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PHL: Rain can’t rein in spirits
Chandigarh, January 9
Spectators at hockey stadium here could not have bargained for a more exciting game of hockey than what was played between the Chandigarh Dynamos and the Bangalore Hi-Fliers during the second final of the Premier Hockey League.

Hockey fans take shelter under umbrellas to view the second final between the Chandigarh Dynamos and the Bangalore Hi-Fliers at the Sector 42 stadium in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

DIG’s daughter goes missing
Found at uncle’s house in Jaipur
Chandigarh, January 9
The Chandigarh Police was in a tizzy for over 12 hours after the 12-year-old daughter of B.L. Soni, DIG, CBI, Chandigarh, went missing here last night.

PUSU chief booked for molestation
Chandigarh, January 9
The police today booked Tejpal Singh Cheema, president of the Panjab University Students Union (PUSU), on the charges of molesting, thrashing and intimidating a woman. Cheema has reportedly absconded.

"The allegations are baseless. I do not know the girls and it is a conspiracy to tarnish my image. I will join the investigation so as to unravel the ‘mystery.’ — Tejpal S. Cheema

Notice to Satya Sai Trust
Chandigarh, January 9
The management of the Satya Sai Trust, Chandigarh and Haryana, is in trouble for not running the old age home in Sector 30 here properly. On the basis of an inquiry by the director, social welfare, the UT estate officer, R.K. Rao, has issued a show-cause notice to the trust with regard to serious flaws in its functioning and for not calling the nominee of the administration for meetings.

Playing games with school games
Federation feud leaves students nowhere
Chandigarh, January 9
Students participating in the National School Games have become a victim to the ongoing feud between two parallel bodies of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) that conduct the tournament.

COMMUNITY

Education city, knowledge museum go to CHB
Chandigarh, January 9
After handing over the construction of underpasses to the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB), the administration now wants it to handle part of its education city project. Work of the museum of knowledge at the Capitol Complex has also been assigned to it.

Ex-GM of Tribune dead
Chandigarh/ Ambala, January 9
A former general manager of The Tribune Trust, R.R. Sharma, 98, died at his home in Ambala this morning following a prolonged illness. Sharma is credited with having shifted The Tribune from Lahore to Ambala and then to its present location at Chandigarh in 1968. He is survived by three sons and two daughters. 

Coordination panel stamp on dog pound
Chandigarh, January 9
The city will soon have a dog pound and a dog burial ground. A decision to this effect was taken at the second co-ordination committee meeting of the Chandigarh administration and the municipal corporation here yesterday.

A rickshaw-puller carries schoolchildren during rain in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo by Karam Singh

Highway Row
Demolition drive to start today
Panchkula, January 9
A demolition drive to remove encroachments from National Highway-22 will be initiated in Pinjore town from 8 am onwards tomorrow morning. On November 27 and 28, 219 building owners were issued notices to remove the same. An announcement in this regard was made in Pinjore today through a public address system and owners of these buildings, mostly between Dhara Mandal and Bherava Deve Complex, were asked to shift their belongings to other places. Cops have been asked make proper security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident during the drive.

40 pc urban population sans bank accounts
Mohali, January 9
More than 60 per cent rural and 40 per cent urban population does not have bank accounts of any kind. S.R. Sharma, deputy general manager, Punjab National Bank, stated this here yesterday.

SHO shielding drug peddlers: Councillor’s husband
Chandigarh, January 9
Accusing Industrial Area police station SHO of taking “hafta” from drug peddlers, the husband of councillor of ward No. 20 has lodged a complaint with the UT SSP demanding action against the official.

Govt Houses
Probe sought into inferior construction
Chandigarh, January 9
A senior functionary of Punjab, who was allotted a newly-constructed government house, has demanded a CBI inquiry into the poor construction of government houses.

To stem harassment...
EO branches to twine
Chandigarh, January 9 In order to check duplicity and unnecessary harassment to the public, two branches of the estate office will now on work in greater tandem. It has been decided to redefine areas of the field staff of the building branch and the enforcement staff to ensure better utilisation of manpower, said R.K. Rao, estate officer. Formal orders would be issued in the next two or three days.

Temp drops by 3.8 degrees
Chandigarh, January 9
Continuous rain has left the city colder by a few degrees. As the city witnessed 4 mm rain today, the day temperature dropped by 3.8 degrees, making it the coldest day of January so far.

APTC golden jubilee celebrations
Chandigarh, January 9
Set up on January 11, 1947 , the Army Physical Training Corps (APTC) would be celebrating its diamond jubilee on January 11 and 12.

Ex-servicemen flay move to transfer General Panag
Chandigarh, January 9
A section of ex-servicemen in the region have flayed the reported move to transfer the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lieut-Gen H.S. Panag to the Central Command.

Power fluctuation damages electric appliances
Panchkula, January 9
Several electrical appliances were allegedly damaged in the wake of fluctuations in the power supply at Alankar Apartments in Sector 14 here yesterday.

Busting AIDS myths
Chandigarh, January 9
To clarify the myths and misconceptions regarding HIV AIDS, an exhibition titled ‘Hello Zindagi’ was organised at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, here, today.

A car painted with slogans about AIDS awareness at an exhibition held at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Admn seeks 5 days to prepare electoral rolls
Panchkula, January 9
Taking a serious view of the alleged irregularities in the preparation of electoral rolls, the district administration yesterday sought five more days from the Election Commission (EC) for compiling a fair list.

Electoral rolls revised
Chandigarh, January 9
Photo electoral rolls for the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency have been revised. This has been done after inviting claims and objections and in accordance with the provisions of the Registration of Electors Rules. The photo roll would be published on January 10 and would be available for inspection at the UT election department.

160 EWS units approved
Chandigarh, January 9
The Chandigarh Housing Board has allotted tenders for the construction of 160 EWS dwelling units at the site of the Madrasi colony behind Sector 26, which it had cleared of slums. These units will help to accommodate workers engaged in the IT park area.

Letters
Holiday no way to mourn deaths
BRUTAL murders of a Jalandhar college principal and her two security guards and cook have sent shock waves, especially in the academic circle. As a mark of respect, the private colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh were closed for a day.

CRIME

Nepalese held with 1.50 kg charas
Chandigarh, January 9
The police today arrested a Nepalese and claimed to have seized 1.50 kg charas from his possession. A team led by the in charge of the Sector 17 ISBT police post apprehended the man, whose search led to the seizure of charas.

Zirakpur man kidnapped by creditor
Zirakpur, January 9
Ram Kumar, a trader from Fatehabad, allegedly kidnapped Hans Raj, a resident of Badal colony here, as the latter owed him Rs 41,000.

Drug addict found hanging
Chandigarh, January 9
An unemployed man in his mid-20s was found hanging from a ceiling fan hook at his Sector 38 house here this afternoon. The police termed it as a suicide, but is yet to ascertain the reason behind the extreme step. The victim has been identified as 27-year-old Sunil Kumar. He was said to be a drug addict and was taking treatment from a de-addiction centre at the PGI.

CDR unit raided
Mohali, January 9
On a tip-off by the Indian Music Industry (IMI), Punjab police have unearthed a CDR unit in Kharar and seized 7 DVD writers, 344 MP3s, 134 CDRs, 100 DVDRs, 242 Chitrahaar CDs, 404 DVD films and 533 VCD films. Police have also recovered 3,025 inlay cards and two computers. Owner of the unit, Harvinder Kumar, has been arrested.

EDUCATION

GCG-42 gets nod to start add-on courses
Chandigarh, January 9
Panjab University syndicate, in its meeting yesterday, abolished internal assessment for students of BCom II and III studying in the department of correspondence studies.

Members of the MCM and DAV College Employees’ Unions stage a protest against the DAV management in front of the administrative block where the PU syndicate meeting was held. — A Tribune photograph

Payment of retirement dues
DPI’s (C) memo is a relief: Teachers’ body
Chandigarh, January 9
The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) today welcomed the memorandum issued on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court by Dr Kanwarjit Singh, DPI (C), Punjab, for evolving a mechanism to ensure that employees working in the aided colleges are promptly paid their retirement dues.

Education board felicitates foreign students, teachers
Mohali, January 9
The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) organised a function to felicitate a delegation of 17 students and eight teachers of Jeong Myuong High School and Jeong Myeong Middle School, Mokpo, South Korea, here today.

A delegation of Korean students and teachers at Punjab School Education Board office in Mohali on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

From Colleges
Do not marginalise kids with learning disabilities: Expert
Chandigarh, January 9
Bharti Kapoor, an eminent psychologist and director, Optimising Development in Education, delivered an extension lecture on ‘Label to Able - Understanding Learning Disabilities’ at Government College of Education, Sector 20, today.

Members of Aaghaaz of DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh, who won the dramatics competition at the IIT, Mumbai. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

CAT rejects ad hoc lecturers’ plea
Only regular staff eligible for raise
Chandigarh, January 9
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) today disposed of the application of two lecturers Kulmohan Singh and Abdul Salem who pleaded that ad hoc service rendered by them as lecturer could be counted for granting them financial upgradation under the assured career progression (ACP) scheme.

COURTS

Consumer Court
Finance firm fined Rs 50,000
Chandigarh, January 9
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the owner of Excel Creditor, Sector 20, Aman Sharma, to pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 to a shopowner in Sector 32 for unfair trade practice. The petitioner Birbhan Surinder Kumar has also been entitled to Rs 5,000 as cost of litigation.

Hearing in Bhattal case deferred
Prosecution for case withdrawal
Chandigarh, January 9
The opposition leader, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, today appeared before the court of the additional district and sessions judge, Raj Rahul Garg, who deferred the hearing and gave the complainant time to file a reply to the prosecution’s plea to withdraw the case against her.

High Court
PGI appointments through advt tentative
Chandigarh, January 9
Taking up a petition against reservations in faculty post appointments in the PGI here, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed that the appointments made in pursuance to an advertisement/circular would be tentative.

High Court dismisses Wadwalkar’s petition
Chandigarh, January 9
Professor-cum-former head of Panjab University’s mass communication department Sanjay Wadwalkar’s petition seeking directions to the varsity and other respondents to consider him for the department chairperson’s post was today dismissed as withdrawn.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Girls enjoy the rain at Punjabi University in Patiala on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Rajesh Sachar

Canadian MP to take up problems of Punjabi youth
Patiala, January 9
Canadian MP Gurbax Singh Malhi has assured to take up the problems being faced by Punjabi youths regarding the issuance of Canadian visas with the authorities concerned.

Punjabis in Canada indulge in foeticide too: Dosanjh
Sanaur (Patiala), January 9
Female foeticide might have brought bad name to Punjab, but it was also widely prevalent among Punjabis in Canada.

Chandigarh Automobiles penalised for tax evasion
Ropar, January 9
The district excise and taxation officials today detected tax evasion by Chandigarh Automobiles.

Goods train derails
Ambala, January 9
A bogie of a goods train derailed on Ambala-Ludhiana rail section near Ambala Cantonment railway station yesterday morning. The train was coming from Tuglkagabad and was on way to Dandari Kalan.

MC chief absolved of corruption charges
Ambala, January 9
Neelam Sharma, president of Ambala Sadar council, was absolved of corruption charges today.

SPORTS

Chandigarh gives 3-1 thrashing to Punjab
Chandigarh, January 9
Chandigarh boys emerged champions in the softball matches in u-14, 17 and 19 categories, held at various venues. The matches were part of the National School Games being hosted by the Chandigarh Education Department.

Poor start by Saaniya, Irina in Delhi Golf Tour
Chandigarh, January 9
Irina Brar and Saaniya Sharma of Chandigarh started badly with nine over par 81 scores on the opening day of the DLF Women's Professional Golf Tour seventh leg, which saw the country's top professional Smriti Mehra take the lead with a one-under par 71 on the par-72 greens of the Army Environmental Park and Training Area at Dhaula Kuan in Delhi today.

ITF
Weather becomes a cause of concern
Chandigarh, January 9
The ongoing weather condition is now a matter of concern for the players and also for the officials of the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association that is organising the ITF Tennis Tournament. The matches’ schedules for day 3 also got suspended today due to bad weather. Not a single match was played. The weather condition prevailing is certainly a matter of concern to complete the scheduled matches.


A player seems disturbed about the matches being postponed due to bad weather in Chandigarh on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

National School Games
Venue for closing ceremony shifted
Chandigarh, January 9
The venue of prize distribution function and closing ceremony of 53rd National School Games to be held on January 10 has been shifted from Sports Complex-42 to the Auditorium of Government College for Men-11, here.

‘Level of tennis is same in India as abroad’
Chandigarh, January 9
Striking a balance between studies and sports, the tennis players in town for the ITF Tennis Tournament being played at CLTA, Sector 10, shared their views. The level of lawn tennis played here and overseas is almost similar, said the Indian players together.

City kickboxers win laurels
Chandigarh, January 9
The following athletes won medals at the 21st National Kickboxing Championship held at DAV School, Lawrence Road, Amritsar, recently.

Inter-school games from Jan 14
Chandigarh, January 9
The Chandigarh Sports Department is organising the Inter-School Games for under-16 (boys and girls) from January 14 to 16. The competitions will be conducted in 10 sports disciplines. The games are being conducted under the Sports Authority of India's "promotion of sports and games in schools" under Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The participant must be a bonafide student of a government or public recognised school of Chandigarh. The age should be below 16 years as on December 31, 2007, as per the school record.

Support from crowd boost confidence: Rajpal
Chandigarh, January 9
Support from the crowd always gives the strength and boost confidence, said Rajpal Singh, captain of the Chandigarh Dynamos. The team had won the first final from the best of three of the Premier Hockey League being played at Hockey stadium, Sector 42.

HEALTH

Aspirant sends representation to director
PGI’s professorship
Chandigarh, January 9
The PGI continues to turn a blind eye to the alleged following of two sets of rules for selection to post of professor in various department.

Diabetic retinopathy project opens
Mohali, January 9
Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, chief advisor to the Punjab Chief Minister, inaugurated the Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Diabetic Retinopathy Project here today.

Book on acupressure released
Chandigarh, January 9
Dr Amrit Tiwari, former dean of the PGI, Chandigarh, yesterday released a book ‘Acupressure-do it yourself therapy’ written by late Dr Attar Singh.

2,500 given polio drops
Mohali, January 9
Around 2,500 children were administered anti-polio vaccine by BSF personnel on January 6, 7 and 8 in a coordinated drive with the civil health authorities, government of Punjab and Chandigarh administration, in and around Mohali and Chandigarh.

ADMINISTRATION

Two traffic cops suspended for taking bribe
Chandigarh, January 9
The police today suspended a head constable and a constable of the traffic wing for letting off a traffic violator by taking a bribe of Rs 500 from him.