In Brief

CPI delegation meets UT Administrator
A deputation of the city unit of Communist Party of India met UT Administrator Shivraj Patil on Tuesday with a list of demands,which include identifying places where residents can hold meetings and dharnas. At present,protests are held in Sector 25 near cremation ground. Another demand was that prices of essential commodities be brought down. The delegation comprised secretary CPI Devi Dyal Sharma,Raghbir Singh Sandhu,Raminderpal Singh,Parmanand Sharma and Manjit Singh Tiwana.

Laurels for Punjabi University students
Students of BTech (TV,Film Production & Media Technology),PG Diploma in Audio-Visual Production and Master of Journalism and Mass Communication of Punjabi University,Patiala,won laurels at the ‘Mediafest’ organized by BBK DAV College,Amritsar. While Sunil Kataria was adjudged the ‘Best Interviewer’,Rupinder Gill won the first prize in the ‘Still Photography’ event. Sunil also bagged second prize in ‘News Writing and Reading’ event.

Psychofest starts today
Punjabi University’s Department of Psychology is organising ‘Psychofest’ on February 10 on the theme ‘Towards Achievement and Success’. The department will provide free psychological testing and counselling services related to anger management,self-esteem,motivation,achievement and personal growth during the event.

Tributes paid to Punjabi litterateur
Rich tributes were paid to Punjabi litterateur Santokh Singh Dhir,who had died on Monday at PGI in Chandigarh. On Tuesday,his body was brought to his residence in Phase X here,where a large number of people,especially from the literary world,paid their last respect to the departed soul. Deputy Commissioner Prabhjot Singh Mand,SDM R P S Walia,Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh,and Punjab CPI general secretary Joginder Dayal were also present on the occasion.

Lawyers demand sampark centre in HC
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association has requested the high court registrar to open a sampark center on the premises of the high court to facilitate a large number of persons. “It is needless to mention here that the opening of a sampark centre will benefit thousands of litigants,lawyers and high court employees,” reads a communication sent by the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association to the Registrar General. Moreover,the Bar had on May 28,2009,requested for the opening of a railway booking counter on the high court premises.

Jagatpura murder: Accused remanded in one-day police custody
Three accused in the murder of a small-time painter Lakhbeer Singh in Jagatpura Colony in Phase XI on Sunday are still on the run while the main accused,Umesh,was remanded in one-day police custody by a local court on Tuesday. Phase XI SHO Sub-Inspector Sukhwinder Singh said a knife used in the crime had been recovered while raids were being conducted on the suspected hideouts of runaway accused Tony,Rakesh and Rajinder alias Radhey.

‘Land acquired for mega projects should be returned to farmers’
Members of Chandigarh Sanjha Morcha and NGO Citizens’ Voice have demanded that the land acquired for mega projects be returned to the original owners and notifications of acquisition be cancelled. A meeting was held in Sarangpur village to discuss various issues on Tuesday. The members said the compensation given to farmers was so meagre that they would not be able to buy even a one-room flat with the money. Activist Hemant Goswami said: “As it has now been proved that projects like Film City and Theme Park were a means to make easy money for bureaucrats,the government should return the land to farmers. In case the requirement of a land is absolutely justified and necessary,the farmers should be paid the current market price.” President of Chandigarh Sanjha Morcha Brig K S Kahlon (retd) termed the last five years as the darkest in Chandigarh’s history. Sarpanches and former sarpanches of various UT villages were also present at the meeting.