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TOP STORIES

Sonia strikes local chord
Talks of land acquisition; promises better deal to farmers
Chandigarh, May 3
Contrary to the perception that the Central leaders duck the local issues, AICC president Sonia Gandhi today brought the issue of the land acquisition to the centre stage of the election campaigning for the Chandigarh Parliamentary seat.

Sonia Gandhi waves sword in the air as Congress candidate from Chandigarh Pawan Kumar Bansal ducks at a rally in Chandigarh on Sunday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

Swine flu hits web world
Hundreds of sites come up overnight to cash in on scare
Chandigarh, May 3
With swine flu scare becoming global, online medicine sellers are going all out to market “Tamiflu” (the only known drug supposedly found to be effective against the virus as a precautionary measure), but doctors caution against unnecessary intake of the drug.

Two killed in mishaps
Panchkula, May 3
A 23-year-old youth was killed when the bike he was riding collided head-on with a truck on the Panchkula- Barwala road here today. The deceased has been identified as Tilak Raj, a resident of Billa village near Ramgarh. According to the police, Tilak was employed as an electrician with a company at IT Park in Chandigarh.

Wooing voters with ‘golgappas’ Mohali, May 3 Freebies were galore at a Congress rally organised in Phase V here this evening. To ensure good gathering, Suresh Kumar Lucky, the organiser of the event, offered free ‘golgappas’ to the visitors. While the party candidate, Ravneet Bittu, took time to reach the venue, women had a good time relishing the freebies. On the platter were also ‘pakoras’, ‘rasgullas’ and tea. The ‘golgappa’ stall saw a huge rush of women who preferred to savour the snack.

Freebies galore: Women relish ‘golgappas’ at an election rally organised in support of Congress candidate Ravneet Bittu in Phase V on Sunday evening. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

COMMUNITY

No elections since 2005
CITCO employees disown president
Chandigarh, May 3
After losing faith in the president, the employees of the CITCO Workers’ Union today disowned the presidentship of the union. According to sources, the discontent in the employees is due to the fact that there had been no elections for the past four years despite the fact that the term of the president had expired in April, 2008.

Members of the Dalit community show black flags to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in Chandigarh on Sunday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

Round-up
Dhawan promises cut in booth transfer fee
Chandigarh, May 3
Former Union Minister and BSP candidate from Chandigarh Harmohan Dhawan today visited the Sector 22 booth market and listened to the problems faced by the shopkeepers.

Mohali rehri markets prone to fire
Mohali, May 3
Rehri markets in Mohali are highly prone to fire even as the administration has failed to make these safe for shopkeepers, customers and those living in the neighbourhood.

Accident delays trains
Chandigarh, May 3
Series of accidents and delays continue as far as the Railways are concerned. In yet another accident in Dhappar i.e. between Ambala and Chandigarh, a tractor (HR 01 4561) hit the gate barrier at the level crossing thereby damaging the overhead extension (OHE).

Army launches exercise to test offensive capability
Chandigarh, May 3
The Indian Army today launched a major training exercise aimed at validating and enhancing the operational doctrine of its premier strike corps. Christened ‘Exercise Hind Shakti’, the exercise is being conducted as a two-sided war game aimed at preparing the elite Kharga Corps in its operation task of executing a proactive strategy.

Disabled CRPF trooper struggles for promotion
Chandigarh, May 3
A sub-inspector with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), who lost his right leg while on duty, is struggling for his promotion. While he has claimed that his disability does not hamper his duties and the denial of promotion contravenes existing orders in such cases, the CRPF has taken a stance that only fully fit personnel can be promoted.

City Scope
I'll vote. Will you?
Raveen Thukral
Before I begin penning my thoughts for this column, I have a confession to make. When it comes to voting, my record for exercising my franchise in the Lok Sabha polls has been incidentally as bad as the recent turnout of voters in Mumbai - 43 per cent.

City Scope Letters
Admn should highlight fire preventive measures
This is with reference to the article, “Playing with fire”, written by Raveen Thukral published on April 27 in Chandigarh Tribune. We are not only playing with fire but also playing with our lives. We all and particularly the UT Administration must understand that fire prevention is the best way to fight fire.

