TOP STORIES

Two die in yet another market fire
New Delhi, May 16
At least two persons were killed, three others injured and electrical goods and appliances worth lakhs of rupees destroyed in a fire which ravaged at least a dozen shops on the ground and the first floor of the busy Bhagirath Palace in Lajpat Rai Market near Red Fort in the walled city today.

Firemen trying to douse the flames at Lajpat Rai Market in the Capital on Thursday. —Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal In Video(28k, 56k)

MCF digs into PF kitty to buy ACs
Faridabad, May 16
Has the fund-starved Municipal Corporation, Faridabad, used the PF contribution of its employees to pay off the dealers of air-conditioners. It seems so. The corporation, which is the largest civic body in Haryana, purchased air-conditioners worth about Rs 5 lakh recently.

DVB snaps power supplies to Kalindi Kunj
New Delhi, May 16
The power connection of Kalindi Kunj, a picnic spot developed and managed by the Irrigation Department of the Uttar Pradesh Government, was disconnected by the Delhi Vidyut Board on Tuesday morning for non-payment of bills for the last few months, much to the chagrin of the late night visitors seeking relief from the sweltering heat.

With the lid off Sidhu scam, DSGMC polls get murkier
New Delhi, May 16
As the countdown for the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee polls begins, the ongoing disclosures in the multi-crore Sidhu scam are casting their shadow on the Capital’s scene with rival Akali factions firming up respective strategies either in defence or against it.

Power dues: Small fry in net, big fish get away

Panipat, May 16 It is official now. The power bill waiver scheme announced by the Haryana Government to recover the outstanding dues from the defaulters has evoked a lukewarm response in the district, if official figures are to be believed. In the wake of poor response to the scheme, the government has now decided to extend the last date for depositing the dues to May 31.

COMMUNITY

IN PARLIAMENT
CNG supply to MUL cut to meet Delhi’s needs 
New Delhi, May 16
The Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has cut the CNG supply by 50 per cent to Maruti Udyog Limited to meet the current requirement of public transport in Delhi. IGL supplied the gas to Maruti to be used for captive power generation, Lok Sabha was informed today.

There’s no place for this village in Sonepat’s scheme of things 
Sonepat, May 16
Kailashpur, a tiny village on the outskirts of this city which came into being about 90 years ago, is yet to find a place on the map of Sonepat district. According to a report, the village, which is inhabited by Kashyap, Rajput (Jheewar) biradari, has a population of only 400 persons and most of the residents are illiterate.

CPM asks HPSC to subject itself to probe
Rohtak, May 16
The Haryana unit of the CPM has asked the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) to subject itself to an impartial inquiry to prove its credentials in view of the allegations of malpractices in the recently announced results of Haryana Civil Services and Allied Services examinations conducted by it.

NCR BRIEFS
Opium smuggler jumps out of moving train, killed 
Faridabad, May 16
A narcotics smuggler from Nepal died after he jumped out of a moving train when the railway police tried to search him today. Meanwhile, his Assamese accomplice was nabbed with 8 kg of opium.

Havildar held Gallantry medal Minor raped Murder plot

Assaulted over water Death sentence Spurt in diarrhoea

• Smart cards planned to boost tourism

CRIME

Executives held for defrauding sugar mill
Rohtak, May 16
Executive Director Mihir Chokshi and Marketing Executive S. K. Bishwas of Gujarat Cypromate Ltd, Ahmedabad, the firm which allegedly defrauded the Rohtak Co-operative Sugar Mills of Rs 50 lakh, have been arrested by the local police in a most dramatic manner.

Suicide by housewife over dowry demand 
New Delhi, May 16
A housewife in the Walled City reportedly committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in Teli Vara today. The victim identified as Suman, (35) reportedly took the extreme step due to harassment for dowry by her husband, Pyare Lal and her in-laws.

EDUCATION

Academicians divided over education Bill
New Delhi, May 16
Some sections of educationists and academicians have expressed their reservation against the 93rd constitutional amendment Bill aimed at making free and compulsory education for children aged between six and 14 a fundamental right.

St Stephen’s admissions: A tough nut to crack
New Delhi, May 16
As thousands of students play a waiting game before the 12th standard results are announced, the scene on the campus is almost beginning to match the searing temperatures outside.

CULTURE

ART SCAPE
This artist’s oeuvre celebrates life in small towns 
Necessity — the mother of invention, goes the proverb rightly. And when it is a question of necessity of originality in a work of art, the artist invents it when he does not want to imitate anyone. 

PLAY TIME
Children’s theatre catching on in the Capital

Style, style, lots of style, action: yells Lushin Dubey at the children up to the age of 12. And the kids, practically uncontrollable, yet willing to enact their roles. A small girl becomes a beautiful fairy-like damsel who sits ‘stylishly’ beside ‘Moghli’, the famous jungle boy in a train. Both, after an initial chit-chat come to like each other and become friends. They do the ball dance when people get down the train.  Lushin Dubey directs budding little artists at Funkie Stage Club.

SPORTS

Indian Airlines land in Goswami Cricket semi-final
New Delhi, May 16
Defending champions Indian Airlines trounced Young Friends by 72 runs to fly into the semi-final of the 29th Goswami Ganesh Dutt Memorial Cricket Tournament at the SGTB Khalsa College ground. India discard Vijay Dahiya, who scored a fine 69 with the help of ten fours off 60 balls, was adjudged the man of the match.

Raman Sachdeva slams century for Salwan
New Delhi, May 16
Raman Sachdeva slammed a racy 108 studded with 13 fours and four sixes and deadly bowling by Vishesh Dabas (3 for 11) helped Salwan Public School (Morning) beat Tyagi Public School by 97 runs to enter the quarter-final of the first Ravindra Malhotra Memorial Under-15 Inter-School Cricket Tournament, organised by the Ravinder Memorial Trust, at the Salwan School ground.

Divya, Apoorv enter badminton finals
New Delhi, May 16
Divya Arora had to pull out all stops to outwit Meenakshi 7-4,6-8,2-7,7-3,7-3 and sailed into the final of the girls under-19 event of the 13th Tirath Ram Badminton Tournament played at the New Era Public School court in the Capital.

Kulvinder Singh cracks  ton for Super Star
New Delhi, May 16
A superb, unbeaten century knock of 102, studded with eleven fours and two sixes by Kulvinder Singh, powered Super Star Club to a handsome six wickets victory against Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) in a B Division match of the DDCA League at the Ramjas Sports Complex ground.

Dronacharya beat Modern School
New Delhi, May 16
Dronacharya Cricket Foundation scored a thrilling three-wicket victory against Modern School, Barakhamba Road in a limited-over match played at the Modern School ground.