Chandigarh, October 8
In the backdrop of intelligence reports, indicating possibilities of a terrorist strike in the city and fresh inputs of potential involvement of “illegal migrants” in such acts, the UT police has launched a massive operation to identify illegal Bangladesh migrants settled in the slums.

According to sources, SSP S.S. Srivastava has sought a detailed report from various field officers on the number of such migrants in the city. With intelligence reports also indicating a sudden increase in the influx of such illegal migrants, the exercise is being taken on a “war footing”.

Sources said various sub-divisional police officers (SDPOs) had been asked to submit their reports within three days.

“The task is enormous and they might not be able to stick to the time frame”, said an officer on condition of anonymity.

Though the police has no specific information, a general alert has been sounded by the intelligence agencies that “such elements” (read illegal migrants) could be a threat to the security in the ensuing festival season. “They are known to be sympathisers of certain fundamentalist groups, so a watch is being kept on their activities,” said an officer.

Though Srivastava claimed that there was no reason to get alarmed by such reports, he said threat was being taken “seriously”.

“We are on alert and have started a verification of migrants, especially in slums. Prompt action will be initiated if anything suspicious comes out”, said the SSP.

The city unit of the BJP had recently taken up the issue of terror threat to the city with the administration.

Chandigarh, October 8
The Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) report in the murder case of notorious gangster Prabhjinder Singh Dimpy, who was shot dead in an inter-gang shootout on July 7, 2006, near the Lake Club, has confirmed that the bullets used in the crime match with the weapon seized by the police from Jaswinder Singh, alias Rockey, when he was arrested along with Amandeep Singh on July 28 this year.

Two guns and live cartridges were recovered from their possession. The police claimed that during investigations, Rockey had admitted that he had hired two sharp shooters from Uttar Pradesh who murdered Dimpy with the same weapon. However, the police failed to get any clue about the shooters.

Chandigarh, October 8
Close on the heels of the rejection of its ambitious proposal to modernise the police by inducting 3,080 police personnel, the Chandigarh Police is again trying its luck at the ministry of finance.

Smarting under the recent rejection of its proposal, which caused a lot of embarrassment to the local unit of the Congress as local MP Pawan Bansal is a minister of state in the finance ministry, the administration has again submitted a proposal seeking additional 3,080 police personnel, besides sophisticated equipment for the city.

Chandigarh Police maange more The proposal wants one SP, five DSPs, 29 inspectors and 449 SIs/ASIs for the Chandigarh police. Besides, a full-fledged IRB unit having 985 personnel, including, one commandant, three assistant commandants and seven DSPs and inspectors, is being sought.

Keeping in view the recent bombs blasts across the country and peculiar security requirements of the city in the wake of it being the capital of Punjab and Haryana, the proposal is being sent again to tide over the shortage of staff, official sources said here today.

In fact, the administration was requestioning officials at all levels, including one SP, five DSPs, 29 inspectors and 449 SIs/ASIs. Besides, a full-fledged Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) with one commandant, three assistant commandants, and seven inspectors, was being sought by the administration.

The official sources said the policing requirements of a city like Chandigarh were different from other cities as, besides routine duties, the police personnel had to perform VIP duties. With Chandigarh bursting at seams with a population over 12 lakh, the police requirements have undergone a sea change.

A senior police official said a large floating population, mostly from UP and Bihar, virtually kept the police on toes. In fact, the development of the phase III sectors (Sector 48 onwards) and the mushrooming of the rehabilitation colonies in the southern sectors have underlined the need for deployment of more police personnel, he said, justifying the need for more police force.

Recently, the ministry had turned down the administration's proposal. The rejection of the proposal was widely seen as an offshoot of the tussle between minister of state for finance Pawan Bansal and UT administrator SF Rodrigues though the minister had reportedly denied his role in the rejection.

Panchkula, October 8
Plagued with factionalism, the ruling Congress suffered a setback when zila parishad chairman Umesh Sood shifted his loyalty by joining the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) here today.

Sood, however, managed to save his seat of chairman for the time being. Party leaders in the district have been gunning for him after friction surfaced between him and the local administration last month.

Nine members of the parishad had reportedly gone to the mini secretariat to submit a no-confidence motion against Sood yesterday. As deputy commissioner Rajinder Kataria was not in his office, the programme was postponed to today.