City lad to attend road safety meet at Brussels
Chandigarh, May 3
Harman Singh Sidhu, a city-based road safety activist, is amongst the three from Asia to participate in the first “Global Meeting of NGOs Advocating for Road Safety” to be held at Brussels on May 7 and 8.

Lab for communicable diseases soon
Mohali, May 3
For the first time in Punjab, a state-of-the-art laboratory for surveillance of communicable diseases is being set up in the Civil Hospital here. The directions to start the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) laboratory were issued by the Punjab government and this laboratory will be the nodal centre for tests and analysis for all government hospitals in the state.

Experts discuss blood disorders
Chandigarh, May 3
The department of medicine, Government Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32, organised a CME on blood disorders entitled: “Basic Haematology for Physicians” here today.

Yoga camp concludes
Chandigarh, May 3
As many as 250 Air Force personnel and their family members took part in a seven-day-long yoga camp that concluded at No 3 Base Repair Depot here today. Participants were taught various yoga aasans and pranayam.

‘Laugh and change the world’
Chandigarh, May 3
The World Laughter Day was celebrated at the Fragrance Garden, Sector 36, here today that was attended by 300 participants. The members of the Laughter Club and families gather here to celebrate the day.

‘Course on human rights soon’
Chandigarh, May 3
The Global Human Rights Council (GHRC) organised a seminar on “human rights and role of youth” here yesterday. According to a release, chairman of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) Justice R.S. Mongia was the chief guest while ADGP, Punjab, Chander Sekhar was the guest of honour.

Neighbours fire in air over dog
Mohali, May 3
An argument between two neighbours in Phase 3B1 here over taking out a pet dog for a walk took an ugly turn when they fired in the air. No one was, however, injured in the incident.

Campaign hots up
Mohali, May 3
Congress candidate from Anandpur Sahib Ravneet Singh Bittu today went on an election tour of different villages and sectors in the Mohali assembly segment for the second day.

Security beefed up for elections
Panchkula, May 3
More than 1,500 police personnel, including home guards, ex-servicemen and NCC cadets will be deputed to ensure the security arrangements in the district on the day of polling for parliamentary elections i.e. January 7.

EDUCATION

800 take mgmt test Chandigarh, May 3 Around 800 students from the city took the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) exam today in the city conducted by the All-India Management Association (AIMA) for MBA aspirants to seek admission in institutes covered under the exam. Aspiring students of MBA after appearing in MAT at Panjab University on Sunday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Youths fire at trader, customs officer’s family
Ambala, May 3
Three motorcycle-borne youths fired at a trader of Delhi near the Model Town crossing at Ambala City this noon and took away his bag containing the cash. Trader Munna was waiting for bus for Delhi on the G T Road.

LS Poll
Kalka shopkeepers relentless
Panchkula, May 3
The anguished shopkeepers of Kalka did not entertain BJP candidate for parliamentary elections Rattan Lal Kataria and supporters of Congress candidate Kumari Selja, who tried to make last-ditch efforts to woo them yesterday.

Badal recalls Kanwaljit’s services
Dera Bassi, May 3
I want to fulfil late Capt Kanwaljit Singh’s dream of getting all 13 Lok Sabha seats in these elections and am confident to win the Patiala seat with the highest margin. This was stated by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal while addressing a rally in Dera Bassi today.

Printing press owner booked
327 booths declared sensitive in Fatehgarh Sahib
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 3
Owner of a Ludhiana-based printing press has been booked for not revealing the number of posters he had printed in favour of a Lok Sabha candidate and also hiding the name of the publisher.

Passengers stranded as train engine fails
Kalka, May 3
Hundreds of passengers were stranded between Solan and Barog due to locomotive failure of the 2 KS ( Kalka-Shimla) train today. The train that was to reach Kalka at 8:15pm got delayed by 3 hours after the engine developed a snag.

Banur-Landran stretch nightmare for commuters
Banur, May 3
The under-construction Banur-Landran stretch of the National Highway-21 is giving a nightmare to commuters. Thick clouds of dust make it difficult for drivers to drive safely.

