TOP STORIES

BJP resents foreign origin of Sonia Vihar water project
New Delhi, February 23
The Delhi BJP president, Dr Harshvardhan, today alleged that the Congress government’s much-hyped Sonia Vihar project, which was being proclaimed as the answer to Delhi’s water problems, was actually being implemented at the behest of the World Bank to usher in private ownership of water through the backdoor.

The Delhi University Teachers Association today organised a massive rally to demand the withdrawal of the UGC’s Modal Act for the Universities. The teachers gathered at Ferozeshah Kotla Ground this morning and marched to the UGC office. They presented a memorandum to the UGC Secretary. The Act is nothing but a step towards privatisation of higher education, according to DUTA president Aditya Narayan Mishra. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

New Delhi, February 23 With the arrest of two persons, the Delhi Police Crime Branch today claimed to have solved a double murder case. On February 9, one Dr Mahender Kumar Verma (38) and his friend Yogender Sharma (25), both residents of Krishna Vihar, were killed and robbed in the Sultanpuri area of North-West district. Vijay Sharma and Rakesh, who were arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch in the Capital on Monday for the double murder of Dr Mahender Kumar Verma and his friend Yogender Sharma. — Tribune by photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Travel in autos at night at your peril
Faridabad, February 23
Travelling in a three-wheeler, especially during night, is not only risky but also unsafe. A resident of Sector-10 here, Mr Gaurav Kumar, became an unsuspecting victim of a gang of robbers, one of whom was in the guise of a driver of an autorickshaw. Gaurav was not only beaten up badly but also deprived of his cell phone and cash, before being dumped at a secluded place recently.

City scan
Delhi Govt sop for senior citizens
New Delhi, February 23
The Delhi Government today decided to give old-age pension to more than 1,50,000 senior citizens belonging to the economically marginalised sections. Earlier, only one lakh people were given the pension.

• Compensation for Gt Noida farmers hiked

Cyber course to give a shot in the arm to police
New Delhi, February 23
The Controller of Certifying Authorities, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, has launched a special course for the Delhi Police to investigate cyber crime and cyber forensics. The training will be given in the office of the CCI.

Engineer beaten up
Faridabad, February 23
A junior engineer of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam was allegedly beaten up at a colony in Hodal, a subdivisional town in the district, when he had gone to replace the power meter at a house there.

POLITICS

Bhajan lists scams to puncture BJP's feel-good bubble
Sonepat, February 23
The president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee and the former Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Bhajan Lal, today described the “Feel Good” and “Feel Great” slogan of the BJP as nothing but a dream to woo the electorates of the country.

COMMUNITY

Again, a waterless day for Sonepat residents
Sonepat, February 23
Thousands of people in the city remained without water again on Saturday for several hours following the disruption in the drinking water supply system.

FACE TO FACE
Recreating the glory of past
We can give birth to a modern-day Chanakaya to make India prosperous and eradicate the seeds of violence responsible for making our lives hellish and miserable, says the founder president of Golden India Foundation, Dr P. C. Lunia. In a conversation with Nalini Ranjan, he talked about his dream organisation and its future plans.

Reliance power project at Dadri to boost employment
Noida, February 23
The mega gas-based power project being set up in Behra village near Dadri by the Reliance Industries will act as a catalyst to developmental activities in the area. The Dadri project will take about two to three years to be completed and is likely to provide fillip to industrialisation and commercial activities. The project is expected to offer employment to some 10,000 people after its completion.

NCR briefs
Speeding Qualis crushes two to death
Jhajjar, February 23
Two persons were crushed by a speeding Qualis jeep near Silani gate on the Rohtak- Rewari road here last night. The driver of the vehicle was arrested by the police after a brief chase.

• Sonia in Sonepat on Feb 26

Delhi digest
Sterilization programme for stray dogs speeded up
New Delhi, February 23
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has speeded up the sterilization programme for stray dogs in the Capital. The action has been speeded up following reports indicating sudden rise in dog bite figures from several parts of the city.

• Digital imaging centre inaugurated

Guru Puja Diwas celebrated
New Delhi, February 23
Blessing artists, Nirankari Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj said that true devotees know the value of true devotion, and therefore, feel happy in sharing the bliss that they derive from it.

CRIME

MCD officer held for graft
New Delhi, February 23
The Anti-Corruption Branch of the Delhi Government today claimed to have arrested a MCD officer for graft. The officer, identified as R.K. Kohli, is Registered Valuer with the MCD. According to an official of the branch, the joint assessor and collector of House Tax deputed Mr R.K. Kohli as official valuer to evaluate the construction cost of a farmhouse in Rajokari.

• Death due to dowry harassment

EDUCATION

Khalsa College felicitates Justice Kuldip Singh New Delhi, February 23Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College (Morning and Evening) jointly felicitated Justice Kuldip Singh, Chairman, Governing Body, on the college premises. Justice Kuldip Singh, who had served the Supreme Court, is presently the Chairman of De-limitation Commission of India.
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Prahlad Singh Chandok honouring Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College chairman Justice Kuldip Singh with a siropa.

• Bail application admitted

HEALTH

Pulse polio campaign is off the mark
Noida, February 23
The pulse polio campaign seems to be off the mark this year. Reason - the whole government machinery, officers and police were busy in Chief Minister’s programme at Dadri for Bhumi Pujan of a giant power project. Besides, a large number of marriages had been scheduled on 22 February. Still, the Rotary Club had extended full cooperation and support to it as in the past.

Good response to pulse polio drive
Sonepat, February 23
A large number of children upto 5 years were administered pulse polio drops by the employees of the Health Department and the volunteers of the various social and voluntary organisations at different booths created specially for the purpose in Sonepat, Ganaur, Kharkhauda and Gohana towns.

• Shops Act enforced

Dept launches special campaign to nail quacks
Sonepat, February 23
The health department has launched a special campaign to apprehend the quacks engaged in an unauthorised practice in the rural areas of the district and elsewhere in the state.

SPORTS

Delhi Chief Minister of Sheila Dikshit during the Special Olympics sporting event showcasing the talent of some most courageous special children at Jawharlal Nehru Stadium in the Capital on Monday. — Photo by Kamal Singh

Teri director Dr R K Pachauri being introduced to South Zone captain Sadagopan Ramesh at the Teri Oval ground.

Indian Air Force beat Golden Hawks
New Delhi, February 23
Indian Air Force beat Golden Hawks by 3 wickets in Super A Division match at Palam ground. Score: Golden Hawks: 128 all out in 33.4 overs: Vivek Srivastava 30, Rajender Ramola 27, Deepak Bhaskar 3/15, Manish Jha 2/16. IAF: 130 for 7 in 38 overs: Satish Upadhyay 34, Harpeet Singh no 21, Kuldeep Rawat 3/24, Vishal Sharma 2/31.

Harender, Arun star
New Delhi, February 23
Fine batting by Harender Rawat (43 no) Arun Khanna (41 no) and deadly bowling by Kuldeep (3/22) and Subodh Badola (3/5) helped Pan Business beat Canara Bank by 7 wickets and get two points in 8th Suntan Cup Cricket Tournament at Vinay Marg ground.

• Pusa Youngsters win

• Ajay hits ton

Ten-member TT squad for World Championship
New Delhi, February 23
India will field a ten-member squad—five men and five women—in the 4747th Liebherr World Table Tennis Championship to be held in Doha (Qatar) from March 1 to 7. Hubert Hustache of France has been invited to train the players. A coaching camp has been in progress since January 15, which will conclude on February 28.

RP Academy annex SPM Cup
New Delhi, February 23

Fine batting by Mukul Dagar (97 and 15/4) and Vaibhav Rawal (59, 9x4) and deadly bowling by Raghav Kakad (5 for 38) helped R P Academy beat SPM Academy, Punjabi Bagh by 17 runs in the title match of the SPM Under-15 Winter League Cricket Tournament at the SPM College ground, Punjabi Bagh. SPM College principal Mrs S K Jolly presenting the trophy to R P Academy captain Vaibhav Rawal.

Sports Medicine Federation launched
New Delhi, February 23
With India slated to host a clutch of international events in the coming years, including the 2010 Commonwealth Games, doctors have taken the lead to give a boost to sports medicine in the country with the launch of the Indian Federation of Sports Medicine.

• Bhupender deadly