The miscreants have warned the public against approaching the police. While the police claim that it is the handiwork of some miscreants, the posters have spread panic among people visiting Sector 17. The SHO of the Sector 17 police station, Dilsher Singh Chandel, said they had started an investigation into the case. “It seems somebody has played mischief,” he said.

Both the extortion letter and the posters pasted by the group carry the name of Palvinder Singh Heera, raising suspicion that the same people are involved in both cases.

A case under Section 505 1b (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm among the public, or among any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the state or against public tranquility) of the IPC and under the Prevention of Defacement of Property West Bengal Act — 1946 has been registered at the Sector 17 police station. 

Chandigarh, September 26
The Adviser to the UT Administrator, KK Sharma, has been posted as the Chief Secretary of Goa. He will replace B Vijayan, who retires on September 30. A 1983 batch IAS officer, Sharma had joined the UT in April 2011. The formal orders of Sharma’s new place of posting are expected in a day or two.

Sources said the names of three senior IAS officers were doing the rounds for the post of Adviser.

Vijay Kumar Dev, a 1987 batch IAS officer, is likely to replace Sharma as the UT Adviser.

The decision is expected soon as KK Sharma is likely to join his new assignment in October.

Mohali, September 26
The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) earned a revenue of around Rs 71 crore at an auction of sites held here today. The development authority was able to dispose of 26 of the 52 sites put to auction.

The response to the GMADA auction was much better as compared to the earlier auctions held some months ago.

Out of the four institutional sites put to auction, GMADA was able to dispose of two. A site for a school in Sector 78, measuring 15923.6 sq yd and having a reserve price of Rs 15,92,36,000, was sold for Rs 16,15,25,000. Similarly, a site for a nursing home in Sector 70, measuring 1282.1 sq yd, was sold for Rs 7,11,000,00 against the reserve price of Rs 5, 89,51,000. However, a hotel site in Sector 56 and another nursing home site in Sector 69 were kept pending by the authorities.

All three booth sites in Sector 55 were sold. Even four SCF sites in Sector 64 were disposed of. However, three SCF sites in Sector 63 could not be sold.

Shalinder Anand, chairman of the Property Consultants Association, said the auction attracted a good response. This would give a boost to real estate in the area.

On September 19 , the Estate Officer (Plots), had held a meeting with representatives of property dealers’ associations to discuss various matters related to the auction.

The Estate Officer, Inderjit Kaur Kang, had stated in the meeting that GMADA had fixed the rates of various sites included in the auction keeping in mind the pulse of the market.

Chandigarh, September 26
Rabab player Utsad Daud Khan Sadozai from Afghanistan accompanied with percussionist professor Parmajit Singh performed at Sector 5 at an event organised by Max, Chandigarh.

Sufi musician Ustad Dadu Khan Sadozai from Afghanistan plays Kabuli Rabab in Sector 5, Chandigarh, on Friday. Tribune Photo: S Chandan

Sadozai’s soulful performance captivated the audience and hearts. Dressed to the nines for the evening in his folk attire, the robabist kept the evening’s momentum going with his renditions.

Sadozai who is an internationally acclaimed sufi musician, from Kabul has performed across the globe, and was honoured twice in India in 1988 and 1995 with the Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan award.

It’s was not only his power-packed soulful recital that caught the minds and souls of the spectators but even his instruments that had been heavily decorated with beads and coloured mirrors that caught the eyes of all.

The whole essence and authenticity of the dying instrument, Rabab that Guru Nanak had specially designed for his Muslim companion Bhai Mardana was brought on the stage alive again.The 60 minutes performance left the audiences spellbound as the duo musicians enthralled them. The evening ended on a high sufi note.

Chandigarh, September 26
The Engineering Department of the Chandigarh Administration today started a six-day long drive to clean roads under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Campaign.

Roads falling under the jurisdiction of the Engineering Department have been divided in four sections, each section is being headed by two Assistant Engineers /Junior Engineer with supervisory staff and working staff. The cleaning campaign will cover the area along the main roads and village roads.

