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TOP STORIES

The big Q keeps tricity awake
As winds howled, quake rumours forced people out on the roads
Chandigarh, March 21
Early morning rumours about an earthquake sent the tricity in a flurry, with everyone waiting for “tremors’ that never came. Across Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali, roads were flooded with people determined to escape the earthquake fury-never mind the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation’s confirmation that there was “no seismic activity in the region”.

Jitters at Dawn: Rumours sent these residents in Chandigarh to come out of their homes onto the streets following rumours about an impending earthquake on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tiwari

Weather gods playing games
Chandigarh, March 21
Weather continued to play truant with the city seeing more than two spells of hailstorm for the second time in March. Today, it was all about rapid changes in the weather system, which came loaded with strong winds, squall, hail and, at times, dust.

Squall leaves a carpet of golden leaves

Oppn stalls MC house proceedings
Chandigarh, March 21
The issue of abolition of paid parking was the only issue deliberated upon and discussed at the municipal corporation house meeting today. Unruly and undisciplined house refused to take up any other issue, as a result of which no other agenda was passed.

Woman jumps before train with two kids
Zirakpur, March 21
A woman, Gurmeet Kaur with her daughter Kanwalpreet (10) and son Pawanjit (5), from Dhakauli village, jumped before the Himalayan Queen train near Mark Royal Hotel today. But, her relatives had an altogether different story to tell.

Phasing out MiG 23 cuts into IAF force levels
Chandigarh, March 21
The phasing out of the MiG-23 fighter has created further gaps in the IAF’s already depleting squadron strength. While there have been no fresh acquisitions over the past few years except for the SU-30, which have replaced old aircraft in already existing squadrons, the number of MiG-23 squadrons has come down from six squadrons to one.

Use RTI Act as deterrent, not to trap people after action: Expert Chandigarh, March 21 “Access to information will lessen corruption, improve delivery of services and will make it easier not only for the people of India but even government servants to get justice along with empowering the common man,” asserted Shekhar Singh, founder member and convener of the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information.

Shekhar Singh

COMMUNITY

Farmers want slice of development pie
Chandigarh, March 21
Taking a cue from the Punjab Chief Minister’s announcement on “uproot allowance” to farmers whose land is acquired by the government, land owners in the city today sought partnership with the Chandigarh Administration in development projects.

Mohali MC budget proposed
Mohali, March 21
The local municipal council has proposed a budget of Rs 2961.37 lakh for 2007-08. The proposed budget would be presented for approval at a special meeting of the civic body tomorrow.

Wakf properties not under board’s control
Chandigarh, March 21
The Chandigarh Wakf Board has 30 properties, but only two are in its possession. The board has initiated steps to bring all its properties under its control so that it is able to generate funds needed for different welfare activities.

• Cong PIL on Saini ‘amusing’
• Booklet released
• Notices to mobile cos

CRIME

Scooterist dies in accident
Chandigarh, March 21
A scooterist was run over by a tractor-trailer on the Mauli Jagran-Baltana road this morning. He was taken to the PGI, where he succumbed to his injuries. The police said the victim, Anand Kumar of Baltana, in his mid-40s, was on his way to Industrial Area, Phase I, where he worked as an accountant in a needle factory.

Boy’s body found in pond
Chandigarh, March 21
The body of a four-year-old boy was found in a pond near Shaheed Bhagat Singh Colony in Mani Majra this evening. The victim, Imran Nazir, had reportedly gone missing from his house since Tuesday.

Thieves decamp with gold, cash
Mohali, March 21
Thieves decamped with gold, silver and cash from a house in Sector 68 here today. Dr Vijay Lakshmi Sharda complained to the police that when she returned home from the office, she found that someone had broken into her house and taken away three tolas of gold, two silver coins and Rs 1,000.

UP resident held for theft
Chandigarh, March 21
The local police has arrested an Uttar Pradesh resident for theft. Aman of Sector 30 A reported to the police that Mohammed Nahim of Uttar Pradesh was caught red-handed while stealing articles from his residence after breaking the locks of the house on Tuesday.

BUSINESS

Association cuts medicine supply to Subhiksha
Chandigarh, March 21
The price war in pharma goods, fuelled with the entry of discount retailer Subhiksha, has allegedly led the Chandigarh Chemists Association to cut supplies of all medicines and pharma goods to the retail major. Though the association claims that they have blocked supplies to Subhiksha only in those cases where they were not paying in cash, officials of Subhiksha allege otherwise.

