C H A N D I G A R H

Top stories | Community | Education | Courts | Administration

Neighbourhood | Sports | Health | Crime | Business | Culture

TOP STORIES

Couple’s Murder
Gallows for servant, accomplice
Panchkula, June 13
The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Panchkula, Dr Shiv Sharma, here today pronounced death sentence to a domestic help Anand Kindo and his accomplice Rajan Gond for killing Major-General KC Dhingra (retd) and his wife Sangeeta Dhingra in May last year.

Anand Kindo (right), Rajan Gond and Sandhya (face covered)— A Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan: and (right) A file photo of K C Dhingra and his wife Sangeeta

They almost escaped...
Even as the three guilty for murdering Major-General K C Dhingra have been brought to justice by the Panchkula court today their fourth accomplice was still at large. In fact, the trio Anand Kindo, Rajan Gond and the absconder Ajit Tope were able to dodge the police twice before two of them were captured by the police on June 4, 2007.

Rain renders city powerless
Chandigarh, June 13
Power failure in different parts of the city threw life out of gear. Due to the prolonged power cut, the water supply in different sectors was also affected. In a number of sectors, there was no power supply from 9 am till late evening.

MC Claims Rainwashed
(From leftto right) Rain water on roads under-construction poses a serious threat to motorists on the road that divides Sector 30 and 27. Tribune photo by Karam Singh. Road near Yadwindra Public School, Phase 8, Mohali, caved in. Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu . Car damaged due to an uprooted tree in Sector 34. Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan. Accumulated water makes driving a nightmare for motorists in Sector 19 Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan. A water pool on the Sector 20 road. Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

COMMUNITY

Govt hospitals losing talent to private players
Five doctors from GMSH-16 and four from GMCH-32 have switched over to private hospitals
Chandigarh, June 13
The braindrain from government to private hospitals continues unabated. Reason: Handsome salaries, irresistable perks and job satisfaction. The trend has also affected GH-16 and GMCH-32. The PGI too has lost much talent in vital departments like cardiology in the past one year. Five doctors from GMSH-16, and four from GMCH-32 have switched over to private hospitals.

A tree presents a splendid reflection after Friday’s rain in Chandigarh. — Tribune photo by Karam Singh

Acquisition of land for IT park
Farmers’panel meets minister
Chandigarh, June 13
A delegation of the Manimajra Farmers Welfare and Environment Protection Society and ‘the Chandigarh Sanjha Morcha met minister for rural development Raghuvansh Prasad Singh to apprise him of injustice meted out to them by the Chandigarh Administration in the pretext of forcible acquisition of land for Rajiv Gandhi Technology Park, Phase III, and other projects in Chandigarh .

Cooperative movement in Punjab on the rise
Mohali, June 13
Punjab State Cooperative Bank Chairman Jasjit Singh has said positive results have started pouring in for the steps taken by cooperative department in the state for enhancing social responsibility in the movement.

INLD workers burn CM’s effigy
Panchkula, June 13
Thousands of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) workers including the members of its women wing from all over the state staged a protest march against the sucicde f of rape victim at Haryana Polce headquarters here today.


The workers of INLD taking out a protest march at Panchkula on Friday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Zirakpur MC Poll
BJP, SAD reach pact
Zirakpur/Dera Bassi, June 13
Ruling partners the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP have agreed for seat sharing for the Zirakpur Municipal Council election. Now SAD will contest 8 seats out of the total 15 seats whereas rest will be contested by the BJP.

Children, parents come together at ‘Kotla chhapaki’
Mohali, June 13
Roopak Kala Welfare Society and Sarang Lok have jointly organised a summer workshop ‘kotla chhapaki’ at Sarang Lok Phase 11 here.

DC favours basic facilities for Nayagaon
Mohali, June 13
The Deputy Commissioner SAS Nagar Rahul Bhandari would be writing to the department of local bodies to allow for the provision of basic facilities to the residents of Nayagaon NAC.

On mission to motivate youths
Chandigarh, June 13
A group of 20 persons, including retired government officers, software engineers, businessmen, industrial designers, consultants, marketing professionals and housewives have adopted a novel way to attract the youth towards the Indian Army.

Members of Team-456 began their mission from Sector- 17 in Chandigarh, on Friday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan.

Need-based changes
Marla house owners threaten stir
Chandigarh, June 13
Expressing displeasure with the Chandigarh Administration over the need-based changes announced in the marla houses, the Chandigarh Marla House Residents Welfare Association today announced to lodge their protest with the UT Administrator, Gen SF Rodrigues (retd).

When diesel turned water
Chandigarh, June 13
There was a total chaos at the Sector-21 petrol station run by the Bharat Petroleum when a large number of residents complained that its employees were selling diesel mixed with water. They claimed that their vehicles broke down soon after they got the fuel filled from this station.

Sector-21 petrol station was closed after the vehicle owners lodged protest. Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan 

‘Indians are second in taking IELTS’
Chandigarh, June 13
“Indians are placed at number two slot when it comes to taking IELTS,” said Kevin McLaven, first secretary, education services, British High Commission, on Friday while addressing a press conference here. He further disclosed that around 38 per cent people from India who appear for the test are from Punjab.

Kevin McLaven, first secretary, education services, British High Commission (on the left) addresses a press conference along with D. Adhikari in Chandigarh on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

Traffic workshop for CTU drivers from today
Chandigarh, June 13
The Chandigarh Traffic police will start a three-month long workshop at the Children Traffic Park, Sector 23, from tomorrow onwards.

Commonwealth team visits MC
Chandigarh, June 13
A 35-member team from various Asian countries led by Commonwealth Youth Programme of Asia Centre’s regional director Raj K. Mishra visited the municipal corporation’s office here today. The objective behind their visit was to learn about the way the corporation was handling various ongoing projects.

Piccadilly Parking
Staff found overcharging
Chandigarh, June 13
Mayor Pardeep Chhabra yesterday caught employees of Piccadilly Cinema red-handed for overcharging customers.

Panthik manch convener in preventive custody
Chandigarh, June 13
Baljit Singh Khalsa, a resident of Sector 40, who also happens to be convener of the Panthik Vichar Manch, has been taken into preventive custody under Sections 107 and 151 of the CrPC for disturbing the peace here late yesterday night.

No takers for menial jobs
Chandigarh, June 13
The changing social order and economic upliftment of all sections of society has led to a peculiar problem. This growing affluence, across all sections, has ensured that no person is available to do the menial jobs.

Beopar Mandal delegates call on DC
Chandigarh, June 13
A delegation of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal led by its president Charanjiv Singh today called on deputy commissioner-cum-excise and taxation commissioner R.K.Rao to put forward a few demands that had not been met as yet.

Seminar at Press Club on journalism ethics
Chandigarh, June 13
A seminar on ethics in administration and journalism was organised by the Asian Education Society in collaboration with the Chandigarh administration and Press Club here today.

Five zoo inmates dead
Zirakpur, June 13
It was a sad day at the Chhatbir Zoo today. Five of its inmates were found dead this morning. Three out of six Emu chicks born barely four months were found dead.

Environmental week ends
Ropar, June 13
Celebration of the environmental week at Toansa plant by Ranbaxy concluded here today. The celebrations were marked with the active involvement of the employees and neighbouring community from the nearby villages, including Toansa, Banah, Bholewal and Rail Majra.

CITIZENS’ GRIEVANCES
No parking space
A large number of shoppers come to Sadar Market in Sector 19.There is no parking space earmarked for them. The situation is bad between Sectors 19-27 (towards the light point). Most vehicles are parked on the road birms and the entire stretch becomes accident-prone.

Letters
Make short-term courses student-friendly
Panjab University's initiative to start special short-term courses for foreign nationals to help them understand India better is a welcome move.

EDUCATION

Uniform fee structure in colleges a distant dream
Chandigarh, June 13
All claims by PU authorities to have a uniform fee structure across its private colleges fell flat as yet again the crucial meeting of the committee constituted to decide upon the issue today was postponed to June 18.

NTT is now CEd
Chandigarh, June 13
The National Council of Teacher Education (New Delhi) has converted the nursery teacher training (NTT) course to certificate in education (CEd).

From Schools & Colleges
Children at their best
Mohali, June 13
The “Masti vasti fun wun” summer workshop organised by Vivek High School for the children has been running since May 26. During the course of these two weeks the children were made to shed their inhabitations and bring out their best. Vijay who specializes in drama says “I could see the difference in the children within the first week. Each child has something special about them which we recognized and worked on.”

Central Status for PU
Rain fails to dampen protesters’ spirit
Chandigarh, June 13
Despite harsh weather and rains, the chain fast on the Panjab University campus for Central University status for the varsity continued. Today the command was taken over by research scholars from different departments.

• ADMISSIONS 2008-09

COURTS

Consumer Court
AI fined Rs 40,000 for deficiency in service
Chandigarh, June 13
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the managing director, Air India Limited, New Delhi, to pay Rs 20,000 each to two petitioners, both residents of Sector 19, as compensation for deficiency in service.

