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E-Revolution 2005
Countdown to IT mega event begins
Chandigarh, July 12
As the countdown for the city’s most important IT conclave E-Governance 2005 begins, all preparations are complete to host 300 to 400 delegates in various places in the city.

Rooms inundated

Hawara’s great escape still a mystery to cops

Chandigarh, July 12 Even though the Chandigarh police has arrested three alleged militants since the arrival of Babbar Khalsa International’s alleged chief Jagtar Singh Hawara in the city, it is still trying to find its way through the tunnel in the jailbreak case.

Joginder Singh, alias Jindar, in police custody in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Hawara accomplices in police custody
Chandigarh, July 12
A day after two alleged accomplices of Babbar Khalsa International(BKI) chief Jagtar Singh Hawara were reportedly arrested by the Chandigarh Police from Sector 17 here, the father of the one of accused alleged that they were picked up from Ludhiana district on July 10 evening.

Man falls into ditch, fractures arm 

Chandigarh, July 12 A resident of Sector 46, Mr Sunil Tazrana, had his arm broken due to laxity on the part of the Municipal Corporation. Running an electronics business Mr Tazrana along with his scooter fell in a five-feet-deep ditch dug by the MC for repairing leaking pipes and ended up with a broken arm. Sunil Tazrana shows the spot where he was injured in Sector 46 in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Body of slain Merchant Navy officer brought home
Chandigarh, July 12
For city-based Merchant Navy Officer Navneet Singh Sondhi, the journey ended before he reached his destination. The young officer was on his way to Delhi for appearing in an interview in the US embassy when two motorcycle-borne youngsters stabbed him on July 5 near Samalkha before taking away the car he was driving. He was rushed to a hospital in Delhi where died last night.

Tehelka case: Forensic expert cross-examined
Chandigarh, July 12
The Deputy Government Examiner of Questioned Documents, Mr Mohinder Singh was cross-examined at length by the defence during the general court martial trying Brig Iqbal Singh for professional impropriety in the Tehelka case.

Date of filing returns extended
Chandigarh, July 12
The due date for filing of annual returns of TDS for the financial year 2004-05 for offices of the government u/s 206 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, has been extended to August 31, 2005.

Passing Thru

COMMUNITY

Claims by Bansal group ‘false’
Chairman’s election
Chandigarh, July 12
A few days after the Bansal group claimed the support of at least six members in the 11-member Zila Parishad to elect its new chairman, Behl group managed to bring at least seven of the members under its fold with the “active” support of the three BJP-aligned candidates.

Service conditions: UT staff get assurance
Chandigarh, July 12
With a view to “demystify” the procedure of transfer of employees from Administration to the municipal corporation and also to allay the unfounded fears of employees, the UT Administrator today issued written directions to the Commissioner, municipal corporation that the remuneration, tenure and terms and conditions of service of employees will not be changed to their disadvantage in any way during the period of their service with the municipal corporation.

Demolition drive by HUDA
Panchkula, July 12
Unruly scenes were witnessed in Rajiv Colony here this afternoon when the Enforcement staff of Haryana Urban Development Authority converged here to remove encroachments along the seasonal rivulet passing by the colony.

Demolitions in Dhanas, Khuda Lahora

Chandigarh, July 12 The enforcement staff of the Estate Office today carried out demolitions in Khuda Lahora and Dhanas. An official in the estate office disclosed that in Dhanas, the drive was aimed at discouraging the shopkeepers selling marble from encroaching upon government land. A structure razed to ground during a demolition drive in Dhanas on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Probe into excess payments by MC begins
Panchkula, July 12
The Urban Development Department, Haryana, has initiated an inquiry into the alleged excess payments made by the Municipal Council to the mohalla committees formed for the maintenance of neighbourhood parks in the township.

Estate Office ‘delays’ zoning plan
Chandigarh, July 12
With the Estate Office allegedly delaying the zoning plan of the auctioned plots in certain parts of the city, people are at the receiving end. One of the general power of attorney holder, Mr J.S. Shangari, alleged that despite repeated requests, the Estate Office had failed to supply the zoning plan, which was a pre-condition for the preparation of the building plans.

Weather pleasant after showers
Chandigarh, July 12
After a few blistering humid days following the first monsoon downpour last week, Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula once again received some cooling showers yesterday. The weather continued to be pleasant enough today with overcast skies hinting at rain the whole day.

Truck blocks Ghaggar bridge; traffic jam for 2 hours
Dera Bassi, July 12
Traffic flow on the Zirakpur-Dera Bassi stretch of the busy Kalka-Ambala highway was disrupted for more than two hours after a truck broke down on the Ghaggar river bridge, this afternoon.

Petrol stations to remain closed on July 18
Chandigarh, July 12
The Chandigarh Petroleum Dealers Association have unanimously decided to keep all petrol pumps in the city closed from July 17 midnight to July 18 midnight in response to the nationwide strike call given by the Federation of All-India Petroleum Dealers to press for an increase in the commission on sale of petrol and diesel.

Sarbjit Singh installed as Rotary Club president
Chandigarh, July 12
Mr Sarbjit Singh was installed as the new President of the Rotary Club Chandigarh Shivalik at a ceremony held at hotel Sip-n-Dine, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh, today. Mr Sarbjit Singh is former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Punjab.

New BSP unit chief
Chandigarh, July 12
Mr M.C. Suman will be the new president of the local unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of party held under the chairmanship of Mr Maan Singh Manhera, general secretary of the party unit

CRIME

Criminal involved in cases of murder, theft arrested
Panchkula, July 12
The Panchkula police claims to have solved the Sector 26 robbery incident with the arrest of Gurpal Singh alias Palla of Amritsar. The police also claimed that the suspect had been involved in over a dozen criminal cases, including murder, theft, robbery and dacoity, registered against him in different police stations of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

Cop caught taking bribe
Mohali, July 12
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau today booked a Punjab police officer posted at Nayagaon on graft charges. The policeman was reportedly caught by a VB team while accepting a bribe of Rs 15000 from a resident of Kansal village.

