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Robbers strike at Sector 44 oil station
Chandigarh police tightens security
Chandigarh, February 6
Three unidentified persons armed with a countrymade pistol and sword assaulted and robbed three salesmen of the Sector 44-D-based Shiv Filling Station (Indian Oil) of over Rs 4000 late last night.

Bypass to Pinjore, Kalka, Parwanoo soon
Panchkula, February 6
The Ministry for Road Transport and Highways proposes to delink the four-laning of the most congested stretch of the Zirakpur-Shimla National Highway between Zirakpur-Parwanoo from the National Highway Development Programme-Phase III.

45 per cent UT voters without I-cards
Chandigarh, February 6
At least 45 per cent voters in one of the most literate cities of the country are without identity cards. Official sources said till December 31, 2005, only 3,16,613 out of 5,63,610 voters had got their voter cards.

PU plans scholarships for college students
Chandigarh, February 6
Panjab University is all set to introduce scholarships for students studying in its various affiliated colleges. A recommendation to this effect was made by the standing committee on college development and would be considered for approval by the College Development Council, which is to hold its annual meeting here tomorrow.

CHANDIGARH CALLING THE local administration seems to be fighting a losing battle against the hydra of non- bio degradable waste, especially polybags. The use of polythene bags has been banned in the city but it seems that the ban is just on paper because poly bags are still being handed over to shoppers all over the city without any hesitation. Whether it is upmarket shopping areas or less glamorous ‘apni mandis’ the ban is being flouted with equal impunity.

COMMUNITY

Stalemate over new bus routes persists
CTU, Roadways meeting on Feb 9
Panchkula, February 6
The stalemate between Haryana Roadways and the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking over plying of 16 new buses to the township under the latter’s Grid System is likely to continue. The meeting between the two to sort out the issue scheduled for today was postponed.

“Deathtraps” at people’s doorstep

Chandigarh, February 6 Residents of the Modern Housing Complex, Mani Majra, and adjoining areas are virtually living on the edge of “deathtraps”. For the past over one week, the alleged careless digging by a private telecom provider to lay telephone cables has put the residents to inconvenience, besides endangering lives. A cyclist avoids a pit dug up by a private telecom company to lay cables in the Modern Housing Complex of Mani Majra on Monday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Poonam’s husband refutes charges
Chandigarh, February 6
The husband of Poonam, who died in a city hospital under mysterious circumstances on Saturday, refuted the allegations levelled by her family and said here today that the post-mortem reports would reveal the truth.

Records of property dealers examined
Mohali, February 6 The premises of at least two property dealers were checked by Income Tax officials here today. The surprise checking led to tension among other property dealers in the town. A few offices of property dealers were found locked. Surprise checks conducted by the office of Income Tax at an office of a property dealer in Phase-7, Mohali, on Monday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

Gandhi’s last words were ‘Ram Ram’: IPS officer
Chandigarh, February 6
Haryana IPS officer Rajbir Deswal, who worked at the Bureau of Police Research and Development, Government of India, has said Mahatma Gandhi died saying “Ram-Ram” and not “Hey-Ram” as is generally believed.

Army’s rank and file to undergo major overhaul
Chandigarh, February 6
The Army’s rank and file is in for a major restructure following a proposal to rationalise time-based promotions for personnel below officer rank. Shimla-based Army Training Command is carrying out an in-depth study on the subject.

Fauji Beat
Pay Commission’s raw deal to soldiers
The 6th Pay Commission for the Central Government employees is likely to be constituted in the near future. This will cover both the civilian employees and the soldiers, despite there being wide disparities between their terms and conditions of service.

Shopkeepers protest against corpn drive
Chandigarh, February 6
Shopkeepers of the Dadu Majra market today protested against the working of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh. They asked the corporation to clear the mud in the market that was affecting their business.

Meeting on taxi service today
Chandigarh, February 6
The Chandigarh Administration is likely to finalise tomorrow the details of the local taxi service to be introduced in the city shortly. A meeting of four applicants for the intended contractual service is scheduled with the senior officials of the Administration tomorrow.

Flights to city delayed
Chandigarh, February 6
Flights to the city were today delayed by about half an hour each. Officials at the city airport attributed the delay to “no particular reason.” The Jet Airways flight was late by about 20 minutes from its scheduled time of arrival of 1.40 pm, while the Air Deccan flight was half an hour late.

• Scare in Matour village over dog bite cases
• PSEB staff hold rally
• Bank strike on March 9

CRIME

Urchin makes away with purse
Chandigarh, February 6
A minor boy made away with a purse containing Rs 40,000 from a car parked in Sector 26 by distracting the attention of a woman sitting inside the car. Ms Geeta Sudha of Sector 35 lodged a complaint that an urchin, aged about 13, decamped with her purse containing Rs 40,000 and other articles.

Woman duped of mangalsutra
Chandigarh, February 6
Two youngsters today duped a woman of her mangalsutra at her residence in Khudda Lahora village here on the pretext of solving her domestic problems with ‘divine powers’.

BUSINESS

Indian stock market has come of age: experts
Chandigarh, February 6
As the sensex touched the five-digit mark today, the investment bankers, finacial analysts and investors in the tri-cities rejoiced the new high achieved in the history of the Indian economy.

Sahara to launch film channel
Chandigarh, February 6
Sahara One, Media and Entertainment Limited will launch its new channel ‘Filmy’ on February 12. ‘Filmy’ will telecast three movies per day and film-based programmes will be telecast for the rest of the telecast hours.

