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| Thursday, October 12, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
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A dazzling display of aerobatics CHANDIGARH, Oct 11 — The skies of 12 Wing of the Air Force Station were virtually set on fire by the dazzling display of aerobatics by aircraft of the “Suryakiran” team of the IAF here today. Right from the simultaneous take-off by the nine aircraft and their joining in the shockwave formation, the Bidar-based team led by Wg Cdre Amit Tiwari performed the manoeuvres with precision amid applause from the large number of people gathered on the occasion. Cool judgement, a steady hand and nerves of steel were evident as the aircraft zoomed in the sky at the speed between 250 to 600 km per hour with their wing tips just 5 metres away from each other. The HAL, Bangalore-made basic jet trainers, then displayed the three aircraft peel-off, six aircraft phoenix run, yankee, diamond, goblet, card, tango, benefit and wineglass formations. Head-on crosses were also dexterously performed by aircraft. A “heart shaped” aerobatic — a tribute of a lover to his beloved — complete with arrow within it was the special attraction. The team was backed by a ground of highly-skilled and profession technicians, whose dedication and hard work ensured the flawless serviceability for each display. The team has carried out over 50 displays from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Apart from Wg Cdre Tiwari, and Sqn Ldr Vimal Bhatt, the other team members included Sandeep Dang, Sandeep Bansal, Manesh Gopal, A. Subbarammu, JT Kurian, Anil Gulrajani, Vikram Rawat, Tanmay Sharma, RS Gill, S. Khajuria, Prabhat Kumar, all Sqn Ldrs and team pilots, Flt Lt Rohit Jolly, STO, and Flt Lt Vikas Wahi, Team Administrator. The show, organised as part of the anniversary of the IAF, was preceded by mixed transport aircraft formation comprising IL-76,AN-32 and MI-26. |
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MA question paper out of
syllabus for third time CHANDIGARH, Oct 11 — Can a question paper be out of syllabus three times? Panjab University has managed to do this. The victims are the first-year postgraduate students of English. This year, their Paper 1 (literature and criticism) was said to be out of syllabus and each student was given 8 grace marks. Those who took the compartment examination in the same paper on October 5 received a question paper that a faculty member of the PU Department of English described as “beyond the scope of students”. The mistake is repeated, perhaps because the syllabus is vague. The syllabus for Section B of the paper that deals with critical analysis and interpretation of literature includes “the study of stages in the practical criticism of literature and familiarity with literature devices such as irony, paradox, figures of speech (simile, metaphor, metonymy, personification etc), devices in poetry such as poetic diction, sound patterning (consonance, alliteration, assonance, rhyme), meter (the four traditional meters of English poetry) and familiarity with poetic forms such as ode, sonnets, blank verse, the study of elements of prose texts such as sentence structure, besides the other things. This syllabus is neither clear nor specific. It gives the person who sets the question paper a wide range to choose questions. “The question-paper-setter should give the advantage of an unclear syllabus to students, but it is often not given to them. The questions that were asked in the October 5 examination were absurdly beyond what had been taught to our students. Their complaint is genuine,” says Akshaye Kumar, a Lecturer in the PU Department of English. Students said the pattern of the question paper had also been changed without informing them about it. “The syllabus should not be criticised. The entire examination system is at fault. It is not right to get the questions set by teachers of some other university. A teacher in Jaipur does not know what is being taught here. The department also does not send a model question paper based on the changed syllabus to the persons who set the questions. They only send a copy of the past year’s question paper to them,” says a faculty member of the Department of English. |
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High Court wants doctor’s
viscera analysed CHANDIGARH, Oct 11 — Admitting a petition filed by the father of a 29-year-old doctor allegedly killed in police custody, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the UT Administration and other respondents to send the victim’s viscera for chemical analysis. Pronouncing the directions in the open court, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice K.S. Kumaran and Mr Justice N.K. Sud, also directed the respondents to submit the report along with their reply. The Bench also fixed July 11, 2001, as the next date of hearing. Seeking probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the death of Dr Amanjeet Singh in August this year the petitioner Mulla Singh had earlier stated in his petition that the police version regarding the victim’s dying accidently “was far from reality”. The petitioner had added that his son was either murdered in Sector 39 police station after being subjected to third degree tortured or was thrown out of a moving vehicle. Going into the background, the petitioner had stated that Dr Amanjeet left his house on August 10 but never returned. A call stating that the victim had met with an accident was received by a neighbour at about 4 a.m. the next morning, the petitioner had added. Upon reaching the Sector 16 General Hospital, the petitioner had added, he was taken to the mortuary where he saw blood oozing from the back of the victim’s head even though his clothes were not dirty. There was no indication regarding the victim falling on the road, he had further added. Refuting the allegations levelled by the police regarding the victim being under the influence of liquor, the petitioner had stated that his son was a teetotaller and had never consumed liquor either at home or publicly. |
