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Verification of migrant labour: 2,000 videographed, 20 detained
Mohali, January 27
In one of its biggest drives ever, the Mohali Police today carried out surprise checking and verification campaign of thousands of migrant labourers living in unauthorised colonies and villages in and around the township.

Men of the Punjab police use a video camera for recording particulars of migrant labourers at Mataur village on Wednesday. — Photo by Pradeep Tewari

DC seeks Market Committee chief’s explanation
Chandigarh, January 27
Deputy Commissioner Arun Kumar has taken the chairman of the market Committee, Mr Bhupinder Singh Badheri, head on. Mr Badheri a leader of local unit of the Congress is close to local MP Pawan Bansal. For years he worked in the Venod Sharma camp of the Congress.

A gift of hope for visually disabled students Chandigarh, January 27 Visually disabled students of Chandigarh will soon have a ray of hope in their lives. With the Dr Amrik Singh Cheema Trust Foundation spearheading an ambitious project designed to enhance the competence of the visually handicapped in the city, the day is not far when most such students graduating from local colleges will have a bright future awaiting them.

Visually handicapped students are all smiles after they were presented with shorthand machines and Braille slates by the Dr Amrik Singh Cheema Trust Foundation in Sector 9, Chandigarh, on Thursday. Also seen in the picture (extreme right) is Mrs Cheema, a trust member. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Fire in plastic crockery factory
Mohali, January 27
Goods worth Rs 2 lakh were destroyed in a fire that took place at a factory in Industrial Area, Phase VII here this morning. The factory manufacture plastic crockery and a large amount of raw material was lying inside the premises when the fire started.

Another feather in Dr T.S. Kler’s cap Chandigarh, January 27 He had a humble beginning and battled hard to complete his school education. His daily test was to reach school, 5 km away from his Amargarh village, near Khamano in Fatehgarh Sahib, walking barefoot on a kutcha path.                                                         Dr. T.S. Kler

Tribune tsunami collection crosses Rs 1 crore
Chandigarh, January 27
The Tribune Trust today dispatched the second instalment of Rs 39.53 lakh, collected for the tsunami victims by “The Tribune Tsunami Relief Fund”, to the Prime Minister Office.

• Passing Thru

COMMUNITY

CHB’s demolition drive called off following protest

Chandigarh, January 27 The demolition of illegal additions in the Chandigarh Housing Board dwelling units in Dadu Majra Colony today sparked off a protest from the residents. The protest, supported by activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, forced the CHB enforcement staff to call off the demolition drive. Residents of Dadu Majra Colony gherao a Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) team in protest against a demolition drive on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Corporation to take up ‘pollution-free’ projects
Chandigarh, January 27
Enthusiasm and patriotic fervour marked the Republic Day celebrations at different functions in the city yesterday. Addressing a function after the flag-hoisting ceremony on the premises of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh, the Mayor, Ms Anu Chatrath, stressed that basic amenities should be provided to the residents keeping in view the special character of the city.

Girls of the Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, after getting the first prize at the Republic Day function held at Parade Ground in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Photo Manoj Mahajan

35 booths near Balongi village razed
Mohali, January 27
About 35 booths, constructed illegally near Balongi village, were demolished by the enforcement wing of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority here today.

Rise in sugar price artificial, says Shanta
Panchkula, January 27
A former Union Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Mr Shanta Kumar, has alleged that the price rise of sugar has been artificially created by the Congress government to benefit the powerful sugar lobby.

Territorial Army to have armoured regiment
Chandigarh, January 27
With emphasis being laid on expanding of scope and role of the Territorial Army, the citizen's army, as it is popularly known, is expected to get its first armoured regiment this year. Presently, the TA primarily comprises infantry units.

Hit by vehicle, sambar injured seriously Panchkula, January 27 For over six hours, a female sambar, hit by a vehicle on the Panchkula- Kalka highway, sat writhing in pain amidst curious onlookers. Reason: non-availability of a veterinary doctor or a vehicle to ferry the injured animal to a veterinary hospital. The injured female sambar waited for medical help for over six hours after it was hit by a vehicle near Old Panchkula on Thursday morning. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

Governor hosts at home
Chandigarh, January 27
Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Gen S. F. Rodrigues (retd), was at home on Republic Day to distinguished citizens of Punjab and Chandigarh on the lawns of Punjab Raj Bhavan.

Dharna by PSSF members Chandigarh, January 27 Members of the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation organised a dharna at Matka Chowk in Sector 17 here, today. Employees of various departments, boards and corporations in the state participated in the dharna led by Mr Sucha Singh Khattra, state president of the federation.
Members of the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation protest at Matka Chowk in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

• Brahma Kumaris adopt village
• Nirankari Mandal donates Rs 21 lakh
• Police’s new phone number

CRIME

Youth dies in mishap
Panchkula, January 27
An 18-year-old youth was killed in a freak accident in a quarry in river Ghaggar yesterday. The victim was mining the river bed material, when a truck off loaded the gravel and it fell on him. The incident took place near village Dhaluwal.

Couple held for attacking MC staff
Chandigarh, January 27
A couple allegedly attacked Municipal Corporation officials and stray cattle-catching party of the Health Department, who caught their two cows from Sector 25. According to the police, Ram Singh and his wife Amro Devi of Dhanas village attacked the MC employees when they caught their two cows from Sector 14 and 25 dividing road, yesterday.

Woman booked for cheating
Mohali, January 27
A woman was booked by the police for cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy. According to the police, Anjali, who was running a finance company in the Phase II market, had allegedly taken Rs 1.69 lakh as commission from Mr Shiv Dayal, a jeweller based in Chandigarh for getting a loan cleared for him from a bank.

2 held for stealing vehicles, 4 cars recovered
Chandigarh, January 27
The police here loday claimed solving eight cases of vehicle thefts registered in the city in past four years with the arrest of two accused lodged in the Nabha Jail, Patiala. The police has recovered two Maruti Zen cars, two Maruti cars, two motor cycles, a scooter and a moped from their possession.

EDUCATION

CM honours 15 on R-Day Panchkula, January 27 Haryana Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala unfurled the National Flag at the Parade Grounds yesterday, at the 56th Republic Day celebrations. Paying homage to the martyrs and freedom fighters, Mr Chautala said due to sacrifices of martyrs we were a democracy in the world. Girls present an item at the 56th Republic Day function at Sector 5, Panchkula, on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Horse-riding display on R-Day fills spectators with awe Chandigarh, January 27 A horse-riding display, organised as part of the Republic Day celebrations for the first time at Parade Ground, Sector 17, yesterday, awed the spectators as participants astride their horses gave a brilliant display of control and grace. A rider of the Chandigarh Horse Riders Society performs at the Republic Day celebrations at Parade Ground, Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Baby show marks R-Day function
Mohali, January 27
A baby show was organised at Shemrock Sr Sec School Sector 69, here to celebrate Republic Day. The flag hoisting ceremony was performed by Principal Air Cmde SK Sharma followed by a rendering of National Anthem. Speeches in English, Hindi, patriotic poems and songs marked the ceremony.

Adviser promises deemed varsity status for GMCH
Chandigarh, January 27
Promising several things and enumerating achievements of the Chandigarh Administration, the Adviser to the Administrator, Mr Lalit Sharma, said the city was headed to be a major IT destination and health care provider in the region.

Dua asks students to build nation Chandigarh, January 27 The Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune Group of Newspapers, Mr H.K.Dua, today called upon students to use its energy for building the nation. He was speaking at the annual day function of Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, here today. Addressing the gathering, Mr Dua said the onus of shaping the country as a formidable power in the 21st century was with the youth.   Students of Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, Chandigarh, perform at the prize distribution function of school on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Campus Notes
VC recalls freedom fighters’ sacrifices
Chandigarh, January 27
The Republic Day celebrations at Panjab University were marked with greetings, guard of honour, patriotic and national songs, distribution of sweets and snacks after Prof K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, hoisted the National Flag.

Satire on fashion hunt, fashion shows

“Kya aap choohe hain?” The hour-long melodramatic presentation of a nukkad natak called for the self-introspection by every individual, organisation, society and the government set-ups with respect to their assigned responsibilities, during the staging of the play at the Panjab University student centre today. A scene from a street play “Kya Hum Sab Choohe Hain?” by Agaaz of DAV College was staged at Panjab University, Chandigarh on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

200 students get prizes
Chandigarh, January 27
As many as 200 winners of a science exhibition and state science and maths quiz competitions held last year received prizes at a function held at the State Institute of Education, Sector 32, here.

COURTS

Munjal quits as Bar Council chief
Chandigarh, January 27
The beleaguered Chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr C.M. Munjal, today put in his papers from his post. According to sources, pressure had been building on Mr Munjal to resign from his post ever since he became entangled in a case relating to misuse of High Court's name.

Keen contest for bar assn poll
Chandigarh, January 27
A keen contest is likely to be held for the executive committee of the District Bar Association, election to which will be held tomorrow. A former president, Mr H.S. Hundal, is in opposition to a former vice-president, Mr Ashok Chauhan.

CULTURE

New Releases
Another action movie by Ajay Devgan
‘Blackmail’, produced by Shyam Bajaj and Narendra Bajaj, opens on Friday at Neelam, Chandigarh. It has Ajay Devgan in lead role . It is an action movie starring Sunil Shetty, Priyanka Chopra and Diya Mirza. Ajay Devgan’s role in ‘Blackmail’ is different.

HEALTH

150 units of blood donated
Chandigarh, January 27
The Canara bank Officers’ Association, Chandigarh region, organised of the seventh blood donation camp on the bank’s premises in Sector 34-A here on the occasion of Republic Day in association with the PGI, Chandigarh.

UIET students donate blood
Chandigarh, January 27
More than 150 students donated blood at a camp organised by the Public Relations Committee of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, in collaboration with the PGI, Chandigarh here today.

SPORTS

Table soccer introduced at DPS, Pinjore

Chandigarh, January 27 Table soccer was launched on the occasion of the 56th Republic Day at Delhi Public School, Pinjore, by the Principal of the school, Mr Samson Masih, last evening. The school also organised various track and field events, incuding races, high jump, shot put, discus throw and inter-house relay events, as part of the Republic Day celebrations. Table soccer was launched at Delhi Public School, Pinjore, on Republic Day on Wednesday.

Satluj beat Minerva by 12 runs
Chandigarh, January 27
The Satluj Coaching Centre, scored their first win by defeating Minerva Academy by 12 runs and kept their hopes alive to make it in the last four of the first Amartex Cup Cricket-2005, organised by Panchkula District Cricket Association here last evening at the JR Institute of Cricket Technology, Barwala.