C H A N D I G A R H

Top stories | Community | Education

Neighbourhood | Courts | Crime | Sports

TOP STORIES

City population crosses million mark: 10,54,686 and counting
l Just 1.5 lakh increase in 10 years! l Second highest density per sq km at 9,252, l Slips in literacy rate from sixth to eighth l Third most skewed gender ratio at 818 
Chandigarh, March 31
The ‘City Beautiful’ is turning ‘city decaying’. The literacy rate has fallen from the country’s sixth highest to the country’s eighth. The gender ratio remains skewed as ever, the country’s third worst (slightly better than being the country’s second worst in the 2001 census); and it continues to have the country’s second highest density per sq km.

City’s salaried class faces higher tax liability
Chandigarh, March 31
With the union territory’s population having crossed one million according to the census figures released on Thursday, city residents will now have to pay higher income tax.

Safety measures were ignored
Chandigarh, March 31
The tragedy could have averted had proper safety measures been taken at the construction site.

4 die in wall collapse at mall site
Chandigarh, March 31
Four labourers were killed and seven critically injured after a 20-feet wall at a mall under construction in Industrial Area’s Phase 1 caved in here this evening.



Police and fire brigade personnel clear the debris at the site of the wall cave-in at Industrial Area in Chandigarh on Thursday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

Breaking News
UFO crashlands in fields near city
Chandigarh, March 31
In a startling development an unidentified flying object said to be carrying “aliens” crash landed near Zirakpur in the early hours of Friday morning. Estimated to be the size of five cargo ships, this elliptical object that emitted an “intense white light encircled the fields before it went down with a thud.

The UFO just before it crashlanded in the fields, clicked by Maninder Singh, a farmer, from his mobile phone.

COMMUNITY

India-Pak encounter
VVIPs, stars leave a mark at PCA Stadium
Visitor’s book logs most illustrious guest list thus far
Mohali, March 31
The PCA Stadium has never had it so good. And it is now permanently etched on record. The high-profile India-Pakistan World Cup semi-final match, which saw the presence of a galaxy of celebrities comprising two Prime Ministers, the nation’s top politicians, business tycoons, Bollywood actors and actresses and key former cricketers, is now recorded in the form of a “gift” which the PCA will forever cherish.

PCA spokesperson Sushil Kapoor shows the visitor’s book in Mohali on Thursday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Residents bear the brunt
Mohali, March 31
The mouth-watering semifinal tie between India and Pakistan spelled misery for those living in the vicinity of the stadium as they once again had to go through the ordeal of facing inconvenience at the hands of the police and fans.

Garbage left by fans after the World Cup semifinal match between India and Pakistan in Mohali on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

PASS OR FAIL: Students along with their parents anxiously check results at Government Model School, Sector 8, Chandigarh, on Thursday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

Suspension of 11 councillors
Oppn to approach admn against Mayor’s decision
Chandigarh, March 31
Accusing MC Mayor Ravinder Pal Singh of flouting the MC Act by suspending all 11 opposition councillors from the House for a fortnight and backing out from his statement to make required amends during the mayoral election meeting held on January 1, the opposition councillors have decided to submit a representation to the UT Home Secretary, who is also the in charge of local affairs, tomorrow.

Harbhajan visits Sohana gurdwara
Mohali, March 31
Soon after wining the semifinal match at the PCA Stadium, Harbhajan Singh accompanied by his sister Sandeep Kaur payed obeisance at Singh Shahidan Gurdwara, Sohana, around 1 am.




Spinner Harbhajan Singh after paying obeisance at Singh Shahidan Gurdwara, Sohana, on Wednesday night. A Tribune photograph 

Mohali MC budget: Not much development in sight
Increase in expenditure this year is less than Rs 3 cr
Mohali, March 31
The Mohali Municipal Corporation has proposed a budget of Rs 44.64 crore for the year 2011-2012.

Removal of Turban
Arrest guilty cops: Religious bodies
Mohali, March 31
The issue of removal of a Sikh agitator’s turban by an SHO of the Mohali police, following a cane charge during a recent dharna by the Rural Health Pharmacist Association, has snowballed into a major issue with a number of religious outfits today demanding the arrest of police officials responsible for hurting the religious sentiments of the community.

Members of Sikh religious bodies argue with police personnel during their protest in Mohali on Thursday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Burning issue

Despite a ban on the burning of leaves, the practice continues at the road separating Sectors 17 and 18 in Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Soon, GMADA to have its own logo
Mohali, March 31
The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) will soon have its own logo and the best designer will be given a prize of Rs 2. 5 lakh.

Jarnail Singh retires
Chandigarh, March 31
Jarnail Singh, Additional Director, Punjab Information and Public Relations Department, today retired on superannuation after putting in 35 years of distinguished service. During his tenure, he worked in various capacities in Punjab and with the UT Administration. He worked with four successive CMs of Punjab for about nine years and also the Governor of Punjab for five years as Joint Director, Press. He also served the Chandigarh Administration for over 10 years.

EDUCATION

AIE centres take new leap
Will now impart special training to underprivileged children after admission
Chandigarh, March 31
Having realised the education dreams of over 15,000 underprivileged children till date, the Alternate Innovative Education centres bid an adieu to the city education scenario today.

841 walk away with degrees
Chandigarh, March 31
MCM DAV College, Sector 36, held its 39th annual convocation today. The college has accomplished the rare feat of having 841 fresh graduates and postgraduates this year, of which 688 first division holders were awarded degrees on the occasion.

