TOP STORIES

MEDICAL FRATERNITY BAFFLED
This twelve-year-old girl is on pins and needles
Meerut, June 17
Munzrin (12) seems to be like any other girl of her age. But there is something strange about her. At least 80 needles, all 1.5 inches long, have been extricated from her body in the past seven months. The doctors are also in a fix and the entire episode is a challenge for the medical fraternity.

Honey, HUDA has shrunk the Gurgaon sports complex
Gurgaon, June 17
The Haryana Government and its agency, the Haryana Urban Development Authority, have drawn flak over their move to reduce the area of the sports complex here, construction for which is under way.

Grand plan for rural sectors may end in fiasco
Faridabad, June 17
The state government’s move to develop residential sectors in villages seems to be a bold decision, but one beset with hurdles. The authorities may have to think twice about issues that have been crying for attention in sectors developed in urban areas.

Flag march on NHs derails BKU plan
Rohtak, June 17
The police today again staged a flag march on the national highways passing through the district to thwart any attempt of agitating Bharatiya Kisan Union activists to disturb vehicular traffic on the Rohtak-Jind, Rohtak-Panipat and Rohtak-Sonepat roads.

BRAZEN ATTACK
Stabbed to death for saying ‘no’ in sweltering heat
Noida, June 17
Two criminals, who had been released from a jail on bail just two days ago, in a fit of rage stabbed a rickshaw puller to death when he asked for Rs 80 for ferrying the duo in the sweltering heat.

CITY SCAN
Another official in CBI net
New Delhi, June 17
The CBI has arrested a Food and Supplies Department official for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 2,000 from a kerosene shop owner. A spokesman of the CBI said the official, B P Makhija, had demanded a bribe from the shopkeeper to allow “smooth functioning” of his kerosene shop.

POLITICS

Cong Leaders call for action against MLA
Sonepat, June 17
Three Congress leaders - Mr Azad Singh Nehra, Mr Ranjit Kaushik and Mr Anil Thakur - today demanded disciplinary action against Mr Jatinder Singh Malik, a party MLA, as he had not attended the block workers’ meetings of the party addressed by Mr Bhajan Lal, president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, in this district last week.

Cong meets sans DCC sanction ‘not on’
Sonepat: The District Congress Committee president (rural), Mr Jitender Singh Malik, MLA, has said that the DCC would initiate disciplinary action against those who organise meetings of the senior Congress leaders in the district without permission of the DCC.

COMMUNITY

Joshi launches Delhi Assembly website

New Delhi, June 17 Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi today expressed strong preference for the parliamentary system of democracy, saying it was best suited to the country. “Despite all its shortcomings, parliamentary democracy has stood the test of time and carried India through many crises,” he said. Lt Governor Vijai Kapoor, Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Delhi Vidhan Sabha Speaker Prem Singh at the launch of the website on Tuesday.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON GURGAON
Basic telephony is alive and kicking, says Touchtel
Gurgaon, June 17
Contrary to the belief that basic telephony has become a thing of the past, Bharti has sold more than two lakh landlines during the past one year. Touchtel, the brand name of the company’s telephone wing, has doubled its subscriber base from two lakh in July 2002 to four lakh by the end of May this year.

Nepotism in police recruitment alleged
Rewari, June 17
The Haryana Janata Dal (U) president, Mr Ved Prakash Vidrohi, has alleged that the Chief Minister’s repeated pronouncements that all government jobs during his tenure had been given on merit are hollow.

GIVE WATER OR GIVE UP POWER: Sader Bazar BJP activists sitting on dharna against the Delhi Government, clamouring for water and electricity in the Capital on Tuesday. — Tribune photo

Sonepat roads cry for overhaul
Sonepat, June 17
The pathetic condition of roads in the town continues to cause nightmares to the people, already plagued by various other civic problems. The foremost reason behind the bad condition of roads is the lack of proper drainage facilities.

Ganaur hit by worst power crisis
Sonepat, June 17
Power played hide and seek with the people of Ganaur, a sub-divisional town in the district throughout the day yesterday. According to a report, this could be the worst power crisis at Ganaur. Normal life has been thrown out of gear.

Sanitation to stay with council
Sonepat, June 17
The Sonepat Municipal Council has postponed the decision to hand over the sanitation work to a private company on account of non-availability of funds in the annual budget.

Tops in development works PNB branch opens Hit by bus

Housewife injured Child found abandoned Girl run over

This is no music to ears!
Narnaul, June 17
There is a growing complaint by the music lovers in Mahendragarh district against the sale of duplicate cassettes. Several shopkeepers and private persons are engaged in the sale of duplicate audio-cassettes of renowned companies, including HMV, TIPS, T-Series, Sony, Venus, etc.

DELHI DIGEST
Five held for illegal sale of govt cement
New Delhi, June 17
With the arrest of five suspects, South-West district police today claimed to have busted a racket of criminals involved in adulteration or illegal sale of government cement in Sarojini Nagar area.

• Labourer electrocuted

• Held for sale of fake spare parts

• BJP, Congress working under ‘US pressure’

• Varishtha Pension Bima

NCR BRIEFS
45-yr-old woman commits suicide
Sonepat, June 17
A 45-year-old woman reportedly committed suicide by hanging herself from a fan in her house at village Safiabad today. According to information, the woman, identified as Mukhtiari, wife of a CPWD employee in Delhi, was first seen by her eldest son, Anil, when he came to the house. She died while being rushed to Narela.

Girls’ NCC camp MDU counselling schedule Computer centre opened

Cong rally against  shortage of water Water shortage CP central park to have new look

CRIME

Posing as policeman, man caught for rape of minor New Delhi, June 17 The Delhi Police today heaved a sigh of relief after arresting a suspect, involved in the rape of a 15-year-old girl in Rohini on June 9. The suspect was not a police officer as had been claimed earlier. Rapists being produced at Tis Hazari Courts in the Capital on Tuesday. — Photo by Kamal Singh

Four members of ‘Tanny’ gang nabbed
Noida, June 17
The Noida Sector 58 police claimed to have arrested four dacoits of the dreaded ‘Tanny gang’ after an encounter. One country-made revolver, live cartridges, knives, iron rods, and instruments used for breaking locks were recovered from them.

HC dismisses plea on stray dogs
New Delhi, June 17
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition seeking directions to the authorities to rid the city of the stray dog menace after the Delhi Government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi assured the court that steps were being taken in this direction.

After 12 years, court refuses to uphold dismissal of conductor
New Delhi, June 17
Twelve years after an employee was chargesheeted for misconduct by the Delhi Transport Corporation, a labour court here has dismissed an application of the department seeking to approve its action of terminating his services.

CULTURE

GLITZ & GLAMOUR From the sublime to the ridiculous: LIFW offers hope to one and all After months of speculation, delay and exasperation, the venue for the Lakme India Fashion Week 2003 has been pronounced. Much to the annoyance of the Delhiwallas, this year the spotlight will be on Mumbai. The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the apex body of the Indian fashion design industry, had spent countless hours negotiating a tax cut from the state government. Their contention was that since the show is by invitation only, the government should not levy taxes, which run into a hefty sum. With Mumbai having been chosen for the mega event, the city will play host to 58 leading designers, all set to participate in the event scheduled for July 18–24. Mumbaikars have begun well by winning the right to host the LIFW.

Adventure gear for summer kids For the kids, Freelook Junior has unveiled the ‘Adventure Gear’ this summer. The launch of the collection offers five themes-dusty indigos, the Hawaiian theme, country theme, the rescue team range and the romantic day series. The range is thematically designed, that guide the colour stories and silhouettes of the collection and has a harmonious mix of styles, cuts, fabrics, textures and colours. Children can now look forward to thematically designed adventure gear.

Jewellers take inspiration from the Nizam
Antique jewellery continues to reinvent itself. Though not just everybody can lay claim to jadau heirlooms, thanks to the ingenuity of the designers, the old frayed look can be easily obtained. Making the most of the fancy for the jewels reminiscent of the blue blood, jewellery makers have started learning their lessons in history.

Infotainment fare with conservation message
Petroleum Conservation Research Association, an apex body under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gases, has recently produced a 13-episode infotainment TV programme, ‘Khel Khel Me Badalo Duniya’, to convey the message of oil conservation to the masses.

HEALTH

25 Integrated Medicine Clinics soon
New Delhi, June 17
Ritnand Balved Medical Foundation is going to start 25 Integrated Medicine Clinics in the Capital. Speaking at the free diabetes camp on Sunday in Defence Colony area, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital Sr Consultant Physician and Diabetologist Dr M S Chaudhary said that INMED was the first clinic in Delhi that provides Allopathic, Ayurvedic and Homeopathic consultation under one roof.

SPORTS

FCI complete semi-final line-up in DSA League
New Delhi, June 17
Defending champions Food Corporation of India (North Zone) beat Zakir Hussain College 2-0 in a Group A match of the Delhi Soccer Association Institutional League to complete the semi-final lineup at the Ambedkar Stadium on Tuesday.

Sub-Jr National Aquatics
New Delhi, June 17
Over 400 swimmers, representing 24 states, will participate in the 20th Sub-Junior National Aquatic Championship, sponsored by Ayur, to be held at the Talkatora Swimming pool from June 19 to 22.

Himansh, Ekta retain TT titles New Delhi, June 17 Reigning champions Himansh P Kala of Central Bank of India and Ekta Bhambri of Central Warehousing Corporation retained the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively in the 41st Summer Open Table Tennis Tournament at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium.
Delhi Table Tennis Association president N S Gujral and organising secretary Hukam Singh with the winners of the Summer Open Table Tennis Tournament at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium.

Manan Sharma, Sahil Kher hit tons for Sonnet Club
New Delhi, June 17
Manan Sharma (173, 31x4) and Sahil Kher (102, 17x4) hit centuries to help Sonnet Club draw with Lal Bahadur Shastri Club in the two-day second Gyan Bharati Under-13 Cricket Tournament at the Venkateshwara College ground. Sonnet earned 12 and Shastri collected five points.

Bharat Academy win
New Delhi, June 17
Bharat National Academy defeated Airport Authority Colts by 149 runs in the first Turf Youth Cup Under-15 Cricket Tournament at the Airport Authority ground. Scores: Bharat National Academy: 234 for 4 in 30 overs (Sameer Khurana 102, Abhishek Kapoor 36, Varun Balli 62, Rohit Tanwar 2 for 19).