TOP STORIES

Racket in infant trafficking smashed
New Delhi, April 23
The Delhi Police Crime Branch today claimed to have smashed an organised racket involving illicit trafficking of infants who were sold for hefty amounts through a nursing home in Uttam Nagar in West district. The three accused have been identified as a lady doctor, Dr Ish Aggarwal (58), Gurmeet Singh (63) and Kuldeep Kaur (45).

IMPENDING WATER CRISIS
Sheila points an accusing finger at UP Govt
New Delhi, April 23
The Government of NCT of Delhi has blamed Uttar Pradesh for the water crisis. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said today if the UP Government had cleaned the Upper Ganga Canal on time the Capital would not have had to face a shortage of water.

With Mayor out, MCF corporators relieved
Faridabad, April 23
The politics of the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad, is likely to take centrestage in the coming days following the setting aside of the appointment of Mrs Anita Goswami as Mayor of the civic body by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A majority of the elected members of the MCF, who were unhappy with her style of functioning, now see better days ahead.

WEDDING GONE AWRY
Groom succumbs to bullet injury
Noida, April 23
What a devastating role liquor can play in converting an auspicious and happy occasion into a tragedy was once again highlighted by a recent incident when a chance bullet, ostensibly fired in celebration of the marriage, hit none other than the groom, minutes before the wedding ceremony in Dadri on Sunday.

Gurmat Sangeet Chair established
New Delhi, April 23
World’s first Gurmat Sangeet Chair has been set up in Punjabi University, Patiala, with a view to rejuvenating Gurmat music tradition, particularly the revival of Kirtan Chowkis System at the Golden Temple, Amritsar.

Humayun’s Tomb restored to its original setting
New Delhi, April 23
The Humayun’s Tomb, which is not just the inspiration behind the magnificent Taj Mahal but also houses the remains of nearly hundred members of the Mughal clan, has been restored to its original environs. With the plantation of 2,500 trees and plants, that find a mention in the texts of the Mughal period, the monument has been given a new lease of its old life.

LPG blast triggers house collapse, 4 of family killed New Delhi, April 23 Panic gripped residents of Dichaun Kalan village near Najafgarh when four members of a family, including two women, were killed and two others injured in a house collapse in West Delhi early this morning. The victims were taken to Rao Tula Ram Hospital where four of them were declared brought dead while two others were still fighting for their life. The site of the blast. — Tribune Photo

Uphaar compensation ruling today
New Delhi, April 23
The order on the civil writ petition seeking Rs 122 crore compensation for the victims of Uphaar cinema fire tragedy will be pronounced by the Delhi High Court tomorrow. A Bench comprising Justice S K Mahajan and Justice Mukul Mudgal has heard the matter for about two years.

COMMUNITY

THE ‘T’ TOUCH: Models launching the watch collection of Tissot in the Capital on Wednesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Kharkhauda to have mobile telephone connection soon
Sonepat, April 23
The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has drawn up a scheme to install a tower at Kharkhauda town in this district so as to release mobile telephone connection to the subscribers of the area. Giving this information, Mr R. C. Hooda, General Manager, BSNL, Sonepat district, told mediapersons here today that the scheme has already been sent to the higher authorities of the BSNL for its approval.

LJP demands CBI inquiry into gunny bag purchase scandal
Sonepat, April 23
The state president of the Lok Janshakti Party, Capt. Shamsher Singh Malik, has demanded a CBI inquiry into the purchase of gunny bags, in which embezzlements of crores of rupees was alleged. “Any inquiry by the local agencies will not be fair and impartial,” he added.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON PANIPAT Civic amenities here don’t reflect the glorious history & growing export potential Panipat, April 23 Just 90 km from Delhi, Panipat is a well-known city of north India. Even though it is famous for its handloom products and rightly called the ‘Handloom Nagari’, it has a glorious past, full of history from the ancient time to the medieval Mughal era.

A view of Dargah of Hazrat Bu-Ali-Shah Kalandar.

Citizens drop mundane chores to get together on Earth Day
New Delhi, April 23
Paharpur Business Centre celebrated Earth Day today by inviting people who have planted trees at Nehru Place Green and other concerned citizens and school children to water the trees at Nehru Place Green Park.

Haryana reserved Assembly seats to go up
Sonepat, April 23
As the process of delimitation of the Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies will now be based on the population census of 2001 instead of 1991, the number of Assembly constituencies to be reserved for scheduled caste will increase from 17 to 18 in Haryana.

Even Neelgai has her day!
New Delhi, April 23
A Parliament of Children, convened here to select four State symbols for the NCT of Delhi, today recommended Neelgai in animal category, ignoring the reservations of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in this regard.

IN GOOD BOOKS: Folk dancers perform during the celebration of ‘New Delhi as World Book Capital for 2003’ in the Capital on Wednesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Fresh drive to issue voter ID cards in Meerut
Meerut, April 23
There would be a fresh drive to issue voter identity cards till September 30, 2003 and the election boxes would also be auctioned in the state, said the Secretary and Chief Election Officer of UP, Mr Ravindra Kumar, at a press conference here.

Post-1996 units in residential pockets face axe
New Delhi, April 23
Industries which have come up in residential areas after 1996 might face closure irrespective of the fact that they fell within the category of household units or are established in non-commercial areas, the Delhi Government today informed the Supreme Court.

Machinery worth Rs 5 lakh gutted in Pio Manyari
Sonepat, April 23
Machinery and goods worth about Rs 5 lakh were burnt in a devastating fire broke out in a plywood factory at Pio Manyari village about 15 km from here last evening. According to a report, a large quantity of wood lying on the premises of the factory in addition to the standing wheat crop in the nearby fields of the factory were also gutted.

A promised land that was not to be
Gurgaon, April 23
The glitter was not of gold here. Mr and Mrs Raj Sharma, both NRIs from London, have learnt a lesson of their life after investing in South City for a residential accommodation.

TETE-A-TETE: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Power Minister Ajay Maken at a seminar on power and water conservation in the Capital on Wednesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

POTENT PROTEST
Fee hike revoked
New Delhi, April 23
Yielding to a protest by the parents, the management of the Rukmini Devi Public School, Rohini, has decided to withdraw the fee hike proposal. The school had announced a hike of 200 per cent in the annual charges apart from forcing parents to buy shoes from the school itself.

• Clean city award for Capital

DELHI DIGEST
Roads named after Everest heroes
New Delhi, April 23
To mark the golden jubilee of the ascent of the Mount Everest, the NDMC has decided to name the two unnamed roads in Chanakyapuri after Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary. The announcement was made by the Vice-Chairperson of the council, Mr Ram Bhaj here today.

• Four extortionists held

• Meerut resident killed in accident

• Proclaimed offender arrested

NCR BRIEFS
Truant teachers face disciplinary action
Sonepat April 23
Four women teachers were found absent from duty on the second day of the annual examinations of Class V standard at various centres inspected by the officials of the Education Department in the Kharkhauda block of the district yesterday.

• Three injured in accident

• Body recovered

• 11 get jail

• Two held for rape

CRIME

Two held; lid off criminal cases in Delhi, Rohtak, Hansi
Jhajjar, April 23
The district police today claimed to have busted a gang of dreaded robbers with the arrest of two gangsters who were reportedly engaged in several cases of loot and snatching of vehicles in Delhi, Hisar, Rohtak, Gurgaon, Hansi and Bahadurgarh.

EDUCATION

CAMPUS Protest season kicked off with ‘Save Education’ campaign Incensed by the attempts made to privatise higher education in the country, the AIFUCTO (All India Federation of University and College Teacher’s Organisations) and FEDUCTA (Federation of Central Universities’ Teachers’ Associations) have launched a campaign, ‘Save Education’. The campaign was kicked off by holding a dharna outside the UGC office. The JNU campus has reverberated with anti-imperialist protests.

• Protest time at JNU, too

• Management course under scanner

• Talent waiting to be harnessed

• Free coaching

Convocation on Amity campus The Union Minister of Law, Justice and Commerce, Mr Arun Jaitley conferred Postgraduate Diplomas in Cyber Laws, Intellectual Property Rights and Labour Laws on the students of Amity Law School during the third convocation on the Amity campus. Union Minister of Law, Justice and Commerce, Arun Jaitley, awarding Postgraduate Diploma in Cyber Laws, Intellectual Property Rights and Labour Laws to a student of Amity Law School during the third convocation on the Amity campus.

Bon appetit? Not really! It’s junk food, bad for appetite
Faridabad, April 23
Doctors advise people to keep off fast food or ‘junk food’ time and again, but the youth of the day find it ‘de rigueur’ to savour the fast fare, bringing a smile on the faces of restaurateurs. No wonder, the number of fast food outlets has been growing in this industrial town.

SPORTS

Sirsa school lift Ajit Singh Hockey Gold Cup New Delhi, April 23 Sri Guru Hari Singh Mahavidyalaya, Sirsa trounced Doaba Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Jalandhar 6-2 to annex the inaugural All-India Sahibzada Ajit Singh Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at the Shivaji Stadium on Wednesday. Madan Lal Khurana and DSGMC president Paramjeet Singh Sarna present the Ajit Singh Hockey Gold Cup to Sri Guru Hari Singh Mahavidyalya boys from Sirsa at the Shivaji Stadium on Wednesday.

Anand stars for Sapient Corporation to beat PBL New Delhi, April 23 An all-round display by T Anand (5 for 32 and 40) helped Sapient Corporation beat PBL by six wickets in the final of the Suntan Cup Cricket Tournament at the Harbaksh Singh Stadium. Railway Ranji Trophy captain Abhay Sharma gave away the prizes. Sapient Corporation, winners of the Suntan Cup Cricket tournament, with Railway Ranji Trophy captain Abhay Sharma.

Sahara shock Delhi Police in Sood Memorial Cricket
New Delhi, April 23
Air Sahara shocked Delhi Police by two runs and entered the semi-final of the 13th All-India Om Nath Sood Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Khalsa College ground. Sanjy Verma, who played a fine all-round role, was presented the Pepsi man of the match award by chief guest Virender Bhatnagar.

• Inborn beat Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan

• Gyan Bharti Academy win

Satish Sharma Memorial Cricket from April 30
New Delhi, April 23
The first Satish Sharma Memorial Under-19 Cricket Tournament will be organised by the North Delhi Cricketers’ Association from April 30 at different grounds like Ashok Vihar and Vikas Puri. The late Satish Sharma was an office-bearer of the Delhi and District Cricket Association.

Pankaj Joshi hits century
New Delhi, April 23
A hard-hitting unbeaten century by Pankaj Joshi (155 n.o, 8x4, 13x6, 95b) helped Decision Support International beat Gush Club by 159 runs and entered the pre-quarter-final of the 12th Shera Pandit Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Mohan Meakins ground.

Vivek, Arun star for Tytler
New Delhi, April 23
An all-round display by Vivek Mishra (66, 12x4 and 3 for 31) and a rapid knock of 35, studded with five fours, by Arun Rawat helped J D Tytler School beat Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan by three wickets in the inaugural Bhavan Under-13 Cricket Tournament at the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan ground.