TOP STORIES

All set for MCD poll on March 24
New Delhi, February 22
Setting the stage for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections, the Delhi State Election Commission on Friday said the notification of the civic polls to be held on March 24 will be issued on February 25.

Warrants out for Vikas Yadav
Ghaziabad, February 22
A Ghaziabad Court has declared Vikas Yadav an absconder and issued arrest warrants for him on the application moved by the city police. Yesterday, the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate had issued a notice for the attachment of property of Vikas Yadav and his cousin, Vishal Yadav. 

Ministerial largesse to cost Greater Noida a package
Noida, February, 22
A minister of the UP Government has reportedly issued orders, contrary to the set rules of Greater Noida, for payment of land compensation to a farmer, reportedly close to him.

Delhi Budget: Mounting debt an area of concern 
New Delhi, February 22
Though Delhi is a revenue surplus state, yet the mounting debt is an area of major concern and needs to be tackled effectively in the forthcoming budget of the National Capital Territory, according to economists who have carried a pre-budget review of the state’s finances.

A family enjoying the 15th Garden Tourism Festival which opened at Talkatora Garden in the Capital on Friday. —Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Kenyans elude cops in raid at Rohtak
Rohtak, February 22
Two Kenyan youths, who were residing here illegally, managed to escape when a police team raided a house at Tilak Nagar, where they had come to look up their girl friends last evening. According to information, a police team led by DSP Teeka Ram raided the house following a tip-off. 

Wedding party shootout toll three

Coffee Home renamed
New Delhi, February 22
The Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC)-run Coffee Home at Baba Kharak Singh Marg will be named after Jag Parvesh Chandra, who died on Thursday.

‘Apna yaar chala gaya’ 

New Delhi, February 22 “Apna yaar chala gaya” (our friend has gone), Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said in a fond tribute to veteran Congress leader Jag Parvesh Chandra, who died here on Thursday. The 85-year-old bachelor had suffered a heart attack a fortnight ago and had been treated at the Escorts Heart Hospital. He suffered another attack at his Hauz Khas residence yesterday and died immediately.

• Four labourers buried alive

COMMUNITY

Hand-painted film hoardings go begging in PVR days

New Delhi, February 22 There was a time, not long ago, when hand-painted film hoardings with their various colours and garish layouts, decorated the theatres all over the city. Now, in times of multiplexes cinema halls run by Priya Village Roadshow (PVR), with all the computerized technology, the hand-painted hoardings and their creators have been pushed away from the limelight.

Reshuffle in Delhi Police likely
New Delhi, February 22
There is speculation in the Delhi Police over the successor to Mr R. K. Sharma, Special Commissioner, Administration, following his transfer as Special Secretary, Home. The post of the Special Secretary, Home, had been lying vacant since December 13 when Mr M. B. Kaushal retired.

SPEAKING OUT
The real message of love gets buried in the hype
Last week, we celebrated two martyrdom days. The one, which was of ancient origin having no cultural link with our country, was publicised by the media weeks in advance before the actual day and hyped on a scale hitherto unknown. 

NCR BRIEFS
Award scheme to encourage small savings in Rohtak district
Rohtak, February 22
An amount of Rs 54.36 crore has been deposited under the small savings scheme in the district till January during the current financial year. A spokesman for the district administration said that with a view to promoting such savings, the state government had introduced a `puraskar yojna’ which would remain in force till March 31, 2002. 

Woman dies Ticketless travel Farmers block traffic Polio surgery camp

Annual kirtan darbar Auction for Mining Harassment alleged

Farmer-scientist meet to improve production 
Rewari, February 22
About 100 farmers of Rewari, Mahendergarh, Gurgaon and Bhiwani districts participated in a farmer’s meet held at the Krishivigyan Kendra (KVK) at Rampura on Thursday. Dr O.P.Dhankhar, Regional Director of the HAU station of Bawal, presided over the meet.

New phone numbers from March 1
Sonepat, February 22
The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has decided to introduce a new scheme for converting the telephone numbers of the subscribers from five digits to six digits covered by the SDCA exchanges at Kundli, Rai, Bahalgarh, Jakhauli, Murthal, Ganaur, Bhigan, Kharkhauda, Nahra and Mehlana with effect from the midnight of March 1.

LPG blast at beauty saloon

New Delhi, February 22 A minor LPG explosion was reported today afternoon in a beauty saloon in the Pratap Gali area of Paharganj. Fortunately, no one was injured in the blast. The police said an electric spark from a refrigerator sparked the blast as there was leakage from an LPG cylinder kept in the kitchen of the shop. Scene outside the beauty saloon after the LPG blast. —Tribune photo

CRIME

Sex racket: Four women nabbed
New Delhi, February 22
Four women were arrested on Thursday for allegedly running a racket in flesh trade in the Sat Nagar area. Acting on a tip-off that a sex racket is on in the area, the Prasad Nagar police sent a decoy customer to trap the women.

Gang of car thieves  busted
Rohtak, February 22
With the arrest of three youths today, the Crime Branch of the district police claimed to have busted a gang of car thieves. The police also seized five cars which were stolen from places under the Rai police station and claimed that the gang had stolen 15 cars from different parts of the town so far. 

CULTURE

Punjab wins first prize in classical music at PNB meet
New Delhi, February 22
Competitions in various categories like group song, light music vocal and classical vocal were held on the second and third day of the ongoing 19th All India Punjab National Bank Inter Zone Cultural Meet which started on February 20.

SPORTS

Sangha, Nationals win in League

New Delhi, February 22 Tarun Sangha and defending champions SAIL-Indian Nationals Football Club earned full points when they beat Garhwal Heroes 2-1 and Moonlight 3-0 respectively in Group B Super League matches of the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA)-SAIL Senior Division Football League Championship at the Ambedkar Stadium in the Capital on Friday. Indian Nationals and Moonlight in action during the DSA-SAIL Senior Division Football League Championship at the Ambedkar Stadium in the Capital on Friday. —Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Piyush bowls State Bank of Patiala to win
New Delhi, February 22
A devastating bowling spell of 4 for 31 by Piyush Sharma enabled State Bank of Patiala beat Central Bank of India by 117 runs to sail into the final of the Inter-Bank (Northern Region) Cricket Tournament, as part of the Banks’ Sports Board Sports Meet, at the Karnail Singh stadium in the Capital on Friday. State Bank of Patiala will take on Dena Bank in the final on Saturday.

SPORTS CORNER
Bhaskar to attend Coaches’ Seminar
New Delhi, February 22
Former Delhi and North Zone dashing batsman K Bhaskar Pillai is among the four cricketers and coaches nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to attend the Combined Seminar of Level-I coaches for North, East and Central Zones to be conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association at Kanpur from March 11 to 16, according to BCCI vice president C K Khanna.

• Amit Kapoor stars in E-Funds’ victory

• J N Golden enter Meham cricket final

• Dominos beat Pine Retreat

• RVC to meet Young Stud in polo final

DD wins World Cup Hockey rights

ADMINISTRATION

Beautification drive on in Faridabad 
Faridabad, February 22
The District Administration has taken up a comprehensive scheme to beautify the main spots in the town in a phased manner. A sum of Rs 37 lakhs had been sanctioned for illuminating a part of the national highway (Mathura Road) here.

Porcine movement being regulated 
Sonepat, February 22
The Sonepat Municipal Council has launched a campaign to capture the stray pigs from different parts of the city. The officials of the council have so far captured about 1,200 pigs, found moving on the roads and streets, according to official sources.