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Chit fund company defrauds residents of lakhs
Irate investors ransack firm's showroom
Chandigarh, December 2
Scores of residents of Dera Bassi and the surrounding villages were taken for a ride by a chit fund company which closed its operations in the wee hours of today, defrauding them of lakhs of rupees.

Duped investors try to break open the show- room of Pooja Home Needs in Dera Bassi on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

MC Poll
Objections against 2 ex-mayors filed
Chandigarh, December 2
The BJP today filed objections against ex-Mayors Anu Chatrath and Lalit Joshi of the Congress for allegedly holding office of profits. Objections were also filed against Alka Chatrath, who is the covering candidate for Ms Anu Chatrath, with the respective returning officers.

WARD WATCH
Residents allege neglect of parks, SSF Kendras
Chandigarh, December 2
Ward 9 consists of Sectors 34, 35 and 44 (before delimitation). Here, Sector 35 has come up as a major market hub over the past few years, making it one of the happening places of Chandigarh, with the maximum number of eating joints present in this sector.

• Councilorspeak: Harjinder Kaur  

Depressed, PGI doc’s wife ends life
Another woman commits suicide at Colony No 5
Chandigarh, December 2
Two women, including the wife of a Junior Resident with the PGIMER, today allegedly ended their lives.

Ghaggar bridge’s repair starts
Dera Bassi, December 2
The Ghaggar bridge at Bhankharpur village, near here, on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway was closed to traffic from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today on account of repairs.

Students’ drowning: families in dilemma
Chandigarh, December 2
The families of two boys, Davinder Sharma and Gurwinder Singh, who had gone missing from Marina Beach, Chennai, on November 23 during a trip to the city, are still in a dilemma about the fate of their children.

Watch out
Mr Akshat Mehta, Junior Research Fellow, University Grants Commission, Department of Public Administration, Panjab University, Chandigarh, has been invited to present his doctoral proposal at Wesley College, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia tomorrow.

In Town
Hailing from Ludhiana, now settled in Mumbai, Arun Bakshi is an actor, singer and music director. His interest in theatre took him all the way to Bollywood, and he shot to fame with Punjabi song “Bol mitti de bawaya”.

Passing Through
What brings you to the city?
I have come to the city for the second time to participate in Agro Tech 2006. I hope to learn from the advanced agri-technology here and try and implement it in Pakistan.

                                                     Omar Chiima, Member Farmer Association, Pakistan

COMMUNITY

British planned jail for ‘lesser-tainted’ on banks of Ghaggar
Chandigarh, December 2
During the times when the British transported the politically damned and hardcore criminals penalised for heinous crimes to Andaman and Nicobar islands, there was a parallel move to rehabilitate the lesser-tainted ones in ‘Star Jail’ on the banks of the Ghaggar adjoining Chandigarh.

Agro Tech fails to enthuse small and medium farmers Chandigarh, December 2 The sophisticated and ultra-modern farm machinery on display at Agro Tech 2006, has failed to enthuse farmers from Punjab and Haryana. With fragmented land holdings and indebtedness amongst the already over- mechanised farming community, farmers visiting the fair felt that the agri-exposition had little to offer them. Farmers ask questions, get answers Chandigarh, December 2 Farmers, want to know about future trading, commodity exchanges, using the Internet to fetch a better price for your products? If the answer is yes, then the place to be is the Agri Services section of the Agro Tech 2006. Highlights Chinese delegates visit Agro Tech Chandigarh, December 2 A delegation from China led by Mr Cheng Jingshun, Assistant President of Hebei University, Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, visited Agro Tech 2006.

Civilised in a tizzy as ‘wild guest’ comes calling
Panchkula, December 2
A female sambar strayed into a Sector-7 house here today, leaving the family shocked at having an “unwanted guest”.

Play highlights environmental problems
Chandigarh, December 2
“Khuli Hawa ki Talaash Mein”, a street play by Sangeet Natak Akademi award-winner and noted theatre artiste Gurcharan Singh Chani and members of the CEVA Drama Repertory Company, was staged today at the Sector 17 plaza.

Street play “Khulli Hawa ki Talash Mein” being staged at the plaza in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Woman scribe complains against neighbour
Chandigarh, December 2
A woman journalist with a local Hindi daily today lodged a complaint with the police alleging that her neighbour threw acid on her scooter at her Sector 45 residence, last night.

Sathya Sai Seva conference opened
Panchkula, December 2
The two-day state conference of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab, was inaugurated by Mr V. Srinivasan, All-India president of the organisation, in DC Model School, Sector 7, this evening.

Patient needs financial aid
Chandigarh, December 2
Krishan Kumar, a 20-year-old resident of Nangla village in Tohana tehsil of Fatehabad in Haryana, has been suffering from renal failure for the past two years. He has been struggling for life at the Rotary Sarai of the PGI here for the past three months.

Central traffic panel formed
Chandigarh, December 2
The Chandigarh police has constituted a central traffic advisory committee to make suggestions regarding regulating heavy vehicle flow on the city roads which was deteriorating day by day. The rush was more pronounced on a number of roads and road junctions.

Pollution Prevention Day observed
Chandigarh, December 2
Megha Sharma emerged winner in the painting competition, which was part of the Pollution Prevention Day observed by the Gulmohar Eco Club of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 47 D, in the school premises today. Seema and Jai Kishan came second and third, respectively.

Jat federation to hold seminar
Chandigarh, December 2
The executive of the Jat Sikh Welfare Federation at a meeting here today decided to organise a seminar on December 17 at Law Bhavan, Sector 37.

BJP youth wing applies for “atta loan”
Chandigarh, December 2
In a spoof on the rising prices, the youth wing of the BJP today applied for “atta loan” from a nationalised bank.


BJP youth wing activists apply for “atta loan” at a nationalised bank’s branch in Sector 22, Chandigarh, on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Muslims’ demand for ticket worries VHP
Chandigarh, December 2
The local unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today expressed concern over the demand of certain Muslim leaders for ticket in the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh elections on the basis of community.

• Clarification

CRIME

3 booked for duping Sector 48 resident
Chandigarh, December 2
The police booked the managing director Rakesh Aggarwal, chairman-cum-CEO Kulwant Singh and central head Kulwant Singh of the Frankfinn Institute in Sector 34 here on the allegations of duping Mr Sandeep Singh, a resident of Sector 48, of Rs 1 lakh on the pretext of getting him a job.

EDUCATION

MoU with Canadian college signed
Chandigarh, December 2
An international industry academia meet was held at GGDSD College here today. The keynote address was delivered by Mr H.A. Bassford, President, UCFV, British Colombia, Canada.

Spirited performance by children
Chandigarh, December 2
The annual function at St Anne’s Convent School , Sector 32-D, concluded with a spirited and colourful prayer dance performance. Talented actors showed remarkable confidence while enacting the story “The Emperor’s New Clothes”. Melodious songs mesmerised the audience.

Children of St Anne’s School participate in the annual function of the school in Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

PU Notes
Experts present different facets of Punjabi history
Chandigarh, December 2
Dr Nazar Singh, Punjabi University, presented a critique on major historical works on Sikhism, which appeared from 1865 to 1925 during the second day of the national seminar on “Trends in Modern Historiography on Punjab”, which was organised by the Department of History.

Aditya Singh, a student of St Kabir Public School, Sector 26, who has been selected for the SIA Youth Scholarship, which will enable him to pursue a two-year pre-university course at a junior college in Singapore, commencing on January 2, 2007.

Dazzling display of talent at Carmel’s annual fest
Chandigarh, December 2
Pranav Guglani of Class VIII bagged the Ashok Lakhera Memorial Rolling Trophy for the highest aggregate marks in Science and Maths (Classes VIIII to X on the 20th Annual Day-cum-Founder’s Day of Mount Carmel School, Sector 47-B, here today.

2 students likely to suffer due to panel’s faux pas
Panchkula, December 2
Two students will suffer due to the carelessness of the Haryana Staff Selection Commission which has committed a faux pas in the despatch of letters for the written test of teachers to be conducted on December 10.

Annual Day celebrated at Smart Kids
Mohali, December 2
Students of a kindergarten school, Smart Kids, Phase X, here celebrated Annual Day today. Children gave colourful performances during the function. Educative performances regarding the proper use of modern technology like computers and mobile phones were also presented by the children.

COURTS

Navtej Toor is new Bar Council chief
Chandigarh, December 2
Advocates Navtej Singh Toor and Balbir Singh Billing were elected the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, respectively.

Bar Council Chairman Navtej Singh Toor, Vice-Chairman Balbir Singh Billing and other council members in Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

CULTURE

When art becomes poetry
Chandigarh, December 2
Sometimes art resembles a poetic composition more than it resembles itself. That’s when it becomes eternal, lending itself to impressions that one can behold forever.

Mr H.K. Dua, Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune, engrossed in the beauty of photographic works that form part of Sanjay Kumbhkarni's exhibition, which opened at the Punjab Kala Bhavan Art Gallery in Sector 16, Chandigarh, on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Comedians hit at govt in new music album
Chandigarh, December 2
Latest musical comedy by Bhalla-Bala duo is a loaded with sharp satire on the Manmohan Singh government at the Centre and the Punjab Government headed by Capt Amarinder Singh in the state. Satirical attack on politicians, the police and other departments of the state is incisive.

Jaswinder Bhalla and Bal Mukand Sharma in their new musical album.

Special children mesmerise at Plaza Carnival

Chandigarh, December 2 "Shakhon se toot jayen vo patte nahin hain hum, Andhi se koi kehde ke aukaat mein rhe...” was a veritable summation of the courage, conviction and cultural bonanza put up by the 140 special children on the eve of the World Disabled Day at the Plaza here today. Disabled children from Engineering College, Sector 26, perform bhangra at the Plaza Carnival in Sector 7, Chandigarh, on Saturday. The carnival was sponsored by The Tribune. — A Tribune photograph

Purulia Chhau-abandoned but resilient
Chandigarh, December 2
Tarapad Rajak is devotion personified. Wedded to Purulia Chhau - an enchanting dance tradition that has fallen on bad days - he spends most of his time nurturing his group, one of the few that can dance this exotic form.

Members of Mahavir Chhau Dance Party from West Bengal present Purulia Chhau recital at 3 BRD auditorium, under SPIC MACAY’s Virasat series. — Photo by Vicky Gharu

HEALTH

Make dental care affordable, Shekhawat to doctors
Chandigarh, December 2
The Vice President, Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, today called upon dentists to find ways and means to make affordable dental care for the poor.

The Vice President, Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat (second from left) hands over a memento to Dr Harvansh Singh Judge after the inauguration of the Dr H.S. Judge Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Saturday. Also in the picture is the Punjab Governor Gen SF Rodrigues (retd), Union Minister for State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal, PU Vice Chancellor Prof RC Sobti and President Dental Council of India Dr Anil Kohli. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

Manual on surgical technique released
Chandigarh, December 2
A manual of arthroscopic microdiscectomy, an operative technique described by Dr Mohinder Kaushal, was released by Prof S.S. Gill, the Head of the Department of Orthopaedics, PGI, here at a meeting of the Chandigarh Chapter of the Indian Orthopaedic Association held at a hotel here today.

SPORTS

Utkarsh wins first round match
Chandigarh, December 2
Utkarsh Khosla beat Nihit 6-5 (9-7) in the boys’ under-10 category in the first round on the opening day of the Fort Ramgarh YMCA Total Tennis Championship being played at YMCA Total Tennis Academy courts, Sector 11, here today.

DAVs outclass rivals to emerge athletics champs
Chandigarh, December 2
The local DAV College, Sector 10, and JC DAV College, Dasuya, were adjudged champions in the Annual Panjab University Inter-College Athletics Championship for session 2006-07. The meet concluded at the PU grounds here today.

Punjab hockey teams have mixed day
Chandigarh, December 2
The Punjab u-17 boys’ hockey team won its matches against UP and Orissa today at the 52nd National School Games being organised by the Chandigarh Education Department at various grounds of the city.


The hockey match between Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra in progress at the Sector 42 stadium during the 52nd National School Games. — A Tribune photograph

School holds maiden sports meet
Chandigarh, December 2
Chitkara International School, Sector 25, today held its first sports day – CIS Winter Olympics 2006. All students, including those from nursery, participated in the colourful event. Dr Chitkara inaugurated the event with a basketball shot as December 2 is the Basketball Day.

Fun and frolic mark Saupin’s sports meet
Chandigarh, December 2
The two-day annual sports meet of Saupin’s School, Sector 32, concluded on the school premises here today. As many as 368 students from the nursery, LKG and UKG sections took part in various events.

Students of Saupin’s School, Sector 32, present a dance during the annual sports meet on the school premises in Chandigarh on Saturday.

Sports Day organised
Panchkula, December 2
Vineet stood first while Lakshy and Sandeep secured the second and third positions, respectively, in 100 m race in the first annual Sports Day of Dikshant International School at Tau Devi Lal Sports Stadium, Sector 3, here.

Vijayant shines in tennis tourney
Chandigarh, December 2
Vijayant Malik, who is a product of the CHART scheme being run by the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association, has brought laurels to the City Beautiful by winning singles and doubles titles in the ITF Juniors G-4 Tennis Tournament which concluded today in Mumbai.

• Athletics meet