C H A N D I G A R H

Revelers take to streets to welcome the new millennium.
— A Tribune photogarph by Manoj Mahajan

City welcomes the New Year with song, dance and merriment
CHANDIGARH, Dec 31 — The apprehension of Y2K complications disrupting power and water supply notwithstanding, the city and its surrounding areas bade a cold farewell to 1999 and ushered in the New Year with a burst of dances, drinking, exploding of crackers and singing here tonight.

• Some party, others listen to kirtan
• Elders join the celebrations
• Just another harsh day for the poor
• Will the New Year bring changes?

COMMUNITY

‘India’s image has been tarnished’
CHANDIGARH, Dec 31 — While Mr Rajesh Kataria, a younger brother of Mr Rakesh Kataria, a local resident, who along with his wife was among the hostages in the hijacked Indian plane, has supported the government effort in the release of hostages, people by and large have strongly criticised the Central Government for giving in to the demands of hijackers.

CRIME

Goods worth Rs 2 lakh stolen
PANCHKULA, Dec 31—A theft of jewellery and cash worth Rs 2 lakh was reported by Major Anil Kumar, a resident of Sector 4, here today. He was away with his family to Kulu-Manali when the theft took place.

IGP promises friendly cops
CHANDIGARH, Dec 31 — The Chandigarh police is all set to enter the next millennium with a total change in its approach towards public-police relations in general and criminals in particular.

Arrested on graft charge
KHARAR, Dec 31 — The Punjab Vigilance Department has arrested the Naib Tehsildar, a Reader and a peon of Dehlon for accepting bribe of Rs 500 from Sukhdev Singh.

10 arrested, liquor seized
CHANDIGARH, Dec 31 — The police has arrested 10 persons on the charges of possessing liquor beyond the permissible limit. As many as 430 pouches of whisky and 72 bottles of liquor were seized from them.

EDUCATION

Scholars asked to refund money
CHANDIGARH, Dec 31 — A circular of the University Grants Commission refusing funds has come as trouble for a number of research scholars who have worked for more than four years on their projects.

Night classes begin today
CHANDIGARH, Dec 31— The plan announced by the Chandigarh Administration to start night classes in the government schools to provide basic education to slum children would get underway tomorrow afternoon at the Government School, Sector 25, in the Kumhar Colony.

COURTS

Threat to move court
CHANDIGARH, Dec 31— Mr H.S. Anand, whose farmhouse in Mani Majra was partly demolished by the enforcement staff of the Estate Office on December 29, has threatened to move court for payment of damages.

CULTURE

Gargi honoured
CHANDIGARH, Dec 31 — Balwant Gargi, renowned theatre personality, was awarded the prestigious Sangeet Natak Academi award by the President of India recently.

SPORT

Twins walk away with the crown
CHANDIGARH, Dec 31 — 'She came, she played, she conquered'. This is what could be said about 17-year-old Urska Vesenjak of Slovania. In partnership with her twin sister, Masa, she also won the coveted doubles crown at the Bakeman's ITF Women Circuit Tennis Tournament which concluded today at CLTA courts here.

CISF shoot to victory
CHANDIGARH, Dec 31 — Sabeeha Dhillon among women and Pawan Kumar of the CISF among men were adjudged the best shooters in the 24th Northern India Shooting meet which concluded last evening at Patiali Rao ranges, Sector 25. The CISF bagged the overall team championship.

ADMINISTRATION

Service lanes: MCC ignores realities
NOTWITHSTANDING the ground realities, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation takes decisions which are not possible to be implemented.

RBI order on soiled notes
CHANDIGARH, Dec 31 — The RBI has authorised all the branches of the public sector banks as also certain private sector banks maintaining currency chests to accept and exchange all types of soiled and mutiliated notes, particularly of the denominations of Re 1, Rs 2 and Rs 5, which are payable under the Reserve Bank of India (Note Refund) Rules.