Red Cross to identify landmine victims
Chandigarh, January 21
In the absence of data about the number of landmine victims and the extent of the problem in India, the International Committee of Red Cross, will launch a hunt for the affected persons all along the border areas in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan.

Look beyond Pak, says ex-Foreign Secy
Chandigarh, January 21
Focusing on the need to explore and link up mid-West and Central Asia with India to make headway in the strategic and economic areas, the international seminar on “Language, Culture and Society in mid-West and Central Asia,” which began at Golden Hall, Panjab University, here today, emphasised on the need to look beyond Pakistan.

Prof M.M. Sharma, Secretary, Organising Committee, makes a point at the international seminar which began at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Wednesday — A Tribune photograph

Government yet to resume excavation work at Chhatt village
Zirakpur, January 21
Even after two years, the government is yet to resume the excavation work at the historic Chatt village, which yielded artifacts and ruins of the Harappan civilisation, thanks to the paucity of funds.

Audit objects to PGI purchase of ACs
Chandigarh, January 21
The PGI might cry itself hoarse about acute shortage of funds when it comes to routine hospital expenditure, but is magnanimous in shelling out Rs 30.89 lakh for the 59 window-type airconditioners, that too in areas which are already centrally airconditioned.

Wage war against conflicts, says Swedish expert
Chandigarh, January 21
The Iraq war was over with the capture of Saddam Hussein. The ramification of the war, now is manifesting itself in the changing world order. Though the “might is right” belief of the Americans dominated the war period in Iraq, post-war the countries are faced with the option of going it alone, like the US did in Iraq, or working collectively to establish a new world order.

Conference on cyber law
Chandigarh, January 21
A two day “Conference on e-security, cyber crime and law” will be held in the city on February 19 and 20. The Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Government of Punjab in association with Society for Promotion of IT in Chandigarh is organising the conference at Hotel Shivalik View.

Verification campaign
Mohali, January 21
The police started a verification campaign in the township here today. As many as 180 persons were verified during the first day of the campaign at the Phase 1 police station.

Demand to stop restructuring of Survey of India
Chandigarh, January 21
The Coordination Committee of the Survey of India Association held a meeting yesterday to express concern over the restructuring of the Survey of India saying it suits only the Class I officers. The interests of Group B, C and D employees have been crushed and their numbers pruned.

National Adventure Festival from Feb 1
Chandigarh, January 21
The National Adventure Club (India) will organise the 10th National Adventure Festival from February 1 to 8, here. Mr Ram S. Varma, President of the National Adventure Club, said here today.

HP Helpline
Chandigarh, January 21
The Tribune Employees HP Helpline Cultural and Welfare Society, Chandigarh, will organise its third annual “Parivar Milan Samaroh” here on January 26.

Multilingual news agency inaugurated
Chandigarh, January 21
Free Press of Nation (FPN), a multilingual news and feature agency, was inaugurated here yesterday. The English version of the agency was inaugurated by The Hindu correspondent Sarbjit Pandher. The Hindi version was inaugurated by senior journalist Pushp Kumar Singh and the Punjabi version by Ajit correspondent Baljit Balli. The inauguration ceremony was organised at the seminar hall of Punjab Book Centre.

Tribune employees bereaved

Girl child was strangled to death, says autopsy report
Chandigarh, January 21
The autopsy report of the girl child allegedly killed by her mother, Geeta, in the PGI has established that she was strangulated to death. The police has taken samples of Geeta and her daughter for a DNA test to establish the infant was that of Geeta, the police said.

Man held for minor’s kidnap
Mohali, January 21
The police today arrested one person on charges of kidnapping a minor and keeping her in illegal confinement. The accused, Malik-ul-Islam, was arrested from Muradabad by the Mohali police team yesterday, four months after a case under Sections 366 and 363 was registered against him.

Gambling racket unearthed
Chandigarh, January 21
The crime branch of the Chandigarh Police today claimed to have unearthed a gambling racket extending to Delhi, nabbing an operator from Bapu Dham. Ashok Kumar, alias Khappu, was arrested along with a gambled amount of Rs 20,150 from Bapu Dham. Ashok Kumar is touted as one of the biggest operators of the city, according to the police.

BUSINESS

Mobile pocket PC launched
Chandigarh, January 21
Masterline Chandigarh has ventured into Windows-powered GSM mobile pocket PC with the all-new Qtek 2020 which was launched in the city today. Qtek 2020 will be one of the first Windows-powered GSM mobile phone to be launched in India, according to Mr Naresh Nanda, managing director of Masterline.

