Around Town

Servicemen to vote between September 29 and October 20

Sas Nagar: Varun Roojam,Deputy Commissioner (DC),SAS Nagar,held a meeting with the senior officials of the Army,Air Force and the Paramilitary Forces on Monday. Roojam has asked all service voters to get their votes registered between 29 September and 20 October. He also urged the senior officials present in the meeting to encourage the service personnel to get their votes made and corrected during this period.

Two snatchings in city

Chandigarh: Two snatchings – almost in similar fashion – took place in the city on Monday. Police said an unknown motor cyclist snatched a gold chain from Sita Devi,a resident Sector 20-A,Chandigarh at around 8 am when she was coming out of her home. A case under section 356,379 IPC has been registered in Sector 19 police station. Another snatching occurred around 1 pm when Kanchan Bhatia,wife of Subhash Bhatia of Sector 37,Chandigarh was walking near her residence and an unknown motor cyclist snatched away her gold chain. A case has been registered in Sector 39 police station.

Cops issue 198 challans for illegal parking

Chandigarh: The Chandigarh traffic police on Monday challaned nearly two hundred offenders for wrong parking in the Sector 17. The drive at the city centre was supervised by the Deputy Inspector General of police Chandigarh,Alok Kumar. Senior officials of the traffic police were also present on the spot. Besides issuing Challans,the traffic police also launched the challan sticker drive to curb wrong parking,in the city. A team of senior police officials arrived at Sector 17 around noon and in an hour issued 198 challans against those who had parked their vehicles at wrong places. “118 were challaned on the spot and 80 vehicles were issued challan slips in the form of stickers,” said a police officer. The Chandigarh police had launched the drive last month as there were complaints that wrong parking had been playing a big role in creating chaos on city roads. “We will continue the drive against wrong parking in the days ahead. We have also deployed cranes for streamlining the parking lots in various sectors,” the police officer said.

IPS officer takes over as RPO

Chandigarh: Rakesh Agrawal,a 1999 batch IPS officer took over as the Regional Passport Officer at Regional Passport office,Chandigarh,on Monday. He was previously posted as Senior Superintendent of Police,Hoshiarpur. Agrawal said that his priority would be timely delivery of passports and bringing transparency in the service. He said that he would ensure a hassle free work environment and involve the public in improving the services. Agrawal has served in Kapurthala,Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur as SSP. He was also the Superintendent of Police Mohali from May 2004 to August 2008.

Protest to implement Anand Marriage Act

Chandigarh: A protest was held on Monday at Sector 17 plaza demanding the implementation of the Anand Karaj Marriage Act. The protestors criticised the decision of the Centre to refuse the demand of the Sikhs for a separate marriage Act. The protestors raised the demand that the Act be implemented in the country. Currently,marriages of the Sikhs are registered under the Hindu Marriage Act.

EO demolish illegal floors in Dhanas

Chandigarh: A team of the UT Estate Office on Monday demolished two illegal structures at Dhanas village. According to officials,two illegal floors were constructed on single-storied houses in Dhanas,which is in violation of the Estate Office rules. The team under the Misuse and Violation wing inspector Ravinder Sharma,visited the spot and demolished two upper floors constructed on each of the two houses.

Traders discuss service tax

Chandigarh: A meeting of Traders Association in Sector 17 was organised to discuss the issue of service tax on commercial properties. Chandigarh Administration has started charging service tax from all commercial properties which are on leasehold. The members of the association condemned this move of the administration. They stated that the tax comes as an extra burden on all such establishments who are already paying lease rent and the property tax too.