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Dacoits strike at Palheri village, three injured
Palheri (Kharar), July 25
Three persons, including a woman, were seriously injured when dacoits struck at two houses in Palheri village falling under Mullanpur-Garibdass police station in the wee hours of today. All victims were sleeping when they were attacked.

Family members of Harmel Singh narrate the dacoity incident which took place at their house at Palheri village in Kharar on Friday morning. Harmel and his wife were seriously injured in the incident and are admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh. — Photo Manoj Mahajan

Dacoities, robberies add to police worries
Chandigarh, July 25
An alarming increase in the incidence of robberies and dacoities leaving behind a trail of destruction, including bloodshed, has been worrying the Punjab and Haryana police.

Now pay through cheque for minor traffic violation
Chandigarh, July 25
The Chandigarh police has decided to extend the facility of on-the-spot payment through cheques for motor vehicle that are registered in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali and have been challaned.

Squatters to get identical flats, says Verma
Chandigarh, July 25
Giving final shape to the process of rehabilitation of slum-dwellers, the UT Administrator, Justice O.P. Verma (retd), today said all eligible squatters would be given identical flats. He ruled out a suggestion for an independent plot or site for any eligible squatter in future. Justice Verma said there should not be any discrimination amongst eligible squatters.

Who is the VC of PU?
Chandigarh, July 25
Who is the Vice Chancellor of Panjab University? Is it Prof R.P. Bambah or Prof T.N. Kapoor? The fact of the matter is that none of the two are the present incumbents of the post, however, the local office of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) sends bills of the office and the official residence at the campus in their names.

Coming to rescue of harassed husbands
Chandigarh, July 25
For those who thought all privileges in the world were exclusively reserved for women, here is a chance to think afresh. A group of city lawyers, well posted about the fact that there is no one to give a patient hearing to men, have floated a special cell that will cater to those, who are seeking legal recourse in matters of harassment at the hands of their wives.

Converting wasteland into bird sanctuary

Chandigarh, July 25 Government College of Art (GCA), Sector 10, is getting closer to nature these days. Engaged in something that can well qualify as an eco conservation drive, the college authorities are setting an example for all the institutions, blessed with vast, unutilised patches of land. The beautiful pond created at the entrance to Government Art College, Sector 10, to enhance the beauty of the ambience, is all lotus and lilies these days. — Tribune photo Pankaj Sharma

COMMUNITY

Bulldozers in Grain Market, echo in Delhi
Advani “approached” to stop demolitions

Chandigarh, July 25 More than 150 illegal sheds set up by traders in the grain, fruit and vegetable market in Sector 26 were demolished by a team of the Chandigarh Administration today as part of the ongoing drive to remove encroachments in the city. A demolition drive in progress at Grain Market, Sector 26, Chandigarh on Friday. — Tribune photo Pankaj Sharma

Political pressure ends demolition drive
SAS Nagar, July 25
Bowing to the alleged political pressure the enforcement staff of Punjab Infotech Limited (erstwhile ELTOP) cancelled a major demolition drive in the Industrial Area here today leaving the local administration which had made elaborate arrangements high and dry.

Panel not in favour of powers for Mayor
Chandigarh, July 25
Talking about the sensitive issue of executive powers within the Municipal Corporation, the Legal Affairs Committee of the Municipal Corporation today suggested that powers should be wrested with the Commissioner and not the Mayor.

Kiwis formulating new immigration policy
Chandigarh, July 25
A new immigration policy is on the anvil in New Zealand, which will adversely affect people of this part of the country, says Ms Anuradha Sharma, a former Visa Officer in the New Zealand High Commission in Delhi and an immigration consultant.

Demand to extend ‘lal dora’ village heads
Chandigarh, July 25
Leaders of various villages of Chandigarh today asked by the Chandigarh Administration to extend “lal dora” and remove liquor vends operating from kiosks located near villages and encroachments from the “shamlat” (common) land in villages.

