Plaza mela gets poor response on opening day
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — The Plaza mela got off to a subdued start in Sector 17 Circus ground today evening when it was formally inaugurated by the Creator Director of Rock Garden, Mr Nek Chand. 

Martyrs’ kin honoured
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — As many as 14 war widows and next of kin of martyrs belonging to Chandigarh, Panchkula and Ropar were honoured at an investiture held in Chandimandir Cantonment near here today.

Weights & Measures Dept to launch special drive
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — The Weights and Measures Department, UT, shall launch a special drive during the current festival season to check the sale of underweight products, so that the customer is not cheated.

Problems galore in Sec 44
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — Despite tall claims by the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh(MCC) about the provision of civic amenities, the residents of Sector 44 are living with problems galore.

Festive spirit catches on with kids
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — Come festivals, and it is the children who are the happiest ones. For them it is sheer celebration with whatever means that are available to them.

Seminar on PPF scheme
PANCHKULA, Oct 20 — A seminar on Public Provident Fund Scheme for State Bank of India officers of Punjab, Himachal, Pradesh, Haryana , Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh was organised by the regional office of National Savings Organisation at SBI Staff Training Institute, Panchkula, here today.

4 patwaris suspended
SAS NAGAR, Oct 20 — At least four patwari of the Revenue Department of the SAS Nagar Subdivision have been suspended by the district administration for the alleged dereliction of duty in connection with the process of acquiring land for the Railways for lying the Chandigarh-Ludhiana railway line.

Additional sugar for ration card holders
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — Levy sugar for the month of October will be made available to the ration card holders, who are not income tax assessees, with effect from tomorrow.

One held on fraud charge
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — A Garshankar resident, accused of accepting money from city residents for giving them appointments after opening an office in Sector 26 grain market under the name of FCI, was arrested by the Chandigarh police today following a raid.

One booked for kidnapping
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — The police has registered a case of kidnapping against Paramjit Kumar, alias Babli, of Palsora village on the complaint of Chaman Lal. In his complaint, he alleged that his minor daughter was abducted by the accused.

• RI for SAS Nagar resident

Workshop of principals ends 
SAS NAGAR, Oct 20— A four-day workshop of principals of high-tech training institutes at the High-Tech Training Institute in Phase V ended today. 

COURTS

Three months’ RI in food adulteration case 
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20—The UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash, today sentenced a city resident to three months’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 300 in a food adulteration case.

Bhinder’s poll plea dismissed with costs
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed an election petition against the matinee idol and BJP MP from Gurdaspur, Mr Vinod Sharma, filed by the defeated Congress candidate, Mrs Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder.

HC orders Gurinder Kaur’s release
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Chandigarh police to release Ms Gurinder Kaur wife of Harbhajan Singh, who had escaped from the custody of the Khamano DSP, Mr Gurpreet Singh, in Fatehgarh district in Punjab, two weeks back.

• Bar body strike today

Cultural fest a big draw
SAS NAGAR, Oct 20—It was as if the entire India gathered under one roof for the Annual Inter-Regional Cultural Festivals and Handicrafts Exhibition at Dara Studio, here today. The cultural festival encompassing talent from the seven regions of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited swayed audience to the beats of colourful folk dances and classical music representing different states of the country.

MTV to hold ‘ga-ga contest’
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — A music channel cannot do without a VJ, as the VJ plays an important role in hooking people on to the screen. The music channels have to be provided with a human face to reach out to a maximum number of viewers.

HEALTH

A step forward in malaria research
SAS NAGAR, Oct 20 — Scientists at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research here have identified two new molecules which possess anti-malarial qualities.

170 ITBP men donate blood
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — As many as 170 personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police donated blood at the Basic Training Centre, Bhanu, near here today.

Office-bearers of volleyball association
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — Mr Som Prakash, an IAS officer of Punjab, and Mr B.L. Malhotra were elected as president and honorary secretary, respectively, of the Chandigarh Volleyball Association at its general house meeting held here today.

From shooting range to golf range
CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — India’s ace shooter Abhinav Bindra, who narrowly missed a medal in the recently concluded Sydney Olympics, was today made an honorary member of the Chandigarh Golf Range.

ADMINISTRATION

Illegal structures demolished 
KHARAR, Oct 20 — The local Municipal Committee, yesterday, came into action and demolished many structures constructed without getting the maps sanctioned from the committee.