In Brief

Ruchika case: Statement of Rathore’s friend recorded
The statement of Karan Singh,a close friend of former Haryana DGP S P S Rathore,was recorded by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday. Singh is the one who had submitted an affidavit in the Patiala Court claiming that Subhash Girhotra had married Veena. According to a CBI official,a team recorded Karan’s statement in the case at his Panchkula residence.

Gurukul School organises interschool debate competition
The Gurukul School,Sector 20,Panchkula organised the second Glasnost- Interschool Debate Competition on Monday. The event witnessed the participation of various educational institutes of the tricity including Sacred Heart School,St Stephen’s School,St John’s School,St Xavier’s High School and Bhavan Vidyalaya. The topic for the debate,which was moderated by Gaurav Chibbar,was ‘Should India divide itself into more states’. St Xavier’s School bagged The Gurukul Glasnost Trophy and Sacred Heart School grabbed the runners-up trophy. The award for the Best Orator went to Nupur of St Xavier’s and the Best Polemicist Trophy went to Ashiem of the same school. Principal Harsimran Kaur emphasised that the event was an endeavour to provide a platform for young speakers to voice their opinions on volatile issues.

International symposium on emerging trends in forensic science from Feb 22
The department of Forensic Science of Punjabi University is organising an international symposium on emerging trends in forensic science from February 22-24. The symposium is aimed at discussing and exchanging views on advancements in the field of forensic science. Moreover,2010 has been declared as the year of forensic science by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

More than 200 delegates from the forensic fraternity,police officials,judicial officials and bank officials from all over India and abroad would deliberate on the emerging trends in forensic science. Justice (Retd) R S Sodhi of Delhi High Court would be chief guest during inaugural function on February 22 at the University Senate Hall.

Industry delegates meet governor
A delegation of Chandigarh Industries Association met Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Shivraj Patil and put forth various demands. Members of the delegation demanded allotments in the third phase of the industrial area should be made to the small units at subsidised rates. They also demanded action should be taken against DLF for renting out office space to non-IT companies. The delegation further demanded taverns functioning in industrial areas should be shut down. Efforts should be made to encourage the growth of industry.

Talk on tobacco control held
A talk on ‘People,Media and Social Action’ and ‘Tobacco Control’ was held at Government College,Sector 46,on Tuesday. The event was organised by the English Literary Society of the college. Main speakers at the event included Dr Gaurav Chhabra,founder-director of NGO Humlog,and Hemant Goswami,chairperson of NGO Burning Brain Society,who spoke on the importance of visual media and its role in bringing social change. The major focus was on civil rights and public health. College Principal Dr J S Raghu said the visual media is a weapon in the people’s hands to shake the world from the slumber of ignorance.