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Police swoops on Paradise Solutions
11 computers, documents seized
Chandigarh, April 4
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Chandigarh Police today seized 11 computers and several documents from Paradise Solutions Private Limited, a Sector 34-based firm, three of whose promoters have been charged with defrauding eight persons of more than Rs 1 crore. 

Over 1 lakh given polio drops

Chandigarh, April 4 More than one lakh children below the age of five were administered polio drops in the third phase of the Pulse Polio immunisation campaign in the city today. “A total of 1,04,809 children were administered polio drops at various booths set up by the Health Department,” said Dr C.P. Bansal, Director, Health Services, UT.

Polio drops being administered in Chandigarh on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Six-month term for ad hoc principals
Chandigarh, April 4
Putting an end to the practice of allowing ad hoc and temporary principals in government and private colleges to continue indefinitely, Panjab University has approved a six-month term for all such temporary college heads in its affiliated colleges.

Burden off students’ shoulders
Chandigarh, April 4
Students of government schools in the city will no longer be compelled to buy additional textbooks and exercise copies, reducing the number of books they have to carry to school. 

8-year-old boy hit by car, killed Mohali, April 4 An eight-year-old boy was killed when a car hit him when he was riding back home on his cycle from a park in Phase 3A here this evening. The victim Brahmjot Singh was declared brought dead at the Civil Hospital, here. The car driver Jagpreet Singh, also a resident of Phase 3A, has been booked by the police. The accident took place barely a few hundred metres from his residence, house number 262 in Phase 3A. Brahmjot, along with some of his friends, had gone to play in the Central Park, nearby and the boys decided to return home at dusk. Brahmjot Singh (with his father), who died in a road accident in Phase 3A, Mohali, on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Veteran actress leading life in poverty

Chandigarh, April 4 Sangeeta who? is the question we ask a friend who recommends that we meet the lady, and try to help her out in her hour of need. The famous Punjabi film actress, he says. We scratch our brains, and then emerges the picture of a demure woman with a sweet voice and earthy appeal. Sangeeta Mehta — one of the prominent faces of Punjabi cinema is now living a life of penury. Famous Punjabi film actress Sangeeta Mehta is a pale shadow of her old self. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

Danny stages comeback Chandigarh, April 4 Glamour is but an illusion. At least that is what the self-effacing Danny Denzongpa feels after having been in the thick of stardom and after having alternated between hope and despair all this while. It was to overcome this monotony of life that the character actor took a long break from the world of cinema. For two years he has not been visible on the big screen nor has he featured on television, which last saw him at his emotional best in the famous soap — Ajnabi. Now that much of the dead routine is over and done with, Danny is back in action, with all the energy and resolve needed to get on with something as challenging as cinema. Danny Denzongpa in the city on his way to Manali on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

Pole damages ‘Gulf War’ car

Chandigarh, April 4 A Toyota Corona car that survived Scud missiles in Kuwait and was driven down 9000 km to India through Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Pakistan during the 1991 Gulf war was here today partially damaged when an electricity pole fell on it. The car that survived Scud missiles during the 1991 Gulf War passing through several countries beneath an electricity pole which fell on it on Sunday in Chandigarh. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

COMMUNITY

Inmate sustains head injuries in lock-up  Relatives allege torture, cops term it suicide bid Mohali, April 4 An accused in police custody was rushed to hospital today following serious head injuries. While the police stated that the accused banged his head against the lock-up grill, relatives of the accused claimed that the police tortured him. The accused, Jagjit Singh (30), was booked by the police for attempting suicide following the incident. Jagjit Singh, a resident of Taqipur village, near Mullanpur, was arrested by the anti-goonda squad of the Mohali police on April 1 on the charge of trespassing. Accused Jagjit Singh being dragged from an ambulance to the Mohali Civil Hospital, Phase VI, on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Candidates out to  woo voters
Chandigarh, April 4
Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, the candidate of the Congress in the forthcoming parliamentary elections, today took out a padyatra in Ram Durbar(Phase I),a press release said here today. Mr Bansal met the local residents and asked them abut the problems of their area. Mr Bansal also visited a mandir, masjid and gurudwara in the area.

Dissent rife in political parties
Chandigarh, April 4
Dissension is rife in all prominent political parties in the fray for the local seat in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. As the election draws near, the Congress, the BJP, SAD and the BSP are spending their time in managing the daily campaign schedule on the one hand and managing rebels on the other.

Only 58 pc city voters have I-cards
Chandigarh, April 3
Over 40 per cent of the residents still do not possess voter identity cards in the city. According to an estimate, there are at least 5.03 lakh eligible voters in this parliamentary constituency. Only 58 per cent of them have voter identity cards.

Bus-truck collision leaves 3 dead

Dera Bassi, April 4 Three pilgrims, including a woman, died on the spot while 40 were injured in two accidents on the Zirakpur-Lalru stretch of the Kalka-Ambala highway here late last night. The private bus and the truck that collided on the Kalka-Ambala highway near Dera Bassi on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Punwire staff hold protest rally

Mohali, April 4 Members of the Punjab Wireless Systems Employees Union today participated in a protest rally at the Balongi barrier here. Employees leaders lashed out at the Punjab Government for having failed to deliver its promise of reviving Punwire. Punwire employees protest in support of their demands in Mohali on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

5.5 quintal ladoo offered on  Hanuman Jayanti

Mohali, April 4 Hundreds of devotees participated in the 13th Hanuman Jayanti festival organised by the Shri Vaishno Seva Mandal at Hanuman Mandir, Phase 3B2, here today. A massive ladoo specially prepared for the celebrations, was placed before the 32-ft-high Hanuman idol in the morning and unveiled after the aarti. A 5.5 quintal ladoo being distributed among devotees at Hanuman Mandir in Phase 3B2 in Mohali on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

5 buffaloes die mysteriously
Lalru, April 4
Five buffaloes died under mysterious circumstances at Dappar village, near here, last evening . Owners of the milch cattle claimed that the animals died minutes after falling sick last evening.

