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TOP STORIES

Top-level tussle keeps ‘deal’ off
Strike to continue; threat to pull off tourist buses
Chandigarh, July 11
But for the differences among officials in the top echelons of the UT administration, the ongoing strike of private school bus operators, which has already caused immense troubles to the 80,000 school kids of the tri-city and their families, could well have been over today.

Day 2: Saturday brings some respite
Chandigarh, July 11
The second day of the strike of private school bus operators witnessed a rather controlled movement of traffic, with the traffic police deputed at intense rush areas in the city.

A scene of traffic chaos outside a school in Chandigarh on Saturday. Tribune photographs

Speed governors: Worried parents refuse to compromise
Chandigarh, July 11
While the city school bus operators and administration continue to lock horns over installation of speed governors, security of schoolchildren according to parents has taken a backseat. Tired of harassment caused due to the on-going rift between the two entities, parents accuse operators of risking their child’s safety for their own monetary gains.

Admn-Bus Operator Deadlock
Efficacy of consumer forum questioned
Chandigarh, July 11
While the Chandigarh School Bus Operators Association has cocked a snook by not complying with the orders of the consumer forum to withdraw the strike, questions are now being raised on the efficacy and powers of the forum and also the course of action that the forum may take in view of the non-compliance in the coming days.

Mohali Violations-III
Even waterworks land not spared
Mohali, July 11
It is no longer about encroachments on green belts or public spaces. Senior police officials, serving or retired, can “eye” any land to accommodate their security brigade. The security personnel attached with a former DGP, Lok Pal, JS Chahal, have pitched tents within the fenced premises of the waterworks of the public health department in Phase 9. Not only that, a kundi connection has been taken from a tubewell located next to a densely populated residential area.

The security attached with a former DGP, Lok Pal, JS Chahal, has pitched tents on the Phase 9 waterworks premises; and a kundi connection taken from the tubewell. Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

Panel on MC’s working
Bansal set to approach home ministry
Chandigarh, July 11
Another showdown seems to be imminent between UT Administrator and Punjab Governor Gen SF Rodrigues (retd) and MP and union minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.

COMMUNITY

Death of couple in car
Carbon monoxide inhalation apparent cause: Police
Chandigarh, July 11
Even though the UT police, which is awaiting viscera reports, is yet to rule out the possibility of suicide pact by the young couple found dead in a car parked in Sector 19 yesterday, it cited poisoning by carbon monoxide leaked from the exhaust of the car to be the most possible reason for death.

Relatives of Gaurav Rana mourn his death at Chandigarh on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Eighth wife seeks justice
Chandigarh, July 11
Each day of the last five months has been a nightmare for Rosy (name changed), a city resident, who is still trying to come to terms with what had happened to her on February 18, a day after her wedding. For, it was on that day that she discovered that she was the eighth wife of OP Sharma, a former teacher with Mayo College, Ajmer, and that another bride to be was waiting in tow, as his ninth wedding was scheduled for February 28 in Delhi.

On a High: Girls take a swing at the Rock Garden in Chandigarh on Saturday. — Tribune photograph: Manoj Mahajan

Villages in P’kula deprived of healthcare
Panchkula, July 11
Many residents of the tricity would not have ever heard the name of Gablawas. This hamlet, with a population of about 200 to 250 persons, is in Morni, the picturesque hill station of Haryana.

Recruitment
Filling OMR sheets with pencil draws flak
Chandigarh, July 11
The UT education department’s act of getting the OMR answersheets of the recruitment test filled with a pencil has raised concerns, as a large number of candidates feel that it gives a scope for manipulation.

MC ignores sanitation of Mohali villages
Mohali, July 11
Sanitation in villages falling in Mohali town is in a state of neglect and maintenance of cleanliness hardly seems to be a priority with the Municipal Council notwithstanding the death of children and an outbreak of cholera and diarrhoea in these areas.

Water wastage unabated at Panchkula
Panchkula, July 11
While the drinking water crisis in the district is posing huge problems for the residents, specially those staying on the upper floors and the inhabitants of distant villages like Morni where the supply has remained elusive for days together, there some people who continue to waste the same with impunity.

Rift among officials hits work
Chandigarh, July 11
Close on the heels of serious differences between top functionaries of the Chandigarh administration, UT administrator SF Rodrigues and his adviser Pradip Mehra, the differences seem to be precolating down to other officials.

Stress on serious media
Chandigarh, July 11
The inaugural session of the two-day governing board meeting of the Indian Media Centre on Panjab University campus today saw Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal appealing media to maintain “seriousness” by taking cautious digs at the fourth pillar.

MDC to have police station
Panchkula, July 11
With an increase in the density of population as well as rising crime in the Mansa Devi complex area, the authorities have decided to set up a separate police station for the area. The area currently comes under the jurisdiction of the police station, Sector 5.

Phase I residents seek community centre
Mohali, July 11
Residents of Phase I have demanded a community centre in the area to hold social functions without much hassle.

Neonatal dept opened
Mohali, July 11
A state-of-the-art neonatal department was launched at Fortis Hospital, here yesterday. Dr ON Bhakoo, former head, department of paediatrics, PGIMER, inaugurated the department.

Hospital empanelled with ECHS
Mohali, July 11
Ivy Hospital has been empanelled with the Ex- Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS). The scheme will provide comprehensive cashless medical cover for ex-servicemen and their dependants.

Uncovered drainage ditches hazard for motorists
Chandigarh, July 11
Blame it on the municipal corporation authorities’ failure to cover drainage ditches, which have been left open after the recarpeting of roads or for laying sewerage, for a car got stuck in one such ditch near house No. 3443 in Sector 45 today. Residents said the covers of the drainage ditches were removed for replacing them with cemented ones during a recarpeting work in their area two months ago.

A vehicle stuck in uncovered drainage ditch at Sector 45 Chandigarh on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Parents panic over live wire on stage
Chandigarh, July 11
The show organised by the Rockstar Academy, a city-based group, was caught in trouble today evening when panic gripped parents due to a naked live wire on the stage where the students were performing.

EDUCATION

Counselling for Class XI
Model school admission nears completion
Chandigarh, July 11
The ninth day of counselling for Class XI at GMSSS-10 saw a decent rush of students today. Students with 37 per cent and above in addition to the left out pass candidates were present. With only two days left for counselling in the model schools, admissions have almost come to an end for all streams with only a few seats left in the vocational stream.

MCM, DAV cut off up by 3 pc
Chandigarh, July 11
With MCM College, Sector 36, and DAV College, Sector 10, declaring their first cut off lists today, the accepted percentage has gone up by almost 3 per cent.

Candidates called for BE counselling
Chandigarh, July 11
On the first day of joint admission counselling for BE courses in various institutes, the candidates up to all-India overall rank 12,000 were called.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Effluent damages crop in 123 acres
Banur, July 11
Farmers from eight villages today accused the Surya Pharmaceutical Company at Banur of releasing effluents, which damaged crop in nearly 123 acres. It also damaged limbs of some farmers who were working in the fields when the effluent was released.

Poster-making, essay contests mark World Population Day
Patiala, July 11
Big 92.7 FM organised a poster-making competition today to observe the World Population Day. The theme for the competition was the education of women and poor in order to create awareness. The aim of the competition was to educate population regarding the effects of increasing population.

95 suspected cases of cholera at Dera Bassi
Dera Bassi, July 11
After Mohali, now it is the turn of Dera Bassi where suspected cholera cases have been reported as more than 95 patients were admitted in the Civil Hospital here today. Senior medical officer, Civil Hospital, Dr Ram Kumar said the final medical report would come after 48 hours.

Modification at Charan Ganga Stadium
Gatka body decries admn’s move
Ropar, July 11
The Punjab Gatka Association and other Sikh bodies have condemned the change in the area of Charan Ganga Stadium at Anandpur Sahib. Harcharan Singh, chairman of Guru Gobind Singh Sports and Cultural Club, Anandpur Sahib, and Punjab Gatka Association, has written to the Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, drawing his attention towards the abrupt change in the look of the stadium, which has reduced its area mainfold.

Sirhind railway station sans basic amenities
Fatehgarh Sahib, July 11
The residents of Sirhind and adjoining areas, in a meeting, demanded the basic necessities at Sirhind railway station. A meeting in this connection was called by the Sirhind Citizens’ Social Welfare Association under the presidentship of Devi Dayal Bhalla.

19 villages to come under MC limit
Ambala, July 11
After a long wait, the extension of the municipal limits of the Ambala Cantonment (Sadar) municipal committee has been finalised.

Agriculture society recovers 67 pc loan
Kalka, July 11
The Paploha Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society (PACS), Kalka, claimed to have recovered more than 67 per cent of the loan amount till date.

Woman found dead
Lalru, July 11
A 22-year-old married woman was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Dehar village here today. The deceased was identified as Sinder Kaur, who was married four years back.

Two theft cases at Pinjore
Kalka, July 11
In two separate incidents at Pinjore today, miscreants snatched gold chains from two women, including Monika Mann, wife of Congress block president Naresh Maan.

Anti-employee policies annoy karamcharis
Patiala, July 11
Expressing aggression over the Punjab government for anti-employee policies and non-fulfillment of various promises included in the election manifesto, Karamchari Dal (Bhagdana), Punjab, organised a meeting here today to warn the government of dire consequences if the demands were not met.

Evils of rising population highlighted
Bassi Pathana, July 11
The health department organised a seminar on the impact of increase in population at the local civil hospital today.

Cricket
Black Elephant Club pip LNIPE
Patiala, July 11
Black Elephant Cricket Club, Patiala, defeated LNIPE, Gwalior, by 82 runs during the first match of the Plantsman’s Cricket Trophy (under-17) on Military Ground here today.

• Scooterist hurt

COURTS

Youth gets 7-yr jail for rape
Fined Rs 1.1 lakh
Chandigarh, July 11
Five months after charges were framed in a rape case, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Sondhi today sentenced 21-year-old Abhishek to seven-year imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1.1 lakh. A sum of Rs 1 lakh would go to the victim.

Newborn’s Abduction
Two-day police remand for six
Chandigarh, July 11
A local court today remanded six persons in two-day police custody in connection with the abduction of a newborn and its alleged sale thereafter.

CRIME

‘Harassed’ JE commits suicide
Mohali, July 11
A 55-year-old JE, James Masih, allegedly committed suicide after consuming some poisonous substance here this evening. The JE was under stress after being reportedly harassed by his seniors.

SPORTS

Another title in Sumana’s kitty
Chandigarh, July 11
Winner of cadet girls’ crown, Sumana, a student of New Public School, Sector 18, defeated Rhia Gupta, a student of Bhavan Vidalaya, by 11-6, 11-3, 11-6, in the sub-junior girls’ final of the Bhawan Hawks first Chandigarh Table Tennis Ranking Tournament being held under the aegis of the Chandigarh Table Tennis Association at the Sector-23 Table Tennis Hall here today.

Dinkar Goyal in action during the Bhawan Hawks First Chandigarh Table Tennis Ranking Tournament in Chandigarh on Saturday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

AITA Talent Series
Sidharth prevails over Rishabh
Chandigarh, July 11
Sidharth Kapoor of Uttrakhand struggled to overcome a stiff resistance from local lad Rishabh Khanna by 8-7 (6) in the boys’ singles first qualifying round match on the All-India Tennis Association (AITA) Talent Series Tennis Tournament here today.

Rahul fastest athlete
Chandigarh, July 11
Around 250 budding atheletes of the city participated in the sports complex, Sector 7, here today. Rahul, a student of St. Soldier’s International School, Sector 28, claimed top honours in the boys’ under-14 100m race. Vidur of GMSS-35 and Vishal of GMSSS-43 got the second and third positions, respectively.