Defacement issue
No ban on banners: Bassi
CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — Ending the controversy over the defacement issue, the Chandigarh police today clarified that action would not be taken against shopkeepers hanging banners in front of their establishments.

13 persons died of AIDS last year
CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — Thirteen persons with full-blown AIDS died in the three city hospitals — PGI, GMCH, and General Hospital, Sector 16 — during 2000. Out of these, 11 were males and two females. In 1999, eight persons (six males and two females) had succumbed to the killer disease in the city hospitals.

Civil-military liaison must: Badal CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today emphasised the need of effective coordination and synergy between the Army, civil administration, paramilitary forces and police for combating internal and external threats and to ensure peace, security and wellbeing of the people. Four police Inspectors shifted CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — In yet another reshuffle, four Inspectors of the Chandigarh Police were today transferred within the city. The orders, passed by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr B.S. Bassi, came into effect today itself.

The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, interacts with the GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lieut-Gen Surjit Singh (extreme right), and the Chief of the Staff, Western Command, Lieut-Gen H.R.S. Mann, at the civil-military liaison conference in Chandi Mandir on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Follow up
Probe ordered into PUDA occupation certificates
SAS Nagar, Jan 18 — The Punjab Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Dr Upinderjit Kaur, today instituted an inquiry into issuing of occupation certificates to the houses under construction by the Estate Office of PUDA in Sector 71 of SAS Nagar.

Sudesh Kumari visits Sainik Bhavan
PANCHKULA, Jan 18 — The wife of the Haryana Governor, Ms Sudesh Kumari, visited the Sainik Bhavan and computer-cum-training centre being run at the premises in Sector 12 here today, to review facilities being extended to war widows and their children.

MC workers hold dharna
CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — Employees of the Municipal Corporation staged a dharna near the MC office here today on the call of the Joint Action Committee of Municipal Corporation Employees and Workers. The dharna was in protest against the alleged inaction of the MC over the long-pending demands of workers.

• Bhangra singer Mangal Singh to perform today
• ‘No move to hike passport fee’
  

Scooterist crushed to death
CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — A 45-year-old employee of the UT Electricity Department, Gulshan Kumar Chopra, was crushed to death this evening when the scooter he was riding was hit by a speeding truck outside Colony Number 5.

4 killed in road accident
KHARAR, Jan 18 — Four persons were killed in a road accident involving a Contessa car and a truck on the Kharar-Morinda road, near Khanpur village, last night. According to information received here, the car (CH-01P-7516) was coming from Morinda side, while the truck (HR 37A-0133) was going towards Morinda from Kharar side.

Duplicate mattresses seized, 2 held
CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — Two shopkeepers, accused of selling duplicate mattresses, were booked by the Chandigarh police under the Copy Right Act late this evening. The two — Ashok Kumar of Sector 39 and Naveen Aggarwal of Phase 4 in SAS Nagar — were booked on the complaint of Kurl-On Limited’s Area Sales Manager, Mr Sinish Pal Singh.

One held for stealing car
CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — In just over a week after a car was stolen from Sector 45, the Chandigarh police has reportedly caught the “thief” and recovered the “stolen” vehicle.

BUSINESS

ETDC organises customer meet
SAS NAGAR, Jan 18 — The ETDC (Mohali) under Government of India, Ministry of Information Technology, organised a Customer Meet today. On the occasion, representatives from prominent organisations like Semiconductor Complex Ltd, Purolator, Microtek International, JCT Ltd, Mahavir Spinning Mills Ltd, Cosmo Ferrites Ltd., Dabut India Ltd, Jai Parabolic Springs Ltd, Puncom Ltd, Unichem Lab Ltd, Amson Transformers, Hue and Colours (P) Ltd, Harvkas Electronics (P) Ltd, Fair Marks, Accutrol and executive member of Mohali Industry Association were present.

Parents against KG admission tests
CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — Kindergarten admissions have commenced in city schools. Parents are rushing to leading schools for their wards’ admissions, with each school having its own procedure for admission.

COURTS

HC notice for SAI regional director
CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a notice to the UT Administration, regional director, Sports Authority of India, Northern Centre, Sector 42, Dr P.C. Kashyap, and Mr Ajit Singh, Assistant Director-cum-Drawing and Disbursement Officer, SAI, for February 13, on a public interest litigation filed by a local advocate.

Rail passenger allowed damages
CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — The UT Consumers Disputes Redressal Forum has allowed the complaint of a city resident, Mr Nischal Gupta, and granted him a compensation of damages of worth Rs 11,000. Mr Gupta, had filed a complaint against the Station Superintendent, the General Manager of the Northern Railway and the Union of India through its Secretary, Ministry of Railways, for delay in train without any information.

Jail for rash driving
CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — The UT Judicial Magistrate today sentenced Rajinder Kumar to one year rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 500 in a rash and negligent driving case. It was alleged the accused, who was driving a bus had hit the scooter of Madan.

PGI staff challenge purchase of medicines
CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — The PGI Employees Union in a memorandum to the Director, Prof S.K. Sharma, has alleged irregularities in the purchase of medicines and surgical items for patients and staff by the Medical Superintendent office of the institute.

ADMINISTRATION

Mayor calls on Administrator
CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — Mayor Mr Raj Kumar Goyal alongwith the Senior Deputy Mayor, Mr Gurcharan Dass Kala, today met the Punjab Governor and the UT Administrator Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd.) and sought early solutions on some of the public problems.