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It was Harneet, confirms Raju
Chandigarh, May 14 The statement of the salesman was recorded in the presence of his counsel. Sources in the Crime Branch said Raju during his one-hour-long interrogation revealed that Harneet had taken the stolen garments from him on three different occasions. His revelations corroborated with the statement recorded by Nand Kumar, night watchman, with the police earlier, said an official in the Crime Branch. It cannot be confirmed whether the police identified the second woman accompanying Harneet on the morning of April 17. Telephone calls screened by the police is learnt to have revealed that a number of calls were exchanged between Harneet and the second woman, who is said to be a schoolteacher. The woman has a Spice mobile connection. As per the permission to interrogate Raju, Section 167 of the CrPC allows presence of the defence counsel during the interrogation of an accused in judicial lock-up. Sources said before issuing any arrest warrants the police wants to be sure on all aspects pertaining to the case. It is learnt that the police reconstructed the sequence of events in the light of the statements given by the salesman, watchman, owner of the shop, manager and the Deputy Mayor. Meanwhile, it is learnt that parents of Raju met him twice in the jail. Meanwhile, forensic experts said sample of the clothes worn by the thief, including the traces of sweat on the parts of garments, could be matched with that of the suspect(s).
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Bearing the cross of motherhood
Chandigarh, May 14 ‘‘They call it celebration but its futility cannot be understated. We have among us hapless women like Rosy who was found abandoned at a gurdwara in Sector 8 two years ago. Her only son had had the heart to turn his 90- year- old mother out of the house, and never look back. There are others like me who have put up with a life of indignation for 15 years. What can a Mother's Day mean to us?’’ asks an old woman whose son disappeared after leaving her at a bus stand in a Punjab town. Housed in the Sector 15 Old Age Home, which was the venue of Mother's Day celebrations by some private individuals today, this woman, like many others, hates to buy the idea of momentary happiness. She would rather find solace in her pain than borrow joys that must end with at the stroke of dusk. And her thought is reasonably argued: ‘‘We should not been seen as normal people in normal surroundings. Our history is one of despair and anyone wishing to approach us must bear our history in mind. We are not psychologically prepared for certain things, which come as little less than surprises to us on a day like Mother's Day. This morning some people came and presented a play on the relevance of Shravan in today's material world. They showed how Shravans live only in fables. But why should they show such things to us? Should they not know we are the best witnesses to the truth that Shravans no longer exist? Why repeat something that can be potentially damaging for someone's psyche?" the old woman said, demanding anonymity lest she be dubbed a cynic. In another corner, Rosy sat silently, unable to react to her situation. When The Tribune reported her plight two years ago, she was well into clinical depression. Her situation remains the same, with the exception that she does attempt to run away from the home now. When she was rehabilitated at the Sector 15 Home with efforts by the Chandigarh Social Welfare Department, she was not
On Mother's Day, Rosy shows no special signs of recovery, expect that she has learnt to resign to her fate. Her celebration had ended the day her Nabha-based son washed his hands off his filial responsibilities. Now she must endure the remaining days and that's what she is doing. Small wonder the projection of Shravan did not impress her much this morning. Just as it did not impress many other old mothers who wanted to be left alone with their pain today. One of them said, "Hype should not be patronised to an extent that it becomes a cause of distress for somebody. For the organisers of today's celebrations perhaps, it would have been a better idea to fashion the event differently - to take the focus away from what is so very evident, and talk of issues that can better the lot of old, abandoned women who also happen to be mothers like us." The portrayal of the legendary Shravan naturally meant nothing to the women in Old Age Home who have endured a lifetime without one. For them, a genuinely inspired visit and a few warm gestures of love would have sufficed.
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Fighting social evils with gizmos
Chandigarh, May 14 The only difference in the e-generation, from the youth swayed by socialism in the 70s, or the unrest in the youth of the 90s that would often spill on to the streets, is that they believe in fighting social evils, or raising protest by use of their must-have gizmos — cell phones and laptops/ note books. “We believe in India, and look forward to making a change and being a part of the country’s development. We cannot just dissociate ourselves from the real issues. So we have devised our own tools and methods of getting our voice across to the powers that be,” says Nirpdeep Singh, a local resident and student of a private dental college in Ludhiana. For proof, check this out. Earlier this year, when the Jessica Lall murder case verdict was announced, irate youth set up many a blog and sent umpteen messages on the cellphone to friends and family, asking them to rebel against the verdict. In the city, the youth launched an sms campaign against the main accused, Manu Sharma, and his family, with messages beeping on the cell for almost a fortnight after the verdict, asking the receivers not to patronize the cinema hall, hotel and pub being run by his family. More recently, the government’s decision to increase reservation for backward classes in higher seats of learning, too, saw many a blog being created where the youth gave vent to their anger against “sacrificing merit to garner votes”. Says Aditi Mehra, an engineering student of Bharatiya Vidyapeeth, Pune, who is visiting her parents here, “Our generation does not believe in fighting it out on the streets. But this does not mean that we do not care about these things. All my friends have been in touch on this issue, besides having launched an sms campaign.”
