TOP STORIES

Are our teachers a useless lot, wonders Bench
Malaria survey, census, poll duty...
New Delhi, March 4
The Delhi High Court today sought replies from the Centre and the city government as to why teachers should be deputed for election or other such duties and how the loss of studies on this account would be compensated.

WATERLOO
Haryana cheating Delhi of its share: CM
New Delhi, March 4
After introducing Delhiites to the benefits of conserving electricity, the Government of NCT of Delhi wants the city to conserve water too. Stopping short of declaring 2003 as the Year of Conservation of Water, the government has drawn up an elaborate action plan for tiding over the summer months that lie ahead.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit addressing a Press conference on Delhi’s water problems in the Capital on Tuesday.

New Delhi, March 4 Delhi Pradesh BJP President Madan Lal Khurana on Tuesday accused the Congress of patronising the culture of “wine and women” and said the party of freedom fighters had been reduced to a “party of criminals.” Addressing a sit-in at Parliament Street, Khurana said the Congress had been a party which fought against the British to free India from foreign yoke.  Madan Lal Khurana with activists of the BJP Yuva Morcha and Mahila Morcha on a dharna at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday. — Tribune Photo

Bhiwani transporter shot at
Bhiwani, March 4
Two unidentified assailants shot at a transporter at Charkhi Dadri, 30 km from here, today. He was first rushed to the civil hospital here and later shifted to the PGIMS, Rohtak.

THE RAGE: A model showcases Oriflame's latest product range in the Capital. Photo by Anil Sharma

MURDER MOST FOUL
Vehicle used to abduct Nitish was in DP Yadav’s possession
New Delhi, March 4
The prosecution in the Nitish Katara murder case has received a shot in the arm following the testimony of an official of the Hoshiarpur District Transport Department (DTD). The official today testified that the vehicle allegedly used to abduct and murder Nitish Katara by Vikas and Vishal, son and nephew respectively of Rajya Sabha MP D. P. Yadav, belonged to the Punjab-based Oswal Sugar Mills.

Prison guards held for death of inmate
Alwar, March 4
The Alwar police have arrested eight persons, including three prison guards and five prisoners, in connection with the death of a central jail inmate. The arrests of these people came after an inquiry found that the inmate, Ajit Jat, died after he was allegedly beaten up by the guards and the prisoners on Saturday night, sources said.

Canadian HR body seeks revision of Bhullar death sentence
New Delhi, March 4
The South Asian Human Rights Group of Canada has expressed concern over the death penalty awarded to Prof Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar. At a function organised by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee here today, visitors from Canada expressed concern over the split verdict of the Supreme Court.

COMMUNITY

DELHI IN PARLIAMENT
Pollution test must every three months
New Delhi, March 4
Every motor vehicle, whether conforming to the Euro II norms or not, plying in NCT of Delhi will have to be tested for pollution every three months. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs on Tuesday told the Lok Sabha that all the vehicles including non-polluting vehicles (Euro II) would have to adhere to the guidelines stipulated under the relevant rules.

Rain plays havoc with wheat worth crores
Sonepat, March 4
Wheat worth crores of rupees, packed in gunny bags and lying in the open at the godown of the Food and Supplies Department in this city and elsewhere in the district, has been reportedly damaged because of unseasonal rain during the past two weeks.

Walk-out over ‘shielding’ tainted MCD officer
New Delhi, March 4
The opposition in the MCD today walked out of the meeting of the Appointments, Promotions, Disciplinary Actions and Allied Matters Committee. Mr Vijender Gupta and Ms Aarti Mehra of the BJP registered their protest against putting off the issue related to the prosecution of Mr Ashok Kumar, Deputy Commissioner. The CBI had submitted a report on the disproportionate assets seized from Mr Ashok Kumar.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON GURGAON
Gurgaon to have better inter-connectivity soon
Gurgaon, March 4
The district administration has pinned its hope on the widening of the old Gurgaon-Delhi road for ensuring smooth flow of traffic as well as further increasing connectivity within the city.

Jhajjar ‘given a wide berth’ in Rail Budget
Rohtak, March 4
The ‘Jhajjar Jan Kalyan Samiti’ has criticised the Rail Budget for not including already announced two schemes to connect Jhajjar district with Rewari and Bahadurgarh towns in the budget.

Third citizens service bureau opens at Green Park
New Delhi, March 4
The Mayor of the Capital, Ms Jaishree Panwar, today inaugurated the third Citizens Service Bureau at the Green Park office of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) with a view to provide e-governance to citizens of the South district.

