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TOP STORIES

Panchkula residents sweat it out
Panchkula, July 22
Residents of the township are sweating it out, literally, with the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam being forced to shut off power supply, each time the frequency of power goes down. Low water pressure has made matters worse.

Villagers beat Medical Officer
Panchkula, July 22
A Medical Officer posted in Morni was allegedly beaten up by a group of women at the Morni bus stand this afternoon. She had earlier slapped a woman patient and thrown her out of the health centre.

Chandigarh Club told to produce members’ register
Chandigarh, July 22
In an important development the principal bench of the Company Law Board, New Delhi, has asked the Chandigarh Club management to produce the register of its members, the balance-sheet of the club for the past five years, a list of members on the executive committee and a list of first 5,000 members enrolled by the club within 10 days.

CTU starts special buses for girl students
Chandigarh, July 22
Two special buses for girl students have been started by the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking. The CTU also announced two new times of buses for the convenience of passengers travelling to Ludhiana daily.

Students of St Kabir Public School, Sector 26, during their visit to The Tribune office, Chandigarh on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Class IX student raped
Chandigarh, July 22
A 14-year-old girl from Nayagaon was allegedly gang raped by three youths from the village after kidnapping her while on her way to school in Sector 11. The class IX student in her statement before the police, alleged that her neighbour, Sushil Kumar, came in a car along with Surinder while she was going to school on July 16. He offered to drop her at school. She accepted the offer. They had gone a short distance when another boy of the village, Pramod, also got into the car.

Free drugs for AIDS patients at PGI from August 1
Shimla, July 22
The AIDS patients from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J and K and other parts of the region, receiving treatment at the PGI, Chandigarh, will be provided free drugs under the extended programme of the National AIDS Control Organisation from August 1.

IT to help speed up justice
Chandigarh, July 22
Looking at the possibility of using information technology for imparting speedy justice, the National Informatics Centre has submitted a proposal to the National Judicial Commission to allow recording of witnesses by using the technique of video conferencing, especially those witnesses who are staying abroad.

Tehelka case: court martial to reassemble on Aug 2
Chandigarh, July 22
The General Court Martial trying Col Anil Sahgal on charges of professional impropriety will now reassemble at Chandi Mandir on August 2 instead of July 23. A decision to this effect was taken by the GCM’s convening authority today under provisions of the Army Rule 82.

COMMUNITY

Document endorsement to help NRIs
Chandigarh, July 22
Taking a major step in stopping frauds and ensuring the safety of documents used by people going abroad the Chandigarh Administration today issued a set of instructions for endorsement of documents.

Data centre opened at UT Secretariat UT takes first step towards e-governance Chandigarh, July 22 Chandigarh today took first concrete steps for implementing the promised e-governance aimed at simplifying the lives of city residents. A Network and Data Centre which will maintain all records of transactions was inaugurated at the UT Secretariat this morning. This will enable the start of e-governance by August 15.

The Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Justice OP Verma (retd) after inaugurating the network and data centre for e-governance facility in Chandigarh on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Traffic bottlenecks on highway Zirakpur, July 22 Traffic bottlenecks in Zirakpur markets along this ‘killer’ Kalka-Ambala highway continue despite the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat, the Building and Roads wing of the Punjab Public Works Department and the Punjab Police spending large sums of money for their removal on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
HIGHWAY CONGESTION : Vehicles parked on the busy Ambala-Kalka highway in Zirakpur, adding to the congestion on the road. — A Tribune photograph

Nullah filth on their doorstep! Mohali, July 22 In what could lead to a major health hazard, thousands of tonnes of sewer and industrial affluent being carried by the nullah here will now be flushed out near Lakhnour village. The Punjab State Industrial and Exports Corporation, Punjab is channelising the nullah that runs through its land in Mohali into an underground concrete sewer that will open near Lakhnour village.

The box sewer being constructed by PSIEC in Mohali on Thursday.

Farmers strip, send clothes to PM in novel protest Mohali, July 22 The Kisan Hit Bachao Committee (Periphery Area) organised a novel protest here today against denial land and livelihood to poor farmers by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority. Farmers of Manak Majra village remove their clothes in protest against the acquisition of land by PUDA, near Sohana on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Contractors told to pay minimum wages
Panchkula, July 22.
Acting on a representation made by the HUDA Public Health Karamchari Union, led by Gurpal Singh, the Chief Administrator, HUDA, Mr N.C. Wadhwa , has asked the officials to ensure that labour hired by contractors are paid minimum wages fixed by the government.

Admn brings more people under Antyodaya
Chandigarh, July 22
In order to bring more people under the purview of the “Antyodaya card” scheme for poor families residing in villages and labour colonies, the Chandigarh Administration said families having income of less than Rs 250 per capita per month could also be a part of this scheme.

Man hurt as ceiling plaster falls on him
Chandigarh, July 22
A resident of Hallo Majra was today injured when the plaster of the ceiling of his house peeled off while he was having an afternoon siesta. Jitender (34), who works with a pipe factory in Ram Darbar, remained buried for five minutes before he was extricated from the debris by his neighbours.

Sanjay colony removed
Chandigarh, July 22
The Chandigarh Administration today removed a major obstacle in the way of the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail line. The illegal Sanjay Colony in Industrial Area, Phase I, was removed despite political opposition.

