TOP STORIES

SC orders relook at CNG hike
New Delhi, May 9
While refusing to amend its orders pertaining to the phasing out of 800 diesel buses per month and the fine to be realised from the operators for running the diesel buses beyond the deadline of January 31, the Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Centre and its agencies – the Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) included – for “unwarranted, unreasonable and unjustified” hike in the price of CNG.

Ulterior motives alleged in transport fare hikes
New Delhi, May 9
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that wilful motives guided the Congress-led Delhi government’s decision to hike fares of buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis. The BJP demanded an immediate roll back of the revised fares as it amounted to ‘punishing’ the general commuters.

Gurgaon exports grounded by erratic A-I
Gurgaon, May 9
The export industry here has come out strongly against the alleged apathy of the Civil Aviation Ministry, which has blunted their competitive edge in the global market. The exporters have even lodged a strong protest with the office of the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Mr L.N.Lakhan Pal.

Timeless Quality: Models during the launch of new brands of watches by Timex in the Capital. —Tribune Photo

No escaping this arm of law
New Delhi, May 9
Beat Constable Bhopal Singh stands out in a crowd. Tall and well built, his presence on the streets of Shakarpur in East Delhi instils confidence in the residents and shopkeepers.

A museum that trashes rare objets d’art 
New Delhi, May 9
Priceless historical and cultural antiquities housed in the National Museum here in the Capital have neither been scientifically assessed nor properly documented resulting in tremendous loss both in terms of money as well as nation’s cultural legacy.

Power dues waiver scheme extended to urban defaulters 
Rohtak, May 9
The power bill defaulters in Kalanaur and Beri towns will also be eligible for the concessions extended recently to the rural consumer under the new power dues waiver scheme. The scheme envisages waiver of 75 per cent of the bill amount, if the defaulter pays 25 per cent of the amount in one go by May 15. 

COMMUNITY

Sex workers sit on dharna in protest against harassment by the local police at Jantar Mantar in the Capital on Thursday. —Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

BJP sets up core group to revitalise Delhi unit
New Delhi, May 9
The Delhi Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party has set up a 14-member core group consisting of some senior party leaders to revitalise the unit and prepare for the Assembly elections in the national Capital, due next year.

Residents deluge Chautala with their complaints
Sonepat, May 9
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, was stunned to see a party worker, Mr Luxmi Ram, waiving a complaint paper in his hand when he arrived at the Gymkhana Club near Bahalgarh village about 10 km from here on the G. T. Road on Tuesday evening to lay the foundation stone of the club.

No dearth of hell-holes in Noida
Noida, May 9
A fire breaks out in the slums of Noida every year. This has been happening for the last many years, making the life of poor slum-dwellers a hell. 

Farmers pooh-pooh claims of procurement agencies
Sonepat. May 9
The representatives of various farmers organisations on Wednesday described the claim of the official procurement agencies engaged in buying wheat at the minimum support price of Rs 620 per quintal that only 10 tonnes of wheat out of 2.67 lakh tonnes in the mandis and purchasing centres had been purchased by the private traders as absurd and misleading.

Sonepat fire victims to get govt aid
Sonepat, May 9
The Central Government has decided to construct as many as 150 pucca houses under the Indira Aawas Yojna at Manoli Tonki village in the district for the rehabilitation of the fire-hit people.

NCR BRIEFS
Harassed childless mother commits ‘suicide’ in Rewari 
Rewari, May 9
The tragic death of a young married woman, Suman, who was allegedly subjected to inhuman treatment by her in-laws on account of her failure to bear child for the past seven years, has cast a gloom over her parental home in Lohana village, about 24 km from Rewari.

Murder mystery Road accidents

Phones disrupted Effort lauded

CRIME

Rs 4.50 lakh looted from two peons 
Ghaziabad, May 9
Two scooter-borne criminals looted two peons of the Stamp and Registration Department of Rs 4.50 lakh. The peons were carrying the days cash collection, to be deposited in the State Bank of India, Collectorate Branch.

Racket in educational certificates busted 
New Delhi, May 9
The Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police today claimed to have unearthed a racket of fake educational certificates, allegedly issued by a gang of cheats headed by Mange Ram alias Dr Mange Ram Acharya. Mr Mange Ram had allegedly established a fake “All India Board of Secondary Education, Delhi” in Timarpur area in North district.

ROHTAK
In-laws booked in dowry death case 
Rohtak, May 9
The Meham police registered a case today against the in-laws of a woman for allegedly harassing her for dowry. Mr Ugrasen, resident of Sudken Khurd village, stated in the FIR that his sister, Sunita was married to Rambir, resident of Gharaunthi village nearly 10 years ago. 

Youth killed over motorcycle papers 
New Delhi, May 9
Heated arguments over the document of a vehicle led to the murder of a youth, Vinod (21) in Ajit Nagar in East district on Wednesday night. Vinod was reportedly shot dead by Manoj following heated argument over documents of a vehicle.

