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US salutes son of India

Chandigarh, December 11 In perhaps the first ceremony of its kind in the country, a top US Army officer led fellow officers and men to pay tributes to Indian-born US Army trooper, Sgt Uday Singh, at his parental home in Sector 18 here today. Uday had fallen to gunshot wounds on December 1 while serving with US forces in Iraq.
The Commander of the US Army, Pacific Command, Lieut-Gen James Campbell, salutes Sgt Uday Singh’s father, Col P.M. Singh, after handing him the US National Flag at his residence in Sector 18 during the military funeral organised by the US Army to honour Uday Singh in Chandigarh on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

Uday Singh cremated with US honours
Chandigarh, December 11
A top US Army General flew in here today at the head of a contingent to pay last respects to India-born US Army trooper, Sgt Uday Singh, who had died in combat on December 1 while deployed with US forces in Iraq. This is perhaps for the first time that a foreign army organised a ceremony on Indian soil to honour one of its war dead.

COMMUNITY

‘Water conservation key to improving health’
Chandigarh, December 11
“Conserve water to curb poverty and improve health standards all over the globe” was what Nigeria-based World President of Rotary International Jonathan B. Majiyagbe said while interacting with Rotary Club members here today. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune just after the conclusion of a function held this afternoon at a Sector 10 hotel, Mr Majiyagbe asserted that in some African cities, the women still had to trek miles to fetch water.

MC chief writes to CM on district status
Mohali, December 11
The Municipal Council today urged the Punjab Chief Minister to grant district status to the town.

Panchkula takes lead in urban development
Panchkula, December 11
Panchkula has taken great strides in the implementation of the state government’s progressive and development-oriented policies, especially in the areas of urban development, power, health and road construction.

Safai karamcharis observe strike
Panchkula, December 11
Safai karamcharis today observed a strike in protest against the non payment/partial payment of their wages by the contractors. Thus, garbage continued to pile in various parts of the township.

SSP told to look into dowry case
Kharar, December 11
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission has directed the Ropar SSP to look into the complaint of a Kharar resident who had alleged that she was harassed by her in-laws for bringing inadequate dowry.

Cops sensitised on crime against women
Chandigarh, December 11
Police personnel deployed with the Crime against Women Cell today got an insight into extramarital affairs, AIDS, matrimonial disputes, sexual harassment of children and dowry and drug-affecting married lives.

Peace monument at Sukhna
Chandigarh, December 11
A Rotary Peace City monument would be inaugurated at the Sukhna lake by world president of Rotary International Jonathan B. Majiyagbe tomorrow. It has been constructed by the Rotary Club of Chandigarh and the State Bank of India for declaring Chandigarh a peace city. UT Administrator Justice O.P. Verma would formally receive the Charter of Peace City.

Chohan for observer status in UNO
Chandigarh, December 11
Dr Jagjit Singh Chohan, a Khalistan ideologue, today demanded observer status in the UNO to what he calls ‘the Sikh nation’. Addressing a press conference, Dr Chohan said the Khalsa Raj Party had decided to approach the UNO to get the observer status for the ‘ Sikh nation’.

Idol installation
Chandigarh, December 11
Eigth ‘murti sthapana divas’ was celebrated at Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir in Sector 29A with great pomp and show. Devotees thronged the temple from the surrounding areas.

READERS WRITE
Apathy hits PU employees’ interests
Dr Virendra Kumar's legal analysis of PU pension scheme, published in the Chandigarh Tribune (dated November 30, 2003) is indeed revealing. I along with my four other retired fellow professors of the university followed with deep interest Dr Kumar's earlier article published in Chandigarh Tribune on November 6, 2002, and we collectively commented upon it.

CRIME

Thief escapes from police custody
Chandigarh, December 11
A drug addict and thief Dalbagh Singh (19), of Kajheri, facing trial in six cases of theft registered in different police stations and lodged in Burail Jail, today escaped from police custody after his appearance in a local court.

