29122025-CT-01.qxd 29-12-2025 00:31 Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune COPS HOLD OP TO ENSURE ORDER IN MOHALI AT NIGHT DIKASH BAGS BRONZE IN WEIGHTLIFTING TOURNEY LEGENDARY ACTRESS BRIGITTE BARDOT PASSES AWAY AT 91 Three vehicles impounded, 12 traffic challans issued, 2 booked ahead of the New Year Eve celebrations. P3 Returns after right shoulder injury to ensure podium finish in inter-varsity weightlifting meet. P3 Known in France by initials BB, Bardot tantalised audiences with her raw display of sexuality in the 1950s and '60s. P4 » » TO OUR READERS This week’s Open House debate with readers’ feedback will be published next Monday, as we continue our ongoing Year-Ender 2025 series. AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 Reserve price jumps from ~3.70 crore to ~5.40 crore 193 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 43 & 45 Mohali: Sectors 70, 78 & Phase 5 Panchkula: MDC, Sector 5 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF FOG: 7 FLIGHTS CANCELLED Mohali: Seven flights were cancelled due to fog at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport here on Sunday. Three arrivals, Pune, Bengaluru and Mumbai, did not materialise while four departures — Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru — did not take off. Roughly, 10 flights are being cancelled on an average these days due to fog and poor visibility. TNS VENDOR INJURED IN ACCIDENT Chandigarh: A street vendor was severely injured in an accident near Sector 42. The victim, Hera Lal, a resident of Maloya, alleged that a car hit his rehri on the Sector 42-43 dividing road on Saturday. The accused driver, Harpreet of Muktsar district, was arrested and later released on bail. TNS 2 attacked with knife in Sec 26 Tribune News Service Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 28 In the wake of the Supreme Court dismissing a special leave petition filed by the Sector 26 Sabzi Mandi Arhtiya Association against the auction of shop-cumoffice (SCO) sites at the new mandi in Sector 39, the UT Administration is all set to resume the e-auction, but with the increased reserve price of Rs 5.40 crore. Before the revision of Collector rates, the reserve price in the previous action was Rs 3.70 crore. The administration is likely to issue a public notice for the auction of SCO sites measuring 120 square yards each in January. According to officials, process has started for the allotment of 12 SCO sites to the successful bidders of the previous auction held on March 31. As many as 23 fruit and vegetable SCO sites, out of a total of 92 sites in the new mandi in Sector 39, were put up for e-auction, on leasehold basis as per the provision laid down under the Chandigarh Estate Rules. The bidding for the sites closed on March 31. Out of Visitors navigate through a waterlogged area in the Sector 26 vegetable market. The shifting of the mandi to the new site in Sector 39 is pending for a long time. FILE PHOTO 23 SCO sites, bids were received for 12 SCOs. However, allotment letters could not be issued. The e-auction committee was evaluating the bids for the allotment of sites to the highest bidders, but in the meanwhile, a petition was filed by the Sabzi Mandi Arhtiya Association in the SC against the eauction. During hearing on April 1, the apex court granted stay, after which the award of BJP terms crackdown on illegal mining as staged police action Tribune News Service Mohali, December 28 A war of words has erupted between the BJP and AAP over the Mohali police’s recent night operation against mining in the controversial Majri area. Local BJP leader Vineet Joshi and a few locals of the area have raised questions over the police operation alleging that “the so-called police operation led by the SSP Mohali was a staged exercise aimed at misleading the public”. A spokesperson for AAP responded by alleging that from 2007 to 2017, every form of mafia rule Punjab suffered was under the BJP and Akali Dal regimes. While Mohali SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans was briefing the media inside the Majri police station about Punjab suffered mafia rule under BJP-Akali Dal regime: AAP action allegedly taken against illegal mining, locals gathered outside the station, narrating a different account. “The tippers presented as “seized” were, in fact, lifted by the police from parking stands during the night. These vehicles were then taken to a crusher, where mining material was forcibly loaded into them, before being parked outside the Majri police station to create the impression of a successful enforcement action,” alleged Joshi. It was further alleged that when the tipper drivers refused to cooperate or drive the vehicles, they were beat- en up. Workers, who were asleep at the crusher, were reportedly dragged out after doors were broke open, beaten and intimidated into loading material into the tippers. Joshi said reports that the police seized CCTV DVRs from both the petrol pump and the crusher, raised suspicions of an attempt to destroy evidence. The BJP leader asked why the SSP after addressing the , media, chose to leave the premises without hearing the grievances of people gathered outside the police station. Responding to the BJP’s allegation, the AAP official spokesperson said, “From 2007 to 2017, every form of mafia rule Punjab suffered was under the BJP and Akali Dal regimes. Whether it was the cable mafia, sand mafia, drug networks, or the Continued on page 3 Supreme Court on March 24. Officials said a total of 92 SCOs would be auctioned in phases, and the revenue generated used exclusively for the development of the new mandi. While arhtiyas have been demanding that at least 50 per cent of the plots be allotted to them at concessional rates, the administration has maintained that only office spaces on rent will be provided to the existing traders in the new market. FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Hit by vehicle, illegally parked car crashes into house at P’kula Residents seek concrete measures to curb illegal parking Tribune News Service Panchkula, December 28 Rapid population growth in Panchkula has led to a sharp increase in vehicular traffic, exposing serious gaps in parking infrastructure and enforcement across sectors. With limited space available for parking at houses, residents have increasingly been leaving two-wheelers and four-wheelers on roads, resulting in traffic hazards. The issue came into sharp focus following a disturbing incident reported from House No. 508, Sector 15, located on the B-Road. According to the complaint, an unidentified vehicle, believed to have been parked on the roadside, was hit from the behind by another vehicle around 6.30 am today. The parked car was pushed nearly 15 feet into the property, crashing into the locked main gate of the house. The entrance of the house was damaged. The resident stated that the incident created panic and could have resulted in far greater losses. A complaint was immediately lodged with the police emergency helpline (112). However, the complainant expressed concern over the lack of prompt action by the police, particu- The damaged car after the accident in Sector 15, Panchkula, on Sunday. larly in light of recent assurances regarding stricter enforcement of parking rules to ensure public safety. Meanwhile, residents allege that haphazard roadside parking has made several sector roads traffic-prone. Despite claims by Panchkula Police of taking action through challans and impounding illegally parked vehicles, locals maintain that enforcement has had little visible impact on the ground. Citing the risks posed by roadside parking, the complainant has urged Deputy Commissioner of Police Srishti Gupta to intervene and “set right” the parking system across Panchkula. Residents across several sectors have echoed similar concerns, warning that unless concrete measures are implemented urgently, illegal parking will continue to endanger lives, damage property and disrupt essential services in the city. Doctors dazzle Doctors and medical students take part in a fashion show during the annual cultural festival, ZENITH 2025, at the PGIMER in Chandigarh. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY 78-year-old man jumps to CITCO suffers losses due to ‘mismanagement’: Audit death at Zirakpur society Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 28 Two persons suffered stab injuries in an assault near the Swagat restaurant in Sector 26. The complainant, Honey, a resident of Bapu Dham Colony, Sector 26, alleged that Imran Qureshi, along with four accomplices, attacked him and his friend Rahul around 2 am on Friday. Both suffered injuries. Honey was admitted to the Government Multi-speciality Hospital, Sector 16, while Rahul was referred to the PGI. The Sector 26 police have registered a case under Sections 109 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and launched an investigation to identify and arrest all accused. bid was kept pending. During resumed hearing on December 17, the SC disposed of the SLP in favour of the Chandigarh Administration/State Agricultural Marketing Board, Chandigarh. Earlier, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had dismissed the traders’ petition, stating that they were attempting to derail