C H A N D I G A R H

Top stories | Community | Education | Courts | Administration

Neighbourhood | Sports | Health | Crime | Culture

TOP STORIES

Thief gives cops a slip
ASI, constable suspended, nailed
Chandigarh, February 24
The Chandigarh Police placed under suspension and arrested an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and a constable after a youth arrested on the charges of stealing a car stereo managed to escape from their custody from the Sector 22 police post, here, this morning.

Trouble at Sukhna parking
Against a fee of Rs 2 for parking of a two-wheeler, the contractor was charging Rs 5
Chandigarh, February 24
Employees of a private security agency, hired by the Municipal Corporation to run the parking at Sukhna Lake, were today caught while overcharging the parking fee from visitors there. Against a fee of Rs 2 for parking of a two-wheeler, the contractor was openly charging Rs 5.

Raj Bhawan Rape
Third accused netted from ISBT-17
Chandigarh, February 24
The police today arrested Seetu of Rohtak, third accused involved in sensational gang rape of a woman by the security guards of Haryana Raj Bhawan, on Thursday.

Mistaken for thief, youth thrashed by cop
Chandigarh, February 24
A Sector 22 resident has alleged he was thrashed by policemen on night patrol and a window of his car smashed after the policemen mistook him to be a car thief. He was roughed up outside his residence.

No bags, exams up to Class II
Chandigarh, February 24
With an aim to take the load off students, the UT education department, has decided to introduce the concept of no bags and examinations up to class II. This system is already in progress in Chennai. Moreover, grading system will replace the examination system. Teaching in these classes will be activity based.

Charanjiv elected Beopar Mandal president
Chandigarh, February 24
The Chandigarh Beopar Mandal(CBM), apex body of city traders, training guns on big corporates, today termed their entry as a "serious threat" to the livelihood of small traders.

Silent Communication
Talking HIV to the deaf
India has an estimated 2 lakh deaf living with HIV
Chandigarh, February 24
At Kalagram today, a group of young men and women - all hearing impaired and living with HIV - demonstrated how well silence can sometimes speak. For them, the workshop in health education organised by the Deaf Way Foundation here turned out to be more than mere routine.

COMMUNITY

Rotary Excellence Awards N.N. Vohra, Kapil Dev honoured with Shreyas award
Panchkula, February 24 Rotary International today blazed yet another trail by conferring on two outstanding Indians the freshly-instituted Shreyas awards. Rooted in excellence, the honours for 2007-2008 went to the distinguished bureaucrat and Tribune trustee N.N. Vohra for bringing brilliance to public service and to Kapil Dev for uplifting world cricket with his fiery presence.
Tribune trustee N.N. Vohra (left), currently serving as government of India's interlocutor with J & K, receives the Rotary Shreyas award from T.K.A. Nair, principal secretary to Prime Minister, as Shaju Peter, governor of the host district 3080, looks on, at Indradhanush Auditorium in Sector 5, Panchkula, on Sunday.

Book on Giani Gurdit Singh released

Chandigarh, February 24 “Endowed with an intuitive wisdom, vast spiritual knowledge and prolific writing prowess, a visionary Giani Gurdit Singh was undeniably a myriad minded proponent of social and cultural ethics,” observed the chief guest Tarlochan Singh MP and former chairman of Minority Commission while releasing a commemorative Punjabi book titled “Gurdit Singh: 1923-2007” at a largely attended function at the Punjab Kala Bhavan auditorium. Tarlochan Singh, MP, releases the book “Giani Gurdit Singh 1923-2007” at Punjab Kala Bhavan in Chandigarh on Sunday, while Prof B.N. Goswamy looks on. — A Tribune photograph

‘Taare Zameen Par’ inspires Admn
To train teachers for identification of kids with learning disabilities
Chandigarh, February 24
Taking a cue from bollywood blockbuster 'Taare Zameen Par', the Chandigarh Administration has decided to start a new course to sensitise and train teachers for identification of children with learning disabilities. Chandigarh will be perhaps the first state or Union Territory to start this type of course for its teachers.

IN SYNC: Haryanvi dance performance on the third day of the rose festival in Chandigarh on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

Boy seeks aid for ailing mother
Chandigarh, February 24
Life has indeed been cruel to 13-year-old Dheeraj Gautam. At a time when he should be enjoying with his friends, the child is forced to make rounds of the corridors of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, looking after his ailing widow mother.

Protest over demolition notices
Chandigarh, February 24
In the wake of a court decision allowing Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) to demolish encroachments on public land, the CHB Residents’ Federation today proposed a “humane” solution to the problem at a public rally held in Sector 45. The rally was attended by public representatives, including mayor Pradio Chhabra.

Rly counter at Chandimandir
Chandigarh, February 24
A railway reservation counter has been inaugurated for the Army personnel at the Western Command, Chandimandir.

DAV schools’ conference held
Chandigarh, February 24
A conference of the government-aided DAV schools was held at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8-C, here today.

EDUCATION

Tiny tots present circus show
Chandigarh, February 24
It was altogether a different experience for the tiny tots of DAV Public School, Sector 8 and 39, when they presented a circus show during the Kids’ Show held at the auditorium of MCM DAV College, Sector 36, here today.

Children perform during Kids’ Show of DAV Public School at MCMDAV College in Sector 36, Chandigarh, on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

10 schools to have cooking sheds
Chandigarh, February 24
The Chandigarh Administration has decided to construct cooking sheds in government schools. The architecture department is designing the layout of sheds proposed in 10 schools. Till the construction of the cooking sheds, one room in each school will be spared for cooking purposes for mid-meal scheme.