Cong workers stage dharna
Panchkula, July 22
Members of the District Congress Committee today staged a dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in protest against the termination of all water agreements by the Punjab Government.

BJP to campaign against Andhra’s quota policy
Chandigarh, July 22
The BJP will start an “anti-appeasement campaign” throughout the country from July 26 to August 9 in protest against the Congress-led government’s policy of religion-based reservation.

Man missing
Chandigarh, July 22
A pharmaceutical distributor of Phase II, Mohali, Sanjay Diwan, who was suffering from depression has been missing since Wednesday. His family members have reported the matter to the Ropar police. Sanjay Diwan rang up a friend at 8.15, telling him that he wanted to end his life.

CRIME

16-yr-old school student abducted by plumber?
Chandigarh, July 22
A 16-year-old school student has allegedly been abducted by a plumber of Ram Darbar, who is facing a divorce suit. Parents of the girl complained to the police that Robin, alias Sonu, allegedly abducted their daughter on July 6 with the intention of forcing her to marry him.

EDUCATION

August is poll season in PU
Chandigarh, July 22
Academics in Panjab University would soon have to make way for elections to the various teaching and non-teaching bodies. Beginning August the campus would be in the grip of election fever which would continue till the university closes for the Dasehra break.

PEC admissions: parents meet Governor
Chandigarh, July 22
A delegation of parents, whose wards are seeking admission to Punjab Engineering College, today met the UT Administrator and urged him to reconsider the Administration’s stand on quota of seats for the local students.

Rallies mark Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan Chandigarh, July 22 Under the “Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan”, rallies and poster-making contests were held at different government school in the city. Students, carrying placards, went around the city. Students of Government High School, Sector 35, display placards on “Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan” in Chandigarh on Thursday.

COURTS

Man in court remand for child abuse
Chandigarh, July 22
A three-and-a-half year old boy was allegedly sexually abused by a neighbour in Sector 46 on July 20. The father of the child, Mr Avtar Singh, complained to the police on Tuesday last that his child had allegedly been sexually abused by Varinder Singh in a booster room in the vicinity.

CULTURE

New Releases
An espionage drama
RAJIV RAI made his directorial debut with ‘Yudh’ in 1985 and followed by unprecedented line up of hit films like ‘Tridev’, ‘Vishwatma’, ‘Mohra’ and ‘Gupt’. The king of action is back with ‘Asambhav’ an espionage drama promising entertainment, glamour and visual wizardry of the highest order.

‘Sulmo Ranjha’ to capture spirit of Himachal

After a spate of music videos of Punjabi songs, it was time for something of Himachal Pradesh today. Drawing from the legendary folk tale of Himachal “Sulmo Ranjha”, the new music vide being recorded in Chandigarh has everything to do with the beauty of hills. From right to left-Kesav Bharta (writer), Jassi Dhaliwal (Director) and Gick Grewal at a press conference before the recording of Himachali folk video album in Chandigarh. — A Tribune photograph

LIFESTYLE

Daruwala predicts new govt by Aug next year
Bejan Daruwala, India’s most celebrated astrologer today predicted that India will have a new government by August next year. Known for some uncanny predictions, Bejan said if Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was able to retain his seat till August next year would then he is the man to be watched out. Bejan Daruwala with his wife Tehmi at Mohali on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

Stealing for thrill
Imagine the plight of shopkeepers when they discover that their well-guarded precious items have disappeared from view. The culprit might be a innocent -looking customer from a well-off family. According to Mr Gautam Mehra, Manager, Ebony, Sector 9, in Chandigarh shoplifting is a part of the game.

Fashion statement with painted nails
London-based Pammy Kaul, member of the guild of Professional Beauty Therapists, the highest certification in beauty care awarded in the UK, a nail technician with specialisation in nail art and nail extension. These are rather new branches of the boombing beauty industry. Trained in sculpting of artificial nails, manicure and pedicure, Pammy has also taken thermal auricular therapy, a diploma in head message and Level 2 intensive hairdressing. But she is the finest at nail art.

Market Pulse
Spiderman memorabilia for young fans
As the final countdown begins for the much-awaited release of international blockbuster “Spiderman-2” in India, Mirinda, one of the international partners associated with the film, today opened a veritable treasure-trove of Spiderman memorabilia for fans.

HEALTH

Poor spend more on healthcare
Chandigarh, July 22
The city beautiful, with one of the best public sector health care facilities and the government chipping in to finance the health expenditure of residents to the tune of a whopping 50 per cent (way above the national average of 20 per cent), the trend of disparity in expenditure on and quality of health services provided to the rich and the poor continues.

• Radiology conference

SPORTS

Priyanka, Dhan adjudged best gymnasts Chandigarh, July 22 Priyanka and Dhan Bahadur were adjudged all round best gymnasts in rythmic event and general gymnastic event, respectively, in the finals of the Inter Coaching Centre sports competitions, which concluded this evening at the Sports Complex, Sector 7.
Jubilant basketball eves of IS Dev Samaj Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 21 after winning the Inter Coaching Centre Sports competition held at the Sports Complex, Sector 7 in Chandigarh on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

ADMINISTRATION

City, Ropar police to coordinate in tackling crime
Mohali, July 22
The Ropar district police would coordinate with the Chandigarh police for tackling criminal activities in their respective areas. This was stated by the Ludhiana range DIG Parag Jain while addressing a police-public meeting here yesterday.