TOP STORIES

Boy sacrifices life to save sister’s honour
Meerut, September 14
Communal tension gripped Abdullapur village on the outskirts of the city when four boys assaulted a teenaged girl of another community and tried to outrage her modesty late on Saturday night. Her younger brother Ashok who rushed to rescue his sister was brutally beaten to death by the boys.

Assembly poll: Intense politicking already on
New Delhi, September 14
The campaigning for the Assembly election in NCT of Delhi will gain momentum after the Election Commission announces the date and political parties select their candidates. With allegations and counter-allegations flying thick and fast, it is likely to be a bitterly fought election.

WAITING TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY: Umbrellas are out in all colours following incessant rain in the Capital on Sunday.

Deprived of land, man attempts suicide
Sonepat, September 14
Despite his all efforts and knocks at the doors of all concerned from the Deputy Commissioner to the Chief Minister, when a complainant failed to get justice, he attempted to commit suicide in the full house of the monthly district public relations and grievances committee meeting which was being presided over by the State Agriculture Minister, Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, here on Saturday.

Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani launches a website on the Hindi Day celebration in the Capital on Sunday. — Photo by Kamal Singh

COURT MURDER
Bhati’s killing may lead to gang war
Noida, September 14
The murder of Surender Bhati in the court complex in Phase-II, Noida, is directly linked with the murder of Ajit Pal four years ago. Both had a common link as they had started their career as leaders of workers’ unions. They were good friends in the beginning but when Bhati became popular and an influential union leader, Ajit Pal was done to death. Bhati was one of those named as an accused in the murder case.

• Metal detectors to be installed on court premises

Anti-encroachment campaign goes phut
Sonepat, September 14
The anti-encroachment campaign launched by the district, police and civic administration in this fast-growing industrial city and a district headquarters in Haryana, has proved a total failure.

ROAD RAGE: Truck driver silenced by policeman
New Delhi
A serving Delhi Police constable reportedly shot dead a truck driver on the busy Mehrauli-Badarpur Road late last night after a minor accident. The driver is reported to have died instantaneously. The constable, Anil, posted at the Okhla police station has been arrested.

Woman dupes SBI of Rs 19.50 lakh
Jhajjar, September 14
The Bahadurgarh branch of the State Bank of India was duped of Rs 19.50 lakh by a woman, who opened a saving account on a fake address. The police said that the woman, who had identified herself as Sunita, daughter of Lakhiram, had opened an account with an initial deposit of Rs 800 on July 17.

HARD KNOCKS
Trader robbed of Rs 4 lakh
Hapur (Ghaziabad), September 14
Armed miscreants robbed a coal merchant of Rs 4 lakh at 8.30 last night. The trader was returning in his Maruti car after collections from Chandpur. The criminals tied him and his accountant, and then threw them in the fields near Atseni.

• No men at the helm

POLITICS

Cong leader’s birthday party becomes show of strength
Sonepat, September 14
The turnout at the birthday ceremony of veteran Congress leader and former member of Parliament Chiranji Lal Sharma was an unprecedented one in the history of this city yesterday.

COMMUNITY

HVP activists take out march against police atrocities
Jhajjar, September 14
Activists of the Haryana Vikas Party took out a procession in Beri village of the district in protest against police atrocities in the state. The protest march was led by the general secretary of the party’s youth wing, Mr Kultaj Singh, and hundreds of party workers participated in it.

Hindi Academy Delhi gave the Chhatra Pratibha Puraskar 2002-2003 to the higher and senior secondary students in the Capital on Sunday. — Photo by Kamal Singh

SPECIAL FOCUS ON SONEPAT
Sonepat stinks as civic bosses take a snooze
Sonepat, September 14
The historic city of Sonepat stinks as a result of the callous neglect and insensitivity of the authorities towards the basic needs of the people. Rampant corruption and petty politicising by officials makes them least concerned about providing basic amenities.

Chaos is the reigning deity at this busy chowk
Faridabad, September 14
Neelam Chowk, one of the busiest crossings in the heart of the city, is in a state of disrepair. Chaos is a routine affair here. Located near the Ajronda flyover, it is an important crossing point for the residents of NIT and visitors who come to various parts of one of the most congested and populated areas of the town. The condition of the chowk is pitiable and pathetic, to say the least.

Demand to reopen cases of massacre of Pandits
New Delhi, September 14
The Delhi wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party today called for stringent steps to stop cross-border terrorism and demanded that the National Human Rights Commission reopen all cases of massacre of minorities in Kashmir.