ADMINISTRATION

Admn takes cue from Delhi finance panel
Divest 2 secys of plump posts
Chandigarh, June 13
Taking a cue from recommendations of the third Delhi Finance Commission, the Chandigarh Administration has clipped the wings of two secretaries, the home secretary and the finance secretary by divesting them of a few important departments.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Unscheduled power cuts spell doom for farmers
Adampur (Fatehgarh Sahib), June 13
The unscheduled power cuts have spelt doom for farmers and forced them to use diesel-run generators and tractors’ machines to keep tube-wells running for paddy plantation.


A farmer powers up a diesel-run generator in Adampur village, Fatehgarh Sahib, on Friday. —A Tribune photograph 

Better facilities for Pbi varsity scholars
Patiala, June 13
Dr Jaspal Singh, vice-chancellor of Punjabi University, today announced setting aside of Rs 50 lakh for strengthening the infrastructure and extending enhanced facilities to the research scholars of the university. He made this commitment while addressing the first-of-its-kind gathering of Punjabi University research fellows and scholars pursuing research in various departments.

Pbi varsity to be smoke, polythene free
Patiala, June 13
"Punjabi University will be rendered smoke and polythene free within next six months. This will be coupled with a strong health and hygiene crusade by planting medicinal plants on three acres of land and carrying out waste management exercises to make the campus healthy and beautiful. Holding flower shows and special exhibitions of seasonal plants will be annual features," said Dr Jaspal Singh, vice-chancellor of Punjabi University, while addressing a newly constituted 16-member Punjabi University environment society here yesterday. 

Ambala Cantt bus stand in a shambles
Ambala, June 13
The Ambala Cantt bus stand is suppose to be one of the most important bus stands in Haryana due to it being in close proximity to the Ambala Cantt railway station, which is one of the biggest stations in this region and also since it is situated on National Highway No. 1.


A view of the Ambala Cantt bus stand. — A Tribune photo

MC Elections
24 nominations filed for Ropar, Kurali
Ropar/Kurali, June 13
Nominations were filed today for the municipal council elections to be held at Ropar and Kurali.

Pinjore boy does wonders with wires
Creates multi-facet phone out of waste electronic material
Pinjore, June 13
Every second day a new electronic device comes up in the market. Japan, China, Germany or the USA, pioneers of electronic market have flooded the homes over the world. These countries spend millions on research work. But there are few geniuses who can create wonders without laboratories and financial support. One such boy lives in the unknown lanes of Pinjore who has used scrap and waste electronic material to invent a multi-facet phone.

Mayor’s verbal attack unethical: Commissioner
Patiala, June 13
The spat between the municipal corporation commissioner and the city mayor took a new turn today with the former terming the latter’s outburst against him as ‘unethical and illegal’.

Simian scare at civil hospital
Bassi Pathana, June 13
Around 50 monkeys at Bassi Pathana government hospital have created panic among patients and visitors. The monkeys not only pelt stones on the visitors, but also snatch away their belongings and have injured many people during the past eight months.


Monkeys sit at the main entrance of Civil Hospital at Bassi Pathana on Friday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

Shopkeepers panic as health dept takes food samples
Bassi Pathana, June 13
Panic prevailed among the shopkeepers of the town as soon as the news spread that a team of health department is taking samples, the shopkeepers pulled down their shutters and fled away from their shops. The health department team led by Dr Girish Bither, district health officer, succeeded in taking more than 10 samples of essential commodities in Bassi Pathana and surrounding areas. The team took samples of milk, curd, cheese, cold drinks, salt, sarson oil, ladoos et al.

Rayat ties up with  Intercontinental Group
Kharar, June 13
Rayat and Bahra Institute of Hotel Management has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Intercontinental Group of the UK to facilitate its students in getting training and placements in group's hotel properties worldwide.

Theatre workshop opens
Patiala, June 13
The 23rd annual one-month long theatre workshop and free acting classes, was organized by Pran Sabharwal and Sunita Sabharwal under the auspices of the National Theatre Arts Society (NTAS), here today.

High drama after pregnant woman’s death
Fatehgarh Sahib, June 13
High drama prevailed in Bhalmajra village in the district after a pregnant woman died reportedly due to excessive blood loss. The woman, a mother of five, two boys and three girls, died today morning.

Coal stock sufficient to meet power requirement: PSEB
Patiala, June 13
The chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Board, Y.S. Ratra, informed here today that the coal stock position of Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) thermal plants was comfortable with 20 days stock available at GNDTP, Bathinda, 17 days stock at GGSSTP, Ropar, and 13 days stock at GHTP, Lehra Mohabbat.

3 acquitted in murder case
Patiala, June 13
Niranjan Singh, Gurdev Singh and Laj Kaur, all residents of Lubana village who were accused in a murder case, were today acquitted by the Additional Session Court. The case was registered against them on a complaint of Jasbir Kaur, wife of the deceased, Gurbax Singh, at Sadar Police Station.

RAIN POURS HAVOC
(From left to right) A road damaged by heavy rain in Patiala. A Tribune photograph. An old man crosses the road carrying his granddaughter outside Government Rajindra Hospital following heavy rains in Patiala. Photo by Rajesh Sachar. A vendor washes vegetables with rainwater that had logged in the streets in Patiala . Photo by Rajesh Sachar. A car breaks down due to waterlogging in Patiala. Photo by Rajesh Sachar. Vehicles pass through a waterlogged street after heavy rain lashed Ambala city on Friday. A Tribune photograph

SPORTS

Punjab edge out K’taka, enter final
Defending champions Punjab edged out Karnataka 4-3 via the tie-breaker to enter the final of the 62nd National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy here today.

Punjab players celebrate their win over Karnataka during the second semifinals of the 62nd National Foodball Championship soccer match for the Santosh Trophy 2008. — Reuters

Coaching camp
Chandigarh, June 13
The Chandigarh Wrestling Association has been conducting a coaching camp of 15 wrestlers for preparation of Chandigarh's participation in the coming first National Youth Games to be held in Bangalore from July 22 to 29. The camp will be organised at Wrestling Coaching Centre, Sector 30, (morning session) and Sector 42, Sports Complex (evening session).

Chess
25 players get 1 point
Chandigarh, June 13
As many as 25 players got one point after the culmination of first round on the inaugural day of the Chandigarh Prize Money Chess Championship-2008 at St. Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, here today.

School sports infrastructure being misused
Chandigarh, June 13
Leaving sports infrastructure on the whims and fancies of administrative officials gives the factual indication that the sports infrastructure at schools is for a privileged few.

HEALTH

Patient with spinal injury gets new lease of life
Chandigarh, June 13
A team of doctors led by Dr Mohinder Kaushal and Ajaya Chakraborty gave a new lease of life to Prem Chand Gupta (72) who was suffering from backache due to fracture in his spine lumbar vertebra one (L1) a year back. He was successfully treated with new innovative technique called “Balloon Kyphoplasty” at Arthroscopy and Spinal Endoscopy Centre here.

CRIME

Lebanese dupes 4 of Rs 2.60 lakh, held
Had taken money for sending them to Lebanon 
Chandigarh, June 13
Abdul Samad, a Lebanese who resides in Sector 23, was arrested on the charges of committing fraud here today evening. According to the police, he along with his wife, Rubbi, had taken Rs 2. 60 lakh from Ramandeep Singh, Rashpal, Jasbir Singh and Gurtej Singh on the pretext of sending them to Lebanon.

Abdul Samad, a resident of Sector 23, in police custody. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

Man held for stealing
Chandigarh, June 13
The local police has arrested Shubham, a Mohali resident, for stealing Rs 5,000 and a credit card from a friend’s residence here today.

BUSINESS

Biz Clips
BSNL reduces tariff
Chandigarh, June 13
BSNL has reduced the tariff for calls originating from BSNL fixed lines and WLL telephones. Calls made to the BSNL cellular network within the circle will be charged one unit for 120 seconds, rather than 60 seconds. The inter-circle STD calls made to BSNL mobiles will be charged one unit for 60 seconds, instead of 30 seconds. General manager (Telecom) Naresh Sharma said these tariff would come into effect immediately.

CULTURE

Festival of Russia in India
Ballet troupe to perform in Panchkula today
Chandigarh, June 13
Art aficionados will be treated to a dazzling display of popular Russian dances by a 93-member ballet troupe of Igor Moiseyev State Akademic Ensemble, Moscow, at the Inderdhanush Auditorium at Panchkula tomorrow.

Members of Igor Moiseyev Ballet arrive at a hotel in Sector 35, Chandigarh, on Friday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

‘I don’t want to bind myself in fixed sur, taal’
Chandigarh, June 13
“For a performer there is nothing like performing live before the audience, but the artiste has to have confidence and fusion of rhythm, creativity and talent.” Renowned singer Jaspinder Narula who won the title of ‘India’s Best Live Performer’ in Dhoom Macha De show on NDTV Imagine's channel, stated this while talking to The Tribune on her visit to Chandigarh today.
Jaspinder Narula interacts with media in Chandigarh on Friday. — Tribune photograph