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Crackling bonhomie
Mohali, November 8
At the PCA Stadium here, it was loud cheers and dancing to the beat of the ‘dhol’ all the way. Supporters of both teams, in a rare gesture of camaraderie, applauded for all players. The roaring sound of the ‘dhol’ even drowned the noise that aeroplanes flying overhead made.

Outside stadium, flop show by cops
Mohali, November 8
The Mohali police failed in all aspects at the PCA Stadium here during the India-Pak ODI today. While there was utter chaos at the entrance, a number of persons were seen selling tickets on the black market outside, the police choosing to look the other way.

They are here for Diwali, not cricket
Chandigarh, November 8
It is not the fireworks on the cricket field but the festival of lights that has attracted most of the Pakistani fans to India. Of course, fans from across the border were today present in the stadium to cheer up their team but their minds were occupied with the thought of seeing the much talked about illumination in the City Beautiful and around.

Pakistani fans in cheerful mood outside the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Diwali shoppers clog roads; cops of little help
Chandigarh, November 8
It was a day of traffic jams. All roads leading to and from major markets remained chocked, giving Diwali shoppers a hard time. The traffic police helpline was of no help. Traffic came to a standstill at the Piccadilly rotary in the afternoon with the agitating CTU employees blocking traffic in front of the Sector 17 ISBT for over an hour.

1. FANS UNPLUGGED: Pakistani and Indian fans cheer for both teams in a rare gesture of bonhomie during the ODI between India and Pakistan in Mohali on Thursday. 2. DIEHARDS: Pakistani fans make the V sign during the ODI between India and Pakistan in Mohali on Thursday. — Tribune photos by Manoj Mahajan
1. The visages of these pretty cricket fans tell it all 2. Sania Mirza cheers for the men in blue. 3. Policemen remove the flag stick outside the PCA Stadium. 4. Policemen clean up the muck before the arrival of a VIP to PCA Stadium in Mohali on Thursday. 5. A policewoman stops Pakistani fans from carrying their bags inside the stadium. — Tribune photos by Vicky Gharu and Manoj Mahajan 6. A pretty maiden whistles support during the ODI between India Pakistan in Mohali on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

COMMUNITY

CTU staff demand bonus, block traffic
Chandigarh, November 8
Disgruntled employees of the CTU today blocked traffic in front of the Sector 17 ISBT, demanding bonus and other benefits. The agitating employees assembled at the main entry gate of the ISBT holding black flags and marched on the road raising slogans against the “indifferent” attitude of the authorities.

CTU employees stage a dharna outside the Sector 17 ISBT on Thursday in support of their demands; and (right) a long queue of buses in front of the ISBT on Thursday after the agitationists blocked a road. — Tribune photographs

700 structures regularised
Diwali gift for Deep Complex
Chandigarh, November 8
In a Diwali bonanza to residents of Deep Complex, Hallomajra, the Chandigarh administration has regularised 700 structures which stand on acquired land. The decision will benefit hundreds of low income group families which have raised structures on 33.60 acres over the past eight years.

Bonanza for theatre buffs
Five-day festival begins on Nov 11
Chandigarh, November 7
Theatre is a collective art form that attempts to communicate and address the socio-political and cultural issues besides offering meaningful entertainment. The second five-day Chandigarh Theatre Festival-2007, to be organised by the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi in collaboration with the Punjab Arts Council, promises a theatrical bonanza for the city art lovers.

Rock Garden celebrates 50 years
Discussions on art, peace mark Day 1
Chandigarh, November 8
It was a quiet afternoon at Rock Garden today - just perfect for creative juices to flow and submerge the earthy spaces of Nek Chand’s wonder creation on the first day of its diamond jubilee celebrations.

Nek Chand cuts a cake on the first day of the diamond jubilee celebrations at Rock Garden; and (from above right) Emma Martin, Minhazz Majumdar, Montu and Joba Chitrakar at work in Rock Garden on the first day of the Rock Garden festival. — Tribune photos by Pradeep Tewari

Road mishap victim’s mission to save lives
Chandigarh, November 8
Harman Singh Sidhu has made a mighty wish this Diwali. “I pray people could learn to value their life and not throw it away on the roads the way I did,” says the young man, who was incapacitated in a major road accident in October 1996.

Admn gears up for Diwali Panchkula, November 8 General Hospital, Sector 6, is geared up for Diwali with most specialists on call and a ward earmarked especially for patients coming in with burn injuries. While the police is on alert, the fire station, too, has been kept in all readiness to deal with emergencies of any kind. Shopping Time: Panchkula residents shop for crackers on the eve of Diwali in Panchkula on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

• Relief norm for medical test
• Letters

CRIME

Two die in accidents
Chandigarh, November 8
A Rajasthan resident was killed in the wee hours today, while a labourer lost his life at the hotel James Plaza construction site in Sector 17. Rattan Singh (40) of Rajasthan was found injured in critical condition near the Aroma lights at 12:30 a.m.

Man held for abducting minor girl
Chandigarh, November 8
The police arrested a Fatehgarh Sahib resident on the charge of abducting a 17-year-old girl of Sector 46 here. The girl was recovered from the accused and handed over to her relatives.

EDUCATION

Delayed result costs pupils dear
14 BCom students lose a year
Chandigarh, November 8
Undue delay caused by the re-evaluation process of Panjab University has cost 14 BCom students of Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45, one academic year. Six first-year students and eight second-year students of the college had been declared failed by the university in June, 2007.

Samarth inmates celebrate Diwali
Chandigarh, November 8
Inmates of Samarth Hostel, a unit of 31 mentally retarded children, celebrated Diwali here today. The hostel, being run by an NGO from International Boys Hostel, Sector 15, imparts vocational training to mentally handicapped children apart from helping them to learn daily skills.

From Schools
Competitions mark Diwali celebrations
Chandigarh, November 8
The Dharitri Paryavaran Club of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 44-B, organised various inter-house activities to sensitise young minds with respect to the noise and air pollution. Paper-reading, Poster-making and slogan-writing competitions were also held.

• BBMB painting competition

• BCA, BBA results declared

Wrong encashment of cheques
Finance firm to pay Rs 2 lakh
Chandigarh, November 8
The District Consumer Forum has directed CITI Corporation Maruti Finance Limited to pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to a complainant for keeping back his post-dated cheques despite his asking them to close his loan case. The company was also asked to pay Rs 5,100 as the litigation cost to the complainant.

Suspect acquitted in rape case
Chandigarh, November 8
UT additional and sessions judge Raj Sjekhar Atri today acquitted one Pintu in a rape case as the witness turned hostile. On the complaint of Shyam Kumari, on July 17, 2006, mother of the victim, a case of rape was registered against Pintu.

HEALTH

Celebrations: Doctors advise caution
Mohali, November 8
Fortis Hospital, Mohali, has issued an advisory on how to have a healthier and safer Diwali. Talking about the precautions to be taken in order to avoid burn injuries and electrical shocks, Dr Vikas Bhutani, consultant, internal medicine, Fortis Hospital, stated, “Earthen lamps and candles should be placed safely away from any flammable material like wood, cloth or paper and electric wires.

SPORTS

Smart gallops attract younger lot to city
Chandigarh, November 8 It is the thrill of a galloping horse that attracts these young children to equestrian sports. For them, having control over the magnificent beast seems to give a feeling of invincibility and excitement, which perhaps no other sport may offer. Young riders at North Zone Horse Show at the PU grounds in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Billiards
Rajat defeats Sumit
Chandigarh, November 8
In an unexpected move, Rajat outclassed top seed Sumit Talwar, 318-221, in senior billiards in the 22nd Chandigarh (UT) Billiards and Snooker Championship in Sector 22, here, today.

Cricket trials on November 12
Chandigarh, November 8
Trial to select the Chandigarh school cricket team under-14 years (boys) will be held at the Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35 on November 12 at 9 am.