Today’s development can prove detrimental to the prospects of the party in the forthcoming general election in this constituency — represented by deputy chief minister Chander Mohan in the assembly and Kumari Selja in Parliament — as the party had recently lost the post of MC vice-president to the BJP.

Addressing mediapersons at a local hotel here today, Sood alleged threat to his life from Kataria and additional deputy commissioner Parvin Kumar. He claimed that he had been compelled to leave the party after the deputy commissioner and the additional deputy commissioner started interfering in his working and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda failed to take notice of the situation in spite of repeated requests made to him in this regard.

Prominent INLD leaders present on the occasion included former state president Sher Singh Barsami, district president Pardeep Chaudhary, city president Manoj Aggarwal and general secretary (Panchkula) Amardeep Chaudhary.

Sood had had a tiff with deputy commissioner and additional deputy commissioner during a meeting last month after which the matter was brought to the notice of the chief minister who was on a visit of town that day.

“Both officials are relatives of high-profile politicians in the state and when I raised objection to their interference in the working of the zila parishad, they started threatening me openly,” alleged Sood.

Blaming Hooda for the circumstances that forced him to leave the party, Sood said bureaucracy was dominating in the present regime and the voice of public representatives was not being heeded to.

Chandigarh, October 8
The coordination committee of the Chandigarh administration and the municipal corporation employees today threatened to burn the effigy of UT administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues in Sector 17 on October 10 if he failed to give them time to meet.

Addressing the media coordination committee, convener Rakesh Kumar said the committee had submitted memorandums of their demand to the administration a number of times but had not received any reply from the authority.

He said the committee opposed the attitude of the administration towards employees and demanded regularisation of daily wagers and work charge employees, bonus to UT employees, removal of five per cent ceiling on employment on compassionate ground and central service conditions for MC employees.

Chandigarh, October 8
The Chandigarh Traffic Police is organising traffic awareness camps at various sectors. “Drive safely to save others” is the motive of the camp, said Superintendent of Police (Traffic), H.S. Doon.

Senior police officials of traffic wing alerted the public during the awareness camp at the Community Centre, Sector 15, on Wednesday.

Addressing the public, DSP Traffic J.S. Cheema said that the duty of the police is beyond issuing ‘challans’, even spreading awareness about traffic rules is also a part of our duty.

Davesh Moudgil, president of Yuva Sankalap Foundation (YSF), was also present at the awareness camp, organised jointly by the Chandigarh Traffic Police and YSF.

Mohali, October 8
The Citizens’ Welfare Council, Phase X, Mohali, alleged that a team of the council had inspected a water storage tank in the area, having a capacity of 30 lakh gallons, and found lizards and insects in it. However, the authorities concerned have denied the allegations.

Press secretary of the council Ranjivan Singh said that after receiving complaints of low pressure and contaminated water being supplied to the area, a team of the council led by Ripudaman Singh Roop checked the underground water storage tank, which caters to the need of Phases IX, X and XI, and found lizards and insects in the water. He alleged that the water tank had not been cleaned for the last over 20 years. The public health officials, however, claimed that the tank constructed by PUDA could not be cleaned due to improper design.

Ranjivan said the machinery at the water works in Phase VI and Sector 57 had become obsolete with the passage of time and could not treat adequate quantity of water. A number of tubewells in Phases IX to XI were also not functioning leading to shortage of water. The authorities concerned also demanded funds for making the tubewells functional, but to no avail, he added.

Even though the Municipal Council had approved Rs 39.8 lakh for installing a booster pump to increase water pressure in Phases IX and X, the proposal had not been implemented as yet, he said.

When contacted, executive engineer Avtar Singh Kalsi, however, said that lizards and insects could not enter the tank as it was covered. “The water cannot be contaminated as it is pumped out daily and fresh water is filled. Such tanks are designed for in such a way that nothing settles down at the base, so there is no need to clean it,” he said. 

Panchkula, October 8
“Ya devi sarv bhu teshu…” the chants invoking the bliss of goddess Mahakali, melted into spell of ecstatic dances and musical renditions at the Durga Puja celebrations, by ICON, Panchkula, in Sector 20 here today.

The cultural programme commenced with a devotional themed Bharatnatyam dance performance by an ensemble of accomplished dancers. The audience evinced keen interest in the rare musical fusion performance by the acclaimed Sarasvani maestro, Subhash Ghosh and noted surgeon Dr Roopak Das.

Subhash bared the melody of “raga puriya kalian” and later “raga kirwani” through a brief alaap, jhalla amidst the soulful chants “Om” by his disciples.

The recital attained climax with noted urology surgeon, Dr Das, joining for instrumental music “fusion” on his Spanish guitar. Earlier ICON president, P.K. Ray, welcomed Padmashri Nek Chand who inaugurated the festival.

Cultural programmes by classical vocalist, Rekha Ray, and disciples, a special puppet show by Navodya School, spot painting competition, a free medical camp and many more items were also held.

In another “Durga Puja” celebrations organised by Bangiya Parishad, in Sector 5, national award winner, Piyusha Mitra, gave a grandiose start to the cultural evening with a Bengali song “Maa Durga Agomoni”.

The highlight of the evening remained a rare display of Human puppet show titled “Shree Rama Krishna Paramhans” presented by Rangtal Theatre group of Kolkatta. Parishad Secretary, Mohanto Ghosh, announced that “Shindur Khala” would be performed tomorrow.

Chandigarh, October 8
The Chandigarh Police has beefed up security in view of Dussehra celebrations in the city. Leaving no stone unturned, on the eve of Dussehra, the police carried out flag march in the city yesterday, which started from lake and Sector 19, at 5 pm and made a round to the market places and other important places, said Sudhanshu Srivastva, SSP UT Chandigarh.

The police said high alert was sounded in the city following which cops in the civil dress and quick reaction teams had been deployed in the city to keep an eye on suspicious.

Stepping up the late night vigil, the police has also installed special checkpoints and intensified patrolling throughout the city. The police along with fire and health officials would be on its toes from today evening till the functions conclude, SSP said.

Chandigarh, October 8
A novel based on the life of Maharaja Duleep Singh, authored by Navtej Sarna, former spokesman of the ministry of external affairs, was released in the city today.

The novel titled “The Exile” presents a sordid tale of intrigue, treachery and cold-blooded murders that greeted the end of the Sikh kingdom and the exile of the last Maharaja, Duleep Singh, to England. Sarna has told the unusual story of the last Maharaja of Punjab. Soon after the British had annexed his kingdom, Duleep Singh was separated from his mother and his people, taken under British guardianship and converted into Christianity.

“At 16, he was taken to England to live the life of a country squire, an exile that he had been schooled to seek himself. But disillusionment with the treatment meted out to him and a late realization of his lost legacy turned him into a rebel,” said the author.

Though Navtej said that writing about history is comparatively easier, he found the novel equally harder to write. “It is always easier to put flesh if you have the skeleton. In fiction, one has to weave the story, but history has its own story. It is harder in the sense that the facts and stories cannot be distorted as per author’s convenience,” he said.

Chandigarh, October 8
The 76th Anniversary of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was celebrated with traditional gaiety and enthusiasm in all Air Force units located in Chandigarh. An oath-taking ceremony, with the air warriors reaffirming their dedication to duty, and a bara khana, marked the day.

Chandigarh is a prime air force center, with 12 Wing, the sensitive transport base providing logistic support to the northern sector, No.3 Base Repair Deport (BRD), the country’s largest helicopter repair establishment and the MiG27/29 TERRTA School, providing technical training to IAF pilots, engineers and technicians on combat aircraft and weapons being located here.

A cultural evening, blood donation camp, healthy baby show, SNCO’s “at home” in the officers' mess and mini marathon were other major functions organised as part of the celebrations. A social evening for serving as well as retired air force officers and civilian dignitaries is also scheduled this week.

The past year has been eventful for the air warriors based here. Aircraft from 12 Wing were deployed to provide disaster relief to earthquake victims of China and bomb attack victims at the Indian embassy in Kabul. This base also accomplished the challenging task of carrying out the first landing by a twin-engine aircraft at Daulat Beg Oldie, the world’s highest airfield, in May.

No. 3 BRD prepared IAF helicopters for UN Missions at Congo and Sudan and also for the Antartica expedition. 

Chandigarh, October 8
In continuation with the earlier international conference held in February this year, another conference on “Child Friendly Cities” was held today at the Panjab University, which was jointly organised by the Canadian Studies Centre and department of public administration, Panjab University in collaboration with the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. Prof B.S. Ghuman, coordinator, Canadian Studies Centre and dean, faculty of arts, said that recognition of children as equal citizens was important from public-policy perspective in India.

