01102026-CT-01.qxd 10/1/2026 1:06 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune MOHALI’S FIRST SYNTHETIC TRACK NEARS COMPLETION PCA SIGNS UMESH AS GUEST PLAYER FOR DOMESTIC SEASON STALLONE IDENTIFIES HIMSELF WITH CHARACTER IN ROCKY 17 months on, Tricity’s third synthetic track for athletics at the Sector 78 sports complex is nearing completion. P3 The PCA has signed former Indian pacer, who was playing for Vidarbha, for the upcoming BCCI domestic season. P3 Fifty years after one of Hollywood’s hit Rocky, Sylvester Stallone still identifies himself with the character. P4 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 52 PANCHKULA 37 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 34, 56 and Ram Darbar Mohali: Sec 88 and Phase 8 Please send information about events in Tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com POWER SHUTDOWN CHANDIGARH 10 am to 1 pm: Parts of Sectors 11, 31, 37 A, B, C, D, 41, 46, 53, 54, Buterla, Raipur Khurd, Raipur Kalan, Makhanmajra, Daria, Manimajra 12 noon to 3 pm: Sector 3, Kaimbwala village 2 pm to 5 pm: Sectors 4, 10, 23 Societies seek relief, meet Chief Secy Chandigarh, September 30 A delegation of representatives of Cooperative House Building Societies, led by city Congress president HS Lucky, today met Chief Secretary H Rajesh Prasad. The delegation apprised the Chief Secretary of various long-pending issues concerning societies. Lucky said as steps were being taken to provide relief to residents of CHB units, residents of cooperative housing societies should also be provided similar and equitable relief. Lucky also urged that the process for issuing completion certificates to the remaining cooperative housing societies be simplified and, wherever appropriate, practical relaxation be provided in the mandatory requirements. — TNS Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 30 Residents can now access property-related services of the Estate Office through their mobile phones. The UT Administration today launched the “eSampada CHD” mobile application and a faceless service delivery facility. The two citizen-centric initiatives were formally launched by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria ahead of the Samaadhaan Shivir at the Community Centre, Ram Darbar. Deputy Commissionercum-Estate Officer Nishant Kumar Yadav said the eSampada CHD application would enable residents to access Estate Office services directly from their mobile phones. Citizens can use the app to check property details, track the status of applications, view outstanding dues and lodge or track grievances without visiting the Estate Office. The application is currently available on the Google Play Store and will soon be launched on the iOS App Store, Yadav said. The faceless service deliv- Residents can submit documents, download certificates online NO NEED FOR OFFICE VISITS, APPOINTMENTS ■ e-Sampada CHD app launched to provide Estate Office property-related services through mobile phones ■ Residents can check property details, application status and outstanding dues through the app ■ Citizens can lodge and track ery facility allows applicants to submit applications and supporting documents online. The documents are digitally forwarded to the branch concerned for processing, eliminating the need grievances online without visiting the Estate Office ■ Faceless Service Delivery allows applicants to submit applications and supporting documents online ■ Services covered include wills, transfers, NOCs, no-dues certificates for an appointment or a physical visit to the Estate Office. Property-related services, including those concerning wills, transfers, no objection certificates (NOCs) and nodues certificates, will now be Sippy Sidhu’s mother backs CBI theory during testimony SIPPY MURDER CASE Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 30 The examination-in-chief of Deepinder Kaur, mother of advocate and national-level shooter Sukhmanpreet Singh Sidhu, alias Sippy Sidhu, concluded before the CBI court here today. She supported the prosecution’s case and reaffirmed the statements she had made before the CBI during the investigation. Sippy Sidhu (35) was shot dead in a park in Sector 27, Chandigarh, on September 20, 2015. The case was transferred to the CBI in 2016. After a re-investigation, the CBI arrested Kalyani Singh on June 15, 2022, alleging that she had murdered Sippy Sidhu. In its chargesheet, the CBI claimed that the investigation had revealed that Kalyani was in a close relationship with Sippy and wanted to marry him, but her proposal was rejected by his parents. During her examination-inchief, Deepinder Kaur gave an account of the relationship between the two families. She told the court that after completing his law degree in 2004, Sippy resigned from the police service and enrolled with the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana as well as the Bar Council of India. He started his law firm in 2010. She said that after the death of her husband in 2008, Kalyani began visiting her house more frequently. In 2013, Kalyani’s parents visited her house and proposed a marriage alliance between their daughter and Sippy. Deepinder Kaur told the court that she had no objection to the proposal and said it was for her son to decide whom he wanted to marry. However, Sippy categorically declined to marry Kalyani without disclosing any specific reason, she said. Continued on page 2 ■ Applicants will receive objections or requests for additional documents online and can download certificates digitally ■ The new system eliminates the need for appointments and physical visits for these services ■ Those needing assistance can visit Sampark Centres provided through an end-toend online process, from submission of the application to its final disposal. “If any additional document is required, applicants will be informed online. Any objection will also be communicated online. Ultimately, applicants will be able to download their certificates online,” Yadav said. “These two initiatives mark an important step in our effort to make property-related services simpler, faster and more transparent for every citizen of Chandigarh. Through e-Sampada CHD and Faceless Service Delivery, residents will no longer need to visit the Estate Office repeatedly for routine matters,” he said. Yadav said the initiatives were aimed at making Estate Office services more accessible, transparent, paperless and citizen-friendly, besides reducing physical footfall. “Whenever we introduced auto-mutation, our footfall had already reduced by around 50 per cent. With the introduction of faceless services, we expect that most of the remaining footfall at the Estate Office will also be reduced, and people will not need to visit the office for these services,” he said. He said the various Estate Office services were earlier available through a portal, Continued on page 2 MAX 35°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 33.6°C | MIN 21°C SUNRISE FRIDAY 6.16 AM /THETRIBUNECHD Property services at fingertips as UT launches e-Sampada app GENERALLY CLOUDY SUNSET THURSDAY 6.08 PM » THURSDAY | 1 OCTOBER 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Chiropractor gets 10-year jail for raping patient Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 30 A local court has sentenced chiropractor Lakshay Abrol to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a woman patient. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 55,000 on him. The police had registered an FIR on a complaint filed by the woman on February 28, 2024, under Sections 354, 354-A and 376(2) (e) of the IPC at the Sector 39 police station. According to the prosecution, the woman, a Chandigarh resident, was suffering from back pain and had visited Abrol’s residence for therapy. She had undergone two therapy sessions before the incident. On February 28, 2024, she had an appointment with the accused at 11 am. She said Abrol later asked her to return for another session in the evening. According to her complaint, she reached his residence around 5 pm. During the therapy session, she alleged that Abrol touched her inappropriately without her permission. After examining her, he began the treatment and later instructed her to lie on her back. While massaging her, he sexually assaulted her. The woman also told the police that Abrol had not informed her that no one else would be present at the residence during the evening session, nor had he asked her to bring a female companion. After investigation, the police filed a chargesheet against the accused. During the trial, the defence argued that Abrol had no connection with the alleged offence and that the allegations in the FIR were false. The counsel submitted that Abrol had been working as a physical pain therapist since 2020 and treated people at his residence in Sector 38D. The defence also pointed out that the medical examination had not revealed any external injuries. The Public Prosecutor, however, argued that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and that the accused had misused the trust and authority placed in him while treating the woman. After hearing the arguments, the court convicted Abrol under Sections 354, 354-A and 376(2) (e) of the IPC and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. Tribune fetes Punjab achievers Awardees during The Tribune Punjab Achievers 2026 awards in Mohali on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR (PAGE 2) Home Secy reviews One child cancer patient registered every Food licence of Sec 19 arrangements for 118th two days at Homi Bhabha hospital ‘tikki’ shop suspended Mayors’ Conference over hygiene violations Gaurav Kanthwal Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 30 UT Home Secretary Mandip