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TOP STORIES

Babla likely to be disqualified
Chandigarh, December 30
Devinder Singh Babla of the Congress is likely to be disqualified as councillor from the municipal corporation on the basis of absence from the house for three consecutive months. Highly placed sources in the Chandigarh administration said the authorities might issue orders in this regard soon.

5 more deaths from swine flu
Chandigarh, December 30
The swine flu death graph is rising at an alarming rate in the city. Five more persons, including a resident of Chandigarh, succumbed to the deadly virus today, raising the death toll to 55.

Ruchika’s Expulsion
Sacred Heart seeks time from admn
Chandigarh, December 30
The Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, has asked for a day or two from the UT administration to ascertain whether Ruchika Girhotra had been expelled from the institution under pressure or withdrawn by her family after the molestation incident.

SDM(S) Prerna Puri comes out of Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, after initiating a magisterial probe in the Ruchika molestation case, in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Security geared up for New Year celebrations
Chandigarh, December 30
The police has identified as many as 94 sensitive points in the city in view of the New Year celebrations. The traffic police in a press release stated that elaborate security arrangements had been made and extra force would be deployed to maintain the law and order situation in the city.

Students start a peace march from Chandigarh to Delhi, demanding immediate and unconditional release of the 11th Panchen Lama and other political prisoners in Tibet, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Poor visibility hits flights
Chandigarh, December 30
The city had a chilly and foggy morning today. The visibility was 1000m, but the impact was felt at the airport, where for the first time this winter, no flight could land due to poor visibility.

Fruit-seller looted, stabbed to death
Chandigarh, December 30
A fruit-seller in his mid-twenties was allegedly stabbed to death by at least two unidentified persons near the Dadu Majra Colony here last night. The killers dragged Rajesh, the victim, to a secluded place, robbed him of cash and other articles and stabbed him repeatedly.

rewind 2009

Changing face of the City Beautiful: 1 DT mall in Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park is a mirror of the changed work profile and activities of the city youth in the fast developing campus. 2 The long wait for the international airport will finally come to an end. 3 What proved to be an effective platform for the regional artisans, the crafts ‘mela’, introduced this year, enthralled the local population and showcased ethnic crafts of the Northern region in October. 4 Lady travellers are all smiles in the exclusive bus service for the fair sex commenced by the Union Territory in August.

reflections of lighter moments: 5 Foreigners add fresh colours to the annual crafts’ mela at the Leisure Valley in November and the numbers continue to swell each year. 6 Bungee jumping has become a hot sport, particularly among children, at the Sukhna lake. 7 Innocent minds borrow impressions of nature at the Chrysanthemum show in December

Emotional Outpourings: 8 Anuradha, nee Fiza, with her dazzled husband, Chander Mohan, nee Chand Mohammad, who had married her against parents’ wishes. He soon deserted her only to return in June.  9 Children thank Dhruv and Archit, who lost their lives in a road accident, with whose eyes they will see the world. 10 An emotional Kapil Dev is all tears at the cremation of his mother in June. — Photos by Manoj Mahajan, Pradeep Tewari, S. Chandan, Vinay Malik, Parvesh Chauhan, Vicky and Nitin Mittal. Compiled by Sanjeev Singh Bariana

2009 had sweet memories for some biggies: 1 — Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, being garlanded following his victory in the Lok Sabha elections. 2 — Sukhbir Badal seeks blessings of his father, Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal following his swearing in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab. 3 — Bhupinder Hooda raises his hand, thanking the public, following his oath-taking ceremony as the Haryana Chief Minister. 4 — Kamlesh being garlanded by her supporters following her election as the city Mayor

The year was sour for certain others: 5 — The smile of SPS Rathore, a former DGP(Haryana), following a punishment of only six months in the Ruchika suicide case after 19 years of trial in December, invited huge public wrath (inset Ruchika Gilhotra). 6 — Saji Mohan, a former zonal NCB director, being whisked away by police for his alleged involvement in shady drug deals in March. 7 — Davinder Babla, a Congress councilor, who remained absconding for more than four months following his name in a shady allotment of sheds in Grain Market resurfaces in December-end.

The year had pleasant moments for some: 8 — Passengers and the driver are all smiles in their ride of the first tuk-tuk auto-rickshaw promising fair fare introduced by Chandigarh Administration in August. 9 — Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh accepts his PhD at hands of Prof RC Sobti, Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University in October. 10 — Children enjoy their fun race during the National School Games in January

Some saw trying times: 11 — Doctors cover their faces as a precautionary measure against the ongoing swine flu in the city in December. 12 — A Sikh youth holds guard inside his residential quarters in the Gurudwara of Sector 38 (West) following anti-encroachment drive in January. 13 — View of a fire in Sector 22 in April which consumed three lives and injured many others.

COMMUNITY

Blood Transfusion Services
City on top
Chandigarh, December 30
The blood transfusion services available in the city have been declared best by the National AIDS Control Organisation, New Delhi.

