The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Vermiculture projects on solid organic garbage likely
By Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 2 — The Chandigarh Administration may soon start two vermiculture projects on experimental basis to take care of its solid organic garbage.

These projects are being undertaken on the recommendation of the Punjab State Council of Science and Technology, which has completed its work on Flies Nuisance in Chandigarh by conducting a survey in Sector 10. According to Mr Rajan Kashyap, Principal Secretary, Science and Technology, Punjab, the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology offered its consultancy service to the Chandigarh Administration on handling organic waste and vermiculture technology. Detailed discussions were held with the Commissioner of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, Mr M.P. Singh, before it was decided to take up the projects.

The Sector 10 study on house flies revealed that nearly 600 houses in the sector generated about 7.5 metric tonnes of solid waste everyday. Though keeping milch cattle was generally prohibited in the city, the solid waste included a substantial quantity of cow-dung.

"It has been observed that at a number of places, house owners dump cow-dung outside their houses for using it as manure in their kitchen gardens or lawns. In Leisure Valley, large quantity of cow-dung is stored at the entry point from Vigyan Path, which has been lying there for a long time. This starts putrefying in humid summer months and becomes an ideal ground for breeding of house flies. There are many milch cattle in Sectors 2 and 3 on the back of Sector 10, where cow-dung lies without any proper disposal mechanism," the report said, maintaining that June to October was the ideal breeding period for flies.

Of late, the problem of flies has assumed serious proportion. In Sectors 2 to 11, the problem appears negligible compared to Sectors 36, 42, 44 and 45, besides a few others, because of large deposits of cow-dung along road sides everyday. The Punjab State Council of Science and Technology has suggested that the Administration or the Municipal Corporation should use vermiculture biotechnology not only to effectively handle the problem of solid organic waste, but also to generate some income, besides controlling the menace of flies and other dangerous pests which breed and survive on organic waste.

"We are ready to provide them with the expertise and whatever help the Chandigarh Administration needs to set up its pilot projects," said Mr Rajan Kashyap, maintaining that similar pilot projects undertaken at various places in Punjab had shown wonderful results.

The council sold earthworms worth several thousands of rupees to the home district of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. "The vermiculture biotechnology pilot projects are working very well in almost all Punjab districts," he added.

Special polytechnic courses for disabled
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 2 — The local Central Polytechnic will start special diploma and certificate courses for integrating the physically disabled into the mainstream of technical and vocational education from the current session. The centrally sponsored scheme for upgrading existing polytechnics aims to cover the gaps in the facilities available in the technical education and training of the persons with disability.

The Ministry of Human Resources Development, in its Ninth Five Year Plan, has earmarked Rs 36 crore for the project. The Chandigarh Technical Teachers Training Institute has prepared the guideline document for the project. Guidelines for developing curriculum have been prepared by the TTTI, Chennai.

The TTTI in Chandigarh is among the 12 resource institutions identified which will assist the state governments and the MHRD. They will help and guide the selected polytechnics in the design, implementation and evaluation of the project.

The proposal aims to select and upgrade 50 polytechnics in the country to introduce technical, vocational and continuing educational programmes for the disabled. These polytechnics will be upgraded to suit the special need of the disabled. As many as 12 polytechnics have already been identified including four in Uttar Pradesh, two each in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka and one each in Tamil Nadu, Goa and Chandigarh.

The Principal of the TTTI, Chandigarh, Dr S. Krishnamurthy, says the institute would also spread awareness to fill the 3 per cent reserved quota of the seats for the disabled in the polytechnic.

"The quota is normally not filled," says Dr Krishnamurthy. "Therefore, our effort will also be to liaise with various NGOs in the associated field. The admission process for the current academic session will start some time this month. Eventually, we will provide support and act as the resource institute. The aim will be to establish a synergy partnership with the selected polytechnic. This will mean involvement on a continuous basis and identifying the curriculum preparation for development of the training material."

Dr Krishnamurthy says that the reason for the quota seats not normally filling is that most of the disabled persons do not academically qualify for them. "We have a large number of disabled persons seeking education in the country. But most of the do not even get the basic education required to get admission in higher courses".

In the advanced countries, special education is an integral component of the general curriculum. The disabled require certain special facilities like ramps, laboratories on the ground floor and special transport and toilet facilities. All these needs have never been identified in our country and hence are not a part of our schools and colleges.

Dr Krishnamurthy adds that instructional material for the disabled needs to be specially designed. "Training material to perform practicals for visually impaired persons requires procedures different from that of hearing impaired or orthopaedically handicapped."

The target is that these 50 selected polytechnics would benefit 1,250 disabled students in diploma level courses every year. And 5,000 would gain from the short-term technical and vocational courses.

The diploma programmes include architectural assistantship, interior decoration, civil engineering, electronics, computer applications, food processing, hotel management computer maintenance and office management.

For admission of the disabled, a specific number of seats will be earmarked and age and qualifying percentage marks relaxations would be provided as per existing state and central government rules.

Dr Krishnamurthy says that successful implementation of the programme would require a lot of planning including special training for the staff and the faculty. "A few years back, the Government of India and the NCERT had evolved a scheme called 'Integrating disabled in the educational institutions'. But the scheme never took off because of lack of available information. Moreover, there was no dedicated orientation programme for the teachers."

Keeping this in mind, a core group has been devised by the Chandigarh TTTI. Its coordinator is Prof L.N. Mittal. The other members include Prof J.S. Saini, Prof P.K. Singla, Dr P.K. Tulsi and Mr Rakesh Vats.

Prof J.S.Saini says that each institution will work in a catchment area. "Our first effort will be to identify the number of people in our area and to infiltrate the information about the programme. The earlier schemes had failed basically because of lack of awareness and non-availability of suitable instructional procedure and guidelines."

Jewellery, cash stolen from Panchkula house
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, July 2 — Gold jewellery worth Rs 2 lakh, besides Rs 50,000 in cash, has been stolen from a house in Sector 17 here. The incident took place past evening while the occupants of the house were out of town.

Mr S.K. Sahni, owner of the house, said he and his wife had left the town yesterday afternoon for Himachal Pradesh and had planned to return past night. However, owing to a delay in the completion of their work, the couple could not return then.

Instead, they returned this evening to find their house burgled and the jewellery and cash missing, following which, they informed the police. Their neighbours said they had not seen or heard anything unusual in the house while its occupants had been away.

The burglars, probably more than two, scaled the back wall of the house facing the main road and entered the house through the bedroom door. They broke the locks of cupboards and got hold of the cash and jewellery.

After going through the cupboards in two bedrooms on the ground floor, the burglars made their way to the first floor. Mr Sahni said nothing was missing from the rooms on the first floor and that their belongings were stored in the bedrooms on the ground floor only. However, the burglars had ransacked the first-floor rooms as well.

The couple said they had handed over the keys of the house to their neighbours before leaving the house. Police sources said a team of forensic experts at Pipli had been informed which would reach here tomorrow morning. They also said a dog squad would be called in from Ambala and a case had been registered.

The police is clueless so far with the occupants saying that they do not suspect anyone because nobody knew of the trip.

PU Senate poll from August 25
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 2 — The new Panjab University Senate takes charge on November 1. The university has cleared the schedule for the dates and other election activities for choosing Fellows to head the institution for the coming four years.

The process formally begins with the first round of elections for faculty members on August 25 and winds up with elections of professors and other categories, principals and registered graduates on September 17. The activities have picked up, with hectic campaigning going on. Personal visits to voters started a few months back.

Sources said elections to six seats from faculties would be held on August 25. These include arts, science, commerce, language, medical and laws. September 4 witnesses elections for six seats among the professional colleges — including the engineering, education, medical, home science and combined colleges. Categories of principals and teachers, have three seats each. September 11 witnesses elections to two professors and two readers and lecturers. One member in each category will be from science and arts.

The last phase of elections is scheduled for September 17. There are seats for eight principals of affiliated colleges in the arts stream. The contest also includes eight seats from among professors, senior lecturers and lecturers of affiliated colleges. There is a separate provision for polling for 15 seats in the graduates’ constituency. The constituency, having more than one lakh voters, is the largest.There are about 78 principals and 2400 lecturers.

The university senate proposes a total membership of 84. Of the total, 29 are nominated by the Chancellor. Earlier, there were 34 nominations. The members include two elected MLAs from Punjab and six ex-officio members, including the Chief Minister of Punjab, the Education Minister, DPI (Punjab), DPI( Colleges), UT, Adviser to the UT Administrator and the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Voting for seats of registered graduates is likely to have centres all over Punjab, Haryana. Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. Principals and lecturers are expected to vote in their own colleges. The polling stations for the elections of principals of technical and professional colleges are in Zakir Hussain Hall, PGIMER, Punjab Engineering College and Government College of Education, Sector 20. The present Syndicate completes its term in December.

CHANDIGARH CALLING

“Remember Emergency, Save Democracy”

FUNCTIONS organised for a good cause, when politicised, fail to serve their purpose. This was evident from a function — “Remember Emergency Save Democracy” — organised by the local unit of the BJP at Lajpat Rai Bhavan in Sector 15 on June 27.

The function to “remember” one of the darkest chapters of the Indian democracy — the imposition of the Emergency by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi — turned out to be a BJP affair. Speaker after speaker seemed to be determined to criticise the Congress though some of the “villains” of the Emergency are part of the ruling NDA government now.

Even those honoured, who of course had undergone torture during the 19-month Emergency, were from the party or the RSS as if these were the only custodians of the democratic traditions.

Sentinel, while saluting those who stood for democratic traditions and rose as one man against the authoritarian rule, feels that it would have been better if “victims” of the Emergency from all spheres of life were invited. That would have imparted more credibility to the function.

Blind talent: During the cultural function for the blind, organised by Netraheen Jagriti Sangh last week to mark the birth anniversary of Helen Keller, a lot of talent came to light. One man who stood out for his wonderful performance in the category of ghazal singing was Rajesh Kapoor from Panipat. Rajesh not only won the competition, he also exhibited humility by accompanying fellow singers on the harmonium when the engaged musicians failed to turn up.

Rajesh has already completed his M.A. in Music from Kurukshetra University and is now in the process of setting up a music academy for the blind at Panipat. The academy will engage volunteers who will impart training to the blind in vocal and instrumental music. Other arts will also be gradually incorporated.

Dr S.L. Sharma: The Indian Social Science Association has conferred the Prof D.P. Mukherji Fellowship Award for Senior Social Scientists on Dr Shyam Lal Sharma, Dean of the Institute of Correctional Administration, Chandigarh.

Dr Sharma’s teaching career spans a period of 40 years beginning in 1960. For most part of his life, he served Panjab University as Professor of Sociology, Chairman and Coordinator of the Department of Special Assistance as also Honorary Director of the Academic Staff College.

A member of editorial boards and editorial advisory committees of several professional journals of social sciences, Dr Sharma is now Managing Editor of Sociological Bulletin, journal of the Indian Sociological Society, for a term of five years beginning July, 1998.

Coconuts are here: For some weeks now, the Sukhna Lake has something novel to offer to its visitors on Sundays: fresh coconut stock right from the lagoon land of Kerala. The price suits every pocket: about Rs 20 for a juicy coconut. The Sukhna cafeteria in charge said that ever since they started this venture, the Sunday crowd had almost doubled.

Interestingly, more than 80 per cent of the visitors on Sundays come asking for the coconut juice coupons. This also adds to a bit of confusion, as the Keralite vendors move fast to cater to the ever-expanding crowd. People, however, have one grouse. Why is the sale limited to Sundays?

Water world: The residents of Mauli Jagran colony perhaps need a boat to reach the only garbage bin in their colony. It is placed near the approach road to the colony and stands erect amidst a pool of stagnant water.

The residents are throwing waste in the pond itself and it makes for a good feast for the pigs inhabiting the adjoining areas. The pond is also serving to be a perfect breeding ground for the vectors and germs of various diseases thereby posing a threat to the residents. The condition of the colony after the arrival of the monsoon can be well imagined.

Tree plantation: With the onset of monsoons, the Environment Society of India (ESI) is going to launch a special drive to plant native trees of the city in and around Chandigarh. These plants will also be supplied free of cost to individuals, sector welfare associations, religious places and educational institutions etc.

About 58 years ago, the site on which Chandigarh was built was dotted with mangoes, neem, sheesham, dhak, jamoa, pipal, khajur, mulberry, and kikar trees. Of all these, mangoes were the dominant species. There are still 450 clusters of mango trees in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. As old trees are dying and others are being felled, vigorous efforts have to be made to plant mango saplings in such areas to replace them.

Individuals, sector welfare associations, managements of educational institutions and religious places willing to undertake this culture-friendly scheme should contact the ESI, Karuna Sadan, Sector 11 B, Chandigarh 160011 (Ph. 746832).

— Sentinel

COMMUNITY

Move for autonomy flayed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 2 — Maj Gen (retd) Rajinder Nath has condemned the move of autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir. He was speaking in the open discussion on ‘Kashmir autonomy — the controversy’, organised by Janashakti and the Servants of People Society here.

Lamenting the fact that a large part of Pakistan occupied Kashmir has already become an integral part of Pakistan, he said: “Pakistan’s main design is to dismember the Indian state. Our neighbour wants the bifurcation of the state so that the non-Muslims are forced to leave the valley.” He said that if the present situation continues, then in the next 10 years, Pakistan would become a pure Muslim state.

Prof P.S. Verma from the Department of Political Science in Panjab University said that whereas earlier Sheikh Abdullah wanted to perpetuate family rule in the state, now it is Dr Farooq Abdullah who wants to do the same. “None of them have been actually serious about the issue of autonomy,” he said.

Referring to the Article one of the Indian Constitution which states that no state has the right to get separate from the Union, Prof Veer Singh, Department of Laws, said that after accession, Kashmir has been an integral part of India. After autonomy, all laws made by the Indian Parliament would cease and there would be a complete legal vacuum in the state.”

Mrs Nancy Ganju, President of the Sahitya Sabha, also condemned the autonomy move of Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Sadhu, Vice-President of the sabha, also believed that it would be a negation of Indian Parliament. “India has spent large amount of funds for the development of the state. These moves by Dr Farooq Abdullah to keep himself in power are nefarious designs which have to be countered with all might,” they said

Mr G.V. Gupta was also of the opinion that autonomy will not succeed. Mr Onkar Chand, Secretary of the Servants of People Society while speaking on the topic lamented that at the time when Vietnam and Korea are coming together, our country was moving towards the path of disintegration with demands for autonomy.

Prof P.P. Arya, Convener of Jan Shakti said that sentiments and sensitivity of the people in Jammu and Kashmir have to be mobilised in a way that they willingly cooperate for the building up of Indian federal state.

Should Chandigarh have an international airport ?
By J.S. Kohli

Chandigarh, born as a result of the partition of Punjab, has now fully developed as a modern city. It is known all over the world for its picturesque surroundings and best facilities for health, education, job, sport, recreation and all others a Citizen can think of except an international airport. This city has emerged a tourist paradise. It is a gateway to tourist resorts and places of pilgrimage in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana and attracts tourists from all over the world.

International airports are so important that many Multinational companies will not locate their offices or factories in and around cities which do not have one. The NRIs often ask when will Chandigarh have an international airport and why the government is not taking steps to set up one in Chandigarh, which is so vital for the growth of economy of this region. If an international airport is set up in Chandigarh, this region will attract large investments from NIRs in various fields. This, will not only bring latest technology but also boost the economic growth of this region and the country as a whole.

Chandigarh has all the infrastructure for holding international conventions. The PGI has been holding international conferences in various fields of specialisation frequently. Experts of various countries in the world attending such conferences are put to a lot of inconvenience in shuttling between New Delhi and Chandigarh, which wastes, their precious time. Chandigarh has become a hub of activity for holding international conventions not only in medical sciences but also in architecture, engineering, agriculture and industry. International sport meets are also held in this city and region, for which, all infrastructure is available.

In the USA, over 500 airports provide airline-passenger service to about 500 million persons annually and handle 9 million tons of cargo each year. New York has three international airports — John F. Kennedy, La Guardia and Newark — to meet the requirements of that area. The total annual economic impact of the US airports is estimated to be $ 575 billion. This shows that setting up of an international airport in Chandigarh is vital for the national economy.

In all developed countries, connecting fights are easily available from all international airports. Passengers arriving at the IGIA in New Delhi have to wait for long hours to catch the flight to Chandigarh the next day if they are lucky enough or travel by train or road.

Connecting flights for all international passengers from New Delhi to Chandigarh are also not economically viable, therefore, the only alternative is to set up an international airport in Chandigarh. Since the basic infrastructure already exists at the Chandigarh airport, it can easily be upgraded to a modern intentional airport. Government may consider increasing of the airport tax marginally to cover the cost of upgradation of the Chandigarh airport to an international one if necessary.

Chandigarh, as a Union Territory and the capital of Punjab and Haryana, has a strong case for having an international airport, not only to cater to the requirements of international passengers of this region, the number which is likely to increase in the times to come, but also for the overall development and economic growth of this region and the country.

Waiting for a miracle
By Kanchan Vasdev
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 2 — Sarabjeet Singh is 30. This pale, young man with edema in his feet and very high blood pressure is lying in the PGI gurdwara. He suffers from total renal failure.He hails from Ludhiana and has come to the city to get himself admitted to the PGI. He only knows one thing that both his kidneys have failed and his condition is very serious.

His mother, Paramjeet Kaur, a middle-aged, simple and naive woman, brought him to the PGI last Tuesday after a doctor in a private nursing home in Ludhiana advised her to rush him to PGI as his condition was critical. That very day an acquaintance drove both of them to the city in his own car.

But she is unable to get Sarabjeet admitted in the hospital as she has no money. For the time being both are staying in PGI gurdwara and waiting for a miracle to happen to them. She is ready to donate her own kidney although she herself is in a sorry state. She said that the doctors want her to arrange for Rs 1.5 lakh for the surgery. “I don’t have any money left with me. I spent whatever I had on him. But his condition worsened. Today, a doctor wanted me to undergo a test which costed Rs 1200 and I had no money at all and I had to come back without it only. I am miserable. No mother can see her only son dying due to shortage of funds.” she said and broke down.

She had come to The Tribune with tears in her eyes, barely able to speak, hoping somebody would come to her son’s rescue. She was wandering in Sector 30 looking for the office when a city resident and a good human being, Mr Ramesh Chander, met her and drove her to her destination. She had gone to the Red Cross to ask for some monetary help and was directed to Tribune.

She is a widow and belongs to a poor family. She knits woollens for others to make her both ends meet. Her son Sarabjeet is a cart-puller and delivers construction material in Ludhiana. For the last one year he is unable to work due to his ailment.

The trouble started when he developed high blood pressure a year ago. The condition worsened day by day as he developed edema (swelling) in his feet. He was taken to Dayanand Hospital earlier and was shifted to Ganganagar in Rajasthan later. His mother had also taken him to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, before shifting him to the city.

Sarabjeet has a wife and two children back home. His wife is too weak to accompany him here. There are no means of income for the three there.@

Act of bravery goes unrewarded
By Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 2 — Sumit Singh Sheoran, a student of Moti Ram Arya Senior Secondary School here did not think about his life when he plunged into a fire to save a small child in Sonipat on the eve of Divali last year. He did get badly hurt in the bargain. His one arm was burnt and had to remain bed-ridden for two months after the incident.

Recognising his courageous act, the school management honoured him with an award and a certificate. It read, "he undertook such a perilous task which could endanger his own life, but he carried on undaunted by any fear."

His application for the bravery award at the state level was signed by his Principal, Mrs Saroj Sawant. The letter was also endorsed by the Deputy Commissioner of Sonipat, Mr Sudhir Rajpal. "He did not lose courage in the face of adverse circumstances," the application said. "It is very easy to save one's own life. However, it is very difficult to save others by putting yourself in danger. He acted like a soldier and should be given a bravery or any other state award."

On January 24 this year, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Parag Jain, also wrote to the then Home Secretary, Mr N.K. Jain, and the Inspector-General of the Chandigarh Police, asking for a commendation certificate by the Administration. He wrote. ''the boy deserves to be encouraged. I shall be highly thankful if the Administration may consider his case for rewarding him suitably on the eve of Republic Day."

Despite all this, Sumit did not get any award or felicitation from the either the Chandigarh Administration or Haryana. Today, at the age of 18, he feels bitter about the entire episode. "When I saved the small child, I was not thinking about getting any awards. My arm was badly hurt. As a result I could not write my senior secondary examination well and got just 62 per cent marks. Naturally, having such a mediocre result, I cannot get admission in any college now."

During the past months, Sumit had tried meeting the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen j.F.R. Jacob, more than a couple of times. "His office staff did not let me meet him. Now my only plea is that the Administration should allow me some concession so that I can get admission in a college. I come from a very ordinary family. My father works as a driver in Haryana Roadways. He cannot help me in any way."

Violence in movies affecting kids
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, July 2 — Increasing violence in movies and on television is having its effects on young impressionable minds, who follow the fiction in real life.

Children imitate it and the more outlandish it is, the more appealing it is to the innocent minds. With more nuclear families, the lack of guidance by an extended family is more pronounced. Children previously used to be guided by their uncles, aunts or grandparents.

After watching fights, children tend to try it out with their friends and cousins. The fights are known to have resulted in injuries and there have been instances where children have paid with their lives. They dress up the way they see their favourites in the movies. A particular serial had the hero jumping from buildings, which led to a spate of similar imitations, in which several children were lost, lamented Ms Sandhu, a school teacher.

Kids also opt for toy guns, pistols and cannons. Many teachers opine that movies and serials should be made keeping in view the young audience, said Kanchan, mother of a ten-year-old boy. Children develop the attitude they see in movies. They argue the same way and bully everybody.

"My son is considered a big bully at school as he is short-tempered and gets into quarrels easily. This is because he watches too much of violence in movies and throws a tantrum if we stop him from watching television," said Arun, father of an eight-year-old boy.

Many parents complained that they kept a check their children most of the time, but were unable to keep them away from the idiot box. According to a child behaviour expert, violence has been glorified in movies. Due to satellite channels, violence through the movies has entered houses. It is basically the parents who make they children see these type of movies. If the parents stop watching such movies, the children will also refrain.

Mango mela a huge draw
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, July 2 — The exhibition-cum-sale counter of the State Horticulture Department attracted a large number of farmers and visitors on the second day of the ninth Mango Mela at Pinjore today.

The stall was particularly put up with the objective of demonstration of departmental activities and transfer of latest technological know-how to the cultivators. Also, the representatives of the department present at the venue interacted with the mango growers and answered related queries. The winners of the competition, Mr Rajinder Pal Singh of Khera village and Mr Rameshwar of Naraingarh, were given a shield and cash prizes by the Haryana Agriculture Minister, Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, in the evening for the best mango variety.

With over 2700 entries from mango growers and farmers from Haryana, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chandigarh and Delhi, the main varieties at the mela were those of dusheri, langra, chausa, alphanso, Bombay green, amarpali, ramkela and arka neelkiran, among others. Farmers from Rataul village had 650 varieties of mangoes on display and their stall was a crowd-puller.

Besides mango varieties, the mela received 240 entries of home-made and processed mango products like jams, juices, chutneys, pickles and squashes. The mela was inaugurated by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister of Haryana, last evening.

While going around the stalls, Mr Chautala said such functions for all crops should be organised at different places in the state regularly. He asked farmers to boost the production of fruits, vegetables and flowers, especially since the state had attained self-sufficiency in production of foodgrains. He also asked the officers of the Horticulture Department to address the marketing problem of the farmers.

CRIME

25 held under special drive
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 2 — Under a special drive against the anti-social elements, the local police arrested 25 persons, including a girl, from different parts of the city last night.

According to the police, 11 persons were arrested while creating nuisance at public places under the influence of liquor. They are Harbans Singh, Paramjit Kaur and Paraminder Singh (all residents of SAS Nagar), Sardari Lal (Sector 37), Raja Ram, Sharif and Mohmmad (Ram Darbar), Shankar (Maloya), Vikas Verma (Milk Colony, Dhanas), Bhawan Deep (Sector 35) and Gurpreet Singh (Sector 18).

Similarly, three persons, Ashok Kumar (Khuda Lahora), Gian Chand (Sector 10) and Sat Pal (Sector 11 Market) were rounded up for consuming liquor at a public place near the DAV College under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act. Naresh Kumar, a resident of Naya Gaon, was arrested under Section 188 of the IPC on the charge of obstructing the public passage from the dividing road of Sectors 16 and 10.

Ish Duggal (Sector 41), Rattan Singh (Dhanas) and Gurbachan Singh (Karola village of Ropar district) were held under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act from the Sector 15 and 16 light point when they were driving their vehicles under the influence of liquor.

And six persons were arrested under Sections 41.2 and 109 of the CrPC from different places on the charges of roaming about under suspicious circumstances. They have been identified as Surjit Singh (Sector 24), Ram Sumer (Barkhi village of Partapgarh district, UP), Sat Pal (Janata Colony), Sattu (Kumhar Colony) and Satish Kumar and Baldev Singh (Khuda Lahora).

The police said Jasbir Singh from Ropar district was arrested under Sections 380 and 411 of the IPC and stolen property comprising one purse containing Rs 100, a wrist-watch and documents, was recovered from his possession. These articles were stolen from Hostel No 5 of Panjab University and belonged to Gurvinder Singh Bhatti.

Cop assaulted: Mr Tejbeer Singh of the traffic staff alleged that he was assaulted by a scooterist, Mandeep Singh, a resident of SAS Nagar, while he was on duty at the small chowk of Sectors 34 and 35 last evening.

Case registered: On the complaint of Mr Rajiv Minhas, Assistant Manager of Piccadily cinema, the police has arrested three persons, Jaspal Singh of Paprali and Ravinder Singh and Gurmail Singh, both from Rassan-hari village in Ropar district.

They allegedly forcibly entered the cinema hall, assaulted the gate-keeper and the constable on duty and broke glass.

Theft: Mr Gurbachan Singh, a resident of Sector 11, alleged that someone stole gold ornaments and clothes from his house after breaking the lock last night.

Car stolen: Mr D.R. Sood of Sector 21 of Panchkula, reported that his car (CHK-8686) has been stolen from the Sector 17 parking lot.

A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered.