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TOP STORIES

BPL cards for the well-off, too
Panchkula, August 31
While thousands of people living in abject poverty have been complaining of not being enrolled under the below the poverty line (BPL) scheme, several well-off people, with properties and incomes in lakhs, in Panchkula have managed to get the yellow card.

Jeet Singh with the BPL mark on the gate of his double-storeyed house. He runs a dairy. Tribune photos: Manoj Mahajan

Bhajji takes rules for a ride
Chandigarh, August 31
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was today on the wrong side of law as he arrived in the city for the BCCI Corporate Cup that begins tomorrow in his Hummer without the mandatory registration numbers.
The Hummer of Harbhajan Singh without any registration number in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

14 yrs on, Beant memorial still not ready
Chandigarh, August 31
Fourteen years down the line, Beant Singh memorial and Chandigarh centre for performing arts, Sector 42, is still to be completed. The memorial, built to commemorate former Punjab CM Beant Singh who fought against terrorism, is now being scaled down from its original plans for want of funds.

The incomplete Beant Singh memorial at Sector 42, Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

COMMUNITY

MC
Finally, support for Babla
House seeks probe against market panel officials
Chandigarh, August 31
Beleaguered Congress councillor Devinder Singh Babla, who was recently booked by the UT police on charges of fraud in a market committee shed allotment scam, found support from his colleagues at a municipal corporation House meeting here today.

Councillors demand an inquiry against officials of the market committee during a House meeting in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Changing platforms a challenge for disabled
Chandigarh, August 31
Safe and proper interlinking of platforms at the Chandigarh railway station for the disabled still needs a thought as these special visitors are being forced to cover the entire length of the platform to reach to the other platform.

A path meant for the physically challenged being used by a scooterist at Chandigarh railway station. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Tribune News Editor retires
Chandigarh, August 31
Abhijit Chatterjee, News Editor of The Tribune, retired today after putting in 33 years of service. Chatterjee had joined The Tribune in April 1976 as a sub-editor and has written extensively on sports, especially cricket. He covered both World Cup tournaments held in India in 1987 and 1996.

Tribune staffers retire
Chandigarh, August 31
Vinay Malhotra, assistant manager in the Advertisement Department, The Tribune, retired today after putting in 37 years of service.

5 DSPs shifted
Chandigarh, August 31
The Chandigarh police today reshuffled five deputy superintendents of police (DSP) with immediate effect.

The trunk of an Arjuna tree which is being peeled off by residents for medicinal purposes. Hundreds of such trees in the tricity are facing threat as people are using the bark to treat hypertension and heart diseases. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

UT ban on non-LPG autos benefits Punjab
Mohali, August 31
Chandigarh administration’s decision to ban entry of the non-LPG auto-rickshaws in the city is proving “productive” for Punjab transport authorities.

Shopkeepers protest against poor drainage
Zirakpur, August 31
Local shopkeepers today protested and raised slogans against municipal council for poor rainwater drainage system on Patiala-Zirakpur road. The protest ended after two hours. MC officials reached the spot and assured them of an earliest solution.

Rainwater enters houses
Residents miffed at civic body’s failure to provide relief
Mohali, August 31
Rain once again brought misery for residents of Phase III-B-2 here today as water entered a number of houses even as adversely affected persons have filed a case of contempt against the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and the municipal council for failing to give them any relief despite orders by a court.

Security stepped up on campus, 700 cops deployed
Chandigarh, August 31
In a bid to conduct violence-free elections on the Panjab University campus, the police will deploy over 700 police personnel, along with riot control force, at the hustings.

United yet divided; SOPU-INSO declare alliance
Chandigarh, August 31
Hopes of having a “probable” women president in the Panjab University’s upcoming student council elections came crashing down after INSO candidate Deepika Thakur agreed to contest for the post of general secretary today. The decision came after a meeting of SOPU and INSO parties, who declared an alliance today.

INSO and SOPU leaders declare an alliance during a press conference at Panjab University on Monday. Tribune Photo- Pradeep Tewari 

Women’s front launched
Chandigarh, August 31
Representatives of the girls’ hostels at PU today launched Panjab University’s Women Front (PUWF) at student centre. Highlighting the future strategies, INSO party member Deepika Thakur elaborated on the motive behind the formation of the front.

A waterlogged road after heavy rain at Baltana near Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: S. Chandan

Student bodies vent ire over dormant placement cell
Chandigarh, August 30
The “sinking” placement scenario this year have asserted the redundancy of the current “centralised placement cell” in Panjab University, claimed various students’ parties. A feature, constantly visible on party agendas year after year has once again managed to crop up in manifestos this time too.

Building promoters fail to follow bylaws
Zirakpur, August 31
A large number of promoters of shopping complexes, marriage palaces, residential colonies in Zirakpur municipal limits were not adhering to the provisions of building byelaws, including the floor area ratio (FAR) and parking space.

Suicide bid by Class VIII student
Chandigarh, August 31
A Class VIII girl student of a government school at Hallomajra tried to commit suicide on the school premises today. The issue came to light when her friends spotted her with a blade with which she was trying to cut her nerves, sources said.

Quota scheme
Mohali, August 31
The education department of Punjab has launched a scheme to implement 25 per cent reservation for poor students in private schools and colleges. 

48.8 mm rainfall in 24 hours
Chandigarh, August 31 The city received its highest rainfall of 48.8 mm in the last 24 hours with maximum temperature touching 30.8 °C and minimum temperature slumping to 23.6 °C, showing a decline of three to four degrees.

Sec-17 Parking Lot
Where attendants open door locks with ease
Chandigarh, August 31
In a bizarre practice, attendants at a parking lot in Sector 17 here have been opening door locks of cars using measuring scales to accommodate vehicles in the parking lot. The practice has reportedly been going on in the parking lot near the general post office (GPO) in Sector 17, where attendants have been conveniently opening vehicles using measuring scales in the absence of car occupants.

A parking lot attendant opens a door lock of a Maruti car with a measuring scale in Sector 17 in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Cyclist killed in accident
Chandigarh, August 31
In a hit-and-run case, a 25-year-old cyclist was killed near Sector 27 petrol station early this morning. The police said the victim, Parveen Kumar, was coming from grain market side when he was hit by an unidentified vehicle.

CityScope Letters-II

EDUCATION

Schools and Colleges
Sri Sukhmani students bring laurels
Mohali, August 31
MBA students of Sri Sukhmani College of Postgraduation, Dera Bassi, have secured hundred per cent pass result in the examinations conducted by Punjab Technical University.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Agriculture department gears up to tackle leaf blight
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 31
The agriculture department is gearing up to tackle the bacterial leaf blight disease in paddy. Incessant rains are proving helpful for farmers, however, some of them have complained of the diseases striking crop due to water stagnation.

SBoP revises interest rates
Patiala, August 31
State Bank of Patiala has revised interest rates on domestic term deposits starting from September 1.

Body found from river
Kalka, August 31
The Pinjore police has recovered a decomposed body of a girl from the river of Surjpur Bridge today.

Bus catches fire
Lalru, August 31
A bus of a private factory gutted in the fire after it collided with electricity poles near Sitarpur village on Ambala-Chandigarh highway here this evening. Meanwhile, bus driver Ram Lal had a narrow escape as he immediately jumped out from the burning bus.

Private Schools
Hefty fee being charged: Parents
Bassi Pathana, August 31
Parents of the students studying in privately managed public schools are allegedly being fleeced by managements of these schools, as they are forced to pay heavy fee on the pretext of various types of funds.

Extra classes improve results at govt school
Ropar, August 31
Introducing extra classes at Government High School in Railmajra village has improved results of Class X. With the initiative of the Max India Foundation (MIF), students were provided with additional coaching after the study hours. While pass percentage was mere 22 per cent in 2007.

Senior doctors threaten to join agitation
Patiala, August 31
Senior doctors in the Government Rajindra Hospital served a two-day ultimatum to the hospital authorities here today. They demanded that in case the demands of junior doctors, who are on strike were not met, they would be forced to join their agitation.

Members of the Junior Doctor Association block the Sangrur road in Patiala on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Logo of Patiala municipal corporation released
Patiala, August 31
Surjit Singh Rakhra, chairman of the District Planning Board and president of the NRI wing today released a logo of local Municipal Corporation at its office here today. Rakhra said Rs 45 crore would be spent to beautify the city.

Body found in train
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 31
An unidentified body of man was found in a train yesterday. The train was on its way from Ambala to Nangal. The passengers of 1USN passenger train informed the Government Railway Police officials about the body at the Sirhind Railway Station.

COURTS

Lior Case
Dr Jain summoned to court
Chandigarh, August 31
The court has summoned Dr SK Jain, additional director, CFSL, on September 5 as defence witness pertaining to the case of Israel national Lior Avi Ben Moyal, who was allegedly found in possession of 154.5 kg contraband along with two others.

Two get 5-yr jail for culpable homicide
Chandigarh, August 31
A local court today sentenced two persons to five-year imprisonment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder that took place in 2000. The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Raj Rahul Garg held the two — Charanjeet Singh and Lakhbir Singh, both brothers-in-law of the victim — guilty and pronounced the orders.

Man gets 7-yr RI for raping minor
Chandigarh, August 31
A local court today sentenced a convict to seven-year imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him for raping a minor.