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RBI asks banks to ensure no fake currency in ATMs
This cell will disseminate RBI instructions to all branches on counterfeit currency; monitor the implementation of these instructions; compile centralised data on all counterfeit notes detected on monthly basis and report the same to the RBI and the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB). The cell will share details of all cases of acceptance, issue of counterfeit notes over the counters, with the Central Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the bank.
Chandigarh, May 14 While asking banks to stock their ATMs with good quality genuine bank notes, the RBI has said disbursement of counterfeit currency through the ATMs would be treated as an attempt by the bank concerned to circulate counterfeit currency. Banks have been asked to examine all notes received (to see if they are genuine), and ensure that in no case counterfeit bank notes are mixed up with the cash issued to the public or remittances sent to other bank branches/ RBI offices. With RBI offices, too, receiving counterfeit notes through remittances sent to them by currency chest branches, the RBI is considering to impose penalty for the value of counterfeit bank notes detected in the remittances. Banks have also been directed to register FIRs in respect of all cases of counterfeit bank notes received by them. Particulars of the tenderer (one who submits the note), and his statement as to how he came in possession of the counterfeit note, has to be forwarded to police authorities. These notes will be forwarded to local police for investigation, and a copy of the FIR shall be sent to the Forged (Counterfeit) Banknote Vigilance Cell, at the head office of the bank. In case of detection in the treasury branches, FIRs will have to be sent to the Issue Office concerned of the RBI. These notes cannot be simply destroyed by the bank branches / treasuries, or returned to the tenderer. Banks have also been asked to ensure that all bank branches are equipped ultra-violet lamps to detect the counterfeit currency. All currency chest branches should be equipped with verification processing and sorting machines.
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Passing thru
Classical music has failed to catch the fancy of masses. What have you to say on this?
In fact, classical music was never the music of the masses. This kind of music had and will always have a special class of audience. You have been an accomplished music teacher. Your comments on the state of music teaching? Concerted efforts must be made to revive the quality music teaching in educational institutions. Currently, music teaching has failed to keep pace with the changing times. Any innovation teaching methods introduced at the APJ College? The college has been a pioneer in introducing audio-visual teaching for music students. Besides, great stress is being laid on the training of students in practical aspects of music and related fields so that they could be gainfully employed after the completion of their studies. How do you view fusion music? A lot of experimentation is going on in the field of music. However, like yoga, Indian classical music will ultimately survive various onslaughts. Which kind of music could be the music of the masses? Devotional music has staged a come back time and again. Being associated with religion, devotional music is the music of the masses. — Pradeep Sharma
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Substitution policy opens Pandora’s box
Chandigarh, May 14 With even the notification on the policy yet to see the light of day, the quarters concerned, including the functionaries of the Administration, continue to be in the dark. And in the process, hundreds of substitute members continue to be at their wits end about the ownership of their dwelling units. The proposed draw of lots for the 65 original members of the Universal Cooperative House Building Society, Sector 48, slated for tomorrow, which has the blessings of the Administration, is all set to deliver another blow to the substitute
members. In fact, a case for the regularisation of the substitute members of the society is also slated to come up before a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court tomorrow where the president of the society had also been summoned to explain his position. Meanwhile, substitute members of the society held a meeting at the society’s site in Sector 48 where the decision to allow the draw of lots came in for severe criticism. The members demanded a probe into the matter of allowing the draw of lots for only original members even when the Administration had come out with the substitution policy. Aggrieved at the decision, the members had met various functionaries of the Administration during the past few days to allow draw of lots for all members. The draw of lots for the original members should be postponed till a clear-cut decision on the issue was given by the high court, the members argued. Recently, an order of the Administration made it clear that “for the benefit of the members of societies, the decision regarding the substitution of membership has been left to be taken by the respective societies in their general body meetings provided such decisions were consistent with the provisions of the Cooperative Societies Act and other rules and regulations.” “In fact, our society had substituted members as per provisions of the bylaws of the society and directions of the department concerned from time to time,” claimed Mr Kuldip Singh, a member of the society, who had petitioned the high court. “Our membership was approved by the general body at its meeting held on July 18 last year,” he added. Several house building societies were at the “draw stage”, but in the absence of the substitution policy, the draws had not been held so far. Hundreds of completed dwelling units were gathering dust and awaiting allotment. In fact, there was a lot of pressure on the Administration from various sections of society, including politicians and the media, to frame a policy. The Administration, which till recently, had been dragging its feet on issue, has finally relented bowing to pressure from different quarters.
