The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Police Lines complex inaugurated
Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, June 24
The district police is working round the clock to make Fatehgarh Sahib crime free district as well as to protect the life and property of the people. The reason behind the crime is drugs and frustration among youths, so it is our moral duty to wage a war against the drugs and to help the police in curbing the crime and criminals.

The police without the co-operation of people can not make any progress, so every section of society has to contribute, said Mandeep Singh Sidhu SSP, while addressing the gathering after inaugurating the New Police Line complex at near by village Mahadian. The police line complex has been constructed at the cost of Rs 15 crore.

He said that a vigorous campaign has been launched by the district police against the anti-social, criminals, drug sellers and eve teasers and it has started yielding results as police has succeeded in nabbing hundreds of criminals, gangs, large quantity of drugs, intoxicants, illegal liquor and illegally plying vehicles particularly two wheelers.

The SSP said that with the setting up of the Police Line, the police personnel will get better facilities and it will improve their working. He said the police line has all the modern facilities. He thanked the village panchyat for giving 25 acre land to set up the police line. He said that all the SHOs have been directed to work in a transparent manner and to change the image of the police, if any criminal or anti social element found operating in their areas or the SHO found accepting bribe will be put behind the bars.

Earlier, Bhai Harpal Singh Head Granthi Gurudwara, Fatehgarh Sahib, performed the Ardas and presented siropas to SSP and the representatives of all political parties.

Farmers continue paddy transplantation in absence of rain
Agriculture department fixes target to cover 35,000-hectare area
Parmod Mehta

Labourers from Nepal transplant paddy near Dappar village in Dera Bassi. photo by writer

Dera bassi, June 24
Though no rain and sign of raining weather was witnessed till now but farmers have been continuing their move of paddy transplantation. Most farmers have preferred paddy transplantation through manual way. After visiting the area it was found that labourers from Bihar, Uttarpadesh and Nepal were doing this work manually. Some labourers of Nepal who were engaged in paddy transplantation work in the fields near Dappar village on Sunday said that they had come here one week ago and planted paddy saplings in 14 acre area.

They were the group of 13 men and charging Rs 1,800 to 2,000 with ration per acre. They claimed that they would plant paddy saplings in nearly one hundred acre area during this season.

Meanwhile, the district agriculture officer Dr Parminder Singh told that department had fixed a target of getting paddy transplantation in 35,000 hectare area during this season and last year 36,000 hectare area was covered under the paddy cultivation. Agriculture department had been planning paddy transplantation through direct paddy transplantation system with machine and it saves the water and labour costs.

Nearly, 100-hectare area would be covered through this technique. The reason of decreasing area under paddy transplantation had been shifting towards other commercial crops from traditional paddy wheat crop circle, he added. Farmers were encouraged towards maize, sugarcane and pulses crops. Other reason for decreasing area under agriculture had been increasing urbanisation and industrialisation in this region.

Health department to spent Rs 36 crore on cancer patients
Surinder Bhardwaj

Fatehgarh Sahib, June 24
The health department will ensure the presence of doctors in all the hospital and dispensaries from 8 am to 2 pm and that there would be no shortage of medicines and all the 593 vacancies of doctors are being fulfilled.

Besides providing quality treatment to the cancer patients they are given financial assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh per patient. Last year, Rs 20 crore were spent on cancer patients, whereas in current year Rs 36 crore have been earmarked for this purpose, said Madan Mohan Mittal, Minister for health, while talking to the media persons here today. Mittal had come to preside over the state-level seminar on Government Policy on Security and Development of Challenged Children being organised by Confederation for challenged at Bachat Bhawan here today.

He said that the health department has waged a war against drug abuse and the social organisations should also come forward to support for this cause. Any chemist found involved in illegal sale of drugs would not be spared and his license would be cancelled, howsoever, powerful he may be. He said Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister are concerned about the growing tendency of drug abuse and they have directed to take stern action.

Later, addressing the seminar, he said that state government has initiated various steps and policies to provide better opportunities to physically challenged so that they may develop equally in society.

Dr Jagbir Singh achieves rare honour
Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 24
The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, has selected Dr Jagbir Singh, professor, Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, as an expert member on Programme Advisory Committee on animal sciences (PAC). The PAC has been constituted under Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), which is statutory body under DST.

The PAC will have overall responsibility to identify priority areas of R&D requiring attention and prepare state-of-the-art reports and other such reports which will give a review of the status of R&D and technology development in the discipline of animal sciences, to evolve and formulate research programme involving scientists and engineers from various institutions of the country, to evaluate individual R & D proposals received from scientists of the country and recommend them suitably for funding, to develop human resource programmes through schools, colleges, training programmes and workshops.

Over 14 eminent scientists from whole of the country have been selected for this committee. The kind of honour is the first one for anyone from Punjabi University, Patiala.

Prof Jagbir Singh has published more than 150 research papers in national and international journals besides three books. He has many awards to his credit and is a known environmentalist from this region.

New district TB centre
Surinder Bhardwaj

Fatehgarh Sahib, June 24
There was no TB center in the Fatehgarh Sahib district and the OPD (Out Patient Department) of the Civil Hospital, Fatehgarh Sahib, which is very congested used to have great risk of the TB infection. An abandoned and neglected old building has been renovated and full-fledged district TB center has been established in this building, said Dr Gurmail Singh Chahal, Civil Surgeon.

He said that all the facilities of lab test of the TB Patients and DOTS (Directly observed treatment short course) service have been started. A separate air-conditioned drug store has also been established for medicines of the MDR (Multi Drug Resistance) TB Patients.

These drugs for the MDR (Multi Drug Resistance) TB patients are very costly and medicine worth 1.5 lakhs will be given to each MDR TB Patient, free. All the investigations will be done free for the TB Patients in the lab established here.

Doctors on strike today
Suman Bhatnagar

Ambala, June 24
Around 250 doctors of Ambala district affiliated to IMA will observe strike on June 25 to protest against amendments to the Clinical Establishment Act, 2010, and National Commission for Human Resources for Health (NCHRH) Bill, 2011, proposed by the Union Health Ministry.

According to the president of local unit of IMA Dr Ashok Baweja the doctors of Ambala will assemble in Ambala Club at Ambala City and later they will submit a memorandum to deputy commissioner Ambala.

Dr D S Jaspal chairman of the action committee told that all the private nursing home and the OPDs will remain close on June 25. He said that the NCHRH Bill would provide powers to the centre to appoint non-medical persons as members in the commission, and there was no provision for representation of professional associations or medical universities.

He said that the aforesaid steps taken by the government would make health-care more costly and the poor patients would be hard hit.

FIR registered against BJP leaders after 15 months
Parmod Mehta

Dera Bassi, June 24
The local police has booked half a dozen persons including BJP leaders on charges of attacking a local resident 15 months ago following the directions of a local court.

In a complaint, Rajesh Bittu, a resident of Preet Nagar Colony, had alleged that he was attacked by Rakesh Mehta, SK Saini, Ranjit Singh, Ashwinder Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Gurmail Singh when he was coming out from the office of Dera Bassi Municipal Council office on March 17 last year. After inaction of the local police, Rajesh filed his petition with the local SDJM court.

Following the directions of court, the police has started investigations after filing a case under Section 325, 341, 323 and 506 of the IPC against aforesaid assailants.

Competitions for children organised
Parmod Mehta

Dera Bassi, June 24
Sant Nirankari Mandal Lalru has organised competitions of children of nearby villages and towns on the social issues. Hundreds of children had taken part in the competitions. Children had presented plays, songs and skits against social evils and promoted brotherhood.

The function was presided over by regional director of Sant Nirankari Mission, Subhkaran. Speaking on the occasion he said that the best qualities should be filled in the children because they are the future of country. At last, children were honoured.

Boy drowns in water tank
Suman Bhatnagar

Divers search the body of Bharat Bhushan at Ghasitupur in Ambala Cantonment on Sunday. Tribune photo: Dev Dutt Sharma

Ambala, June 24
A 19-year-old boy was drowned in a water tank, which is used for storing the canal water. The deceased has been identified as Bharat Bhushan, a resident of Rangia Mandi. According to the information, Bharat and two of his friends had gone to take bath in the tank this noon.

The tank is located at Ghasitpur village close to Ambala Cantonment. While swimming in the tank Bharat drowned in it whereas his other two friends came out safely.

His friends informed the nearby people about the incident. The police and the fire brigade reached the spot. After an hour, Bharat’s body was fished out from the tank. He was rushed to the local Civil Hospital where he was declared brought dead.

It is to be mentioned that this tank is meant for storing drinking water. Taking bath in the tank is strictly prohibited even then the boys of the nearby areas enjoy swimming in this tank in routine.

Man dies after falling from roof
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, June 24
A man was allegedly killed after falling from the roof here in Dera Bassi. The deceased has been identified as 32-year-old Bikram Singh who was employed at a local industry here.

Bikram’s wife, Sheema, said that they were sleeping on the roof of their house. During the night when the victim woke up for toilet, his feet slipped and he fell from roof. The victim was shifted to the GMCH-32, Chandigarh, where doctors had declared him brought dead.

Bikram’s body was handed over to the relatives of victim after conducting post-mortem.

CRIME

Immigration frauds
Four cases registered
Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 24
The local police has registered at least four cases against various travel agents in connection with immigration fraud here today. The accused included Neena Sharma, an owner of Gur Kripa consultancy, GS Grewal, Monica, Rahul Sharma, Prince Dewan and others, all officials of Rawail Group, Phase 6, and Daljit Singh, a resident of Sector 70.

The total money involved in these complaints is said to be about Rs 11.50 lakh.

On the complaint of Manohar Lal, a resident of Ambala Cantonment, the police has booked the officials of Rawail Group. Manohar Lal complained that he had paid Rs 1.57 lakh to GS Grewal for sending him to England. But he did not get anything except false promises in the deal.

Similarly, Pritam Singh from Sector 71 alleged that he was cheated by Daljit Singh, a resident of Sector 70, who had promised him to send to Canada.

“I had given him (Daljit) Rs 7.8 lakhs but was cheated by Daljit, who had been absconding,” alleged the complainant.

In another case, GS Bal from Baba Bakala, Amritsar, lodged a complaint against Rawail Group, alleging that they have duped him of Rs 1 lakh on pretext of sending him to New Zealand while Ashok Kumar of Bilaspur lodged an FIR against Neena Sharma alleging fraud of Rs 1.10 lakh by her on the same grounds.

So far about 56 cases of immigration fraud has been reported in the past six months in the town and about Rs 1.5 crores have been defrauded by the travel agents in these cases.

The police has admitted that there was spurt in such cases. “We are doing our best to nail the culprits but people should also check the credentials of the person/company/agency before giving them any money in such cases,” said a senior police official here.

One booked for impersonation in railway exam
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 24
The local police arrested one person for impersonation during the Railway Recruitment Exam held today. The accused, Arun Kumar, a resident of Parnala village, Jhajhar district, Haryana, was arrested from the school. He was appearing on behalf of Pawan Kumar, resident of Naurangabad village, Bhiwani district, Haryana.

According to the police, the accused was caught by the staff at the examination centre after his photograph and signature did not match with those of the original candidate.

The accused was handed over to the police. On the complaint filed by Satish Kumar Sharma, centre supervisor, a case of criminal conspiracy, cheating by impersonation, and cheating and dishonesty have been registered under section 120-B, 419, 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the accused at the Sector 3 police station. The accused was produced in the local court and was sent to judicial custody.

SPORTS

11-year-old local budding golfer going places
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 24
To achieve an aim, one needs patience, dedication, family support, and knowledge of the goal. For local golfer Aadil Bedi, all this came at the age of 11. He might have a long journey to complete, but for him golf is the ultimate pleasure.

At the age of four, Aadil started showing his interest towards the game and after seven years he achieved the feat with putting himself among the top 10 golfers in the recently held British Junior Masters at Scotland. Participating in the C-category in the national IGU Circuit, the golfer won Rajastan Junior Golf held at Jaipur, finished second runners-up at Haryana Junior Golf championship, Gurgaon, and secured third ranking in the IGU merit list.

"It was during a visit to Kuwait that my maternal uncle gifted me a golf ball and I developed an interest in the game. After returning to my native place, I used to join my father at the Chandigarh Golf Course. It was a difficult gain knowledge about golf. I used to spent long hours at the range observing other people," said Aadil. "At the age of six, I started playing IGU golf circuit and also took part in competitions," he adds.

But, he started facing problem, from the size of golf clubs to pursuing his studies. "My father and I used to travel from Fathehgarh Sahib to the CGA range, but only on holidays. But later, I shifted to the city and started visiting the range on daily basis. I just had one club and a putter at that time," said Aadil.

Aadil left no stone unturned to play at the international enclosures. He first played in Hong Kong, followed by his second match in Sydney. Soon, he qualified for the world cup at San Diego, California (USA) and finished among top 40.

Later, he went to Thailand and recently qualified for the British Junior Masters at Scotland and finished in top ten. He also received a green status invitation to the 2012 World Championship to be held at Pinehurst (USA) in August, and priority status for the 2012 Mediterranean Open at Venice, Italy, in September.

"Aadil was always competitive. He used to shot par to win a bottle of cold-drink. Two put on the green meant his stats were good and 3 put meant his putting needed some more improvement. He participated in IGU, insisted to play all 18 holes. But he continued to play well. Later, he started practising harder in putting and chipping and finished 5th in the national ranking. At nine he ranked number two in India, said his father. Adding further, "He is eagerly waiting to give a tough fight to his fellow golfers of the IGU circuit in coming months." Aadil is currently playing in the C-category (11-13 years) in the national IGU Circuit.