Road repair leaves thousands stranded on Ambala highway

Zirakpur, November 24 The recarpeting of the Zirakpur-Lalru stretch of the busy Kalka-Ambala highway caused a major traffic jam on the Ghaggar river bridge for the second consecutive day today. Thousands of motorists had a tough time there. Long queues of vehicles caught in a traffic jam on the Ghaggar bridge at Bhankharpur village following the recarpeting of the Zirakpur-Lalru stretch of the Kalka-Ambala highway on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Widow ‘cheated’ by cop
Chandigarh, November 24
A Punjab Police cop allegedly cheated a widow by marrying her and feigning to help her in a court case about the salary claims of her husband in Patiala. He allegedly lied to her about the death of his first wife and “staged” the marriage apparently to usurp her money.

Land to be allotted for judicial academy
Chandigarh, November 24
The Chandigarh Administration will formally allot five acres to the Punjab Government for establishing a judicial academy for judges belonging to the superior judicial services.

First woman pilot refuses to return home Chandigarh, November 24 The “tortured” octogenarian first woman pilot of the country has refused to go back to her “fortified” house in Sector 3 despite her alleged tormentor and nephew being jailed. An unusual height of the wall towards service lane and an alleged illegal opening of Beant Kaur’s house in Sector 3 in Chandigarh. — A Tribune photograph

Law for HIV patients on the anvil
Chandigarh, November 24
Trying to make the basic right for non-discriminatory treatment a reality for more than 50 lakh HIV positive people in India, the Lawyers Collective, HIV\AIDS unit, Mumbai, has prepared a draft for the much needed HIV\ AIDS law for India.

Youth feared drowned in Sukhna
Chandigarh, November 24
A youth is suspected to have drowned in the Sukhna Lake this evening. Despite a two-hour-long exercise till late in the evening, his body has not yet found. The police has recovered a pink-coloured turban and a black-coloured patka which were found floating on the water, the police said.

• Woman jumps to death from PGI’s 5th floor
• 7 Inspectors transferred

COMMUNITY

Cheated Balongi residents approach SP
Mohali, November 24
Residents of Balongi village, who were defrauded by an agency which was giving lucrative offers, gathered in front of the office of the SP here today and demanded that their money should be refunded.

Mandi obstructing Mohali’s growth
Mohali, November 24
The decades old dana mandi of Sohana is now coming in the way of Mohali’s urban growth. The mandi spread over 4.5 acres, is an obstacle to one of the vital link roads planned for the township.

False affidavits: BJP seeks probe
Chandigarh, November 24
The president of the local unit of the BJP, Mr Yash Pal Mahajan, today demanded a CBI probe into the issue of submission of false affidavits by the Congress candidate of Ward No 11, Mr Harmohinder Singh Lucky.

Cong plays development card Chandigarh, November 24 The Minister for Animal Husbandry, Punjab, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, released the manifesto of the Congress party for Ward 11 of the Municipal Corporation, here today. Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, local MP, releases the party manifesto for the coming MC election. Party candidate Mr Harmohinder Singh Lucky and Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang are also seen in the picture in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Justice eludes emigration fraud victim
Mohali, November 24
As if her ordeal through Ethiopia and Sudan was not enough, Ranjit Kaur, a 31-year-old widow from Nawanshahr who was allegedly duped of lakhs of rupees by a Mohali resident has been running from pillar to post for the past three weeks to get justice.

Shooting incident: police yet to identify suspect
Mohali, November 24
The police is yet to identify the person who shot at 47-year-old Mewa Singh, a Punjab Roadways employee, at the Phase VIII bus stand on November 20. The victim, a resident of Dharamgarh village, was shot at twice and is admitted to the PGI.

Service tax: date for registration extended
Chandigarh, November 24
With a view to expanding the tax base, the Central Excise Commissionerate has extended the “extraordinary taxpayer friendly scheme” for the registration of the taxable service providers without any penalty till November 30.

A boy distributes langar at the Sector 19 gurdwara in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Unemployment allowance: date for filling forms extended
Panchkula, November 24
The state government has given extension for filling of forms for availing the unemployment allowance from November 23 to 28. The Deputy Commissioner, Ms Neelam P Kasni, said the decision to give extension had been taken for the benefit of the unemployed.

