22112024-CT-01.qxd 11/22/2024 1:00 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune BJP MEMBERSHIP DRIVE ON NOV 23, 24: BADOLI KARNATAKA ALL OUT FOR 99, GIRISH KHATRI’S PICKS FIFER IFFI CELEBRATES CREATIVE MINDS OF TOMORROW BJP state chief Pandit Mohan Lal Badoli holds a party meeting in Panchkula. P2 Karnataka claim a 139-run lead as Chandigarh strengthen their position in Cooch Behar Trophy match. P3 Screening of film Better Man and an insightful session on Women Safety and Cinema held. P4 » » WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH Was held for murdering classmate on Nov 14; probe ordered Tribune News Service TFT Winter National Theatre Festival: Folk singing performance by Sunita Dua Sehgal and group from Haryana on November 22, Mini Auditorium, Tagore Theatre, 6:30 pm, entry free. Naturally: An art exhibition by 13 artists; 105 Arts, Sector 11; on till November 22 Evening of jazz: With the Guillaume Barraud Quartet, Alliance Française, Sector 36, November 22, 7 pm, open to all Mohali, November 21 A 24-year-old Zambian national, a student of Chandigarh University in Gharuan, reportedly died by suicide in the lockup of the Kharar police post at Sunny Enclave, after being arrested for the alleged murder of his classmate, who was also from the same country. The accused, Saviour Chikopela, a student of Bachelor of Optometry (first year), was accused of killing his female friend in a flat at a housing society in Kharar on November 14. Sources said the he was allegedly upset with the girl for socialising with other male friends. The sources said when the police got to know about the girl’s murder, they found the LPG supply knob in the flat was open. However, no fire had occurred. Initially, it was suspected that the victim had died of asphyxiation due to the gas leak but the autopsy report said she was murdered. During the investigation, a suspect was identified with the A foreign national who was called for identification at the Kharar police station. NITIN MITTAL UNANSWERED QUESTIONS What was the exact reason for the girl’s murder? Why was the nylon rope left in the lock-up? Why was the suspect left unattended at the police post? help of CCTV footage of the neighbourhood, and he was arrested around 11:30 pm on Wednesday. Just 35 minutes after being taken into custody, he reportedly hanged himself with a nylon rope tied to a lockup bar. The police rushed him to the Kharar Civil Hospital, where the doctors declared him dead on arrival. The victim’s autopsy was conducted by a board of doctors in the presence of a Magistrate and a representative from the Zambian government. Mohali SSP Deepak Pareek said, “A magisterial inquiry is underway, and all due procedures are being followed.” DEATH IN PU HOSTEL Literati: 12th edition of Chandigarh Lit Fest, Lake Club, 11 am, on November 23 and 24, entry free APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 24 and 46 Panchkula: Sector 20 Mohali: Kumbhara Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF Court sends 2 accused to judicial custody Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 21 Two natives of Himachal Pradesh, who were arrested in the case of a youth’s death due to suspected drug overdose, were today produced before the court and the Judge sent both to judicial custody. The victim, Vikas (24), had died at boys’ hostel No. 7 of Panjab University on November 19. His friends, Aryan Parbhat (21) of Kullu, a PU student; and Parikshit Kaushal (24) of Shimla, a former student of the university; were arrested on the charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. According to the investigation, videos recovered from Parikshit’s mobile phone revealed that Vikas had been lying unconscious since 3 am. He was taken to the hospital after the delay of about 7 hours. Mansa man robbed of car Chandigarh, November 21 Two SUV-borne men allegedly robbed a Mansa man of a car in Sector 15 late last night. According to sources, the complainant, Kuldeep, was on his way to deliver a new Maruti Jimny in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, when the two men intercepted him near a temple at the Sector 15/16 light point around 1:45 am. They manhandled him and took away his vehicle. The police have registered a case. the sources claimed the car was recovered from Jagadhri. The police did not officially confirm this information. — TNS UT plans hospital on par with AIIMS 2,000-bed regional facility will cater to tricity residents Tribune News Service IMMIGRATION AGENT BOOKED Chandigarh: The police have booked an immigration consultant on charge of cheating. A resident of Tamil Nadu, J Kasinathan, alleged that Deepak Yadav, Sidharth Yadav and others of K L Associate Education, Sector 22, cheated him out of Rs 22.82 lakh on the pretext of providing a work permit of Canada. A case has been registered at the Sector 17 police station. TNS MAN CHARGED WITH ‘ILLEGAL’ DIGGING Chandigarh: The police have registered a case against the owner of a house in Sector 33 and a contractor for illegally digging a basement. The complaint was filed by Kiranjeet Kaur, a neighbour, who alleged that the unauthorised excavation caused damage to her property. The case has been registered at the Sector 34 police station. TNS Chandigarh, November 21 The UT Administration has planned to set up a 2,000bed regional hospital on the pattern of AIIMS in the city to cater to the residents of the tricity. Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria today chaired a highlevel meeting to discuss the proposal for the hospital. The meeting discussed about strengthening the existing healthcare infrastructure and decongesting the present government hospitals of the city. The city hospitals not only cater to the local residents but also patients from the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand. Dr Suman Singh, Director, Health Services, gave a brief presentation on the health infrastructure, existing bed strength, current challenges in healthcare and the proposal to build a new hospital in the city. The state of the art healthcare facility - Regional Med- ical Hub - will prioritise patient-centered care, foster innovation, ensure equitable access to advanced medical services and set a benchmark for excellence in the regional healthcare landscape. Kataria said facilities in satellite hospitals should be on a par with the district hospital and population living on the city periphery may also be considered while planning the new hospital. Discussions were also held on suitable sites for the project. He said there was a need to promote Chandigarh as a quality healthcare destination for medical tourism, and a centre of excellence for training and medical education. It was also discussed that the proposed health infrastructure should provide universal healthcare, deliver high-quality, patient-centric care across a wide range of specialities. The use of digital health solutions to enhance diagnosis and treatment was strongly recommended Dr VK Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, observed that the need to enhance healthcare services in Chandigarh was obvious and the proposal for a new health facility may also be linked with the vision of Viksit Bharat-2047. The new hospital should be built as a world-class centre of excellence. c m y b MAX 27°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 26.9°C | MIN 10.1°C SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:53 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD Foreign student ‘hangs self’ in Kharar lockup MAINLY CLEAR SKY SUNSET FRIDAY 5.24 PM » FRIDAY | 22 NOVEMBER 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Mayor withdraws proposal to increase power cess Faces opposition from both AAP, alliance partner Cong Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 21 Facing opposition from the alliance partner Congress and his own party, AAP Mayor Kuldeep Kumar today took a U-turn and decided to withdraw the proposal to enhance the municipal cess on electricity consumption by 6 paise per unit. “As both AAP and Congress have decided not to support the proposal, we have decided to withdraw the agenda,” said the Mayor. The agenda was to be tabled in the General House meeting for discussion and approval on November 23. Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria will also attend the meeting. The MC has proposed to increase the municipal cess from 10 paise per unit to 16 paise per unit. According to the agenda, the MC had imposed the municipal cess on electricity consumption at 10 paise per unit in 2019. The MC earns approximately Rs 15-16 crore every year on this account. As the MC is facing a financial crisis, it decided to enhance the municipal cess, which will increase its revenue from the levy from Rs STAND BY LS POLL PROMISE: CONG Rajiv Sharma, chief spokesperson for the Congress, stated that the party and MP Manish Tewari unflinchingly stood by their solemn commitment made during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections that no new taxes will be imposed on the city residents. He said on the contrary, the residents needed some respite after the BJP-led MC imposed backbreaking taxes on the people during its eight-year tenure till 2023. 15-16 crore to Rs 22-23 crore per annum. Meanwhile, the Congress has decided to oppose the proposal to impose any new tax or to increase the rate of any existing tax on the city residents, at least, until 2029. In a statement, Rajiv Sharma, chief spokesperson for the Congress, stated that the party and MP Manish Tewari unflinchingly stood by their solemn commitment made during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections that no new taxes will be imposed on the city residents. He said on the contrary, the residents needed some respite after the BJP-led MC imposed back-breaking taxes on the people during its eight-year tenure till 2023. City Congress president HS Lucky instructed the Congress councillors to oppose the agenda, if tabled in the House meeting on November 23. Senior AAP leader Prem Continued on page 2