25012023-CT-01.qxd 25-01-2023 00:43 Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune R-DAY: HARYANA SPEAKER TO HOIST TRICOLOUR AT P'KULA PUDA EXECUTIVE OFFICER IN VB NET FOR GRAFT, FRAUD UNAWARE OF NIGHT SHELTER, HOMELESS FREEZE IN COLD Haryana Speaker Gian Chand Gupta will unfurl the national flag at the district-level function. P2 Mahesh Bansal, Executive Officer (Coordination), PUDA, Mohali, held in case of graft, cheating. P4 Shelter situated near Army Hospital, Sirhind, with capacity to accommodate 100 persons, wears deserted look.P4 » » PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 18°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 18.9°C | MIN 9.4°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5.53 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 7.16 AM » WEDNESDAY | 25 JANUARY 2023 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE TRICITY COVID REPORT CHD P’KULA MOHALI POSITIVE 99,360 48,434 1,01,163 RECOVERED 98,177 48,013 99,995 NEW CASES 0 0 0 ACTIVE 2 0 0 CHANGE 0 0 0 DEATHS 1,181 421 1,168 NEW 0 0 0 AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 209 PANCHKULA 192 MOHALI 120 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD An Army Bomb Disposal Squad vehicle leaves after inspecting an unclaimed bag; and (right) dog squad of the UT police arrives at the District Courts Complex in Sector 43, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: VICKY INBRIEF TWO NABBED WITH HEROIN Chandigarh: Two persons have been nabbed for possessing heroin. Munish Kumar, alias Moni (39), a resident of Sector 29, was arrested from Sector 17, with 6 gm heroin. A case has been registered at the Sector 17 police station. Also, Chander Bhan, alias Madhu (32), a resident of Panchkula district, was nabbed from Kishangarh Chowk with 12.50 gm heroin. He has been booked under the NDPS Act at IT Park police station. TNS MAN STABBED AT MANI MAJRA Chandigarh: An unidentified person stabbed a 26-year-old man at Mani Majra. Complainant Charandeep Singh claimed his friend Sandeep, a resident of Panchkula district, was stabbed near a wine shop at the Kalagram light point. The victim was admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32. A case has been registered at the Mani Majra police station. TNS Z’PUR RESIDENT BOOKED FOR RAPE Mohali: The police have booked a Zirakpur resident on charges of raping a 24-year-old woman, a resident of Pinjore. Prince Dhawan was booked under Sections 323, 376 (2)(n) and 506 of the IPC at the Zirakpur police station on January 23. A zero FIR was registered at Kalka earlier. The victim claimed the suspect, an acquaintance, had raped her at a Baltana hotel several times and took her pictures. The victim got married later but the suspect threatened her to disrupt her married life. TNS VICKY Bomb scare triggers 5-hr search at Dist Courts Complex evacuated after alert by Panchkula cops | Bomb, dog squads called in | HC security stepped up Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 24 The UT police today launched a massive search operation at the District Courts, Sector 43, following a bomb alert, which later turned out to be a hoax, ahead of Republic Day. The search lasted around five hours. The police said as soon as the information was received at 11.01 am, police teams, including a bomb disposal squad, were rushed to the scene and a search was conducted. Judges, court staff, lawyers and visitors were evacuated and the entire courts complex, located next to the busy ISBT, Sector 43, was vacated, disrupting its functioning for the rest of the day. The complex was cordoned off and the road leading to it was closed to traffic. Following the alert, a search operation was also carried out at the ISBT. The bomb disposal squad accompanied by a dog squad searched the luggage of passengers. Sources said a handwritten note threatening terror attacks at the ISBT-43, district courts complexes in Chandigarh and Panchkula, put the security apparatus on a heightened alert across the tricity. The note in Hindi, found in the washroom of the District Courts, NOTE IN WASHROOM threatening terror attacks at district courts complexes in Chandigarh & Panchkula, and ISBT-43 sent cops into a tizzy ■ Note in Hindi, found in a washroom at