24062024-CT-01.qxd 24-06-2024 00:09 Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune HOODA PROMISES ~25L HEALTH COVER, ~6K OLD AGE PENSION YOUTH FOUND HANGING NEAR RAILWAY TRACKS SONAKSHI, ZAHEER ARE OFFICIALLY WIFE & HUSBAND! Addresses workers' meeting to thank them for the Congress' victory from the Ambala Lok Sabha seat. P2 The body was found hanging from a tree near Ambala-Kalka railway tracks behind Indus Valley area. P2 Sonakshi’s bridal dress was an all-white affair with a touch of ivory, while Zaheer’s sherwani was also white. P4 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 143 PANCHKULA 162 MOHALI 156 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF MAN ATTACKED AT HALLO MAJRA Chandigarh: Two persons have been arrested by the UT police for attacking a man with sticks and a sharp weapon. Aayush, alias Shera, a resident of Rajiv Colony, Sector 17, Panchkula, alleged that Anup, Sunil and others allegedly attacked him. The police registered a case and arrested Sunil Kumar and Ritesh Kumar. Both were later released on bail. TNS IMMIGRATION AGENTS BOOKED Chandigarh: The police have booked two immigration consultants for cheating. In a complaint lodged with the police, Naresh Khanna of Sector 31 alleged that Deepak Malik, Manoj Malik and others cheated him out of Rs 10 lakh over providing study visa. A case has been registered at the Sector 31 police station. Another case was registered on a complaint filed by Jaswant Singh. He alleged that Mohinder Singh and Hardayal Singh cheated him out of Rs 4 lakh. The police have registered a case at the Sector 34 police station. TNS WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH APNI MANDI: Sectors 43, 45 and Maloya MOHALI APNI MANDI: Phase V PANCHKULA APNI MANDI: MDC, Sector 5 Dog bites youth, owner booked CHANDIGARH:Owner of a pet dog has been booked by the police after the canine bit a 21-year-old youth. According to the police, Prem Singh of Dhanas village alleged that a pet dog attacked and bit him near his house. He lodged a complaint against the dog owner, Rajinder Singh. A case under Section 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animal), IPC, has been registered. — TNS TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD MAX 39°C | MIN 29°C YESTERDAY MAX 40.4°C | MIN 30.3°C SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:23 AM FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE owe Police Despite HC orders, unauthorised Banks4 crore for Dept ~ vendors thriving at Sec 17 Plaza security service Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Amit Sharma Chandigarh, June 23 Despite the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s directions, the city authorities have done little to remove a large number of illegal street vendors who continue to run business at Sector 17 Plaza, which is a one-stop destination for all types of shopaholics. In the evening, the Plaza gives the look of a flea market. A large number of illegal vendors sell roasted corn, cheap toys, sweet potato and other such items. Mobile vendors selling fake sunglasses of top brands and balloons pester visitors. As the unauthorised vendors do business a few metres from the Municipal Corporation office and right in front of the Sector 17 police post, it seems the authorities are least bothered about implementing the court orders. Most vendors do business in the late evening hours, while the duty of MC’s enforcement wing staff ends at 5 pm. A local resident and regular visitor to the market, Sumita Kumari said, “It is chaos here. Just like a ‘sabzi mandi’ or fish market, vendors are sitting in the heart of the city. There are authorised Tribune News Service Illegal vendors sell goods at the Sector 17 Plaza in Chandigarh on Sunday evening. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI vending sites. Under whose influence they are allowed to run business here. The authorities do not care about the High Court directions.” Stating that it amounts to contempt of court, Neeraj Bajaj, president, Business Promotion Council, said, “We met the MC Commissioner in this regard about two months ago, but nothing has happened so far. Till the time the police take the responsibility of removing them, a lone MC enforcement inspector cannot make a much difference.” The Plaza, which is considered to be a pedestrians’ paradise, had literally become a flea market after the civic body carried out street vendors’ survey in 2016. After much protests, the matter had gone to the HC. The court had rapped the Over 9K appear for TGT exam Chandigarh, June 23 The UT Education Department conducted Part-II of examination for filling the posts of TGT (social studies and science, non-medical) in morning and evening shifts at 11 government schools. A total of 4,787 candidates appeared for the social studies exam in the morning shift (out of a total of 8,237 candidates), while 4,553 took the exam in the evening shift (out of 8,059 candidates) in the science (non-medical) subject. A total of 303 TGT posts in various subjects will be filled on a regular basis. “Examination centres were provided by the Education Department, Chandigarh, for written test, while examination material and staff were arranged by the recruiting agency. A total of 18 superintendents of the Administration were deputed as Independent Observers at the centres,” said the Education Department. “CCTV and jammers