TOP STORIES

Lutyens’ bungalows are unsafe for VIPs: Minister
New Delhi, January 6
The imperial bungalows in Lutyens’ Delhi — a throwback to our colonial past — are now being perceived as a threat to VIP security. At least, this is the perception of Urban Development Minister Bandaru Dattatreya. The minister said these bungalows needed to be demolished, as these had become not only a threat to the VIPs’ security but also a big drain on the coffers in terms of high maintenance costs.

Stalled MCF projects need the kiss of life
Faridabad, January 6
The routine development works of the Municipal Corporation here have almost come to a standstill due to paucity of funds and budget constraints. As a result, the contractors have stopped work on several projects, which is likely to cause an inordinate delay in their completion. Some of the projects have been pending for over two years.

Two sparring families leave a trail of death
Sonepat, January 6
The Butana shootout incident of last Saturday, in which two youths of a family were murdered, has been brought to the notice of the chief minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, who has directed the police to nab the suspects at the earliest.

Give her a hand: A woman police constable regulates traffic at the busy Tilak Marg crossing. She is among the first batch of 20 women traffic police constables recruited recently. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

total recall
Proactive police check militant menace
New Delhi, January 6
A proactive counter terror strategy of developing hard technical and human intelligence, in tandem with swift field work by the Delhi Police Special Cell, rendered the Capital free of terrorist strikes in the year 2003. Yet the sleuths claim to have neutralized five militants in three shootouts and having arrested another 17 militants last year.

Coldest night of the season 
New Delhi, January 6
Delhiites braved the season’s lowest temperature today as the mercury dipped further to 3.7 degree Celsius. Earlier, the lowest temperature was recorded at 4.2 degree Celsius on January two. The lowest recorded last year was three degrees, the weather office said.

in a nutshell
No clue to missing girl students
Noida, January 6
The police have failed to trace or develop a lead in connection with the disappearance of four girl students from Kendriya Vidyalaya in Sector 24 since Tuesday afternoon.

COMMUNITY

Haryana will have surplus power: Chautala
Sonepat, January 6
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, expressed confidence that surplus power would be available in the state by the end of this year as a number of power projects were in the pipe line.

Chautala has failed to rise upto expectations: Swami
Sonepat, January 6
The Union Minister of State for Home, Mr I. D. Swami, stated that the BJP was contemplating contesting the next Assembly elections on its own. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) government under the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had failed to come up to the expectations of the alliance partner in the state and the BJP was not ready to share the blame for its bad performance.

Special Focus on gurgaon
Residents call emergency meeting to settle maintenance issue
Gurgaon, January 6
Feeling let down by the present office-bearers of the DLF Qutab Enclave Residents Welfare Association (QERWA) for their entering an agreement with the DLF Management for imposing charges in the name of maintenance of the DLF City, the residents have urged for convening an emergency meeting of the general body of the organisation to settle the issue.

Union Minister Vijay Goel and Delhi BJP president Dr Harshvardhan felicitating former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana for being appointed the Governor of Rajasthan in the Capital on Tuesday. — Photo by Kamal Singh

Roadside workers huddle around a bonfire in the Capital on Tuesday.  — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

DEA president gets Lifetime Achievement Award
New Delhi, January 6
Prominent handicrafts exporter Prakash Agarwal, who is also the president of the Delhi Exporters Association (DEA), was conferred with a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ here recently.

Shekhawat to inaugurate AITWA national convention
New Delhi, January 6
After 56 years of Independence, the Government and the transporters for the first time will be coming together and announcing schemes to provide social security and social respect to 5.8 lakh truckers all over India.

Medical representatives protesting against the sale of fake drugs at Jantar Mantar in the Capital on Tuesday. — Photo by Kamal Singh

NCR BRIEFS
Superstitions dog anti-polio campaign
Faridabad, January 6
The authorities engaged in the anti-polio campaign in the district are faced with a peculiar problem, which is stated to be hindering its success rate.

DELHI DIGEST
Protest held against demolition of JJ clusters
New Delhi, January 6
The Gole Market Block Congress committee protested against the demolition of JJ clusters in Samru Place, Gole Market and other parts of the Capital.

Rly to open private booking agencies 
Sonepat, January 6
The Northern Railway has decided to open booking agencies in various parts of this city in order to facilitate the sale of railway tickets and booking of goods. According to a report, this step has been taken to minimise the rush of passengers at the booking office at the Sonepat Railway station and to facilitate easy booking of goods. The Divisional Railway Manager has sought locations from where such agencies could be run by private parties.

CRIME

Constable arrested  red-handed
New Delhi, January 6
The Anti-Corruption Branch of the Delhi Government today claimed to have arrested one Head Constable of the Delhi Police, Prem Chand, for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 1,000.

BUSINESS

Lord Krishna Bank opens two branches in NCR region
New Delhi, January 6
The Lord Krishna Bank Limited today announced to have opened two branches in the NCR region – Karol Bagh and Ghaziabad. These branches will offer the convenience of 24-hour ATM and seven days banking service.

CULTURE

GLITZ&GLAMOUR
It may be freezing cold, but fashion need not be dull and dreary
The winter’s wrath has left the Capital shiverrrringg… And for once it is fashionable to be the least fashionable and pull out all those woollens and mufflers and caps, which grandmother prescribed to keep the chill at bay.

Mr & Miss Teen at  Alee Club It is warm and cozy at Freelook

Freedom of comfort thru Ojasvini

SPORTS

SA rout Sri Lanka
New Delhi, January 6
A devastating 5 for 27 bowling spell by right-arm spinner Imran Khan enabled South Africa defeat Sri Lanka by 63 runs in the Commonwealth Under-19 Cricket Championship at the Devi Lal Sports Complex in Gurgaon.

Punjab and Sind Bank lift hockey title
New Delhi, January 6
Punjab and Sind Bank pipped Punjab Police 4-1, after leading by 4-0 at half time, in the final of the sixth Chatrapati Shivaji Hockey Tournament for the Dhyan Chand Cup at the Shivaji Stadium on Tuesday.

Rajiv Gandhi Judo in Lucknow
New Delhi, January 6
Over 20 countries will participate in the Rajiv Gandhi International Judo Championship to be held in Lucknow from February 6 to 10. Judo Federation of India (JFI) president Jagdish Tytler said the Rajiv Gandhi International Judo Championship would offer an excellent opportunity for the Indian talent to show their mettle. The event will be organised by the Uttar Pradesh Judo Federation under the aegis of the JFI.

Rodney Charles shines for GE
New Delhi, January 6
G E Capital beat City Bank by 50 runs with Rodney Charles top-scoring (35) in the Malaysia Flying Sixer A Side Cricket Tournament at the Jamia Milia ground. In other matches, Aviva beat KPMG by four wickets, SPCNL beat Xansa by one wicket, NIIT beat Clintus by six runs, E-Fund beat NIIT B by 23 runs, Hero Honda beat Gail India by six runs, Vama beat Indorama by four wickets and Delphi beat IPCNL by 22 runs.

Rajiv Ghai and Neha Aggarwal  topranked for 2003 
New Delhi, January 6
Rajiv Ghai of Indian Oil and Neha Aggarwal of Manav Sthali have been topranked in the men’s singles and women’s singles respectively as per the Delhi Ranking for the year 2003 released by Delhi Table Tennis Association organising secretary Hukam Singh.

Shivam Sharma stars for UK Cricket World
New Delhi, January 6
An all-round performance by Shivam Sharma (3 for 34 and 52) helped U.K. Cricket World defeat R P Academy by five wickets in a league round of the fifth R G Williams Memorial Under-15 Cricket Tournament at the Frank Anthony ground.

United Academy  enter semis
New Delhi, January 6
United Delhi Cricket Academy got the better of Young Friends Club on points basis and entered the semi-final of the Aviva Young Achiever Two-Day Cricket Tournament for Under-13.