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Basement rules not for admn
Chandigarh, January 7
Even as the administration grapples with the problem of creating additional parking in commercial areas, it has ignored the misuse of basement parking in its own buildings.

Additional rooms constructed in the basement of the Sector 17 office of the Chandigarh municipal corporation in violation of the rules. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Shivering they trot to school
Chandigarh, January 7
“I am wearing two sweaters and a jacket and I have to walk down 2 km from my house in this chilly weather with the load of my school bag. What difference will it make if schools remain closed for a week more?”
A girl cycles to school while some other students walk down braving the chill, in Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

It was houseful
Chandigarh, January 7

As it was expected, the final between the Chandigarh Dynamos and Bangalore Hi-Fliers was a thriller for hockey lovers, who couldn’t afford to miss the first final.
A view of the Sector 42 hockey stadium in Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

COMMUNITY

Cold wave gets fatal
Six deaths already this year
Chandigarh, January 7
The first week of this year has already claimed six lives on account of cold wave. While five have been asphyxiated by smoke produced by coal they had left burning to fight cold, one has died after exposure to chill.

Beggar found dead

Police pilot escorts bus to prevent untoward incident
Mohali, January 7
Those waiting for buses at the local bus stand here were in for an unusual sight today. The single private bus belonging to the Orbit Transport Company, owned by the Punjab Chief Minister’s family, arrived at the bus stand with a police pilot escorting it.

Rotarians from Florida in city
Chandigarh, January 7
A group of eight Rotary Club members from Coral Gables, Florida, is visiting the city and hopes to make it a place with the safest drinking water. With plans to work on humanitarian projects, the Rotary Club Coral Cables tied up with the Rotary Club of Chandigarh here today.
Members of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables, Florida, sign an agreement with their counterparts in Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Changing global scenario discussed
Chandigarh, January 7
The Chandigarh Management Association (CMA) organised a seminar on ‘India and Changing Global Realities’ to celebrate its 41st foundation day here today. Dr Surinder P.S. Pruthi, former visiting faculty, Harvard Business School, international senior adviser, United Nations, and consultant to World Bank, was the keynote speaker.

Admn bans use of cyber cafés without ID
Chandigarh, January 7
Fearing the misuse of cyber cafés by anti-social elements, criminals and terrorists to mislead security and investigating agencies, the Chandigarh administration today prohibited the use of cyber cafés by those who fail to furnish an ID.

Sanitation drive from Jan 15
Chandigarh, January 7
A sanitation drive focussing on slums and villages under the jurisdiction of the Chandigarh municipal corporation will begin from January 15.

Finance corpn accused of cheating Dalits
Chandigarh, January 7
The Dalit Rights Protection Forum has accused Scheduled Caste (SC) and other Backward Class (OBC) Finance Development Corporation Limited of cheating the underprivileged in the name of welfare scheme.

Grid failure leaves rly passengers at sea
Chandigarh, January 7
A power failure at the Chandigarh railway station resulted inconvenience to passengers who had arrived there to board Shatabdi Express here this morning. Just few minutes before the train was to leave for Delhi, the power supply to the station failed.

Bid to Slap
Councillor seeks action
Mohali, January 7
Rajinder Prasad Sharma, municipal councillor from ward number 2, today requested the principal secretary, department of local government, Punjab, to take action against Baljit Kaur, municipal councillor from ward number 25, for allegedly trying to slap him when the general body meeting of the municipal council concluded on December 31.

An apology for a bus stop
Mohali, January 7
Hundreds of residents of Hoshiarpur village here are wondering what it takes to awaken the district administration from its deep slumber bordering on complete indifference. The residents had, through The Tribune, highlighted the sorry state of the village bus stop almost two months back.

The bus stop of Hoshiarpur village in a state of neglect. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

Cops shy away from registering bicycle theft case
Panchkula, January 7
The district police does not want to register cases of bicycle thefts. Joginder Paul Sharma, a Sector 19 resident, alleged, “My cycle was stolen on the intervening night of December 7 and 8 from my house and I lodged a complaint with the police post at Sector 19,” said Sharma. “But neither I was given a copy of the daily diary report (DDR) nor FIR,” he said.

Mall culture ruining small vendors: INLD leader
Panchkula, January 7
The mall culture in the state was ruining small vendors and the government was hand-in-glove with big business houses that were being provided cheaper lands at the cost of poor farmers in the state. Surinder Dahiya, state youth president of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) alleged this here today.

Consumer Courts
Stock holding corporation fined Rs 10,000
Chandigarh, January 7
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has directed Stock Holding Corporation of India, Sector 17, to pay Rs 10,000 in compensation for not releasing shares to a petitioner.

Road Safety Week
Traffic police honours winners
Chandigarh, January 7
The Chandigarh traffic police today distributed helmets to three girls and blankets to rickshaw-pullers on the concluding day of the 19th road safety week at Traffic Police Lines, Sector 29, this evening.
Winners of various competitions with their awards on the concluding day of the 19th road safety week at Traffic Auditorium, Sector 29, Chandigarh, on Monday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Splurging by MC
Welfare body to take up issue
Chandigarh, January 7
The monthly executive committee meeting of the Federation of Sector Welfare Association Confederation (FOSWAC) has decided to take up public issues that concern the city.

Make Mohali smoke-free: Body
Mohali, January 7
The Generation Saviour Association urged deputy commissioner H.I.S. Garewal here today to strictly implement anti-tobacco laws and declare SAS Nagar district as smoke free on the pattern of Chandigarh.

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CRIME

Five booked for attempt to murder
Chandigarh, January 7
The police yesterday booked five persons on charges of attempt to murder with sharp-edged weapons in Sector 44.

Accident claims two lives
Panchkula, January 7
Two persons were killed when a truck loaded with iron pipes ran over a scooterist before overturning at Ramgarh, near here, late last night. The truck driver, Parmod Chaudhary, a resident of Mauli Jagran, was also killed.

Watchman found dead
Panchkula, January 7
A watchman was found dead under mysterious circumstances at Ramgarh near here today. The deceased was identified as Guddu (29).

Six held for beating up Army man
Chandigarh, January 7
The police today arrested six youngsters on allegations of assaulting an Army man in Sector 22 on Sunday. In another case, a person was arrested after he snatched a purse in Sector 22.

Medicines worth over Rs 3 lakh stolen
Chandigarh, January 7
Medicines worth over Rs 3 lakh were stolen from a plot in Industrial Area and another Rs 60,000 taken away from a car parked in the Sector 22 market in two incidents of theft in the past 24 hours.

EDUCATION

Suspension
Teachers protest against DPI
Chandigarh, January 7
Disgruntled members of the Sanjhi Adhyapak Sangarash Committee, Mohali, staged a protest in support of their demands outside the office of Harcharan Kaur Brar, DPI (elementary), in Sector 17, here today. They were protesting against the suspension of six teachers from Mohali, who had resisted to attend the seminars during their vacations.
Disgruntled teachers raise slogans outside the office of DPI (elementary) Harcharanjit Kaur Brar in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

‘American’ Gandhi has students spellbound

Chandigarh, January 7 Its rare that one gets to hear someone who takes after Mahatma Gandhi in attire, philosophy and mannerism. Around 100 students and staff members of KB DAV School, Sector 7, were today spellbound to see and listen to ‘olympian’ peace activist Bernie Meyer, whose everything is evocative of Mahatma Gandhi, courtesy Yuvsatta, an NGO. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MAHATMA: Bernie Meyer from the USA, who not only follows Gandhian philosophy but also dresses up like the Mahatma, interacts with students of KB DAV School, Sector 7, in Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

PU to start MBA courses on IIM pattern
Chandigarh, January 7
The Board of Finance of Panjab University, at a meeting held today, decided that the UIET-managed MBA courses on the pattern of IIM shall be started with effect from the session 2008-9. MBA would be offered in four disciplines, including retail management, insurance management, secretariat management.

Principal’s Murder
Colleges remain closed as mark of respect
Chandigarh, January 7
The non-government aided colleges of Chandigarh remained closed today as a mark of respect to Rita Bawa, principal of KMV College, Jalandhar, who was murdered along with her two security guards and cook at her official residence on the intervening night of January 5 and 6 by unidentified persons.

PU Notes
Students, volunteers clean up campus
Chandigarh, January 7
Members of the students’ council, Sankalp volunteers and students from various departments, including students of environmental sciences, joined Prof Arun D. Ahluwalia today in picking waste, tins, mineral water bottles, polythene bags and paper plates strewn around the PU premises and collecting these in old poly bags. The rubbish alarmingly also included some cigarette rubbish on the smoke-free campus.
Students pick up litter strewn around the Panjab University campus in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

PGI’s new session inaugurated
Chandigarh, January 7
Prof J.S. Bajaj, emeritus professor and chairman of the academic council, National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), inaugurated the new academic session of the PGI here today.

COURTS

City lawyer seeks HC directions to admn
Chandigarh, January 7
In a petition filed in public interest before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, a city-based advocate Jasleen Singh Jaidka today sought directions to the UT Administration and other respondents to exercise discretion while entertaining such applications filed by employees for correction in the date of their birth toward the fag end of their service careers.

Custodial Death
Plea moved to review indictment order
Chandigarh, January 7
The prosecution today moved an application for review of order for framing of charges in the alleged Mani Majra custodial death case.

CULTURE

Reena best folk dancer
Chandigarh, January 7
As many as 52 young folk artistes from Himachal Pradesh participated in the two-day solo Himachali nati and folk singing competitions organised under the aegis of the NZCC here at Kala Gram here today. R.T. Jindal IAS, director, NZCC, said the natis were performed as a group dance but the individuals were made to perform solos for judging their potential and talent.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

19-yr-old sets herself afire
Akali councillor, four others booked
Patiala, January 7
A 19-year-old girl immolated herself at Alipur Ariyan village on the Sirhind road here today. According to police sources, Davinder Kaur poured kerosene on herself and succumbed to her burns. Her parents had gone to a neighbour’s house when the incident took place.

Delhi-based woman, son held for duping
Rajpura, January 7
The Rajpura police has arrested a Delhi-based mother-son duo for allegedly duping several persons of lakhs on rupees on the pretext of sending them abroad.

Plan to gherao Orbit Transport buses foiled
Patiala, January 7
Hundreds of supporters of SAD (A) waited in vain to stop the buses of Orbit Transport, allegedly owned by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, here today, even as the local police made foolproof and elaborate arrangements to thwart SAD (A) men from stopping the buses.

Rallies mark road safety week
Ambala, January 7
Accidents are increasing day by day which should be curbed at all costs for saving precious lives.

Anganwari workers hold protest
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 7
The district unit of the Anganwari Workers Union staged a protest in support of their demands here today. Addressing the gathering, union leaders stated that the Badal government was following the policy of suppression and trying to prevail upon the struggling workers by using the police force against them.

Anganwari workers burn the effigy of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in Fatehgarh Sahib on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

SPORTS

Chandigarh thrash Assam 13-1
Chandigarh, January 7
Chandigarh boys had upper hand throughout against Assam team that was beaten with a convincing margin 13-1 during u-17 hockey match played at Hockey Stadium-42 here, today. The match was part of the School National Games being hosted by Chandigarh Education Department.

A girl plays softball during National School Games in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

National School Games
6 players injured in one day
Chandigarh, January 7
Six players participating in the National School Games got hurt in one single day. Rajita of Andhra Pradesh cut her tongue and received bruises on her face while playing the match against Chandigarh team during hockey u-17 match played at Sector 18 hockey ground.

‘ITF leads to Wimbledon’
Chandigarh, January 7
International Tennis Federation tournament is like a ladder to move close to the Wimbledon Trophy, said James and Lewis, tennis players from England, who are in the city to represent their country in the ITF juniors tennis tournament, being played at Chandigarh Lawn Tennis ground, Sector 10.

Noor secures berth in second round
Chandigarh, January 7
Local player Digvijay Singh Mehta stormed into the next round after beating wild card Vedant Kapoor in the straight sets 6-4, 6-4 in the boys’ under-18 singles of the India ITF Junior (Grade 3) Tennis Tournament at the CLTA courts, Sector 10, here today. In girls’ under-18 singles, Noor Paul of Chandigarh also made it to the second round, beating Asha S. Mohan in straight sets 6-3, 6-3, in the first-round.



A player in action during the ITF Tennis Tournament in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Gurnur, Bharat register convincing wins
Panchkula, January 7
Gurnur emerged winner in the below 4 years boys’ category while Bharat won Rink Race-1 in the boys’ above 16 category of the 13th Panchkula District Roller Skating Championship, organised by District Roller Skating Association, Panchkula, at Skating Rink of Blue Bird High School, Sector 16, Panchkula.

10-yr-old golfer carves a niche
Chandigarh, January 7
Feroz Garewal, a budding golfer has started making a niche for himself in the junior golfing arena. The 10-year-old Feroz, who started his sports career just a year back, brought laurels by finishing second runners up in the Western Junior/Sub-Junior Golf Championship, held recently at Bombay Presidency Golf Club in Mumbai. Feroz Garewal was (241), Piyush Sangwan (234) and first runners-up Vidit Singh (240).                                           Feroz Garewal

Inter-college cricket tourney begins
Chandigarh, January 7
Government College for Men, Sector 11, will face B Ed College, Sector 20, in the opening match of the Chandigarh Inter-College Cricket Tournament for Administrator's Cup being organised by the Chandigarh Education Department, at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium here tomorrow

Digvijay emerges winner
Chandigarh, January 7
Digvijay Singh Mehta of India defeated Sagar Ajuja, in straight sets by 6-0, 6-4 in the final qualifying round match and moved into the main draw of under-18 singles in the India ITF (Grade 3) Tennis Tournament at the CLTA Tennis Stadium in Sector 10 here today.