Donation sought for terminally-ill cancer patients
Chandigarh, November 24
The Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman of the UT Red Cross Society, Mr Arun Kumar, has made an appeal to the general public to give donations for the expansion of the hospice for terminally ill cancer patients at Sector 43 here.

Man with renal failure seeks help
Chandigarh, November 24
Hailing from a remote village in Jharkhand, Surjit Kumar Singh is battling for survival at the PGI for the past several months. Diagnosed with chronic renal failure, which has rendered both his kidneys non-functioning, Surjit (28) is relying on the kidney transplant as recommended by the doctors at the PGI.

Fellowship for 10 journalists
Chandigarh, November 24
The National Foundation for India has announced names of 10 journalists, who have been awarded the 10th national media fellowship—2004-05. Among the selected journalists is Mr Shiv Kumar, Special Correspondent, The Tribune at Mumbai.

Chhamb trekking expedition flagged off
Chandigarh, November 24
The Chhamb trekking expedition was flagged off from Chandimandir cantonment by Commander of an air defence brigade-cum-Station Commander of Chandimandir Military Station Brig Kuldip Singh.

Hair stylist’s name in Limca book Chandigarh, November 24 Chandigarh-based hair stylist Nadeem Ahmed, who is an expert in cutting hair with fire, blindfolded, with glass or with papercutter, entered his name in the Limca Book of Records recently. “Making a record was not easy for me. I worked hard to achieve this and I had to wait for a response from the Limca book team for at least 8 months. A file picture of Nadeem Ahmed ‘cutting’ hair with a candle.

Wife being harrased, alleges councillor
Panchkula, November 24
The former president of the Panchkula District Bar Association and Municipal Councillor, Mr R.S. Badhran, today approached the Deputy Commissioner and asked her to intervene in a case of injustice being meted out to his wife, a Manager in the HSIDC.

• Liquor vends closed in Sectors 20, 33 tomorrow
• Awareness camp at Mauli Jagran

CRIME

Miraculous escape for two as car turns turtle thrice
Panchkula, November 24
It was a miraculous escape for Anil and four-year-old Saksham, when they escaped with minor injuries after their car turned turtle thrice. The duo were driving down in Sector 5 in an Alto car (CH-03Q-3084), when a speeding Indica car (PB-11Q-1871) coming from the opposite side rammed into them.

One held on molestation charge, sent to judicial custody
Chandigarh, November 24
The police today arrested Irshad Mohammad of Ram Darbar who was allegedly involved in a bid to molest a girl of the same locality. He was arrested by the police working on secret information.

EDUCATION

From Schools Three-day cultural programme begins
Chandigarh, November 24 A three-day annual cultural programme of Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21, got off to a colourful start at Tagore Theatre today. Beginning with a prayer dance to the notes of “Ae Mere Bhagvan”, in praise of God for bestowing the gift of life, the programme saw tiny tots of nursery and kindergarten classes welcome the audience with “I am letter W and I have come to welcome you”.
Students of Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21, Chandigarh, perform at their annual function at Tagore Theatre in Sector 18 on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Kids present variety show Chandigarh, November 24 St Anne’s Convent School, Sector 32-D, Chandigarh, celebrated its annual function ‘‘Medley Marvel-2004’ on the school premises, here today. The students of the kindergarten section participated in a variety show. Students of St Anne’s Convent School, Sector 32-D, Chandigarh, perform during the annual function ‘‘Medley Marvel-2004’ on Wednesday.

Special children enjoy Bocee, a Chinese game recently introduced for special children all over the world, during the Special Olympics Chapter State Meet held at Sadhna Vocational Centre for the Mentally Handicapped, Manimajra, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma Students of C.L. DAV School wait for their turn to perform at their annual function on Wednesday. — Tribune photo Pradeep Tewari

Chain fast by UIET students enters 8th day
Chandigarh, November 24
The indefinite chain fast by students of the fifth semester of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Panjab University, on the campus, entered the eighth day today.

Roll numbers issued to candidates
Chandigarh, November 24
The Staff Selection Commission (North-West region) has issued roll numbers to all eligible candidates for recruitment of tax assistants (income tax and Central Excise) Exam, 2004, scheduled to be held on December 5.

Army School sports day function
Chandigarh, November 24
About 2000 students exhibited their immense enthusiasm during the 15th annual sports day function organised by Army School at Chandimandir. Chief of Staff, Head Quarters Western Command, Lt Gen P.K. Grover, gave away the prizes to the outstanding students.

College holds seminar
Mohali, November 24
The computer science and engineering department of Chandigarh Engineering College, at Landran has organised a seminar on linux and open source technologies in collaboration with Red Hat India and Techno School, Chandigarh.

COURTS

Rs 1.22 cr awarded at Lok Adalat
Chandigarh, November 24
The State Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh, organised a special Lok Adalat to settle the outstanding dues of ICICI Bank here today. As many as 58 of the 79 cases were settled at the adalat, which was presided over by Mr Sant Parkash, Member-Secretary of the authority.

Lawyers demand holiday on Gurpurab
Chandigarh, November 24
Resentment is brewing among members of the District Bar Association against the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court authorities not to declare a holiday on Gurpurab, the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev, on November 26.

LIFESTYLE

Carrying music across the seas It was a homecoming of sorts for Nishi, a city girl who had travelled across the seas to make a mark in music in Europe and beyond. She was in city to perform at a show. Now based in Greenford UK , she has been singing for a couple of decades in her country of adoption. Dr Skylark Ishwaran S. Chaddha and Nishi in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Khadi exhibition on till December 20 STATE office of the Khadi and Village Industries Board, Ministry of ARI (Government of India), organised its first zonal-level khadi gramudyog exhibition from November 20. It is being held at the Mela ground, Sector 34, Chandigarh and it will continue till December 20. Visitors at the khadi exhibition organised by the Khadi and Village Industry Board at the Sector 34 ground in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

HEALTH

Dual-protection condom programme launched
Chandigarh, November 24
To promote the use of condoms in sexually active population, the dual-protection condom programme was launched in the city by ICICI Bank, and the USAID (United States Agency for International development) in the city here today.

Bone dentiometry camp held
Chandigarh, November 24
The Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, organised a free bone dentiometry camp to detect osteoporosis today. Prof Raj Bahadur, head of department of the Orthopaedic surgery at GMCH said that the disease affects two out of three women and one out of eight men throughout the world.

PGI Director distributes blankets to needy Chandigarh, November 24 The PGI Director, Prof K. K. Talwar, distributed 200 blankets to poor and needy patients at the Lifeline Rotary Sarai in the PGI today. Prof K.K. Talwar, Director, PGI, distributes blankets at Lifeline Rotary Sarai on the PGI campus on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

SPORTS

2-day annual athletics meet begins Chandigarh, November 24 The two-day annual athletics meet of the Government College, Sector 1, Panchkula, began today. The meet was declared open by Mr Dilel Singh Chauhan, an Arjuna Awardee and Assistant Director, Sports, Kurukshetra University. A student throws shot put during the annual sports meet of Government College, Panchkula, on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph Teams for India-Spain hockey Tests declared Chandigarh, November 24 Indian hockey team will play two Test matches with Spain on November 28 and 30, at Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here. Spanish players will reach here on November 27 and after playing the two matches here, will move to Pakistan to participate in the Champions Trophy.

Promising archers Chandigarh, November 24 Three girls of the Government College for Girls, Sector 11, Chandigarh, Rimpy Gagan and Reena, have made their college proud by winning all-India inter-university archery title. Rimpy, Reena and Gagan of the Government College for Girls, Sector 11, Chandigarh, who won the all-India inter-university archery title. — A Tribune photograph

Vijay More wins 2 gold in weightlifting championship
Chandigarh, November 24
Vijay More of Army Green brought laurels by winning two gold medals in the below-85 kg section in clean and jerk and total weight section in the Inter-Services Weightlifting Championship being held at 3 BRD.

ADMINISTRATION

Patwari suspended on bribe charge
Mohali, November 24
The Ropar administration has suspended a patwari posted at the Kurhri patwar. The patwari allegedly accepted a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a resident of Siau village on November 17 to make entries into the mutation register.