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28 found misusing farm land
Chandigarh, May 14 The report prepared by the Administration said over 24 residents of the village are running 30 marble shops on the land meant for agricultural purposes. Many of these residents have given chunks of agricultural land on rent to marble dealers. Of the 28 persons figuring in the report, 16 have constructed hutments on their land, which have been further rented out to migrant labourers. Some of them have reportedly raised cattle sheds, which have also been given on rent to other persons. One of the persons figuring in the report has been running a workshop and a cement store on the agricultural land. The report also mentions that junk, gravel and construction material dealers, dhabas and meat shops have come up on these lands recently. The Administration has sought help from Chandigarh Police to get rid of such illegal constructions. The report further says that not only furniture dealers, but a school has also been running in the area, besides shops of scooter repair and cattle fodder dealers. It is also mentioned in the report that houses No. 637, 136, 666, 690, 790, 656 and 808 are using the public park in Milk Colony at Dhanas village for personnel work. Besides, an unauthorised religious structure has also been constructed in this colony. The report further mentions four houses in the colony, whose owners have illegally constructed 19 shops to give these on rent. These shops have been constructed in the lanes falling in 800 and 900 number series. In the adjoining Dadu Majra village also illegal construction on agricultural land is rampant. It is learnt that a nursery school, three marbles shops, besides construction material and junk dealers are operating from agricultural lands.
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Where traffic jams are routine
Chandigarh, May 14 While the road leading to the IT park from the railway station traffic lights has been widened, the road leading to the Modern Housing Complex has been neglected. As a result the alternative link to Mani Majra from Chandigarh has become a traffic bottleneck. Residents of the area complain that since over 14 trains daily run on this rail section, the level crossing remains closed at regular intervals throughout the day, for about four hours. The problem has worsened with the double-laning of the road leading to the IT park. During the rush hours in the morning and evening most road users prefer to use the road behind the Modern Housing Complex. But as the signal is down long queues of vehicles leads to traffic jams. “Since there is no demarcation for the two-way traffic on both sides of the level crossing, vehicles are parked haphazardly when the signal at the level crossing is down,” said Mr Ritesh, a resident of Mani Majra. He said the Administration should widen the road from the park turning towards the police station, which ultimately leads to Fun Republic.
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These lights add to your darkness!
Chandigarh, May 14 There have been complaints by residents from many sectors that the street lights remain lighted much beyond daylight. Such incidents have been reported from roads around Sector 38 (West) and those leading to Mohali. Today, Chandigarh Tribune photographer captured glowing street lights around 4 pm on the road dividing Panjab University and Sector 15. Despite repeated attempts, Mr A.K Singla, Executive Engineer of the Chandigarh MC, was not available for comments. The responsibility of the street lights on this road lies with his staff. Incidentally, the entire road has got new lamps recently. According to available data, the city needs 190 MW during peak hours. The UT has no power generation of its own and is entirely dependent upon allocation from the BBMB and various Central power projects. In the past six months, the Centre has withdrawn 22.5 MW of power which was being received from the eastern grid. In addition, unallocated quota of 55-88 MW from Central-generating units has been curtailed to 0-66 MW. As a result, the availability of power in the UT is ranging between 80-140 MW against the peak demand of 190 MW, said an official. Mr Sunil, a resident of Sector 38 (West), said despite power cuts, street lights remained on till 8 am and were switched on much before sunset. The residents demand that in light of the cuts, the supply to the street lights should be strictly need based.
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Indians can cut cost of houses by 40 pc: expert
Chandigarh, May 14 Mr Rajeev K Saini, a local architect, is handling a building project in China. He is working as consultant of Construction Guys, an Ontario- based company in Canada which has taken housing projects there. He is also handling one project near Boxhill in Victoria(Australia).The Townshed Homes Group of Australia is building the housing project there. Mr Saini, who has worked in several projects in Delhi, Chandigarh, Mohali and Zirakpur, says that Indian architects are in great demand abroad because they are very hard working and creative. To handle any housing project, an architect is supposed to be creative, imaginative and cost conscious, he added. He has lots of complaints with regard to the way houses are being constructed in this country. Faulty construction, use of substandard and outdated equipment, excessive use of building material like cement, steel and concrete, minimum attention to detail and utilisation aspect of building are the deficiencies he points out. " At least 30 to 40 per cent cost can be cut on housing projects by appropriate utilisation of building material and houses can be made to last longer ", says Mr Saini, who graduated from Indian Institute of Architects, Mumbai, in 1988. He has been to Singapore, Malaysia and several other countries to study structure of
buildings. Why twin towers collapsed following attack, he is studying this issue. He says that traditional heavy bricks were out of fashion in most parts of the world. Light weather resistant bricks made from fly ash were used in most of the countries. He said that the world over light structures were being preferred. Obviously, light material is used to construct them, he added. While building houses, in China, Canada, Australia and other advanced countries top priority was given to make those houses suitable to all kinds of weather conditions. Energy saving is also important aspect of all housing projects in advanced countries. Shanghai has impressed him most as far as modern cities of the world are concerned. While in India, post-construction maintenance of houses and other buildings is a major factor, there is no such thing abroad. "One does not require any sort of maintenance of a house once it is constructed, while in India every third or fourth year one has go for a fresh coat of whitewash or enamel paints", asserted Mr Saini, who claims to have played a major role in framing the building bylaws of housing societies in Chandigarh and introduced the concept of sloping roofs in housing projects of societies in the City Beautiful. " I got the rules framed with regard to the sloping roofs in 1996", he adds. He said many new concepts such as balanced houses were required to be introduced to make houses earthquake resistant. Light structures should be preferred. In fact, the government should frame rules with regard to the use of material to reduce the construction cost, he adds. Mr Saini, who is a member of the Institute of Valuers and has won several awards like the Bharat Jyoti Award, says that he had introduced ideas brought from abroad in housing projects at Mohali, Chandigarh and Zirakpur and intends to do more on this front. He is also innovator and installer of world's biggest ceiling fan of 40 feet dia and 40 feet high.The fan can provide air to 1,000 persons.
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CORE helpline a hit with consumers
Chandigarh, May 14 Besides providing other services, CORE allows consumers to file complaints through its forum free of cost by simply logging onto their website
www.core.nic.in. CORE then takes up the complaint with the company or individual. The CORE site reads, "Once you have decided to lodge your complaint all you have to do is to simply select the head under which your complaint would fall. For example, if you wish to register a complaint about a defective television set, all you have to do is to select the box marked 'Product'. Then choose 'Television' from the sub-category given below". This section of the CORE Centre can be used to file complaints against all types of manufacturers and service providers whether public or private. However, for complaints against a government department / ministry, apart from using this section you can also click on this link to lodge your complaint with the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances. A CORE volunteer said the helpline service had tremendous response and people from all walks of life and different parts of the country were approaching CORE through their helpline to seek guidance on consumer affairs. He said, "those unsure what to do about a defective equipment or deficiency and those who do not have access to a Internet connection can also call the CORE service helpline on a toll free number 1-800-114000". The currently run consumer campaigns include electricity regulation, issues pertaining to counterfeit, adulterated and spurious products in the market, genetically modified foods, unsolicited phone calls and medical negligence etc. The CORE is very vocal in highlighting the Supreme Court direction of February 7, 2005, in a public interest litigation (PIL) to stop "the menace of unsolicited marketing calls that are becoming an increasingly common problem for all cell phone users and consumers". The organisation encourages people to come forward with complaints relating to deficiency in services, bad products etc and tells the people to fight for their consumer rights. "When you pay for a service or a product, it is your right to demand satisfaction from the service or quality of the product", is the message that most people who contact CORE get.
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’84 riot victims seek Rs 2 lakh relief for each family
Mohali , May 14 The general secretary of the committee, Mr D.P.S.Pasricha, said today that before migrating, if families were living separately but due to circumstances began living as one unit, they should be considered as separate units . He said the reason was they had been issued separate red cards even if the relationship was of father and son . The committee said the government could withhold compensation to such father –son units where the son was a minor at the time of the issuing of the card and also had his name on his father’s card. The committee said it was shocking that the government had itself given orders for the issuing of the cards in the year 2001 but now was objecting to those cards. The committee also sought the deployment of additional staff at Ropar in order to speed up the work of issuing of duplicate cards and prevent harassment to the riot victims.
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Visually challenged threaten stir
Chandigarh, May 14 He charged the government with adopting the politics of vote bank, adding that despite several memoranda to different departments, including the Chief Minister’s office, nothing had happened. Their demands include proper implementation of reservation in jobs and educational institutions and to improve the condition of institutions meant for them.
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Sri Sri’s birthday celebrated
Panchkula, May 14 The larger than life image of the head of the Art of Living permeated the environment as the doyen of devotional music, Chitra Roy, took centrestage only to spell magic with her mellifluous voice. After a rousing welcome by devotees and the Panchkula chapter of the Art of Living, Chitra commenced the devotional concert with an invocatory “Jai Shiv Onkara...” Accompanied by a repertoire of 20 artistes on stage, Chitra presented shabad and bhajan in laudation of Sri Sri Ravi Shanker. Vivek Sharda, Renu Dua, Neera Oberio, Krishna Oberio and Sumedha provided vocal support to Chitra.
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Sector 20 residents stage dharna
Panchkula, May 14 Mr Sushil Garg and Mr Jai Bhagwan Garg, president and convener of the mandir action committee, respectively, contested the justification of allotment of site by the HUDA to a society. They said the committee was ready to make the full payment for the site as fixed by the HUDA. They demanded an inquiry into the alleged allotment.
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Mani Majra motor market founder dead
Chandigarh, May 14
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Gold, cash worth Rs 1 lakh stolen
Mohali , May 14 It is reported that the theft took place when the owner of the house, Mr Chhinder Singh, had gone to his furniture shop in Lakhnour village and his daughter-in-law was out of station. Mr Chhinder Singh had left his house around 9 am and when he came back to his house after 8 pm he noticed that a theft had taken place. The thieves had entered the premises from the back courtyard and then gained entry into the building by breaking the iron grills of the bedroom window. The whole house was ransacked. Mr Raj Kumar Garg, press secretary of the Residents Welfare Association of the area, said several thefts had taken place in the area but the police failed to take action. He alleged that the police patrolling was inadequate in the area. He said after the
double murder in the Phase IV on May 3 residents here felt concerned about their security.
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Man duped of Rs 5 lakh
Chandigarh, May 14 Giving details of the case, sources in the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Chandigarh police said, Mr Mohinder Singh of Mohali district alleged that Gurpal Singh of phase VII and Shiv Lal of Ambala district had taken Rs 5 lakh from him as token money in March this year for selling a 512 kanal plot located near Chitkara Engineering College, Banur. The money was handed over to the accused in a Sector 21 house. The sources said the two parties are into property dealing business. The deal was fixed for about Rs 28 crore. The complainant later came to know that the land belonged to someone else and he was cheated by the accused. The matter was reported to the police and a case of cheating, criminal conspiracy under various provisions of the IPC was registered. No arrest has so far been made in this connection, said police officer in the EOW. Vehicle stolen:
Minor girl abducted:
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Two arrested for fighting at club
Chandigarh, May 14 Giving details, sources in the Sector 3 police station said Mr Sandeep Walia, president of Northern India Stock Exchange, had entered into an argument with Mr Dalip Singh, who was defeated by Mr Walia in the last elections of the stock exchange, which had turned violent. Both parties lodged complaints against each other. They were arrested after registration of cases. The police said Mr Walia had alleged in his complaint that he was sitting with his wife in the club, when at around 11 pm, Mr Dalip Singh, accompanied by three-four persons, came to him and started abusing him. He further alleged that when their heated argument turned violent Mr Dalip Singh allegedly picked up a glass and hurled it at Mr Walia, injuring him. A case under Sections 323, 341, 506 and 34 of the IPC has been registered against Mr Dalip Singh on Mr Walia’s complaint. Mr Dalip Singh alleged that Mr Walia thrashed him and also threatened him. The police has booked Mr Walia under Sections 323, 506 and 34 of the IPC. The SHO of the Sector 3 police station said taking cognisance of the issue both parties had been booked. He added, “The X-ray reports are awaited. If something serious like fractures comes up in reports, appropriate sections will be subsequently introduced in the charge-sheet. Both accused will be produced before a local court tomorrow”, he added.
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