TOP STORIES

MCD demolition men forced to back off

New Delhi, January 22 The Slum and JJ wing of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was today forced to abandon its plan to raze jhuggies on the bank of the Yamuna under its Yamuna Action Plan in the face of stiff, but peaceful, protest by the dwellers.

A damp squib. — A Tribune photograph

Token strike in varsities despite UGC clarification
New Delhi, January 22
The UGC’s clarifications vis-à-vis the proposed Model Act notwithstanding, teachers and students of various Central Universities, including the Delhi University, went on a day’s token strike today. While the UGC is trying hard to convince that the act does not aim at commercialising higher education, the protestors claimed otherwise.

The Beating Retreat rehearsal at Vijay Chowk in the Capital on Thursday. —  Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

Graphic: Traffic diversion for Republic Day parade

Rift in Noida joint action front
Noida, January 22
As per their plan, the Bahujan Samaj Party opened its own front on Gautam Budh Nagar district by organizing a huge rally under the leadership of senior party leader Devraj Bhatti and Veer Singh Jatav at the district collectorate in Surajpur.

Dr Rajwant Singh(right), chairman, Sikh Council of Religion and Education (SCORE), was honoured by the World Punjabi Organisation at the recently held conclave on "Future of Sikhism in 21st Century" in the Capital. Union Minister S S Dhindsa(centre) was also present at the conclave.

Nursing orderly held for sexual harassment
New Delhi, January 22
The Crime Branch today claimed to have arrested a nursing orderly in the Maulana Azad Medical College, who used to sexually harass and intimidate his fellow staff nurses.

Hospital owner told to pay Rs 3 lakh in damages
Sonepat: The Sonepat District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has accepted the appeal of a complainant, Mr Sunil Kumar Jindal, of Ganaur mandi, and directed Dr Shashi Sehgal, owner of the Nav Jeevan Hospital, old Rohtak road, Sonepat, to pay a compensation of Rs. 3 lakh, along with interest, for negligence and causing the death of the wife of the complainant.

POLITICS

BJP to unfold poll strategy in Gohana
Sonepat, January 22
The Haryana BJP is holding its State-level rally on February 8 at Gohana, where it is expected to launch the general election campaign. According to a report, Gohana is a segment of the Sonepat Lok Sabha seat, which is presently held by Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, Vice-President and the spokesman of the state BJP.

COMMUNITY

Sonepat-Jind railway line soon
Sonepat, January 22
The Planning Commission has approved the construction of Sonepat-Jind via Gohana railway line at a cost of Rs 200 crore and the work would be started from April. Stating this, Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, MP and the vice-president and spokesman of the Haryana BJP, told mediapersons at Gohana town, 35 km from here yesterday that the vice-president of the Planning Commission, Mr Sompal Singh informed him of the approval of the scheme.

‘Substandard’ material used in construction works
Sonepat, January 22
A team of the urban development department from Chandigarh carried out inspection of the ongoing development works in the town and lifted half a dozen samples of the construction material being used in the works. The team’s action has created a panic among the contractors and local civic authorities.

Jawans of the Rapid Action Force deployed at the Yamuna Pushta where the MCD had proposed to carry out the demolition drive in the Capital on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

Inter-state criminal held for murder, robbery
New Delhi, January 22
The Crime Branch today claimed to have arrested an inter-state criminal who was involved in at least nine cases of murder, kidnapping, robbery and burglary in East Delhi.

Man gets life term for murder
Sonepat, January 22
The District and Sessions Judge of Sonepat, Mr B L Singal, yesterday convicted an accused Daya Kishan of Jagsi village under Section 302 and 149 IPC and sentenced him to imprisonment for life with a fine of Rs 3,000 or in default to undergo further two years’ rigorous imprisonment for shooting down one Rajesh of the same village on November 30, 1998.

Armymen to get discount at Appu Ghar
New Delhi, January 22
Appu Ghar, an amusement park is celebrating the Defence Personnel Week from January 24 to February 1. During this time, the families of the defence personnel will get heavy discount on tickets to the amusement park.

RAIN OR SHINE: Famous singer Dilbagh Singh casting a spell on the collegians with his numbers at Aditi College, Delhi University.

Ncr briefs
Brother shot dead over money
Ghaziabad, January 22
A brother shot dead his elder brother in a hail of bullets early in the morning on Wednesday in village Dina Nathpur under Mussori police station.

• Rally for saving Gautam Budh Nagar Dist

• Birender Singh as UP Cong chief

• Tata Indica collides with truck

• Policeman’s bike stolen

• Sonepat remains without power

DELHI DIGEST
Traffic advisory today
New Delhi, January 22
The Traffic Police advised the motorists to avoid the Republic Day Parade Full Dress Rehearsal to be held tomorrow from Vijay Chowk to Red Fort Ground. The parade route is Vijay Chowk, Rajpath, India Gate, Tilak Marg, W Point, BSZ Marg, A point, BSZ Marg, Subhash Marg, Red Fort Chowk and it will be culminated at Red Fort Ground. The traffic is restricted on the parade route from 6 am to 1 pm.

• Kathak artistes to spread awareness about cancer

• Loadshedding

EDUCATION

Haryana Board takes strict steps to check copying
Jhajjar, January 22
Ruling out any scope for the political interference in the examination process, Mr Rakesh Gupta, secretary of the Haryana Board of School Education, stated that unprecedented measures are being introduced during the forthcoming examination session to check the use of unfair means.

MCD schoolchildren to become computer-savvy
New Delhi, January 22
Thousands of children of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi schools, which mainly cater to the educational needs of the underprivileged sections, are going to become computer-savvy soon.

‘Karam Mitra’ programme
New Delhi, January 22
Noted percussionist Shivmani had the Delhi University students mesmerised as he performed in the city here last evening. Shivmani’s performance was part of the ActionAid India’s ‘Karam Mitra’ programme, a donor loyalty programme.

CULTURE

Gallery Espace will present ‘Cities, Countries and Borders’- a solo show of woodcut prints on paper by New York-based Zarina Hashmi – at 16, Community Centre, New Friends Colony, from January 19, 2004, till February 7, 2004. Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani congratulating Anupam Kher on his performance in Kuch Bhi ho Sakta Hai, a monologue on his life. Mr Rajan Bharti Mittal, Joint Managing Director, Bharti Tele-venture, is also seen.

HEALTH

Max Hospital to hold ‘Knee Care Camp’
New Delhi, January 22
Responding to the rapidly growing cases of knee arthritis, Max Hospital, Noida is organising a special ‘Knee Care Camp’ from January 24-25, 2004. During the period, all consultations by eminent specialists will be provided free of charge. Also, procedures such as X-ray will cost only Rs 100.

SPORTS

Moti Bagh School qualify for semis
New Delhi, January 22
Government Boys Senior Secondary School No 1, Moti Bagh defeated Chiranjiv Bharati Public School, Palam Vihar 2-0 to qualify for the under-17 event from Group B in the Kangaroo Cup Football Tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium on Thursday.

Senior National Judo at Cuttack
New Delhi, January 22
The Senior National Judo Championship will be held from February 15 to 19 at the indoor stadium at Cuttack (Orissa), under the aegis of the Judo Federation of India.

Top teams for DDA Hockey Tournament
New Delhi,, January 22
Top teams like Punjab Police, Punjab and Sind Bank, Air India, Army XI, Border Security Force, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Indian Oil Corporation and Central Industrial Security Force will participate in the sixth All-India DDA Invitational Hockey Tournament to be held at the Shivaji Stadium from January 24 to 30.