were also installed at the examination centres for a smooth conduct of the examination. Biometric attendance of candidates was also taken and a total of 76 Staff wait for two aspirants of NEET, who were asked to take the test again, at St Joseph’s School, Sector 44, on Sunday. NITIN MITTAL NEET: BOTH CANDIDATES SKIP RE-EXAM Two candidates, who registered to appear for the re-exam of NEET (UG)2024, didn’t turn up at the Sector 44 examination centre. The officials waited for both candidates till 1.30 pm before closing the gates of the centre. The exam was earlier conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities (including 14 cities abroad) for more than 24 lakh candidates. After irregularities were reported in the NEET-UG exam, the NTA announced the re-exam for 1,563 candidates, who were granted compensatory/grace marks in six cities from 2 pm to 5:20 pm. police personnel were deputed to carry out the frisking process and secure the examination centres. No case of malpractice (impersonation/copying, etc) or any irregularity was reported by any independent observers.” — TNS Days after bomb threat, rly station security lax Dhruv Noatay Chandigarh, June 23 It has been 11 days since the Chandigarh Railway Station received a bomb threat, yet security is conspicuously lax there. The X-ray machines installed at each entrance to scan luggage are used by visitors as benches. When a team of The Tribune visited the station, there were no security personnle guarding these entrances, raising serious doubts over the station’s readiness to handle security threats. From the Chandigarh side, the railway station has two entrances. The first entrance on the left leads to the escalators, PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET MONDAY 7.27 PM » MONDAY | 24 JUNE 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Visitors sit on the conveyer belt of an X-ray machine at the left entrance to the Chandigarh Railway Station. DHRUV NOATAY while the second one opens on to the platform. Neither has any form of security, not even a single guard. The only people one can be sure to find at these entrances are porters. “The current situation poses significant risks to passengers and railway staff alike. The authorities concerned must reassess and implement effective measures promptly, lest a mere threat becomes a trag- ic reality,” said Rameshwar Rao, a traveller. “Such a huge crowd visits the station daily. The authorities must ensure that all checks are in place. They should also conduct drills or else it could lead to a major trouble,” said Rohit Kumar, another traveller. Officials at the station refused to comment over the issue. A meeting to discuss enhanced security measures was held after the threat and plans were made. However, more than a week later, the ground reality states differently. According to a railway official, security measures have been increased and more personnel deployed at all entrances. c m y b authorities concerned for converting the tourist attraction into a vending zone and issued directions in October 2019 for the immediate removal of unregistered vendors from Sector 17. In December 2019, the MC removed all vendors from Sector 17. But they kept surfacing from time to time and their number has now increased manifold. SEVERAL CHALLANED ❝We regularly hold enforcement drives there. On Sunday, we impounded an unauthorised food truck and challaned several vendors. ❞ Anindita Mitra, MC COMMISSIONER Chandigarh, June 23 A number of banks owe Rs 4.11 crore to the Chandigarh Police on account of security services provided to them. The UT police offered security to the banks without receiving full payment in advance, which is in contravention of the Punjab Police Rules. The police provide security during currency transfer and for station static guard at chests at banks. According to the inspection report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), a review of the departmental records from 2019 to 2023 revealed that the police offered security to various banks without receiving full payment in advance, which is a contravention of the Punjab Police rules. The scrutiny revealed that Rs 4.11 crore was outstanding against seven banks and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), with the RBI alone owing Rs 1.02 crore for security services provided in 2022-23. According to rule 2.11 of the Punjab Police Rules, the pro- vision of additional police to private entities is at the superintendent’s discretion and subject to the district magistrate’s general direction. The rule 2.11 (2) stipulates that additional police cannot be provided without full payment in advance. The Police Department charges for security services based on the salary and rank of the officers provided. “These outstanding dues highlight the financial obligations of the banks towards the Police Department and underscore potential issues in payment compliance or administrative oversight,” said social activist RK Garg. In response to the audit’s findings, the department stated that efforts are underway to recover the dues. The report further highlights an outstanding licence fee of Rs 16.80 lakh against a private bank for the installation of ATMs. These ATMs are located at the Traffic Lines, Sector 29, Police Lines, Sector 26, IRB in Sarangpur and the Police Headquarters in Sector 9.
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).