Singh Brar today chaired a meeting to review preparations for the upcoming 118th Mayors’ Conference, scheduled to be held at Hotel Mountview from October 4 to 6. The meeting was attended by Mayor Saurabh Joshi, Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar, Inspector General of Police Pushpendra Kumar, SSP Kanwardeep Kaur and other senior officials. The meeting reviewed the programme schedule and arrangements for visiting mayors and delegates. The conference will begin with the arrival of guests on October 4, followed by the inaugural session on October 5. The programme will also include visits to showcase the best practices of the Municipal Corporation. The closing session is scheduled for October 6. Brar directed the departments concerned to carry out their assigned responsibilities and ensure close coordination for the smooth conduct of the conference. Mohali, September 30 Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (HBCH&RC), Punjab, has registered nearly one new paediatric cancer patient every two days since 2025, according to data released by the hospital authorities during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. As many as 120 new patients in the 0-18 age group were registered at the New Chandigarh-based hospital between January 1 and September 20 this year — an average of one new paediatric cancer registration every two days. The number of new paediatric cancer patients registered has increased consistently over the past three years. While 44 children were registered in 2023, the figure rose to 134 in 2024 and further to 153 in 2025. With 120 registrations already recorded till September 20 this year, the number could cross 200 by the year-end if the current trend continues. Blood cancers account for the largest share of cases recorded at the hospital. Of the 450 children registered so far, 141 were diagnosed with blood cancers, accounting for more than 31 per cent of the total cases. Sarcomas and cancers of the bone and soft tissue, with 87 cases, formed the secondlargest group. Brain tumours c m y b and kidney-related cancers accounted for 22 cases each, while nine children were diagnosed with liver cancer and five with eye cancer. The remaining patients had other forms of cancer. Dr Seema Gulia, Head of the Department of Medical Oncology, said several childhood cancers had excellent long-term survival outcomes compared to many adult cancers. “With advances in early diagnosis, risk-adapted therapy, precision medicine, supportive care and multidisciplinary treatment, more than 80 per cent of children with cancer can now be cured in settings with comprehensive care,” she said. She added that early recognition of warning signs such as persistent fever, unexplained weight loss, pallor, unusual bruising or bleeding, persistent pain, a growing lump or swelling, headaches or vomiting, and changes in vision could facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment. Doctors said advanced diagnostic facilities, including next-generation sequencing, along with state-of-the-art chimeric antigen receptor Tcell (CAR-T) therapy and immunotherapy, helped guide diagnosis and treatment in appropriate cases. Dr Ashish Gulia, Director, HBCH&RC, said nearly 95 per cent of paediatric cancer treatment at the institute was supported through government funding, CSR initiatives and internal funds. “The hospital has already performed 15 stem-cell transplants, three CAR-T cell therapy infusions and more than 120 robotic surgeries,” he said. Chandigarh, September 30 The Food Safety Administration, Health Department, has suspended the food licence of M/s Matru Tikki Wala in Sadar Bazar, Sector 19-C, with immediate effect over hygiene violations. The action followed an inspection conducted by a Food Safety Officer today, during which major violations were observed. The department said the lapses affected the hygienic preparation, storage and handling of food meant for human consumption and posed a risk to public health. The Food Business Operator has been directed to immediately stop all food business activities from the date and time the order is served. The operator has also been prohibited from prepar- ing, storing, distributing or selling any food during the suspension period. The department has directed the operator to rectify all deficiencies mentioned in the inspection report in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules and regulations framed under it. The Food Safety Administration has appealed to residents to remain cautious while purchasing food items. Consumers can report food safety violations to the Department of Food Safety and Standards, Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh, at 0172-2752128. Complaints can also be submitted through the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) portal: https://foscos.fssai.gov.in/consumergrievance/. — TNS