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Tribune Investigates
No drugs in city? Ask Bapu Dham kids
Chandigarh, May 21
These youngsters are so much at ease with use of drugs. Inhaling their “daily dose” with casual calm, they spill out information that the authorities would not want to hear.

UT refuses to confirm principal’s appointment
Chandigarh, May 21
The appointment of the first woman principal of DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, has run into trouble with the UT education department declining to confirm the appointment.

Caught after 30-min chase Chandigarh, May 21 Running away from law after allegedly injuring a policeman, a youth driving a car was chased through the city streets this morning. The hunt, which started from the Sector 15-16 traffic lights, ended at his Sector 16 residence after about half an hour. Abeyjit Singh in police custody. — photo by Manoj Mahajan

Bandh Today
Schools in Mohali closed
Chandigarh, May 21
In view of Sikh organisations’ call for a bandh in connection with the Dera Sacha Sauda row, the Chandigarh Police has made elaborate security arrangements in the city to tackle any untoward incident. Over 1,000 police personnel, including para military forces of the the CRPF), the ITBP and Punjab commandos, would be deployed at major markets and traffic islands tomorrow.

COMMUNITY

IT returns: Professional help now a necessity
Chandigarh, May 21
Income tax payers will have to seek professional help for filing income tax returns (ITRs) for the assessment year 2007-08 with the finance ministry phasing out the “saral” form and replacing it with a new comprehensive form.

Coming: TV, Net, phone on same cable
Chandigarh, May 21
In the next one month, denizens of the tricity will be able to view digital television, get their data on the internet and telephone connection through the same optic fibre cable. The BSNL is all set to launch the first triple-play service in the tricity.

Plans for night food street 
Chandigarh, May 21
Inspired by the cosmopolitan culture of the metros, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has now decided to come up with a night food street opposite the PGI soon.

Drive to regulate cycle, rickshaw traffic
Chandigarh, May 21
In an attempt to streamline traffic on the Madhya Marg and the Dakshin Marg, the Chandigarh traffic police today launched a campaign to regulate pedestrians, cyclists and rickshaws on these routes.

UT to observe Biodiversity Day 
Chandigarh, May 21
The Chandigarh administration will observe International Day for Biological Diversity tomorrow in collaboration with NGOs and eco clubs of different schools set up under the National Green Corps. The day will be observed to emphasise people's responsibility to safeguard the heritage of bio-resources for our future generations.

Fauji Beat 

More openings needed for second career THE introduction of a six months’ MBA course for defence officers at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Indore, Kolkata and at a few other places in the country, has opened a lucrative second career option for them.                             Bio-tech Centre at Kargil

Panel opposes Bill on minorities
Chandigarh, May 21
The All-India Minorities and Social Welfare Council has opposed the proposed 103rd Constitutional Amendment Bill-2007, defining the minorities at the state level.

BSNL staff protest rotational transfers

Chandigarh, May 21 A day-long dharna was organised by the Sanchar Nigam Executives Association in front of the BSNL office in Sector 34 here today. The association was protesting against the rotational transfer of group B officers. BSNL employees protest outside their office in Sector 34, Chandigarh, on Monday.— A Tribune photograph.

Underpasses okay, but grey areas remain: Experts

Chandigarh, May 21 Not opposed to the idea of constructing underpasses, experts feel that the success of the project depends upon the commitment of the Chandigarh administration, “known for its arbitrary approach”.

J.K. Gupta   Aditya Prakash   Surinder Bahga

Cigarettes to cost more 
Chandigarh, May 21
Smokers in the city should be prepared for another hike in the prices as the administration has decided to levy VAT of 12.5 per cent on all tobacco products.

Tributes paid to Rajiv
Chandigarh, May 21
The Chandigarh district Congress committee urban-I and the territorial youth Congress today organised functions to pay tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 16th death anniversary.

Letters
Human trafficking

CRIME

Watchman hangs himself
Chandigarh, May 21
A 32-year-old Nepalese watchman ended his life by hanging from a tree in a plot in Phase I, Industrial Area, here.

45-yr-old man found dead
Chandigarh, May 21
A 45-year-old man was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his Sector 22 residence here this morning. Quoting the family, the police said the deceased was suffering from some ailments and was an addict.

Baby girl abandoned
Panchkula, May 21
A newborn baby girl, abandoned in a nullah, was rescued by alert policemen near the Amartex Chowk, Industrial Area, in the wee hours of today. The baby was wrapped in polythene.

2 cars stolen
Chandigarh, May 21
Two cars have been stolen from the city. Sudhir Kumar Nayar of Sector 8 reported to the police that his Maruti car (CH-01-N-7275) was stolen from near his residence during night on May 19. In another incident, Harsimran Kaur of Sector 15 lodged a complaint with the police that his Honda City car (PB-10-AJ-9093) was stolen from near her residence on Saturday night.

5 hurt in road mishap
Dera Bassi, May 21
At least five persons, including a child, were inured in a road accident near Paras Hotel on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway this evening.

BUSINESS

10 bidders chosen for Sec 17 tower
Chandigarh, May21
For the planned 11-storeyed tower in Sector 17, as many as 10 out of 12 bidders have been selected on the pre-qualification criteria.

