The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Broom vroom, AAP to storm tricity
Panchkula, January 11
She did not have interest in politics, but when she saw Mr Change sweeping to power, she decided to support the Aam Aadmi Party. A resident of Rajiv Colony, Veera, a maid, said: “With the common man taking the reigns, people have started respecting the broom. Support has been pouring in from all quarters for the party, so even we decided to jump in.”

Aam Aadmi Party activists rally at Sector 5 in Panchkula. Tribune Photo: Nitin Mittal

Supporters mobilisation camps
4,000 residents join AAP, 14,000 members registered till date
Chandigarh, January 11
A day before the ‘Chandigarh Volunteer Convention’ of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Chandigarh, a large number of residents turned up at supporters-mobilisation camps organised by AAP volunteers in various parts of the city. AAP workers claimed that more than 4,000 residents joined AAP today. They said till date there were nearly 14,000 members who had registered from the city itself.

Residents fill forms during the AAP membership campaign in Sector 41, Chandigarh, on Saturday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Water supply to remain affected
Chandigarh, January 11
Water supply to the city will remain affected for the next four weeks due to repairs at the Kajauli waterworks. There will be low water pressure during evening hours twice a week.

COMMUNITY

Front approaches Admn for release of Sikh detainees
Mohali, January 11
Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa and other members of Sikh Bandi Rehai Morcha show the application for premature release of Sikh detainees, in Mohali on Saturday. Members of the Sikh Bandi Rehai Morcha have again started their activities towards seeking premature release of Sikhs in jails. In the first step in this direction, the members have moved an application to the Chandigarh Administration for premature release of three Sikh detainees, namely Lakhwinder Singh, Shamsher Singh and Gurmeet Singh.

Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa and other members of Sikh Bandi Rehai Morcha show the application for premature release of Sikh detainees, in Mohali on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Emphasis on literature for children needed: Author
Chandigarh, January 11
Go back to your childhood if you want to write good stories, said Manorama Jafa, author and consultant, Children's Book Trust, New Delhi, who, among others, participated in the Chandigarh Sahitya Academy’s (CSA) literary function at the UT Guest House, here, today.

Manorama Jafa (left) and Manju Jaidka during a programme at the UT Guest House in Chandigarh on Saturday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

HUDA official’s role under scanner
Panchkula, January 11
After the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) sealed Five Degrees Café Bar and Grill following a shooting incident that took place on the New Year’s night, now, it is the turn of the HUDA official to face the heat.

Policy on screening of research papers sought
Chandigarh, January 11
The Union Government should formulate a policy to screen all research papers presented by fellows and implement those which are in the benefit of the public. This suggestion was given by the city NSUI representatives in the Congress youth manifesto feedback meeting chaired by Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi in Bangalore today.

Inflation stares in the face of banking sector
Chandigarh, January 11
Challenges faced by the Indian banking industry were deliberated upon during a seminar ‘Indian Banking Industry-Challenges and Opportunities’ at the Chandigarh Judicial Academy in Sector 43. The event was organised by the Progressive Lawyers’ Forum. Experts stated that the risk management system had yet not embedded in the Indian banking sector.

Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) lights the ceremonial lamp at the Chandigarh Judicial Academy in Sector 43, Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Experts deliver lecture on cloud computing
Chandigarh, January 11
The Society for Promotion of Science and Technology today organised its monthly lecture on cloud computing and its future. Chandra Shekhar of Dell Computers and Pawan Behl, CEO, Electro Photo Equipment Private Limited, were the speakers.

Red tape, graft discourage foreign investment: Trade body chief
Mohali, January 11
Red tape, corruption and safety are some of the issues that NRI industrialists wishing to set up businesses here are dread of, stated Naval Bajaj, president of Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), at Mohali Industries Association’s (MIA) Bhawan here today.

Delegates of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce at MIA Bhawan, Mohali, on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Housing society residents miffed at builder
Mohali, January 11
A dispute over spending the maintenance fund of a private colony came on road when agitated residents tried to block traffic on the National Highway-21 this morning.

Feedback
Passengers made to suffer
Things are yet to fall in place at Zirakpur. The bus stand is under construction and passengers are made to wait in the middle of Service Road. The need of the hour is a bus queue shelter. It is strange that a number of mishaps have failed to move the ruling government.

