Four arrested for assault
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 23 — The police has arrested four persons of Panchkula for allegedly assaulting a city resident.

According to police sources, Raj Kumar of Sector 8 said the accused — Rahul Sharma, Abhishek Sharma, Munish Sharma and Gotesh Sharma — came to the Sector 8 market, picked up a quarrel with him and his friend and threatened them with dire consequences. The police was informed and the accused were arrested while they were trying to flee in their car. A case under Sections 147, 149, 323 and 452 of the IPC has been registered at the police station north.

Held with whisky
The police has arrested Bakshish Singh of Sector 40 and recovered 11 bottles of whisky from him. A case under Section 61\1\14 of the Excise Act has been registered against him at the Sector 39 police station.

Motor cycle stolen
Mr Dalip Singh of Sector 47 has reported that his motor cycle (UP-32-K-2251) has been stolen from a parking near Neelam cinema. A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered at the central police station.

PANCHKULA

Cyclist injured
Sanjeev Kumar was injured when a speeding truck hit his bicycle in Sector 12. A case under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC has been registered against the truck driver, who fled from the scene.

Stirring a patriotic chord
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 23 — “I strongly feel that unfortunately the ‘other’ point of view has never been highlighted in the history of our Independence, since the sacrifices of the likes of Udham Singh, Madan Lal Dhingra, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru or Kartar Singh Sarabha have not been given their due respect”, said cine-actor Raj Babbar, who was in the city this afternoon in connection with the preview of his film ‘Shaheed Uddham Singh, alias Ram Mohammed Singh Azad’ at Neelam Cinema, Sector 17. He has played the lead role in this film, which has been directed by Chitraarth, of the ‘Chann Pardesi’ fame and produced by Iqbal Dhillon.

This splendidly made film, which chronicles not only the life and times of Udham Singh but also the philosophy and ‘isms’ of the Ghadar Party and the socialist movement, has some scathing commentary on the then Congress Party, and also Mahatma Gandhi. In fact, even the brochure of the film begins as such: “There are only two myths widespread in the historiography of India. First, that only Gandhiji and the Indian National Congress were instrumental in achieving India’s Independence. Second, that revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Udham Singh were individual terrorists who only believed in blood-shed and armed robberies. Nothing could be further than truth”.

Later in a press conference, Raj Babbar, Chitraarth and Atul Tiwari, the writer, “clarified” that ‘Shaheed Uddham Singh’ has no political motives behind it, nor does it talk of any particular parties. Added Raj Babbar, “The film is only against an imperialist society, and those who suppress humanity. We are not blaming anybody through this film. Also we would not like any deviation from our true intention, which is an attempt to look at history from a new perspective”.

The film, which also happens to coincide with the birth centenary of Udham Singh this year on December 26, not only manages to stir a patriotic chord somewhere but the depiction of ‘very human’ elements of this heroic character make Udham Singh very alive and animate. The way Chitraarth portrays this freedom fighters’ love for good cars, motor-bikes, smart European clothes and also women, while being passionate about his motherland, makes even a commoner identify with a man who shot Michael O’Dwyer dead in public and who is then condemned by Mahatma Gandhi as a “mad man”.

Meanwhile, Raj Babbar maintained: “Even today the history books hardly account for the sacrifices made by Punjabis, which have been by far the maximum during our Independence struggle. Even in Parliament these people have not been accounted for”.

The film which has a huge star cast, with even Bollywood star Juhi Chawla playing the cameo role of a nautch girl, certainly does manage to hold the viewer’s attention to the atrocities of the British and the sacrifices made by the many Indians —both young and old and both men and women. The inclusion of talents like Shatrughan Sinha, Amrish Puri, Gurdas Mann, who plays Bhagat Singh, Barry John and Tom Alter makes the film more watchable.

Some very caustic dialogues by our very own Surjit Pattar and also Atul Tiwari, teamed with very crisp editing, are surely add-ons for the film.

Though some of the songs could certainly have been done away with, the inclusion of ‘Heers’ by Jagjit Singh and Sukhshinder Shinda, who have given the music, do sound quite agreeable.

At the press conference when Chitraarth was queried about his long, almost 18 years, exile from the Punjabi film industry, he said: “The economic viability of Punjabi films has always been a deterrent. Also, I needed a subject to challenge me. In this film, an era had to be created which is no longer existing, so that was exciting”.

Refund deposits, firm told
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Dec 23 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has ordered SOL Pharmaceuticals, Hyderabad, to refund deposits of eight complainants and pay an interest of 18 per cent per annum from the date of maturity of the bonds to each in addition to Rs 500 as cost of proceedings.

In their complaint, eight persons — Dr Kusum Sharma, Dr DK Sharma, Dr Sushma Rana, Dr RS Rana, Dr Ravi Bindal, Dr Renu Bindal, Dr Harish Channa and Dr IP Singh — all residents of Kalka, had alleged that they had deposited money with SOL Pharmaceuticals against cash bonds.

They further stated that even after the expiry of the maturity period mentioned in the bond, they approached the company to repay the amount deposited by them with interest as promised and also submitted original certificates which were duly acknowledged. They alleged that even after receiving the said bonds duly discharged, the company had not made the payment and thus indulged in malpractice and deficient services.

Upon notice, the officials failed to put in an appearance and sent their written statement by post, pleading that the company could not repay the amount on account of a huge loss sustained but was making arrangements to repay the deposits.

The order observed that the reply filed by the company officials was evasive and that the company had admitted the contents of the complainant. Also, they had failed to make the payment in spite of repeated requests. The reply from the company added that it had sent reference for the declaration of them being a sick unit but no copy of the same has been annexed to the reply. Thus the evidence of the complainants goes unrebutted and unchallenged.

Fluctuation in prices of rewri, gachak
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Dec 23—There is a minor fluctuation of prices of groundnut, `rewri’ and `gachak’ in the local markets, while sellers apprehend a marginal fall in prices as the winter season progresses, even though the demand increases considerably owing to greater arrivals in the market.

At a shop in the Sector 7 market, the groundnut from Patiala is available for Rs 30 a kg while `rewri’, jaggery and sugar, is being sold for Rs 50 and Rs 60 a kg respectively. `Gajak’ is available in four varieties this season. While the one made of `jaggery’ is the least priced at Rs 40 a kg, that made of `til’ is available at Rs 50 a kg. The addition to this year’s variety is the pista and coconut `gachak’ which is being sold for Rs 70 a kg each. `Til’ was available for Rs 20 per 100 gms.

In Sector 8, there is marginal deflection in prices with both kinds of `rewri’ priced at Rs 40 a kg while `gachak’ was priced at Rs 48 a kg, and the one made of `til’ for Rs 60. At another shop, the same was available for Rs 50 a kg. Popcorn was priced at Rs 50 a kg in the market. Groundnut was being sold for Rs 40 a kg.

Prices also varied at the shops in Sector 9 also. Groundnut was priced lowest in this market with a kg available for Rs 26. `Til’ was priced at Rs 45 and `rewri’ for Rs 48 a kg. Jaggery and `til’ `gachak’ were available at Rs 40 a kg and Rs 60 a kg. Popcorn was also priced a little lower at Rs 45 a kg.

Dev Samaj girls steal show
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Dec 23 — IS Dev Samaj Girls, School, Sector 21, stole the show in the UT inter-school athletics championship held here today. Ramanjeet Kaur in 100m and 200m (Under 19) and Pawandeep Kaur in 100m (Under 17), bagged the gold medal. Sakshi Sharma of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 20, secured the gold medals in shot put and javelin throw.

Results:
Under-14: 100m — Balwinder Kaur 1, Reena 2, Rohini 3; Long Jump — Nidhi Sharma 1, Jagdeep 2, Dimple 3; Discus Throw — Komal 1, Harmandeep Kaur 2, Kamalpreet Kaur 3; 4 x100 M relay — GGSSS-8 1, GHPS-40 2, St Stephen’s - 45 3.

Under-19 — 100m — Ramanjeet Kaur 1, Rinki 2, Aarti 3. 200 M- Ramanjeet Kaur 1, Pinki Sharma 2, Rinki 3; Shot put — Mukta 1, Jagdeep Bawa 2, Shivani 3; 4x100m relay — GGSSS-8 1, SGGSS-35 2, GMSSS- 21 3.

Under — 17 — 100 m — Pawandeep Kaur 1, Avneet Kaur 2, Kiran Negi 3; 200m — Veena Yadav 1, Saloni 2, Kavita 3; High Jump — Harkirat 1, Shashi 2, Kavita 3. Shot Put: Sakshi Sharma 1, Pooja 2, Usha Rani 3; Javelin throw: Sakshi Sharma 1, Jagdeep 2, Radhika Sharma 3; 4x100m — Sharda Sarvhitkari 1, SGHPS-40 2, GHS-40 3.

Handball champ
The SGGS Club -35 will take on the DAV club, Sector 8, in the final of the women section of the Chandigarh state Handball championship being played at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, here today. In the first semi-final, SGGC-35, outplayed GM School-21 by 19-14 with half time score of 10-8. In another semi-final, DAVC-8 defeated GGSSS-8 by 16-12 (half time score- 9-6). In one of the men’s semi-finals, DAV Club- A got the better of GMSSS-21 by 20-3 with a half time score of 15-2.

In other matches of the day, SD College-32 beat Chandigarh Handball Club - 8 by 28-24 with half time score of 13-14 in favour of the Chandigarh Handball Club, while DAV School Club B defeated GSSS-21 B by 28-11( half time- 19-8).

Chess tourney begins
The eleventh Chandigarh Chess championship began here today at Chess Coaching Centre, Sector 42 Sports Complex. Naveen Jain, Aneel Raina, Naveen Bansal and Sanjeev Biswas shared the lead at the end of the second round.

Results at the end of the second round are: Ravneet Kaur (1)lost to Naveen Jain ( 2); Sanjeev Biswas beat V.Bhardwaj( 1); Swapan Kumar (1) lost to Naveen Bansal (2); Aneel Raina ( 2) beat Ashwini Kumar( 1) ; A.Vohra (1.5) beat Ashok Atwal( 1); AN Dey( 1) b CM Sharma (.5) ; SS Virdi ( 0) lost to Rohit Chodha( 1); Nitin(1) beat Shweta ( o) .

Gurbrinder (o) lost to Chetan Vikas( 1); Karma Angdui( 1) beat Madhusheel Arora( o) .

Cross-country run
It was gala time for students of Kendriya Vidyalaya No 1, Chandi Mandir, who took part in the cross country run organised by the school on its last working day. The run was flagged off by the Principal, Ms Bushra Ahuja, alongwith two students of classes I and II , Navneet and Priyanka, respectively.The Principal lauded the efforts of the students and encouraged them to work towards building endurance, stamina and becoming a fit individual.

SAI strike
Members of the ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ Group Employees Association of the Sports Authority of India today went on a pen-down strike in response to non-acceptance of their demands, according to a press note sent by Mr Subhash Sharma, secretary.