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Healthyway director surrenders in court
Chandigarh, August 16 Meanwhile, the UT police has registered three more cases against the owner of Healthyway Immigration, taking the tally of cases to seven in the last three days. Fresh cases were registered today on the complaint of Malkit Singh of Sangrur, Sandeep Kumar of Jalandhar and Gaurav Thakur of Pathankot. The company had taken Rs 1.5 lakh, Rs 70,000 and Rs 1.25 lakh, respectively, from them. Kakkar has 28 franchises in Punjab, eight in Haryana, two in Himachal and one in Jaipur. The police of these states have been informed about the cases. The police has also booked Ravi Kakkar, an associate of Amit Kakkar, for threatening Heena of Sector 20 with dire consequences on August 15. The police said Heena, who had deposited money for visa, was demanding the money back from Ravi. The case was registered at the Sector 36 police station.
Clients come together
As many as 60 clients of Healthyway Immigration gathered outside the Sector 42 office of the immigration firm and staged a protest. They alleged that they had been duped by the company which had taken huge sums of money from them for sending them abroad.
Earlier case
The Punjab Police had registered a criminal case against Healthyway company in August last year for submitting a fake bank document to the UK embassy to obtain a student visa for a Mohali
student.
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Dreams of scores shattered
Chandigarh, August 16 Their dreams, however, shattered following police cases against the consultancy firm. These are only three among scores of persons in the region who have been duped by the firm. The UT police has seized 120 forged bank documents during raids at Healthyway Immigration in Sector 42 in the last
few days. “Company agents first took Rs 42,000 from each of us as initial fee. They charged another Rs 50,000 claiming they would arrange fixed deposits in our name or even loan letters to show we have a financial banking worth at least Rs 10 lakh each as per the visa requirement,” said Gurbhej Singh. “My visa was rejected in March 2010 and the company told me to apply again and that it will take care of all the formalities. It is only when we demanded a complete refund that we came to know about the fraud,” he said. It has been two years and all three of them
have lost vital years, besides their parents’ hard-earned money. Meanwhile, 23-year-old Balwinder Singh also lost Rs 1.30 lakh to the company. He lost his father, who worked as a peon in Panjab University, some years ago. His mother toils hard to meet the daily family expenses. Hailing from Hoshiarpur, Balwinder is now reeling under heavy debt as his family lost all its savings seeking migration for him. “I paid Rs 1.3 lakh to the company in March this year. They told me everything will be taken care of by them,” he said. Investigating officers said company agents provided fake bank loan letters to their clients to be put before the embassy while applying for visa. As gullible students hailing from remote districts of Punjab fell in their net, company owners laughed all the way to the bank even as scores of visa applications were rejected. The bulk of 120 fake loan letters recovered belong to the Oriental Bank of Commerce branch in Rajpura. When the police verified the documents from the bank, all of them were found to be fake. The British embassy has now barred them from visiting the UK for the next 10 years. DSP Ashish Kapoor said the fake loan letters were the reason for the rejection of a large number of visas.
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Confined to wheelchair, but going the extra mile
Chandigarh, August 16 Akram was not alone - hundreds of others came forward to join the campaign against corruption. Tarsem Sharma, a 62-year-old retired Punjab government employee from Mandi Ahmedgarh, who was on his way to Delhi, decided to join the movement in Chandigarh after hearing about the protests and be a part of the campaign before moving further. Beginning with members of various NGOs the agitation at the roundabout at Sectors 7-8 was soon joined by many other people and even commuters passing by. After being told about the protest Akram, who stays in Sector 19, drove his wheelchair to the roundabout to be a part of the protest. “Since the past few months I was watching Anna Hazare on TV and got to know about his campaign. If not the minute details I at least
know the movement will help in eradicating corruption in the country”, he said. Despite losing his day’s earnings Akram supported the protest for over four hours, sitting on a side of the street in his wheelchair. Raising slogans with a small Indian tricolour in his hand was Sharma, who also he decided to join the crusade in Chandigarh after coming to know about the protests here. “I’m a staunch supporter of the fight against corruption and will support the campaign till the time the Jan Lokpal Bill is passed by Parliament. Although I have decided to support the movement in Chandigarh only, if required I will leave for Delhi”, he added. There were many other people who, while passing through the area, decided to halt and join the protest. One of them, Gaurav Thakur, a bank executive, quickly made up his mind to join the campaign. “I was supposed to meet some clients in Sector 17 but decided to cancel the appointment and sign up for the crusade”, he added.
“Only one politician has minted so much money that the people of an entire state can be fed with that amount. I have done MBA from UIAMS, Panjab University, but am still without a job. Does this government care for the youth at all? I am so angry with the wretched system that I am willing to court arrest. Be it Ram Dev or Anna Hazare or Kiran Bedi - they are all our role models and by trying to silence them the government is stifling democracy,” said Bhushan, a Panjab University graduate.
Mohali Industrialists’ Club follows suit
Mohali: The local Industrialists Club organised a protest at the Phase-7 roundabout on Tuesday to show solidarity with Anna Hazare. Its members raised slogans against the arrest of the Gandhian. The members decided to send at least ~1,000 each as donation to his foundation.
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City fumes at Anna Hazare’s arrest
Chandigarh, August 16 Over 100 protestors expressed their resentment by raising anti-corruption slogans at the Sector 7-8 roundabout on Madhya Marg. Anna supporters also began a chain hunger strike at Sector 25 and protests were witnessed at Sectors 30 and 16. Anna supporters, with placards and Tricolour in their hands, came on road soon after Anna’s detention and later arrest. While the members and supporters of an NGO, Aawaaz, started their campaign against at Madhya Marg, members of the India Against Corruption (IAC) team sat on a chain hunger strike at the rally ground Sector 25. One of the supporters, Ranjan Singh, said they were protesting not just against Anna’s arrest, but also against the corrupt ruling the country. “Our agitation is for the implementation of Jan Lokpal Bill,” he said. The protestors included people from all walks of life who came on the road to join the movement. The notes with merits of the bill were also distributed among the people who were unaware of the issue. Heavy police force was deployed at the protesting scene to avoid any untoward incident. Traffic was also diverted to avoid snarl-ups. Rahul Bhartiya, coordinator of the IAC, said they would continue with the peaceful demonstrations and other activities. Advocates of Chandigarh and Panchkula district courts also staged a protest in support of Anna Hazare. In Chandigarh, advocates sat on the Sector 16-17 roundabout. The work at the district courts was partially suspended during the protest. In Panchkula, advocates suspended the work after lunch. The advocates claimed they had suspended the work to show solidarity with Anna Hazare. In the evening, a candlelight march also held in Sector 17 and Panjab University in support of the campaign. Students join the cause
Exuding patriotism and passion to support the anti-corruption cause, some college students and teachers were spotted raising Tricolour and frantically calling their friends and batchmates at the Sector 7-18 round to raise their voice against Anna’s arrest. Security up
Fearing protest, the Chandigarh Police beefed up security near Union HRD and Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal’s house in Sector 5, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pawan Bansal’s house in Sector 28 and Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni’s house in Sector 9.
Car rally
In the evening, a massive car rally was also organised in support of Anna Hazare in Chandigarh.
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Section 144 imposed
Chandigarh, August 16 The administration has prohibited the public in general and any member thereof from forming an assembly of five or more persons, taking out processions, making speeches, raising slogans, carrying of sticks within the city for a period of six days. The orders would not apply to the processions or meetings with prior permission in writing from the appropriate authority or the customary and ritualistic procession in connection with weddings and funerals. The order would
come into force with effect from August 17 and will be effective for a period of six days up to August 22.
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residents speak Raising anti-corruption slogans and awareness messages, youngsters in the city were out on the streets on Tuesday in support of the movement led by social activist Anna Hazare. Tribune Correspondent Neha Miglani talks to city youths to find out what’s their take on the nationwide movement.
