The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Encroachment on shamlat land?
Our Correspondent

Zirakpur, January 12
In an alleged move to grab “shamlat” land at Bhabhat village, a well -connected person has raised temporary structures on a link road blocking the approach to a number of other land owners’ property.

The land, in question, is located at Bhabhat village which was recently included in the newly constituted Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat. This piece of prime property is located on the Chandigarh-Ambala National Highway 22 and is ideal for constructing a restaurant or residential complex.

The land scam came to light when a resident of Sector 38 Ms G. Shergill objected to the setting up of a shed on the link road which had blocked the way to her land. She even approached the local police and the authorities of the civic body and the structure was demolished.

Ms Shergill alleged that Mr Bhag Singh, who also owns a resort nearby, had raised the shed again overnight and even fitted electricity connection on the second day with the help of his personnel security guards who were armed with sticks, batons and other arms, she alleged.

While talking to The Tribune Ms Shergill complained that Mr Garish Verma, the Executive Officer of the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat, who visited the spot, ignored the issue.

Meanwhile, Mr Bhag Singh, said he had constructed the shed over the land which he had taken from the erstwhile panchayat of the village on lease. He said he had done nothing illegal by constructing a temporary shed on the land.

It may be recollected that a powerful ‘‘encroacher — politician mafia’’ had felled over 1000 fully grown eucalyptus trees in order to grab a 15-acre plot on the same location.

The scam had come to light when a truck and two tractor trailers loaded with the logs of felled trees were intercepted by the octroi staff on November 15 on a tip off from some residents. On the basis of non-production of necessary receipts obtained from the village panchayat the suspects were nabbed.

The driver of the vehicles could only show the receipt of carrying logs of nine trees only while they had transported logs of over 900 trees.

Sources had revealed that at least three top Punjab Cabinet Ministers along with senior officers of Ropar district had allegedly “pressurised” the village panchayat to pass a resolution permitting the felling of only nine trees of a Patiala-based firm in back date.

The mafia had prior knowledge of merger of Bhabhat village with the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat and were in the know-how of this 15-acre plot which was the village “common village land”.

Following pressure from some influential politicians and officials, the Nagar Panchayat authorities were forced to release the vehicles along with the wood.

Some residents of the area had approached Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance and Planning Minister, on this issue and had asked him to look into the matter but nothing has been done in this regard so far.

Mr Ashok Kumar Sikka, Administrator of the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat, was not available for comments.

Residents complain that encroachers have taken over various pieces of “shamlat” lands in the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat areas but officers of the civic body have not taken any action against them.

Hackers corrupt HFCL portals
Unleash anti-India propaganda
Tribune news Service

Hackers these days crack the Domain Name Server (DNS) to have access to a number of web servers. Microsoft becomes the prominent victim of a new type of hack that attacks the domain name server. In these denial-of-service attacks, the DNS paths that take users to Microsoft’s Web sites are corrupted. The hack is detected within a few hours, but prevents millions of users from reaching Microsoft Web pages for two days.

SAS Nagar, January 12
The web server of a leading private telecom service provider, HFCL Infotel Ltd has been hacked. Suspected to be harbouring anti-national feelings, the hacker(s) tampered with the information available on the four portals of the telecom service provider.

Certain comments on the Indian leaders, reflecting anti-national sentiments, had been inserted on the web pages of the company, www.hfclconnect.com. www.comeconnect.com, bharatnet.com and www.salahkarinda.com. The hacking case was handed over today to the police for investigation.

According to the information, the web server of the company was reportedly hacked on January 6 and remained inaccessible till January 7, when it was restored by professionals. The police suspects that the hackers finding the name of Bharat on one of the portals, tampered with the information. Computer professionals said the hackers cracked the Internet Protocol Number (IPN) of the HFCL’s web server. To know the source, the IPN of the hackers would have to be traced by the Gateway service Provider, like Puncom and Glide in the region. Tracking down the hackers through their IPN could still be a difficult task.

The Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr Kalpana Nayak, said the police was trying to get in contact with the computer professionals specialising in cyber crime. A case under section 66 (2) of the Information Technology Act was being registered by the police.

Earlier, the Chandigarh Police had registered a case against a city-based firm on charges of hacking the main server of a US-based firm.

Meanwhile, the lack of knowledge about cyber crimes and provisions for booking the accused under the relevant sections of the Information Technology Act is proving a major constraint for the police force in the region. In spite of the fact that regular refresher courses are regularly being organised- both for the Punjab Police and Chandigarh Police- there is no stress on making the cops “computer literate.”