The road cleaning work has been started from the UT boundary with Zirakpur , Panchkula and Mullanpur sides. 

Chandigarh, September 26
A day after high drama was witnessed at the MC House meeting over the study tour, councillors, who were part of the tour have now started face-saving exercise.

The Study tour had generated a lot of buzz for overshooting the sanctioned expenditure as family members of several councillors joined the trip.

Today, some of the councillors posted those photos of the tour in which the councillors were meeting their counterparts and officials of the Kolkata MC, on social networking sites. Some of the councillors and their supporters even circulated such 
photos on whatsapp tojustify that it was not a leisure trip.

BJP Councillor Satinder Singh, who had raised questions on the study tour, said such attempts were only a face-saving exercise.

According to the information gathered by him, in the nine days study tour, thecouncillors out of 216 hours only worked for four hours.

How can they say that it was a study tour? It was only a leisure tour and was a waste of public money, he said.

On the other side, Congress Councillor Subhash Chawla, who was part of the study tour said city residents should also know that the councillors were actually working during study tour, therefore he posted such photos of the study tour on the social networking site.

Yesterday, in the MC House meeting, the councillors who were part of the study tour had submitted that there was no wastage of public money and the councillors bore the expenses of their family members.

The MC has spent Rs 28 lakh on the tour, which was scheduled from August 31 to September 9, to Port Blair, Chennai and Kolkata.

Out of 216 hrs, they only worked for four hours

According to the information gathered by BJP Councillor Satinder Singh, who had raised questions on the study tour, said in the nine days study tour, thecouncillors out of 216 hours only worked for four hours. How can they say that it was a study tour? It was only a leisure tour and was a waste of public money, he said. 

Chandigarh, September 26
Chaturvedi family from Mathura has dedicated over six decades to staging of Ramlila, across the country, for they claim that it is the love for the transcendental drama that makes them enact it again and again and pass on the baton to their next generation.

The family of 40 members comprising three generations which is in the city, to stage Ramlila at Sector 27 claimed that all male members in their family, have never taken any training or rehearsed their roles but have always been at the forefront to man the harmonium or don the greasepaint, as they are devoted to the tradition.A marketing manager of a diagnostics centre in Mathura, Vijay Chaturvedi (34), who will essay the role of Ravan this year, said, “Since my early teenage days I have been travelling every year with my family across the country to stage Ramlila, we have staged Ramlila in Delhi, Mumbai, and in almost every corner of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. For us it is more of a family affair now.”What makes the family really unique is that till date they stage the story of the king of Ayodhya as they did 60 years ago.

Pandit Shamsundar who narrates the Ramayan and explains the mythological epic, said, “My elder brothers Shankarlal and Shivlal were honoured by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1982. Even film directors have appreciated our dedication. In the four hours that we perform not even once do we drop the curtain.”He further adds, “In our family only unmarried male members play the role of Ram.”Such is the dedication of the family that they not only enact Ramlila but right from the make up, to designing of the sets of the stage they do it all by themselves.ne of the youngest member of the family, Deepak (13), who is playing the role of Sita this year said, “ Ramlila runs in our blood. Our family’s only motive is to spread the message of Lord Ram, we are firm believers of his teachings, and we will continue
this tradition in all the times to come.”

Panchkula, September 26
On the second day of Navratras, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) candidate Kulbhushan Goyal, Congress candidate DK Bansal, and Independent candidates Hem Singh and Harinder Saini filed their nominations in Panchkula. The others were covering candidates.

Before filing nominations, as a show of strength, INLD supporters painted the town green and took out a rally with over 200 cars and 150 bikes. The workers and supporters, in a large number, first assembled at the Sector 5 office of the INLD and then took out a road show.

Goyal said Panchkula had been ignored in the past one decade. He was committed for providing better civic amenities and more job opportunities to youths.

MLA DK Bansal also filed his nomination papers amid drum beats at the SDM office. Over 200 persons accompanied him. He also performed a “havan” at his party office before filing his nominations. Gian Chand Gupta had already filed his nominations yesterday. 

Prominent persons accompanied Goyal

Besides a large number of supporters, prominent among those who accompanied Goyal were INLD National General Secretary RS Choudhary, district president Manoj Aggarwal, prominent businesspersons Kewal Garg, Balkishan Singla, and Tejpal Gupta.

Ravinder Rawal to file papers today

On Thursday, five persons, including Independent candidates, filed their nomination papers. Rest of them were covering candidates. Ravinder Rawal will be filing his nomination on Saturday.

Chandigarh, September 26
In order to make Chandigarh a prominent city on tourism map, the UT Tourism Department has planned to promote the city as a weekend tourist destination of the region.

While stating about the plans in the pipeline for the promotion of the city, Kashish Mittal, Director Tourism, Chandigarh, said: “On the lines of the western tourism, where special packages are made in order to tap larger number of tourists, we are also planning to make standard packages for students, foreigners and architects.”

He said the city would also be hosting more cultural festival series, including carnival, film festival and others.

Kashish Mittal said in an effort to promote tourism, the department and STEPS would be celebrating the annual event, “World Tourism Week”, from September 27 to September 30.

He said the week-long celebrations this time would spread to Southern sectors. To involve youth of the city, the DPI (Schools) had been instructed to inform the schools to send students to take part in the Run for Tourism activity.

He said the celebrations would provide an ample opportunity to visitors and residents of the tricity to participate in a variety of events and activities, which would promote Chandigarh as a happening city and a hub of tourism and culture in the region.

The officials said during the celebrations, various activities, including, morning raga, Bollywood Nite featuring Javed Ali, photography exhibition, Sham-e-Qawwali and others, will be conducted.

They said to facilitate the tourists, visitors and the residents of the tricity, a variety of attractions, concessions and incentives will also be offered.

Mohali, September 26
Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, Mohali, has banned the functioning of hookah bars in the district. The ban order will remain in force till November 28.

Sidhu said it had been brought to his notice by the Civil Surgeon that a number of hookah bars functioning in the district were serving tobacco molasses containing nicotine, which were highly injurious to health.

He said such molasses were also being given to minors. It was suspected that at times, apart from tobacco, other harmful substances were also mixed with tobacco molasses and were served at these bars.

The Deputy Commissioner said the ban had been imposed in view of the general health and interests of the public and to ensure in particular that school and college-going students and minors did not become a victim of substances that were extremely harmful to health.

Chandigarh, September 26
The election of the GITBP Employees’ Coop Salary Earners Thrift and Credit Society Limited, Chandigarh, to elect 21 members of its managing committee will be held on October 15.

As per the election programme, on October 14, nomination papers can be filed from 10am to 11am, scrutiny of papers from 11am to 12noon, withdrawal of papers from 12 noon to 12.30pm, and allotment of symbols will be done from 12.30pm to 1pm.

On October 15, the election (if necessary) will be held from 10am to 1pm, and the counting of votes and the results will be declared at 1.30pm onwards. The election will be held at the registered office of the society at the GITBP, Industrial Area-I, Chandigarh.

Chandigarh, September 26
The Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, today continued the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ and removed garbage from various sectors.

MC officials removed garbage and malba from road berms in Sector 7 and 8.

MC Commissioner VP Singh also launched a Hepatitis B vaccination campaign from Civil Dispensary, Sector 19, under which MC safai karamcharis vaccinated against Hepatitis B.

Chandigarh, September 26
BJP state president Sanjay Tandon has written a letter to the Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, pointing out the arbitrary action of the Chandigarh Administration in demolishing and sealing the construction of godowns of villagers in the villages which are situated beyond the lal dora.

Tandon also demanded that directions be given to the Administration to stop the the demolition drive and sealing process immediately and find asolution to redress the grievances of the villagers so that they are releaved.

BJP general secretary Prem Kaushik reiterated that the Chandigarh Administration was demolishing the construction sites of godowns and sealing the housed of the villagers in the villages which are situated beyond the lal dora. Due to the arbitrary action of the Administration, the villagers were inconvenienced. He informed that before sending the letter today, he discussed the matter with Rajnath Singh over the phone. 

Panchkula, September 26
A traffic congestion was witnessed this morning on the Panchkula-Yamunanagar highway when villagers of Kot village blocked the route alleging police inaction. The jam continued for about two hours.

Hundreds of villagers staged a protest against the police stating that the police let off thieves who had stolen their buffaloes and cattle.

The SHO of the Chandimandir police station, Inspector Arvind Kumar said, “We had sorted out the matter with the villagers. They had some misunderstanding.”The villagers alleged that the thieves who were going in a pick-up after stealing their buffalos were caught by them. However, when they called the police, the police let them off. Commuters were a harassed lot. — TNS

Chandigarh, September 26
Two new cases of dengue have been reported bringing the total number to three this season.

One case was reported from a hostel in Sector 15. A PGI employee and resident of Dadu Majra also contracted dengue. Both the cases were diagnosed at thePGI.Two weeks ago, a resident of sector 29 contracted dengue.The first case this season was reported recently.

Chandigarh, September 26
The annual blood donation camp was organised by the Markfed Blood Trust in association with the Rotary and Blood Bank Society Resource Centre, Sector 37, on the Markfed head office premises on Friday. 

Chandigarh, September 26
A minor clash broke out between activists of the student parties, Panjab University security staff and police personnel outside the Administrative Block where a Syndicate meeting was underway on Friday evening.

The student leaders entered into a heated argument with the security staff when the former tried to enter the Administrative Block to submit a memorandum.

The police personnel and security staff, who were deployed for the Syndicate meeting, had a tough time dealing with the student leaders for about half an hour.

Following an assurance by the authorities that the issue would be resolved, the student leaders and members withdrew their protest. The students demanded that the BE and MBA students of UIET be allowed to take part in placement drives.

They also demanded that as the authorities had discontinued the dual course, students in the second or final year should be given an opportunity to opt for one of them.

President of student council, Divyanshu Bhudhiraja, decided to submit a memorandum in this regard to the Syndicate members and later held a protest when the authorities denied taking up the issue.

Surprisingly, all other student parties also joined in the protest to raise their demands.

After the issue was resolved, all student parties took credit that it was due to their efforts that the matter had been resolved. 

DEMANDS

* The students demanded that the BE and MBA students of UIET be allowed to participate in placement drives.

* They also demanded that as the PU authorities had discontinued the dual course, students in the second or final year should be given an opportunity to opt for one of them.

Mohali, September 26
At least 45 computer teachers staging a protest in support of their demands were picked up by the police here today. The teachers were protesting outside the office of the Director-General School Education, located on the premises of the Punjab School Education Board in Phase VIII.

The police first picked up Parminder Singh and state president of teachers’ body Gurvinder Singh. This was resisted by the other protesters.

The police then rounded up all protesters and took them to the Phase VIII police station where they staged a dharna and also raised slogans.

They were charged under Sections 107 and 151 of the CrPC.

As many as 38 of them were presented before SDM Lakhmir Singh, who remanded them in judicial custody till October 2. They were sent to a jail in Nabha.

The teachers’ demands include the regularisation of the services and bringing them under the Education Department unconditionally.

The protesters said they also had not been receiving their salaries regularly.

Chandigarh, September 26
Panjab University today nullified the elections of 19 department representatives (DR) of nine departments who had not submitted their election expenditure accounts to the election officer of the DR elections.

A notice has been issued to all DRs that as they had not submitted the expenditure details in a stipulated time, their election had been nullified by the PU authorities.

As per the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines, all the DRs who had contested the elections, were to submit their election expenditure to the Dean Student Welfare (DSW). The election of the UIET Department, which has the highest number of four DRs, has been nullified as none of the candidates submitted their election expenditure details to the DSW office.

DSW Navdeep Goyal confirmed that notices had been issued to all departments whose DRs had not submitted their election expenditure details.

He said. “The last date of filing the election expenditure was September 19 but all these 19 DRs did not submit the same.”

He said the candidates were given three more days to submit their expenditure, for which a communication was also sent to the departments but no response was given by them. He said there would be no re-election in these departments and the DRs would now be nominated.

University records revealed that in 41 departments, there was unanimous selection of DR in departments, while in 22 departments, the elections were conducted for 52 DRs on the campus.

The Physics Department, PU, which has a strength of 523 students unanimously elected its four DRs. 

Chandigarh, September 26
Doon International School organised a cleanliness drive to make the students aware about personal cleanliness and to keep their surroundings clean.

The students cleaned the premises with brooms.

The students also organised a rally to Sector 69 on spreading awareness which was flagged off by the school director CS Mann.

The students motivated the residents to plant trees to keep the surroundings clean. 

Chandigarh, September 26
The students of Sri Dhanwantary Ayurvedic College of the 2012-13 batch today got a sigh of relief as Panjab University allowed them to appear in the examinations to be conducted by it.

This decision was taken in the Syndicate meeting held here today under the chairmanship of PU Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover.

The issue had been hanging fire for almost a year as the university, in March this year, decided not to conduct the examination of Dhanwantary students from the 2008 to 2013 batches.

Records revealed that a report of the committee constituted by the university under the chairmanship of DVS Jain, a nominated Senator of PU, had also recommended the conduct of exams of all batches which was tabled in March.

In March, the university authorities had tabled a Government of India’s communication depicting that as the PU had given affiliation to the 2010-11 batch, the permission to conduct the exams will be given.

The Syndicate members had objected that when the university had not affiliated the college, how the GOI had given permission to hold the exams?

Other issues approved at Syndicate meet

* The Syndicates approved the hike in the rent of guest houses which includes PU guest house, golden jubilee, faculty house, teacher holiday home in Shimla. As per the fresh rates, the authorities will now charge Rs 150 per day which was earlier Rs 75. For guests, the charges will be Rs 600 rather than the earlier Rs 300.

* The Syndicate today approved the provision of Rs 75 lakh to provide tuition fees to needy students on the campus. The Syndicate approved the recommendations of the Board of Finance meeting held on September 5. The next Syndicate meeting will be held on October 26.

first-of-its-kind offer

* Personal loan scheme for research scholars of PU has been started by the State Bank of Patiala.

* Indian nationals doing research in Panjab University wil be eligible for the scheme.

* It is learnt that Rs 1.5 lakh is the maximum loan amount, which will be disbursed in 12 equal instalments, with a maximum limit of Rs 12,500.

Chandigarh, September 26
Lack of knowledge about the culture and language had become a reason of conflict between India and China. This was stated by the former Governor of Chhattisgarh, Shekhar Dutt, while delivering a key note address on the National Day of China on the topic ‘Vision from history and geography of India and China’ at Panjab University today.

He said, “The officials of both countries are usually unaware about the dialect, culture or trends of each other. Resultantly, there are no talks between the two nations.”

On the National Day of China, the Punjab and Chandigarh chapter of the India China Friendship Association organised the talk.

While referring to the phrase that we should be in the shoes of the person and then think what they believe, he said, “India should examine the situation of China through their prospective and not according to their own situation.”

Meanwhile, former Punjab Governor Lt Gen (retd) BKN Chhibber also presided over the function. 

Panchkula, September 26
Sandeep Sardana, principal of Manav Mangal School, Sector 11, was felicitated with the prestigious Rashtriya Vidya Saraswati Puraskar on the occasion of National Seminar in Individual Achievements and National Development held at New Delhi.

The award ceremony was held at the Deputy Speaker Hall, Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. The award was presented by Ambassador VB Soni, former Ambassador of India to 10 countries.

The honour was conferred on him for his excellence in academics and field of community service. The event was organised by the Global Society for Health and Educational Growth.

This award is constituted to honour individuals who had made a substantial contribution for the development of India.

Individuals who had been contributing towards the uplift of the girl child, rural education promotion and various other activities concerning community services were also honoured.

Sardar Joginder Singh, former director, CBI; Major Ved Prakesh, secretary of the AICC; Anees Durrani, secretary of the AICC; PC Nainwal, former vice-chairman Uttarakhand Prawasi Coordination and Welfare Advisory Committee, were the other dignitaries which were present on the occasion.