The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Red alert sounded in city
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — Admitting threat by terrorist outfits, the Chandigarh police today sounded red alert in the city. It will continue till the Republic Day celebrations end. The police has also asked hospital authorities to remain attentive for meeting any eventuality during the Republic Day celebrations. The doctors-on-duty at the Sector 26 Police Hospital were also alerted.

A decision to station ambulances at the venues, besides deploying 700 personnel including nine DSPs and 20 Inspectors, at ‘sensitive points’ on January 26 was also taken during a high-level meeting reportedly held at the Sector 9 police headquarters.

Security has been further beefed up around 28 venues, where the flag is to be unfurled. This, according to sources in the Police Department, was in addition to the security arrangement in the Sector 17 Parade Ground.

Eight observation points were also set up around the Parade Ground. Besides this, cops were stationed on the roof tops of adjoining buildings for surveillance. A special contingent was also kept in reserve.

Giving details of the security arrangements, the Senior Superintendent of Chandigarh police, Mr Parag Jain, claimed that outer nakas had been activated and vehicles entering and leaving the city were being checked for the past 20 days now.

Claiming to be in constant touch with intelligence agencies and senior police officials in the adjoining states, the SSP said anti-sabotage checks were being carried out in the city with the help of a sniffer dog.

He added that mounted police was also being used for patrolling and the cops were keeping a vigil on the exit routes. The parking lots were also being checked for abandoned vehicles.

Expressing satisfaction over the security arrangements during the full-dress rehearsal carried out earlier during the day, the SSP added, ‘‘We are not taking any chances’’.

The Chandigarh police, it may be recalled, has already sounded an alert in the city. Travellers at the Sector 17 Inter-State Bus Terminus are being warned against touching suspicious and unclaimed objects, including bags and wallets. Shopping crowd has also being asked to remain cautious.

A special 70-member team, under the supervision of the UT SP, Mr Baldev Singh, has been formed and the antecedents of ‘fresh settlers’ is being verified to prevent militants from striking roots in the city.

Traffic diversions for R-Day
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — The road stretch from Sector 16-17-22-23 roundabout to the small rotary opposite Gurdial petrol pump in Sector 22 will remain closed for general public on January 26 from 7 a.m. till the function concludes.

Besides this, the stretch from Sector 16 and 17 crossing to the Sector 16-17-22-23 roundabout, along with the stretch extending from the traffic lights opposite Lyon's restaurant till the Parade Ground will also remain closed for the same period.

Parking will not be permitted in front of the shops in Sector 22-A from 7 a.m. till the end of R Day function. General public will be allowed to park their vehicles adjacent to the Blood Diseases Hospital, behind Neelam Cinema, besides in the parking lot of the football stadium and in the circus ground.

Buses entering the city from Haryana, Punjab, Himachal and other places shall be diverted towards the Inter-State Bus Terminus from Bajwara Chowk and the Piccadilly chowk.

For the "At Home" function at the Punjab Raj Bhavan, the road stretch from the roundabout of Sector 5, 6, 7 and 8 upto "T-point" near the Golf Club and from the "T-point" near the Raj Bhavan towards the UT Advisor's residence will remain closed to the general public from 2 p.m. till the function concludes.

The invitees with "pink car parking labels" would be permitted to park their vehicles in the rear of the Advisor's residence. Senior citizens driving cars with "pink car parking labels" would be allowed to park in the area near the mini zoo.

Invitees with the "green car parking label" have been advised to used the road from the turn of Sector 7 and 8 for parking their vehicles in the area adjacent to the Advisor's residence. Golf club members have been asked to drive down the road from the SGGS college side.

Just one metal detector?
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — With Republic Day round the corner, security loopholes at the local district courts have not been plugged, though it is adjacent to the Parade Ground.

The only security measure undertaken by the Chandigarh police is the installation of a metal detector at one of the gates. There are 19 courts in the complex, but there is only one metal detector at the one of the entrance gates and another at the court of the District and Sessions Judge. A senior police official claims that the security arrangements in and around Parade Ground and in the district courts are good enough.

Thieves rob 3 houses in 2 hrs
Saketri’s night of terror
By Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Jan 24 — In a daring attempt, five youths burgled three houses in about two hours’ time last night at Manav colony in Saketri village, spreading fear and panic among the residents who the blamed the inadequate security arrangements for ‘‘two hours of terror’’.

the dog squad was called in the morning and led the police party till Indira colony in Sector 16 after which the dogs lost trail of the culprits, raising suspicion that the thieves were residents of the colony. Police sources said a recee to identify the culprits was carried out and some of them had been rounded up for questioning.

Meanwhile, recalling the ‘‘reign of fear'' in the colony where 500 persons stay, nightwatchman Ram Singh, the first target of the gang members,aged between 21 and 26 years,said,‘‘I was sleeping when all of them pounced on me. I was shocked and my little son, sleeping by my side me, started to cry. After pacifying him, they tied up the hands of the other family members and quickly rummaged through my trunks. Finding very little in my room and the house I keep watch over, they asked me to accompany them to the houses of the wealthy families in the vicinity.''

Adding that the ‘‘boys'' were armed with lathis, while one carried a country-made revolver, Ram Singh said his hands were tied behind his back and he was taken to a small bridge nearby where 15 more persons waiting.

Being hard of hearing, he could not make head or tail of what they said but he was led to the first house in the area. ‘‘They pushed me over the wall and asked me to call out to the owner. I obeyed as they held a revolver to my head’’, he contended.

At the second victim, Mr Sadanand's house, the gang ransacked the entire house after tying up the hands of the four family members.‘‘They took my wife's and daughter's earnings and the small silver ornaments lying inside and Rs 1,200 in cash. They threatened us with dire consequences if we raised an alarm but assured us that no harm would come if we let them take away all they wanted. We sat huddled together till the time they left the area’’,Mr Sadanand said.

After locking the family members in one room, they asked Mr Sadanand to accompany them to Mr Amarjeet's house in the neighbourhood.‘‘One thief scaled the wall, entered the courtyard and called out to Amarjeet,'' he said.

‘‘On replying, I was told that Sadanand had come outside and on hearing his voice, I became relaxed and came out to find what had brought him by at around 1:45 am. Taken by surprise at the entry of five men, my family woke up with a start. Once inside, it was the same story as they ransacked cupboards and suitcases and took away all that was there,'' Mr Amarjeet said while narrating the details of the incident.

The victims said the thieves tried to take away two cycles and a scooter as well but were unsuccessful as they failed to start the scooter and some neighbours woke up in the meantime. Sensing trouble they fled from the scene.

The villagers informed that on many occasion they had spotted unidentified men and boys at the bridge, consuming liquor and creating a ruckus in the face of few checks.‘ ‘Consequently, we close our doors at around 9 pm to ward off trouble. Though patrolling is carried out in the area, there is no impact since the rounds are few and far between,'' the three victims said in unison.

* There is only one police post with 16 police personnel catering to the entire Mansa Devi complex area and Saketri village which has a population of nearly 8,000.

* the police post does not have a telephone, making communication between residents and police impossible in the time of need.

Berserk bull injures 4-year-old boy
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — A four-year-old boy sustained serious injuries after being attacked by a bull, while five others were hospitalised following accidents.

Elsewhere in the city, a Bapu Dham colony resident was allegedly beaten up before her gold ornaments and cash were reportedly taken away. Two persons were also arrested for carrying liquor. Besides this, a theft of a car was reported to the police.

Santosh of Colony Number 5 was admitted to the PGI after being tossed by the berserk bull. Sources in the Police Department added the boy was being kept under observation for 24 hours.

Lal Bhadur, admitted to the Sector 16 General Hospital after being hit by a truck, was referred to the PGI. His condition was reported to be stable, said doctors-on-duty.

Renu Kaul (38) sustained injuries after the scooter she was riding skidded in front of the Durga Nursery. She was admitted to the GMCH.

Rajinder Singh and Jagtar Singh of Ropar district were admitted to the Sector 16 General Hospital. The sources said the scooter they were riding was hit by a car on the road dividing Sectors 18 and 21 late in the evening today.

In her complaint before the police, Pinky of Bapu Dham alleged that she was thrashed by Kaku of the same colony. The accused, she alleged, entered her house and after assaulting her decamped with gold ornaments and cash. The police has registered a case under Sections 380 and 323, IPC.

Muna Ram of Uttar Pradesh and Ashwani Kumar of Ropar district were booked under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act after liquor pouches were allegedly recovered from their possession.

Mr I.M. Sharma of Sector 15 said his Maruti car was stolen while it was parked in front his residence. A case of theft under Section 379, IPC, has been registered.

Move to evict migrants
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — The three community centres in Sectors 20, 29 and 40, occupied by Kashmiri migrants for the past many years, will soon be vacated. An intimation to this effect has been received by the MC Commissioner, Mr M.P. Singh, from the UT Deputy Commissioner, Mr M. Ramsekhar.

A former Mayor, Ms Shanta Hitabhilashi, had sought, vide a letter dated December 26, 2000, vacation of the centres so that these could be put to proper use. The centres had been occupied by these migrants much before these were handed over to the MC after its formation in 1996. The issue was subsequently discussed at the senior officers’ conference under the chairmanship of the Adviser, wherein a decision to vacate these was taken.

The DC pointed out in the letter that the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) had issued allotment letters to the migrants living in these centres, who were required to submit documents regarding hire purchase tenancy agreement and advance monthly installment and lease money by January 21. The possession of the dwelling units would be handed over to them after that, the letter added.

According to sources in the CHB, most of the families had deposited the amount and had given a written undertaking to abide by the mode of payment for the same by the due date. The possession of the dwelling units — LIG houses in Indira Colony, Mani Majra — would be given to them shortly. Following scrutiny of documents, discrepancies were found in some cases.

An official said the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen (retd) J.F.R. Jacob, following a visit to these centres, had directed that the centres be vacated and these families be rehabilitated in the vacant houses of the CHB in Indira Colony. The initial cost worked out for these houses was found to be high, but subsequently the authorities worked out fresh costs, foregoing interest and profit, to make rehabilitation of displaced families easier.

Route to railway station bumpy?
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — The Chandigarh Administration has decided that an alternative route to the railway station which snakes through the crowded Industrial Area, phase I, will now be the main route. By the end of March the existing main access from the Chandigarh - Panchkula road traffic lights to reach the station will be closed down. However, the option to go all the way to the traffic lights at the housing board chowk at Panchkula and then take a ‘U’ turn towards the station will be available.

The decision has been taken to ease a traffic bottle neck at the railway station traffic lights, says the UT Finance Secretary-cum-Secretary Engineering, Mr Rakesh Singh. This will also ensure free flow of traffic between the much clogged Chandigarh-Panchkula road, he added.

However, despite all this the move can backfire as the road which is being proposed to take the additional load does not have the width to carry so many vehicles to the railway station and may lead to another bottleneck.

Even the ongoing widening process may not help as the volume of traffic comprising cars, two-wheelers, buses, trucks, autorickshaws and carts may lead to traffic jams. And this will go up manifold once the other road is closed.

A problem will arise during peak hours, especially around 10 a.m. when people, rushing to the railway station to pick up friends or relatives arriving by the Shatabdi or the Himalayan Queen, will have to ‘encounter’ those heading for the Industrial Area for various kinds of work and also to other places.

workshops of the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU), located along this route, will also add to the traffic problems.

Also located along the same road are showrooms of major car companies.

The same narrow road will also be used by trucks which come to the station to pick up material from goods trains. About 5 goods trains come to Chandigarh daily. The CTU buses which go to the station to drop passengers will also use the same route.

The same road will be used by thousands of residents of Raipur Kalan and Darua villages located just ahead of the railway station.

While coming back from the station drivers will be allowed to join the Chandigarh-Panchkula road by turning left. This means, say authorities, that the traffic will be one way.

residents of the Modern Housing Complex, Mani Majra, will be the worst hit as they will have to take a much longer route despite being the located nearest to the railway station.

Complainant lands in the soup
by Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — Apprehension of an employee, who had allegedly decamped with Rs 10 lakh belonging to a local trader, has led to the detection of concealment of income totalling several crores of rupees.

Alerted by newspaper reports about the employee disappearing with Rs 10 lakh in cash, the Investigation Cell of the Income Tax Department laid its siege to the premises of the Manimajra-based sanitary ware dealer. And after two days of search and sealing of six godowns, including one at Zirakpur in Punjab, the cell took into possession several incriminating documents indicating large-scale evasion of income tax.

When contacted, the Director of the Investigation Cell, Mr C.K. Vohra, refused to comment, maintaining that the search was continuing. He, however, confirmed that six godowns belonging to the dealer had been sealed and an inventory was being prepared. Mr Vohra said that several incriminating documents, including diaries, had been seized by the investigating team.

It all started some days ago when the sanitary ware dealer reported to the police that one of his employees had disappeared with Rs 10 lakh. The money was given to him for depositing in the bank.

The employee was later apprehended. In his statement to the income tax sleuths, he reportedly disclosed that he had been regularly making large cash payments on behalf of his employer.

It was further revealed that against the accepted norms of making payments through cheques, this Manimajra dealer had been making purchases from big suppliers in Mumbai, Baroda and other places in cash.

The dealer owns all four floors of a showroom at Manimajra and is perhaps the biggest sanitary ware dealer in the area, the income tax officials said.

The tax sleuths also laid a trap and took into custody for questioning his accountant living at Ambala. He was caught before he could leave his house early in the morning on a tour of Punjab to make cash collections as the investigation team had laid siege to his house. Mondays being closed days at Manimajra, this accountant would go on a cash collection tour to Punjab on that day. The investigators recovered from his possession several diaries and other documents pertaining to supplies and payments.

The accountant also reportedly recorded his statement with the investigators.

Sanitary ware, which was purchased on cash payment, was stored in six different godowns, including the one at Zirakpur. The supplies to Punjab dealers were made from the Zirakpur godown probably with the intention to evade sales tax. All these godowns have been sealed.

Sources reveal that in this case the detection of undisclosed income ran into crores of rupees as hardly any business transaction was being done through the approved instruments of financial transactions, i.e. cheques, drafts or bankers’ cheques. Instead, all transactions were done in cash without reflecting the actual quantum of trade in the account books.

Only a limited number of entries were being made to pay nominal income tax annually.

Sources said that further investigations in the case might extend to other parties having direct cash transactions with this sanitary ware dealer. The search was continuing until this evening.

Puri’s secy’s promotion undone
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — The out-of-turn promotion given to the personal secretary to the former Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, Prof M.M. Puri, has been struck down by the special committee studying the issue.

Mr Devinder Marwaha who was the personnel secretary to Prof Puri was a senior assistant. He was promoted as Administration Officer. Professor Puri also bracketed him in the grade of assistant registrar.

The committee noticed that the out of turn promotion happened only a couple of days before the VC was to quit his office following a change ordered by the Chancellor. Reliable sources said the 'special benefit ' endowed on Mr Marwaha was affecting nearly 200 personnel.

The promotion of Mr Marwaha came before the Syndicate following a spate of protests over the appointment. The university was asked to review the decision. Mr Marwaha was meanwhile shifted to the Regional Resource Centre with the change in the VC's office.

Opposition in the Syndicate did not confirm Mr Marwaha in the new post. A committee was constituted to pursue the case amidst many voices of opposition to the change ordered by the VC during his ' last hours in the office'.

A senior fellow said: " Probably there was hope that the VC would continue in office for another term, so, nothing happened earlier. The announced change came in as a surprise leading to last moment decisions This seemed the only reason for the last moment decision for Mr Marwaha's promotion which looked 'surprising'.

The committee constituted to examine the case included the Dean University Instructions, the Registrar, Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh, Dr R.D.Anand, Mr GK.Chatrath, the DPI( UT) and DPI( Punjab).

The decision of the committee has to be cleared by the DUI and the VC before it is tabled again in the Syndicate.

It is pointed out that the post of secretary to the VC was co-terminus with the post of the VC. Following his retirement Mr Marwaha should have been sent back to the parent cadre. The out of turn promotion had affected a large section of employees waiting on the list for promotion.

The term of Prof Puri refuses to bury its tales months after his tenure. Several of his appointments have not been cleared. More than a dozen were shown exit doors mid-way saying they were retirees and not needed.

The decision of not allowing the promotion needs the nod of the Syndicate either way for a final decision.

GCM overrules Bhatnagar’s plea
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — With the general court martial overruling Maj Maneesh Bhatnagar’s special plea challenging the jurisdiction of the court today, the accused officer raised a plea seeking a bar on the trial.

The accused officer raised the “plea in bar” when the charge sheet was read out to him and he was asked by the GCM’s presiding officer, Col Vinod Malik, if he pleaded “guilty” or “not guilty” to the charges levelled against him. He has been charged under Sections 41 and 63 of the Army Act for wilfully disobeying lawful command and acts prejudicial to good order and discipline while in active service.

Major Bhatnagar also demanded that certain documents in support of his defence, including the tentative charge sheet and summary of evidence recorded by Col G.S. Ranawat, be made available to him along with the directives of the appropriate authorities on these proceedings. According to Major Bhatnagar, an SOE was recorded by Colonel Ranawat when he was attached to his unit in the Northern sector before duplicate proceedings were initiated in N-Area here.

The prosecution, while stating that the accused had a right to raise plea in bar, contended that under the Indian Evidence Act the onus lay on the person raising the plea to produce the evidence. The prosecution stated that if the defence could not produce evidence from its possession, the plea should be dismissed.

Major Bhatnagar argued that these documents, which he claimed to be vital for his defence, were in the possession of the GCM’s convening authority, certain officers and at the headquarters of some formations and that he had requested them through several letters written to the Commander, N-Area since May, 2000.

He alleged that he was told “off the record” by the commander that these documents would not be made available to him and that he had to send written correspondence to the commander through registered post after he refused to accept his letters.

He contended that he had made requests for the documents repeatedly during the pre-trial proceedings. He added that he had also made his request before the GCM while raising the plea to jurisdiction, but the plea had been rejected without giving him a chance to lead evidence.

COMMUNITY

Housing society head’s clarification
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Jan 24 — In connection with the case of the alleged involvement of a former president of the SCL Employees Cooperative House Building Society, Amritpal Singh in withdrawing a sum of Rs 43 lakh from the account of the society, the former president yesterday said the amount had been withdrawn as per the rules.

He stated that after the expiry of the tenure of the earlier society, the Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Patiala, had appointed an administrator on June 26, 2000. But this information was communicated to the society on July 9. Before the order came a sum of Rs 20 lakh was withdrawn on July 5 from the society fund to clear due payments. He said : “As the administrator did not show up re-elections were held and the managing committee was constituted. I being a member of the managing committee of the earlier body of the society kept on looking after its affairs and withdrew Rs 23 lakh on the permission of the Assistant Registrar, Ropar”.

But on November 24 and November 30 last, three members of the new managing committee were removed from their membership by the Deputy Registrar, Ropar. He claimed that allegations had been levelled by the members of the minority group out of frustration.

Community centres to maintain separate accounts
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — The accounts of the membership fee collected in various community centres of the Municipal Corporation will now be maintained separately. A directive to this effect has been issued by the Chief Accounts Officer. Besides, it has also been decided to give proficiency step up allowance to those CITCO employees, who came on deputation to MC. The directions to this effect have also been issued by the XEn ( Roads) following instructions from the Chief Engineer

The Chief Accounts Officer, Mr H.S Sood, has in a letter sent to the SE (B and R) specified that the community centre supervisors should maintain separate accounts of the membership fee and other collections. A decision to this effect was taken during a review meeting by the Municipal Commissioner in December last year.

The community centres have been in the news on account of various irregularities committed in the past. To tighten its noose over these centres, the MC had only last week issued directions as regards where the collections had to be deposited and how the records were to be maintained. Earlier, there were no such checks on the supervisors and no set procedure was being followed as regards depositing the money.

The grant of proficiency step up allowance to CITCO employees on deputation has solved a long pending demand of these workers. The Community Centres Workers Union has expressed gratitude to the officials of the corporation for looking into their long pending demand.

Jacob apprised of city problems
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — Two Congress councillors, Ms Kamlesh and Ms Suneeta, met the UT Administrator and Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen (retd) J.F.R. Jacob, today to discuss various public issues with him.

Ms Kamlesh, chairperson of the Slum Development Committee of the Municipal Corporation, said the Rs 7 crore annual grant from the Centre should be started again for development of slum areas in and around the city. Since no grant had been received for the last two years, the Administration should give some funds for the development of slums, she added. They pointed out that not much had been done to improve the condition of slums.

The councillors highlighted the poor condition of V3 roads in Bapu Dham Colony and Ram Darbar junction 39 road. They sought strengthening and recarpeting of these roads by the Administration. They also demanded a school for children living in Sector 52. They pointed out to the poor condition of government schools in Bapu Dham Colony, which has nearly 50,000 residents.

The Administrator directed UT Chief Engineer, Mr R.K. Jain, to look into the issues and take remedial measures at the earliest. The councillors also asked the Chief Engineer to improve the power situation in the colonies. They later highlighted the sewerage problem and bad condition of roads in Bapu Dham and Ram Darbar to MC Chief Engineer, Mr Puranjit Singh, who promised to visit these areas on February 7. The two councillors were not taken along when the Mayor and the Senior Deputy Mayor visited the Administrator on two occasions and they were upset about it.

CBI conducts raids
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — A special team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids in Chandigarh and Ludhiana today.

In Chandigarh, the CBI team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, K.N. Gupta raided both offices and residence of a local businessman. The raiding team took in possession the passport of the businessman. It also seized bank locker keys of the businessman.

According to sources, the raid was conducted in pursuance of a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act pertaining to a tender of Visakhapatnam Port Trust for handling and transportation of goods from the yard to the rail head.

The CBI team raided the Sectors 20 and 26 office premises of the businessman.

In Ludhiana, the CBI team raided the office and residence of a senior functionary of the dry port at Dhandari Kalan. The official concerned was earlier at Visakhapatnam.