TOP STORIES

DVB deal: Point, counterpoint
New Delhi, June 4
“I accept the challenge.” Responding to Power Minister Ajay Maken’s offer to debate the issue of privatisation of power distribution in public, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) Member of Parliament and former chief minister Madan Lal Khurana on Tuesday said he was game. Although, widening the ambit of the debate to include transport and water, he said he would rather slug it out with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

Officials accused in land scam back in district
Noida, June 4
The posting of two controversial P.C.S. officers, who were allegedly involved in a land scandal, back to Gautam Budh Nagar district has shocked the locals and surprised the official circles. 

N-war fears: Delhi Govt buys protective gear
New Delhi, June 4
Peaceniks may think otherwise but the Government of NCT of Delhi is convinced the threat of an attack is immediate to warrant an investment in hardware useful in disaster mitigation. It has spent Rs 11.40 crore for importing equipment from a UK-based company to reinforce disaster management centres and personnel detailed for relief and rescue operations in the event of a NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) attack.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Haryana) activists stage a dharna in the Capital, demanding protection of their rights. The BKU is leading an agitation in the Jat heartland of Haryana, which turned violent recently leading to a police firing. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Narnaul: With no map, land is up for grabs
Narnaul, June 4
With the land consolidation process still incomplete, land in this district headquarters is up for grabs and the land mafia is having a whale of a time. In the absence of a map, there is no proper identification of the land. Of 8,521 acres, it is only about 152 acres which could be taken up for the consolidation process.

Officials accused in land scam back in district
Noida, June 4
The posting of two controversial P.C.S. officers, who were allegedly involved in a land scandal, back to Gautam Budh Nagar district has shocked the locals and surprised the official circles. The officers in question, Mr Khazan Singh and Mr Mange Ram Dhiman, have been appointed Additional DM (Finance) and Deputy DM Collectorate, respectively.

Residents too scared to say ‘boo’ to this bogey 
New Delhi, June 4
A small monkey with a chain around his neck has already bitten over 40 residents of the G T Karnal Road. The terrorised residents have lodged complaints with the police as well as the MCD’s animal complaint cell, but they have yet to breathe easy.

Abandoned police post taken over by tipplers
New Delhi, June 4
A police post has become a den of anti-social elements! Shocked? Don’t be. For the post, constructed a couple of years ago, was abandoned later by the guardians of law. The two-room police post was built to provide round-the-clock policing to the upmarket commercial and residential Preet Vihar in East Delhi. 

PGIMS prof seeks anticipatory bail
Rohtak, June 4
Dr A. D. Tiwari, professor and head, Department of Paediatrics, Pt. B. D. Sharma Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), has sought pre-arrest bail apprehending his arrest in a case by Vigilance Bureau under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

COMMUNITY

SAD (B) releases list for elections

New Delhi, June 4 The Shriromani Akali Dal (Badal) today released the list of 46 candidates who have filed their nomination papers for the June 30 elections to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). In a statement issued here today, Jathedar Avtar Singh Hit, president of the Delhi Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) said that the candidates were properly vetted before their names were released for filing the nominations.  Independent candidates, Inder Pal Singh and Amreek Singh, after the filing of their nominations for the elections in the Capital on Tuesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal.

Vidrohi critical of global ‘silence’ on Pak terrorism
Sonepat, June 4
The Haryana Pradesh Janata Dal (U) president, Mr Ved Parkash Vidrohi, criticised the international community for not asking Pakistan to refrain from pursuing its strategy of cross-border terrorism in India.

Meddlesome, mooing cows make roads their home 
Sonepat, June 4
The biggest terror on the city roads these days are herds of stray cattle that put in a sudden appearance in the midst of speedily moving vehicles, dangerously disrupting the already chaotic flow of traffic.

Jat Mahasabha opposes ‘bhoj’ ceremony
Sonepat, June 4
The All-India Jat Mahasabha has opposed the organising of the ‘bhoj’ ceremony after the last rites, as it puts extra financial burden on the families of the deceased. In a press release, the Jat Sabha has appealed to the people of the community to put an end to this embarrassing system immediately. 

NHPC lists out its greening endeavours
New Delhi, June 4
The National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) today stressed the need for maintaining an equitable balance between construction activities and the environment. The NHPC pointed out that development should be in conformity with the eco system.

Fuel shortage persists 
New Delhi, June 4
Harassed consumers continued to face a shortage of fuel for the second day today. It was alleged that oil companies had halted the supply of fuel temporarily yesterday ahead of the announcement for the hike in fuel charges.

