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| Sunday,
October 15, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
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Poll days are here again in
PU CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — The festive season seems to be affecting the Panjab University Student Council polls too. As the election scene in the university warms up, the university walls are fast colouring up with fluorescent posters, asking for votes and support. The early morning door-to-door, or rather, room-to-room campaigning in boys’ hostels and the late evening rounds of the girls’ hostel has begun. The day time is spent in going to the departments and talking to students attending classes. Those who have just joined the university find it amusing that they are being approached by the so-called big wigs of the university, asking for votes, trying their best to sway their thinking. All that many of homesick ones do is nod their heads, promise their support and on the day of elections, pack their bags and rush home. For many others, it is just a number of free classes, with the university students groups coming in during classes and talking to students. Rarely are these lectures listened to seriously, but when the two groups have open debates at places where they land together, a crowd collects, encouraging the speakers to heat up the discussion. The late evening visit to the girls’ hostels is popular and well attended. The leaders stand on the benches and speak their hearts and throats out. By the time elections are a day away, none of them are in a position to air their views with hoarse throats and weary bones. The only ones actually serious about the elections are those who are directly involved. Most of these are ex-students of the university and ex-council position holders who are fielding and supporting their candidates. Academic standards are to be maintained they mouth. How will the students council ensure this? What do the students want? Some rather selfish answers are available. Lecture shortages should be cleared and those who have failed even after three attempts should be given another chance. The hostelers are clear on what they want. The roofs leak and the bathrooms in the hostels are dirty, they say. Many do not want to be made to share rooms with others and be given separate rooms, while others want better food. |
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No Divali Mela in Sec 17 this
year CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — The annual Divali Mela of Sector 17 will not be held this year. This was decided at a special meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) held here today. Councillors were divided over the issue. However, when a division of votes was sought on the issue, most of them raised their hands to indicate that there would be no auction of stalls for the Mela. Mr Prem Sagar Jain (BJP) opposed the putting up of stalls in Sector 17. ‘‘The civic body should instead commercially exploit the Sector 17 Circus Ground for the purpose,’’ he said. Air Marshal R.S. Bedi (retd), also of the BJP, said a tourist attraction like Sector 17 should not be spoiled by putting up stalls. Ms Harjinder Kaur (SAD) said the Sector 17 Plaza should be made a hub of round-the-year cultural activities. Maj-Gen Rajinder Nath (retd), a nominated councillor, said the beauty of the sector should be maintained and no temporary stalls should be put up there. However, the Senior Deputy Mayor, Mr Des Raj Tandon, said there was nothing wrong in organising the mela in the sector when the MCC had already issued instructions against setting up of stalls. He said the MCC should rather fix a reasonable rent for the stalls, so that these were not sub-let by unscrupulous elements. The two-hour-long discussion centred on whether the putting up of stalls should be allowed in the Sector 17 Plaza or not. It was decided that no stall would be allowed to be set up in the other parts of the sector as well. Even shopkeepers in Sector 17-E will not be allowed to put up stalls in front of their shops. Meanwhile, Mr K.A.P. Sinha, Officiating Commissioner, assured the members that the decision of the House would be strictly enforced. |
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PSEB employee electrocuted LALRU, Oct 14 — A 45-year-old employee of the Punjab State Electricity Board, Mr Sukhvinder Singh, was electrocuted while repairing high-tension electricity cables of Alamgir sub-station, 2 km from here, on Saturday afternoon. Hailing from Hoshiarpur district, Sukhvinder was working as an Assistant Lineman with the board. While repairing overhead cables supplying power from the sub-division to nearby industries in this area, the victim got entangled, at about 2.40 pm. There was panic among the colleagues of the victim who were assisting him in the work. They swung into action and managed to bring him down with the help of a crane after over an hour. He was rushed to the local Civil Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. The body was sent to the Rajpura Civil Hospital for post-mortem examination. An employee of the Board claimed that power supply to the line was disconnected before starting the repair works. The charge on the line was also checked properly before the work was being carried out, they added. Senior officials of the department revealed that some industrial units might have used electricity generator sets, which resulted in charging of electricity lines. They further said that after investigating the matter, action would be taken against the owner of the industry who used generator sets, resulting in the death of Sukhvinder Singh. |
