C H A N D I G A R H

Top stories | Community | Education

Neighbourhood | Crime | Sports

TOP STORIES

65% turnout in Panchkula MC poll
Panchkula, June 2
The first-ever elections to the Panchkula Municipal Corporation today saw 65 per cent of the total 2.30 lakh voters exercise their right to franchise. The elections for the 20 wards in the corporation passed off peacefully. As many as 231 booths were set up for polling.

Voters stand in queues to cast their ballot during the municipal corporation elections in Sector 16, Panchkula, on Sunday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Candidates hire bouncers to guard polling booths
Panchkula, June 2
Armed bouncers were roped in by some candidates during the municipal corporation elections today to guard polling booths. Dressed in black, the bouncers were seen at most of the polling stations. Standing guard in support of their respective candidates, the bouncers allegedly manhandled voters owing allegiance to other candidates. Alerted by voters, the police swung into action and detained nine bouncers from different polling stations till the election process ended.

The police takes a bouncer in custody from a polling booth in Sector 16 during the municipal corporation elections in Panchkula on Sunday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Bogus voting reported in Panchkula
Panchkula, June 2
It was a day of bogus voting in Panchkula. A number of residents found that their vote had already been polled. High drama was witnessed at polling booths in Satluj Public School and Sector 2 when an elderly couple found that their vote had already been cast. The couple, TC Sharma and Sushila Sharma, kept waiting for 40 minutes. The two even approached officials present at the booths seeking help, but to no avail.

Disability not a stumbling block for these voters
Panchkula, June 2
Being physically challenged could not act as a stumbling block for some of the voters, who despite their physical problems, came to cast their votes. Notably, such voters could be seen on wheelchairs, crutches. Even elderly voters were seen coming to the polling booths with the help of sticks, in large numbers.

Multi-crore Scams
Accused acquitted as CBI fails to prove charges
Chandigarh, June 2
Cases of multi-crore bank scams registered by the CBI over the past few years have fallen flat in the CBI court with the prosecution failing to prove the charges even in a single case. Even as the CBI said its cases were foolproof and it would file appeals before the high court, all accused in four multi-crore bank scams have either been discharged even before the trial could begin or acquitted by the court after hearing the case in the past six months. The court acquitted the accused, giving them the benefit of the doubt in all cases.

Obesity in children can lead to liver disease: PGI study
Chandigarh, June 2
Obesity in children, if not controlled timely, can lead to liver cirrhosis, resulting in either death or an urgency for liver transplant in adulthood. This has been concluded by researchers at the PGI in a study conducted on 64 obese children from across the northern region. The study, conducted on obese children aged between five and 15, found that 52 per cent of them had abnormal liver enzyme, while 30 per cent had abnormal metabolic syndrome, both of which are clear indicators of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The study found that the calorie intake (in the form of junk food and sugar-rich beverages) among these children, who manifested symptoms of the NAFLD, was much higher than the prescribed levels and their physical activity was poorer.

Watch out! You are paying more as VAT in restaurants
Chandigarh, June 2
The Chandigarh Administration is getting rich at the cost of restaurant goers, thanks to a wrong taxation formula being used by restaurant operators while charging the value added tax (VAT). As a result, VAT is being charged on the total food bill amount in contravention of the new tax regime.

COMMUNITY

Open House response
Check leakage to save water: Residents
Consume water judiciously
To tide over the water shortage, first of all pipe leakages should be plugged by the administration. Water should be supplied thrice daily so that unnecessary storage can be avoided. Residents must ensure that float valves in the overhead PVC tanks work properly and water does not overflow from these tanks. Standby pumps and motors should be available at bore wells for use in case of their failure. Also, residents should consume water judiciously.

Need to write software in vernacular languages: Expert
Chandigarh, June 2
Renowned software expert Dr FC Kohli, known as the Father of the Indian Software Industry, said there was a need to write software in vernacular languages. Dr Kohli, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Consultancy Services, was speaking at a brainstorming session on “Strategy for Enhancing Quality of Engineering Education” organised today at Panjab University.

