C H A N D I G A R H

Top stories | Community

Neighbourhood| Crime | Sports

TOP STORIES

RTE: Admn needs to look within
Chandigarh, December 29
Seemingly overzealous in its efforts to get the city’s privately run schools to implement the Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education Act (RTE), 2009, the UT administration appears to have overlooked putting its own house in order. With only three months left to implement the act, it is yet to pay any attention to the plight of its own schools considering they are far from ready to enforce the act’s provisions. While officials claim they are on the job none of them, however, expressed willingness to share the details.

New Year’s Eve
City under police gaze
Chandigarh, December 29
This New Year Eve, the city will be under the scanner of the authorities, who have chalked up plans to keep the entire city, vulnerable spots in particular, under close watch.

Khushpreet Kidnapping: Day 9
Clumsy policing helped suspects: Father
Chandigarh, December 29
The past nine days have turned his life that had been smooth sailing upside down. Ever since his brother received the first ransom call demanding Rs 10 lakh for his son’s release, Khushpreet’s father, Lakhbir Singh, has been unable to sleep. Suffering from severe depression and breaking down several times while recalling the sequence of events that made him lose track of the kidnappers last Wednesday, he said the harassment he faced at the hands of police during the ‘trap’ laid for the suspects gave him the most traumatic time.

Fog, rain continue to disrupt life
Chandigarh, December 29
Fog and drizzle kept the sun under wraps through most of the day except for a short spell of sunshine in the afternoon. It provided a little respite to the residents of the city from the biting chill, however, the mercury hovered two degrees above normal at the maximum level. Met officials predicted that fog and rain is likely to continue for the next day or two.

Commuters brave the winter rain in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

COMMUNITY

Pension Issue
Army HQs can’t impose curbs: AFT
Chandigarh, December 29
Holding that the Army Headquarters cannot on its own impose any restriction, which is not provided in the Pension Regulations, the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), has condoned the shortfall of service in the case of a jawan to enable him to earn a second pension after post-retirement re-employment. The issue raised before the AFT was whether the Army HQ could locally impose any such stipulation, which is not provided in the substantial provision of law governing a particular subject.

Kang will be back, says Chatrath
Chandigarh, December 29
JS Kang is being emotional in choosing to part ways with the Congress to contest the post of Mayor on being denied the party ticket. He belongs to a family of committed Congressmen and his return is nearly definite. There still are two days to go for the election.


Mayor Anu Chatrath and Deputy Mayor Bhupinder Singh at a press conference in Chandigarh on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Need to set up waste processing plants: Montek
Chandigarh, December 29
Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman, Planning Commission of India, delivered the valedictory address at the concluding day of the 93rd annual conference of the Indian Economic Association (IEA) on Panjab University campus here today.

High-security vehicle number plates not yet in sight
Chandigarh, December 29
Even after two years of dithering, the introduction of “high security” vehicle registration number plates still appears a distant dream. For the UT administration is still waiting for its two neighbouring states - Punjab and Haryana - to take the step first.

Youth detained for bad behaviour
Panchkula, December 29
High drama was witnessed during a district grievance committee meeting chaired by State Finance Minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav at the mini secretariat in Sector 1 here today.

Consumers urged to ask for bills
Mohali, December 29
To mark the National Consumer Rights Day, a function was organised by the Consumer Protection Federation Municipal here today. On the occasion, Mohali Deputy Commissioner Parveen Kumar urged consumers to be aware of their rights and must ask for a bill while purchasing anything.

Peace march for Ruchika
Panchkula, December 29
A candle light march was organised by family members and friends of Ruchika Girhotra, who had committed suicide on this day in 1993, three years after she was molested by former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore, to remember her on her 17th death anniversary.



Ruchika’s friends and relatives take out a candle march on her death anniversary
in Panchkula on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Residents protest against MC
Threaten to block national highway
Zirakpur, December 29
Residents of Pabhat village protested against Zirakpur Municipal Council officials for not considering their demands outside the council office here today.

Officials absent during check
Mohali, December 29
Subdivisional Magistrate Amit Talwar today carried out checks to see the attendance at district-level government offices.

