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Beware of new housing societies in Mohali
Coops giving false assurances, say PUDA, Town Planning 
Chitleen K. Sethi
Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 21
Members of cooperative housing societies who have invested lakhs of rupees in buying land for plots and houses in the upcoming sectors of Mohali are in for a shock.

While heads of these housing societies have assured their members of getting their housing complexes approved by the Town Planning Department and the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA), both the organisations today clearly stated that the cooperative society heads were giving false assurances to their members.

Pointing out that these societies cannot be approved from either of these departments, both Chief Administrator PUDA A.S. Chattwal and Chief Town Planner (CTP) Dharam Singh told Chandigarh Tribune that their statements should go as warning to the public not to invest in plots or houses that might never see the light of the day.

Hundreds have invested lakhs of rupees in some new cooperative housing societies duly registered with the Cooperative Department, Punjab.

Members of these societies have pooled in money and bought land within the sectorial grid of Mohali with an aim to building their housing complexes here.

Earlier, such societies applied to PUDA for grant of land for the construction of their housing complexes and PUDA granted pockets of land to these societies in accordance with their master plan.

“We cannot stop anyone from buying land anywhere they want to. But to presume that we would allow the bought land to be converted into a housing complex in our planning area is not right. We would acquire most of the land within the sectorial grid of Mohali and develop it in accordance with the master plan. If the land of a society falls within the grid, it is likely to be acquired,” said Mr Chattwal.

Heads of some of these societies when contacted said since PUDA had allowed Judges Housing Complex to come up in Sector 77, PUDA would have to follow the same precedent and approve other complexes too.

“If PUDA can allow Judges Society to buy land within the sectorial grid for their complex, then what justification do they have to stop us? We have bought 16.5 acres in Sector 86 and we have applied for land use change from the Divisional Town Planner (DTP). Following this we would apply to PUDA for approval,” said Kanwaljit Singh Walia, who heads Aakash Cooperative Housing Society.

He pointed out that members of Dastkar Cooperative Housing Society too had bought 20 acres in Sector 86.

“In order to approve Judges Society, PUDA reallotted them the land they had bought. PUDA charged external development charges from them and we are also ready to pay all due charges,” added Mr Walia, who is also an employee of the office of the DTP.

Chairman of Garib Niwaz Cooperative Housing Society Avtar Singh went to the extent of saying that Punjab Chief Minister would approve his colony and since the CM was the head of the state, it really did not matter what PUDA or the CTP said.

“We have bought 10 acres in Sector 77 and will colonise it for our members,” said Avtar Singh.

But the message from the approving authorities is clear. “No society or any private developer can build housing complexes within the sectorial grid of Mohali without prior approval. If the society members are being made to believe that I or my department is going to give them an approval, they are absolutely wrong,” said Dharam Singh.

Though these societies are registered with the Department of Cooperatives, Punjab, the department too is not ready to take any responsibility beyond their constitution.

“We have just registered these societies. There is a general restriction on registering housing societies. But we are in no way responsible for what they do with the land they have bought. We would come into the picture again only when the members complain to us that they are not satisfied with the working of the society,” said Yogeshwar Sharma, Assistant registrar Cooperatives, Mohali.

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Monkeys shift base to south
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 21
The simian population in the city has shifted its base to the southern belt of the city over the past one week. The ape population earlier concentrated in the northern belt is now spread all over the southern sectors.

Mr Ishwar Singh, Deputy Conservator of Forests, said: “I was called up by certain residents and told that a truckload of monkeys was deported in the southern belt some time during the last week. At the moment I cannot authenticate the allegation. However, one thing is very clear that the monkey invasion in the southern sectors is a new development”.

Telephone bells are constantly ringing at the fire station and the Municipal Corporation. A senior fire officer said: “We cannot do anything except give moral support to the residents at the spot.”

A senior officer of the Municipal Corporation said: “The corporation is ill-equipped to handle the monkey menace.” Forest Department officials say that they run to the trouble spots. “We cannot kill the monkey, so we only try to shift from its present position,” he added.

Mr Ishwar Singh said monkeys were largely confined to the northern sectors earlier and the shift to the southern belt was an interesting development. “We have painted at least 15 notice boards which will be put up at different places all over the city for the benefit of residents in guarding themselves against the monkey menace.”

The prime area for invasion by the apes in their new area are the water tanks. Residents have been asked to lock their tanks. Due to the ongoing heat wave, the monkeys first have turns in quenching their thirst followed by bathing sessions, in case possible.

Residents of Sector 33 during the past week have complained about the monkey menace in the area. The monkeys had first swarmed the residential area in Sector 33-A for a couple of days followed by Sector 33-D.

A group of more than 20 monkeys threw normal life out of gear for residents of Sector 45-A throughout the day on Saturday. The monkeys had a bath in water tanks, soiled clothes hanging outside the houses and also tore them, a resident said.

Monkey menace affronted the residents of Sector 44 on Monday evening. At least 40 monkeys were divided in different groups and scared the residents to salvage the clothes hanging on the lines and rush indoors. Residents of the sector had another brush wit the animals throughout the day on Tuesday.

A senior citizen said the UT Administration should call a high-level meeting at the earliest and decide the matter. 

Simian dies of heat

The ongoing heat wave claimed life of a monkey and a blue bull in the city here today.

Mrs Darshan Kaur, a resident of Sector 44, said: “A monkey was dead at our doorstep when we opened the door at about 7 a.m. We had to use the other door for our daily affairs. Thankfully, the body remained unnoticed by other monkeys till 12 noon when a vehicle arrived and carried away the simian”.

A blue bull died near the airport, it is reliably learnt.

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No end to B.Ed aspirants’ woes
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 21
The harassment of students appearing for the B.Ed entrance test continued today, a day before the examination. As many as 200 students descended on the Administrative Block, Panjab University, to collect their duplicate roll numbers for appearing in the examination.

Harried parents and students made last-minute attempts to find the fate of their identity cards. A power failure sent the waiting crowd in a tizzy as all work came to a halt.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof K.N. Pathak, at the request of various students’ organisations had authorised the Controller of Examinations, Dr Sodhi Ram, to waive Rs 40 being charged for issuing duplicate cards. However, no student was exempted this fee, sources said. Dr Sodhi Ram remained elusive all day and was not available for comments despite repeated attempts.

The university had informed the candidates who have applied for the B.Ed. entrance test being conducted tomorrow at all district headquarters of Punjab, as also Abohar and Chandigarh, that those candidates who could not receive and collect their roll numbers should contact the office on telephone no 0172-2541066 and 2534829.

They could also collect their roll numbers from their respective centres today. Those candidates who have not collected their roll numbers can report for the examination in the centre along with the proof of sending their application for the B.Ed. Entrance Test, on the day of examination with their attested photograph for appearing in the test, according to the Controller of Examinations, PU. 

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Heat wave persists
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 21
A maximum temperature of 43.4 °C was recorded today, a degree below yesterday’s 44.5 °C but four degrees above normal.
The minimum temperature however saw a rise of more than two degrees from yesterday to 31.2 °C today.

The minimum temperatures have been hovering in the 24°C to 27 °C range for the past five years but have seen a significant rise this year.

The rise in the humidity level today contributed significantly to the day feeling warmer than yesterday even though the temperature was a degree less than yesterday’s. The maximum relative humidity touched 50 per cent today, while yesterday it was 41 per cent.

The Meteorological Department has predicted a similar weather tomorrow. The day will be hot and dry and the temperatures will continue to hover around the same levels. 

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Man found dead outside Tribune office
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 21
A 50-year-old Mohali resident, was found dead in a lawn outside The Tribune office in Sector 29 here, apparently due to heat wave in the city.
Though the exact cause of the death will be ascertained after the receipt of the post-mortem report, the police has ruled out the possibility of a foul play.

Pardesi, a part-time electrician, had been living with his brother in Guru Nanak colony in Phase 10, Mohali. His wife deserted him long ago and he used to spend nights outside, said the police.

The death came to light around 1 pm today, when someone noticed the victim lying under the sun. He approached the victim to check on him and found him dead.

The police was informed and it took the body into its custody.

According to the police, Pardesi might have slept under the shade of a tree in the lawn in the morning and died later. As the day progressed, the shade moved away, exposing the man to the sun.

The police did not find any ID on the body to establish the identity of the deceased. However, a mobile phone number belonging to a Zirakpur resident, Varinder Kumar, was found from the pocket of the deceased.

When contacted, Varinder Kumar expressed ignorance about the identity of the deceased saying that he had some construction work done at his house and the deceased might have come there as a labourer.

However, he gave the phone number of the contractor who had worked at his house and the contractor identified the deceased as Pardesi.

The body is lying at the mortuary of the General Hospital, Sector 16. A post-mortem examination will be performed tomorrow to ascertain the exact cause of the death, said the SHO of the Industrial Area police station.

However, the police has initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC in this regard.

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Missed by bus, but heart fails her

Panchkula, June 21
She barely missed being run over by a speeding bus on the Pinjore-Kalka road. The fear of being knocked down by the bus gave her a heart attack, ultimately leading to her death.

The incident took place around 8.15 am near Kalka, when 50-year-old Kamla was trying to cross the road. As she was manipulating the traffic, a bus coming from the opposite direction screeched to a sudden halt, barely missing her.

Though she did not receive any injuries, she suffered a heart attack and was rushed to a private hospital, from where she was referred to General Hospital, Panchkula. She died on way to the hospital. TNS

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Passing Thru

Praval Upadhyay
Praval Upadhyay, branch manager, Blow Plast Ltd

Why is the company expanding into bags and briefcases segment?

Bags and briefcases for the office segment are the latest item the fashion industry is talking about. With more and more people becoming conscious of what they carry to office, the unorganised sector making briefcases is gradually moving towards being organised.

Does Blow Plast believe it can make a niche for itself in the market?

Yes. Most of the briefcases coming into the market are from the unorganised sector and locally made. Besides this, there are international brands which make briefcases in the country and sell them with their labels. However, these companies cater only to upmarket clients.

What kind of briefcases are available in the market?

For the low-end users, there are briefcases in plastic and poly urethero (PU). Our company has come out with designs in PU, ranging from Rs 995 to Rs 1,295. We have also introduced genuine leather briefcases for high-end users, priced between Rs 2,900 and Rs 3,500.

Geetanjali Gayatri

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Privatisation of octroi collection kept pending
Our Correspondent

Mohali, June 21
A proposal to privatise the work of octroi collection has once again been kept pending by the general House at a meeting of the Municipal Council held here today.
A similar proposal was put at the meeting of the civic body held on October 29 last year but was kept pending. None of the councillors want the work to be privatised as it would lead to the harassment of the public.

The Director, Local Government, Punjab, had issued an order at a meeting held on April 30 that the work of octroi collection for 2005-06 should be given in private hands. The reserve price for giving the work on contract was to be fixed by the Deputy Director, Urban Local Bodies, Ludhiana, according to rules. The work should be given on contract from August 1 to July 31, 2006. The council is expected to earn an income of about Rs 20.32 crore from octroi during the year ending July 31.

The council has cleared a proposal to spend Rs 1.03 lakh on carrying out plantation during the monsoon season to add to the green cover of the town. There is plan to plant 500 saplings of different varieties of trees and 1500 shrubs in green belts and open spaces in different parts of the town.

The House has decided to hire a lawyer for filing a case against the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) for demanding maintenance charges for streetlights falling under “C” category. The House was informed that the maintenance of street lights falling under “C” category was being done by the council since 2001 and the PSEB had stopped taking maintenance charges in this regard. But the power board was now demanding 50 per cent maintenance charges for “C” category street lights.

Some councillors belonging to the Opposition group demanded that a proposal for providing retirement benefits to Mr H.B. Garg, Executive Officer, be kept pending. Mr Garg is retiring on August 31. They argued that since the government had not provided any information about the retirement date of Mr Garg, the proposal should be kept pending.

