Chandigarh, April 22
Eight assailants barged into the CITCO-run petrol pump in Sector 56 late last night and attacked two security guards. Initially, it appeared to be a robbery attempt, but the police later established that an old rivalry was the reason behind the attack.

The incident took place at 1.30 am when security guards Chander Shekhar Mishra and Surinder Pal Singh Rana, residents of Maloya, were on duty at the petrol pump which had closed at 10 pm.

Four persons came on foot with sticks in their hands. They asked the guards near the barricade for fuel and when they were told that the pump was shut, the assailants insisted and were then given a bottle of the fuel. Four more assailants joined them and sprayed pepper into the eyes of the guards.

The assailants started beating up the security guards. Surinder Pal, who was bleeding profusely, ran for his life and shut himself in a glass security room by bolting the door from inside. Meanwhile, the four continued to thrash Mishra. He managed to run towards a garage. His denture was broken and his cellphone and watch were damaged in the attack.

The assailants pulled Mishra from inside the garage and smashed a tile on his head. They tied his hands and feet in the service station and fled.

The assailants did not take cash from the pump. There was around Rs 16 lakh in the safe at the pump.

The Police Control Room received a call at 2.30 am. Both the guards were rushed to a hospital. The condition of Chander Shekhar Mishra, who is admitted to the PGI, is critical. He received severe injury in the eyes and severe wounds in the mouth and on his face. Surinder Pal is admitted to the GMSH-16.

Blood was spattered at the entrance of the petrol pump. The police also recovered a blood-soaked tile from the spot and blood was found in the bathroom and sink as well.

A case of attempt to murder, rioting and criminal intimidation has been registered at the Sector 39 police station.

No CCTV cameras
There were no CCTV cameras installed at the CITCO-run petrol pump which could have provided a vital lead to the police. Investigations revealed that the guards entered into a scuffle with some persons over filling of fuel on February 25. A police official said: “We have been repeatedly asking the petrol pump authorities to install CCTV cameras but to no avail.”

Chandigarh, April 22
The Municipal Corporation disconnected 40 water connections of consumers who failed to clear their dues.

The Municipal Corporation also issued challans to 145 violators who were found wasting water for watering lawns and washing cars.

The civic body imposes a ban on watering of lawns and washing of cars during summer. For violating the ban for the first time, a notice will be served. If the violation is repeated, a fine of Rs 2,000 would be imposed and that would be added to the bill. The third time, the water supply will be disconnected.

The Municipal Corporation has constituted 14 teams to check the violations from April 15 to June 30.

Earlier, the MC used to issue notices to residents for the first violation.

Thereafter, a fine of Rs 500 was imposed. Since last year, the civic body has been issuing challans to the defaulters.

The fine has also been increased to Rs 2,000.

The defaulters can either pay on the spot, or the fine is added to the water bills.

Chandigarh, April 22
Passengers travelling between Chandigarh and Ludhiana still prefer buses rather than the train flagged off recently on the new track. Reason: High fare and lack of facilities.

The Union Railway Minister, Pawan Kumar Bansal, flagged off the Chandigarh-Amritsar Superfast Express via Ludhiana recently.

A total of 16 air-conditioned buses of the roadways run between Chandigarh and Ludhiana. Besides, non-AC buses leave the Sector 43 ISBT for Ludhiana after every five minutes.

The fares of the AC and non-AC buses are less as compared to the Chandigarh-Amritsar Superfast Express. A passenger has to pay Rs 103 for travelling between Chandigarh and Ludhiana in an AC bus. The fare of the AC chair car in the train is Rs 290.

Out of the 144 chair car seats in the Chandigarh-Amritsar Superfast Express, 79 are yet to be booked for April 23.

Sukhmani, who was travelling by an AC bus to Ludhiana, said: “Travelling by a train is a pain as there is no arrangement of water or eatables. Besides, there is a lot of difference in the fares.”

Harman Singh, who commutes daily between Chandigarh and Ludhiana, said: “The passengers will not hesitate to pay more if the Railways provide facilities. More trains should be introduced on this track.” 

Chandigarh, April 22
Councillors of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, including the Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor, will now get higher salaries as the UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil today approved the proposal to increase their monthly honorarium.

