 |
|
| Tuesday,
April 30, 2002, Chandigarh, India
|
|
||||
|
Sector 17 sits on a virtual fire bomb Chandigarh, April 29 Parking chaos in Sectors 22, 35 markets and the High Court, where paid parking has not been introduced, pose even a greater fire threat as immediate access to fire tenders would not be available in case of an emergency due to haphazard parking arrangements, Fire Department sources told Chandigarh Tribune here today. Despite even paid parking having been introduced in sector 17, tenders may have to lose crucial time in getting parked vehicles first removed and then climb the platform to access the Piaza, losing precious time for evacuation of the people, sources said. Long time ago, a dedicated space for the entry of fire tenders had been kept near Neelam cinema but that could not be protected from those who look for space in the packed parking lots. The new arrangements don’t have any space for the entry of fire tenders. It also needed to be ensured that the passage to parking was left clear of parked vehicles to get an easy access, sources said. Apart from infirmities in the parking arrangements in Sector 17, the department itself lacks portable slopes with it to climb elevated platforms which Sector 17 has from almost all sides. Aware of the danger the Fire Department has written letters to the road wing of the Municipal Corporation and the traffic police to ensure that the access to fire tenders is available at any time in Sectors 17, 22 and High Court. The department, however, has not got any reply from both the government agencies. The department is now considering to send a reminder to the two
crucial agencies of the government. Fire safety requires tenders to reach the spot in 5 minutes of the incident reported but traffic hindrances could delay the response time resulting in crucial loss of time and possible casualties. The department has already identified a large number of high rise buildings, mostly in sector 17, as potential fire threat. Locked and break-applied vehicles pose a great problem for the department as their quick removal becomes very difficult, the sources said. The department is now in the process of acquiring a vehicle to lift such vehicles in case of an emergency. The department is, however, happy on information that instructions had been issued to electricity boards to replace oil-filled transformers with dry ones reducing the risk of fire incidences. |
|
Shruti eyeing Miss World crown Chandigarh, April 29 But then just as failure scored its point, conviction also played its game and had this lanky Delhi lass strike back with a vengeance. “Deciding to contest once more was the greatest risk I ever bore in life. Failure for the second time would have spelt doom for my career as a model as also in Jet Airways. I could not afford to lose the game this time. I can only say that God was kind enough,” said Shruti, who drove down to NIFD’s Sector 8 campus from Sri Ganganagar this afternoon. Undergoing a gruelling training schedule these days, Shruti is hopeful about her performance in the Miss World pageant to be held in London this November. “Looking beautiful on the surface does not matter. The entire focus is on evolving the right kind of attitude. As of now, I am taking speech and diction training from Sabira Merchant. Fitness and diet counselling is also on. I am also reading for a change,” she said. For a girl who found reading a bit too boring for her taste, life has changed after winning the crown. Shruti said, “People look upto you with a strange awe. I know they wish me success. The fact that I hold so many responsibilities makes me proud. Now I drive myself harder and compromise only at the best. That is precisely why I am reading books these days. The idea is to build up vocabulary so that I am better armed to represent India in the November contest.” With a spirit quite high, Shruti seems to be on the right track. Unlike the last year when she had negligible stage presence, this year there are layers of confidence covering her personality. Coupled with confidence is charity which makes her a better person. Shruti is already donating 10 per cent of her earnings to Femina Little Princess Foundation. “If I clinch the Miss World crown, I will work for the uplift of girl child,” said Shruti, who was also crowned Miss photogenic and Miss designer outfit during the Miss India contest. Gearing up to face the long days that lie ahead of her, this graduate in Sociology Honours from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi, has not been modelling much. After having done famous ads like Toyota Qualis and Proline, Shruti is already getting film offers which she has declined for the time being. She is, however, doing more ramp shows to build an imposing stage presence. Final success will, of course, depend on the mood of the final moment. Inspired as she is by water, the most serene element of nature, Shruti believes in flowing with the moment unless the moment should pass her by. |
|
|
Shruti dances with
NIFD students Chandigarh, April 29 The recent collaboration of NIFD with the university will enable students to pursue a B.Sc degree in any of the three courses — fashion designing, textile designing and interior designing. About 20 NIFD centres will be technically upgraded to act as off-campus study centres of the university offering B.Sc courses to students. For celebrating this association, NIFD organised a dance party today with theme being pastel colours. Attired in pinks and blues, the students got together to present a best-of-luck card to Shruti Sharma, who shared the dance floor with them for a
