TOP STORIES

Train services go haywire
Sonepat, December 20
Train services remained disrupted for the second day today on account of dense fog and poor visibility on the Delhi-Ambala-Kalka section of the Northern Railway. Almost all the incoming and outgoing long-distance and suburban trains ran behind schedule for hours together, stranding a large number of passengers, particularly commuters in Sonepat and nearby railway stations.

• Blanket of fog may envelop Delhi

COLD COMFORT. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

Khurana bitterly disillusioned by today’s politics
New Delhi, December 20
Making a distinction between retreating and bowing out, Madan Lal Khurana on Saturday insisted that his decision to step down as president of Delhi Pradesh BJP was predicated on his disenchantment with the politics today.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit with Chief Secretary Shailja Chandra at a 25th Bhagidari workshop on solid waste segregation and management in the Capital on Saturday. — Photo by Kamal Singh

Much-touted tourist complex yet to become a hotspot
Faridabad, December 20
The Raja Nahar Singh Palace Tourist Complex thrown open to tourists by the Haryana Government in September this year is still awaiting patrons.

Medical services paralysed in Meerut after doctor’s murder
Meerut, December 20
The medical services in private sector in the city have come to a standstill as the private medical practitioners, nursing homes and hospitals went on strike after the sensational murder of a well-known doctor of the city on Friday evening.

Cops still clueless about four missing boys
Noida, December 20
With the Noida police still groping in the dark a week after four boys, including three students, of the Salarpur area had gone missing the anxiety and worry of their families is turning into despair and panic.

After dark Paint shop owner shot dead near police post
Sonepat, December 20
One Surender of Adarsh Nagar was shot dead by some unidentified gangsters late last night near a police chowki on Sector-14 road. In protest against the murder, the shopkeepers of the market around Mamu Bhanja Chowk observed strike by closing their shops for more than two hours.

• Two kidnappers nabbed while collecting ransom

POLITICS

Sheila government sets the ball rolling
New Delhi, December 20
After making known her intent to pursue development with a human face, Sheila Dikshit and her Cabinet colleagues today got down to acting on it. Putting people first, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit took stock of the departments of power, transport and education even as her Cabinet colleague and Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan announced an insurance cover for over four lakh families living below the poverty line.

COMMUNITY

‘Housing boom still a distant reality’
New Delhi, December 20
The ‘4th National Convention and Exhibition of National Real Estate Development Council’, was inaugurated by the Secretary, Urban Development Ministry, Mr L. M. Mehta, at the SCOPE convention center here.

Rohini’s green lung becomes the new hotspot for residents New Delhi, December 20 The Swarn Jayanti Park, also known as the Japanese Park in Rohini, is perhaps one of the best example’s of man’s enterprise. What used to be a wasteland strewn with refuse today is a wonder with floating fountains, waterfalls and an enviable landscaping. A panoramic view of Swarn Jayanti Park.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON REWARI
Electoral front to be forged to ensure fair deal to South Haryana
Rewari, December 20
Mr Randhir Singh Kapriwas, president of the Jan Jagriti Manch, a prominent voluntary organisation of South Haryana, has spearheaded a campaign aimed at forging a united electoral front of prominent political and social activists to ensure a fair deal to South Haryana.

• Rewari makes rapid strides in exports

• Juvenile home staff face action

RGF assisting 870 child victims of terrorism
New Delhi, December 20
As part of its efforts to extend financial and psychological support to children who have lost one or both parents in a terrorist attack the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation is at present assisting 870 children in seven states, including Jammu and Kashmir and Nagaland.

Students of Vivekanand Public School performing an umbrella drill during the annual day function in the Capital on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

SEARCH WITHIN
The meaning of Xmas and its tidings
Christmas is here and the world is once again agog with excitement and merrymaking of the season. And in the midst of all these, the reason for the season is forgotten.

DSGMC changes route for celebrations
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has changed the route for the celebrations of the birthday anniversary of Sahib Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji on January 4.

DELHI DIGEST
Journalism students visit leprosy home
New Delhi, December 20
The inmates of Prem Nager Leprosy Centre at Tahir Pur here yesterday had surprise visitors-the students of a journalism school-to interact with them and know about their problems.

• ‘Nachange Sarri Raat’ on New Year’s eve

• Load shedding announced

NCR BRIEFS
Rs 35.55 cr spent on rural development
Jhajjar, December 20
The state government spent about Rs 35.55 crore under various rural development schemes during the last four years. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Mohinder Kumar, said today that the administration was committed for the development of the rural areas.

• 5 years RI for kidnapping

• Youth assaulted, looted

• Body found

Balloon mela from today
New Delhi, December 20
The Ballooning Club of India will be organising the ‘Balloon Mela 2003’ from December 21 to 31st. Several Indian teams will take part in this year’s mela. The Mela is being held at the `Balloonport’ Damdama Lake, near Sohna (Haryana), on Sunday, December 21 at 2 pm.

CRIME

PVR manger killed in car accident
New Delhi, December 20
A manger of PVR Gurgaon was killed and his friend seriously injured when the car in which they were travelling overturned at Andheria Morh last night. The victim, identified as Vinit Punia (28), resident of Delhi Cantonment, who was driving the Indica car, died on the spot while his friend, Varun (22), resident of DLF Phase-III, Gurgaon, sustained serious injuries.

• Car snatched

Two ISI agents escape police net
Sonepat, December 20
The police have launched a massive hunt to apprehend two ISI agents, identified as Ramphal and Ramesh, who reportedly managed to escape from their rented accommodation on the Sonepat-Bhalgarh road. The duo managed to escape just before a raid conducted by the police at their hideout.

CULTURE

‘Himachal Milan’ at Talkatora Stadium
New Delhi, December 20
A cultural function, ‘Himachal Milan’, will be organised by ‘Himachal Social Bodies Federation’, an apex voluntary social organisation of the Himachal Pradesh, at the Talkatora Stadium on December 25. At least 15 social organisation of Himachal Pradesh are affiliated with the federation and represent the five lakh Himachalis residing in the national Capital.

HEALTH

BODY & MIND Veria method: From the world of silence to sound An international workshop on alternative cochlear implant techniques was held at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, here. The workshop was conducted by Dr J. M. Hans, (organising secretary) senior ENT specialist and Head of Unit, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi. Managing pain Hope for epileptics

Cochlear implant surgery at Lohia Hospital.

SPORTS

Kishan Ganj Gymkhana rout CWC
New Delhi, December 20
Kishan Ganj Gymkhana beat Central Warehousing Corporation by nine wickets in an A-I Division match of the DDCA League at the Yamuna ground.

Manav Sthali hosts horse show
New Delhi, December 20
Maintaining the past tradition of showcasing the equestrian skills of the students, Manav Sthali Organisation hosted yet another successful annual horse show.

Cavalry win in Pataudi Polo
New Delhi, December 20
ABN Amro Bank defeated Teachers 7-3 and 61 Cavalry defeated McDowells Signature 6-3 to enter the final of the Nawab of Bhopal and Pataudi Cup Polo Tournament at the Jaipur Polo ground.

Classic Resort lift Club Golf crown
New Delhi, December 20
Classic Golf Resort annexed the national finals of the Signature Golf Club Championship at the Jaypee Green Resort in Greater Noida.

Feroz Ali in sight of title
New Delhi, December 20
Feroz Ali moved a step closer to claiming his second title of the season when he set up a three-stroke lead after the penultimate round of the Rs 15 lakh Tata Open Golf Tournament at the Beldih and Golmuri courses in Jamshedpur.

Indo-Pak veterans’ cricket tie today
New Delhi, December 20
The veteran cricketers of India and Pakistan will clash in the second of their three-match series at the Karnail Singh Stadium on Sunday.

ADMINISTRATION

Licences of 23 brick kilns cancelled
Sonepat, December 20
The Food and Supplies Department has cancelled the licences of at least 23 brick kilns in Sonepat district during the current financial year following the detection of alleged irregularities and malpractices in the records and the manufacturing and sale of the bricks.