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TOP STORIES

PNB cashier in police net
Chandigarh, June 16
A Head Cashier of the Sector 22 branch of Punjab National Bank, Raj Pal Singh Chandoke, who had “robbed” his own bank of Rs 20 lakh on April 24, was today arrested by the city police from Ropar bus stand.


The Head Cashier of Punjab National Bank, Raj Pal Singh, who had run away with Rs 20 lakh of the bank, was arrested by the Chandigarh Police on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Vapour cloud blast caused Ranbaxy fire?
SAS Nagar, June 16
Even as the Ranbaxy authorities claim ignorance about what caused the June 11 blasts in their unit that killed four persons, informed sources have hinted that a toluene vapour cloud explosion could have triggered the first blast that in turn led to more blasts and fire.

• One more succumbs to burns

NGO gets bonded labourer freed 
Chandigarh, June 16
The Volunteers for Social Justice (VSJ), a city-based NGO, has come to the aid of a poor farmer whose 15-year-old son was illegally detained as bonded labour by a landlord. The VSJ not only provided free legal aid and moved a habeas corpus petition in court but also made efforts to get the farmer’s son, Ahmat Singh, released from the clutches of a landlord in Faridkot.

They danced with elan Chandigarh, June 16 The show bore the signature of dancer-choreographer Shiamak Davar — invigorating movements which changed from one form to another even before one could bat an eyelid, synthetic smoke, flashing lights with a captivating backdrop and costumes with a Bollywood touch.  Youngsters trained by a team from the Shiamak Davar Institute for Performing Arts in action at Bhargava Auditorium at the PGI in Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photo Manoj Mahajan

Shiamak Davar in teacher’s role
Chandigarh, June 16
It might be a little difficult to imagine Shiamak Davar in the role of a teacher, but that is the role in which you are likely to see him for a while. The top priority in his life at present is not to enthral audiences with his song-and-dance performances, but to teach the young generation the rhythm and soul of dance.

COMMUNITY

Transfer officials on key posts every 3 years: Verma 
Chandigarh, June 16
Taking up the issue of flouting of guidelines of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) regarding the transfer of officials holding important public-dealing posts, the UT Administrator, Justice O.P. Verma, said the shuffling should be done every three years.

City may play host to Pak MPs
Chandigarh, June 16
Plans are afoot to bring a Pakistani delegation to the city to interact with a cross-section of society. This was stated by local MP Pawan Bansal yesterday, who is leaving for Pakistan on June 17, as part of a delegation of 10 MPs led by an eminent journalist and member of Rajya Sabha Kuldeep Nayyar.

Martyrdom day observed in city Chandigarh, June 16 Even though offices remained open in Punjab, a large number of devotees thronged gurdwaras all over the city for observing Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom day. “Chhabeels” were also organised in different parts of the city. A devotee enjoys sweetened water at a “chhabeel” on the occasion of the Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev in Chandigarh on Monday. — Photo Pankaj Sharma

LEAF FROM HISTORY
The ‘Union Territory’ anniversary of Chandigarh

BIRTHDAYS are important occasions. It has been the desired wish of most children that there be more than one birthday every year. Chandigarh that way has been lucky. It has had, in so far as the city can have, more than one birthday. Some historians of Chandigarh have counted five birthdays for this town. The Sukhna Lake. — Photo Karam Singh

FAUJI BEAT
Widows’ welfare essential to improve Army recruitment

IF the shortage of officers and men in the armed forces is increasing despite all measures adopted by the Army and the government to make the defence forces more attractive, it is primarily because of the neglect of widows and ex-servicemen by the government. Widows being honoured somewhere in the Northern sector.

PLATFORM: SAVE WATER
Judicious use must
Life on earth is possible only because of water. Whether plants, animals or human beings, life comes to an end without water. The rate at which this essential of life is being exhausted is alarming. So it becomes our duty to save it for coming generations. For this, let’s take a pledge that we will make all possible efforts to save water in our daily routines.

IT staff to hold dharna
Chandigarh, June 16
The Income Tax Employees Federation, North Western Region, shall hold a day-long dharna in front of all offices of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Chandigarh on June 18 to get solution to the pending demands of the officers and staff of the department.

Tribune Officiating Editor bereaved
Chandigarh, June 16
Mr A.P. Jacob, father of Mr A.J. Philip, Officiating Editor, The Tribune, died at Kayamkulam in Kerala this morning. He was 87. The end came after he suffered a heart attack. He leaves behind his wife, two sons and two daughters.

DC visits Raipur Khurd
Chandigarh, June 16
The Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh, Mr Arun Kumar, yesterday visited Raipur Khurd village in connection with the problems being faced by residents. Members of the gram panchayat and residents of the village apprised him of the problems regarding shortage of water and power. 

Accident disrupts traffic
SAS Nagar, June 16
Vehicular traffic on the Phase VII and Phase 3 road here remained obstructed for most of the day with an overturned truck lying at the Phase VII-III separating lights here today.

• 400 take part in shramdaan
• Official calendar ‘rejected’
• Child killed in road mishap

CRIME

Three held on rape charge
Chandigarh, June 16
In the gangrape case of a minor of Bapu Dham, the local police has arrested three youths and was conducting raids to arrest three other suspects. These were made after the girl in her statement before the area magistrate named the boys who had allegedly raped her.

1 killed, 3 hurt in accident
Lalru, June 16
One person was killed and three others sustained injuries in an accident involving a car and a truck on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway at Gholumajra village, about 5 km from here, today.

Cash looted from temple
Chandigarh, June 16
Thieves broke into the Sri Satya Narain Mandir in Sector 22 and decamped with some cash after breaking three collection boxes here late last night. The loss was noticed in the morning.

500 gm smack seized, 1 held
Chandigarh, June 16
The city police seized 500 gm smack, valued at Rs 50 lakh in the international market, from a Kurukshetra resident here late last evening. According to information, Rattan Kumar, a resident of Bhaben village (Kurukshetra), was caught red-handed while bringing the narcotics to the city.

Sons detained for killing father

MARKET PULSE
New range of furniture
Godrej and Boyce Mfg Co. Ltd. has launched a range of storage and utility products for homes. The range includes sofa sets, recliners, sofa- cum-beds, I-splace/bunk beds, children furniture, steel and wooden beds, centre/side tables, dining tables and chairs, show cases, wooden wardrobes.

EDUCATION

10,000 NCC cadets left high and dry
Chandigarh, June 16
Over 10,000 NCC cadets in the region have been unable to take examinations for “B” and “C” certificates because they have been unable to fulfil the requirements, owing to holding back of funds for training activities by the state government.

Top Bollywood designer for NIFD workshop
Chandigarh, June 16
Khallas, Ishq Samunder, Babu Ji Zara Dheere Chalo, Mahi Ve, Mehboob Mere, all besides being hit numbers have one more similarity, star fashion designer, Ashley Rebello, who will be conducting an exclusive designer workshop for the students of the National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD), Chandigarh, on June 18 to brush up their talent and to teach them the finer intricacies of the glamorous world of designing.

Syndicate decision rejected
Chandigarh, June 16
Faculty members of the Panjab University’s Department of Evening Studies (DES) have declined to accept the university Syndicate’s decision to continue with B.Com classes in the department and adopting a six-days-a-week teaching schedule in the department.

PU gets 4.9-cr UGC grant
Chandigarh, June 16
A development grant of Rs 4.9 crore has been received by Panjab University here from the University Grants Commission under the Tenth Plan. A statement issued here said today that a letter from the UGC Chairman had allocated funds for each department, including the university's regional centres at Ludhiana and Muktsar.

Children to stage five plays
Chandigarh, June 16
Grooming schoolchildren for theatre and providing them with a platform to showcase their talent is the Sangeet Natak Academy. With 23 theatre enthusiasts slogging through the day at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, the stage is all set for the young artistes to perform.

Rs 11,000 for topper

SCHOOL WORLD
Geography: About Barbados
LOCATED in the Caribbean Sea, Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands, about 300 kms north-east of Trinidad. The island, which is almost surrounded by corrals, is relatively flat and rises gently to central highland region. The highest point, Mount Hillaby, is 336 m above sea level.

HEALTH

Verma okays helpline for people in distress
Chandigarh, June 16
Keeping in view the recent spurt in suicide cases especially by youngsters, the Chandigarh Administration has decided to set up a 24-hour helpline to help people in distress.

SPORTS

Pulkit, Lakshay move to second round
Chandigarh, June 16
Pulkit Mishra and Lakshay Tanwar made it to the second round of the qualifying rounds of the St Soldier’s Total Tennis Championship played here today on the St Soldier’s Total Tennis Academy premises at Sector 16, Panchkula.

CLTA annual general body meeting
Chandigarh, June 16
At the recent annual general meeting of the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association held at the tennis stadium complex, Sector 10, Chandigarh, chaired by Mr Rajan Kashyap, chairman of the association, the general body considered the annual report of the honorary secretary of the association for the year 2002-2003. 

ADMINISTRATION

Rs 25 lakh for sanitation
Chandigarh, June 16
The Chandigarh Zila Parishad today approved a grant of Rs 25 lakh for sanitation in areas under various panchayats of the Union Territory. At a meeting held under the chairmanship of Mr Darshan Singh, the parishad also approved a grant of Rs 28.64 lakh for developmental works and Rs 16 lakh for paying electricity bills of street lights of the area.