Now, the councillors will be paid Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 5,000 per month. Similarly, the Mayor will now get Rs 20,000 instead of Rs 15,000 per month. Besides, the Senior Deputy Mayor will get Rs 16,000 and the Deputy Mayor will be paid Rs 12,500 instead of Rs 6,000 per month.

The proposal was forwarded by Deputy Mayor Satish Kainth following the Punjab Government’s notification on increasing the honorarium of all councillors.

The Deputy Mayor said as the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation followed the Punjab Municipal Act and he had placed the agenda for the salary hike in September 2012.

The Municipal Corporation had approved the proposal regarding the hike in salary at the MC general house meeting in September last year.

The proposal was forwarded to the UT Administration for approval.

In 1996, when the Municipal Corporation came into being, the monthly honorarium of the councillors was fixed at Rs 1,000 per month and that of the Mayor at Rs 2,000 per month.

Since then, the salary of the Mayor has risen 20 fold while that of the councillors has risen 10 fold.

Chandigarh, April 22
UT Adviser KK Sharma today asked UT Inspector General of Police RP Upadhyaya to explain the reason why city-based jeweller Vikrant Kumar was kept in custody for so long after he was booked under preventive measures following a verbal spat with a staff member of a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).

On April 17, Vikrant was booked under preventive measures after his Bolero SUV had a brush with SDM Tanvi Garg's official vehicle at Sector 44.

The incident led to a heated argument between the SDM's driver, Harjit, and 26-year-old Vikrant. Tanvi Garg claimed she was not in the vehicle at the time of the incident, while Vikrant said the official was in her vehicle.

Thereafter, Vikrant was picked up from his residence in Sector 44 on April 18. On April 19, he was presented before the court of the SDM (East), Tanvi Garg.

Talking to mediapersons, KK Sharma said the IG had been asked to take versions of both the parities. The IG was also asked to take action if any police official is found guilty.

Sharma clarified that the SDM had initially refused to hear the case as her staff member was the complainant, but as the other SDMs were on leave, she had no option but to hear the case. Vikrant Kumar and his uncle Jagdish Singh Dewan and others met the UT Adviser today. They also met UT Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shayin.

Dewan said they told the Adviser and the DC that they were willing to settle the case amicably on an assurance that such incident would not happen again.

Chandigarh, April 22
With the number of vehicles swelling, the chaos on city roads has touched an all-time high. The problem is more severe outside education institutions that witness a huge rush during the morning and afternoon hours.

Commuters, including parents, teachers, and school bus drivers, taking the road towards the schools and colleges have to deal with snarl-ups everyday.

Analysing the situation in Sector 26, which has eight educational institutes, a Tribune team found that in the absence of adequate parking space in schools and colleges, the students and parents park their vehicles on the road. The situation gets worse as parents prefer private vehicles to school buses to drop and pick up their children.

The lesser number of traffic policemen deputed near these educational institutes also adds to the problem.

Though the problem is assuming serious proportions, the authorities do not seem to bother much. While the schools in this sector have staggered timings, it does not help much.

It is virtually a nightmare for parents and other commuters to manoeuvre their way in front of schools and colleges which are overcrowded and witness traffic bottlenecks during morning and afternoon hours. In the first of the six-part series, The Tribune reporter Amit Sharma and chief photographer Manoj Mahajan report the parking and traffic chaos outside educational institutions in Sector 26.

PIL filed in 2012

In 2012, a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding directions to the UT Administration to take measures on tackling the traffic chaos caused during morning and afternoon hours outside schools in Sector 26 was filed by a Mohali resident. Following the PIL, the UT Administration held a meeting with the representatives of the schools and colleges in Sector 26. Representatives of Sacred Heart , St John's and SGGS College for Boys had informed the UT Administration that they had parking space in their campuses and all vehicles were being parked within. The representatives of St Kabir and Strawberry stated that they didnot have enough space for parking. 

Irony: The ground opposite Strawberry Fields is Unutilised and the land belongs to The UT Administration.

Solution

A teacher in one of the schools said that the students should be sensitised to make the most of the school bus facility and say no to private vehicles. “A larger number of students commuting by the school bus will help in reducing unnecessary traffic jams outside schools”, the teacher added.

