TOP STORIES

Tara Singh statue unveiled on Prakash Utsav eve
New Delhi, January 8
Amidst controversy and protest, the statue of the Sikh freedom fighter Master Tara Singh was finally installed and the foundation stone for the underground car parking opposite the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib was also laid today on the eve of the Prakash Utsav of Guru Gobind Singh.



Union Minister of Housing and Urban Development Ananth Kumar unveiling the statue of Panth Rattan Master Tara Singh in the Capital on Wednesday. Tribune Phone 

Wake up! Khalsa New Delhi: “Wake up Khalsa and think for the betterment of the Panth,” is the call given by a group of youths, who represent the general feelings of a large section of the community, disillusioned with the politicisation of the gurdwara affairs by different Akali factions.

Electronic goods worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed in a devastating fire that broke out on Tuesday night in the congested Lajpat Rai Market. Twelve shops were gutted completely. The fire broke out at 11 pm when the market was closed. — Tribune Photo

Delhi Govt plan to show the door to overstaying aliens 
New Delhi, January 8
A day after Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani expressed concern over Pakistanis and Bangladeshis overstaying in the country and the need to send them back expeditiously, the Delhi government today said it would soon start a deportation drive besides taking other stringent measures to overcome the problem. Describing the overstaying and illegal entry by various foreign nationals in Delhi as a major security concern, Delhi Lt-Governor Vijai Kapoor said, “We must comprehend the danger posed by the illegal presence of these nationals here.

All Delhi schools closed till Jan 13
New Delhi, January 8
While the Delhiites received respite from the unrelenting cold today as the sun peered out from the clouds, schoolchildren are rejoicing the announcement of an extended winter vacation.

Five of dreaded gang nabbed

New Delhi, January 8 The inter-state cell of the Crime Branch has nabbed five dreaded criminals of the Anoop-Narender gang, involved in more than 60 cases of murder, extortion, robbery and kidnapping for ransom, after a brief encounter in the Dwarka area of South-West district last night. The gangsters who were held after a brief encounter at Dwarka in the Capital. Tribune Phone

Skulls and skeletons in police cupboard!
Meerut, January 8
Considerable panic prevailed here following the recovery of four skulls and human skeletons from an Ambassador car parked on the Bhudana Kotwali premises yesterday. The car, seized in a criminal case, had been parked there for several months. 

Some auto operators strike again
New Delhi, January 8
Even as more than half a dozen auto operators’ unions have given a written undertaking that they would ply their vehicles with electronic meters, a section of the operators went on a sudden strike today causing inconvenience to the public once again.

COMMUNITY

SPECIAL FOCUS ON PANIPAT
Prostitutes, pimps rake in filthy lucre here
Panipat, January 8
Regular campaigns against the world’s oldest profession by the police notwithstanding, flesh trade is flourishing here. The affluent industrial city has become a favourite haunt of “high profile” call girls from metros such as New Delhi and Mumbai.

More counters at railway stations soon 
Bhiwani, January 8
The Railway Ministry has prepared a significant scheme to provide better facilities at railway stations by declaring the area between Sarai Rohilla railway station, Delhi, and Bhiwani railway station as suburban area. To implement its scheme, the ministry has sanctioned a sum of Rs 2 crore.

Expelled family moves rights panel
Bhiwani, January 8
The members of a family expelled from Charkhi village in this district by a panchayat of villagers have pleaded before the Human Rights Commission to reinstate them in the village. Meanwhile, a local court at Charkhi Dadri has summoned the station house officer to appear before it on March 4 for not initiating any action in the matter.

Slum dweller housing scheme soon in Haryana
Sonepat, January 8
The centrally-sponsored Balmiki Ambedkar Slum Dweller Housing Scheme will be launched in Haryana in the near future. Giving this information, Mr Ganga Ram Teja, a member of the Rashtriya Safai Karamchari Commission, told mediapersons here yesterday that this scheme had already been enforced in some other states of the country.

Alwar Utsav from Feb 7
Alwar, January 8
February will put the otherwise quiet town of Alwar in the spotlight. The dates for the annual cultural extravaganza, the Alwar Utsav, have been announced. The city has begun preparing for the fair that is scheduled to start on February 7. 

Women to take part in gherao of PM’s house
Faridabad, January 8
District Mahila Congress president Sharda Rathaur has said that a large number of party workers and people affiliated to the party here would take part in the proposed gherao of the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi on January 15 on the SYL canal issue.

Special samagam on Ajaib Singh on January 16
New Delhi, January 8
Rev Ajaib Singh, a distinguished missionary of the Sant Nirankari Mission and member in charge of Sewa Dal, Sarovar Complex, Agriculture and Langar in the executive committee of the Sant Nirankari Mandal, left this mortal world on January 5. His body was taken for last rites to his native Machhike near Amritsar in Punjab.

CM to address development panel meet
Rohtak, January 8
The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, will address a district-level conference of sarpanches, panches and members of village developmental committees at Police Lines ground here tomorrow.

NCR BRIEFS
Factory worker killed
Jhajjar, January 8
One factory worker was killed while two others were injured seriously in separate accidents in two factories at Bahadurgarh here on Monday evening. According to information, Bhupender, a generator operator in Vikas Trading company in the MIE, succumbed to head and chest injuries.

Fog causes mishaps, two killed Succumbs to burns

One killed in mishap

Load-shedding

CRIME

Central dist shows dip in crime graph
New Delhi, January 8
The Central district police today claimed the crime situation during the year 2002 had registered a decline under various heads and attributed the success to the hard work of the police personnel.

Cops on lookout for killer servant
New Delhi, January 8
The Lajpat Nagar police have launched a hunt to nab the domestic help of a retired official of the PWD on robbery-cum-murder charges. The suspect, Sanjay (25), had joined as domestic help in the house of victim Sarva Daman. Police verification of the suspect was not got done by the victim. The suspect had joined the victim hardly four weeks back.

Prisoner suffers heart attack, dies
Bhiwani, January 8
A prisoner died following a heart attack at the local Civil Hospital yesterday. The deceased, Bir Singh, resident of Tigrana village, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in a case in 1995. He was admitted to hospital after complaining of pain in his chest.

‘Chhoti si love story’ ends in murder New Delhi, January 8 The West district police have arrested a juvenile who gruesomely murdered his elder brother, as the accused was attracted to his sister-in-law. The accused found his sister-in-law very attractive. She was married to his brother Rajbir, alias Sunny (19), only a month ago. Rajbir was a drummer.

1 shot dead near STD booth
Jhajjar, January 8
One person was reportedly shot dead by some assailants in Line Par Colony of Bahadurgarh here late last evening. According to information, an unknown person contacted Sanjay, son of Mukhar Singh, and asked him to come to an STD booth situated in the colony immediately. Sanjay along with his brother Anil left home to meet him.

Two dera occupants killed
Panipat, January 8
Crime in the district staged a comeback when two occupants of a dera were killed by unidentified persons at Chandoli village, near here, late on Monday night. According to the police, Shiv Nath and Maha Nath were killed and their faces disfigured by the killers who threw acid on them.

EDUCATION

60 pc students get jobs with blue chip companies
Panipat, January 8
Maintaining its excellent record of placement, more than 60 per cent students of the first batch of the B Tech course of NC Engineering College here have secured jobs in blue chip companies and the Army.

CAMPUS
Hi-fi plazas to facilitate student interaction in DU
The announcement by the University of Delhi to create plazas on the campus that will allow the students to meet in “safe and well lit” zones has surprised many. Needless to say, the students are relieved. Interaction between the students of the opposite sex still raises eyebrows on the university campus.

Prof Narayanan joins Ignou APTECH centres in Vietnam Golden jubilee celebration Media studies

Rai Foundation Scholarships Orientation  Programme Alumni  Association

COURTS

HC seeks resolve of CGHS drugs dispute
New Delhi, January 8
The Delhi High Court today directed the Centre to reimburse the pending bills of the patients who are covered under the Central Government Health Service (CGH) scheme for certain specified medicines purchased by them, which were not available at the government dispensaries.

SPORTS

Rajesh Tomar hits ton for UP West Zone

New Delhi, January 8 Rajesh Tomar played a captain’s knock, hitting 188 runs off 82 balls, studded with 23 fours and eight sixes, as UP West Zone defeated UP East Zone by 58 runs and entered the semi-final of the 20th All-India Punjab National Bank Inter-Zone Sports Meet at the Karnail Singh stadium on Wednesday. Rajesh played such a free-flowing innings that in one over, he cracked 34 runs, with five sixes and one four.

Rajesh Tomar goes for a big shot in the PNB Sports Meet cricket match between UP West Zone and UP East Zone at the Karnail Singh Stadium on Wednesday.

Damanjit, Ravi shine 
New Delhi, January 8
A strokeful century by opener Damanjit Singh (106, 9x4, 1x6, 84b) and devastating medium pace bowling by skipper Ravi Yadav (5 for 14) enabled Rajdhani Sports Club defeat Daryaganj Gymkhana by 253 runs and entered the quarter-final of the seventh Sahibzada Ajit Singh Cricket Tournament at the Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce ground, Pitampura, on Wednesday.  

Corporate Invitation Challenge Golf
New Delhi, January 8
Over 250 leading corporate heads will participate in the Chivas invitational golf challenge tournament to be held at the Delhi Golf Club course from January 10 to 12. The event will be the official qualifier for the World Corporate Golf Championship, to be held at the Championship South Course in La Manga, Spain. The winning team will represent India in the world meet. 

• Achievers Cup Golf

Robin Raj stars for Keshav Puram 

New Delhi, January 8 Brilliant all-round performances by 16-year-old Robin Raj Sharma (4 for 37 and 57 n.o) and 15-year-old Rocky Aggarwal (3 for 41 and 41) helped Keshav Puram Cricket Academy beat Royal Cricket Club by two wickets in the Freedom Cup Triangular Cricket Tournament at the PBG ground on Wednesday. Brijesh Kumar presenting the Man of the Match Award to Robin Raj and Rocky at the Freedom Cup Cricket Tournament at the Keshav Puram ground.

ADMINISTRATION

MCD seeks changes in DMC Act 
New Delhi, January 8
The Congress-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi is seeking an amendment to the DMC Act, 1957, to rid itself from the shackles of the Delhi State Selection Board (DSSB) to fill the vacant posts in its various departments.