The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

CHB cancels flat allotment to Puri and forfeits the deposited amount
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 26 — The Chandigarh Housing Board has cancelled the allotment of a dwelling unit to Prof Madan Mohan Puri, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, besides forfeiting the entire amount deposited by him till date for “having concealed the material facts and for making false statement by way of declaration of affidavit in order to secure the allotment of the flat fraudulently.”

Professor Puri was allotted dwelling unit No 5863, Mani Majra Phase III, by the Chandigarh Housing Board on the basis of his application made in June,1993. The application was accompanied by an affidavit attested by an Oath Commissioner. The allotment was made under the Manimajra Housing Scheme-Phase III (1993) for NRIs, Government employees and general public.

One of the eligibility conditions for the allotment of the flat was that neither the applicant nor his or her spouse or any of his or her dependent relations, including unmarried children, should own on free hold or leasehold or on hire-purchase basis a residential plot or house in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, or in either of the Urban Estates of Mohali or Panchkula and that the applicant should not have acquired a residential plot or house anywhere in India through government, semi-government, municipal committee, corporation, improvement trust or notified area committee at concessional rate in his or her own name or in the name of any dependent member of his or her family.

The board took out a draw of lots and issued acceptance-cum-demand letter to make the payment. Professor Puri subsequently asked for extension in time to make the payment of Rs 1.27 lakh which was granted on May 3,1994. He paid three instalments before an NOC was issued to him to enable him to raise loan from State bank of India. He paid Rs 1.20 lakh on May 10,1995.

The final allotment of dwelling unit No 5863 was made on June 24,1995. Professor Puri submitted an affidavit on April 15,1997, declaring himself to be eligible for the allotment of the dwelling unit maintaining that neither he nor his wife or any of his two dependent children own a house or plot in Chandigarh, SAS Nagar or Panchkula allotted to them at subsidised rate by government or any other such organisation.

Professor Puri took over the physical possession of the flat on April 30,1997.However, a senior member of the faculty of the university made a complaint to the board that he had been allotted a residential plot/flat at reserve or fixed price through PUSHPAC Cooperative House Building Society which was allotted land measuring 96819.74 sq yards in Sector 49-B and that affidavit filed on April 15,1997, did not mention this fact.

On the basis of vigilance enquiry held by the board, a show cause notice was issued to Professor Puri on October 1, 1999 to explain within15 days why allotment of the dwelling unit at Mani Majra be not cancelled for “filing a false affidavit”. Professor Puri in his reply on October 13 sought some time as he had to go abroad, and on December 29 in his reply Professor Puri maintained that no allotment had been made to him by PUSHPAC society until October,1999.The board held that a confirmation letter by the President of the PUSHPAC Society said that allotment of land to the society was announced by displaying a notice on the notice-board of the society and also confirmed that Professor Puri made the payments for the land and the construction cost of the flat allotted to him by instalments between January 25,1992, and November 10,1999.

As such the board decided to cancel the allotment, forfeit the money deposited and asked Professor Puri to vacate the flat and hand over its possession to the board within 15 days.

HIV cases on rise in armed forces
By Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 26 — Cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among the armed forces personnel is decreasing, but the incidence of HIV positivity in such cases is on the rise. This has been found in a study undertaken recently by the Army Medical Corps.

The study, excerpts of which were made available here, examined 1027 cases admitted in three selected military hospitals from 1991 to 1997. It revealed that the instance of HIV positivity among STD cases increased from about 3 per cent in 1991 to over 27 per cent in 1997. The majority of the cases were in the age group of 20 to 40 years. The number of STD cases in these centres, on the other hand decreased from 213 in 1991 to 79 in 1997.

The findings of the study is also claimed to correlate with the findings of high prevalence of HIV infection in STD clinics at Pune and Mumbai.

The study team comprising three experts examined ‘‘well maintained’’ records of all STD cases which were admitted to specified centres within the stipulated time. Detailed history covering all relevant points was recorded and analysed.

It is well established that STD is a major health problem in India, which has been further compounded with the emergence of HIV infection. The ‘‘dramatic’’ increase of HIV positive cases in India has, however, limited modes of transmission and majority of the cases can be attributed to sexual activity, parental transmission, through receipt of infected blood and infected needles.

Heterosexual exposure remains the most common route of transmission of HIV throughout the world. Genital trauma and exposure to blood during intercourse are among the listed factors facilitating transmission of the virus. Several studies have also established the role of genital ulcer diseases in transmission.

In the armed forces where the majority of the manpower is in the age group of 20 to 40 years, the study states that besides inculcating other costs, it leads to considerable loss of manhours due to treatment.

Only a few studies on STD trends have been done in the armed forces since 1971 and in the present era of HIV infections it becomes imperative to establish and analyse the pattern of STD.

While the study noticed an increase in the incidence of syphilis as compared to earlier studies, the pattern of other sexually transmitted diseases was by and large the same. Also, a higher prevalence of HIV infection was established in patients suffering from genital ulcer diseases as compared to those free from this disorder.

Prospective studies have put forward ‘‘sufficient evidence’’ that both genital ulcerative diseases as well as non-genital ulcerative STD enhance sexual transmission of HIV. STD, the study points out, is therefore taken as a major risk factor in transmission of HIV and it is imperative to control and treat STD at the earliest to reduce the risk.

The study has recommended that a ‘‘more aggressive approach’’ is needed to impart health education to the masses as well as commercial sex workers regarding preventive measures. The Army has already brought out a pamphlet containing information about HIV transmission and AIDS.

High-altitude medical disorder
By Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 26 — Following a two-year study programme, a new type of medical disorder resulting from deployment at extreme altitudes has been discovered by doctors at the Western Command Hospital at Chandimandir. This disorder may have been the cause of several fatalities attributed to high-altitude sickness.

The disorder, called Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis (MVT), is said to be similar to general thrombotic complications. Under this condition, blood starts clotting in the body’s portal system, which is the region around the intestine, gets clogged, thereby cutting of blood circulation in that region.

Doctors at the hospital said that such conditions have not been discovered anywhere in the world, though there have been cases of various high altitude medical disorders. “MVT results from the climatic conditions prevalent at extreme high altitude, that is, above 15,000 feet, and nowhere else in the world, including Tibet, are humans residing at such altitude,’’ a doctor said. Indian Army formations are deployed in areas along the Line of Control, including Siachen, where the altitude is upto 22,000 feet.

The disorder is not easy to detect. The only complaint by patients had been of abdominal pain, with no other visible symptoms. On examination everything appears to be normal. It is only through ultrasound, Doppler and stool tests that MVT can be detected. These facilities are now available at forward hospitals.

Treatment for this disorder includes prescribed medicines which dissolve the clots, and in some cases surgery may be required.

Doctors say that the survivability in this kind of disorder with similar complications resulting from causes other than high altitude is about 50 per cent. ‘‘It is possible that this disorder has gone unnoticed in the past and patients thought to have been suffering some other from high altitude-related sickness may have died,’’ a doctor remarked. ‘‘So far, our findings reveal that MVT is not a common disorder,’’ he added.

Sources reveal that the process has now been initiated to examine all cases of high-altitude sickness for MVT on their arrival at the hospital on evacuation from forward positions. During the last 16 months, there have been about 16,000 admissions in the hospitals, out of which roughly 8 per cent have been cases of high-altitude sickness.

Army to discuss altitude problems
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 26 — The effects of a long-term stay at extreme altitude will be discussed at a symposium being organised by Western Command Hospital, Chandi Mandir on Thursday.

A statement issued here said that very little is known about the long-term effects at altitude above 15,000 feet as these areas were hitherto considered unfit for human habitation. When the Army occupied these extreme heights, new medical problems came to light. A presentation will be made by the Army before experts from the PGI and Government Medical College, Chandigarh.

High altitude related thrombo embolic problems will be discussed by Lieut-Col A. C. Anand and Capt A. D. Garg, while a presentation on angiography will be made by Lieut-Col Nikhol Kumar. The symposium will be chaired by Col C. M. Adya.

Cars, scooters to cost more as UT plans to raise ST to 12 per cent
By Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 26 — Prices of cars, trucks, two-wheelers and other automobiles, will go up in the city as the Chandigarh Administration is about to follow the Union Finance Ministry’s directions on the minimum floor rates of sales tax by which ST on automobiles will go up from the present 4.4 per cent of the cost of the vehicle to 12 per cent.

This will also bring the cost of vehicles sold in Chandigarh at par with those sold in Punjab and Haryana. Without committing on an exact date, a source said that the new ST regime may come into force soon.

Once the notification is out, prices of cars comprising the small car segment like the highly popular Maruti 800, Zen , Santro, Matiz, Uno, Indica and Maruti van will rise anything between Rs 16,000 and Rs 24,000. At present these cars are priced between Rs 2.08 lakh and Rs 3.50 lakh The mid size cars like the Esteem, Lancer, Opel, Sienna, Cielo, Accent and the Ford are going to cost more by approximately Rs 32,000 and Rs 75,000. The variation is due to cost difference in various models of these very cars that are presently sold between Rs 4.35 lakh and Rs 9.40 lakh.

The bigger cars like the Mercedes will be costlier by around Rs 2.50 lakh. The multi utility vehicles like Tata Sumo, Toyota, Qualis, Armada and the jeeps from the Mahindra and Mahindra or Bajaj will cost more between Rs 30,000 and Rs 70,000.

Similarly, in the two-wheeler segment the price of scooters will rise by Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000. The cost of motor cycles will also rise by a sum varying between Rs 3,500 and Rs 6,000. Among the popular motor cycles the costliest is sold for about Rs 60,000 while the lower end range is about Rs 30,000 and Rs 32,000. Mopeds and small scooters will also cost more by the 800 to Rs 1,500 after the ST hike.

Thankfully, city residents buying cars and scooters will be saved from a double onslaught of hikes as the Chandigarh Administration has put on hold its proposal to charge at least 2 per cent of the cost of the vehicle as registration fee. This has been done after the new rates notified by the Union Ministry of Surface Transport were withdrawn by the Union Government, a highly placed source confirmed . This itself would have meant additional costs for the vehicle buyer. At present a fixed sum is charged that is fixed on the basis of the cubic capacity of the engine fitted in the vehicle. An official added that this has been withheld and is being restudied. Punjab has already hiked the rates of registration.

The Government of India has been asking the Chandigarh Administration to implement the uniform sales tax. However, the Administration has asked the Finance Ministry to ensure that the hike is affected simultaneously in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to ensure that no one looses in the bargain. “Even a day’s delay will shift the entire trade to the neighbouring states resulting in a hue and cry by local automobile traders,” an official in the ST Department said.

Punjab contemplating affidavit in Supreme Court to get land released
By Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

MAJRIAN (Kharar), April 26 — The Punjab Government is deeply interested to get denotified pockets of land described as plain areas or agricultural tracts of the villages closed under the Land Preservation Act to provide it a smooth sailing for the Anandgarh project. It is contemplating to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court to get the land released from the ambit of the Forest Act.

If released from the ambit of the Forest Act, the land which the government officials say was non-forest tract, it would give a free hand to the government in changing the land use otherwise strictly permitted. Investigations by TNS revealed that the entire area — approximately 29,000 acres, including uncultivated 20,000 acres, covering about 12 villages — stretching from Karoran to Siswan village had been shown as a closed area under the Land Preservation (Choes) Act, 1990. The barren land was mostly owned by private persons or village panchayats.

The exercise to ascertain exactly which was plain or agricultural land was reportedly being done by the Forest and the Revenue Department to know the exact details before it could be forwarded further. The sources said about 20 per cent of the area, proposed to be acquired for a nature reserve, was plain or agricultural. Denying that the land, if released, would be used for urbanisation under the Anandgarh project, officials say that the eco-fragile nature of the area falling in the foothills of the Shivalik Hills would not be disturbed. They say it could be earmarked for low land use.

Interestingly the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has sought a certificate from the Punjab Government on whether it was including any forest area in the Anandgarh project or not. The ministry had also objected to the New Chandigarh project conceived during the Beant Singh regime.

The state government has already announced its decision to establish a Shivalik Nature Reserve, comprising about 16 main villages starting from Karoran to Naggal villages. The notification of Naggal, Majrian, Seonk, Parch, Nada and Karoran villages was yet to be issued. The Sultanpur and Siswan villages, comprising plain and hilly forest land but privately owned, had not been included in the green reserve as planned earlier.

The sources said the Forest Department in a report of the nature reserve submitted to the government had estimated a cost of about Rs 170 crore to acquire the forest land, mostly owned by private persons or village panchayats, and undertake soil and water conservation projects in the area. This does not include the cost of the plantations also to be paid to the land owners. Where would the state government generate funds to acquire and maintain the nature reserve was yet to be seen.

The nature reserve, if established, could restore the ecological balance besides attracting eco-tourism.

Works on the Khalsa analysed at seminar
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, April 26 — ‘’ To have a better understanding of the Sikh tradition, this workshop is an attempt to analyse works on the Punjabi tradition over the past few centuries,” said Mrs Indu Banga at a seminar organised by the ICHR on ‘Near contemporary and later perspectives on the Khalsa’, here today.

The seminar reflected on the Gurmukhi, Persian, English and Hindi works which embody or significant statement about the Khalsa. These works appeared over a period of more than 200 years — from the early 18th to the early 20th century — and provide the histographical background to contemporary historical writing on the Sikhs.

Since the conception of the Khalsa, several works have come up. There are works which present conflicting views about what happened on Baisakhi day in 1919 and its effects on post-Khalsa developments. Starting from 1711 and going up to 1947, they include works in Gurumukhi, English, Hindi and Persian sources. In all 25, such works were discussed at length.

The participants measured the value of each work and its relative worth by adopting two yardsticks — one of the Sikh tradition and the other following the methodology of historical research.

Prof J.S. Grewal, honorary director, Institute of Punjabi Studies, said,’’ The activities and achievements during 18th and 19th centuries up to the beginning of colonial rule should be analysed, keeping in mind the institution of the Khalsa and linkage with earlier Sikh religion.’’

Prof K. L. Tuteja from Kurukshetra University, gave an analysis of Gokal Chand Narang who published his book, The Transformation, in 1912.

As many as 50 participants attended the seminar.

Dr Kharak Singh spoke on Chaupa Singh Rahitnama, Dr Gurnam Kaur about The Rahitnama of Chaupa Singh, Prof H. S. Shan about Guru Kian Sakhian.

As many as 24 papers were discussed by the participants from Delhi, Kurukshetra, Shimla, Patiala and Chandigarh.

Soldiers, war widows honoured at rally
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 26 — War widows, dependants of martyrs and veteran soldiers from Patiala, Roopnagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Hoshiarpur and Sangrur districts of Punjab were honoured on the concluding day of the ex-servicemen's rally here today.

The three-day rally was organised by Col Shakti Prashad, Commander N-Area, in association with the state sainik welfare boards of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh.

The families of six martyrs of Kargil as well as other operations were given an ex gratia grant of Rs 2 lakh each. Out of this, Rs 1 lakh each was given to the widow and the parents of the deceased, including three para-military personnel.

Eight war widows and veteran soldiers of the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war were also given monetary help from the Army Central Welfare Fund. Of these, two war widows were given Rs 50,000 each, while six received Rs 5,000 each for the marriage of their daughters.

Besides, 30 next of kin of soldiers hailing from Punjab were honoured with gifts. The UT Zila Sainik Board also honoured 38 war widows and veteran soldiers today.

Lieut-Gen J. L. Malhotra (retd), who is known for his contribution in providing artificial limbs to the injured soldiers, was the chief guest on the occasion. Stating that he had provided artificial limbs to about 70 disabled soldiers in the past three years, he told ex-servicemen that he would continue to help those requiring any assistance.

The Director, Sainik Welfare Punjab, Brig K. S. Kahlon (retd), said that the widows and dependants of all the 125 soldiers from Punjab who were killed in action since January last year have been given an ex gratia grant of Rs 2 lakh each. Residential plots have been allotted to 15 next of kin and Rs 5 lakh each has been given in lieu of plots in 99 cases, while 11 such cases are being processed.

Similarly, dependants of nine martyrs have been provided with Class - I and II service, while 31 dependants have got Class III jobs and 32 Class IV jobs. The remaining 21 cases will get suitable employment on attainment of eligibility.

Lieut Gen R. S. Dayal (retd), Lieut Gen B. S. Nalwa (retd), and Maj-Gen Tarlochan Singh (retd) also addressed the rally. The UT Deputy Commissioner-cum-President of the Zila Sainik Board, Mr M. Ramsekhar. also interacted with war widows at the rally and assured them financial help.

Bal Sadan kids taken for ride
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, April 26 — The children of Bal Sadan, a home for destitute children in Sector 4, came in the eye of the storm yet again this morning with the office-bearers of the association taking a unanimous decision to shift residence of the inmates from the present place in Haripur to a house in Sector 21 without prior information to them or to the two housekeepers.

The drama unfolded in the morning as the children prepared to go to school. One of the members ushered them inside from their respective stops and informed them that they were supposed to attend a havan at somebody's house where a surprise awaited them.

The happiness of the children at missing school knew no bounds and they, along with the housekeepers, were driven away to a house in Sector 21. Here, the ‘‘new house’’ surprise was opened to them and most of them were clearly taken aback.

Meanwhile, at the former residence of the children, a truck began loading their belongings even as one of the two matrons arrived and expressed her unhappiness over the shift of scene. Also, people in the vicinity, started pouring in at the home to inquire the reason for hectic activity.

Outside the door, scribbled in the handwriting of one of the children was, ‘‘Hum do ghante ke liya havan par ja rahen hain. Aap baad mein ayen. Thank You’’, which became more of a monument for the visitors. Also, the former patron, Mr A.K. Ummat, stated complete ignorance on the shifting out of the building which was in the name of the sadan and others attacked the decision since the association was passing through a financial crunch.

A couple of hours later the police was called in and did not allow the loaded truck to leave till the matter was resolved. The truck driver, on his part, insisted on leaving or unloading. ‘‘I am not getting paid for this and am doing it out of sympathy. However, this does not imply that I will keep my truck bound for this work the whole day,’’ he said.

Following this, frantic calls to all office-bearers was made and the patron of the association, Mr K.N. Gulati, along with the President, Dr V.P. Dhull, arrived on the scene. Tempers ran high as the President and the housekeeper had a verbal duel and the police waited for the matter to resolve.

The housekeeper alleged that the members had practically ‘‘kidnapped’’ the children and were hatching a conspiracy to oust her which was a larger part of the game-plan to establish hold over the association. Dr Dhull lashed out at her stating that she was only an employee and had no right to interfere in decisions taken by them while acing that there was no plan to throw her out in anybody’s mind.

Explaining the turn of events, Mr Gulati stated that the decision to shift the children had been taken in the interest of the children since they were getting older and the boys and girls needed separate rooms. ‘‘This place was too cramped and keeping an eye on each one was difficult with indiscipline on the rise among them. The new house is bigger and we have made an arrangement for guards at the place,’’ he justified.

They termed the deception of taking the children under the pretext of a havan at the new house as an attempt to ‘‘surprise’’ them and categorically stated that the children needed no prior intimation in the matter since they were there ‘‘to watch the interest of the children’’.

‘‘They are naive and are taken in by what somebody says. The matrons have brainwashed them intro believing that we are working towards throwing her out and kept harping on the fact this morning also,’’ they added.

At the new home, the 25 children sat in one room waiting for news from ``home''. Gloomy over the sudden development, they were anxious to know what was going on at Haripur. ‘‘We are not happy here. We want to go back even if that is a smaller place. There are too many restrictions here,’’ they kept repeating.

By evening, the children were in their home, still unable to reconcile to the change. The matron was still questioning the logic behind the decision of the office-bearers to shift to rented accommodation when they owned their own place and the office-bearers had returned to their homes after what had been a long and hard day.

World YWCA Day celebrated
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, April 26 — As many as twentysix children from thirteen schools participated in the final round of children’s competitions held yesterday to celebrate the World YWCA Day. The YWCA had organised a debate competition among different schools of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali on the occasion. The participants expressed very strong views to support the fact that Internet is a necessity, but there were equally convincing arguments giving the drawbacks of being stuck to the Net.

While several children highlighted the access to information,bringing the world together,online shopping etc,others emphasised that ‘’Net’’ addiction brings about health problems due to lack of exercise and psychological problems due to no interaction with their own age groups.

The chief guest was Mrs Vineeta Rai, Adviser to the Administrator, U.T. She arrived in time to hear a few speakers and their answers to the questions.The general secretary welcomed the distinguished guest and said that the YWCA holds such programmes for school children with the aim of instilling in them the art of public speaking, gaining self confidence and also developing a spirit of healthy competition.

Mrs Vineeta Rai congratulated the winners and other participants for the lively debate. She urged the children to strive for excellence in whatever they undertake and not compromise on mediocrity. She encouraged the children to participate in such events as they help in overall development by way of greater interaction with other children. She gave away the prizes to the winners of the debate competition.

Avoid sun to prevent heat exhaustion
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 26 — With the maximum day temperature hovering around 40°Celsius during the last week, cases of heat exhaustion and other related injuries are being reported in city hospitals. The incidence of these injuries is expected to go up with a further rise in temperature.

Heat exhaustion is the most common form of this injury. It is usually common among old people or those belonging to the lower socio-economic strata. Even children who keep playing out in the sun in the peak hours of heat, including slum children, are prone to this. In certain other cases, infants and newborns also have this problem, due to inadequate infrastructure such as fans and coolers at their homes.

According to Dr M.P. Minocha, Director Family Welfare, UT, generally people suffer from heat exhaustion when they are exposed to high temperatures over a period of two to three days.

The common symptoms are a feeling of tiredness, giddiness, increase in thirst and mild body aches. school-going children also often faint in schools during the PT/games period as they get exhausted in the heat.

Sudden rise of temperature leads to heat stroke/ hyper-pyrexia. This initially leads to temperatures above 105° F in adults and 103° F in children. The person ends up in a state of altered sensonium and does not even respond to pain. Later, other symptoms such as dehydration, dry mouth, dry skin etc are also reported. Dehydration, which leads to excessive loss of fluid from the body disturbs the body mechanism leading to complications.

People with neurological disorders suffer from convulsions and those with heart problems may have a heart failure. In fact, many deaths are reported from various parts of the country due to heat stroke.

As a result of the dry spell, bleeding from nose (epistaxis) is also being reported. Dr Vijay Kumar Sharma, an ENT specialist in Sector 16 General Hospital, said that it is more common in children below 10-12 years of age who are in the habit of digging their nose. He emphasised on the need to stay away from the direct rays of the sun and to preferably keep the mucus membrane lubricated with some ointments. In case, a child has non-stop bleeding quite frequently, cold water should be poured on his head, and nose pinching will also help stop the blood, he pointed out. The child should also be given plenty of fluids.

Doctors also reveal that high temperatures also lead to allergic conjunctivitis which causes redness and watering of the eyes. Patients are advised to use dark glasses while moving out in the sun and should keep washing their eyes to avoid any kind of infection.

Among the skin problems, the most common ones to occur in this weather are the sun allergies. According to skin specialist, Dr Vanita Gupta, people will shortly start coming to them with prickly heat (Miliaria rubra) with symptoms of little raised papules all over the body and itching. This is generally caused by the blockage of sweat ducts. She advises that patients should have frequent baths with cold water and use soothing lotions like Calamine.

She further said that constant exposure of certain body parts to the sun leads to eczematous reaction- redness, itchiness and raised papules on the exposed part. Anti-allergics and local steroid creams are the only solution to this problem. According to her, prevention is more important and one should take various precautions and use sun screen lotions with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 25-30 per cent potency.

The sudden rise of temperature causes Cholinergic urticaria, which leads to the occurrence of large red raised wheals on the body, she adds. But one need not worry as they subside on their own.

Peddler held with charas
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 26 — The Crime Branch of the police today arrested a Mani Majra resident and seized 2.5 kg of charas, valued at over Rs 25 lakh in the international market, from him.

Forty-year-old Surinder Kumar of Mohammad Khera village, Assandh, Haryana, was arrested at a naka near the railway station following a tip-off. The accused is a father of three children and has been in the business for the past seven months.

According to police sources, he earlier ran a garment shop in the rehri market but due to his addiction to charas, he sold everything and took to peddling the narcotic. He used to bring the consignment from Kulu in Himachal Pradesh and sold it to addicts in the city, Panchkula and SAS Nagar.

He was stopped at the naka and the charas, in the form of small nuggets, was packed in a filthy pillow-cover. He was on his way to strike a deal with a decoy in the Sector 26 grain market. The police is on the lookout for two of his accomplices.

During interrogation, he said he used to sell 1 gm for Rs 50 to Rs 100, depending on the paying capacity of the customer. He used to sell about 6 to 7 kg of the stuff every month, the police added. A case under Section 20 of the NDPS Act has been registered.

Three women nabbed: The police arrested three women — two from SAS Nagar and one from Bhatinda — on the charges of immoral trafficking. They were arrested from near Badheri village late last night following a tip-off. A case under Sections 4, 5, 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act has been registered against them.

Harassment alleged: Ms Sangeeta Tuli of Sector 15 reported that she was being harassed by her husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law and brother-in-law for bringing inadequate dowry. A case under Sections 406, 498-A and 34 of the IPC has been registered.

Whisky seized: The police arrested Parlhad Kumar of Karnal and seized 200 pouches of whisky from him. A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered.

Held with liquor: The police arrested Mehar Chand of Dadu Majra Colony and seized 94 pouches and 20 quarters of liquor from his possession. A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the excise act has been registered.

18 held for offences: As many as 18 persons were arrested, following a special drive by the central police subdivision on Monday night.

According to Dr Sagar Preet Hooda, ASP, Central, 10 persons were arrested as a preventive measures while eight persons were arrested for roaming under suspicious circumstances. Four persons were booked for drunken driving, five were nabbed for quarrelling at a public place, while one person was arrested on the charge of eve-teasing.

The drive will continue. The police tonight challan buses which have been parked by private operators on public land.