& V I C I N I T Y
Thursday, December 3, 1998
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C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
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Thursday, December 3, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Continuous
evaluation system on anvil S-I
moves CAT
School without water connection |
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Admn
decision on group C, D posts College
lecturers meet Anuradha 75
challaned Growing
crime in UT draws flak Beant
memorial work to start soon Printing
press proprietor bailed out |
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They
targeted locked houses PANCHKULA, Dec 2 — Members of the five men gang which struck at the house of veteran journalist Tribhuvan Nath in Sector 21 here in August came from different states to City Beautiful in search of employment a couple of years ago. They did manage to get petty jobs which did not however, satisfy their urge for quick money. The Sector 20 labour chowk in Chandigarh, which they used to frequent to pick up odd jobs, became their meeting place. Soon acquaintanceship blossomed into friendship. Though it is difficult to say who first mooted the idea of moving on the the world of crime, somehow Munna, who is still absconding, became the leader of the gang. According to Mr Alok Mittal, Superintendent of Police, Panchkula, while Raj Kumar belongs to Moradabad in UP, Sanjiv, alias Langra, came to Chandigarh from Nalanda in Bihar. Vinod Kumar belongs to Raipur in Madhya Pradesh and Ramesh came from neighbouring Patiala. The four suspects have been remanded in police custody till December 8. Sanjiv, who came to Chandigarh about three years ago, first started plying a rickshaw. Later he became a cleaner of a truck. Vinod worked as a watchman in a house in the neighbourhood of the Naths for about three months in 1996. But he left the job as he was not keeping good health. Before he was arrested he was working with a Sector 7 tent shop in Chandigarh. The gang usually made locked houses their target. Primarily their area of operation was Chandigarh. It was at the instance of Vinod, who knew that only the father and two girls lived in the house of the Naths, that the gang picked on the veteran journalist. On the fateful day of August 2 the gang members reached Panchkula during daytime and made a survey of the area. Then they went to the Nadha Sahib gurdwara and partook "langar" and came back to hide in the bushes near the back courtyard boundarywall. After the Naths had gone to sleep, two members reached the roof of the house and cut the telephone wire. The gang entered the house from the room where Mr Tribhuvan Nath was sleeping. While one member kept guard in that room, the others went to the room where the girls were sleeping. After collecting valuables from the house, Raj Kumar made tea in the Naths' kitchen. After the sunrise they made their escape from Panchkula to gather again near the Labour Chowk in Chandigarh where they divided the valuables among themselves. Mr Mittal says the accused had admitted to have committed another theft in a locked house in Sector 4 here. So far they have confessed to only two crimes in Panchkula. Mr Mittal told TNS here
today that police parties had gone to apprehend the gang
leader, Munna. |
Continuous
evaluation system on anvil CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — A meeting of all heads of the CBSE affiliated schools was held at S.D. Public School, Sector 32, here today to discuss the academic activities and the weaknesses of the board. The meeting was addressed by Mr G. Balasubramanian, Director (Academic). He said that information technology and globalisation has had a serious effect on the educational system. the changing scenario had made it necessary to sensitise ourselves to competency building by making changes in the syllabi. The need of the hour was to look at the performance as a whole rather than concentrating only on the academic record. A system of comprehensive and continuous evaluation would be introduced for students passing out from the CBSE-affiliated schools from March, 2000, onwards. It would be mandatory for a school to issue this with the result card and the evaluation would be done by teachers. Besides the academic record, this would profile a student's interests, hobbies and attitude, he said. This aspect, he added, remained neglected and needed to be focussed. Evaluation would be done twice a year and the emphasis would be on what a student was capable of doing rather than what he would not do. Another issue discussed at the meeting was "Operation mathematics" launched by the board to make it student-friendly. The single curriculum to all streams, non-medical and commerce, of the plus two level would be modified. From the next session, there will be 70 per cent of the core subject common to all and 30 per cent of it would be optional, depending upon the stream chosen. An effort to promote
exhibitions on mathematics and quiz sessions among
students is being made. The Mathematics Olympiad is
another way to make the students comfortable with the
subject. |
Lakhs