1 killed in mishap
Kharar, December 11
One person was killed when a Tata Sumo and a tractor trailer collided on the hospital road last night.

Body found hanging
Panchkula, December 11
Mystery shrouds the death of a youth, whose body was found in a jungle near Khatauli village this afternoon. The maggot-infested body of the man was found hanging from a tree by a villager.

BUSINESS

Seminar on banking and finance
Chandigarh, December 11
A seminar was organised by the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance (IIBF) on “Emerging era of competition, opportunities, challenges and strategies with special focus on banking and finance” here today.

EDUCATION

Campus round-up
Battlelines drawn for PU Syndicate poll

The stage is all set for the forthcoming Syndicate polls of Panjab University scheduled for December 15. The battlelines have been drawn between two groups who are having a series of meetings to draw up the final list of their candidates. Local Iranian students discuss a photograph on the lives of Iranian women at the Department of Fine Arts, Panjab University. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

Students’ devotion evokes humility

Mohali, December 11 As many as 65 awards were presented to over 50 schools affiliated to the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) for a winning top positions in the academic competitions organised by the Board in the 2003-2004 session at a function organised here today. Students of Miri Piri Academy, Amritsar, perform on the Punjab School Education Board premises, Mohali, on the occasion of the academic excellence award ceremony on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

Development programme for MBA faculty
Mohali, December 11
A two-week development programme for MBA faculty of the Punjab region started at the Gian Jyoti Institute of Management and Technology here today.

Teachers briefed on disaster management
Chandigarh, December 11
Aimed at equipping teachers to handle queries on disaster management in class by introducing key concepts involved in disaster preparedness, a two-day orientation programme on the subject, the first in the region, was inaugurated at K B DAV Centenary Public School, Sector 7, here today.

COURTS

High Court
PGI Director’s suspension order stayed
Chandigarh, December 11
In less than a week after the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research’s Director Dr S.K. Sharma was placed under suspension, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the operation of the order.

Murder suspect’s remand extended
Chandigarh, December 11
Naresh Bobby, arrested in connection with the murder of the manager of the Kiran Cinema, was today remanded in police custody by a local court.

CULTURE

NSS volunteers cheer up elderly Chandigarh, December 11 The NSS volunteers of Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, presented a cultural programme to entertain the inmates of the Old People’s Home in Sector 15, here today. Juvenile delinquents at the Old Age Home in Sector 15 present an item to entertain inmates of the home in Chandigarh on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

LIFESTYLE

Fashion Fundas
Campus gals go chic, sizzle with leather and denim
Geetu Vaid
They are beautiful, they are bold and they know their minds well. This is the face of the young brigade in Y2K3. If they know how to chill out in summer then they also know how to sizzle in winter.

‘Fun2shh’ — a roller coaster of adventures Movie lovers should be prepared for a science-fiction comedy in the “Fun2shh”, scheduled to be released next week (December 19). This was revealed by the lead star cast of the film at a press conference here this evening. The young cast includes Anuj Sahani, Raima Sen, Netanya Singh and Iqbal Khan. Those who did not come to the city included Kader Khan, Gulshan Grover, Farida Jalal, Ashish Vidyarthi and Paresh Rawal. Netanya Singh (front), lead actress of “Fun2shh”, poses along with her co-stars (clockwise) Anuj Sahni, Raima Sen and Iqbal Khan in Chandigarh on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Lending their house an artistic touch
There is nothing ornate about the sprawling Mehan house in Sector 9, Chandigarh. Yet the simple architecture and stylish furniture is what makes this a designer home.

Love knows no boundary
“Only love can silence the guns” is the sub-text of lyricist, writer, producer and director Sawan Kumar Tak’s new film, “Dil Pardesi ho Gaya”. From ‘Naunihal’ to ‘Mother-98’, Sawan Kumar has produced 18 films in Bollywood.

