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| Saturday, October 28, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
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Silent Divali campaign fails to
click CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — The much-hyped campaign in favour of celebrating a silent Divali this year could not really take off, for obvious reasons. With little check on part of the officials concerned, crackers were sold in a big way and burst on the night of the festival, thus making a mockery of the resolve to have a decently-silent Divali in place of a dangerously noisy one. Meanwhile, with Divali festivities coming to an end, all major centres of activity in the city, wore a rather desolate look today. The day seemed dull and grey, quite in contrast to the Divali day, which was marked by immense activity, including traffic challans, road blockades, close police scrutiny, and, of course, massive celebrations. The only places where some spirit was still alive were Nirman and Piccadilly cinema halls which brought two big banner films, Mission Kashmir and Mohabbatein, respectively, to the city. While yesterday saw huge activity in all markets of the city, close to 60 per cent shops remained closed today, much to the disappointment of visitors to the markets. So much so that event the main shopping centre of the city, Sector 17, had not many visitors all day long. One reason could be that for the first time-ever, the Sector 17 Piazza was not sporting any stalls. Not even a single shop was open in the complex today. Similar was the case with almost all other markets, including many rehri markets. Parking areas of the city also heaved a sigh of relief. There was ample space today in the otherwise-jampacked parking places, be it Sector 17 or the congested Sector 22 and 19 markets. Interestingly, not too many crackers were being sold today also, in contrast to earlier years. The sales had probably reached saturation yesterday, when these picked up hugely towards the night, bringing to naught the much-hyped campaign to have a “silent Divali.” The only people active today were the street urchins, especially rag-pickers who were collecting the left outs for making a fair business. Roads were mostly deserted, with all schools and colleges of the city remaining closed. Very few rickshaws and autos were seen plying all day along, for the reason that all educational institutes had declared a holiday. Government offices also contributed their part to the much-depressing silence which gripped the city. All offices had a holiday except the Central Government offices and the post office. The lull in marketplaces could also be traced to traders observing Vishvakarma Day today. The tools worship day, as it is called, the Vishvakarma was also observed by owners of car and garment showrooms. The traffic police personnel had an easy day with little traffic congestion and lesser traffic rules violations today. While yesterday saw little cracker stalls come up in all possible places in the markets and even in busy sectors of the city, today was a little different in the sense that very few shops were actually selling crackers. Some general stores had stocked crackers for those few who had the hang over of last night’s festivity. Otherwise today did not witness much air pollution, as against last night when the visibility had started decreasing even around 7 p.m. owing to smog. |
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Gaiety, fervour mark
Divali CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — A dense smog enveloped the city for a few hours late last night as residents went overboard in bursting crackers to celebrate the festival of lights. But for some burn injuries no major untoward incident was reported. Divali continues to be the favourite festival, and its popularity seems to cut across the barriers of age if the fireworks in the city are any indication. The horizon lit up as festivities which started at about 7 went on till the wee hours of the morning. The campaign by social organisations against bursting of crackers notwithstanding, people showed great enthusiasm and many motorists had a tough time driving, as people were bursting crackers on roads, particularly on V 5 and V 6 ones. All city markets, including the city centre, besides residential areas, were tastefully decorated, with some market welfare committees going that extra bit to stand out and lure customers. Stalls, especially those selling dry fruits, sweet meats and crackers, did brisk business. The cracker market in Sector 26, 22 and 34 were crowded till late night as customers bargained to pick up the “goodies” at low prices. People attired in the best flocked the markets during the day, making last minute purchases, besides going about in the city exchanging gifts with friends and relatives. A large rush was also witnessed at the Sector 17 circus ground, Sector 34 exhibition ground, besides the Sector 22 Nehru ground where Divali melas were organised for the first time in the city. However, Sector 17 witnessed fewer crowds since the municipal corporation declined to issue permission for erecting stalls. There was resentment among the shopkeepers here since they were not allowed to display their wares outside their shops unlike previous years. A local band enthralled visitors to the Sector 22-D market. The band, perched atop booths, belted out popular numbers and many persons could be seen dancing with gay abandon. This was the first time that the market committee had hit upon the novel idea to entertain the crowd.
