TOP STORIES

Five-day Russian extravaganza for Delhiites
New Delhi, March 5
The Days of St Petersburg, a five-day festival showcasing the best of Russian culture, began here today. The festival, a maiden initiative commemorating the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg, is being organised by the Government of NCT of Delhi and the St Petersburg Association for International Co-operation.

Board exams: When tele counsellors get stumped
New Delhi, March 5
Even though the number of tele counselling service providers and the number of callers has steadily increased, there remains a section that is still grappling with the concept of tele counselling.

Sub-Inspector, MCD officials nabbed for taking bribe
New Delhi, March 5
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested one Delhi Police SI and three MCD officials in two cases of corruption. In the first incident, an SI posted in Prashant Vihar was arrested for demanding a bribe of Rs 10,000 and accepting Rs 7,000 from one person for helping him in securing bail in a case.

• MCF inspector caught red-handed

Justice Patel takes over at Delhi HC
New Delhi, March 5
Justice Babulal Chandulal Patel on Wednesday took over as Chief Justice of Delhi High Court. He was administered the oath of office by Lieutenant Governor Vijai Kapoor. Chief Secretary Shailja Chandra read the warrant of appointment.

RAW DEAL
Noida govt hospital: No pay for two months
Noida, March 5
The doctors and the paramedical and other staff of the District Government Hospital in Sector 30 here have not been paid salaries for the last two months. There is little chance of their getting paid for this month also, it is learnt. The non-payment of salaries has played havoc with their fiscal management.

If you have the inclination, Bipasha Basu has the time. Bipasha at the opening of the Tag Heuer watch store in CP on Wednesday.

	Are our teachers a useless lot, wonders Bench March 5, 2003
	Lawyer found shot dead in Shakarpur office March 4, 2003
	Pulling the wool over the eyes of consumers; it’s a fake world! March 3, 2003
	It was Saturday night fever March 2, 2003
	Noida to have its own Connaught Place March 1, 2003
	What does one do when cops occupy buildings illegally? February 28, 2003
	4 die as truck ploughs through crowd February 27, 2003
	Judge raps recalcitrant MDU, orders Registrar’s arrest February 26, 2003
	Meerut police: Good night, sleep tight! February 25, 2003
	60-yr-old wife of trader rescued after 18 days in captivity February 24, 2003

Children are their benefactors in this cruel world
Meerut, March 5
One should not mistake trees for woods. In Sanjay Van, you will not spot even a blade of grass. One can then imagine the plight of animals kept in this state government-owned wildlife park.

LEST WE FORGET
Kargil martyr’s family gets cash relief after four years
Sonepat, March 5
After four years of dithering, Naik Satbir Singh of the Jat Regiment, who died during the Kargil hostilities, has finally been given the status of a martyr by the state government.

• Sepoy cremated

COMMUNITY

Lt-Governor Vijai Kapoor administers the oath of office to Mr Justice B. C. Patel as Chief Justice, Delhi High Court, at Raj Niwas in the Capital on Wednesday. — Tribune Photo Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit during the launch of the barges for cleaning the Yamuna near Majnu ka Tila in the Capital on Wednesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Lottery trade thrives with cops’ connivance 
Sonepat, March 5
The lottery trade here is becoming brisker by the day to the discomfiture of the police. It has now caught the imagination of even greenhorns who are on the lookout to make a quick buck.

IOC Pipelines Div observes National Safety Day 
New Delhi, March 5
National Safety Day was observed in all units of Indian Oil’s Pipelines Division yesterday. All employees took a pledge on the occasion to ensure safety at their workplace.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON PANIPAT
Promises, promises...HUDA turns its back on small entrepreneurs 
Panipat, March 5
The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) is not serious at all about ameliorating the sufferings of medium and small entrepreneurs of Sector 29 of Industrial Estate here, who are facing a harrowing time thanks to official apathy.

SONEPAT
Sonepat gains ground in horticulture
Sonepat, March 5
Taking advantage of its proximity to the national Capital, Delhi, and professional and scientific guidance from horticulture experts, Sonepat district has made rapid strides in the fields of horticulture and floriculture during the past one decade.

ROHTAK
Symposium on place of women in society
Rohtak, March 5
A symposium would be organised on “The place of women in society and atrocities against women” on the occasion of International Women’s Day in Pt B D Sharma PGIMS here on March 8.

• Workers want salary
• MRI technique

AIWC kicks off welfare schemes in Sadhrana
Sadhrana (Gurgaon), March 5
This sleepy village, about 20 km from the madding crowd of Gurgaon city, came alive today with the arrival of former actress, Ms Sharmila Tagore, and a host of office-bearers of the All India Women Conference (AIWC).

DELHI IN PARLIAMENT
Move to computerise all police stations
New Delhi, March 5
A proposal to computerise the police stations in Delhi is being considered, said the Minister of State for Home Affairs Harin Pathak. The move is to network the police stations so as to access data bank readily to facilitate prevention, detection and investigation of crime.

Young lovers jump into river
Ghaziabad, March 5
Love is blind; it can be touchy too. Be it the beating up of the brother of the girl by villagers or the building opposition to their relation, two young lovers jumped into the Kali river in Aalampur-Kaysthan village under the Kotwali area of Atrauli to commit suicide. While the girl was rescued by village divers in an unconscious state, the boy seems to have been taken away by the river.

• Youth shot dead

Delhi Govt signs MoU with NGOs for empowering women
New Delhi, March 5
The Delhi Government today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with 37 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for effective implementation of its Stree Shakti programme for women’s empowerment.

NCR BRIEFS
Woman sets herself on fire
Sonepat, March 5
A 28-year-old housewife, Sunita of Kumaspur village has reportedly committed suicide by setting herself on fire after pouring kerosene on her clothes. She was brought to the civil hospital in a serious condition.

• Crop transportation tender
• Youth electrocuted
• Heroin seized

Jhajjar farmers to get relief package
Jhajjar, March 5
The state government finally decided to provide a relief package of Rs 1.75 lakh as compensation to the farmers of the district, whose crops had been damaged in the drought during last summer.