EDUCATION

CBSE amendments: rules for spot evaluation revised
Chandigarh, February 6
As per the amendments made by the Central Board of Secondary Education, the guidelines for spot evaluation have been revised. Also the compartment examination date has been advanced and it will be held in the third week of July each year instead of end of July and the same will be held on July 20, 2006.

“India needs more engineering graduates”

Chandigarh, February 6 The Vice-Chairman of the All-India Council of Technical Education, Dr R.A. Yadav, said here today that private engineering colleges were playing a significant role in providing technical education in the country and to cater to the needs of the job market. Delegates at a session on ‘Excellence in technical education: Issues and challenges with focus on quality and governance’ in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

India’s impact on life in West dwelt upon
Chandigarh, February 6
Prof R.C. Sharma, former Director-General, National Museum, New Delhi, and Honorary Director, Jnana Pravaha, Varanasi, delivered the Prof. Jagannath Agrawal Memorial Lecture on ‘Travel of India’s Wisdom to West-Pre-Christian Centuries’ here today.

Ikjot gets Best Graduate award at GMCH-32 convocation
Chandigarh, February 6
Mili Bhardwaj (1998-2003), Charanjeet Singh (1999-2004) and Ikjot kaur (2000-2005) walked away with the Best Graduate awards for their respective batches at the fifth annual convocation of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, here yesterday.

A puppet show in progress at Navodaya Vidyalaya in Sector 25, Chandigarh, on Monday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

Secy fails to take charge in education board
Mohali, February 6
A PCS officer who was selected for appointment as Secretary of the Punjab School Education Board here is yet to take charge even as the examinations are due to start all over the state in about three weeks’ time.

MC notice to schools in residential areas
Chandigarh, February 6
The Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, MCC, today asked parents not to admit their wards for the next academic session, beginning April in schools operating from residential buildings.

Workshop on personality development
Chandigarh, February 6
The fifth annual workshop on “Personality and soft skill development” for final year students of GGDSD College, Sector 32, commenced at the college premises today.

IT fiesta begins on colourful note
Chandigarh, February 6
IT Fiesta 2006 began on a colourful note at the Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, here today. Mr. Vivek Verma, Technical Director, NIC was the chief guest. He inaugurated the event by lighting a lamp.

Teachers resent Marriya’s remarks
Chandigarh, February 6
Members of the DAV College Teachers Union today demanded an apology from college principal S.C. Marriya for “leveling baseless allegations” against the permanent faculty of the colleges when he said at the PU senate meeting yesterday that teachers on contract “are performing better than permanent teachers”.

City gets taste of Jazz
Chandigarh, February 6
‘JAZZ CREATURE’, a musical concert was organised today at Ajit Karam Singh International Public School, Sector 41, by the Norwegian group `RIKSKONSERTENE’ as part of the three-year co-operative programme project with SPICMACAY Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture among the youth.

CULTURE

Passionate about dance Chandigarh, February 6 As the descendant of Richard Hamblin, one of Shakespeare’s original actors no less, the arts is second nature to Michael Hamblin. As a member of the dance faculty in the Department of Performing Arts at Weber State University, Utah in the US and an Arts Specialist with the Utah State Office of Education. Michael Hamblin, dance faculty at the Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, stresses on the importance of a multi-faceted development through dance and music. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

Haryanvi songs album released
Chandigarh, February 6
Pal Music Company today released its first Haryanvi album, “Bangar ka Bomb”, here. According to Om Sharma and Gurcharan, both producers, Som Dutt Sharma and Bharati have rendered voices to the album.

HEALTH

83 dentures given at dental workshop
Chandigarh, February 6
More than 83 dentures were given to needy patients at Desh Bhagat Dental College and Hospital Dental Pandarwara, an oral health workshop. About 111 partial dentures were also given to poor patients. More than 2,500 patients were given free dental check ups, including extractions, fillings, scaling and polishing.

SPORTS

Neeraj of Haryana is checked by a Rajasthan player during the 51st National School Games at the Sector 42 stadium, Chandigarh, on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

PCA contender to host ICC tourney
Mohali, February 6
Following commercial bonding with various corporates at the venues selected for the tournament, the ICC has diverted its attention to the alternative venues to host the Champions Trophy — 2006 scheduled to be held in October.

Harpreet sets new record at YPS meet
Mohali, February 6
Harpreet Singh Sandhu (Patiala House) emerged winner in over-16 shotput event by setting a record (11.91m) during the annual athletics meet of Yadvindra Public School, held on the school premises here, today.

Nidhi, Kamalpreet finish first
Chandigarh, February 6
Punjab girls Nidhi and Kamalpreet Kaur finished first in the taijiquan and qianghsu event , respectively, during the 51st National School Games held at the DAV Senior Secondary School complex, Sector 8, here today.

Chandigarh athletics meet from tomorrow
Chandigarh, February 6
The Amateur Athletic Association will be conducting Chandigarh State Athletics Championship 2005-06 for sub-juniors, juniors and seniors on February 8 and 9 at Sports Complex, Sector 46, here.

• Inter-university softball meet

ADMINISTRATION

Encroachments removed
Panchkula, February 6
The enforcement wing of Haryana Urban Development Authority today removed the encroachments by junk dealers and garbage collecting vehicles on the newly constructed alternative route to Chandigarh.