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Foreigners to be under Admn scanner
Chandigarh, December 9 Special care will be taken to tabulate data regarding the number of detention made, bails granted and convictions secured. This data will
be made a part of a Central Pool for national networking. The formal communication of the Ministry of Home addressed to Home Secretary said ‘‘the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS), in a recent meeting, has directed that the existing laws for controlling entry and movement of undesirable foreigners should tabulate the entry and movement of undesirable foreigners.’’ The development follows a statement compiled by the Central Foreigners Bureau (CFB) on data
of foreign nationals staying illegally in India. The subject is being re-approached in wake
of increased incidents of terrorist attacks and threats clearly indicating foreign hand attempting
to create a terror base in the country. Security around the Golden Temple in Amritsar was beefed up in May following a threat to
blow it up. The threat note, received by the Station Master of the Jalandhar railway station, stated that terrorists would blow up several Sikh and Hindu places of worship across Punjab. It specifically mentioned that Golden Temple and Durgiana Temple—both in Amritsar— would be blown up on May 12. Earlier this month a leading television channel had reported that two Al-Qaeda terrorists, an Algerian and a Yemeni national, had carried out a recce and dry runs of attacks in Goa some time ago and were likely to return and carry out an actual attack, possibly with help from modules in India. It said the two terrorists had conducted a recce of Goa’s beaches and even dry runs for attacks on popular hotels and nightclubs like Tito’s and Cabana. Not just terrorist activities, there are instances of involvement of foreign nationals in smuggling, drug deals and other crimes too. According to sources in the Administration ‘‘though the city did not face any direct terrorist threat, yet it always paid to be prepared with the latest information. A sound data base is the most effective tool in handling internal security concerns, as well. Instead of responding to problems when they arise, it is
nice to be prepared beforehand.’’
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NRI loses $ 40,000 at ring ceremony in Aroma
Chandigarh, December 9 He told the police that they came to the hotel this morning to attend the ring ceremony. The function was held in the basement of the hotel. He, in his complaint lodged with the police, said as soon as his wife found her purse missing, she raised an alarm and the hotel staff was informed about the incident. In the meantime, the police was also called. About the loss, he told the police that the purse was containing $ 40,000 (Rs 18 lakh approx), four gold sets weighing six tolas each, Rs 5,000 and other articles. The in charge of Sector 22 police post, Mr Charanjit Singh, said in the video recording of the ceremony, a migrant labourer, aged about nine years, was seen moving among the children in the hotel. When questioned about the child, the family members expressed their ignorance saying that he did not belong to anyone of their servants. He added that a message was immediately flashed to the railway station, bus stand and other places to look for such a child, but in vain. A case has been registered under Section 380 of the IPC.
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Deaths on Marina: DAV students cremated in Chennai
Chandigarh, December 9 Davinder Sharma and Gurwinder Singh, both DAV students, had gone missing from Marina Beach on November 23. Post-identification, fathers of the deceased, accompanied by four other male relatives, cremated the bodies at Shastri Nagar cremation grounds in Chennai today. The boys, post mortem report confirms, had died due to accumulation of water in the lungs. They had gone to Chennai with a 37-member group to participate in the National Yoga competition, and were accompanied by their coach Raman. But the trip ended in a disaster as both the boys went missing from Marina Beach on November 23, when the group went to the beach for a leisure walk. Strangely, bodies of both the boys had been shown to their relatives who landed in Chennai on November 25, soon after receiving the news. The police, which was apprehending that the boys had drowned, launched a massive search operation to recover the bodies from the sea. Four family members of the boys reached Chennai the very next day. On November 25, the police showed them the bodies, which they could not identify due to conflicting statements about the boys’ disappearance. With the deaths being
confirmed the fathers of the were devastated. They, however, did not have the heart to break the tragic news to those back home. “We have not yet told Davinder’s mother anything. She is at Bathonia near Rajpura, still hopeful that her son will return,” said Mr Satpal.