Modern loos for colleges soon
Chandigarh, February 24
Teachers and student of various government colleges in the city will be able to use good-quality washrooms in the coming academic session. The Chandigarh Administration has allowed existing toilets to be repaired and renovated.

From Schools and Colleges
‘Healthy baby’ show at Ashmah International
Mohali, February 24
A ‘healthy baby show’ was organised at the Ashmah International School, here today. The show forms a part of the special drive by the school management to enhance the awareness level of parents with regard to health parameters of their kids. Around 100 kids participated in the show. The limelight was hogged by Aryan Victor and Pareeneta, who were crowned with Ashmah Prince and Ashmah Princess titles. A free eye-check up camp was also organised by Dr Rashmi Aggarwal.

A little girl playing with a crown during the ‘healthy baby’ show at Ashmah International School in Mohali on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

COURTS

PIL filed against temple authorities, HUDA
Panchkula, February 24
Exhausted of all options, a resident of Chandigarh has filed a public interest litigation against the administrators of Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board and Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA).

ADMINISTRATION

Inside Babudom
Koshy Koshy replaces Kiran Bedi
Chandigarh, February 24
After the country’s first woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi took premature retirement from the Indian Police Service, her place as director-general, Bureau of Police Research & Development, has gone to a Haryana cadre officer. Bedi left the service citing personal reasons.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Shop robbed twice in three months
Similar modus operandi followed by miscreants
Dera Bassi, February 24
Thieves decamped with electric equipment worth Rs three lakh from a shop on the National Highway, here today. Notably, the shop has been robbed in a similar manner twice during the last three months. Earlier, goods worth lakhs were stolen from Saini Electric Works, owned by Ravinder Saini and his brother Baljit, in December 2007.

The shop from where thieves robbed material worth Rs three lakh in Dera Bassi on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Instal victory tower at Chappar Chiri: Experts
Mohali, February 24
Speaking at the Chappar Chiri heritage conclave organised by the Punjab Heritage and Education Foundation, here today, Dr Sukhdayal Singh of the Punjab Historical Studies Department, Punjabi University, Patiala, said Banda Bahadur’s forces routed the Mughal forces at Chappar Chiri and therefore the place assumes a lot of historical significance.

G.S. Shergill addresses the gathering at Chapper Chiri herigage conclave in Mohali on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Coaches catch fire, passengers safe
Ambala, February 24
Passengers aboard the S1 and S2 coaches of the Chattisgarh Express had a miraculous escape as the two bogies caught fire and derailed during the wee hours today. The train from Chattisgarh to Amritsar passes through the Ambala division.

Extortion bid, one held
Patiala, February 24
The police here today nabbed a person allegedly having links with the Babbar Khalsa organisation. Giving the information, DSP Sharanjit Singh said the person has been identified as Ashok Kumar, a resident of Sui Gram locality of Patiala.

Rural dispensaries sans medicines
Patiala, February 24
The Rural Medical Services Association has alleged that the supply of medicines in rural dispensaries has virtually dried up, particularly in those falling under the jurisdiction of the zila parishads, and this is harming the interest of rural people.

SPORTS

BCS golfers clinch trophy
Chandigarh, February 24
Gurmeher Brar, B.S. Gill, Simrinder Singh and Sujan Singh of Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, clinched the trophy in the first Inter-Public School Golf Championship, garnering 140 points, on the par-72 greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club, here today.

Himal wins chess championship
Chandigarh, February 24
Luck favoured 14-year-old Himal Gusain, who emerged champion with the toss of coin in the Chandigarh Prize Money Chess Championship 2008, concluded at St. Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, here today.

Jai fashions GCC’s triumph
Chandigarh, February 24
Godrej Cricket Club defeated SVIET Club by 32 runs in the inaugural match of the second Godrej Defender Cup played at GMSSS-32, here today.

Badminton
Dev Samaj eves take lead
Chandigarh, February 24
Continuing their winning spree, Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, defeated Sant Darbara Singh College of Education for Women, Lopon, 2-1 in the Panjab University Inter-College Badminton B-Division (Women) Tournament, being held at PU gymnasium hall, here today.

HEALTH

Asthma among kids on the rise
Chandigarh, February 24
The prevalence of childhood asthma is on the rise. Fortunately, great strides have been made in the treatment and control of asthma, experts at the continuing medical programme on paediatric pulmonology being organised at the PGI said today. The development of inhaler treatment has revolutionised the care of children and adults with asthma.

CRIME

Tipsy cops thrash Army men
Chandigarh, February 24
“Inebriated” security guards of senior Haryana Police officer quarrelled with two Army men in the parking lot of Fun Republic in Manimajra, here, last night following a dispute over parking of vehicles. Both parties later reached a compromise.

Esteem, scooter stolen
Chandigarh, February 24
Two vehicles, including a car, were stolen from the city while a Sector 38 resident was arrested while allegedly carrying nine kg of ganja.

Trading racket: 4 more nabbed
Mohali, February 24
The Mohali police today arrested four more persons in the multi-crore online trading racket busted by the police yesterday. While three persons were arrested by the police last evening one person was arrested today.

CULTURE

Sunidhi Chauhan, singer, performs at Rose Festival concluding function at Liesure Valley in Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan