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TOP STORIES

CBSE PMT
Bonanza for some, respite for all
Chandigarh, January 2
A bonanza is in store for the reserved category aspirants of the all-India pre-medical/dental entrance examination from the session 2008-09 onwards.

Day 2: CTU buses keep off Punjab roads
Chandigarh/Mohali, January 2
Commuters continued to be harassed on the second day of the snapping of the CTU’s bus service to Mohali and peripheral towns.

School students board a private bus in Phase 3B1 in Mohali on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

Housing plan for UT staff gets nod
Chandigarh, January 2
Decks have been cleared for the construction of 6,000 houses for UT employees in southern part of the city. Proposed by the Chandigarh Housing Board earlier, the housing scheme for UT employees has got the nod from UT adviser Pradip Mehra.

DPI (S) S.K. Setia and students of GMSSS Sector-16, who participate in a laughter exercise in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

COMMUNITY

Upgradation of Chandigarh railway station Lack of planning leads to chaos

Chandigarh, January 2 Upgrading the Chandigarh railway station is not on the agenda of the Northern Railways; it has been restricted to the platform area only. Though ticket booking at Chandigarh generates around Rs 20 lakh per day, no effort has been made to improve the facilities in the traffic circulation area. The entrance to the Chandigarh railway station being given a facelift. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Roads in Sec 42 cry for attention Chandigarh, January 2 Roads in Sector 42, particularly the one leading to the sports complex, which boasts of state-of-the-art facilities, are in bad shape. Due to re-carpeting of the roads, especially the one in front of the office of the SDM (South), the coal tar mixed gravel has loosened its grip. A person operates xerox machine at the entrance to the office of SDM (South) in the Sector 42 sports complex, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Three of family taken ill after consuming prasad Chandigarh, January 2 Three members of a family, including a 15-year-old boy, were hospitalised in an unconscious state after they consumed‘sedative’-laced Prasad given by an unidentified person last night. Kranti, wife of Sheeshpal, who was found unconscious in their shop near Smadhi Gate, Mani Majra, along with her husband and son, on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph CAT reverses IT dept orders on Rahl’s pension Chandigarh, January 2 Quashing the directions of chief commissioner, Income Tax, on reducing the pension of applicant by 20 per cent, the Central Administrative Tribunal asked the department to release regular pension.

Vehicles weigh heavy on city infrastructure
Chandigarh, January 2
City Beautiful is slowly losing its image of being congestion free and pollution free city. The increasing number of vehicles is putting an extra load on the city’s infrastructure that had been planned for a population of a few lakhs.

Road Accidents
Traffic cops identify 6 points
Chandigarh, January 2
The Chandigarh Traffic Police conducted a survey of fatal road accidents and identified six accident prone points in various parts of the city. The police said in all, 538 accidents were reported last year out of which 139 were fatal and 399 were of non-fatal category.

Traffic cops organise scooter rally Attempt to create awareness among women riders

Chandigarh, January 2 The Chandigarh traffic police today organised a scooter rally of girl students to promote wearing of helmets among female two-wheeler riders as a part of the 19th road safety week. Girls from various local colleges participate in a scooter rally to promote helmets among woman riders as a part of the 19th Road Safety Week in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Habitual offender debarred from holding licence
Chandigarh, January 2
The Registration and Licensing Authority (RLA), Chandigarh, debarred a habitual offender from holding a driving licence for a period two months from December 28 following recommendations made by the traffic police.

13 head of cattle die in Dhanas village Chandigarh, January 2 Over a dozen cattle died in Dhanas village today with another seven of them reported to be in serious condition. The cattle included eight buffaloes, three cows and two calves. A veterinary doctor treats a buffalo at Milk Colony in dhanas village on Wednesday morning where 10 buffaloes died under mysterious circumstances on Tuesday night. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Walking Zone at Sukhna Admn seeks public opinion
Chandigarh, January 2
The Chandigarh administration today sought public response on the issue of making a new “walking zone” on the far side of Sukhna Lake. The issue was taken up in the meeting of secretaries here today.

Cycle rally promotes healthy living Chandigarh, January 2 British Library, Sector 9, in collaboration with Society for Tourism and Entertainment Promotions in Chandigarh, organised a cycle rally today. K. Selveraj IPS, IGP telecommunications, government of Haryana flagged off rally. People participate in a cycle rally organised by the British Library in collaboration with STEPS in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

Tenants’ body holds protest
Chandigarh, January 2
The Chandigarh Industrial Area Tenants’ Association held a protest rally in support of their demand for rehabilitation of the tenants of Industrial Area I and II here today.

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CRIME

One held, two booked for stealing power
Chandigarh, January 2
The police today arrested one person and booked two others, including a woman, on the charges of stealing electricity through kundi connections from various parts of the city.

Suicide bid by 21-yr old girl
Chandigarh, January 2
Kiran (21) was hospitalised after she allegedly consumed some poisonous substance at her Mauli Jagran residence, here, this evening. The police is yet to ascertain the reason behind the incident.

Dowry Death
Husband, mother-in-law booked
Chandigarh, January 2
The Chandigarh Police today booked a husband and mother-in law of a newly wed woman on charges of dowry death after the woman succumbed in the hospital here tonight.

Man found dead
Mullanpur Garibdass, January 2
Fakivia Ram (64), a resident of Mullapur Garibdass, was found dead near the Chandigarh-Mullanpur Garibdass barrier here this morning. The victim’s bleeding body lay on the roadside till 8.30 in the morning when the police came and sent the body for postmortem.

Shop burgled, 7 laptops missing
Panchkula, January 2
Atlantic Technologies, a shop dealing in computers in Sector 8 here, was burgled yesterday night. Harsh Jindal, owner of the shop, claimed that goods worth Rs 3 lakh were missing from the shop.

EDUCATION

Education dept to launch website
Mohali, January 2
The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) organised a function to celebrate New Year here yesterday. Board chairman Dr Dalbir Singh Dhillon was the chief guest. He said in the coming days, the board would launch its own website.

2 held guilty for wrongfully claiming HRA
Chandigarh, January 2
In a surprising incident, two employees of the Panjab University had been wrongfully claiming house rent allowance. The matter would be decided upon in the upcoming Syndicate meeting of the Panjab University on January 8.

Aviation industry a draw among students
Chandigarh, January 2
Gone are the days when students used to go in for professional courses. With the changing times, add-on courses within the service sector are replacing the professional ones. Airhostess training and hospitality are among a few gaining popularity.

PU Notes
PU lecturer gets international assignment
Chandigarh, January 2
Dr Rani Mehta, lecturer in the department of Sociology, Panjab University is going on a prestigious assignment to the University of Mauritius, department of social studies and humanities for a period of two years, January 2008 to January 2010.

From Schools
Students exhorted to inculcate spirit of mankind
Chandigarh, January 2
A 10-day NSS camp organised by Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, concluded here yesterday. Saroj Mittal, deputy director (commercial), UT education department was the chief guest.

COURTS

Inderjeet Murder Case
Application dismissed
Chandigarh, January 2
A Special CBI Court today dismissed the application summoning a woman and her son in relation to the Inderjeet Singh murder case. The case is pending in the court since 23 years.

Rape accused acquitted
Chandigarh, January 2
Additional and sessions judge S.K. Aggarwal today acquitted Poshan Lal and Homee Bahadur, both from Nepal, in rape case. Both of them were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

CULTURE

Second Chandigarh Film Festival Hema Malini to present ‘Durga’ Chandigarh, January 2 Actress Hema Malini has confirmed her participation on the inaugural function of the second Chandigarh film festival to be organised in the city from February 1 to 4. On her first formal visit to city beautiful, the actor-parliamentarian will perform “Durga”, her dance theatre production acclaimed all over the world.

Strokes of Nature
Painter in city to treat art lovers
Chandigarh, January 2
Back to Chandigarh after 10 years, modern painter N.Kumar Karun promises a rare treat to art lovers. With him he brings spiritual outbursts, many of which find expressions on the canvas; his medium being oil and acrylic.

Ghazal maestro weaves magic
Panchkula, January 2
The intoxicating melody of ghazal and compelling charm of rich Harynavi folklore reverberated at the inauguration of the new complex at the Haryana Kala Parishad here today.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

2 Ropar youths killed in accident Kharar (Ropar) January 2 Two youths from Ropar were killed while two others injured seriously in an accident on Chandigarh-Ropar national highway near Mundi Kharar village in early hours today. Tata Safari, which met with an accident at Mundi Kharar village near Ropar on Wednesday. — Tribune photograph by Vicky Gharu

Ropar bus stand to be shifted
Ropar, January 2
The district administration has finalised a new site for the Ropar bus stand. Ropar deputy commissioner A.K. Sinha, while talking to The Tribune, said the bus stand would now be shifted to a site along Nirankari Bhawan on Ropar-Chandigarh road.

Mann captivates Patialvis with hit numbers
Patiala, January 2
People here had a great time dancing to hit numbers of Punjabi pop icon Harbhajan Mann at Rajindra Gymkhana and Mohindra Club, during a cultural evening organised by the club today.

Tailoring centre inaugurated
Patiala, January 2
A free sewing tailoring training centre was opened by Jan Hit Samiti, Punjab, in Vani School, Urban Estate, Patiala. Harinder Kaur Rakhra inaugurated the centre. The function was presided over by Charanjit Kaur Grewal, president, Vani School. Surjit Kaur, ex-deputy director, employment exchanges, and Raksha Roy Mangla, a social worker, were the guests of honour.

155 checked at free camp
Dera Bassi, January 2
A free artificial limb check up camp was organised here today by members of the Lala Durga Charan Charitable Artificial Limb Centre, Ambala Cantonment, in collaboration with Rotary Club, Dera Bassi.

Hooda on inauguration spree
Panchkula, January 2
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is scheduled to inaugurate four buildings and lay the foundation stone of two on Friday. He will inaugurate State Training and Demonstration Centre and State Drug Store, Sector 6 in the morning, followed by the Equipment and CCU in General Hospital in the same sector.

SPORTS

City lad to join Indian squad in Oz
Chandigarh, January 2
It is a surprise New Year gift for local cricketer VRV Singh, who got a call from the Board of Control for Cricket in India to join Indian squad in Australia. Elated over his unexpected selection, VRV said he is fully fit for the forthcoming challenge.

Bhavratan, Udai reach finals Chandigarh, January 2 Bhavtaran Singh and Udai Singh Mann reached into the finals of boys’ under-14, beating Jatinder Singh and Ravisher Singh, respectively in the IIIrd St Peter’s Open Tennis Tournament being played at St Peter’s School courts, Sector 37, here today. Tennis player Bhavtaran Singh returns a shot during St Peter’s tennis tourney at St Peter’s School in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

‘PHL is a learning ground for Indian hockey’
Chandigarh, January 2
As the Premier Hockey League heading towards the final stage, improvement in performance of Sardara Singh, who is leading Hyderabad Sultans impressed Ric Charlesworth, the technical consultant of the Indian Hockey team.

Tennis
Players from 17 nations in fray
Chandigarh, January 2
The International Tennis Federation Junior Tennis Tournament (Grade 3), starting from January 7 to 12 at CLTA courts, Sector 10, will see the tennis players from 17 countries, besides the players across the country.

Ranji coach happy for VRV
Chandigarh, January 2
VRV, who had an impressive outing in the last Ranji match against Orissa, claiming five wickets in an innings including a hat-trick. Punjab's Ranji coach Gurcharan Singh was happy about the tall pacer getting a call-up.

SD College gives one-sided defeat
Chandigarh, January 2
GGD SD College, Sector 32, Chandigarh, gave a one sided affair defeat to PU Campus, Chandigarh team 5-0 in men’s group, on the opening day of Panjab University inter-college softball (men and women) tournament. The tournament is being played at PU grounds, here, on knock out basis.

Inter-college cricket from Jan 8
Chandigarh, January 2
The Chandigarh Sports Department will conduct Chandigarh inter-college cricket tournament for Administrator's Cup from January 8 to 14 at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium here. The knockout tournament will be of 50 overs each side matches.

City scouts, guides win accolades
Chandigarh, January 2
The scouts and guides of Chandigarh won as many as 115 awards and 58 commendation certificates in various competitions during the Special Centenary Jamboree 2007, held at Burari grounds, New Delhi, recently.

HEALTH

Laughter, the best medicine
Chandigarh, January 2
“Laughter provides an excellent cardio workout. Heart rate increase in one minute of hearty laughter can take 10 minutes to achieve on exercise machines. Laughter yoga is a very economical addition to any school or educational institution.

ADMINISTRATION

Inspector Cheema promoted as DSP
Chandigarh, January 2
The Chandigarh administration today promoted J.S. Cheema, an inspector with the Chandigarh police, to the rank of the DSP. Inspector Cheema has been promoted with retrospective effect from October 11, 2005, with all service benefits and restoration of seniority in his cadre.