Manish, a guardian of one of the students said that the UT Administration should provide the open space opposite the schools for parking to avoid traffic problem. 

St John’s, Sacred Heart show the way

Meanwhile, the parking space offered to the parents by St John’s and Sacred Heart School for dropping and picking up children inside the school premises has helped in addressing the traffic problem outside these schools. The traffic flows smoothly outside these institutions. 

Vehicles plying
Cars, schools buses, two-wheelers

What’s leading to chaos
Haphazard parking, lack of infrastructure and a few policemen to regulate the flow of vehicles leads to traffic congestion.

Change in school timings
Traffic police officials and school authorities unanimously decided that various school managements should change the opening and closing timings of their schools, to ease traffic congestion during the peak hours.

Roads can be widened
The Chandigarh Police did a survey of the road and found that the road outside the educational institutes was narrow which could be widened and that would ease the heavy flow of traffic on the road.

Parents’ take

There should be deployment of additional traffic policemen during the opening and closing time of schools to regulate the traffic and those parking in the middle of the road should be challaned

— Akash Jain, a parent.

The ground opposite the school should be utilised as a parking lot and it should have entry opposite the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration. The exit should be towards the gate of St Kabir School

— Ravneet Singh, a parent.

School authorities have their own point of view

I feel that the UT Administration should convert the open ground into a parking lot for all the education institutions in the area to ease the traffic problem. If required, it can also be made into a paid parking lot

— Atul Khanna, Director, Strawberry Fields World School, Sector 26

The UT Administration and schools will have to work it out together to address the issue. The UT should convert the land opposite schools into a parking lot and hand it over to us for maintenance, following which we will ensure that the parents avail of the parking facility

— Gurpreet Bakshi, Administrator, St. Kabir Public School, Sector 26

We can’t stop the students from bringing their cars. However, we can educate them to use the car pool system. The UT Administration should also come up with a multi-level paid parking on the ground opposite Strawberry school. I have also suggested the college management to build a multi-level parking within the college premises

— Charanjeet Kaur Sohi, principal, GGS College for Women, Sector 26

Parking is a major problem in Sector 26. I have also written to the municipal corporation for cementing the area outside the college adjacent to the road so that students can park their vehicles

— HS Sohi, Principal, SGGS Khalsa College Sector 26.

Pvt vehicle drivers say

The parents coming to pick up children on cars leave the vehicles in the middle of the road and walk down to the school gate to receive their children which adds to the problem as other vehicles parked behind it can not move

— Ajit Singh, a driver.

Parents should opt for car pooling system, It really helps. This will lessen traffic outside schools

— Gurmukh Singh, a driver.

OFFICIALS SPEAK
Children-friendly footpaths in the offing
We are soon going to construct children-friendly footpaths along the roadside so that parents who come to drop their children can walk them down to the school gates. This will ease traffic congestion

— SS Bidda, Chief Engineer, MC

‘We will start challaning’
We are aware of the traffic problem outside educational institutes in Sector 26. We have written to the UT Engineering Department and have asked them to widen the road and construct a foothpath parallel to the boundary walls of the schools and colleges so that the students can safely walk down to their institutes. We will start challaning for wrong parking

— Maneesh Chaudhary, SP (Traffic), UT

In Tangle Part-II Tomorrow: Chaos outside schools and colleges in Sector 32

Chandigarh, April 22
Under the new excise policy (2013-2014), only 52 per cent of the Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) vends and 35 per cent of the country-made liquor vends have attracted applicants.

Today was the last date to apply for the liquor vends.

The UT Excise and Taxation Department will allot the vends through tendering process from tomorrow.

"The bid quoted for the vends will decide the outcome," said officials.

Though 152 IMFL vends and 65 country-made liquor vends had been offered for allotment, the department has received 125 applications for 80 IMFL vends and 34 applications for 23 country-made liquor vends.

In the last policy, the department could allot 123 IMFL and 23 country-made liquor vends.

Attributing the poor response to substantial increase in the excise duty and other taxes, sources in the trade said the whopping cost of the vends might affect the trade.

