Study material worth ₹1.13 lakh stolen from COEP

The Khadki police have registered a case of theft of study project material worth Rs 1.13 lakh from College of Engineering, Pune (COEP). The incident happened between May 31 and July 19. As per the complaint filed by an assistant professor, the project material, including iron bars, rods and plates, were stolen from the premises. The college authority registered a police case after the theft was found.

Swachhotsav: Chandigarh, Shimla MCs join hands for peer learning initiative

Chandigarh and Shimla municipal corporations are collaborating for an inter-state peer learning initiative. 16 female members from Chandigarh will visit Shimla and 18 from Shimla will visit Chandigarh to showcase women-led swachhata initiatives. The initiative is part of the Union government's women-led swachhata campaign and Chandigarh MC will be felicitating 30 women for their contribution in keeping the city clean.

ME/MTech courses: Relaxation in admission criteria gets PU syndicate nod

PU syndicate approved relaxation in admission criteria for ME/MTech courses and new PhD guidelines. Admission for ME/MTech courses will be based on GATE rank and BE scores. PhD candidates over 62 will not be allowed to guide new research scholars, but can supervise existing scholars till 70. Extension of two years can be given to PhD candidates with a fee of ?35,000/year. Women candidates will get maternity and child care leave for up to 240 days.

Chandigarh: Burail resident held for stabbing neighbour

A 43-year-old man was arrested by police on Friday after he stabbed his neighbour in a drunken stupor in Burail. The victim, Lalit Kumar, was attacked with a knife after confronting the accused, Govind, who had started passing comments and hurling abuses. He was later bailed out and booked under Sections 324 and 506 of the IPC.

Chandigarh toilet scam: HC restrains trial court from passing final order

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has restrained a trial court from passing a final order in the toilet scam involving former MC engineer RC Diwan. The court has imposed conditions, including that Diwan will not seek any adjournment before the trial court. CBI had registered an FIR in 2014, with the scam initially pegged at ?13 crore and later revised to ?25.8 lakh. The scam pertains to two tenders issued in 2007 for the operation and maintenance of 86 toilet blocks in Chandigarh.

Incumbent V-Cs from other varsities among 140 applicants for PU V-C’s post

Panjab University (PU) has received 140 applications for the vacant Vice-Chancellor (V-C) post, including 20 from the university campus. Incumbent V-Cs from other universities have also applied. The selection committee will shortlist names for recommendation to the Vice-President, who will make the final appointment. The post had fallen vacant after former V-C Raj Kumar resigned in January amid allegations of corruption. Renu Vig was given the temporary charge, making her the first woman in the university's history to hold the post.

Mohali: Nurse ends life over low IELTS score

30-year-old woman committed suicide in Chandigarh after being upset about her IELTS exam results. Two youths from Maharashtra, aged 26 and 27, were also found hanging in a forest area of Kajheri village. Autopsy reports confirm death due to hanging and police have ruled out foul play.

Couple visiting Australia returns to burgled house in Panchkula

A couple returned from Australia to find their house in Sector 21, Panchkula, burgled. Silver ornaments and tableware, digital camera, cash and other household articles worth ?57,000 were stolen. In another case of house theft in Raipur Rani, gold jewellery, silver anklets were stolen. Police have launched a probe to trace and arrest the thieves.

Mohali: Two men held for possessing fake currency notes

Police arrested two men for possessing fake currency with a face value of ?12,000 in Phase 8-B, Industrial Area, on Friday. The accused, Amit Kumar and Harmanpreet Singh, had visited Bhiwani in Haryana and paid ?10,000 for fake currency notes with a face value of ?20,000. They were presented before a court and sent to police remand till March 27.

Panjab University syndicate nod to increase faculty’s retirement age to 65

The Panjab University (PU) syndicate approved fresh amendments to enhance the retirement age of faculty members to 65 years, as recommended by the UGC. This is the second time the varsity is attempting the amendment. The approval from the central government is pending. The UT administration said it cannot enhance the retirement age unless the requisite amendments are made in PU?s regulations. The matter is still pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Mercedes driver tries to run over cop in Mohali, booked

Rajpal Singh, a Mohali resident, has been booked for attempting to run over a cop with his Mercedes car at a police check post near Durali railway bridge. The constable managed to jump aside, but Singh has been charged with assault, rash driving and deterring a public servant from duty.

Chandigarh: Parking contractor held for submitting fake bank guarantee

Police have arrested the main accused in a case of forged bank guarantees provided by a parking contractor to the Chandigarh municipal corporation. Anil Kumar Sharma, 54, had incorporated shell companies to grab tenders and obtained a GST registration number on forged documents. MC officials had approached the bank to recover ?6.5 crore unpaid licence fee when the bank informed them that the guarantees for ?1.5 crore were forged.

Mohali: Nihang found dead at YPS Chowk identified

The Nihang found dead in a tent belonging to the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha at YPS Chowk has been identified as Ludhiana native Surjit Singh. No external injuries were found on the body and viscera samples have been sent to the FSL in Kharar to establish the cause of death. The deceased had joined Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh two months ago and had arrived in Mohali to join the morcha's protest 12 days ago.

Wildbuzz: Rare Padma celebs

Two Irula tribals from Tamil Nadu, Vadivel Gopal and Masi Sadiyan, were awarded the Padma Shri for their work in wildlife conservation and snake catching. They have risked their lives to save others from snake bites, and even travelled to Florida in 2017 for their expertise. The Padma Shri award has brought attention to their centuries-long struggle against stigma, criminalisation and poverty.

Witerati: Oscar ooh-la-la to dance diplomacy

In Old Delhi, foreign envoys, Bollywood stars and India's newest Oscar winners have been shaking a leg to "Naatu Naatu", signalling a new era of "Dance Diplomacy". Billboards of the new stars, including former Fab India sales girl Guneet Monga and PVR announcer Kartiki Gonsalves, have given hope to Middle Class India, showing that dreams can come true.

Roundabout: Shout out loud girl or you won’t be heard

Vinta Nanda's film "Shout" is a documentary on the harassment faced by women across India, from the rape of Bhanwari Devi in Rajasthan to the attack on Bant Singh in Punjab. Sunaina Sindhwani's novel speaks of the struggle of a woman to choose love in a society that only accepts conventional choices. Both works explore intolerance and ridicule in a rigid society and the importance of sisterhood.