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Maid publicly reiterates rape charge against MLA
Says Gaganjit’s wife asked her to change statement
Chandigarh, August 16
In a late evening development, the Bengali maid who had alleged to have been raped by SAD MLA from Dhuri and Tamil Nadu Governor’s son Gaganjit Singh Barnala at his Sector 3 MLA flat on Saturday, today reiterated her statement on the basis of which the first information report (FIR) was registered.

Police officials take away the rape victim (encircled) from the Sector 16 General Hospital in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Tight security for MC chief’s election
Mohali, August 16
Tight security arrangements are being made for the election of the President of the local Municipal Council to be held at the Municipal Bhavan in Sector 68 here tomorrow. The election process will be videographed.

Akalis playing politics over Lalru episode: Cong leader
Lalru, August 16
The Patiala MP, Ms Preneet Kaur, is likely to accept demands of agitating residents of Lalru village during her visit to the township on August 19. This was stated by a senior Congress leader and Vice-Chairman of the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC), Mr Deepinder Dhillon, here yesterday.

Domestic workers continue to be vulnerable to abuse, HIV: survey

Chandigarh, August 16 Domestic workers in and around Chandigarh continue to work in exploitative conditions besides remaining vulnerable to HIV/AIDS due to low level of awareness about the infection. The first-ever survey conducted to explore the intervention between migration, reproductive health, access to healthcare and vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among domestic workers has thrown up significant trends.

A file photo of domestic workers

Hem Kunt Sahib route to be made pollutant-free
Chandigarh, August 16
Rotary International has joined hands with three corporate houses of the union capital to keep the route to historic shrine at Hem Kunt Sahib free of all pollutants, including the solid waste material.

COMMUNITY

Devotees throng temples Chandigarh, August 16 Janmashtami was celebrated with fervour at various temples in the city. Thousands of residents thronged the temples that were decked up on the occasion. The local chapter of ISKCON celebrated Janmashtami with ancient Vedic tradition at Hare Krishna Dham. ISKCON devotees in an enthusiastic mood at Hare Krishna Dham, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Devotees rock cradles Panchkula, August 16 Janmashtami was celebrated with fervour here today. Most temples were illuminated and cradles were set up with idols of Lord Krishna. Devotees stood in long queues and rocked cradles at Laxmi Narain Temple, Shri Radha Madhav Mandir, Pracheen Shiv Mandir, Sanatan Dharam Mandir and Shiv Mandir.

A devotee rocks the cradle of Lord Krishna at Sri Govind Dham Temple, Sector 12, Panchkula, on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Kidnapped in Nepal, youths to return today
Chandigarh, August 16
After undergoing trauma for about 24 hours, family members of two city residents allegedly kidnapped by Maoists from a restaurant on the Indo-Nepal border yesterday, heaved a sigh of relief when they were released this morning. They called up home to say they were returning.

Cold war between Mayor, Deputy Mayor
Chandigarh, August 16
The ongoing cold war between Mr Surinder Singh, Mayor, Municipal Corporation, and Mr Shyama Negi, Deputy Mayor, surfaced once again last evening during the inauguration of the Shivalik Garden in Manimajra.

Netherlands firm teams up with Lions Club

Chandigarh, August 16 Experts from PUM Seniors, a Netherlands-based firm which is helping 94 developing countries find solutions to environment-related problems, will team up with Lions Club International, District 321-F, to organise an environment week in Chandigarh. Mr Joop Rakhorst (right) addresses mediapersons in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Cops rehearse for Kalam’s visit
Chandigarh, August 16
On the eve of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s scheduled arrival in Chandigarh for inauguration of War Memorial at Bougainvillae Garden in Sector 3, the Chandigarh police today intensified patrolling throughout the city.

CRIME

5 booked for molestation
Mohali, August 16
The police has booked five persons of Nadiali village on charges of outraging a woman’s modesty. According to the police, Ms Parvinder Kaur of Nadiali village complained that the persons had tried to outrage her modesty after consuming liquor.

BUSINESS

• Nabard changes timings
• Biz Clip

EDUCATION

Jobless PTI teachers end agitation
Bajwa assures them of jobs
Chandigarh, August 16
On the assurance given by Punjab’s Education Minister Partap Singh Bajwa the Unemployed PTI Teachers Union (Punjab) ended its more than two-month-old protest here today.

PU plans to outsource cleaning operations
Chandigarh, August 16
Panjab University is planning to outsource all cleaning operations on its campus here. Heeding to rising criticism that the university campus was losing its charm and remained dotted with filth and dirt, the university's committee for the solid-waste management and cleanliness will be recommending that cleanliness of the entire campus be contracted out to private agencies.

School bus operators to observe strike tomorrow
Chandigarh, August 16
The school buses in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula will remain off the road on August 18. This will result in inconvenience to over 30,000 students. The parents have been asked to make arrangements to ferry their children to the schools on that day.

Independence Day bonanza
Chandigarh, August 16
Students form local schools brought alive the diverse cultures of all regions through a colorful musical bonanza on the 60th Independence Day at Tagore theatre here on Monday.

Scholarships for 9 Karsan school students

Chandigarh, August 16 Lion R.K. Sharma, president, Lions Club, Chandigarh Greater, hoisted the National Flag at Lions Karsan Multipurpose Project, Ram Darbar, here, yesterday in the presence of over 500 students of Government High School and trainees of various craft courses being run at the centre. Independence Day celebrations at Karsan Multipurpose Project, Ram Darbar, Chandigarh, on Tuesday.

Enthusiastic celebrations
Chandigarh, August 16
Independence Day was celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm at K.V.AFS High Grounds on Tuesday. Neeraj Dhankar topper of the school in Class X, this year, was the chief guest for the flag hoisting ceremony.

Govt schools closed today

COURTS

Baidwan is member of juvenile justice panel
Mohali, August 16
Mr B.S. Baidwan, a former president of the Mohali Industries Association, has been made a member of the Juvenile Justice Board for Mohali district. A notification regarding the members of the juvenile board has been issued by the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development.

CULTURE

Colours of life at Piazza Chandigarh, August 16 Visitors to Sector 17 were full of surprise today. As the alumni of Government Art College spread out a life-size canvas in the heart of Piazza and painted it bright, the visitors could barely resist the temptation of splashing a shade or two. Artists paint on a canvas spread out in Sector 17 in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

A nameless passion for theatre Chandigarh, August 16 It is a play of passion. Not a story dipped in love but one borne out of a zeal for the stage. Young theatre lovers rehearse for a stage production of Maha Shweta Devi’s ‘Daayan’ at the Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh, on Monday. The play is to be staged on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

HEALTH

PGI pays tributes to Nehru, Kairon on I-Day
Chandigarh, August 16
Independence Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm by the faculty, nursing, administrative and other staff of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here today.

SPORTS

Chess titles for Jagteshwar, Shivam, Mayank
Chandigarh, August 16
Shivam Shashwat emerged winner with four points in the under-11 boys category, while the second place went to Gitin Oberoi who garnered three points on the final day of the first St Xavier’s Chandigarh Prize Money Children’s Chess Carnival-2006 for under-9, under-11 and under-15 boys and girls category here today.

Indian cricketers should play like a team, says Kapil Dev

Chandigarh, August 16 “It is really tough to win matches against Sri Lanka on their soil. So, to win the triangular series, every player of Team India has to give his utmost and they have to play like a team”, said the Cricketer of the Millennium, Kapil Dev, at D.P. Azad Cricket Academy, Sector 45, here today. Kapil Dev gives bowling tips to budding cricketers at D.P. Azad Cricket Academy at St. Stephens, Sector 45, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Sukhdev shines in rural sports meet
Chaindigarh, August 16
Sukhdev Singh won the 5,000-m race while Deepak Kumar emerged winner in the 1,500 m race on the concluding day of the Annual Rural Sports meet held at Guru Dronacharya Stadium at Dadu Majra village, here, today.

PCA coach awarded