Chandigarh, October 22
Marriage of a minor girl, one of five daughters of a poor widow, was today solemnised at a city temple.

The marriage took place as the minor girl Manju (not her real name) had fallen in love with an adult boy from Gujarat, Ankit (not real name). The girl’s mother, Gauri (not real name) a heart patient, feared that her daughter would elope as her two elder sisters had done (who were also minor).

A brother-in-law of the girl tried to stop the marriage by calling the police but it, too, took a sympathetic view when the situation of the family was explained to it.

The police, however, asked the family of the girl to get permission from a magistrate. Considering the condition of the woman, the neighbours supported her. Despite the marriage being illegal, the families tried to abide by the law saying they would send the girl to her husband’s house only after two years when the girl became an adult.

The temple priest, too, refused to issue a marriage certificate saying it would be sent along with the girl when she goes to Gujarat after attaining adulthood two years later.

The girl’s mother has been sustaining the family by working as a maid servant in different houses. She said the family of the boy was decent as they did not take any dowry. The mother of the boy was a lawyer in Patan in Gujarat.

The girl, when asked about her marriage, said she was happy that her boyfriend kept his promise and that she would join him after two years.

The boy and girl fell in love when they met at a wedding in the neighbourhood of the girl a few months back.

He narrated his love story to his mother, who then came from Gujarat to seek the hand of the poor woman’s daughter. The boy had come from Gujarat to see his sister who is a neighbour of the minor girl.

The mothers of the girl and the boy said that they had no option but to solemnise the marriage considering the love but respect for law had been maintained by deciding to send the girl to her in-laws’ family after she became an adult.

Surprisingly, two elder sisters of the girl had earlier been married while they were minors as they had eloped with their boyfriends while the father of the girls was alive. The family was shattered after the death of the father of the girls. The minor girl had two younger sisters.

The families claimed that there was no violation of the law as the husband and wife would not be allowed to live together.

As under legal provisions if the husband cohabits with his minor wife he could be charged with rape. He, however, also can not get his wife to his home if the family of the girl does not allow it. It is a marriage between lovers without legal sanctity, a person who attended the marriage said.

Chandigarh, October 22
Dasehra was celebrated in certain pockets of the city today, and a majority of religious organisations are celebrating the festival tomorrow.

The religious organisations owing allegiance to the Chandigarh Kendriya Ramlila Mahasabha will burn the effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhakarn — tomorrow. The main functions would be held at the Parade Ground, Sector 17, and Sector 46.

Residents interpreted date of Vijay Dashmi in their own ways. Mr Atam Ram Mishra, Principal of the Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Sector 47, claimed that according to the Benaras “jantris” there was no Dasehra “yog” after 10 am today.

However, Pandit Daya Ram Joshi of the Sanatan Dharam Mandir, Sector 46, asserted that the religious days were always counted from the “sunrise tithi”. Vijay Dashmi falls in the sunrise of October 23 and and not October 22 , which is “navami”, he added.

The Shree Ramlila Committee celebrated the festival in Sector 32 ground as the demon trio went up in flames. And hundreds of residents had to return disappointed when they thronged major venues to witness the end of the demon trio as the event was scheduled for tomorrow. A substantial number of city residents offered prayers at their home today to celebrate the festival marking the triumph of good over evil.

Moreover, the Shree Sanatan Dharam Dashera Committee, Sector 46, has made elaborate arrangements for celebrating the festival tomorrow.

Committee president Jatinder Bhatia, claimed that for the first time in the history of the city, a small aeroplanes had been requisitioned from the Aviation Club, Patiala, for showering flower petals on the occasion of entering of colourful “jhankis” in Sector 46. Procession of “jhankis” will start from the Sanatan Dharam Mandir, Sector 46, and cover Sectors 27, 48 and 49 before culminating at the Sector 46 ground.

The committee will also honour the widow of Brig B.S. Shergill, who made supreme sacrifice for the unity and integrity of the country by laying down his life in Jammu and Kashmir in 2000.

Panchkula, October 22
The festival of Dasehra was celebrated in the township with enthusiasm, and thousands of residents saw the symbol of evil being consigned to flames in Sector 5 grounds this evening.

Thousands of people had converged at the Dasehra Mela celebrations here in the evening. The Adarash Dramatic club presented scenes from the Ramayana, and the war between Lord Rama and Ravana was enacted before the audience.

