Chennai company man missing
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 20 — An executive of a Chennai-based company has been missing for the past six days since he checked out of a Sector 35 hotel. The executive, Mr Ravi Murugan, was reportedly carrying nearly Rs 60,000 with him.

He had checked out of the hotel and boarded an autorickshaw to reach the railway station on the morning of April 14. He was scheduled to board the Chandigarh — Delhi Shatbadi. As he did not reach home, members of his family reportedly contacted the local police, which ordered a search for him today.

A photograph of the missing executive has been displayed in various police stations and public places in the city, according to sources.

Theft: A man running a hardware shop in Sector 35 lost a sum of Rs 50,000 and goods worth Rs 20,000 when his shop was burgled. Mr Anil Gupta, owner of the shop told the police about the theft and a case under sections 457 and 380 of the IPC was registered.

Scooter stolen: A scooter (CHC-4419), owned by Mr Raja Ram of Sector 21 was stolen from the parking outside the Municipal Corporation Office in Sector 17.

Eve-teasers held: Two eve-teasers have been nabbed from the city in separate incidents. A resident of Bapu Dham Colony, Kumar Saini, was nabbed for allegedly uttering words with intention to insult of a woman and threaten her with dire consequences. He has been booked under sections 509 and 506 of the IPC.

Mr Ram Tula of Palsora Colony has been arrested for eve teasing from the Sector 40 market. He has been booked under Section 294 of the IPC.

Collision: A truck (PB-11-C-5126), driven by Baldev Singh of Sangrur district, collided with a bus (HR-03-7619) driven by Ram Phal of Sonepat district near the traffic lights at the transport area in Sector 26.

Case registered: A local woman, who was married in Jaipur, has alleged that her husband and in-laws were harassing her and maltreating her for bringing insufficient dowry. Ms Sonika Kalra, a resident of Sector 37 has alleged that her husband and his family living in Raj Park, Jaipur, used to harass her. A case under sections 406 and 498-A of the IPC has been registered.

Assault case: A man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting his landlady and trespassing into her house. Paramjit Singh was arrested and booked under sections 447, 448, 323 and 506 of the IPC. Mrs Pyar Kaur had alleged that Paramjit Singh along with Tejpal Singh had trespassed into her house and assaulted her.

Ghalib award for Dr Naresh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 20 — Dr Naresh, an eminent Urdu poet and professor of modern literature at Panjab University, was given the Ghalib award for his contribution to Urdu literature by the Ghalib Educational Society at a function held at Solan yesterday. The award carries a cash award of Rs 5100, a shawl, a memento and a certificate.

Speaking at the function, Dr Naresh, said the basic function of literature was to build a healthy society. He called upon young writers to uphold the time-tested values which he has himself advocated in his writings.

A number of ghazal singers presented Dr Naresh’s poetry while Mr KC Dubey, Station Director, AIR, Shimla, and Mr Jagdish Sharma, Secretary of the Himachal Bhasha Academy, highlighted Dr Naresh’s contribution to literature. Earlier, Dr ZR Siddiqi, Secretary of the Ghalib Educational Society, welcoming Dr Naresh, said that he had inspired writers and poets through his fascinating writings.

Invited : Dr Meenakshi Goyal, Lecturer, Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, has been invited by the American Carbon Society to attend its 24th biennial conference on carbon, to be held in Charleston, South Carolina,USA from July 11 to 16.

She will present a research paper on ``Absorption of nickel from aqueous solution by activated carbons’’ which falls under the purview of activated carbon for environment clean-up.

Appeal : The President of the students council, Mr DPS Randhawa, met the Vice-Chancellor, Prof MM Puri, Registrar, Prof Paramjit Singh, and Controller of Examination, Dr Sodhi Ram, regarding the uncertainty in the conduct of undergraduate and postgraduate examinations.

The university authorities assured that they were willing to conduct the exams but were helpless in the wake of callous and irresponsible attitude of the Punjab Government.

