TOP STORIES

Poser to MDU: Do army officers make better VCs?
Rohtak, May 5
A debate is raging over the appointment of a non-academic person to the coveted post of vice-chancellor among academicians, bureaucrats, students, teachers’ organisations and in political circles. The tenure of three vice-chancellors in the state is scheduled to expire in the next few months.

Tower collapses, eight labourers spiked to death
Gurgaon, May 5
Eight labourers died when a high-tension electricity tower, on which they were working, collapsed in village Dhankot, around ten km from here. According to eye-witnesses, more than 30 workers, belonging to a Hyderabad-based private company, were tightening the electricity wire of Power Grid Corporation.

SLAIN IN PUBLIC
Youngster beheaded in broad daylight 
Rewari, May 5
In a ghastly incident in broad daylight, a 20-year-old youth, Naresh Kumar, was killed by three persons of his own village near a motor-repair workshop on the Railway road in Bawal town, about 14 km from here on Sunday. It is stated that when Naresh Kumar, son of Bhagirath, a former sarpanch of Tihara village near Bawal, along with his cousin, Rakesh Kumar, went to get their car repaired, they were being shadowed by three other villagers armed with swords

Jittery kidnappers turn into cold-blooded killers 

New Delhi, May 5 With the arrest of five youths, including sons of two policemen, the North-West district police today claimed to have cracked a case of kidnapping for ransom involving a businessman’s son. The kidnappers had reportedly got the jitters and killed the victim. The five youths, including two children of policemen, who have been arrested for murdering the son of a businessman. — Tribune Photo

Row simmers over land acquired for Taj Expressway
Greater Noida, May 5
Now that the foundation stone of the prestigious Taj Expressway, which will stretch from Greater Noida to Agra, has been laid, the battle lines seems to have been drawn between the farmers of the area and the district authorities.

Children enjoying a ride in the Metro train as part of the Kids’ Day package, organised by McDonald’s and Delhi Metro in the Capital on Monday. — Photo by Anil Sharma

ARSON AT VARSITY
Evaluated answer sheets gutted 
Rohtak, May 5
A fire broke out in the council hall of Maharshi Dayanand University in the wee hours today, which reportedly destroyed a huge pile of evaluated answer scripts. According to information received, the fire was noticed in the council hall adjacent to the office of the vice chancellor at around 6.45 am by the securityman on duty. He reported the incident to the higher authorities and the chief security officer.

Assn chief waylaid, robbed of Rs 7 lakh
Sonepat, May 5
As many as half-a-dozen armed men reportedly robbed Mr Pawan Goel, president of the Foodgrains Dealers Association, Sonepat, and snatched about Rs 7 lakh and a car from him on the Sonepat-Rohtak road near Kanwali village, about 15 km from here on Sunday evening.

COMMUNITY

DELHI IN PARLIAMENT
Congress under fire on water, power front
New Delhi, May 5
The Congress Government in the state led by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was accused of failing to provide water and electricity to the people in the Capital in the Lok Sabha today.

SMOOTHER RIDE: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today opened a 685-meter-long three-lane dual carriage way ‘Mayapuri Flyover’. The PWD and the Urban Development Minister, Dr A. K. Walia, presided over the function while Deputy Speaker of the Delhi Assembly Mrs Kiran Choudhary was guest of honour. Surrounded by Mayapuri, Kirti Nagar and Naraina Industrial Areas, Mayapuri Chowk is one of the busiest intersections in South Delhi.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON FARIDABAD
INLD playing ‘politics of fodder’ for electoral gains
Faridabad, May 5
Believe it or not but the district which was a victim of drought last year is sending tonnes of fodder to the drought-hit areas of Rajasthan now. This has been made possible primarily due to the ‘efforts’ of the ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) which intends to contest the coming assembly poll in Rajasthan.

How to manage hospital waste? An onerous task
Noida, May 5
Hospital waste management is a big challenge in the town. The medical fraternity needs to deliberate and address the problems seriously.

BRASS TACKS
Philatelic honours for four evergreen singers this month
In order to commemorate well-known historical and national figures who have enriched the country on account of their talents in diverse fields, or brought laurels and fame to the nation through their efforts, or otherwise made immense contributions through public service, the Department of Posts, Government of India, has been regularly coming out with stamps in their honour.

Police chief cut up over ‘one-sided’ play to widow’s charge
Gurgaon, May 5
A widow of about 40 years of age, Mrs Sheetal (named changed), reportedly alleged in a section of the press that when she visited the Farukhnagar police station on April 17 in the evening to lodge a complaint against one of her relatives, the SHO made indecent comments.

