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TOP STORIES

Fun Republic case: Top guns ready with defence
Chandigarh, March 16
The CBI will have to break through the line of defence raised by senior officials of the Chandigarh administration before putting them to interrogation regarding serious violations by the Estate Office in sanctioning building plans for Fun Republic multiplex at Mani Majra. Anticipating that the agency would seek clarifications, the administration has already built its argument around rules and regulations to justify its decisions, said sources.

Monorail may be back on track
Chandigarh, March 16
The Chandigarh administration has strengthened its case for a monorail in the city, connecting the adjoining towns of Mohali and Panchkula. At an important meeting in New Delhi earlier this week, the Centre has assured the administration that it would once again examine the UT proposal for a monorail. The ministry of urban development had rejected the proposal and said buses were the best option for the city roads.

Get your dream flat, but pay for it
Chandigarh, March 16
The metro culture in terms of realty is finally coming home with the launch of the first super luxury residential project by Uppal Housing in the tricity at Mani Majra. These apartments, priced at Rs 1.33 crore-Rs 1. 59 crore, have created ripples in the real estate market.

Dead HIV+ youth felt let down by PGI
Chandigarh, March 16
Nineteen-year-old Devinder, who committed suicide yesterday, was keen on a job on one of the HIV/AIDS projects at the PGI. But he never got that job. “He was bright. He had cleared his plus two and wanted to be an outreach worker in the project.

Sunil case: Tests rule out rape
Chandigarh, March 16
The Punjab Police will seek the production warrant of Sunil Kumar, the school teacher allegedly involved in the abduction of two school girls of Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, here and his servant Satish and wife Manju tomorrow.

COMMUNITY

Infrastructure Watery rotary this!
Chandigarh, March 16
The water pipeline under the Sector 29-30-31-32 rotary continues to be a bane of the city’s waterworks system. For it has been needing constant repairs owing to frequent leakages for the past several years. Officials blame loose earth at the rotary for the problem.

First IAF woman officer on UN mission
Chandigarh, March 16
The Indian Air Force is sending its first woman officer on an overseas peace-keeping operation under a United Nations (UN) mandate. Wing Commander Alka, a medical officer, will be part of the second IAF contingent proceeding to the Democratic Republic of Congo on March 18.

Army launches field postal orders for troops
Chandigarh, March 16 The Army Postal Service (APS), in association with the Department of Posts, today launched the field postal orders (FPOr), which will serve as a more convenient and cheaper alternative for troops to remit money to their families as compared to the money order or the bank draft.

Gallantry awardees’ function today
Chandigarh, March 16
About 150 gallantry awardees and their kin are expected to attend the triennial convention of the War Decorated India (WDI), an association of those who have been decorated with Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and the Vir Chakra,here tomorrow.

Illegal kundis at IAF Station 150 structures demolished Chandigarh, March 16 A case of alleged use of kundi connections has come to light at the Indian Air Force’s 12 Wing Station here. The losses caused by the theft, allegedly by the Military Engineer Service (MES), are believed to be running into several lakh rupees. Illegal structures being demolished in Sector 40 C, Chandigarh, on Friday. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

City needs urban arts panel, says welfare body
Chandigarh, March 16
The Federation of Sector Welfare Association (FOSWAC) has ridiculed the Chandigarh administration for trying to scuttle the move of the ministry of home affairs to set up the urban arts commission.

General holds court with children

Chandigarh, March 16 Used to commanding army stations and now city administration, holding court with children was a welcome change for Gen S.F. Rodrigues, Governor of Punjab and Administrator, Chandigarh. More than 200 children in the age group 4-15 who are part of various social development projects run by the Durga Das Foundation had come together at a lively function organised for them at the vibrant activity sports complex of Strawberry Fields World School this afternoon.

Tattoo time: Gen S.F. Rodrigues and his wife Jean Rodrigues with children of slum schools being run by the Durga Das Foundation on Friday.

Geyser burst in Sec-45 house
Chandigarh, March 16
A tragedy was averted as no one was present when a geyser burst in a house at Sector 45-A here today. The blast was so powerful that all doors and windows along with door frames were broken. It also caused cracks in the walls of the house.