At the meeting, it was decided to give an extension in the time period to WWICS and the Punjab National Bank, Phase I, for maintaining the Madanpur and dara Studio chowks, respectively, as their work was found to be satisfactory. However, the contract with the East-West Immigration Consultancy for maintaining the YPS chowk was terminated as it was not doing the work properly. It was now decided to hand over the maintenance work of the YPS chowk to Janta Land Promoters Ltd.

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Zila Parishad Poll
Maloya cries for water
Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 21
Acute shortage of drinking water coupled with scorching heat has made the lives of residents of Maloya village miserable. Of the three tubewells, two have dried up and the residents have to daily queue up to get their supply from water tankers.

Due to lack of coordination among the Block Development Panchayat Office (BDPO), office of the Deputy Commissioner and the Engineering Department, various estimates for development works are pending with the administration, rue the members of the village panchayat.

In fact, the Maloya panchayat is rated at the top in terms of income from its resources. The panchayat was earning Rs 1.5 lakh as rent from dairy owners and Rs 10,000 as rent from shops in the village.

“But still we cannot spend the money on the village development as the estimates have to be approved from the administration. The estimates files keep gathering dust in the offices of the administration,” said the Sarpanch of the village, Mr Mam Chand Rana.

Mr Saroop Singh, a villager, said apart from one concrete village bylane, the estimates for laying of the remaining concrete bylanes in the village are pending for approval.

Though an estimate of Rs 1 lakh to lay a stormwater line, which had been cleared by the previous Deputy Commissioner, the same has not been laid. The estimate had been approved six months back. The village does not have land for a cremation ground. Mr Mohinder Singh, another resident, said the sanitation need to be improved.

The village has around 4000 voters and a population of around 14,000. The Maloya ward has been made a general ward for the forthcoming election.

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Three BJP councillors to be questioned
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 21
The three BJP councillors accused of taking sides with Congress councillors during the elections to Municipal Council President earlier this month will be questioned.
Stating this here today, BJP general secretary Anil Kumar Goel said the district unit of the party had taken a serious note of the issue and apprised the state BJP leaders of the developments.

“We have sought time from state organisational secretary Bhagwat Sharan Mathur and he will look into the matter after talking with the three councillors,” he said.

The three BJP councillors — C.B. Goel, V.K. Sood and Jagdamba Gupta — have been accused of joining hands with Congress-backed councillors in the 31 member House.

While one of the councillors had sided with local MP Kumari Selja’s faction, the other two had joined hands with Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan and abstained from voting to elect the MC President on June 11.

State secretary of the party Gian Chand Gupta, while addressing mediapersons, said there was a severe shortage of power in the state. Long and unscheduled power cuts had become the order of the day in all parts of the state, he alleged.

Mr Gupta also criticised the hike in petrol and diesel prices, saying that it was unjustified.

“This is the third hike in prices of petroleum products during the first year of the UPA government’s rule. Petrol and diesel price hike has a cascading affect on the prices of other essential commodities, thus the common man suffers,” he said.

Mr Gupta also announced the dates for various functions being organised as part of the silver jubilee celebrations of the formation of the BJP.

He said Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee’s martyrdom day would be observed on June 23, while Kargil Vijay Diwas would be celebrated on July 26.

The families of Kargil martyrs and ex-servicemen would be honoured on the occasion, he added.

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CHB residents seek ownership right
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 21
Members of the CHB Residents Federation, an apex body of 44 welfare associations, today organised a dharna in Sector 17 in support of their demands. According to Mr Nirmal Datt, federation chairman, even after payment of the final instalment to the CHB about a decade back, the residents were not the owners of the houses on account of the faulty policies of the board.

The need-based additions and alterations made by them by spending their hard-earned money continued to be under the threat of demolition. Besides, the alleged harassment of the residents at the hands of the unscrupulous board officials, who made profit from people’s misery, continued unabated, Mr Datt alleged.

Demanding liberal covered area and compounding of additional coverage without any insistence on the uniformity of design, Mr B.S. Chadha, general secretary, demanded a fresh look at the transfer of ownership policy of the board to make it really operative.