while. |
|
When subordinates overwhelm bosses Chandigarh, April 29 The IG and his team of top officials had decided to withdraw a case against some arrested activists of a political party. But before the IG, Mr B.S. Bassi, or the SSP, Mr Parag Jain, could give verbal or written orders in the case, middle and lower-level staff in the police wrote an application on their own and secured bail from the area Sub-Divisional Magistrate. So even before the area SDM could be informed by the seniors that the police had decided to withdraw the case and the arrested men had to be released, policemen at the middle and lower level had played their own little “trick”. The activists of a political outfit were arrested by the police for creating ruckus during a protest march a few weeks ago and were sent to jail. Under the normal legal procedure, someone had to apply for bail along with giving sureties to get them released. Since large number of the protesters were involved, no one came forward to offer bail for them, not even the party. The political party managed to get a top official with the Ministry of Home Affairs to speak to an official in Chandigarh to effect the release of the arrested persons, sources told Chandigarh Tribune. Meanwhile, when a senior leader of the party went to meet the arrested persons in the jail, they got infuriated, as they had no political inclinations and were losing on their wages. Their frustration was evident when the arrested men raised slogans against the political leader. The top brass in the police held a meeting where it was decided to withdraw the case. The decision in this regard was communicated neither to an inspector nor sub inspector, who are entitled to carry out the job of release. The incident came to light when the SDM got an information on the withdrawal of the case . A startled SDM realised that the police had already secured the release of the arrested men. He later informed about the incident to his bosses. Under the law, the police can withdraw a case, but the point that has baffled the top brass is the fact that the case was withdrawn even before a decision was conveyed to the subordinates. And what prompted the lower staff to withdraw the case in such a haste is beyond comprehension. The matter remained under discussion in the corridors of power for a few days and then died down. |
|
Terrorist, accomplices held Panchkula, April 29 The notorious terrorist, Harjit Singh, jumped parole on January 26, this year. He did not report to the Patiala jail after spending 28 days on parole. He was undergoing life imprisonment. Since February this year, he and his gang indulged in a number of heinous crimes. He shot at a scooterist at Ambala sadar and took away the vehicle from him, murdered two women and killed a police informer at Rajpura in Patiala district. Later, he had got his hair cut to elude the police, the SP, Panchkula, Ms Charu Bali said. After jumping parole, he formed a gang, including Naib Singh, Sajjan Singh, Sandeep and Surinder Kumar, an SPO with the Punjab police, and remained active in Panchkula, Zirakpur, Dera Bassi, Lalru and Banur areas. The police has also recovered some arms and ammunition, including a country-made hand grenade, three country-made pistols — two .315 bore and one .12 bore — eight live cartridges, an iron rode, a scooter and a motorcycle, both stolen, from their possession. The numbers on the vehicles were found to be fake. On a tip off, a police party headed by ASI Fateh Singh laid a trap and caught the gang red-handed at Yavnika Park, Sector 5, while hatching a conspiracy to rob a wine shop near the local bus stand and a bank in this area. Ms Bali said Harjit Singh, alias Kala, a resident of Harpalpur village near Rajpura, had been arrested along with his four accomplices — Sajjan Singh of Kurli village, Naib Singh of Alipur village, Surinder Singh of Chhat village in Patiala district and Sandeep of Toba village in Ambala district. A close associate of hardcore terrorists Amrik Singh Kauli and Balwinder Singh, who were actively involved in this belt of the region during terrorism, Harjit Singh was involved in 14 criminal cases that include murder, dacoity, robbery, explosion and snatching committed in Patiala, Ambala, Ropar, Raipur Rani, Banur and other parts of Haryana and Punjab. He was arrested four times under Sections 302, 364, 392 and 34 of the IPC by the Ambala police in 1991 and by the Ropar police in 1993. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by the court after being arrested by the Punjab police. Cases were registered against him at the Ghanaur (in 1995) and Banur (in 1991) police stations. In 1995, Harjit Singh was again arrested by the Raipur Rani police and Patiala sadar police. He came into contact with Naib Singh at the Patiala jail. The police has registered cases under Sections 399 and 402 of the IPC, 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act and 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substance Act at Sector 5 police station. After being produced in the court, they were remanded to police custody till May 2. |
