TOP STORIES

Protest mars DPSS meet
Nuh (Gurgaon), April 13
An impressive function organised here today by the Delhi Public School Societ, managing three model schools of the Mewat Development Agency in Mewat, was marred by some persons who indulged in sloganeering and demonstration against the society.

Hippocratic oath is not for every doctor
Faridabad, April 13
The medical facilities in Badshah Khan Civil Hospital, serving the largest urban population in Haryana, are in a mess due to the shortage of staff and infrastructure. Worse, the unfriendly attitude of the staffers just turns many a patient away.

Grain dealers hazy about licences
Rohtak, April 13
Although the Centre has removed the licensing requirements for grain dealers, the Haryana Government is yet to officially implement these orders. This has created confusion among the grain dealers as to whether they could carry on their business without getting their grain licences renewed as required under the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

Panipat civic amenities in a mess
Panipat, April 13
Panipat is a study in contrast. Despite the tall claims of the district administration and local municipal council (MC), this hub of textile industrial units and one of the affluent cities in Haryana compares poorly to even a mofussil town when it comes to civic amenities. 

Rachna Govil’s house gutted
New Delhi, April 13
The government allotted residence of Arjuna Award winner and Deputy Director of Sports Authority of India Rachna Govil was gutted following a reported short circuit this evening in Khel Gaon village of South Delhi.

Delhiites in their Baisakhi best throng gurdwaras
The harvest festival, Baisakhi, was celebrated in the Capital today with religious fervour and gaiety. Several functions were organised in different parts of the city in which a large number of people participated and an atmosphere of festivity prevailed. 

DLF murder solved
Gurgaon
The district police claimed to have arrested two persons who had allegedly raped and murdered a woman last week in DLF City here. According to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ms Karolin was found murdered at her flat No. H-44, Ridgewood Apartment, DLF City, Phase IV in the afternoon on April 5.

• Six cops suspended

COMMUNITY

Shortage of stations, personnel plagues DFS
New Delhi, April 13
The Delhi Fire Service is woefully short of fire stations and personnel even 26 years after a committee set up by the central government recommended that there should be at least 60 fire stations to meet the demands of the Capital. 

SEARCH WITHIN
Pray, stop this madness in the name of religion
I was in Gujarat along with a multi-religious peace mission comprising, among others, Swami Agnivesh, Admiral Ramdas, Nirmala Deshpande, Muslim and Christian leaders. We went there on April 1 and returned on April 5.

16 Sonepat councillors to keep off municipal meetings
Sonepat, April 13
At least 16 of the 31 councillors of the Sonepat Municipal Council have decided to boycott the meetings of the council, convened by the Chairman in the future. According to a report, a decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of these councillors held here today.

Excise revenue goes up by 24 pc
Sonepat, April 13
The excise collections in Sonepat district have gone up by 24 per cent during the year 2001-2002. Giving this information, Mr J. S. Sandhu, Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, told mediapersons here today that in the last financial year, the revenue collections from the excise duty had risen to Rs 89.74 crore as compared to Rs 72.50 crore during the corresponding period of 2000-2001.

The search for peace and the ultimate truth has always attracted people to this picturesque town of Uttarkashi in Uttaranchal. The town situated at a distance of 145 km from Rishikesh and at an elevation of 1158 mts. on the bank of the Bhagirathi river, acquires importance because of its significant pilgrimage-centres: Gangotri, Yamunotri. The devastating earthquake in Uttarkashi in the early hours of October 20, 1991, claimed several lives and wreaked havoc on the region and nearby areas. An enchantment called Kedartal.

NCR BRIEFS
Devotees throng temple on Navratras
New Delhi, April 13
On the first day of Navratras today, “Shail Putri” Saroop of Maa Durga was worshipped with full religious rites at the Badri Bhagat Jhandewala Temple. Being the first day of Bikrami Samrat 2059 and Baisakhi, there was heavy rush of devotees to seek the blessings of Maa Durga at the temple.

