The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

A bird drinks water from a running tap in Chandigarh. Tribune photo: S. Chandan

Company to open stretch at stroke of 12
Chandigarh, April 4
With the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directing the authorities concerned to open the bypass by Friday, April 6, one will now be able to steer clear of the traffic chaos in Pinjore and Kalka bazaars. The company dealing with the operational aspect of the highway will open it at the stroke of 12 Thursday night.

CCTV cameras to be installed in Snehalaya
Chandigarh, April 4
After sitting over the inquiry report for over five months in the Snehalaya issue, the UT Administration has finally swung into action and issued orders to install CCTV cameras and provide family atmosphere to the children in Snehalaya. To counter negative feelings among them, the UT Administration has also decided to start yoga classes, educational tours and some entertainment for the children.

PEC students score a first with their dream machine
Chandigarh, April 4
Students of the PEC University of Technology stand beside their All Terrain Vehicle on the college campus in Sector 12, Chandigarh A team of 10 PEC university students is all set to “go-off road” with their All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) at BAJA Auburn competition to be held in Alabama, USA, later this month.

Students of the PEC University of Technology stand beside their All Terrain Vehicle on the college campus in Sector 12, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. tribune photo: s chandan

This ‘Dhoni’ too leads from the front
Mohali, April 4
Certainly, this “Dhoni” is “overburdened” these days. With the Indian Premier League (IPL) round the corner and other assignments also on hand, this only trained dog of the Mohali district police in sniffing explosives has been working “extra hours” of late.

‘Dhoni’, the police dog

Sec-17 no-vehicle zone
Admn, MC meeting today
Chandigarh, April 4
A special meeting of UT Administration and municipal corporation (MC) officials to finalise a draft plan for introducing a no-vehicle zone for Sector 17 will be convened by UT Administrator Shivraj Patil tomorrow.

COMMUNITY

Alcoholism playing havoc with families
Chandigarh, April 4
The shocking incident of an alcoholic government official shooting at his 22-year-old daughter in Sector 41 here recently has once again brought under sharp focus the deadly disease of alcoholism, which is playing havoc with the lives of drunkards and their families. Families try all means to control the menace that has sunk deep into the fabric of their lives. An alcoholic does not listen to any counselling. An elder's comment is seen as unnecessary interference and wife's comments are dumped as ‘emotional blackmailing’.

First person
‘It was hopeless state of mind and body’
Fresh from one of the best boarding schools in Dehradun, it was a new-found freedom for me at the sprawling Jawaharal Nehru University (JNU) hostel in New Delhi when I tasted beer for the first time at the age of 16. Finally, I had become a man from a boy, as one of my seniors told me during a drinking session. Drinking beer, once or twice a week, was new sign of manliness for a small-town guy like me. Of course, I enjoyed the effect produced by the mood-altering substance, first beer and then whisky and wines. No weekend was complete without the drink even as I scoffed at my “poor” sober friends.

Special trains to Goa, Jyotirlingams
Chandigarh, April 4
The two special trains scheduled to leave for Goa and seven Jyotirlingams have got a huge response. While all the seats have already been reserved by passengers for the train leaving for the Jyotirlngams, only a small number of seats on the train to Goa were available on Wednesday.

PCA finds SHO at fault, seeks warning
Chandigarh, April 4
In yet another order, the Police Complaint Authority (PCA) has found the SHO of the Sector-31 police station, inspector Jaspal Singh, guilty of misuse of power and has requested the UT IGP to issue a recorded warning to him.

Milkmen threaten nationwide stir
Chandigarh, April 4
Residents of Chandigarh as well as other parts of the region can go without milk supply in the coming days. The milkmen of Punjab have planned to start a nationwide stir in case the government fails to increase the procurement price of milk.

Residents gherao police station
Chandigarh, April 4 Infuriated over the arrest of a maid by the Sector 39 police station, over 250 residents of the Sector 25 colony today laid a siege to the police station. A case of theft was registered on a complaint of her employer TR Singla.

Ticket rates at multiplexes head north
Chandigarh, April 4
From coming Friday watching movies in the multiplexes of the city will now cost more as the UT Administration has agreed for the revised rates of tickets. After a gap of long four years, the rates of tickets in multiplexes have been increased.