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City gets video link with Delhi spinal centre CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Mr L. K. Advani, Union Home Minister, inaugurated the first ever video conference on International Spine and Spinal Injuries (ISSICON) 2000 at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) in New Delhi today. About 100 delegates from India and abroad were linked to Chandigarh via video conferencing facilities available at the National Informatics Center in sector 8. At the local end, Dr V.K. Kak, Director Principal, Government Medical College and Hospital, inaugurated the conference. Ms Maneka Gandhi, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, presided over the function at the ISIC in New Delhi. Inaugurating the function, Mr Advani stressed that the environment of a treatment centre played an equally crucial role as the medical treatment itself. Ms Maneka Gandhi dwelled on the subject of disability and the achievements of the government in this direction. Major Ahluwalia, Chairman of the ISIC said that successful video linking of the proposed regional spinal injuries centre coming up at SAS Nagar with ISIC at Delhi, was the first step towards managing the spinal cord injuries in a set protocol throughout the country. Major Ahluwalia, also introduced the local coordinators of the regional centre including Prof Raj Bahadur, Head, department of Orthopedics at the GMCH. Dr Raj Bahadur was representing the proposed Regional Spinal Injuries Centre in the three-day ISSICON-2000. About 30 delegates from Chandigarh and surrounding areas availed the opportunity of video conferencing at NIC here today. The local delegates interacted with Prof Paul Meyer of Chicago, Dr Sabbarwal from MIlwaukee, Prof Wyndaele from Belgium and Dr Marchettini from Italy, Dr Diana Natter and Martha Schaner from Germany. |
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Theft in Panchkula house PANCHKULA, Oct 27 — A sum of Rs 80,000, 10 tolas of gold, a VCR and woollen clothes were reportedly stolen from a house in Sector 12-A here today while the occupants were out of station. The owner, Mr Virender Kumar, a brick-kiln owner, said that he along with his wife had left the house on October 25 for his village near Jalandhar. ''We had informed our neighbours that we would be away for a couple of days. During our absence nobody noticed anything untoward or strange and did not see anybody going in,'' he said. On returning today at 5 p.m., the couple did not suspect anything with the lock on the gate in tact. However, once at the front door, they found the lock broken opened and hanging with the bolt. Inside, the cupboards had been ransacked and clothes lay strewn all over the floor. He said that going through the things, he found cash, gold, VCR and clothes missing, though details of other missing items would be known only once the police let them go through their belongings. Though the couple found no lights on in the house when they returned, they suspect that it happened on the night of October 25 since the neighbours were awake till about 1 a.m. last night, leaving little scope for the thieves to enter through the front door. Also, the thieves were in no hurry to leave with nobody around. An empty soda bottle, bidis and matchsticks were found lying all over the place. A used glass was found in the lobby. Mr Kumar said that though they had no suspects in the case, they had informed their maid that they would be out of town. The police was informed of the incident and further investigation is on. |
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New policy needed to curb growth of slums:
council CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — A new set of practices and policies have to be evolved to discourage increased migration of people in the city and some amendments need to be carried out in the existing rehabilitation policy for migrants, suggests a sub-committee on Rehabilitation and Encroachment removal of the Administrator’s Advisory Council. The sub-committee has through various comments and suggestions laid out a path for the Chandigarh Administration to follow. A re-think is required in the opinion of members of the committee who have been drawn from different walks of life. In order to discourage squatter settlements, there is an immediate need to deliberate on the existing policy on rehabilitation and rigours of enforcement. The committee headed by a retired bureaucrat, Mr B.S. Ojha, says it has been noticed that the rehabilitation measures undertaken have to a large extent resulted in benefiting undeserving persons who used rehabilitation as an opportunity for making quick money. The slums have remained, as the allottees have sold their tenements for a profit and once again squatted on public land. No follow-up by way of resumption or cancellation of tenements or sites, which have been sold by the allottees, has been made all these years. One of the recommendations is that a minimum of 10 years of stay in a slum before the cut-off date should be the benchmark for eligibility. At present there is no such limit. This amendment should be incorporated in the existing policy to curb unauthorised persons from getting benefit under the policy, says the suggestion. Even the proposed construction of 16,000 flats in the Union Territory to house unauthorised migrant dwellers should not be allotted to an individual but to co-operative housing societies formed from amongst the squatters. On the social front, the committee says the large-scale migration and unplanned growth also reflects in terms of poor performance of Chandigarh on indicators of quality of life, such as literacy level, nutrition level, prevalence of diseases like TB, leprosy, lack of hygiene, among others. The committee suggests that ‘‘ in-situ’’ rehabilitation within the sectoral grid should not be undertaken, as that would destroy the character of land permanently depriving neighbouring residents of a harmonious living environment. On the long-pending issue of development of services outside the lal dora in villages, the committee suggests that areas abutting the existing lal dora should be developed in a planned manner. The development charges should be collected from the plot holders whose land outside the lal dora would be developed. On the issue of roadside workers, the committee says no identity card or vocation card should be issued merely on the strength of their names figuring in the survey. The identity cards should be issued on a realistic estimation of the need for such services in each of the sectors . Petty service providers be allowed to carry out their trade from a fixed spot against payment of monthly rent but enjoy no proprietory rights. Beat system for the enforcement and MC staff should be introduced for effective monitoring. |
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Alert firemen avert
disasters CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — It was a festival of flames for firefighters as 25 incidents of minor fires in the city on Divali night kept them rushing from one place to another till midnight. They also received four hoax calls. Disasters were averted as fire engines reached every spot within minutes and controlled the flames before it was too late. The fire engines operated from strategic locations in Sectors 11, 17, 22, 38 and 32, besides Ram Darbar and Industrial Area Phase I. Firemen received far too less panic calls than past year on this day. Sources in the Fire Department said this was due to awareness among students about environment. They said students and residents had done well to remove waste packs from rooftops. The first call was received at about 5 pm. The fire engines reached the Sector 26 grain market to find some empty sacks on fire. A call was received from the timber market where the tarpaulin over a truck had caught fire. A similar call was received from an STD booth near the Sector 20 labour market. The fires were extinguished before these could spread. A scooter also caught fire after it was hit by a live cracker. The fire was controlled before it could damage the vehicle much. A resident of Colony Number 5, Lalu Mian, called up to say that his jhuggi on Jail Road was on fire. This fire, too, was controlled well in time. |
Kidnapped boy reaches home PANCHKULA, Oct 27 — Divali brought in happiness in the Singla house with the kidnapped boy, Himanshu, returning home yesterday. While the family members were overjoyed at his return, the fear of yet another attempt to harm them was not ruled out, they said. Recalling his trauma and the sequence of events, Himanshu said that after being picked up from near his house, the Sumo in which he was taken and the Indica car accompanying them headed for Ambala via Devigarh where the car parted way. At Baghal, short of Ambala, most of the kidnappers got off the vehicle, leaving only four persons with him. “While Lakha and a person with a yellow-coloured turban sat with me, Kasmira sat with the driver. Next we halted at a dera in Gulah where we stayed for nearly five hours. Here the kidnappers consumed liquor, while a family, mostly women, kept watch on me,” he said. He added that the accused took him to an STD booth where he was forced to call up his parents and ask them to deliver the amount pending with his father at their native village or they would amputate his legs. He informed that the dera belonged to Lakha and that the two unidentified men accompanying him left on a black Hero Honda motor cycle. They came back with the information that the police had reached their village and found out their whereabouts. Himanshu said that following the information, he was taken to They bitanae on a scooter the next day and Gurnam and Lakha accompanied him to a tubewell room in the fields. “There they kept threatening me and warning me with dire consequences if my father failed to pay up. They woke me up at 5.45 a.m. and made another call to my parents, asking for the same thing. Surprisingly, they knew of every move the police party made and told me that a caller ID had been installed at my place,’’ he explained. At 10.30 a.m., they announced the 2 p.m. deadline after which they planned to kill me and took me to a dairy shop, near Kaithal, where they planned their next course of action. Here they changed the Bajaj scooter for an LML one which was slow to start. At Kaithal, they stopped to make a call and left him near the scooter. ``I showed a Rs 50 note to a motorcyclist passing by and he agreed to give me a lift. Later, “I changed to a trolley followed by a scooter. The scooterist took me to his office and later helped me catch a bus to Ambala. At Pehowa, I changed the bus again and a police party took charge,’’ he said. Himanshu went back with them to show them all the places he was taken to and was handed over to his father yesterday morning after the police had recorded his statement. The LML scooter used in the crime was also impounded from the tubewell. His parents, however, alleged that police personnel in Chandigarh and Panchkula were keeping the accused updated about their activities which had facilitated the escape of the accused. |
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Challaning of
tractors SAS NAGAR, Oct 27 — On the directives of the Inspector- General ( Traffic), the local police will start a drive to check the use of tractor-trailers for commercial purposes. The traffic wing of the district police has been asked to challan the violators of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mr G.P.S. Bhullar, Ropar, said 20 tractor-trailers had already been challaned in different parts of the district. In the town the tractor-trailers, including those owned by government departments, were being used for commercial purposes. The guidelines have been issued to comply with the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Earlier, directives to challan the motorists using cell phones while driving had been issued. Use of seat belts for the driver and the co-passenger has also been made mandatory. Adequate opportunity would be provided to the vehicle owners to get seat belts in their vehicles, said a police official. Using of proper illumination or reflection tapes in the front and rear of the vehicles, especially the transport vehicles, has also been made mandatory. |
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GOC-in-C Sangra for
vigilance CHANDIMANDIR, Oct 27 — Though there is nothing alarming about Pakistani troop movements along the international border in the western sector, vigilance is required at the national level. Stating this while interacting with mediapersons after a solemn wreath-laying ceremony to mark Infantry Day here today, the GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lt Gen Surjit Singh Sangra added that this is the period when the Pakistani army begins its winter exercises. “Training is a double-edged weapon, which can be converted into a war posture in very little time, if troops have been issued ammunition. This requires constant vigilance,” he remarked. Lt Gen Sangra said despite the Army’s commitment in counter insurgency operations, stress has to be laid on training. The Army needs to be ready for a conventional war at all times. Post Kargil, where the infantry was engaged in a limited conventional war, the Army commander said the inadequacy of equipment experienced in the operations was being plugged. A key area, he said, is surveillance equipment as it is not physically possible to keep a human vigil along the Line of Control. He said that infantry units were being re-organised along the 4-B model, which would greatly boost their firepower and mobility. “The equipment authorisation of infantry units has been enhanced to give them more firepower. This would be complete in a couple of years,” he stated, adding that the morale of the infantryman needs to be kept high. Earlier, Lt Gen Sangra laid a wreath at the Veer Smriti war memorial to pay homage to those who had laid down their lives in the line of duty. A ceremonial guard reversed arms while buglers sounded the Last Post. October 27, 1947 was a red letter day in the annals of military history. It was on this day that 1 Sikh along with 4 Kumaon thwarted Pakistani-supported invasion on Kashmir. In a series of brilliantly executed actions, the Pakistani raiders were dealt a stunning blow by the Indian infantry, thus leading to a complete rout of the invaders. Post-independent India’s first Param Vir Chakra was awarded to late Maj Somnath Sharma for his gallantry in this operation. Infantry regiments have won numerous battle honours and awards both before and after Independence. In 1962, it was the heroic action of some of the infantry units which salvaged the nation’s honour. Whether in 1965, in 1971, the Sri Lankan operation or the recent Kargil conflict, the infantry has always been in the forefront of action. Some of the intrepid actions of the infantrymen took place at
Chusul, Namka Chu, Khem Karan, Dograi, Haji Pir, Basantar, Dera Baba Nanak,
Hilli, Tololing and Tiger Hill, where they overwhelmed the enemy against heavy odds and in inclement weather and difficult terrain. In the ensuing years, be it desolate icy wastes of Siachen or the deadly counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir, the success story hung around the peg of the silent but steadfast infantrymen. |
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Workaholic’s zeal recognised PANCHKULA, Oct 27 — At 84, Mr Jagdish Narain Khanna continues to be an untiring worker and this quality has earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. This recoginition has given him renewed energy, and he reaffirms his commitment to his work and is anxious to improve his achievement. Employed as Company Secretary in a silk and rayon mill at Amritsar since 1934, Mr Khanna, who is now here on a visit to his daughter, says that age has not dampened his spirit and he is still giving his work his best. “With 64 years’ service behind me, I am the most experienced hand in the company and my honesty and dedication has earned me of extended employment with the mill. I enjoy my work and a holiday is not a welcome break.” His long innings first found mention in the Limca Book of Records. Then his family was inspired to send his bio-data to the Guinness Book of World Records though they were not hopeful that his long service would be a new record. His daughter, Ms Vimal Mehra, who lives here in Sector 8, says: “We put the information on the Internet and heard from them after three months. It was a joyous moment for us, more so for him, as it gave him the feeling that he was an entity, somebody with an identity.” Social work is his other passion. Besides sponsoring the education of some needy children, he has also adopted a terrorist victim. “I have done this for my satisfaction. He is my son and I have made it clear to my three sons and a daughter that now they have another brother,” he says. The family now has a well-established business but he continues to work for his salary. “Sometimes we feel that he should now relax a bit, since money is not a problem. But he insists that work gives him unmatched pleasure. We yield to this desire because if he leaves the job, he will not know what to do,” Ms Mehra explains. The certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records occupies a prominent position in his daughter’s house. It adorns the wall as a prize earned with the sweat of her father’s brow. |
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25 declared
elected as CTCC members CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Even as speculations about the President of the local unit of the Congress does the rounds of political circles in the city, the names of 25 elected members of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC) have been announced by the party high command. In what party insiders attribute as a setback for the group in power, the combined strength of the opposing groups outnumbers that of the ruling group. Those elected include five members each from the camps of Mr Vinod Sharma, Mr Harmohan Dhawan and Mr Manish Tiwari, besides eight from the Pawan Bansal group. The members were elected on the basis of the members recruited by them during the membership drive held some months back. According to sources, those elected are Mr B.B. Behl, who was President of the local unit, Mr Subash Chawla, Mr Ram Pal Sharma, Mr Dharamvir Manchanda, Dr Mohammad Khalid, Ms Kulwant Dhaliwal, Ms Lalit Joshi Bhardwaj, Mr Param Pal Matharoo, Mr Surinder Bhatia, Mr Chaman Lal Sharma and Mr R.K. Rathore. The others include Mr Sunil Parti, Ms Shreshta Mehta, Ms Bhupinder Kaur and Mr Kulbhushan Gupta, Mr Devinder Singh Babla, Dr O.P. Verma, Mr Vijay Pal Singh Dimpy, Mr Chander Mukhi Sharma, Mr Kewal Arora, Mr Ravinder Pal Singh Pali and Mr J.N. Shastri. The three former Presidents of the TCC, Mr Venod Sharma, Mr Pawan Bansal and Mr Sham Lal Gupta, are permanent members. These members will be delegated for the election of the Pradesh Territorial Committee members who will not only elect the local unit President, Vice-Presidents and Treasurer but would also vote for the election of the all-India President, if they are held, on November 11. The nominations would be filed up to October 28 and October 29 is the withdrawal date. There are indications that a disgruntled senior party leader, Mr Jitendra Prasad, will contest against Mrs Sonia Gandhi. |
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Mechanics
worship tools CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Vishvakarma Day was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety in the city here today. Hundreds of mechanics worshipped their tools along with the photograph of Lord Vishvakarma in major markets, including Sectors 21 and 28 auto markets. The mechanics took a day off from their hectic schedule. The President of the All-India Ramgarhia Central Federation, Mr Gurcharan Singh Giani, in a message to the Ramgarhia community appreciated the role of the community in the economic and industrial revolutions, particularly in the agro-based industry which had enabled the country to be self-sufficient on the food front, in addition to bringing in huge foreign exchange. By dint of hard work, the community had established its reputation throughout the world, he added. Meanwhile, a function organised at the Vishvakarma Temple in Phase II of Ram Darbar was attended by over 500 persons. Yajna and langar were the highlights of the function. |
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Red alert
extended in city CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — In the wake of the Bathinda blast, the Chandigarh police has extended the red alert sounded on the occasion of Divali.
According to sources in the police department, special combing operations were being carried out at public places in the city. The residents have been advised against touching any unclaimed object. They have also been urged to inform the police as soon as they came across any such object or person roaming about under suspicious circumstances. |
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IA flights
rescheduled CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Indian Airlines has rescheduled its flights touching Chandigarh, Leh and Amritsar with immediate effect.
According to Mr Rajinder Kumar, Station Manager, Indian Airlines, the Leh-Chandigarh-Leh flight will now operate on Wednesday. After reaching Chandigarh from Leh at 9.05 a.m. it would leave for Leh at 9.40 a.m. The Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar-Delhi flight would now operate on Thursdays and Saturdays.
On Thursdays and Saturdays the CD 7485 flight, Mr Rajinder Kumar said, would arrive in Chandigarh at 12.10 p.m. and depart for Amritsar at 12.45 p.m. and reach Delhi at 2.50 p.m.
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Dadu Majra resident stabbed,
injured CHANDIGARH,
Oct 27 — A Dadu Majra resident was admitted to the Sector 16 General Hospital after sustaining injuries in a quarrel on Wednesday afternoon. According to sources, injured Sonu Sharma was allegedly stabbed in the stomach by Sonu Kumar, Ravi and another accomplice. The police has registered a case under Sections 324 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and further investigations into the allegations are on, add sources. Hit by van Motorcyclist hurt Pickpocket arrested Car stereo stolen Truck hits cyclist Scooter theft SAS NAGAR Girl abducted |
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Two commit
suicide CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Two city residents reportedly committed suicide here today and a Maloya resident died on Divali morning under mysterious circumstances. According to sources, 32-year-old Sandeep of Sector 45 ended his life by setting himself on fire after pouring kerosene. The immediate provocation behind the extreme step is not known as no suicide note was found. Sector 16 resident Sunita died after consuming poison. She had gone to a friend's house in Mani Majra on Divali. She was rushed to the Sector 16 General Hospital where she died today. Garish Chander of Maloya died under mysterious circumstances. According to sources, he complained of pain in the chest in the morning. Though the police is claiming that Chander died of excessive drinking, his feet had turned blue. Further investigations were on. |
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2 arrested for
withdrawing LPG from cylinder CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Two employees of a Sector 35 gas agency were arrested by the Crime Branch of the police while they were allegedly taking out cooking gas from LPG cylinder in Sector 44. According to sources in the Police Department, the two have been identified as Ram Karan and Hari Om of Colony No. 5. They were reportedly working with Vijay Gas Agency. A case of cheating and theft with common intention has been registered against the two under Sections 420, 379 and 34 of the IPC, say sources. Police officials add that further investigations into the matter were on and more accused were likely to be arrested on the basis of the information provided by the two. |
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One injured
in clash CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — A Palsora Colony resident was admitted to the PGI after he sustained injuries in a clash here today. According to sources in the police, the victim has been identified as Sohan. The sources added that the injuries were inflicted upon sohan during a quarrel which reportedly took place in the colony. The condition of the victim was reportedly stable.
Senior police officials, when contacted, said that further investigations were on. |
Shopkeepers for action against MC
official SAS NAGAR,
Oct 27 — Demanding registration of a first information report (FIR) against an employee of the enforcement wing of the local municipal council for unauthorisedly seizing their firecrackers, shopkeepers of Phase 7 today alleged that firecrackers worth Rs 75,000 were missing from the seized lot, which was returned to them following the intervention of the police. The police had to intervene when the enforcement staff, led by a clerk, Mr Amrit Lal, seized firecrackers worth lakhs of rupees and the affected shopkeepers later blocked traffic on the road in Phase 7. The firecrackers had been taken to the godown of the council from where they were returned to the shopkeepers. At least seven shopkeepers, who had put up their stalls in open spaces as per the permission given by the local administration — a fact denied by officials of the local administration — said when they went to take possession of their firecrackers they found that items worth Rs 75,000 were missing. Mr Harpreet Singh and Mr Satpal, said their firecrackers worth Rs 22,000 and Rs 21,000, respectively, were missing. The shopkeepers have demanded compensation for the loss suffered by them at the hands of the officials of the civic body. They alleged that no case had been registered against the clerk due to pressure on the police from senior officials of the district administration. Mr Amrit Lal was not available for comments. Meanwhile, chaos prevailed in the markets of the town as the stalls put up by the shopkeepers in parking areas led to blockade in smooth flow of traffic. Vehicles in markets of Phase 3B 2, 4, 5 and 7 were parked on the main roads, with the traffic police having a hard time to regulate the traffic. The security in the town was beefed up in the evening following the blast at Bathinda. |
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Overcharging by MCC men alleged CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is inquiring into the allegations levelled by shopkeepers of Colony No 4 regarding overcharging by their employees on the eve of Divali. Certain shopkeepers of the colony have alleged that three employees of the corporation, who came to their area to cut receipts day before for putting cracker stalls, had charged more than the amount mentioned by them on the receipts given to them. Hari Prashad, one of the shopkeepers, said that the employee charged him Rs 750 even as he issued him a receipt for Rs 600. Similar were the complaints of Parveen Kumar and Shyma Lal, who were issued receipts for Rs 300 but were charged more. The shopkeepers of the area raised some hue and cry under Mr Hari Shankar Mishra, a local colony leader, to protest against overcharging which called for the intervention of an MCC official. The official, who went to the spot, assured the shopkeepers that their allegations would be looked into thoroughly and if found correct, action would be initiated against the erring employees. The issue would be taken up once the offices open on Monday, he added. The official, when contacted, observed that often such allegations were baseless for many a time they did so only because they did not want to pay money to the authorities for using the place. |
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