Man convicted under NDPS Act
Chandigarh, August 31
The special NDPS court today sentenced an accused to one-year imprisonment under the NDPS Act. 

64 selected in campus placement
Kharar/ Ropar, August 31
The Panasonic Corporation India, an electronics company, selected 64 students of Rayat-Bahra Group of Institutions during a placement drive held at Rayat-Bahra Bio-Technology Centre of Excellence.

5-yr jail for robbery
Chandigarh, August 31
A local court today sentenced a man to five-year imprisonment in a drugging and robbing case pertaining to 2008.

2 acquitted in Command Hospital rape case
Panchkula, August 31
The District and Sessions Judge, SP Singh, today acquitted Naik Hottam Singh, ward in charge, and Naik Iftikhar Khan, a nursing attendant, who were facing charges in a rape case at the Command Hospital here. The order of the acquittal came after the prosecution failed to provide any evidence. The court had framed charges in April against the duo who had been accused of raping a patient at the hospital on November 22, 2008.

CRIME

Jewellery worth Rs 2 lakh stolen
Zirakpur, August 31
Thieves decamped with jewellery worth Rs 2 lakh, along with a cash of Rs 10,000, after breaking in to a house at Nabha village near here.

SPORTS

Corporate Cup
Top players in city
Chandigarh, August 31
MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh and Mohd Kaif, along with other players arrived in the city today to play the BCCI Sahara Corporate Cup at the PCA Stadium in Mohali to be held from September 1 to 6.

Players take field for a practice session at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Monday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Teams selected for netball meet
Chandigarh, August 31
The 55th School National Netball Championship- 2009 will be held at Chhattisgarh from October 7 to 11. The Chandigarh Education Department today conducted trials to select the Chandigarh teams on St Soldier International School ground in Sector 28.

Administrator’s Challenge Cup from today
Chandigarh, August 31
The Chandigarh Sports department completed all arrangements for the 7th Administrator’s Challenge Cup, an All-India Football Tournament (U-17 Boys) starting from tomorrow at the Sector 17 Football Stadium and the Sector 42 Sports Complex here.

City to host PGTI event
Chandigarh, August 31
The Chandigarh Golf Club will host the PGTI Players Championship on its refurbished greens from September 9 to 12. The Professional Golf Tour of India will shift to the par-72 Chandigarh greens after the Bangalore Open.

Govt Middle School girls kho-kho champs
Chandigarh, August 31
The girls' kho-kho team of the Government Middle School, Sector 46-D, has won the Chandigarh Inter-School Kho-Kho championship by defeating Shri Guru Gobind Singh Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, (five points) in the final match played today.

Football Tourney
Carmel Convent, St Stephen’s in final
Chandigarh, August 31
Carmel Convent School, Sector 9, will defend their title while runners-up St Stephen's School, Sector 45, are expected to go all out to take revenge for their defeat in the last edition of the Chandigarh Sub-Junior Girls’ State Football Championship for KC Bhargava Trophy being conducted by the Chandigarh Football Association on St Stephen's ground from September 2 to 5.

Manav Mangal clinch u-17 title
Chandigarh, August 31
Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21, clinched the Under-17 girls’ title under the aegis of the UT education department, being held at DAV Public School, Sector 8, here.

Football
Exhibition match at Mount Carmel
Chandigarh, August 31
Class XII snatched a 2-1 victory over Class XI in an exhibition football match played to celebrate the National Sports Day at Mount Carmel School in Sector 47 here recently.

Wrestling meet on Sept 12
Chandigarh, August 31
The Chandigarh State Wrestling Championship for men and women will be conducted at the Sector 10 Skating Rink on September 12 here.

Karate: Chaman Vatika students bring laurels
Ambala, August 31
Students of Chaman Vatika once again bagged one gold, three silver and five bronze medals in the 15th District Karate Competition. The competition was held in War Heroes Memorial Stadium at Ambala Cantt on August 29 and 30.

GGSSS-20 players shine
Chandigarh, August 31
Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 20, won various prizes in the recently held Inter-State School Tournament organised by the UT education department here.

DAV Public School 1st in TT
Chandigarh, August 31
DAV Public School, Sector 8, bagged 1st position in u-14 girls’ category of Table Tennis Inter-School Tournament held at DAV Public School here. The winners are Pareen Verma, Anshuki Verma, Kritika Soni, Ritika Dhiman and Sanaa.—TNS

Hockey Punjab formed
Chandigarh, August 31
Members of the Punjab Olympic Association today unanimously decided to merge all the existing associations and form a new body “Hockey Punjab” to manage the affairs of hockey in Punjab. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has been elected as the president of Hockey Punjab. — TNS