A majority of the residents having paid the full amount to the board have been waiting for more than a decade for the transfer of houses in their names. Even the original allottees are without the conveyance deeds. The affidavit clause on so-called unauthorised structures, which had resulted from the neglect of the CHB in the first place, was to be blamed for the plight of the residents.

A press note of the federation appealed to the UT Administrator to treat the two issues of the regularisation and ownership separately. The harassed residents should be given the ownership rights by plugging the loopholes in the transfer of the ownership policy, it added.

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CAT reprieve for Admn staffers
Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 21
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) today directed the Chandigarh Administration not to proceed against those employees who had been asked to either give their option to get transferred to the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation within a month or lose their service.

The option had been asked after the administration issued a notification earlier this month declaring a number of employees as surplus. The tribunal has asked the administration to maintain status quo till the next date of hearing i.e. June 27.

After hearing to an application moved by 24 employees, the tribunal observed that the employees had approached it after the issuance of the notification. The applicants pleaded that they should not be covered under the notification of the administration through which they had been asked to give their options to get transferred to the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.

The employees lamented that they had been recruited after 1995 and could not be covered in the list as the cutoff date for asking the option was 1996.

The problem began in 1995 when the municipal corporation was created. The administration decided to consider the transfer of employees who had been working with the administration till March 23, 1996, to the corporation.

However, the employees lamented that the administration was following a pick-and-chose policy while transferring the employees.

Consequently, a number of employees of different departments went to the tribunal in 2001, pleading that their consent had not been taken while transferring them.

CAT has directed the administration to treat the transferred employees on deputation and seek fresh options from them.

The administration had prepared the seniority list on May 18, 1996, and placed the employees at the bottom of the seniority list.

They pleaded that they should be considered under the notification.

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Lockout imposed on ESPL flayed
Our Correspondent

Mohali, June 21
Various union leaders today condemned the illegal lockout imposed on Electronics Systems Punjab Limited (ESPL) and the retrenchment of 46 employees of the company.

At a press conference here, the union leaders vowed to expose the alleged corruption going on in the factory in connivance with the Managing Director. The leaders said the protest by employees would go on till the lockout was lifted and the retrenched employees taken back on duty.

Mr Kultar Singh, president of the ESPL Employees Union, said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued orders on June 8 that retrenched employees be taken back by the company but the management was allegedly not obeying the orders of the court.

Mr Ranbir Dhillon, president, Punjab State Services Federation, and Mr Rajinder Shukla, legal adviser, said the appeals of the company as well the union were lying pending before the Appellate Authority for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (AAIFR) against the winding up order of the BIFR.

The union also condemned the government and the management for allowing the re-appointment of about 12 employees who had already availed benefits under the VRS scheme.

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Fear stalks Bapu Dham resident 
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 21
Fear stalks a Bapu Dham resident. Allegedly thrashed by his neighbours for giving refuge to a woman of their family and reportedly denied justice by the police, it has been over four nights since he slept peacefully.

“Even the slightest sound in the middle of the night sends blood racing through my veins,” says Raju in a trembling voice. His frail body shakes like a twig before he adds, “I don’t know when this will ordeal come to an end.... Someone, please help me.”

It all started on June 17. Raju — working as a hired hand in an electrical store in Sector 18 — was selling appliances when a phone call from an acquaintance “scared the life out of him”.

“I was told that some people were beating my wife,” he recalls. “I rushed home to find her sitting on the floor crying, her clothes torn to pieces. Before I could make inquiries, around eight men surrounded us. Even as we protested, they started kicking and hitting us, ruthlessly.”

Pausing a little to recover his breath, he adds, “We both managed to break free and rushed out for help. My wife reached the police beat box, while I went straight to the police station. The officer on duty deployed a cop to accompany me. But the assaulters had escaped by the time we reached the spot.”

He accuses the assaulters of taking along with them jewellery belonging to his wife. Raju claims subsequent inquiries into the matter revealed that his neighbours were angry with them as a woman of their family had hidden herself in a room in their house.

