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Maid Rape Case
Cops play blame game
Mohali, December 16
In yet another twist in the alleged rape case involving the Shiromani Akali Dal MLA from Dhuri, Mr Gaganjit Singh Barnala, following the allegations of the victim’s counsel that the victim had changed her statement under pressure while she was under the security cover of the police, the Mohali police today claimed that it had never provided any security to her. Nayagaon, where the victim resides, falls under the jurisdiction of the Mohali police.

Mass leave call: PGI seeks help from city hospitals
Chandigarh, December 16
On a call for one day's mass casual leave by the PGI Medical Technologists' Association (MTA) as a part of the strike on Monday, the PGI authorities have sought help from the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, and the Command Hospital (CH), Chandimandir, so that emergency services are not affected.

Tribune Impact
MC poll: DC asked to check use of liquor
Chandigarh, December 16
Taking note of a news item published in Chandigarh Tribune on Saturday, the Election Commission issued a letter to the IG (Police) and the Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh, to take immediate and appropriate action to check the use of liquor by candidates during the MCC elections.

MC POLL - 06
Tainted still dominate poll scene
Chandigarh, December 16
Having a criminal record, at one point of time, was a fashion statement for a politician. This trend is, however, now changing. This may be the reason why some of the candidates in the fray for the Municipal Corporation elections with a criminal background are refraining from mentioning it.

National leaders pitch in for party candidates

Chandigarh, December 16 With two days left for campaigning to elections to the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC), the campaign today picked up momentum with national leaders pitching in support of their party candidates. However, local issues continue to be absent from the campaign with the national leaders gunning for the UPA government for its failure on all fronts, including the spiralling prices. BJP leader Navjot Sidhu campaigns for party candidates in Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Don’t make promises you cannot fulfil, traders to nominees
Chandigarh, December 16
The Traders Association, Sector 17, today organised a protest against paid parking and property tax in Sector 17 here. Led by Mr Subhash Kataria and Mr J.P.S. Kalra, president and general secretary, respectively, the protesters also came down heavily on the false promises made by different candidates contesting the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) elections on the issues of parking fee and property tax.

Canvassing — a child's play now
Chandigarh, December 16
Electioneering may not be a child’s play. But the little ones are doing it effectively, and vociferously, in Chandigarh. You may find it incredible, but they are in reality tasting politics for the first time just for a chocolate bar.

Strike on Thursday, inconvenience on Saturday
Chandigarh, December 16
Passengers having reservation for the Kalka-Howrah train for today had a harrowing time after the train was cancelled in the morning. According to officials, the nationwide strike called by the Left trade unions on Thursday was the reason behind the cancellation of the train.

Watch your weight, cops
Chandigarh, December 16
A cyber crime cell, fit police personnel and information technology savvy force — all this and much more is on the Chandigarh Police’s agenda for 2007. Taking a note of the fitness of the policemen, the IGP has said that from the next year, the policemen will be medically examined annually and their health status will be included in their annual reports.

Watch out
Sushil Kapoor, the manager of the Ranji Trophy team of Punjab, is currently in Kolhapur (Maharashtra). The team is playing against the home state in the Elite Group 'B' category. Kapoor is a former cricketer and an official of the Punjab Cricket Academy.

In Town
Mr Jasbir Gill, senior vice-president of SAP Labs and General Manager of SAP's Governance, Risk and Software unit, will be interacting with the media at the Press Club on Sunday at 11.45 am. Prior to joining SAP, Mr Gill was the CEO of Virsa Systems which he founded in 1996. Virsa Systems was acquired by SAP in May 2006.

Passing through

COMMUNITY

Crime graph down; robbery incidents up, claims police
Chandigarh, December 16
Even though the Chandigarh Police, in its annual crime report, claims a decline in the crime rate, incidents of robberies, rioting, kidnapping and snatching continue to haunt the residents in 2006.

NFDC to select good scripts for co-production
Chandigarh, December 16
The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) is finally coming to terms with the fast-changing realities of the film world. Known for ace productions like “Gandhi” and “Salaam Bombay”, it is struggling to get on its feet, with a deep financial crunch bothering its think tank. That the corporation has not produced any film in three years says it all.

Assn seeks changes in building bylaws 
Chandigarh, December 16
The recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs to give one-time relaxation in the building bylaws have not fully been implemented by the Chandigarh Administration.

Army, Air Force observe Vijay Divas

Chandigarh, December 16 Commemorating the victory achieved by the Indian armed forces over Pakistan on both eastern and western fronts in 1971, military establishments today observed Vijay Divas. Veterans of the 1971 Indo-Pak war interact with General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lieut-Gen Daljeet Singh (centre) after a ceremony to commemorate Vijay Divas at Chandi Mandir on Saturday.

Residents complain against guest house
Panchkula, December 16
High drama was witnessed at a house in Sector 8 when residents of the area called the police and complained against a guest house causing nuisance in the vicinity here today.

CRIME

2 shops burgled; items worth 30 lakh stolen
Panchkula, December 16
Two shops —a cloth store in Sector 8 and a hardware store in Sector 11 — were burgled and thieves decamped with items worth Rs 30 lakh from both shops here today. Thieves also broke into a house in Sector 12- A and decamped with ornaments and cash worth Rs 27,000.

2 hurt in road accidents
Chandigarh, December 16
A pedestrian and a scooterist were hurt in two road accidents in various parts of the city. A pedestrian, Mr Sufi Tehsin of Mani Majra, sustained injuries after being hit by a motorcycle near the Samadhi Gate in Mani Majra on Friday. The motorcyclist allegedly sped away from the spot. The victim was admitted to the Sector 16 General Hospital.

EDUCATION

Teachers await positive response
Chandigarh, December 16
Protesting government aided school teachers and other employees today announced that they would continue their indefinite strike as 133 teachers are still lodged in Burail jail.

KVs celebrate foundation day
Chandigarh, December 16
To commemorate the foundation day of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Kendriya Vidyalayas organised various competitions and cultural programmes here. Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pinjore, held a function which was inaugurated by the Principal of the school, Ms Bhupinder Kaur. It started with the song “School chalen hum”. Besides, Haryanavi and other group songs were sung by the students. The function concluded with the speech of grand parents.

St Kabir, Shivalik winners of science congress
Chandigarh, December 16
St Kabir High School, Sector 26, bagged the first prize in the senior category while Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46, secured the second place in the Chandigarh State Level Children Science Congress, held at PEC, Sector 12, here today. Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, clinched the first prize in the junior category whereas St Kabir, Sector 26, got the second place.

Talent hunt at school
Panchkula, December 16
Satluj Public School, Sector 4, organised “Satluj Little Champs 2006”, a talent hunt at its premises, here today. Inaugurated by Principal Krit Serai, the show included a fancy dress, solo singing, group dance and painting contest which saw participation by 300 students from different schools.

2,000 students given sweaters
Chandigarh, December 16
More than 2000 needy students from government primary schools of  Gobindgarh, Dhirpur, Dharri, Bufflana, Motte Majra, Nagari, Gige Majra, Minda Majra, Sanetta were given sweaters by Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib © Eye Hospital, Trust, in Sohana, here today.

COURTS

406 cases settled at Lok Adalat
Chandigarh, December 16
Brig K.S. Chandpuri was a happy person today. The reason: a long-pending case under the Rent Act was settled in his favour in the court of the Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr Sudeep Goel.

Army court disallows witnesses
Chandigarh, December 16
The general court-martial (GCM), re-assembled to consider the sentence awarded to two Army personnel in a weapons loss case, today denied permission to the defence to produce witnesses in support of its contention.

CULTURE

After confusion, show picks up
Chandigarh, December 16
The second day of the Chandigarh film festival started out amidst confusion, with one of the hot favourites—Dance like a Man— nowhere on screen. Scheduled for a morning performance today, the film was not shown, much to the displeasure of visitors, who had no idea of the technical problem that had arisen at the last minute.

Sudesh Bhonsle, Big B’s voice Chandigarh, December 16 His surname often makes people relate him to legendary Asha Bhonsle, but that doesn’t make Sudesh Bhonsle any less a singer. On the contrary, the only similarity between Asha Bhonsle and him, is Goa, their common place of origin. Nevertheless, for someone who has been singing for the past 25 years for films and performing live shows, the comparison is definitely an honour.

Singer Sudesh Bhonsle performs at Leisure Valley, Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Saturday. — Photo by Vinay Malik

Jelly enthrals audience
Chandigarh, December 16
A lofty applause greeted young folk singer, Jelly, as he took the centrestage for spelling magic with his potent and mellifluous voice at Plaza Carnival here today. The event organised by the Centre for Carnival Arts in association with Chandigarh Tourism is supported by Airtel and Coca Cola with The Tribune group of newspapers as the media sponsor.

HEALTH

Doctors defer agitation
Mohali, December 16
Doctors of the Civil Hospital today deferred their agitation till Monday after they got an assurance from senior officials at a meeting here that the transfer of a woman doctor, who had been shifted following a complaint by local MLA Bir Devinder Singh, would be revoked.

Health workers attend training session
Chandigarh, December 16
More than 42 health workers and members of NGOs working in slums of the city attended a training session organised by the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, Leprology of the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, on the premises of State AIDS Control Society, here today.

NGO donates ambulance to PGI
Chandigarh, December 16
Lifeline, a non-government organisation, donated an ambulance to the PGI here today. Mr Ravinder Gupta, president of Lifeline, handed over the keys of the van to Prof KK Talwar, Director of the PGI.

SPORTS

Rajbir makes to snooker semifinal
Panchkula, December 16
Rajbir entered semifinal beating Nishant in the straight set 3-0 on the second day of the senior snooker match of the Haryana Billiards and Snooker Championships at the Haryana Billiards hall, Sector 11, here today.

SGGS College beat DAVMC in basketball match
Chandigarh, December 16
Sri Guru Gobind Singh College (SGGS), Sector 26, beat DAVMC-15, 80-54, on the second day of Chandigarh State Senior Basketball Championship for men and women at New Public School, Sector 18, here today.