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Manager thwarts attempt to defraud bank of crores

Chandigarh, February 21 A Rs 5 crore fraud allegedly by a builder of Mumbai and a Chief Manger of the State Bank of India, Sector 17 branch, was averted by a bank manager here today, according to the police.
Rajiv Bhardwaj, Deepak Agnihotri and Farooq Fakir Munshi in police custody in Sector 36 police station, Chandigarh, on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

SC upholds ban on commercial use of Forest Hill Club
New Delhi, February 21
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to lift its order preventing any commercial activities in the controversial Forest Hill Resort and Country Club near Chandigarh, saying that at this stage no such order could be passed.

Lawyer’s heroics send Lior back to jail
Chandigarh, February 21
Lior Avi Ben Moyal, an Israeli who was arrested for possessing 155 kg of charas, was nabbed by Rajneesh Sharma, a lawyer, with the help of some bystanders near Sector 25 this morning. Lior had escaped from the custody of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday.

Acting CJ changes Judges' roster
Chandigarh, February 21
The Acting Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi, today effected some changes in the roster of Judges.

Poor response to bandh Chandigarh, February 21 Claims of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) notwithstanding, the half-day bandh against the “anti-trader” policies of the government, including the imposition of VAT from April 1, evoked poor response in the city today. Response to the half-day bandh called by the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal against VAT was poor as people were seen shopping in Sector 17 of Chandigarh on Monday. — Photo by Manoj Mahajan

Mixed response to stir against VAT

Education, awareness can eradicate leprosy, say experts
Chandigarh, February 21
Education and awareness is the only way to eradicate leprosy from Chandigarh that falls in the moderate incidence zone. Voluntary non-governmental organisations and the administration hope that the leprosy will be eliminated from the country over the next two years.

Homoeopathic dispensary sans doctor
Chandigarh, February 21
Patients visiting the government homoeopathic dispensary in Sector 47 are a harassed lot. The dispensary has been functioning without a doctor and lower-level staff. Patients have to wait for hours together to get medicines.

Land meant for village playground sold illegally
Chandigarh, February 21
A government servant has allegedly illegally sold a part of 10 kanals of a disputed land on which Mauli Jagran Panchayat had planned a playground for schoolchildren. The piece of land is estimated to be worth Rs 5 crore.

• Passing Thru

COMMUNITY

‘Despite pressures democracy in India a success’
Chandigarh, February 21
Despite pressures over the past five decades, Indian democracy, the world’s largest, still stands as a symbol of success in the world. A delegation of 20 members on the Constitution of the Swedish Parliament (Riksdag) was quick to learn from Indian experience.

Over 1,000 mango trees axed for widening road Chandigarh, February 21 Over 1,000 mango trees along the road leading to the upcoming IT Park in Kishangarh village have been felled while many more are waiting for their turn to be axed. The stumps of mango trees that were axed for widening of a road leading to the IT Park in Kishangarh village in Chandigarh. — Tribune photograph by Pankaj Sharma

Reception of IT czar’s daughter held
Mohali, February 21
Wedding reception of Farah and Eric, daughter and son-in-law of Fred Ebrahimi, Chairman, Quark City, Mohali, was held at Rock Garden, Chandigarh. Around 300 guests attended the reception.

Will Fire Officer attend meeting on NOC to Quark City?
Mohali, February 21
A fire station officer here, who had objected to the giving of a no-objection certificate (NOC) for fire safety to Quark City, has been transferred even as a meeting at the government level in connection with the NOC is fixed for tomorrow.

Plot allottees to step up stir against PUDA
Mohali, February 21
Working committee members of the Allotment Sangharsh Committee met here today and decided to intensify struggle for an early allotment of their plots in Sectors 76 to 80 in Mohali.

Rs 57,350 donated for tsunami-hit
Chandigarh, February 21
A delegation of the Residents Welfare Association, Sector 38 (A and B), presented a cheque for Rs 57,350 for the tsunami victims to the UT Administrator, Gen SF Rodrigues (retd), here today.

