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TOP STORIES

Robbers club father, son to death
Role of kale kachchewale gang suspected

Banur, July 24 A 65-year-old farmer and his 30-year-old son were killed and four of his family members, including a 10-year old girl, were seriously injured when robbers struck at their isolated house on the outskirts of the township in the early hours today.

Eleven-year-old Puneet Kaur shows blood marks where she and her grandmother were beaten up by robbers at Banur in Patiala district on Thursday. — Photo Pankaj Sharma

Police caught napping as robberies increase
Panchkula, July 24
The spate of robberies in the district over the past two days has caught the district police unawares. This has also exposed the tall claims made by the police regarding improving its patrolling, especially the night vigil.

Varsity Fellow’s move against eligibility norm
Chandigarh, July 24
Varying eligibility conditions of Panjab University as compared to the neighbouring universities and school boards for students failing to clear their Class XII examination has been highlighted as an unnecessary hurdle for students by a Fellow of the university Senate.

Mohali hospital limps as staff on deputation go
SAS Nagar, July 24
Work at the Civil Hospital in the town here has been hit as the staff on deputation have been sent back to their original places of posting.

UT may not roll back fee hike
Chandigarh, July 24
The UT Administration is unlikely to follow Punjab in rolling back the recent hike in admission and tuition fees in colleges in the city. The steep hike in Punjab and its rather tame withdrawal by the state government has created a piquant situation for the UT Administration.

Housing board’s flats to cost less in city
Chandigarh, July 24
In future flats built by the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) will cost less than their present rate. The allotment policy under which land is allotted to the CHB will be changed so that prices of houses constructed by the board do not go beyond the reach of middle class

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COMMUNITY

Pangolin strays into Sector 21 house

Panchkula, July 24 A pangolin — scaly anteater — strayed into the house of Mr R.K. Saini in Sector 21 from the Morni forest area late last night. The animal, after being held captive by the occupants for over 12 hours, was finally captured by officials of the Wildlife Department this morning. A pangolin that strayed into a Sector 21 house in Panchkula on Wednesday night. It was handed over to officials of the Wildlife Department on Thursday morning. — Photo Parvesh Chauhan

He needs 3.50 lakh to save his mother
Chandigarh, July 24
Barely out of the college, he has been burdened with not just the responsibility of running the home but also to raise about Rs 3.50 lakh to save the life of his ailing mother, the only other member in the family.

Mayors’ conference to discuss term extension
Chandigarh, July 24
The extension of terms of the Mayors of Chandigarh, Delhi and Karnataka from one year to five years has been included in the agenda of the two-day South Asia Mayors’ Conference opening in Indore on July 26.

MC to seek powers for its architect
Chandigarh, July 24
The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh, which has been facing delay in the clearance of its certain projects is considering to take up with the Administration the transfer of powers of clearance of its projects to an architect appointed by the municipal body.

CTCC adopts Shimla Sankalp
Chandigarh, July 24
The Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC) yesterday adopted the “Shimla Sankalp” at a special meeting and vowed to take the speech of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, to each party worker.

Mohali circle to get at least 8-hour power supply
SAS Nagar, July 24
The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has promised that villages in SAS Nagar circle will get at least eight hours of uninterrupted power supply.

Uppal heads Lions Club
Chandigarh, July 24
Mr Arul Uppal has been elected president of the Lions Club, Chandigarh Greater, for 2003. Giving details of the charity work being undertaken by the club, Mr Uppal said that a permanent dispensary, a sewing school at Karsan and a computer centre at VTC in Sector 30, is being run for the handicapped children.

ADGP told to probe robbery
Chandigarh, July 24
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has directed the Additional Director-General Police (ADGP) to conduct an inquiry into the dacoity that took place in the ashram of Babu Asha Ram in Seonk village, Kharar, by an officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police.

CRIME

Brothers lose Rs 11,000
Chandigarh, July 24
Two Panchkula-based brothers lost Rs 11,000 and some documents today when they got out of their car to pick up a few Rs 10 notes lying scattered on the road.

14-yr-old dies in freak incident
Chandigarh, July 24
In a freak accident, a 14 -year-old Raj Kumar of Mauli Jagran was strangulated to death after his tie got entangled in a desert cooler. He died at the PGI today.

Car hits labourers, 9 hurt Dera Bassi, July 24 Nine persons, including women and children, were injured when they were hit by a car near Gholu Majra village on the Chandigarh-Ambala road here this afternoon. The car that ran over nine labourers, injuring them, near Dapper, on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway on Thursday.  — A Tribune photograph

EDUCATION

Deaf and dumb students get new premises

Chandigarh, July 24 Today was a special day for deaf and dumb students of Chandigarh and surrounding areas. The first lady of Punjab, Mrs Shobha Verma, today inaugurated the new premises of Vatika School for Deaf and Dumb in Sector 19. Ms Shobha Verma, wife of the UT Administrator, Justice O.P. Verma, shares some happy moments with children of Deaf and Dumb Vatika School, Sector 19, at the inaugural function of the school premises in Chandigarh on Thursday. Photo: Manoj Mahajan

Govt school where taps remain dry
Chandigarh, July 24
If you are studying in Government High School, Colony No. 4, situated in the heart of Industrial Area here remember to carry water bottles. No, there are no rules making water bottles mandatory for students. The reason is not hard to see. The taps go dry at 9 am as soon as the morning supply is over. The school, catering to the academic needs of three batches, continues till 5 pm.