IAF’s helicopter unit celebrates silver jubilee
Chandigarh, April 4
The Indian Air Force's only heavy-lift helicopter unit, 126 Helicopter Flight, is celebrating its silver jubilee at the Chandigarh Air Force Station. Christened The Feather Weights, the flight was raised in Chandigarh on May 15, 1986 with Wg Cdr BK Sharma as the first Commanding Officer. Presently commanded by Gp Capt Jang Veer Singh Guron, the unit is equipped with the Mi-26, the largest helicopter in the world, which has a strategic role and is capable of carrying loads up to 20 tonnes.

British MP of Indian origin to act in film
Chandigarh, April 4
A British MP of Indian origin, Keith Vaz, is all set to create history by featuring in an international film to be shot on the famous Belgrave Road in Leicester East. The movie "Jadoo" (magic) is being shot on the Belgrave Road, the best, busiest and biggest Asian shopping street in Europe, which forms a part of Leicester East, the parliamentary constituency of Keith Vaz representing Labour Party. Incidentally, this is his 25th year in Parliament. "I am immensely proud to represent the people of Leicester East.

Keith Vaz

No stadium misuse, for now
Panchkula, April 4
Following a controversy over the alleged misuse of Tau Devi Lal Stadium here, the Big Punjabi Music Awards function was cancelled by the organisers here today.

100 examined at dental camp
Mohali, April 4
Over 100 students of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Phase 3B2, got their dental check up and blood test in a free medical camp on the school premises here today.

Unidentified woman run over by train
Mohali, April 4
A young unidentified woman was killed as she was run over by a train near the Amb Sahib Colony at Phase XI here this evening.

EDUCATION

Pvt schools skip vocational courses
Chandigarh, April 4
It’s unfortunate but true, the city private schools that swear by their quality of education have failed miserably to be a part of the ongoing reformation of the senior secondary education.

PU may introduce teacher evaluation
Chandigarh, April 4
It seems that the teacher evaluation would be finally introduced at Panjab University with the Panjab University Teachers’ Association (PUTA) agreeing to the proposal on a condition that the exercise would strictly remain between a teacher and a student. A meeting was held today that was attended by the dean student welfare (DSW), hostel wardens and PUTA representatives, along with members of the student council.

100 to participate in ‘Emanation-12’
Chandigarh, April 4
More than 100 colleges, including universities, have confirmed their participation in “Emanation 2012”, which aimed at capturing budding engineers and university students from various streams like management, pharmacy and mass communication on April 6 and 7 on its premises at Baddi, a press release said here today.

117 get jobs during drive
Chandigarh, April 4
The campus placement drive, Avsar, turned out to be lucky for 117 students who have got placed in various companies offering average package between Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh. Stealing the show is three students from the science department who have bagged a handsome package of Rs 8.4 lakh. While a company offering a package of Rs 9 lakh would be visiting the campus soon.

GOVT SCHOOLS
PIL to chalk out plan for upgradation
Chandigarh, April 4
Three city residents have filed public interest litigation (PIL) in the Punjab and Haryana High Court requesting it to direct the UT Administration to chalk out a time-bound plan for upgrading the government schools to bring them at par with the private schools in the city. The upgradation of the infrastucture, according to litigants, should include providing of proper toilets, laboratories, furniture, sports facilities, modern education means as in smart school concept, etc, should be made. The litigants have submitted that poor infrastructure and quality of education has taken its toll on the admission scenario where parents are forced to flock the private schools, which do not have optimum seats.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Dharni elected Bar body chief
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 4
Amardeep Singh Dharni was elected president of the District Bar Association, Fatehgarh Sahib, for the fourth time here today.

Office-bearers
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 4
The following were elected office-bearers of the Ashoka Educational Trust and Management Society, Sirhind, yesterday: president- Rajiv Dutta; vice-president- Subhash Sood; cashier- Tarsem Modi; Ashoka Boys School manager- Ashok Sood; Ashoka Girls School manager- Chitranjan Vinayak; Ashoka Public School manager- Devinder Verma; ‘dharmshala’ manager- Rajinder Sood. — OC

4-yr-old girl falls to death
Baltana (Zirakpur), April 4
A four-year-old girl died after falling down from a roof at Guru Nanak Colony in Baltana here yesterday. The victim was identified as Prachi, a daughter of Naresh Kumar.

Coloniser booked
Baltana (Zirakpur), April 4
The local police booked Prem Bansal, a private coloniser, on the charge of obstructing the flow of a seasonal ‘choe’ here today.