The department has increased the excise duty from 20 per cent to 300 per cent and assessment fee by 33 per cent. As a result, cheap brands will cost less.

"A lukewarm response to the vends will also reduce the quota of liquor to be lifted. The existing quota is 27 lakh proof litre (PL) and of IMFL at 2 crore proof litre. But the quota is decided on the basis of allotted vends," said officials.

On the poor response to the vends, the sources accused the Administration of framing a policy that was oriented towards working for the interest of Punjab's powerful liquor lobby and overlooking the populist policy of Haryana.

The department is in the red for incurring projected loss of over Rs 75 crore due to closure of around 27 vends on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The officials apprehend that the projected revenue can be less as compared to last year's projected revenue of Rs 270 crore.

Excise duty up The UT Excise and Taxation Department has increased the excise duty from 20 per cent to 300 per cent and assessment fee by 33 per cent The department is in the red for incurring projected loss of over Rs 75 crore due to closure of around 27 vends on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Chandigarh, April 22
In order to stop employees of the Chandigarh Housing Board Employees Coordination Committee from protesting at the CHB office in Sector 9, the District Magistrate has imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

In the orders issued this evening, Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Shayin stated that the employees could stage a protest at the Chandigarh Housing Board, seeking implementation of the pension scheme.

The DC stated that the employees might resort to agitation and it was being apprehended that such action might cause obstruction, annoyance or injury to the persons lawfully employed and endanger human life and property, disturb public peace and tranquillity and result in riots.

Section 144 prohibits taking out of rallies, protests, delivering speeches, raising slogans, carrying of lathis within 1,000 m radius of the CHB office from April 23 to April 29. The orders will come into force from tonight.

Incidentally, a large number of slum dwellers visit the CHB office for verification.

The employees hunger strike has entered eighth day. The unsuccessful applicants of the UT employees housing scheme also joined the agitating employees of the CHB. Reacting to the prohibitory orders, a large number of employees gathered at the CHB this evening and took out a candlelit march in protest against the CHB authorities.

Chandigarh, April 22
Amid concerns of rising vehicle density and pollution level in the city, the concept of electric vehicles seems to be catching the attention of the technically sound youth as well as environment department.

A visit to agencies revealed that 10 to 15 youngsters enquired about eco-friendly electricity operated vehicles everyday.

With one of the leading auto companies launching battery operated car in the city today, the UT Forest and Environment Department has also planned to promote the concept of zero-emission by providing solar panels at charging stations in various parts of the city. The has planned to set up solar panels at Sector 17, Sukhna Lake, Sector 7, and Sector 22 to promote

eco-friendly vehicles. "Recently, one of the companies approached us requesting to support them with the energy needs at the charging stations for battery operated vehicles. We liked their idea of launching eco-friendly vehicles and agreed to provide them with solar panels," said UT Forest Conservator Santosh Kumar.

Battery operated vehicles, so far, across the world have seen various benefits, including subsidy from the state governments to bring down costs and promote concept of eco-friendly vehicles. Also, for businessmen, these vehicles provide high depreciation value. In case of Mahindra e20, which was launched in the city today, the depreciation rate is 80 per cent.

"Youngsters are more inclined to these cars as per the daily walk-in queries that we have been witnessing for the past one month," said Pradeep Swami, managing director, Swami automobiles.

"The vehicle offers fully automated driving, the facility of switching on AC minutes before you step out of your home or work area through a remote and gives updates on fuel efficiency."

The car has got Rs 2, 12,000 subsidy from the Delhi government, after being launched there last month. This will bring down the cost of the car from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 4. 88 lakh in Delhi.

Chandigarh, April 22
Following a series of controversies over his selection as the Director Principal of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, Dr Raj Bahadur will be relieved of his duties on Tuesday.

Dr Atul Sachdev will take over as the next Director Principal of the institute.

Dr Bahadur had joined the coveted post in December 2007 on deputation from PGIMER's department of orthopaedics.

He completed his three-year deputation in November 2010 and was given several extensions.

His colleagues and those who were in the race for the top post have challenged his selection alleging that it violated the UPSC norms, and also moved the High Court and the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in this regard. Dr Atul Sachdev, the new head of the institute, was one of the five in-house doctors who had moved the CAT last year, challenging the eligibility criteria for the selection.

