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TOP STORIES

Speedy Justice
Kidnappers convicted in four months flat
Two-year-old child was kidnapped for Rs 5-lakh ransom in February last year
Chandigarh, February 17
In a speedy disposal of justice in a child-kidnapping case, the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Shalini Nagpal today convicted two persons who had kidnapped two-year-old Prince for Rs 5-lakh ransom from Bapu Dham Colony last year. The trial in the case began in October last year and the entire prosecution evidence was recorded in just four hearings. The quantum of sentence will be pronounced on Tuesday.

Death of Baby
GMSH doctors get clean chit
Chandigarh, February 17
In a wishy-washy inquiry report, the Government Multi Speciality Hospital (GMSH) authorities have virtually given a clean chit to doctors in the death of one-and-half-month-old Arnav, who died on February 8, hours after being administered DTP vaccine at a Ram Darbar dispensary, but have concluded that the controversy could have been “avoided” if the Emergency Medical Officer (EMO) had examined the child on arrival.

Fresh supply of DPT vaccine
Chandigarh, February 17
The UT health department today received a fresh supply of 50,000 DTP vaccines as a replacement for the stock (batch 994 of Biological E Limited) that was withheld after the mysterious death of one-and-a-half-month-old Arnav, who was administered a dose of the vaccine at the Ram Darbar dispensary on February 8. Another child, Radhav, had also reportedly developed seizures after the administration of the vaccine at the Sector 45 poly clinic.

COMMUNITY

Corporation or council?
Legal opinion being sought on validity of civic body certificates
Mohali, February 17
Even as the Mohali municipal council has changed the software used in the preparation of birth and death certificates, legal opinion is being sought on the validity of certificates issued during the past more than two months on which the civic body was shown as holding the status of a corporation as well as that of a council.

400 UT employees for civic body
Will help run dispensaries, primary schools
Chandigarh, February 17
About 400 employees of the UT Administration will be absorbed by the Municipal Corporation to run dispensaries and primary schools that have been transferred to the civic body. Confirming the development, UT Adviser KK Sharma today said that following the decision, the modalities to transfer the employees was being worked out. The employees would be given two options, either get absorbed or go on deputation.

Chandigarh scan
Valedictory function
Red Ribbon Club of Post-Graduate Government College for Girls, Sector-11, organised its valedictory function today. Shashi Joshi, convenor of the club, enumerated the activities and achievements of the volunteers of the club. She said that the volunteers participated in several activities round the year creating awareness.

In sync

Girls perform a dance during an annual function at Shivalik Public School in Phase VIII of Mohali on Friday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Travel agents continue to fleece train passengers
Chandigarh, February 17
Travel agents continue to fleece train passengers who are not aware about the presentation of ID proof to prove their identity to the ticket checkers (TC) during the course of journey in AC coaches.

Nodal officer, visitors’ board a mere formality, observes High Court
Says the condition at Nari Niketan and Ashreya not up to mark
Chandigarh, February 17
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today minced no words to say the condition at Nari Niketan and Ashreya was required to be viewed seriously; and added the appointment of the nodal officer and the composition of the visitors’ board was an empty formality.

Broadband complainants can approach consumer forum
Chandigarh, February 17
Those aggrieved by issues relating to mobile and broadband connections, can once again, heave a sigh of relief. The UT State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission comprising president Justice (retired) Sham Sunder and members Jagroop Singh Mahal and Neena Sandhu, has, in a recent order, distinguished the Supreme Court judgement, which said that telecom complaints were out of the domain of the consumer fora and could only be decided by way of arbitration under the Telegraph Act.

Mayor visits Civil Dispensary
Chandigarh, February 17
The Civil Dispensary of Sector 38 is in a pitiable condition as it lacks proper infrastructure and required medical staff.

Parents of runaway couple give in
Panchkula, February 17
Deepa Sharma, the girl who had tied the knot with Dharminder Kumar against the wishes of her parents, was happy after her parents informed the court that they did not have any objection to the love marriage. After the girl’s parents’ assurance, the couple withdrew their protection application from the Panchkula court.

