The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Run over by jilted ‘husband’, woman
succumbs to injuries
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 27
Manju, who “married” her already-married cousin by changing religion only to desert him later under pressure, today succumbed to injuries inflicted allegedly by her “husband” Raj Kumar. Raj Kumar also had a child from another marriage arranged to separate them.

Manju, who was allegedly run over by a car being driven by Raj Kumar, died in the PGI today. Raj Kumar, who was earlier booked for an alleged attempt to murder under Section 307 of the IPC, has now been charged with murder under Section 302 of the IPC.

Raj Kumar, an employee of NIPER, SAS Nagar, has been arrested and the car impounded.

The accused Raj Kumar, a resident of Sector 44, had grown up at his paternal aunt’s house and had developed relationships with her daughter, Manju. However, when the family members got wind of the ‘‘relationship’’ between the two, Raj Kumar was sent to his native village, where he was married off.

But geographical distance between the two could not break the “relationship”. They changed their religion and got married in a mosque near Pinjore. Police sources added that Manju later succumbed to family pressure and severed relations with Raj Kumar and also reverted to her original religion.

On October 23, Raj Kumar saw Manju and her brother, Dharmender, riding a scooter (CH01A 8954) on the road separating Sectors 35 and 36. He stopped them and tried to talk to Manju but she refused. At that moment, Raj Kumar allegedly hit the scooter with his Maruti car and both brother and sister fell on the ground. It is being alleged that Raj Kumar tried to crush them to death. The victims were rushed to the PGI.

Student groups grope for issues
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 27
Absolute bankruptcy of issues, both ideological and academic, rule the centrestage at the ongoing campaign to the forthcoming elections to the Panjab University Campus Students Council slated for November 1.

The major student groups— the Panjab University Student Union, the Haryana Students Association, the Himachal Pradesh Student Union, the Students Organisation of Panjab University, the Association of Panjab University Students, and the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad — are yet to spell out their manifestoes, three days after the declaration of the elections. Hectic discussion are on to finalise drafts which are likely to be released tomorrow. One major student camp was seen going through the drafts of the previous years’ manifestoes.

Harveer Singh, the presidential, candidate of the SOPU, said efforts were being made to contact maximum categories of students to pick up the most relevant issues. Mohan Singh ‘Moni’, press secretary of the PUSU, said the draft was nearly ready. While Saurabh Joshi, ARVP candidate for the post of general secretary, said they were looking for issues which were of larger academic interest for the student community.

The SOPU has till date been mainly targeting the university for allowing Malwinder Singh Kang (PUSU) for being allowed to contest the elections despite the Law Department Board of Control cancelling his admission for not having the minimum required attendance during the first fortnight of the academic session. His name was, however, cleared by a special syndicate, subsequently. The PUSU is targeting the “non performance” part of the SOPU tenure in the council office during the previous session and “unnecessary targetting Malwinder Singh Kang’s admission by the SOPU”.

Both the main groups were busy having discussions with certain factions to gain strength in the poll process. The SOPU has reached an agreement with the breakaway faction, the Association of Panjab University Students, by allowing Birjyot Singh (Brandy) to contest for the post of the general secretary. The PUSU-HSA alliance reached an agreement with the HPSU and allowed Vijay Chauhan to contest for the post of the joint secretary.

Ajay Chandel, a senior office-bearer of the HPSA, said the agreement was only a part of an understanding to give proper representation to the students from the hills. The name of Kanika has been agreed upon for the post of vice-president from the PUSU-HSA-HPSU alliance.

Meanwhile, the campus also wore a colourful look due to colourful posters and banners put up despite the university circular banning stickers on the walls. The university had only permitted posters on special boards. However, hostel walls in particular are adorned with these posters. The university is looking into the matter.

Nakul Bhardwaj, president of the Delhi University Students Union, will come to the campus tomorrow to campaign for the ABVP, sources said.

A research scholar while talking to the Chandigarh Tribune said the student leaders seemed to have no clue about they were “fighting for”. The larger issues of academic interest suiting the ‘five star status’ of the university have never yet come-up for a debate. “The students are complaining about the university having made 75 per cent attendance mandatory, why cannot they be talking about the course contents and standard of classes instead. One interesting demand said they should be allowed to campaign in girls hostels till 10 p.m,” he added.

Golf Club orders probe into Rs 2.07 lakh loss
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 27
History of sorts was created at the Chandigarh Golf Club today when an extraordinary general body meeting requisitioned by the members instituted a members’ inquiry into the alleged loss of Rs 2.07 lakh from the club safe a few months ago under mysterious circumstances.

The inquiry will be conducted by a panel headed by Gen G.S. Kler (retd). It will be completed by November 30, 2002, and presented in the next annual general meeting.

The meeting also directed that Ms Pikka Singh, who had allegedly been forced to quit her office by the honorary secretary a couple of months ago, be reinstated as the chairperson of the catering subcommittee of the club. Mr T.S. Sibia, president of the club, who presided over the meeting, however said she had never actually ceased to be a member of his team of office- bearers and would continue to be so in future too.

The meeting also approved a suggestion from several members that pending the finalisation of the inquiry, honorary secretary and treasurer of the club should step down from their respective offices.

This was, however, disputed by Mr Sibia who said although there was a proposal along these lines from certain members “I don’t think it has been approved...”

The meeting was attended by nearly 300 members. Those who spoke at the meeting included Gen R.S. Dayal, Gen Himmat Singh Gill, Mr P.S. Bhagar, Mr Randeep Singh, Mr P.S. Hura, Col G.S. Gill and others.

Range house at CGA by next year
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, October 27
Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), UT Administrator, today laid the foundation stone of range house to be built at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore at the Chandigarh Golf Association Range in Sector 6, near Kishangarh village. General Jacob appreciated the efforts made by the CGA towards popularising golf in the new range house designed by M/s Batra and Associates is expected to come up by the end of 2003.

It will include a basement to house a banquet hall, health club, cafeteria, lounge, swimming pool, yoga room besides outdoor sitting area. Mr Desh Prem Azad, president of the CGA, gave a detailed account of the various activities under- taken by the association. He said CGA team won accolades in the National Games last year by winning a bronze medal. Recently, the CGA roped in a golf instructor from Italy, Dr Donato di Ponziano, who conducted two coaching camps, one for the benefit of professional golfers and the other for amateur golfers.

Earlier CGA officials made an appeal to the chief guest to provide financial assistance to the association. At present, the CGA has a flood-lit two-tier driving range, nine hole pitch and putt course, three-hole golf course, golf academy, 18-hole miniature golf facility, pro shop, extensive sports library, two eating places and 1,000 members.

Other present on the occasion included Mr M. Ramsekhar, Deputy Commissioner, UT, Mr Ashwani Luthra, Commissioner, Income Tax, Mr P.S. Pruthi, Mr Rajiv Bali, Mr J.S. Cheema. Mr Umesh Batra, architect, later told this correspondent that total area earmarked for the range house was 20,000 sq. ft. He said the project was likely to be completed in one year.

Builders face residents’ ire
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, October 27
Barely two years after residents moved into the Ivory Towers in Sector 70 here, a majority of them are up in arms against promoters and builders, who they allege have given them a raw deal.

While the residents allege that the promoters have failed to fulfil their initial promises the promoters say that most of the demands are unfair.

The general secretary of the Ivory Towers Residents’ Welfare Society, Mr Mukesh Arora, said the builders were coercing them into buying parking space under these apartments by blocking the covered parking area and arterial roads.

The vice president of the company, Mr I.J.S. Bhandari, however, said that no sale had taken place by force. “The residents have an option of buying a parking space, otherwise they can park their cars in special delineated side walls”, he said.

The residents also allege that they were promised a secure boundary wall around the complex but till date the wall remains porous with a 15-feet opening into a nearby religious complex and a gate that opens into the road. “Marriage parties and devotees use the complex as a thoroughfare so where is the security?” questions Mr Arora.

Mr Bhandari said they had requested the Estate Office, PUDA, to help them remove the encroachment but no action had been taken so far.

The residents also allege that the builders had promised to use the open space under Tower ‘A’ as a community hall but now the space was now being sold as parking.

Mr Bhandari concedes that initially the space was built to be used for community purposes but following an objection from PUDA, the space was now being sold as parking. Mr Arora also said that all these problems would be taken up during a general body meeting of the society on Sunday.

CHANDIGARH CALLING

A move by the Sector 22-D Market Association to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of its creation has proved to be a big hit. As luck would have it, the celebrations have coincided with the festive season beginning with Dusehra and continuing well into the next month. The office-bearers of the market association have left no stone unturned in making the event a memorable experience.

The celebrations were launched last week by the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, Lt-Gen JFR Jacob (retd), in the presence of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ramsekhar.

The entire market has been decorated with festive lights. Shades made of marigold flowers bedeck the entire market lending it a wedding-like atmosphere. The footpath has been covered with green carpet which has been purchased by the association for future use also, according to Mr Arvind Jain, a leading activist of the market.

Besides, the market has pooled its resources to offer expensive prizes to customers who make purchases here during the festive season. The prizes include Maruti cars, air conditioners, microwave ovens etc. The market association has also brought out colourful carrybags for customers to take their purchases home. Each showroom offers the same carrybag. The showrooms are also offering special discounts on every item purchased from them. Mercifully, there are no encroachments in the corridors and pavements of the market. An attempt is made to organise some kind of cultural programme every evening.

The market is thronged with visitors and tourists from all over the state. Little wonder, the market has attracted a tremendous volume of business the like of which has not been seen before. This has attracted the attention of other markets as well. Manimajra market has already decided to organise similar celebrations. The Sector 17 market too is planning to organise a similar bonanza complete with prizes for the lucky winners. Mr Jain says that there have been queries from different parts of the state about the celebrations.

Rash drivers

Patience is at its lowest ebb as road rash gradually takes its toll on disciplined citizens who adhere to traffic rules. The latest came from a 25 plus driving a yellow Lancer on the Chandigarh-Shimla highway.

Wanting to take the slip road at the railway crossing to avoid the lights, he was forced to bring his car to a halt on account of a long line of cars, one of which was blocking the route to the slip road. Unwilling to wait for the lights to change, he continuously honked at the car in front, which, however, could not budge from its position till the lights changed colour to green.

To express his displeasure and frustration, the youngster nudged the car in front, giving a jolt to the driver. To add to this, he got out of the car and yelled at the driver, telling him the nudge by his big car was punishment for coming in his way when he was in a hurry and that next time he would make sure the car got a dent.

He ended up wasting 15 minutes despite his hurry, held up traffic as he argued and ended up harassing a disciplined citizen for sticking to traffic rules and regulations.

Devi’s darshan

The Navratra mela at the Mansa Devi temple was a more organised affair this time with the district administration making arrangements for managing the huge crowds that throng the temple every year.

While the long queues of devotees meander right through the market at the time of the mela and hardly shorten, the administration made alternative arrangement to facilitate the darshan.

In addition to opening at the front of the shrine, the Administration placed a mirror with a view to capturing the reflection of the idol, opened a side door and facilitated darshan, a move which came in for tremendous appreciation from the crowd which was earlier forced to wait for hours on end.

Festive spirit

It is holiday time in all city colleges as the festive spirit rules the day and studies are the last thing on the mind of youngsters. The latest addition to their revelry has come in the form of an announcement of the youth festival.

As they get on with the preparations for the three-day festival to be held in two shifts of all girls’ colleges and boys along with co-educational colleges, it is a break from the routine that has led to celebration.

While the youth festival for Zone A, the girls’ colleges, gets underway on October 21, that of Zone B is slated for October 29. Neck-deep in preparations of dances, debates, songs and declamations, the colleges are buzzing with activity.

Variety programmes

It is activity time yet again in city schools most of which are gearing up for their annual variety programmes, each day packed with two to three functions a day.

A major event for each school, their biggest show of the year, the pre-requisite is a celebrity chief guest. Owing to the large number of such functions, getting dates from the handful celebrity chief guests the city has to offer is an arduous task.

Consequently, what is common to most variety programmes is the chief guest, hopping from one function to another right through the day.

Friendly treatment

When the Administrator of Chandigarh, Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), and his team are trying hard to develop the city as a trade centre in the region, a section of the Municipal Corporation, Enforcement Wing seems to be bent on harassing traders in the name of encroachments. Recently, the UT Police registered cases against some traders alleging an attempt to robbery, under Section 392, IPC, on the complaint of some Enforcement officials of the MC.

The Chandigarh Beopar Mandal condemned the action of the MC alleging that its staff was following a pick and choose policy in removing encroachments. It has asked the authorities to be lenient with shopkeepers till Divali and to take back cases registered against them.

Prof Aggarwal for Bangkok

Prof M.R. Aggarwal, Department of Economics, Panjab University, has been invited to a conference on ‘Economic Recovery and Reforms in the South East and East Asian Economies, to be held in Bangkok at the end of this month.

Professor Aggarwal will deliver his research paper on ‘Macro Economics Adjustment, Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth in India: Looking Back and Future’. He will also be a commentator in one of the sessions.

The Prime Minister of Thailand will deliver the inaugural address at the conference.

— Sentinel

CRIME

Gold chain snatched
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 27
A gold chain of a Panipat resident was snatched by two scooter borne youths in Sector 23 last evening.

Police sources said Ms Santosh Kumari Sharma, was going towards the Sector-23 market when the youths allegedly snatched her chain. The incident occurred at around 9.15 pm. The youths were said to be cleanshaven and none of them were wearing helmets.

A case has been registered.

Money stolen

A resident of Sector 9, Mr Rajinder Singh Dhillon reported with the police that Rs 20,000 were stolen from his car, which was parked in a market of Sector 18, here yesterday. A case of theft has been registered.

In another case, Mr Amarjit Singh MD, Sangrilla restaurant, Sector 35, has alleged that Ravi Vastav and Vinod Kumar stole Rs 16,133 from the cash register of the restaurant on the night intervening October 25 and 26. A case has been registered.

Two held

A resident of Moga district, Punjab, was arrested for allegedly trespassing and threatening Mr Ramesh Walia, a resident of Sector 27. The incident took place last evening.

A case under Section 452 and 506 of the IPC has been registered.

In another incident, Naresh Kumar of Palsora colony has been arrested by the police for allegedly stealing an iron railing from near Government Senior Secondary School 39. He was arrested on the complaint by Mr Jaspal Singh, an employee of the UT Horticulture Department.

Arrested

The crime branch of the police has arrested Suresh Kumar, a resident of Sector 41, for allegedly selling crackers without permission. The stock of crackers which were seized from him has been valued at Rs 1 lakh. A case has been registered.

DERABASSI

One hurt

Gurpreet Singh, a local resident, sustained severe injuries when an unidentified vehicle hit the motor cycle he was riding on the Dera Bassi-Barwala road this afternoon.

According to the police, Gurpreet Singh was taken to the local Civil Hospital but was later referred to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh. A case has been registered.

KHARAR

Husband booked

The Kharar police has registered a case against Manjit Singh, husband of Ms Manjit Kaur of Mundi Kharar village, and others. She has complained to the police that they used to harass her for more money.

PANCHKULA

Purse snatched

Two motor cyclists reportedly snatched the purse of Ms Aparajita Chauhan while she was coming back from market last evening. The purse contained Rs 5000, two gold earrings and documents.

The police has registered a case under Section 356 of the IPC.

One held

The police has arrested Manna of Pinjore and recovered 18 bottles of countrymade liquor from him. A case under Excise Act has been registered.

Three Arrested

The police arrested Rajbir, Raj Kumar and Tara Chand on charges of gambling from Old Panchkula and recovered Rs 15,200 from them. They have been booked under the Gambling Act.

SAS NAGAR

Cigarettes stolen

Cigarettes worth thousands of rupees were stolen from a wholesale dealer in Phase II here today.

According to the shop owner, Mr Satpal Khurana, he closed his shop last night at 8.30 pm and when he opened the shutter lock in the morning, he found the stuff in the shop scattered.

The money box had been broken and cash worth Rs 12,000 was missing. Expensive cigarette packs worth about Rs 7,000 were also missing from the shop.

Sources said the thief probably entered the shop through the ventilator.

BUSINESS

NRIs propose dream township near city
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 27
A delegation of 35 non-resident Indians (NRIs) from the USA and Canada has been keen interest in developing an integrated township in an area of 400 acres around Chandigarh. The proposed township will offer high-quality living amidst state-of-the-art infrastructure.

This intention was expressed by the delegation in a meeting with senior functionaries of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA). Kharar could be an appropriate destination for the development of an integrated township by NRIs, PUDA officials suggested. Offering all possible help within the legal framework, PUDA might assist in terms of identification of land and arranging local sanctions, permissions and no objection certificates, they said. The NRI delegation is on a business development mission here.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Rakesh Singh, Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department-cum-Vice-Chairman, PUDA, said there was shortage of 22.9 million housing units. Making a presentation on the housing scenario in India, he said to make up this shortage an investment of about 40 billion US dollars was required.

He said only 25 per cent of the investment was expected from financial institutions including banks or the Central and state governments.

He said the investment opportunities available in Punjab included housing, development of integrated townships, commercial development in the areas of multiplexes, shopping malls, corporate offices, infrastructural development in the areas of health care, education, hospitality, tourism and culture. “Keeping in view that the state has the highest per capita income in the country, high level of urbanisation and a ready market for real-estate offerings, Punjab is one of India’s most attractive markets for real-estate projects,” he added.

“The initiatives taken by the Government of India include a new housing and habitat policy. Close to two million houses will be required to be constructed every year. Besides repealing the Urban Land Ceiling Act, permission for 100 per cent foreign director investment (FDI) and repatriation of earnings from real-estate projects has been permitted to NRIs. Higher allocation for housing sector, including numerous concessions to individuals, has made housing the most attractive sector for investment”, he informed the members of delegation.

The delegation asked the state government to introduce NRI quota in its all real-estate allotment policies. The delegation also demanded a regular access and updating about developments in real-estate sector in the state through e-mail.

In view of the resistance offered by land owners and the time-consuming land acquisition process, the Secretary Housing and Urban Development suggested the delegates to explore the possibilities of involving land owners as partners in urban development by setting up colonies and integrated townships through the mechanism of land pooling.

Welcoming the NRI participation in Punjab’s real-estate sector, Mr D.P. Reddy, Chief Administrator, PUDA, offered investment options ranging from integrated townships, warehousing complexes, institutional estates, city centres, golf courses and three star hotels. Mr Reddy also indicated government’s interest in NRI participation in such projects.