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| Sunday,
January 19, 2003, Chandigarh, India |
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No
vehicles to ply in town today Panchkula, January 18 The administration has also closed all business establishments, shops and banks have been closed for
tomorrow. The order says that vehicles used for emergency like ambulances, vehicles carrying milk, water tankers, electricity and telephone staff, sick and disabled persons- no other citizen will be allowed to go on the roads. This is for the first time in any civic elections that such instructions have been passed. The permits issued to the candidates for two vehicles each, will be used by candidates alone and not for taking voters to the polling booths. The order will have a direct impact on voter turnout in the MC poll tomorrow. A large number of senior citizens amongst the electorate will not be able to reach the polling booths on foot and thus exercise their franchise. It is also worthwhile to mention that the media has also not been issued any permits for moving about in the township. The top brass of the administration preferred to avoid the press on this issue, while the Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mr Om Prakash, after being pushed to the wall by the media, relented later and said two vehicles had been arranged to take the mediapersons around. In spite of repeated requests made to the administration regarding issuing of permits over the past two days, the scribes were told that these were not required. It was in the evening that such inhibitory orders were passed. It was only when the matter was brought to the notice of the State Election Commissioner, Mr T.D. Jogpal, that he directed the Chief Election Officer to allow free movement to mediapersons carrying
accreditation or identity cards. |
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Lull before the poll in Panchkula Panchkula, January 18 The colourful campaigning, which had reached a frenzy over the past three days, gave way today to indirect campaigning by way of distributing votes in various houses by candidates or by campaigning on telephone. In Ward No 5, Mrs Saroj Rana, an INLD-supported candidate, said that she jumped in the fray at the instance of residents of the Sector 8, who she claimed, thought of her as an appropriate representative. A housewife, she was involved in social service and has always had leanings towards a political career. Mrs Rana said that she intended to make her ward clean and green. “I will fight for the removal of congress grass and ensure that stray animal menace is solved in the ward, “she said. Other than this, the community centre and Dispensary here will be upgraded, she adds. Mr Sunil Talwar, an Independent candidate from Ward No 14, said that he would ensure for the overall development of the ward. He promised better roads, sanitation, potable water and finding a solution to stray cattle menace. Mr Talwar said that he was getting a positive response from people and had completed door-to-door campaigning at least three times. He said with yesterday being the last day of campaigning, today he made personal contact with voters over the telephone. Mr
B.B. Singhal, BJP candidate in Ward No 11, has said that he would work to ensure that his ward would become a model ward in the township. He assured that the recarpetting of roads would be done, problem of stray cattle would be solved, abolition of fire tax and rationalisation of other taxes imposed by Municipal Council. |
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Poisoning
case: girl dies at GMCH Chandigarh, January 18 Parents of the children, Ravinder and Sapna, had committed suicide at their single room accommodation in Burail yesterday after giving milk laced with poison to their kids. The condition of the girl, Sushma, was critical since yesterday. A police official said investigations carried out so far had corroborated the theory that the parents ended their lives in a suicide pact and had given poison to their children. Since no suicide note has been found, the exact cause of the suicide remains a mystery. The police was corresponding with the district administration regarding the adoption of the two surviving wards of the family. Two close relatives of the family had come forward to adopt the children. However, the police was not ruling out the possibility of the children being sent to a home for
destitutes. |
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PU decides to have 60-plus DUI Chandigarh, January 18 The Syndicate also
accepted the proposal of doing away with the last date for acceptance of examination forms. The change applies to all examinations of the university teaching departments and affiliated colleges. Earlier, December 15 was the last date for accepting examination forms on the payment of a late fee. The university will now charge a late fee of Rs 1,500 in each case. The decision is likely to benefit scores of students whose previous results were declared late due to various reasons as a result of which they could not fill their examination forms in time. The university has also confirmed admission of six students who did not fulfill the requirement of minimum 50 per cent marks at the plus-two level before joining courses at the University Institute of Engineering and Technology. A university note said that the university had not