HFCL officials were not available for comments.

Changes sought in rehabilitation policy
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 12
Seeking stringent changes in the terms and conditions of the controversial rehabilitation policy of the Chandigarh Administration, the Pind Bachao Committee, a body of villagers, who were evacuated to build Chandigarh has demanded that future allotments must be made only after the incorporation of the new set of conditions.

Even the rehabilitation of 5,000 families of authorised original residents of 11 acquired villages should be done only after the incorporation of this pre-condition in the terms and conditions of the policy, the committee said today. Mr Angrez Singh Badheri, president of the committee, said the seller and purchaser in case of sale of Rehabilitation units be penalised under special criminal laws of theft, breach of trust and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code with a minimum of five year imprisonment and fine equivalent to double the sum of the prevailing premium (minimum of Rs 50,000).

The allotment should either be transferred in favour of their next of kin or taken back by the government.

Giving reasons for the incorporation of this condition the committee says this will ensure a check against black marketing of cheap houses or plots provided by government assistance or subsidy. If the policy continues in the present manner under which the residents of unauthorised labour colonies are rehabliatated no land will be left to maintain the city as City Beautiful.

This will ensure that only those who are interested in settling down here will get the benefit and only criminal action can curb the intention to sell the allotments. With premiums ranging between Rs 3 to 5 lakh it has become a business of unauthorised migrants to first build a jhuggi and then seek rehabilitation only to sell it moving on to another jhuggi. Due to this fraud the Administration has suffered loss worth crores since 1975 when the scheme was started.

The National Human Rights Commission has told the administration to provide maximum benefits to the evicted villagers as they had been evicted without a rehabilitation scheme. The committee has requested that residents of acquired villages should not be allotted flats under any scheme.

Mr Angrez Singh said at least five marla plots should be allotted in line with the existing policy of Punjab Government for the weaker sections/landless/Dalits-because Punjab laws/rules are followed in Chandigarh as per the Re-organisation of States Act 1966.

‘Snow scooters for ITBP soon’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 12
As part of its massive upgradation programme, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) will induct snow scooters for efficient patrolling and logistic support in snow-bound areas along the Himalayan frontier.

This was stated by the ITBP Director-General, Mr S.C. Chaube, during the passing-out parade of the 57th condensed course at the ITBP Basic Training Centre at Bhanu near here. He said the acquisition process was underway and the force expected to get these at the earliest. He added that ideally, there should be two snow scooters per company for battalions deployed in snow-bound areas.

At present, ITBP battalions consisted of four companies, which would be increased to six in the next three years. The Central Government had sanctioned the raising of 38 new companies for the 32-battalion-force. Eleven battalions were deployed in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

He stated that a detailed perspective plan for upgradation of the force had been sent to the Home Ministry. The ITBP chief said the force was thinking in terms of acquiring force multipliers, as was the trend worldwide. Science and technology was a major area of focus, he added.

He said the ITBP was going in for a massive infrastructure development programme, under which link roads were being constructed in border regions. These roads, besides being a boon for people residing in border or remote areas, would also fulfill ITBP’s operational requirements, he added.

Highlighting various welfare measures being undertaken by the force for its personnel, Mr Chaube said central schools for children of ITBP personnel were being established in all ITBP battalions and formation headquarters. While some units already had schools in their locations, schools in the remaining 20 or so battalions would be established by the end of this year, he asserted.

Additional quarters for separated families were also being constructed at various locations. Efforts were also being made to improve the quality of life of officers and jawans manning forward posts in remote and inaccessible areas, the ITBP chief remarked.

Mr Chaube earlier reviewed the passing-out parade. A total of 225 recruits were inducted into the force in various technical branches and trades on the culmination of a 24-week course.

Lohri goodies in great demand
Monica Sharma

Chandigarh, January 12
Juice vendors virtually disappeared from the city streets today. No, they were not on a strike, but were busy selling groundnuts, pop-corns, rewris and gachaks on the eve of year’s first festival — Lohri.

Vendors enthusiastically pushed their rehris after covering these with polythene sheets. They could be heard screaming, urging residents to leave cosy comfort of their beds and make purchases.

The occasion is considered synonymous with these “winter delicacies” and every year the residents rush to Sector 20, 26, 15 and other city markets to purchase alluring packs of goodies from “the not-so-young-entrepreneurs” sitting under tarpaulin tents.

Little wonder, encouraged by the “heavy demand”, the juice vendors this year left behind their traditional business of quenching thirst and took to lanes and streets, not for the convenience of city residents, but for earning “some easy money”.

