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Devotees throng temples on Ram Navami

Chandigarh, April 11 Devotees thronged temples all over the city to mark the Ram Navami celebrations here today. The celebrations started early as devotees, with flowers in their hands, proceeded towards the temples before dawn.
DIVINE LIGHTS: The temple of Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, Sector 20, decked up on the occasion of Ram Navami in Chandigarh on Friday. — Tribune photo Karam Singh

Confusion over bank holidays
Chandigarh, April 11
Confusion over bank holidays prevailed in the city today. The banking sector did not know what to do. Late tonight the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) intervention had been sought to decide if April 14 would be closed day or not.

$ 3,500, jewellery stolen
Chandigarh, April 11
Burglars decamped with $ 3,500 (approximately 1.70 lakh in Indian currency), around 11 tolas of gold jewellery and expensive clothes from a locked house in Sector 30 here yesterday.

Rich prisoners call shots in Burail Jail
Chandigarh, April 11
Inequality is common here. Why else would some undertrials lodged in Model Burail Jail be treated to the finest of delicacies while others denied even their rightful share of food? Reports of disparity among prisoners are not new. But now there is a new edge to these reports. In this jail, the influential undertrials call the shots. At times, where poor prisoners have to go without food if they miss their breakfast, the privileged and the influential sit back and enjoy the best of facilities

TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE
Air-conditioning giant in tax evasion net
Chandigarh, April 11
The UT Excise and Taxation Department has unearthed a major sales tax evasion scam involving air-conditioning giant Kirloskar Copeland, which has its office in Phase II, Industrial Area here. After a 10-month-long investigation, the department has slapped a tax of Rs 30.25 lakh on the company, which made “bogus” sales of Rs 2.40 crore between 2001 and 2003 with a view to evade tax.

DD plans to check rivals
To launch ad campaign to improve image
SAS Nagar, April 11
Doordarshan has finally woken up. With media wars pin pricking at its monopolist image, Doordarshan has decided to turn around and go aggressive. In the coming months, Indian newspapers and magzines are going to be flooded with an innovative advertisement campaign by Doordarshan against other TV channels, countering their claims and projecting their own.

COMMUNITY

12,000 quintal wheat arrives in Sec 26 Chandigarh, April 11 As many as 12,000 quintals of wheat arrived in the Sector 26 Grain Market here, by this evening. However, in the adjoining grain markets of Panchkula, Dera Bassi, Amlala, Samgoli and Sohana, the wheat arrival had not picked up pace yet. Heaps of wheat in the local Grain Market of Sector 26, Chandigarh, on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

‘Holistic strategy needed to counter foeticide’
SAS Nagar, April 11
“The strategy to combat female foeticide and infanticide has to be contextualised as well as operationalised considering the gender inter-linkages. It is important to view the strategy and implement it in a holistic manner rather than as ad hoc initiatives,’’ stated Dr Rainuka Dagar, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), Chandigarh, during a session of a two-day workshop on female foeticide organised by the IDC here today.

First heritage hotel in region
Ramgarh (Panchkula), April 11
A perfect weekend getaway for the residents of this region, it is a tourist attraction that will put this small hamlet, 7 km from Panchkula, on the world heritage tourism map. The first heritage hotel in the region, Fort Ramgarh, will open to the public tomorrow.

Psychoanalysing your personality
Chandigarh, April 11
If assessing your personality has been on your mind, here is a chance right at your doorstep or rather through your telephone lines. Dr Wilfred A Cassell and Dr B.L. Dubey have come out with a complete package of psychoanalysis comprising a manual called “Interpreting Inner World Through Somatic Imagery,” a videotape and a website. 

Devotees participate in nagar kirtan
Panchkula, April 11
The management committee, Gurdwara Sahib, Sector 12, took out a nagar kirtan before Baisakhi. The procession, comprising a palanquin with Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Panj Piaras, a brass band, schoolchildren, gatka artistes and devotees in trucks and trolleys, started from Sector 12 Gurdwara Sahib. 

BJP warns of cholera outbreak
Chandigarh, April 11
Accusing the Congress-ruled municipal corporation of failing to ensure supply of safe drinking water to residents of the city, the BJP today said this could lead to an outbreak of cholera, especially in slum colonies.

2 victims of mishap critical
SAS Nagar, April 11
Four persons, including two Punjab cops posted in the CID wing, were injured seriously when a Fiat Uno car they were travelling in collided with a pick-up truck near Balongi barrier on the Chandigarh-Ludhiana road last night. The four have been admitted to a private nursing home here and the condition of two of them is said to be serious.

DEBATE
SAVE SUKHNA

CRIME

3 ‘smugglers’ hit police team, SHO hurt
SAS Nagar, April 11
In a daring incident, three persons smuggling liquor in a Tata Safari hit a police party when they were asked to stop the vehicle at the YPS roundabout naka here this morning. The Phase VIII Station House Officer (SHO) was hurt in the incident and a police vehicle was badly damaged. The vehicle then sped towards Kharar and was chased by a Sub-Inspector in another vehicle. The three incumbents of the Tata Safari deserted the vehicle just after the Kharar border and fled.

