EDUCATION

Residents oppose school site
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Jan 5 — Resentment is growing among residents of Phase XI over the allotment of a site to a private educational institution for a primary school by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA). They say the coming up of a school will lead to a number of problems.

The residents have threatened to launch an agitation if their demand to relocate the school site is not met. The Social Welfare Society of Phase XI said on two earlier occasions, a move to allot the site was stalled on public demand. To discuss their future course of action, the residents of one kanal and 16 marla houses gathered at the site. Dr Jaspal Singh, a resident of the area claimed that the site had been earmarked for being developed as a green belt. Besides, the open space was being used by the residents for holding community functions in the absence of a community centre in the area.

Another resident, Dr Prem Singh Gill, said as the site was located on a C road, it was not adequate to take the load of traffic. There was little space to park school buses and vehicles of other persons visiting the school. The residents said two sites, one located adjacent to the Phase XI bus stand and another adjoining the Phase XI Police post, were lying vacant. The residents have submitted a memorandum to the Chief Administrator of the PUDA.

Cold wave hits attendance
From our Correspondent

DERA BASSI, Jan 5 — Due to a sharp fall in the mercury and thick fog throughout the day, there was a thin presence of students in schools of this subdivision yesterday. Some of the schools facing a shortage of rooms were closed after the morning assembly by the authorities and in others, two classes were conducted in one room.

A survey of different schools in Zirakpur, Dera Bassi and Lalru, revealed that the classes were held in open and in the verandahs of the schools. About 75 per cent students were marked present in Government Senior Secondary School, Lalru, and 70 per cent in Government Senior Secondary School, Handesra. Classes upto the primary level were conducted in the verandah while classes below the secondary level were conducted in rooms.

Strength in Government Middle Schools of Magra, Batoli, Miyanpur and Jolly villages also remaind thin due to the cold weather and a dense fog.

A half-day holiday was declared in Government High School, Dera Bassi, and Government Senior Secondary School, Bhabhat, on the occasion of Gurpurab here today. A holiday was declared in Government Primary School, Dera Bassi.

The resident of Lalru and Dera Bassi have demanded sufficient rooms in various government schools so that there should be no loss of studies in summer and winter.

COURTS

Court-firing case not to go untraced
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 5 — The police has withdrawn its recommendation to label the court-firing case as untraced and will instead file a challan in the case soon. An application in this context was moved in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate here yesterday.

About a year-and-a-half ago, 45 minutes of indiscriminate firing outside the Sector 17 district courts, the first of its kind, had sent shock waves around the city. The Chandigarh police had recommended treating the case as untraced.

The Tribune had highlighted the case on December 29. Sources said the case would be reinvestigated in view of the new evidence which had come to light now. The recommendation had raised many eyebrows in the police circles and the legal fraternity who had questioned the way the case had been investigated. They had also asked how could those responsible for the incident right outside the district courts could go scot free.

The firing was a result of the murder of Harjit Singh Sandhu in the market of Sector 10 by Harvinder Singh alias Vicky, who was subsequently arrested and was remanded in the judicial custody.

Trouble began in July, 1998, when he was produced in the court. There was tension between supporters of both parties who were present outside the court complex. When the accused was being taken back after being produced in the court, supporters of the deceased raised slogans against the Punjab police as Mr Jagjit Singh Gill, a Punjab police DSP, was also present there with his gunmen.

Suddenly, some supporters of the accused began firing without any provocation, besides pelting stones on the supporters of the deceased and the police party. In the incident which lasted 45 minutes, ASI Ajmer Singh, Harpreet Singh, Kulwant Singh, Sadhu Singh and Avtar Singh received injuries. The police arrested the DSP, besides 18 others, and a case under Sections 147, 148, 149, 332, 353, 307 and 336 of the IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act was registered at the central police station.

As per an untraced report, "no person suffered any bullet injury". Avtar Singh, the main witness, was told by doctors that such injuries could have been caused by falling on an iron object. Since the shirt had a hole, it was sent to the CFSL where the experts said no firing discharge residues could be detected. It was not possible to form a definite opinion on whether the hole was caused due to firing or not. Apart from this, Avtar Singh also gave an affidavit saying that he had suffered no bullet injuries.

ASI Ajmer Singh, another injured, said his nasal bone had fractured, but, no one had hit him during the incident. Ajmer said he had received the injury by falling on a road berm.

The report further lists some observations which absolve the accused. It says, "from further inspection of the case file, no act of omission could be established against DSP Jagjit Singh Gill and his presence in the court was merely a matter of coincidence. He had come to meet some advocates, regarding some personal work and his version was supported by some independent witnesses."

Jailed for breaking into shop
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 5 — Convicting a Patiala district resident, accused of breaking into a Sector 17 lottery shop, the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash, today sentenced him to three months' imprisonment, besides imposing a fine of Rs 1,000.

The convict, Harnek Singh, was further directed to undergo imprisonment for another month in default of payment. He was earlier booked by the Chandigarh police for lurking house trespass by night under Section 457 of the Indian Penal Code.

According to the prosecution, the accused was apprehended by the watchman while he was escaping after opening complainant Parmod Kumar's lottery shop.

Pronouncing the orders in the open court, the CJM observed: "The prosecution has been able to bring home the guilt against the accused beyond the shadow of doubt. Hence, the accused is held guilty and convicted under Section 457 of the IPC."

In his detailed order, the CJM observed: "The testimony of the complainant coupled with the statement of two police officials is sufficient to conclude that the accused was caught red-handed when he was running away after opening the shop of the complainant and noticed by the chowikidar."

CULTURE

Play relives Sikh history
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 5 — An effort to stage a multi-media presentation of Sikh history, Bole So Nihal, at Tagore Theatre here this evening was well appreciated by the audience.

Bole So Nihal is the first dramatic presentation of Sikh history. Fusion of film, stage presentation, drama, light and sound and subject depict the teachings and sacrifices of Gurus.

The first hour narrates the life-stories of Gurus briefly. Common food sharing langar, meri and peeri, and sacrifice are some important aspects of the presentation ‘Thaadis’ (a folk tradition eulogising gurus) was appreciated by the audience.

The show, about two hours long, relives the history of Sikhs, spanning Pathan, Mughal, Sikh and British eras. A total of 36 events have been selected.

The first show was held in New Delhi in 1998. The show has been held in Mumbai, Meerut, Sriganganagar, Yamunanagar and Chandigarh, besides Canada and USA.

Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob, Governor of Punjab, was invited for today’s show.

Bole So Nihal has been written and produced by Harcharan Singh. Latta Harbux Singh is the director.

Gurpurab celebrated with fervour
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 5 —- Calendar controversy notwithstanding, the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh was celebrated here with traditional fervour and gaiety in a couple of gurdwaras here today. Other gurdwaras will celebrate the Gurpurab on January 14 as per conventional calendar.

The main functions were held at both the Sectors 35 and 44 gurdwaras whereafter bhog of Sri Akhand Path and special kirtan darbars were held. Eminent ragi jathas recited gurbani from Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Discourses on the life and teachings of the Tenth Sikh Guru were also organised.

After the bhog ceremony, a special “langar” was organised. Some of the Sikh families illuminated their houses at night to mark the occasion. Some gurdwaras were also illuminated.

Devotees listen to shabad kirtan
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Jan 5 — Religious fervour and gaiety marked the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh in the town here today. Scenes of meandering queues of devotees with folded hands waiting for their turn to bow before the holy Guru Granth Sahib could be seen at all gurdwaras in the township.

Ragi and dhadhi jathas performed throughout the day. Reports of celebrations were received from Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Phase, Bibi Bhani Gurdwara in Phase 7, Sacha Dhan Gurdwara in Phase 3B 1 and other gurdwaras here. The devotees listened to kirtan and participated in the preparation and serving of langar.

The President of the Gurdwara Talmel Committee of SAS Nagar, Mr Isher Singh Langh, said it had been earlier decided to celebrate the Gurupurab in the township on January 5 as it had been declared as a holiday. The procession on the eve of the Gurupurab had been taken out on January 3, he said.

Bhog, langars held
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Jan 5 — Gurpurb celebrations at Nada Sahib began with the akhand path, followed by bhog, here today. Langars were organised at Pinjore and Panchkula as well.

A procession was taken out at Pinjore yesterday, in which a large number of schoolchildren participated. A rest house, with the capacity to accommodate 130 people, scheduled to be inaugurated today, was postponed till the first week of February. Around that time, the new parking place is also expected to be ready.

Cassette of Saigal's Rabindra Sangeet
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 5 — The Environment Society of India will release a cassette of Rabindra Sangeet rendered by the famous singer of yesteryear, K. L. Saigal, next week in collaboration with HMV.

According to Mr J. S. Grewal, Senior Vice-President of the society, a competition of Saigal's songs will also be held in the city on the occasion of the death anniversary of the artiste on January 18. He said the contest, which is held annually, is an endeavour to popularise among the youth the works of Saigal, a natural singer who had had no formal training in music.