“It’s a golden opportunity for us,” asserted Lakhpat, an orange juice vendor who has been cycling his rehri down the Sector 10 market for the past 10 years. “After squeezing oranges for the entire day, I am able to earn around Rs 200. Today, I have been able to pocket this much money in less than four hours”.

Giving details, he said: “Every other resident is purchasing groundnuts, gachaks and rewris due to festive spirit. The sale is exceptionally high this year due of another reason also. Lohri in 2002 falls on a Sunday and the entire family, in most of the cases, is together to celebrate the festival”.

Another juice vendor, Preetam Singh of Mani Majra, stated: “The business is profitable because the prices of gachaks shoot up two days prior to the festival, increasing the profit margin in the process. In anticipation, we purchased groundnuts and other items from the grain market a few days back at a nominal price and now harvesting the fruits of our ceaseless efforts”.

CBI to submit report on raids
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 12
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will submit its report on raids conducted on the UT Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr S.P. Kansal to the Chandigarh Administration on Monday. The CBI is tightlipped about the outcome of the raids which in CBI parlance have been classified as ‘‘search and seizure operation’’.

A source said a complete list of Mr Kansal's assets would be submitted to the Chandigarh Administration. Action, if any, can be taken only when the report is submitted, Secretary Excise and Taxation, Mr Karan, A. Singh said tonight. Action can be initiated against Kansal only on the basis of the report, the Secretary said while adding that the CBI was yet to officially inform the Administration about its action.

COMMUNITY

know your councillors
Congress veteran
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 12
Mr Subhash Chawla, who became councillor for the first time from Ward 4, comprising Sectors 23 and 24, has the longest political innings in the Congress.

He joined the Congress in 1975 and held almost all posts in the Chandigarh Youth Congress. He became general secretary of the Block Youth Party in 1975, block president in 1976, vice-president of the District Youth Congress (Urban)in 1978 and vice-president of the Pradesh Congress in 1981. From 1984 to 1987 he was president of the Chandigarh Youth Congress. In 1993 he remained vice-president of the Chandigarh Congress Party for a brief period. From 1996 he has been general secretary of the CTCC.

Fortyseven-year-old Mr Chawla remained official spokesman of the party from 1991 to 2001. When the party was out of power and certain leaders had abandoned the Congress, Mr Chawla remained forerunner for taking part in party’s agitation. He claimed that he was jailed four times from 1977 to 1980 for taking part in various agitations. Mr Chawla was chairman of the Chandigarh Nagrik Vikas Manch and president of the Chandigarh Transporters Association. Now he is a member of the Chandigarh Advisory Council. He was a member of the Telephone Advisory Committee, Regional Advisory Committee, Food and Civil Supplies Committee and Police-Public Sadbhavana Committee.

Ms Geeta Rani, a Congress councillor from Ward 7, comprising Sectors 39 and 40, Palsora Colony and Maloya, contested the election of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation for the first time and won. She is perhaps one of the youngest councillors from the party.

A graduate, she is the daughter-in-law of Chaudhary Phool Chand, chairman of the SC and ST Cell of the Congress. She had little political experience before contesting the election. She had contested the election on the persuation of her father-in-law.

Soft-spoken, Ms Geeta Rani she is married to Mr Vijay Chaudhary. Her native place is Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.

Body exhumed after 11 years
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 12
Eleven years after a resident of Makhan Majra village, Vijay Kumar was allegedly murdered, his remains were today exhumed by personnel of the local police’s Operations Cell from the forest area adjoining the village near the Chandigarh-Zirakpur road.

The remains were dug up after two youths, arrested last week in connection with another murder, reportedly confessed having killed Vijay Kumar in 1991. The body of another of their victims, killed a few weeks ago, was also exhumed from the same forest area last week. The arrested duo, Raj Kumar and Karnail Singh, both residents of Raipur Khurd, have reportedly confessed their involvement in four murders. Seven of their accomplices are still at large.

The death of Vijay Kumar had earlier been attributed to snake bite and he had been buried in the forest areas by the village community after the police had wrapped up the matter by initiating inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC.

The police yesterday registered a fresh case against the accused under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the IPC.

Road Safety Week ends
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, January 12
The police organised various competitions for schoolchildren on the concluding day of the Road Safety Week here today.

Hundreds of children from around 30 schools in the district participated in painting , cartoon making, quiz, plays and poetry competition. Marassi Mandli also staged a comedy play directed by Sanjay Sharma, where school children had been chosen to act in this play which depicted traffic rules and regulations.

