C H A N D I G A R H

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TOP STORIES

Getting ‘fake’ I-cards is a child’s play
Panchkula, January 16
Getting a voters’ identity card from the Election Commission of India — on another persons name — is a child’s play. The district administration here is busy issuing these cards without checking the identity of the voters a fact proved, when this reporter got a card issued in the name of a resident of Sector 12 here.

Confiscation by auto finance cos banned
Chandigarh, January 16
The Chandigarh Police has barred forcible repossession of hypothecated vehicles by auto finance companies and issued certain guidelines making it mandatory for the creditor to give prior information to both the SSP and the SHO concerned and issue at least seven-day notice to enable proper dissemination of information to all concerned.

Ex-MLA’s son held on assault charges
SAS Nagar, January 16
In another case of VIP kids breaking law with punity, the SAS Nagar police today arrested Yuvraj, a son of a former MLA of Khadur Sahib, Mr Ranjit Singh Chajjalwaldi, on charges of beating up a shopkeeper and his son here last night.

Ad hoc docs for evening OPDs
Chandigarh, January 16
Faced with the task of running the evening OPDs with its existing staff strength, the PGI has finally decided to appoint doctors, even though on an ad hoc basis, for a period of six months for running the facility started at the behest of the Union Health Minister, Mr Shatrughan Sinha.

UT police loses jailbreak case to ‘irregularities’
Reprimanded over media publicity, missing RDX 
Chandigarh, January 16
The observations made by UT Additional District and Sessions Judge Balbir Singh in the controversial Burail jailbreak case has not only highlighted serious ‘investigational’ lapses on part of the UT police, but also put the credibility of the police officials under question.

Four youths rounded up, drugs seized
Chandigarh, January 16
Two groups of PUSHPAC Complex,Sector 49-B traded allegations against each other when the police rounded up four youths from the complex this evening and recovered some “schedule-H” drugs and other items from them.

Laughter Club opens Panchkula, January 16 The first Laughter Club of Panchkula was inaugurated in Sector 12 here today with over 50 women laughing their way to good health. Dr Madan Kataria, world-famous laughter doctor from Mumbai, and his wife, Madhuri, inaugurated the club and taught their members yoga-related exercises. Laughing their way to good health: A number of women share a hearty laugh during the opening of the Laughter Club in Panchkula on Thursday. — Photo Manoj Mahajan

COMMUNITY

Cop sent to Police Lines for ‘assaulting’ lawyer
Chandigarh, January 16
A Sub Inspector of Chandigarh Police, Mr Dilsher Singh Chandel, was today sent to the police lines for assaulting an advocate, Mr Arunjeev Singh Walia. The lawyer, who is also a witness in the Burail jailbreak case, was thrashed up by the SI near the roundabout of Sectors 23 and 36, here yesterday. A regular departmental enquiry has also been marked against the SI.

Admn unable to implement biotech policy, needs Central aid
Chandigarh, January 16
The Chandigarh Administration, which had recently announced the New Biotechnology Policy recently with much fanfare, is unable to execute it as it has no funds to set up the much required biotech incubator facility and other infrastructure to attract the industry.

Campaigning reaches crescendo
Panchkula, January 16
With barely three days left before Panchkula goes to the poll to elect its first municipal council on January 19, campaigning picked up with a new frenzy here today.

Miraculous escape for cyclist
Chandigarh, January 16
A cyclist had a miraculous escape when the cycle he was riding was badly crushed in a collision between a Toyota Qualis and a Maruti Esteem car on the road dividing Sectors 18 and 19 here this evening.

Defence brotherhood to have ‘think tank’
Chandigarh, January 16
Members of the All-India Defence Brotherhood have decided to set up a “think tank” for the welfare of retired soldiers. According to the president of the brotherhood, Brig Harwant Singh, several mutually interacting committees are being set up in this regard and the “think tank” would be the apex body.

• Happy birthday, Mayawati

• BJP’s manifesto

CRIME

One held on charge of robbery
SAS Nagar, January 16
The police here has today arrested a resident of Sohana, Arvind Kumar, on charges of having robbed Rs 28,000 from a shop a few days back. The police has also recovered the stolen amount from the person arrested.

EDUCATION

PU to restudy the pension scheme
Chandigarh, January 16
In order to streamline the long debated and unwieldly issue of pension for Panjab University employees, the university has constituted a committee to work out the details of the whole scheme. This covers all regular teaching and non-teaching employees of the university.

Confusion thins attendance as schools reopen
Chandigarh, January 16
Attendance remained thin in some of the private schools that reopened today as a large number of junior students, unaware regarding the resumption of regular classes, stayed back at home. The confusion stemmed from the fact that a few institutes affiliated to the Independent Schools’ Association resumed regular classes, despite decision to the contrary.

CULTURE

A heart-warming saga
IF you must know 2002 was one of the worst years for Hindi cinema. Will 2003 be able to give some relief to Bollywood? Quite likely, going by the trade figures, nearly 300 films are expected to be made during 2003 and hopefully at least half of them will be able to hit the cinema screens. Tips films present ‘Dil ka rishta’ and Mahest Bhatt’s camp ‘‘Jism’’ are lined up for release this week. Both films have generated a lot of pre-release interest.

• Jism a bold film!

Of music and timeless melodies
Chandigarh, January 16
Facades often belie interiors. Something similar strikes the mind when one gathers the first glimpse of Pt Rajendra Prasanna who wears a plain visage. A closer interaction reveals the rich lineage of the musician, who has not only inherited the tradition of Indian flute but has also nourished it over the years, placing it on the same pedestal as many other classical Indian instruments.

HEALTH

BRS City Centre shifted
Panchkula, February 16
The City Centre of the BRS Dental College and Hospital, Kot Billa (Panchkula), became operational from SCO 41, Sector 11, Panchkula, today after being shifted from NAC Mani Majra.

SPORTS

Ranking badminton meet begins
Chandigarh, January 16
Chetan and Anil, both from Chandigarh, moved in the next round of the under-16 boys singles of the qualifying rounds of the VIIIth Tara Chand Memorial All-India Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament which began here today at Sports complex, Sector 3, Panchkula.

ADMINISTRATION

PUDA razes stalls
SAS Nagar, January 16
Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) officials today demolished stalls encroaching on the road near LIG houses in Phase I here today.