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Poll on roll: Finally, the D-day
Chandigarh, December 19
As the din and excitement of campaigning reached its final stage today the focus shifted to the poll arrangements and logistic details to ensure a smooth run on the day of polling tomorrow.

An official explains the operation of an EVM machine to the polling staff in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

5.45 lakh expected to vote today
Chandigarh, December 19
Though the number of wards has increased to 26 this year from to 20 in the past two elections the number of voters seems to be the same. As many as 5, 45,000 persons are expected to vote for the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections this year. (5,57,070 voters are listed for the MC and Panchayat Samiti elections this year.)

Carry proof of ID to poll booth
Chandigarh, December 19
The voters will be required to carry with them photo identity cards (where such cards have been issued by the Chief Electoral Officer, UT Chandigarh).

Campaigning remains low key Chandigarh, December 19 Despite clarification by the Election Commission confusion prevailed today as candidates were not sure whether they could canvass today or not. The last day of canvassing thus saw very little campaigning in the city. Pawan Sharma, a Congress candidate from ward No 13, canvasses in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Dhawan sees anti-Cong wave
Chandigarh, December 19
Lashing out at the Congress on the eve of the MC poll, Mr Harmohan Dhawan, president, CVM, said no party would win a majority. Addressing a press conference today, he said the Congress would be defeated by a huge margin. "There is an anti-Congress wave this year and people want a change," he said.

Holiday in PU today

Hired: A fleet of violations

Chandigarh, December 19 Not caring two hoots for the norms. hundreds of vehicles registered for personal use have been hired for election duty. While the beneficiaries are operators of "illegal" taxis, the Chandigarh Administration has tuned a blind eye to the violation. Vehicles registered for personal use have been hired for election duty in violation of the norms. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

VC's decision raises eyebrows
Chandigarh, December 19
In a controversial decision, Panjab University Vice-Chancellor has changed the members of the Board of Studies in Defence and Strategic Studies at the fag end of the term of the board.

Venod Sharma keeps mum
Chandigarh, December 19
“I will speak when time comes” said Mr Venod Sharma, father of Manu Sharma convicted in the murder of Jessica Lal while reacting to the situation here today.

MC ex-official caught on the wrong foot
Held responsible for favouring SCO allottee
Chandigarh, December 19
A former Additional Commissioner in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, Mr W.S. Goyat, has been held responsible for passing an illegal and erroneous order by extending the benefit of ground rent and interest to the allottee of an SCO site in Sector 9 here. This had caused a loss of over Rs 30 lakh to the corporation.

Watch out
Anuja Tighare, lecturer of Biology at the Paragon Senior Secondary School, Mohali, will be in South Korea as part of a delegation visiting the Jeong Myung Girls Middle and High School and American Missionary Adventure Mokpo City South Korea. The visit is part of the mutual friendship and cultural exchange programme with the school.

In Town
Vihang Nayak, a Mumabi-based film actor is in town to play an important role of Lalu Yadav in an English comedy play ‘Carry on Heaven’ to be staged here as part of SJOBA Winter fest. An engineering graduate from Pune he served as design engineer for Telco and later he designed the ‘Lamby Polo’ scooter.

Passing Thru

COMMUNITY

Illegal construction around CM’s residence

Chandigarh, December 19 An unauthorised construction around the complex housing the Haryana Chief Minister’s residence in Sector 3 here has irked residents of this VVIP Sector. Construction work at the rear side of the Haryana Chief Minister’s house in Sector 3, Chandigarh, is being carried out to take over a portion of the road. — A Tribune photograph.

Kargil girl gets a new lease of life
Chandigarh, December 19
Her innocent gaze hits you deep in the heart; her tiny, little frames inspires. All this despite the tragic history that has caused Zannabi, the 11-year-old girl from Kargil, to come all the way to Punjab in search of new life, which she has finally got. But life, for Zannabi, has not come cheap. She has had to compromise with her left leg, which was recently amputated to prevent the bone cancer from spreading further. The operation was life-saving, the sacrifice unavoidable.

Wildlife smuggling increases on Indo-China border
Chhat Bir, December 19
The international smuggling of wild animals and their body parts has grown alarmingly through the Indo-China border in recent decades. China and Tibet are the main consumers of endangered animals and other body parts for their uses as a rug or for clothing, trophies, traditional medicines and ornaments.

The disabled dare to dream big

Panchkula, December 19 The famous four of Chandimandir's Saket Hospital for the Orthopaedically handicapped know no disability. Callipers and crutches are no deterrent for them. Their spirit is willing and they dare to dream big as they go about achieving milestones at their own pace. The foursome at Saket's Hospital for the Orthopaedically Handicapped in Chandimandir are all smiles on Tuesday as they eagerly await the award ceremony to be held at the Haryana Chief Minister's residence in Delhi.

Night Life
Cops rule by the day, ruffians by the night

Chandigarh, December 19 Time was when cops would stand guard at every roundabout and ensure the night revelers behaved themselves, but not any longer. As the floating population, especially of youth from nearby states, rises and the regulatory mechanism rusts, life by the night is becoming an increasingly unsafe affair. As cops sleep at night, rules and regulations go for a toss. Here’s a case in point. — Tribune photo by Malkiat Singh

BJP seeks apology from Pawan Bansal
Chandigarh, December 19
The BJP today demanded an apology from Mr Pawan Bansal for using unparliamentary language and indecent remarks against Navjot Sindh Sidhu, former cricketer and former MP. “Mr Pawan Bansal must apologise for using derogatory remarks against Mr Sidhu,” said Mr Satya Pal Jain.

Jail inmates attend week-long course
Chandigarh, December 19 In order to make inmates of Burail Jail self-reliant, a one-week course on managing kitchen and serving food was organised in the jail. Ms Jean Rodrigues, wife of the UT Administrator, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), today awarded certificates to 30 inmates who had undergone the week-long training.

Lions Club (Legal) team installed
Chandigarh, December 19
R.K. Handa and his team of Lions Club Chandigarh Legal for 2006-07 was installed at an impressive ceremony held at a hotel in Zirakpur on Sunday. While Mr Handa was installed charter president, Mr Rajan Malhotra was installed secretary, Roopan Aggarwal treasurer and Rajiv Singhal Public Relations Officer. Mr A.K. Jain and Mr J.R. Gupta were installed vice-presidents. The ceremony was attended by past District Governors K.S. Sandhu and K.K. Sawhney.

March against assault on photojournalist
Chandigarh, December 19
Demanding action against the erring police officials who allegedly assaulted a photojournalist of a local English daily at Kharar on November 30, the journalist fraternity of the city today decided to take out a protest march from the Chandigarh Press Club, Sector 27, here on December 21.

CTU passengers suffer
Chandigarh, December 19
Hundreds of passengers of Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) buses were put to inconvenience today with 87 buses of the fleet remaining off the roads due to municipal election duty.

CRIME

Theft turns marriage celebrations sour

Family suspects servant's hand Panchkula, December 19 Marriage celebrations in the Khullar household turned sour last night when they returned to their home in Sector 16 after a party only to find that their house had been broken into and ransacked. Pegging the loss at nearly Rs 3 lakh, the family suspects the hand of its servant in the theft. A family member shows a ransacked room at the Khullar household in Sector 16, Panchkula, on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Malkiat Singh

Two commit suicide
Mohali, December 19
Two youths allegedly committed suicide by hanging themselves from ceiling fans here today. According to the police, the body of Kushal Raj ( 26 ), a resident of Sector 70, was found hanging by his father at around 7 am when he went to look for his son in his room when he failed to respond to the calls of family members to come and have tea. The room was bolted from inside and the body of Kushal Raj was found hanging when the door was broken.

Wrath of cops
Panchkula, December 19
In a blatant case of high handedness by the police, constables of the Haryana Armed Police beat up two Class XI students of Hansraj Public School without any provocation in full public view here today.

Four hurt in road mishaps
Chandigarh, December 19
Four persons, including a traffic policeman, were hurt in separate road accidents that took place in various parts of the city. According to the police, Constable Heera Singh, posted in the Traffic Wing of the Chandigarh Police, sustained injuries after being hit by an auto-rickshaw (CH-03-L-1254) near Sector 27 and 28 traffic lights point last night.

Two die in mishaps
Panchkula, December 19
Two persons died in separate accidents here today. While 45-year-old Tika Ram was found dead at the firing range in Raipur Rani, 50-year-old Raj Kumar Singla was knocked down by an unidentified vehicle this morning.

5 hurt in clash over land dispute
Panchkula, December 19
Five persons were injured in a clash between two parties over a piece of land in Rampur Jangi village, Pinjore, here today. While residents of Rampur Jangi maintain that the piece of land is public property and is not owned by any single person, the former Sarpanch of Karanpur, Mahender Singh, claimed that the 800 bighas in question was part of his ancestral property and a case in this regard is pending in the district court.

EDUCATION

Varsity Business School placements an all-time high
Chandigarh, December 19
Students of University Business School have set a new record of campus placements. Not only has the department managed to place all its second year students in some of the top IT and banking sector companies across India, it has also managed to attract much better pay scales for its students.

Sonalika conducts campus interviews

Mohali, December 19 Sonalika International Tractors Limited, one of the biggest tractor manufacturing concerns having 80 per cent share in farm equipment sales in India, today conducted campus interviews for mechanical engineering students in Chandigarh Engineering College, Landran, under its recruitment drive. Officials from Sonalika International Tractors Limited at Chandigarh Engineering College, Landran, for conducting campus interviews on Monday.

Teachers to court arrest tomorrow
Chandigarh, December 19
As the state government is dithering to make announcement to accept two main demands of teachers and other employees of government-aided schools, the Punjab State Aided-School Teachers and Other Employees Union has decided to resume jail bharo agitation from December 21.

School for child beggars starts
Panchkula, December 19
A school for beggars was started outside the Mata Mansa Devi shrine by Jivan Mukt Nishulk Vidyalaya, here today. The NGO involved in imparting informal education to children who beg outside temples in the city will run the school.

Tender symphony Chandigarh, December 19 The junior wing of Tender Heart School, Sector 33-B, celebrated its annual day function at the Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, here today. The programme, titled "Tender Symphony 2K6", started with the aliens from planet "Zingo" landing on earth in search of a new home. Kids of Tender Heart, Sector 33-B, Chandigarh, perform during the annual function of the school at the Tagore Theatre on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Christmas celebrated with poor children
Chandigarh, December 19
The Sahodaya Social Service Club of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, celebrated Christmas with the underprivileged children of Bapu Dham Colony on the school premises here today.

Admission date extended

CULTURE

Theatre is his first love
Chandigarh, December 19
“With the advent of fast growing TV channels it has become increasingly palpable that to survive, the theatre had to be more vibrant and innovative shedding its conservative concept.” observed the celebrated playwright, director, film actor and marketing strategist, Bharat Dabholkar.

From 'nondescript' couple to jubilant winners
Chandigarh, December 19
The wait for the nation's dancing sensation is finally over with 'small fries', Tina and Hussain, winning the coveted Nach Baliye 2 competition. After 13 weeks of anxiety, fear and excitement amidst intense competition, India decided the winners.

Art exhibition concludes
Chandigarh, December 19
A week-long annual art exhibition by the Centurion Bank of Punjab concluded with a prize distribution function at Punjab Kala Bhavan, Sector 16, here today. Of the 116 shortlisted paintings displayed, seven were awarded.

HEALTH

Bir Devinder wants doctor’s suspension revoked
Mohali, December 19
The Kharar MLA, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, today urged the Minister for Health and Family Welfare Punjab to cancel the transfer orders of Dr Ravleen Kaur from the Mohali Civil Hospital to Amloh .

225 examined at CMC camp

SPORTS

Winners in a world of their own Chandigarh, December 19 "They share a complete world among themselves, yet they make their place in the mainstream of society. Meet Karamjit Kaur, Ram Dai, Mamta Sharma, Rakesh Kumar, Vikram Singh and Ram Saran. Visually challenged students of the Institute for the Blind, Sector 26, in a joyous mood after winning medals at the National Sports Meet held at New Delhi. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Snooker title for Divya Sharma
Panchkula, December 19
Divya Sharma won the senior Snooker Championship winning all three league matches of Haryana Billiards and Snooker Tournament held at Haryana Billiards, Sector 11, here today.