Robbers nabbed Polio drops Best youth club

Convention Doctor awarded

Traffic  diversions for Khalsa Jatha
New Delhi, April 13
The Delhi Traffic Police have made some traffic diversions for the religious procession at 10 am by Khalsa Sewadar Jatha Shri Ganj Sahib on April 14.The procession will leave from Gurdwara Bangla Sahib near Gole Dak Khana and end at Rakab Ganj Sahib.

• Reconstruction of Arya Samaj Mandir sought

CRIME

Proclaimed offender arrested 
Rohtak, April 13
The district police arrested a proclaimed offender on Friday evening who allegedly shot dead a constable and an undertrial prisoner in August last year. According to police sources, a patrol team frisked a suspicious youth at Isharheri village on Friday evening and recovered a country made pistol and a live cartridge from him.

Auto-lifter gang busted
New Delhi, April 13
With the arrest of four persons, the North-West police today claimed to have busted a gang of auto-lifters and foiled a burglary in the Samipur Badli area. One Maruti van and one Hero Honda motorcycle, which were stolen from the area, were recovered from their possession.

EDUCATION

Minister vows to look into teachers’ demands
Rohtak, April 13
Haryana Education Minister Bahadur Singh has assured the Haryana Government College Teachers’ Association that the government would consider their long-pending demands sympathetically.

COURTS

EDC recovery stayed
Gurgaon, April 13
Providing an interim relief to more than 1600 aggrieved industrialists of Udyog Vihar and Sector 18 over the issue of External Development Charges (EDC), the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the recovery of EDC.

CULTURE

New Delhi, April 13 An enormous and fabulous treasure trove of Indian art and craft culled from the interiors of their cradle has been put on display at the Crafts Museum in the Capital’s Pragati Maidan. The event, “Arts and Crafts Festival 2002” was inaugurated by the Lt-Governor, Vijay Kapoor today.  A view of the dexterous workmanship in Pragati Maidan .

HEALTH

BODY & MIND
Cochlear implant, a boon for the hearing impaired
A cochlear implant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here has changed the life of a two-year-old congenitally deaf boy. The youngest in the country to undergo cochlear implant, the boy can now respond to sounds.

Gynaecologists to eschew female foeticide Book on Pregnancy

AIDS vaccine

Polio drops to be given from April 15
New Delhi, April 13
Over five days starting April 15, children five-years-old and under will be administered polio drops by volunteers in 35 Assembly constituencies in the North, North-East, Central, South, South-East and trans-Yamuna.

SPORTS

Saurashtra to meet Vidarbha in cricket final

New Delhi, April 13 A devastating 4 for 31 bowling spell by K Mehta and a rapidfire knock of 46 (28b, 9x4, 1x6) by Mahender Jhala helped Saurashtra beat Haryana by one wicket in the second semi-final of the fourth National Inter-State Veterans Cricket Championship at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground in the Capital on Saturday. Start the ball rolling: Haryana captain Rakesh Jolly being introduced to chief guest Vikram Kaul before the start of the Haryana vs Saurashtra Veterans' Cricket match at the Ferozeshah Kotla Ground.

72 golfers to participate in Air Sahara Achiever’s Cup
New Delhi, April 13
An exclusive field of 72 golfers, comprising CEOs and MDs will participate in the one-day Air Sahara Achiever’s Golf Cup on Sunday. Out of the 72 players, 42 are outstation bigwigs. Exciting prizes are in the offing for the winners and there are several spot prizes as well.

Nikhil Chopra helps Indian Airlines win
New Delhi, April 13
Former Indian player Nikhil Chopra claimed two wickets for 21 runs and then cracked a stroke-filled 72 runs to help Indian Airlines beat DSI XI by five wickets to enter the quarter-final of the 12th All-India Om Nath Sood Memorial Cricket Tournament for the HRS Trophy played at the Khalsa College ground.

Ranchal bowls Sonnet to victory
New Delhi, April 13
Leg-spinner Ranchal Chaudhary’s fine bowling spell of 4 for 27 helped Sonnet Club beat Maharaja Agarsen Sports Club by 31 runs in the seventh All-India Stanford Under-17 Cricket Tournament at the Mohan Meakins ground.

Ministry of Health beat LIC in DDCA League
New Delhi, April 13
Ministry of Health beat Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) by 13 runs in an A-II Division match of the DDCA League at the Kotla II ground.