TOP STORIES

DU-police meet to take wolf by ears
New Delhi, August 12
Delhi University Proctor Prof Shyam Menon has convened a meeting on August 14 with the senior police officials and representatives of women’s hostels on the campus to discuss ways to tackle sexual harassment of girl students and provide foolproof security to them.

Some feel on Cloud Nine; others under the weather
New Delhi, August 12
The rain gods have finally relented. After a prolonged hot and humid spell, the Capital was swept with widespread light showers bringing the much-needed relief to the Delhiites but at the same time bringing the related problems of water-logging and resultant traffic snarls.

AS RIGHT AS RAIN: Delhiites sprang to life after the rains. Many of them enjoyed the wet weather even if it meant walking to office. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

3 contract killers held; blind murder case solved
New Delhi, August 12
With the arrest of three contract killers, the West District police today claimed to have solved a blind murder case of Hoshiyar Singh, alias Ishwar Singh, and area chowkidar Narvesh Bahadur last month in Tilak Nagar.

IN PARLIAMENT
No plan to stretch out Delhi Metro to entire NCR
New Delhi, August 12
There is no proposal to extend the Delhi Metro to the whole of the National Capital Region, Mr O. Rajagopal, Minister of State for Urban Development informed the Rajya Sabha, today. He said that orders have been placed for procurement of coaches, based on latest Japanese and Korean technology, by the Delhi Metro Corporation. The minister said 60 coaches are to be imported at a cost of Rs 392 crore.

Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma on a wheelchair to cast his vote for Vice-Presidential election in the Capital. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

NH-58 blocked for 5 hrs after Dalit’s murder
Meerut, August 12
Several angry villagers of the Dalit community today protested against the police over the death of a poor villager of the Scheduled Caste community. They were also shouting slogans against a particular caste. They felt that the members of that caste were involved in the killing of the Dalit. The villagers staged a demonstration, laying out the body on National Highway 58, which connects New Delhi to Uttaranchal.

Industrialists bite off more than they can chew
Gurgaon, August 12
Some industrialists having their units in Udyog Vihar 1-V appear to have put a large number of their brethren in a fix by moving the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the MRTP Commission against the state government’s move to levy external development charge.

NGOs asked to provide healthcare to govt school kids 
New Delhi, August 12
The Government of NCT of Delhi has extended an invitation to the Non-Government Organisations to provide comprehensive healthcare to 12 lakh students enrolled in government-run schools. The scheme will operate as a part of the Bhagidari (citizen-government partnership) Programme.

‘Unilateral’ drafting of Metro Bill decried
New Delhi, August 12
Objecting to the Centre’s ‘unilaterally’ drafting the Metro Railway Operation and Maintenance Bill 2002 “ignoring the Government of NCT of Delhi’s interests”, the Cabinet on Monday withheld its approval to the legislation.

COMMUNITY

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit with Union Minister of Health Shatrughan Sinha during the launch of AIDS awareness campaign in the Capital on Monday. — Tribune Photo

Too little sops cast a cloud over Haryana farmers’ hopes
Faridabad, August 12
While the state government is still to announce any financial compensation to drought-hit farmers in the state, its recent decision to waive `maalia’ (land tax) and ‘abiyana’ (water charges for canal irrigation) seem to have failed to bring any cheer to the farming community and its well-wishers.

FOLLOW-UP
Campaign against dowry takes root
Panipat, August 12
The campaign against dowry and other social ills, started by the Rawal ‘gotra’ of the Gujjar community in 27 villages of the Bapoli block, is picking up momentum with two more villages extending their support to the campaign on Sunday.

FACE TO FACE
‘Plan for restful sleep and healthy spine’
IN an industry cluttered with false promises and unsustainable claims, Delhi-based Springwel Mattresses Ltd., is slowly and steadily carving its own niche in the mattress industry. In just six years, Springwel has lived up to its assurance of providing products of international quality.

Wanna eat, drink and be merry? Come to Manesar
New Delhi, August 12
It was celebrations throughout night at McDonald. McDonald’s North India inaugurated its 26th restaurant at Manesar today on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, at the 42nd milestone. The inauguration was very electric with Euphoria, the popular rock band, entertaining the crowds. Euphoria was as always true to its name and captivated one and all with its soulful yet foot-tapping music.

ROHTAK
Dalits protest ‘police harassment’
Rohtak, August 12
Different dalit organisations came forward to the rescue of a Dalit youth, who was allegedly victimised by the police recently. The Dalit leaders appealed to the SSP, Mr Alok Rai to suspend the ‘erring’ police staff and order a probe into the incident so as to inculcate a feeling of security among the masses, especially the downtrodden.

• Special assistance

DELHI DIGEST
Finally, a new police station at Jama Masjid
New Delhi, August 12
The setting up of a new police station in the Jama Masjid area, which was delayed due to inadequate number of police personnel in the force, was today started off finally after the Lieutenant-Governor Vijai Kapoor laid the foundation stone for the construction of the police station in the Jama Masjid area.

• New session at IGNOU

NCR BRIEFS
Devi Lal Power Station to be super thermal station
Panipat, August 12
With the Union Energy Minister, Mr Suresh Prabhu, laying the foundation stone of the 7th and the 8th unit of the local Tau Devi Lal Power Station on August, the power station all set to become a super thermal station. To be set up at a cost of Rs 1, 510 crore by the BHEL, the daily capacity of each unit would be 60 lakh units. While the 7th unit is slated to be completed by October 26, 2004, the 8th unit will be completed by February 26, 2,005.

• Watchman dead
• Crushed to death Faridabad
• Boy killed
• Robbery bid foiled
  
  

• Plant at least one tree: Mayor

CRIME

Five killed in Faridabad
Faridabad, August 12
Five persons were killed and six injured in different accidents during the last 24 hours here. Two persons going on a motor-cycle and a bike were killed when two vehicles coming from opposite directions hit them near Ajronda Chowk and Ballabgarh. In second case, a man Aslam (24) died when he was electrocuted near Anaj Mandi at Hathin.

Man stabbed to death by friend
New Delhi, August 12
Suresh, 25, was reportedly stabbed to death by his friend, Vijay, in D-1 Block, Gokalpuri on Sunday evening. The suspect is absconding. According to police, both had good friendship and fought over a trivial issue of some money dispute. Vijay allegedly hit Suresh with a brick and then slit his throat. The police have registered a case of murder. A manhunt has been launched to nab the suspect, the police said.

• Murder Attempt

• Robbed of 2 lakh

• Extortionist held
  
  

• Drive to crack down gangsters

• Pak spy arrested

COURTS

HC seeks details on school buildings
New Delhi, August 12
The Delhi High Court today asked the city government to file details of how much money was spent during the past four years after it took serious note of the non-utilisation of funds for construction of school buildings in the Capital.

CULTURE

Special DD programme on martyrs
New Delhi, August 12
Students from Salwan Public School, Gurgaon, are going to present special programmes on DD Bharti on account of Independence Day. The students along with the parents and teachers will present an interactive programme on the theme, “Have we betrayed our martyrs?” on August 15. The programme will have the children questioning whether the present generation has lived up to the teachings and followed the path of those who sacrificed their lives fighting for the country’s independence.

SPORTS

A panoramic view of the Tangiers Cricket Stadium in Morocco.

Morocco Cup begins at Tangiers
New Delhi, August 12
The Morocco Cup Cricket Tournament, featuring South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, got off the mark at the Tangiers Cricket Stadium in Morocco. The teams will compete in a 50 overs a side one-day triangular series, for the trophy and prize money.

Varun Sethi adjudged best swimmer
New Delhi, August 12
Varun Sethi of Jugla Singh Tairak Sangh, who created two meet records and won five gold medals to log 35 points, emerged as the best swimmer in the men’s section in the Delhi State Open and Tiny Tots Aquatic Championships, which concluded at the Talkatora swimming pool in the Capital. Pankaj Rathi, also of JSTS, collected 32 points to finish second in the overall standing in the men’s section.

Mamta Kharab, member of the victorious hockey team interacting with mediapersons at a function organised by the Press Club, Rohtak.

Asian Bench Press Championship in Delhi
New Delhi, August 12
The Indian Powerlifting Federation will organise the Asian Bench Press Championship at the Indira Gandhi indoor stadium from August 16 to 18. Japan, Chinese Taipei, Philippines, Nepal and Kazakistan and hosts will compete in the championships. The previous championship was held in Manila, Philippines in 2000 in which India had finished second.

Delhi Audit crush Central Secretariat
New Delhi, August 12
Defending champions Delhi Audit scored a crushing 7-0 victory against Central Secretariat in a Senior Division round-robin league match of the Delhi Soccer Association Annual Institutional Football Championship at the Ambedkar Stadium in the Capital on Monday.

Warm farewell for Rakesh Kapila
Rohtak, August 12
The staff of the All India Radio (AIR) today gave a warm farewell to its programme executive (Sports), Mr Rakesh Kapila, on his transfer from Rohtak to Chittorgarh. Mr Kapila, a popular person among the sports fraternity, holds the distinction of being the first and so far the only executive for broadcasting sports programmes from AIR, Rohtak, since its inception in 1976.

ADMINISTRATION

Two SOs suspended in Noida
Noida, August 12
Gautam Budh Nagar SSP, Rajiv Krishan, has suspended two officers incharge of police station and transferred four from their stations. According to information, an evaluation exercise was held at Surajpur police station in which it was found that SO incharge of Rabupura, Mr N. P. Singh and Jarcha incharge G. S. Rohtela had been found wanting in their sense of responsibility and did not act as per administration’s instructions.

• L-G reviews Delhi-Gurgaon highway