It’s my life
Student activism yes, politics no
After I came to the city following my schooling at Sacred Heart Convent, School Malout, I never thought I would get involved in student activities. Having joined Panjab University after my plus two in B.Sc (honours) in biochemistry I joined student activism. My friends initially criticised me.

Mohan Singh Sran, Ph.D (Biochemistry)

HEALTH

Surgery can benefit 60 pc epilepsy patients, say experts
Chandigarh, December 11
Astonishing, but true. Patients suffering from epilepsy can benefit from surgery, — a fact little known to families of sufferers. Instead of depending upon medicines alone, 60 per cent of the patients can benefit up to quite some extent with the help of surgery. At least this is what neurosurgeons claim.

Latest medical aid must reach masses: expert
Chandigarh, December 11
Even though it was the “Decade of the Brain” for the West, as far India is concerned, barring a few medical institutes in the country, advancements in the field of neurology and neurosurgery have failed to reach the masses.

Workshop on cerebral palsy ends
Chandigarh, December 11
A total of 125 cases were screened for possible therapies to improve their condition and 290 underwent surgery during the four-day screening-cum-surgical workshop on cerebral palsy held at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Sector 32.

PGI short of funds for neurosciences unit
Chandigarh, December 11
Unable to shell out Rs 50 crore for setting up the Neurosciences Centre, PGI’s poor financial health is coming in the way of the creation of a stroke unit, even as more than 10 brain-stroke cases from the region pour into the Emergency daily.

SPORTS

Manav Mangal gymnasts steal show

Chandigarh, December 11 Gymnasts of Manav Mangal School, Sector 11, Panchkula stole the limelight on the opening day of the first district gymnastics championship, Panchkula, today at the Chaudhary Devi Lal Sports complex, Sector 3, Panchkula. Earlier this meet was inaugurated by Ms Neelam P Kashani, Additional Deputy Commissioner. A gymnast during the District Gymanstics Championship at Sector 3 Sports Complex, Panchkula, on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Promises set the ball rolling in Golf Club elections
Chandigarh, December 11
Col A.P. Singh, who is pitted against Rajeev Atma Ram for the presidentship of the Chandigarh Golf Club, today said that he would see that the course was maintained at the world class standard. He also promised to provide eatables and drinks at reasonable rates. Other points in his agenda are broadbasing the subcommittees by involving volunteers (specialists) as special invitees.

• GIMRC-32 win cricket tourney

ADMINISTRATION

MC seeks 20 mgd pipeline to meet water shortage
Mohali, December 11
The Municipal Council has sought the laying of a new 20 million gallons per day (mgd) pipeline for the supply of canal water to the town to overcome the shortage of water.

Cops reach out to elderly
Chandigarh, December 11
The Chandigarh police yesterday fanned out its beat staff, inspectors and DSPs to reach out to around 1500 lonely senior citizens in the city, to reassure them of their security, in the wake of the shocking triple murder in Panchkula.

Vendors selling in Apni Mandis okayed
Chandigarh, December 11
Rescinding its recommendations on not allowing vendors in Apni Mandis, the Apni Mandi Committee today justified an earlier decision of the Congress-ruled municipal corporation to legalise them in the mandis. The Punjab Mandi Board Act, which strictly forbids private selling in or near the mandis, was not applicable to the city, said members of the committee, which met under the chairmanship of Ms Shyama Negi, a councillor.

87 acres to be acquired for institutions
Chandigarh, December 11
Taking the first major step towards developing a planned institutional area, the Chandigarh Administration will be acquiring 87 acres of land in Sarangpur village, west of the Panjab University campus, and another 4.15 acres in the adjoining village of Khuda Lahora.

Police post upgraded
Zirakpur, December 11
Taking a serious view of the increasing crime rare here, the Punjab Government has upgraded the existing police post to a police station. With the upgrading of the Lohgarh police post to Zirakpur Police Station, the government has also decided to deploy more police personnel besides additional machinery and more facilities.