NGOs get Rs 25 lakh for welfare schemes
Chandigarh, July 25
The Chandigarh Social Welfare Advisory Board, one of the prime NGO funding agencies in the city, has cleared grants-in-aid to the tune of Rs 25 lakh for executing various social welfare schemes in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Paving way for success
Chandigarh, July 25
Having worked with the Cambridge Youth Enterprise Agency for over five year now, Vidya Sagar knows exactly what it takes to motivate children and youth towards success. As an instructor and motivator back home in Cambridge, Vidya Sagar has long been involved in generating confidence among children who come from a poor family background.

S.K. Sharma installed Rotary Club president
Chandigarh, July 25
Prof S.K. Sharma, Director, Energy Research Centre, Panjab University, was installed as the 27th president of the Rotary Club of Chandigarh Midtown in an impressive ceremony at a local hotel here today evening.

READERS WRITE
Catchy billboards and garbage dumps
“Mera shahar usday shahar ton sohana kyon nahin hai’’ (why is my city not more beautiful than his), ‘‘Clean Mohali-Green Mohali’’ — such billboards written in bold letters on freshly painted billboards on the road crossings greet the visitor as he enters Mohali from Chandigarh.

Cyclist run over by Punjab Roadways bus
Panchkula, July 25
An unidentified cyclist was run over by a speeding Punjab Roadways bus this afternoon. The accident took place near the Command Hospital and the victim received serious injuries on his head.

CRIME

Police files challan in immoral trafficking case
Chandigarh, July 25
The UT police today filed a challan against five persons, including Kiran “aunty”, alias Kamlesh, in an immoral trafficking case. The flesh trade racket, being operated from Delhi, was busted by the Chandigarh Police on May 25. The police had arrested three girls aged between 20 and 25 years and a pimp, Anil Sharma.

Briefcases containing 70,000 stolen
Chandigarh, July 25
An SAS Nagar resident, Mr Tejinder Pal Singh, became poorer by Rs 70,000 after his two briefcases containing the money were stolen from Sector 17 yesterday. The briefcases were lying in his Honda City car (CH03 A 7035). A case has been registered under Section 379 of the IPC.

Owner cries thief as thieves drive off car
Chandigarh, July 25
A thief took away car of Mr Om Prakash Bansal, resident Sector 10 Panchkula, from near Solitaire Restaurant, Mani Majra in front of his eyes in the late hours here today.

BUSINESS

Laser show adds ‘spice’ to dull evening
Chandigarh, July 25
Spice Telecom organised, a colourful event, “Spice Laser Show” for its subscribers at Sector 17, Chandigarh. The laser theme show depicted the evolution of man and his subsequent transformation from the Stone Age to today’s wire free mobile world. Besides, it also depicted the reach of the Spice network in the state and all over the country due to its tie-ups with nearly 300 operators in over 155 countries.

Raveena to open new beauty centre

EDUCATION

PF rate to figure at Syndicate meeting
Chandigarh, July 25
Resentment prevails among employees of Panjab University over the proposed reduction in the rate of interest on provident fund from the existing 10.75 per cent to 7.5 per cent quarterly. The matter will come up for consideration at the Syndicate meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

Private schools take to ‘maths labs’
Chandigarh, July 25
The recent CBSE move to tackle “maths phobia” among students by making the subject practical-oriented has drawn enthusiasm from private schools but the Education Department has yet to decide about introducing, “ mathematic labs” in government schools.

Polytechnic staff hold rally Chandigarh, July 25 The teaching and non-teaching staff of ITIs and polytechnics from all over Punjab held a rally at Takniki Sikhsha Bhavan Sector 36, here today, against the Punjab Government’s decision to hand over 18 polytechnics, 106 ITIs and four engineering colleges to the private sector under the Public-Private Participation Scheme.

Employees of polytechnics and ITIs, Punjab, hold a rally in support of their demands at Takniki Sikhiya Bhavan, Sector 36, Chandigarh, on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

Strike by students

Chandigarh, July 25 Students of Government College, Sector 11, today observed an hour- long strike on the college campus to demand appointment of adequate staff on regular or ad hoc basis, removal of restrictions on the number of seats allotted to different subjects, installation of incoming telephones in hostel and permission to keep mobile phones in the hostel Students of Government College protest in support of their demands outside the college in Sector 11, Chandigarh, on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

Exhibition of craft works SAS Nagar, July 25 An exhibition of craft works prepared by students of DAV Public School, Phase 10, during their summer vacation was inaugurated by Mr Yashvir Mahajan, Additional Chief Administrator, PUDA, here today. Mr Yashvir Mahajan, ACA, PUDA, at an exhibition organised by DAV Public School, Phase X, SAS Nagar, on Friday.

Results declared
Chandigarh, July 25
Panjab University’s Department of Correspondence Studies has declared the results of M.Com I, MFC I and MFC II conducted earlier this year, an official press note said here today.

BSc (I) reappear exam on Aug 4
Chandigarh, July 25
The reappear examination of BSc I (honours school) has been postponed from July 28 to August 4, a press release of the Students Organisation of Panjab University said here today.

COURTS

Probe charges, court tells police
Panchkula, July 25
Taking up a complaint case filed against a "human rights activist" accused of cheating, the court of the Judicial Magistrate today directed the police to investigate the matter after registering a case.

Engineers asked to keep Sukhna’s level in check
Chandigarh, July 25
Taking up the save Sukhna Lake case, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the engineers concerned to ensure that there was no danger to city residents.

CULTURE

Young singer yearns for devotional music
Chandigarh, July 25
Ivan Charles is like any other average boy of his age - listening to techno music, chilling out in the Fun City and writing poems instead of doing home work. But when it comes to utilising his singing talent, this class VIII student of Mount Carmel School, here, is singularly focussed. He wants to dedicate his voice to devotional music.

Cultural programme at Press Club
Chandigarh, July 25
The Chandigarh Press Club, in association with Blazeflash Couriers will organise a Punjabi cultural programme, “Sitare Punjab De”, and “Sur aradhana awards-2003” function on the club premises here tomorrow evening.

HEALTH

Cosmetic surgery a necessity, says surgeon
Chandigarh, July 25
Terming cosmetic surgery as a necessity and not a luxury, the first Indian to become an International Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeon, Dr B.P. Singh, said seeing the need of the hour it was high time that government introduced it as a separate faculty in medical colleges and hospitals.

NPA withdrawal starts pre-mature retirement trend
Chandigarh, July 25
Punjab Government’s decision to withdraw non-practicing allowance (NPA) being given to doctors, could lead to a number of medical officers working with the UT Health Department seeking pre-mature retirement, so as to avoid deduction in their pension.

Rare endoscopic neurosurgery
Panchkula, July 25
A rare endoscopic neurosurgery for removing colloid cyst in the brain has been successfully performed by Dr Anupam Jindal at Kaiser Hospital here. The hospital claims that this is the first time that such an advanced surgery has been performed in the region, north of Delhi.

SPORTS

Haryana officers  badminton meet from today
Chandigarh, July 25
All arrangements have been completed to host the two-day first Haryana Government Officers Badminton Championship to be held in Indoor Badminton Hall of the Haryana Police Housing Corporation, Panchkula, on July 26 and 27. This was stated by Mr Devinder Singh, chairman, organising committee of the championship, here today.

278 sports wing seats for 22 schools
Chandigarh, July 25
In a significant decision which will boost school sports in the city, the Sports Department, Chandigarh Administration, has decided to allot 278 sports wing seats to 22 schools of the city and 201 sports wing seats to various coaching centres run by the department itself.

Rock Rovers lose
Chandigarh, July 25
The Wanders Club won by a narrow margin of one goal when they outplayed the Rock Rovers Club by 11 goals to 10 in the Olympian Dharam Singh memorial six-a-side hockey tournament played under floodlights at Hockey Stadium, Sector 18, here today.

ADMINISTRATION

UT may raise retirement age
Chandigarh, July 25
The Chandigarh Administration is considering a proposal to raise the retirement age of its employees to 60 years on the Central pattern. The move, if approved, will benefit thousands of employees who now retire from government service at the age of 58 years on the Punjab pattern. 

Admn to give relief to fire victims