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TOP STORIES

Jolt to RTE campaign
DPI (S) repatriated
Chandigarh, January 22
The unexpected repatriation of yet another Director Public Instructions (Schools) PK Sharma has left the UT Education Department stranded at the crucial juncture.

PK Sharma

Admn fails to follow procedure
Chandigarh, January 22
The UT administration’s repatriation orders for DPI (Schools) PK Sharma, a Haryana Civil Services (HCS) officer - at a time when the department is caught in a catch-22 situation over the implementation of the RTE Act - has raised many an eyebrow. The officer was repatriated on Saturday, a holiday. Sources claim he has been asked to hand over the charge on Monday, while it is yet to be decided as to whom he will hand over the charge to.

Mellow Yellow Children enjoy the sunny weather in a mustard field at Zirakpur on Saturday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

EWS flats deadweight for HUDA
Panchkula, January 22
About 2,000 apartments built for the economically weaker sections (EWS) of the population in the city are now proving to be a white elephant for the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) with the engineering wing demanding Rs 78 lakh to maintain them.
Flats constructed for economically weaker sections at Abheypur in Panchkula. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Girl’s brave act gets noticed 
To be feted on eve of Republic Day
Chandigarh, January 22
One should always be prepared to face a trying situation and give a fight till the end, says 24-year-old Mona Sharma as she recalls the incident when she apprehended a snatcher who had attempted to snatch her purse in November 2010.

Mona Sharma, who nabbed a snatcher in November 2010. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik 

COMMUNITY

Wrong Blood Transfusion
Suman thrown out of hospital, alleges lawyer
Chandigarh, January 22
While the PGIMER today discharged Suman, who was transfused wrong blood at the GMSH, Sector 16, her ‘well-wisher’ Pankaj Chandgotia, a lawyer, alleged that despite being medically unfit, the hospital had thrown her out.




Adding insult to injury? Suman, who was transfused wrong blood at the GMSH, Sector 16, being helped out of a car after being discharged from the hospital in Chandigarh on Saturday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

CGHS, Fortis cross swords over rates
Stalemate leaves beneficiaries in limbo
Chandigarh, Januaary 22
Over 20,000 beneficiaries of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) in the region will have to wait for some more time to avail themselves of the medical facilities at Fortis Hospital, in spite of the latter being empanelled for the services, as the authorities have locked horns over the charges for various treatments.

Climate shift has hit biodiversity: Expert
Chandigarh, January 22
“Climatic conditions worldwide have affected the concentration of medicinal herbs in various parts of the country,” said Dr VP Kamboj, former director, CDRI, Lucknow, in an interview to The Tribune. He was in city to deliver the Vishwa Nath Memorial Lecture on “India: a hotbed of biodiversity” at a three-day “National Seminar-cum-Workshop on Exploring New Vistas in Biodiversity Research for Sustainable Development” at the Panjab University’s Zoology Department.
Prof K Muralidhar from Delhi University addresses delegates during a seminar held at Panjab University on Saturday. Tribune photo: S Chandan

3 maestros from region to get Sangeet Natak Awards
Chandigarh, January 22
Three maestros of performing arts, including Pandit Yashpaul, Dr Atamjit and Ustad Harbhajan Singh, have been chosen for the prestigious Sangeet Natak Award for 2010 from the region. The awards carrying a citation, memento, shawl and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh will be presented to each of them by the President of India at a national-level function to be held shortly. 

1 lakh to get polio drops
Mohali, January 22
The district health authorities have geared up to administer polio drops to 1.09 lakh children below the age of five years as a part of the national immunisation programme beginning tomorrow.

An interpretation of social conscience
Chandigarh, January 22
Jammu’s amateur theatre group staged a play “Gair Zaroori Log” in Hindustani on the sixth day of TFT fest at Tagore theatre here today. The play written by Shahid Anwar was based on a collage of six stories by Sadat Hasan Manto which melted into each other as the play progressed to interpret the issues of morality, social conscience, nationalism, persecution and destruction. 
Artistes stage a play at the Tagore Theatre in Sector 18, Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

R-day honours
15 to get commendation certificates
Chandigarh, January 22
The Chandigarh administration has decided to award commendation certificates to 15 persons on Republic Day for rendering outstanding services in their respective fields.

National Voters’ Day
Chandigarh, January 22
As part of the diamond jubilee celebrations, the Election Department of the UT Administration will celebrate the National Voters’ Day on January 25.

EDUCATION

Youths clash on PU campus
Security found wanting again
Chandigarh, January 22
The security staff on the Panjab University campus was today caught napping once again when youths wielding sticks engaged in a violent clash a few kilometres away from the administrative block and the vice chancellor’s office. They later drove away in their vehicles, all bearing Punjab registration numbers, without being intercepted by the security guards, indicating the vehicles were not being frisked at the campus gates.