Dr Jagdish Chander, head, department of microbiology at the institute, had also moved the Tribunal recently, challenging the appointment and extensions being given to Dr Raj Bahadur.

The judgement was reserved by the Tribunal earlier this month.

Mohali, April 22
New challenges and burden of the past welcomed the new Deputy Commissioner of Mohali, Tajinder Pal Singh.

Upgrading infrastructure at hospitals, educational institutions and maintaining law and order in the town top the priority of the DC, who assumed office today.

"I will make it a point to visit the primary health centres, schools and meet people," said Tajinder Pal Singh.

The DC, who served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Punjab Energy Development Authority (PEDA), wants to make Mohali a solar town.

"We will identify an area that can be developed into a solar sector," said the DC.

On the paying guest culture in the town, the DC admitted that the residents were facing a lot of problem due to illegal PG accommodations. "Owners of these accommodations are responsible for the menace in a way as they do not abide by norms. I have learnt that cases are being registered against such owners under a special drive started by the Mohali police," he added. "Sanitation and development of green belts are other areas that need to be focused," said Tajinder Pal Singh.

"I will take a round of the town on a regular basis. As the town is being developed, cleanliness and road infrastructure will not be compromised," said the DC adding that honesty and dedication will be appreciated.

Chandigarh, April 22
Traders today demanded cancellation of penalty notices issued by the Chandigarh Administration to them under the Chandigarh Estate Rules, 2009.

In the annual general meeting of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM), which was attended by more than 175 members, different issues related to the traders were discussed at length.

Charanjiv Singh, president of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal, demanded revocation of pending penalty notices and withdrawal of already imposed penalties under the Chandigarh Estate Rules, 2009, to give relief to the traders. Ram Karan Gupta, adviser and chairman, sales tax sub-committee of the mandal, apprised the members of the online facilities to get C Forms and submit VAT.

Chandigarh, April 22
With the announcement of new Deputy Superindents of Police (DSPs), the Traffic Police shall have two DSPs while one has been assigned to the cyber crime cell.

DSP Rajesh Kalia, who joined the UT Police on deputation from Haryana, has been made incharge of the cyber cell in addition to the Central Redressal Unit (CRU). DSP Jai Bhagwan of the Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Services (DANIPS) cadre has been handed over the charge of the DSP Security Wing (Operation) and in addition to the DSP Traffic (Road Safety, Research and Development along with South Zone).

DSP Deepak Saharan, on deputation from the Haryana Police, has been appointed as the DSP Security Wing (HQ) and DSP Traffic (Central Zone). DSP Kamal Deep is now the DSP traffic (Administration and East Zone).

Chandigarh Police DSP (Communication) Roshan Lal has been given an additional responsibility of law and order. DSP Krishan Kumar of the DANIPS cadre has been handed over the responsibility of the head quarter cell, public grievances cell and Senior Staff Officer to the IGP UT.

This is the second reshuffle of the DSP-level officers since IGP RP Upadhyaya joined the Chandigarh Police.

Besides, 530 officials of the Chandigarh Police have been transferred, including four inspectors (Darshan Singh from PCR to Police Lines, Amrao Singh from EOW to Traffic, Nasib Singh from EOW to the Security Wing and Reena Yadav from the EOW to the Cyber Cell) and 30 Sub-Inspectors, 23 assistant sub-inspectors and 473 head constable, constables and lady constables. — TNS

Chandigarh, April 22
Witnessing only half of the hall filled with students and faculty members during a panel discussion ‘Let’s be gender sensitive’ at the law auditorium in Panjab University, Senior Superintendent of Police, Chandigarh, said how serious were we in addressing the issue and ensuring that there was awareness among girls regarding laws made to safeguard them.

“There are over 850 seats in this hall; however, not more than 50 per cent of these seats are occupied. The question arises as to how serious are we about dealing with this issue,” SSP Naunihal Singh said. The SSP said in terms of women empowerment, India stood on 115th position in the world.

Talking about the gender sensitisation program initiated by the Chandigarh Police in the city educational institutions, SSP Naunihal Singh said over 192 cases of eve-teasing had been registered in the past six months, with victims coming forward voluntarily.