Over 50 feet high effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnatha, were prepared and were consigned to the flames by the person who enacted the role of Vibhishana here. Mr Santosh Gupta, President of Vishwa Jagriti Mission, North India, was the chief guest, and Mr Bal Krishan Bansal, president of Aggarwal Sabha was the guest of honour.

After the celebrations, traffic snarls on all roads near Sector 5, were observed. It took almost one hour for the normal traffic to be restored. A number of children, who were separated from their parents because of the commotion, were later found by the cops and reunited with their families.

Dussehra was celebrated by the students of Nav Bal Niketan Public School, Sector 12-A, Panchkula in their school by presenting various cultural items like comedy skits, speeches, religious songs and folk dances. Students of primary classes came dressed as characters of Ramayana. Principal Mrs S. Mahajan explained the importance of the festival. The function concluded with the burning of effigy of Ravana.

Dera Bassi, October 22
Plying of trucks on a temporary road by the Mubarikpur Stone Crusher Association on the bed on a seasonal rivulet, after the closure of a bridge by the Building and Roads Wing of the Punjab Public Works Department (PPWD) at Mubarikpur, has run into rough weather.

The owner of the land on which the temporary road has been made, has started levying charges on loaded trucks and other goods carriers that use the road to reach the riverbed.

Mr Kuldeep Kumar, owner of the land, has been charging Rs 10 from each vehicle carrying raw material apart from gravel and sand after pitching a tent by the road.

Opposing the alleged illegal charging from loaded vehicles, a delegation of over 15 stone crushing units today met the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mr Narinder Sangha, and registered its protest.

The delegation told the SDM that they had constructed a causeway on the rivulet and laid about 1-km-long ‘kutcha’ road on the Ghaggar riverbed at a cost of around Rs 3 lakh.

They said the truckers and owners of stone crushing units had been suffering huge loses following the closure of the main road. To overcome the losses, they found an alternative route for transporting their material.

Taking advantage of their problem, Mr Kuldeep Singh started fleecing them, they alleged.

Mr Kuldeep Singh, however, made it clear that owners of stone crushing units had laid the road on his land for their personal and monetary interests.

He claimed that the plying of heavy vehicles had started eroding his land. The money was being collected for the maintenance of his land, he admitted.

When contacted, Mr M.S. Chattha, Executive Engineer of the PPWD, said the issue of alleged charging of Rs 10 per truck had been brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner, Patiala.

The SDM has asked Mr Sanjeev Kumar Bansal, tehsildar, Dera Bassi, to investigate the matter and take appropriate action after consulting with legal experts.

Panchkula, October 22
Seven persons, including a woman, were injured in a clash between residents of jhuggis in Sector 21 and those of Azad Colony this evening. The clash took place after a child went to relieve himself in a vacant plot in Sector 21, to which Hawa Singh objected. The child’s family members — Amarnath and Sat Ram reached there and an argument with Hawa Singh and four others, led to a clash. The two sides came to blows and even charged at each other with lathis. Later Amar Nath, Sat Ram, Hawa Singh, Varinder, Naresh, Pawan and Roshni were injured, and rushed to General Hospital.

One Injured: Pyare Lal, of Rajiv Colony was injured seriously, after he was assaulted by five persons near the colony late last night. He had reportedly gone for a walk after dinner, when he was waylaid and assaulted.

Arrested: The police has arrested Brij Lal, who was absconding since August last year. The man had assaulted his wife, and stabbed her after a minor argument and then escaped. He was arrested by the police from Sector 6 today, and will be produced in the court tomorrow.

Chandigarh, October 22
When it comes to mocking the court directives, the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) seems second to none. Over three years after the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed PUDA to execute a drainage project aimed at preventing flooding of Phase V, Mohali, the authority is still dragging its feet on the project.

Two subsequent directives of the High Court have also failed to move PUDA.

And this is in spite of the fact that PUDA and the Municipal Council had given an undertaking in the court last year saying: “The Punjab Chief Secretary had decided that the Chief Engineer of the PWD (Public Health) shall prepare a scheme to tackle the problem of the petitioners within 30 days and thereafter the requisite funds provided by PUDA.”

Tired at the dilly-dallying of the authorities, Mr Arunjeev Singh Walia had moved court under Section 151 of the Civil Procedure Code seeking appropriate directions to the respondents to show the compliance of the interim orders and to place on record the status report on the implementation of the schemes prepared to overcome flooding.

The case will come up for hearing on November 1.

