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Boy charred to death
*60 jhuggis gutted in Colony No. 5
*250 rendered homeless
Chandigarh, December 1
A seven-year-old boy, Vijay Kishore, was charred to death after a major fire broke out in Colony No. 5 today. Around 60 jhuggis were gutted and about 250 people were rendered homeless.

A woman cries on seeing her dwelling reduced to ashes. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

Girl fails in BA exam, ends her life
Chandigarh, December 1
Failure to clear her BA-II examination even in the second attempt, led 20-year-old Pinki Rani to consume some poisonous substance at Burail here this afternoon.

Man gets death for killing sons
Chandigarh, December 1
The district and sessions judge, K.K. Garg, today awarded death sentence to Kamleshwar Paswan, a migrant labourer from Bihar, who has been charged with killing his two infant sons.

Lara’s duck deflates fans
Panchkula, December 1
It was a disappointing day for cricket afficionados after Brian Lara, leading Mumbai Champs, failed to display his magic touch against Hyderabad Heroes during the Indian Cricket League Tournament at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Panchkula, this evening.

Fans attired as tigers cheer on Kolkata Tigers during their ICL tie with Chennai Super Stars in Panchkula on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Waiting for a saviour Chandigarh, December 1 Four occupants of an ambulance, including its driver, had a miraculous escape this afternoon when the vehicle rammed into Matka Chowk following a tyre burst. Except for the driver, the others sustained minor injuries. An ambulance was stopped by passersby, but its driver refused to ferry the injured. A woman took the initiative and the victims were rushed to hospital in a private vehicle. The ambulance belonged to a Saharanpur-based company and was carrying a patient for an MRI test to the city. The injured await help at Matka Chowk in Chandigarh on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

PU has a pride of place in history: Ansari Lays stone of Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan
Chandigarh, December 1 “The objective of any university is to generate intellectuals and develop an intellectual capital. Although it’s easier said than done, the challenges posed by a fast changing society have to be met in the realm of thought first and then in execution”, remarked Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Vice-President of India and chancellor, Panjab University, on his maiden visit to lay the foundation stone of the Rajiv Gandhi College Bhawan on the campus here today.
Vice-chancellor Prof R.C. Sobti explains the structure of the Rajiv Gandhi College Bhawan to Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Vice-President and the chancellor of Panjab University, on the university campus on Saturday. Also seen in the picture are Gen S.F. Rodrigues, UT administrator and Governor of Punjab, Dr A.R. Kidwai, Governor of Haryana. — A Tribune photograph

COMMUNITY

Rs 300 crore for DRDO’s NBC protection project
Chandigarh, December 1
The Defence Research and Development Organisation has initiated a massive project to develop advanced protection systems for troops operating in a nuclear, biological and chemical environment. “DRDO has been sanctioned Rs 300 crore for this project in the Eleventh Plan,” DRDO’s chief controller (R&D), W. Selvamurthy said while speaking to The Tribune here today.

Recovery
Bank accused of coercion
Chandigarh, December 1
A local resident, Sandeep Gulati, has moved an application to the SSP against HSBC Bank accusing it of using intimidatory tactics. Sandeep had got a credit card issued from the bank in 2004. During one of his visits abroad, his card was deactivated by the bank. On reaching India, he approached the bank, which regretted its mistake, claiming it to be a technical error.

Major reshuffle in police
Chandigarh, December 1
It was a day of major reshuffle in the Chandigarh police, as four newly promoted DSPs were given posting and 13 sub-inspectors (SI), including in-charge of several police posts, have been shifted.

City officer is Maintenance Command chief Chandigarh, December 1 Air Marshal Gautam Nayyar, an officer who started his career as an engineering officer at No. 3 Base Repair Depot (BRD), Chandigarh, and also belongs to the city, has made it to the top of the IAF’s Maintenance Command as he took over as its Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) at Nagpur today. Air Marshal Gautam Nayyar

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CRIME

Two held with 10 kg heroin Chandigarh, December 1 Sleuths of the Narcotic Control Bureau arrested an African national and a Jalandhar resident from near Sector 39 Grain Market here early this morning while allegedly carrying 10 kg of high-quality heroin. The NCB officials said the international value of the contraband is around Rs 10 crore. NCB sleuths had a tough time in nabbing the accused as the African national made a bid to escape after biting the officials. Festus Benson Onwchuruba of Africa and Paramjit Singh Sareen of Amritsar, who were arrested with 10 kg of heroin by the NCB officials, at the Sector 2 zonal office of the NCB in Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

5 held for kidnapping Phase XI resident
Mohali, December 1
Five persons, arrested on the charge of kidnapping a resident of Phase XI, were remanded in police custody till December 3 by a court here today. According to the police, Gagandeep Malhotra was allegedly kidnapped by five persons yesterday as he had failed to make a payment of Rs 10,000 to car dealers from whom he had purchased a car about six months back.

EDUCATION

Autonomy to Colleges
Principals give green light
Chandigarh, December 1
It has been decided in principle that the BA/BCom/BSc I examinations will be conducted by the colleges. This was deliberated upon today during the principals’ conference held today at Golden Jubilee Hall, PU campus. More than 60 principals from various colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh attend the conference.

Rallies, competitions mark World AIDS Day
Chandigarh , December 1
A state-level function by the State AIDS Control Society, (SACS) in collaboration with the Indian Red Cross Society, Chandigarh branch, was organised to mark World AIDS Day at Community Care Centre, Khuda Ali Sher, here today.

Align growth drivers for sustained development: Expert Chandigarh, December 1 The CII’s northern region organised a regional stakeholders’ meet today for the upgradation of the ITIs into the centres of excellence. Sudhir Kapur, chairman of the TET sub-committee of the CII, northern region, said it was very important to properly align the growth drivers in order to sustain the high rate of economic development.

A speaker makes a point at a conference on upgradation of the ITIs at the CII in Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Coupling an aesthetic pursuit
As per an old adage, there is always a woman behind the success of a man. The credibility of the adage gets significantly augmented if the woman, despite being an inspiration, also endeavours to be an enlightened partner sharing his passion and pursuits.

7,000 from region to take MAT today
Chandigarh, December 1
More than 1.2 lakh candidates will take MAT on December 2. The All-India Management Association has made comprehensive arrangements for the smooth conduct of the test.

NIIT launches GlobalNet+
Chandigarh, December 1
“The IT Infrastructure Management field provides a huge career opportunity for those seeking to build careers in the IT industry,” pointed NIIT CEO Vijay K. Thadani, who is on a two-day visit to the city.

From Schools
Sun, Aarzoo get scholarships
Chandigarh, December 1
Sun Robin and Aarzoo Thakur were awarded scholarships for being the best St Marian Boy and St Marian Girl, respectively, during the annual function ‘Aureole-2007’ celebrated by St Mary’s School, at its campus in Sector 46, here, today.

COURTS

Faulty Army purchases
CBI director gets HC notice
Chandigarh, December 1
Taking up a petition alleging an annual embezzlement of Rs 1,700 crore in purchases made by the Army Ordnance Corps, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a notice of motion to the Central Bureau of Investigation’s director.

Judicial remand for Dr Chug
Chandigarh, December 1
A local court today remanded Dr B.D. Chug, arrested on charges of attempting to rape his maid servant, in judicial custody. The police said the accused was arrested around 2 am from Sector 38. Both accused and victim were medically examined.

Auditor gets 1-yr jail for graft
Chandigarh, December 1
S.C. Arora, an auditor in the centre of defence accounts, was sentenced to one-year imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 by CBI special judge Jagdeep Jain.

HEALTH

Dr Bahadur joins as GMCH principal Chandigarh, December 1 Dr Raj Bahadur, former professor and head, orthopaedics and medical superintendent of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh, today joined as the principal of the institute. The post had fallen vacant after the retirement of former director principal Dr H.M. Swami on October 31.                                   Dr Raj Bahadur

3 PGI doctors get extension
Chandigarh, December 1
The three professors and departmental heads at the PGI were granted extension in service for four months here today. The doctors who were to retire from their services yesterday are Prof Anil Narang, paediatrics; Prof J.D. Wig, general surgery; and Prof H.S. Chawla, oral health sciences centre.

Mohali has 60 AIDS patients: DC
Mohali, December 1
SAS Nagar district has about 60 persons suffering from AIDS and they are being given proper treatment by the concerned authorities. This was stated by deputy commissioner H.I.S. Garewal during a function organised at the civil hospital here today in connection with World AIDS Day.

SPORTS

ICL
Stars shine for cricket’s sake
Chandigarh, December 1
As the league’s Twenty-20 match rolled into day 2, the affair became spicier, with item girl Yana Gupta making the first performance of the day. In perfect shape, the showgirl beamed at the audiences from the stage of the Tau Devi Lal cricket stadium, which never looked brighter.

Bollywood star Yana Gupta throws a move during an ICL tie; and (right) Punjabi singer Mika performs at Tau Devi Lal cricket stadium in Panchkula on Saturday. — Tribune photos by Manoj Mahajan

Sarfraz best athlete Chandigarh, December 1 Sarfraz Singh Lega of Br. Rice House was declared best athlete in Under-12 category during the annual athletic meet and drill display competitions held at St. John's High School grounds, here, today. Students of St John’s-26 take part in a drill at the annual athletics meet and drill display competition at the school grounds in Sector 26, Chandigarh, on Saturday.

St Stephen’s outplay Saupin’s
Chandigarh, December 1
The hot contenders St Stephen's School, Sector 45, outplayed Saupin's School, Sector 32, by 4-0 in the Chandigarh Football Championship for St Kabir Trophy at St Kabir School ground in Sector 26 here today.

Sports meet for special children
Chandigarh, December 1
To celebrate the World Disability Day, the Sarvshiksha Abhiyan Society, Chandigarh, organised Ability Search Sports meet for children with special need at the Sports Complex, Sector 7, here, today.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Kharar-Kurali road a killer stretch Kharar, December 1 A road that connects Chandigarh with major districts of Punjab has snuffed out many lives, thanks to unchecked reckless driving and government apathy. This over-crowded and narrow Kharar-Kurali road that links Chandigarh with Ludhiana, Ropar, Jalandhar and others, has become very accident prone with accidents being reported frequently.
The ill-fated vehicle that met with an accident on the Kharar-Kurali road on November 18, snuffing out two lives. — A file photograph

Trader murdered in broad daylight
Patiala, December 1
Ashu Jain, proprietor of a shop located on the Patiala-Rajpura road, was murdered today in broad daylight. Jain, who owned a steel and iron products shop, was attacked by two persons whose motive, according to police sources, was to rob Jain’s shop.

Abducted girl’s body found in canal
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 1
The police today recovered the body of a 23-year-old girl who had allegedly been kidnapped by a youth from Gohlewal Head near Talwandi Sabho in Bathinda district. Mandhir Kaur, a resident of Chanarthal village of the district, had allegedly been kidnapped by Rajiv, a resident of Sangatpur Sondhia village.

Man burnt alive in paper mill
Dera Bassi, December 1
Mohinder (47), an employee at AP Paper Mill on Barwala Road, was charred to death in a freak accident. The incident took place at around 6 am today, when Mohinder was adding fuel to the fuel feeder of the boiler at the mill. He slipped on the fuel (husk) and his head hit a part of the machinery.

Legal remedies for AIDS patients discussed
Patiala, December 1
The university health centre and human rights cell of Rajiv Gandhi University of Law, Patiala, organised a seminar on World AIDS Day on its campus, here today. Dr S.P. Singh, medical officer of the university, discussed the need to create awareness, not about AIDS but about reproductive health and adolescent education.

MGC win hockey championship
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 1
The hockey team of the local Mata Gujri College won the Inter-College Hockey (Men) Championship by defeating Khalsa College, Patiala, in the last league match of the tournament.