Blank cheques stolen
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 30 — The Deputy General Manager of the Punjab Tourist Development Corporation has lodged a complaint with the police that someone stole four blank cheques from his office and used two of these to withdraw Rs 20,000.

According to police sources, Mr Kailash Sharma, said the thief had withdrawn the money from the State Bank of Patiala, Ropar. A case under Section 380, IPC, has been registered.

Offender nabbed: The police has arrested a proclaimed offender who was wanted in a case registered against him in 1990.

According to sources, Kesar Singh, of Amargarh village in Sangrur district was wanted in a case registered under Section 188, IPC. at the Sector 36 police station.

Seven held: Seven persons have been arrested for roaming under suspicious circumstances in various places in the city and have been booked under Section 41 (2) /109, Cr P C.

PANCHKULA

Two booked: The local police has booked two persons for cheating and forgery in connection with producing a fake temporary receipt of a registration case of a car in the office of the local licensing authority.

According to the information available, Pardeep Kumar came to the office of the Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM)-cum-licensing authority to collect the registration papers of transfer of ownership of a car. The dealing clerk on seeing the stamp and the signatures of the SDM on the temporary receipt, got suspicious.

He was produced before the officiating SDM, Mr M.S.Yadav. On being asked, he said he had come to collect the registration papers on behalf of Surinder Pal, of Sector 44 in Chandigarh. Meanwhile, Surinder Pal, who was waiting outside the office fled on his scooter.

The police has registered a case under Sections 198, 420, 465, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC against the two persons.

Wires stolen: Theft of aluminium electricity wires worth Rs 26,000 from electricity poles in Khangesra village in Barwala has been reported. The Chandi Mandir police has registered a case under Section 379 of the IPC on a complaint lodged by an SDO of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam.

Painting workshop on Kargil
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 30 — The Society for Development of Films and Arts organised an artists' workshop of paintings at the Government Museum and Art gallery in aid of the Kargil martyrs. The workshop was inaugurated today by artist Jodh Singh.

This workshop would be on till August 1. After that the works would be exhibited in the second week of August for public auction. The proceeds of the same would be donated to the Army Central Welfare Fund.

The society announced that all the unsold paintings would be gifted to the GOC-in-C, Western Command, for display in the Officer's Mess and the Command Hospital, Chandi Mandir. Almost 40 eminent artists of the region participated in the workshop.

Brig Kuldeep Singh Kang (retd) was the guest of honour and the workshop was presided over by Mr Satwant Singh.

Edible oils cheaper
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 30 — Even as the prices of edible oils have come down wheat flour has become costly in the local market during the past one month.

During a survey of the market it was found that there was considerable decrease in the prices of almost all edible oils. A litre of sunflower oil, priced at Rs 48 a month back , could be purchased today for Rs 42. The wholesale price of the same has come down from Rs 43 to Rs 37 a litre during this period.

The same was the case with vanaspati ghee as it has also become cheaper during this period. A litre of the commodity, priced at Rs 38 during last month could be purchased today for Rs 33 in retail while the wholesale price has dipped from Rs 33.50 to Rs 29.50 during this period.

Cottonseed oil, too, has witnessed fluctuation in its price. A litre of the oil, available for Rs 48 a month back, could now be purchased for Rs 44. In the wholesale market, its price has come down from Rs 44.50 to Rs 38 a litre.

The dip in the price of groundnut oil was also considerable, as a litre of it, priced at Rs 62 last month, could be purchased today for Rs 58. Similarly, the wholesale price of the commodity has come down from Rs 58 to Rs 54 a litre during this period. Likewise, if a litre of vegetable oil was priced at Rs 46 a month back, it could be purchased today for Rs 42. The wholesale price of the commodity has come down from Rs 43 to Rs 38 a litre.

The case of mustard oil was no different. A litre of it priced at Rs 42 last month, could be purchased today for Rs 40 in retail while the wholesale price of the commodity has come down from Rs 38 to Rs 36 a litre.

On the other hand, the price of 'desi ghee' has increased during this period. A litre of 'desi ghee' , available in the retail market for Rs 145 last month, could be purchased now for Rs 150. The wholesale price of the commodity has gone up from Rs 140 to Rs 145 a litre.

Similarly, wheat flour has become costlier during this period. A 10-kg pack, priced at Rs 84 last month, could be purchased now for Rs 88. The wholesale price of the commodity has increased from Rs 800 to Rs 840 a quintal.

According to traders, the prices of edible oils have decreased owing to flooding of the market with the commodity as imports were more this year, while the wheatflour price has increased due to a hike in issue price of wheat.