— Namrata, student, IIPM
— Jatin, student, IIPM
— Kamal, student, Sri Dhanwantri Ayurvedic College and Hospital
— Anju Sharma, student, SGGS-26
— Monika Hooda, student, GGDSD-32
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Two Mohali boys drown in rivulet
The victims, who were apparently taking a bath in the rivulet, slipped into a deep trench that was filled with water and drowned. The bodies got stuck at the base of the 30-ft deep trench and it took divers several hours to pull out the bodies. The Kharar SDM, Rajiv Gupta, said he had directed the DSP, Kharar, to probe the matter. “After initiating proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC, the police will also go into the reasons behind the mishap. The General Manager, District Industries Centre, can also initiate a probe against the mining contractor concerned if a
complaint is made to him,” said the SDM. According to the land Act, digging cannot be done beyond 2.5 feet. Family sources said the boys had left their homes yesterday for a fair being held nearby at Tira village. When they did not return by evening, their family members started looking for them and lodged a missing person report with the police. This morning, a family member noticed slippers and “patka”of one of the boys near the rivulet. Soon the local administration started the process to retrieving the bodies. A pall of gloom descended on the house of the victims as soon as their deaths were confirmed. While Jagmohan’s father runs a cycle repair shop, Gurpreet’s father died three years ago. He was living with his maternal aunt.
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English continues to stump UT babus
Chandigarh, August 16 The speech, delivered in
Hindi, should provide enough food for thought to bureaucrats on how not to write English for a public address which is widely circulated in the media. This is despite the fact that the administration as well as the Punjab Raj Bhavan has full-fledged departments of public relations headed by a PR director and deputy director, respectively. Gaffes, grammatical mistakes, incorrect sentence formation and factual errors were the hallmarks of the speech and the dignitaries, including journalists, present at the function were at their wits’ end in trying to make head or tail of the speech. “The courts and institutions of the Northern Command as neighbouring Chandigarh,” said the speech. Probably, the Governor was referring to the Army’s Western Command. Howlers aplenty
Panjab University issued a press note on August 15, stating how it celebrated the cultural festivities on “Republic Day” instead of Independence Day. The press note, released from the office of the Director Public Relations by the coordinator, highlighted the activities of the music department along with cultural performances.
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Rain dampens Patil’s At Home
Chandigarh, August 16 Though invitees started thronging the Raj Bhavan well before the scheduled time of 5.30 pm, the shifting of the venue from the sprawling lawns to a hall on account of the rain made it a virtual “survival of the fittest” with the invitees jostling around to exchange pleasantries. The halls, apparently a poor substitute for the well-manicured spacious lawns, were chock-a-block with a motley crowd comprising senior bureaucrats, serving and retired senior defence personnel, educationists and eminent people from different walks of life packed like sardines in the sultry weather. As Patil entered the hall after the Punjab Police band played the National Anthem to greet the guests, there was a commotion with certain invitees jostling one another to get clicked with the Governor. A courteous Patil greeted a majority of the guests, but several guests were barely able to catch a glimpse of their host. As the hall overflowed with visitors, a separate seating arrangement had to be made for Patil, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, MC Mayor Ravinder Pal Singh Palli and Punjab Chief Secretary SC Aggarwal at the podium of the hall. While junior level officials fit into whatever space they could get, KK Sharma, UT Adviser, Ram Niwas, Home Secretary, and MP Singh, Principal Secretary to the Governor, put up a brave face and exchanged pleasantries with invitees. With humidity rising and the patience level decreasing, a substantial numbers of guests, including PK Srivastava, Inspector-General of Police, and Brajindra Singh, Deputy Commissioner, could be seen leaving for the corridor. The guests sought solace in the snacks which seem to have left a good taste!
