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TOP STORIES

Highway blues don’t seem to end
Panchkula, July 15
The Pinjore-Parwanoo stretch on the all-important NH 21, the gateway to Himachal Pradesh, has been re-christened by the locals as “khooni marg”, thanks to the death of two people in the long traffic jams that have become a daily feature on this road. Crossing the stretch is a virtual nightmare as it sometimes takes three to four hours to pass through it.

Traffic jam in the main bazaar of Kalka on Tuesday morning. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan Anti-rabies serum goes out of stock Chandigarh, July 15 Beware Chandigarhians, it may not be a good time to be bitten by a dog as the city’s main referral centre, Sector 19 Anti-Rabies Civil Dispensary, has run out of the vital life-saving anti-rabies serum.

BITING REALITY: A pond set up by the health authorities in Sector 24, Chandigarh, for breeding fish to check the propagation of mosquitoes, lies in a state of utter neglect. Tribune photo: Karam Singh

IT raids on education tycoons
Chandigarh, July 15
In a major operation to uncover the undeclared wealth, officials of the Income Tax Department today conducted raids on official and residential premises of at least 20 well-known “education tycoons” (aka Shikshan Samrats) in the tricity and its adjoining areas. The raids led to the recovery of about Rs 3 crore in cash, besides seizure of incriminating documents revealing properties worth crores of rupees.
Income tax sleuths raid Jindal’s residence at Manimajra, NAC, on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

MC uses fire engines for spraying chemicals
Vehicles damaged during operations
Ramanjit Singh Sidhu
Chandigarh, July 15
Strange are the ways in which the municipal corporation functions. In the latest instance, it has ignored the advice of its own officials, only to end up incurring avoidable losses.

COMMUNITY

Jehad a misused term: Scholar
Chandigarh, July 15
“Jehad is a term wrongly interpreted by the American media and the Indian media has followed the line,” stated Dr Asghar Ali Engineer, a noted activist and scholar, who has worked extensively on communal harmony and human rights. Pioneer in dealing with the subject of common culture and secularism, Dr Ali was at the Panjab University today to deliver a lecture on “Common Culture and Heritage of India”.
Prof Asghar Ali Engineer delivers a lecture on common culture and heritage of India at Panjab University on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

Chief fire officer to be appointed soon
Chandigarh, July 15
The fire and emergency committee of the municipal corporation today decided to fill the post of the chief fire officer by appointing a technically qualified officer.

PSEB complaint cell neglects residents’ woes
Zirakpur, July 15
Punjab State Electricity Board complaint centre at Baltana is as good as non-existent. It does not have a telephone and no proper complaint register. Even, the contact number of the lineman, who is present on duty, is not mentioned anywhere.

Submit report on amenities, says PSHRC
Chandigarh, July 15
Taking cognisance of a news article that appeared in a newspaper, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission has asked the state government to submit a report by August 27.

Fire services smouldering
Panchkula, July 15
The Fire Brigade services in the district have turned from bad to worse.The district with 816 sq km area consisting of four towns of Panchkula, Pinjore, Kalka and Raipur Rani and 264 villages is dependent on three fire tenders after the contract of 20 employees with this emergency service expired on June 12.

Fake yoga certificate case
Cops seek help from Indian Embassy in Italy
Chandigarh, July 15
The UT police is now seeking help from the Indian Embassy in Italy to investigate the authenticity of the “yoga certificate” allegedly used by inspector Ram Gopal for his promotion. Ram Gopal is currently under suspension.

SSP orders clearance of pending complaints
Chandigarh, July 15
Files of pending complaints piling up are now becoming a concern for the Chandigarh police.

Sunkaria orders filing of case against contractor
Chandigarh, July 15
Dr Roshan Sunkaria, commissioner, municipal corporation, has recommended registration of a criminal case against the contractor, in the contractor-Xen row, to the UT police for further action.