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Principals oppose student body
poll CHANDIGARH, Oct 11 — Will there be direct elections to student bodies on the campuses of local colleges and Panjab University on October 20? Principals of local colleges, after a meeting held here, said there was no need for direct elections. The principals also deny receiving any official communication from the UT Administration in this regard. They have received a letter from the Dean Student Welfare of the PU, but there is no specific instruction in it. The principals, in an official communication to the UT Home Secretary, have requested that the elections should not be announced. However, some principals said, in the absence of specific orders, colleges might have to accept student polls. The PU campus students have already begun talks with the authorities concerned. A number of college students can be seen in election offices on the PU campus these days. Members of various groups said they were prepared for the elections. Ms Sneh Mahajan, Principal of the Sector 36 MCM DAV College, said, “If colleges of Punjab can be spared from holding these elections, why should the colleges of Chandigarh be penalised? Only a handful of college students show an interest in these elections and most of them do not even vote.” Ms Mahajan said no principal who attended the meeting was in favour of holding the elections. She said a review of the work of college student bodies in the past some sessions would be enough to show why these were of no importance to students. The principals had also met a senior UT police officer in September and had opposed the move to hold the elections even then. Mr R.C. Jeevan, Principal of the Sector 10 DAV College, said there was always external interference in college affairs during these elections. The forthcoming Youth Festival on October 18, 19 and 20 would further compound the issue, he said. Mr Jeevan also said it might be difficult to say “no to elections” this time. One of the principals said the college heads were right in saying no to the elections as it was in the interest of students. Mr P.S. Sangha, Principal of the Sector 26 Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, said, “No one has sought our permission for holding the elections, which is strange. We have written to the Administration in this regard. Moreover, the Youth Festival will also affect the election process.” Mr Sangha said various other functions like a blood donation camp would have to be postponed if elections were to be held in the college. Postponing it would mean a long wait before the PGI doctors give another appointment. A student said, “Our group had been planning for the election for a long time and these should be held as scheduled.” “The Administration should give us clear instructions in this regard,” a final-year student of the local DAV College said. |
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Academic standards worry
them CHANDIGARH, Oct 11 — Concern over falling academic standards in Panjab University is cited as one strong reason which has provoked their venturing into the arena of politics in the forthcoming Panjab University Campus Students Council, maintain most of the contestants. Bhupinder Singh ‘Bhuppi’, the presidential candidate of the Panjab University Students Union, the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the Haryana Students Association has underlined his interest in working for ‘ sports and cultural’ activities. This was an area which needed a campus review, he said. ‘Bhuppi’, graduated from Government College, Sector 46, before joining the Law Department. Currently he is a student of the Department of English. A former national player of basketball, ‘Bhuppi’ said the interests of the hostelers needed special care. Academic activity was paramount, but sports and cultural activities were strong threads of the support system of education, which also needed corresponding attention, he added. Bhupinder Beniwal is the presidential candidate of the Students Organisation of Panjab University front. A graduate of GCM, Sector 11, Beniwal did his course in law from the university. He is currently enrolled in the Department of Gandhian Studies. Beniwal said open houses should be organised regularly for interests of students. Students can face the authorities directly and ask about their needs and voice their problems. Final proposal for line of action will be released with the manifesto soon. Vivek Chauhan, the candidate of the PUSU-ABVP-HSA front for the post of general secretary, is the son of a university professor. Chauhan did his graduation in commerce from GCM, Sector 11, before joining the Department of Laws. Asked why he joined the political scene, Chauhan said, “First, I would not call the field a political one. Working for student rights, I think, is not normal politics.” Harmeet Tiwana, candidate for post of general secretary from the SOPU front, is a student of the Department of Laws.He did his graduation from the university through correspondence. Be positive and cooperate is a clear motto in my mind before the party releases its manifesto, Tiwana added. ‘Bhuppi’, Tiwana and Chauhan are clear about looking for a life in the legal profession after their courses. Beniwal, however, is still searching for a purpose in his life. |
