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Post offices to accept power bills
Chandigarh, January 5
City residents can heave a sigh of relief. Now, they will not have to stand in queues to pay their water and power bills. The bills will be accepted at all 40 post offices in the city. The Chandigarh Administration and the Department of Post are working out the final modalities before making a formal announcement in this regard.

Kalam leaves by special saloon
Chandigarh, January 5
Amid unprecedented security cover, the plush presidential saloon with Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam pulled off from the railway station here late this evening. The President, who was here on a short visit, travelled back to Delhi by the special train.

The President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, waves as he boards the presidential saloon for Delhi at the Chandigarh railway station on Monday night. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

• Kalam calls on scientists to achieve mission 2020

• Kalam urges kids to identify “impossible missions”

• Sidelights of President’s visit

Expert cautions on promotion of biotechnology
Chandigarh, January 5
While the UT Administration is making attempts to attract investors in the bio-technology sector, Dr Krishna R. Dronamraju, Adviser to the US Secretary of Agriculture and President of the Foundation for Genetic Research, has warned against the indiscriminate promotion of bio-technology in the region.

Curiosity core quality of scientist, says Nobel laureate
Mohali, January 5
‘‘Scientists are like young children who always want to know how things work.’’ This is how simply, Dr Hartmut Michel, German biochemist and Nobel laureate, described the core quality of a scientist. Dr Michel along with Johann Deisenhofer and Robert Huber received the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1988 for their determination of the structure of certain proteins that are essential for photosynthesis.

• New biology section meeting held

• India needs to build on innovative skill base

• Economic Adviser bullish on growth rate

• A winner of 63 awards

• Women scientists to present papers

• Hand-held digital microscope attracts crowds

NRI woman alleges ill-treatment by cops
Chandigarh, January 5
A 71-year-old NRI woman today accused officials of the Sector 34 police station of assaulting her and misbehaving with her at the behest of her brother-in-law, with whom she has a dispute over a piece of land at Rampur, Uttar Pradesh.

Couple’s arrest sought for victimising boy

Dera Bassi, January 5 Members of the Nepali Jan Adhikar Suraksha Samiti, Patiala, today demanded the arrest of the couple from whose clutches a 10-year-old Nepalese boy, Lura, was rescued on Saturday night. Members of the Nepali Jan Adhikar Suraksha Samiti, Patiala, gather in front of the DSP’s office in Mubarikpur on Monday, demanding the arrest of Rakesh Kharbanda, from whom Lura, a 10-year-old Nepalese boy, was rescued on Saturday night. — Tribune photo by Malkiat Singh.

COMMUNITY

Gurpurb celebrated with fervour

Chandigarh, January 5 City residents thronged gurdwaras, decked up with colourful blinking lights, for celebrating Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary with enthusiasm and religious fervour. Community kitchens, poetry recital contest and shabad singing competitions were organised all over the city and the adjoining areas. Tea was also offered to devotees visiting the gurdwaras. Sweets too were distributed among children, particularly the ones residing in the slums and colonies spread throughout the city. Langar being served to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh at Sector 30 gurdwara in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Road safety week fails to keep date
Panchkula, January 5
Even as the 15th Road Safety Week kicked off in the country, the city failed to keep date with the celebrations. Sources said because of holiday on account of Gurpurb, a formal ceremony to launch the week could not be held. In fact, the roads in the city wore a deserted look with hardly a policeman guiding traffic or checking documents of the vehicles.

Imparting road sense through songs

Chandigarh, January 5 The Chandigarh traffic police today used popular songs to educate people about road safety. Traffic police personnel presented choreographed sequences on stage today in connection with the road safety week in the city. The show was presented by the Chandigarh Police Cultural Club at the Sector 17 piazza. Road Safety week being observed by the Chandigarh traffic police at Sector 17 in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Fauji Beat
Make NCC a feeder force for Army

THE feeling in certain quarters that a movie like ‘LOC’ can lure the youth to opt for the armed forces is not correct. No doubt, this movie has brought the Army life closer to the public as never before on the screen. But to think that ‘LOC’ will go to make the Army attractive as a career is not correct. Chandigarh Administrator Justice O.P. Verma inspecting a guard of honour presented to him by the NCC cadets at DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh.

Bravery awards to be conferred on Jan 7
Chandigarh, January 5
The 12th Red and White Bravery Awards to winners from Punjab and Haryana will be presented on January 7 here. The awards are in categories of physical bravery and social acts of courage.

READERS WRITE
Don’t let the erring Principal go scotfree
This refers to the news report “Slapping incident: Principal goes on indefinite leave” (Chandigarh Tribune, December 11). I have been keeping a track of the incident in which Parul Sharma, a class X student, was slapped by Mr Subhash Aggarwal, Principal of Government Model High School, Sector 28. I would say that Mr Aggarwal has humiliated the entire teaching community. It’s good that Mr Aggarwal has proceeded on leave. But this does not mean that he should go scotfree.