Frenzied flames: Students of Alliance Francaise celebrate Lohri at Sector 36, Chandigarh, on Saturday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

Sitarist enthrals music lovers
Chandigarh, January 11
Music lovers of the City Beautiful were treated to a scintillating sitar recital by Dr Lovely Sharma on the occasion of the 195th Monthly Baithak Programme organised by the Pracheen Kala Kendra in Sector 35, here, today.

UT violating CVC’s direction, says lawyer
Chandigarh, January 11
The Chandigarh Administration is not adhering to directions of the Central Vigilance Commission to check corruption. In a complaint to the Union Home Minister and UT Administrator, Ajay Jagga, a local lawyer, has stated that most of the departments of the Chandigarh Administration were violating the instructions issued in October 2009 by the Central Vigilance Commission, regarding displaying instructions on their notice board against bribes in a specified format.

Rape accused marries victim, acquitted
Mohali, January 11 In an interesting turn of events, a rape victim paved the way of acquittal of the accused after marrying him. The victim turned hostile in the court and claimed that her marriage with the accused has taken place following which the local court acquitted him here on Friday.

Rusted bomb shell found in Sec 45
Chandigarh, January 11
The Chandigarh Police today recovered a defused bomb shell weighing nearly five kilograms from the road separating Sectors 45 and 46 this afternoon. The labourers were digging alongside the road to lay sewer pipes when they found the bomb shell. The police was informed and they reached the spot and cordoned the area.

A police official holds the rusted bomb shell found on the road separating Sectors 45 and 46 in Chandigarh on Saturday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

A soulful evening
Chandigarh, January 11
Sham-e-Ghazal function at the Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16, saw several singers mesmerising the audience with their soulful recital. Singer Pammi Hanspal sang famous poem of Gian Singh Sandhu “Ohnu Te Yaad Nahi Hona” and Surjeet Patar’s famous poem “Enda Nee Karida”. Varinder Singh Vachan sang “Holi Holi Ro Kee” by Shiv Kumar Batalvi and DR Dhawan’s famous poems. Another singer Surmandeep sang Charanjeet Safri and MM Sadik’s poems. Surjeet Patar was the chief guest on the occasion. Chairman of the Punjab Kala Parishad Surinder Singh Virdi was also present. The Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi organised this function. — TNS

Pammi Hanspal performs at Punjab Kala Bhawan on Saturday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

Pay hike
Employees raise demands
Chandigarh, January 11
The coordination committee of the UT and MC employees today held a meeting at Sector 16. They reiterated their demand to regularise contractual employees. The committee wanted the authorities to increasing the pay scales of the employees. Members of the committee said they would continue their fight against the authorities till their demands were not met. — TNS

EDUCATION

PU students give ray of hope to underprivileged women
Chandigarh, January 11
With an aim to transform lives and provide sustainable business solution to 30 underprivileged women, a workshop to impart training in phulkari art by the students of Panjab University commenced at Mani Majra today.

Students of Chemical Engineering and Technology, PU, teach phulkari to underprivileged women at Indira Colony, Mani Majra, Chandigarh, on Saturday. Tribune Photo: Nitin Mittal

From schools
Death anniversary observed
The death anniversary of late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri was observed at Shastri Model School, Mohali. Balbir Singh Sidhu, MLA, Mohali, was the special guest on the occasion. He, along with other distinguished guests like Umakant Tiwari, Baldev Raj Sharma, S Rajwant Singh, staff members and students of the school, paid rich tributes to the former Prime Minister. They also participated in a havan held on his memory.

40 EWS students get lucky
Chandigarh, January 11
Strawberry Fields World School, Sector 26, held its draw of lots for 40 seats reserved for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) students this afternoon. The school received 103 applications for 40 seats.

A child takes out a slip during the draw of lots for EWS students at Strawberry Fields World School, Sector 26, Chandigarh, on Saturday. Tribune Photo: Pradeep Tewari

Students get cash prizes
Chandigarh, January 11
Top five students each from Classes V to VIII and top 10 students each from Classes IX to XI were awarded with cash prizes worth Rs 10,000 each during an award ceremony of Allen Career Institute at the Tagore Theatre in Sector 18, here, today. Those awarded were the winners of the institute’s recent talent search examination.

Winners of the talent encouragement exam in a jubilant mood after receiving awards in Sector 18, Chandigarh, on Saturday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

University director honoured
Chandigarh, January 11
Ex-Governor of Sikkim and former Agriculture Minister Choudhry Randhir Singh honoured Dr Surjeet Patheja, Director, Desh Bhagat University School of Education, with the National Jewel Award and Indian Award for Excellence in Education and Social Service in New Delhi.

Teachers hold rally
Mohali, January 11
Seeking regularisation of their services, members of the 7654 Joint Front Teachers’ Union staged a dharna and held a rally on the Kharar-Ludhiana highway near Khanpur village this afternoon.

265 UIET students get placement
Chandigarh, January 11
As many as 265 students of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET) have got placements in various companies. Thirty-two companies, including Infosys, Infogain, Deloitte, ZS Associates, visited the campus to select students of the 2013-14 batch. UIET director Dr Renu Vig said their students were also getting admission to top B-schools like IIMs. — TNS

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Protesters block Patiala road for 4 hours
Dera Bassi, January 11
Members of the Bhalai Manch, Banur, which is protesting against the Administration seeking proper supply of drinking water and emergency services at the local Civil Hospital, today blocked traffic on the Chandigarh-Patiala road for four hours.

COURTS

Three vehicles stolen in city
Chandigarh, January 11
Three incidents of vehicle thefts have been reported from different parts of the city. Manpreet Singh, a resident of Police Lines in Sector 26, reported that someone had stolen his motorcycle from the Sukhna Lake parking on January 10.

Theft bid at shop
Zirakpur, January 11
Two unidentified miscreants made a futile burglary attempt at Unique Electro World on the Zirakpur-Chandigarh road here early morning today. Before they could steal any valuable from the shop, labourers nearby raised an alarm prompting them to flee from from the spot.

A vendor shows the lock broken by unidentified miscreants in their failed attempt to steal valuables lying inside the shop under the Zirakpur flyover on Saturday morning. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Alert woman foils snatching bid
Panchkula, January 11
An alert resident of Sector 15, Panchkula, saved a part of her gold chain this morning when two bike-borne snatchers targeted her. Sensing their act, she held on to her chain firmly and resisted.

CRIME

Head constable assaulted
Chandigarh, January 11
Unidentified persons assaulted a head constable posted with the Chandigarh Police near the Sector 38 market on Friday night. The constable, identified as Amarjeet Singh, was returning home from Sector 35 when his motorcycle was hit by a car. He entered into heated arguments with the car driver, who along with his accomplices attacked him. He was rushed to the hospital. The police have registered a case at the Sector 39 police station. — TNS

SPORTS

Top seed Teeradon suffers a fall
Chandigarh, January 11
Fourth seed Xander Veys of Belgium defeated top seed Teeradon Tortrakul in the boys’ singles category during the final of the ITF Grade-3 Junior World Ranking Tournament, In the girls’ category, Indian contender Pranjala Yadlapalli beat Thailand’s Bunyawi Thamchaiwat. Both the matches were decided in a three-set clash.

The winners flaunt their trophies at the CLTA courts in Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Saturday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Tennis: Shreya Jain bites dust
Panchkula, January 11
The combined junior tennis meet for boys and girls began at Manav Mangal School, Sector 11, today. The championship is being organised by the Ideal Tennis Academy. In the combined U-12 category, Shreya Jain defeated Jai Dogra 5-3, however in the second round she tasted defeat at 5-0.

Exploring talent: The training programme for golf caddies completed its first leg on Saturday. The event started on December 19 and 16 boys and girls passed out as ‘C’ grade caddies. CSR Reddy, president, CGA, felicitated the caddies. The programme aimed at benefiting the caddies financially. Pooja, Sunny, Himanshu, Arti, Aman, Sanjay, Yash, Nidhi, Suraj, Ashish, Gagandeep, Abhishek, Kirti, Ankit, Raj Kumar and Ritu were given accreditation certificates.
Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Cricket meet
Facile win for FCI
Mohali, January 11
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) won the first match during the ongoing Corporate Cricket Tournament being held at Yadavindra Public School, Mohali. The FCI defeated the Association of Basic Medical Scientists, PGI, by 134 runs. Batting first, the FCI posted 193 runs for six wickets in the allotted 20 overs. For the FCI, Raghav scored a quick fire 67 off 33 balls while Arpit contributed 44 off 61.

PU gatka teams stand out Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 11
Panjab University gatka teams stood out during the All-India Inter-University Gatka Prize Money Tournament for Men and Women. The meet concluded today. The women’s team finished as first runners-up while the men’s team finished as attained second runners-up.