As many as 260 children participated in the painting competition. The students had been divided into three categories and winners in each category were given cash awards.

More than 120 children participated in the cartoon making competition. A quiz competition on road safety was also organised.

Complaint against misuse of houses
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, January 12
The know Thy Neighbour Association of Phase IV (Sector 59) here has complained to the Additional Chief Administrator (ACA) of PUDA about the misuse of certain residential houses in the area.

In a letter to the ACA the association said in one of the houses a hospital had been set up recently, in another an office of the Government of India was functioning while in a third house, a deaddiction centre had been running for a few years. There was also a proposal to shift a Punjab State Electricity Board office to one of the houses in the area.

It said the deaddiction centre had become a security and health hazard for the residents of nearby houses. Patients were often a nuisance in the neighbourhood.

The association urged the ACA to take steps to stop this open violation of the rules relating to residential premises.

FILM REVIEW

Good break for Esha Deol
Sanjeev Singh Bariana

‘Koi Mere Dil Se Poochche’ (Batra) is a clean romantic script which has freshness in its settings backed by a mentionably lilting music.

Esha Deol (‘Dream girl’ Hema Malini’s daughter) could not have asked for a better break than a presentation where she walks away with the cream of director Vijay Shukla’s attention. Aftab Shivdasani too has neat role and Sanjay Kapoor has experimented in a negative role.

The movie is not any fresh story idea of a film delicacy, but it has experimented with the new preparation making alterations and the result has a good taste. Care has been taken on ‘over dramatisation’ of those deceived in love also care is visible even in any sort of over emphasizing self-pity of the wronged ones. Jaya Bachchan’s role has the power to evoke crowd reaction, which is the hallmark of any good screen personality.

Anupam Kher, a millionaire, has brought up his son Aftab with all care and love after the death of his wife. He is busy looking for a life partner for his son. The son is an artist into fashion designing and bears the looks of a sleepy dreamer looking for artistic glory and a ‘dream girl’.

She walks down the campus lanes one day and puts Aftab off his heels. He is madly in love but Esha does not respond. Anupam also approaches her home and meets Jaya.

Jaya advocates Aftab’s worth to Esha but she is not ready to marry Aftab even when “he is known for his decency and soberness”. The reason is that Esha has a very deep-rooted tragic past, which she cannot overcome.

Esha was married to Sanjay Kapoor, son of Jaya. He was into ways of “easy life”. He wanted to photograph his wife nude and had no problems when his friends acted fresh with her.

She runs and the tent where they are staying catches fire. She sees Sanjay burn.

Jaya now takes care of Esha as her daughter. She convinces her to marry Aftab. She does concede. When the engagement function is being carried out, Sanjay makes a comeback appearance. Travellers on their way had saved him.

One interesting additive to the story is the Amitabh Bachchan-Shah Rukh Khan parody lifted from the original in Mohabbatein’. Jaspal Bhatti plays the parodied role of Bachchan.

The film is a Surinder Kapoor and Boney Kapoor presentation. Rajesh Roshan has lent the music to lyrics of Suryabhan Gupt, Dev Kohli and Ibrahim Ashq.

WESTERN FILM REVIEW

Learning to live again
Rajiv Kaplish

Chandigarh
It is their traumatic past that is corroding their uncertain present. Her unpleasant memories of an estrangement from the family haunting every moment of her life. His painful reminiscences of a tragic car accident which killed his wife and kid making him move in a sort of existential daze.

Two tormented souls clinging to their half-lives. One, outwardly cleaning the mean streets of Chicago of baddies as a cop but undergoing a private hell. The other, sleeping trance-like in an empty apartment, developing an unspoken bond of love with a kid in the neighbourhood and dispensing gifts to anyone in need.

As they traverse the landscape of their minds in ‘‘Angel Eyes’’ (Kiran), despondent crime-buster Jennifer Lopez and mysterious Jim Caviezel seem to be becoming aware of how painful is pain. Salvation lies in reaching out and discovering and rediscovering each other.

It is a tapestry of emotions that director Luis Mandoki weaves around the world of two individuals whom life has treated shabbisly. Its threads may be faded, its texture might be having coarse edges, but the pattern that emerges is luminous.

CRIME

1 held for selling fake degrees
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 12
The local police has arrested a Sector 35 resident for dealing in fake degrees and certificates and has seized several hundred bogus educational and sports certificates for various institutes from his premises. He was operating for the past two years.

On receiving specific information, the police sent a decoy customer and a deal for a matriculation certificate of the Punjab School Education Board was struck for Rs 10,000. An advance of sum of Rs 1000 in signed currency notes was also paid to the accused.

He was arrested from his office while supplying the fake certificate.

According to the police, the accused, Prabhjit Singh Lamba, was also running a coaching institute under the name of Vishal College in the same sector. A search yielded 383 degrees/certificates from his residence and another 86 degrees/certificates from his office, besides seven different letter pads and nine various kinds of seals.

Bogus certificates and degrees seized were of various educational boards and universities, the Food Craft Institute, Sector 42, and various sports championships. A numbering machine was also seized.

Youth gets 6-month RI
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 12
A city youth was today sentenced to six months’ rigorous imprisonment under the Essential Commodities Act by a local court. A fine of Rs 1,000 was also imposed on the accused, Anil Kumar. The police had registered a case against the accused for storing and selling kerosene at a higher price from his father’s shop in Sector 10.

Investigation ordered
A local court today directed the in charge of the police post Sector 24 to investigate and register an FIR under appropriate sections against the accused acting on the application filed by the complainant, Ms Sukuntla Devi, a resident of Sector 25. The court has also directed the complaint filed by the complainant be sent before the police post concerned for appropriate action and report be awaited till February 12.

The complainant had filed an application before the court under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code directed the SSP and SHO police station, Section 24 to investigate and registered an FIR under Sections 454, 326, 307 and 34 of the IPC against those involved in the case.

One held
The police has arrested a resident of Dhanas, Naveen Sharma, for trying to withdraw cash from the Sector 17 branch of the State Bank of India by producing a bogus cheque. A case for cheating and forgery under various provisions of the IPC has been registered.

Held for gambling
In various incidents, the police has arrested seven persons for gambling a public place. Sohan Lal, Panna Lal and Chaman Lal, all residents of Dhanas were arrested near a local temple and Rs 100 and a deck of playing cards was seized from their possession.

In another incident, the police arrested Ram Singh, Kali Charan, Ajay Kumar and Brij Mohan, all residents of Dhanas from the same locality, and seized Rs 200 along with a deck of playing cards from their possession. Seperate cases under the Excise Act have been registered against the accused.

Held for eve-teasing
A resident of Ludhiana, Ram Kishan, was arrested from the Sector 17 ISBT for allegedly indulging in eve-teasing. The police has registered a case.

Car stolen
Sector 32 resident Anil Rana has reported that his Maruti car (CHK-8336) has been stolen from Sector 35. The police has registered a case.

Motor cycle stolen
Sector 16 resident Biju Joseph has reported that his motor cycle (CH-21-3415-T) has been stolen from Sector 11. The police has registered a case.

PANCHKULA

ARRESTED
The police has arrested eight persons from different parts of the district on charges of gambling at a public place. A sum of Rs 1,878 has also been seized from them.

Amar Chand, Balkar Singh and Vijay Kumar were arrested from near the Sector 8 Water Works while they were playing satta and seized Rs 440 from them.

Kishen Singh was arrested in Old Panchkula and Rs 1,063 was seized from him. Four other persons- Abdul, Gupta, Khurwan and Ismaila were arrested from Pinjore Garden and Rs 375 were seized from them.

All accused have been booked under different sections of the Gambling Act.

BURGLARY
A house in Sector 9 here was broken into by miscreants on Friday while the owners of the house were away. The incident came to light when the owner, Ms Kavita, came back in the evening and found that the main door of the house was open. The grill was however locked from outside. A case under Sections 380 and 454 of IPC has been registered.

ONE ARRESTED
The police has arrested Dinesh, a sident of Mauli Jagran, on charges of molesting a minor girl in Sector 7 here on Saturday. He was arrested on the complaint of the girl and booked under Sections 294 and 506 of IPC.

Scooterist killed in mishap
Our Correspondent

Zirakpur, January 12
One person died and another was injured in two separate accidents on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway here today. According to sources, a scooterist identified as Avtar Singh of Dera Bassi was crushed to death in an accident involving a truck, a car and a scooter on the busy highway near Singhpura.

The scooterist was on his way to Dera Bassi while an Ambala-bound truck hit him from behind and a car coming from the opposite direction collided with the scooter head on. Avtar singh died on the spot.

The police has impounded the vehicles involved in the accident and the body has been sent to Civil Hospital Rajpura for post-mortem.

In another accident a truck hit a woman here at the Zirakpur traffic light point. She was rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32 in Chandigarh. The truck has been impounded. The police has registered cases in both the accidents. The truck drivers had reportedly fled after the accidents.