C H A N D I G A R H

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TOP STORIES

Civil Services Exams
Two top 5 positions go to city
Chandigarh, May 4
With city residents getting two positions in top five and 10 out of top 100, Chandigarh continues its success tale at the All-India Civil Services Examination.

Setback to Congress
Panchkula MC chief’s election declared void
Panchkula, May 4
Hardly three days ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress got a major setback when a Panchkula court declared the election of the MC president, Ravinder Rawal, as illegal and void here today.
Congress workers raise slogans against the police at Dera Bassi on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Swine Flu
City gets stock of Tamiflu, finally
Chandigarh, May 4
Two days after Chandigarh Tribune carried the story, “City has no stock of Tamiflu”, the stockpile of drug, said to be the only effective medicine against the virus, has finally arrived in the city.

Rape, murder of 70-yr-old
Life imprisonment for two
Chandigarh, May 4
In the sensational murder and rape case of 71-year-old Sarla Devi in Sector 15 here, the court of the District and Sessions Judge, Kewal Krishan Garg, has sentenced Prakash and Mohammad Kadir to life imprisonment.

COMMUNITY

Roofs of two houses cave in
Chandigarh, May 4Roofs of two newly constructed houses in Kishangarh caved in this morning due to the use of low quality cement.





Lintel of a house at Kishangarh that fell on Monday. Tribune Photo: Vinay Malik

Mohali residents using parks for parking
Mohali, May 4
With the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) looking the other way, as many as 88 parks in the town are being misused by residents for parking their vehicles. The indifferent attitude of the GMADA authorities is causing not only damage to the public parks, but also depriving other residents of the use of open spaces for relaxation. 
Cars being parked at a park in Mohali. A Tribune photograph

Residents devise a novel way to fetch water at Ram Darbar in Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

No water, power supply for 6 hours at Mansa Devi Complex
Panchkula, May 4
It was harrowing experience for the residents of Mansa Devi Complex who had to go without drinking water as well as electricity supply for more than six hours here today. The officials concerned said the supply had been disrupted after the fault erupted in the transformer, which got feeding by HVPN. According to Devender Mahajan, president of the Sector 4 residential welfare association, Mansa Devi Complex, the electricity supply was discontinued since 4 pm and Sectors 4, 5 and Swastik Vihar were the worst hit. While the elders and patients faced hardship in the heat, the daily chores also put on halt as water supply was also affected in the region, said Major Gen GS Hundal (retd).

City swimming pools non-functional
Chandigarh, May 4
The city swimming enthusiasts will have to wait at least till “mid of May” to enjoy swimming as both the administration-run swimming pools are nonfunctional.






Repairing work under progress at Lake Club’s swimming pool, Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

Suicide: Father says it was murder
Chandigarh, May 4
Lending a twist to the alleged suicide of software engineer Karan Goel, his father today claimed that his son was murdered in a well-planned manner. With reports of his link-up with a city-based contestant of a reality show, residents of ESIC Colony in Sector 51, where Karan lived, also expressed doubts that it was a suicide.

File photo of Karan 

Cong, SAD intensify activities to woo voters
Mohali, May 4
As the elections to the Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha seat draw closer, political leaders and workers of various political parties are intensifying their activities to woo voters.

BJP star campaigners skip city
Chandigarh, May 4
Security concerns have thrown a spanner in the BJP’s plan to cash in on the charisma of three BJP star campaigners, Lal Krishan Advani, Hema Malini and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, with the Central government cancelling all scheduled rallies in the city.

BJP leaders outside a Panchkula court on Monday. A Tribune photograph 

Campaign hots up
Chandigarh May 4
Questions were raised from both BJP and Congress side from each other during their separate rallies today. While the BJP asked about the multi-crore losses because of stalling of mega projects proposed for Chandigarh during the Congress regime here, the Congress referred to BJP candidate Satya Pal Jain’s statements calling Chandigarh banks as Swiss banks. Jain pointed out official lapses during the Congress rule here, which caused multi-crore loss to the exchequer, whereas crores of rupees have been lying unutilised in banks for faulty planning. He was addressing various public rallies and talking to citizens during his padyatra in Sector 27 and the market of 22-D.

‘Vote for change’ enters next phase
Chandigarh, May 4
Surely the exams cannot dampen the spirit of the youth election brigade of Panjab University. The students of different departments of the university, who have gathered for the “Vote for change” campaign, have proudly announced the next phase of the drive.
Panjab University students wake up the youth of the city for a better government under the “Vote for change” campaign. Tribune photo: Manoj

Glare on Sukhna, traffic blues 
Chandigarh, May 4
Chandigarh is a proud city. Cleanliness is one thing we clearly boast off. We must support that the candidate who promises to take the city to the world map. The increasing traffic problem is the main issue of the city. The most persons spend maximum time travelling and if the situation here becomes like Delhi or Mumbai, what is the point?

First Time Voters
Read manifesto, then vote
Chandigarh, May 4
I am voting for the first time and I strongly believe that people should read the election manifesto of the parties, especially the one they want to vote for. It is time that we face the truth that the country is being divided in the name of reservations. 

Signature campaign for vote today
Chandigarh, May 4
Yet another awareness drive, “Please Cast you vote”, will be organised by the Chandigarh Citizen’s Council at the Plaza, Sector 17, from 6 pm tomorrow.

Police vigilance keeps drug peddlers off the streets
Chandigarh, May 4
Election time has surely proved a boon for residents of Ram Darbar, thanks to the constant police patrolling that has proved instrumental in keeping drug peddlers off the streets, at least for sometime now.