Fuel hike under MNC pressure: CPM 
Rohtak, June 4
The Haryana unit of the CPM has strongly condemned the unprecedented hike in prices of petrol and diesel by the Centre. The party, in a statement issued here today, has accused the Vajpayee Government of undemocratic conduct and contempt of parliamentary norms by announcing increase in rates of postal services and petroleum products just after the conclusion of the budget session of the Parliament.

Large-scale irregularities in petrol sale
Rohtak, June 4
Several petrol pumps in the town either put down their shutters or displayed “stock exhausted” on Monday evening after the announcement of the hike in the prices of petrol and diesel.

GLITZ & GLAMOUR
She’s a dab hand at beauty biz

When Samantha Kocchar says beauty is serious business, you’d better believe her. Coming from someone who started off at 11, a time when most girls are bothered about Barbie’s new clothes, Samantha has earned herself a name other than Blossom Kocchar’s daughter. Sitting pretty in her office without a trace of make-up or jewellery and with numerous Feng Shui knick-knacks dispersed all around, Samantha tells you of her passion for the business. “I started at 11 and when I was 13, I went to the United States to enrol in a study course. And by 15, I was a credit teacher. My mother never pushed me into the business, I had a natural instinct for it,” says Samantha who describes her mother Blossom as her guru. Sitting pretty: Samantha Kocchar

Mikka’s personal choreographer

From engineering to entertainment

Training centre for Mewat widows
Nuh (Mewat), June 4
The decks have been finally cleared for the Mewat Development Agency (MDA) to set up a residential-cum- training centre here for the widows of Mewat. The Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, is understood to have agreed to provide a sum of Rs 1 lakh from his discretionary fund to the MDA for construction of the building.

NCR BRIEFS
Healthcare melas to be organised by Haryana govt
Panipat, June 4
In a bid to take healthcare to the remote villages without the primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs), the Haryana Government has decided to organise “healthcare melas”.

Rs 40,000 robbed Man booked ‘Operation Catch’ IT committee

Hacked to death Rs 35,000 looted One killed

CRIME

Body recovered in Faridabad 
Faridabad, June 4
The police recovered the body of a 35- year-old man from Kot village of Hathin sub-division, who was murdered on May 24. His body was dumped in a field. The deceased’s wife and two other persons allegedly involved in the murder were arrested.

Engineer commits suicide 
New Delhi, June 4
Hemant Kumar (24), a computer engineer reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan in his house in Rajender Nagar. The engineer, who belonged to Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, worked in a private company. No suicide note was recovered.

EDUCATION

MDU restrained from promoting librarian
Rohtak, June 4
The Additional District Judge, Mr Shiva Sharma, has restrained Maharshi Dayanand University from promoting Mr Ajit Singh Siwatch, Assistant Librarian, as Deputy Librarian under the Career Advancement Scheme.

CAMPUS
DU comes alive as students get into admission mode
New Delhi, June 4
It’s that time of the year when Delhi University campus comes alive. With less than a day left before the Delhi University admission forms are made available, the rush of students from all parts of the country, struggling to find a place in Delhi University, is quite evident.

CBSE results of PMT  declared
New Delhi, June 4
The CBSE today declared the results of the Pre-Medical/Dental tests conducted on April 28 at 406 centres across the country. The CBSE announced that 1634 candidates have cleared the exam and 1,144 candidates have been put in the wait list. In all 2,13,889 candidates had taken the exam.

COURTS

Case against henna-maker
Faridabad, June 4
The drug control authorities today filed a case in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate here against the owner of a factory allegedly found to be manufacturing henna powder of known brands illegally.

SPORTS

Ravneet Ricky, Vijay Dhaiya hit tons for IA
New Delhi, June 4
Dashing century knocks by Ravneet Ricky and Vijay Dhaiya were the highlights of Indian Airlines’ handsome 84 runs victory over Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) in the 26th Lala Raghubir Singh Hot Weather Cricket Tournament at the Modern School ground, Barakhamba Road, in the Capital on Tuesday.

Karun Chandhok races to third F3 podium

New Delhi, June 4 Reigning Asian Formula 2000 champion and JK-tyre sponsored Karun Chandhok raced to his third Scholarship Class Formula 3 Podium of the season on Sunday and followed it up with a solid drive to fifth place on Monday at the Silverstone circuit, according to information available here. Karun Chandhok in action in the Formula 3 race to gain podium status.

Rohtak Road Gymkhana beat Bright Club
New Delhi, June 4
Rohtak Road Gymkhana beat Bright Club by four wickets in a Super A Division match of the DDCA League at the Kalindi College ground in the Capital.

ESPN to beam NBA finals 
New Delhi, June 4
ESPN will telecast live the NBA finals between Los Angeles Lakers and New Jersey Nets on June 6. All the fine shots and dunks will come alive on ESPN in the best of seven series, beginning with Game One at 6.30 am.