Reviving interest in regional languages
Chandigarh, July 24
For some time now, the Kendriya Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, has been engaged in the revival of interest in Indian language publications. Faced with the challenge of making languages attractive, the Akademi has redefined its schemes and is publishing works in 22 Indian languages.

Saplings planted at GMSSS-19 Chandigarh, July 24 A sapling plantation function by the NSS volunteers of the school, the Parent-Teacher Association and the Eco-Club of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, was organised here today. A sapling being planted at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, in Chandigarh on Thursday.

SCHOOL WORLD: HISTORY
Huen Tsang comes to In-tu
The search for knowledge, looking for an appropriate teacher who can guide an ardent student through the mysteries of life was once a very serious affair. Very different from the procedure nowadays when the search is only for a school with a brand-name and the aim is to finish the syllabus prescribed by the government in order to procure a piece of paper saying that the student has passed an examination.

CULTURE

Graduating from television to films Chandigarh, July 24 Susheel Parashar keeps coming to the city where he has his roots. And every time he comes, he has many fresh concepts to talk about and many fresh contributions to highlight. The man who has played many a character role in prime time Zee, Sony and other channel serials, Susheel can currently be seen in the best Zee soap — Astitva — where he plays the father of the male lead, Abhimanyu. In love with strong roles, which he often plays, Parashar is now diversifying into other roles and other channels. Susheel Parashar

Sahit Sabha fellowship for Tera Singh Chan
Chandigarh, July 24
Honouring Tera Singh Chan is like honouring the spirit of the Punjabi literature itself. So when the Delhi Sahit Sabha today conferred its lifetime fellowship on this great Punjabi writer, the entire fraternity of Punjabi writers was present at Punjab Kala Bhavan in Sector 16 to celebrate his achievement. The fellowship carries a monthly honorarium of Rs 2,500, a memento and a shawl.

‘Anjuman-2003’ a feast for dance lovers

Chandigarh, July 24 “Anjuman-2003”, a programme of light classical and regional folk dances, showcased budding talent at Tagore Theatre in Sector 18 today. The programme was organised by Shri Sai Arts in association with the Department of Cultural Affairs, Haryana, and Department of Public Relations and Cultural Affairs, Chandigarh Administration, as part of its silver jubilee celebrations. A “Taandav Nritya” being presented by a group of dancers during “Anjuman-2003” at Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh on Thursday. A Tribune photograph

New Release
Six bone-chilling stories in one
THE most versatile among contemporary filmmakers, Ramgopal Varma has introduced a variety of cinematic genres. He comes up with offbeat films unfamiliar to Hindi cinema. After directing “Company”, “Bhoot” and producing “Road”, Ramgopal Varma this time around has turned his attention to the horror zone as a producer. “Darna Mana Hai” opens today at Jagat, Chandigarh, and Suraj, Panchkula.

SPORTS

Azad: don’t convert playground into bus stand
Chandigarh, July 24
Pained at the proposal to convert the playground into a bus stand at Patiala, Dronacharya awardee Desh Prem Azad has appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to let it remain a play field in the interest of sports.

Athletics trials on Aug 2
Chandigarh, July 24
Trials for selecting Chandigarh junior athletics team will be held on August 2 at 11 am in Sector 46 Sports Complex by the Amateur Athletics Association of Chandigarh. The team will participate in two-day North Zone Junior Athletics Championship to be held at Delhi from August 18.

ADMINISTRATION

Expansion of Industrial Area soon
Chandigarh, July 24
The Estate Office has recently taken possession of 153 acres in the Mauli Jagran and Raipur Kalan areas for the expansion of the Industrial Area. Development work for providing basic infrastructural facilities like power, roads, sewerage, water would be undertaken before inviting the entrepreneurs for setting up their industries in the area.

42 commercial sites fetch 14 cr for HUDA 
Panchkula, July 24
The successful auction of more than 40 commercial sites by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) in different parts of the township brought some cheer to the authorities. With its two earlier auctions of commercial sites here failing to get a positive response, things could not have been better for HUDA.

Ranbaxy fire: good Samaritans to be honoured
SAS Nagar, July 24
The SAS Nagar Administration has decided to honour those who helped save lives during the Ranbaxy fire here on June 11.

DM’s order on domestic servants
Chandigarh, July 24
The orders banning the carrying of licensed firearms in public places has been extended following an order of the District Magistrate, Mr Arun Kumar. The orders which were implemented on July 22 will remain in force till September 19, say some members of the public have been seen moving around with small weapons tucked under their waist belt for show off.