District Courts, Sec 1, Panchkula, claimed attacks would be carried out before 1 pm; UT cops alerted Advocates and litigants wait outside District Courts; and (bottom) a dog squad inspects luggage at ISBT, Sector 43. ALERT SOUNDED AT 11 AM, OPS END AT 4.30 PM ■ At 11.01 am, UT police get an alert of bomb threat at District Courts, Sec 43 ■ Police teams, including bomb disposal squad, rushed to scene ARMY TEAM INSPECTS TIFFIN BOX An Army bomb disposal team from Chandimandir visited Sector 43 courts complex. It inspected a tiffin found in an unclaimed bag. After inspection, it ruled out the presence of explosives. Sector 1, Panchkula, stated attacks would be carried out before 1 pm. UT SSP Manisha Chaudhary said the Chandigarh police control room received information about a bomb threat from their coun- Non-compliance boards put up at MCcouncillor’s Sec50society, three others Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Rain lashes city, more likely today; temp drops 7°C Chandigarh, January 24 The day’s temperature fell by seven degrees as rain lashed the city today. The city recorded 12.6 mm of rainfall between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. Before 8.30 am, only 0.8 mm of rainfall was witnessed. With today’s rain, the city has seen total rainfall of 20.3 mm this month. It is higher than the last January when a meagre 3.4 mm of rainfall was witnessed. According to the Chandigarh Meteorological Department, Continued on page 3 Chandigarh, January 24 In an embarrassment for councillor Rajinder Sharma, the Municipal Corporation has again put up hoardings for non-compliance for the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016, at his society as well as three others. The civic body has put up hoardings outside the gates of BSNL Society, Sector 50 (where the councillor resides); Progressive Society, Sector 50; Pushpak Society, Sector 49; and Kendriya Vihar Society, Sector 48, under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The notices were put up earlier as well, but removed following talks between the residents and MC. A resident of Pushpak Society said the hoardings were uncalled for as they were in the process of complying with notices issued earlier. “A machine to process waste is being set up in an open area Many take it for R-Day mock drill ■ A handwritten note WASTE MGMTUncalled for, processing machine coming up, say assns NO SPACE ON PREMISES How can we set up a processing facility on premises? It is already a developed area. There was no such provision when society came up. ❝ ❞ SK Sharma, PRESIDENT, BSNL SOCIETY near the Sehaj Safai Kendra here. It will process waste of all four societies. It is being installed under the MPLAD funds,” he said. SK Sharma, president, BSNL Society, said: “How can we set up a processing facility on the premises? It is already a developed area. There was no such provision when society came up.” Similarly, Tarlochan Singh, president, Progressive Society, said: “We Continued on page 3 ■ Judges, court staff, lawyers, visitors evacuated, disrupting court functioning ■ Complex cordoned off and road leading to it closed to traffic; search begins ■ At ISBT, bomb disposal & dog squads search baggage of passengers ■ Around 4.30 pm, lawyers allowed to move vehicles out of complex UNCLAIMED BAG FOUND A bag containing a lunch box and a water bottle was found abandoned. On search using bomb detection devices, nothing suspicious was found inside Manisha Chaudhary, UT SSP ❝ ❞ terparts in Haryana, following which the police teams, including the Operations Cell, launched a search operation in the courts complex. “During the search, an unclaimed bag containing a lunch box and a water bottle, was found abandoned. Our teams examined it with the help of bomb detection devices. However, nothing suspicious was found inside the bag,” SSP said. Taking Chandigarh, January 24 As the police evacuated the courts complex on Tuesday, most litigants and advocates initially believed it was a mock drill to assess security preparedness. Sumit Kumar, a resident of Sector 53, said he had gone to the complex for a case hearing. Suddently cops asked all those present to vacate the premises. Advocate Vinod Verma said he was standing in the complex when the police told them to leave as they had received a bomb threat. Most thought it was a mock drill by the police in view of Republic Day. Within 20 minutes, the complex was evacuated. Shankar Gupta, president, District Bar Association, said there was a need to increase security at the complex. —TNS MUTIPLE ENTRIES POSE RISK PAGE 3 extra caution, the police also informed the Army about the suspicious bag, following which a bomb disposal team from Chandimandir reached the courts complex here. The team, including Col JS Sand- hu and Col Anshuman Bhadauria, inspected the tiffin. After inspection, the Army ruled out the presence of explosives. A police official said someone might have left Continued on page 3 Lawyers outside the Panchkula district courts on Tuesday. Note sends P’kula cops into a tizzy Panchkula, January 24 The local police today carried out a search operation at the courts complex here after a note was found from a washroom adjoining the advocates’ chambers threatening to blow up the complexes in Panchkula and Chandigarh. On receiving information, a police team led by DCP Sumer Pratap Singh, ACP Surinder Kumar Yadav and the Sector 7 police station incharge rushed to the scene to take stock of the situation. The DCP directed the dog squad to carry out a search operation in the complex, its adjoining areas and vehicles parked in the area, said ACP Continued on page 3 TRAFFIC CURBS IN PLACE FOR R-DAY In view of the Republic Day function at Parade Ground in Sector 17, traffic restrictions/diversions have been put in place in Chandigarh on Thursday. ROUTES AROUND VENUE CLOSED TIME: 6.30 am till end of function CURBS: Sec 16/17/22/23 roundabout to Gurdial Singh petrol pump, Sec 22-A, on Udyog Path Old District Courts, Sec 17, to Shivalik Hotel (rear side of Parade Ground) Lyon’s Restaurant light point near MC office, Sector 17, to Parade Ground TRAFFIC DIVERSION Buses coming towards ISBT-17 diverted from Kisan Bhawan chowk and Piccadilly chowk via Himalaya Marg to reach ISBT-17 from small chowk (near Gurdial Singh petrol pump). At the time of dispersal, traffic diverted from ISBT-17 chowk on Udyog Path. It will be done by diverting traffic coming from the Sector 17/18 light point, Aroma light point, Sector 18/19/20/21 chowk and the cricket stadium chowk from 11.30 am to 12.15 pm. At time of dispersal, only buses will be allowed to ply on this stretch. SECURITY ADVISORY VENUE: Parade Ground, Sec 17 SEATING DEADLINE: 9.15 am ENTERING THE VENUE SPECIAL INVITEES: Gate Nos. 4, 6 and 7 (opposite Sector 22) GENERAL PUBLIC: Gate Nos. 8, 9 and 10 (opposite ISBT-17) ID MUST: Attendees must have a photo ID card in original BANNED: Objectionable articles such as bag, matchbox, knife, cigarette, weapon, liquor, inflammable items, electronic devices, black flag and banners/posters NO PARKING In front of Sector 22-A market shops from 6.30 am till end of function PRADEEP TEWARI c m y b Smoke emanates from the windowpanes of the school bus at Mani Majra on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO School bus ferrying students fills with smoke, evacuated Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 24 Students of a private school had to be evacuated from a school bus after smoke started coming out of the engine at Mani Majra here today. The students of Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, were traveling in the bus. Sources said while the bus was on its way to drop the students, smoke started coming out of its engine at Mariwala in Mani Majra. The Was on way to drop Sacred Heart pupils driver stopped the bus and the students were safely evacuated. The smoke soon filled the bus, following which the windowpanes had to be opened. The fire department was informed. A fire tender later reached the spot and controlled the situation. Parents were informed about the incident and they reached the spot to pick up their wards. A parent whose daughter was travelling in the bus said the incident had raised a question mark over the safety of their children. “A major tragedy was averted. The school should ensure proper maintenance of buses hired to ferry students,” said a parent. Another said they were paying hefty fares to ferry their children in school buses and expected their safety in return.