TOP STORIES

DELHI BUDGET 
Govt shies away from VAT in its present form
New Delhi, March 25
Succumbing to the political considerations ahead of the elections later this year, the Government of NCT of Delhi on Tuesday declared it would not introduce Value Added Tax (VAT) in its present form.


Finance Minister Mahinder Singh Saathi with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on the way to the Assembly to present Budget 2003-2004 in the Capital on Tuesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Retired tax commissioner held for 
extorting money
Ghaziabad, March 25
The arrest of retired Asst Commissioner of Trade Tax, A.K. Mishra, by the Special Operation Group of Ghaziabad Police on March 23, has surprised the residents of this town.

Up in Arms: Schoolchildren protest against the US war on Iraq at Jantar Mantar in the Capital on Tuesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal A model sports an outfit by Kavita Bhartiya during a fashion show in the Capital. — Tribune Photo

CAPITAL MISHAPS
Three killed in wall collapse
New Delhi, March 25
Three persons were killed and two children injured when a wall adjoining the famous Pul Mithai in Lahori Gate area of the old city collapsed late last night.

• Two hurt as Metro trench caves in

Notorious criminal held after encounter
Sonepat, March 25
After an exchange of fire with the police, Sanjay, a notorious criminal who is said to be a member of Sonu gang, was arrested near Panchi village about 15 km from here last night.

Peon foils bid to snatch bag carrying Rs 8 lakh
Rewari, March 25
Close on the heels of lifting a bag containing about Rs 9 lakh from the cash cabin of the Bank of Baroda branch here yesterday, two motorcycle-borne desperadoes made an attempt this morning to snatch a bag containing Rs 8 lakh from two employees of PGF Finance Company near Kanaud Gate here.

HC fines MCD for not ridding city of stray cattle
New Delhi, March 25
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi was today fined Rs 5,000 by the Delhi High Court for its failure to eradicate the menace of stray cattle in the city. The court also asked the MCD Commissioner to be present in the court on the next date of hearing to explain the steps being taken by the civic body.

POLITICS

Khurana wants govt to launch war against Pak
New Delhi, March 25
BJP Delhi Pradesh chief Madan Lal Khurana today asked the government to “break the restraint” and launch a war against Pakistan in view of the ruthless killing of 24 Kashmiri Pandits in Pulwama district in south Kashmir.

COMMUNITY

Sugar on demand as stock rises in Sonepat mill 
Sonepat, March 25
Confronted with the rise in sugar stock, the authorities of the Sonepat Cooperative Sugar Mill have reportedly been forced to sell their stock in the open market and even at the doorsteps of the consumers.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON GURGAON
Disaster management plan in place
Gurgaon, March 25
The Gurgaon Division has become the ‘first’ to put in place a ‘Disaster Management Plan’ for the districts of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rewari and Mahendergarh districts falling under it.

• ‘Autorickshaws adding to pollution’
  
  

  National Human Rights Council activists protest against the US war on Iraq and Pakistan’s interference in Jammu and Kashmir at Jantar Mantar in the Capital on Tuesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

War, Pulwama killings condemned
Rohtak, March 25
The joint meeting of various political parties held here today has decided to intensify the campaign against the war waged by the USA and its allies on Iraq. 

11 Dalit girls married at Gohana
Sonepat, March 25
It was an occasion of great relief and satisfaction for the parents of 11 Dalit girls whose marriages were solemnised in a mass marriage ceremony at Gohana town on Monday.

Automatic milk vending machines to make purchase 
less ‘bothersome’ 
New Delhi, March 25
Paras Group today announced that it has installed automatic milk vending machines at many of the leading FMCG stores in the NCR region. This is part of Paras Group’s strategy to increase its sale of milk.

Chemists down shutters against VAT
Sonepat, March 25
On the call of the Haryana Chemists and Druggists Association, all the chemist shops remained closed for the day in protest against the introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) by the government from April 1.

Goel inspects parks
New Delhi, March 25
Lok Sabha member from Chandni Chowk and Union Minister of State Vijay Goel inspected various parks situated in his parliamentary constituency early this morning.

NCR BRIEFS
Two get RI for killing fellow jail inmate
Sonepat, March 25
Mr B. S. Rawat, Additional Sessions Judge of the Fast Track Court, has convicted two undertrials, namely Manjit and Rajesh of Patel agar, of murdering another undertrial, Jaswant of Adarsh Nagar, on June 30, 1999 and sentenced to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs 5,000.

• Woman killed

• Workshop on cluster supercomputer

CRIME

MARRIAGE MALADY
Mentally challenged wife drives youth to suicide
Noida, March 25
“I am ending my life as I am completely disillusioned and don’t find any point in living any further,” the 24-year-old Vipen Kumar Sharma had written in his suicide note on a stamp paper.

• Man beaten to death by in-laws

Cops foil bid to loot businessmen from Agra
New Delhi, March 25
With the timely action by the police personnel of West district, the bid to kill and loot two businessmen from Agra by armed miscreants near the telephone exchange, DSIDC, Nangloi was foiled.

• Husband held

• Vehicle thieves nabbed

• Narcotics racket busted

CULTURE

Sitaram Bhartia doctors honoured
New Delhi, March 25
Three eminent doctors of the Sitaram Bhartia Institute have been conferred prestigious awards. Dr Gopinath, founder of Sitaram Bharatia Institute, Delhi, has been honoured for ‘Medical Excellence’ by the Wockhardt Heart Institute

SPORTS

Ishan Ganda bowls IA to title win
New Delhi, March 25
A devastating 5 for 32 bowling spell by off-break bowler Ishan Ganda and dashing batting by Shafiq Khan (76, 1x6, 8x4, 80b) and Rajat Bhatia (78, 1x6, 9x4, 98b) helped Indian Airlines ONGC. 
The Indian Airlines team with the Roshanara Cricket Tournament trophy.

Rajdhani Cup Cricket from March 28
New Delhi, March 25
The second Rajdhani Cup Cricket Tournament, organised by the Najafgarh Sports Club, will be held at the Najafgarh Sports Complex ground from March 28. Sixteen teams will participate in the tournament

• HDFC enter semi-final

• Hughes down Hero Honda

Om Nath Sood Cricket from April 5
New Delhi, March 25
The 13th All-India Om Nath Sood Memorial Cricket Tournament, affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), will be held from April 5 at the Khalsa College ground, Maurice Nagar.

• GAIL beat Teri

• Dynamic Club win

Air Force emerge champions
NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force drowned Indian Navy by five wickets to win the title clash of the 51st Inter-Services Cricket Tournament after a gap of seven years.

ADMINISTRATION

Commissioner reviews project works
Panipat, March 25
The Financial Commissioner of Administrative Reforms in the state government, Mr Piyush Panderwani, today reviewed the progress of the ongoing developmental and welfare projects in the district. 

Probe demanded into erratic canal water supply 
Sonepat, March 25
Representatives of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), the Haryana Kisan Sabha, the Haryana Farmers’ Forum, the Krishak Welfare Sabha and other farmers organisations today urged the Haryana Government to order a high-level probe into the erratic supply of canal water