specified the condition in the admission brochure. The university has decided to declare results of students who had cleared their plus-two compartment examinations in a special chance given by the Punjab School Education Board. They were currently enrolled in the first year courses in colleges affiliated to the university. The house also appointed a committee to appoint various statutory committees of the university. |
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Their only daughter has hole in heart Chandigarh, January 18 Her father, 40-year-old Mr Satnam Singh, a vegetable vendor, and his wife Ms Usha, cannot even think of raising Rs 2 lakh required for the surgery. “I have already lost my two minor sons and, with Isha suffering from a serious heart ailment, I shudder to think what will happen next,” says Ms Usha, with tears rolling down her face. With each passing day, the little bubbly girl, who hopes to celebrate her birthday on February 27, feels weaker, as even brisk walking causes palpitation. “Now, I do not even feel like playing with my friends, as every time I try to run, I feel weak in the knees and fall down, hurting myself badly,” says
Isha, unable to understand why all this is happening to her. The family lives in Sector 55 here. “Isha had some neonatal problems after she was born through caesarean, but, after that, she had been doing well and having regular check-ups,” says Ms Usha. The problem was detected after a team of doctors of General Hospital came for check-ups to Green Jyoti Model School, where Isha is studying in Class-II. “Our worst fears came true when doctors at the Cardiology Department confirmed that Isha had a hole in her heart. Within a few days, they also said she would even require valve replacement,” says Mr Satnam Singh. The couple is barely able to make ends meet and has already spent a lot on Satnam’s treatment, whose hand injury is not healing up, as he is diabetic. While doctors say that the surgery will cost Rs 1.55 lakh, Isha’s valve replacement will further increase the
expenditure. Isha’s parents have approached their councillor and other organisations for help. The doctors have told
Isha’ family to arrange the money at the earliest, so that, there is no further delay in the surgery. Now, only liberal donations can help the couple save its only child. Persons wanting to help may contact the PGI Public Relation Office at telephone number
747585- 6003. |
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Teenaged
girl crushed to death Panchkula, January 18 According to information available, the victims were going on a Scooty (CH-01C-9438) when a truck ( HR-37A- 8185) hit the Scooty from behind. The two riders fell down and the truck ran over the abdomen of the girl. Her mother also received serious injuries. Both women were not wearing any helmets. A large number of people gathered at the spot and efforts were made to revive the girl. The truck driver, too, stopped and later people did not allow him to escape. The police control vehicle at the spot also rushed there and the driver was arrested. The mother of the victim was taken away to one of her relative’s house in Sector 11. Later, an FIR was registered under Sections 304-A and 279 of the IPC against the truck driver. |
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‘India’s most wanted’ in city cops’ custody Chandigarh, January 18 On getting information about the gangster being, the gangster in the city a police party from Uttar Pradesh today secured a production warrant from a court in Uttar Pradesh. Sources in the UP Police said that Nazim would be taken on the production warrant to UP in February next. The sources said Nazim came in contact with three dreaded criminals from time to time and raised gangs which were involved in cases of murders, extortion from parking contractors and tourist agencies, grabbing disputed properties and rioting. Several cases against Nazim and his associates had gone unreported as the victims feared elimination. Sources in the Delhi and Uttaranchal police did not rule out the possibility of the gangster being having relations with the underworld. The gangster was wanted in 20 cases of murder, 11 of attempt to murder, 11 cases had been registered against him under the Arms Act, apart from several cases of rioting, extortion and burglaries. An official of Uttaranchal Police said in 1995, when Nazim was 25 years of age, a history sheet of Nazim was opened at Jawalapur Police Station. Since then Nazim never ‘looked back’. After that he developed relations with a dreaded gangster of Muzaffarnagar, Kalia, and raised a gang comprising Harish Chander Gardia, Jeetinder Bhoori, Hali, Naushad, Shalinder, Kankhel, Jasbant. At present, Jasbant was keeping himself away from the criminal activities. The two other members, Naushad and Shalinder were in Jail. Several cases of extortion had been booked against the gang members. While some cases were pending in various courts, other cases had ended after witnesses withdrew their statements. Earlier the gangster was arrested in a joint operation by the Rishikesh and Chandigarh police in Mani Majra in February last. However, he was granted bail by a local court after furnishing a bond of Rs 30,000 with one local surety by the UT Additional Sessions Judge. The accused was booked under cheating and Arms Act. He had been working for the notorious Pratap Singh gang and carried a reward of Rs. 50,000 on his head. The gangster claimed that he was innocent and had not committed any offence and had been falsely implicated in the several cases. He claimed that due to rivalry between two groups he feared elimination at hands of the Uttar Pardesh police in a fake encounter. |
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PUDA fails to
implement ban on park use SAS Nagar, January 18 Although for a few months residents had by and large avoided using parks for marriages and other private functions for the fear of being penalised, but for the past about three months there have been increasing violations. A number of residents have been landing up at PUDA’s office in Phase I with applications for permission to use parks for private functions. Strangely, PUDA officials accept these applications instead of saying no to them at that very point. The officials, however, are clever enough not to give any clearance in writing and the applicants just go ahead with their functions and that, too, without any payment of fees. The result is there for all to see: serious harm to the town’s beauty and environment. In April last year, after a meeting of PUDA and MC officials, it was decided that residents would not be allowed to use parks for private functions. Thereafter, an exercise was started by PUDA officials to lock the main gates of some parks to prevent the moving in of ‘shamianas’ and other things used for holding of functions. Later, PUDA had earmarked alternative lesser-developed sites in various sectors where residents could hold functions. But such sites were rarely used by residents. In a number of cases, residents even broke the locks that had been put on the gates of parks by PUDA. However, with the passage of time the ban orders remained merely on paper. A tent-house owner said on condition of anonymity that at present there was no ban on the use of parks for private functions. “Let us know when you want to hold a function and we’ll arrange everything. There’s no need to get tense as no PUDA official will interfere in the function,” he told a customer reassuringly. Mr N.K. Marwaha, councillor and former senior vice-president of the civic body, said PUDA’s ban was welcome, but unfortunately it was not being implemented. PUDA had no deterrent measures in hand and so far not a single offender had been penalised. He regretted that people who used parks for functions not only damaged the green cover, but did not even clean up the area. The beauty of the parks could only be maintained if the PUDA authorities took stringent action against the offenders. Ms Manmohan Kaur, another councillor, however, criticised PUDA for imposing such a ban saying the number of community centres for holding functions in the town was inadequate and the charges for use were exorbitant. People were reluctant to book a community centre for a small function. In fact, she felt, PUDA should freely allow the use of parks for private functions after charging maintenance fee from users. The Additional Chief Administrator of PUDA here, Mr Yashvir Mahajan, said the ban was not aimed at harassing the public, but to maintain the beauty of the town. During the holding of such functions in parks, damage was caused to the greenery and the areas were littered. He said he could not launch criminal prosecution against the offenders but would take strict action in the case of flouting of the ban. He said he was not aware of violations. He said the ban still stood, but he would review the situation after receiving a report from PUDA field staff. |
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Cold claims 2 more lives
Chandigarh, January 18 Mercury in Chandigarh dipped to 2.4°C while Ambala groaned at 2.2°C, the meteorological office said today. Hisar recorded a low of 4.6°C, Ludhiana was the coldest in Punjab. Amritsar and Patiala registered 2°C and 2.1°C respectively. Srinagar reeled under intense cold as mercury slid to minus 1°C and Jammu recorded a low of 6.5°C. Bhuntar and Sundernagar in Himachal Pradesh also recorded cold nights, recording lows of 2.2°C, and 1.6°C, respectively. Shimla registered a low of 8.5°C up by seven degrees. Indian Airlines and Jet Airways cancelled their flights to Goa and Mumbai till tomorrow. Rail schedules were also adversely affected due to fog. Most trains coming from Delhi were delayed by several hours. The meteorological office forecast rain or snow at isolated place in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh while dry weather was predicted for Punjab and Haryana during the next two days. JALANDHAR: The police on Saturday recovered an unidentified body on a pavement at New Rajinder Nagar here. Medical experts cited that the person, suspected to be a beggar, could have died due to severe chill. The body was sent for post-mortem examination. JAMMU: One person died due to severe cold wave conditions on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway at Saniwa on Saturday. Thick fog forced the cancellation of Jammu-bound flights from Delhi and Srinagar, sources said. Rail traffic was also affected. Schools started functioning from 10.30 a.m. on the state government’s direction.
PTI |
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Cold wave unabated Chandigarh, January 18 Mercury in Chandigarh dipped to 2.4°C while Ambala groaned at 2.2°C, the meteorological office said today. Hisar recorded a low of 4.6°C, Ludhiana was the coldest in Punjab. Amritsar and Patiala registered 2°C and 2.1°C respectively. Srinagar reeled under intense cold as mercury slid to minus 1°C and Jammu recorded a low of 6.5°C. Bhuntar and Sundernagar in Himachal Pradesh also recorded cold nights, recording lows of 2.2°C, and 1.6°C, respectively. Indian Airlines and Jet Airways cancelled their flights to Goa and Mumbai till tomorrow. Rail schedules were also adversely affected due to fog. Most trains coming from Delhi were delayed by several hours.
PTI |
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Artificial
limbs for 50 poor patients Chandigarh, January 18 Mr Hemant K. Arora, District Governor of Rotary 3080, visited the Nevedac Prosthetic Centre at Zirakpur today in connection with the project. Under the project, 18 poor and disabled persons have already been fitted with artificial limbs, donated through the Jyot Charitable Trust. Mr Arora praised the efforts made for providing artificial limbs to poor patients and said Rotary would continue to come up with more projects for helping the needy. He interacted with patients who had benefited from the project and reviewed their performance at work. Later, he visited the night school at Saranagpur, that is being run by the Rotary Club Chandigarh Midtown. More than 30 children working in brick kilns are studying in the school. Some of them have quit working and joined regular school. The club meeting in the evening was attended by not only local Rotarians but also club members from the USA and Australia. |
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BJP leader takes up
fake I-card issue Panchkula, January 18 Dr Vardhan, who arrived here today, met the State Election Commissioner in Chandigarh and asked him to ensure that the voters who were issued identity cards after the notification for Panchkula Municipal Council elections, were not allowed to cast votes. He was accompanied by other senior leaders from the state unit of the BJP. Talking to mediapersons, he said these fake voters I-cards could swing the results of the elections in favour of candidates supported by the ruling party and it would be unfair to the voters who would be unable to exercise their franchise. |
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Verka pouch
found ‘underweight’ Chandigarh, January 18 Mr Ashok Kumar, a grocery trader, claimed that he had purchased the pouch and got suspicious about its weight while he was carrying it home. He got the pouch weighed at another shop with the help of an electronic balance which showed the weight at 400 ml. He further said that this was his second such experience of getting an underweight milk
pouch of the same brand. The company officials, however, have denied allegations, saying that the company was committed to provide quality products to the customers. There might be something fishy in between, the officials added. |
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Club membership Chandigarh, January 18 He said the members would enjoy food and drinks in peaceful rural environment. The building of the club, he said, was likely to be completed by April this year. In the first phase, facilities like bar and restaurant, discotheque, card room, tambola, children park, banquet hall, billiards room and residential huts would be made available to the members. |
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Woman booked in cheating case Chandigarh, January 18 The complainant has accused the woman of duping him of Rs 1.05 lakh, promising a job for him. She got the money in advance but did not arrange the job. Dowry:
Dharminder, s/o Sant Ram of Teera village Ropar district has been booked by the local police of Sector 31 U/S 498A of the IPC on the charge of demanding dowry. The case has been registered against him on the complaint of his wife Seema of Ram Darbar. Stolen:
Raman Bhardwaj of Phase-II, Saini Vihar, Baltana (Punjab) has reported that someone had stolen his Bajaj Chetak Scooter No. CH-03-8233 (T) from Sector 20-C market. A case U/S 379 of the IPC has been registered in the police station of Sector 19. Arrested:
The local police has arrested Sanjeev Kumar of Model Town, Ambala cantonment, from Sector 11 for satta/gambling and recovered Rs 300/- from his possession. A case U/S 13A, 3, 67 of the Gambling Act has been registered in the police station of Sector 11. Liquor seized:
The UT police has arrested Rajbir Singh of Palsora Colony and Algu Shah of Hallo Majra village and recovered 30 pouches of Hero whisky from their possession, respectively. Two separate cases U/S 61,1,14 of the Excise Act have been registered against them. One booked:
The police has booked M.K. Sharma, a resident of Carrier Development, 701, Chiranjiv Tower, 43 Nehru Place, New Delhi, under Section 420 of the IPC on the complaint of Mr Ram Kumar, resident of House No. 1170, Sector-15. The complainant has alleged that M.K. Sharma had taken Rs 18 lakh from him in five instalments assuring a seat for his daughter in the MBBS course. However, he did not arrange the seat in the course for his daughter even after taking the full payment. |
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Delhi lawyer
‘assaulted’ in Sector 17 Chandigarh, January 18 The advocate, Mr Hardev Chadha, in a written complaint to the Chandigarh Police, said that he had gone to SCO 44, Sector 17, to serve summons in a case of cheating and forgery on Mr M.L. Goel, Mr Arun Kumar, Mr Arun Goel and Mr Ashok Goel. The advocate said he got the summons entered with the nazir at local courts and went along with process server, Harmohinder, to serve the summons to the defendants. In his statement, the victim claimed that he was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon. A medical examination of the victim was done at the Sector 16 General Hospital. The advocate claimed that the police was not registering a case against the shopkeeper despite the injuries suffered by him. |
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