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Jacob may not be here, his heart still beats for city
Chandigarh, November 14 Still updated on the problems that mar the future prospects of Chandigarh’s football and hockey players, General Jacob is working hard to manage sponsorships for the Chandigarh Football and Hockey Academy. He has founded the academy during his tenure as UT Administrator. In a telephonic conversation with Chandigarh Tribune today, General Jacob said, “I was the chief guest at the All-India Inter-school Nehru Hockey Meet which concluded last evening at Delhi. I purposely went there to watch Chandigarh academy boys in action. They gave a tough fight to Jalandhar school boys before losing in the final.” He said it was praiseworthy that all top three positions in the Nehru hockey meet were wrested by boys from Chandigarh and Punjab. Keenly involved in sustaining the health of sports in Chandigarh, General Jacob said he wanted to do something for the academy boys. “I am trying to rope in a reputed soccer coach for them from Kolkata,” said General Jacob, who had made immense contribution to the cause of sports when he was the Administrator here. Discussing loopholes in hockey and football, General Jacob said though the boys were being groomed well, they needed more encouragement and exposure to various tournaments in India. This, he said, would boost the confidence of players. “While in Delhi, I always make it a point to watch the All-India Inter-school Subroto Soccer Meet and All-India Inter-school Nehru Hockey Meet.” When questioned about sponsorship for the academy, General Jacob said it was the Bank of Punjab that came forward in a big way to sponsor their academy three years ago. Former UT Administrator is still in touch with the bank officials, who have been asked to forward more funds for improving the academy. General Jacob said he had suggested to Mr KPS Gill, President, Indian Hockey Federation, to utilise the newly re-laid hockey turf in Chandigarh. “Gill liked the idea,” he said. No wonder Chandigarh is abuzz with hockey activity. India-Pakistan hockey Test was held recently besides many national camps. The recent decision of Spain hockey team to play at Chandigarh before proceeding to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy is also welcome. He said but there seemed some delay in floodlighting the hockey stadium at Sector 42 and said he would try to speak to the new incumbent on the same. General Jacob added that Union Sports Minister Sunil Dutt had promised to pay a visit to the academy in Sector 42. On his relationship with the newly appointed UT Administrator and Punjab Governor, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), he said they worked together and were on good terms. “Rodrigues is also a keen sports lover and I will try to brief him on various sports activities in Chandigarh.”
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Tragic outcome: Clash leads to death of 3-month-old
Panchkula, November 14 The incident took place last evening, when 10 youths started pelting stones at two residents of the colony. The clash started when a slum dweller objected to one of the youth picking up apples from his rehri, without paying for them. A 10-year-old girl, Sunita, along with her baby sister, Mamta, was standing nearby when the clash took place. A stone hurled by the youth hit Mamta on the head and the baby started bleeding profusely. The victim’s father, Maur Singh, and mother Sukh Devi, were inside their jhuggi when the clash took place. As Maur Singh rushed to save his children, another youth charged him with a lathi. He, along with some residents of the colony rushed the child to General Hospital here, and were later referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. The baby died on way to the hospital. While speaking to Chandigarh Tribune, the victim’s father, Maur Singh alleged that three of the accused had picked up some apples from the rehri of Mahinder Singh. He had asked his co-brother Pritam Singh to look after the rehri. He objected and a verbal duel ensued between the two sides. The three accused then went away but later returned with seven more persons. Without any provocation they started pelting stones at anyone who came forward to sort out the matter. Residents of the colony said the youths used to regularly visit a paan shop. They had noted down the registration number one of the accused and given it to the police. The police has registered a case under Sections 323, 304 and 34 of IPC against the youths.
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‘Matka’ racket unearthed
Chandigarh, November 14 Amarjeet Singh, alias Kala, of Ram Darbar, Phase II, was arrested along with gambling slips worth around Rs 20,000, sources said. “Matka” gambling has surfaced in the city after a long gap. The sources said the gambling had spread in the city earlier but local operators had to pack up in the wake of a police crackdown on them. According to the police, the public face of the racket,Amarjeet, known as Khaibaj in the gambling language, had links in Karnal and Delhi from where the kingpins of the racket have been working. Amarjeet told the Chandigarh Tribune that he used to give Rs 800 for Rs 10 staked in gambling between 1 and 100 numbers. The police is working to establish the agent’s links with the operators in Mumbai, Delhi and Karnal. Karnal is the regional hub of gambling near Chandigarh, the sources said. The police had recently been catching gamblers who played with cards but the catches had been very small. Generally, those arrested were found in possession of less than Rs 1,000. According to the police, people from low-income group had been staking claims with Amarjeet. Lucky number used to be sent to Karnal and Delhi.
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Woman killed in fire incident; husband, child injured
Mohali, November 14 The incident took place at about 11.30 p.m. last night when the family was having dinner. The police said Sapna was sitting next to a wall that had overhanging electricity wires. She got up and the wires seemed to have entangled, causing a short-circuit. “The short-circuit caused fire and her nylon saree was caught in the flames. She died on the spot,” said Mr Som Nath, the investigating officer in the case. Sapna’s husband tried to save her, but in the process burnt his face and arms. He was rushed to Civil hospital in Phase VI here in a serious condition. Barely able to talk, Sanjeev, however, managed to tell the police how the incident took place. He added that there was none to take care of his family in case he did not recover from his injuries. Sanjeev was shifted to the PGI late this evening. Sanjeev Kumar is a migrant from Bihar and working with a trading shop in Phase II. The police said his father and elder brother also live in the same colony. The four-year-old son of the couple had gone next door with his grandfather when the incident occurred. However, the couple ‘s six-month-old daughter, who was sleeping nearby, was also caught in the sparking and sustained injuries on her face. The police said Sanjeev Kumar’s family in Bihar had been informed through wireless and a telegram would also be sent tomorrow.
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1 held for attack on councillor
Zirakpur, November 14 According to the police, the armed assailants struck at the house of Ms Malik and assaulted her. They also snatched her gold chain and dragged her from hair. The “goons” entered into the councillor’s house in the absence of her husband, Mr Subhash Malik. In a complaint to the police, Mr Malik alleged that Pradeep and his brother Hardeep along with 10-12 persons entered into their house and assaulted his wife Manisha. Some of the assailants were guarding the house, while others assaulted his wife. “They assaulted me also when I tried to rescue Manisha from their clutches,” claimed Mr Malik. Residents of the locality alleged that Hardeep, Pradeep and some others indulged in arguments with Ms Malik and later attacked her. They fled from the spot after residents of nearby houses assembled at their house. The police has registered a case under Sections 452, 356, 323 and 149 of the IPC against Hardeep, Pradeep and four other unidentified assailants at the Lohgarh police post. The police today produced Hardeep before a court in Rajpura. He was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. Mr Satpal Sharma, in charge of the Lohgarh police post, said the police had laid a trap to nab Pradeep and his accomplice.
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South-East Asia new hub of militant
Islam: report
Chandigarh, November 14 Stating this in its latest report released last week, the Ministry of Defence has maintained that this has distracted international attention from Pakistani behaviour in its neighbourhood, particularly India and Afghanistan. Sunni resistance, radical Shia opposition and the opportunity provided by US-led action has resulted in new places in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Spain being added to the terrorist target map. Efforts by fundamentalist outfits to destabilise Central Asia, which is strategically important because of its location and energy assets, continue, with South-East Asia emerging as the new hub of militant Islam. Terming terrorism as India's primary and most immediate security threat, the report stated that the country's location at the centre of the arc of extremist activities and next to its epicenter in Pakistan, with its history to use it to wage a low-intensity proxy war, are among phenomenon India needs to guard against. India's rapid economic integration with Asia-Pacific also underpins a common interest with South-East and East Asia in the security of shipping and energy flow from the Western Indian Ocean to the Asia-Pacific region, the report stated. Stating evidence of an elaborate nuclear and missile trade involving North Korea and Pakistan as a matter of serious concern, the report added that revelations of involvement of top Pakistani scientists in clandestine nuclear and missile trade spanning several countries have proven Pakistan's deep involvement in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, which cannot be taken lightly. Terming Pakistan to be the source of infiltration, cross border terrorism,
revanchism, military adventurism and nuclear and missile threats, the report has also voiced concern over internal stability in Pakistan on account of sectarian conflict and promotion of fundamentalist forces. Efforts at dealing with them have been partial and
selective. sOn Afghanistan, where India has a deep economic and strategic interest, the report stated that there had been some deterioration in the internal security situation, with small groups of fighters being infiltrated into Afghanistan with the intention of fermenting instability. Elsewhere in the region, the report has blamed Bangladesh for not being responsive to India's concerns regarding the presence and activities of insurgent groups and the ISI on Bangladeshi soil, large-scale illegal immigration and border crimes. It has also raised concern at recent developments in Nepal, particularly the growing influence of Maoists and their links with left extremist outfits, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, which pose varying security challenges. On the Chinese front, the report said that though relations between the two countries were improving, China's close defence relationship with Pakistan, including assistance in missile and nuclear programmes, its military build-up in the Tibet Autonomous Region and rapid military modernisation needed to be observed.
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Sikri for monthly monitoring of sex
ratio
Chandigarh,
November 14 Addressing a function organised by the Directorate of Census Operations, Punjab, Mr Sikri expressed concern at the low-level of death registration (86 per cent) in the state. The registration of infant deaths, which was only about 25 per cent, was another cause of concern for the state. Complimenting Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for doing well in the national campaign to issue birth certificates, which was launched on Children’s Day last year, Mr Sikri said that the birth registration established the identity of the child and was recognised as his right under the UN Convention on Rights of Child, 1989. He said during the past one year, about 2.5 crore birth certificates had been issued in the country. Punjab had made landmark changes in the civil registration system by transferring the work from the police stations to the gram panchayats and making the birth certificates compulsory for admission to the schools, he added. Mr
Sikri, along with Mr Jai Singh Gill, Punjab Chief Secretary, released a souvenir “National campaign to issue birth certificates—five million plus birth registrations in Punjab: a success story”. Mr Gill distributed state-level awards to some DCs, Civil Surgeons, who are also District Registrars of Births and Deaths, District Health Officers, and officials of the Census Department for their services in the campaign. He urged them to achieve 100 per cent registration in the years to come. Earlier, Mr Inderjit Singh, Director Census Operations, Punjab, presented a brief report on the implementation of the campaign.
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Separate Sikh personal law sought
Chandigarh, November 14 All historic gurdwaras and other places had been replaced with marble monuments, he added. " After seeing such marble buildings, no one would believe that Sahibzadas were bricked alive in a wall. The original wall and other historic buildings had disappeared and in their place marble gurdwara buildings had come up at Fatehgarh Sahib", he added. He said that Sikh leaders had not tried to understand the importance of the heritage. No effort was being made to reach out to the soul of the Gurbani. Many of the scholars were only confining themselves to explain the literal meaning of the Gurbani. And they were creating a lot of confusion and controversies about the Sikh religious scriptures in the process, he added. Scholars should not go by the literal meanings of the Gurbani but try to decode its real meaning to explain it in the wider perspective, he added. He said that the Sikh Gurus made all efforts to spread the message of the Gurbani all round while most of the present-day scholars were trying to confine the message only to a limited circle", he added. He said while pursuing their narrow political ambitions, Sikh leaders got Punjab, which at one point of the history had a domination in this region, pruned to a smallest state. He said that no one should expect martyrdom from majority of the Sikh leaders, who took little time to sacrifice Sikh principles to serve their vested interests. Among others, who spoke at the seminar were Dr Sukhdial Singh, Dr Harnam Singh Shan, Ms Prabhjot Singh, Mr Jaswant Singh, and Mr Gurdev Singh. At the end, Bhai Ashok Singh
Bagrian, Vice-President of the institute made an appeal to extend financial help to the institute for taking up various research projects regarding Sikh heritage, history and philosophy. As a spokesman of the Institute, he also demanded the enactment of a separate Sikh personal law for maintaining the separate identity of the Sikhs.
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Draft for setting up of Sikh
confederation released
Chandigarh, November 14 At the concluding session of its two-day seminar, the institute released the proposed draft for the constitution of the
ISC, seeking comments, suggestions and views on it from all concerned. The draft is an outcome of the prolonged discussion of various panthic organisations on the issue. It has been written by Gen Kartar Singh (retd), Dr
G.S. Kalkat and Dr Kharak Singh with the cooperation of Mr Gurdev Singh, president of the institute, and other scholars. The institute has made it clear that the ISC in no way supplant or dilute any existing panthic organisation such as the SGPC, Akali
Dals, etc. The ISC will reflect the collective thinking of the Panth. It will like that all existing or future organisations of the panth move together in the direction pointed out by the ISC and work for the achievement of the common goals in a coordinated manner. Earlier, the SGPC was asked to take initiative to set up such a body. But it did not take any step in this direction. For the past several years a view has been emerging, especially among the Sikhs, who are settled in various others states beyond Northern India and abroad, that the SGPC had failed to live up to their expectations. They have the view that the SGPC represents only Sikhs of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and has been playing limited role though it projects itself as the Parliament of Sikhs. Actually, it is an elected body of Sikhs of these states and has no representation of Sikhs from other parts of the country and abroad. Keeping in view this, the demand for setting up the ISC had arisen. Even, two Takhts are beyond the orbit of the SGPC, while Delhi Sikhs have their own gurdwara management committee and Haryana Sikhs are demanding a separate such entity. The enactment of all Sikh gurdwara Act is hanging fire for many decades. Whether the SGPC authorities would digest the coming up of such a body? It is a big question. The SGPC is such a well entrenched highly politicised body that it would not let go its stranglehold and monopoly over the Sikh affairs and not allow the emergence of any other institution having the potential to overshadow it in due course of time. Obviously, apprehending some sort of adverse reaction, the management of the institute made it clear today that the ISC would work in coordination with the SGPC and not in any manner play a confrontational role. In fact, the SGPC has been given adequate space in the proposed set-up of the confederation, which will have a governing council of 200 members. Of these, 60 members will be from the SGPC, 50 from various Sikh institutions, 45 from Sikh diaspora, 10 from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, 30 from various states in the country and five from the Takhts. It has been proposed that the Jathedars of the takhts will be permanent invitees to the governing council. In deference to their exalted status in the Panth, they will not be involved in the voting process. Each one of them may preside over the meetings by rotation. The governing council may request the Jathedar of Akal Takht to chair its general body meetings. A 25-member executive committee and five advisory councils on media, education and social, religious, economic and international affairs have also been proposed in the draft. The break-up of members, representing Sikhs settled in the USA, Canada, Europe, West Asia, South Asia, South-East Asia, etc have also been given in the draft. It also includes all details regarding membership and other aspects of the
ISC.
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MC poll Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 14 In the ward with more than 21,000 population, the fate of the three main contenders, Congress-candidate Mr H.S. Lucky, the president of the local unit of the Youth Congress, Mr Girdhari Lal Jindal of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and Mr O.P. Verma of the Chandigarh Vikas Manch, will be decided by government employees who form the majority of the population. Mr Verma and Mr Jindal, are banking and propagating their ‘insider theory’ to garner support of residents and are claiming to have their roots in the ward. Whereas the Congress rule at the Centre and support of the local Congress MP makes, Mr H.S. Lucky, a strong contender. However, what goes against, Mr Lucky, is the factionalism within the Congress and the protests within the party over his selection. Claimants for the party ticket, residing in the ward which go to polls, have openly expressed their resentment over the allotment of the party ticket to him. Since the seat fell vacant after BJP-councillor, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, resigned to pick up a party assignment in Haryana, Mr Jindal is in an advantageous position. However, Mr Verma, a candidate in the MC election last time as well, had defeated, Mr Gupta, by a margin of nearly 50 votes. Meanwhile, today, the Congress candidate formally launched his election campaign in Sector 20. Accompanied by local Member of Parliament, Mr Pawan Bansal, and the Mayor, Ms Kamlesh, he sought vote and support of the residents. The BJP opened an election office in the Sector 20 market which was inaugurated by the chairman of the Market Welfare Association, Mr Kastoori Lal, in the presence of senior leaders of the party.
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Vultures sighted in Punjab, Himachal areas
About vultures Vultures are significant to the eco system as they scavenge on dead animals before they rot. They clean the surroundings of rotting meat and foul smell emitted by dead animals and put a check on diseases and harmful bacteria by disposing of waste. Now the birds are struggling for existence and are hardly seen on scavenging sites where dead cattle are skinned. In one of the World Wars vultures were caught from India and were released in areas where several dead soldiers were lying. The nature's way of cleaning the earth has once been disturbed by man once again. Scientific evidence indicates that Dicafenac (a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) used on cattle and other farm animals is responsible for vultures' decline to such a threatening extent. Other reasons are destruction of nesting sites and killing of the birds for clearance of airways for aircrafts.
Chandigarh, November 14 While the first search conducted in Kangra in Himachal resulted in the spotting of 200 birds, another one made in Pathankot in Punjab ended with the sighting of 215 birds. This is the first vulture sighting in Pathankot. Earlier, Punjab has recorded small vulture population near Ferozepur cant, Khemkaran and Majitha. Given the fact that the last census of wild animals/ birds in Punjab places the numbers of The White Backed Vulture (Cryps bengalensis) at 40, the new sightings are "significant". Bird Life International's Red Data Book on the Threatened Birds of Asia places vultures on the critically endangered list which has 10 species. The sightings have been made by Mr S.S. Bajwa, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Gurdaspur. The Warden's first search ended on November 10 at Kotla Teh-Jawali in Kangra, 35 km from the Punjab border with Himachal. The birds were first spotted on a barren hillock. Immediately 175 could be counted. Sharing the information exclusively with The Tribune, Mr Bajwa said, "They were all over in the sky, on the trees, on the hillock. Another flock was scavenging on a dead cow." In Kangra, the vultures nest in pine trees in the surrounding hills and scavenge on dead animals in the area. A successful search in Himachal Pradesh meant the birds were also present in nearby Punjab as it would be within the flying range of the birds spotted in Kangra. The search in Punjab ended on November 13 near the Mamon cantonment area along the Chakki river in Pathankot. near Narainpur village, 10 to 12 birds were sighted. Some were seen while descending into the river bed near Narainpur. A spot check resulted in sightings of 50 birds seen bathing and drying their feathers. Another 100 were flying. Interestingly, since the birds were bathing and drying their feathers, they allowed the search team to close in and capture them on the video and still camera. In all, 215 vultures were sighted on this spot. The sightings have been placed on record with Punjab Wildlife Department officials who have expressed the hope in the rise in vulture population in Punjab.
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RTYC activists begin week-long fast
Chandigarh, November 14 The protest is a part of the campaign by various Tibetan non-governmental organisations all over the world to press for his immediate release. The protest organised by the local chapter is also demanding the release of all other political prisoners of Tibet. Today’s protest began with a procession from Panjab University which went all over Sectors 14, 15 and 16 before culminating at the plaza in Sector 17. Later, the activists began the fast which will continue till November 20. During the week, the Tibetan activists, along with Indian and foreign supporters, will carry out demonstrations around the city, organise signature campaigns, distribute pamphlets and hold photo exhibitions and video screenings. The RTYC spokesperson said the case and death sentence of Tenzin Delik was the culmination of a decade-long effort by the Chinese authorities to curb his efforts to
foster Tibetan Buddhism. Claiming that Delik had been “wrongly condemned, unfairly tried and unlawfully sentenced to death for crimes he did not commit”, the RTYC activists called upon China to respect the fundamental human rights
in Tibet.
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Territorial Cong celebrates Nehru’s birth anniversary
Chandigarh, November 14 Local Congress leaders paid floral tributes to Pandit Nehru's portrait and recalled his contribution towards building an independent India. The CTCC president, Mr B.B. Bahl, said Pandit Nehru was a true follower of Mahatma Gandhi, who contributed significantly towards India's struggle for Independence. Mr Bahl added that it was due to Pandit Nehru's policy of peaceful co-existence that the country had flourished after Independence and attained all-round self-dependency. Among those who were present on the occasion were Mr Surinder Bhatia, Mr Jagat Sharma and Ms Rajni Talwar, the councillors, Mr Chander Mukhi Sharma, Ms Shyama Negi, Mr Surinder Singh, Mr Kudip Singh and the NSUI president, Mr Nitin Goyal. Meanwhile,as a part of the Children's Day celebrations, the Chandigarh Postal Division organised the "design a stamp contest 2004" at Government Museum and Art Gallery here today. According to a press note, the first prize was won by Bharti Sharma, a student of Carmel Convent School, Sector 9. Tushar Khanna, a student of St. John High School,Sector 26, and Jagbir Singh of Shishu Niketan,Sector 22, won the second and third prizes, respectively. Over 100 students participated in the contest, which was judged by Dr V.N. Singh, Museum Director, Mr Rakesh Walia, and Mr Nirmaljit Singh, Senior Superintendent, Department of Posts and Telegraph. A sale counter for opening of philatelic deposit account and sale of postage stamps was also set by the Philatelic Bureau.
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Children’s Day celebrated
Chandigarh, November 14 Meanwhile, the Children’s Day was celebrated at Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sector 25, here today. A Children Science Congress was organised on the occasion. Mr M.L. Sharma, Deputy Director of the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, was also present. More than 120 students from 40 different institutions participated.
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Puaadhi Punjabi Sath honours literary figures
Mohali, November 14 The awards were presented by a noted scholar and the chief guest, Dr Karnail Singh Thind. Mr Mota Singh Sarai was the guest of honour. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Manmohan Singh Daon, president of the sath, said these awards would be an annual feature. Those from the Puaadhi speaking area, who had gained prominence in fields like fine arts, culture, journalism, literature etc, would be encouraged through these awards.
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Seminar on the role of media
Chandigarh, November 14 Titled "National strategy : Role of media", the first day of the seminar will be devoted to "National strategy and its manifestations for conflict resolution" .
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3 more in PGI with burn injuries
Chandigarh, November 14 According to doctors attending to patients at the male surgical ward, especially set up to attend to emergency cases, so far 10 patients have been operated upon and 10 patients continue to be critical in critical condition. Two children suffering from a bow that had pierced their eyes were admitted to the hospital.
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Boy held for rape bid, remanded
Chandigarh, November 14 Rakesh has been arrested and sent to judicial custody. He has been booked under Sections 376 and 511 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). At the time of the incident the mother of Rakesh had gone to her village and his father was away from home.
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2 thieves held, stolen goods recovered
Mohali, November 14 The police said the two had been active in Mohali for the past many months. While one carried out the thefts acting as a rickshaw-puller, the other helped him carry the stolen property in his cart. The two would roam about in the residential areas and look for houses where there was no activity and the owners were away. Then they would use nut and bolt openers to steal grills, side gates and other metal stuff, the police said. The two were remanded in two days’ police custody today by a Kharar court.
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Old man, granddaughters assaulted
Lalru, November 14 The persons, who were allegedly playing a CD player at a very high volume after drinking, assaulted Mr Ujagar Singh, and his granddaughters, Sandeep and Mandeep. Ujagar Singh was admitted to a Dera Bassi hospital. On the complaint of, Mr Ujagar Singh, the police has booked Sukhvinder Singh, Surinder Singh, Tarlochan Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Nirmail Singh and Avtar Singh at the Lalru police station. OC
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25-year-old killed in accident
Chandigarh, November 14 Vishal’s motor-cycle collided head on with a Sumo driven by Sharafat Khan. He was taken to the
GMCH, Sector-32, where doctors declared him brought dead. The accused, also a resident of Sector 30, was arrested but released on bail later on.
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