Man jumps into tank, dies
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 10 — A man reportedly committed suicide after jumping into a tank at the Sector 37 waterworks.

According to police sources, 30-year-old Rakesh Kumar entered the complex in the afternoon and climbed down the stairs of one of the water storage tanks and jumped into it. Some employees saw him and jumped after him in a bid to save him. His body was brought out and rushed to the hospital where doctors pronounced him brought dead.

Further investigations are on.

1 dies in mishap: A passenger travelling in a three-wheeler was killed when a Gypsy, (PB-10-AG-0003), rammed into the vehicle in Sector 22.

Sources said while Surinder Singh was killed, Rashid the three-wheeler driver was seriously injured. The driver of the Gypsy fled from the scene.

A case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A, IPC, has been registered at the Central police station.

Car stolen: Mr Sham Lal of Sector 7, Panchkula, has reported that his car (HR-05-0030) was stolen from Mani Majra last night. A case under Section 379, IPC, has been registered.

Theft in booth: Mr Balbir Singh, SDO of the Sector 28 Maintenance Booth, reported that somebody has stolen a ceiling fan, a stop clock and 32 kg of scrap from the booth. A case under Sections 457 and 380, IPC, has been registered.

Third chance for compartment candidates
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 10 — Panjab University has allowed a special third chance to the BA, B.Sc, B.Com students of the first, second and third years, respectively, who were placed under compartment in any of the annual examinations held between April 1992 and April 1998, but could not be successful despite the two chances given under the normal rules.

Besides, the students who could not avail themselves of the special chances in April 1999 or September 1999, would now be allowed to appear in the annual examination to be held in April 2000 as per the latest syllabus. No further chance after April would be given to the students to clear their compartment paper. The eligible candidates would have to submit their examination form with a special fee of Rs 1,000 and Rs 20 as lamination charges at the office of the Joint Controller of Examination by December 31.

Shankar dances into hearts
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

PARWANOO (Timber Trail), Dec 10 — Shankar Sahney, the new entrant on the Indian pop scenario, proved to be a deserving star with presentation of foot tapping numbers from his cassette 'Yaari Yaari' here today.

The elegantly dressed star was introduced with music from his recorded cassette which was well appreciated by the audience. When the singer took the stage with live music, the crowd could not help but take to the dance floor.

The first presentation was the title song 'Yaari Yaari' of the album, followed by 'Kurmari' and 'Khatti Khatti'.

Shankar remained crowded by admirers and he responded well to all communicators. It was, however, the live performance which set the mood for the evening. It began with a religious couplet 'Mera Mujh Mein Kuch Nahin'. Gurdas Mann's composition 'Mera Dil' set the tempo.

'Sapne Main Milti Hai', followed by 'Jaadu Nagri Se Aya Hai' and a fast number 'Patt Liya' were a hit with the crowd. The music was fast enough to help automatic foot tapping. However, the noise level sounded a little higher.

Talking to The Tribune, Shankar said he was inspired by his father who was a head of the Music Department in Panjab University. Shankar himself is a qualified chemical engineer belonging to the city.

"I played guitar in over 40 albums before I decided it was a right time to come forth with my own vocal performance," he said. When asked if Punjabi music was under threat from the Western influence, Shankar said it was not so. He said the lyrics were simple and catchy these days which touched a person's heart.

Shankar began performing on Jalandhar TV and radio when he was five-year-old. He became popular due to his stage performances when he was noticed by Jawahar Wattal. The duo spent "gruelling hours" to make 'Yaari Yaari'.

Shankar said he had great passion for Punjabi music and had added boliyan to his music to keep up the tradition.

Hema Sardesai and Bhupinder Bhuppi, leading pop singers, were also present on the occasion.

Order to review suspension
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 10 — The Central Administrative Tribunal today directed the Chairman and member (Personnel Vigilance) of the Central Board of Excise and Customs, respectively, to review the case of Mr Rajan Chaudhary, Assistant Commissioner (Customs) at Amritsar, regarding withdrawal of his suspension.

Mr Jasbir S. Dhaliwal and Mr V.K. Majotra, who handed down this order, further ruled that in case the respondents found it a fit case, they would pass a detailed and suitable order about withdrawal of suspension of the applicant, including the consequential benefits as per the relevant rules.

Mr Chaudhary, who was placed under suspension on August 24, 1998, has stated that he had held the regular charge of the post of Assistant Commissioner, Attari railway station. Besides, he was also given the additional charge of Disposal and Malkhana.

He claimed he had made extraordinary achievements in his career of two years. As a result, he was tranferred to the post of Assistant Director in the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence — a highly sensitive assignment generally given to an officer of proven integrity.

On may 19, 1998, he received a message that his 11-month-old child was ill. He informed his supervisor and was permitted to leave the office at 8.30 p.m.

While he was away attending to his child, a case of unclaimed seizure of miscellaneous goods was effected by the Amritsar unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in the morning of June 19, 1998. He was asked to join the Customs House in Amritsar as Assistant Commissioner (Legal). He assumed charge of the new assignment on August 24, 1998. Suddenly he was placed under suspension.

The stand of the respondents, on the other hand, was that the D.R.I. had seized poppy seeds valued at Rs 69 lakh between June 18-20, 1998, from the customs station at the Attari railway station. The applicant and his subordinates had apparently not noticed the contraband items being unloaded at the platform.

"We find that the applicant may not be actually present at the place," the Bench observed and added: "His headquarters have also been shifted. The review order dated February 25, 1999, is very sketchy. Even though a period of more than a year and three months has passed since the occurance, the progress made in the investigations is not known at all. Similarly one cannot say how long it will take to complete the inquiry and issuing a chargesheet, if any, against the applicant."

Inter-college softball begins
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Dec 10 — GGD SD College, Chandigarh; PU campus, Chandigarh; and DAV College, Chandigarh; won their matches on the first day today of the Panjab University Inter-College Softball (men's) Tournament being played here at the PU grounds.

In the first match, GGD SD College crushed DM College, Moga, 10-0. Raman, and Vivek scored two home runs each for the winners, followed by Gaurav, Vishal, Ashwani, Munish, Jagmal and Deepak scoring one each.

In another match, the PU campus defeated LR DAV College, Jagraon, 21-0. Vijay, Arun, Kanwaljit, Mohinder and Anil scored three home runs each, followed by Sushant and Ajay scoring two each, while Tashjeet and Ajendra scored one home run each.

In the third match of the day, DAV College, Chandigarh, beat Government College, Sector 11, 17-0.

In the last match of the day, GGD SD College, Chandigarh, defeated Government College, Ludhiana, 9-8.

Athletics meet: Preeti of Class XII, among girls, won the 100 m race in the annual athletics meet (seconadry level) of Shivalik Public School here today on the school premises.

Results: Class XII (200 m) — Preeti 1, Monika 2, Praiksha 3; boys — Kawaljeet 1, Vikrant 2, Sandeep Arya 3; long jump (girls) — Preeti 1, Baljinder 2, Anita 3; shot put — Savneet 1, Harsimrat 2, Sarabjeet 3; boys (400 m) — Rajbir 1, Samandeep 2, Sandeep 3; long jump — Prabhjot 1, Amanbir 2, Ravi 3; shot put — Sarfraz Ali 1, Samradeep 2, Harpreet 3.

Class XI: 100 m (girls) — Sunaina 1, Harpreet 2, Jasleen 3; 200 m — Sunaina 1, Harpreet 2, Nitika 3; shot put — Ravneet 1, Shrishti 2, Hardeep 3.

Boys (100 m) — Pankaj 1, Bhaskar 2, Paramveer 3; 200 m — Abhishek 1, Paramveer 2, Pankaj 3; 400 m — Bhasker 1, Vikram 2, Gaurav 3; long jump — Pankaj 1, Bhasker 2, Vikram 3; shot put — Samrat 1, Mandeep, Bhasker 3.

Class X (girls) — Anumeha 1, Frainy 2, Rupinder 3; 100 m — Jasdeep 1, Joji 2, Shivani 3; 200 m — Aarti 1, Jasdeep 2, Nidhi 3; shot put (boys) — Karanjot 1, Inderveer 2, Amandeep 3; 100 m — Raman 1, Ravi 2, Raniston 3; 400 m — Vikram 1, Rajdeep 2, Uday 3; 200 m — Parminder 1, Gurpreet 2, Amrinder 3.

Sport day: The Old Students Association of Blue Bird High School, Sector 15, Panchkula, will hold the annual sport day-cum-fete on the school premises tomorrow. Mr Pradeep Chaudhary, Chairman of CONFED, Haryana, will be the chief guest.

Women's fest from Dec 18
By Arvind Katyal

CHANDIGARH, Dec 10 — The National Women's Festival in badminton, table tennis and lawn tennis will be held here from December 18 to 21, in which nearly 250 players would participate.

The festival is held under the aegis of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. The organisation of the tournament has been entrusted to the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Earlier, supervision and sanctioning of grants was done by the SAI and organisation was left to states.

Mr P.C. Kashyap, Regional Director, in charge of Northern Centre, SAI, said SAI would take the help of the UT Sports Department and the Panjab University Sports Directorate. Badminton events will be held at Panjab University Gymnasium Hall, table tennis events at the Sector 23 TT hall and lawn tennis events at Lake Club courts.

Mr Kashyap said accountability of SAI coaches would be judged on the basis of performance of trainees during a year and for this, a detailed chart, specifying parameters, would be listed. On the question of recent decision of opening of sports acedemies by the SAI corporate office, he said for this region, weightlifting and wrestling were on top of the list.

Best gross for Guneet, Kiran
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 10 — Guneet Raikhy and Kiran B.M. Singh brought in the best gross in the silver and bronze divisions, respectively, in the ladies’ meal round at Chandigarh Golf Club on Thursday.

The following are the results: Silver division — Gross winner: Guneet Raikhy; nett winner: Harinder Sandhu; nett runners-up: Binny Bath.

Bronze division — gross winner: Kiran B.M. Singh; nett winner: Biba N. Singh; nett runners-up: Harbhajan Suri.

DAV-7 excels in skating
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Dec 10 — KB DAV Centenary School, Sector 7, under the guidance of its Principal, Ms Madhu Bahl, has shown good performance in the sport activities, especially in gymnastics, swimming and roller skating. Karan Bhai and Mehak Paul, both of Class II students of the school, have won laurels for the school in swimming and skating events, respectively.

The skating rink is of international dimensions (44 m x 20 m) and was built with kota stone. Today, an exhibition match was also played on this surface. Earlier, a roller hockey camp for the Indian team which took part in the Asian Skating Championship at China in October was also held prior to the team's departure. The Italian coach, Mr Baraldi Aldo, who conducted the camp, praised the rink and hoped it would produce skaters of international repute.

The rink has 300 Lux-level metal halide lights on eight poles, stereo system and a seating capacity of 2,000. Ms Bahl said the rink would be initially open to the students of the school, but in the evening, outsiders would also be allowed to play here. She also said the rink being the only one of its kind in Chandigarh, would also have matches of national and international levels conducted from time to time.

Mehak Paul, a six-years-old student of the school, has won nine gold medals in the City Skating Carnival and various Chandigarh State Roller Skating Championships. Karan Bhai was adjudged the best swimmer and also won a gold medal in the under-8 section of the Chandigarh Open Swimming Championship.

Army Red win
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 10 — Army Red retained the title in the Inter-Services Hockey Championship. They defeated Army Green, 2-1, in the final match played in the Sector-42 Hockey Stadium here today.

Both teams struggled hard to take an early lead but failed to do so in the goal-less first half. Army Red could convert only one penalty corner in the 40th minute of the match through Navin Lakhra and wasted the other penalty corners awarded to them during the match. The second one was a field goal scored by Samson Fernandez in the 65th minute.

Army Green got six penalty corners but could also convert only one through Avtar Singh in the 54th minute.

The Air Force won the match held for the third position defeating the Navy team, 1-0.

The Chief of Staff of the Western Command, Lieut-Gen. B.S. Malik, who was the chief guest, gave away the prizes.

The following is the list of the probables: Goalkeepers — RVS Prasad, R.K. Chaudhary, K.N. Palaksha; full backs — K.K. Poonacha, Avtar Singh, B. Bhengra, Satbir Singh, H.S. Bisht.

Half backs — Paramjit Singh, Pradeep, F. Ravi Kumar, Narender, Robin Singh, Jiban Singh, Avtar Singh, Anil Minj; forwards — S. Feronendez, D. Ravi, Balbir Singh, M.M. Lokhande, Cyprin Aind, Kujur, Kamal Horo, A. Kumar, Asif Ali, Gorde.