• Contractual staff’s pay fixed
• PGI body office-bearers

CRIME

Banker loses Rs 7 lakh to conman
Panchkula, March 16
An employee of the State Bank of Patiala, Sector 5, Sanjeev Sharma, was duped of Rs 7 lakh here today. The incident occurred in the afternoon when Sharma was on his way to deposit the money meant for payment to societies.

12-yr-old girl raped
Panchkula, March 16
A 12-year-old girl was raped by two boys late last night. According to a complaint lodged with the police by the father of the victim, a labourer residing in Raila village, the girl was "picked up" by the boys while she was on her way to work.

Euros 1,000 stolen from hotel
Chandigarh, March 16
At least euros 1,000 were stolen from room No. 201 of Hotel President here. The money belonged to Banier Sartison, a resident of Sector 8. The police has registered a case under Section 380, IPC, at police station, Sector 26.

One dead in factory blast

BUSINESS

UT tourism affiliates with leading companies
Chandigarh, March 16
The coming year may witness an increased inflow of tourists to the city as leading international travel organisations have agreed to tie up with Chandigarh Tourism to ensure a constant stream of visitors from India and abroad. Tie ups were approved principally with the International Travel House, Wanderlust, Sita Travels, Swagatam and others, along with European outbound top travel groups at ITB Berlin, recently.

EDUCATION

Goonj 07 begins with a bang Chandigarh, March 16 ‘Goonj 07’, the annual technical and cultural festival of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology, began in full sway at the university campus, here today. Time for dancing shoes: Students of the UIET at a dance class in preparation for Goonj ’07 at Sector 25, Chandigarh, on Friday. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tiwari

PU fee hike: Students to hold protest
Chandigarh, March 16 Members of the Panjab University Campus Students Council have stated that they will protest against the proposed 10 per cent hike in fee by Panjab University from the next session.

From Colleges
College employees protest

Chandigarh, March 16 The MCM DAV college employees’ union, Sector 36, and DAV College employees union, Sector 10, held dharnas today at their respective colleges, in support of long pending demands of encashment of earned leave, deduction of provident fund from the total salary, pension, appointment of a bursar in the DAV College, and medical reimbursement.

Teachers stage a dharna at DAV College in support of their demands in Chandigarh on Friday. — Tribune photo by Pardeep Tiwari

PU Notes
‘Plurality vital for society’s growth’
Chandigarh, March 16
The two-day national seminar on “Moral Goodness and Human Nature” concluded at the PU campus, here yesterday. Dr Kumar Neeraj Sachdev from BITS Pilani chaired the session. Dr S.R. Sharda and professor Nirbhai Singh from Patiala University presented their papers on “Moral Values, Peace and Co-existence” and “Moral Values and Human Nature,” respectively.

• Poster-making contest
• 40 students selected

COURTS

Transport official acquitted
Chandigarh, March 16
A local court today acquitted Vinod Sharma, a suspended assistant secretary of the state transport authority (STA), who was arrested by the vigilance department on December 23, 2004 for allegedly submitting a forged degree. He was recently charge-sheeted by the administration for providing false information of being an ex-serviceman in a separate case.

HEALTH

535 examined at camp
Chandigarh, March 16
As many as 535 persons were examined and given medicines at a free health check-up camp organised at Mauli Jagran village by Seva Bharati, an NGO providing free health services to the poor in Chandigarh and Punjab, here today.

SPORTS

Beat the heat at PU pools
To remain open 14 hours a day

Chandigarh, March 16 For the first time, members will have a chance to splash into the cool waters of the Panjab University’s pools anytime during the day according to their convenience. To facilitate local swimming enthusiasts, Panjab University (PU) has decided to open its swimming pools from 6 am to 8 pm without any break this summer.

Carrom team announced
Chandigarh, March 16
Anuj Kumar Sinha and Farheen will lead the Chandigarh men’s and women’s team, respectively, in the 36th Senior National and Inter-state Carrom Championship. The championship is scheduled to be held at Kolkata from March  19 to 24.