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NHRC asks DGP
to look into torture case CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — Acting upon a complaint filed by a human rights organisation after a Panchkula teenager allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a speeding train following police torture, the National Human Rights Commission at New Delhi has asked The Haryana Director-General of Police to look into the matter. The Commission has also asked the DGP to submit a report within two weeks of receiving the copy of the notice. In his complaint, the Chairman of the World Human Rights Protection Council, Mr Ranjan Lakhanpal, had earlier stated that “continued police harassment had compelled Mattru to commit suicide”. Giving details, the complainant had stated that Mattru had ended his life within two hours of being released from police custody “where he was subjected to torture”. He had added that news regarding the incident was carried out in all City newspapers. Seeking independent probe into the incident, Mr Lakhanpal had also stated that an inquiry conducted by police officials, as and when ordered, would be in favour of the guilty as the cops would not go against their own men. Claiming an increase in cases of police harassment and torture by third-degree methods, he had added that “we must take all steps to see that those responsible for Mattru’s agony do not go scot-free and are punished in accordance with law”. The menace, he had added, must be curbed at all costs. |
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Of sacrifices that went
unrewarded CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — As war widows and dependent parents from the region make their way to the Punjab Regiments ex-servicemen rally scheduled to be held at Chandi Mandir tomorrow, a large number of them have a common woe — benefits and assistance from state governments has not been forthcoming. Clutching their beloved’s gallantry medals and badges of sacrifices, aged men and women, some with tears in their eyes, have a tale of official apathy and indifference to tell. For some, hope is turning into despair as they struggle to sort out family affairs and ensure a future for their children. “My husband, Sub Paramjit Singh, was killed in Baramulla in 1994. He was subsequently awarded the Sena Medal posthumously. The Punjab Government, however, has not given me any assistance,” said Ms Daljit Kaur from Rajpura. “Constant correspondence with the Punjab Government and regular visits to the Sainik Board has not yielded any results and the education of my son and two daughters is being effected,” she added. Lance Naik Shamsher Singh was decorated posthumously with the Vir Chakra after he was killed on the Line of Control in 1997. But his widow, Ms Kulwinder Kaur, hailing from Mubarakpur near Malerkotla, is still running from pillar to post to get her dues. “The Punjab Government has not given any benefits so far. I have repeatedly approached the Badal Government as well as the Sainik Board, but the reply is that the government has no money,” she said. Having a three-and-a-half year old son, she added that she had no job. An encounter with the Pakistani army in Rajouri claimed the life of 20-year-old Sukhwinder Singh of 22 Punjab in March 2000, leaving his aged father to make futile rounds of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Gurdaspur as well as the Punjab Government Mini-Secretariat in Chandigarh. Another soldier from the same village, Sep Rajender Singh, was killed in an encounter with militants in Poonch in 1998, but the 22-year-old deceased’s family, including his two year old son, is yet to receive any grant from the state government. Applications for allotment of a gas agency or a petrol pump have not borne any fruit. There are also cases where the deceased’s next of kin went without benefits for decades, simply because they were not aware that such provisions existed. Ms Naseb Kaur’s husband Hardyal Singh, a Shaurya Chakra winner, was killed when his patrol was ambushed in NEFA as far back as 1956. Hailing from Moga, she said she did not know about any such provisions. A similar case is that of 70-year-old Ms Kartar Kaur from a village near Patiala. Her husband, Hav Jeevan Singh, was killed in 1956 in Assam and she received the Badge of Sacrifice only four months back. “I was only getting a pension and it was only after learning recently that I filled forms for receiving revised pension. But there is no response from the government,” she said. “The majority of those who fought in Kargil last year have got all their benefits, but a large number of those affected in other operations are still suffering,” pointed out Nk Jaswant SIngh. He was among the first to go into action in the 1948 war. |