FACE TO FACE
He is the grand old man of Delhi’s medical fraternity
Doctors in the national Capital fondly refer to him as the grand old man of the medical profession with even the most experienced of them never hesitating to consult him when faced with a tricky diagnosis.  For the 80-year-old Dr Anant S. Ahluwalia, life is a gift from God which ought to be used to help others while at the same time sparing no efforts to keep oneself healthy and disease-free. 

11 roads, subways built, repaired in Sonepat 
Sonepat, May 5
The district administration has almost completed the construction and repair works of as many as 11 roads and subways in Sonepat district following the orders of the state government.

‘Summit of Mind’ in Delhi from May 7
New Delhi, May 5
A three-day convention to deliberate on the problems of the disabled persons and formulate strategies for solving them will be organised in the Capital from May 7. Titled the ‘Summit of Mind’, the convention will be inaugurated by the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Mr Satyanarayan Jatiya.

NCR BRIEFS 
IOB branch in Rewari
Rewari, May 5
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has opened its branch in Rewari, thus taking the tally of its branches to 17 in Haryana. It was formally inaugurated today by Mr S.C. Gupta, Chairman and Manage Director of the IOB. Like all the 1,430-odd branches of the IOB throughout the country, its Rewari branch too is fully computerised.

Laminating glass processing unit

Wheat distributed to widows

Labourer beaten up for demanding salary Sonepat, May 5 The Rai Police have registered a case of assault on a labourer by a farmer and his associate at Jakhauli village about 15 km from here last night. According to a report lodged with the police, the labourer Bhadia Saini of Jagdishpur village stated that he had not been paid his salary for the last 10 months despite repeated requests.

Best Travel  Writer Award
New Delhi, May 5
The Indian Association of Tour Operators has presented “L.K. Bakhshi Best Travel Writer Award” to Ms Jyoti Koul at their 19th IATO Annual Convention 2003 recently concluded in Hyderabad.

BUSINESS

WLL expanded in Gurgaon
Gurgaon, May 5
The Haryana Telecom Circle today launched its Customer Service Centre (DTO) and expanded its Wireless Local Loop (WLL) in the city. The Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Mr Prithipal Singh, inaugurated the Customer Service Centre at Sadar Bazaar.

SPORTS

Karun  dominates  in British Formula race
New Delhi, May 5
Karun Chandhok dominated the scholarship class of the British Formula 3 Championship at the Croft circuit in Yorkshire, except for the final 100 metres of the second race. He qualified for both the races at the pole position, and won the first race, registering his second win of the F3 season.

SAIL cruise into Shera Pandit semis
New Delhi, May 5
Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) trounced Delhi Administration by 45 runs to enter the semi-final of the 12th Shera Pandit Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Mohan Meakins ground, Ghaziabad. Saurabh Shukla, who produced a match-winning all-round performance (55 and 3 for 29), was declared the man of the match.

Young Friends edge past Goswami Club
New Delhi, May 5
Young Friends Club scored a thrilling four-run victory against hosts Goswami Ganesh Dutt Cricket Club in the Goswami Ganesh Dutt Cricket Tournament at the Khalsa College ground on Monday.

Orient Craft lift Phadkar trophy New Delhi, May 5 Orient Craft were presented the DG Phadkar Memorial Cricket Tournament Trophy by Union Minister of State for Commerce Rajiv Pratap Rudi at a function held in the Capital. Union Minister of Commerce Rajiv Pratap Rudi presenting the D G Phadkar Cricket Trophy, watched by Dr R K Pachauri, Indian women’s cricket team captain Anjum Chopra and IOC chairman M S Ramachandran.

Amit Sharma hits century for ONGC
New Delhi, May 5
A brilliant century by Amit Sharma (133, 13x4, 4x6), and all-round display by Sunil Joshi (48 n o and 2 for 27) and deadly bowling by Rajeev Rathore (3 for 7) helped Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) crush Dental Hydraulics by 102 runs and entered the semi-final of the fourth Millennium Cup Inter-Institutional Cricket Tournament at the Palam ground.

FCI rush past Dena Bank, enter final
New Delhi, May 5
Food Corporation of India (FCI) indulged in lusty hitting to pip Dena Bank by 87 runs and entered the final of the DDCA Super A Division League Knockout Cricket Tournament at the Jamia Milia ground.

Pankaj, Rajeev and Sunil star for Hari Bhumi
New Delhi, May 5
An attractive 84 not out by Pankaj Joshi, a dashing half century by Rajeev Uniyal and a deadly bowling of 3 for 38 by Sunil Joshi powered Hari Bhumi Club to a thrilling 12-run victory against Air Sahara and entered the semi-final of the fourth BDM Cup Cricket Tournament at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Ghaziabad. Pankaj Joshi was named the man of the match.