Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Ekta are lathi-charged as they try to break the police cordon at Matka Chowk in Chandigarh's Sector 17 on Wednesday — A Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Agitating farmers teargassed CHANDIGARH, Sept 29 — The UT Police today resorted to cane charge and tear gas shelling to disperse hundreds of farmers who had converged from all over Punjab to protest against low paddy price at the Sector 17, Housing Board roundabout here today. Farmers from Punjab were lathi-charged and teargassed after they broke the barricades created by the UT Police.

Cops hold another meeting; media kept at bay
CHANDIGARH, Sept 29 — The UT police, following criticism from the local units of the SAD-BJP alliance, SP and Lok Shakti over its alleged failure on the law and order front during a meeting from where the leaders of these parties had staged a walkout yesterday, today held a closed door meeting with leaders of these parties, keeping the media at an arm's length.

Shatabdi takes 10 minutes more
CHANDIGARH, Sept 29 — Contrary to expectations, the running time of the Shatabdi Express between Chandigarh and New Delhi has increased by 10 minutes from three hours following electrification of the train.

2 held for servant's murder
PANCHKULA, Sept 29 — The local police has arrested Kamal Singh and Vijay Singh, natives of Rudraprayaag and residents of Mani Majra, for their involvement in the murder of Gopal, a servant of Justice S.P. Goyal, who was found dead on September 22.

Who will be Controller of Examination?
SAS NAGAR, Sept 29 — Who will be the new Controller of Examination of the Punjab School Education Board? The question has assumed importance as the term of the present incumbent ends tomorrow and the issue of filling of the post threatens to snowball into a major controversy.

Sector 7 businessman hurt in attack
PANCHKULA, Sept 29 — A Sector 7 businessman, Jaspal Singh, was seriously injured by armed assailants when he went to the basement rented out to him in the same market to wind up some deals here today.

Doctor booked for negligence
SAS NAGAR, Sept 29 — The local police has booked an orthopaedic surgeon running a private clinic in Phase 2 here for causing death of a 34-year-old patient due to alleged negligence.

'Problems plague industrial units'
PANCHKULA, Sept 29 — The industrial units in the township are plagued by problems like bad roads, inadequate water supply, inefficient solid waste disposal management and transport system and insufficient electricity supply.

Updating parents on flaw of wards
CHANDIGARH, Sept 29 — Updating parents on the flaws and drawbacks of their wards in the written examination marked the counselling camp at DAV Public School, Sector 8, here today.

Challan served in kickbacks case
CHANDIGARH, Sept 29 — In the ongoing kickbacks case, the Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, today served on the accused copies of supplementary challan filed by the Chandigarh Administration.

Protest rally by doctors
LALRU, Sept 29 — Medical Officers of Dera Bassi subdivision yesterday held a rally in the civil hospital to protest against the decision of the Punjab Government to give panchayats the task of supervising the work of doctors.

Villagers stage dharna
ZIRAKPUR, Sept 29 — More than 150 persons, including women, all residents of Chhat village and its surrounding areas, today staged a dharna for about four hours to protest against the arrest of Mr Gurcharan Singh, a former Sarpanch of Chhat village, in front of Lohgarh police post here today.

GMCH to have blood component centre
CHANDIGARH, Sept 29 — The Sector 32 Government Medical College Hospital will soon have a blood component complex with all modern facilities for conserving blood.

Octroi at SAS Nagar to be privatised
SAS NAGAR, Sept 29 — Even as the councillors of the local Municipal Council today unanimously opposed the move of privatisation of octroi collection in the municipal limits, the Executive Officer of the council, acting on the directives of the government, has decided to go ahead with the privatisation move.

Conference in city on radiodiagnosis from Oct 1
CHANDIGARH, Sept 29 — More than 4,000 delegates from all over India are expected to participate in the sixth national conference of the Indian Association of Radiological Technologists to be organised by the Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging of the PGI here from October 1 to 3.

Generation gap “not a major problem”
CHANDIGARH, Sept 29 — The Senior Citizens Association of Chandigarh, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, celebrated the International Year of Senior Citizens at Lajpat Rai Bhavan here today.

Controversy over PUTA's demand
CHANDIGARH, Sept 29 — The demand of the Panjab University Teachers Association for allocation of seats in the Senate previously meant for teachers and principals of Haryana to teachers of the campus has generated a controversy.

Performance of students to be monitored
CHANDIGARH, Sept 29 — With a view to streamlining the functioning of the technical institutions functioning under the Directorate of Technical Education, UT, and to monitor the performance of students, certain directives have been issued to the heads of these institutions.

Fencing to reduce traffic congestion
ZIRAKPUR, Sept 29 — The Buildings and Roads wing of the Punjab Public Works Department is installing a fence along the central verge of the road here.