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Amorous advances sans love, it’s Valentine’s Day
Chandigarh, February 13
Love’s got nothing to do with it. As college and school fêtes, along with opportunities to socialise, are slipping into the recycle bin of memories, so many youngsters in the city with hearts palpitating for tender pangs are counting on St Valentine’s Day to fire love messages, reducing it to an all proposal day.

Lovers’ day or all proposal day! Many city youngsters count on St Valentine’s Day to fire love messages, reducing it to an all proposal day.

What lies beneath? Keep guessing! Chandigarh, February 13 Cupid is out of the bag, again. Fluttering his wings passionately for soaring high in the romantic air, he is carrying loads of “surprises” for pretty damsels living life in the luxury lanes down below. Roses loaded with surprise available in card and gift shops across Chandigarh. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik Cops to guard V-day festivity Chandigarh, February 13 With the Chandigarh police having made elaborate arrangements to keep a tab on things going over board on Valentine’s Day tomorrow, there is not much expected to happen around city colleges and the university.

Shopkeepers have a reason to smile too
Chandigarh, February 13
For many it was time to lose heart, for some an opportunity to earn money. As the clock steadily ticked towards St Valentine’s Day, shopkeepers across the city did brisk business selling not just gifts and cards, but also chunk and real jewellery.

For youngsters, it was time to buy gifts for St Valentine’s Day in Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photos by Manoj Mahajan

Blooming business: Flower-selling business bloomed in Chandigarh on Monday, a day before St Valentine’s Day.

Triple murder case: elder son in police net
Chandigarh, February 13
The city police today claimed to have solved the blind triple murder case in less than a week with the arrest of Pawandeep Singh, the main suspect and the elder son of the slain Group Captain T.P. Singh, from a remote village in Nagaland. The retired officer was found murdered along with his wife Shibani and sister Ajit Kaur in his Sector 34 residence last Tuesday.

Finland envoy focuses on environmental concerns Chandigarh, February 13 "Environment is the biggest bottleneck to all economic development today and definitely in future. Scientists from all over the world are highlighting the environmental concerns which need immediate attention. The melting of the ice cover in the Arctic belt is just one small example of the big changes, internationally. The change will have an impact in shaping the future of the world. The international community needs to collaborate and work on solutions, at the earliest".

Asko Numminen

CHANDIGARH CALLING Another officer from the city has had his name etched in the Army’s roll of honour. Lieutenant Colonel Ajai Singh Chonker has been awarded the Vishisht Sewa Medal for his performance in getting the fence along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir erected in record time. He was commissioned into the Bombay Sappers in December, 1991.

COMMUNITY

Ms Prabha Bhainsora welcomes the city Mayor, Mr Surinder Singh, on behalf of the Uttaranchal Mahila wing, Mauli Complex, on the occasion of Guru Ravi Dass Jayanti at Shiv Mandir, Mauli Jagran, Chandigarh, on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

CHB announces ‘assured allotment’ scheme
Chandigarh, February 13
In a new development, the Chandigarh Housing Board has decided to reserve 20 flats in the new housing scheme in Sector 49 for "Assured Allotment" seekers. Confirming the development, Mr Amar Nath, the Chief Executive Officer of the CHB, said, “A small portion of the houses has been reserved for those seeking a flat very desperately.

Apprehension over parking
Chandigarh, February 13
The Industries Association of Chandigarh has expressed apprehension over, “commercialisation of Industrial Area”. In a letter to UT’s Chief Administrator, chairman of the association, Mr H.S. Mamik, has conveyed that the members of the association are skeptical over the “planning and development” of the area.

Irregularities by Nafed alleged
Chandigarh, February 13
Auction of rice by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (Nafed) held here today has come under a cloud with several participants alleging irregularities. Nafed had offered 2,500 metric tonnes of rice for sale through tenders.

Army interlinking ordnance units with suppliers
Chandigarh, February 13
Following the implementation of its Computerised Inventory Control Management system, the Army has initiated the process of interlinking its ordnance establishments with external agencies associated with supply and evaluation of military equipment.

Probationer nurses commissioned as lieutenants

Chandigarh, February 13 Fourteen probationer nurses were commissioned as lieutenants in the Military Nursing Service on completion of their four-year training course at the Command Hospital, Chandimandir today. They belonged to the 37th batch of the hospital's School of Nursing. Chief of Staff, Western Command, Lt-Gen Paramjit Singh, interacts with newly commissioned Military Nursing Service officers at the Command Hospital at Chandimandir on Monday.

Fauji Beat Will Rashtriya Rifles be merged with Army? The integration of Rashtriya Rifles with the Army, as suggested in an article in this newspaper recently, will make this force more effective. Despite being manned by the Army and being a part of it in more ways than one, RR is called a paramilitary force. A helicopter with TC-3 bucket slung under it is being used to neutralise an oil slick

Politicians, underworld, police have formed nexus: Om Puri
Chandigarh, February 13 “Politicians, underworld and the police are a nexus and unless this nexus is broken, nothing can be done about it,” stated veteran actor Om Puri today. He was here for interaction with the media today at Press Club, Sector 27. Om Puri addresses a press conference at Press Club, Chandigarh, on Monday. His wife Nandita is seated beside him. — A Tribune photograph

Society vows to fight for justice
Panchkula, February 13
The Social Justice and Human Rights Protection Society, formed mainly by legal luminaries of the region, stated at a press conference held at hotel Wah Dilli here today, that it would continue to provide free legal aid to the poor.

Society celebrates annual day
Panchkula, February 13
The Society for Disowned Humans and Animals yesterday celebrated its second annual day by honouring 15 social and welfare organisations of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula.

Rs 5-lakh grant for sabha
Panchkula, February 13
Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan today called upon the people to imbibe the teachings of Guru Ravi Dass which were relevant even today. He was addressing a gathering on the occasion of the 629th birth anniversary of Guru Ravi Dass at Ravi Dass Bhawan, Sector 15 organised by Shri Guru Ravi Dass Sabha.

Parkash utsav of Guru Ravi Dass celebrated
Mohali, February 13
The 629th parkash utsav of Guru Ravi Dass was celebrated with religious fervour at Guru Ravidass Bhavan in Phase VII here today. The function was organised by Shri Guru Ravi Dass Naujawan Sabha, Punjab, in which prominent ragis and preachers participated.

MC staff face resistance
Chandigarh, February 13
The staff of the enforcement wing of the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, today faced strong resistance from shopkeepers of the Dadu Majra market. The drama, which lasted for more than two hours, started at about 4:30 pm, when the enforcement wing staff started to challan the shopkeepers who had displayed their goods in corridors in front of their shops.

Relax BPL scheme
Mohali, February 13
The Dalit Chetna Manch, Punjab, has asked the state government to relax the conditions laid down in connection with the BPL scheme and reconduct a survey to cancel the illegal applications received under the scheme.

• Vatsal crowned Sood prince
• Katha ends

CRIME

One held with smack
Chandigarh, February 13
The local police today arrested one person on the allegation of carrying 5g of smack. Sanjeev Kumar of Sector 29 was arrested from near a school in Sector 29. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act was registered.

Youth crushed to death under train
Chandigarh, February 13
A 20-year-old youth was crushed to death under the Kalka-Delhi Himalayan Queen express train near Kishangarh village here this morning. According to the General Railway Police the victim was identified as Tejinder Singh of Mori Gate in Mani Majra.

4-yr-old killed
Chandigarh, February 13
A four-year-old child was killed when he was run over by a truck in Phase VIII Industrial Area here today. According to the police, the deceased, Manish, was playing on the road in the area when he was run over by a Tata-407 truck.

One killed in mishap
Lalru, February 13
A 59-year-old person, Sushil, was killed and two persons injured when their car collided head on with an unidentified vehicle on the national highway here early today.