Deepa Sharma and Dharminder Kumar outside the District Courts in Panchkula on Friday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Developers told to submit EWS status report
Zirakpur, February 17
The Zirakpur municipal council has asked the developers of Group Housing Projects in the town to submit the status of flats constructed for economically weaker sections (EWS) of society.

Soon, two more police stations in Panchkula
Panchkula, February 17
Panchkula will soon have two more police stations as the proposal regarding the conversion of Morni and Barwala police posts into police stations has been submitted to the Haryana Police.

WWICS running without licence since 2008
Chandigarh, February 17
WWICS, a Mohali-based immigration firm, has run into trouble as a preliminary search by the UT police has revealed that the company has been running without a valid immigration licence since 2008 and has several complaints of cheating against it.

A police team checks the WWICS office at Phase VI in Mohali on Friday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

In the fashion lane
Chandigarh, February 17
Aakriti 2012, the annual fashion show of Government Home Science College, was organised by the Department of Clothing and Textiles to showcase the in-house creations. Models presented collections on 16 themes based on different moods.

Students of Government Home Science College walk the ramp at Sector 10 in Chandigarh on Friday. Tribune photo: S Chandan

Spiritual experience of love
Chandigarh, February 17
Sans story and script, the Ceva Drama Repertory and Purple Mangoes presented an enterprising and newer dimension of theatre for most of the city audiences through their experimental production “Romeo-Juliet and Seven Clowns ” at the Tagore theatre here today. While Romeo-Juliet story provided only the take off point or a sound metaphor, the play dealt with the cardinal spiritual experience of love, the prime force sustaining life even beyond death. Young but visionary director Sukhmani Kohli relied on clowning, employing several clowns and making it the lifeline of the play.

Bomb hoax at Aroma
Chandigarh, February 17
The UT police went into frenzy late last night when they got a call from a local auto driver informing about a-bomb being planted at 24 hour eatery Aroma.

Two govt vehicles challaned
Chandigarh, February 17
Two government vehicles CH 18 d 5915 and PB 56 D 0202 were challaned by the UT police late last night for misuse of red beacon atop the cars.

EDUCATION

Students donate Rs 70,000 for ailing baby
Chandigarh, February 17
The members of DAV college’s student-run charity association Sankalp have donated a cheque of Rs 70, 000 for the treatment of a three month old baby who is suffering from a serious cardiac ailment and has hole in her heart. The students donated the money to the PGI for the treatment of the baby.

Members of Sankalp, a student-run charitable association of DAV College, Sector 10, hand over a cheque to a poor patient at the PGI in Chandigarh on Saturday. Tribune photo S Chandan

Teachers hold dharna at PU
Demand release of pay-scale arrears
Chandigarh, February 17
Members of the executive committees of the association of Panjab University, Guru Nanak Dev University, Panjabi University, Patiala, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, government colleges and non-government colleges of Punjab held a protest dharna at Panjab University campus today.

University and college teachers union members sit on a dharna at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Friday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

PU students on hunger strike booked for suicide attempt
Chandigarh, February 17
The Chandigarh Police today booked two Panjab University (PU) students for attempt to suicide. The students were sitting on an indefinite hunger strike outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office demanding that the food rates at hostels be reduced. The students have been identified as Sunny Mehta and Ravinder Mehta.

NSUI students on hunger strike at Panjab University being forcibly taken to hospital by the police in Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Private schools oppose EWS quota
Ambala, February 17
Private schools and public schools affiliated to the CBSE went on a strike today to protest against the imposition of Section 134-A of the Haryana Education Act. As per the Act, these schools have to reserve 25 per cent seats under EWS quota.

Man stabbed to death in Ambala
Ambala, February 17
Owner of a chemist shop Arvind, alias Ribbu, was stabbed to death at Ambala Cantt last night. The shop is located close to the Civil Hospital on the Ambala-Jagadhari road.