Since the postponement of examinations was affecting the cause of the students adversely, the council has appealed to the Punjab government to look into the matter with a sense of urgency. Such irresponsible behaviour of the government shows lack of understanding, he said.

Further, Mr Randhawa has appealed to the authorities to conduct the final year examination so that students wishing to seek admissions to various courses are not affected by the delay in declaration of results.

Ban on watering of lawns
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 20 — To meet the increased demand of water on account of the summer season, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) today banned the watering of lawns during the morning supply hours.

According to a press note here, the use of booster pumps on supply lines is illegal and would invite disconnection of water supply.

It urged the residents to cooperate and avoid the wastage of water due to washing of vehicles, courtyards, leakages from the overhead tanks and water coolers.

Meeting: The house tax assessment committee at its meeting here today passed various draft bylaws formulated by the civic body, according to sources.

Members of the committee also put forth certain suggestions regarding the bylaws. The bylaws were likely to be finalised at the next meeting of the committee, the sources added.

Dharna: Members of the Electricity Streetlight Employees and Workers Union today held a dharna outside the electrical subdivision in support of their demands.

In a press note the union warned that if the demands, a charter of which had already been submitted to the civic body authorities, were not met by April 30, another dharna would be organised outside the office of the Mayor.

100 p.c. hike in one day
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 20 — The prices of most vegetables have recorded a sharp hike in the local market during the past 24 hours.

A survey of the market today revealed that cauliflower, cabbage and peas have witnessed about a two-fold hike in their prices during this period.

If a kg of cauliflower was available for Rs 5 in the Sector 46 Apni Mandi yesterday, it was priced today at Rs 10 in Sector markets. The wholesale price of the vegetable has also jumped from Rs 20 to Rs 40 per 5 kg during this period.

The hike in the case of cabbage was even more: a kg of the vegetable, priced between Rs 3 and Rs 4 yesterday, was available today for Rs 8 in different city markets.

According to traders, the prices have risen due to a steep shortfall in arrivals from the surrounding areas of Punjab and Haryana.

Similarly, the hike was also noticeable in case of peas. A kg of the 'pahari' variety which was available for between Rs 20 and Rs 24 yesterday, could be purchased today for Rs 32.

The wholesale price of the vegetable has also gone up from Rs 90 to Rs 140 per 5 kg during this period. "In fact, during the past two days, there have been very little arrivals of the vegetable from different parts of Himachal Pradesh, from where the vegetable has been coming from after the arrivals of local variety had stopped during the last week of March," said a trader.

Beans, the price of which had remained almost stable between Rs 12 and Rs 15 a kg, during the past month, too, has jumped considerably. These were priced in the market today at Rs 20 per kg. Enquiries revealed that like most other vegetables, the arrivals of beans too were below normal.

On the other hand, capsicum and tomato have become cheaper during this period. A kg of capsicum, price between Rs 80 and Rs 100 yesterday, was available for Rs 48 today. The wholesale price of the vegetable has decreased from Rs 400 to Rs 200 per 5 kg during this period.

If a kg of tomato was priced at Rs 16 yesterday, it was available today between Rs 10 and Rs 12. According to traders, the wholesale price of the vegetable has decreased from Rs 60 to Rs 45 today. They attributed the fluctuation to increasing arrivals from different parts of Punjab.

On the fruit front, the prices remained almost stable during this period.

The prices of other vegetables and fruits is as follows:—gourd-Rs 10 a kg, lady's finger-Rs 32, bittergourd-Rs 32, brinjal-Rs 12, carrot-Rs 12, cucumber-Rs 8 (local), Rs 20 (pahari), lemon-Rs 48, garlic-Rs 20, onion-Rs 8, potato-Rs 3, radish-Rs 5, grapes-Rs 40, mango-(safeda)-Rs 25, (perry)-Rs 30, papaya-Rs 20, watermelon-Rs 8, melon-Rs 20, pomegranate-Rs 40, pineapple-Rs 25 per piece, orange-Rs 50 per dozen.