MC panel okays development works
Chandigarh, December 30
The electricity committee of the municipal corporation held a meeting here today under the chairmanship of Manjit Singh Chohan.

Traders gear up for chief’s poll
Chandigarh, December 30
At a time when trade and industry have to come to terms with recession, city traders are warming up to the election of the next president of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM) in February next.

CPI stages dharna Chandigarh, December 30 Activists of the local unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) today staged a dharna against the Chandigarh administration for not allowing residents to hold protests in the city. Activists of the city unit of the CPI protest against the administration for not allowing residents to hold dharna anywhere in the city, other than space earmarked in Sector 25, at Sector 20, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Woollens distributed
Chandigarh, December 30
Over 200 slum children were given gift hampers comprising track suits and woollens by Lady Governor Jean Rodrigues at Strawberry Fields School, Sector 26, recently.

12 singers enter final
Chandigarh, December 30
Forty contestants participated in the second semifinal of the Voice of Chandigarh at the Sector 17 Plaza here today.

EDUCATION

Punjab board to work on CBSE pattern
Mohali, December 30
The Punjab School Education Board will work on the CBSE pattern from the next academic session in order to bring about uniformity in the system of education prevalent across the country.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Residents resent proposed hike in water rates
Bassi Pathana, December 30
Residents of the town have strongly reacted to Resolution No.115 passed by the councillors recommending an increase in the existing rates of drinking water being supplied by the council in the town.

DC to aid of beggars on cold night
Ambala, December 30
Beggars on the railway station and bus-sheds here were in for a pleasant surprise when Deputy Commissioner Samir Pal Saro offered them blankets last night.

Manager booked for molestation
Kharar, December 30
A manager deployed in Punsup Gas Agency here has been booked by the police for allegedly molesting a computer operator deployed in the agency.

Youth Akali leader attacked
Kharar, December 30
A youth Akali leader from Kharar was reportedly attacked by some unidentified men near the Balongi tax barrier. The attackers were later arrested.

Theft at gurdwara
Zirakpur, December 30
Thieves struck at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, situated on the Zirakpur-Patiala road, on Tuesday night and decamped with nearly Rs 30,000 from the donation box.

One killed in mishap
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 30
The driver of a three-wheeler was killed in an accident near the Aam Khas Bagh here late last night. The deceased was identified as Billu Ram.

Four hurt in clash
Kharar, December 30
Four persons have received serious injuries in a clash between two parties over land at Sautal village.

Man found dead on highway
Zirakpur, December 30
Puran Singh (32) was found dead near the Bristol hotel on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway last night.

Medicos’ body appoints vice-president
Ambala, December 30
Dr DS Jaspal has been appointed vice-president of the Indian Medical Association.

COURTS

Year Ahead - District Courts
New complex on the anvil, many crucial cases pending
Chandigarh, December 30
2010 may prove to be a boon for many litigants, who have been making rounds of the courts throughout the year to get justice. While Ruchika molestation case, which saw conviction of former Haryana DGP, SPS Rathore.

CRIME

Thieves decamp with Rs 35,000, jewellery
Chandigarh, December 30
Spate of thefts continues unabated with thieves striking at various parts of the city in the past 48 hours. Brij Mohan Bhatia of PEPSU Co-Operative Society, Sector 50, lodged a complaint with the police alleging that thieves broke into his house on Tuesday afternoon. 

House, showrooms burgled
Mohali, December 30
Thieves decamped with 40 tolas of gold from a house in Phase III B 1 , sanitary items and cash from showrooms in Kumbra village after breaking locks.

2 hurt in hit-and-run cases
Chandigarh, December 30
Two persons were injured in hit-and-run road accidents in the city. A scooterist Balbir Singh of Sector 40 was injured after being hit by an unidentified car near the rotary on roads joining Sectors 24, 25, 37 and 38 on Tuesday night.

SPORTS

GNPS&CCA-36 trounce LIC Juniors Chandigarh, December 30 A fine knock by Rizul (55) helped GNPS&CCA-36 beat LIC Juniors by 36 runs in the first U-13 BTS Gold Cup Cricket Tournament being organised by BTS Cricket Academy at Banyan Tree School, Sector 48, here today. Players in action during a cricket match at Baniyan Tree School, Sector 48, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Mohali Cricket Academy win by 85 runs
Chandigarh, December 30
A glittering century by Anmoljit Singh helped Mohali Cricket Academy defeat Cricket Academy-37 by 85 runs in the inaugural Blue Chilly Cup Cricket Tournament for U-16 being organised by Desh Prem Azad Cricket Academy here today.

Govt College for Women record victory
Chandigarh, December 30
Government College for Women, Ludhiana, won the Panjab University Inter-College Power Lifting (women) Championship with 17 points, while PU Campus claimed the second position with 10 points.

Greenfield academy beat DAV-8
Chandigarh, December 30
Greenfield Cricket Academy beat DAV-8 by nine wickets in the St Soldier’s Trophy match at St Soldier’s International School, Sector 28, here today.