Internet telephony picks up Chandigarh, April 29 Net 4 India, which is providing calling cards through its website He said being an international player, the customers of the company can make calls through their computers using the phone cards to 250 countries across the globe. Glide, which has also sold 3,000 cards worth Rs 20 lakh, expects a spurt in the number of users within short time. “We have already received an overwhelming response and with the increase in awareness levels the usage will definitely increase manifold”, said Mr G.D. Singh, Vice-President, Glide. The companies providing calling cards are focussing on aggressive marketing and advertising . Glide is also planning to organise awareness seminars for its customers in the region apart from contacting various cyber cafes . “Though initially customers prefer going in for cards with smaller denominations, they are coming to us for purchase of cards with larger denominations after experiencing the services”, said Mr G.D. Singh. He said purchasing a card with higher denomination was beneficial for the customer as it reduces the cost of call charges. While debates are still on regarding the differences in quality of voice over traditional telephony and Internet telephony, the service providers assure equally good voice quality. However, voice quality in case of leased line is better compared to dial up connections, they say. Satyam and Emm Tel are also planning to enter the market shortly. Other sites that are providing the facility to download are www..dialpad.com,www.mediaring.com, www.net2phone.com, www. go2call.com and www.pc2call.com |
|
Hope sustains father’s search for missing son His search for the 14-year old child, Rinku, in Punjab again turned out to be futile. “I have looked for Rinku on almost all railway stations and bus stands of the country”, informed Rajinder Singh, a Havildar, Army Headquarter Air Support, Siangal Unit, Delhi Cantonment. “I was posted in Jodhpur and I was informed on telephone about the kidnapping”, he said. However, Amit Kumar returned home after 12 days under mysterious circumstances. “We came to know from Amit that a person — Rajbir had kidnapped the two and Amit somehow managed to escape from his clutches in Delhi”. However, he was not sure if the kidnapper had let off Amit or he managed to escape. “My son was only 10 then and was drugged and so he did not remember the exact sequence of the kindanpping”. An FIR was later registered in New Delhi. According to Rajinder Singh, the Delhi Police had also released a sketch of the alleged kidnapper based on Amit’s information. When asked about his search operation, he said, “Wherever I go to look for Rinku, I paste pamphlets with his picture and address, especially on bus stands and railway stations”. In addition to this he meets the senior police officials of the areas concerned. The pamphlet which he carries announces an award of Rs 50,000 from him in addition to a reward from the Police Commissioner of Delhi. His relatives and four brothers are helping him in his search operation. He was transferred to Delhi after he made an appeal to the Army officials for the same. For Rajinder Singh, life has become very hectic and difficult as he has to perform his duty in the force and to continue his search for his son too. |
|
FAUJI BEAT WHEN our 2 Corps moved close to the border but well within the Indian territory in the first week of January, Pakistan raised a hue and cry and protested to the American government that we were about to launch an offensive against it. Having detected the movement of our tanks in the forward areas and adding Pakistan’s apprehensions to it, George Bush warned us, nay cautioned us, putting it diplomatically, to desist from our offensive designs. This made us so jittery that we sent GOC 2 Corps packing. And this was the end of our “imaginative war”. Now after four months, let us ask our government three simple questions: One, don’t we take all the relevant factors into consideration while planning our strategy? Two, why did we move the entire Army to the border, as never before, if we were not serious about launching an offensive? Three, was this “one act play” drama a political gimmickry? Interestingly in the past few weeks Pakistan Army has constructed additional observation posts and concrete bunkers along its border and deployed tanks and heavy artillery close to the border. Pakistan Rangers have also built new cemented observation posts along the entire Punjab border. Why are we keeping this information under wraps? Why haven’t we protested against Pakistan’s sinister designs to America? How come that whether it is Agra summit, war diplomacy or cunning, Pakistan always scores over us? It seems we cannot match Pakistan in its one-upmanship game. Reunions and raising days Gorkha regiments of the Indian Army, because of having a smaller number of battalions, have combined training centres such as 14, 39 and 58 Gorkha Training Centres (GTCs). The 14 GTC is located at Subathu in the Shimla hills. Both the regiments i.e. 1 Gorkha Rifles and 4 Gorkha Rifles (GR), have five infantry battalions each. An old customs that has travelled down from the British days is the celebration of raising days and reunions. While the raising day is celebrated annually on the day when a regiment was raised, the reunion of a regiment is held at a much larger scale after every four or five years. These are the occasions when the serving and the retired soldiers, some of them in their 80s and their families, meet the reminisce about their war time experience and the good old days. The British officers who served in the Indian Army still come all the way from the UK to attend the reunions of their old regiments, irrespective of some of them being octogenarians. The motto of 14 GTC is “Kaar hunu bhanda marnu ramro” (It is better to die than to be a coward). 1 GR celebrated its raising day on April 24, while 4 GR celebrated its raising day on March 11 and its reunion in 1998. Both the regiments were raised in 1815 and have an impressive array of gallantry awards.
Cockeyed planning “When the Indian Army came here in July, 1987, the Tamil people welcomed it joyously because they expected it to bring peace... The Indian Army rained bombs on us and caused the disappearance of many young men”, said Gaya, deputy leader of the LTTE women’s wing, while addressing a large gathering near Batticoloa in Sri Lanka on April 19. This reminds one our “ill-conceived” peace keeping mission in Sri Lanka, in which we suffered about 1400 soldiers killed and three times as many wounded. We went into Sri Lanka in July 1987, to bring peace to the island but we left in disgust after turning friendly Tamils into our bitter foes. This bitterness cost us the life of a former Prime Minister. In December 1971, we liberated Bangladesh at a heavy cost thinking that we would befriend the newly formed country. Today that country is far from being a friendly neighbour. In the surrender of Pakistan Army in erstwhile East
Pakistan, we took 93,000 POWs. Ironically, our poor diplomacy forced us to release them unconditionally. In October, 1947, we almost lost Kashmir valley at the hands of the tribals who were heavily backed by the Pak Army. But when our Army chased them out of the valley after suffering heavy casualties and was well on its way to liberate the entire Kashmir, including what is now called PoK, our diplomacy again let the Army down and the rest is history. Will our policy makers ever mull over the harm that they have unhaltingly perpetrated on the country?
PRITAM BHULLAR |
|
Takeover of parking
lots by May 1 unlikely Chandigarh, April 29 The corporation has given them time till May 3 to take over the lots but contractors are in favour of starting the arrangements from May 6. The Corporation has not received any applications from the heads of departments of government employees for getting free parking passes. The corporation has now decided to issue a public notice asking government employees to approach the corporation and send their applications in a set format. Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation has signalled to the contractors to ask their staff to coordinate with the corporation staff and to chalk out strategy for giving the best service to people. The corporation is also considering sending senior officials to the parking lot staff for giving them instructions on management of parking lots. |
|
MC to allocate 2 lakh for slum development Chandigarh, April 29 In its first meeting which did not have any agenda, the committee said at least Rs 2 lakh was required to provide open drains in the colonies for passage of tap water. The committee asked the officials to fix taps on open water supply points to regulate the supply and prevent slums from becoming breeding ground for mosquitoes due to collection of water at certain points. The committee asked officials to ensure cleanliness in labour colonies and immediately provide ration cards to those below the poverty line. The committee discussed the plight of students in slums as they were not being given admission in model schools and suggested that schools should be opened in slums. It also urged the administration to allot land to as many as 70 milkmen in Kumhar Colony in Dhanas, where land was still available. |
|
MC depts asked to
send expenditure account today Chandigarh, April 29 The Accounts Department of the Corporation had issued instructions to all departments of the Corporation to provide this information by April 3 but none of these departments had provided the information, delaying review of the fiscal health of the Corporation in the year that has passed. The accounts of the Corporation are required to be placed with the Finance and Contract Committee of the Corporation but it could not be done in the absence of the information. Now the information is likely to be placed before the committee on May 10 when it is likely to meet. The non-plan expenditure on salaries, pensions, leave travel accounts has still not reached the Accounts Department as the plan expenditure is cleared in advance by the Corporation and it does not require any book matching. |
|
IRSLA awarded trophies Chandigarh, April 29 Addressing a press conference here, Dr Rajesh Gill, general secretary of the IRSLA, said the association had been involved in educational and financial support of orphan children of a nearby village adopted by it. The IRSLA rehabilitated one adolescent boy in the village by providing him vocational training and a girl by making complete arrangements for her marriage. Ms Sunita Sharma, president of the association, claimed that the local unit of the IRSLA received special commendation for initiating a counselling cell to address the domestic, financial, family and other problems of the office staff, especially women and children. The association’s role was also lauded in reaching out to the families of Class III and IV employees of the department. During the last year, the association organised various cultural and other programmes. |
|
|
CEVA to conduct
workshop Chandigarh, April 29 The sharing sessions will include tips on theatre skills, felicitation of creative expression in young people, the art of story-telling, the process of evolving theatrical presentation and image creation by children. The participants will try out ways to organise cooperative games. They will also brainstorm on the ways to organise activities for youngsters and also on handling of their energies. For enrolment and registration, the office of the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi may be contacted at 745169 or 770635. |
|
|
Chandigarh Club
pool gets filter plant Chandigarh, April 29 According to the club president, Mr Ravinder Chopra, Rs 10 lakh have been spent on the overall development of the pool. Renovation of bathrooms has also been carried out. On the demand by members, two coaches, besides one lifeguard, have also been employed. Claiming that the arrangements had been made for the convenience of the members, he added that as a result of new changes they had been forced to hike the fee from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 for the six-month session. |
|
Couple alleges
harassment Panchkula, April 29 It is alleged that ever since the last incident in February, the family had put up a bamboo partition to protect their glass windows. For the past four days, someone has been pelting their house with stones, they allege. Brigadier
Soni, who is above 70, has been staying here alongwith his wife for the past several years. However, over the past one year, their house has been repeatedly stoned . In spite of giving numerous complaints to the police, the couple has not found any respite. |
|
|
City girl shines in Pepsi talent hunt Chandigarh, April 29 With today’s selection, the semi-final line up for the contest was completed. Among the semi-finalists are Akriti Kakkar, Tarlochan Singh, Manpreet Dhillon, Kanak Joshi, Sewa Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Agya Singh, Sanjay Khan, Avtar Birdi. Next month the semi-finals will be held at Jalandhar and Patiala. |
|
29 cops promoted Chandigarh, April 29 The orders to this effect were issued by the UT DIG, Mr Ajay Kashyap, who headed the DPC. |
Two arrested for bootlegging Chandigarh, April 29 Held for gambling:
Two persons have been arrested for indulging in satta at a public place. Maloya resident Harbhajan Singh was arrested near his house, while Mohinder Singh, a resident of Dhanas, was arrested from Sector 38 (West). The police has seized Rs 520 and Rs 735 from their possession. Cases under the Gambling Act have been registered against them. Case registered:
A resident of Bapu Dham Colony, Ghan Shyam, was arrested by the police for misbehaving and trying to outrage the modesty of a seven-year-old girl of the same colony. A case has been registered against him. Theft cases: Sector 18 resident Sudesh Mittal has reported that his relative’s house in Sector 21 were broken into while they were away. The exact loss is yet to be ascertained. Sector 21 resident S. Kapoor has reported that his house was broken into and gold jewellery and Rs 2,400 were stolen. Sector 41 resident Rajinder Singh has reported that his Maruti car (DDL-800) has been stolen from his residence. Sector 21 resident Anand Punchi has reported that his Maruti car (CH-01-D-6584) has been stolen from Industrial Area, Phase-I. A resident of the PGI campus, Balraj Kaur, has reported that her Sunny (CH-01-M-1324) has been stolen from the campus. Sector 15 resident Gian Chand and Sector 41 resident Pankaj Batra have reported that spare wheels of their scooters have been stolen from their residence. The police has registered cases. |
|
Inter-state gang busted, four held Chandigarh, April 29 The accused have been identified as Joginder Kumar, Jagdish Kumar, both residents of Hisar, Satish Kumar, a resident of Jind, and Mahipal, a resident of Bhiwani. With their arrest, five cases of thefts at the Sector 17 bus stand have been solved. Further investigations into their involvement in thefts at the Sector 43 ISBT and the Chandigarh railway station are under way. According to the police, the accused were involved in stealing luggage of passengers or items from bags. As per their modus operandi, they used to engage a passenger in conversation, while another gang member would slip away with a suitcase. At time they used to board an out station bus and, on getting an opportunity, get down with the luggage of a passenger who had dozed off. Police sources said the gang used to operate in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. They also expect further arrests in this case shortly. |
|
Panchkula house burgled Panchkula, April 29 Sources said the robbers broke into the house of Mr Sehgal who had gone to Delhi along with his family to see his brother two days ago. They found the entire house ransacked, jewellery (gold and silver) and cash missing when they returned home this afternoon. A police team has started the investigation. While talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Mr Sehgal revealed that the robbers had entered the house after breaking open the locks of the main gate, grill and then the main door. The robbers ransacked cupboards, almirahs of the bedrooms, drawing room and stores and took away cash, jewellery and some household goods. |
BIZ CLIP CONFERENCE: Canara Bank has targeted over 15 per cent growth to increase the total global business to Rs 1,12,000 crore from Rs 97,000 crore last year. Announcing this at the conference for the ‘Business Plan 2002-03’ of the bank, Mr
R.V. Shastri, Chairman and Managing Director, said the bank would continue its thrust on retail banking and planned to disburse Rs 5,500 crore this year (retail banking and housing) as compared to Rs 1,700 crore last year. Priority sector advances were set to reach a level of Rs 13,200 crore, a growth of 25 per cent as compared to the last year, he said. The bank would also add 150 more ATMs during the year, said Mr
Shastri. TNS |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Chandigarh, April 29