“It amounts to virtual contempt of court and the authorities seemed to be at ease about the plight of the residents,” said Mr T.S. Sudan, an advocate, who along with 14 other residents filed the petition.

The petitioners have alleged that they have been experiencing flood-like situation during rainy season for several years now and the situation has assumed alarming proportions during the past few years “due to environmental degradation and unavailability of any outlet for rainwater.”

The MC and PUDA had been shifting responsibility on the completion of the project and taking residents for granted. The project is estimated to cost over Rs 3 crore.

Meanwhile, sources said the process for starting work on the project had been initiated. Regarding the delay in the start of work, an official said such projects were planned on long-term basis.

The tenders for providing additional storm water sewers for Phase V, costing about Rs 92 lakh, had been invited, he claimed.

Panchkula, October 22
Office-goers and shopkeepers in various residential areas have decried the holding of apni mandi in the vicinity of commercial complexes here.

Apni mandis are organised in various parts of the township on all days, except Wednesday. Except for Monday and Thursday, when the mandi is organised at the Sabzi Mandi in Sector 20, the apni mandis are organised at open spaces in front of commercial centres in various sectors.

On Sunday, the mandi is organised near the showrooms in Swastik Vihar in Mansa Devi Complex, on Tuesday near the Sector 16 market, which is proposed to be the City Centre of Panchkula; on Friday in Sector 25-26, and on Saturday near the Sector 14 market.

With commercial activity picking up in most of these markets, and Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) aiming to develop these fast, shopkeepers and office-owners in these commercial places, are pleading that the apni mandis be shifted to other sites, so that the business was not affected. The parking spaces in these commercial complexes are occupied by vegetable and fruit sellers. Worse, the waste being left, a day after the mandi is held, is causing insanitation, and is an invitation to flies and stray cattle.

An apni mandi is organised in Sector 20, right near the Sector 20 market on every Monday and Thursday. The shopkeepers and the office-goers here say that this is hampering their business interests and clients are unwilling to visit them because of the insanitary conditions thus prevailing. Mr B.B. Kashyap, General Manager, IRD Call Centre, says that often their foreign clients are put off when they visit them here. He adds that the jhuggis in front of the buildings were also putting off business.

Earlier, an apni mandi was held at Sector 4, on every Thursday, and in Sector 8 on Monday. However, after HUDA sold off its showrooms in Sector 8 and business started here, and with the construction of Haryana Public Service Commission in Sector 4, the apni mandis have been shifted to Sector 20. The mandi in Sector 16 was shifted temporarily, but was again started in the Sector, after some residents so demanded.

Now, with the development of the Sector 14 commercial complex, HUDA has itself demanded the shifting of the apni mandi. The Market Committee officials have asked HUDA for a permanent site for the mandi, where 300 to 500 persons sell fruits and vegetables, but HUDA has so far not taken a decision on this.

Mohali, October 22
The Residents Welfare Forum, Sector 69, has complained that the area is in a state of neglect even after a deputation of residents has met PUDA officials several times.

Mr Yogesh Gupta, president of the forum, said vacant residential plots as well as those reserved for public buildings and commercial centres were full of wild growth and had become a source of nuisance for the residents.

PUDA was charging Rs 108 per square yard as non-construction fee annually from the residents who had not constructed in the area allotted to them. As such it was the duty of PUDA to clean such plots.

Roads were also not being repaired by PUDA despite the fact that heavy charges were taken from the residents in this regard. A number of manholes and “gullies” did not have lids which could lead to accidents, besides there were several potholes.

Stray cattle were also adding to the problem of the residents and a cluster of jhuggies had come up in the area.

No shopping centre had been developed in the area, he said.

Chandigarh, October 22
One car and two scooters are reportedly stolen from the city according to the information released by the police today, here.

Mr Ashok Saini of Sector 20-D reported that his Maruti car (PCW-2529) was stolen from his residence during intervening night of October 20-21. A case under section 379 of the IPC has been registered in Sector 19, police station.

Mr Balraj, a resident of the PGI campus, Sector 12 filed a complaint that his scooter (CH-01-F-7367) was stolen from his residence, yesterday. A case of theft has been registered in Sector 11, police station.

Panchkula, October 22
The police has arrested a brother-sister duo- Poonam and Chandan in Pinjore on charges of duping the resident of Pinjore of Rs 42 lakh, by collecting the money in committees.

Their accomplice, Vinay Kumar, who is the husband of Poonam, however, managed to evade arrest. The two accused were produced before a local court yesterday, and remanded to eight days in the police custody.