A software expert, Dr FC Kohli (right), Chairman Emeritus, Tata Consultancy Services, interacts with PU Vice-Chancellor Arun Grover in Chandigarh on Sunday. Tribune photo: S. Chandan

Liquor contractors run business illegally from industrial plots
Chandigarh, June 2
Not caring for the instructions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, some liquor contractors are running their business from industrial plots, alongside the main road in the Industrial Area,Phase II (Ram Darbar), here.

Cong MLA demands open auction of mining sites
Mohali, June 2 Even as reports of illegal mining in the district are being received, Congress MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu has demanded that the government should conduct an open auction of mining sites.

PUDA staff to go on hunger strike
Mohali, June 2
After a long wait of around 12 years for getting own houses from the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA), its employees have now decided to go on a hunger strike to press for their demand.

Apni mandis
Consumers’ body complains against vendors
Mohali, May 25
The Consumers' Protection Federation has complained to the Punjab Mandi Board about overcharging by sellers at apni mandis. Federation president PS Virdi shot off a letter to the secretary of the board stating that they had been receiving a number of complaints in this regard.

Summer camp for children
Mohali, June 2
Mind Tree School, Kharar, is organising a summer camp for the children of Kharar and its periphery absolutely free. Western dance, art and crafts and skating skills would be taught to children in the camp, which started today. “There are two different batches, one for dance and art and craft and another for skating. The camp aims at bringing out the maximum potential of the child in terms of skills, abilities and confidence,” said the school authorities. — TNS

EDUCATION

Over 1,000 students appear for JEE (Advanced)
Chandigarh, June 2
Over 1,000 students appeared in the JEE (Advanced) exam held at different locations in the city today. It was the last stage of the two-tier entrance examination system launched for first time this year for the admission in undergraduate engineering courses in different colleges and institutions across the country. The rank holders of JEE (Advanced), hitherto known as IIT-JEE, will seek admission in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian School of Mines-Dhanbad, which in total has 9,000 seats.

Students come out of an examination centre in Sector 36, Chandigarh, on Sunday. Tribune Photo: Pradeep Tewari

Degrees conferred on 289 engineering students
Chandigarh, June 2
As many as 289 graduate and postgraduate students of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), Panjab University, Dr SS Bhatnagar University Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology (UICET), and UIET, PUSSGRC, Hoshiarpur, received degrees at a ceremony held at the PU Auditorium today.

Students in a jubilant mood after receiving their degrees during a convocation held at Panjab University on Sunday. Tribune photo: S. Chandan

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Integrated services for people on the anvil
Mandi Gobindgarh, June 2
The state government has decided to integrate and interconnect “Fard”, “Sanjh” and Suwidha Kendras (centres) by the end of this year to provide services to people in a time-bound manner. Disclosing this, Iqbal Singh Sidhu, Member Commissioner, and Jaspal Mittal, Secretary, Right to Service Commission, who were in Mandi Gobindgarh to sensitise officers, employees and citizens about the merits of the RTS Act, 2011, said under the Act, 69 services were being provided.

Husband, his brother booked
Dera Bassi, June 2
The Lalru police has registered a case against a woman's husband and his brother under various charges, including rape and harassment. As per information, the police has registered a case against Parmjeet Singh and his brother, Bablu, both residents of Behlolpur district, Mohali, under Sections 372, 376, 498, 506, 323 and 380 of the IPC.

CRIME

10 booked in cheating case
Chandigarh, June 2
The UT police has registered a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy against 10 persons for forging cheques and documents, threatening and filing a false case against the complainants.

CTU bus driver, conductor attacked
Chandigarh, June 2
A CTU bus driver was attacked with rods and sticks by a group of three-wheeler drivers at the Inter-State Bus Terminus in Sector 43. The bus driver objected to the parking of three-wheelers in the no parking zone when the scuffle ensued.