Fauji Beat Army poised for greater challenges ahead NEVER in the past the public discipline in the country has been so low as it is now. Majority of people want maximum money for minimum work. The satisfaction level, in general, is at its nadir. Add to this, the criminalisation of politics, politicisation of the civil services and the police forces. Ex-servicemen at the healthcare seminar in Mohali.

Exhibition on gender awareness ends
Chandigarh, February 21
An exhibition on gender awareness organised by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) concluded here today.

Training programme on road safety
Chandigarh, February 21
The Traffic Awareness Organisation, a city-based NGO, organised a training programme on road safety and traffic rules at the Children Traffic Park (CTP), here yesterday. Traffic police officials, members of the organisation as well as general public took part in it.

CRIME

Duplicate matchboxes on sale Chandigarh, February 21 Duplicate products are taking customers for a ride. Wimco’s Homelites is one such product which is being duplicated and Wimco officials are trying their best to stop this. The company’s brand name matchsticks are being duplicated by other companies, some local and others based in the South, and are being sold at similar rates. Wimco Homelites and a duplicate product, Homelifes, which is available in shops in Chandigarh. — A Tribune photo

Five-yr-old hit by motor cycle, hurt
Mohali, February 21
A five-year-old child was injured when he was allegedly hit by a motor cycle near the Phase-III B2 market here today. According to the police, the child, Ankit, was taken to a private hospital.

EDUCATION

From Schools
Kids present water purifier to elders
Mohali, February 21
Teachers and children of Saupin’s Community Service Organisation (SCSO), Saupin’s School, Sector 70, here, visited the School for the Blind at Sector 26, Chandigarh, today as part of their ongoing community service programme to extend a helping hand.

Employees protest against non-implementation of pension scheme
Chandigarh, February 21
Panjab University's Board of Finance in its meeting held on the campus today has approved the pension scheme for the existing and retired university employees, with the members unanimous in their decision to start the pension.

Seminar on post-Deng China organised at PU
Chandigarh, February 21
A seminar on “Post-Deng China” was organised by the Department of Chinese and Tibetan Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh today. Dr Damodar Panda, Chairman, introduced the theme to audience and welcomed guests and delegates. He talked about changes made by the post-Deng leadership in China to make it an economic powerhouse and rising super power.

PU hostels illuminated Chandigarh, February 21 Hostels and the entry of Panjab University were illuminated to announce that inter-University national fest Jhankar-2005, is here. Festival was inaugurated today. Dressed up in traditional attire, ceremonial of jaago was taken out by students. Nearly 500 to 600 students took part in the procession. They sang Punjabi songs and boliyan and moved from Student Centre to all girls hostels. Students of Panjab University take out “Jago” on the eve of Jhankar-2005 from Student Centre in Chandigarh on Monday. — Photo by Pradeep Tewari

Approval for PU pension at Syndicate meet
Chandigarh, February 21
The recommendation of the Board of Finance (BoF) will come up for approval in the forthcoming meeting of the Panjab University Syndicate, which is scheduled to take place on the campus on February 28.

Recruitment camp at MCM DAV College today
Chandigarh, February 21
A special recruitment camp would be held tomorrow for Chandigarh Training of Soft Skills (C-TOSS) trainees at MCM DAV college. Candidates, undergoing C-TOSS training at various colleges of Chandigarh or candidates who have appeared in the C-TOSS test, are eligible.

COURTS

Commandant asked to inquire into gangrape of sisters
Chandigarh, February 21
Ms Shashi Prabha, presently posted as Commandant, 75th Battalion, Punjab, has been asked to inquire into a case of alleged gang-rape of two minor sisters from Nabha.

Dr Suri's appointment set aside
Chandigarh, February 21
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today set aside the appointment of Dr Sudha Suri as Dean of the PGI, Chandigarh. The Division Bench of Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Amar Dutt gave five-week's time to the PGI Governing Body to appoint a new Dean in Dr Suri's place.

Nursery kid sues toy maker
Chandigarh, February, 21
A nursery class student has filed a complaint against a leading toy manufacturer, Funskool(India) Limited, in the Chandigarh Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I for allegedly selling a defective board game, Tom and Jerry chase.