Prof Cherie Enns, department of geography and child-friendly cities expert from UFV shared the outcomes of the workshops held at Chandigarh in which students attached highest value to religious symbols, green spaces/nature, transportation, play and houses.

Baldeep Toor, a student intern from UFV, presented examples, including children's parliament in Rajasthan and street smart, Ahmedabad, providing platform to children to exhibit their creative activities. 

Mohali, October 8
The SMO of the Civil Hospital, some doctors and members of the paramedical staff were found absent during a surprise check conducted by senior officials of the Health Department here today.

According to sources, the surprise check was conducted by Dr Rakesh Gupta, deputy director, Department of Health, who was accompanied by Dr Avtar Singh, civil surgeon.

The team reached the hospital around 8.05 a.m. and found Dr H.S.Sarang, SMO in charge of the Civil Hospital, absent. An attendance was marked by the raiding team around 8.15 a.m. and it was found that five other doctors and a number of paramedical staff were also absent. The team left the hospital around 8.30 a.m. and took away the attendance register.

It is reported that the check was conducted on the directions of the health minister Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla. She had asked the director to check the attendance of the staff. The director had then assigned the task to the deputy director.

The director was not available for comments.

Dr Sarang, however, said it was a routine visit by the senior officials of the department. He said he had reached the hospital when the team was about to leave. He had not come to the hospital because he had to go the office of the director, Health. It did not matter much if the doctors came a few minutes late. He said he had again marked the attendance of the staff at the hospital.

Chandigarh, October 8
The Chandigarh administration today notified building bylaws for the conversion of cinemas halls into shopping malls-cum-multiplexes.

According to the new rule, any cinema owner can apply for the conversion of theatres into multiplexes. Earlier, the administration had allowed the conversion of Dhillon cinema, Jagat cinema and KC theatre.

Chandigarh, October 8
An eight-member team of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) will visit Panjab University on October 20. The team will also inspect other city colleges during its three-day visit.

Earlier, in 2003, NAAC had given five stars to Panjab University. This year, it stands as a challenge for PU to retain the status. The inspection team will assess various aspects, including curricular that carries 15 per cent weightage, teaching-learning and evaluation 25 per cent, research, consultancy and extension 20 per cent, infrastructure and learning resources 10 per cent, student support and progression 10 per cent, governance and leadership 15 per cent, innovative practices 5 per cent. Other things that will be covered under curricular aspect are its design and development, academic flexibility, feedback and update.

However, unlike last year, this time the grading system has been changed from granting stars to grades.

According to the new methodology, the institutions will be graded for each key aspect under four categories - A, B, C and D - denoting very good, good, satisfactory and unsatisfactory levels, respectively.

Owing to the financial crunch and minimum grants from various relevant agencies, Panjab University is facing an acute shortage of faculty in various departments. This year, the university started 22 courses, but could not recruit adequate faculty. One of the reasons for the same is also unavailability of the faculty as per the requirements.

Nevertheless, the progress done by the university in the recent times cannot be undermined due to this. Panjab University has done well in various areas like consultancy, research and infrastructure. In the area of co sultancy, departments like chemical engineering and technology and Centre for Industry Institute Partnership Programme have generated crores of rupees. Among new courses, the university has started University Institute of Applied Sciences, offering four new specialised MBA courses, both on campus and off campus.

The university will be first assessed on the basis of a self-assessment report, which will be submitted to NAAC. The report will be based on the criteria laid down by the council. In addition to this, the team will judge the university’s performance on the basis of independent observations. The peer team will also take feedback from students and teachers.

Chandigarh, October 8
Dussehra was celebrated with fervour across the city schools. The Gurukul, Mani Majra, celebrated the day with children of Bapu Dham slums, emphasising the need to spread happiness among not-so-fortunate ones. Advocate General of Punjab H.S. Mattewal presided over the festivities and inspired the students to fight against the evil inside them.

Students of St Kabir Public School, Sector 26, dressed up as Rama, Sita, Laxman and Hanuman, made masks, crowns, puppets etc.

In schools like AKSIPS, Sector 45, huge effigies of Ravana were burnt to mark the victory of good over evil. Teachers spoke on the significance of the festival and children took a pledge to fight evil and uphold righteousness. Students of New Public School jotted down their bad habits and burnt the same.

Celebrated: Students of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Senior Secondary School, Sector 35-B, here celebrated “Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas” by taking part in poster-making and handwriting competitions on environmental issues. The students who bagged the first and second positions were given prizes.