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TOP STORIES

Anti-crime society chief booked for fraud
Chandigarh, June 2
A person who was claiming to rid the society of crime through a body set up by him for the purpose, was booked here today for a criminal activity. The Sector 34 resident, Avtar Singh Matharoo was today booked for fraud under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 472 and 473 of the IPC in the Sector 34 police station.

At the Counter
Rail reservation seekers have a
harrowing time
Chandigarh, June 2
The first thing one notices after entering the rail reservation centre inside the Sector 17 bus stand is shortage of space. Sometimes the queue of ticket buyers extends into the corridor outside the hall.

Heavy rush at rail reservation counters at the Sector 17 bus stand in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Helmets: no special nakas set up
Chandigarh, June 2
The Chandigarh police today seemed to have buckled under political pressure on the issue of helmetless driving with it today refraining from putting up special nakas in this regard.

Jatha members burn helmets Mohali, June 2 Members of the Kalgidhar Sevak Jatha today spearheaded a protest against the Chandigarh Administration’s move to make helmet wearing compulsory for women two-wheeler riders. BURNING ISSUE: Members of the Kalgidhar Sevak Jatha burn helmets outside the Amb Sahib Gurdwara, Phase VIII, in Mohali, on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by  Manoj Mahajan

Army units to be deprived of CSD profits
Chandigarh, June 2
Army units will no longer be able to utilise profits from CSD canteens being run by them. The profits, instead, will be remitted to Army Headquarters to be used by the Army Welfare Education Society, which is reportedly short of funds.

Sonu to play another historical role in Shyam Benegal film Chandigarh, June 2 Actor Sonu Sood seems to be on the history trail. Unlike newcomers who cherish romantic roles for their debut, this Moga boy dared to play Shaheed Bhagat Singh in his very first film. And that too at a time when stalwarts like Ajay Devgan and Bobby Deol were playing the same role in other films being made under such celebrated banners as Raj Kumar Santoshi's.                Sonu Sood

COMMUNITY

Hire-and-fire policy for sweepers on cards
MC Sanitation Committee meeting today
Chandigarh, June 2
Adopting a hire-and-fire policy for dealing with sweepers playing truant during duty hours is on the cards when the Sanitation Committee of the Municipal Corporation meets tomorrow to discuss streamlining the sanitation “business” in the city.

Stagnant water a common site
Anti-malaria month in city
Chandigarh, June 2
Even though almost 48 hours have lapsed since the launch of anti-malaria month in the city, stagnant water continues to provide breeding ground for larvae — at least in slums and colonies all over the city. The problem is expected to get worse once rains lash the city.

Meeting to tackle water shortage comes a cropper
Public Health Dept officials fail to turn up
Mohali, June 2
Even as Mohali residents are reeling under unprecedented shortage of drinking water, officials of the Public Health Department failed to turn up at an emergency meeting convened by the municipal council today to solve the problem.

Chain fast enters 17th day over PUDA move Mohali, June 2 The local Congress leader, Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu, today joined the ongoing chain fast by villagers protesting against acquisition of their land by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority. Congress leader Balbir Sidhu (second from right) with protesting villagers at Sohana on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Finding true self through meditation Panchkula, June 2 Stressful lifestyle has thrown our lives off-balance. Tied to the routine ,most of us have forgotten how to relax and be at total peace with oneself. No wonder healing therapies, reiki and meditation are now in. A music meditation session in progress at the Osho Meditation Centre in Panchkula.

Ms Aftab Preet releases her mother Nirmal Jaswal’s (also in the picture) book “Machhiyan kach diyan” at Chandigarh Press Club in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

SGPC poll: 50 booths in Mohali constituency
Mohali, June 2
No nominations were filed even on the second day here today from the Mohali constituency for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee elections scheduled to be held on July 11.

Of man-woman relationships
Chandigarh, June 2
After “Ek chup ji kudi”, Nirmal Jaswal is back with another collection of short stories titled “Macchiyaan kach diyaan.” Released by her daughter Aftaab Preet in Chandigarh on Wednesday, the collection traces man-woman relationships in a contemporary context.

Seven hurt in road mishap
Chandigarh, June 2
At least seven persons were injured, one of them seriously, when the Qualis (UP-16B-9996) in which they were travelling overturned after being hit by a speeding truck from the rear side, near the Housing Board light point in Mani Majra late tonight.

Swami Ram Dev’s yoga camp begins Panchkula, June 2 Swami Ram Devji of yoga fame of Kankhal, Hardwar, demonstrated various asanas and the pranayam kriya at an eight-day-long yoga camp which began at the Sector 5 ground here today. Interested people from all sections of society started collecting inside a vast pandal put up on the HUDA ground from 3.30 am onwards.
SAYING YES TO GOOD HEALTH: People from the region participate in a week-long yoga camp conducted by Swami Ramdev in Panchkula on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

CRIME

Auto thief held, three scooters recovered Chandigarh, June 2 The Chandigarh Police has arrested an auto thief hailing from Jind, in the city and recovered three stolen scooters from him. Anil Kumar of Mohalla Krishna Colony was stopped at a picket near Polytechnic College, Sector 26, here last night by Sub-Inspector Satwinder Singh while the former was going on an unnumbered scooter. Sanjay, who was illegally carrying a countrymade pistol, and Anil Kumar, who was caught while riding a stolen scooter, in police custody in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Woman hangs herself, father cries foul Chandigarh, June 2 A 21-year-old woman today died under mysterious circumstances in Sector 38 after allegedly being harassed for dowry. While the father of the woman alleged that she was murdered, a suicide note, purported to have been written by her, indicates she hanged herself to death.   Neeta

Two youths assault former DSP
Lalru, June 2
A former Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dera Bassi, Mr Balwinder Singh Brar was assaulted by two youths on the busy Kalka-Ambala highway, near the local bus stop, late this night.

House burgled
Mohali, June 2
Goods and cash worth Rs 50,000 were stolen from house 2387 in Phase X here today. The owner of the house, Mr Harbans Lal Khurana, left for work at Ferozepore on May 24, after which his wife and children left for Delhi.

BUSINESS

DC inaugurates Piaggio dealership
Chandigarh, June 2
Mr Arun Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, today inaugurated a Piaggio dealership here. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ashutosh Khosla, General Manager, Piaggio, said Piaggio was poised to play a vital role in the times to come as it had been able to work on challenges before the cargo industry.

EDUCATION

DAV College told to phase out plus two classes
Chandigarh, June 2
The Chandigarh Administration has asked the authorities of the DAV College, Sector 10, to gradually phase out the senior secondary classes being run on the college premises. In the first phase, the authorities have been asked to admit only 400 students in Class XI and from next year the senior secondary classes would be scrapped.

Tiny tots play on musical instruments at a 15-day workshop at Kiddies Playway School, Sector 38 (West), in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

UGC-NET exam roll nos despatched
Chandigarh, June 2
The Coordinator UGC-NET Examination June-2004 of Panjab University (Centre No 48) has despatched the roll numbers for the NET examination scheduled to be held on June 20.

PEC faculty on contract allege exploitation
Chandigarh, June 2
The contractual faculty at Punjab Engineering College (PEC) has alleged stepmotherly treatment at the hands of the college authorities. In a memorandum to the Principal of the college, the persons affected have pointed out that in the last two years, no meeting had been held in some of the departments for allocation of subjects.

8 workshops at DAV-7
Chandigarh, June 2
The KB DAV, Sector 7, is organising eight workshops. The vice-president of the DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi, and the chairman of the school, Mr B.S. Bahl, inaugurated the first workshop today.

Poster contest results
Chandigarh, June 2
The Haryana State Council for Science and Technology organised a poster, declamation and quiz competition at DAV Senior Secondary School in Sector 8 today.

CULTURE

From theatre to cinema
Chandigarh, June 2
Gajendra Ahire may not be very well-known in this part of the country, but he is counted among the best filmmakers in Maharashtra. Rooted in regional theatre, Ahire has to his credit significant Marathi plays.

2 plays to be staged by academy
Mohali, June 2
The Punjabi Natak Academy will stage two plays, dedicated to three centenaries associated with Sikh history, in Delhi on June 6. The script of the two plays — “Kudrati Noor Vase Khaddor” and “Jindan Nikian Sake Wade” — has been written by Charan Singh Sindhra.

Making films for multiplexes
Chandigarh, June 2
Sunil Bohra comes from a family which has produced 108 films till date. Himself a producer of “Mard”, “Kalia” and “Takkar”, he is now looking forward to directing Arshad Warsi and Arbaaz Khan in “Jitenge Hum”.

LIFESTYLE

Eating Out A rich blend of food, tradition and royalty Who would be better equipped to offer a meal in the traditional way than the royalty which has taken upon itself the task of preserving the values inculcated in the great Indian culture, the ravayat of our ancestors? Ever since Fort Ramgarh, Panchkula (a few kilometres ahead of Nadha Sahib Gurdwara), threw open its huge darwaza to the public last year, it has been striving not to let crass commercialisation overwhelm the ‘saaf and suthra’ path as advocated by revered saints and gurus, said a scion of the family.

Hundreds turn up for Zee TV’s audition
If the response to “Big Break” is anything to go by Channel V Popstars has a strong contender in Zee. Soon after the Zee TV team descended upon GGDSD College in Sector 32 to announce auditions this morning, youngsters began pouring in. One of the participants at Zee TV’s audition rehearses in the waiting room of GGDSD College, Sector 32, while others look on. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

‘Tulsi’ remains ever popular THE ever popular, “Tulsi”, continues to be the biggest attraction in all the categories. According to a press release issued here, Tulsi is leading in Dabur Anmol Shampoo Star Parivaar Awards. The release adds that “Kashish and Sujal” are leading in the “jodi category” with a very high margin. Last year also it was a clean sweep for Tulsi when she won the favourite patni and bahu awards. Smriti Irani as Tulsi in “Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi”

‘Bull’ crystal launched
Swarovski, a cut crystal brand, has introduced “Bull”, a new numbered limited edition crystal object, of which 10,000 pieces will be produced. This is the fourth limited edition following “Eagle” in 1995, “Peacock” in 1998 and “Wild Horses” in 2001.

HEALTH

Persistent cough can be asthma, says expert
Chandigarh, June 2
Check that persistent cough, it can be asthma. One of the most under-diagnosed and under-treated diseases, asthma can be, in extreme cases, life-threatening, says Dr Sandeep Mehrishi, a pulmologist.

Hoteliers told to maintain hygiene
Panchkula, June 2
Dr Satvir Chaudhary, Civil Surgeon, today asked owners of hotels, restaurants, and eating joints to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in their units to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases like cholera, jaundice, diarrhoea and gastroenteritis.

SPORTS

CLTA to train youngsters
Chandigarh, June 2
In order to encourage tennis among the local children, Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association will train the youngsters at its Tennis Coaching Centre. Boys and girls between the age group of 4-10 years will be eligible to join the centre.