TOP STORIES

Delhi Police rapped for inept handling of sedition cases
New Delhi, July 27
The lackadaisical approach of the Delhi Police towards cases involving grave charges like sedition and promotion of enmity between groups has come in for criticism from a Delhi court, which has directed the Commissioner of Police to ensure that investigation of such cases is handled only by experienced officers.

States dither on dishing out crime data
New Delhi, July 27
The reluctance on the part of the states in sharing the crime data and information regarding law and order often puts the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in a spot.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit with Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma at a condolence meeting organised in memory of the late vice president Krishan Kant in the Capital on Sunday. — Photo Kamal Singh

SETTLING SCORES
Vengeance killings in Jhajjar
Jhajjar, July 27
Two persons were murdered in separate incidents in Jassaur Kheri and Chandol villages, respectively, in the district today.

POWER PANGS
Delhi streets: Light at the end of the tunnel
New Delhi, July 27
Accepting that there is a problem with the maintenance and operation of streetlights, the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, has said her government is likely to constitute a separate body to look into the matter.

Mobiles have many uses on campus and outside, discover girl students
Sonepat, July 27
“Hello Aditi (name changed)! Where are you, yaar? I have been here at the gate for the last ten minutes. After class, 1 came here. Fine, ok, come quick.” This was not a chat on a mobile phone on the Delhi University or the JNU campus, but a message from a student of GVM Girls College, Sonepat, to her friend.

With no outlet for storm water, this town has rivulets for roads 
Mahendragarh, July 27
The apparent apathy of the district authorities vis-a-vis civic amenities is causing immense hardship to the people of this township, the southernmost tip of Haryana. While lack of infrastructure and civic amenities have always been a cause for anguish among residents of this mofussil town, the recent rains have aggravated their problems. The lack of rain in the past few seasons appears to have made the authorities forget that the town needs an outlet for storm water.

Villagers block traffic for hours
Sonepat, July 27
A large number of residents of Jagsi village held up traffic on the Gohana-Pillukhera road for several hours near the old bus stand at Gohana town, 35 km from here, yesterday to register their protest against the electricity transformer not being replaced and an electricity pole which had fallen on the road not being picked up.

COMMUNITY

EVMs: Number of polling booths to come down 
Faridabad, July 27
The district election authorities are preparing to reduce the number of polling booths in the district in view of the possibility of cent per cent use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next elections. A meeting of the officials concerned and representatives of various political parties took place here recently. The parties are to submit their suggestions and objections, if any, by tomorrow.

Third Front rally for statehood to Delhi

New Delhi, July 27 The Third Front, Delhi, held a demonstration at Sansad Marg today, clamouring for statehood to Delhi. It accused both the BJP and the Congress of trying to play with the sentiments of Delhiites on the issue. ON THE WARPATH: Thousands of workers of the Third Front demand the resignation of all the seven BJP MPs from Delhi in the Capital on Sunday. — Photo Kamal Singh

Worry stalks Bhiwani town where roads are anything but safe
Bhiwani, July 27
The police claims about better traffic regulations in the town have been belied if one travels through the roads here. Not only are they unsafe, negotiating them is a Herculean task. Crossing any of the road junctions during peak hours can be quite dangerous, if not impossible.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at a reception held in her honour.

Are these trains meant for milk vendors only?
Sonepat, July 27
The conditions at Sonepat and the adjoining railway stations is pathetic. Almost every day thousands of commuters, particularly woman, have a tough time boarding the Delhi-bound passenger trains in the morning hours.

Master’s Day celebrated
New Delhi, July 27
The ‘Master’s Day’ was celebrated on the occasion of the 145th birth anniversary of Hazur Baba Sawan Singh at Kirpal Bhavan here today. Religious leaders gathered to pay tributes to the life and contribution of Hazur Baba Sawan Singh in reviving the esoteric teachings of Surat Shabad Yoga - Science of Spirituality, which addresses the issue of religious, social and cultural differences of people across the world.

Kanwarias offer ‘Gangajal’, prayers
Bhiwani, July 27
Thousands of Kanwarias offered khari, jhula and dak kanwars to Lord Shiva at various temples of the districts today on the occasion of Shivratri. Kanwarias from Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Loharu, Badhra brought ‘Gangajal’ from Gangotri and Haridwar in Uttaranchal.

NCR BRIEFS
Two get RI for robbing commission agent
Sonepat, July 27
Mr B.S. Rawat, Additional Sessions Judge of the Fast Track Court has convicted two accused, Jagdeep and Kuldeep of Kanjhawala (Delhi) under various sections of the IPC and sentenced them to two years’ rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 500 each.

Two bodies found Scooter stolen

Doctors’ vacancies being filled up

DELHI DIGEST Another school in walled city to get facelift New Delhi, July 27 The Union Minister of State for Sports and Culture, Mr Vijay Goel, has decided to give a facelift to an MCD school in Gali Bansi Koyle Wali in the walled city. This is the second school to get a makeover. The first one was in Gali Bandook Wali in the same area.

BUSINESS

MRTS to make Metro coaches
New Delhi, July 27
Having imported 14 state-of-the-art trains, the Delhi Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) has embarked on indigenisation: it will manufacture coaches to be used by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

SHOWCASE
Wanna have terrific tresses of goldilocks? Use new herbal powder hair dye
Godrej Consumer Products Limited has launched its herbal powder hair dye. The new product to colour your hair is made with the safety and goodness of ingredients like amla, reetha, shikakai and mehendi.

EDUCATION

SCHOOL BUZZ
Nurturing a spirit of sportsmanship among children
The LEAD Foundation in association with Arun Vihar Residents Welfare Association (AVRWA), organised the Gautam Budh Nagar Inter-School Basketball Tournament to commemorate the valour of the young officers and men of the Armed Forces, who laid down their lives during the Kargil war.

For the parents Save the Ridge Seminar on traffic safety

Academy honours  Bal Bhavan students International children’s festival

PRINCIPALSPEAK Prayer can change your destiny I was taking my usual morning walk when a man on a battered two-wheeler pulled up beside me. I thought the driver was going to ask for directions. Instead he showed me a picture of a cute small boy. ‘This is my grandson. He is on life support system at the hospital’. Thinking he was seeking help, I reached for my wallet. But it wasn’t money that he wanted. He said ‘I am making everybody to say a prayer for him - would you say one for him, please?’ I did. It changed my day”.

COURTS

HC contempt notices for ‘inaction’ on tantriks and their magic cures
New Delhi, July 27
The Delhi High Court has issued contempt notices to the Union Home Affairs Ministry and Delhi Chief Secretary Shaileja Chandra on a petition saying that no action has been taken against ‘tantriks’ in the city promising ‘magic cures’ for various aliments despite court orders.

HEALTH

Sheila wants Delhiites to be more aware about AIDS
New Delhi, July 27
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today underscored the need for Delhiites to be more concerned and aware about issues related to HIV/AIDS because of heavy migration into Delhi from states.

SPORTS

SPOTLIGHT
Cricket academies: Milking the cash cows
New Delhi, July 27
Cricket academies have sprouted like mushrooms in Delhi. It’s a big business, a virtual ‘cash cow’ for the academy ‘owner’. Cricket coaching is no more a mere sporting activity. The stakes are high, as the big players have entered the fray. Every second play field of the Delhi Development Authority boast of a ‘cricket academy’, and some schools also encourage this reckless trend.

MDU sports workshop concludes
Rohtak, July 27
The three-day sports workshop organised by the Sports Council of Maharshi Dayanand University concluded here today with the resolve of the participants with the need of inculcating sports culture in their respective institutions. As many as 106 participants and 21 resource persons participated, interacted and discussed various sports related aspects.

YFI clinch gold in yoga championship
Rohtak, July 27
The Yoga Federation of India (YFI), a recognised body by the Indian Olympic Association, clinched the gold medals in different men and women groups and won first position in the international yoga championship held at Porto in Portugal recently. Nearly ten countries had participated in the championship.

Ranjit Singh lifts Pro-Arm title
New Delhi, July 27
Ranjit Singh was in superb form as he carded a seven-under 55 and led his team to victory in the Navision Pro-Arm, which brought the curtain down on the Rs 18 lakh prize money Kashmir Open. At the par-72 Royal Springs Course, the pro slotted in eight under as against a solitary bogey. His amateur partners, comprising T,. Malik, Arvind Walia and Amarpal Singh Samai, contributed a healthy net score of 89 to aggregate 20-under 124.

Star to air all England-SA Tests
New Delhi, July 27
ESPN and Star Sports, which telecast the first Test between England and South Africa at Birmingham, will also beam live the other four Tests. The second Test will be played at Lord’s from July 31 to August 4, the third Test from August 14 to 18 at Nittingham, the fourth Test at Leeds from August 21 to 25 and the fifth Test at September 4 to 8 at AMP Oval.