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Two women, labourer murdered
Robbers strike in two villages
Lalru, May 8
Three persons, including two women of a family, were hacked to death and seven others seriously injured by a gang of armed robbers who struck at Dappar and Chaundheri villages, near here, late last night. The robbers also took away some valuables and cash from the crime scenes.

Villagers show stolen goods to Mr Manmohan Kumar Sharma, DSP of Dera Bassi, that were scattered in fields by the gang of robbers after hacking two women of a family to death in Dappar village on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Meningitis claims first victim in city
Chandigarh/Panchkula, May 8
Meningococcal meningitis claimed its first victim in the city today when 50-year-old Nanhu Ram died at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Sector 32.

Chandigarh Cong leaders camp in Delhi
Chandigarh, May 8
The local Congress leaders who went to Delhi on Friday, apprehending “official wrangling due to differences with the Deputy Commissioner” continued to camp in the Capital today with a hope of meeting leaders in the party high command.

Expert stresses the need to use solar energy in India
Chandigarh, May 8
A leading expert on solar energy conservation feels that the answer to India’s energy crisis lies in effective and adequate usage of the “abundant sunlight” that is bestowed on this country by nature.

COMMUNITY

HUDA turns blind eye to encroachments by hotels
Panchkula, May 8
Even as the Estate Office of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has launched a drive against encroachments on HUDA land by dhaba owners and tea kiosks, it seems to be turning a blind eye to encroachments by hotels and restaurants in the township.

A hotel has encroached upon HUDA land by installing a garbage treatment plant; and (right) an eatery has installed joy rides on HUDA park to attract customers. — Tribune photographs

Pawan Bansal meets Adviser
Chandigarh, May 8
Local MP Pawan Bansal today had a one-to-one informal meeting with Adviser Lalit Sharma first time after months of tussle between the Chandigarh Administration and Mr Bansal.

Report on arrest of Pawan Sharma sent to Cong high command
Chandigarh, May 8
The local unit of the Congress has sent a report of the incident involving recent arrest of Mr Pawan Sharma, president of the District Congress (Rural), to the party high command in Delhi, reliable sources said here yesterday.

Serious concern shown over shortage of squadron strength
Chandigarh, May 8
Taking the Air Force to task for shortage of its squadron strength, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has warned that the IAF could be reduced to just one-third of its projected strength by the end of the Twelfth Plan.

Guiding people to solve complex questions of life
Chandigarh, May 8
A picture of serenity and contentment, Rhea Pillai has a distinct aura that attracts people to her much more than her pretty face. Whether it is her demeanour or mellow sing-song voice, she comes across as a breath of fresh air.

Complaint against MC president
Dera Bassi, May 8
Complaining against the president of the Dera Bassi Municipal Council, Mr Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Ward no 3, has written to the Director General of Police, Punjab, for registration of a case under the Untouchability Act.

UT skyline for sale
City needs need-based changes
I have been going through various articles regarding the upcoming apartments and Corbusierian norms. Mr Le Corbusier designed the city of avenues, boulevards, gardens and the public buildings of ultra modern design more than 50 years ago.

Protest turns out to be Akali affair
Chandigarh, May 8
A “rosh march” organised by various organisations in protest against the demolition of certain religious structures in Dadu Majra village turned out to be an Akali affair, with other political parties ignoring it.

British national disputes Customs official’s claim

Chandigarh, May 8 British national Nasafor Ali Sheikh, whose sports car was reportedly impounded by the Customs Department after he was tried and later acquitted for visa violations, today disputed Assistant Commissioner P.S. Bisht’s statement that he did not have a valid import licence to bring his car to India. A clay-modelling competition in progress to mark the completion of five years of the British Library in Chandigarh on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Aged to be productively engaged
Chandigarh, May 8
The Senior Citizens Home, Sector 43-A, Chandigarh, today had a glorious day with a cultural group from Dev Samaj College presenting a variety of cultural programmes in their honour as Senior Citizens which included dance, ghazals and songs.

Contests mark 5th anniversary of British Library
Chandigarh, May 8
The 12-day-long celebrations on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the British Library, Sector 9 started with a fun-filled day of activities ranging from fancy dress to website designing contests today. Members of the Library along with their families participated in one activity or the other.

Readers write
Drop-in boxes at PU needed
Hundred of students stand in queues for receiving and submitting forms for C.E.T. and other entrance tests in front of the Punjab University Administration Block.

PGI Professor bereaved
Chandigarh, May 8
Dr Madhur Gupta, Professor and Head, Department of Anatomy, PGI, has lost her father, Prof Hari Krishan. He was 84. A former Engineer-in-Chief, Irrigation Department, Uttar Pradesh, Prof Hari Krishan had proceeded on Vaan Prastha a few years ago. He was staying in Haridwar and was involved in social work. 

Residents get tips on LPG use

CRIME

Gangster held with gun Chandigarh, May 8 The Operation Cell of the Chandigarh Police today claimed to have prevented an intra-gang crime by arresting a member of the gang of O.P. Saini. Saini had been operating from the Burail jail till recently before he was released. A member of O. P. Saini gang, Brij Mohan, alias Guddu, in police custody after he was arrested in Chandigarh on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Two electricians robbed
Chandigarh, May 8
Two electricians returning from the Kishangarh Information Technology Park were allegedly robbed their belongings and Rs 1800 at knife point by a gang of four members near Indira Colony last night.

Gold chains snatched in Panchkula
Panchkula, May 8
Two unidentified motor cycle-borne youths snatched two gold chains from two women in separate incidents in the city here today. The motorcyclists struck in Sector 11 and snatched a gold chain from Ms Dhan Kaur when she was standing in her courtyard this morning.

Man held for rape bid
Chandigarh, May 8
A 35-year-old man was arrested today for allegedly attempting to rape a 10-year-old daughter of a neighbour in Janata Kumhar Colony. According to the police, Rocket, alias Raja, was held when he tried to flee after making an attempt on the class IV girl.

EDUCATION

A special school for specially abled kids

Panchkula, May 8 Ajay, 6 A cerebral palsy patient and Rekha (14), who suffers from a hearing and speech impairment, could have never hoped for an education. They are specially abled children from the lowest economic strata of society. A normal child at Government IED School, Panchkula, helps her specially abled classfellow as they learn together. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

Poor students given uniforms, books

Chandigarh, May 8 It was a memorable day for students of Government Primary School, Tanda-Masol village, today. The Youth Welfare Sports and Health Club, Mullanpur-Garibdas, distributed stationery and school uniforms among poor students of the school at a function organised on the school premises. Students of Government Primary School, Tanda-Masol village, being given ties at a function organised on the school premises on Sunday.

Students apprised of engineering courses

Chandigarh, May 8 Sanjivini organised an engineering fest here today. Mr J.B. Goyal, Secretary, Technical Education, Government of Punjab, inaugurated the fest. Students were given information about various colleges, courses, branches and entrance tests. Students at the Engineering Fest-2005 at Hotel Shivalikview in Chandigarh on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

City girl presents paper in Hawaii
Panchkula, May 8
A local girl, Shimona Kanwar, has done the country proud by representing India at the Fourth Graduate International Students Conference, hosted by East West Centre at Honolulu, Hawaii.

Children wait for the chief guest at the inauguration of the Paramgayan Model School building at Kot village in Panchkula district on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Malkiat Singh

Students of Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, display models at their annual exhibition on the school premises in Chandigarh on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

PMT prospectus to be replaced
Chandigarh, May 8
Baba Farid Medical University will replace all PMT prospectus with missing pages, sold to candidates by Canara Bank, in Sector 44 here, without levying any extra charges. The Deputy Registrar of the university, Mr K.P. Singh, said they regretted the inconvenience caused to the candidates and their parents.

Gem Public students excel in Class VIII exam
Mohali, May 8
There was an air of jubilation at Gem Public School in Phase 3B2, as three students of the school are among top four position the town in the Class VIII examination of the Punjab School Education Board declared here today.

COURTS

PUDA asked to pay interest on earnest money
Chandigarh, May 8
The Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has asked the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) to pay interest on the earnest money to Ms Poonam Singla, a resident of Sector 38 (West) here.

LEISURE

Zakir’s book to be released in Pak
Dr Kashmiri Lal Zakir’s literary enterprise is getting better with age. In the 84th year of his creative journey, the eminent writer-poet has several milestones to cite, the latest being the immense appreciation his recent work has drawn in Pakistan.

Musical soiree for senior citizens
Come Saturday, and the city reverberates to festivities at the chosen points, courtesy the Chandigarh Administration and the Chandigarh Institute of Performing Arts. It was the turn of the elders to make most of the ghazal soiree which lit up the Fragrance Garden.

Mapping artist’s journey with line
Dr S.S. Bhatti’s book on S.K. Sahni’s fascination for the straight line was released at a function held at Natural History Museum, Sector 10 yesterday.

HEALTH

295 donate blood Chandigarh, May 8 More than 295 donors donated blood at a blood donation camp organised by the Thalassaemic Children’s Welfare Association (TCWA) at PGI here today. The camp was held to mark International Thalassaemia Day. Five more camps are planned in the coming months. Volunteers donate blood for the thalassaemic children at the PGI on Sunday.  — A Tribune photograph

Dental implant workshop ends
Chandigarh, May 8
A three-day dental implant workshop concluded at Commonwealth Youth Programme Bhawan here today. Dr Ebner Luis De, consultant and reviewer of the Brazilian Journal of Surgery, Implant and Prosthesis, from Brazil was the chief guest.

SPORTS

Nurturing hockey talent G.S. Paul

Chandigarh, May 8 Three players of Chandigarh Hockey Academy will represent the region in the camp being held for final selection for the prestigious Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament. Rajpal Singh, Inderjit Singh and Jaswinder Singh are working hard in the camp. Budding hockey players getting tips from coach Jasbir Singh Bajwa during a practice session at the Sports Complex, Sector 42, Chandigarh, on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

St Joseph’s CC girls bag title
Chandigarh, May 8
St. Joseph’s Coaching Centre , Sector 44, overcame the challenge posed by Mount Carmel, 47 (Team A) and thrashed them 21-10, 21-18 to bag the girls title in the fourth Chandigarh Senior State Sepak Takraw Championship for the Rev Samuel John and Mrs Samuel John Trophy. The match was played at Mount Carmel School here today.

Bahl is manager of Indian roller skating team
Chandigarh, May 8
The chairperson of the Chandigarh Roller Skating Association, Ms Madhu Bahl, will be the woman manager of the Indian roller skating team that left Delhi to take part in the 11th Asian Roller Skating Championships being held at Jeonju City, South Korea, from May 10 to May 14.

Minor districts out for 85
Mohali, May 8
Fine bowling by Sandeep Bhatacharya (six for 11) saw Minor Districts being bundled out for 85 in the ongoing under-17 ML Markan Inter-District Cricket Tournament being played at PCA Complex here today. Today the match was played between Chandigarh and Minor Districts