the auction process. The association filed a petition against the auction in the MAX 20°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 21.7°C | MIN 5.6°C SUNRISE TUESDAY 7.18 AM /THETRIBUNECHD UT set to resume auction of SCO sites in Sector 39 mandi PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET MONDAY 5.32 PM » MONDAY | 29 DECEMBER 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Zirakpur, December 28 A 78-year-old retired engineer of the Bhakra Beas Management Board reportedly died after jumping from the seventh floor of a housing society here today. The victim, Pushpinder Singh Tulsi, was living in an old age home in Chandigarh but had come to his flat in the Royal Estate housing society in Zirakpur for getting some plumbing work done. His children are staying in Australia. He was reportedly depressed for the past sometime. The police said the victim was depressed after the death of his wife sometime back. A police team reached the spot and took possession of the body. They said they were WAS DEPRESSED AFTER WIFE’S DEATH The victim, Pushpinder Singh Tulsi, was living in an old age home in Chandigarh but had come to his flat in the Royal Estate housing society in Zirakpur for getting some plumbing work done. He was reportedly depressed after wife’s death. probing the matter. A woman resident on the fifth floor of Tower No. 11 saw Tulsi going to the seventh floor and jumping. She tried to stop him by calling out, but by then the elderly man had jumped from the building. He died on the spot. The body has been kept in the mortuary of the Dera Bassi subdivisional hospital. Chandigarh, December 28 An inspection report of the Director General of Audit (Central) has pointed out a number of shortcomings in the functioning of the Chandigarh Industrial Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO), which led to losses to the corporation. The 2023-24 inspection report highlights the revenue loss of Rs 53.56 lakh due to non-leasing out of shops and other establishments of the corporation. “The CITCO is operating seven petrol stations at various locations. It also has three hotels, namely Mountview, Shivalikview and Parkview, besides Chef Lakeview food court at the Sukhna Lake. These hotels, petrol pumps and food court have c m y b shops/cabins, from which the corporation earns rent. Out of the five shops at Hotel Shivalikview, three have been lying vacant for more than three years,” states the report. During the audit, it found that five shops/cabins/stores had remained vacant for months. At Hotel Shivalikview, shops No. 3 remained vacant from April 7, 2022, till March 2025, shops No. 4 from September 1, 2021, till March 2025, and shop number 5 from March 31, 2020, to March 2025. The last per month rent received from these shops was Rs 26,9100, Rs 34,929 and Rs 38,480, respectively. With monthly rent of Rs 86,031, a booth at Chef Lakeview had remained vacant from December 24, 2024, till March 2025, and a convenience store at a petrol pump with a monthly rent of Rs 26,500 was vacant from April Hotel Mountview is also run by CITCO. FILE PHOTO 19, 2024, till March 2025. “Due to non-leasing out of shops/cabins/stores, the corporation suffered loss of lease rent of Rs 53.56 lakh. The corporation should make efforts to lease out these shops and start process before the end of lease period, so that lease rent may be maximised” says the report. The inspection report further points out Rs 37.87-lakh loss due to unfruitful deci- sion of running a bakery shop instead of renting it out. The corporation is running a cafeteria at Sukhna Lake comprising a restaurant, fast food counter and pub. It has rented out shops and the area for amusement and other tourist interest activities. In 2023, it was decided that the corporation would run shop No. 6 at the cafeteria by itself for sale of bakery items. Nearby Shop No. 4, which is authorised for sale of “confectionery items only (except sale of any foodstuff being sold by CITCO and other licensees at Chef Lakeview)” from February 2021, was also selling bakery items, including patties. While running the shop No. 6 by itself, the corporation suffered a loss of Rs 3.30 lakh from July 3, 2024, to January19, 2025, plus loss on account of rent totalling Rs 28.50 lakh (Rs 1.50 lakh per month from September 2023 to March 2025). Apart from this, the corporation had invested Rs 6.07 lakh in the shop interior and equipment. The audit found that due to the wrong decision on running the bakery shop at Sukhna Lake instead of renting it out, knowing that the other shop is also selling similar items, the corporation suffered a loss of Rs 37.87 lakh.