The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Bike-borne youths stalk girl in P’kula
Panchkula, February 10
In a hair-raising incident, two bike-borne youths stalked a girl and tried to take her hostage for 15 minutes from Sector 7 to Sector 9 in Panchkula. The victim, 27, was driving a car while her brother was sitting by her side when she overtook the youths, who in a fit of rage, tried to stop her.

Shocker: P’kula police personnel fear the computer
Panchkula, February 10
A departmental communication by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to her subordinates to send their leave application through email has put police personnel in a fix. Reason: Most of the policemen have little knowledge about computers. They are queuing up at cyber cafes to send their leave applications to the office of the controlling police officer. Some policemen are approaching the administrative staff in the office of the DCP and the ACP to type and forward their application to seniors. The DCP said the system of emailing leave applications avoided hassles faced by subordinates who kept waiting for hours outside the office of their seniors for the approval.

Goods worth Rs 10 lakh gutted
Chandigarh, February 10
Goods worth Rs 10 lakh were gutted in a fire that broke out at a booth in Sector 29 in the wee hours on Sunday. Fire officials received a call at 3.45 am and three fire tenders were rushed to the spot. But the damage had already been done at Bajaj Confectionary by the time the call was made. The cause of the fire is said to be short circuit. The labourers sleeping near the booth saw the flames coming out of the shutter.

The shop where the fire broke out at Sector 29, Chandigarh, on Sunday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Forced celibacy for Chatt Bir zoo animals
Chatt Bir (Banur), February 10
As the world celebrates devotion, love and bonding between partners on Valentine’s Day the ‘King of Amazon’ at Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park has no queen. The majestic four-year-old jaguar, Ishu, has been forced to spend his life in a cage without a partner for the past two years. It’s not an isolated case as seven more animals and birds, mostly exotic or endangered species, have been living without partners. These include a zebra, a fallow deer, a lion-tailed macaque, a hyena, a white stork, a black-necked stork and a black swan.

COMMUNITY

Open house response
Be compassionate to the mentally challenged
Taking care of the mentally challenged can be highly challenging. Experts say such persons may hurt themselves as they are unable to speak their mind. Parents suffer the most. On learning that their child is not normal, parents' world comes crashing down. Friends and neighbours should be compassionate to special children.

Chandigarh scan
Kathak performance
Kathak dancer Divya Dikshit left the 300-strong audience spellbound at Bal Bhawan, Sector 23. She began her performance with Guru Vandana, followed by presentation of a story from the life of Gautam Buddha. Through her performance, Divya presented the “Osho Concept of Dance”.

Melange of classical, modern dance performances marks annual function
Chandigarh, February 10
Tagore Theatre today played host to the annual function of Strawberry Fields Junior School studded with colourful and lively performances of children. The backdrop symbolised unity and harmony, regardless of differences in language, caste, colour and creed. Nearly 650 children from kindergarten to class IV participated in 21 sequences as part of a delightful medley of music and dance choreographed by Shiamak Davar’s dance company.

Students of Strawberry Fields Junior School perform during the annual function at Tagore Theatre in Sector 18, Chandigarh, on Sunday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

MC proposes Rs 616.62 crore budget
Chandigarh, February 10
The Municipal Corporation has proposed a budget of Rs 616.62 crore for 2013-14, which will be tabled at the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) meeting on Monday.

Paediatric surgeons discuss rare surgeries in children
Chandigarh, February 10
Paediatric surgeons from across the country shared experiences of rare surgeries in children as young as one-week old, using laproscopy at a three-day continuous medical education (CME) held at PGIMER. Problems of unusually large-size head is one of the common problems diagnosed by experts at the Advanced Pediatrics Centre of the PGI.

For the one I love: A girl comes out from a shop after buying rose sticks at Sector 11, Chandigarh, on Sunday. Tribune Photo Pradeep Tewari

Face lift
Work going on in full swing at railway station
Chandigarh, February 10
The Chandigarh railway station is being face-lifted at a cost of Rs 20 crore. The deadline of six months has been set for the completion of all small projects. The work is going on in full swing. PK Sangi, divisional railway manager, said that the escalator was being installed at platform numbers 2 and 3 from outside the station. The construction of new toilet blocks along with waiting rooms for the passengers was also going on.