BUSINESS

Traders bury the hatchet, elect CBM chief “unanimously”

Chandigarh, February 13 The two factions of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal, the apex body of the city traders, have buried the hatchet for the time being. At a general body meeting yesterday, the CBM decided against the biennial elections to the post of CBM chief and worked out a 'compromise formula' for the prestigious post. Chandigarh Beopar Mandal president Subhash Sethi (right) with senior vice-president Charanjiv Singh in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Industrial exhibition ends
Mohali, February 13
The three-day “Punjab Industrial Exhibition-2006-cum-Vendor Development Programme” organised by the Mohali Industries Association concluded here yesterday.

Airtel gold auction contest winners
Chandigarh, February 13
Airtel, India’s leading mobile service provider, today announced the winner of the grand prize of 1 kilo gold in the Airtel gold auction contest — Mr Rajan Chadha of Haryana.

EDUCATION

‘Capitalism, socialism have failed people’
Chandigarh, February 13
“We live in a world that is at a critical juncture in its common history as it struggles to find a lexicon for social relationships and political governance amongst its societies. A lexicon, which is based on greater trust and transparency, give and take, beauty and wisdom,” said Prof Siddiq Wahid Vice-Chancellor, University of Science and Technology, Jammu and Kashmir, here today.

Attracting Indian students to Europe
Chandigarh, February 13
Armel Esnol is a man on a mission. With over hundred strategic partnerships and 34 years in service, this Director of International Relations at the 'Ecole de Management de Normandie' (Normandy Business School, France) is in the city to familiarise students seeking enrolment for the Fall 2006 semester and to forge new educational partnerships with Indian institutes in Chandigarh, Delhi and Hyderabad.

Colourful nite by Toddlers
Chandigarh, February 13
It was nothing less than a Bollywood nite, colourful costumes, foot tapping music, precision entries, everything with one exception, the stars were students of JPA Toddlers’ World Preparatory School. Every student of JPA Toddlers World from playgroup to 1st standard today participated in the annual function “Blossoms” held at the Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh.

CULTURE

‘Hai Mera Dil’ draws smiles
Panchkula, February 13
The Sandli Paidan Kala Kendra staged a Hindi play, “Hai Mera Dil” in collaboration with the Sangeet Natak Akademy New Delhi and the Department of Cultural Affairs, Chandigarh administration at the Tagore Theatre here. The hilarious situational comedy was a blend of humour, intrigue and wit, as the protagonist, Madan, an a misunderstanding perceives himself to be a severe heart patient and on the verge of slow demise.

HEALTH

Workshop on diseases
Mohali, February 13
A two-day tertiary level training-cum-workshop on “trainers training” for the faculty of medical colleges in the Punjab state and, Chandigarh was inaugurated by Dr. G.L. Goyal, Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, at the State Institute of Health and Family Welfare here today.

• Operating microscope

SPORTS

DPI D.S. Mangat is lifted by players at the closing ceremony of the 51st National School Games at Sector 42, Chandigarh. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

Gupta in table tennis singles final
Chandigarh, February 13
N. K. Gupta of the Punjab and Haryana team moved into the finals of the Table Tennis Men's Singles after beating Malind Kulkarni of Mumbai-A 4-1 in the semifinals of Nabotsav 2006 at the Table Tennis Hall, Sector 23, here, today.

8 city boys in national football camp
Chandigarh, February 13
Eight players from Chandigarh are among 44 probables selected by the All India Football Federation for the Under-14 national coaching camp in preparation for India’s participation in the Asian Football Confederation Under-14 Football Championship scheduled to be held in Iran from March 24.

DPS organises sports day
Chandigarh, February 13
Delhi Public School, Pinjore, organised Sports Day on Saturday. Dr D.R. Arora, pro-vice-chairman, was the chief guest. A torch was lit and the chief guest declared the meet open. The Principal, Mr Samson Masih, presented the annual sports report of the school. Students took part in various events.