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PU restricts cultural fests to 1 week
Move aimed at shifting focus to academics
Chandigarh, December 8
Concerned at the deteriorating academic environment at Panjab University, the authorities have decided to restrict cultural fests to one week in a year.

Property auction to follow old pattern
Chandigarh, December 8
The Chandigarh Administration has taken a decision to go ahead with the auction of commercial and residential property scheduled from December 10 and 11 on the old format of making payments, thus allaying fears that the entire money will have to be deposited within 90 days of the auction.

Mentally challenged bring laurels to city
Chandigarh, December 8
Thirteen mentally challenged city cricket players who won the silver medal in the Asia Pacific International Cricket Tournament got a rousing welcome on their arrival here today.

Mentally challenged cricketers of Chandigarh are all smiles after winning a silver medal in the first Asia Pacific Cricket meet in Ahmedabad. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Recruitment drive for the disabled
Chandigarh, December 8
The Chandigarh Administration has decided to run a special recruitment drive to fill vacancies meant for persons with disabilities.

• Visually challenged win 10 medals

Students of the Institute for the Blind, Sector 26, Chandigarh, in a jubilant mood after bagging five golds, three silver and two bronze medals in the National Sports Meet for the visually handicapped in New Delhi. — Tribune photo by Malkiat Singh

4 flesh trade rackets busted
Top cops, bureaucrats customers, says police
Panchkula, December 8
The police tonight busted four flesh trade rackets and arrested eight women in four separate operations. Two of the arrested women were bar dancers who had been brought here from Mumbai.

Havildar run over by Shatabdi
Chandigarh, December 8
A 35-year-old Havildar with EME Station Workshop, Chandimandir, was run over by the Shatabdi Express near Mansa Devi shrine in the cantonment area this morning.

Marketing guru advises MBAs not to crave for cushy jobs
Chandigarh, December 8
Mr Sunil Alagh is best regarded for his productive stint at Britannia which figured on the Forbes List of 300 best small companies for three years under his stewardship.

Army Service Corps’ anniversary observed
Chandigarh, December 8
Several functions, including a memorial service, barakhana and a social get-together for serving and retired officers were organised to mark the 244th anniversary of the Army Service Corps (ASC) at Headquarters Western Command, Chandimandir today.

COMMUNITY

Sector 19 without basic amenities
Panchkula, December 8
Are the Haryana Urban Development Authority and the local municipal council treating residents of Sector 19 here as poor country cousins of those living in residential sectors on the other side of the railway line.

Brig decides to go ahead with second son’s marriage
Elder’s wedding cancelled two days ago
Chandigarh, December 8
Brig M.P. Singh (retd) has decided to go ahead with the marriage of his second son, two days after marriage of his elder son was called off amid allegations of dowry demand.

Gujral, the bureaucrat who went by the rule book
Chandigarh, December 8
As the outgoing Home Secretary, Mr Raminder Singh Gujral, relinquishes office after more than four years, his tenure will be remembered as that of a bureaucrat who went by the rule book. He was thorough in file work, thus earning the respect of his seniors and juniors.

Defeat poverty, says Kokje
Chandigarh, December 8
Himachal Pradesh Governor Justice V.S. Kokje (retd) and President, All-India Management Association Sunil Alagh were special guests on the occasion of 38th Foundation Day celebrations of the Chandigarh Management Association at the CII this evening.

Allot plots, says sangharsh committee
Mohali, December 8
A delegation of the Allotment Sangharsh Committee here yesterday met the Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Mr K.B.S. Sidhu, to apprise him of their problem.

Name Mohali as Ajitgarh or Ajit Nagar: SGPC member
Mohali, December 8
The local SGPC member has requested the Punjab Chief Minister to announce the name of SAS Nagar as Ajitgarh or Ajit Nagar on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the martyrdom of the four sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh.

MLA to send proposal on district status for Mohali
Mohali, December 8
The Kharar MLA will send a proposal to the Chief Minister, for upgrading SAS Nagar subdivision to a district. The demand is being made keeping in view the upcoming events being organised to mark the 300 years of the martyrdom of the sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh.

