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IAS officer booked for beating up wife
Chandigarh, June 25
A senior IAS officer and managing director of the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation, Anurag Verma, was today booked on charges of domestic violence after his estranged wife, Shweta, alleged that he had beaten her up at his Sector 16 house here today.

Shweta, along with her son, shows her bruises at the Sector 17 police station in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Vijay Diwas
‘Chief guest’ ADC fails to show up
Panchkukla, June 25
The additional deputy commissioner of Panchkula failed to turn up to pay tributes to martyr Major Sandeep Sagar on the occasion of Vijay Diwas here today. The ADC, Parveen Kumar, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Good Babus, Poor Educators
Principals flunk aptitude test
Chandigarh, June 25
Wondering what this is? These were the questions put to our worthy government school principals in an aptitude test recently. And if you haven’t guessed it already, a majority of them flunked.

COMMUNITY

NUTTY AFFAIR: Coconut water is popular with visitors to the Sukhna lake in Chandigarh. — Tribune photo by Karam Singh

Garbage dots Sector 2 roads
Panchkula, June 25
Heaps of garbage, encroachments, stray cattle, and stink have made life a living nightmare for Sector 2 residents. This is supposed to be a posh sector of the town. Rotting garbage and emanating stink has made it difficult to live in the area but there is nobody to clean it.

‘Sifarish’, not CVC guidelines, works in engg dept
Chandigarh, June 25
Engineers in the UT’s engineering department have become so powerful that their postings have become a matter of “sifarish”. So much so that the administration today had to revert its own orders regarding the posting of two sub-divisional engineers within two weeks.

Fake passports were printed after grant of work permit
Chandigarh, June 25
The suspects involved in the stolen passports case got the passports printed after the approval of the work permit of Italy. Rotting garbage and emanating stink has made it difficult to live in the area but there is nobody to clean it.

Rodrigues inaugurates training centre for women
Chandigarh, June 25
UT administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) inaugurated a production centre in Sector 19-D, here today. Set up by the Chandigarh Child and Women Development Corporation, under the project, training skills will be imparted to women in various income-generating ventures with focus on the disadvantaged sections of society.

International Day Against
Drug Abuse
Not enough de-addiction centres
Chandigarh, June 25
Instances of drug abuse seem to be growing in all segments of society, but there are very few centres where an addict could get help. Medical facilities are inadequate and in the absence of an effective follow-up mechanism, the relapse rate is high.

It was worse than death: Ex-addict
There can’t be anything worse than drug addiction and Raman experienced it for himself. He was in Class XI when he started taking drugs. All of 17, he began with marijuana and soon was hooked to other drugs like cocaine, charas and heroine.

Just another day for them
The “International Day against Drug Abuse” is celebrated with a resolution to unite the world against drug addiction and take the oath of converting international society free of drug abuse. However, it is meaningless for those who are actual victims of the menace and need genuine support.

UT police bares evils of drug abuse
Chandigarh, June 25
International day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed by the Chandigarh Police at the law auditorium, Panjab University, here this morning. IGP S.K. Jain was the chief guest on the occasion.

Empty bombshell found Chandigarh, June 25 Panic gripped parts of Naya Gaon this morning when an empty bombshell was spotted along a road there. The police was informed, which reached the scene with a team of the bomb disposal squad.   The bombshell that was found at Naya Gaon, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Minor re-united with her husband
Chandigarh, June 25
Shalu was united with her husband today. After entering into a “suicide pact” with her husband, the minor was, for safety reasons, sent to the Women Home, Chandigarh, on Monday by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Road work proves near fatal for family Chandigarh, June 25 Negligence on part of the UT engineering department nearly proved fatal for a family when their vehicle got out of control after hitting paver blocks kept on the road separating Sectors 34 and 35, here this evening. The car that met with an accident on the road separating Sectors 34 and 35 in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Mayor visits Ram Darbar
Chandigarh, June 25
Mayor Pardeep Chhabra along with area councillor Ram Lal and senior officials of the municipal corporation visited Ram Darbar to inspect roads and internal streets in the area. Chhabra announced Rs 2 lakh for development works of the area.

Sec 21 residents protest against PG students
Chandigarh, June 25
Residents of Sector 21 protested against nuisance caused by students living as paying guests in the sector this evening. The agitation was led by nominated councillor R.C. Jakhu and student leader Parminder Jaswal.

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EDUCATION

Syndicate to discuss OBC quota on June 28
Meeting to be held in university: VC
Chandigarh, June 25
An emergent meeting of Panjab University’s syndicate is scheduled for June 28 at the PU campus. Clarifying the media reports, vice-chancellor Prof R.C. Sobti said, “It was just an idea, a mere proposal and nothing was finalised as such. The meeting will be held as usual at Syndicate Room in the university.”

From Schools
Anti-drug addiction day observed
Chandigarh, June 25
More than 10 SSA teachers participated in the declamation contest held at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 32, here, today. The event was organised to celebrate the International Anti-Drug Addiction and Illicit Trafficking Day.

PU Notes
‘Save the Girl Child’ campaign at Maloya
Chandigarh, June 25
Center for Adult, Continuing Education and Extension, in collaboration with Don Bosco Navjeevan Centre, organised a one-day campaign on ‘Save the Girl Child’ at Maloya Creche, Madrasi Colony, Maloya, today. More than 50 girls and women participated in the campaign.

NCC cadets screened for shooting tourney
Chandigarh, June 25 In its ongoing mission to identify shooting talent among NCC cadets, the Directorate of NCC conducted the second phase of the Long Term Development Program (LTDP) in Shooting Discipline at the Patiala Ki Rao Ranges here today. An NCC cadet takes an aim during a training camp to identify shooting talent in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

JBT teacher dismissed
Chandigarh, June 25
The Chandigarh Education Department today dismissed a JBT teacher for being absent from her job for two years without getting her leave sanctioned from the competent authority.

New guidelines on promotion to schools
Chandigarh, June 25
The Chandigarh Education Department has issued fresh directions regarding appointments and promotions today. In yet another decision, the department has instructed all school principles to provide information about the ministerial staff working in the government schools that have completed three years stay at one school.

COURTS

High Court
Advocate’s file sent for SC review
Chandigarh, June 25
Another advocate has failed to make it to the Bench, at least for the time being. Advocate Ritu Bahri’s file has reportedly been sent back to the Supreme Court collegium for reconsideration, even as the President cleared the names of Rajan Gupta, Ajay Tewari, Nirmaljit Kaur, Jatinder Chauhan and A.G. Masih.

ADMINISTRATION

Proposed Strike
Admn warns power staff
Chandigarh, June 25
The Chandigarh administration today warned the UT Powermen Union of treating their proposed strike under the “no work no pay” formula. Reacting to a call given by the union regarding the pen-down strike on June 27 due to non-acceptance of their demands, the administration said it had always been sympathetic towards the demands of the electricity employees and there was no need for strike by employees.

Admn mulls allowing conversion to small plots
Chandigarh, June 25
In what may come as a relief to the owners of industrial plots below two kanal, the Chandigarh administration on the directions of the UT administrator is now considering allowing conversion of such industrial plots into commercial establishments.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Sugarcane industry sinking
Govt yet to pay Rs 33 cr to farmers
Morinda, June 25
Punjab government is yet to pay Rs 33 crore to sugarcane farmers for 206 lakh quintals of crop procured during the last season. Since 1996 the state government has not been able to pay sugarcane farmers in time resulting in shrinking land under sugarcane cultivation.

Hemkund Sahib tragedy victims cremated
Behrampur (Bassi Pathana), June 25
An inconsolable Arvinder Singh today wished he had not allowed his family to go for pilgrimage to Hemkund Sahib. He lost his wife and two children at the glacier slide in Hemkund Sahib. His family was cremated today amidst heart-rending scenes at cremation grounds.

4-laning of Chandigarh-Kharar road
Notices served on encroachers
Kharar, June 25
All 141 encroachers of Desu Majra-Kharar stretch, including major townships, have been served notices asking them to abide by the rules of the National High Authority of India (NHAI) and vacate the areas they have encroached upon.

One killed, 3 hurt in accident
Bassi Pathana, June 25
Tragedy struck the family of Randhir Singh, a resident of Behlolpur Mohalla, as his wife Jaswinder Kaur, along with their three daughters, met with an accident on Khamano bypass while returning home after answering the call of nature this morning.

Impounded truck stolen, 2 cops suspended
Kharar, June 25
The munshi and guard posted at CIA office here were suspended yesterday after a truck was stolen from their custody on early Monday morning. SSP Jatinder Aulakh suspended munshi Swaran Singh and guard Satnam Singh. He also ordered a departmental inquiry against both the cops for dereliction of duty.

120 kids participate in long-distance race
Patiala, June 25
A long-distance race was organised by the Sports and Welfare Youth Club at Play Way High School, Lahori Gate here, today. Club president Satwinder Singh said as many as 50 girls and 70 boys took part in the race.

Dera Row: Protesters disrupt rail, road traffic
Madhopur (Fatehgarh Sahib), June 25 Various political parties and religious organisations today blocked rail and road traffic for nearly 10 hours. Rail traffic was completely suspended while vehicles on roads, including long-route buses had to be diverted to reach their destinations. Protesters block rail traffic demanding the arrest of dera chief on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

SAD activists burn effigies of dera chief
Ropar\Kharar, June 25
The activists of SAD burnt effigies and raise slogans against Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa. In Ropar the activists blocked road traffic at Nangal chowk at around 11 am. The traffic was disrupted for 15 minutes.

SAD highlights development projects
Bassi Pathana, June 25
SAD-BJP combine would record a clean sweep in the municipal elections in the State as it did in Bhatinda municipal corporation elections, said Didar Singh Bhatti, MLA, and Rajesh Pal Singh Lalli, senior SAD leader of the area while addressing a series of election meetings in the support of their candidates for the election to municipal council in Bassi Pathana.

Election office inaugurated
Zirakpur, June 25
Punjab cooperation minister and general secretary of SAD Kanwaljit Singh has said private groups contesting elections as independents can not fulfill social responsibilities in removing unemployment and carry out development works in the cities as they had no resources to take up these matters.

Badal colony supports SAD-BJP
Zirakpur, June 25
Opponents of the SAD-BJP combine received a big jolt on Wednesday when residents of Badal Colony falling in ward no. 6 where head of Independent candidate Narinder Sharma is contesting and part of ward no. 10 announced their support for SAD-BJP combine.

SPORTS

Silver jubilee of World Cup win D.P. Azad Academy honours sports personalities

Chandigarh, June 25 To mark the silver jubilee celebrations of India’s historic World Cup triumph of 1983, Kapil Dev’s coach D.P. Azad honoured outstanding cricketers, sports administrators and sports journalists at his cricket academy at St Stephen’s, Sector 45, today. D.P. Azad (front row extreme right) along with sports personalities who were honoured by DP Azad Cricket Academy in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

RTI Act
Is SGFI an NGO?
Chandigarh, June 25
Is the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), the body that is largely accountable for organising sport events at the school-level across the country, a government body or a private NGO?

HEALTH

North’s First
Canine birth control hospital soon
New Delhi, June 25
Chandigarh is all set to have North India’s first animal birth control hospital to check canine population. Conceptualised by animal welfare activist Maneka Gandhi’s non-profit organisation, People for Animals (PFA), the hospital at Raipur Kalan will have a kennel capacity of 1,200 dogs and will cater to the canine population within a 200-km radius of the city.

CRIME

Smack worth Rs 10 lakh seized
Mohali, June 25
In a major haul, the Mohali police has recovered smack worth Rs 10 lakh and cash over Rs 2 lakh from a Phase XI residents there. According to SAS Nagar SSP Jatinder Aulakh, accused Satnam Singh was arrested by Phase XI SHO Deepinder Singh.

Tanwar Case
Police seeks counsel’s opinion
Chandigarh, June 25
The Chandigarh police has finally sent the case against city-based artist Viren Tanwar to a senior standing counsel to seek legal opinion. Viren was booked following a complaint against him for exhibiting a nude painting and portraying animals in objectionable acts at an exhibition in Sector 36.