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7 months of unfulfilled promises
Chandigarh, August 16 Addressing a gathering at a function held at the MC building in Sector 17, the Mayor was candid enough to admit the commitment made by him but avoided listing the projects that have been pending for the last few years with some pending for 10 years. Incidentally, the Mayor apparently forget to repeat in his speech the status of his pet project to give MC community centres free of cost for marriages of the girls belonging to the BPL families. Ironically, the project has failed to take off as it was never tabled in the General House of the MC. Except the completion of the pilot project of community centre in Sector 19, no other project has seen the light of the day till date. During his seven-month tenure, only two projects had been approved by the UT chief architect department, including the multi-level parking and an overbridge in Sector 17.Records of the corporation reveal that many major projects of his predecessors were still lying in the cold storage.
Master Plan of Mani Majra
In 2001, the master plan of Mani Majra was formulated and submitted to the UT administration, but it has failed to approve the ‘original’ master plan till date. About 500 acres of land is lying vacant there for the last ten years awaiting clearance. According to the plan of Mani Majra, pocket number 6 was earmarked by MC for construction of a primary school, pocket number 8 for sports complex and hospital, pocket number 9 for college and pocket number 10 comprising Shanti Nagar, Janta Nagar, Subhash Nagar and Pipliwala town for rehabilitation projects for oustees.
Extension of MC building
In 2004, the MC submitted the drawings of extension plans of its own building but till date the chief architect department has done nothing. In the plan, the MC had sought permission of making it a four-storeyed building.
Exhibition ground
A project for converting the circus ground into an exhibition ground in Sector 17 at a cost of Rs 60 lakh was prepared, but it is hanging fire for the last three years awaiting approval from the UT Administration. There is a proposal for the construction of a boundary wall around this open space and provision of a toilet and parking space near the ground for public usage.
Semi-automatic managed parking
Last year in June, the Finance and Contract committee approved installation of automatic and semi automatic access system in four major parking lots of the city, including two in Sector 17 and one each in 22 and 35. But the decisions are yet to be executed.
No new announcement
No new announcement was made by the Mayor in his Independence Day speech due to imposition of the model code of conduct on account of the elections of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
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Construction cost set to come down
Panchkula, August 16 The prices of gravel, river sand and washed sand had sky-rocketed in the region after the High Court refused to allow Haryana to continue mining operations without environment clearance on March 1, last year. However, the court, providing a relief on the issue on Friday, allowed the state government to grant short-term permits and mining contracts through public auction up to December 31. During the past one year, while 100 cubic feet of washed sand, required for the laying concrete, was being sold for Rs 2,200, the price of river sand had also doubled to Rs 3,000 for 200 cubic feet of material. Similarly, the price of gravel had touched the figure of Rs 2,200 for 100 cubic feet of material. Stone Crusher Association president Vijay Aggarwal said after the auction, the prices of these items were set to come down due to an increase in the supply in the region.The price of washed sand is expected to come down to Rs 1,200 for 100 cubic feet, he said. Similarly, the price of gravel could scale down to Rs 1,500, he added. The rivers of Panchkula are a big source of minor minerals used in construction. Hundreds of crushers and washing plants set up on the Jalla Road in Chandi Mandir provide employment to at least 5,000 labourers. Panchkula Deputy Commissioner Ashima Brar said minor mineral, boulder, gravel and sand quarries of Panchkula, Ambala and Yamuna Nagar districts would be put up for auction for the grant of short-term permit for the period up to December 31. Panchkula rivers hold key
The rivers of Panchkula are a big source of minor minerals used in construction. Hundreds of crushers and washing plants set up on the Jalla Road in Chandi Mandir provide employment to at least 5,000
labourers
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‘Veer Naaris’ honoured
Chandigarh, August 16 Mayor Ravinder Pal Singh along with Municipal Corporation Commissioner Prerna Puri honoured Jaswant Jit Kaur, wife of Lt Ajit Singh, Neema Rawal, wife of Lt NK Vikram Singh, Shamsher Kaur, wife of sepoy Mukhitar Singh and Kulwinder Kaur, wife of Naik Tirth Singh. The employees who were honoured included public health SDE Suresh Kumar Gill, road department SDE Ravinder Sharma, enforcement inspector Kashmira Singh, sub inspector enforcement Lalit Kumar, road department JE Anurag Bishnoi, MOH administrative officer Om Parkash Arora, MOH health supervisor VK Dogra, sanitary inspector Ramphal, MOH section officer Manoj Kumar and MC Commissioner’s peon Ram Asra.
