& V I C I N I T Y
Tuesday, August 4, 1998
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C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
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Tuesday, August 4, 1998 |
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Robbers strike at scribe's
house, bash up daughters |
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 Strictures on ex-DC for flouting orders CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — A Divisional Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court passed severe strictures on Mr K.K. Khandelwal, the then Deputy Commissioner-cum-Estate Officer, UT, while allowing a writ petition filed by Mr Harminder Singh and other scooter repair booth owners of Sector 40-C. |
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MHA sidelines ex-servicemen's
body Beant
case: plea for speedy disposal Move
to end growth of congress grass
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Robbers strike at scribe's PANCHKULA, Aug 3 — Robbers struck at the house of a veteran journalist in Sector 21 here late last night and bashed up his two daughters before decamping with over Rs 10,000 in cash and other valuables. The journalist, Tribhuvan Nath, and his two daughters — Deepti and Preeti — were sleeping in separate rooms when the robbers sneaked into their house after scaling the backyard wall. The ordeal of the Naths lasted for over five hours as the robbers, at least four in number, ransacked the house searching for cash and expensive items. All the while the hands and legs of the two girls were tied up with their own "dupattas." Preeti, who suffered bruises on her neck and had a swollen face due to beating by the robbers, said she along with her sister was sleeping in a rear room of the house. Late night when she woke up she was taken aback on seeing that the mouth of her sister had been stuffed with cloth by the assailants. "My sister was unable to bear the beating and fell unconscious. I pleaded for mercy but in vain. All the while they kept on asking about the hidden cash and jewellery in the house", she said. When all this was happening, the unsuspecting father of the girls was soundly asleep in another room. The robbers kept on threatening the girls of dire consequences if they reported the incident to the police. Recalling her conversation with the robbers, Deepti said they appeared to be well-acquainted with the details of the family members, their jobs and their routine. Even the recent death of their pet dog was in their knowledge, she added. Though the exact loss could not be assessed, the robbers are suspected to have taken some expensive items, jewellery and over Rs 10,000 in cash. The members of the family were not allowed to go through the ransacked items as the dog squad and forensic experts were yet to arrive by this evening. The robbers appeared to be frustrated, as per Preeti, as they could not find much in the house contrary to what they had been tipped by their informer in Azad Colony. "Their informer had reportedly told them that a marriage was going to be held and there was cash and jewellery stored in the house," she said. While leaving, the robbers told the girls to bring Rs 10,000 in cash at a place near K.C. Theatre in Chandigarh failing which they would retaliate. The police has registered a case under Section 342, 458 and 566 of the IPC and is investigating the incident. Meanwhile, this is the second major incident of robbery in the sector during the past six months. In an earlier incident in February, robbers had struck at House No. 748 and had severely injured two of its occupants before decamping with cash. The police is still clueless about the robbery. The residents of the area
have been demanding a police post for the sector. |
MHA sidelines ex-servicemen's body CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — Bullet-proofing and fabrication of motor vehicles, including cars and jeeps, through private agencies by a centralised agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has put a question mark over the future of 50 ex-servicemen and their wards who had been working at the auto workshop of the Punjab Ex-servicemen Corporation (PESCO) here. In fact, PESCO was a pioneer in developing this technology in the early '90s at a time when private workshops all over North India refused to undertake such work due to the fear of militants. With the improvement in the law and order situation in Punjab and neighbouring areas, the ministry has centralised the work pertaining to bullet-proofing and fabrication of cars and other vehicles used by protected persons as well as para-military and security forces in their fight against militancy in various parts of the country. It has shortlisted a couple of private workshops in the union Capital to do the work. Last week, a high-powered team led by the Union Minister of State for Industries, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, met the Union Home Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani, in the union Capital, to register their formal protest over this change in policy and denial of work to the auto workshop of PESCO. Major-Gen U.S. Sidhu, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of PESCO, in a memorandum submitted to Mr Advani, pointed out that the private workshops were not only "charging almost double the amount than what is charged by PESCO", but even the Ministry of Home Affairs was not considering tenders submitted by the corporation offering the lowest rates for both bullet-proofing and fabrication of these specially armoured vehicles. "During the past seven years, our workshop has carried out bullet-proofing of over 400 vehicles from the states of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland besides several other central government and semi-government organisations. All VVIPs and VIPs of Punjab even today are using vehicles bullet-proofed by the PESCO auto workshop. "With the improvement of law and order in Punjab and adjoining states, as also the new policy adopted by the ministry for the bullet-proofing of vehicles, the workload of PESCO auto workshop has almost become negligible. PESCO has invested substantial capital and resources for the creation of this workshop and has a large force of ex-servicemen employees, who have impeccable record of service," General Sidhu said in his memorandum. He further maintained that PESCO had sufficient experience, manpower and machinery to bullet-proof 20 to 30 vehicles a month. "In addition to other facilities, we have plasma cutting, MIG welding, DC rectifier and other equipment. "It is worth mentioning that PESCO rates of bullet-proofing are Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh cheaper than those charged by Ordnance Factory, Medak, Andhra Pradesh, and are also considerable lower than other civil agencies. We do not have a single complaint till today from any of our customers," General Sidhu said. "At present, PESCO has four to five vehicles of the Punjab Government for bullet-proofing. Once this work is over, we will be left with no work, meaning thereby that the workshop cannot be sustained and ex-servicemen gainfully employed will face retrenchment," cautioned General Sidhu. Talking about the credibility of PESCO, he said even a close relative of the slain audio cassette magnate, Gulshan Kumar, had sent his car to PESCO for bullet-proofing. "When we are cheaper,
provide quality work and are engaged in the welfare of
ex-servicemen, why is the Ministry of Home Affairs is
cold shouldering us is not understandable," he asked
maintaining that later this week, he would take another
powerful delegation of Punjab politicians to the Union
Home Ministry to press for the "rightful action and
justice to PESCO". |
Strictures on ex-DC for flouting
orders CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — A Divisional Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice H.S Brar and Mr Justice K.S Kumaran passed severe strictures on Mr K.K. Khandelwal, the then Deputy Commissioner-cum-Estate Officer, UT, while allowing a writ petition filed by Mr Harminder Singh and other scooter repair booth owners of Sector 40-C, Chandigarh, seeking removal of encroachments in front of their shops. It was the case of the petitioners that they had been leased out booth Nos 3 to 15 by the Chandigarh Administration on a 99-year lease. They alleged that the open space meant for parking, had been encroached upon the respondents, who had raised wooden and steel structures and this had caused loss of business to them and inconvenience to customers. The petitioners sought removal of the encroachments. On the basis of the record produced in the court, the Bench did not agree that any permanent structures had been raised by private respondents. However, while allowing the writ petition the Bench directed the official respondents to take steps so that the alleged encroachments, though temporary, should be removed for all time to come. Before parting with the judgement, the Bench observed the conduct of Mr Khandelwal, was unbecoming of an officer holding the high office. On February 23,1998, the Bench had directed the Estate Officer and the Municipal Commissioner concerned, who was conservant with the case, to appear in person on the next date of hearing. The case was adjourned to March 10. The court while observing that its orders were being flouted with impunity, again adjourned the case for the next day with direction to the said officers to appear. Mr Khandelwal appeared after the case was adjourned again. The court observed that Mr. Khandelwal had shown scant respect for the court orders. He gave the impression as if he was over and above the law, the Bench said. Lecturers' plea on ad hoc service A Division Bench issued notice of motion on a writ petition filed by Miss Venu Madan and 10 other lecturers working in government colleges of Haryana seeking benefit of the Union Government's career advancement scheme placing them in the senior scale or selection grade. The Bench, comprising Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice K.S. Kumaran, issued notice to the state of Haryana and the University Grants Commission for October 13. The petitioners claimed that the service rendered by them on an ad hoc basis before their regular appointment should be counted towards qualifying service of eight and 16 years as required under the policy decision dated March 8, 1989. Earlier the petitioners, along with many other lecturers who had put in ad hoc service of long duration had approached the high court for grant of benefit prayed for in the writ petition. The high court had remanded the matter to the Haryana Government for taking a decision on the matter. The government, vide order March 24, 1998, informed the petitioners that their request could not be accepted since the UGC has clarified that ad hoc service of any duration was not to be counted towards qualifying service for the career advancement scheme. The petitioners through
the petition had challenged the clarification given by
the UGC on the ground that since the original scheme had
been framed by Union Government, the clarification, if
any, could be given only by the government concerned and
not by a subordinate officer of the UGC because the
clarification amounted to an amendment of the earlier
policy which could be interpreted as having included even
ad hoc service of more than one year towards qualifying
service. |
Rickshaw-pullers hold up traffic CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — Rickshaw-pullers of the city today staged a dharna in front of the municipal corporation to protest against them being uprooted from various parts of the city during the anti-encroachment drive in the past few days. Hundreds of rickshaw-pullers belonging to the Kranti and Gandhi Rickshaw Unions took out a rally on their vehicles before assembling at the corporation office. The agitators raised slogans against the corporation officials and the stiff fines imposed on them. Mr Babu Lal and Mr Chander Shekhar, presidents of both unions, said the corporation officials confiscated their rickshaws and imposed heavy fines which were beyond their capacity to pay. The agitators also demanded more rickshaw stands in various parts of the city in view of the growing population. Sheds and other basic amenities like toilets and drinking water should also be provided to them. The agitators also held up traffic on the road dividing Sectors 16 and 17 for more than an hour. A large police posse was present to prevent any untoward incident. Meanwhile, members of the Footpath Workers Rozgar Bachao Samiti also staged a dharna to protest against the anti-encroachment drive by the corporation. The demonstrators later
met the Municipal Commissioner, Mr S.K. Gathwal, who
assured them that their demands would be considered
sympathetically. A meeting had been fixed to discuss
their problems for tomorrow. |
Campus
Beat CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — Over 700 students of the Master in Finance and Control (MFC) course of Panjab University today boycotted their international finance paper against what they called "wrong pattern" of the paper. The students alleged that the paper carried a total of 18 questions while in the prospectus it was mentioned that "there will be 10 questions in each paper, two or three from each unit. Students shall be required to answer five questions selecting at least one question from each unit." Gaurav, a student, alleged that in the paper while five questions in the Section A carried two marks each, eight questions in Section B of which five were to be attempted, carried five marks each. Similarly, five questions in Section C, out of which three were to be attempted, carried 15 marks each. Moreover, there should have been five units in the paper but in today's paper only three sections were there. Moreover, the students had not prepared for the objective type questions, he added. Later, the students marched in procession from the Lajpat Rai Bhavan, Sector 15 the centre of examination, to the Department of Correspondence Studies, Panjab University. They submitted a representation to the Chairperson of the department, Ms Santosh Sharma demanding 50 per cent grace marks. Confusion: A number of students of B.A. I (general), whose results were declared today, were put to a lot of inconvenience as the university failed to provide adequate counters for them. Though the copies of the gazette were sent to the respective college, but the university failed to intimate this to the students with the result that a number of students thronged the campus to know their results. To make the matter worse, four employees, who were to sit on four different counters with the copies of gazette, sat on one counter. Subsequently, around 1 p.m., more counters were opened and this eased the situation. Seminar: The University Business School and the local chapter of Institute of Cost and Works Accountants organised a talk on "Business process re-engineering" at ICSSR Complex on August 1. Mr Tapan Datta, a
management consultant with Innovative Technologies and
Business Solutions, introduced the business process
re-engineering as the fundamental rethinking and
redesigning of business process to achieve dramatic
improvements in cost, quality, service and speed. |
Move to end growth of congress
grass CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — The Chandigarh Administration and the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh (MCC), will launch a joint campaign for the eradication of congress grass from the city from August 8. This was stated by the Mayor, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, while presiding over a seminar on the eradication of parthenium and Government College for Boys, Sector 11, here today. Mr Gupta said residents of the city were concerned about the growth of congress grass as was evident by the large number of complaints the civic body was receiving in this regard. The residents, councillors and the NGOs would be involved in the campaign he said, adding that the best three organisations would be awarded for their contribution in the campaign on the Independence Day function. Mr R.K. Rao, officiating DC said efforts made by the Administration and the MCC to eradicate the weed had partially succeeded. Until the residents were educated and actively involved in the campaign, the problem could not be solved, he said. He said short and long-term measures would be taken to control the growth of the congress grass which caused allergy, skin diseases and asthma. Mr R.K. Jain, Chief Engineer, UT, and Mr Puranjit Singh, Chief Engineer, MCC, assured to make sincere efforts to rid City Beautiful of this menace with the help of the residents. Mr R.P. Kohli from the
Department of Botany, Panjab University, explained with
the help of slides the origin, hazards, causes and
methods of control of the growth of parthenium. He
underlined the proper use and management of open spaces
as these helped its growth. |
Crime
File CHANDIGARH , Aug 3 — A youth was allegedly beaten to death in Burail village by five persons last night. The deceased Shezad, 22, was working as an electrician, police sources said while informing that all five accused have been arrested. A case under Sections 147/148/149 and 304, IPC, has been registered in the Sector 34 police station. Shezad was allegedly beaten up following an altercation that took place between him and his neighbour Sumant Kumar over sharing of the terrace. Sumant had moved in on rent and wanted to sleep on the terrace which was resented by the deceased, who was also keen on using the terrace. The five arrested persons — Krishna Nand Pandey, Prem Tewari , Pushpinder Kumar, Akshay Kumar and Pramod Tewari — allegedly attacked Shezad and injured him seriously. Shezad was taken to Government Medical College and Hospital , Sector , 32 where he succumbed to his injuries. Theft: Two persons robbed a housewife at knife-point and decamped with around 30 tolas of gold jewellery and Rs 4,000 in cash from Sector 28 on Sunday night. According to sources, the accused entered the first floor house of an Air Force personnel, Mr Vinod Kumar, in his absence. The duo told his wife that they were their relatives from Jammu. The woman, Pramatha, was taken in by the words and went in the kitchen to make tea for the "guests." One of them placed a knife at her throat and threatened her with dire consequences. The duo decamped with jewellery and cash . Injured: A woman and a youth were injured in separate road accidents. Geeta was sleeping on a cot outside her jhuggi when a truck (HIS — 1711) driven by Het Ram banged into her. She was injured seriously and the driver was arrested. In another incident, Deepak , a pedestrian was injured when a bus PB-12-C-9005 hit him on the road dividing Sectors 21 and 22. The injured was admitted to the PGI. Stolen: A maruti
car (CH-01-D-2347) owned by Mr Rajan Sarda of Sector 21
has been stolen from his residence. |
Beant case: plea for speedy
disposal CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — Navjot Singh, one of the suspects in the Beant Singh assassination case, today moved an application before the Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, praying for the expeditious disposal of the case, preferably by conducting the case on a day-to-day basis. Mr Bedi assured the accused that every effort would be made to dispose of the case as early as possible. Lakhvinder Singh, another accused in the case, also moved an application before the judge seeking better medical facilities. He stated that specialist doctors were not available in the jail. The Jail Medical Officer was not in a position to provide the required treatment. The judge directed the jail superintendent to requisition the services of specialists from the Sector 16 General Hospital here for the treatment of the suspect. Mr Bedi adjourned the case
to August 11. HVP MLA quits House panel CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 —
The Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Mr Chhattar
Singh Chauhan, has accepted the resignation of the HVP
MLA, Mr Sat Pal Sangwan, from the membership of the
Committee of the Vidhan Sabha on the Welfare of the
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and backward Classes
for 1998-99. Courts firing case: remand
extended CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — The Judicial Magistrate, Mr Jagnahar Singh, today extended the judicial remand of Jagjit Singh Gill, DSP of Sangrur (Rural), and Manjit Singh Barkandi, president of the Muktsar unit of SAD, until August 17. Both of them were arrested
by the Chandigarh police in connection with the Sector 17
District Courts firing incident. |
Tohra's plea put off CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — Mr Justice Swatantar Kumar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today adjourned sine die the application moved by Mr G.S. Tohra, S.G.P.C. president seeking modification in the pollution control and enforcement of traffic regulations judgement insofar as it made the use of helmets by Sikh women compulsory. Mr Tohra had stated that the use of helmets by Sikh women rebelled against the code issued by Sikh Gurus. As for the application
moved by the Chandigarh Administration seeking more time
for the implementation of judgement, the judge adjourned
this case till tomorrow. |
Review plea order dismissed CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — The local Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal comprising Mr S.C. Vaish and Mr J.S. Dhaliwal, today dismissed a review petition against a judgement delivered by the tribunal earlier in a case of selection of mazdoors by the office of the Chief Engineer (Headquarter), Western Command, Ambala. Earlier the Bench had allowed the claim of Mr Rajeswar for the post in which it observed that names of Mr Harnam Singh and Mr Sham Lal were not sponsored by the employment exchange and therefore, they should not have been included in the proceedings of the interview held by the board. The Bench in review observed that the names of Mr Harnam Singh and Mr Sham Lal, were, in fact, sponsored by the employment exchange. It was further observed that the Bench also fell in error while observing that persons with lesser marks had been selected. The list clearly showed that persons were selected on merit on the basis of higher marks obtained by them. The tribunal thus,
recalled the earlier order dated December 20, 1996, being
based on wrong facts and showing an apparent error on
face of the record. The Bench also dismissed the O.A.,
which was earlier allowed. |
Baha'is condemn execution in Iran CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — The local Baha'i community has expressed shock at the tragic execution of Mr Ruhu' llah Rawhani, their co-believer, on July 21, 1998, in Mashhad, Iran. In a statement issued today, Prof Anil Sarwal, chairman, Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is said the Baha'i community was shocked to hear about the execution and was concerned about the situation of Baha'is in Iran. He said that whatsoever may be the official assertion of the Iranian Government, community in Iran remain unprotected. There was no evidence that Mr Rawhani was accorded any legal process and no sentence was announced. It appeared certain that he was not allowed access to a lawyer, he alleged. Prof Sarwal said the
community was apprehensive that the recent happening may
start a fresh wave of executions. Labourer electrocuted CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — A labourer working on a construction site in Sector 46-A was electrocuted here this evening. The deceased, Chander Bhan Chauhan, was trying to reach the temporary wooden parapet built on the outside of the house on the first floor to carry out his work. In the process he caught
hold of a electricity wire passing adjacent to the house
and was electrocuted. He died on the spot . He was a
resident of Burail village. |
1,500 kids participate in
painting contest CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — Over 1500 students from local government schools participated in a painting competition organised by the UT Education Department at the Open-Hand complex here today. While the theme for the age group of six to nine years was "City Beautiful", the theme for the nine to 12 group was "City of Garden". "Sukhna Lake" was the theme for the 12 to 15 years ago group and "50 Years of Independence" was the theme for the age group of 15 to 18 years. The result of the
competition will be announced later on a spokesman of the
department. |
Teachers' strike today CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — Teachers of local colleges and Panjab University will observe a stay-in strike tomorrow in favour of their demand of implementing the revised UGC pay scales. The finance secretary of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, Mr N.P. Manocha, said here today that the teachers would hold rallies and dharnas in their respective colleges. A rally would also be held at the Chandigarh Housing Board chowk at 11 a.m. He said if the demands of
the teachers were not met, they would start an indefinite
strike from August 11. |
Jathedar files suit against forgery CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — The Budha Dal, chief, Jathedar Balbir Singh, has filed a suit in the court of Mr Jasbir Singh, Judicial Magistrate, alleging that his predecessor, Bhai Santa Singh, forged his signatures on a letter. The Magistrate has issued summons to Bhai Santa Singh for October 10. Jathedar Balbir Singh
alleged that copies of the letter on which the signatures
had allegedly been forged were circulated among
"administrators and religious institutions,
including the SGPC with a view to maligning him in
public." |
Applications for houses invited CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — The Haryana House Allotment Committee has invited applications from eligible employees for allotment of Type IV houses exclusively for Sector 39-B, Chandigarh. An official spokesman said here today that all heads of department had been directed to forward the applications of eligible employees by August 30. The Haryana Government employees who had already been allotted government houses at Chandigarh by the Union Territory Administration were not eligible for allotment of these houses. Only those employees
drawing pay between Rs 2301 and Rs 3000 on or before
December 31, 1995, could apply for allotment of these
houses. The employees who were drawing basic pay plus
special pay more than Rs 3000 on January 1, 1986, and
were on transferable cadre that is common cadre and were
entitled for Type V houses could also apply for Type IV
houses. |
CHANDIGARH, Aug 3 — Shovana Narayan, noted Kathak danseuse, gave a scintillating performance at the concluding function of 50 years of Indian Independence at HMT Auditorium in Pinjore, near here, this evening. Shovana kept the audience spellbound with the transcription of independence in her different moods. Verses of Surdas, Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Malik Mohammad were used by her to give expression to her moods. Impressive footwork added to the beauty of her dance. The music was composed by Pt Jawala Prasad. She was accompanied on tabla by Shakil Ahmed and on Pakhwaj by Pt Tulsi. Mrs Vidya Devi, wife of
Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal, lit the lamp to mark
the beginning of the programme. Mr Ram S. Verma, Haryana
Chief Secretary, presided over the function. Different strokes
An exhibition of paintings is also being held at Government Museum and Art Gallery. The works on display are those which had been created during a workshop under the head "Different Strokes Young Artists Association". There were in all 23 participants who worked with different media — oil, acrylics, charcoal and painting on glass. The paintings dwell on different themes, a few of which stand out. Nitin Dutt's work always makes a mark and this time too it is the same. He has titled it "The Gamble She Played" and dedicated it to his mother as she is the only one who encouraged him to do his masters. Vijay's charcoal piece shows male dominance over females. Aditya Pande's "Past, Present and Future" is based on the tradition of Indian society having pandits. Though they are getting extinct, there is still a chunk in the social gamut which believes in them. The exhibition will be open till August 10. — PV Suchitra emphasises amity
She herself is an ideal example of this phrase. Suchitra was born in Assam, received her dance training in Madras, and is now residing in this very city. A graduate from the epitome of bharatnatyan dancing school, Kalashetra, she has been imparting training to dancers for more than nine years. She also conducts dance workshops. The audience perhaps had an inkling what the evening had in store for them. A rich and enthralling experience it was to be! Suchitra made the evening roll off with a slightly long pushpanjali set to raag aravi. This she combined with an appeal to people of various religions to live in harmony. This was followed by a performance by Chaitali Nandi, also a graduate from Kalashetra. She rendered jathiswaram in raag kalyani. Here onwards Suchitra took charge and presented a 'Shiva stuti' in raag revathi. She followed it up with Devi stuti in raag Sindu bhairavi. The rendering of two Meera bhajans — 'Mai Hari Charan Ki Dasi' and 'Pag Ghungroo Bandh Meera Nachi Re' showed Suchitra's abhinay skills. This was something unique for the viewers as these kind of expositions are more associated with kathak. She drew the curtain with tilana in which she was accompanied by Chaitali. This was in adi taal. She concluded the performance with Vande Matram.... V. Krishnamurthy on the natuvangam, V. Chandrashekhar on the mridangam, Anadurai on the violin and Laxmi Narayan as vocalist provided able support. Still one felt at times fluidity of movements was broken and certain movements were being repeated. —
PV |
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