TOP STORIES

He is ever ready to starve for Gandhi siblings
New Delhi, February 1
Touched by the outpourings of affection for the Gandhi siblings, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office bearers have asked the party's rank and file to be patient and not get swayed by emotions or sentiments.

AICC office-bearer Ambika Soni had a hard time pressing Shyamdev Bhadana to call off his hunger strike, which he had undertaken to press for the entry of Gandhi siblings in active politics.

3,250 unidentified people died on Capital's streets this year
New Delhi, February 1
The Delhi Traffic Police has a startling revelation to make. As many as 3,250 unidentified people died on the streets of Delhi, since the beginning of this year. One worrying fact is that the number is increasing with every passing year. In 2002 the figure was 3,047, up from 2,312 in 2001, according to official statistics.

Cops claim major dacoity, kidnapping averted
New Delhi, February 1
With the arrest of three inter-state criminals, including a notorious criminal, Prembir alias Bobby, involved in more than 50 cases, the Crime Branch today claimed to have averted two major crimes, including a dacoity at Surat in Gujarat and the kidnapping for ransom at Ujjain.

Perfect eyesight needed to be station assistant?
New Delhi, February 1
The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to explain whether Station Assistants need 'perfect eyesight' to discharge their duties.

'Spurious' drugs seized
Faridabad, February 1
A team of the state Drug Control department, led by Mr G.L. Singhal, raided a medical store in Sanjay colony area of Sector 23 here today and seized about 23 samples of medicines, allegedly spurious. While the authorities have asked the chemist to close his shop till further orders, the samples have been sent for laboratory tests.

Metro link to Ghaziabad approved
Ghaziabad, February 1
The Ghaziabad Development Authority, in its meeting, has approved in principle the extension of Metro rail link to Ghaziabad. Besides, some overbridges and under bridges will be constructed at a cost of Rs 150 crore, to streamline traffic in the city.

Traffic blocked over hit and run, police apathy
Faridabad, February 1
The traffic on National Highway no. Two, also known as Mathura Road, remained disrupted for over 30 minutes in Palwal town, about 35 km from here last night, after a youth was killed in a road mishap.

POLITICS

BJP MP flays Chautala for indiscreet remarks
Sonepat, February 1
The member of Parliament and senior vice-president of Haryana BJP, Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, has criticised the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, for making irresponsible statements, asking the people to throw stones at the sitting MP when he comes to them for the votes.

COMMUNITY

SPECIAL FOCUS ON SONEPAT
Sonepat literally in deep water due to poor drainage
Sonepat, February 1
The worst-ever waterlogging that paralysed the normal life of people living in the low-lying areas of the city in the wake of heavy rains, has not only exposed the inadequacies of the existing drainage system but also proved the inefficiency of the civic administration. The experience only shows that the concept of systematic planning is alien to the administration which causes chaos in the city.

President of the Punjabi Sikh Naujawan Manch in a meeting at Majnu Ka Tilla Gurdwara called upon the Railway Ministry to start special trains for the five Takhts of the Sikh community. He demanded the trains for the Takhts from different metropolitan cities.

CRPF jawan cremated with full state honours
Jhajjar, February 1
The body of Havildar Lal Singh was cremated in his native Mundahera village with full state and military honours today. He was killed in an ambush by the militants in Kalianpur area of Agartala in Tripura on January 29.

• Woman crushed to death

NCR briefs
Woman among five killed in different accidents
Sonepat, February 1
As many as five persons including a woman have lost their lives in different incidents during the last 15 hours in the district. According to information, two persons identified as Rohtas of village Bhatgaon and Sudhir of village Butana died on the spot in a road accident near Truck Union on Bahalgarh Road when their car No. HR-11-8674 collided against a parked truck in the wee hours today.

• Rail facility for Jhajjar

UHBVN worker among two run over by Shatabadi Express
Sonepat, February 1
Two persons, including an employee of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam were run over by the New Delhi-bound Shatabadi Express at the railway crossing near the railway station here last night.

• Woman among two attacked

• Truck turns turtle

• JE dismissed

SHAMEFACED: Three wanted kidnappers at the Delhi Police headquarters in the Capital on Sunday. - Photo by Kamal Singh

Rs 45 lakh complex for recreation of residents
New Delhi, February 1
The All India Sports Council president and Member of Parliament, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, today laid the foundation stone of a library and community hall at Sant Nagar, South Delhi.

Metro to connect Najafgarh
New Delhi, February 1
Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma on Sunday said that the Delhi Metro would connect Najafgarh in the Outer Delhi parliamentary constituency. He was speaking at a public gathering in Najafgarh after laying the foundation stone of a Rs 50-crore hospital.

• Gangsters held for extortion

EDUCATION

Delhi schools to impart moral education: Lovely
New Delhi, February 1
Moral education will be made a part of the school curriculum in the NCT of Delhi for the personality development of students, Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said today.

• Study centres for kids of police personnel

Helplines try to drive away exam blues
New Delhi, February 1
With the countdown to the dreaded board exams having begun, jittery students and anxious parents have begun, what has now become a norm, ringing helplines to seek answers to problems that seem insurmountable.

Spin a yarn and win a trip to Paris
New Delhi, February 1
It could be a story that ends on a note of 'happily ever after' for the lucky winner of the Classmate Young Authors Contest, who will win a paid holiday to Paris. With the grand finale on February 4, jurists will pick the talented writer who has spun the most brilliant story.

SCHOOL BUZZ Apeejay cultural fiesta leaves indelible impression Apeejay Noida organised a cultural fiesta, 'Indelible Impressions,' bringing together the elements of dance, music and drama. The show was put together by students of nursery. The programme began with the lighting of the inaugural lamp by the Chief Guest, Mr. V S Garg, and the Guest of Honour, Mr. G C Vats, advisors to the Apeejay Education Society.

Sangeet Niketan celebrates its annual day with great fervour.

SPORTS

DLTA becomes nerve-centre of tennis activity New Delhi, February 1 The Delhi Lawn Tennis Association has become such a nerve-centre of the game that even the International Tennis Federation is surprised as to how the All-India Tennis Association is able to host so many international events so well.
The cricket umpires who were honoured by the Sandeep Suri Memorial Cricket Tournament Committee with Ajay Goel and Pramod Sood.

Shruti keen to defend title
New Delhi: Defending champion Shruti Khanna is all set to defend her title in the Navision India 87th All-India Ladies Amatuer Golf Championship which began at the Karnataka Golf Association course on Sunday.

Sonnet teach Little Masters a lesson
New Delhi, February 1
Sonnet defeated Little Masters by 49 runs in a Super A Division match of the DDCA League at the Mohan Meakins ground. Scores: Sonnet Club: 248 for 9 in 40 overs (Rahul Diwan 111, Deepak Joon 32, Suhail Sharma 27 n o, Umesh Choudhary 2 for 57).

Poorvi Delhi Centre lift Rajiv Gandhi title
New Delhi, February 1
All-round displays by Robin Bisht (45 and 3 for 36) and Ramit Gill (3 for 41 and 42) enabled Poorvi Delhi Coaching Centre defeat Gyan Bharati South Delhi Academy by six wickets in the final of the second Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Under-17 Cricket Tournament at the Picnick Hut ground in Ashok Vihar.

• Top teams for Karwariya Cup