swindled from bank accounts CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — Depositors beware. Account-holders who do not keep track of their deposits in their passbooks or computer statements may be in for a surprise. Cashiers/clerks manning the counters in at least three branches of the State Bank of India and State Bank of Patiala are reported to have misappropriated lakhs of rupees from the accounts of clients by making fraudulent withdrawals. An employee of one of the branches of the State Bank of India at Ambala city has reportedly withdrawn more than Rs 10 lakh from the accounts of different depositors over the past several months. The fraud came to light when one of the depositors found his balance figures doubtful. He brought the matter to the notice of the branch manager. While the employee has been placed under suspension, the Deputy General Manager of the SBI (Haryana), Mr SJS Chatrath, today confirmed that a thorough investigation of the branch accounts was in progress and several officers had visited the branches. While at a Kurali branch (extension counter) of the State Bank of Patiala, a sum of over Rs 5 lakh is reported to have been misappropriated from different accounts through fraudulent transactions by an employee, a huge sum has been misappropriated at the same bank’s branch at Raipur Rani. The fraudulent transactions related to mostly those accounts which had not been operated by clients for the past several months, and some for several years, presuming that the account-holders might either have left the place of might have died during this period. While the employee at Kurali has been placed under suspension, the other has merely been transferred. Investigations are in progress in both cases. It has been confirmed by a senior functionary of the SBI that robbing of remittance cash amount worth several lakh had taken place at Jamba branch of the SBI near Nilokheri in a dramatic incident which happened on the roadside a few days ago. Instead of hiring a taxi to carry the cash, as is the normal practice in such cases, the bank official, along with a gunman, carried the cash amount in a tempo full of passengers. The tempo, it was reported, was stopped by a motorcyclist on the road and the bank employees were made to part with the cash bag. The matter was reported to the police. The branch staff has been rounded up and the branch has reportedly remained closed for several days. In yet another incident,
the manager of a city branch of the SBP has been
transferred pending investigation in a case involving
misappropriation of a huge sum out of borrowers’
accounts in the same branch. |
Cross-examination
of driver over CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — The examination-in-chief and cross examination of Amrik Singh, driver of Maruti van (DAJ-1431), in the going Beant Singh assassination case was completed before the Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, who held his court at the high-security Burail jail. This vehicle was hired on August 28, 1995, by Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh for the purpose of coming from Patiala to Mohali. He identified both Hawara and Balwant Singh from photographs shown to him by the CBI. During his cross-examination, he said he worked at the janata taxi stand at Patiala. He denied the suggestion
that the vehicle he drove belonged to a Punjab Police
officer. He also denied that he became witness at the
behest of the Punjab Police. |
S-I moves
CAT CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — An international handball player and a Sub-Inspector of the Chandigarh Police, Mr Kapil Dev Sharma, has moved the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) after the police authorities promoted Mr Ram Gopal, another SI as Inspector. The promotion of Mr Gopal, a yoga expert, was made under the sports quota. Mr Kapil Dev, who has played in the Asiad for the country besides other international events, alleged that his claim over the post had been overlooked. The CAT while staying
future promotions under the sports quota has asked the
Chandigarh Administration, the Chandigarh Police and Mr
Gopal to file their replies within six weeks. |
School
without water connection CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — Over 100 students of a free school at Mauli Jagran, run by the Youth Technical Training Society (YTTS), have been put to a lot of inconvenience for the past over six months as the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh has failed to provide water connection. The society had applied to the MCC for water connection in May for the school run by it for street children under the project "Pustak". Since then the society had been waiting for the connection though necessary formalities were completed months ago. The society in a representation to the Adviser to the Administrator, Mr Jagdish Sagar, has urged him to impress upon the civic body to grant water connection so that the slum children did not go without water. Meanwhile, a senior
corporation official, when contacted expressed the MC's
inability to provide water connection to the school as it
was "illegal" being on government land. Water
connection could only be given if the site was allotted
to the society by the Estate Office, he added. |
Admn
decision on group C, D posts CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — The Chandigarh Administration has decided to give preference to the dependents of the deceased government and surplus employees for appointment in group C and D posts, provided they possess the requisite qualifications. The departments will have to issue appointment letters to such persons, sponsored by the Regional Employment Officer, within one month as per government instructions. Any delay in issuing appointment letter shall be viewed seriously. Parking tokens: The Chandigarh Administration has directed all its employees working in the offices located in the Sector 9 Delux and additional delux buildings to affix parking tokens issued to them on their private vehicles. No vehicle without parking tokens will be allowed to enter the Delux Building after December 15. The employees have also been directed to park their vehicles at proper place near the garages, failing which these will be impounded by the traffic police. Conversion rate: The
Chandigarh Administration has fixed the rate of
conversion of residential leasehold land tenure into
freehold land at Rs 1,710 per sq metre till December 31
next year, it was officially announced here today.
