TOP STORIES

Helmsmen missing at 13 fire stations
New Delhi, April 22
It is surprising but true that out of the 36 fire stations in Delhi, 13 have been running without managers, the equivalent of an SHO of a police station, for years together. Interestingly, the fire station based at Rashtrapati Bhawan is also among them.

Six illegal migrants netted for dacoity
New Delhi, April 22
As part of its continued crackdown against illegal Bangladeshi migrants, the Delhi Police today arrested six robbers in the wee hours in connection with the dacoity at the residence of Surendra Aggarwal in the Preet Vihar area in East district.

The Bangladeshi migrants, who were arrested in the Capital on Tuesday for breaking into a house in Preet Vihar in East Delhi. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

FEE HIKE BUGBEAR
Parents protest against 200 pc hike in charges
New Delhi, April 22
Agitated over the exorbitant fee hike, parents of students enrolled in the Rukmani Devi Public School, Pitampura, today staged a dharna outside the school premises. These parents were protesting against what they allege is an unjustified fee hike of more than 200 per cent in the annual charges.

10 yrs’ jail for rape of minor
Ghaziabad, April 22
The Senior Judge of Special CBI Court Manju Rani Gupta, in an important decision, awarded 10 years’ imprisonment to each of the three culprits who had abducted a minor girl and later raped her.

EXCISE WOES
Strike forces daily wage earners to flee
Panipat, April 22
Thousands of daily wage earners, rendered unemployed in the aftermath of the continuing indefinite strike by the manufacturers of handloom, blanket, velvet and shoddy yarn, have started leaving for their hometowns. The units are on strike in protest against the heavy excise burden.

Of half-baked schemes & jobs worth zilch
Faridabad, April 22
The implementation of various employment schemes seems to be yielding poor results, despite crores of rupees being pumped in every year in various projects.

WATER LITERACY
Catching raindrops and harvesting hope
New Delhi, April 22
On Earth Day 2003 - dedicated to the growing crisis of freshwater in the world - the Delhi-based NGO, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), previewed its powerful and evocative public service advertisement reminding people of the enormous potential of harvesting each raindrop.

Nandita Das at the launch of a public service advertisement promoting rainwater harvesting in the Capital on Tuesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Yet another firing incident at marriage
Sonepat, April 22
In yet another incident of firing during a marriage ceremony, a youth of village Dubeta died on the spot when a bullet hit him in the head.

Executive committee of district unit of HVP reconstituted
Sonepat, April 22
The executive committee of the district unit of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) has been reconstituted in order to strengthen the mass base of the party in this district.

BJP seeks CM’s resignation for water crisis
New Delhi, April 22
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for the water and power crises in the Capital.

UP IN ARMS: Delhi Pradesh BJP president Madan Lal Khurana with other party leaders sitting on dharna against the Delhi Government in the Capital on Tuesday.
Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

A daily-wager taking a siesta on the ninth day of the transporters’ strike at Azadpur Subzi Mandi in the Capital on Tuesday. — Tribune Photo

Lure of husk: Farmers weigh harvesting options
Sonepat, April 22
A large number of farmers of this district are preferring manual harvesting of wheat as against mechanised harvesting to save on wheat husk. This has led to a significant increase in daily wages of the labourers in the farm sector.

DC orders cancellation of licences of two commission agents
Sonepat, April 22
During a surprise inspection of the Gannaur grain market last evening, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Balwan Singh, found two commission agents filling the bags without properly cleaning the wheat stock and ordered the cancellation of their licences.

DC takes stock of wheat procurement conditions
Sonepat, April 22
The Deputy Commissioner of Sonepat, Mr Balwan Singh, conducted an extensive tour of the grain markets and the purchasing centres set up in different parts of the district for the procurement of wheat at the support price from the farmers.

39 wheat procurement centres set up
Noida: Thirty-one thousand metric tonnes of wheat will be procured in Gautam Budh Nagar in the new financial year against 19,000 metric tonnes last year.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON GURGAON
Government keen on checking female foeticide in Haryana: Health Minister 
Gurgaon, April 22
The two-day annual conference of Gurgaon Obstetrics and Gynaecologist Society (GOGS) concluded here yesterday. Inaugurating the conference, the Haryana Health Minister, Dr M L Ranga, said that the state has the lowest sex ratios, 861 females per 1000 males as per 2001 census.

Fire caused by short-circuit destroys wheat crop
Sonepat, April 22
Standing wheat crop in 6.5 acres was burnt in a devastating fire caused by short-circuit at Bhatgaon village about 15 km from here yesterday. According to a report, on receipt of information, the municipal fire-brigade rushed to the site but stopped outside the railway crossing which was closed for the passing of at least four trains.

• RI for carrying unlicensed arms
• Gets the stick for keeping 10 liquor bottles
• Sonepat bank branch earns distinction

BHIWANI
Accident victim dies for want of timely medical help
Bhiwani, April 22
“Had timely and proper medical aid been provided to my son, he could have survived,’’ regrets Ramdhari, who lost his young son in a road accident on Monday.

• Examinee flees
• Body recovered
• Driver booked

DELHI IN PARLIAMENT
264 rape cases pending
New Delhi, April 22
As many as 264 rape cases have been pending in the year 2002, the Lok Sabha was told here today.

NCR BRIEFS
12-year-old killed
Sonepat, April 22
A 12-year-old boy Jatin was killed on the spot after being hit by a speeding bus on G T Road near Bahalgarh Chowk about 10 km from here last evening. According to a report, the victim was crossing the road when the accident occurred. The police have registered the case against the bus driver on the charge of rash and negligent driving and causing the death of the boy.

• Gita Mandir Samiti poll
• Gaur Brahman Sabha