Students all smiles after receiving degrees during the annual convocation of the MCM College for Women, Sector 36, Chandigarh, on Thursday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

A glimmer of hope for slum kids
Chandigarh, March 31
In a noble gesture, the Theatre Age Group today honoured around 20 slum kids studying in various city schools. These children have been promoted to the next class.


Children in a cheerful mood after being promoted to the next class. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Teacher alleges harassment
Fatehgarh Sahib, March 31
A teacher of a school here has alleged harassment at the hands of District Education Officer (DEO).

Rahul Gandhi puts up at Pinjore
Kalka, March 31
National General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee Rahul Gandhi made a sudden visit to the Yadavindra Gardens, Pinjore, on Wednesday night, after enjoying the semifinal of the ICC World Cup at Mohali.

HMT’s Pinjore unit struggling to stay afloat
Kalka, March 31
Thousands of workers and executives of the Pinjore unit of public sector Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) Ltd have sought the intervention of the central government to ensure the survival of the plant. The unit, located midway between Chandigarh and Kalka, is undergoing a severe financial crisis these days.

Improvement Trust sets Rs 75 cr income target
Patiala, March 31
The Patiala Improvement Trust (PIT) has unanimously passed the budget estimates for the fiscal year 2011-12. As per information, income target of Rs 75.52 crore has been fixed in the budget for the next fiscal year. Presiding over the special budget meeting held at the Trust office here yesterday, PIT chairman Inder Mohan Singh Bajaj tabled the budget before the trustees. As per the proposed budget, the expenditure on Establishment Branch has been earmarked as Rs 3.40 crore.

Goods worth Rs 12 lakh gutted in factory
Dera Bassi, March 31
A cotton factory on the Dera Bassi-Barwala road faced a heavy loss during a fire that broke out yesterday in a factory. As per reports evergreen cotton factory was gutted and machinery and other material lying in the factory premises got destroyed.

Evening courts to start today
Ambala, March 31
As many as four evening courts would start in Ambala court complex from April 1. Punjab and Haryana High Court’s Judge Justice Daya Choudhary would inaugurate the evening courts.

Asked to pay toll, Cong workers block traffic
Dera Bassi, March 31
Congress workers of Haryana, who had come to attend a rally of the party at Chandigarh today, blocked the traffic on the national highway at Dappar toll plaza. Due this traffic blockage hundreds of commuters were put to inconvenience for one hour.

Samples of eatables taken
Bassi Pathana, March 31
The health department team, led by SMO Dr Ranjit Singh and food inspector Puneet Sharma, took samples of eatable items in the town on Tuesday. The team succeeded in taking six samples of essential commodities like sauce, ghee, turmeric, salt and tea. As the news regarding the sampling spread in the town most of the shopkeepers pulled down their shutters and fled away.

COURTS

Teacher recruitment scam
CBI questioned for not registering case
Chandigarh, March 31
The Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to spell out the reason why a formal case was not registered in the UT teachers recruitment scam.

Drug haul case
Three get 12-yr jail
Chandigarh, March 31
The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Lalit Batra today awarded 12-year imprisonment to three persons under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

CRIME

Two women commit suicide
Chandigarh, March 31
A 28-year-old housewife allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at her residence in Palsora today. The police has booked her husband for abetting suicide under Section 306 of the IPC. The incident came to light around 3 pm when Jyoti’s body was found hanging from the ceiling fan by her 10-year-old son.

Two killed, one hurt in accidents
Chandigarh, March 31
Two persons were killed while a home guard volunteer was injured in separate road accidents in the city in the past 24 hours.

Cash, jewellery stolen in Panchkula
Panchkula, March 31
Thieves took away cash and valuables worth more than Rs 3 lakh after breaking into a house here in Sector 25. The owner of the house, identified as Anil Kumar, along with his family members, was out of station at the time of the incident.

16-yr-old hit by truck, dies
Panchkula, March 31
The Panchkula-Parwanoo national highway no. 22 claimed another life yesterday when a 16-year-old boy was hit by a speeding truck near Mallah Morh in Pinjore.

Man held for firing gun at banquet hall
Zirakpur, March 31
A firing incident was reported at a wedding banquet hall situated on the Zirakpur-Panchkula highway on Thursday. A man who was reportedly under the influence of liquor fired two shots in the air while celebrating the victory of the Indian team over archrival Pakistan at the World Cup cricket semifinal match held on Wednesday night in Mohali. Those present at the hall ran for cover after hearing the gunshots.

SPORTS

Off to clearing final hurdle
Chandigarh, March 31
Both the cricket teams left the city this afternoon. While the ‘Men in Blue’ were seen fully charged for ‘Mission Mumbai’, disappointment writ large on the faces of Pakistan players. Zaheer Khan’s close friend Isha Shabrani was also seen in the hotel.

Cricket trials on April 3
Chandigarh, March 31
To select the Chandigarh district team in the under-15 age group, the Chandigarh Cricket Academy (CCA) affiliated with the Punjab Cricket Association will conduct trials at Banyan Tree School, Sector 48, on April 3 at 2.30 pm.

CGA to tap talent in schools
Chandigarh, March 31
“Schools to Range” is the new slogan of the Chandigarh Golf Association (CGA), which is all set to tap talent in all government schools of the Union Territory. CGA president JS Cheema has roped in the Chandigarh education department to promote golf in schools.