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College
lecturers meet Anuradha CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — A deputation of the Government College Lecturers' Welfare Association today met Mrs Anuradha Gupta, Education Secretary, UT, in support of its demand. According to a press note, the main demands of the association are the implementation of the notification on pay revision addressed to education secretaries of the states and UTs, release of DA from July 1, 1998, confirmation of the services of the government lecturers of the UT cadre whose sevices were regularised in February, 1996, and grant of Class A status to UT college lecturers on the Punjab pattern. Mrs Gupta assured the
delegation that the Administration would consider their
demands on merit. She, however, added that notification
on pay revision would be implemented only after the
Punjab Government implemented the same. |
CII has
blocked hotel rooms: CITCO CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — The Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO) today accused the CII of blocking a large number of rooms in city hotels and not using them for the ongoing Agro Tech '98. A press note issued by CITCO alleged that the CII had booked a large number of rooms in the CITCO-run and private hotels but it had not been able to occupy the rooms, thereby putting the hotel industry to loss. Giving statistics, the press note claimed that today only 26 of the 85 rooms booked by the CII in Hotel Shivalikview could be used. Similarly, of the 50 rooms blocked in Hotel Mountview only 44 could be used. The figure for Chandigarh Yatri Nivas was 45 booked and 39 used respectively. "It is relevant to
mention that the CII had not made full payment of the
rooms booked and, therefore, its criticism of the
Administration is not only factually incorrect but also
totally unjustified and uncalled for", it added. |
75 challaned CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — As part of the ongoing anti-encroachment drive, more than 75 persons were challaned in various sectors of the city here today. As many as 15 persons were challaned during spacial drive for selling their wares outside Apni Mandi in Sector 15. Sources said that this had been done following directives from a city court in a case filed by a UT resident to the civic authorities to curb the practice of vendors occupying spaces outside the areas where Apni Mandi is being held. Directives on the insanitary conditions left by such vendors after the mandi was over were also redressed. The violators could face fines up to Rs 500. The others challaned include roadside vendors and shopkeepers of sectors 16, 23, 24 and 17. The shopkeepers had encroached on the corridors and had displayed their wares, obstructing the passage of people. Meanwhile, anti-encroachment operations will be carried out in Sector 42-C on December 4, and in Sector 9 on December 5. A special drive to check
reappearance of encroachments where the previous drives
were held is scheduled for December 6, sources added. |
Growing
crime in UT draws flak CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — A serious view was taken of deteriorating law and order situation in the Union Territory of Chandigarh at a meeting held at Punjab Raj Bhavan under the chairmanship of the Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), today. The growing incidence of dacoities combined with gang rapes, non registration of first information reports and rampant corruption in the department came up for criticism at the meeting, where failure to take preventive measures to check the growing incidents of crime was also viewed with concern. The Administrator reportedly laid stress on strengthening police intelligence network to prevent dacoities and mass rapes as reported from some periphery villages of the union territory. Besides General Chhibber, Mr Jagdish Sagar, Adviser to the Administrator; Mr P.K. Verma, Secretary to the Governor; the Chairperson of CITCO and Chandigarh Housing Board, Mrs Meenakshi Dutta Ghosh; Home Secretary, Mrs Anuradha Gupta; Inspector-General, Mr R.P. Singh; Managing Director of CITCO, Mr Satish Chandra; the SSP, Mr CSR Reddy; and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr R K Rao, were among those who were present. General Chhibber wanted that the