Complaint against YPS teacher
PATIALA, FEBRUARY 17
The father of a 15-year-old student has lodged a complaint with the police that a teacher of the YPS School had allegedly beaten up his son for disturbing his teacher while he was talking on his mobile phone.

COURTS

Khushpreet case
UT told to pay Rs 3 lakh relief to family members
Chandigarh, February 17
Negligence of the police in handling the Khushpreet kidnapping for ransom case has cost the Chandigarh administration dear.The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Delhi, has directed the Chandigarh administration to release Rs 3 lakh compensation money to family members of five-year old Khushpreet Singh, who was kidnapped and murdered in January, 2011.

Court poser to state govts on speed governors
Chandigarh, February 17
The Punjab and Haryana High Court wants to know whether the bus drivers can steer clear from speed governors.

Man acquitted of murder
Panchkula, February 17
As the prosecution failed to produce sufficient evidence, a local court here today acquitted Dharam Pal, resident of New Indira Colony, in connection with a murder case that dates back to July last year.

Four let off in kidnapping case
Chandigarh, February 17
A local court today acquitted four accused in a case of kidnapping and rape of a Dhanas resident reported last year.

CRIME

Trader receives kidnap threat via SMS
Told to pay Rs 10 lakh else his children would be kidnapped
Panchkula, February 17
Close on the heels of the kidnapping of seven-year-old Vijay of Ramgarh, a Panchkula-based businessman today received an SMS on his mobile, threatening him to hand over Rs 10-lakh ransom else his two children aged five and eight years would be kidnapped.

2 women robbed of gold bangles
Zirakpur, February 17
An unidentified man posing as an employee of the electricity department robbed two elderly women of gold bangles here today. Champa (65) and Vidya Devi (90), both residents of Balaji Enclave, Zirakpur, were admitted to the GMCH-32, Chandigarh.

PGI employee held for fraud
Chandigarh, February 17
Sanjay Throp, a male staff nurse at PGIMER, was arrested today for duping a Fatehgarh Sahib resident of Rs 4,85,000, promising him a job for his two daughters.

Clerk caught accepting bribe
Chandigarh, February 17
The Central Bureau of Investigation today nabbed Jaswant Singh, a clerk in the electricity department, for accepting a bribe of Rs 2,000. Jaswant Singh was caught red handed on a tip off of Mastana Singh, a supervisor with a private firm.

SPORTS

Annual athletics meet at Yadavindra school
Mohali, February 17
Tushar Thakur (Aitchison House) bagged the first prize in the high jump (U-19) boys at the annual Inter-House Athletics Meet at Yadavindra Public School here today. Jigisha Dosanjh (Nalagarh House) was declared first in broad jump (U-17) among girls.

A student in action during a high jump event at the Yadavindra Public School, Phase VII, Mohali on Friday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Kings XI Punjab ties up for reality show
Chandigarh, February 17
Kings XI Punjab has tied up with the Indraprastha All India Sports Foundation for presenting India’s first ever cricket based reality show. The show aims at providing a platform for budding cricketers to showcase their talent in front of millions of viewers.

Top seed Vishnu Vardhan to lead Indian challenge
Chandigarh, February 17
Top seeded Vishnu Vardhan (318) will lead the Indian challenge in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Men’s Futures US $10,000 Tennis Tournament at Tennis Stadium, Sector-10, to be held here from February 20.

Pandit Ravishankar University drub Lucknow
Chandigarh, February 17
Pandit Ravishankar University beat Lucknow University by 17-1 on the second day of All India Inter University Softball Championship for Women being organised by the Panjab University here today. The championship will continue till February 20. Results: GGDU Bilaspur beat CCSU, Meerut by 12-0, RTM, Nagpur beat Pune University by 8-3, SGB Amravati beat H.North Gujarat University by 10-0

Players in action during the North Zone Inter University Softball tournament at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Friday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Harbhajan to lead Punjab
Chandigarh, February 17
Harbhajan Singh will lead Punjab in the North Zone One Day Limited Overs League Tournament for Vijay Hazare Trophy to be held from February 20 to 28 at New Delhi.