5 booked in assault case
Mohali, July 12
The police has booked a few persons for allegedly attacking a senior executive of the Godrej factory here yesterday. They were booked on charges of wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation and being armed with deadly weapons.

Convict tries to end life
Chandigarh, July 12
Sunny Kapoor, a convict undergoing life imprisonment in the high-security Burail Jail, today tried to commit suicide by cutting veins of his arm.

BUSINESS

Deposit service tax at bank
Chandigarh, July 12
The State Bank of Patiala has been authorised to collect central excise duties and service tax at identified branches in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh.

Nabard celebrates foundation day
Chandigarh, July 12
Nabard commemorated its 24th foundation day today. Delivering the foundation day lecture, Regional Director, CII, Chandigarh, stressed on achieving rural transformation in India with a special emphasis on the role of Nabard in agriculture and rural development.

EDUCATION

Students gear up for placements

Chandigarh, July 12 The Placement Committee of Punjab Engineering College, Sector 12, here is gearing up for the interviews for campus recruitment scheduled for July 15. The committee comprises 31 postgraduates and undergraduate students of the college. Students seek admissions to various engineering courses at Law Auditorium of Panjab University on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Heavy rush for admissions
Mohali, July 12
Heavy rush of students seeking admission to various classes was witnessed on the last day of admission at the local Government College here today. College authorities had to set up additional counters and extend working hours to admit students to the college. Till today the college had admitted 620 students in various classes.

College set to sport sensuous look

Chandigarh, July 12 The big green campus of Government College for Girls, Sector 11, here will soon add have another feather to its cap. It is all set to sport an aesthetic, neat and clean look. The college authorities have decided to privatise the sanitation system. Freshers exchange notes of friendship at Government College, Sector 11, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

New faces live thrill of campus life

Chandigarh, July 12 The buzz is one of feverish anticipation, of making new friends and of forging glorious careers. For, universities are those timeless institutions that have witnessed each person that walks through its haloed portals, ‘growing up’ and making their mark, in this big world. At Panjab University, the excitement is palpable in the air-in the joyful steps and in the harried, harassed lines queuing up to pay those admission fees!  Taking strides into carefree university life. — Tribune Photo by Pradeep Tewari

SOPU activists stage protest Chandigarh, July 12 The activists of Students Organisation of Panjab University staged a protest alleging that there was a foul play in the top echelons of the varsity. The effigy of Sodhi Ram was also burnt in front of the administration block. SOPU activists protest outside the Administrative Block, Panjab University, against the Controller of Examination on Monday. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

PUSU to hold protest
Chandigarh, July 12
Panjab University Students Union has decided to hold a protest against callous attitude of the PU authorities in allocating hostels to the students. According to PUSU president, Amandeep Singh, the varsity authorities have failed to deal with the increasing rush of students seeking hostel facility in PU.

Institute students develop tool for blind
Dera Bassi, July 12
Final year students of computer science and engineering branch of Sri Sukhmani Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dera Bassi, claimed to have developed a ‘talking dictionary’ for microsoft technologies .

Toppers felicitated
Chandigarh, July 12
The toppers of the General Purpose Programme (Junior) were felicitated at a function held by Inlingua Institute of Languages, Sector 9, here today.

KV Principals’ conference from July 15
Chandi Mandir, July 12
A three-day Principals’ conference of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Chandigarh region, will be held under the chairmanship of Mr D.K. Saini, Assistant Commissioner of the region, from July 15 at KV No 2, Chandimandir Cantt.

COURTS

CrPC amendments: Lawyers to protest on July 14
Chandigarh, July 12
Reacting to a call given by the Bar Council of India (BCI), the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has decided to hold protest on July 14 against the amendments in the Criminal Procedure Code.

Legal notices to municipal councillors
Mohali, July 12
Legal notices have been sent to seven municipal councillors on behalf of the council president, Mr Kulwant Singh, in connection with alleged defamatory statements issued by them against the council chief.

CULTURE

Rajasthan unveiled Chandigarh, July 12 The exhibition hall of the Punjab Kala Bhavan is literally a trip to Rajasthan with 162 colourful photographs depicting the multi-layered exuberant liveliness of Rajasthani Art and Culture.  Gopal R. Kumawat poses with his photographs exhibited at Punjab Kala Bhavan in Sector 16, Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Harry Potter mania engulfs city D-day is July 16 Chandigarh, July 12 The charming, brave little boy wizard-Harry Potter —has once again caught the imagination of the ‘Muggles’ (common folk). For, the sixth instalment ‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’ is the book for the non-wizards amongst us to aspire for! Harry Potter display at a bookshop in Chandigarh. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

HEALTH

PHSC holds review meeting via video conference
Mohali, July 12
The Punjab Health Systems Corporation here today held a review meeting with the Deputy Medical Commissioners and Civil Surgeons of all 17 districts in the state.

125 donate blood at FCI camp
Panchkula, July 12
The Food Corporation of India, Regional Office, Haryana, organised a blood donation camp on its premises, here today.

SPORTS

Trials start for sports wing seats
Chandigarh, July 12
Trials to allot sports wing seats (schools) in various disciplines by Sports Department, Chandigarh Administration, started at different schools here today. The department has deputed its coaches to allocate 361 wing seats to deserving players of various schools.

• Yoga camp draws good response
• Cycling trials today