EDUCATION

Exam Duty
Principal made head examiner; lecturers cry foul
Chandigarh, March 21
If senior lecturers of political science (UT cadre) are to be believed, the Central Board of Secondary Education has flouted its examination rules. For it has appointed Indu Bala, principal of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Mani Majra, as head examiner for the board examination in violation of its amended bylaws.

Archo 07 comes to an end
Chandigarh, March 21
Archo 07, the 46th annual festival of the Chandigarh College of Architecture concluded here today with a prize distribution ceremony. The prize distribution was presided over by Arvind Krishan, former head, department of architecture, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi.

Girl reports misbehaviour by teacher
Chandigarh, March 21
A girl student of the Government College for Girls, Sector 42, has complained to the principal against the alleged misbehaviour of a male teacher of the college. The complainant, a BA II year student, told the principal that she was harassed by a male teacher of the college during an examination on March 17.

PU Notes
35 teachers attend workshop
Chandigarh, March 21
The department of political science, Panjab University, organised a two-day teachers’ training workshop on “New Trends in Political Science” under its UGC Special Assistance Programme.

Hike intact; VC meets students
Chandigarh, March 21
In a move to placate Panjab University students following the 10 per cent hike in fee, vice-chancellor Prof R.C. Sobti today met with various student leaders of the university. In a press conference later, he said the hike would lead to an increase of only Rs 50 per students per month, which was not much.

Chandigarh NCC cadets felicitated
Chandigarh, March 21
Chandigarh group NCC felicitated their young cadets of the Army, Naval and Air wings today in a brief valedictory function of the NCC group held on the Punjab Engineering College campus.

Chitkara opens charitable computer centre
Chandigarh, March 21
Residents of Buta Singhwala village in Rajpura tehsil of Patiala district will have access to computers and computer education. A charitable computer centre has been inaugurated here by Dr Madhu Chitkara, director of the Chitkara Institute of Engineering and Technology.

CULTURE

Save Punjabi culture: Jassi Chandigarh, March 21 Renowned Punjabi pop singer Jasbir Jassi today exhorted the new Punjab government to take steps and save the culture and traditions of the state. Jassi was interacting with media persons at the DAV College where he performed live at a charity show organised by the students. Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi performs at a charity show organised for poor children at DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

HEALTH

PGI doubles card fee
Chandigarh, March 21
The PGI authorities have decided to double the card fee of the emergency services thus helping it garner additional annual revenue of over Rs 50 lakh. The decision to increase the charges was taken at a meeting of the standing finance committee in New Delhi yesterday.

• Eye camp today

SPORTS

Nishchay lifts u-12 total tennis trophy

Chandigarh, March 21 Total Tennis product Nishchay Rawal clinched the boys’ under-12 title thrashing Digvijay Naruka of CLTA in straight sets 6-2, 6-1, in the 3rd Late Sh L.D. Kapoor YMCA Total Tennis Championship being played at the YMCA Total Tennis Academy, Sector 11, here today. After losing a point against Sabrina Gill, Nandini stops to relax during the under-12 tennis mach at YMCA, in Chandigarh on Wednesday. The match was washed out due to the rain. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

Triangular contest for Golf Club poll
Chandigarh, March 21
Battle lines are being drawn for the prestigious Chandigarh Golf Club elections in which 1,200 voters from all over the region will converge on the club campus to elect the president and 10 members of the managing committee on April 8.

Events on March 24
Chandigarh, March 21
Scrutiny of the entries of the participants as well as their vehicles, for the 20th Thunderbolt SJOBA Sub-Himalayan Rally, will be held on March 23 at 12 pm at St Johns’ High School, Sector 26, here. The two-day rally will be flagged off on March 24 at 7 am from the school.

Aditi, Simran are best athletes
Mohali, March 21
Aditi Deep Singh (architecture stream) and Simran Jeet Kaur (B.Ed) were adjudged ‘best girl athletes’ while Umesh Kumar (MBA) and Yatindra Khetwal (B.Ed) were adjudged ‘best boy athletes’ at the fourth annual athletics meet of Indo-Global Colleges held at Abhipur near here yesterday.

Senior football meet today
Chandigarh, March 21
Defending champions Chandigarh Football Club and runners-up Chandigarh Police Football Club have been given bye into the second round of the Chandigarh Senior Football Championship for the Chaudhary Jarnail Singh Memorial Trophy which will be conducted by the Chandigarh Football Association from March 22 to 26 at the Sector 17 Football Stadium here.

Bhagat Singh tourney begins
Ambala, March 21
The Shaheed Bhagat Singh Memorial Football Tournament began at War Heroes Memorial Stadium, Ambala Cantt, today. The tournament is being organised by the vikas parishad. Vikas parishad chief Anil Vij said Ambala had been an important football playing centre a few decades back.