TOP STORIES

Sheila gripes at BJP scramble to take credit for Metro
New Delhi, December 23
“The Union Government’s interference (in the affairs of the NCT of Delhi) is becoming difficult to accept,” a visibly agitated Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said in an oblique reference to the scramble by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to claim credit for Tuesday’s inaugural run of the Delhi Metro.

The trial run on the eve of the Metro Rail inauguration in the Capital on Monday. The Metro Rail Network promises to change the face of Delhi and the first corridor from Shahdara to Tis Hazari will be opened tomorrow. The entire network will be ready by 2020. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

A monkey looks up with awe at the underbelly of a cow grazing on the verge of a road in the Capital on Monday.— Photo by Anil Sharma

Major power failure in region
New Delhi, December 23
Power supply to the entire National Capital Region, including the VIP areas in the Capital, collapsed this morning following the tripping of the Northern Grid power lines. While the power supply was restored in VIP areas in about 20 minutes after the total collapse at about 8.30 am, the restoration in the entire NCR took nearly six hours.

HC not to intervene in MCD toll tax bid
New Delhi, December 23
The Delhi High Court today declined to stop opening of the tender, scheduled for the day, by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in a Rs 65 crore toll tax collection contract for the Capital, saying that it had limited power to interfere in policy maters. 

GHAZIABAD
Plan to kidnap youth hatched in Bareilly jail
Ghaziabad, December 23
The plan to kidnap a trader’s son, Manoj Mittal, from Dholana was reportedly hatched in the Bareilly jail. Members of the Yashveer Fauji and Sunder Bhatti gangs, who had made a murderous attack on Gautam Budh Nagar Zila Panchayat chairman Naresh Bhatti, were involved in planning this abduction, it is learnt.

Wounded black buck runs for life in public park
Meerut, December 23
Was it a case of trafficking in wildlife or just bad luck? A black buck was seen running in a seriously wounded condition towards the Shaheed Smarak public park under the Sadar Bazar police station area yesterday morning. Some residents from the Jali Kothi area were chasing it.

Shoppers throng the festival bazaar at Janpath in the Capital on Monday. - Tribune Photo

Lawyers press for booking HUDA officers
Gurgaon, December 23
Lawyers of the district court here continued their strike for the fifth day today demanding action against the officials of HUDA for allegedly detaining a Supreme Court lawyer and leader of the Congress, Mr Khazan Singh, recently. The authorities are reportedly in a fix and the police are trying to evade the issue. A delegation of the lawyers today tried to meet the district police chief, Mr Kuldip Singh Sihag, but were told that he was on leave.

Video

Forwarding a message of "Clean Environment and Protection of Nature from Pollution," a balloon festival is on in the suburb of Delhi. (28k, 56k)

COMMUNITY

AHULANA VIOLENCE
INLD expels youth leader
Sonepat, December 23
Mr Padam Singh Dahiya, MLA and president of the district unit of the Yuva Indian National Lok Dal, has removed Mr Krishan Malik from the post of general secretary of the unit and expelled him from the party. The action is taken against him for anti-party activities and encouraging the people of Ahulana village for launching the agitation against the management of Chaudhary Devi Lal Sugar Mill on the issue of recruitment.

SONEPAT
Ahulana mill starts operations
Sonepat, December 23
After a gap of nearly a week, Chaudhary Devi Lal Sugar Mills started functioning at Ahulana village, about 50 km from here, last evening. According to a report, the re-starting of crushing operations was possible when residents of the village gave an assurance to the administration that they would provide security and other assistance for the safety of the mill and its equipment worth crores of rupees.

HVP to file PIL against de-recognition of colonies
Sonepat, December 23
The Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) has decided to file a public interest petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the decision of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) government to de-recognise 786 colonies, which were earlier regularised by it.

Encroachments the bane of monuments: Jagmohan
New Delhi, December 23
Calling for the need to clear the historical monuments of all encroachments, Union Minister for Tourism Jagmohan today said that these are the bane of the historic and protected monuments in the Capital.

FACE TO FACE
‘Our efforts are to make thanas more accountable’ 
A 1991 batch Indian Police Service officer of the Union Territory cadre, Ms Nuzhat Hassan is the new Deputy Commissioner of Police of East district. This is her first independent charge. Within a short span at the office, she has solved many cases. Earlier, she has served the Delhi Police in various capacities, like ACP (Chanakyapuri), Additional DCP (PCR), Additional DCP (New Delhi), DCP (PCR) and DCP (Anti-Corruption).

CM emphasises role of ‘Bhagidari’ in development 
New Delhi, December 23
The Delhi Chief Minister, Ms. Shiela Dikshit, today laid the foundation stone of developmental work of Malcha Marg in the Capital. Speaking on the occasion, she said that public cooperation and citizens ‘Bhagidari’ are a must for the success of any project.

Roadways staff to stage dharna on February 5
Rohtak, December 23
The Haryana Roadways Workers’ Union affiliated to the Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana has given a call for a dharna at the office of the Transport Commissioner on February 5 in protest against the ‘casual’ attitude adopted by the senior functionaries of the Transport Department and the government towards their long pending demands.

NCR BRIEFS
Gang busted, VCDs worth Rs 3 lakh seized in Noida
Noida, December 23
The Noida police claimed to have busted a gang of criminals selling duplicate VCDs. One member of the gang was nabbed with 1,009 duplicate VCDs worth Rs 3 lakh in the market.

Double tragedy hits family Award for lecturer

Stolen vehicle recovered Charan Singh remembered

DELHI DIGEST Atma Ram case: Another UP cop held New Delhi, December 23 One more constable of the Uttar Pradesh Police has been arrested by the North West district police of Delhi today on the charge of disposing of the body of Congress Councillor Atma Ram Gupta. The constable was identified as Rakesh. He was produced before the Tis Hazari courts today. Atma Ram was murdered allegedly on behalf of a woman councillor, Sharda Jain , police said.

Martyrdom day of Guru’s sons on Dec 27
New Delhi, December 23
The martyrdom day of the sons of Guru Gobind Singh will be observed on the December 27. The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) will organise the function in Gurdwara Mata Sundari.

CRIME

Postal staff behind generator theft?
Faridabad, December 23
A power generator installed in the premises of the Head Post Office in the Nehru Ground here was stolen. While the authorities have started a probe, it is suspected that some of the employees of the office may be involved in the theft.

Man charred to death in hotel fire
New Delhi, December 23
A 26-year-old man was charred to death in a fire that broke out in the basement of Hotel Connaught, near Shivaji Stadium. The deceased was identified as Mahesh. Seven fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the fire.

EDUCATION

Institute honours engineers
New Delhi, December 23
The Institute of Engineers, Delhi state Center, today honoured several engineers for their contribution, including the Chief Engineers of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Doordarshan, Chairman of Power Grid Corporation of India and Chairman, Consultancy Development.

COURTS

ROHTAK
Only Election Tribunal can decide on IMA poll: Court
Rohtak, December 23
Disposing of the appeals filed by two members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against the orders of Civil Judge (Senior Division) R. S. Chaudhary, Additional District Judge Shiva Sharma observed that the Election Tribunal constituted by the national president of the IMA was the only authority to decide on the disputes between parties over elections to the state units of the association.

CULTURE

TRADE FEST
Cops keep Jazzy-B fans glued to seats
Faridabad, December 23
The police meant serious business at the Surajkund Trade Fest-2002. They ensured that the fair site was not marred by hooliganism and revelry. This was visible at the Punjabi pop show by Jazzy-B last evening.

SPORTS

Ashwini Kumar gets Olympic Order
New Delhi, December 23
Former member of the International Olympic Committee from India (IOC) Ashwini Kumar was recently conferred with the International Olympic Committee’s most prestigious Olympic Order. The award had been conferred on him by IOC President Jacques Rogge at the 104th Congress of the IOC held in Mexico City on November 28. Ashwini Kumar was the IOC member in India since 1973 and became its honorary member in 2000. The decision to confer him the Olympic Order was taken during the Executive Board meeting of the IOC held at Salt Lake City in February 2002.
Ashwini Kumar receiving the Olympic Order.

Orient Craft book  berth in final
New Delhi, December 23
Orient Craft, with the help of a rapid-fire unbeaten knock of 53 by Man of the Match Rohit Sharma, toppled defending champions Sar Group when they scored a 31-run victory to book a berth in the final of the sixth D G Phadkar Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Teri Oval, Gurgaon.

Salwan School beat Modern

British School sports

HCA picks 22 players for U-25 tourney Rohtak, December 23 The Haryana Cricket Association (HCA) has selected 22 probables for the forthcoming BCCI’s Under-25 cricket tourney. According to the HCA secretary, Ranbir Singh Mahendra, the probables for the Haryana - A Under-25 team will have to report for a camp beginning at Rohtak on December 31. Delhi Police garner full points New Delhi, December 23 Delhi Police scored a narrow 1-0 victory against Simla Youngs to garner full points in the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA)-SAIL Open Clubs Senior Division Football League Championship at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium East ground on Monday.

Jeev, Hrithik open golf clinic New Delhi, December 23 A special golf clinic was organised today with two Hero Honda Brand ambassadors golfer Jeev Milkha Singh and Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan inaugurated the clinic. The clinic was organised to further boost the popularity of the sport, and encourage more people to take up golf in the country. The event follows the very recent appointment of Pawan Munjal, Asian Professional Golfers Association (APGA). Golfer Jeev Milkha Singh and cine star Hrithik Roshan at the inauguration of a golf clinic.

Young Friends enter cricket final
New Delhi, December 23
A fine knock of 49 by Abhishek Kapoor and deadly bowling of 4 for 32 by Varun Kumar helped Young Friends beat St Giri School by 80 runs and entered the final of the St Giri Under-15 Cricket Tournament at the Paschim Vihar sports complex ground.

Delhi down  Kerala Rajdhani beat Rohtak Heroes

Raj Gautam slams century

Mohit Vadhera hits ton New Delhi, December 23 Mohit Vadhera hit an unbeaten 118, studded with 12 boundaries and three sixes, to guide Pan Business List to a 104-run victory against Ansal Sports in the final of the fifth Suntan Cricket Cup-2002 at the Palam ground.

Deendayal Table Tennis
New Delhi, December 23
All India Pt Deendayal Upadhya Memorial Open Table Tennis Tournament, conducted by Delhi Table Tennis Association and organised by Polioun Moolan Sports Committee, will be held from December 31 to January 4, 2003 at Talkatora Indoor Stadium in the Capital.