Fun Stop winner gets a bicycle
Chandigarh, January 21
Harsharan Singh, a class III student of Tender Heart School, Sector 33, was adjudged the winner of this week’s nationwide lucky draw held by Fun Stop, a popular name in board games, puzzles and craft series. Harsharan Singh was presented with a bicycle by Mr Ajay Aggarwal, Regional Manager. The Fun Stop range of products are for creative minds and entertaining as well as educative.

Harsharan Singh with the winning prize

Glasgow varsity to hold counselling session
Chandigarh, January 21
The University of Glasgow, one of the United Kingdom’s oldest and most prestigious universities, in association with Study Overseas, UK, will hold a counselling session for students here on January 29.

College studies hit as teachers go on strike
Chandigarh, January 21
Classes in colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh remained effected as hundreds of teachers of non-government colleges under the banner of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union held a rally demanding regularisation of salaries and retiral benefits opposite the Punjab DPI (Colleges) here today.

15 schools take part in painting contest
Mohali, January 21
As many as 464 students from 15 schools in the township participated in ‘Camlin Freedom’, an inter-school painting competition organised by Creative Institute of Visual Arts at Sanjay Public School, Sector 70, here today.

Home Decor
House that looks bigger than it actualy is
A house made well is a house well lived in. This is how one can describe the home of Mr Bal Mukand Sharma known across Punjab more for his comedy shows than as Deputy General Manager, Markfed. His house, located in Phase 3B2 here, is an example of flawless symphony between the exterior and the interior.

Kanchan Sharma with her children Himank and Ibna in their house in Mohali

Korean scarves in vogue among girls
Korean scarves are creating ripples among the youngsters of the city. Also popular are shiny scarves with tassels that promises to leave you beaming even in cloudy January days. Net scarves are also in vogue among teenagers of the world. Just in case you have not purchased the scarves till now, drive down to the arcade, now. You will find imported scarves in baby pink, oceanic blue, icy white and green hanging outside garment stores and artificial jewellery shops all over the city. This stuff is not very expensive either. You can buy a scarf anywhere between Rs 250 and Rs 450. The stoles and shawls are priced anywhere between Rs 600 and 1500.

Eating Out
Right place for corporate outings
Lunches and dinners out in the corporate world are generally linked with work. The businessmen like to unwind over a meal with their dealers, distributors and other associates after a brainstorming session of a seminar or conference. And for such occasions, a venue that caters to their business as well as culinary needs is sought. One that should be spacious. It should have the latest gadgets (OHPs, telephone connection, Internet, fax etc).

HEALTH

Drug companies, Health Deptt on warpath
Chandigarh January 21
Mega pharmaceutical companies and the District Health Department are on a collision course the issue is pricing of certain essential drugs.

Book on eye care released
Chandigarh, January 21
The UT Administrator, Justice OP Verma (Retd.) today underlined the need for taking preventive measures for eye care. Speaking after releasing a book entitled ‘Guide to Healthy Eyes’ written by Dr R.Kumar, senior consultant and eye specialist at Punjab Raj Bhavan, Justice Verma said eyes may be the first indicators of a change in our body health like diabetes, hypertension and brain tumour.

Verma for drives to check adulteration
Chandigarh, January 21
Stressing upon the need for a regular drive to check food adulteration, The UT Administrator, Justice O.P. Verma, yesterday ordered the regular sampling of food products in the city. He said an Executive Magistrate or SDM should accompany the team of the Health Department to rule out harassment.

DAV-8 enter Parle final
Chandigarh, January 21
DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, Chandigarh, entered final of the PCA Parle Inter-School Cricket Tournament for under-17. 

Sandeep Bhalla of DAV School, Sector 8, Chandigarh, bowls to Luxmi of Atma Ram Kumar Sabha at the PCA Parle Cricket 
Tournament in Mohali on Wednesday. 
— A Tribune photograph

PU tennis team win bronze
Chandigarh, January 21
Tennis eves of Panjab University bagged the bronze in the just concluded All-India-Inter Varsity Lawn Tennis Meet held at KSLTA Cubbon Park, Bangalore. In this meet, Osmania University, Hyderabad, won the gold, while Madras University, Chennai, the silver.

ADMINISTRATION

SI Daya Nand promoted DSP on CAT orders
Chandigarh, January 21
The senior most Inspector of the Chandigarh police, Mr Daya Nand, was today promoted as DSP, a position which he held for 11 years before being demoted in 2001. His elevation was on a direction from the Central Administrative Tribunal.

UT police reshuffle
Chandigarh, January 21
Station House Officer of Sector 26 Tirath Singh was today replaced by Inspector Jarnail Singh, who was additional SHO in Sector 17 prior to the posting. Mr Tirath Singh replaces Mr Gurnam Singh in the Police Control Room. The latter has been posted with the Sector 17 police station as Additional SHO.