• Woman dies of cold

• Judge bereaved

• A.R. Talwar bereaved

• Animals for adoption

CRIME

Banned injections seized
Chandigarh, January 5
A huge stock of banned Oxytocin injections worth Rs 55,000 were seized from two licenced shops — Tejinder Medicare Centre and M/s Vicky Medical Hall, located in dairy complex, Ludhiana, and M/s Passi Medical agencies, located at Pindi Street, Ludhiana — during joint raids conducted by officials of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, yesterday.

Two killed in mishaps
Chandigarh, January 5
Two persons were killed in road accidents on the first day of the Road Safety Week being observed by the Chandigarh Traffic Police. A 35-year-old daily-wager and resident of Pipliwala town, Mani Majra, Ramesh Singla, was killed when his bicycle was hit by a tractor being driven by a migrant labour, Raju, near Modern Housing Complex, here this afternoon. Raju, employed at a sweet shop in Mani Majra, ran away after abandoning the vehicle.

BUSINESS

Cable charges up in Panchkula

EDUCATION

Hamara School
Blend of traditional and modern learning
The defining features of Ananda International School are an amalgamation of the gurukul system of learning and an exposure to the latest in the field of education and information technology.

COURTS

Swearing-in of High Court Judges tomorrow
Chandigarh, January 5
Haryana's Advocate-General Surya Kant Sharma and two members of the Bar — Mr Rajiv Bhalla and Mr Ajay Kumar Mittal — are likely to be administered oath as the Punjab and Haryana High Court Judges on January 7.

LIFESTYLE

Riding tall to scale new heights
His visiting card takes you by surprise. Just above “Rajiv Kumar” printed in bold red letters is written in italics, “Limca Book of Records holder”. Right below the name is written, “scaling new heights with different theme”. On the extreme right is printed a photograph of a bicycle with a raised seat and handle.

Friends celebrate Gurdas Mann’s birthday

Having reigned as king over an entire genre of punjabi music, Gurdas Mann who turned 52 yesterday, continues to woo his audience with a style that remains inimitable and a personality that never fails to evoke wonderment. In the town today to inaugurate a showroom of his friend, Gurdas Mann spoke to mediapersons. ‘‘When I started singing, I could not speak from stage. I used to be so scared. Tum Jiyo Hazaron Saal: Fans and friends celebrate Gurdas Mann’s birthday (January 4) at Mohali on Monday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Stiff competition among car firms makes consumer the King
December 2003, saw an unprecedented hike in the sale of small and mid-size cars, thanks to the hefty discounts offered by both car manufacturers and local dealers. Hyundai, Maruti, Fiat, Ford and Tata — major players in the car market — went running to the banks to have a tie-up with them.

Planet M has new address PLANET M, the music store, has shifted to Fun Republic in Manimajra. The store, has a shopping area of over 1900 sq ft. and one can browse through over 3000 music titles and 1500 CD-ROM/ VCD/ DVD titles on display. It now has three listening posts with nine CDs and 12 TV sets music.  Planet M opens outlet at Fun Republic in Manimajra on Monday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

It’s my life
Life is like Alladin’s lamp
Coming from a defence background, moving from place to place, imbibing the richness of the highlands and plains of India has been the impelling force behind taking fashion designing as a course of study. Studying from various contents around India and graduating from NIFT, Delhi, helped immensely in nourishing this interest. Now, member of the fashion design faculty with the NIFD, I enjoy molding young creative minds.

HEALTH

Holiday at PGI leaves patients high and dry

Chandigarh, January 5 “Why are the doctors not coming today? I have come here from Ramgarh by taking a bus at 5.30 am to undergo a medical test,” said Sumna, a 40-year-old woman. She came without having breakfast, not knowing that the PGI was closed today on account of Gurpurb. Patients wait at the reception counter of the PGI in Chandigarh, unaware that the institute has declared a holiday on Monday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

10,000 kids given polio drops Chandigarh, January 5 Pulse polio immunisation teams intensively carried out house-to-house search for children who were not immunised on day two of the immunisation programme. The team scrutinised the high-risk areas of the city by going from door to door. Health officials carry out house-to-house campaign in Chandigarh on Monday.

50 donate blood

SPORTS

Tennis meet begins today
Chandigarh, January 5
More than 150 entries have been received for the Total Tennis Championship to be held at the Total Tennis Academy’s YMCA, Sector 11, from January 6 to 11. According to Mr Devender Kapoor, the academy has planned to have all matches after school hours. 

Best all-rounder trophy for Komal Preet
Chandigarh, January 5
Komal Preet, a student of Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, won the Best All-Rounder Trophy in the 49th National School Games organised by the Department of School Education, Madhya Pradesh at Bhopal from December 24 to December 31.

ADMINISTRATION

Chandigarh Club told to remove encroachments
Chandigarh, January 5
The Chandigarh Administration today asked the Chandigarh Club to remove encroachments and also demolish its kitchen block, which has been built outside the permitted zoning area of the club.