Bail plea of Cong leader, son withdrawn
Chandigarh, February 21
Bail application of organising secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Seva Dal, Harbans Kaur, and her son, Sandeep Singh, accused in an immigration fraud, was withdrawn by her counsel before a court here today.

LEISURE

Physician who paints and sings too “Every person has an artist hidden within and it is this latent artistic urge that makes one appreciate and seek beauty in nature and in things all around us. There is a need to keep this artistic self in tact and this is what my love for colours has made me do”. Dr Biman Saikia of the PGI, Chandigarh, gives finishing touches to one of his paintings. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

‘Large-scale patronage needed for classical music’
“The Indian classical music needs patronage on a large scale and needs to be prescribed as a compulsory subject in the schools so that its assimilation and propagation may be initiated at the grassroots level..” opined Raka Mukherjee a Kolkata-based classical vocalist.

Raka Mukherjee

Two is company even in art Two can be company even in art and a joyous one at that. This is proved by two famous visual artists Gogi Saroj Pal and Ved Nayar, who were in the city today for the opening of debut exhibition by a young city artist, Gunita Chadda. The couple, with some three decades of togetherness behind them, has journeyed side by side in harmony while pursuing their respective art with a rare passion. Gogi Saroj Pal and Ved Nayar

Street play performed in Plaza
Artistes of Chandigarh School of Drama presented a play ‘ Bol Jamoore’at the Plaza in Chandigarh on Monday. Scripted and directed by Mohinder Dogra the play presented in a ‘nukkad’ form juxtaposed the unethical and illegal production of ‘shatoosh’ shawls despite the ban orders promulgated by the Government of India.

HEALTH

New trends in dentistry discussed
Chandigarh, February 21
Conservation of teeth and innovative techniques available for dental care were emphasised upon at the Conference of Dentistry organised by the Tracom Services Private limited here on Sunday.

SPORTS

Hockey stadium awaits nod for floodlights
Chandigarh, February 21
The hockey stadium in Sector 42 here is still awaiting the floodlights required to stage matches at night time. The need was felt even more when India and Pakistan played the six- match ‘dosti’ series in October last year.

Allow Europeans in premier league, says Thakur
Chandigarh, February 21
Indian hockey star Deepak Thakur today suggested that European hockey players should be allowed to participate in Premier Hockey League (PHL) of India. He said, “This would help in developing skills and techniques of Indian hockey players.”

Pak putting up weak team, says Intikhab
Chandigarh, February 21
Former Pakistan cricket team skipper and now coach of Punjab Cricket Association, Intikhab Alam has criticised the composition of Pakistan cricket team for the forthcoming India-Pakistan cricket series. He made these in comments at a function held today at St John’s High School, Sector 26, here.

Botany Dept wins soccer league
Chandigarh, February 21
The Department of Botany outplayed the Department of Chemical Engineering, 4-2 to win the final of the Inter-department Soccer League, held at Panjab University grounds, here today.

Budding skier all set to make his mark
Chandigarh, February 21
Sixteen-year-old Anubhav Maan Singh Gurung took up skiing at the tender age of three years. Now a Class XI student at Bhawan Vidyalya, Sector 27, Anubhav’s journey to success began in 2002 and during these four years he has established his mettle by excelling in each national meet he took part in.

City to host Indo-Pak netball match
Chandigarh, February 21
The city will play host to a netball match between India and Pakistan in April. According to sources in the Netball Federation of India, Delhi, the Pakistan’s men netball team has agreed to play a five-match Test series with India. One of the matches has been allotted to the Netball Association of Chandigarh.

ADMINISTRATION

Rapid transport system: admin to hire consultant
Chandigarh, February 21
The Chandigarh Administration is to seek advice from a consultant on what kind of mass rapid transport system is needed for the city, including the monorail system.

Auction of commercial sites: 24 sites sold
Mohali, February 21
In an overwhelming response to the auction of commercial sites in Industrial Focal Points Phase IX and Phase VII here, the Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation today, earned over Rs 6.5 crore.