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Mr Ravinder Chaudhary, Honorary Secretary of the Amateur Athletic Association Chandigarh and as Senior Lecturer of Physical Education at DAV College, Sector 10, has been acting as photo finish judge at the Asian Games being held in Doha. He has been nominated by the Asian Athletics Association as he has cleared the examination of Asian Technical Official, which was conducted by the IAAF RDC, Jakarta, in 2004. He has also acted as photo finish judge at the Junior Asian Athletics Championships held in Macau from July 15 to 18, 2006.
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The Agromass and Khyati Corporate Solutions Private will conduct an orientation programme for school children on electronics hobbyist projects and free open source software at LIC Colony, Sector 22, tomorrow. The organisers will give practical training to students of Classes X-XII to make small projects like intrusion and fire alarms and emergency lights, among others. The organisers will also take a commitment from students to ensure that their parents go to polling stations to cast their vote on the day of the MC elections.
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Since when have you been campaigning against sex selection and sex determination techniques? I have long been associated with petitions filed on the subject in the Supreme Court. I provide scientific and medical support to site cases under the PNDT Act. We have managed a fair deal of success but a lot remains to be done, especially in Punjab and Haryana where the issue has assumed alarming proportions. What do you think is the problem with strategies being adopted in Punjab and Haryana? The issue has been completely internalised here, so much so that people have stopped getting appalled by the killing of the girl child. Another problem is that they blame culture for everything. This attitude is wrong. Sex ratio has been falling and all we hear from governments is that they are taking steps. Time to take steps is over. It is time to punish the culprits now. What needs to be done? Let’s first understand that the PNDT Act came into existence when all other measures failed. And the law is very sound. It has a provision for punishment to those who do not comply with rules of prenatal diagnosis. But how many times have illegal ultrasound and ultrasonography clinics been sealed? We need to seal such premises and send out a stern message to offenders. — Aditi Tandon
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Poll campaign on full blast
Chandigarh, December 9 Speaking further he said that, the congress is being lenient towards terrorism by abolished capital punsihment. In the end he asked the public to vote for the BJP. Meanwhile, Mr Devinder Singh Babla, Congress candidate from Ward No. 18 continued his door to door campaign in Sector 27 - D. The residents there committed to completely support him. Later in the day Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister of State for Finance, Govt. of India, and Mr BB Bahl, CTCC president inaugurated the election office. Mr Pardeep Chhabra, Congress Candidate from Ward No 3 held door-to-door campaign in Sector 22 A and Sector 22 B. In the meantime, a public meeting was organised by the market welfare association of Sector 22 D to extend support to the Congress candidate from Ward No. 21, Mr Ravinder Pal Singh. The election office of Manjit Singh Tiwana, CPI candidate was also inaugurated today by senior citizens of Sector 46.
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Residents see red over vanishing green cover
Chandigarh, December 9 Residents of Sector 32 are not very satisfied with the work done in their ward. ‘‘Green belt around Nirman Theatre is in a bad shape as all plants have dried up. There is no footpath on the V-5 road where there are a lot of schools. We had been promised that it would be done. All other sectors except Sector 32 A and D have footpath’’, said Gurmail Singh, general secretary of the Residents Welfare Association, Sector 32. ‘‘We had also asked for a community centre. Though they say that space is a problem, there is enough space available’’, he adds. The residents of Sector 46 are, however, satisfied with her work. ‘‘She has done lot of work and that without making much pomp and show about it. The V-4, V-5 and V-6 roads have been re-carpeted. A green belt has been developed and lights have also been put up by her’’, stated Mr S.P Jand, president, Residents Welfare Association. Area Councillor Pushpa Sharma has also been the Senior Deputy Mayor in 2005. She will now contest the poll from Ward No 26. She has promised to complete all the pending work in the ward. Ward 16 consists of Sectors 30, 32, 46, development of third phase, Sector 49, Jhumbru village. In the east-road separating Sectors 48 and 49. West-road leading to Phase II Mohali, North: Khasra No 19/ 1, 14, 3, 8,14,16/2,17/1,21 and 1-20, etc. (before delimitation).
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Ward No 1:Sectors 1 to 11
He is 67years old and at present the general secretary of the city unit of the BJP. A B.Com and an LLB from Panjab University, he worked in the manufacturing unit of a multinational company in Chandigarh for 32 years before retiring as the head of its finance department. He has been associated with the BJP for more than four decades. If elected, he says, he will work for the betterment of the ward.
He is 42 years old and contesting MC elections for the third time. A sitting councillor from the same ward, he is a B.Sc (maths) from Panjab University. He will be contesting elections for the second time on a Congress ticket. He had contested the 1996 elections on a Congress (T) ticket. He has been associated with the Congress since 1980. In 2000, he became the general secretary of the CTCC. He is at present the vice-president of the CTCC. Apart from being a councillor, he is into the business of mining iron ore in Bangalore. If elected, he says, he will upgrade the ward. Ward No 2: Sec 12, 14, 15 & Khuda Lahora
She is 38 years old and is an M.Sc in maths and LLB. A sitting councillor from the same ward and an ex-Mayor, this will be her second MC elections. If elected, she says, her first priority will be to make the Khuda Lahora area, which has been added to her ward after delimitation, at par with the other sectors. She will also involve the MCC more in the upkeep of the PU and PGI.
She is 40 years old and a former ABVP activist. An M.Sc, M.Phil and B.Ed (mathematics), this is her first foray into politics. At present she is working as a lecturer in mathematics at Excellent Coaching Center. If elected, she states she will finish all pending works of the ward.
She is 34 years old and has been associated with the BSP since 1986. A housewife, she will be contesting elections for the first time. An arts graduate from Himachal Pradesh University, has been in the city since 1997. If elected, she says, she will work for the betterment of the people. Ward No 3: Sec 16, 17 & 22
He is 45 years old and is contesting the elections for the second time. A BA, LLB from BKU, he has been associated with the Congress for the last 20 years. If elected, he says, he will get a community centre constructed. He will also try to solve the parking problem in his ward.
He is 49 years old and is contesting elections for the first time. Being associated with the BJP since 1985, he was Samiti president of Sector 22-A, Ward No 3 president, district cashier, district secretary and now district president of Ward Nos 1, 2, 3, 4 and 17. An arts graduate, he has a printing press business. If elected, he says, he will get a community centre constructed in the ward and make it a "dustbin-free ward."
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Wooing Nayagaon voters
Nayagaon, December 9 Disclosing this to The Tribune on the sideline of the inauguration of the office of Nayagaon panchayat here, MLA Jagmohan Singh Kang said the area would be developed on the pattern of Chandigarh. “The people of the area had been living in Nayagaon, Karoran and Nada villages for years, so we have decided to regularise all structures. To develop sewerage, government has sanctioned Rs 5 crore, while Rs 2.25 crore had been sanctioned for internal roads and Rs 70 lakh for three main roads”, he said. Mr Kang said he had made promises to the people of the area to get NAC status. The decision would benefit 45,000 residents of the villages fall under the area. Mr Kang said it was unfortunate that some government departments had been creating hurdles in this regards. Mohali Deputy Commissioner, Tejvir Singh said a master plan for the area was being planned. SDM Sandeep Hans had been given the charge of the area. However, senior forest officials, on the condition of anonymity, said it would not be possible to regularise illegal structures in the area, adding that such
structures would face demolition.
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Poll rage: Assaulted Dalit seeks justice
Chandigarh, December 9 It started when supporters of a BJP candidate from Ward No 4 objected to the presence of a BSP flag on Chouhan’s ‘rehri’. Incensed over the display of the flag, one of the BJP supporters, Deep Chand Arora, allegedly abused Chouhan, made derogatory remarks regarding his caste and told him to support the party candidate in the elections. When Chouhan objected to Arora’s behaviour, the latter allegedly called for sluggers and iron rods and hit Chouhan causing multiple injuries. Chouhan sustained three fractures in his right arm after the assault. Since December 4 he has not been able to earn a single penny due to the injuries and his widow mother is going around begging to collect enough money for his treatment. Strangely, the police has not arranged for proper treatment of the victim. As always, the case also ended in a compromise as far as the police is concerned. But if Chouhan is to be believed, the truth is different. He says the police forced him into a compromise, did not let him meet anybody for legal aid and covered his fractured arm with a blanket so that the SDM (central) could not see his condition. Chouhan has now given a representation to the Chandigarh SSP with the following requests— registration of a case under appropriate Sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, treatment for his injuries, action against the doctor who did not provide treatment in spite of knowing about his condition. Chouhan, who is being supported by several Dalit organisations, made a formal representation to the SSP yesterday. In his complaint, he has recounted the sequence of events which raise questions about the role played by the UT police in the case. Chouhan told Chandigarh Tribune: ‘‘That evening, I was selling groundnuts as usual when the procession of BJP supporters passed from the place. Arora objected to the flag on my rehri and he was even more enraged when I said I would vote as per my will. Soon after, they started hitting me with rods and sluggers. I almost lost consciousness. The next thing I remember is that Giarsi Lal, ASI from police post, Sector 24 was inquiring into the matter. He took us for medical examination but while Arora refused to get examined, I was examined.’’ Giarsi Lal said he had no knowledge about Chouhan’s fractures as the doctor had reserved his report. ‘‘We followed procedures and took the parties to SDM (Central) where they agreed to compromise. Chouhan even signed the compromise papers. And he did not return to me after that day.’’ But according to Chouhan he was forced to sign blank papers and was not given a hearing. ‘‘They passed off a serious case as one under 7/51 CrPC so that no big deal was made out. But I want a case to be registered against the accused.’’
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Panchkula traffic police goes Chandigarh way
Panchkula, December 9 After yesterday’s accident where a rashly-driven truck killed one here, the traffic police is, contemplating a ban on the entry of trucks during peak hours. This will be initiated on the lines of Chandigarh where trucks are not allowed on busy roads between 7 am and 7 pm. “I visited the accident spot personally and found that the accident took place while the truck and the scooter of the victim were moving in the same direction. This makes the accident even more serious. We plan to immediately take up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner and the state government to initiate proceedings,” the SP, Mr Balbir Singh, said. The police plans to ban the entry of trucks only in the “developed part of the city”. Free movement would be allowed in developing sectors. “Trucks need not be allowed on all roads at all times. There is hardly any construction on in Sectors 2 to 12-A while the Panchkula Extension across the Kalka-Shimla highway is still under way. So, the ban will be imposed only in Sector 2 to 12,” he said. The police has also got down to nailing traffic violators and streamlining the flow is in progress. DSP Samiti Chaudhary said the traffic police had got teeth to challan offenders. “Orders of 15 challaning officers had been issued. They are in the course of joining duty from various police stations. We are not only challaning violators at traffic lights but setting up nakas,” she said. The police chief has held meetings with MC President Manveer Gill and representatives of the HUDA on blocking hazardous shortcuts. He is keen on closing many roads opening on to the highway. “We can’t have so many roads ending up on the highway. It is unsafe for the traffic. Also, on the Chandigarh pattern, the district police is recommending the christening of all major roads of the city, besides giving indicators of all sectors and landmarks. We have demanded the installation of traffic lights at all roundabout because traffic is growing by the day,” the SP said.
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Highest population of undertrials in India
Chandigarh, December 9 Back in Chandigarh after attending the “26th Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators” in New Zealand, Institute of Correctional Administration’s Deputy Director Dr Upneet Lalli says the percentage of undertrials in other countries is detained anywhere between 20 and 41, despite the high imprisonment rate. The conference was attended by 144 delegates from 24 countries, including China and India. Quoting statistics, she says it is around 20 per cent in New Zealand, 21 per cent in Australia, 32.6 per cent in Thailand and 41 per cent in Malaysia. In Japan, it is as low as 13 per cent. In Singapore, under trials constitute just seven per cent of the total prison population. Interestingly, the imprisonment rate in India is far less than these countries. Here, around 32 persons are behind bars per lakh population, compared to over 312 in Singapore and 183 in New Zealand. In the USA, it is as high as 724 persons per lakh population. In most countries, the undertrials remain confined to remand centers for not more than eight weeks, compared to average three years behind bars in India. Dr Lalli adds that facilities provided to the prisoners are much better abroad and heavy expenditure goes into the setting up of jails. In New Zealand, one such centre - "Auckland Region Women's Corrections Facility" - has self-managed units complete with kitchens. As many as four women prisoners, having good behaviour, stay together and cook their own food in a cottage with all luxuries and basic amenities, something which is unaffordable in India. The scanning and security system is also better. Moreover, the model of “victim-offender mediation” in cases involving juveniles is yet to strike roots in India. “The victims in our country still have very little say in the matter, including that of punishment,” she discloses. On the other hand, the jail administration abroad is yet to introduce the concept of open prisons existing in places like Rajasthan in India. “Out here, well-behaved prisoners convicted for life stay with their families in wall-less prisons without high gates and grills,” she says. “In the process, they support their families and serve the sentence”. This is not the end of it. Though the jails abroad are professionally controlled and put into practice corporate management skills, the administration is yet to introduce the notion of spirituality in the prisons. “In very few countries, the prisoners practice meditation and yoga like in our jails,” she asserts.
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Heard this? Chandigarh girl has three kidneys
Chandigarh, December 9 Stranger is the fact that all three kidneys are in perfect order and are functioning well. There is no complication as yet. But that does not guarantee Kritika similar prospects in the future. Her doctors say more advanced nuclear tests would be required to further investigate the functioning of the third kidney which, in her case, is fused with the left. The rarest of the rare congenital conditions, which went unnoticed for 19 years, came to light a few days ago when Kritika complained of severe abdominal pain. “I have had such pain earlier. But this time it was intolerable. So I decided to go in for an ultrasound,” Kritika says. The ultrasound done by Dr Kavita Singh of Panchkula Welfare Trust at Manimajra showed three kidneys — a condition rarely reported in medical history. Dr Singh, a reputed radiologist, however, did not rush with her diagnosis. She went in for an IVP — a more advanced radiological test — to find out more about the functioning and placement of the third kidney. After a thorough week-long investigation, Dr Singh today confirmed to The Tribune that Kritika indeed had a supernumerary kidney, a very rare anomaly, made rarer by the fact that her third kidney is fused with the upper pole of the left kidney. “Normally such kidneys are found fused with the lower pole of the existing kidney,” says Dr Singh, explaining what having such an anomaly could mean for Kritika, who recently lost her grandmother to renal failure. “Such kidneys are predisposed to develop renal tumours, such as the Wilm’s tumour and people with such anomalies have a high incidence of other genitor-urinary anomalies. They also present the problem of reflux, i.e. mixing up of urine from one kidney to another. In Kritika’s case, I suggest advanced nuclear tests which are sensitive to the scarring caused by reflux. We could have taken things lightly had she not presented with a problem. But she has a persisting abdominal pain which we associate with the anomaly.” While the chirpy Kritika was very keen to donate her third kidney, her doctors have advised her otherwise. In any case, a kidney which is part of the problem is not a good donation. Kritika is anxious, not so much because she doesn’t know if her third kidney is an asset or a liability as because she will not be able to donate it to save someone’s life.
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Videoconferencing with author Kapoor on ‘Home’
Chandigarh, December 9 Today a gaggle of excited Readers' Club members of the British Library, Sector 9, congregated at the Reliance Web World down the road to interact with the author via videoconferencing, specifically on her latest book. 'Home' deals with a joint middle-class family in Karol Bagh in Delhi and is the story of the way in which "space" is negotiated especially in context of women and "how women support or suppress one another." According to Kapoor, "it is one of the important factors in a joint family which is not just about emotional bonds. If you are more forceful, more powerful (have more sons or more money than others) within the family, you get more space."In fact the house in which the protagonists play out their parts stands as a metaphor for a joint family structure. The book is understated, subdued even though it deals with several issues pertaining to women and their lives in middle-class homes today, but that is because Kapoor is uncomfortable with melodrama. "There is no one way to write. I am ill-at-ease dealing with things openly. I write about women and their lives and that is one topic that is still not dealt with openly in this country and that reflects in my writing," she states. "With me one book leads to another. It is not a matter of finding a topic but a theme. I am no story teller in the sense it took me ten years to write this book," she smiles. 'Home' was started with the issue of incest and then Kapoor changed that to encompass other aspects because she felt she could not sustain that. However, the questions dealing with larger issues like the sanctity of joint-families and how relevant they are in today's world all elicited a practical response. "I write about things I know and see but I do not necessarily subscribe to them just like after reading something negative you do not actually go out and do that. I do not look at novels as prescriptive," she said.
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Traffic blocked as 6 vehicles collide
Chandigarh, December 9 According to eyewitnesses, the incident took place when driver of a Scorpio SUV (CH-03-U-3016) could not control his vehicle at the traffic light and rammed it into rear of a stationary vehicle waiting at red signal ahead of it. With the impact the vehicle ahead of the Scorpio hit the stationary vehicle before it and thus it went on involving six vehicles, including a motorcycle, in the mishap. Luckily no one was hurt in the mishap, but the traffic remain held up until the police intervene and clear the traffic. The police took the Scorpio to the Mani Majra Police station. No action has so far been taken in this regard, as the police maintained that no complaint was lodged with them. The SHO, Mr Dhan Raj Sharma, said if someone report the matter they would taken action. When asked about why the vehicle was kept in the police station, he said the driver of the vehicle might have fled the spot and the police was waiting for him to come.
Scooter stolen
Mr Jawala Singh of Sector 23 lodged a complaint to the police alleging that his scooter (CH-01-7864) was stolen from his residence on Friday. A case of theft has been registered in this regard.
Purse stolen
Ms Bala Pathak of Sector 15, Panchkula, reported to the police alleging that her purse containing a diamond ring, an ATM card, a driving license was stolen from Sector 7 market on December 2. A case has been registered in the Sector 26 police station in this regard.
Theft
Mr M.R. Chaudhry of Sector 46 lodged a complaint with the police alleging that Rs 7,000 and a water valve were stolen from his plot in Phase II, Ram Darbar, during the intervening night of December 7 and 8. A case under Sections 380 and 457 of the I.P.C. has been registered in this regard in the Sector 31 police station.
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Class X student hangs himself
Panchkula, December 9 This morning when Dinesh’s brother and sister got up, they knocked at his door but got no response. “We thought he was playing a prank as usual. So we went to our respective jobs. When we returned today evening, the room was still locked. That was when we called the neighbours who called the police,” they said. Dinesh’s father and mother were out of station when the incident happened. The police said the boy had left no suicide note but his family said he had been suffering from depression due to some ailment he had for many years. The body has been sent for a postmortem.
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‘Tainted’ Chief
Engineer repatriated
Chandigarh, December 9 The UT Vigilance Department had booked Mr Sharma under the Act. He has also been booked under Sections 406, 409 and 420 of the IPC. The IT Department had also found some diaries showing questionable financial entries.
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