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Illegal colony razed in Mohali
Land worth Rs 60 crore retrieved by PUDA
Mohali, June 25
In the first-ever operation of its kind, land worth crores of rupees was retrieved from illegal possession by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) by carrying out a demolition drive in Guru Nanak Colony in Phase X here today.

Prayers at places of worship to avoid demolition

Heat stroke: another ITBP trooper dies
Chandigarh, June 25
The ITBP lost its fourth trooper, Havildar Hari Singh, to heat stroke after he died at the PGI here today. He was among five ITBP jawans admitted to the PGI on June 22 after they had suffered severe heat stroke during training.

Defence officers battle over park
Chandigarh, June 25
A public park in Sector 33-C has become a bone of contention for families of senior Army officers. The “battle” among the families has been reported in a DDR against children playing in the park for indulging in “rowdyism”.

Novel BJP protest against petro price hike

Chandigarh, June 25 Protesting against the hike in petroleum prices, members of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) Punjab unit rode on horse driven carts, bullock carts and bicycles here today. President of the Punjab unit of the BJP Avinash Rai Khanna (holding the reins) rides a horse cart to protest against the hike in petroleum prices here in Chandigarh on Saturday. To his left is former Himachal Chief Minister Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Sending woman to US will defame Pak: Rana Ijaz

Chandigarh, June 25 A vocal spokesperson for human rights in Pakistan, who was instrumental in getting a case registered against rapists of Pakistani woman Mukhtaran Mai, feels if the woman presents her case before an audience in the USA it will be like defaming Pakistan. Rana Ijaz Ahmad Khan was the inquiry officer when Mukhtaran Mai was raped almost three years ago. He spoke to The Tribune here yesterday on the subject. Rana Ijaz Ahmad Khan, who is Advisor (Law and Human Rights) to Chief Minister of Pakistan Punjab, is presently leading a unique all-religion delegation to India.

Mukhtaran Mai

Passing Thru

COMMUNITY

Zila Parishad poll
Suspense over political affiliation of candidates
Chandigarh, June 24
Suspense looms large over the fate of the candidates contesting the forthcoming Zila Parishad elections in the city. Keeping the cards close to their hearts, the candidates have so far not revealed their political affiliations to the major political parties like the Congress and the BJP.

UT may miss July 1 VAT deadline
Chandigarh, June 25
Even as the other states gear up to implement the ambitious Value Added Tax(VAT) for a uniform tax regime in the country, Chandigarh is again set to miss the reported July 1 deadline.

A killer road despite tall claims by police

Chandigarh, June 25 One road. Seventy two hours. Three accidents. Two fatal. No exaggeration. Chandigarh-Panchkula highway continues to be a killer road, despite tall claims to safety by the local police. A truck rams into traffic lights, pulling them down before overturning, near the Housing Board crossing in Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Admn asks depts to prepare action plan
Chandigarh, June 25
The UT Administration has directed all its departments to prepare an action plan to implement the recommendations of the sub-groups constituted by the Administrator’s advisory council to address important issues. The issues included building by-laws, clearance of slums, garbage disposal, amendments in the Municipal Act and development of villages.

Celestial treat for sky gazers
Mohali, June 25
The celestial spectacle of the Saturn, Venus and Mercury coming close to each other from tonight would be a treat for sky gazers and a phenomenon to study for astronomers, but for city-based astrologers it means only one thing…the air is going to be thick with romance!

Power supply hit in Punjab, Haryana
Chandigarh, June 25
Power supply in Punjab and Haryana was adversely affected today after the power generation stopped at the Nathpa Jakhri project in Himachal Pradesh — one of the main contributors to the Northern Grid.

• Residents go without water, power
• Power cuts dropped, imposed again

Governor for crusade against drugs
Chandigarh, June 25
Gen S.F. Rodrigues, Punjab Governor, and UT Administrator, today called for launching a crusade against drug abuse and drug trafficking.

Women drug addicts mostly from urban areas
Chandigarh, June 25
A study on female drug addicts conducted by the Drug Deaddiction and Treatment Centre of the PGI here has revealed that they were mostly dependent on pentazocine injection.

‘Counselling must to check drug addiction’
Mohali, June 25
In order to control the trend of drug abuse among youth, the Mohali Chemists’ Association organised a function to mark the World Drug Deaddiction Day here today.

Army officers scouting land for sports academy

Chandigarh, June 25 The Army is exploring the possibility of establishing an academy in the city to train football and hockey players. Army officers are scouting for a suitable land for the purpose, it is learnt. GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lieut-Gen S. Pattabhiraman (left) meets officers of the 1101 Railway Territorial Army Unit on his visit to the unit in Chandigarh on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Pervesh Chauhan

Major Sandeep Sagar remembered
Panchkula, June 25
Rich tributes were paid to Major Sandeep Sagar of 1 JKLI Battalion, on his martyrdom day at the Sandeep Sagar Memorial near the Sector 7 and 8 roundabout today morning.

Rotary Dist awards function today
Chandigarh, June 25
More than 500 Rotarians from 76 clubs of District 3080, comprising parts of Punjab, Haryana, western UP, Himachal and Chandigarh, will assemble for “Alankaran Utsav” being organised by the Rotary Chandigarh Central at the Himachal Bhavan here tomorrow.

Tough yet feminine Chandigarh, June 25 Very tough but yet feminine. This describes Harjit Kaur, a Sub-Inspector in the Chandigarh police, who is the first woman cop of the region selected for a UN-mission in Kosovo last year to curb insurgency. She very easily cleared the test conducted for the selection of this mission. In all, 118 persons chosen from all over India, were in her group. Meeting people from other countries in Kosovo gave her the varied taste of togetherness.                                                                              Harjit Kaur, Sub Inspector.

• Exhibition at Press Club
• Political Secretary to CM

CRIME

Car, jewellery stolen
Chandigarh, June 25
In separate incidents, a car and jewellery items were stolen from different parts of the city during the past 24 hours. Cases of dowry demand and kidnapping were also registered by the police. Besides, illicit liquor was allegedly recovered from the possession of a Sector 25 resident.

Two booked in cheating case
Chandigarh, June 25
Two persons have been booked for cheating and criminal conspiracy by the local police on the allegations of accepting money from a Sector 20 resident on the pretext of sending him abroad.

Chain-snatchers nabbed
Panchkula, June 25
Two chain-snatchers landed in the police net within hours of snatching a purse from Ms Neelam Khullar, a Sector 25 resident, on the Sector 11-15 dividing road, here today.

• One booked for assault

EDUCATION

Seminar on managing stress
Mohali, June 25
The National Institute of Personnel Management, organised a seminar on “Managing Stress for Efficiency and Health” at Chandigarh today. Commodore S.P.S. Dalal (retd), the Founder Director of the Stress Management Research Institute, Noida (UP), spoke on the issue during the seminar.

CULTURE

Free bhangra workshop Chandigarh, June 25 A free Bhangra workshop is being organised by Jugani International Cultural and Welfare Club, Mohali, in Phase IX. About 20 boys are taking part in it. President of the club Davinder Singh said this free camp was being held for boys above 10 years of age. Children learning bhangra at free camp in Phase IX, Mohali. — A Tribune photograph

LEISURE

‘Ek aur Dronacharya’ dares all
Times change but situations seldom do. Past or present, exigencies almost always manage to dictate an individual’s performance in the light of his social standing. Mahabharata showed how Dronacharya succumbed to the pressure of politics and instructed non-Brahmins in the art of combat.

Film Review
A ghost goes positive
Even ghosts can fall in love. And this ghost in “Paheli” is so loveable that many young girls will now rather choose to love a ghost than a human form!

Dabbawallahs bring home flavours
THE ubiquitous ‘dabbawallah’ of Mumbai, is making his presence felt in Chandigarh. For work-engulfed people, running helter-skelter from one busy appointment to another, the wafts of home-cooked meals, served in tiffins, at one’s office or doorstep must provide a huge relief.

‘Declining Punjabi readership alarming’
“Any language which cannot boast of a minimum readership of 10 lakh is likely to suffer and the declining trend in Punjabi readership is alarming” says visionary writer Om Parkash Gaso.

HEALTH

Volunteers use puppets to warn against AIDS
Chandigarh, June 25
Doctors from the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, today counselled 55 adolescents from Colony No 5 on the ill effects of drugs. They were holding a drug de-addiction camp at Colony No 5 where Yuvsatta in association with the State AIDS Control Society, Chandigarh, and GMCH also organised a puppet show and an HIV/AIDS awareness camp today.

SPORTS

DAV SS School Club eves in limelight

Chandigarh, June 25 The roller hockey eves of DAV Senior Secondary School Skating Club, Sector 8, stole the limelight when they bagged honours in the junior girls and subjunior girls section in the two-day skating carnival which began here today at the skating rink, Sector 10. Roller hockey eves of DAV Senior Secondary School Skating Club, Sector 8, vie with Skateland Club in the skating carnival which began at the skating rink, Sector 10, in Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Delhi pip Mizoram for wushu trophy
Chandigarh, June 25
Delhi emerged new champions with 21 points in the fifth Sub-Junior National Wushu Championship which concluded at the rink hall, Sector 10, here late last night. With a rich haul of two gold, three silver and two bronze medals, the team from the national capital got 21 points. 

Ashutosh, Simran post wins
Chandigarh, June 25
Ashutosh Sharma thrashed Jasamrit Singh 5-0 in a one sided affair in the CLTA Hot Weather Tennis Tournament (under 10 Boys) held at CLTA grounds, Sector 10, here, today.