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TOP STORIES

Man, mentally challenged woman die in fire
Chandigarh, January 15
A habitual drunkard, casual male worker (45) and a mentally challenged woman (50) were burnt alive last night when their thatched hut caught fire in Mullanpur Gharibdas village, near here.

NASA contest winner donates prize money for tsunami hit Chandigarh, January 15 Aaina Jain, a city girl who was part of the group whose design of a space settlement project for NASA was judged the best, today donated her award money totalling Rs 21,000 for tsunami victims. The award money had recently been given to each of the member of the group by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Aaina Jain writes out a cheque for Rs 21,000 for the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for tsunami victims.

Encroachers thrive due to Nagar Panchayat’s laxity
Zirakpur, January 15
A major chunk of government land has been allegedly occupied by encroachers at various places within the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat limits thus raising serious doubts over the functioning of the enforcement wing of the civic body in the past year.

Plan to screen 5 lakh newborns for genetic defects
Chandigarh, January 15
One in every 1200 children born in the country develops some irreversible genetic defect. Yet the country is still to gauge the most commonly occurring and the most prevalent genetic disorders that are affecting the 24 million newborns in India.

Dr I.C. Verma

Banks, employers not to issue TDS certificates
Chandigarh, January 15
The tax deducted at source (TDS) certificate for public and corporate sector employees along with people having income from fixed deposits in banks, will now have to be obtained from a Mumbai-based body. The entire system will be online and comes into affect from the current financial year.

Dera Baba Nanak Day commemorated
Chandigarh, January 15
To commemorate its actions in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, an armoured regiment celebrated Dera Baba Nanak Day somewhere in the Western Sector today. The regiment was bloodied in battle in the Dera Baba Nanak Sector even before it was a year old, earning the sobriquet of "the Gallant Infant".

Black box being designed for automobiles
Mohali, January 15
Black boxes fitted in aircraft record last-minute details of what happens before a crash, could be a part of your four-wheeler now. The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Mohali, is designing black box for automobiles as part of a Rs 30 lakh project of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Government of India.

Late Gen D.S. Brar’s wife dies of accident injuries Chandigarh, January 15 Mrs Sheila Brar, wife of the Late Major-Gen Digamber Singh Brar, was cremated at the Sector 25 crematorium today evening. She had passed away in the early hours of the morning. She is survived by her sons, Bulbul and Tippy. Mrs Brar had been in hospital since January 11. She was suffering from multiple injuries that she received when a car she was travelling in met with an accident in Sector 9, Chandigarh.

Sheila Brar

Passing Thru
The Government of India has amended the Citizenship Act to permit dual citizenship. Do you think it will boost NRI investment?
I have been the only Canadian politician of Indian origin who lobbied and assisted in convincing the Indian Government to recognise dual citizenship. This will not only provide much needed sense of security for investments made by NRIs but also give a strong feeling of belongingness.
Gurmant Grewal

COMMUNITY

Army Day celebrated

Chandigarh, January 15 To commemorate Army Day, a wreath-lying ceremony was organised by Headquarters Western Command at Chandimandir Military Station near here today. Chief of Staff, Western Command, Lieut-Gen P K Grover, laid a wreath at the Veer Smriti war memorial on behalf of all ranks of the Command to pay homage to those who had laid down their lives in the line of duty. Chief of Staff, Western Command, Lieut-Gen P K Grover, and other officers during a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate Army Day in Chandimandir on Saturday.

Future of library science not bright
Chandigarh, January 15
If statistics are to be believed, the future of library and information science does not appear to be very bright in India. Rough estimates suggest that out of 1,000 libraries, not more than 10 were fully automated in this age of technology.

MC staff take away goods during the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in Sector 22, Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Best librarian award for Veena, Sreekumar
Chandigarh, January 15
The board of trustees of Satinder Kaur Ramdev Memorial Trust for Advancement of Librarianship (SATKAL) and the British Library today gave away the best librarian awards in three categories. The awards were presented at a special function organised at Government Museum Auditorium, Sector 10.

Fuel conservation fortnight begins
Chandigarh, January 15
The Oil and Gas Conservation Fortnight celebrations began here today with Mr V.K. Yadav, Senior Regional Manager Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) stressing upon the need to use of “Bio Diesel” in the transport sector.

FCI officers’ contribute Rs 31,900 for victims
Chandigarh, January 15
Officers of the Regional Office of the Food Corporation of India here, have contributed Rs 31,900 to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for victims of tsunami disaster. An appeal was also made to all districts to contribute, all officers and staff of the FCI are contributing one-day salary towards the fund.

CRIME

Speedometer of motor cycle stolen
Chandigarh, January 15
The speedometer of Bajaj Caliber motor cycle (DL 6 SK 4661) belonging to Mr Surinder Gosain, a resident of house number 2611/1, Sector 47, was stolen from his house today.

Police hunts for exchange racket suspects
Mohali, January 15
As part of investigations being carried out in connection with illegal Internet exchange racket that was busted by the police here, teams of police officials were sent to Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Ambala today to identify persons on whose names telephone connections had been released by Reliance.

Bid to rob flour mill
Panchkula, January 14
Robbers struck at a flour mill at Naggal village last night. Presence of mind of Mr Rajneesh Goyal, a relative of the mill owner, led to the arrest of one of the robbers, and thwarted robbery.

Fruit seller cheated of Rs 5 lakh
Chandigarh, January 15
A Canadian women citizen allegedly cheated a fruit seller vendor of Rs 5 lakh in the name of taking him along to Canada.

Suicide by 15-year-old
Panchkula, January 15
A 15 year old youth committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence in Kalka this afternoon. He reportedly took the extreme step because of a failed love affair. The police say that Lal Chand, a son of a watchman at Kalka Government College, was found hanging at the house, within the college premises, today. A suicide note was also recovered, which mentioned that he had failed in his love affair.

EDUCATION

Schoolchildren stage Zaffarnama
Chandigarh, January 15
The two-day annual day celebrations of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Senior Secondary School and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Public School, Sector 35, ended at Tagore Theatre here today.

MCM DAV honours Mitta Vasisht

Chandigarh, January 15 Mitta Vasisht as an actress has made her presence felt with her intense performance. She seems to be the one who has not succumbed to any pressure or exigencies in life. She was given warm welcome by students of MCM DAV College, Sector 36, Chandigarh, her alma mater, as soon as she entered the packed auditorium. Mitta Vasisth, actress, shares her experience with students of MCMDAV College in Sector 36, Chandigarh on Saturday. —Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Students take part in a painting competition at Government Model High School, Sector 42, Chandigarh, on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Library schools serve little purpose, says expert
Chandigarh, January 15
As founder of the prestigious Indira Gandhi Memorial Library, University of Hyderabad, Dr E. Rama Reddy, has seen the transformation of library and information sciences from very close quarters.

Kirandeep wins dance contest in MCC-2005
Chandigarh, January 15
The three-day winter carnival, ‘MCC-2005’ ended at Mount Carmel School, Sector 47, here today.

Landran college donates 1 lakh for tsunami hit
Mohali, January 14
Students of Chandigarh Engineering College, Landran, here donated their pocket money for tsunami victims. The staff members also donated their one-day salary towards the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

SGGS College celebrates founder’s day Chandigarh, January 15 The founder’s day of Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, was celebrated with religious fervour here today. The celebration began with akhand path of Guru Granth Sahib and a community kitchen was organised by teaching and non-teaching staff. City film producer honoured
City based film producer Amarjeet Singh being honoured by Baba Maan Singh Ji at for producing films on Sikh history, at SGGS College, Sector 26, Chandigarh on Saturday.

COURTS

Defamation case against CM: hearing on March 5
Chandigarh, January 15
Hearing in the defamation case filed by Member of Parliament Sukhbir Badal against Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh was adjourned till March 5 by a local courts today.

CULTURE

Film Review
A plot full of unreasonable twists and turns
The story of an all-out war against an underworld don by Rahul Khanna, Arjun Rampal and John Abraham has elements of action. “Elaan” has a very good take-off and spunky John Abraham infuses enough energy in his role. Credit should also go to first timer Rahul Khanna, who is on a mission to avenge his father’s killing, for looking expressive in some sequences.

John Abraham and Lara Dutta in “Elaan”

Punjabi folk rules Plaza show
Chandigarh, January 15
The Department of Tourism Chandigarh Administration, in association with the Oasis Event Management with ‘The Tribune’ as media sponsor, presented a musical bonanza of Punjabi folk songs today at the Plaza.

Singer enthrals at Lohri function
Mohali, January 15
Singer Vikram Vicky entertained the audience with his songs at the Phase VII community centre here last night as part of the Lohri celebrations. Residents of the area had gathered at the community centre to celebrate the festival. 

LIFESTYLE

Art lovers pour aid for tsunami victims
Works worth 1.35 lakh sold at exhibition

Art defied its traditional definition today. For once, “art was not all pleasure, but all purpose”. As 80 artists from the city gathered in the foyer of Sector 10 Government Museum Gallery to contribute their works for a fund raising show to help tsunami victims, the city welcomed the gesture with an open heart. In a record breaking sale, something which the city had never witnessed earlier, over 50 artworks were sold out within four hours on the opening day of the exhibition. A visitor has a look at paintings on display at an exhibition at Government Museum in Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

New serial on Sahara One
Sahara One’s new serial “ADA” (Acting and Dance Academy) , slated to be on air from January 17, to be telecast Monday to Thursday, at 9 pm will come across as a light hearted, fast paced and a glamorous series. Its premise is a prestigious and most soughtafter dance and acting school.

‘Entertainment Unlimited’ at Plaza
The Department of Tourism, Chandigarh Administration, in its endeavour to improve the cultural health of the city beautiful has ventured to ensure ‘entertainment unlimited’ at the Plaza, the heart of the city, on every Friday evening in addition to the ongoing Saturday musical show there.

Visually challenged capture Kabir’s soul

“Pothi parh parh jag mua pandit bhya na koye, dhai akshar prem ka parhe so pandit hoye.” Such mystic dohas of sage Kabir (1398 AD-1527 AD) have always enriched our souls. Blessed with the intuitive wisdom, vast knowledge and a unique talent, Kabir, preached the gospel of social equality, communal harmony and mutual brotherhood. Visually challenged artistes enact a play on saint Kabir at the Institute for Blind in Chandigarh on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

HEALTH

‘Docs should not have criminal liability’
Chandigarh, January 15
The role of doctors is of a special kind, which is why the criminal liability of those in the medical profession should be in the rarest of rare cases. This was the consensus at a panel discussion on “Doctor’s liability: civil and criminal”, organised by the Association of British Scholars here today.

ADMINISTRATION

Admn appoints coordinators
Chandigarh, January 15
The Chandigarh Administration yesterday appointed coordinating officers to facilitate interaction between institutions/NGOs and the Administration. These officers would help resolve issues pertaining to the Administration.