Renovation of working women hostel on paper
Chandigarh, February 10
City's oldest working women hostel in Bal Bhawan, Sector 23, is in need of repair. Social welfare director of Chandigarh Rajesh Jogpal stated that the students of Architect College were drafting a proposal which would be submitted to the UT engineering department. He said the final decision on the hostel renovation would be taken by the higher authorities.

1985 Bus Blast: Accused was getting funds from abroad
Chandigarh, February 10
Seventy-year-old Santokh Singh Bajwa, who was arrested by the UT police for his alleged involvement in a bomb blast case, was active on Internet and had created websites. He was getting funds from three of his college friends settled in Canada, said UT SSP Naunihal Singh.

Minor girl’s baby shows improvement
Chandigarh, February 10
The three-day old baby, who is underweight and suffering from jaundice, has shown little improvement. She had been battling for survival at the PGIMER. The baby has been taken out of the incubator.

Defence research laboratory, Central University ink pact
Chandigarh, February 10
The Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), a Defence Research and Development Organisation establishment, and Central University, Himachal Pradesh, (CUHP), Dharamsala, have joined hands to undertake scientific research.

Ride on Balongi bridge a nightmare
Mohali, February 10
The bridge connecting Balongi with Mohali is in a pitiable condition. The bridge, which is near the cremation ground, is full of potholes. Commuting on it is not less than a nightmare. Surinder Singh, a resident of Phase V, said everyday an accident took place on the bridge. The bridge, which is near the cremation ground, is full of potholes.

The bridge connecting Mohali with Balongi in a bad shape. Tribune Photo: Vicky Gharu

Foswac meeting
Residents apprise Mayor of civic problems
Chandigarh, February 10
During a meeting of the Federation of Sector Welfare Association in Chandigarh (FOSWAC), Mayor Subhash Chawla addressed the grievances of residents. During the meeting, representatives of various associations apprised the Mayor of the civic issues, including removal of green patch, “which has been affecting the character of the city”, lack of civic amenities like community centres, proper maintenance of roads, parks and streetlights.

The second ‘Entrepreneurship Awareness Marathon’ was organised by the students of Rayat Bahra Group at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh on Sunday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

Globalisation threat to our biodiversity: Expert
Chandigarh: A two-day national seminar on globalization was held at DAV College, Sector 10.

Girl faints during sports meet
Panchkula, February 10
A 20-year-old student fainted during a sports meet being held at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Sector 3, Panchkula. The student was rushed to a hospital.

Another swine flu case reported
Chandigarh, February 10
One new case of swine flu was reported in the city today. A resident of Sector 38 tested positive, bringing the total number of cases in the Chandigarh region to 30 this winter season. These include two deaths. The cases have been reported from different parts of the tricity. Officials said that these cases were not epidemiologically linked. TNS

EDUCATION

Implementing RTE act
Punjab schools seek more time
Mohali, February 10
Private schools in Punjab have demanded at least eight years to fulfil all the requirements of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act.

Students’ future at stake
Chandigarh, February 10
Nearly 350 students of classes XI and XII at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, will sit for the final examination next month without having studied two core subjects in their classrooms. The school had no sociology and math teachers in the current academic session, due to which no class could be held for these subjects.

From schools
Community service
Chandigarh: St John's High school, Sector 26, was honoured for an outstanding community service in digital learning at State Education Summit Punjab 2013. Principal Kavita C Das was presented a trophy by Punjab Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka at the state-level function in Chandigarh.