DELHI DIGEST
Students sing for noble cause
New Delhi, September 14
Experimenting with different genres and styles of music, young singers of Delhi University enthralled the audience with a musical performance last evening. A group of 60 students, ‘Artistes Unlimited’, gave a musical performance titled `60 in a Maze’, which included Indian and western classical music as well as sufi, jazz and gospel strains.

• Jain Rath Yatra

• Contract awarded

NCR BRIEFS
HVP to provide legal aid to victimised students
Bhiwani, September 14
The Haryana Vikas Party chief and former Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, said the state government has “betrayed the traders by implementing VAT (Value Added Tax) system,” which had increased the difficulties for the traders. The HVP president was addressing a public meeting held at the local Neki Ram Sharma chowk today.

• Bhajan criticises Chautala

• Cong flays BJP

CRIME

Daryaganj hotel manager, waiter held for rape
New Delhi, September 14
The Central district police have arrested the manager and a waiter of Duke Hotel in Daryaganj on charge of raping a woman, who along with her husband, Mozid, were staying in the hotel.

• Fake coin racket busted

• 3 robbers arrested

• Gang of bag-lifters smashed

EDUCATION

THE Junior Wing of Manav Sthali School presented its annual cultural eve ‘Fantasia’ last week. The meticulously planned and diligently showcased event was organised in the swanky auditorium the school has in Rajinder Nagar. Foot-tapping dances, pulsating music and enthralling drama, the evening had the audience thoroughly entertained. The inaugural ceremony was a mix of technical wizardry and human mettle. The children presented a mix of rollicking cultural events.

Tiny-tots showing their love and respect to the grandparents by presenting a cultural show.

PRINCIPALSPEAK
Fortune favours the courageous
Challenges must be taken up because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who fears going beyond habit and the expected does nothing and achieves nothing. It needs courage to take up new challenges in life and pursue them with determination. Good luck is sure to favour your efforts and preparation because good luck comes when opportunity meets preparation. It is not a coincidence.

COURTS

Family Court officers should have sensitive mindset: Justice Babu
New Delhi, September 14
Elucidating on why the family courts should be sensitive and compassionate, Justice S. Rajendra Babu of the Supreme Court, recounted a case of an eleven-year-old who told him that she would like to live in a hostel instead of choosing between her father and her mother.

HEALTH

Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme begins in New Delhi.  In Video (28k, 56k)

Children administered pulse polio drops
New Delhi, September 14
Lakhs of children were administered pulse polio drops under the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme on Sunday. Over seven thousand polio booths were set up all over the NCT of Delhi.

A patient wait in long queues at pulse polio booths
Sonepat, September 14
A large number of children aged between 0-5 years were administered anti-polio drop by employees of the Health Department and volunteers of various social and voluntary organisations at different booths created specially for the purpose in this district today.

SPORTS

Khalsa Blues record thumping victory
New Delhi, September 14
Khalsa Blues defeated Guru Harkrishan Club 8-0 in the PNB Delhi Hockey League for Clubs at the Shivaji Stadium on Sunday. Four goals each came in either half. Sandeep scored the first and second goal, Vikas added the third goal while Jaspreet accounted for the fourth goal to complete the first half scoring.

• Deendayal TT

Faridabad boy leads in pace hunt trials
New Delhi, September 14
Amit Singh of Faridabad notched up a speed of 134 kph to lead the pack after the first day’s trials in the Scorpio Speedster hunt for India’s fast bowler at the Gargi College ground.

Cambridge Foundation win in Radha Kishan Cricket
New Delhi, September 14
Cambridge Foundation defeated New Delhi Public, Vikaspuri by 9 wickets and Hansraj beat Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan by 122 runs in the Radha Kishan Memorial Cricket Tournament. The tournament was inaugurated by Sanjay Verma.

• Ramjas Basketball

N Zone triumphant New Delhi, September 14 North Zone defeated West Zone through the spin of coin after the title match of the J K Bose Cricket Tournament for sports journalists was washed out at the National Stadium on Sunday. The North Zone Cricket team, which won the J K Bose Cricket Tournament for sports journalists at the National Stadium on Sunday.

Rain plays spoilsport in DSA League
New Delhi, September 14
Rain played the spoilsport as both the matches scheduled for Sunday in the Delhi Soccer Association Senior Division League Championship were washed out due to water-logging at the Ambedkar Stadium.

Football player Bansi Lal is no more
New Delhi, September 14
Former Delhi State football player Bansi Lal died on Sunday morning after a prolonged illness. The 55-year-old veteran player is survived by his wife and a son. Bansi Lal, who was an employee of the Food Corporation of India, had represented Delhi schools, Delhi University and Delhi State from 1960 to 1980.

• DAV Dayanand Vihar in semis