Police on the lookout for arhtias’ robbers 
Sonepat May 9
Gohana police have launched a massive hunt for three unidentified armed car-borne miscreants reported to have robbed two ‘arhtias’ of Gohana and snatched Rs 4.30 lakh while they were going on a motorcycle to Kathura village about 45 km from here yesterday. According to a report, both the arhtias namely Mr RajKumar and Mr Tara Chand of Narwal Brothers and Company withdrew the amount from the State Bank of Patiala’s branch at Gohana around noon and proceeded towards Kathura village to make payment to the farmers there. 

BUSINESS

Steps to expedite relocation of units
New Delhi, May 9
To expedite the relocation of industries on the outskirts of the Capital, the Union Urban Development Ministry has agreed to process within 30 days from the date of notification of acquisition of land the Government of NCT of Delhi’s request for change of land use from agricultural to industrial purposes.

CULTURE

ART SCAPE
Twins inspire with striking colours despite handicaps

They are lookalikes. Vibrating with optimism, they are deaf and dumb. Ashish Kabasi and Debashis Kabasi, the twin brothers from Calcutta whose spectacularly colourful exhibition of paintings rightly titled ‘Outburst of Colours’ is showing at Hamilton House. They have one thing in common: a penchant for colours and a zest for life. Hardly any of their paintings finds expression in light hues. Their shades are also similar yet they are different when it comes to paintings. Generation, Acrylic on canvas.

PLAY TIME
A rib-tickler with a significant message

Man should not intervene in the natural course of life — the course that God has destined for him. Otherwise, the uncontrollable chaos is inevitable. This was the message in the play ‘Aik ajooba machine ka’, written by a retired army personnel, S N Nautiyal and directed by a budding, young director and a government servant, Dinesh Ahlawat conveyed through a hilarious comedy at the India Habitat Center. Stills from the play ‘Aik ajooba machine ka’.

AAFT celebrates its ninth year with celebrities

For the students of Asian Academy of Film and TV, that completed its nine years and 35 sessions recently, it was a day of joy. For it included the who’s who of media, film, business and politics.  A red-letter day: Cine stars Ajay Devgan, Amrita Rao and Farida Jalal on the occasion of AAFT's ninth year celebration.

HEALTH

Yoga camp proving a panacea for many ills
Rewari, May 9
The Yoga Practice and Ayurvedic Cure Camp at Gurukul Kishangarh, Ghasera, eight km from Rewari, has been making rapid strides. The number of participants since its inception on May 3, has now gone up to hundreds. 

SPORTS

Modern School girls lift basketball title

New Delhi, May 9 Modern School, Barakhamba Road, annexed the All-India Public Schools Conference Girls Basketball Championship after a gap of 11 years when they beat hosts Welham Girls School, Dehradun 49-37 in the title clash. The champs: The Modern School basketball team, which annexed the All-India Public Schools Conference Girls Basketball Championship, with coach Rajesh Kumar and manager Mrs M Bakshi.

Joginder plays anchor in Shastri’s win
New Delhi, May 9
Joginder Sharma scored a dashing unbeaten 58 studded with nine boundaries, off 36 balls and took three wickets for 44 runs, to play the star role in Lal Bahadur Shastri Club’s stunning five-wicket victory against hosts Goswami Ganesh Dutt Club in the 29th All-India Goswami Ganesh Dutt Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Sant Harchand Singh Longowal Sports Complex, Khalsa College ground, in the Capital on Thursday.

Sehwag, Harbhajan & Malleswari to get DSJA awards
New Delhi, May 9
The Delhi Sports Journalists Association (DSJA) will honour star cricketers Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh and Olympic bronze medallist Karnam Malleswari with their prestigious awards at a function to be held in the Capital on May 16.

Vishal Sharma hits 98 for Gymkhana
New Delhi, May 9
A dynamic knock of 98 (13x4, 90b) by Vishal Sharma and a fine all-round performance by Tarun Gupta (38, 6x4, 40b, 3 for 22) enabled Gymkhana Cricket Club beat ECE Cricket XI by 143 runs to enter the quarter-final of the fourth Ramesh Chand Kangra Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Bharat Nagar School ground in the Capital on Thursday.

ADMINISTRATION

MCF to attach defaulters’ property
Faridabad, May 9
The Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) resolved to attach the property of the industrial units which had failed to clear their dues. The commissioner has reportedly ordered the authorities here to go ahead in the matter.

Shake-up in depts to streamline MCD admn
New Delhi, May 9
The Municipal Commissioner, Mr Rakesh Mehta, has reallocated different departments and zones among the additional commissioners to streamline the administration and bring in optimum efficiency. Meanwhile, Mr Y.D. Bankata, IAS (AGMU-85) joined the MCD and was entrusted the charge of Additional Commissioner (Revenue).