Raju adds that a complaint was handed over to the police promptly. But they initially refused to register a first information report in the matter. “In fact, on Saturday, we were told that the complaint had been misplaced.... Imagine, a complaint handed over to the police being misplaced. Anyway, I submitted a fresh complaint,” he says.

But things did not end there. Raju says that the next day he was told by the police that two of the accused named by him had surrendered before them and he should now compromise the matter.

“I refused,” he asserts. “How can I compromise knowing that our lives will never be the same again if they are allowed to patrol the streets without paying for their deeds?”

Breaking down, Raju concludes: “Two of the accused have not even been touched by the police. They are roaming about freely. Worse, the jewellery items taken away by them have not been returned.... I wish it was all a bad dream.”

A senior police officer denies the allegations of favouring the accused. He adds that further investigations are on in the matter and it is premature for him to comment on anything.

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Canadian envoy to visit Command Hospital
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 21
The Canadian High Commissioner to India, Ms Lucy Edwards, will be visiting the Western Command Hospital, Chandimandir, tomorrow to convey the Canadian establishment’s thanks for the medical treatment rendered by the hospital to Ruth Norfork, wife of a Canadian diplomat.

Ms Ruth had been evacuated to the hospital after she fell in a mountain crevice while trekking with her husband near Dharamsala last week. She had suffered a hairline fracture behind her left ear and multiple abrasions on her body. Besides treatment and medical investigations, she had been kept under observations for three days and was discharged yesterday.

Army sources said the High Commissioner would meet the hospital Commandant, Major-Gen S.K. Kaul, as well as doctors and medical staff. Senior officers from Headquarters Western Command are also expected to be present.. Thereafter, Ms Edwards will proceed to Shimla.

Meanwhile, the Norfork family comprising Adrian, Ruth, Daniel, Alexander and Sebastian has expressed its heartfelt gratitude to the strength, bravery, kindness and selfless efforts of all those involved in the rescue operation. In a letter sent to The Tribune, the family has praised the heroic efforts of the pilots and aircrew of the Indian Air Force and the Himachal Helicopter Skiing who attempted to reach them in adverse weather conditions.

Ruth’s early evacuation by the Air Force and her excellent medical treatment by the Indian forces at Pathankot and then at Chandimandir were all key to our family’s recovery, the letter stated.

They have also specially recognised the strength and courage of trekkers from the Government Mountaineering Centre, who climbed down to the accident site and then spent 8 hours in the night to bring them to the temporary shelter of Lahesh Cave.

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Indian-American gets top US job
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 21
An atmosphere of jubilation was witnessed in the Cheema family at Chandigarh when Ms Jatinder Cheema, eldest daughter of the late Dr Amrik Singh Cheema, was sworn in as Mission Director for the West Africa Regional Programme (WARP) at the USAID Headquarters in Washington. She is, perhaps, the first Indian American appointed at the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Ms Cheema will oversee a programme in development and humanitarian assistance. Her department will be implementing programmes promoting regional economic integration and trade, supporting the adoption of effective health policies, enhancing regional capacity to achieve food security and improving conditions for peace and security.

Since September; 2001, Ms Jatinder Cheema has served as the US Agency for International Development (USAID) mission director in Eritrea. In this position, she provided leadership to three strategic objectives in the areas of health, economic growth, food security and capacity building in addition to providing oversight for a very large USAID food and non-food humanitarian assistance programme. Her challenge was to help the country make the transition from humanitarian assistance to post-conflict development.

A senior US foreign service officer Ms Cheema has served for over 15 years at the US Agency for International Development in five overseas posts. From 1999-2001, she served as USAID deputy director in Armenia where she was responsible for the U.S. assistance programme for the politically sensitive and disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, located within the territory of Azerbaijan. She also had supervisory responsibilities for internal mission management and administration.

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Tension continues in Gazipur Sainian
Our Correspondent

Zirakpur, June 21
Tension continues to prevail in Gazipur Sainian village near here for the second consecutive day today over ‘dispossession’ of about 50 acres of agriculture land from over 60 families.

While the villagers, including women and children, remained in the fields over the disputed land throughout the day, police personnel were also seen roaming around the site. The police personnel were reportedly on a high alert to take the possession of the land.

Sources revealed that the Financial Commissioner (Appeal), Mr B.K. Shrivastva, today called both the parties and considered their claims for the said land.

When contacted, Mr Narinder Sangha, SDM of Dera Bassi, said he had not received any order from the FC (Appeal) as yet. The dispute would be solved as per the FC’s orders, the SDM claimed.

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Youth killed as motor cycle hits cow
Our Correspondent

Mohali, June 21
A youth was killed after his motor cycle collided with a stray animal on the road separating Phase VII and Sector 70 here last night.
Manraj Singh (20), a resident of Guru Tegh Bahadur Complex, Sector 70, was seriously injured and taken to the PGI, Chandigarh.

From there he was reportedly referred to the General Hospital, Sector 16. However, he succumbed to his injuries and his body was then sent to the local Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The body was handed over to members of the family after the post-mortem examination today.

It is learnt that the deceased had gone to his friend’s house in Phase VII and was going back to his house around 10 pm when his motor cycle collided with a cow. He sustained serious injuries in the accident. The cow also reportedly died after the accident.

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Help centres for taxpayers planned
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 21
The Central Excise will set up help centres for small taxpayers in cooperation with industry associations, professional experts and NGOs from July 1.
According to Mr S.S. Bedi, Chief Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise, Chandigarh Zone, committees of the representatives of trade associations, experts and department officers have been constituted in the respective offices to coordinate the functioning of the help centres.

Initially, the centres will function at the Institute of Auto Parts Technology, A-9, Phase V, Focal Point(Ludhiana), the Engineering Export Promotion Council, Focal Point(Jalandhar), the Office of the PHDCCI, 107, Sector 18(Chandigarh), the BBN Industries Association, C/o DIC, Barotiwala Road(Baddi) and the Association Bhavan of the SSI at Gangyal(Jammu). They will interact with the representatives of the trade and industry once a fortnight.

The centres will guide the traders on problems concerning central excise, customs and service tax, create awareness about the rights of assessees and tax compliance and non-compliance, Mr Bedi added.

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Rodrigues greets people
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 21
The Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), greeted the people of Punjab and the city on the parkash utsav of Bhagat Kabir a great exponent of the Bhakti Movement.

In a message, the Governor said Kabir was a great saint who propagated the cult of devotion to God, the spirit of fellow-feeling and equality of mankind.

His ‘vani’ in Sri Guru Granth Sahib sets out the path of leading a pious and purposeful life and promoting the mindset for inculcating the true values of life. The teachings of Kabir, which he preached and practised throughout his life, were relevant for all times, especially in the present complex and materialistic world.

General Rodrigues appealed to the people to celebrate the occasion with dedication, rising above considerations of caste, creed and religion.

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Rehri fire victims seek booths
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 21
Victims of the fire in Gandhi Rehri Market, Sector 18, which broke out earlier this year, are seeking allotment of fully constructed booths in the adjoining area.
In a letter addressed to Mr R.K. Rao, Deputy Commissioner, at least 36 rehri owners, who had been affected by the fire, which broke out in the market on February 28, have pointed out that “We are virtually on roads as we have no alternate source of earning.

We were assured possession fully constructed booths within a month of the incident. However, nothing has happened so far”.

The victims have sought the allotment of fully constructed booths at the earliest. 

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City BSP unit dissolved
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 21
The local unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) has been dissolved. The decision to dissolve the unit was taken at a recent meeting of the office-bearers of the party, according to Mr Maan Singh Manheda, all-India general secretary and in charge of Chandigarh and Haryana. The decision to reconstitute the unit would be taken after meetings from July 1 to 6, Mr Manheda added.

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Mob chases 2 purse snatchers, thrashes them
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 21
Two youngsters were thrashed by a mob after they were allegedly caught red-handed while snatching a purse from a physically challenged woman near the AG office in Sector 17 this morning.

One of them was later admitted to the PGI. His condition was reported to be stable. The accused, in their early 20s, have been identified as Vikram and Anil. They were living at the Chandigarh Railway Station, said the police.