Haryana facing serious financial crisis: Chautala
Ambala, April 4
INLD supremo and former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala said here yesterday that the state had been facing a serious financial crisis, which would affect development adversely.

COURTS

Split verdict in Bar body poll
Mohali, April 4
Amarjit Singh Longia was elected president of the District Bar Association, Mohali, today. He defeated Hardeep Singh Diwana by four votes.
Amarjit Singh Longia with Sanjeev Sharma; and (right) Snehpreet Singh with Ranjodh Singh in Mohali on Wednesday. Tribune Photos: Vicky Gharu

Nanda is DBA president
Chandigarh, April 4
Advocate NK Nanda retained the post of president of the Chandigarh District Bar Association (DBA) by defeating advocate MS Jindiala by a huge margin of 633 votes. While Nanda polled 956 votes, Jindiala got just 323 votes in his kitty.

Newly elected president NK Nanda strike a pose along with her team after winning the District Bar Association elections in Chandigarh on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Dhaliwal re-elected HC Bar Association chief
Chandigarh, April 4
Kuldip Singh (white turban) all smiles after winning the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Associaion elections in Chandigarh The legal fraternity had been talking about electoral wave being in favour of advocate Kulbir Singh Dhaliwal for a long time. But his re-election to the post of President of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association by a margin of around 185 votes took everyone by surprise late this evening. Dhaliwal polled 1,418 votes while his nearest rival advocate Krishan S Dhadwal secured 1,233 votes.
Kuldip Singh (white turban) all smiles after winning the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Associaion elections in Chandigarh on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Charges framed against SI, family
Chandigarh, April 4
The CBI Court today framed charges of corruption against a UT police Sub-inspector Sakatar Singh, his wife Baljinder Kaur and son Baldeep Singh who were arrested last year while demanding bribe. The trial will now begin on the next date of hearing on May 7 when evidence will be recorded in the court.

CRIME

600 bottles of liquor seized
Panchkula, April 4
The local police seized a truck containing 600 liquor bottles to be smuggled to Uttar Pradesh, near the Morni T-Point on Monday night.

576 bottles of liquor seized
Panchkula, April 4
The district police seized 576 bottles of liquor at a ‘naka’ set up at Pinjore today. The liquor was allegedly being smuggeld to Himachal Pradesh from Chandigarh.

Three booked for abducting youth
Mohali, April 4
The district police has booked three persons for allegedly abducting a youth and murder him.

5 robbers arrested
Chandigarh, April 4
Prompt action by the police control room (PCR) vehicle helped the police nab five persons, who robbed a person last night. The accused were arrested minutes after they robbed a resident of Himachal Pradesh of his cash and belongings.

SPORTS

Height of negligence
Chandigarh, April 4
The UT sports department officials last month provided an incorrect data on gym charges sought under RTI Act.

Gully cricket, a hit with residents
Chandigarh, April 4
A cricket match in progress between Rock Star and St John’s School at Sector 26 in Chandigarh The craze for IPL is yet to become a hit among the city residents but the ongoing gully cricket has already made its mark. People are pouring in to watch their children playing cricket here.

A cricket match in progress between Rock Star and St John’s School at Sector 26 in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

CCA selects 30 candidates
Chandigarh, April 4
The Chandigarh Cricket Association (CCA) has selected 30 possible candidates for the upcoming Punjab inter-district cricket tournament to begin form April 20.

Impact, finally: After the news report ‘PU rest rooms remain at rest’’ was published in these columns on March 20, officials have passed an order to keep the rest rooms open for the players during evening hours. Tribune Photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Few takers for IPL tickets
Chandigarh, April 4
The much awaited IPL (Indian Premier League) kicked off today after a grand opening ceremony last day.

Chandigarh beat Hindon
Chandigarh, April 4
The Chandigarh zone lifted the Western Air Command Inter-area Handball Championship after defeating Hindon Area in the three-day event that concluded at the Air Force Station here today.

Special children from India defeat Pak
Chandigarh, April 4
In the ongoing First International Dosti Cup Tournament for hearing impaired and special children, the Indian group defeated the Pakistan team by four wickets at Yadvindra Public school in Mohali today.

Varun, Rinku win wrestling honours
Chandigarh, April 4
Wrestlers Varun Kumar and Rinku won top honours in the 70-kg boys’ category during the ongoing Seventh Gulzar Gold Cup Wrestling Tournament held at Zirakpur here today.

A wrestling match in progress. A tribune photograph