket.

‘Govt has slashed aid to MCD’
New Delhi, January 2
The Delhi Government has reduced the financial aid to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by about 50 per cent and the maintenance fund to its hospitals by about Rs 100 crore, the leader of the House of MCD, Mr Mahesh Chandra Sharma, has said.

COMMUNITY

Fog turns Railways on its head
Sonepat, January 2
Train services on the DUK section of the Northern Railway continued to remain disrupted for the seventh day today following a thick blanket of fog enveloping the entire region. According to a report, almost all the long-distance mail and express trains as well as the suburban trains, running between Delhi and Panipat as well as Delhi and Kurukshetra, ran behind schedule for hours together, stranding thousands of passengers – government servants and teachers at Sonepat and nearby railway stations.

LOST IN THE FIRE

Fire tenders at work after a major fire gutted six shops at Jagat Ram Market in Laxmi Nagar. Goods worth lakhs of rupees were lost in the fire which reportedly broke out due to a short circuit. Shops were mainly of clothes, audio cassettes and electrical goods.

Malviya Nagar residents jump in and out of buses to get to office
New Delhi, January 2
Inadequate and irregular bus service is fast becoming one of the major problems for residents of Malviya Nagar, one of the most flourishing colonies of South Delhi. Though most of the residents have their own vehicles, there are several others in the colony who are entirely dependent on the buses to commute.

Roads no better, 3 die in mishaps
Faridabad, January 2
Fog has caused several accidents on road here, besides delaying rail and road traffic in the district. In fact, at least three persons have died and several others have been injured in about half a dozen accidents in the last two days.

Road to progress is via villages: Yadav

New Delhi, January 2 Stressing the need for the welfare of rural sector and betterment of labourers related to agriculture, Union Labour Minister Sharad Yadav pointed out that the “road to the progress of India goes through the villages”. MASTER OF TRADES: Union Labour Minister Sharad Yadav giving the AIBDA National Excellence Award to an entrepreneur at a function in the Capital.

Rabi crops in danger as winter rain plays truant
Sonepat, January 2
The delay in the onset of winter rain and shortage of electricity have adversely affected the standing Rabi crops, particularly wheat and gram, in the district. According to a report, the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) has given an assurance that the tubewells in the rural areas would be supplied power for eight hours daily.

WHAT’S YOUR GAME?

WiLL arrives in Faridabad
Faridabad, January 2
What is being claimed as a New Year gift, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has launched the wireless in local loop (WiLL) service in Faridabad. The Chief General Manager (CGM) (BSNL), Haryana circle, Mr G. Jatwani, formally inaugurated the service at a function held here on Monday.

• Police must be alerted on tenants’ identity

• No water in mains

CRIME

3 hardcore criminals arrested
Jhajjar, January 2
The district police arrested three hardcore criminals involved in several cases of dacoity and robbery in Rohtak, Delhi and Jind from near Dharana turn outside Beri village of the district today.

Bavaria gang member nabbed
New Delhi, January 2
The North district police have claimed to have arrested a notorious criminal of the Bavaria Gang yesterday after a brief encounter near Old Azadpur Railway Station near Pontoon Yamuna Bridge and seized three live cartridges and one empty cartridge of .315 bore along with a country-made revolver.

Police nab three chain snatchers
Rohtak, January 2
With the arrest of three youths today, the district police claimed to have solved almost all the cases of snatching of chains and purses in the town during last year.

EDUCATION

CAMPUS
Sense of patriotism sweeps student community
IF anything, the recent terrorist attack on Parliament has at least increased a sense of patriotism, especially among the student community. While the tension on the campus in the aftermath of the arrest of the a lecturer has now eased a bit, students are seen engaged in serious debates these days ranging from India’s diplomatic position to the statistical details of the country’s military strength.

SFI demands Debate competition

Employment camp Gyan Darshan DUSU demands

26 DPS centres for poor tiny-tots
Gurgaon, January 2
Delhi Public School, Mewat, has established 26 Shiksha Kendras (centres) for educating students of the weaker sections in the Mewat area of the district. Children between 4 and 11 years are imparted education in the centres. Books, stationary, uniform and mid-day meals are also provided to them.

Six readers, but no lecturer for 12 yrs
THE New Year has brought no hope for the Delhi University’s Department of Urdu, especially those vying for a lecturer’s post for more than a decade. Surprisingly, for the last 12 years, the department has not appointed any lecturers! The reason? Some assume that it to be the ego clashes of different heads of departments at different times.