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IMD forecasts lesser rainfall
Chandigarh, August 16 The weathermen while predicting lesser rainfall, said moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers may occur at select places in two states in the next 24 hours but thereafter region would see reduced rainfall activity. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) director Surender Paul said there would be reduced rainfall activity in the region during the next few days. Meanwhile, Chandigarh region witnessed considerable decrease in the maximum temperature of 29.3 degrees Celsius, which was 4 degrees below normal.
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858 POs in Punjab, Haryana and UT
Chandigarh, August 16 Taking up the case, Justice Ajai Lamba asked counsels for Punjab and Haryana to submit consolidated figures on the number of proclaimed offenders. In Haryana, Rohtak is number one with 81 proclaimed offenders followed by Yamuna Nagar with 70 POs. Gurgaon has 59, Kurukshetra 57, Jind 31, Sonepat 14, Mewat 15, Karnal 14, Panchkula 4, Hisar 9, Fatehabad 16, Bhiwani 32, Rewari 22, Palwal 9, Panipat 11 and Sirsa 10. In Punjab, Ludhiana has 128 POs, Jalandhar 70, Gurdaspur 51, Amritsar 45, Bathinda 41, Mohali 31, Mansa 31, Tarn Taran 23, Khanna 10, Pathankot 11, Muktsar 20, and Batala 18. Nothing less than 54 POs are at large in Chandigarh. The information was furnished during the resumed hearing of a suo motu notice taken by Justice Nirmaljit Kaur.
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solid waste management
facility
Mohali, August 16 As part of the procedure for seeking environmental clearance, as notified by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, the Mohali Municipal Corporation had applied to the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) for conducting a public hearing of its proposed landfill facility. It is learnt that the PPCB had already given its clearance for the facility. A report in connection with the environment impact assessment study has also been submitted recently. A notice had also earlier been given for inviting suggestions, views, comments and objections. A six-member Site Selection Committee, constituted by the state government for the setting up of a common municipal solid waste management facility, had recommended three sites for the purpose. The Samgauli site was found to be the most suitable as it was away from inhabited areas and also did not appear to be flood-prone. No part of the land fell under the forest area, no river passed near the site and the highways were also at a distance. GMADA was heading one cluster of 19 urban local bodies and would be managing garbage collection, disposal and other related activities on behalf of these local bodies.
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Applications invited for eco-friendly rickshaws
Panchkula, August 16 KK Jain, executive officer of the Panchkula MC, said they were planning to tie up with various government and private banks to provide cheaper loan facility to the rickshaw-pullers. He added that after the last week meeting, they would hold practical demonstration of eco-cabs for the rickshaw-pullers and a session would also be organised in which details about the eco-cabs would be provided to these rickshaw-pullers. Jain said they would fix the rate of eco-cabs around Rs 8,000 to 9,000, but final decision was yet to be taken. These rickshaws would be 25 per cent lighter than the existing rickshaws. The MC had thought of providing facilities like FM radio, seatbelt, newspaper and magazines, first-aid kits, fire safety kit and dustbins in these eco-friendly rickshaws.
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chandigarh SCAN
ISKCON quiz
Workshop at PGI
A workshop on ‘biomedical waste management” was organised by the department of hospital administration of the PGI in collaboration with the World Health Organisation. Inaugurating the workshop, Dr A Gunasekar, national programme officer, WHO India office, stressed on the need of proper management of biomedical waste in the country. Prof AK Gupta, medical superintendent, said proper training and continuous reinforcement was crucial in achieving a safe biomedical environment in hospitals. Dr Ashok Kumar presented the current scenario of biomedical waste in India.
