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TOP STORIES

Cops create own infrastructure!
Use impounded vehicles, inmates’ belongings for work
Dera Bassi, December 21
The Punjab Police post catering to the law and order needs of people in Zirakpur and the surrounding areas is in a disorder. Without the requisite infrastucture, the 47 personnel posted here rely on personal belongings of those in the lock-up and impounded vehicles to perform duties as they only have a jeep and a motor cycle to man the area.

The Lohgarh police post in Zirakpur that has been functioning with inadequate staff and infrastructure. — A Tribune photograph

Admin removes illegal water connections

Leaves slums untouched Chandigarh, December 21 Several residents living outside the lal dora of UT villages are living without water since yesterday. They had illegal water connections and these have been disconnected. Water is supplied free of cost in slum colonies like this one in Sector 25, Chandigarh, even as illegal water connections in houses outside the lal dora have been disconnected. — A Tribune photograph

Revenue stamps ‘out of stock’
Chandigarh, December 21
Thousands of people in the city are being put to inconvenience everyday as revenue stamps, which are mandatory to claim any re-imbursement or payment from government and private institutions are “out of stock”

Tehelka court martial: evidence concludes
Defence drops second witness
Chandigarh, December 21
With the defence opting to drop its second witness, evidence has been concluded in the general court martial trying Col Anil Sahgal at Chandimandir on charges of professional impropriety in the Tehelka case.

90 pc increase in service tax collection
Chandigarh, December 21
There has been over 90 per cent increase in the service tax collection in 2003-04 as compared to the previous year, said Mr Balbir Singh, Tax Consultant while speaking at a workshop organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today.

• 22-year-old woman ends life

COMMUNITY

Encroachments in Sector 25 removed

Chandigarh, December 21 In a joint peaceful operation, the Chandigarh Administration and the Municipal Corporation, removed encroachments made by potters along the Sectors 24-25 dividing road in Kumhar Colony, Sector 25, here today. Potters carry their ware as the Municipal Corporation launches anti-encroachment drive at the dividing roads of Sectors 24 and 25, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

SC quota not applicable to restructuring scheme: CAT
Chandigarh, December 21 The policy of reservation in favour of members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes is not applicable to the restructuring scheme of the Indian Railways, the Chandigarh Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal has ruled.

SMS contests or nuisance? Decide
Chandigarh, December 21
Messages being sent by leading mobile companies like Airtel and Spice to lure subscribers to participate in various contests by promising attractive prizes have become a nuisance for subscribers.

Sorry, no office work, it’s Jor Mela
Mohali, December 21
Its holiday time in Mohali government offices. With a large part of the administration busy in official duties at the jor mela at Chamkaur Sahib, there is nothing much happening in local offices for the past three days.

Green Santas out to create awareness

Chandigarh, December 21 Greenpeace has kept its promise of talking purpose on every festive occasion. Come Christmas and the team of spirited youngsters are all over the city, trying to spread joy and environmental awareness on behalf of their organisation. Green Santas from Greenpeace during a campaign against genetically engineered crops at Sector 17 in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Pardeep Tewari

Employees stage protest Chandigarh, December 21 Members of the Coordination Committee of the Government and MC Employees and Workers staged a protest against the “indifferent” attitude of the Chandigarh Administration to wards their demands at Matka Chowk here today. Members of the Co-ordination Committee of the Government and Municipal Corporation Employees and Workers, Chandigarh, hold a protest at Matka Chowk on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Insurance staff observe strike Chandigarh, December 21 Employees and officers of the Public Sector General Insurance Companies observed a complete strike here today, to protest against “anti-employees and oppressive policies of the top management”. The office of the New India Insurance Company, Sector 17, Chandigarh, wears a deserted look on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Old woman dies on way to Kalka
Panchkula, December 21
Mystery shrouds the death of an 80-year-old woman at Dhaluwal village near Pinjore today. The woman died when she was being taken to the Kalka tehsil by her neighbour to get her old age pension.

BJP flays move on 3 villages
Chandigarh, December 21 The Bharatiya Janata Party today said the decision taken by the Chandigarh Administration for inclusion of three villages — Kajheri, Palsora and Hallo Majra — in the municipal limits was against the spirit of Panchayati Raj and also against the interests of these villages.

Howrah Express cancelled
Panchkula, December 21
The Howrah Express (Down 2312), scheduled to leave the Kalka station for Howrah at 11.45 pm tomorrow has been cancelled. The Station Superintendent, Kalka, Mr R.K. Dutta, said the train had been cancelled because of intensive fog in the plains and the cancellation of the Up 2311 train.

• Sale of non-ISI helmets banned
• Residents hold protest
• Nominations invited for award
• Streetlights not functioning
• Probe into villager’s complaint

CRIME

Cash stolen from office almirahs
Chandigarh, December 21
Mr Sudhir Kumar, assistant manager of Chambal Agro Tech in Sector 8, has filed a complaint with the police that Rs 67,173 was stolen from two almirahs in his office during the night of December 19.

BUSINESS

Bank to set up farmers’ training centre
Mohali, December 21
The Punjab National Bank has given advances worth Rs 2108 crore in the region as on half closing of September 2004. This was stated by Mr S.S. Arora, the Senior Regional Manager of the bank, during a press conference held here today. Mr Arora added that the region had achieved a deposit of Rs 1094 crore.

• Biz Clips

EDUCATION

Children from Blossoms School, Patiala, at The Tribune office in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Photo by Rajesh Sachar

CBSE may assign probe to independent agency
Chandigarh, December 21
With the Central Board of Secondary Education making little headway in pinpointing the main suspect(s) in the over-five-month-old case of tampering with an answer book in the answer book cell in its regional office here, the investigation of the case is likely to be handed over to an independent agency.

PU introduces commerce courses, modifies syllabi
Chandigarh, December 21
Courses were introduced and modifications in syllabi made during the business meetings of various faculties of the Panjab University Senate held here today to discuss the curriculum of various courses.

Girls dance at a Christmas party held at Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

PU Syndicate: cracks in Vaid group come to fore
Chandigarh, December 21
With elections to the Panjab University Syndicate over, dissensions within the Principal A.C. Vaid group, also seen as the pro-Vice-Chancellor group on the campus, came to the fore, each constituent group looking for a separate identity of its own.

Christmas celebrations at schools
Chandigarh, December 21
Students of Saffron City School celebrated Christmas on the school premises here today. The students presented a Nativity play, which depicted the birth of Jesus Christ. The students also sang carols.

Santa Claus shakes hand with a police man during a street play, “Aaya Shafi”, staged at the Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Mohali school celebrates X’mas
Mohali, December 21
The bells of Christmas rang in Gian Jyoti Public School, here today when the school organised a Christmas party. A Christmas tree adorned with gifts, glitters, buntings and mistletoe attracted the attention of everybody present.

NIIFT students show creativity
Mohali, December 21
Students of fashion design (first semester) made a final presentation of their work at the government-run Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology here today.

Govt Primary School to be shifted
Chandigarh, December 21
The UT Education Department has decided to shift in phases the students of Government Primary School, Sector 52, to the new building of the school which was inaugurated today.

COURTS

Beant case: complaint against warder
Chandigarh, December 21 The counsel for Navjot Singh, one of the accused in the assassination case of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, today sought action against an official of Burial Jail for “interfering” in the administration of justice in the case.