CRIME

Man dies after being hit by scooter
Chandigarh, April 4
A resident of Raipur Khurd village here, Kikar Singh Katoch, died after being hit by a scooter near the Airport chowk last evening. As per the police, Katoch started bleeding profusely after being hit.

• Woman sets self afire

BUSINESS

BSNL shifts revenue unit

EDUCATION

Opinion poll supports govt’s stand on IIM fee cut
Chandigarh, April 4
In light of the controversy involving fee cut in IIMs, PRAHAR, a non-commercial organisation, in an opinion poll conducted among students in Chandigarh has revealed that professional higher education needs to be made more accessible for middle-class students. The poll was also conducted in Delhi and Lucknow.

Panel to monitor functioning of private schools

Mohali, April 4 A special committee will be constituted to regulate the fee structure and the quality of education of private schools in the township. This was stated by the Deputy Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, while talking to mediapersons at Ajit Karam Singh Public School, Phase 11, here today. Girls wait for their turn to participate in a solo dance competition at the new branch of Ajit Karam Singh International Public School, Phase 11, Mohali, on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

• Two more govt schools for Mohali

Session begins at Doon School
Mohali, April 4
The first academic session of Doon International Public School, Sector 69 here was inaugurated by Punjab PWD Minister Pratap Singh Bajwa here today. The school, affiliated to the CBSE will enrol students from Pre-nursery to Class VII.

Hamara School
The aim is to transform average child into nation’s asset

THIS has been the motto of C.L. Aggarwal DAV Model School, Sector 7-B, Chandigarh. Right from its inception in 1955, the institution has been heralding an awakening among the masses, uplifting them from the dark dungeon of ignorance and illiteracy. This institution of knowledge serves a common platform for teachers, students and parents to interact and grow through shared experience. CL Aggarwal DAV Model School, Chandigarh

‘Excellence is in the air of our school’
THE five-letter word ‘Excel’ is an amalgamation of diligence, grit, determination, devotion, sincerity and strategy. A person has to really put himself on fire. To excel may be difficult, may be challenging and it could be awesome sometimes, but it is very much possible. Once it touches you, it transforms you.

LIFESTYLE

The ‘Saigal of South India’ immortalises K.L. Saigal
The highlight of K.L. Saigal’s birth centenary celebrations organised at Tagore Theatre this evening was the presence of Mr P. Parameswaram Nair, popularly known as the “Saigal of South India”.

Morning Chatter
The silence you can hear
Shah Rukh was mesmerised with its “open spaces.” Amitabh Bachchan commented on its “expansiveness.” Juhi Chawla sat on cement benches at Sukhna Lake, shooting for Gurdas Mann’s film, and said, “As you see fairy-tale Kasauli lights from this end, you don’t really have to act to feel romantic, for the entire ambience of the place makes you soak in the aura which a person in love carries with him.” Zohra Sehgal in her inimitable style said, “Here, silence speaks.”

Making fashion statement through schoolbags

Bugs Bunny accompanies Ateet Sharma to the school every day. Like a faithful pet, he sits next to him while the Class II student constructs complex sentences and solves sums. As the buzzer announces time to go home, Bugs Bunny bounces on his back, happily. In case you do not know, Ateet’s favourite cartoon character lives on his schoolbags. Schoolbags with cartoon characters are favourite among young students. —  Tribune photo by Malkiat Singh

A nursery for young gymnasts

Gymnastics centre being run in the vicinity of DAV College, Sector 10, has been nurturing young talent, thus taking the form of a nursery of gymnastics in the city. Thanks to the UT Sports Department and the Sports Authority of India for deputing a coach for this centre and the college management for sparing their indoor hall exclusively for this sport. Trainees practise on the horizontal bar at the Gymnastics Coaching Centre of the DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh.

Funky furniture is the in thing Funky lifestyle is really in. And not just in the clothes designed by fashion designers for ramp shows. The home interiors are also getting funky. If you are still stuck up with the heavy upholstered furniture for your drawing rooms, or the ornately carved chairs for the dining room, you are simply not keeping up with the latest trends. A wrought iron couch with a “feathery” upholstery.

HEALTH

Hepatitis C: a silent scourge
Chandigarh, April 4
Known as the “silent epidemic”, hepatitis C remains relatively undetected. Many of its victims show few or no symptoms at all for years or even decades Hepatitis C was discovered in 1989, and since then many studies have been conducted on infected populations.

Programmed deliveries recommended
Chandigarh, April 4
To tide over the problems associated with an emergency delivery, the gynaecologists are now promoting the concept of ‘programmed labour’ where the birth is made to take place during the day time, when all medical services are functioning.

400 persons examined at health camp

SPORTS

Roller hockey camp from today
Chandigarh, April 4
The senior national roller hockey camp in both men and women sections will begin at the skating rink of KB DAV Centenary School, Sector 7, here tomorrow. According to Ms Madhu Bahl, Chairman, Roller Skating Federation of India, it is the first camp prior to the participation of the Indian roller hockey team in the Tenth Asian Roller Skating Championship to be held in Akita, Japan, from June 12.

Rural sports meet concludes

Chandigarh, April 4 The three-day annual rural cash prize sports meet organised by Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sports Club, Gram Panchayat, Kajheri village, concluded at the Sector 53 grounds here today. Events like kabaddi,  tug-of-war, discus throw, shot put, races,  etc. were held during the meet. A scuffle that broke out between the teams of Mauli and Kumbra villages during the annual rural sports meet at Kajehari, Sector 53, Chandigarh, on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph