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PU zonal youth fest gets under way
Chandigarh, October 25 The premises of the host college had been bedecked with flowers. A floral gate will welcome visitors to the venue of the festival. Till the culmination of the festival, the college building and trees will be illuminated. After the inauguration of the festival by the Irrigation Minister, Himachal Pradesh Thakur Kaul Singh, the day opened with a shabad/bhajan contest in the main auditorium, followed by group singing (Indian). The music (vocal) and group singing (Western) events won a lot of applause from the audience. Fine arts events like landscape drawing, still-life drawing, rangoli and collage-making were held on the college lawns. The results of various events are: Shabad/bhajan: PU campus 1, DAV College 2, GGDSD College 3. Group Singing (Indian):
DAV College 1, GGDSD College 2, GC-46 3. Music (vocal ) - western (solo):
Bhagwant Kaur 1, Gopika Kher 2 , Sameer 3. Group Singing (Western):
GCG - 11 1, PU campus 2 and GGDSD College. Lanscape drawing: Anujot Kaur 1, Anand Sharma 2 and Neena Majumdar 3. Still-life drawing:
Shilpa 1, Varinder Kumar 2 and Neha 3. Rangoli: Liza Bansal 1, Manish K Toor 2 and Monika Rosy 3. Collage-making:
Sangeet Mukhrjee 1, Kanwar IS Rai 2 and Seema 3. Poem writing:
Bhumika 1, Gurpreet Singh Preet 2 and N K Singh 3. Story writing:
Sandra GS 1, Pallav Sehgal 2 and Shikha Arora 3. Essay writing:
Sonal 1, Divika 2 and Divyadeep 3.
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HC notice to MC on shopping festival issue
Chandigarh, October 25 In his petition, the president of the association, Mr Arvind Jain, has stated that the Municipal Corporation was delaying permission for setting up a podium to display prizes for the lucky draw. The MC will file its reply in the matter tomorrow. The shopping festival had run into trouble as the MC withheld permission for setting up a podium in the market on grounds that the Mayor, Ms Kamlesh, was not in town. Later, the Senior Deputy Mayor referred the case to the Finance and Contract Committee of the MC which also did not give its decision in the case since the matter was sub judice. The MC also made a futile attempt to remove floral decorations made on a wrought-iron framework, terming it encroachment. However, the shopkeepers demonstrated against the move and observed a two-hour blackout to lodge their protest. Earlier, the association had filed a case in the court challenging the withholding of permission when the same had been granted to the traders of Sector 17.
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SSP inaugurates Sec 22-B shopping
festival
Chandigarh, October 25 With light music playing in the background, the market played host to customers who flocked to shops in large numbers on the opening day. The festival, which will continue till November 28, will see a lucky draw where customers stand the chance of winning an Alto car, a motor cycle and a scooter besides refrigerators, washing machines and microwaves as prizes. While there is a discount on all electrical appliances by the respective companies, customers purchasing items worth Rs 2,000 or more would be entitled to a lucky draw coupon. A dealer of electronics goods is offering a ‘scratch and win’ scheme whereby a customer buying anything would be eligible for a card. This card assures a gift item worth Rs 100, while items like home theatre can also be won. The president of the Traders Welfare Association, Sector 22-B, Mr Ravi Ahuja, said 50 shopkeepers were participating in the sales promotion programme of the biggest trading market of the city. He added that the traders had made sure that parking space for customers was not encroached upon to save them any inconvenience during their visit to the market. The general secretary of the association, Mr Arvinder Pal Singh, said traders had decided to keep their shops open on Sundays beginning this week. Daily draws would also be introduced depending upon the response to the shopping festival, he added.
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Ex-serviceman dies while pacifying clashing groups
Mohali, October 25 Mohinder Singh, former Subedar, collapsed when he was allegedly hit by a brick on his head. He was taken to the local Civil Hospital where he was declared brought dead. Members of the group which was hurling stones and bricks fled from the scene when Mohinder Singh collapsed. The police has rounded up some women of some families in this connection. A dispute over 2.5 marlas was going on between the two groups in the village for quite some time, with each claiming ownership of the land. Members of one group, comprising three brothers, reportedly tried to dig up the disputed land yesterday for laying a foundation stone. This was objected to by members of the other group. This led to heated arguments and culminated in a clash. Members of the group which had dug up the land started hurling stones from roof top on the members of the other group. With the situation taking up ugly turn, Mohinder Singh tried to intervene and pacify but was hit by a brick on his head. A post-mortem examination of the body was conducted at the Civil Hospital here today. Mohinder Singh reportedly died of a head injury. Mr Venod Sharma, SHO, said a case had been registered against the three brothers and Banta Singh under Sections 304 and 34 of the IPC.
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Punjab Kisans protest against land auction
Chandigarh, October 25 Dr Joginder Dyal, vice-president of the sabha, said it was the result of liberalisation that the farming community was crumbling under loans. They added that land under irrigation was decreasing fast. Moreover, the state government’s plan to increase the area under river irrigation have been dumped in files, they added. The state council of the Kisan Sabha and the district committee members from 15 districts of Punjab participated in the protest. It was led by president of the Punjab Kisan Sabha and former MLA Kulwant Singh, senior vice-president Lakhbir Singh Harnia, Mr Singh Joga, Mr Balwinder Singh Dhudala, general secretary Bhupinder Sahmbar, secretary and former MLA Hardev Singh Arshi, vice-secretary Baldev Singh, Mr Surjit Singh Bhangali and Mr Ranbir Dhillon.
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Police torture victim demands justice
Chandigarh, October 25 A 27-year-old Buta Singh has been paying through his nose with his medical and legal bill running into around Rs 70,000.
The son of a maid servant, Buta Singh is now virtually crippled. He and his mother have been making rounds of senior officers, human rights bodies and courts to seek justice but the policemen who are accused of torturing him are moving about freely, his mother told The Tribune at her residence in Phase X of Mohali. Buta Singh said he and his mother refused to carry on with the fixing of the marriage as now he was feared to have been incapacitated and the marriage would have destroyed the life of the girl who was to begin life with him. Buta kept on making alibis before the family of the girl that he had gone to his village apparently to dissuade the parents of the girl from solemnizing marriage. But Singh said he was near the light point of Phase X when his scooter ran out of fuel. He was dragging his vehicle when a traffic policeman asked him to stop. The policeman asked him why he was not wearing a helmet. Buta argued with the policeman that there was no need of putting on a helmet while he was walking with his scooter. The policeman asked him not to enter into an argument and pay Rs 100 and go. The policeman threatened paying Rs 100 would be easier than facing the wrath of the senior officers. Meanwhile, CIA SHO Tejinder Singh and few others came to the spot in a vehicle with black film. He was allegedly beaten up on the road to be dumped in the vehicle before being taken to the Phase VIII Police Station where he was allegedly thrashed and given electric shocks on his genitals. Mohinder Kaur says she and several others had seen the traffic constable on duty after the senior officers claimed they have been punished. The same is case with two other officers. Mohinder Kaur told The Tribune the police had said she was refusing to reach a compromise with the erring policemen as she was demanding a Rs 5 lakh of compensation and a job for her son. Ms Kaur said "I don't want a penny nor a job but the tears in the eyes of the families of the policemen who incapacitated her son." SP Mohali Rakesh Agrawal when asked about the case said the matter was in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Human Rights Commission and whatever the honourable court orders would be obeyed. He, however, said it was being found out if Buta was not taking treatment from the PGI for a mental ailment and that his claim of incapacitation was true or not.
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Convention on human rights from Oct 29
Chandigarh, October 25 The convention is being organised by the Delhi-based Human Rights Law Network, along with the Punjab Voluntary Health Association and "Saarthak: Caring for the Mind". It is scheduled to be inaugurated by National Consultant on Mental Health to the Ministry of Health Colonel D.S Goel and Chairperson of the Punjab Human Rights Commission Justice N C Jain. Giving details of the convention, Senior Legal Adviser of Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) Parul Sharma said the purpose was to promote the concept of right to mental health as a human right. The convention also aimed at promoting the right to mental health for victims of crime, including rape, torture, poverty and domestic violence. The importance of forensic psychology's use within the legal process as a protocol would also be discussed. Issues such as child sexual abuse and homelessness too would be deliberated upon. Cases of rape survivors, acid attack survivors and torture survivors, besides undertrials would be presented and scrutinised. Groups from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu would be among the participants. Interacting with the media, Director of HRLN's Chandigarh chapter Veena Kumari said it was essential to create need-based understanding among decision-makers, and to formulate a system based on psychology and law. The intention was to apply psychological principles to legal concerns, and the interaction of psychology with law for the benefit of the victims. She added that the current legal set up in the country did not take into consideration the suffering and distress of a victim at all. Punishment granted to criminal was seen as sole consolation for a victim. Talking to The Tribune, Ms Sharma said HRLN was working out the modalities for setting up a legal aid clinic in Chandigarh that would afford much more than legitimate advise. The "unique initiative" would, for the first time in the country, provide socially deprived masses an opportunity to access their right to justice, along with their right to mental health. Describing the right to justice and mental health as "inseparable" and "inter-linked", she maintained that ill health was not only a cause of increased poverty and social oppression, but also an obstacle in the way of escaping from the problems.
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Toilets for parks Walking in Sector 36’s Fragrance Garden in an evening, Sentinel found men easing on the left side of the gate and women using the other end of the park. Fragrance Garden is not only park which doesn’t have toilets, this public convenience is absent in parks of Sectors 20, 30, 36, 47, 48, 49. The only exception in the southern sectors is Sector 33’s Terraced Garden, which was earlier under Citco. The corporation has provided toilets at the lake.
Smile and serve Under the directions of the PGI Director Prof K.K Talwar, the freshly painted boards with a one-liner “Smile and Serve’’ have been put up all over the hospital. Will the one-liners make the staff smile ? Or Will they continue doing their duty with scowls? The PGI authorities had set up the “May I help you’’ desks. Recently an official found the persons concerned at one such desk absent. Explanation was immediately sought from the employees.
Rickety wheelchairs A majority of the wheelchairs in the OPD of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, have become rickety. With wear and tear taking its toll on the wheel chairs, the attendants of the patients have to take care of both the wheel chairs and the patients. It’s quite likely that tyres of wheels may come off and stop the wheeling of an ailing patient. A refundable security of Rs 10 is charged for single use of a wheel chair from the attendant.
Traffic cops The efforts of Panchkula Superintendent of Police, Ms Mamta Singh, inducted 25 women cops into the traffic wing, and asked them to keep an eye on traffic violators. Two months hence, the women traffic cops are deployed at various points on the road dividing Sectors 5 and 8, but they prefer to serve by standing in the shade. With the winter approaching, some of these cops can be seen knitting sweaters, while the traffic violators pass them by. Ask them about the lack of initiative, and they blabber “women are taken as second grade citizens, and nobody listens to us.” — Sentinel
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Cheque for patient bounces
Chandigarh, October 25 “We never thought that such a rude shock was in store for us. Both kidneys of my son have failed and he needs to be on life-long medication and dialysis for survival. Once again penniless, I do not see a ray of hope for the treatment,’’ says Bilas Sharma, Rajeev’s father, who now visits the PGI’s Public Relations Office daily to find out what to do next. “All that officials at the PGI tell us is that such a shocking incident has never occurred here before. It’s just us who were unlucky,’’ rues Bilas. Once the one-time donation in lakhs had come Rajeev’s way, the family says, the remaining donors who came to help them were asked to give money to other poor patients as their own monetary requirements had been taken care of. “When we received the cheque from the donor, medicines were provided by a medicine company as we had acquired the cheque for a requisite amount. Now, the next lot of medicines will not be given to us as we do not have any money in our account,’’ says Bilas, pointing out to the huge cartons of medicines lying in his room in Rotary Serai at the PGI. Once the existing stock of medicines is exhausted, they are uncertain where the next lot will come from as the company has already declined to help them further. “We had made a number of phone calls to Randhawa after we learnt that the payment on the cheque was stopped. But he was not traceable on any of his phone numbers,’’ laments teenager’s mother Geeta Devi. Officials at the PGI are equally surprised. “The young man had even met the Director, Prof K.K. Talwar, and talked about floating a Trust in the name of his late uncle for poor patients by offering to donate Rs 50 lakh. Now that his other cheques given elsewhere, including those at Patiala and some private clinics have also bounced, we realise that we were dealing with a cheat,’’ said a PGI official. A team of the Crime Investigating Agency (CIA) visited the PGI today to get more details regarding the matter.
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BJP for adequate facilities in slums
Panchkula, October 25. He said when the Congress was in power in the state, a resettlement plan for colony residents was worked out and 3,000 of these residents had paid Rs 3,500 each for allotment of plots, but neither were plots allotted, nor was their money refunded. “We demand that the colony residents be allotted the promised plots, at the rates prevailing in 1995,” he said. He also demanded that a retaining wall be constructed along the nullah passing near Rajiv Colony to ensure that the colony was not flooded in the monsoon. He said the defunct tubewells in the colony should be made operational, or new ones be set up and more taps be installed there. He said mobile toilets should be provided in all labour colonies and the defunct toilets in Rajiv and Indira Colony be made operational. A delegation of the BJP later submitted a memorandum in this regard to the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Brijinder Singh, for forwarding it to the Chief Minister.
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Illegal parking of vehicles irks Sector 9 residents
Chandigarh, October 25 The residents rue the fact that the policemen parked their vehicles in front of their houses, blocking their way. The road in front of the Punjab Police Headquarters witnesses small traffic jams every now and then. The whole stretch of the road becomes an accident- prone area due to these vehicles,which are parked here and there along the road. A resident of this locality told The Tribune team that not only do these policemen park their vehicles in front of their houses, they also play all sorts of vulgar songs at a high pitch.The policemen also play cards and move around in small groups, talking loudly, unmindful of the inconvenience they are causing to the residents of this area.'' It is a constant nuisance that we are exposed to for a long time'', said a woman residing in the locality. “It is embarrassing for girls passing through this stretch of the road as policemen pass lewd
remarks. The girls do not feel comfortable to go out of their houses alone due to the presence of these policemen, fearing
misbehaviour by them,” she added. She further stated that policemen behaved rudely with motorists whenever they are told to make way for vehicles passing through this
road. Once these policemen pushed a school going girl who was on her bicycle with their jeep. The policemen, instead of helping the hapless child, started scolding her, another resident remarked. She maintained that the Punjab Police Headquarters has its own parking premises on the backside of the building but the cops are not using that space, and instead, are parking their vehicles in front of their houses, making a mockery of a ‘No Parking’ signboard installed by the Chandigarh Traffic Police on this road. The parking lot behind the building is lying vacant. She said they have made numerous appeals to the top brass regarding the problems the residents of their locality are facing, but to no effect.