Is semester system viable?
Chandigarh, January 22
Studying in colleges affiliated to Panjab University may cost students dear from the forthcoming academic session.

PU Notes

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Dera Bassi MC meeting inconclusive
Dera Bassi, January 22
The monthly meeting of the municipal council, Dera Bassi, concluded without any result due to infighting among councillors. Besides, local residents held a demonstration in the town against the attitude of councillors and MLA Jasjit Singh Bunny towards the development.

Parking chaos harasses Patiala residents
Patiala, January 22
Notwithstanding the tall claims of the Patiala municipal corporation that it is committed to end the problem of traffic chaos, nothing has been done to solve the parking problems prevalent on almost all main roads of the city.
Two-wheelers and cars parked in a haphazard manner near a hotel at Leela Bhawan Chowk in Patiala. Tribune photos: Rajesh Sachar

2 students killed as school gate collapses
Ambala, January 22
Two students of Mahavir Jain Girls Senior Secondary School in Ambala Cantt were crushed to death when the pillar of the school gate collapsed. The deceased have been identified as Neha and Seema, both students of class 11. Three other students - Megha, Sheekha and Naman - were injured in the accident.

A police party examines the spot at Mahavir Jain Girls Senior Secondary School in Ambala Cantt on Saturday. Tribune photo: Dev Dutt Sharma

Monument unveiled
Ambala, January 22
Kharga Corps has built an inspirational monument as a tribute to the courage and indomitable spirit of its troops. It was unveiled by Chief of the Army Staff Gen VK Singh here on Tuesday.

COURTS

Man gets 7-yr RI for raping minor
Case decided within 9 months of incident, 4 months of trial
Chandigarh, January 22
Within four months of commencing the trial, the court of District and Sessions Judge SK Goel today convicted an accused for rape of a five-year-old girl and sentenced him to seven-year rigorous imprisonment (RI).

DBA withdraws plaint against lawyer
Chandigarh, January 22
A month after he was expelled from the District Bar Association (DBA), the executive committee withdrew the resolution and restored the membership of lawyer Arvind Thakur today.

Otis Elevators told to pay Rs 5 lakh
Chandigarh, January 22
Failure of Otis Elevators to install a lift at the showroom of Paul Merchant in Sector 22 has cost the company dear as the UT District Consumer Redressal Forum has directed the elevator manufacturing company to pay Rs 5 lakh as compensation for mental harassment and financial losses to the client.

CRIME

Car mows down girl, driver flees
Panchkula, January 22
A four-and-a-half-year-old girl was crushed to death by a recklessly driven car when she was trying to cross the road near the “Labour Chowk” in Sector 16, here, this afternoon.

Woman held for snatching gold chain
Zirakpur, January 22
The police today nabbed a woman snatcher from Zirakpur-Kalka intersection near traffic police office and recovered a gold chain from her possession. The accused has been identified as Chinder Kaur, a resident of Patiala. A case has been registered against her on the complaint of Brij Bhushan, a resident of Ambala.



Liquor cartons that were seized by the Rajpura Police while being smuggled from Chandigarh on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Theft at cop’s house
Chandigarh, January 22
In a daring act, a thief struck at the house of a police official located in a well-guarded police society in Sector 51 late last night.

SPORTS

Aussies will bounce back: Bevan
Chandigarh, January 22
In spite of losing the number one spot in the one-day international rankings, Australian team would regain its strength and consistency to win the forthcoming World Cup, said former Australian all-rounder Michael Bevan. Bevan said Australian players were under pressure after losing in Ashes. He said the players never gave up and continued to fight till the last ball. He said the bad performance of captain Michael Clark and Mike Hussey had surprised every one during the Ashes Cup.

Gurbaz strikes it rich
Chandigarh, January 22
Gurbaz Sandhu of YPS, Mohali, stole the show by winning four medals in various categories on the first day of inter-school horse riding competition held here today.

Manish takes Amritsar home
Panchkula, January 22
Manish Sharma (93) helped Amritsar defeat Ludhiana in the FC Mittal Trophy at Mullanpur Dakha College, Ludhiana, today. With this win, Amritsar lads have put four more points in their kitty.

Black Elephant trample Panchkula team
Patiala, January 22
Black Elephant Cricket Club beat District Cricket Coaching Centre Panchkula by six wickets in the three-match series for the CSF Cup at BE grounds here today.

Neelu clinches golf title
Chandigarh, January 22
Neelu Chopra, a high handicapper, overcame the challenge from the cream of Chandigarh lady golfers to clinch the Harinder Sandhu Memorial Golf title on the par-72 greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club here today.