12032025-CT-01.qxd 3/12/2025 12:49 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune MISSING FOR 2 DAYS, GIRL FOUND DEAD IN RAJPURA TENNIS MEET: KAZAKHSTAN’S LOMAKIN IN NEXT ROUND PUNJAB KALA BHAWAN — THE EPICENTRE OF ARTISTIC BRILLIANCE Four persons booked after body of 23-year-old girl wrapped in a plastic sheet recovered from drain. P2 Kazakhstan’s Lomakin Grigoriy recorded a stunning win over Indian challenger Digvijay Partap Singh. P3 Women Directors’ Theatre Festival highlighted the strength, creativity & resilience of women in theatre. P4 » » PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 30°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 15.5°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.29 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 6.35 AM » WEDNESDAY | 12 MARCH 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Murmu to award degrees at PU convocation today WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH Tribune News Service Ran Prayog: By Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi, play “Adi Vikramaditya” to be staged, main auditorium, Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, March 12 (6:30 pm) Traffic stopped to ensure free passage to the convoy of President Droupadi Murmu near Kalibari Chowk on the Purv Marg in Chandigarh on Tuesday. PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR Exhibition: ‘Writing in French – A world of voices’, Alliance Française, Sector 36, March 13 to 31 (9 am to 6 pm) APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 15, 40, 46 and 52 Panchkula: Sector 25 Mohali: Phase 11 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF ASI CAUGHT TAKING BRIBE Chandigarh: The CBI caught an assistant sub-inspector of the UT police while allegedly accepting bribe on Tuesday evening. Sources said CBI sleuths had received a complaint against ASI Sher Singh deployed at the Sector 43 police post. A trap was laid and the cop was nabbed. TNS INFANT FOUND NEAR DRAIN Zirakpur: A newborn girl was found abandoned near a drain on the rear of the vegetable market in Dhakoli on Tuesday afternoon. The baby was admitted to the CHC, Dhakoli, where doctors were attending to her. The police have registered a case and begun an investigation into it. TNS Woman cop found dead in car at P’kula Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 11 A UT police constable was found dead under mysterious circumstances in her car at Panchkula on Tuesday evening. According to the police, no external injury mark was found on the body. The constable, Sapna of Nayagaon, was posted in the CID wing. She was absent from her duty today. Her car was found parked outside a temple at the Mansa Devi Complex in Panchkula. According to information, the car was locked from inside and cops had to break a windowpane to recover the body. A probe has been initiated into the matter. “During preliminary investigation, we have found no foul play,” said a police officer. Prez visit: Class XII students on way to exam centres face traffic blues Many reach late, encounter hardship in gaining entry to examination hall Deepankar Sharda Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 11 Traffic restrictions owing to the VVIP movement on Tuesday morning gave jitters to several Class XII school students, who were heading for their respective board examination centres, as they remained stuck in snarl-ups for quite a long time. Several students reached their respective examination centres after a delay of almost 10 to 15 minutes, and faced trouble in gaining entry. It was only after the intervention of school authorities that those coming late were allowed to sit in the examination hall. Students were to appear for the CBSE Class XII English (Core) examination today. The entry to various centres had started at 9 am and was permitted till 10 am as the exam was to begin at 10.30 am. The CBSE advisory issued in February had mentioned that latecomers will not be allowed entry to the examination centre. The restrictions were AVOID THESE ROUTES TODAY ■ In view of President Droupadi Murmu’s visit, the Chandigarh Police have issued a traffic advisory for Wednesday. ■ Traffic will be regulated from Hira Singh Chowk (Sector 5/6-7/8 Chowk) to AP Chowk (Sector 7/8-18/19) on Sarovar Path and from AP Chowk (Sector 7/8-18/19) to PU Gate No. 1 on Madhya Marg between 9.30 am and 10.30 am. ■ Additionally, traffic will be regulated from PU Gate No. 1 to AP Chowk on Madhya Marg, from AP Chowk to New Labour Chowk (Sector 20/21-33/34) on Sarovar Path and from New Labour Chowk to Airport light point on Dakshin Marg from 11 am to 12.15 pm. ■ Commuters are advised to use alternative routes to avoid inconvenience. placed to provide a safe way, under protocol, to President Droupadi Murmu, who is in the city on a two-day visit. The clearance of the road was ensured in the morning, as she was going to Bathinda to attend a convocation ceremony at the Central University of Punjab. As per the Chandigarh Police guidelines, the traffic was regulated on Sarovar Path from Hira Singh Chowk (Sector 5/6 and 7/8) to New Labour Chowk (Sector 20/21 and 33/34) and from New Labour Chowk (Sector 20/21 & 33/34) to the Airport light point on Dakshin Marg MURMU PRAISES PUNJABI FOOD, BHANGRA Mohali: Lauding Punjab’s rich culture, legacy and spiritualism, President Droupadi Murmu said Bhangra is so mesmerising that if any patient watches it, he feels like getting up and dancing. “Their heart starts racing again and half of their illness vanishes. Punjab’s folk dances have always been very popular across the country. Punjabi singers are doing so well at national and international levels. Marriages across the country have Punjabi flavour these days,” she said, while addressing a civic reception hosted by the Punjab Government at the Indian School of Business here on Tuesday evening. “Punjab’s food has been adopted by many countries. People throng Punjabi restaurants for lassi, itna saara dahi and parantha,” she said, as CM Bhagwant Mann looked on gleefully. TNS Chandigarh, March 11 President Droupadi Murmu will attend the 72nd convocation of Panjab University on Wednesday. She will be the sixth President of India after Pranab Mukherjee (2015), Dr APJ Abdul Kalam (2007), Giani Zail Singh (1985), Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1981), and Dr Rajendra Prasad (1951) to attend the university’s convocation. As many as 812 PhD students and 70 medal-winning students of the university will receive their degrees and awards, respectively. Out of 945 PhD students eligible to receive their degrees, 812 have confirmed their attendance at the event. Among 92 medallists, as many 70 were present for the rehearsal on Tuesday. Among the academic prize recipients, Sukhjot Kaur will be awarded the Abhishek Sethi Memorial Cash Prize of Rs 30,000 for her outstanding achievements in BE (Computer Science and Engineering). Dr Balwinder Raj and Dr Munish Kumar will be honoured with the Shiv Nath RESTRICTED ACCESS TO CAMPUS Public movement will be restricted on the VVIP route, covering Gate No 1 via the Administrative Block, Chemistry Department, and Physics Department road to the Gymnasium Hall, from 6 am to 1 pm. No vehicle will be allowed to be parked on this route. Gate No. 1 will remain closed for entry and exit from 6 am to 1 pm and after 7 pm, while Gate No. 2 will remain open throughout for VVIPs, guest invitees and faculty. Students and residents can enter and exit campus through Gate No. 3 from 6 am to 10 pm. Rai Kohli Memorial MidCareer Best Scientist Award2023, which carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000. Dr Gurtej Singh Sandhu will receive the Vigyan Ratna, Dr Harmohinder Singh Bedi the Sahitya Ratna, Dr Pushvinder Jit Singh the Udyog Ratna, Manu Bhaker the Khel Ratna and Dr Jaspinder Narula the Kala Ratna. The convocation will be streamed live on various social media platforms. between 8.45 am and 10 am. The traffic was regulated at the same junctions in the evening too. “A lot of students had to face trouble because traffic was badly affected from 8 am to 10.30 am. Today was the Class XII English final examination. The entry was not allowed at the exam centre even if a student got late by two minutes,” said RS Rana, a parent. “The authorities should have considered the interest of these kids while making diversions or halting traffic at important junctions. The students were in panic and so were their parents. We received calls from teachers accompanying our students to the examination centre following which we requested the centre supervisor to allow them to appear for the exam. Students can’t be made to face such a trauma just before they are to appear for a final exam,” said a school head, wishing anonymity. “The police had issued an advisory regarding traffic restrictions, but it was the peak-hour rush. I remained stuck in traffic for almost 20 minutes. Later, I got caught up in sudden rush of traffic at various junctions,” said one of the students. A large number of police personnel were deployed to ensure a smooth passage to the President’s convoy and manage the traffic situation. 