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TOP STORIES

Chain snatchers on the prowl
Four incidents in Chandigarh, Panchkula
Chandigarh, February 10
Defying the “intensified patrolling” and anti-snatching nakas across the city, snatchers continue to target gullible people in the city without any fear. Nothing else can explain the rise in incidents of snatchings in the city as miscreant on motorcycle snatched valuables from two women in various parts of the city this afternoon. Similarly, two snatching incidents were reported in Panchkula.

Fire-fighting system failed: PCA
Chandigarh, February 10
A day after a major fire gutted the fourth floor of the Punjab Cricket Association, it admitted that the stadium had “some shorcomings” in its fire-fighting system. The stadium’s fire-fighting system failed to operate during yesterday’s fire in which hundreds of workers had a providential escape.
The remains of VIP AC Lounge of the PCA. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Autorickshaw overturns, driver killed
Chandigarh, February 10
An autorickshaw driver, Shamsher Singh of Sector 37, was killed after his vehicle overturned when he lost control over his vehicle while negotiating a turn, late last night.

Medical tourism can wait; basic healthcare first
Amar Singh languishing for four months
Chandigarh, February 10
It’s painful to see old, ailing people languishing for medical attention in a city that never tires of flaunting its healthcare and social justice policies. Come to think of it -- there are close to 60 voluntary organisations in Chandigarh and at least 15 helplines to support people in need of care.

COMMUNITY

Zirakpur gets Rs 85 crore for development
Zirakpur, February 10
The centre government has sanctioned a grant of Rs 75 crore for planned and overall development of Zirakpur while the Punjab government has released Rs 10 crore for the same. This was disclosed by Punjab cooperation minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh while handing over cheques for the amount to president of Zirakpur NAC at a function here today.

Punjab cooperation minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh presentes a cheque of grant to NAC Zirakpur president Narinder Sharma in Baltana on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Burglary at cop’s house
Chandigarh, February 10
Thieves struck at the house of a police officer in Sector 42 Police Colony here last night and decamped with articles worth about Rs 2 lakh.

Folk singers from Punjab perform during the second day of Basant Utsav at Leisure Valley in Sector 10, Chandigarh. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

Nod to panel suggestions on KC theatre
Chandigarh, February 10
The administration has agreed to the recommendations of the expert committee on relaxations in the architectural controls that can be offered for converting the local KC theatre into a multiplex.

Study: Attitude of public info officers hostile
Chandigarh, February 10
The Right to Information Act is now more than two years old but bureaucrats’ indifference to this piece of legislation continues.

PUPPY LOVE: Pet lovers with puppies in their hands during the dog show in Leisure Valley, Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

93,000 kids get polio drops
Chandigarh, February 10
As many as 93,100 children below five years were administered two additional drops of polio vaccine during the first day of the pulse polio immunisation campaign here today.

‘Getting manpower a challenge’
Chandigarh, February 10
Human resource management is emerging as a major challenge for the Merchant Navy. Chairman-cum-managing director of the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) S. Hajara said there has been a decline in the number of candidates wanting to join the Merchant Navy.

Children dressed up as Lord Krishna at Jagan Nath shobha yatra organised by Govind Dham in Sector 12, Panchkula, on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Women Empowerment
Change in people’s mindset must, says Justice Bhan
Chandigarh, February 10
Justice Ashok Bhan of the Supreme Court of India and executive chairman, National Legal Services Authority, yesterday stressed the need for change in the mindset of the people for empowerment of women and added that mere lip service to refer women as “Durga” would not serve the purpose. Justice Bhan was inaugurating a summit on women empowerment organised by the Haryana State Legal Services Authority and Chandigarh Legal Services Authority at Panjab University here.

Site for dog pound ‘inappropriate’
Land to be short-listed in Maloya or Hallo Majra
Chandigarh, February 10
The Chandigarh dog pound, which was to be built in Dhanas, is now expected to come up either in Maloya or Hallo Majra. According to sources, the site in Dhanas was found “inappropriate” after it was discovered that a school and a residential area are located on either side of the site.

Neem oil can be diesel’s substitute: Expert
Mohali, February 10
As the national conference at Chandigarh Engineering College entered its 2nd day, several technology issues were discussed among experts on the occasion.

Now, babus to have own club
Chandigarh, February 10
In what can add a new air of exclusivity to the city’s status-conscious social circle, the Administration will set up a social club that will be for bureaucrats to wine, dine and enjoy their evenings in exclusive style and with no prying eyes of “private persons”.

Refined oil prices up by 10-15 pc
Middle-class houeholds feel the pinch
Chandigarh, February 10
Next time you cook your vegetables, fry paranthas or pakoras, your hands will surely tremble as you pour refined oil. With the prices of the quintessential cooking ingredient- edible oil - touching an all-time high, the middle-class household is feeling the pinch.

Tribune employee bereaved
Chandigarh, February 10
Avtar Kaur, wife of AC mechanic, Avtar Singh, in The Tribune, died after a brief illness here today. Her last rites were performed at the manimajra crematorium here today. She is survived by a daughter and two sons. — TNS

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EDUCATION

Law Moot Court competition concludes
Mohali, February 10
Surana and Surana International Attorney’s National Corporate Law Moot Court competition concluded today with Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar, emerging as the winning team.

Now students can take TOEFL in city
Chandigarh, February 10
The people from north India, particularly J&K, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, would not have to go all the way to Gurgaon to take the TOEFL test. With the conduct of the first Toefl iBT test at Grey Matters, Sector 17, the city has got four big ETS Certified Test Administration Site (CTAS) computer labs.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Politician does a Veeru
Drama ends in his arrest
Dera Bassi, February 10
A 22-year-old small-time politician of this town today decided to do what Dharmendra (Beeru) did in ‘Sholay’.

Radhey Sham hoists the National Flag atop a BSNL tower in Dera Bassi on Sunday; Radhey Sham with the police and the upside down flag. — Tribune photos by Nitin Mittal

Electricity dept to give chance for conversion of category
Ambala, February 10
The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam has decided to give a chance for conversion of category from horticulture to agriculture power (AP) to the applicants, who are actually using electricity for agricultural purpose. The scheme will remain in force till February 29, 2008.

GSMCH to set up first rural health centre
Patiala, February 10
The Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital (GSMCH) is opening its first rural health centre at Gajju Khera village, near Rajpura, on Patiala-Chandigarh road.

SPORTS

Adviser Cricket
Jaskaranvir steers GNPS to victory
Chandigarh, February 10
A thrilling knock of 81 runs by opener Jaskaranvir helped Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, to register an exciting four-wicket victory against DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, today during the ongoing U-19 Inter-school Adviser Cricket Tournament being organised by the Chandigarh sports department at St John's School in Sector 26. After winning the toss, DAV piled up a total of 146 for 3 in allotted 25 overs. Openers Harpreet (17) and Maninder (20) gave them a fine start with a 33-run stand for the first wicket.


Jaskaranvir of GNPS watches his sweep shot against DAV-8 during the Adviser Cup at the Sector-16 stadium in Chandigarh on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

Cricket Tourney
HDFC clinch trophy
Chandigarh, February 10
HDFC XI clinch the trophy defeating Godrej Cricket Club by four wickets in the final of the TR Mittal Memorial Cricket Tournament being organised by Chandigarh Sports Club here today.

Vasundara best golfer
Chandigarh, February 10
Vasundara emerged winner while Aamiya finished runners-up in the girls’ under-7 age group of the Pitch and Putt Golf Tournament held at CGA Golf Range here today.

Winners of the Pitch and Putt Tournament with their prizes at the CGA range near Sukhna Lake on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Kundan qualifies for main draw
Chandigarh, February 10
City lad Kundan Singh moved ahead into the main draw beating Shubham Vij by 4-1, 4-2 in the final qualifying round of the U-14 (boys) Talent Series beginning tomorrow at the CLTA, Sector 10, here today.

HEALTH

Rare heart surgery by Fortis doc Chandigarh, February 10 Dr H.K. Bali, director cardiology of Fortis Hospital, Mohali, and a pioneer in devising a unique stenting technique for complex vascular disorder “pulse less disease”, has repeated his feat after over 10 years. Dr H.K. Bali explains about the rare heart surgery in Chandigarh on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Fungal sinusitis more prevalent in young farmers
Chandigarh, February 10
On the second day of the workshop on fungal sinusitis, Dr David Denning from Manchester spoke on the prevalence of fungal sinusitis in the global perspective.

CRIME

Stolen motorcycle, other articles recovered
Chandigarh, February 10
The police today arrested a Dadu Majra Colony (DMC) resident and claimed to have recovered a stolen motorcycle and other articles from him.

BUSINESS

• Biz Word

CULTURE

Music is food for his soul
Chandigarh, February 10
Singing classical music has always been food for his soul. Starting singing at the age of nine, this music maestro from Jabalpur has come a long way. Meet Pandit Ajay Pohankar, who will celebrate his 60 years of venturing into the world of classical music, at a function organised by Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi at Punjab Kala Bhawan on Monday.

                                                                                               Pandit Ajay Pohankar