TOP STORIES

Sheila, keen on amiable second term, calls on PM
New Delhi, December 17

The Government of NCT of Delhi and the Centre appeared to have put the unseemly developments that caused a strain in their ties behind them after Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
BJP senior leader Madan Lal Khurana signs his resignation letter in the presence of Delhi Assembly Speaker Subhash Chopra in the Capital on Wednesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Paharganj money changer’s murder case cracked New Delhi, December 17 With the arrest of one Rajeev Dhaiya, alias Raju, a resident of Sonepat, the North-West district claims have solved a sensational abduction-cum-murder case of trader Dalip Kumar Sahajwani (37) in the Paharganj area of Central district on December 13. Rajeev Dahiya, alias Raju, who was allegedly involved in a daylight murder in Paharganj. — A Tribune Photograph

BSNL’s rural connectivity on the blink
Panipat, December 17
“Connecting India”, the oft-repeated slogan of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), has taken a beating with two rural telephone exchanges being out of order for the past over three days. In the process over 3,000 phones are lying dead in several villages of Israna block, putting the subscribers to a lot of inconvenience in the biting cold.

Ban on knitting: Knotty problem for lady teachers
Noida, December 17
Lady teachers in Uttar Pradesh are smarting under a ban imposed on knitting in duty hours in schools, dubbing it private work. The authorities have threatened habitual offenders with harsh punishment.

POLITICS

CM should step down for fair trial, says Malik
Sonepat, December 17
Senior Congress leader and former HPCC president Dharam Pal Singh Malik has demanded that following registration of a case in the matter relating to alleged irregularities in the recruitment of JBT teachers by the CBI, the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, should step down for the sake of an independent and fair investigation.

COMMUNITY

320 cases of fire in Sonepat district this year
Sonepat, December 17
As many as 320 cases of fire have been reported during the current year in the district and the loss is estimated at Rs 2,24,69,000 caused by these incidents.

Haryana farmers take out a massive rally for their demands in the Capital on Wednesday. — Photo by Kamal Singh

SPECIAL FOCUS ON PANIPAT
Lepers at Vaikunth Dham struggle to lead a respectful life
Panipat, December 17
The collective efforts being made by the district administration to establish a leper home and the initiative taken by an Italian, Mr Chelste Cristallani, with the cooperation of an Indian missionary, Father Ishwar Prasad, and a noted social worker of Panipat, Mr Satish Guglani, proved futile as the purpose for which this Vaikunth Dham was established 12 years ago seems to have been defeated.

Four women among 10 hurt in three mishaps
Sonepat, December 17
At least 10 persons, including four women, were injured in three different accidents on National Highway 1 and the inter-state Sonepat-Meerut road on Monday night.

IN PARLIAMENT
7 possible suspects in Swiss rape case
New Delhi, December 17
Efforts are on to nab those involved in the rape of a Swiss diplomat in the Capital recently with about 14,000 people being questioned in this regard, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

NCR BRIEFS
Investment in power sector up by 220%
Noida, December 17
The investment in power sector has increased by 220% during the 10th Five Year Plan as compared to the last plan. The government has fixed an equity support of Rs 3,000 crore for the purpose.

Delimitation duty: 10 truant teachers to face action
Sonepat, December 17
The district administration has decided to take disciplinary and penal action against 10 schoolteachers who have not turned up for duty yesterday in connection with the delimitation of wards for the Sonepat Municipal Council.

CRIME

Gang making fake documents smashed
New Delhi, December 17
With the arrest of two persons, the East district police claimed to have busted a gang which was involved in preparing fake documents and also used to appear as sureties in the courts under different names with the help of documents.

Job racket busted; two held
New Delhi, December 17
Crime Branch of the Delhi Police today claimed to have busted a job racket with the arrest of two suspects. They were identified as Jawahar Lal Jatana and Arvind Kumar Sinha. They were arrested for allegedly indulging in the issuance of fake appointment orders for the posts of Assistant Manager and Cargo Loaders in Airport Authority of India for exchange of Rs 50, 000 to Rs 2,00,000 each.

BUSINESS

Keane India opens development centre at Gurgaon
Gurgaon, December 17
Keane India Ltd, an integral part of Keane Inc, a major multinational business and information technology (IT) consulting firm, today announced the opening of its new development centre here.