Prof Reicha Tanwar, member, National Consultative Committee of UGC on Women Managers in Higher Education, and director, Women Studies Research Centre, Kurukshetra University, said committees should be set up in every educational institute as well as at workplace. She called for a three-pronged approach to deal with complaints, including fake ones: Conscientiousness, gender awareness and gender sensitivity. “Making stringent laws won’t help until we speak up against the crime,” she said.

She defined gender sensitivity as ‘living together in tranquility’ and with a heightened sensitivity towards inequality. She not only spoke of sexual harassment faced by women at the hands of men, but also of men by women.

Citing the Census 2011 data, she said the gender ratio of 914:1000 in the 0-6 years age group was the lowest since 1947. Another survey conducted amongst Kurukshetra University students under the aegis of the State Commission for Women showed a disquieting set of factors behind sexual harassment: No fear of the law, media ‘commodification’ of women, money and clout of the culprits, excessive consumption of drugs and alcohol, and the ‘macho’ image attached to those who could subjugate a woman, said Prof Tanwar.

Gurpreet Kaur Deo, Inspector General, Jalandhar range, said everyone had the right to “feel well and alive”, whether it is in the society or at home or the workplace. 

Chandigarh, April 22
A training workshop on the ‘Capacity Building Programme for Social Science Faculty’ was inaugurated today at the North-Western Regional Centre of the ICSSR Complex in Panjab University by former Punjab DGP KPS Gill.

Gill in his inaugural address said that he was able to transfer experience gained in Assam to Punjab. Delineating the method adopted by his department that ultimately led to normalcy, he focused on analysing various incidents and his personal interactions at the local-level in the areas affected by terrorism.

“Out of 14,000 villages in Punjab, around 225 were found to be the breeding ground for terrorists. The strategy was to identify the individual and punish him and not targeting any community. Constant interaction with people at the village-level helped in gradually building their confidence,” he said.

Prof Surinder Kler Shukla, honorary director, ICSSR, highlighted the importance of such capacity-building training workshops in the social science research. She said teachers would be equipped with techniques to pursue their research in the right direction after attending the workshop.

Professor Sucha Singh Gill, director general, Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, while delivering the keynote address, said research should help in giving the right direction to the society. “Accurate facts are very important while analysing the data. A researcher is required to use qualitative and quantitative data very carefully. Dialogue within discipline and outside the discipline is important, as without dialogue good work can not be done,” he said.

Chandigarh, April 22
Youth in general and students in particular must come forward for the protection of environment and Mother Earth. We are living in the Twenty-First Century with resources in plenty, but we need to use these resources in a sustainable manner.

With these words, Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal inaugurated the World Earth Day celebrations at the Centre for Social Work, Panjab University.

Prof Kiran Preet Kaur, co-ordinator, while welcoming guests, inspired students to adopt measures for sustainable development.

Sant Seechewal, recognised as Punjab's most famous eco-activist who is spearheading an anti-river pollution campaign, urged students to save the environment for a better and safer future.

Relating both crimes against women and corruption cases being reported across the country to the nature, Sant Seechewal stated consuming polluted water, air and food has also corrupted minds of human beings leading to such a situation.

Justice SN Aggarwal (retd), who was also present on the occasion, quoted environment-related judgments to make students aware about how important it was to save it.

He said laws in place for the protection of environment could not be effectively implemented without their participation.

Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover highlighted the significance of unification of nature and asked students to make a collective effort for saving the environment and for keeping the university campus clean and green.

Devinder Singh, a student of the Centre for Social Work, concluded the function with the slogan “Don’t be mean, go Green”.

The event was followed by a plantation ceremony in front of the centre and a street play on the environment degradation at Student Centre.

Students organise rallies
Fatehgarh Sahib: To mark World Earth Day and to make the district tobacco-free, students of various government and private schools took out rallies in the town to create awareness among the people about the bad affects of smoking. These rallies were flagged off by district police chief Hardial Singh Mann, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Puja Syal, Civil Surgeon Dr Gurpal Singh and District Education Officer Harvel Singh. Holding placards and banners, students passed through various parts of the town.