maximum reaction time of Control Room vehicles should be three minutes after an incident was reported to them and they should cordon off the area of incident immediately. He said that the Deputy Commissioner and the Inspector-General of Police should approach the village heads to draw up a traditional information system to supplement the efforts of the police. The Administrator made it clear that Station House Officer (SHO) should be held responsible for any serious incident in his jurisdiction. He also wanted that all complaints of non-registration of FIR in bona fide cases should be dealt with seriously. The police should formulate a transparent system of postings and transfers to end bickerings within the ranks. He asked the Inspector-General to take strong action on complaints of corruption by policemen especially those posted in the traffic cell. It was pointed out that any collusion and connivance of police officers particularly in property disputes or matter related to abuse of authority or abusive behaviour should be dealt with sternly. A serious view should be taken in the matter of involvement of cops in criminal acts such as molestation, assault and extortion. It was decided at the
meeting to ensure early completion of enquiries against
corrupt officers and taking deterrent action against them
to improve the image of Chandigarh police.
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Beant
memorial work to start soon CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — The decks have been cleared for the start of the construction of the Beant Singh memorial, and the Chandigarh Centre for the Performing Arts. A meeting of the society that looks after this prestigious project today decided to allot work on the basis of tenders invited by it some time ago. The allocation of work is expected to be completed in a month. The timelimit for completion of the first phase of the project will be 18 months and will cost Rs 8 crore. The phase I of the project includes construction of an open air auditorium, a conference hall and a library besides landscaping of 26 acres of land so as to develop gardens. The Leisure Valley Gardens have been conceptualised as a large garden complex visually and functionally integrated with the Beant Singh Memorial and The Chandigarh Centre For The Performing Arts. Comprising three major parts — the Axial Walkway and Sculptural Stream Channel, the Gardens of the Five Senses, and the Smriti Van, the entire complex will be unique to the country. The Axial Walkway from the memorial and the arts plaza will be accentuated by two avenues of flowering avenues.The walkway will run parallel to the central water feature of the site — two sculptured water channels that symbolise the flowing of rivers. The Gardens of the Five Senses are being organised to provide the visitor with the experience of walking through beautiful gardens while on the main curved walkway that will link the Palm Tree Plaza with the parking area.The Garden of Sight has a large circular reflecting pool surrounded by plants while the Garden of Taste will have two small orchard planting of fruit trees and citrus trees.The Garden of Sound features three areas — an intimate garden space enclosed by dense layers of shrubbery to enhance the sound of a small fountain at the centre and an open space where wind would chime and grasses blow in the wind. A third grove of pine trees where the sound of pine needles would predominate. The Garden of Smell is being created around a circular mound with fragrant herbs and small shrubs to be encircled by semi-circular trellis wall planted with creepers. The Garden of Touch would feature an open meadow-like planting to one side of the main path with narrower paths, encouraging visitors to feel different plant textures. Meanwhile, the conceptual drawings and detailed drawings submitted by the famed team of architects have already been approved by the society. Some construction work has already been undertaken at the site where a boundary wall has already been completed. The actual Phase-I construction work is expected to start in January. When contacted, the
Secretary of the society, Mrs Anuradha Gupta, confirmed
that the green signal for award of works had been given. |
Printing