Blood donated
A total of 223 units of blood was donated at the 24th blood donation camp organised by the Canara Bank Officers’ Association, Chandigarh region. LK Vaid, general manager, inaugurated the camp. Bikas Adhikari, deputy general manager, distributed mementos among donors. Prag Raj Sharma (198th time) and Gulab Singh (79th time) were star donors.
Traders’ woes
A delegation of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal called on local MP and Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Earth Sciences Pawan Kumar Bansal at his residence. It asked him to take up the issue of the excessive use of provisions of Chandigarh Estate Rules 2007, amended in 2009, under which thousands of traders had been issued notices for misuse charges of Rs 500 per square foot per month. It added that some of their buildings had been sealed by the estate office staff.
Service medals
SP Singh, CRPF DIG, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Nirmal Singh, Assistant Commandant, has been awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
Honour for teacher
The Daria gram panchayat gave an appreciation certificate to Dinesh Chander Shastri of the government school at the village for excellent work in teaching. It also presented a memento to him and a few others.
I-Day function
The Welfare Association, MIG-I houses, Sector 40-C, celebrated the Independence Day on Monday at the municipal park. Area councillor Jagjit Singh Kang hoisted the National Flag. Former Mayor Harjinder Kaur, former Senior Deputy Mayor Shyama Negi and Chandigarh Housing Board Residents Federation chairman Nirmal Dutt were guests of honour. Children participated in a cultural programme.
Dog vaccination
Forty stray dogs were vaccinated and those suffering from skin diseases and carrying wounds treated during a free anti-rabies vaccination camp. Dogs that required hospitalisation were taken to the premises of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals. Tribune reporters
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Pathak lobby releases manifesto
Chandigarh, August 16 The highlights of the manifesto were “to intensify our struggle for the central funding of Panjab University”, “to streamline and speed up the process of promotions under CAS”, “re-fixation of pension of retired teachers”, “to further speed up the recruitment process
of vacant positions in all teaching departments” and “advance increments to MPhil and PhD as per
the UGC and MTech as per the AICTE” to name a few agendas. Pathak also promised the teachers of improvement of crèche facility for the children of university employees, online booking facility of all university guest houses, renovation of residential buildings in Sectors 14 and 25 and improvement of water drainage system. Promises
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Bringing corruption to the fore with wit
Chandigarh, August 16 Sindra relied on the reference and role of martyrs, freedom fighters and poets to focus the attention of the public on corruption in society, politics and governance. The ‘akademi’ also staged the absorbing
pantomime “Yadaan”, weaved in a romantic idiom, under the direction of Padam Sindra at the same venue.
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We stand by Anna’s cause of a corruption-free nation. Today, we are secure under the guidance of our parents and teachers, but tomorrow when we go out and face the world, we will suffer because of the corrupt system. We are here for the sake of our own
future.
I have come specially from Bhatinda and cut short my holidays to join the movement in Chandigarh. The government has shattered all our hopes. We will continue to raise our concern as and when the country needs us. We stand for a secular, corruption-free system and the government cannot take us for
granted.
I express my strong resentment against the open “promotion” corruption by politicians. Troubling Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev will not suppress the national movement. It will only add fire to it and all youngsters will support the movement, come what
may.
We are upset with the fact that youngsters today mock everything and this issue is not to be taken lightly. We support Anna’s demand of a corruption-free
system.
It is time that youths join the anti-corruption cause. We are calling up all our friends and batchmates in college to join the cause and raise their concern for the country. We understand what Anna and his supporters are demanding and we stand by him.
Dhanaura (Mohali), August 16
The trench was reportedly created due to the indiscriminate sand mining undertaken by the “sand mafia” on the choe bed. “Every year, teenagers lose their lives after getting trapped in deep trenches left behind due to haphazard mining. These get filled with rainwater during monsoon,” said Jagtar, a relative of one of the victims. 
More than 250 students from 35 schools in the tricity participated in drawing and colouring competitions and a spiritual quiz qualifying test at the ISKCON temple in Sector 36. These were organised to create moral and spiritual awareness among children. Nand Maharaj Das, ISKCON co-president, said eight children qualified for the final quiz, to be held later.