Training for Kharga Corps begins Patiala, May 3 The Army today commenced a training exercise for Kharga Corps in Punjab. An Army spokesperson here today said the exercise code named Shakti was aimed at enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Kharga Corps. Army tank during a practice on Sunday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

17 nabbed for group clash
Lalru, May 3
In the second poll-related violence in Mohali district, at least 17 persons were booked in two separate FIRs registred in an assault case at Lalru. While one of the group belongs to SAD, the other belongs to the BJP.

150 delegates attend state-level seminar
Kalka, May 3
As many as 150 delegates and office-bearers of various unions, affiliated to the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), from all over Himachal Pradesh attended a state-level seminar of INTUC, organised yesterday, at Parwanoo.

Bootleggers’ Sumo hits SSP’s car, man held
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 3
The Fatehgarh Sahib police today arrested an occupant of a Sumo for hitting the official vehicle of Fatehgarh Sahib SSP and also possessing illegal liquor bottles.

Muslims back Bittu
Ropar, May 3
A large number of people belonging to the Muslim community today extended their support to Congress candidate from Anandpur Sahib Ravneet Bittu. The members gathered at Congress Bhawan and announced their support to the young candidate.

CRIME

Man held for bullying woman
Chandigarh, May 3
Bhushan Kumar, a resident of Old Bishan Nagar, Patiala, was arrested for allegedly threatening a woman resident of Dashmesh Enclave, Zirakpur, on the phone here yesterday at about 7 pm.

Software developer found hanging
Chandigarh, May 3
Karan Goel, 26-year-old software developer, was found hanging from a ceiling fan hook in his rented accommodation at the ESI Society in Sector 51 late tonight. The body was highly decomposed.

Cops create ruckus at chicken shop
Chandigarh, May 3
A Sector 37-based chicken corner owner alleged that two personnel of the Chandigarh Police along with others created a ruckus at his shop and slapped his sons last night. He also alleged that the policemen were annoyed after his sons refused to give them chicken free of cost.

Man held for impersonation
Chandigarh, May 3
The police arrested a man for allegedly taking a written examination in place of his relative. Chander Prakash, a boarder of Hostel Number 1 of DAV College, Sector 10, was arrested on the complaint of central superintendent of the college Ravi Prashad, while taking the exam of Pankaj, a student of BA III, here yesterday at 01.05 pm.

Shopkeeper commits suicide
Panchkula, May 3
A 47-year-old resident of Raipur Rani reportedly committed suicide after consuming some poisonous substance here yesterday. The deceased has been identified as Sunil Kumar, owner of a grocery store. He was reportedly under depression for the last few days, it was learnt.

SPORTS

M L Markan Trophy Chandigarh, Patiala to lock horns today Chandigarh, May 3 Chandigarh and Patiala registered the final berth after winning their respective semifinal during the Punjab State Inter-District (Under-16) Tournament for ML Markan Trophy 2009-2010 on Sunday. A match in progress between Chandigarh and Muktsar in Chandigarh on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Cricket: Azad lads thrash Sector 37 academy
Chandigarh, May 3
Desh Prem Azad Cricket Academy took seven wickets and registered a win over Sector 37 Cricket Academy on the opening day of the Inter-Academy Under-16 Cricket League for St Stephen’s Cup here today.

Wrestling Meet Jagmeet crowned Bharat Kesari Chandigarh, May 3 Jagmeet was crowned ‘Bharat Kesari’ after he trounced Surjit Singh in the final bout during the PL Paul-Dr MS Chopra Memorial Wrestling Tournament organised by the UT Wrestling Association here today. Gurmit and Tajendra during a bout in Chandigarh on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

UT to honour wrestlers
Chandigarh, May 3
The Chandigarh Wrestling Association will organise its annual cash prize distribution function to honour outstanding state wrestlers on August 15 and on January 26 next year.

Golf camp for women concludes
Chandigarh, May 3
With a burning desire to swing like Annika Sorenstam or Irina Brar, six women went through paces with passion in equal measure learning the basics of golf on the greens of the Chandiarh Golf Club.

Bunty stars in United Sports Club win
Chandigarh, May 3
A fine all-round performance by Narinder Bunty (81 runs and three for 14) enabled United Sports Club to defeat HDFC Bank XI by four wickets in the IVth Sports World Cup League Cricket Tournament being organised by the Chandigarh Sports Club here at Government Model Senior Secondary School in Sector 32 today.