ASI suspended for demanding bribe
Chandigarh, April 11
An Assistant Sub-Inspector of the Chandigarh Police, Mahavir, has been placed under suspension for demanding a bribe from a Sector 20 resident, Mr Ranbir Singh Cheema. The ASI had demanded Rs 10,000 from Mr Cheema for the settling of an assault case in the favour of the latter.

Chain, cash stolen
Panchkula, April 11
Unknown miscreant (s) broke into the Sector 12 house of Ms Renu Khanna yesterday and stole a gold chain and some cash. The burglars reportedly entered the house by breaking open a window when no one was home. A case has been registered under various Sections of the IPC.

BUSINESS

Can Asia to challenge Canadian rules
Chandigarh, April 11
To safeguard the interests of its clients who have been affected by the retroactive provisions of Bill C-11, the new set of immigration rules that has come into effect from April 1,Can Asia Immigration Consultancy Services Limited has decided to challenge the retroactive provisions of the Bill in the Federal Court of Canada.

Bygone era recreated by Art Karat
Chandigarh, April11
The name Asha Komal Modi is not new for jewellery lovers of the city. Asha, under the banner of Art Karat, has now brought a collection of semi-precious jewellery that promises to revive the romanticism of the bygone era in an exhibition dedicated to legendary beauties of the Indian cinema.

EDUCATION

765 students awarded degrees

Chandigarh, April 11 As many as 765 graduates were awarded degrees at the annual convocation of the MCM DAV College for Women, Sector 36, here today. Mr G.P. Chopra, an eminent educationist, delivered the convocation address and Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, MP, was the chief guest. Beauty sleep: Students of MCM DAV College, Sector 36, at their annual convocation in Chandigarh on Friday. — Tribune photo Pankaj Sharma

Students protest postponement of exams
Panchkula, April 11
Students of B.Com. II and of various computer courses offered by Zed Career Academy at Government College, Panchkula were in for a rude shock this afternoon. Days of preparation for their annual examinations went down the drain when they learnt that the examination for today had been postponed because of the ongoing holidays at Kurukshetra University.

Mind your language!
Chandigarh, April 11
‘Creating a good teacher is equivalent to teaching 100 students’ was the guideline for Mr D.S. Bedi, Principal of Shivalik Public School, when he started a language laboratory in his school in Sector 41 to teach phonetics to the teaching community. Equipped with all modern infrastructure, the laboratory is going to be operative by the end of this month.

PU needs more teachers for evaluation work
Chandigarh, April 11
Far lesser than the required number of examiners from the Panjab University faculty are involved in the evaluation job of answer sheets.

COURTS

Rape accused acquitted
Chandigarh, April 11
Four persons, including three Central Reserve Police Force( CRPF ) jawans and a rickshaw-puller suspected to be involved in a rape of a blind woman in Daria village, were acquitted by a local court. The three CRPF jawans — Fateh Singh, Gauri and Suraj, and rickshaw-pullar, Sham Lal, were acquitted by UT Additional and Sessions Judge as prosecution failed to prove the allegation levelled against them.

CULTURE

An evening of absorbing melodies
Chandigarh, April 11
Sangeeta Bandopadhyay’s performance spoke for her rich musical lineage. Born into the family of the world famous tabla player Sankha Chatterjee, Sangeeta cherishes music. Fortunate to have been initiated into music by Chinmoy Lahiri, the soul behind the Music Department of Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, Sangeeta fell in love with the techniques of Indian classical rendition very early in life.

Chicago-based artiste excels Chandigarh, April 11 For Vir Das, a Chicago-based theatre artiste, standing in front of an audience for one and half hours and make them laugh with his dialogues and actions may be just like a workout to stay fit, but for his audience his act comes as a refreshing change. As this young artiste projected controversial issues and portrayed complex human behaviour through his actions and witty dialogues, it was enough to send the audience into peals of laughter. At the same time, Das’ efforts made them think seriously. A scene from a comedy play, “Bored of the Things”, by Vir Das at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh, on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

900 compete in cactus show
Panchkula, April 11
Over 900 entries from all over the region were received in the 26th annual show of cactus and other succulent plants, being held at the National Cactus and Succulent Botanical Garden and Research Garden here.

HEALTH

‘Give medicines from PGI dispensary’
Chandigarh, April 11
The failure of the PGI administration in providing medicines to its staff from the institute dispensary for the past few months is causing a lot of inconvenience to employees.

13 diarrhoea patients admitted in hospitals
Chandigarh, April 11
With the onset of summer, cases of diarrhoea, especially from slum colonies, have started pouring in at city hospitals. According to a health official, 13 patients, including six children, suffering from diarrohoea have been admitted to hospital from Palsora, Nehru Colony and Dadu Majra.

SPORTS

Doping row shocks sports fraternity
Chandigarh, April 11
The recent doping controversy involving three sportspersons from Chandigarh, has shocked the local sports fraternity, but it has brought forth the need to be aware about drug abuse in sport. 

Jaanesh, Ekta reach last four
Chandigarh, April 11
Jaanesh Kaur and Ekrup made it to the last four of the girls under-14 section of the YMCA Total Tennis Tournament at the YMCA, Sector11. There was a major upset in the under-14 section when Mandeep Gill lost to unseeded Navdeep Singh of the Sector 16 centre.