Labourer falls to death
Chandigarh, July 15
Mohan Singh (35) died this evening after falling from third floor of Mentally Retarded Charitable Institute, Sector 32.

Met dept installs toll free number
Chandigarh, July 15
The India meteorological department has installed a toll free telephone number 18001801717 to provide weather information and forecast in respect of 26 cities across the country for general public, government and non-government bodies through computerised IVRS. — TNS

Letters
Facilitate tax payment at sampark centres

EDUCATION

City set to spruce up education system
Chandigarh, July 15
Libraries, language and information communication technology (ICT) services are elementary components to transform an unequal society into an egalitarian and progressive society. To achieve this goal, the Chandigarh administration is thinking on lines of adopting the recommendations of the National Knowledge Commission (NKC), Government of India.

S Regunathan

AIEEE Admissions
Parents raise slogans in PU
Chandigarh, July 15
High drama was witnessed on the last day today of the joint counselling for admission to engineering courses under the AIEEE at Panjab University when a group of parents and students protested against the university authorities.

Prof Naval Kishore, director (sports), tries to pacify the agitated parents in Panjab University, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

PU Notes
UIAMS extends last date
Chandigarh, July 15
The last date for submission of admission forms for off-campus postgraduate diploma courses in (i) international business (ii) entrepreneurship management (iii) NRI entrepreneurship management at the University Institute of Applied Management Sciences (UIAMS) has been extended up to July 31, 2008. The admission forms can now be submitted in the office of UIAMS, room No. 207, Aruna Ranjit Chandra Hall (near post office), PU.

Campus Fashion
Guys and gals all for comfort wear
Chandigarh, July 15
Bidding goodbye to the droning school uniforms, freshers in colleges are revelling in their new trendy dresses, accessories and make-up. Even though colleges aren’t crowded to the maximum, the first peek gave quite an idea of what the coming days may have to offer when it comes to fashion trends and styling.

NIPER  counselling
Mohali, July 15
A joint counselling session for five institutes was held at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) here today.

Army school honours outstanding students
Chandigarh, July 15
Army Public School, Chandimandir, organised a prize distribution ceremony to honour meritorious students of Classes X and XII. 

COURTS

Exemption surprises High Court
Chandigarh, July 15
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today expressed surprise that land in the Panchkula district belonging to R.S. Malik, a retired IAS officer from Haryana, had been released from the acquisition process, while that of a similarly placed landowner had been acquired

Man acquitted of rape
Chandigarh, July 15
District and sessions judge Raj Rahul Garg today acquitted Mohammad Azmal of rape due to lack of evidence.

HC sends notice to railway ministry
Chandigarh, July 15
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice to the railway ministry and other respondents on a petition seeking directions against unauthorised parking fee charged by contractors at the Chandigarh railway station from vehicle owners using the entry and exit road for dropping or picking up commuters.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Punjab College of Law regains affiliation
Patiala, July 15
Punjab College of Law, Patiala, has at last got affiliation and has been revived by Punjabi University for LLB (three year) and BA LLB (five year) from this year onwards.

Project on tiger moths sanctioned
Patiala, July 15
The Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has sanctioned a major research project on ‘tiger moths’ to Dr Jagbir Singh, principal investigator, department of zoology, Punjabi University, Patiala, for a period of three years.

Patiala girl tops BDS
Patiala, July 15
Patiala girl Noor Bhullar has done the city proud by standing first in the BDS (second year) examination of the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences.

PRTC strike puts commuters to inconvenience
Patiala, July 15
A dharna was held by the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) at the local bus stand here today, leading to a disruption of normal traffic flow.

VC forms panel to check ragging
Patiala, July 15
Taking strict cognisance about the scourge of ragging in the Punjabi University campus, vice-chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh has constituted a nine-member Central Committee to stop the menace of ragging. The VC has ordered for taking strictest possible action against the culprits, including expulsion from class, hostel and the university.

Accident victim dies in hospital
Kin blame it on doctor’s negligence 
Banur, July 15
Relatives of an accident victim, undergoing treatment at Gyan Sagar Medical College and Hospital, today raised slogans against the hospital authorities after the victim’s death due to alleged negligence of doctors during the operation.

Clerk nabbed for taking bribe
Ambala, July 15
Vigilance bureau, Ambala, has nabbed a clerk and a peon of city magistrate office for taking bribe of Rs 500 from a resident.

SPORTS

AITA: Ajay beats Dhruv in second round
Chandigarh, July 15
Ajay Yadav of Chandigarh defeated Dhruv Aggarwal of UP by 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the second round of boys’ under-18 category during the AITA Talent Series Tennis Tournament at the CLTA Sports Complex in Sector 10 here today.



A player in action during a match in AITA Talent Series at CLTA in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

OOJAM cricket tourney starts from July 16
Chandigarh, July 15
The OOJAM Memorable Events, an event management organisation in Chandigarh, will organise the OOJAM Invitational Inter-School Cricket Tournament. Inaugural edition of the tournament will be played from July 16 to July 20 at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium here.

TSFI announces team for world c’ship
Chandigarh, July 15
The Table Soccer Federation of India today announced its seven-member team, including one official, which will take part in the World Championship Series of Table Soccer to be held in Germany from July 17 to 20.

DDF launches cricket academy
Chandigarh, July 15
The Durga Das Foundation (DDF) launched Durga Das Foundation Cricket Academy today.



Gaurav Yadav, DIG, Punjab police, on the occasion of launching of DDF Cricket Academy at Strawberry Fields World School, Sector 26, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

HEALTH

Health minister sets sound example
Mohali, July 15
Health minister Laxmi Kanta Chawala visited the Civil Hospital incognito as a patient to the surprise of the hospital staff.

2 specialised dental clinics opened
Chandigarh , July 15
Two state-of-the-art specialised dental clinics were today inaugurated at the Fortis City Centre, Sector 9, here and Fortis Hospital, Phase VIII, Mohali. The multi-speciality dental centres have been set up in partnership with a renowned chain of dental clinics - Axis Dental.

CRIME

P’kula resident duped of Rs 30,000
Panchkula, July 15
A resident of Sector 12 has been duped of Rs 30,000 when a miscreant allegedly using his login password was able to withdraw money through phone banking.

Apple grower, nephew robbedof Rs 1 lakh
Chandigarh, July 15
In a daring robbery, an apple grower and his nephew were robbed off over Rs 1 lakh by three unidentified assailants at press chowk here late tonight.

Adulterated khoya seized
Chandigarh, July 15
Four quintals khoya and barfi was seized from Badal Colony, Zirakpur, by officials here yesterday. It was recovered by officials of the health department — Surinder Pal Surela, civil surgeon, P.K. Mittal and food supply officer Dr Iqbal Singh.

Resident caught stealing power, fined Rs 90,000
Mohali, July 15
The enforcement staff of the Punjab State Electricity Board conducted a raid in Sector 71 here today and caught a resident allegedly stealing power.

BUSINESS

Mountview braces up to beat competition
Round-the-clock coffee shop reopens
Chandigarh, July 15
Competition is pushing the city's only five-star hotel--Mountview--to get bigger and better. In fact, faced with a tough competition from the private sector, the public sector Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation(CITCO) has initiated a major spruce-up plan for its flagship hotel to give it a truly international look.

The new-look coffee shop of Hotel Mountview, which was opened in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

BSNL advisory
Chandigarh, July 15
The BSNL has asked its broadband users to change their broadband passwords after activation of their connections to avoid misuse of their connections.

CULTURE

Lekhak Sabha to elevate Punjabi
Chandigarh, July 15
The oldest accredited Punjabi writers’ body, the Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, has envisaged a concrete plan to elevate Punjabi language, theatre and literature to a spectacular level.