C H A N D I G A R H

Top stories | Community | Crime | Education | Courts

Culture | Neighbourhood | Sports | Health

TOP STORIES

GC-11, DAV College fined Rs 1 lakh each
Had failed to apply for course affiliation
Chandigarh, January 6
The cracking of whip by Panjab University on two city colleges threatens to snowball into a major confrontation with the colleges opposing the decision. The decision to impose hefty fines on the colleges has not gone down well with the colleges.

UP Blasts
MHA wants urgent security review in courts
Chandigarh, January 6
The UT’s home department is enhancing security at the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the district courts as a number of sensitive cases are being heard there.

One more dies of asphyxiation
7-month-old baby, woman in critical condition
Chandigarh, January 6
In yet another incident of asphyxiation caused by the burning of coals, a 25-year-old woman died this evening while her seven-day-old daughter and mother are battling for life at the PGI.

Asphyxiation?
Bodies of four victims cremated
Chandigarh, January 6
The bodies of four members of a Mauli Complex family found dead under mysterious circumstances on January 3 were consigned to flames at the cremation ground in Mani Majra this evening.

Dearth of public prosecutors at district courts
Chandigarh, January 6
There is acute shortage of staff at the district courts here. According to records, there are 12 judicial magistrate (first class) and eight public prosecutors.

Fog grounds flights
Chandigarh, January 6
Scores of passengers today had to face a harrowing time as three of the flights to and fro from Chandigarh were either cancelled or went back without landing. Only the Jet Airways flight landed at the Chandigarh airport, two hours behind schedule.

NRI conference begins today in New Delhi
Takhar to be main speaker from Canada
Chandigarh, January 6 With $ 8 in pocket, Harinder Singh Takhar, left the Indian shores in 1974 to try his luck in Canada. For five years he did a job in a factory and elsewhere. As he had a masters degree in economics, he got a good job in due course.

Harinder S. Takhar, minister for small business and entrepreneurship, Canada. A Tribune photograph

COMMUNITY

Octogenarian gets justice through RTI Act
Mohali, January 6
Age has settled well among the wrinkles on Mehma Singh’s face, but not his heart. For more than three decades this 83-year-old, a former employee of the Punjab School Education Board, had shouldered the burden of having been wronged.

Mehma Singh shows reports that declared him innocent, which he procured through the RTI Act, in Chandigarh on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

CRPF men under heavy stress: Study
Chandigarh, January 6
Stress levels among Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel are high. The major factor for stress is poor living conditions and lack of basic facilities rather than operational conditions.

Parvasi Punjabi Divas to focus on skill development
Chandigarh, January 6
The International Punjabi Chamber for Service Industry’s (IPCSI) annual conference on January 12 will stress on skills development of the youth for both domestic and foreign markets.

Discourse spells chaos for residents
Panchkula, January 6
Around two lakh disciples of Vishav Manav Rauhani Kender (Nawan Nagar) reached here to attend a discourse by Sant Baljit Singh at Mansa Devi Complex today. This was the first ever discourse by the sant of the kendra founded by Sant Thakar Singh.

Manhole poses danger to commuters
Mohali, January 6
Even though four months have lapsed since the danger posed to commuters due to a manhole that had collapsed on the road opposite the Punjab School Education Board was brought to the fore in these columns, the authorities are yet to wake up from deep slumber.

Mayor inaugurates hand pumps
Chandigarh, January 6
Municipal corporation mayor Pardeep Chhabra today inaugurated two water stand posts consisting of hand pumps at Rajeev Colony and Rajeev Shahpur Colony, Sector 38 West. The water stand post designed by the municipal corporation consists of an underground water tank being fed from canal water — the same water as supplied to the city — with four hand pumps installed on it.

Mayor Pardeep Chhabra inaugurates a hand pump in Chandigarh on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Journalists pedal for health
Chandigarh, January 6
The Chandigarh Journalists Association (CJA), in association with Yuvsatta, an NGO, organised a countryside bike tour for journalists to generate awareness on pollution and healthy living here today.


Journalists take part in a cycle rally to raise awareness on healthy living and pollution in Chandigarh on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Airport Expansion
Bansal thanks chief ministers
Chandigarh, January 6
Expressing gratitude to the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana for offering to contribute substantially for the expansion of the Chandigarh airport and its upgrade to the state-of-the-art international airport, Congress MP and union minister of state for finance Pawan Kumar Bansal said the move would enhance the connectivity of people of the region to the rest of the world.

Elderly relive childhood
Chandigarh, January 6
The Senior Citizens’ Council, Sector 38, organised a fancy-dress competition today to celebrate New Year at the community centre in Sector 38 here. Bubbling with energy, the council members dressed up as kids took to the mike to introduce themselves to the motley crowd, which applauded in enthusiasm.

Winners of a fancy dress competition organised by the Senior Citizens’ Council, Sector 38, in Chandigarh on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Cops’ driving skills put to test
Chandigarh, January 6
On the sixth day of the ongoing 19th road safety week today, the Chandigarh traffic police organised a workshop for drivers of the police force in Children Traffic Park, Sector 23.

Cop with Dy CM found drunk
Panchkula, January 6
Constable Satbir was sent for a medical examination at the local civil hospital after he was found under the influence of liquor here today.

Day temp drops to 19.4 °C
Chandigarh, January 6
City residents today went through the coldest day post January 1 with the day temperature dropping to 19.4° C. Cold conditions prevailed during the entire day as the maximum temperature settled at three degree less than yesterday.

Letters
Curb encroachments
The Chandigarh administration claims that a lot of beautification work is being undertaken in Industrial Area I. However, it does not seem to be concerned with encroachments in the area.

CRIME

Four held after assault, robbery
Chandigarh, January 6
The police arrested four youngsters in the wee hours today on charges of robbing a Mani Majra resident after assaulting him a little after midnight.

Travel agent, aides booked for fraud
Chandigarh, January 6
The police has booked a Sector 22-based travel agent and his associates on charges of duping a Kapurthala resident of Rs 25,000 on the pretext of sending him abroad.

Gang of car thieves busted
Mohali, January 6
The police nabbed a gang of vehicle thieves here today and claimed to have solved over 50 cases of vehicle thefts in the area.

EDUCATION

Jalandhar principal’s killing shocks academics
Colleges closed today
Chandigarh, January 6
The Chandigarh District Council of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) today condemned the brutal killing of Rita Bawa, principal of KMV College, Jalandhar, along with two security guards and one cook.

PU Notes
‘No Vehicle Day’ today
Chandigarh, January 6
Prof Arun D. Ahluwalia, who launched an environment outreach programme at Panjab University in July last year in accordance with the PU syndicate para, has appealed to students, residents, visitors, faculty, staff and their families to observe January 7, the first Monday of the month, as No Vehicle Day and walk or cycle as far possible. The students’ council has already become part of the campaign.

Dissolution of school management
Panel to urge UT to reverse order
Chandigarh, January 6
The issue of dissolving the management committee of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Senior Secondary School, Sector 35-B, by the DPI (Schools), Chandigarh, was today discussed in an emergency general house meeting of the Chandigarh Gurdwara Asthapan Committee, Sector 22.

30 computer teachers put in papers
Mohali, January 6
Computer education in government schools in Mohali seems to have gone for a toss. As many as 30 teachers are reported to have put in their papers, as they have not been paid their salaries for the past three months.

COURTS

Computers a luxury at district courts
Chandigarh, January 6
In this age of hi-tech gadgets, typewriters continue to rule the district courts. Stenos continue to work on age-old typewriters in almost all courtrooms there.

Café Firing
Judicial remand for 3 accused
Chandigarh, January 6
A local court today remanded three accused of firing shots at a coffee bar, Barista, in Sector 35 on December 22 in judicial custody.

CULTURE

Kids stage satirical play
Chandigarh, January 6
The winter camp organised by the Go Bananas Club for city kids concluded at Museum Hall, Sector 10, here today.

Members of a kids’ club take part in the valedictory function at Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

NEIGHBOURHOOD

MLA flays Badal govt over power shortage
Patiala, January 6
Congress MLA from Samana in Patiala district flayed the Parkash Singh Badal government in Punjab here yesterday on the issue of acute power shortage in the state. He said in case the government did not take immediate remedial measure to ease the power crisis, people might take to streets.

Vacant posts will be filled soon: VC
Patiala, January 6
“All appointments and promotions, rendered pending as a result of the ban imposed by the Punjab government, will be filled without any further delay. I believe in the concept that justice delayed is justice denied,” said Dr Jaspal Singh, vice-chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, while addressing A-class Officers’ Association of the university in the Senate Hall.

APRO ‘attacked’ by cop, approaches SSP for justice
Bassi Pathana, January 6
Jai Krishan, assistant public relations officer, Fatehgarh Sahib, had been running from pillar to post to get a case registered against Harpal Singh, a police constable posted at Patiala, who attacked him, broke the window panes of his car in Bassi Pathana and threatened to eliminate him.

RTI Act
Connect records through common network: Commissioner
Ambala, January 6
The Right to Information Act, 2005 has become a tool for the general public to retrieve information from public and private offices.

IELTS training for nursing students
Patiala, January 6
Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital became the first institute in the region to introduce IELTS training programme for nursing students in its college of nursing.

SPORTS

Dynamos to take on Hi-Fliers today
Chandigarh, January 6
It will be Sandeep Singh versus Len Aiyappa, when local favourites Chandigarh Dynamos, take on Bangalore Hi-Fliers, in the best of three finals of the fourth edition of Premier Hockey League starting at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here tomorrow.

Chandigarh give AP 21-1 thrashing
Chandigarh, January 6
The Chandigarh boys dominated the proceedings against Andhra Pradesh team 21-1 on the second day of the u-17 hockey match during the National School Games, held at Sector 42, turf here today. Gagandeep of Chandigarh stole the show by scoring seven goals consecutively and Damandeep scored five goals. On the other side, AP team could score only one field goal during the dying minutes of the match.

Ric Charlesworth to benefit Indian hockey: Jagbir
Chandigarh, January 6
The experience as well as technical know-how of Ric Charlesworth will be an asset to our National game, which has been striving hard to revive the old pride, feels Olympian Jagbir Singh.

Speaking Out
Awful umpiring...
I am not hurt that India lost the second match against Australia in Sydney. But what hurts the most is that our team is becoming a victim of partial umpiring. Definitely, we could have won the second Test today if they (the umpires) took fair decisions in the match. The umpires should be sacked immediately.

National School Games
Students told to attend closing ceremony
Chandigarh, January 6
To generate sports spirit among schoolchildren, DPI (S) S.K. Setia has instructed all principals and heads of the government schools that the students of Classes VI, VII, IX and XI should be present at the closing ceremony of the National School Games.

Girl hockey players in action during the 53rd National School Games in Chandigarh on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Players taken around on cycles
Chandigarh, January 6
With an objective to promote bicycle tourism in the city, The DPI (S) S.K. Setia led the convoy of players, who came to Chandigarh from other states to participate in the ongoing national games.

Irina, Saaniya to play in DLF Golf Tour
Chandigarh, January 6
Irina Brar and Saaniya Sharma of Chandigarh will be seen in action with the top women golfers of the country in the seventh leg of the DLF Women's Professional Golf Tour which gets under way on the greens of the Army Environmental Park and Training Area (AEPTA) at Dhaula Kuan in Delhi on October 9.

DAV-8 register win
Chandigarh, January 6
DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, beat Chandigarh Handball Club, Sector 8, 25-14 in the men’s category of the UT State Handball Championship being played at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 23, here today.

Education department honours players
Chandigarh, January 6
Judo and Table Tennis players from the city schools who bought laurels to the city during National School Games held at Mizoram recently were honoured by the education department in a function held at Government Model High School, Sector 36, here today.

Spice win by 7 wickets
Chandigarh, January 6
Spice telecom defeated Birla Sunlife by 7 wickets in the 8th Cry Cadence Corporate Cricket Challenge being played at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, here today.

ITF attracts players from around the planet
Chandigarh, January 6
Qualifier is a real test for players, said Sergi Sikharulidle, a tennis player from Republic of Georgia, who is in the city for the qualifiers of the ITF Junior Tennis Tournament.

Sergi Sikharulidle, a player from Republic of Georgia, who is playing in the qualifiers of the ITF Junior Tennis Tournament.

HEALTH

98,448 children get polio drops
Chandigarh, January 6
As many as 98,448 children were administered additional polio drops on the first day of the pulse polio immunisation campaign in the city today.

Children get drops of life
Panchkula/Mohali, January 6
A total of 64,211 children were administered polio drops in the 382 booths set up for the purpose on the first day of pulse polio drive here today.

A child being administered polio drops in Mohali on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

‘Technology has revolutionised spine surgeries’
Chandigarh, January 6
Technology has revolutionised the spine surgery with the minimal access spinal technologies (MAST) being the new fad among surgeons giving quick relief to the patients, particularly slip disc patients.