Police patrols at Ram Darbar, Chandigarh, in turn to keep peddlers away ahead of elections. A Tribune photograph 

Tricity police joins hands 
Chandigarh, May 4
Even as the Central government has not provided eight companies of the paramilitary forces to Chandigarh for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, the UT police is joining hands with its Mohali and Panchkula counterparts for the security arrangements.

Exhibition on modern kitchen concepts ends
Chandigarh, May 4
Kitchen and Beyond 2009, a CII’s exclusive exhibition on modern kitchen concepts, concluded today at the Himachal Bhavan. The exhibition got a great response.

Diploma engineers stage protest
Mohali, May 4
The Council of Diploma Engineers staged a protest against the recommendations of the 5th Pay Commission outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner here today.

Office-bearers elected
Chandigarh, May 4
Sumedh Singh Saini, Inspector-General of Police (Vigilance), Punjab, and Darshan Lal were unanimously re-elected as the president and general secretary of the Chandigarh UT Wrestling Association, respectively, at the general body meeting held at the Sector 10 Skating Rink here yesterday.

EDUCATION

Unique success stories
Chandigarh, May 4
The city today scripted two success stories in the All-India Civil Services examination and both are unique in their own way. While Sharanjit Kaur Brar, who stood second (all-India), has done her father, a farmer, proud in her third attempt, Virender Sharma who came fourth, appeared as a physically challenged candidate and was the only one to take his papers in Punjabi medium.
Virender Sharma (middle), who got the 4th rank in UPSC, being congratulated by his friends on Monday. Photo: Pradeep Tewari

Kuldeep Singh, Isha Kumar, Rahul Sharma, Ruby Jaspreet, Dr Asim Vohra

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Flag march in Dera Bassi, Lalru
Dera Bassi, May 4
The Dera Bassi and Lalru police today took out a flag march across the area to maintain the law and order situation prior to the elections. These flag marches were conducted in Lalru, Handesra, Dera Bassi, Barwala and nearby villages.

CRPF personnell take out a flag march at Rajpura on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Cops impound Cong leader’s car
Dera Bassi, May 4
High drama prevailed in Dera Bassi as the police impounded a vehicle belonging to a Congress leader on suspicion of liquor being smuggled in it. Giving the action a political colour, Congress leaders and supporters reached the police station and raised slogans against the cops for their “baseless” action.

Officers appointed to check code violation
Ropar, May 4
The Election Commission of India has appointed one officer each to keep a track on movement of candidates as well as videographers in Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha constituency.

6,645 voters in forces sent ballot papers
Ropar, May 4
As many as 6,645 voters in military, police and paramilitary forces of the Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha constituency have been sent ballot papers through which they will caste their votes.

Abolish law entrance test, says former MP
Ropar, May 4
Terming joint law entrance test of state as futile, former MP Avinash Rai Khanna has written to the state government asking to do away with the entrance test.

Polls cast shadow on blood bank
Patiala, May 4
Parliamentary elections have cast their shadow on the blood bank in the prestigious Government Rajindra Hospital here. The blood bank has been facing shortage of almost all blood groups, particularly of O positive, because there are no blood donors coming forth.

Placement drive at college
Kharar, May 4
A placement drive was conducted by the NIIT at Guru Gobind Singh College of Modern Technology here today.

COURTS

Protective discrimination can be made: HC
Chandigarh, May 4
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that posts cannot be reserved for “male” candidates, but protective discrimination in favour of women can be made.

Courts closed on May 7, 13
Chandigarh, May 4
For enabling the voters to exercise their franchise during the general elections, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has declared a holiday in all the courts in Haryana on May 7, and all the courts in Chandigarh on May 13. The high court will also remain closed on that day. — TNS

CRIME

Toy gun used for looting truck
Panchkula, May 4
The use of a toy gun in the looting of a truck has been detected by CIA staff of Panchkula. The CIA in charge of Panchkula, Kulbhushan, said the accused tied the driver and the cleaner of the truck on a gun point before fleeing with the vehicle.

One held for eve teasing 
Chandigarh, May 4
Sachin Kumar, a resident of Bhaskar Colony, Sector 25, was arrested for allegedly eve teasing from the dividing road of Sectors 18 and 21 yesterday.

Thieves decamp with valuables worth Rs 3 lakh
Chandigarh, May 4
Thieves decamped with valuables worth more than Rs 3 lakh from a house in Sector 40 here yesterday.

SPORTS

Kang, Bakshi lead city challenge in Haryana Open
Chandigarh, May 4
Seasoned Harjinder Singh Kang and all-India 2008 winner Rahul Bakshi will lead the Chandigarh challenge in the LG Haryana Open Amateur to be played on the Golden Greens and Country Club in Gurgaon from May 5 to May 8.

Ball b’minton tourney from May 9
Chandigarh, May 4
The Ball Badminton Sports Promotion Association, Chandigarh, will organise the 6th Sub-Junior Chandigarh State Ball Badminton Championship at Govt. Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, here, on May 9 and 10.

ewild wild web
IPL cricket and blogging
The country is reeling under the IPL T20 cricket mania. How could the bloggers lag behind? Lalit Modi swiftly shifted the venue of matches to South Africa and succeeded in thwarting ominous clouds over the new cricket fever away. The Internet-savvies, particularly young ones, indulge in blogging for exploring a hobby or passion, sharing information or making money, as the advertising on blog reached $283 millions in 2007 and is attaining new heights uninterruptedly. Blogging is also undertaken: