C H A N D I G A R H

Top stories | Community | Education

Neighbourhood | Courts | Crime | Sports

TOP STORIES

Auto drivers call off strike
Chandigarh, April 17
The joint action committee of autorickshaw drivers of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula today withdrew the strike and started picking up passengers in the evening.

GMADA notifies wrong site
Mohali, April 17
Revenue officials of GMADA have “wrongly” notified 26 acres, other than the site earlier identified for a landfill in Sector 102-A, here. Notices under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act have already been issued by GMADA. The land falls in Dairi and Durali villages.

Smouldering Tinderbox-III
Fire risk high in Sectors 7, 26 market
Chandigarh, April 17
Illegal construction in the backyard of SCOs and SCFs of Sectors 26 and 7 has added to the fire threat since fire safety measures are missing here.

Inflammable material lying in the backyard of some SCOs along the Madhya Marg in Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Woman killed in accident
Chandigarh, April 17
Minakshi (52), a gardner with the UT horticulture department, was killed after a car knocked her scooter down in Sector 32 here this evening. Her son who was driving the scooter escaped with minor injuries.

Poll Violence
IB to brief police
Chandigarh, April 17
In the backdrop of violence during the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls yesterday, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Chandigarh and Punjab police would hold a special meeting to assess the threat perception during the forthcoming polls in Punjab and the UT.

Retracing roots
Chandigarh, April 17
The idea of Islam being a unifying factor for Muslim countries seems to be a fantasy, author Aatish Taseer stated during the release of his maiden book, “Stranger to History: A Son’s Journey Through Islamic Lands”, here today.

ISRO to bring in direct-to-cell phone multimedia
Chandigarh, April 17
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is developing a multi-media mobile satellite system that will offer a satellite digital multimedia broadcasting (S-DMB) service through cellular phones and mobile audio-video receivers in vehicles.

COMMUNITY

No nomination papers filed on Day 1
Chandigarh, April 17
No nomination papers were filed on the first day of filing of nomination papers for the lone Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat today. According to sources in the election commission, 16 forms were sold today. Candidates of different parties were planning to start filing their nomination papers from tomorrow.

Round-up Dhawan promises voters balanced rent Act Chandigarh, April 17 BSP candidate Harmohan Dhawan today promised a balanced rent Act to take care of the concerns of the tenants as well as landlords. Addressing a meeting organised by Amarjeet Singh, BSP general secretary, at the Sector 22-B market here, Dhawan said double taxation would be done away with if he was elected to Parliament.
BJP candidate Satya Pal Jain and Janata Party president Ajay Jagga at a press conference in Chandigarh on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Star campaigners to descend on city
Sonia, Advani, Maya to address rallies
Chandigarh, April 17
Though city has only one parliamentary seat, it is high on the radar of star campaigners of the Congress, the BJP and the BSP. In the run-up to May-13 elections, the three most sought-after campaigners of the country — AICC president Sonia Gandhi, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate LK Advani and BSP supremo and UP Chief Minister Mayawati — will woo voters by holding rallies in the next few days.

400 EVMs kept at Shivalik school
Mohali, April 17
After an anti-sabotage check of the premises by the police, as many as 400 EVMs for the town and Kharar sub-divisions, falling under the 6-Anandpur Sahib Parliamentary constituency, were kept at secure rooms in a school here today.

Poll Diary Anand Sharma ko gussa kyon aata hai? Senior Congress leaders are often touchy about any criticism directed at 10, Janpath. And the otherwise calm and serene Minister of State for External Affairs and Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma is no exception to this phenomenon — called sycophancy or loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Need to adopt proactive approach for disaster mitigation: Expert
Chandigarh, April 17
The biggest challenge for disaster management authorities today was moving from a reactive stance to a holistic and proactive approach to mitigate disasters. Stating this here today, former director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and member, National Disaster Management Authority, Dr B Bhattacharjee said a foolproof communication network was the essence of disaster management.

Poor facilities at jail hospital
Superintendent has medicine purchasing limit of only Rs 20,000 a year
Chandigarh, April 17
In spite of being ill-equipped, patients suffering from a simple fracture to abdominal pain are being sent to the Central Jail in Patiala from other jails. The 40-bed hospital in the jail does not even have an oxygen cylinder, laboratory or ECG machine and relies just on two doctors.

PGI to host conference on neurology
Chandigarh, April 16
The department of neurology, PGI, in association with other allied specialties of the PGIMER and the DMC, Ludhiana, will host a national-level conference, “TROPICON 2009”, here on Sunday.

Conference on paediatric emergencies from today
Chandigarh, April 17
Advanced Paediatrics Centre at PGIMER will host a two-day national conference on paediatric emergencies from tomorrow. The theme of the conference would be “Clinical approach to management in the emergency room.”

World Haemophilia Day
180 examined at open clinic
Chandigarh, April 17
To mark the World Haemophilia Day, the Haemophilic Welfare Society of Chandigarh organised a daylong open clinic for haemophilic patients at Khudda Jassu near PGI.

Salads, too, can cause brain infection
Chandigarh, April 17
While it is well known that non-vegetarians, especially pork eaters, are susceptible to a parasitic infection of the central nervous system, neurocysticercosis, caused by a tapeworm entering the brain through the blood stream, now the salad-eating fad is causing the disease among vegetarians too.

‘Choupal’ shuts down
Chandigarh, April 17
It seems that recession has taken its toll on another retail store in Chandigarh. Close on the heels of several Subhiksha stores closing their shops, Choupal, a popular retail store selling fresh fruits, vegetables and general merchandise, has called it a day in the city.

Loopholes in rape probe come to fore
Chandigarh, April 17
In quick turn of events in the rape case against the director of Frontier Cycle company, Narinder Singh, major loopholes in the inquiry of the case have come to light during the cross examination of the investigating officer, sub-inspector Harminderjit Singh.

CITCO offers discount in recession
Chandigarh, April 17
Strange are the ways in which CITCO operates. For, at a time when economy is still combating with recession, the CITCO management is, surprisingly, doling out discounts not just to increase its business but also to accommodate the meltdown-hit corporates.

Admn to remove malba from roads
Chandigarh, April 17
To make the city malba-free, the Chandigarh administration will remove malba from the V-1, V-2 and V-3 roads till April 26. This was stated at a meeting chaired by UT Finance Secretary Sanjay Kumar.

Admn set to roll out AC mini buses
Chandigarh, April 17
Decks have been cleared for the introduction of air-conditioned mini buses on the inner roads of sectors in the city. The administration is set to introduce 17 AC mini-buses in next three weeks.

• Woman injured in fire
• Fire at PGI
• Rights panel seeks report
• Letters

EDUCATION

Architects’ SOS to administration
Dearth of staff at college
Chandigarh, April 17
With the ad-hoc system ruling the roost in Chandigarh College of Architecture (CCA), an apex body of over 300 architects in the region, the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), has sent an SOS to the Chandigarh administration to save the institute from further decay.

Polls: PU exams postponed
Chandigarh, April 17
Panjab University examinations scheduled to be held on April 22 have been postponed due to rehearsal for the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab and Chandigarh and will be conducted on revised dates.

Impact of recession discussed
Mohali, April 17
As many as 1.9 million jobs were shed in 2008 during global economic recession. The fact was revealed during a seminar “Coping with the downturn: Changing HR paradigm”, hosted by the Chandigarh Business School, Landran.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Gang of nine held with 80 mobiles, pistol
Ropar, April 17
The Ropar police has busted a gang of nine people from Nurpur Bedi and surrounding areas. Those arrested are from various areas of Nurpur Bedi, Chamkaur Sahib, Khamano and Kharar.

Kalka Cooperative Society
Non-availability of staff delays work
Kalka, April 17
Hundreds of members of around 31various cooperative societies of Kalka, including Primary Agriculture Society (PACS), Group Housing Society, Tubewell Society, Non-Agriculture Thrift and Credit Societies, have been facing much inconvenience due to the absence of a permanent office of the inspector of Cooperative Society of Kalka, which consisted of 33 villages of the area.

Understaffed dispensaries hit poor patients
Patiala, April 17
Notwithstanding the tall claims being made by the state government from time to time relating to providing proper healthcare at the grassroots level, it has come to light that government dispensaries are understaffed.

Notification for filing of papers issued
Ropar, April 17
The notification for filing of nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections at Anandpur Sahib constituency was issued here today. Candidates can file their nomination papers from April 17 to 24.

Cops hold flag march
Bassi Pathana, April 17
A large contingent of police personnel led by Rajwinder Singh Sohal, DSP Bassi Pathana, today held a flag march in the Bassi Pathana assembly constituency to boost the confidence of people.

Sack of Teachers
Engg college students join protest
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 17
After local politicians, a large number of students of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College today joined the dharna by faculty members of the college.

Farmers, whose wheat crop was damaged due to heavy rain, at Machhiwara village. A Tribune photograph

Students told to focus on performance
Kharar, April 17
The first convocation of Rayat & Bahra College of Education was conducted on its Sahuran campus here today.

Midday meal fiasco
Head teacher suspended
Ambala, April 17
Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, Samir Pal Saro had placed the head teacher of Government Primary School, Rollanhari, under suspension yesterday. Around three dozen students of this school had fallen ill on Wednesday when they took ‘khichri’ (cooked rice and pulse) in the school.

Road show on diabetes
Bassi Pathana, April 17
The Mehar Baba Charitable Trust organised a diabetes, blood pressure awareness and women empowerment camp-cum-road show at Talania village near here yesterday. Trust patron HS Mejie inaugurated the camp, while advisor Amarishwar Singh presided over it.

Medical camp at Ropar
Ropar, April 17
Max India Foundation, the social service unit of Max India Group, organised a dental and eye check-up camp here today. A team of Max Healthcare examined patients and shared tips on hygeine with them.

Two injured in accident
Dera Bassi, April 17
Two persons were injured in an accident on the Mubarikpur road here today. The injured were identified as Rakesh Kumar (20) and his friend, residents of Ramgarh village.

COURTS

Consumer Courts
Consultant firm, bank fined for harassment
Chandigarh, April 17
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Varsal Credit Consultants and Citi Bank to pay compensation of Rs 10,000 for harassing a resident of Mauli Jagran.

Proceedings against SAD candidate stayed
Chandigarh, April 17
Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala has got relief from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Taking up a petition filed by the sitting Lok Sabha member of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Justice Mohinder Pal has stayed further proceedings in a disproportionate assets case registered against him.

Mittal elected DBA president Chandigarh, April 17 The District Courts was packed to capacity today as voters cast their ballot to elect office-bearers of the District Bar Association (DBA). Mukesh Mittal was unanimously elected president of the association. Candidates celebrate their victory in the District Bar Association elections in Chandigarh on Friday. A Tribune photograph

CBI indicts two cops
Chandigarh, April 17
The CBI has filed a charge-sheet in the CBI Special Court of Jagdeep Jain against Sub-Inspector Diwan Singh and constable Jasbir Singh on charges of indulging in corruption.

CRIME

Medicines worth Rs 25 lakh stolen
Panchkula, April 17
Thieves took away medicines worth Rs 25 lakh after breaking into a godown of pharmaceutical distributor at the Industrial Area here yesterday. The owner of Pharma India Limited Company said the thieves took only the light weight and costly medicines.

Maid’s death: Four held for rioting
Panchkula, April 17
Even as the mystery around the death of the 14-year-old maid continued, the local police had arrested four accused of pelting stones on the houses at Sector 20 on the night of Tuesday.

Youths detained over mistaken identity
Panchkula, April 17
Venturing out during wee hours landed four youths at the police station here today, when the police suspecting them as a gang of looters detained at Sector 5 police station throughout the day.

Robbers prowl on stolen bike
Chandigarh, April 17
A gang of robbers has carried out two consecutive robberies using a stolen motor cycle without even changing its original registration number. However, it is yet to be caught. This is a poor reflection on the functioning of the kahki brigade.

Jewellery worth Rs 3 lakh stolen
Panchkula, April 17
Intruding into a house in Sector 25, burglars had stolen valuables worth Rs 3 lakh here yesterday. The occupants of the house were away for work at the time of incident.

Woman slits wrist, held
Chandigarh, April 17
A woman allegedly slit her wrist vein in an attempt to commit suicide after an argument with her mother at the latter’s school in Sector 40 here today.

Two youths held with stolen bike
Chandigarh, April 17
The police has arrested two youths for riding a stolen motor cycle bearing fake registration numbers. The police also recovered two stolen mobile phones from the accused.

SPORTS

AITA Series Arjun, Yash lift doubles title Chandigarh, April 17 Arjun Khade and Yash Deshpandey, both from Maharashtra, got the better of Garry S Amor (Chandigarh) and Madhurjya Dutta (Assam) 6-4, 6-4 in the boys’ under-16 doubles final here today during the IDBI AITA Super Series Tennis Tournament being organised by the CLTA in association with The Tribune at the CLTA Stadium in Sector 10. Players in action during the boys’ U-16 doubles final in Chandigarh on Friday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Ajay Yadav eyes Davis Cup
Chandigarh, April 17
After failing to make it to the Davis Cup by a whisker last year, 15-year-old CLTA trainee Ajay Yadav is all set for the next year’s Davis Cup to be held in Australia.

Golf: Rahul, Rabiya emerge champions
Chandigarh, April 17
Rahul Bakshi rallied with an even par 72 cards to clinch the men's open title with a score of 147 in the eighth Chandigarh Amateur Golf Championship on the par 72 greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club here today.

Cricket probables announced
Chandigarh, April 17
The Cricket Federation of Chandigarh, affiliated to the Cricket Federation of India, announced the probables for the coaching camp for the forthcoming under-15 nationals to be held in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) from April 24 to 27.

Sunil organising secy of body building assn
Chandigarh, April 17
The president of Chandigarh Amateur Body Building Association, Sunil Walia, has been appointed as the organising secretary of the South Asia Body Building Association and Fitness Federation.

Trials today
Chandigarh, April 17
Trials to select the Chandigarh under-19 cricket team will be conducted on April 18 at Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, at 3 pm.