EDUCATION

WLC announces launch of admission office 
Chandigarh, May 21

Wigan & Leigh College (WLC), India, announced the launch of its admission office at a press conference here today. Vinay Pasricha, chairman, WLC, India, accompanied by Dr Trevor Ashton, director, international operations, WLC, UK, said, “The admission office aims at offering students an opportunity to apply for various professional programmes in fields like business, fashion, media, information technology and hospitality. Dr Trevor Ashton, director, international operations, Wigan & Leigh College, UK, in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Law papers postponed
Chandigarh, May 21
Taxation law papers-IV, V (b) of LLB (third semester), law of intellectual property paper-V (d) LLB (sixth semester) and economic and social offences paper-V (f) of Panjab University, which were scheduled for May 22, have been postponed due to Punjab bandh.

Headmaster suspended
Chandigarh, May 21
The headmaster of Government High School, Hallo Majra, J.S. Lehri, has been suspended by the Education Department for remaining absent without getting his leave application sanctioned.

191 NCC cadets get ‘C’ certificate
Chandigarh, May 21
As many as 191 successful NCC cadets were awarded the ‘C’ certificate at a function held at the Chandigarh NCC Group Headquarters here today.

COURTS

HC stays defamation suit against Advani
Chandigarh, May 21
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed further proceedings in a defamation case filed against BJP leader L. K. Advani pending in a Gurgaon court.

Man gets jail for dumping injured
Chandigarh, May 21
Additional district and sessions judge S.K. Aggarwal today sentenced Sarbjit Singh to three-year imprisonment for dumping 70-year-old Shyam Lal Gupta in the open after he was injured in an accident with his car in March 2001. He has also been asked to pay a fine of Rs 3,700.

2 of HUDA booked
Panchkula, May 21
Following directions of the district courts, the local police registered a case against two HUDA officials under the Prevention of Corruption Act here today.

Judges’ Pool
Bitta, Barnala’s houses vacated
Chandigarh, May 21
UT administration’s counsel Anupam Gupta today informed the High Court that the Punjab government had vacated the two Sector 7 houses(Nos 66 and 77) and placed these under the Judges’ pool.

Bar body holds general house meeting
Chandigarh, May 21
The general house meeting of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association was held today.

CULTURE

Workshop on theatrical arts
Chandigarh, May 21
An annual production-oriented workshop on theatrical arts and dance will commence on May 28 at Pracheen Kala Kendra, Sector 35, Chandigarh, and Sector 71, Mohali. Kendra director M.L. Koser, at a press conference held today, stated that the workshop would be held daily from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm. It would be open to children between five and 16 years. “Childhood is an impressionable age and what is learnt at this age certainly bears results. Thus, it is imperative to catch them young to develop their hidden talents,” he said.

HEALTH

Response to pulse polio drive declining
Chandigarh, May 21
The UT authorities are worried over the gradual decrease in the number of people reporting at booths set up for administering polio drops to children during the pulse polio drives this year.

Smaller dose for TB patients soon
Chandigarh, May 21
TB patients can hope for smaller dose of medicines daily in the near future as the PGI is all set to use nanotechnology in the drug delivery system against the disease. This would help in reducing non-compliance cases as the patient has to take far less doses of medicines, according to G.K. Khuller, a former professor and head, Department of Biochemistry, PGI, Chandigarh.

SPORTS

Top two seeds in men semis

Chandigarh, May 21 Top seed Asif and second seed Neeraj Bharti made it to the semifinal of the men’s singles event of the 10th St Stephen’s Carrom Ranking Tournament at the school in Sector 45 today. A player aims a shot during a carrom match in the 10th St Stephen’s Carrom Ranking Tournament at the school in Sector 45, Chandigarh, on Monday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

12 CFA trainees leave for Germany
Chandigarh, May 21
The Chandigarh Football Academy, run by the Chandigarh administration, sent its first batch of 12 players and two officials to Germany today for a 15-day advanced training at Sportschule Egidius Braun in Leipzig from May 24 to June 9.

Ankit consolidates Chandigarh innings
Mohali, May 21
A fine knock of 88 runs by Ankit Kaushik consolidated the position of Chandigarh against Bathinda in the final (first innings) of the Punjab State Under-17 Years Tournament for M.L. Markan Trophy 2007-08 at the PCA stadium today. After winning the toss, Bathinda decided to field first.

Cricket camp ends on optimistic note 
Chandigarh, May 21
At least 25 cricketers of the North Zone aged below 15 benefited during the month-long Zonal Cricket Academy (ZCA) workshop that concluded at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here on Saturday.

Coaches attend seminar on gymnastics
Chandigarh, May 21
Eighteen coaches of gymnastics from all over Punjab took part in a seminar that ended in Patiala yesterday.

Nominated Chandigarh, May 21 Dr C.K. Jerath, honorary secretary of the Chandigarh Amateur Boxing Association and vice-president of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation, has been nominated chairman jury of the All-India Women Boxing Championship to be held at Nainital (Uttaranchal) from May 26 to 31.                                                            Dr C.K. Jerath

WCC bag overall trophy
Chandigarh, May 21
Wrestling Coaching Centre, Sector 30, clinched the overall trophy in the Chandigarh Sub-Junior and Junior State Wrestling Championship held at Labour Hall in Sector 30.