Award for city forensic expert
Chandigarh, December 29
MC Joshi, Deputy Government Examiner of Questioned Documents, the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh, has been awarded the prestigious Union Home Minister’s Award for meritorious services. The award was conferred today at the inaugural session of the 21st All India Forensic Science Conference being held in Aurangabad.

Glimpses 2010
Moments captured on the lens by Tribune photographers Manoj Mahajan, Pradeep Tewari, S Chandan, Vinay Malik and Parvesh Chauhan

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Bacchus lovers have a ball in the open
Umesh Dewan and Aman Sood
Patiala, December 29
The city has become a paradise for boozers, as bacchus-lovers here, especially youngsters, have an easy access to drinks in every nook and corner of the city without any check.




Booze lovers drink without any fear of law at a public place in Patiala on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

RCA pocket Dhruv Pandove trophy
Patiala, December 29
The Rashtriya Cricket Academy (RCA), Rohtak, clinched the Dhruv Pandove Under-12 Cricket Tournament by defeating Dronacharya Cricket Foundation (DCF), Delhi, by 13 runs.

Three arrested for opening fire at police
Rajpura, December 29
The Rajpura police today arrested three persons for opening fire at a police party this afternoon during a marriage party.







The police shows seized weapons at Rajpura on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph 

2 brothers held for robbery
Lalru, December 29
The Lalru police has busted a gang of robbers with the arrest of two brothers, who are members of the gang, here today. An Indica car and a knife were found in their possession. They committed a robbery at Sarsini village on Monday night.

Resident alleges police inaction
Ambala, December 29
Darshan Lal, a resident of Sarafa Bazar, Ambala Cantonment, has alleged torture and harassment at the hands of his son’s in-laws and accused the Yamunanagar police of inaction in the matter.

CRIME

Santa Claus figure burnt, 2 cops suspended
Chandigarh, December 29
Unidentified miscreants set afire the effigy of Santa Claus placed at Sukhna Lake in connection of Christmas celebrations late last night.




Unholy Spirit:A figure of Santa Claus put up at Sukhna Lake as part of Christmas celebrations was set on fire by unknown miscreants on Tuesday night. Two policemen were suspended for dereliction of duty. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

SI transferred following complaint
Chandigarh, December 29
Senior police officials today transferred a female sub-inspector following allegations of corruption against her.

Biker killed, another hurt in accident
Panchkula, December 29
One person was killed while another seriously injured when the motor cycle they were riding was hit by a truck coming from the opposite direction near Amrawati Enclave on the National Highway-22 here this morning.

SPORTS

Four schools may have slice of Sec-42 stadium AstroTurf
Chandigarh, December 29
The Chandigarh Sports Department is contemplating donating the worn-out AstroTurf at the Hockey Stadium, Sector 42, to four local government schools next year.





A damaged portion of the AstroTurf at the Hockey Stadium in Sector 42, Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Kharar academy start on winning note
Chandigarh, December 29
APJ Kharar Cricket Academy started their campaign on a winning note after beating DAV-8 Cricket Academy (DCA) by six wickets in the Inter-Academy Winter League at DAV School, Sector 8, here today.

SGGS College emerge victorious
Chandigarh, December 29
SGGS College, Sector 26, emerged as the champion in the Panjab University Volleyball (men) A-Division Championship, which concluded at the PU courts here today.

Veteran athlete brings laurels to Mohali
Chandigarh, December 29
Veteran athlete Ragbir Singh Bhullar brought laurels to Mohali district by winning a gold and a silver medal in the recently concluded Punjab Masters Athletics Meet at Mastuana Sahib, Sangrur. He won the gold medal in 200m race (28.76 seconds) and silver medal in 400m race (1:05.78 seconds) in the 55-plus category.

Ragbir Singh Bhullar

A day of records at Tau Devi Lal Stadium
Panchkula, December 29
The final day of the 17th IBSA National Sports Meet for the Blind at Tau Devi Lal Stadium here witnessed a number of record-breaking performances.



Players of The Chandigarh Institute for the Blind in a jubilant mood after their wins in the 17th IBSA National Sports Meet for the Blind in Panchkula on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Sunfire Rockets on winning spree
Chandigarh, December 29
Continuing their winning spree, Sunfire Rockets beat Pace Riders by 13 runs in the ongoing Tricity Premier League at Banyan Tree School grounds here today.



Players in action during a match in Chandigarh on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph