Gang of thieves arrested
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 8 — A gang of six thieves, who were planning to loot a bank in Kaimbwalla village has been nabbed by a team of the Crime Branch of the Chandigarh Police today. A country-made .315 bore pistol and other hand-held crude weapons have been recovered from them.

The gang has confessed to have looted two petrol pumps near Barwalla in Panchkula and a couple of liquor vends in Ropar district. They used to also throw chilli powder in the eyes of passing cyclists and scooterists to loot them. This trick was carried out on pay day, according to sources. The gang used to pass off as humble gardeners as all of them were employed as malis with the Chandigarh Golf Club in Sector 6.

One of the gang members, Bhupinder Singh, alias Fauji, had recently gone to UP to procure more country-made weapons. A team of the Crime Branch cell led by Inspector J.S. Cheema, nabbed the six of them from near a tubewell located at the back of the golf club. The others to be nabbed are Tarsem Singh, Ajmer Singh, Harpal Singh, Tarandeep and Gurdhian Singh.

For days they had been keeping a tab on the person who carries cash from the State Bank of Patiala, Sector 8 branch, to the bank's branch in Kaimbwalla village. They were planning to strike soon, police sources said.

House burgled
A house in Sector 15 was burgled when the occupants were away. Mr S.N. Gupta alleged that a sum a of Rs 6,000, gold jewellery, wrist watch and other household articles were stolen. A case under Sections 454 and 380 of the IPC has been registered

Fake permit
A person driving a truck with a fake permit was arrested and booked under Sections 420,467,468 and 471 of the IPC. Baljit Singh of Hisar was nabbed while he was driving a truck ( HR GA--0569) near Bapu Dham colony.

Assaulted
A resident of Panchkula, Ashok Kumar, was assaulted by Vicky Bajwa, Pammi Bajwa , Lucky Bajwa, Bobby Gill and Raja outside a disco in Mani Majra. A case has been registered.

Arrested
A resident of Ram Darbar, Budh Ram , was arrested for allegedly trying to use force to outrage the modesty of woman.

PANCHKULA

Student held
A student of Ayurvedic medicine based at Delhi who while posing as a doctor used to collect donations for holding medical camps on behalf of a fake association of doctors has been arrested by the police. The student, Parveen Singla, who had a fake identity card issued in the name of Dr Puneet Singla was arrested when he went to the house of a scribe in Sector 7 here. The person reportedly showed an authority letter in the name of an association — which had the names and signatures of a number of doctors.

The alert occupant of the house, Mr Deepak Dhiman, got suspicious about the identity of the doctor and informed the police. On being questioned by the police he disclosed he had met a person at Ambala who told him about a new technique to make a quick buck. He confessed that a number of other persons, engaged in the same activity, were active in the area.

The police has registered a case under Sections 420, 467 and 468 of the IPC.

Cops injured
Two motorcycle-borne policemen were injured after being hit by a car in the Sector 7 market here last evening. The police has registered a case against the driver of the car.

A musical evening with Mahima
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 8 — Ghazal singer Mahima Casewa presented an evening of ghazals at the Tagore Theatre here today.

Mahima has learnt music under the tutelage of her mother Usha Rawat, Vasant Thakur, Ustad Sakoor, Pandit Vinay Chandra Maudgalya and Prof Som Datt Battu.

The programme started late because of want of an audience and a long wait for the chief guest. She opened the evening with her ghazal 'Yoohin Besabab Na Phira Karo', written by Bashir Bhaqt.

Mahima has popular albums like 'Abshaar', 'Anjuman' and 'Kaise Keh Doon' to her credit. She is also known for her rendition of light vocal music.

Order to hand over plot
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 8 — The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has directed the Chief Administrator, Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), Panchkula, the Administrator HUDA, Faridabad, and the Estate Officer, HUDA, Sonepat, to immediately give physical possession ( which had been delayed for about seven years) of an allotted plot to the consumer and also pay him interest at the rate of 15 per cent per annum commencing after three years from the date of allotment.

Mr K.L Nagpal, a resident of Sector 46, had in his complaint alleged that he was allotted a 209 sq metre plot in Sector 23, Sonepat, and was directed to pay the balance mount of Rs 1,60,303 in instalments. Subsequently, the price of the said plot was enhanced and the complainant kept depositing various amounts from time to time. In all he deposited Rs 1,70,900.

It was alleged that despite regular payments he has not been given the physical possession of the plot. In its reply, the respondents could not deny the fact that timely payments were made and that the possession was delayed for about seven years.

During the pendency of the complaint, HUDA offered the possession of the plot to the complainant vide a letter dated January , 1999. Considering this the forum bench comprising its President, Mr H.C Modi, and members, Mr R.K Behl and Ms Shashi Kanta, held that there had been deficiency on the part of the respondents who had not handed over the physical possession of the plot for years together. They were thus directed to compensate the complainant accordingly. The respondents were directed to give physical possession of the plot free from encumbrances.

Cucumber, onion dearer
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 8—Most commonly used vegetables such as cabbage, cucumber and onion have become costly in the local market during the past two days.

During a survey of the market today, it was found that if a kg of cabbage was available for Rs 5 just two days back, it was today priced at Rs 10 a kg. The wholesale price of the vegetable has increased from Rs 20 to Rs 30 per five kg during this period. Similarly, s the same quantity of cauliflower, which had been priced between Rs 14 and Rs 15 a kg just two days back was available in the market today for Rs 16 a kg in the retail market. The wholesale price of the vegetable has increased from Rs 50 to Rs 60 per five kg.

According to sources in the market, the prices of both vegetables have increased owing to lesser supplies from Himachal Pradesh, from where these vegetables are coming these days.

Similarly, cucumber has become costlier during this period. A kg of the local variety of the vegetable available for Rs 5 just two days ago, was available today between Rs 6 and Rs 7 in different city markets. The wholesale price of the vegetable has also gone up from Rs 20 to Rs 25 per five kg. Likewise, the retail price of the 'pahari' variety of the vegetable has increased from Rs 10 to Rs 12 per kg.

A jump in price was also recorded by brinjal during this period. A kg of the vegetable, priced at Rs 10 a kg just two days back, could be fetched today for a minimum of Rs 15 a a kg. The wholesale price of brinjal has gone up from Rs 40 to Rs 60 per five kg during this period. According to traders, the hike was temporary and was due to lesser arrivals from different places in Punjab during this period.

The same was the case with gourd, as a kg of the vegetable, priced at Rs 8 a kg just two days back, was available today for Rs 12 a kg. The wholesale price of the vegetable has increased from Rs 32 to Rs 45 per five kg during this period. The hike was attributed to lesser arrivals from surrounding areas of the city.

Onion has also become costlier during this period. A kg of the 'kitchen essential' available for Rs 8 a kg two days back, was available for Rs 10 a kg in the Sector 20 market today. The wholesale price of good quality of the vegetable shot up from Rs 25 to Rs 40 per five kg owing to lesser arrivals from Nasik and other parts of Maharashtra.

On the other hand the price of some vegetables witnessed a decline during this period. A kg of capsicum, priced at Rs 40 a kg yesterday, was available in the market today for Rs 32 a kg. The wholesale price of the vegetable has come down from Rs 150 to Rs 130 per five kg. According to traders, the fall was due to better supplies from Saharanpur and some parts of Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, a kg of lady's finger, priced at Rs 24 two days back, was available today between Rs 16 and Rs 20 in different markets.

Though, there was no change in the price of garlic, which was still available for Rs 30 a kg, the price of ginger has once again gone up from Rs 48 to Rs 60 a kg. The wholesale price of the vegetable has increased from Rs 200 to Rs 250 per five kg during this period.

The prices of other vegetables are as follows:—peas Rs 40 a kg, squash gourd Rs 24, bittergourd Rs 24, lemon Rs 48, tori Rs 24, radish Rs 12, potato Rs 4.