Students perform during the annual prize distribution function of Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Public School, Sector 27, in the auditorium of Post Graduate Government College, Sector 46, in Chandigarh on Sunday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

A girl takes aim at a shooting stall during the annual fete of Yadavindra Public School in Phase-VIII; and (right) students present an item during a cultural show at Manav Mangal Smart School in Mohali on Sunday. Tribune photos: Vicky Gharu

Community radio
PU students to sensitise public about gender issues
Chandigarh, February 10
In a bid to sensitise people about the gender issues, the School of Communication Studies at Panjab University is all set to roll out a programme, “Hamari Beti”, on the community radio Jyotirgamaya. The programme will cover issues such as female foeticide and crime against women. Chairperson of the department Archana Singh said female foeticide continued to be an issue of grave concern in North India, especially in the Punjab region.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Delay in bypass construction annoys residents
Kalka, February 10
Due to the apathetic attitude of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the construction of Surajpur-Basaulan bypass is pending for the past more than three years. The Haryana government had already approved the construction of this 7-km mini bypass over 250 acres of acquired land. No further initiative, however, has been taken till date.

Four booked for sodomising minor
Dera Bassi, February 10
Lalru police has booked four accused for sodomising a 14-year-old boy in Lalru village. All accused had been booked under Section 377 of the IPC and were sent to jail for 14-days judicial custody. Accused had recorded a video of the act, in their cell phone for keeping the victim mum.

Dharna over filling of pond continues
Dera Bassi, February 10
The dharna being staged by Gholumajra residents against filling up of village pond entered 21st day, here. Various organisations from the area, such as farmers union, trade unions and some other political parties supported the protest, under the banner of Pond Saving Struggle Committee. The protesting residents said that though SDM, Inderjeet Kaur Kang and executive officer of municipal council, Lalru, Gurbaksish Singh, had visited the site and held meetings with villagers, the issue remained unresolved.

200 units of blood donated
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 10
As many as 200 units of blood were donated at the fifth blood donation camp, held jointly by Rotary Club and students of Continental Group of Institutes (CGI), Jalvehra. The camp was inaugurated by Maj Gen BPS Grewal, Executive Director, CGI. A team of doctors under the supervision of Dr Ashwini Kumar Verma, Principal, CCHS (CGI) and Dr RS Shah, Blood Bank Society Resource Centre, Chandigarh.

CRIME

Assault case
Accused identified, vehicle impounded
Chandigarh, February 10
The UT police has identified the accused who had allegedly assaulted a constable, eve-teased and molested his constable wife on February 7. The Swift car involved in the crime belongs to an advocate of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. It has been impounded by the police.

Home guards volunteer found dead in auto-rickshaw
Chandigarh, February 10
A home guards volunteer of the Chandigarh Police was found dead under mysterious circumstances at the gate of police lines in Sector 26, this morning. His body was found in an auto-rickshaw. Police officials stated that the deceased was identified as Rajbir Singh (40), a resident of Palsora village in Chandigarh. He was deployed at the police lines on general security duty.

Youth attacked with rods, swords in P’kula
Panchkula, February 10
A youth suffered serious injuries when he was attacked by a group of youths at Raipur Rani today. The victim, identified as Vipul Chauhan, was rushed to the General Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula.

In-laws booked in dowry case
Panchkula, February 10
In a case of dowry, a girl alleged that she was beaten up by her in-laws after their demand for dowry was not met.

SPORTS

Rohit malik, Naresh badgujar cruise ahead
Chandigarh, February 10
CHART trainees, Rohit Malik and Naresh Badgujar qualified for the main draw matches, in the Boys (U-12) category of the ongoing CLTA-AITA Talent Series Tennis Tournament, being held here. Rohit defeated Abhi Walia by 8-4, while Naresh defeated Krishan Hooda at 8-5.

A player returns a shot during the CLTA-AITA Chandigarh Tennis Series tournament at the CLTA, Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Sunday. Tribune Photo: Pradeep Tewari

Punjab cricket team announced
Chandigarh, February 10
Taruwar Kohli will lead Punjab’s cricket team in the upcoming, Vijay Hazare one-day cricket tourney, to be held in Dharamshala.

Forest sports meet
Tamil Nadu strike 10 golds
Chandigarh, February 10
On the third day of the All India 20th Forest Sports Meet, Tamil Nadu's contingent remained the front runner for the title with 122 points, after claiming 10 Gold, 13 Silver and 8 Bronze medals, here.