Two migrant labourers die in road mishap
Mohali, June 2
Two migrant labourers were killed, while one was injured after being hit by a vehicle near Raipur Kalan village here this evening. The deceased have been identified as Chandan and Rajesh Kumar, both residents of Bihar. The injured has been identified as Dinesh Kumar, also from Bihar. Deepinder Singh, station house officer of the Sohana police station, said all of them were migrant labourers and were under the influence of liquor.

SPORTS

Dhruv Pandove trophy
Patiala take an upper hand against Mohali
Chandigarh, June 2
The Patiala cricket team was bundled out for 261 runs against Mohali during the second day of ongoing Dhruv Pandove trophy for boys (U-19), today. Sukhwinder Singh scored 60 off 57 balls, including 10 boundaries and one six. Other batsmen also made healthy contributions. Mandeep Inder Bawa scored 52 off 198 balls studded with 9 boundaries, Karan Kaila scored 38 off 87 balls, including four boundaries and Anmolpreet Singh made 31 off 53 balls with four boundaries.

53 players take part in youth chess championship
Chandigarh, June 2
Piyush Manuja, Anubhav Tuknayat and Tarini Goyal secured 4.5 points to bag the Youth (U-25) Championship, in Open and Girl (U-13) categories, respectively, during the concluding day of chess championship, at St Xaviers's Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, here today. The Championship was organised by the Chandigarh Chess Association and a total of 53 players from different schools of the city participated in this championship.

Players in action during the final round of the Chandigarh State Chess Championship at the St Xavier’s School, Sector 44, Chandigarh, on Sunday. Tribune Photo: Pradeep Tewari

10-year-old hogs limelight in golf meet
Chandigarh, June 2
Golf-prodigy, Vasundhara Thiara, a 10-year-old golfer, brought laurels to the nation as well as City Beautiful after finishing third in the US Kids Golf European Championship played at Gullane (East Lothina), Scotland. Vasundhara held her nerves in the harsh climatic conditions and defeated her international rivals. She played an aggregate of 14 over par 230 in three days of play. As many as 550 best young golfers between the ages of 5-18 from 40 nations competed in this Europe’s premier junior golf tournament to showcase the next generation of stars. “I am happy with my latest performance and will try to carry it in the upcoming tourneys. Back in Scotland, weather was major challenge to come over. There were strong winds and the course remained wet. But my hard work paid me off well." said Vasundhara. She further added, "In the last championship at North Carolina, I managed to finish at the 18th spot. Now, I will try to improve further and get to better rankings."

Vasundhara Thiara at the CGA Golf Range on Sunday.

Livewire defeat Carriers India by 56 runs
Chandigarh, June 2
In the ongoing cricket tournament My Daughter-My Pride cup, the cricket team of Livewire Coaching Center (LWCC) defeated Carriers India, here today. The team's innings was built up by Abhishek Bhateja, who scored 98 off 53 and his counterpart Arun Luthra, chipped in with useful 31 runs.

Avengers rout Youth FC in football
Chandigarh, June 2
The Oasis team played a goalless draw against team CR-7 in the Chandigarh Football League, organised by the Baichung Bhutia Soccer Club. In another match, the team of 7 Warriors defeated Dynamic Devils 1-0. Gagandeep Singh scored the lone goal for the team. In the third match, Arsenal Gunners defeated Spartans 2-1. Striker Arjun scripted the team's win. In the boys (U-14) group, the Youth Warriors defeated Victory Strikers 4-1, while Avengers defeated Youth FC at 5-0. In the boys (U-12) Blue Sharks defeated the Invincibles 4-2, while the team of Classic 7 beat Black Ops by 6-2. — TNS

CCA Cup for boys from today
Chandigarh, June 2
The Chandigarh Cricket Association (CCA) affiliated with Haryana Cricket Association will organise the CCA Cup for boys (U-14) from June 3 to 6 at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, here. A total of four teams, including Chandigarh Cricket Association (Haryana), Ryan International Cricket Academy, Rajeev Rathor Cricket Academy and Pardeep Cricket Academy, will vie for the sub-junior cup. — TNS