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With Divali around, can pollution be far
behind? CHANDIGARH, Oct 11 — The festive season never comes without a package of disturbance. With Divali just a fortnight away, noise and air pollution levels are set to shoot past normal levels. The most amazing will be the rise in noise pollution when the crackers reach a peak between 9 and 10 pm. Last year, the noise level was 92 decibel, more than double the permissible limit of 45 decibel at night. Actually the level of noise was never less than 71 decibel between 6 and 11 pm, last year. The permissible limit for day time is 55 decibel. The pollution data available for 1998 and 1999, also indicates that the levels of suspended particulate matter (SPM)and sulphur dioxide have increased by double on the day of Divali. The ratio of SPM measured on a normal day vis-a-vis Divali in 1998 and 1999, was 237:464 / 255:721. Corresponding figures for sulphur dioxide were 4.9: 50 / 5.8: 28. All figures are in microgram per cubic metre. According to Prof S.K. Jindal, Head of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, PGI, sulphur dioxide and SPM are natural irritants. “Their concentrated doses have a direct affect on the central nervous system, skin, eyes and respiratory tract and can cause serious bronchitis and asthma. Very loud noise also has a direct effect on mental faculties, besides causing sleeplessness. In fact, the list is endless,” he added. Besides the most obvious effects of a direct injury due to a cracker burst, the pollutants in the air cause harmful burning sensation in the eyes. The Ophthalmology Department at the PGI gets several cases every year. Dr Amod Gupta, Head of the Ophthalmology Department, reveals that cracker burst, at close distance from the eye, can lead to chemicals being released into the eye, which cause inflammation and can also lead to keratitis. SPM too contains some heavy metals, which studies reveal, get deposited on the lens, causing irreversible losses. Despite claims, crackers can never be air pollution free, though, standardised crackers from a reputed company can be within the permissible limits. The basic ingredients of crackers and sparklers are gun powder and certain fillers. Gunpowder is a mixture of charcoal, potassium nitrate and sulphur. Fillers includes aluminum powder and barium nitrate. Colours in the sparklers are lent by salts of chromium and copper. Maida is added for weight and its carbohydrates, together with the chemicals, act as a fuel. The main part of gunpowder is potassium nitrate, constituting 75 per cent of its total volume. The chemical reaction following burning up of potassium nitrate releases several gases. Sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide cause maximum damaging effects to a human body. Sulphur dioxide, being an acidic gas, dissolves immediately on contact with wet substances like the eyes to form sulphuric acid. This is the reason why released pollutants, first of all, irritate the eyes and nasal passages. Aluminum powder, the seemingly harmful phuljhari is made of, is so fine that it gets into the pores of the skin and acts as an instant corrosive. Mere looking into the different colours being emitted from an anar can also cause harm to the eye. Dr Nitin M. Nagarkar, Reader in the ENT Department of the GMCH, Sector 32, says loud sound of a fire cracker can cause damage to the middle or the inner ear. “A loud blast, very close to the ear, can cause trauma and perforation of the tympanic membrane. This leads a temporary, and at times, even permanent loss of hearing,” |
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Reaffirming faith in Sikhi CHANDIGARH, Oct 11 — The preview show of director Shyam Ralhan’s first Punjabi film,
Khalsa mero roop hai khaas, held at Piccadily theatre here today was rather well attended. And for reasons not far to seek — the film comes across as an attempt to further the significance of Gursikhi. The theme being tackled by the director this time is the one which has often been experimented with through the realms of Punjabi cinema. It is the story of the gradual decline and then the dramatic reversal of the spirit of Sikhi in Gurpreet Singh played by Avinash Wadhawan. The cast of the film is strong enough to attract a large response, with Pramod Moutho of the Khalnayak fame playing the role of Gurmukh Singh, who represents the might of the Khalsa Panth in the film. Ayesha Jhulka in the role of Neelam, the daughter of a Kashmiri pandit who is looked after by Gurmukh Singh’s family after the death of her parents, plays a key role in the film. She portrays the power of a sister’s love when she gets Gurpreet back to profess the tenets of Sikhism. The storyline, although strongly portrayed, is somewhat old and its relevance in the current scenario stands questioned. The director, however, disagreed: “There is no change in the basic ideas. We have always been strong when it comes to our cultural roots, and the attempt in this film is to reaffirm the faith. Khalsa, in itself, is a potent institution and those who follow it, do so with a great sense of commitment. The character of Gurmukh Singh is one such character who cannot bear the fact of his own son deserting him and reacts curtly by turning him out of the house.” Speaking to The Tribune this morning after the preview show, the younger brother of late director Shyam Ralhan said: “I found a wonderful producer in Kuljeet Singh who was ready to spend money. This film has cost us about Rs 75 lakh and I must tell you the only way to make good films is by increasing the budget for the same.” Regarding the declining standards of Punjabi film making, he said: “No one is concerned about good content. People are interested only in subsidies. When quality is being compromised, how can you expect a film to sell? The director of the fame of Hindi films like Ram Kali, Jiyo aur jine do, Shaka and Shoorvir, added that it was not easy for him to decided to direct a Punjabi film. “I only came forward when I was assured that investment of money would not be a problem. Money is very important if one has to manage good music, good screenplay and good impact at the end of the day,” he said. The trend of Punjabi film-making might stand a little altered after this film which is a commercial film with a modern story. About the values being portrayed through the characters of the film, Ralhan said: “History repeats itself. The significance of religion had never been lost. It had just been misplaced somewhere. I am making a conscious attempt to reinforce the same.” The film, which has music by Hari Arjun, and playback singing by Suresh Wadekar, Anuradha Paudwal, Jaspinder Narula and Sukhwinder Singh, is due for release on November 10. |
DGP hears complaints at khula
darbar PANCHKULA,
Oct 11 — While complaints about registration of false cases by the police were put before the Director General of Police, Haryana, Mr S.P.S. Rathore, by the public at a khula darbar held at the Police Headquarters, Sector 6, here yesterday, cases of mutual transfers of police personnel dominated the day’s proceedings. Ms Nirmal Bhardwaj of Kurukshetra said that while one of her son was falsely implicated in the case of a demolition of a mosque, another was falsely booked for rash driving, and a third one died in an accident, she claims is not accidental. “The number on the number plate of the car was checked and found to be that of a motorcycle. An accident with a false number plate cannot be a plain coincidence,” she said and added that the cases had been registered at the behest of Inspector, Mr Jai Krishan Sharma, who had now retired. The DGP ordered an inquiry into the registration of cases. In another case from Karnal, Mr Suba Singh alleged that 30 miscreants, allegedly in connivance with the police, had ransacked his house and managed to get away despite of an inquiry by senior police officers, which held them guilty of theft and assault. A Station House Officer in Bhiwani, Pratap Singh, was suspended following a complaint by Mr Dalbir Singh who alleged that the police personnel demanded Rs 5,000 as bribe from him. In another case, constable Balbir Singh, posted at Sirsa, was promoted as head constable for bravery. While 40 complaints pertained to public, 25 cases of police personnel revolved around mutual transfers. Earlier, Mr Rathore said that a plan for women police stations in all the ranges was under consideration and costs for the same were being determined. He said that money for the modernisation of the police force had increased 32 times in the current financial year to Rs 22.10 crore. He informed that this would be used for developing a training centre for recruits, setting up of a Regional Forensic Science Laboratory in Gurgaon, establishment of police stations at Narwana, Panipat and Sirsa and for computerising various police stations and headquarters. He added that a website of Haryana Police would be launched soon. The facility of FIR registration on the website would be initiated by the end of the year. A complainant, on being asked to name an officer she would prefer to hold an inquiry on her complaint, insisted that her only criterion was that the officer should be a South Indian. “I have seen that only South Indians perform their duty honestly and I will trust him with inquiry,” the complainant said. The DGP marked the inquiry to the only South Indian officer present at the darbar, Mr K Selvraj, AIG, Administration. |
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Sump well project a non-starter SAS NAGAR, Oct 11 — The construction of a sump well for use during emergencies at the Phase VI Waterworks here has been inordinately delayed by the Punjab Planning and Urban Development Authority (PUDA). On a visit to the site yesterday, this correspondent saw that only a small part of the digging work had been carried out, but it is reported that this was done about a year ago. At present the dug-up area is full of wild growth with no sign of the work being carried out in the near future. PUDA had constructed a water storage tank of 10 lakh-gallon capacity at the waterworks. Even though the work on the project had finished about six months ago, the tank cannot be used for storing water as the sump well, which is to be used for pumping water, is not ready. It is learnt that a PUDA contractor has started work on the sump well but left it after merely doing a part of the digging. PUDA had again called tenders for the project and allotted the work, but nobody turned up to carry out the construction. The day-to-day water requirements of residential Phase-I to VII and Industrial Area, Phase I to V, are being met by a direct supply from Kajauli to the waterworks from where it is pumped to these areas. The Public Health Department has three water storage tanks with a total capacity of 22 lakh gallons. As it had been felt that the three tanks were inadequate to store water to face emergencies in the case of breakdowns at Kajauli, PUDA had constructed an additional tank to increase the storage capacity. But unfortunately the new tank is of no use unless the sump well is constructed. PUDA officials said the sump well project was estimated to cost Rs 10.52 lakh. The contract had now been cleared and work on the well was likely to be completed within two months. The depth of the well would be 6 feet deeper than that of the storage tank. One reason why the project had been delayed was that the ground-water level rose during the rainy season, they added. |
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54 file nominations SAS NAGAR, Oct 11 — A total of 54 candidates today filed their nominations for elections for different posts of the Punjab State Education Board Non-Teaching Karamchari Association, scheduled for October 19. Apart from the panel of consensus candidates declared yesterday, candidates of three different groups — Dhillon group, Brar group and Rano group, a split group of the Brar group, also filed their nomination papers today. Mr Sukhpal Singh Chhina, who along with Mr Jasbir Singh Dhillon, had been appointed by leaders of the three groups for selecting consensus candidates, said the last date of filing and withdrawing nominations was today. The date of election is October 19. If no person other than those on the consensus panel files nomination today, the consensus panel will be automatically elected. |
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Aussie institutes open helpdesk CHANDIGARH, Oct 11 — Three Australian educational institutions, RMIT University, Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, and the Regency Institute of TAFE - opened their first ‘helpdesk’ in Sector 9 here today. The three are government recognised institutes. Experts from Australia claimed that the desk, the first in the country, had been opened to provide more authentic, accurate and up-to-date informations to Indian students, which would assist them and their families to plan the future in an effective manner. Ms Sharon Gill, Manager International of RMIT University, said the helpdesk had been opened in view of the popularity of the RMIT courses among the students of North India and particularly of Punjab and Chandigarh. The institutes have entered into cooperative initiative in order to provide students of the city with specialised information about the courses in Australia. Ms Rosemary Rainer, International Development Manager of Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, observed that the helpdesk would provide assistance in financial planning, visa processing, pre-departure orientation programme, post landing and providing an overview of the lifestyle in Australia, besides assistance in courses selection. Ms Margaret A Hess, Senior Manager (International Business), Regency Institute of TAFE, said around one lakh international students were on the rolls of educational institutes in Australia. It was necessary to open helpdesk in Chandigarh for their convenience. |
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Send report to IG:
panel CHANDIGARH, Oct 11 — Taking suo motu notice of a report in Chandigarh Tribune about the kidnapping and beating up of a Punjab Cricket Association security guard, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission has ordered that the news item should be sent to the Inspector General (Litigation) who should submit a report on its basis. The Commission comprising Mr Justice V.K. Khanna, Mr Justice J.S. Sekhon, Mr M.S. Chahal, Mr T.S. Cheema and Ms Maninder K. Mattewal further said the case would come up for hearing on December 6. The Commission said, “We have read the news item ‘PCA security guard kidnapped, beaten up’ in Chandigarh Tribune of September 28. According to the item, a security guard of the PCA stadium was picked up by five persons, one of whom was in the police uniform, beaten up and thrown on a roadside in Ropar.” The Commission also said, “Mr B.S. Randhawa, SP, said the boy had not been kidnapped, but had gone somewhere on his own and was trying to concoct a story.” The Commission said “After perusal of the news item, we are of the opinion that it is fit to take cognizance of the case under the provisions of the Protection of Human Rights Act.”
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A road worth
avoiding ZIRAKPUR, Oct 11 — Thousands of residents of more than six colonies and villages here have to traverse the 1 km long broken stretch of the Zirakpur-Bartana link road to reach their destinations. They have been facing this ordeal for the past five years. Potholes in this stretch turn into cesspools even after a small shower. Sometimes the authorities fill the potholes after repeated complaints by the residents, but nothing has been done to remove the problem permanently. Commuters and other road users have to take inconvenient alternative routes. The worst sufferers are the students who are forced to wade through mud and slush to reach their school in time. Often parents have to accompany the children to help them cross this stretch on their way to school and back. During the rains, this stretch turns into a pool of mud causing accidents. Two-wheeler drivers are the worst sufferers in this regard. Vehicles move at a snail’s pace on this broken road and get damaged due to the deep potholes. Mr Mahesh Sharma, a resident of Bartana, said: ‘‘I have spent more than Rs 5,000 on correspondence with the Nagar Panchayat, the Punjab Mandikaran Board and the Punjab Pollution Control Board, but my efforts have proved futile.” The Nagar Panchayat has not taken any steps to solve the problem, he alleged. Though the state government claims that it has spent Rs 550 crore on the construction on new roads, the poor condition of some of the important main and link roads tells a different tale.
The Nagar Panchayat authorities were not available for comments. |
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Loan defaulters put on website CHANDIGARH, Oct 11 — “It is great not to be on our list”, proclaims a unique website
www.loandefaulters.com, which has been put on the Net to reveal major defaulters of loans taken from banks and financial institutions. The site has been recently launched by Compact Disc India reveals names of 36,000 business men and companies who are prime loan defaulters.
The site lists names of as many as 5,221 companies of India which owed Rs 27,777.13 crore to various public sector banks and against whom suits have been filed for the recovery of loans on March 31,1999.
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Governor inaugurates satsang CHANDIGARH, Oct 11 — The Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, today inaugurated a five-day Virat Bhakti Satsang by the Saint Sudhanshuji Maharaj organised by the Vishav Mission at the Panchkula cricket ground.
His wife, Mrs Sudesh Kumari, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and Mr Balramji Dass Tandon a senior Minister of Punjab accompanied the Governor.
He commended the spiritual efforts of Sudhanshuji Maharaj, who had dedicated his life for the welfare of the humanity by delivering spiritual discourses in different parts of the country. |
Delegation meets Jacob CHANDIGARH, Oct 11 — A delegation of the UT panches and sarpanches today met the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd) in connection with the problems faced by the villagers.
According to a press note, the delegation demanded the withdrawal of hike in the water tariff. Besides urging the administration to withdraw the increase in the prices of the irrigation water as the city was semi-hilly area, the delegation demanded that the policies and programmes of the Kandi Area Development Project should be extended to the city.
Implementation of the policy of providing water and electricity connections outside the laal dora was the other demand highlighted by the delegation.
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CTU workers protest CHANDIGARH, Oct 11 — Members of the CTU Employees and Workers Union and other employees organised a protest rally in front of the office of the Director, Transport, here today.
They were protesting against the UT Administration for permitting private bus operators to play their buses in Chandigarh. Release of bonus to the CTU staff for 1997-98, and 1999-2000 and implementation of other demands. |
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Gujral seeks
annulment of marriage CHANDIGARH,
Oct 11 — The UT Home Secretary, Mr Raminder Singh Gujral, has sought annulment of his marriage to Ms Manpreet, by applying for the same in a local court here. The application was submitted four days ago through his lawyers.
The couple had got married on August 23 and a controversy followed when Mr Gujral, returned from his honeymoon in the USA on September 9 and alleged that the woman was already married, but had hidden the fact from him. Ms Manpreet continues to be in the USA and has showed no signs of returning from there.
Asked about it, Mr Gujral said he could not comment upon it. Since the annulment has been sought under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the proceedings have to be ‘‘in camera’’.
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Kartika vrata celebrations CHANDIGARH,
Oct 11 — The month-long kartika vrata celebrations began at Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math here yesterday. The vice-president acharya of the math and vice-president of the World Vaishnava Association will be here for a month.
The programme started on October 9. It will continue till November 8. Spiritual discourses, ashram yaam kirtans and parbhat pheris will be
organised. |
Couple held for fraud CHANDIGARH,
Oct 11 — The police has arrested a couple from Karnal on the charges of fradulently encashing demand drafts worth Rs 50,000. Mr J.S. Jassi, who runs a courier company in Sector 17, in a complaint to the police, said he had received two demand drafts worth Rs 25,000 each from the State Bank of India, Bangalore, in favour of Mr R.L. Saini, a resident of Nawanshahar. The accused, Rajinder Kumar, Mr Jassi alleged, stole the parcel containing the demand drafts and opened a fake account in the name of Mr Saini. His wife, Mamta, gave surety while opening the account in the State Bank of Bikaner, Sector 17 here, and the demand drafts were encashed by the duo. A case has been registered. Cash stolen Car stolen Liquor seized In the first incident, Ram Avtar and Paras Ram of the Colony No 5 was arrested with 55 pouches of whisky each. Subhash Chander of Burail village was arrested with 60 pouches of whisky. Harish Kumar of Burail village was held with 61 pouches and seven quarters of whisky. Suicide
bid ‘Register case’ In a complaint, he alleged that though the incident happened on the night of October 8, the police had failed to register a case despite several visits to the Sector 34 Police Station. The accused — Raju, Gautam, Bablu and Brijraj — had attacked mother and son when they were coming to their home. The accused also tore her clothes. The victims was later shifted to GMCH, Sector 32, for medical examination.
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Travel agent dupes
man CHANDIGARH, Oct 11 — A Sector 46 resident has allegedly been duped of Rs 3.35 lakh by a travel agent. Mr Gurnam Singh, a resident of Sector 46, alleged that he had paid Rs 4.75 lakh to a travel agent, Mohan Inder Singh of Sector 40, who had promised to send his brother, Mr Angrez Singh, to Canada. He said the travel agent had not fulfilled his promise even 10 months after the payment. Mr Gurcharan said he had paid Rs 5,000 to Mohan Inder Singh, besides giving him the passport of his brother. He alleged that the travel agent had promised that Angrez Singh would get the visa within 60 days of this. Mr Gurnam Singh said Mohan Singh had brought him the photocopy of a Canadian visa and demanded another Rs 7.25 lakh from him for a “VIP visa”. He also alleged that he had paid Rs 3.20 lakh to Mohan Inder Singh at his place. The accused allegedly demanded another Rs 1.5 lakh for the air ticket and mandatory foreign currency. “Since your brother is going to Canada on a multiple visa, you will have to pay Rs 1.5 lakh for a British Airways ticket, besides $ 2000,” Mohan Inder Singh said allegedly. Mr Gurnam Singh alleged that he was told by the agent that the flight to Canada would leave on March 7. Mohan Inder Singh is presently in the USA. However, his sister said she did not know anything about the incident. Mohan returned Rs 1.4 lakh to Mr Gurnam through two cheques and said he had a new proposal for his brother. Mr Gurnam turned it down and demanded all his money back. A case under Section 420 of the IPC and Section 27 of the Immigration Act has been
registered. |
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Clerk suspended SAS NAGAR, Oct 11 — A senior clerk in the SAS Nagar Municipal Council, Mr Avtar Singh Kalsia, was suspended today by the Administrator, Mr Jaipal Singh, for not obeying his orders. The clerk had recently been booked by the police for allegedly stealing official records of the council kept in a cabinet. Sources in the council said the clerk had been transferred to the octroi section from the Enforcement Wing, but was not giving the charge of the Enforcement Section to the new incumbent. |
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