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Infantry losing sheen, courtesy govt apathy
Infantry Day is celebrated on October 27, every year. It was on this day in 1947 that an infantry battalion (1 Sikh) saved the honour of the country when it was suddenly flown to the Srinagar airfield to bush back the raiders supported by the Pakistani army. Despite modern wars having become hi-tech, the infantryman’s fighting pattern still corresponds to the olden days. Infantry is the only arm coming into physical contact with the enemy and at that critical moment bayonet is an infantryman’s ultimate weapon. For past several years, an infantryman is fighting a battle everyday given the relentless insurgency in the J&K and North-East. Our infantry has suffered more casualties in the J&K since 1989 than it had suffered in all wars after Independence. In spite of his sacrifices for the country, it is sad that an infantryman’s rating as per the Fifth Pay Commission is equal to that of an unskilled labourer. No wonder that the Infantry has not only lost pristine glory but also become so unattractive that hardly anyone likes to opt for it. It is high time that the Infantry was granted a special status with attendant financial benefits and post-retirement concessions so that it attracts the best of the youth to it. Health Scheme: a non-starter
The Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) was inaugurated at Command Hospital, Chandi Mandir, by the former GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lieut-Gen S.S. Mehta, on April 5, 2003. The general opinion of the august gathering at the inaugural function was that it was a half-baked scheme. It took about 10 years to get this scheme cleared from the government. The ex-servicemen now opine that a wait for another two-three years to get it issued in a better shape was worth it. As things stand for now, the scheme gives an apologetic look of being a non-starter. A large number of ex-servicemen have criticised this scheme for its glaring loopholes. Where can one go for a treatment when no hospitals in this region, except the PGI, Chandigarh, have been empanelled? The case is reported to be with the government which, as the experience shows, may take its own time. The argument that a member recommended for treatment should go to Delhi is simply absurd. Imagine an aged patient going through all sorts of hassles of visiting another city for treatment. There are hardly any polyclinics on ground and if there are any, they are non-functional. The ex-servicemen are now ruing their decision to become members of the scheme at a heavy cost. Seeing the scheme in limbo, a sizeable number of ex-servicemen have decided not to become members unless the scheme takes off properly.
Functioning of CSD canteens
Headquarters, Western Command, has stated that the monetary limits of Rs 4000, Rs 2500 and Rs 1500 per month for officers, JCOs and other ranks, respectively, to purchase grocery items from the CSD canteens are considered adequate. These limits were laid down in order to curb the tendency to purchase items in large quantity which resulted in misuse. It is also said that this practice deprived other customers to buy monthly requirement, from the canteens. According to the Headquarters, Western Command, these limits included any item costing Rs 1000 or more, such as bicycle, suitcase 18”, etc. Since opinions differed on this point, a clarification had to be sought by the Command Headquarters from the Quarter Master-General’s Branch at the Army Headquarters. This clarification is that any item costing Rs 1000 or more would form part of AFDII stores and not grocery. Pritam Bhullar
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End stray cattle menace
It is surprising that the Chandigarh Administration is sleeping over the issue of stray cattle. Every other day a precious life is lost due to the cattle menace on roads but no effective action is taken to tackle it. Is the administration waiting for some targeted number of deaths or injured persons before taking action? I appeal to the administration to initiate appropriate steps in this regard immediately. Who knows the next victim may be a relative of one of its own officials. Ujagar Singh,
Bureaucrats The news item “Bureaucrats act like overlords: MP, Mayor” (CT, October 8) made interesting reading. The bureaucracy is the backbone of any government. The British ruled this country on the strength of their bureaucracy. The Americans respect their bureaucrats. In our country, bureaucrats are often treated like personal servants. Who is to blame? Certainly not the politicians. It is the bureaucrats who forget that they belong to the top layer of the nation. Millions compete in the civil service examinations but only a few hundreds get through. This fact they overlook only to get some fringe benefits. The result, naturally, is there for all to see. They must learn to stand erect sans crutches. In the main Tribune on the same day there was a news item on liquor stacked in shops in the Kapurthala constituency. Who is to blame? Again, it is bureaucrats who often toe the line of politicians and face insults thereafter. The nation expects bureaucrats to be above board and firm like a rock. S.S. Randhawa,
Removal of dustbins The dustbins placed in front of the gate of Delhi Public School, Sector 40-C, should be removed. These have been placed in an area with a dense population. A smell emanates from the dustbins and it is difficult to pass by the area. The dustbins should be shifted to a suitable spot in the southern part of the sector. P.L. Paul,
Glazed tiles May I bring to the notice of the Municipal Corporation that the glazed tiles being used by many shopkeepers on the floor of the verandahs in front of their establishments are generally very slippery. There is a danger of people, especially old persons, slipping and getting injured. Let the old practice of having a cemented floor be continued. Non-glazed tiles could also be used. N.C. Chopra,
Garbage dumping Living in Sector 38A is almost like staying in a slum because of the smell emanating from garbage being dumped in the nearby Dadu Majra colony. Residents face a health hazard. I request the Chandigarh Administration to take suitable steps to solve the problem. Dr P.P. Singh,
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Dharna may hit power, water supply
Chandigarh, October 25 Employees of electricity, water supply, transport, building maintenance, horticulture, sewerage, medical officers and other departments of UT will participate in the dharna, a press note of the federation said.
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Kohli elected to national academy
He has also been invited to attend the 74th annual session of the academy and the national symposium on “Science and technology for desert development” from December 2 to 4 at Jaipur.
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Protest by BSNL staff
Chandigarh, October 25
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2 hurt in road mishap
Panchkula, October 25 Snake Bite:
A sweeper, Raj Kumar was bitten by a snake, while he was cleaning a drain in Sector 4. He was rushed to a hospital, and is out of danger. Arrested:
The CIA staff has arrested two thieves, Lallu and Chunni Lal, who were involved in five incidents of burglaries in the township and a case of fraud. A team, led by Inspector Mukesh Kumar and Mr Jagdish Chander, had gone looking for them in Moradabad and Hapur, and arrested them from there. The duo were produced before a local court today and remanded in police custody till November 2. The Sector 19 police arrested Sabir, a resident of Bhakauli village , and Sudama, a resident of Kalka, on charges of theft of invertors from a factory in Sector 19. Goods worth Rs 20,000 were recovered from them. The Sector 5 police arrested Imran Khan alias Raju, and recovered a stolen scooter (HR-03-2448) from him. The scooter belonged to Gurdeep Singh of Surajpur village and was stolen on October 20.
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Two children arrested for thefts
Chandigarh, October 25 The two have been sent to a juvenile home. The police said the modus operandi of the duo was to target a person in a crowd or at traffic signals. They stole belongings of persons from open vehicles and the glove compartment of scooters. The police arrested a pickpocket from the ISBT, Sector 17, when he tried to run away after snatching a purse last evening. Tejinder Singh of Sector 24 was caught on the spot when he picked a purse belonging to Mr Ram Kamal Gupta of Dhanas colony. A case under Sections 379 and 411 of the IPC has been registered in the Sector 17 police station. In another incident, Paramjit Singh of Sector 32-A reported to the police that an unidentified person snatched his mobile phone and sped away from the market in Sector 22. A case under Sections 379 and 356 of the IPC has been registered in the Sector 17 police station. Car stolen:
Robber arrested:
Hardeep Singh from Sangrur first ran away from home with Rs 15,000 of his maternal aunt. He reached Chandigarh and snatched a mobile phone and belongings of a tax driver near Samrat Hotel in Sector 22. On October 6, Hardeep Singh hired a taxi from Moga to Ludhiana, where he took away belongings of the driver of the taxi after intoxicating him. Again, Hardeep hired a car from Ludhiana to Chandigarh. He came to the Canadian High Commission office in Sector 17. He asked the driver to stay put till he came back. Hardeep also borrowed a mobile phone of the taxi driver while going inside the High Commission office. Hardeep told the driver that there might be some urgency and he might have to make calls. Hardeep assured the driver that he would make payment for the calls made from the phone. Hardeep never returned from the High Commission office. On October 23, again he hired an Indica car and went to Shimla. The driver of the vehicle, Paramjit Singh of Sector 32, was also robbed of his belongings.
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RBI dispels rumours on coins
Chandigarh, October 25 The statement has been issued following news reports and complaints regarding non-acceptance of coins of these denominations by shopkeepers, traders and transport undertakings etc. The bank has clarified that these reports were rumours.
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Sentinel spotted a ritha tree in the park, just in front of Lt Col H.M. Singh’s house (No 1144, Sector 34). The Singhs were served ritha, a sweet nutty fruit, as a prasad at the Gurdwara Nanak Mata in pilibhit during their pilgrimage in 1997. They planted ritha seed in a pot in 1999. The sapling was planted in the park. Next year it bore fruit, sweet as the
prasad.
Chandigarh, October 25