press proprietor bailed out CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — The Judicial Magistrate, Mr Jasbir Singh, today ordered the release on bail of Subhash Bindra, proprietor, Satya Deep Offset Printers, Industrial Area, Phase II, Chandigarh, who was arrested on a charge of printing the book "Vanity Incarnate" allegedly penned by Mr Harinder Singh, a press reporter of The Indian Express. The megistrate ordered Bindra to furnish a personal bond of Rs 10,000 apart from a surety of the like amount. Bindra in his application stated that he had been wrongly arrested by the police. He had nothing to do with the publication and circulation of the book "Vanity Incarnate". He stated that the main accused Harinder Singh, a Reporter of the Indian Express, had contacted him for getting his book printed at his press. The Reporter offered that he would get the floppy prepared himself for offset printing as the same will cost him less and requested the applicant to print the material fed in the floppy. He added that Harinder Singh got a total of 300 copies printed for him- self and one copy for office record. He had taken delivery of all copies. He also took away the floppy. He revealed that the
police had already raided the premises of his printing
press and had taken in possession the office copy of the
book, all plates prepared for printing and transparencies
of the present book. |
CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — The Chandigarh Administration has approved the new water supply bylaws framed by the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC). Under the new bylaws, while the security for the 1/2 inch (15mm) meter shall be Rs 350, it will be Rs 550 for the 3/4 inch (20mm) meter. For the meter of 1 inch (25mm) and 2 inch (50mm) it will be Rs 700 and Rs 1,400, respectively. Similarly, for the meter of 3 inch (80mm), the security will be Rs 2,000 and for 4 inch (100mm) Rs 3,250. In case of meter of 6 inch (150mm) and that 8 inch (200mm) security will be Rs 5,000 and Rs 7,500, respectively. Now all water meters of 1 inch and above will have to arranged by the consumers themselves for the new connections and replacement purposes. The water connections of 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch will, however, continue to be replaced by the civic body. The monthly rent for the various categories will be: 1/2 inch meter (Rs 5); 3/4 inch (Rs 8); 1 inch (Rs 13); 2 inch (Rs 20); 3 inch (Rs 30); and 4 inch (Rs 40); 6 inch (Rs 50) and 8 inch (Rs 80). For every new connection of 1 inch and above the fee will be Rs 1,000. And for testing and replacement purposes of 1 inch and above meter, the charges will be Rs 100 and Rs 200 per meter, respectively. The penalty for tampering with water meters on 1/2 inch diameter will be Rs 350 and Rs 750 on 3/4 inch diameter. Similarly, a penalty of Rs 2,000 will be imposed for tampering with the metre of 1 inch. Those tampering with the meter of above 1 inch would attract a penalty of Rs 3,000. Moreover, the proper
working of water meters of 1 inch and above will rest
with the consumer, who will be intimated of its being
defective through remarks on the water bill itself. Such
consumers are required to replace their water meters
within a maximum period of four months. In case of
non-replacement of water meter within for months, water
supply will be discontinued without further notice. |
CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — The parents of a Haryana police constable, who it is alleged, is already married have been arrested by the police. The cop, Balwinder Singh, is yet to be arrested and is said to be on the run. Ms Shallu Singh, a resident of Sector 37, alleged that she was kept in the dark about the cop's first marriage. The parents of the constable Samsher Singh and Vidya Wati, have been arrested under Sections 493, 498-A and 120-B of the IPC. The cop had got married to Shallu without disclosing that he was already married. A case has been registered in the Sector 39 police station. House burgled: The house of a retired IAS officer, Mr R.R. Bhardwaj, was burgled as his domestic help reportedly stole a sum of Rs 3,000 from the house. A case has been registered. Meanwhile, a car (CH-01-P-1007) driven by Mr T.S. Thakur of Sector 15, was hit by truck (HR-37-4585) on the road dividing sectors 45 and 46. A case has been
registered. |
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