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IT raids on Hot Millions, UT Builders
Tax evasion worth several crores detected
Chandigarh, September 17
In a major crackdown on tax evaders, officials of the income tax department today conducted raids on more than 10 outlets and two residential premises of fast food chain Hot Millions. The outlets include those in the city, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Ambala. Raids were also conducted on the business and residential premises of UT Builders and Promoters, owned by a former income tax lawyer, Prem Lal Midha.

It was shutters down for Hot Millions outlets on Wednesday as IT men conducted raids on their business and (right) residential premises. — A Tribune photo by Himanshu Mahajan

Woman, child receive burns; husband booked
Panchkula, September 17
A 26-year-old woman received burn injuries after her drunk husband tried to set her afire following an altercation here today. A three-year-old son of the woman, identified as Anjali, a resident of Sector 7, also suffered burn injuries during the incident.

Vehicle Thefts
Police to seal sectors during night
Chandigarh, September 17
In an attempt to curb the rising incidents of motor vehicle thefts, the Chandigarh police has devised a strategy to seal one sector in each subdivision to keep a record of the vehicles driven out of the sector during nighttime. There are three subdivisions in the city.

‘Trigger-Happy’ City
Arms licence numbers shoot up
Chandigarh, September 17
There has been a fivefold increase in the number of arms licences issued by the UT administration in the past seven years. From 71 licences in 2000, the figure shot up to 366 by the end of 2006. While pistols seem to be the favoured weapon of arms buyers, there has been a spurt in the purchase of rifles. Data reflected in the statistical abstract released this month by the administration showed that just eight rifle licences were issued in 2000, while the number went up to 131 in 2006.

COMMUNITY

Blueprint of new parking policy ready
Chandigarh, September 17
In the backdrop of Chandigarh having the highest per capita of vehicles in the country, the administration is planning to chalk out a comprehensive parking policy for utilizing the parking spaces in a proper manner.

More showers in coming days

Chandigarh, September 17 As the heat gave a way to cool breeze, followed by rain, in the city today evening, the Met department has said, the rainy weather will continue for more two or three days. SEPTEMBER SHOWERS: A man caught in the sudden rain as he crosses the roundabout in Sector 26 in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

JOIE DE VIVRE: A child enjoys the shower that lashed Chandigarh on Wednesday evening. — Tribune photo by S. Chandan

Dengue: Health dept confirms 3 more cases
Chandigarh, September 17
The number of dengue cases in the city rose to 11 today, with the Health Department confirming three more cases. According to district health officer Dr M.S. Bains, at least 46 more persons are suspected to be suffering from this disease.

4 more cases in P’kula
Panchkula, September 17
Four patients of dengue have reached the PGI, Chandigarh, from Panchkula. With this the number of dengue cases reported from different parts of the district reached 20 today.

Another suicide bid in police custody
Chandigarh, September 17
In yet another case, a theft accused attempted suicide at the Sector 31 police station yesterday. Two months ago, a man had hanged himself at the Industrial Area police station.

Senate Polls
Candidature of teacher on deputation questioned
Chandigarh, September 17
Eyebrows are being raised over the candidature of a teacher on deputation from Haryana who is contesting from the constituency of teachers of affiliated colleges of Panjab University in the last phase of the senate polls scheduled for September 21.

PU declares senate results
Chandigarh, September 17
The results for the professors’ as well as readers’ and lecturers’ constituency on campus for the senate elections were declared today.

Candidates’ selection: PUSU leaders bash each other
Chandigarh, September 17
Panjab University students’ elections might have passed off peacefully but the anger, which was brewing among students, finally came out today when two PUSU (Panjab University Students’ Union) leaders Tejpal Cheema, president, and Sunbir Singh ‘Bhaoo’, vice-president, entered into a brawl outside their department at around noon. Cheema was accompanied with five of his friends. Both of them are IIIrd year student of the Law Department.

US varsities for education fair
Chandigarh, September 17
Representatives of more than 30 American Universities are in city to tell the students about the study aspects at their institutions. They are taking part in an educational fair, hosted by Linden Educational Services, at hotel Mount View, tomorrow.

Students from Ladakh, Batalik visit Chandi Mandir

Chandigarh, September 17 As a part of the ongoing operation Sadbhavana, a group of girl students, from Batalik area of Ladakh visited places of importance in the Western Command and interacted with army officers here. The tour is being sponsored by the Army. Girl students from Batalik and Ladakh interact with women Army officers during their visit to Chandi Mandir on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Shortage of nurses at PGI
Chandigarh, September 17
In the PGI's male medical ward, one nurse takes care of 27 patients. At the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), one nurse works on a shift for six beds. These figures are indicative of the acute shortage of nurses in north India’s premier medical institution, the PGI.

PU, PGI sign MoU
Chandigarh, September 17
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the university here today between the PGIMER, Chandigarh, and the Panjab University (PU), for enrolment/registration of candidates pursuing PhD in various departments of Basic Medical Sciences, PU.

Neerja Bhanot Award for Mumbai woman
Chandigarh, September 17
The Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust yesterday announced it would confer the Neerja Bhanot Award 2008 on Chanda Asani of Mumbai.

Giving shape to many dreams Chandigarh, September 17 Give me just 30 minutes a day of your child and I would help him master the art of concentration and self-potential. That’s what Dr Amit Bhattacharjee claimed while talking about a special programme he had designed for the children. A doctorate in Sports Psychology and Management, Dr Bhattacharjee believes in effective goal setting, be it in sports or academics.                                                                                                     Dr Amit Bhattacharjee

Dharna by admn, MC staff
Chandigarh, September 17
Employees of the Chandigarh administration and the municipal corporation staged a dharna in support of their demands at the Sector 27 and 28 traffic lights today.

3-day national camp on muscular dystrophy
Chandigarh, September 17
Indian Association of muscular dystrophy had its three-day national camp recently at Indira Holiday Home, Sector 24, here. More than 400 persons, including 105 muscular dystrophy patients, from across the country attended the camp. Kartari Devi, Health Minister, of Haryana was the chief guest.

Hindi month at BEL
Chandigarh, September 17
Hindi month is being celebrated at Bharat Electronics Limited, Panchkula. Inaugurating the event, Suresh Katyal, officiating general manager stressed upon the need of using Hindi as a medium of communication in the organisation. He appealed all officers and employees to comply with the official languages rules and facilitate the members of Hindi in day-to-day job. Sudhir Bajaj, deputy general manager congratulated all the employees at BEL for receiving the first prize in 2006-07 for official language implementation.

Play on agony of riot-affected

Chandigarh, September 17 The agony of any terrorism and riot-affected people is too deep for words but actor director Anita Shabdeesh relived the saga of their sufferings through the immaculate staging of the Punjabi play “ Agli dastak hon ton pehlan” at the Randhawa auditorium here today. Punjabi play “Agli dastak hon ton pehlan..” staged during Gursharan Singh Naat Utsav at Randhawa Auditorium. — Photo by Vinay Malik

Consumer Courts
ICICI Lombard fined Rs 1 lakh
Chandigarh, September 17
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum today directed ICICI Lombard to pay punitive damages of Rs 25,000 to a Panchkula resident for repudiating his claim. The forum also directed the insurance company to Rs 75,000 as punitive damages to the State Legal Services Authority. The company was asked to pay the claim to the petitioner.

Medicines worth Rs 50 cr recovered
Panchkula, September 17
Within a fortnight of arrest of seven members of a gang involved in looting of medicines on September 4, the local police has claimed to have recovered medicines worth Rs 52 crore from the dacoits here today.

Two youths ‘kidnapped’ from Sec-49 society
Chandigarh, September 17
High drama was witnessed at Pushpak Society, Sector 49, this evening when a group of persons travelling in two cars “kidnapped” two youngsters from the locality.

MC panel for Gosai as chief fire officer
Chandigarh, September 17
The fire and emergency committee of the municipal corporation has recommended the name of S.K. Gosai, substation officer, for appointment as chief fire officer (CFO), Chandigarh. The post has been lying vacant for a ong time.

Letters
Terror threat
On Saturday when the national capital was reeling under the shock of serial blasts, which killed several people, security and intelligence agencies were apprehensive about the threat perception looming large on the city as stated by the SSP Chandigarh.

EDUCATION

PU Notes
Students given chance to reappear
Chandigarh, September 17
At the culmination of diamond jubilee celebrations, PU has granted one special chance to students to clear reappear/ compartments, in all the courses. The candidates can avail of this special chance in September, 2008; April 2009 or September 2009.

From Colleges
Short-story writing workshop at GCG
Chandigarh, September 17
English department of GCG-11 organised a two-day workshop on short-story writing in collaboration with the college magazine, ABHA, on college campus. As many as 50 students participated in the workshop, who were provided with the study material along with practical inputs in the craft of short-story writing.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Repayment of Central loan
Patiala MC approaches improvement trust for bailout
Patiala, September 17
There seems to be no end in sight to the problems of the debt-ridden local municipal corporation. Already faced with acute shortage of funds, the corporation now has another big loan on its hands to clear.

VC inaugurates film studio at Pbi varsity
Patiala, September 17

In an attempt to meet the growing demand of the television and film industry, the department of journalism and mass communication of Punjabi University took a big leap forward with the inauguration of a new TV and film studio by vice-chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh in the department here today. The acoustically designed studio, accompanied by a production control room (PCR), has been completed at a cost of Rs 25 lakh. Vice-chancellor Jaspal Singh inaugurates a studio at Punjabi University, Patiala, on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Migrant’s Murder
Police claims to have vital clues
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 17
A day after the labourer was found murdered, the Fatehgarh Sahib police today claimed to have got vital clues the case.

Villagers seek action over alleged firing
Banur, September 17
Miscreants allegedly fired gunshots and threatened a section of residents of Fatehpur Garhi village here last night.

Fun Cinema deputy manager stabbed Ambala, September 17 Jitender Kumar, deputy manager of Fun Cinema, Galaxy Mall, was allegedly stabbed by three youth today. He was immediately rushed to the local civil hospital. According to hospital sources, Jitender was stabbed at least six times. Jitender was sitting in his office on the first floor of the mall when the three youths barged in and stabbed him. However, they managed to flee. The injured deputy manager of Fun Cinema in civil hospital, Ambala, on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Women block highway to protest power cut
Ambala, September 17
A number of women of Balana village blocked the Ambala-Hisar road near Ambala City to protest against the scarcity and undeclared power cut in the Naggal area this evening.

Kalka girl participates in Geneva Atom test
Kalka, September 17
Natasha Sharma, a resident of Kalka city, has brought laurels not only to her city but also to the entire Panchkula district, as she is among the team of the scientists at the European Organisation for the Nuclear Research (CERN) for the world's largest Atom - Smasher test which started at Geneva on Wednesday.

Ropar Thermal Plant
Panel seeks CBI probe into breach
Ropar, September 17
President of the Thermal Plant and Ambuja Sufferers’ Association Nirmal Singh Ladhomajra and its general secretary Harbans Singh Banwait today demanded a CBI probe for finding out the reasons behind frequent breaches in the escape channel of Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant.

PSEB imposes Rs 1.35 lakh penalty
Rajpura, September 17
The Punjab State Electricity Board today imposed a penalty of Rs 1.35 lakh in Nalas Khurd and Mangpur villages in Rajpura. Sandeep Gupta, XEN from the enforcement wing of the PSEB, found a tubewell running in the village with a kundi connection. It imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on its owner.

ATF protests Delhi blasts
Ambala, September 17
The Anti-Terrorist Front of India burnt the flag of Pakistan at Ambala City today noon to protest against the serial bomb blast incident of Delhi. The members of the front raised slogans against the Pakistan government.

House gutted due to short-circuit
Kalka, September 17
Articles worth lakhs of rupees were gutted in a fire incident, which occurred due to short circuit in a house at Ward No-5 in Kalka. According to the report submitted by Rakesh Kumar at the police station here, he was sleeping along with his family members in his house on last night.

COURTS

Engineering dept kickbacks case
Approver gets retiral benefits
Chandigarh, September 17
Over 10 years after he was pardoned in the UT engineering department kickbacks case, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the release of A.K. Sachdeva’s death-cum-retirement gratuity and commuted value of pension.

Hearing of Rs 5-cr embezzlement case on Oct 1
Chandigarh, September 17
CBI Special Court of Jagdeep Jain today adjourned the framing of charges in the 5-crore embezzlement case of Oriental Bank of Commerce to October 1.

One gets 5 yr-RI for attempt to murder
Chandigarh, September 17
Additional district and sessions judge S.K. Aggarwal today sentenced Prem Chand to rigorous imprisonment (RI) of five years for attempting to kill his brother. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 9,000 on the accused.

Seats for children sought
Chandigarh, September 17
City resident Shashi Bhushan Sharma has asked HC to direct the state transport authorities of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to ensure half-ticket holders were provided proper seats. CJ Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Surya Kant issued notices for November 25 to the transport authorities in the states.

CRIME

Villagers block traffic over bull’s death

Allege brutality by MC staff Mohali, September 17 Residents of Lambian village blocked traffic in protest against the alleged torture of a stray bull by employees of the municipal council here today. The protesters alleged that council employees had tortured the stray animal while trying to catch it for loading it onto a vehicle. They said the bull got badly injured in the process and died. A bull died after it was caught by MC employees at Lambian village, Phase-VIII, Mohali on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Abduction case against 16-yr-old
Chandigarh, September 17
An abduction case has been registered against a 16-year-old-boy, who along with his friend, had gone missing about a month ago. The case was registered, as the whereabouts of the other boy, Amit, are still not known, while the suspect returned home after a week.

Man held for bid to rape minor
Panchkula, September 17
The police has arrested a resident of Rajiv colony for attempting to rape a 6-year-old child. The accused has been identified as Vijay, who works as a painter.

Man held for possessing smack
Chandigarh, September 17
The local police has arrested Kishore Kumar, a resident of Sector 38, from near Community Centre Sector 38, on September 16 and recovered five grams Smack from his possession.

SPORTS

Kang, Das make the cut at Golden Greens
Chandigarh, September 17
Harjinder Singh Kang of Chandigarh and Ambala's Manav Das made the cut although they were placed at joint 14th and 19th, respectively, as the sun played hide and seek at the midway stage of the LG Golden Greens Amateur Golf Championship at Gurgaon today.

Katoch Shield Day 2: Rain disrupts match Chandigarh, September 17 Rain and cloud played hide and seek on the second day of final of Katoch Shield at PCA Stadium, Mohali, between Chandigarh and Ludhiana, today. The Sector-16 Cricket Stadium wore a deserted look as the rain forced the organisers to stop the match. — A Tribune photograph

JP Atray Tourney
ONGC beat SBM by 8 runs
Chandigarh, September 17
Last year’s runners-up State Bank of Mysore (SBM) got a jolt as the team lost to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) by 8 runs in a rain-truncated opening match of the 15th All-India JP Atray Tournament for the Pearl Trophy at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium here today.

PU beat RSD in inter-college meet

Chandigarh, September 17 MCM DAV College for Women got the better of GGS Khalsa College for Women, Chandigarh, to bag the Panjab University Inter-College Handball (women) Championship for the session 2008-09 here today. A Kabaddi match in progress during the Panjab University inter-college tournament. — Tribune photo by Himanshu Mahajan