 |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
PU fest hall overflows, students
lathicharged
Chandigarh, October 28 Students were shut out of the dance contests for the better part of the day as the 1200-capacity hall seemed too small to accommodate the teeming numbers. Subsequently, the police cordoned off the area around the entry to the hall. While the crowd inside the hall applauded the giddha and bhangra performances, students who were barred entry into the hall got restless and began raising slogans against the DAV management for keeping them out of the festival. The Principal, Mr S.C. Marriya, came out to pacify the protesting students and told them that they would be allowed entry once the giddha performances were over since most of the girls would leave. As soon as he went into the hall, the police was asked to swing into action and push the students further back. Resorting to a mild lathicharge, the police forced students run helter-skelter looking for cover. The baton-wielding constables got hold of a student of SD College, Sector 32, Darshan Singh, and after a few blows with baton, thrashed him. This irked students awaiting entry into the hall and they came charging back. However, Mr Marriya intervened and assured students of seeking apology by the police for its charge. Hardly had the things settled that the youths outside earned the ire of the police again, agitating them even further. When the giddha performances got over, girl participants left with their respective principals. Youths then jostled their way into the hall and occupied seats vacated by girls to witness bhangra performances. Reacting to the incident, Mr Marriya said he had apprehended trouble especially since the dance contests were popular with students. “We wanted to have these in the open so that all students could be accommodated. However, principals of all girls’ colleges said they felt girls would not be safe if the performance was held outside of the auditorium. We had no option but to hold the contest in the hall,” he explained. Later, a few youths alleged that a constable at a window with broken mesh demanded Rs 100 per head to allow “backdoor” entry, as the main door of the hall had closed after the seats had been exhausted. Meanwhile, inside the hall, giddha and bhangra performances were a treat for the audience. NCC cadets of the college ensured discipline among students and segregated girls from boys. However, there was a little commotion inside when organising secretary of the festival Umesh Vinayak complained of chest pain. He was taken to the hospital and his condition was stated to be stable. The results: Classical dance: GCG-11 (1), GGDSD-32 (2), GCG-42 (3); Group dance: GCG-11 (1), GGSC-26 (2), Dev Samaj-45 (3); Giddha: MCM DAV-36 (1), SGGS-26 (2), Dev Samaj-45 (3); Individual: Navneet Kaur-GCG-42 (1), Jasbir Kaur-GC-46 (2), Komal Gaba-GCG-11 (3); Bhangra: DAV College-10 (1); GGDSD College-32 (2), SGGS-26 (3); Individual: Narinder Singh-GGDSD-32 (1), Bikramjit Singh-DAV College-10 (2), Gurkirant Singh-SGGS College, Sector 26 (3).
|
|
Rates of commercial sites go up by 120
pc
Mohali, October 28 If the latest auction advertisement (published in The Tribune yesterday) of various commercial sites in the township is anything to go by, the reserve price of these sites have gone out of the reach of most people. In October, 2002, an SCF site in Phase 11 was available at a reserved price of a little more than Rs 34 lakh. This year, buyers will have to dole out a minimum of Rs 86 for a similar site in the same market. In October, 2003, at a reserve price of Rs 38 lakh, the auction rates went higher than Rs 56 lakh in most cases. But Phase 11 saw a sudden hike in commercial site rates in the February this year when the heaviest bids were recorded. The sites that were sold by PUDA for Rs 40 lakh each in October, 2002, were bought at Rs 80 lakh each and more this year. Other than Phase XI, PUDA has hiked the reserve price of commercial sites in Phase 3B2 market where an SCF site of 121 sq yrd will now cost at least Rs 1 crore, while in Phase VII, the reserve price for
an SCF site of same area is Rs 1.11 crore. The most coveted, however, remain commercial sites in Sector 70. In 2002, the reserve price for shop-cum-offices here was a little above Rs 46 lakh, while the auction rate went beyond Rs 60 lakh. However, rates sprung the highest in 2003 when during the auction held on October 30, 2003, the SCF sites in Sector 70 crossed the Rs 1 crore figure. In the subsequent auction held in February this year, the SCOs were auctioned for Rs 1.1 crore. Sources in PUDA added that the reserve price fixed by the authority followed a fixed pattern based on the actual selling price of the of the last auctions. “Generally, it is 90 per cent of the selling price that the site fetched during the last auction. The rates have increased because there
are buyers who are ready to pay for the sites even if they seem over-priced,” said a source. “However, those genuinely interested in buying these sites feel discouraged. Property dealers play mischief during these auctions. They simply keep increasing the bid and finally it goes out of our range. As a result these auctions become money spinning opportunities for them. They buy a site and within hours sell it for a small profit. These rates are not the true value of these sites,” pointed out Mr Sardool Singh, a retired engineer. Admitting that most of these auctions are dominated by property dealers and speculators, PUDA officials, however, show their inability to check them from bidding. “These are open auctions and we cannot stop anyone from bidding,” said an official.
|
|
Admn curbs departmental expenses
Chandigarh, October 28 The decision has been taken following instructions from the Union Government suggesting austerity measures. The cut has been imposed on non-plan expenses, which primarily go into meeting the day-to-day expenses of running the government and paying salaries. The departments have been asked not to send any new proposals for non-plan expenses. The cut will also cover payments to be made for overtime and honorarium. The Finance Secretary has also suggested sparing use of government vehicles allotted to various officials and departments. According to the instructions, tours abroad should be restricted to only those where bodies of the stature of World Bank, World Health Organisation or International Monetary Fund are involved. The instructions restrict visits for attending workshops, seminars or tours. Restrictions have also been imposed on hosting of conferences, workshops or seminars. Any grant for this purpose will require clearance from the Finance Department.
|
|
Mother as incubator for premature babies
Chandigarh, October 28 Talking to The Tribune on the inaugural day of the 24th Annual Convention of the National Neonatalogy Forum at the PGI today, Dr Nathalie Charpak from Columbia, the pioneer nation in developing the KMC, said that the skin-to- skin contact of the mother with the newborn, especially the one which is underweight, increases the mother-child. The technique can be equally well administered by any of the family members, including the father. “Under the KMC technique, the newborn is kept vertically on the mother’s chest 24 hours and is breastfed. The technique acts as an incubator as the prolonged skin-to-skin contact provides effective thermal control. This no-cost technique is very effective in developing countries because the incubators are always in short supply,’’ said Dr Charpak. Interestingly the KMC, which was started by Prof Rey in Columbia in 1978, was developed when the hospital fell short of the incubators. Prof Rey thought of working on the principle through which the kangaroo mothers keep their newborn babies warm. In South America all mothers following this technique. But given the long-term benefits of the KMC, the developed nations too are preferring this technique over the mechanical incubators. “However, for very critical new-born babies, the KMC is not a replacement for the incubators. Only seven centres in India, including the PGI, here, are the training centres for the KMC technique. Neuro-development experts opine that babies in the seventh month of pregnancy or earlier are at the risk of brain damage and abnormal brain development.
|
|
Top defence analysts for Chandigarh meet
Chandigarh, October 28 To be organised by the Forum on Integrated National Security at Government Museum and Art Gallery on November 6 and 7, the deliberations at the session will be mainly on various destablising factors that threaten internal security and the ways to combat them. Talking to The Tribune here this afternoon, the President of the forum, Mr Puran Chand Dogra, a former Director-General of Punjab Police, says that subversive activities being sponsored from across international borders, each nation has to pay unequivocal attention to its internal security. Conventional wars look a thing of the past and now the time has come when external enemies sponsor subversive activities to weaken the nations from within. Though some term it as a proxy war while others may not go beyond recognising this as an attempt to disturb the integrity and cohesion of a nation, says Mr Dogra, holding that it becomes imperative for those engaged in security matters to sit together and form a strategy to handle this new phenomenon which threatens democracies at large. He said that top experts like General Ved Malik, a former Chief of the Army Staff; Mr Arun Bhagat, who had the singular distinction of heading Border Security Force, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Intelligence Bureau, Air Marshal Vinod Patney , a former AOC-in-C of Western Air Command and Lieut-General Vijay Oberoi, a former Vice-Chief of the Army Staff would be participating in the deliberations. They would be joined among others by Prof Bahma Chellany of the Center for Policy Research; Mr Vijay Kapur, a former Lieut-Governor of Delhi; Prof S.D. Muni of Jawaharlal Nehru University and Mr Amarjit Singh Samra,a former Police Commissioner of Mumbai. Mr K. Chakravarty, a former police chief of Gujarat, will also attend the session. Various issues to be deliberated upon during the session include left wing extremism in South Asia, insurgency in North-East, demographic invasion in North East, internal dimensions of national security, security concerns of the Himalayan belt, communal riots and role of police and its accountability. The Governor of Haryana would inaugurate the session.
|
Safai staff allege harassment as garbage piles up
Mohali, October 28 Mr Amrik Singh, Municipal Councillor, said residents had engaged safai sewaks to lift garbage from their houses on private basis. The practice had been going on in Phase X and XI for the past 10 years and the area had remained clean as garbage was dumped only at authorised garbage dumping sites. He said recently a sanitation contractor started demanding money from the safai sewaks, who dumped garbage at the earmarked sites, for his workers had to lift the garbage from the sites to dump it at the main dumping ground. The contractor allegedly demanded Rs 30 per rehri from the safai sewaks and stopped lifting the garbage altogether. He even threatened safai sewaks of preventing them from plying their rehris. The attitude of the contractor has caused resentment among safai sewaks, forcing them to lodged a protest in this regard outside the office of the Municipal Council a few days ago. They even brought the matter to the notice of the Kharar MLA. He said a big heap of garbage was lying at the rear of some houses in Phase XI and had become a source of nuisance for house owners. The matter had been brought to the notice of the Executive Officer of the council, but to no avail. Residents of 10 marla houses in Phase XI have now made a complaint to the civic body demanding the shifting of garbage dumping point in the bulk market. They said foul smell from the area had made their lives miserable.
|
|
Bir Devinder aides refute tenant’s claim
Mohali, October 28 Addressing a press conference, Mr B.S. Baidwan, a close associate of the MLA, said Ms Suresh Kumari, who had filed a suit against Mr Bir Devinder Singh for allegedly grabbing the house she was living in, was misleading the court by giving contradictory statements to the press. Mr Baidwan was accompanied by Mr Darshan Singh, an Income Tax officer working in Chandigarh who had sold the house to the MLA in February, 2003 for Rs 8 lakh on behalf of its NRI owner Mr Jasbir Singh Gill. Mr Darshan Singh alleged that Ms Suresh Kumari had illegally occupied the house that the NRI had bought in 1989. “She was later declared tenant by the court and a case to vacate her tenancy from the house was sub judice. The house was bought by Mr Bir Devinder and all payments were made before the Registrar in Mohali,” he said showing proof of the registration. Mr Darshan Singh added that Ms Suresh Kumari’s allegations that the house had been sold on the basis of forged and false power of attorneys was baseless. “She is just the tenant and has no right to question the title or ownership of the house. The house is legally owned by the MLA,” he said. Stating that it was a move to malign Mr Bir Devinder’s image, Mr Baidwan pointed out that the MLA had been waiting since 2003 for the law to take its course and ask the woman to leave the house, which she had been occupying as tenant. She had never been told to leave the house or ever disturbed by the MLA,” he added.
|
|
Abolish form No. 38, says chamber
Panchkula, October 28 Under this provision, any consignment worth over Rs 10,000, going in or out of an industry, has to be accompanied by a form and is seen as a retrograde step for industry by the industrialists. The chairman of the Haryana Chamber, Mr Satish Gupta, addressing a press conference in Sector 10, here today, said the transfer policy of industrial plots should be on a par with residential plots. “While we do not advocate the opening of retail outlets by industries outside the state, we strongly favour ownership change without restrictions of any kind. The government must give a competitive environment to the industry,” he added. The Secretary of the Haryana Chamber, Mr Dharinder Tayal, and former chairman, Mr C.B. Goel, said house tax should not be applied to the industry. “We are already burdened with a lot of taxes and are contributing to the revenue of the government. Houses don’t contribute to the revenue. So the government is justified in imposing a tax on them but they should leave us out of this,” Mr Tayal said. While demanding that the already sanctioned generator subsidy introduced in 1995-96 should be disbursed at the earliest, the chamber has also urged the Haryana Government to release the pending capital subsidy as well.
|
|
Works of Pak photo artists to be on display
Chandigarh, October 28 This show is being organised by the Friends of Photography (FOP) in collaboration with the Photographic Society of Pakistan and it has been sponsored by the Haryana Cultural Affairs Department and the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi. The president of the FOP, Mr Adit Agarwala, said pictures by members of the FOP would also be displayed in this exhibition. In all 58 coloured and black and white photographs by 15 photographers would be displayed. They included seven from Pakistan and eight members of the FOP. The seven photo artists of Pakistan whose works would be displayed are Aftab Ahmad, K.M. Omer, Mian Abdul Wahid, Nisar A. Mirza, Salim Khawar, Sheikh Faifal Azeem and Syed Javaid A. Kazi. The exhibition would remain open daily between 11 am and 7 pm.
|
|
Infantry Day celebrated
Chandigarh, October 28 A solemn ceremony was held in the morning at the Command War Memorial, Veer Smriti where all infantry officers led by Major-General In charge of Administration, Major-Gen Deepak Anand paid homage to gallant soldiers who laid down their lives defending the nation. He laid a wreath at the memorial on behalf of all infantry ranks. Serving and retired Infantry officers mingled with each other at a social get-together organised later in the evening at the Shivalik Officers Institute. The 27th October is celebrated as the Infantry Day as it was on this day in 1947 that the first Infantry soldiers ( 1st batallion of the Sikh Regiment) landed at Srinagar to defend the country against the onslaught of Pakistan-backed raiders. The foot soldiers have kept alive rich traditions of bravery and sacrifice.
|
|
Take a vow to avoid depression
Chandigarh, October 28 The abovesaid reasons have emerged during a survey of 37 distress calls made to a helpline till September. The Sankalpa helpline for the depressed has revealed that the number of calls from failed lovers are quite few. The interference of mothers-in-law in family matters, dowry demand or implicating a man in a dowry demand case are the reasons behind people getting into depression, according to the analysis of the calls. As many as 40 per cent calls were made by men who said they wanted to end lives because they were being implicated in dowry cases or their wives were trying to take control of their lives. Alcoholics do not make repeat calls despite saying they do not want to live more. Psychologists say they are smarter than others. But the chances of drug addicts ending their lives are more as they are emotionally not strong. The survey showed that a large number of middle-aged persons, who have job-related problems like compulsory retirement, promotions or failure to get a dream job or losses in business are prone to take the extreme step. The calls from this section are higher in number. Mr K. D. Arora, a retired IAS officer, who is running this helpline, told The Tribune that the youngsters with high ambitions of taking more marks in examinations and getting good jobs are the second largest group that approached them. “There are two kinds of students — one who are sharp in studies and the other who are weak in studies. The sharp ones are more conscious about their carriers while the weaker ones are afraid of failing. The parents of these students contact them to council their children”, said Mr Arora. He said the idea to start the helpline came to his mind last year when there were reports of suicides committed by young students after failing in examinations. The older people, who are ignored or looked down upon by their children, are also among the distress callers, he added. Generally widows come up with complaints like their sons are not taking care of them after marriage or are demanding property from them. The calls from those who failed in love are not that much. It is only dangerous in cases where the lovers are teenagers. The matured comes to terms with the reality sooner and have less tendency to commit suicide. When asked about the success rate he said, “Suicide is a matter of one weak moment, if the moment passes off the person will not think of doing it again.” He said he has received calls from as far as Shimla, Patiala and Ropar and there are no reports of any body committing suicide after talking to him.
|
|
Truckers cause traffic bottlenecks
Panchkula, October 28 Cement trucks halt in a HUDA park along the Zirakpur-Panchkula road. The truckers have removed the park fencing and made a temporary passage. Mr Vikrant Goyal, owner of an auto workshop, complained that customers had stopped visiting his workshop for the past two years, as the way to his workshop is often blocked by truckers. He said he had made several representations to the Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, the Chief Administrator, HUDA, and other authorities, but nothing had been done so far. Mr Rajesh, an industrialist, said trucks parked along the road linking the highway with Sector 20, created traffic bottlenecks.
|
|
Police camp to redress public grievances
Mohali, October 28 The SP, Mohali, Mr Rakesh Agarwal, said the DIG was expected to go through 600 pending complaints with the police in Mohali, Kharar and Morinda. The camp, Suvidha- would be attended by SP, Mohali, DSP, Mohali, DSP, Kharar, DSP, Morinda, and all SHOs and investigating officers concerned, he said. The SP said the pending complaints would be perused by the DIG and in case FIRs had to be registered, these would be done on the spot and investigations marked. However, in cases where a compromise could be reached between the contending parties, it would be facilitated. Complains found untrue or frivolous would be filed. He said around 450 complaints were pending in Mohali while another 100 were pending at Morinda and 250 at Kharar. The camp would be held at Jeet Jot Palace, Phase VI, near the truck union office from 10am to 4pm. The camp would be organised again after three months. It was likely to be made a regular feature in Mohali, said Mr Agarwal.
|
|
|
Insurance staff strike today
Chandigarh, October 28 Mr Sehgal stated that the employees are sore about the dilly-dallying tactics of the Management/ Government towards the revision of wages inspite of huge profits earned by LIC. He threatened to intensify their agitation if long pending demands are not met.
|
Man hurls stones at passers-by, held
Chandigarh, October 28 According to, Mr J.P. Singh, a resident of Sector 23, he was coming from the Picaddily chowk in his car with his friend Sunil Kumar at around 2.30 pm. As soon as they reached the Kisan Bhavan chowk, a stone hit the front windscreen of his car. They saw a man with a bandage around his head, hurling stones and bricks at passers-by and cars. Mr J.P. Singh, said with the help of his friend and other people he overpowered the man. He called the police control room and a PCR vehicle reached the spot. Some passers-by were injured in the incident and cars damaged. Nobody gave any written complaint to the police, said Mr J.P. Singh. The police took the man to the Sector 36 police station. It said the man gave his name as Raj Kumar and said he belonged to Deod village in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. The police said the man kept on speaking continuously and claimed to be a transporter. He was admitted to the GMCH-32 for medical examination.
|
|
16 tonnes of iron stolen
Chandigarh, October 28 A case under Sections 454 and 380 of the IPC has been registered in the Sector 26 police station. Mr M.M. Rana, Deputy Manager of Power House, Mani Majra, has reported to the police that 16 tonnes of iron angles were stolen from the Power House premises on October 24 night. A case under Sections 380 and 457 of the IPC has been registered in the Mani Majra police station.
Youth arrested
The local police today arrested a 20-year-old youth charged with stealing a mobile phone. The police said Amrik Singh, alias Sonu, who works in a shop in Sector 28 stole a mobile phone from a car parked in the Sector 28, market. The owner of the car had filed a complaint with the police in this regard yesterday.
Assault case
Mr Gursimrat Singh of Sector 11 has filed a complaint with the police that Sameer Vir Pannu of Sector 18-B attacked him outside Hotel President in Sector 26 on October 23. The police said Sameer was in an inebriated condition when he assaulted Gursimrat. Gursimrat’s arm got fractured in the attack and he also received injuries on his head. He was admitted to the General Hospital, Sector 16. Sameer has been arrested and a case under Section 325 of the IPC registered against him. The police said Sameer had been involved in such incidents earlier and four cases here registered against him.
Road mishaps
Five persons were injured when a three-wheeler hit a scooter near Hotel Jullunder in Sector 22 yesterday. The scooterist, Deepak of Mullanpur Garib Dass, Narinder Singh, three-wheeler driver, and three passengers, Jaibir, Anita and Rahul, all residents of Maloya Colony, were injured. They were admitted to the General Hospital, Sector 16. A case under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC has been registered in the Sector 17 police station against the three-wheeler driver. In another incident, Har Pal, a rickshaw-puller, and his passenger Ramesh Kumar of Dubey Jummo village in Nepal were injured when a vehicle hit their rickshaw near the cricket stadium chowk last night. They were admitted to the General Hospital, Sector 16. A case under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 17 police station.
Motor cycle stolen
Mr Amandeep Singh of Sector 20-B has reported to the police that his motor cycle (CH-03-F-1685) was stolen from near Airtel Office, Sector 8-C, yesterday. A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered in the Sector 3 police station.
|
|
Lottery stalls raided, six arrested
Zirakpur, October 28 A person claiming to be a journalist of a Hindi daily was also arrested. He, however, was later let off after questioning. A team of over 20 cops, including Punjab police commandos, arrested Praveen Kumar, Subhash Chand, Balbir Singh, Santosh Kumar, Shamsher Singh and Hans Raj while gambling at various lottery stalls. The police also impounded vehicles owned by the suspects. A case under Sections 420 and 406 of the IPC and the Gambling Act has been registered against them at the Dera Bassi police station.
Chemist arrested
The police has arrested Ashok Kumar Arora, a chemist, in a case of cheating and forgery. He was booked on a complaint of, Mr Naunihal Singh Sodhi, a property dealer. In his complaint to the police, Mr Sodhi, alleged that Arora did not pay a sum of Rs 2,80, 000 for a plot which he had purchased from him in January, 2004. Instead, the chemist made an agreement with a third party to sell the plot. The police today produced Arora before a court in Rajpura, which remanded him in judicial custody till November 9.
|
|
Porno CDs seized
Panchkula, October 28 A case has been registered against him at the Sector 19 police station. He was later producted in a court and was granted bail.
OC
|
Biz Clips Hutch TV: Hutch has launched the country’s first multi-channel mobile service. Hutch TV incorporates a unique service in which you can view clips of select programmes on your mobile phone from some 13 leading television channels. A demonstration of the new service was gvein by the company at different places in the city on Thursday. Mr Arun Kapoor, Chief Operating Officer, Hutch,Punjab circle, says, “We have offered multimedia mobile services such as cricket video clips, mobile gaming, polyphonic ringtones, click and print MMS. Now we can deliver video clips of longer duration allowing our viewers to view clips of their favourite serials, news bulletins, sports and life style events and travel programmes, while on move”. — TNS AirTel ‘Lakhon ki baat’: AirTel, on Thursday, announced the winner of the ‘AirTel Lakhon ki baat’ offer currently being held for its customer. Dalip Bhardwaj of Ambala is the winner. The offer makes one AirTel customer lakhpati daily and is open till October 28. Mr Ramneesh Mahajan, of Gurdaspur, and Mr Rajinder Makkar, of Shimla are other lakhpatis, from the region. — TNS Music released: For the first time, the music of a film, “Page 3”, was released on Thursday through a national video conferencing facility across 13 cities in India, including Chandigarh. Mediapersons also interacted with the team of “Page 3”. — TNS
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