The police said Lalita, a resident of Police Colony, Sector 26, was drinking sweet water at a chhabil outside the AG’s office when the duo snatched her purse. Lalita is an anganwadi teacher and had come to Sector 17 to attend an official meeting. Her purse had Rs 250, her identity card and some other articles.

Sources in the local police claimed that the duo, chased by the mob, hopped on a bus. They later jumped off near the Sector 17-18 light point, but were caught and beaten up by the angry crowd. Eye-witnesses said even the cops joined the mob in thrashing the two.

When they hoped off from the running bus, Vikram lost his balance and his chest banged against the road. He was later admitted to the PGI. However, Anil escaped with minor injuries, he was kept in lock-up after a medical examination.

The police has registered a case under Sections 356, 379 and 411 of the IPC in this regard.

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Two arrested with liquor
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 21
The police has arrested two persons for carrying liquor illegally and arrested another for consuming liquor at a public place.
Ajay Kumar, a resident of Maloya Colony, was arrested with 13 bottles of Patiala country wine from near Fun Republic in Mani Majra.

Another Maloya Colony resident, Rahul, was arrested with 11 bottles of Patiala country wine from near Housing Board Traffic Lights Point, yesterday. Two separate cases under the Excise Act have been registered.

In another incident, Munish Kumar of Sector 11, Panchkula, was arrested for consuming liquor at a public place from NAC, Mani Majra, yesterday. A case has been registered.

House burgled: Ms Paramjit Kaur, a resident of Sector 35, reported to the police that the windowpanes of her house were broken with the intension of theft during the night of June 19.

The police said the details of stolen property were no yet available. However, a case has been registered at the Sector 36 police station.

One held: The police has arrested Birbal Dass of Mauli Jagran colony for gambling at a public place yesterday.

The police recovered Rs 745 from his possession. A case under the Gambling Act has been registered.

2 cyclists hurt: Two cyclists suffered injuries after being hit by a speeding Qualis late last night near Colony No. 5 here. The condition of one of the injured persons is stated to be serious.

According to the police, Salig Ram of the Colony No. V and Ram Avtar of Burail village was crossing the road when the accident occurred.

The Qualis sped away after the incident. Both the injured were rushed to the GMCH, Sector 32. They sustained head injuries and suffered multiple fractures. The condition of Ram Avtar is stated to be serious. A case has been registered.

Husband booked: Ms Jaspreet Kaur of Sector 15 lodged a complaint alleging that her husband Tarun Sadan, a resident of Phase 9, Mohali, was threatening and harassing her for dowry.

A case has been registered under various Sections of the IPC and the Dowry Act. No arrest has been made so far.

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Stamp paper vendor held for cheating
Our Correspondent

Mohali, June 21
A stamp paper vendor was arrested by the police here today on the charge of cheating.
According to the police, Inder Singh, resident of Phase IV, here, was arrested after complaints were received against him of selling stamp papers to some persons at exhorbitant rates.

It is alleged that Inder Singh had a licence to sell stamp papers in Chandigarh but he used to unauthorisedly carry out his business in the town here.

The police produced Inder Singh in a Kharar court, who was then remanded in judicial custody.

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Body found on railway line
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, June 21
A badly mutilated body of an unidentified boy was found mowed down by a train on the Kalka-Ambala railway line near Janetpur village, near here, this morning.
Villagers and other passers-by assembled at the scene and the Railway Police was informed. 

The police removed the body parts from the railway line and sent them to the Civil Hospital, Rajpura, for a post-mortem examination. The deceased seemed to be a migrant labourer who lost his life under the Kalka-Chandigarh-Delhi Shatabadi Express this morning.

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Mystery shrouds death of worker
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, June 21
Hailing from Bihar, a migrant labourer died under mysterious circumstances after he was admitted to Civil Hospital in Dera Bassi, last night.

Working with Mahindra Cranks, an industrial unit located on the Dera Bassi- Mubarikpur road, Gajinder (26) was admitted to the hospital after his health deteriorated in the unit.

The police has sent the body to Civil Hospital, Rajpura, and started inquest proceedings.

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