Residents stage dharna
Chandigarh, December 8
Residents of Sector 21-A yesterday staged a dharna in protest against the UT Administration’s decision to allow the construction of a school on a ground meant to be a park. Resolving to continue the dharna unless the decision is reversed, the residents said they would also hold a protest rally on December 12. The rally will be addressed by MP Pawan Kumar Bansal at 12 noon.

Women Empowerment Scheme launched
Mohali, December 8
The Punjab Government today launched its Women Empowerment Scheme, selecting 24 villages of Ropar where women selfhelp groups would be formed.

Cut in power tariff sought
Chandigarh, December 8
The Industries Association of Chandigarh has demanded a reduction in electricity tariff. According to Mr Arvind K. Mehan, President of the association, UT consumers were paying five per cent more in various categories as compared to their counterparts in Punjab.

Earmark place for Apni Mandi, say residents
Chandigarh, December 8
The LIG and EWS Residents Welfare Association, Sector 40-C, has condemned the decision of the Chandigarh Administration to discontinue apni mandi being held in the sector every Tuesday.

MC chief hears residents’ complaints
Panchkula, December 8
The local Municipal Council President, Ms Seema Chaudhary yesterday redressed the grievances of residents of Sector 7 here, during the “municipal council at your doorstep” programme.

Receipt saves connection
Panchkula, December 8
Officials of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) today converged at a house of Mr Harish Chandra in Sector 21 here to cut the power connection for non-payment of bill, even though he had paid the bill almost a fortnight ago.

• Photo-journalist bereaved

CRIME

Bikes, gold ornaments stolen
Chandigarh, December 8
Two motorcycles, gold ornaments and a mobile phone were reportedly stolen from various parts of the city, as per the information released by the police here today.

Cop hit by VIP car, dies
Chandigarh, December 8
Kamal Singh (42), a Head Constable in the Chandigarh police, was killed when an unidentified VIP car hit him near the rehri market in Sector 18 last night. He was crossing the road when the car hit him and sped away.

Balongi cheating suspect involved in more cases
Mohali, December 8
Major Singh, one of the suspects in the Balongi cheating case and the owner of the house where an agency by the name of Jai Lakshmi Super Agency was being run, had been earlier booked by the police in four cases.

Cash, gold ornaments stolen in Sec 71
Mohali, December 8
Thieves decamped with Rs 15,000 and gold ornaments from a Sector 71 house, last night. According to the police, the incident took place in the evening when the house owner was away to Delhi along with his wife. Their maid too had gone to her house in Chandigarh for few days.

Cellphone thieves on prowl
Mohali, December 8
The recent attempt of thieves to break into a mobile and accessories showroom in Mohali has brought into focus the failure of the local police to nab the gang responsible for such crimes in Mohali and Chandigarh.

Senior architect booked in dowry case
Panchkula, December 8
The police has booked a former Senior Architect of Haryana, Mr B.N. Talwar, his wife Kamlesh, sons Rajiv and Anupam, and daughter-in-law, Anju in a dowry harassment case.

30-yr-old found dead near GMCH
Chandigarh, December 8
An unidentified male body was found near Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Sector 32, here, this evening.

BUSINESS

Sales tax collections up by 21 per cent
Chandigarh, December 8
The local Excise and Taxation Department has claimed that collection of sales tax till the period ending November 30 stood at Rs 268 crore. This was 21 per cent more as compared to Rs 222 crore collected in the corresponding period last year.

Biz briefs

EDUCATION

NSUI wants FIR against students cancelled
Chandigarh, December 8
The local unit of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) condemned the registering of an FIR against Panjab University students by the authorities on Sunday. It also demanded the cancellation of the FIR and resignation of the Chairperson, Prof M.K. Teja, for registering the FIR, failing which it would launch an agitation.

Students asked to build career in science
Chandigarh, December 8
Engineering is not the end of the world. There are many alternative and enjoyable careers that one can follow and science is one of them. Prof S.C. Dutta Roy, Professor Emeritus, IIT, Delhi, stated this here on Monday.

Fashion show by children
Mohali, December 8
A party show was organised by the tiny tots of Gian Jyoti Public School, Phase II here today. Students dressed up in their best outfits and danced to music, enjoying a mouth watering treat.

Varsity staff hold dharna
Chandigarh, December 8
The Joint Action Committee of teaching and non-teaching employees of Panjab University organised a protest rally here today in front of the Administrative Block to press for the implementation of pension, here today.

Anti-tobacco projects in schools
Mohali, December 8
The Generation Saviour Association, an NGO, will start a project to sensitise the youth against the use of tobacco by screening films in schools highlighting the ill-effects of tobacco.

3 law students on fast
Chandigarh, December 8
Three students of the Department of Laws, Panjab university, began an indefinite fast outside the office of the Vice-Chancellor, here today, demanding condonation of lectures.

Lecture on Indian architecture
Chandigarh, December 8
“Architecture manifests itself through a variety of building types though all buildings are not architecture” opined Dr S.S. Bhatti, former principal Chandigarh College of Architecture, in a slide lecture delivered at the Department of Fine Arts Panjab University Chandigarh.

COURTS

Man impersonating as Executive Magistrate gets bail
Chandigarh, December 8
The person who claimed to be an Executive Magistrate and Tehsildar of Punjab, J. S. Sadhrao, who was arrested for allegedly firing a shot in Sector 18 on Sunday, had convinced the police about his status despite the fact that he had been dismissed from service for irregularities three years back.

LIFESTYLE

Painting nails her passion
GIVE her a free hand and she can transform the looks of your nails within a few minutes. Painting beautiful patterns on them in shimmering colours, Pammy Kaul has more than 70 designs to suit every occasion. These range from traditional to modern look. One need not worry about damaged nails as she can substitute these with artificial ones.

Pammy Kaul, nail artist and beautician, displays her art at a saloon in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Natak melas in January
India has a rich tradition of art and culture which gives eminence to the classical music ,dance and fine arts. The Pracheen Kala Kendra has been successfully engaged in preserving and promoting the cultural ethos in the region since its inception in 1957.

Nusrat’s nephew casts a spell
When Sher Miandad began his rendition of Sufiana kalam on the NIS lawns on Tuesday night with a ‘qaul’ (the traditional invocation at the beginning of a qawwali performance) many among the audience started fidgeting. Gathered to hear singer Hans Raj Hans and Pakistani qawwal Sher Miandad sing Sufi compositions, the audience seemed a trifle apprehensive of the classical twist to the performance when young Miandad took over from the famed artist.

Children dance to Shiamak’s tunes
More than 125 dance learners in various age groups — 4 years to 30 years — are being given tips at Sector 24, Chandigarh, by instructors of Shiamak’s Davar’s Institute of Performing Arts (SDIPA), Mumbai.

Children enjoy dance classes being conducted by the Shiamak Davar’s Institute for Performing Arts, at Sector 24, Chandigarh, on Wednesday.
— Tribune photo by  Parvesh Chauhan

Watch out for ‘Super Singers’ on Channel V today
IT’s time to see the aspiring “Super Singers” from Chandigarh in action on Channel V. As the second episode of V-Super singers breaks the suspense and finalists from Delhi are announced, the focus will shift on the budding singers from the city beautiful, which will on air on Channel V on Thursday at 9 pm.

HEALTH

Dhanwantry hospital renamed
Chandigarh, December 8
Shri Dhanwantry Ayurvedic Hospital, Sector 46-B, was renamed as Dabur Dhanwantry Hospital following a strategic alliance between the Shri Dhanwantry Educational Society and Dabur India today.

Mr Sunil Duggal, CEO of Dabur India (second from left) takes a round after unveiling the newly designed logo for Shri Dhanwantry Ayurvedic Hospital at Sector 46 in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Leprosy awareness camps planned
Chandigarh, December 8
With migrants adding to the load of leprosy cases in Chandigarh, the UT Health Department through its District Leprosy Society has decided to launch a massive awareness campaign in the city slums to check the disease.

Intravenous drug users face highest HIV risk
Chandigarh, December 8
The city’s first-ever sentinel surveillance report to find out the incidence of the HIV\AIDS among intravenous drug users (IVDU) in Chandigarh has thrown some surprises for the policy makers.