26-yr-old victim’s kin fume as Porsche driver let off on bail Gangster’s aide among two held in drugs case HC orders immediate release of music producer Pinky Dhaliwal Demand non-bailable charges against accused, a realtor Amit Sharma Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 11 Family members of a 26year-old man, who was mowed down by a recklessly driven Porsche in Sector 4 on Monday evening, today demanded non-bailable charges against the accused, a realtor. Ankit, the victim, was returning home on his scooter when a recklessly driven Porsche SUV allegedly on the , wrong side, crashed into him head-on. The victim, who was to celebrate his birthday today, was dragged nearly 50 meters before the vehicle struck an electricity pole. The severity of the crash led to his death on the spot, as his body was severed. The SUV driver, identified as Sanjeev Baboota, a real estate developer, was arrested but released on bail within hours, sparking outrage from the victim's family, who The Porsche SUV involved in the Sector 4 accident, which left 26-year-old Ankit (inset) dead. CFSL TO EXAMINE DRIVER’S BLOOD, URINE SAMPLES The police have preserved SUV driver Sanjeev Baboota’s blood and urine samples, which will be sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory for examination to determine if he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident. demanded stricter action against him. The police had registered a case at the Sector 3 police station under Sections 281 (rash or negligent driving), 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 106 (causing death by negligence), and 324(3) (mischief causing loss or damage to government property) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Continued on page 2 c m y b Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 11 Two drug peddlers, including an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi gang, have been arrested by the Chandigarh Police for possessing drugs and a country-made pistol. A team of Operation Cell had laid a checkpoint in Sector 48 on March 7 when a drug peddler, identified as Narinder Kumar, alias Aman (27), was nabbed. Cops recovered 50-gm heroin from him. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered against him at the Sector 49 police station. The police said during interrogation, Narinder revealed that he had purchased the contraband from Sector 38 (West) resident Deepak Thapa, alias Kancha, an associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The cops then nabbed Deepak with Rs 4.40 lakh, purportedly drug money. Continued on page 2 Commuters stuck in Zirakpur, Dera Bassi too ZIRAKPUR: A massive traffic chaos was witnessed in Zirakpur and Dera Bassi on Tuesday evening due to route diversions on the Chandigarh-Ambala national highway. Road users were also inconvenienced on the Mohali-Zirakpur stretch due to VIP movement around 9 pm. — TNS PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Renu Vig inspects the arrangements for the 72nd annual convocation on Tuesday. PRADEEP TEWARI ‘FRAUD’ WITH SINGER Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 11 The Punjab and Haryana High Court today ordered immediate release of music producer Pushpinder Dhaliwal, aka Pinky Dhaliwal, on a habeas corpus petition. He was in the custody of Mataur police in Mohali district in relation to a case filed by singer and actress Sunanda Sharma. Justice Harpreet Singh Brar ordered the release “if his custody is not required in connection with any other case”, while taking up the plea filed against the state of Punjab by his son Gurkaran Singh Dhaliwal through senior counsel RS Rai, Vinod Ghai and Amit Jhanji along with Gautam Dutt and other advocates. Dhaliwal was arrested following “strong intervention” by the Punjab State Women Commission, which had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter after Sharma’s Continued on page 2 Music producer Pinky Dhaliwal leaves his house in Sector 71, Mohali, after a search by the police. Police search Sector 71 house Tribune News Service Mohali, March 11 The police today seized electronic devices and documents from the Sector 71 house of music producer Pushpinder Dhaliwal, aka Pinky Dhaliwal, in the Sunanda Sharma cheating case. Cops said another complaint had been filed against Pushpinder Dhaliwal, who was ordered to be released by the High Court if he is not required in any other case. His son Gurkaran Dhaliwal had filed a habeas corpus petition against Dhaliwal’s unlawful detention by the Mataur police. Dhaliwal’s two day police remand ended today. While being taken by the police to his house for search, Dhaliwal was seen sitting in the police vehicle with folded hands. Addressing the media for the first time after the Continued on page 2