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Harbhajan’s ‘second wife’ shows up in
court KHARAR, Oct 14 — The case of Harbhajan Singh who had escaped from the police custody with shackles on his leg took a new turn today. A woman named Baljeet Kaur of the nearby Takkipur village said she was the real wife of Harbhajan Singh. She moved an application in the court in this regard through her counsel. She said she had got married to Harbhajan on February 28, 1996. She said she had one daughter, Sandeep Kaur, from this marriage. She said she was pregnant even now. She alleged that Harbhajan had left the house on the pretext of going to Italy and had even taken Rs 2 lakh from her brothers about two years ago. She said Harbhajan had never told her about his relationship with Gurvinder Kaur. She said she had learnt from a news published in Punjabi Tribune on October 13 that Harbhajan had married Gurvinder Kaur. She said Gurvinder and Harbhajan had cheated the applicant, her daughter and the court. She said strict action should be taken against Harbhajan and Gurvinder. The court of Ms Harinder Sidhu, Judicial Magistrate of Kharar had issued a notice to the Punjab police for October 14 on the basis of an application moved by Harbhajan Singh and Gurvinder Kaur on October 12. This application was dismissed by the Court today as no one appeared on behalf of Harbhajan Singh in the court. The SHO of Kharar also filed a reply to this application and requested that it should be dismissed. Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh has already moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the court has ordered that his shackles should be removed. The DSP of Khamano and the SHO of Kheri Naudh Singh, have been asked to appear in the court on October 17. Meanwhile, Baljit Kaur, who was present in the local court today along with her 4-year-old daughter, told mediapersons that she had married Harbhajan when he used to work at Chamkaur Sahib. She said, “I was living happily in the house of my in-laws and did not know any thing about his affairs.” Ms Gurnam Kaur, her mother, said Harbhajan was a clever man, who could dupe anyone. Meanwhile, the local court has issued a notice to Punjab for October 21 on the basis of an application moved by Baljit Kaur. Also the All-India Human Rights Watch constituted a team comprising Col N.S. Pandher, Mr Anil Kaushiq, Mr Gurmit Singh, Mr Ashoke Kabuli and Mr D.K. Vats to inquire into the incident at the Khamano police station. The body has demanded a strict action against the police officials involved in this incident. |
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Consumer forum order to
HUDA PANCHKULA, Oct 14 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum directed the Haryana Urban Development Authority to allot an alternative plot to the complainant in Sector 21 of the city at the original price within one month, Rs 25,000 as compensation, Rs 2000 as cost of proceedings besides 15 per cent interest on amount paid for the plot. In his complaint, Lt-Col Daljit Singh Mann, said that Rajesh Kumar was allotted a plot in Sector 21 and asked HUDA to give him physical possession of the plot by removing huts in a letter in 1993 and was informed that the possession would be offered soon. Later, he applied for the transfer of the plot to the complainant in 1994 and deposited Rs 9000 as transfer fee but was informed a month later that the complainant was required to deposit Rs 18,426 for transfer of the plot to his name. This amount was immediately deposited but the transfer of the plot did not take place despite repeated reminders. Ultimately, the plot was transferred in the name of the complainant in 1997. Upon notice, the HUDA official filed a statement in which he asserted that the allottee applied for transfer in 1993 and deposited the papers in January 1994 but did not pay Rs 1705. It was also contended that an alternative plot be accepted in lieu of the plot in question. The Bench, comprising Mr RC Taneja, Mr BS Badhran and Ms Nirmal Kaur, observed that the three-year delay in allotment has resulted in financial loss and harassment of the complainant. They ordered that if the plot in question was not ready for offering to the complainant, an alternative vacant plot in the sector be offered to them in lieu of the allotted plot. |
Alternative road to
Panchkula soon CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — Finally, there is a good news for thousands of daily commuters between Panchkula and Chandigarh. The project for an alternative road, between the city and the township is finally underway. With the clearing of trees and levelling of land the ground work for construction of the proposed four-lane link has started. The link will come up within the next one year, sources in the Chandigarh Administration said. The work on the planned highway had been pending for a couple of years now. One of the main reasons being the disagreement over the compensatory land for afforestation. A major part of the land required for building up of the second road to Panchkula, starting from near St Kabir School, Sector 26, and beyond towards the Sukhna choe, was within the jurisdiction of the Forest Department. Under the Forest Conservation Act, a compensatory afforestation land had to be sanctioned before any land belonging to the department could be released for any other purpose. Earlier, the Administration had offered a piece of land in lieu, which the Union Ministry of Environment had rejected, terming it as barren and useless for afforestation. With the compensatory 14 acres being released in Kishangarh by the Administration, in lieu of eight acres acquired from the Forest Department, that hurdle has been overcome. Meanwhile, the Forest Department has started the ground work for afforestation by planting about 6000 trees on the land. A sum of Rs 20 lakh under the compensatory scheme had also been released for the department for clearing land, plantation and protection of the trees. The demand for an alternative road to Panchkula has been gathering momentum with a rapid increase in the number of daily commuters between Chandigarh and Panchkula. The present link, an extension of the Madhya Marg, is a virtual struggle for thousands of trucks, cars and scooters, leading to ever increasing traffic jams, especially during the peak hours. |
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Stray dog menace on the
rise CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — As many as 14 persons lost their lives as a result of dog bite in the city and its adjoining areas last year. This year dog bite has so far claimed seven lives. More than a dozen cases are registered every day at the Government dispensary in Sector 19 and according to Dr S.K. Garg, who holds charge of this dispensary,” anti-rabies vaccination and control of the canine population alone can solve this problem. There are more than 3,000 stray and 10,000 pet dogs in Chandigarh and hardly any government effort has been made to tackle the problem. Some social organisations are, however. active in this field but their work is no more than a drop in the ocean. Children are more prone to such accidents as they try to play with the dogs roaming in their lanes, says a mother whose three -year-old daughter was bitten by a pup while the child was playing with it. A six-year-old boy, Nikhil, was bitten by a dog he used to play with. “Suddenly it rushed towards me and bit me on my leg. I was taken to a doctor who gave me an injection. I missed my school that day,” he says. Aashish, another victim, was bitten by a stray dog when he was cycling home from his school. “I was on my bicycle when a dog started chasing me. I lost balance and the dog jumped on me and bit me on my leg,” he recounts. One of the doctors at the Animal Welfare Society cautions that many of the pet dogs that are not vaccinated against rabies are also dangerous. There are some people who do not care to get their pet dogs vaccinated. Moreover a dog needs to be given the vaccination every year. Some social organisations keep organising free anti-rabies vaccination camps for stray dogs. But it is not possible to do a follow-up on the same dog. Mr Vasudev, Joint Secretary of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), stresses this point. They give anti- rabies vaccine to the stray dogs of a particular locality once, but the next year it is impossible to trace the same dog for a follow-up. According to Dr S.S. Cheema, Medical Officer, Health, they are also handicapped for want of funds. They are conducting a campaign to sterilise stray dogs to control their population, but the lack of funds and infrastructure is a major obstacle. A project with 25 kennels is almost ready. The dogs will be kept there for 15 days after the sterilisation operation. As one bitch can produce 18 pups in one year and if there are 1,500 stray bitches, it means addition of 6,000 to the canine population. Mr Jasbir Ralhan, President of the SPCA, complains that the Administration is not helpful in any of their projects. The rise in the number of stray dogs needs to be checked before it is too late. Lack of funds restricts canine sterilisation, he says. |
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Traffic park being
developed PANCHKULA, Oct 14 — A traffic park in Sector 12 here is already being developed and a decision to install swings in parks of the other sectors has also been taken by the Haryana Urban Development Authority. The traffic park will be ready for opening in March next year. After the pavements are laid, the last step will be to erect miniature buildings. “Five-foot-high buildings will be positioned at various turns and crossings in the traffic park. These will include an airport, railway station, museum and library,” an official associated with the project said. Miniature models of shopping centres, restaurant, hospital and petrol pump will also be included. The idea is to educate the children about traffic rules by giving them hands-on experience of driving on city roads. The park will be spread over 3.60 acres and cost HUDA Rs 32 lakh. The development of the park will cost Rs 13.64 lakh and an office building Rs 7.55 lakh. Rs 8.82 lakh will be spent on building a retaining wall along the nullah running through the park. The electricity wing of HUDA will install traffic lights and the sound system. A landscaping, expert is also working on the project. The idea to set up the park was of the Police Department and the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had given a green signal to the project at a Sarkar Apke Dwar programme organised early this year. Also, the Horticulture Department of HUDA has approved a plan to install swings in parks in other sectors of the town. The work on this front will begin next month only,” an official said. |
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A shagun for women
clients CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — Karva Chauth — an occasion to touch up your wardrobe. It is time for people to buy a set of clothes to be sent to the married daughter (specially the first time after the wedding) and for the mother-in-law. With sanction from tradition and sentiments running high due to the nature of the festival, husbands willingly empty their purses for their fasting wives. Popular garment stores in the city and its suburbs have been attracting suhagans with complimentary offers of mehndi application, churis and bindis for every client free of cost till Monday. The proprietor of one such store said this gesture put a smile on women's faces even as their men looked on indulgently. Mehndi, bangles and bindis are traditionally symbols of shagun, especially among the North Indian Hindus. Asha, showing off the intricate green pattern on her palm, said, " I appreciate the gesture. It is very convenient. I have been saved the bother of going to a mehndi applicator specially." With packets of a new salwar kameez for her mom-in-law, a trendy garhchola lehnga choli for herself and a designer sari gift from her husband bought from one such store, Ms Sharma beams, "I feel like a bahu of my favourite shop." A round of the shopping centres of Sectors 17 and 22 shows that cashing in on the festive season, many traders are giving incentives to customers to attract customers. A little discount here, a free gift there, an easy instalment scheme elsewhere: you never know what could tilt the customer in your favour. The days of straight, simple selling are fast going. Innovative offers are the order of the day. Newspaper advertisements are indicative of the trend and the brisk sales at these stores only go on to prove the case. In fact, many a time, the 'free gift' is courtesy the company itself. Apparently, with both the buyer and seller happy, the race continues. |
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Gurpurab
celebrations SAS NAGAR, Oct 14 — To celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in the town on November 11, the local Gurudwara Coordination Committee has decided to make special arrangements. Mr Hardeep Singh, a member of the committee, said a procession will be taken out on November 10. It will start from Gurudwara Gobindsar, Mohali village, and end at the phase 11 gurudwara after winding its way through different phases of the town. He said managements of lcoal schools, market committees industries associations and other social and religious organisations have been urged to participate in the celebrations. |
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Book on
aviation released CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — Indian Aviation Information and Quiz Book, a useful and exhaustive compilation of facts and figures related to military and civil aviation in the country, was released here today. Brought out by Wg Cdr D.P. Sabharwal (retd), a postgraduate in aeronautical engineering and defence studies, the 173-page, 13-chapter book was released by Air Marshal K.S. Bhatia, a former Air Officer-in-Charge of Maintenance at Air Headquarters. The book is illustrated with pictures of aircrafts, drawings and diagrams of aeronautical concepts. Beginning with the history of aviation and fundamentals of flight, the book explains the Indian aviation scene with seperate chapters on military, civil life industry and institutions. The author also offers the readers a glimpse into the world of strange and little-known facts, besides aviation records. |
Jis desh mein
... bears Govinda’s stamp JIS Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai (Piccadily and Dhillon) bears the stamp of Govinda’s excellence in situational comedies. Typical composition of mixed elements of comedy, seriousness, music and gloom, the Mahesh Manjrekar presentation is a sure way of spending spare time for amusement. Govinda as Ganga sustains well his role of a village shepherd. The language and acts have been sustained. He discovers that his real father Shakti Kapoor has left him in the village on medical recommendation (Tough to digest! eh). Then one day he is taken to the city but Sonali Bendre stays back. He also loses the ‘parents’ who nurtured him for 25 years. Details of interiors of village huts, roaming cattle and particular care to the attires lend a special beauty to the film. Also simple are antics of village lads and girls. The movie is an appreciable show if one goes with an easy heart does not look too deep in it to analyse critically. Shakti Kapoor plays Govinda’s father but has not managed an appreciable stature. Reema Lagoo has given appreciable performance standing out as an important pivot of the story. Rinke Khanna, Milind Gunaji, Himani Shivpuri, Supriya Karnik and Kishore Namdas are in the supporting cast. Govinda fans have their share of his dance steps on a typically Govinda brand music by Anand Raj Anand. Very important components are certain brilliant performances in sad scenes. ««« Tabu has dominated the script and presentation of Astitva (Neelam), adding little more colour and guarantee to her performance. It is the journey of a women against man in modern society. It is also an appreciable attempt in the direction of probing the man-woman relationship in a sub urban setting. The middle class drama shows clear imprints of feminist statements. Sachin Khendar and Monish Behl have lived up to the expectations. Serious piece for serious thinkers. Mahesh Manjrekar has directed Astitva in this Jhamu Sugandh presentation. The film has two music directors — Rahul Ranade and Sukhwindra Singh. Lyrics are by Shirang Godbole and Sukhwindra Singh. 
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Liquor seized from
woman CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — The police has arrested a woman for carrying more than the permissible amount of liquor. According to the police sources, Roopa, a resident of Sialwa Majra in the Ropar district, was arrested from near the main gate of the PGI for possessing 75 pouches of whisky. A case under Sections 61, 1, and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered. Purse snatched Assault reported Horse killed Car stolen
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Woman dies
of burns PANCHKULA, Oct 14 — In a gruesome accident, 22-year old Babli, a resident of village Haripur in Sector 4, died when her clothes caught fire while she was cooking in her kitchen, here today. Her one-and-a-half year old child received minor burn injuries, owing to excessive heat. Police sources said her husband Naresh, a vendor, was away from the house when the incident took place. Her brother-in-law, staying with them in the one room they had taken on rent, was the first to spot smoke bellowing out of the room. Attempts to push open the door revealed that it was bolted from inside. After the door was pushed open, the charred body of Babli, with 80 per cent burns, was taken out of the room and her son, also inside the room, received burn injuries on account of heat. He was taken to the hospital and discharged after being given first-aid. Neighbours said the couple was on cordial terms and that suicide was ruled out. Her husband had not returned till afternoon in spite of a message of the death of his wife. The body of the deceased has been taken for post-mortem.
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Nagar Panchayat losing 40,000
daily ZIRAKPUR, Oct 14 — Following the closure of some stone crushers and shifting of some godowns from the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat limits, the civic body is reportedly incurring loss of Rs 40,000 daily. Members of the panchayat’s advisory committee and the departmental employees expressed concern over the issue at a meeting chaired by the Administrator of the civic body here today. They also discussed the issue of sewage being thrown in the Sukhna cho by Chandigarh and Panchkula authorities. The administrator said that a representation regarding polluted water thrown in the cho will be given to the Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board at Patiala soon. It was also decided that the residents who were given land by the erstwhile panchayats on rent-basis, would now be charged half of the market value of that particular piece of the land before giving the owners final possession. |
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