NCR BRIEFS
Petrol pump heist foiled
Sonepat, March 4
The Murthal police have reportedly foiled an attempt to loot a petrol pump by arresting three gangsters from a deserted house near Diwan Palace on Bahalgearh Road late last evening. The police have recovered country-made pistols from their possession.

Water supply Two dozen shops removed Dowry death

Two Bangladeshis held Auto workshop gutted

Bank gets full marks for efficient working Sonepat, March 4 Mr Pradeep Kumar, Assistant General Manager, State Bank of Patiala, Regional Office, Panchkula, has claimed that the State Bank of Patiala is the first bank in public sector which has computerised all its branches. To cap it, the CVC has given 10 out of 10 marks to the bank for minimum corruption in its working.

Panch sires more than two kids; gets the stick!
Rohtak, March 4
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ashok Yadav, has terminated the services of Krishan, a panch of ward number 5 of gram panchayat of Garhi Bohar village, on the charge of having more than two children with immediate effect today. The ‘erring’ panch has been directed to hand over the property of panchayat to the village sarpanch.

CRIME

Three arrested for youth’s murder
Sonepat, March 4
With the arrest of three youths, the police today claimed to have solved the alleged murder of a youth, Naresh, of Mehndipur village in the vicinity of Sarang road here on July 29 last year. Naresh was a dreaded criminal and wanted by the police.

Looting spree in Ghaziabad 
Ghaziabad: Five incidents of loot, snatching and housebreak have been reported from four different police station areas in Ghaziabad during the last 30 hours. Surprisingly, not a single FIR had been filed in any of these police stations till the evening today.

Husband, in-laws held for woman’s suicide
New Delhi, March 4
The West district has arrested three persons in connection with the suicide of a woman in Narela last night. The victim Santosh, resident of Rohtak, was found hanging from the ceiling fan on the night of March 3 in her house.

BUSINESS

Feel-good factor back: Dhananjay Kumar
Gurgaon, March 4
Contrary to the belief that the budget is political, it is rather pro-economy and has successfully generated feel-good factor in the hard-hit industry, opined Mr Dhananjay Kumar, former Union Minister of State for Finance.

Noida launches Internet prepaid card
Noida, March 4
Noida Telecom district notched another first in the country by launching Internet prepaid card today. “The Internet service of B.S.N.L. has been running smoothly for the last four years. Since then, we have been trying for the betterment of Internet service and the launch of prepaid card for Internet connection is another step in this direction.

EDUCATION

Students want Social Science paper to be split
New Delhi, March 4
More than five lakh students of class X took the Social Sciences examination conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Examinations (CBSE) here today. The exams for these students began on a happy note as the Social Science question paper was not difficult as expected by most. 

Ahirwal Sarvakhap to set up varsity in Wazirabad
Gurgaon, March 4
The Ahirwal Sarvakhap-360, (a conglomeration of khaps (endogamous groups) in a cluster of 360 villages of the Ahirwal belt of South Haryana, have decided to set up a university in the name of Lord Krishna and his brother Balram in Wazirabad village.

CULTURE

GLITZ&GLAMOUR
Now, a groom too can make his day truly memorable
The designer wear label for men, ‘Study by Janak’, has unveiled the complete range of its wedding collection, christened ‘Lagna collection’, painstakingly crafted to perfection for different occasions in an Indian wedding.

Dressing for the special day Glittering Stones Making a statement

Design Awards Women’s Day Colours of Spring

SPORTS

Central Region annex boxing title

New Delhi, March 4 Boxers of Sports Authority of India (SAI) Central Region collected 80 points to annex the title in the SAI Inter-Regional Boxing Tournament held at the Indira Gandhi indoor stadium boxing rink in New Delhi from February 26 to March 1. The SAI Central Regional Centre boxing team with SAI executive director (academics) Lt. Col B.S.Ahluwalia after they were declared the champions of the Inter-Regional Boxing tournament held at the Indira Gandhi indoor stadium.

Amit Bhandari, Sandeep Sharma shine

New Delhi, March 4 A fierce 4 for 12 haul by medium pacer Amit Bhandari and a strokeful unbeaten 62 by Sandeep Sharma helped Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) defeat Lal Bahadur Shastri Club by nine wickets in a league match of the fourth Roshanara Cricket Tournament at the Roshanara Club ground. Former Test player Chetan Chauhan, accompanied by Satish Babbar and S.S. Tulsi, inaugurating the Roshanara Cup Cricket tournament at the Roshanara Club ground.

Youngsters toy with Chand Khanna
New Delhi, March 4
A dashing unbeaten half century by Jitender Solanki helped Youngsters beat Chand Khanna Club by seven wickets in a Super A Division match of the DDCA League at the Ramjas Sports Complex ground.