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2 PEC ex-students among Civil Services toppers

Chandigarh, May 7 Two former students of Punjab Engineering College, Arshdeep Singh Thind and Shurbir Singh, came out with flying colours in the Civil Services examination, securing the third and fourth places, respectively. The result of the examination was declared by the UPSC in Delhi today.

Arshdeep Singh Thind (left) and Shurbir Singh, who have stood third and fourth, respectively, in the Civil Services exam

Two teachers escape unhurt in pileup
Chandigarh, May 7
Two schoolteachers had a providential escape when their cars collided with a Haryana Roadways bus in front of the GMCH, Sector 32, on Dakshin Marg here today. 

The vehicles that were involved in a pileup on Dakshin Marg, near Sector 32, Chandigarh, on Friday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Flesh trade racket busted, 7 arrested
Panchkula, May 7
The Panchkula police today claimed to have unearthed a flesh trade racket with the arrest of seven persons, including three girls. All accused were arrested after the police received secret information about the racket operating in Chandi Mandir area.

Chief Engineer’s reply sought on opening of tenders
Chandigarh, May 7
The Returning Officer (RO) of the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency, Mr Arun Kumar, today asked the Chief Engineer, Chandigarh Housing Board, to reply by tomorrow morning as to how the board opened tenders to allot work worth Rs 5 crore last evening.

India faces threat from US influence: Sunil Dutt
Chandigarh, May 7
India faces a grave threat from the American influence over its society. The BJP is committing the same mistake which Indian rulers made while dealing with the British before the country was annexed. This was stated by Sunil Dutt, a senior Congressman and a veteran actor, in an exclusive interview with Chandigarh Tribune late last night. He was on his way to Hotel Mountview to take a rest after a day of election rallies.

First Vote
Voting for the first time is exciting
I AM excited to vote for the first time like other youths of our country. Though it is quite difficult to find Mr Clean among the present politicians, since it is my right, I shall vote for the man who has a sense of responsibility for the youngsters.

ELECTIONS 2004

Proof of identity must for voters, says Election Dept
Chandigarh, May 7
The Election Department today reminded the Chandigarh voters that those who did not have voter cards would have to bring alternative documents to prove their identity.

• Presiding officers take part in rehearsal

SAD is with BJP: Bhaur
Riar to face action for siding with INLD candidate
Chandigarh, May 7
"The Shiromani Akali Dal is with the Bharatiya Janata Party. I am here on the command of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, party president, to confirm the party’s alliance with the BJP”, said Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, general Secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, while addressing a press conference here today.

BJP candidate Satya Pal Jain (extreme right) welcomes SGPC general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur at a press conference in Chandigah on Friday. —  A Tribune photograph

Jain’s motorcade goes around city
Chandigarh, May 7
A car rally was the highlight of the campaign of Mr Satya Pal Jain, BJP candidate for the forthcoming parliamentary elections, here today.

Manmohan defends ticket to Sajjan, Tytler
Chandigarh, May 7
Senior Congress leader Manmohan Singh said today that Mrs Sonia Gandhi was competent to lead the country and should be the next Prime Minister if the Congress-led alliance got a majority in the Lok Sabha.

Badal has developed ‘Cong phobia’, says CM
Sanaur (Patiala), May 7
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today stated that if the repeated complaints filed by SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal to the National Human Rights Commission and the Election Commission were any indication, then the former CM had not only lost his balance but also developed a “Congress phobia” ahead of the parliamentary elections.

Congress rally disrupts traffic
Dera Bassi, May 7
Vehicular traffic on the busy Kalka-Ambala highway moved at a snail’s pace because of a rally by the Congress here this morning. Congress supporters in over 250 vehicles, including jeeps, cars, motor cycles and scooters, carrying flags and banners, took out a rally in support of Ms Preneet Kaur, Congress candidate from the Patiala parliamentary constituency.

Bar Association pledges support to Preneet
Patiala, May 7
The campaign of Congress nominee from Patiala constituency Preneet Kaur got a boost today when the local unit of the Bar Association extended its support to her in the parliamentary elections.

Employees worst hit by government policies, says Bansal
Chandigarh, May 7
“Government employees are the worst sufferers among those affected by the lopsided economic policies of the BJP,” said Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, Congress candidate for the forthcoming parliamentary elections, while addressing employees of Panjab University here today.

Admn puts curbs on movement of vehicles
Panchkula, May 7
For the smooth conduct of polling for the Ambala parliamentary seat on May 10, the district administration today put certain restrictions on the movement of vehicles.

Libra intensifies poll campaign
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 7
The election campaign of Mr Sukhdev Singh Libra, SAD candidate for the Ropar (reserved) constituency has intensified as various top leaders of the SAD, BJP and SGPC addressed several corner meetings, rallies and conferences in Sirhind and Amloh Assembly constituencies falling in the Ropar parliamentary constituency.

Campaign gains momentum
Panchkula, May 7
The election campaign in the Ambala parliamentary constituency today gained momentum with the Congress and INLD campaiging at a number of places in and around the township.

Mahima sings Dhawan’s ‘mahima’
Chandigarh, May 7
Actress Mahima Chaudhary was a big crowd puller at different rallies in favour of Mr Harmohan Dhawan, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) candidate in the coming parliamentary elections, here today.

Independent plans to work for city’s progress
Chandigarh, May 7
Mr Arvind Jain, a representative of the local traders contesting the forthcoming parliamentary elections, today said the city had a great potential in itself and did not require officials not belonging to the city for managing its affairs.

Residents plan holidays as poll din ends today
Chandigarh, May 7
For three days starting tomorrow the lifestyle of city residents will change. At 5 pm the din of electioneering will die down. Liquor vends will be closed till 5 pm on May 10. Clubs will have little activity as they will also not serve liquor. The only gainer will be holiday destinations in the nearby Shivaliks or cinema houses.

COMMUNITY

Punwire union ends fast
Mohali, May 7
The Punwire Employees Union ended the relay fast by its members on the 992nd day here today on an assurance by the Punjab Deputy Speaker, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, that the industrial unit was likely to be made functional in about a year. The Deputy Speaker offered juice to five members of the union — Ms Asha Puran, Mr Dhani Ram, Mr Chander Shekhar, Mr Sajjan Singh and Mr Gurnam Singh — who were on the relay fast.

Fake kills: Major who blew whistle gets show cause
Chandigarh, May 7
Just 24 hours after reports appeared in the media about alleged wrongdoings by a section of the Indian Army, which is based in Leh, the Commander of N-Area has issued show cause notice to the Major who blew the whistle on the fake-deaths-for-citation scam.

3 hurt in roof collapse
Chandigarh, May 7
Three persons received minor injuries when a part of a building under renovation collapsed in Daddu Majra Colony.

Mother’s Day celebrated
Panchkula, May 7
Mother’s Day was celebrated at the junior wing of Satluj Public School, Sector 2, here. Fifty mothers took part in the quiz competition and one-minute games organised on the occasion. Mrs Palwinder Kaur Bains, Dr Anureet Sandhu, Dr Shradha Mehrotra, Dr Sudha Sharma, Mrs Mona Puri, Mrs Mona Verma and Mrs Namrata Jajoo won prizes in the competitions.

CRIME

Cancer patient ends life
Chandigarh, May 7 A 40-year-old cancer patient committed suicide by hanging himself from the hook of a ceiling fan at his house in Sector 21 here today. He leaves behind two children and wife.

EDUCATION

Govt college gets Grade A from NAAC
Chandigarh, May 7
The Government College of Education, Sector 20-D, has been awarded Grade A by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council for the impact made by the institution in academics.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Law institute: land allotment record sought
Chandigarh, May 7
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the Chandigarh Administration to inform the court as to how many religious/ cultural/ social/ educational organisations had been allotted land in the city in the past five years for running schools/institutes.

Bail plea of immigration racket accused dismissed
Panchkula, May 7
Even as a local court today dismissed the bail application of Rohit Sikka, Director of Global Infolinks and an accused in the immigration racket, more complaints have started pouring in against him.

CULTURE

Glamour girl ‘not cut out for politics’
Chandigarh, May 6
It’s raining stars in the city. The rising mercury notwithstanding, the frenzy of the elections has once again brought a flurry of stars to the City Beautiful. If it was actor- director- turned- politician Sunil Dutt and Bollywood baddie Mukesh Rishi to give a boost to the Congress candidate Pawan Bansal’s campaign yesterday, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) candidate, Mr Harmohan Dhawan, had glamour girl Mahima Chaudhary as the star attraction of his election campaign today, and is hoping for Jaggu Dada aka Jackie Shroff for his campaigning tomorrow.

SPORTS

4-day soccer meet begins
Chandigarh, May 7
Saupin’s School, Sector 32, and hosts Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, played tough ties against their respective opponents, St Peter’s School, Sector 37, Chandigarh, and Shishu Niketan Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, on the opening day of the Shivalik Trophy (under-12), matches at the grounds of Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, here today. The four-day meet is being sponsored by Shivalik Public School under the aegis of the Chandigarh Football Association.

ADMINISTRATION

Inside Babudom
Promotions only after elections
Chandigarh, May 7
Many senior Indian Revenue Service officers are waiting for the election process to end so that they can get their promotions and subsequent postings. At least three officers posted in the Chandigarh Commissionerate are due for promotion as Commissioner. Sources say all formalities, including a Departmental Promotion Committee meeting, had been completed. Before the promotions could be notified came the announcement on February 29 for holding elections to the 14th Lok Sabha. Officers due for elevation are Mr S.J. Singh, Mr Gurbans Singh and Mr Charanjit Singh.