Chandigarh, April 29
Local MP Pawan Bansal, who is engaged in a pitched battle with the Chandigarh Administration and his detractors in the party, has received a “threat to his life.”

Mr Bansal confirmed to Chandigarh Tribune that he got a postcard three days back in which a threat to kill him has been held out by an anonymous writer. The letter was posted at his residence when he was busy attending the Parliament session in Delhi. The MP reached the city today.

The letter and a complaint in this regard has been sent to the SSP, Mr Gaurav Yadav, sources said.

The letter is written in the Punjabi script. The sources said it seems that the writer does not have much knowledge of Punjabi and the words used are that of Hindi.

No additional security has been provided to the MP following the threatening letter. The SP Security, Mr Amitabh S. Dhillon, said Mr Bansal is already a UT protectee. Mr Dhillon, however, said he did not know about any recent threat to him nor had the MP asked for additional security.

Mr Bansal also said he had not asked for any additional security after receiving the letter. Mr Bansal refused to reveal the full content of the letter, only saying that there is a threat to his life in the letter.

When asked as to whom he suspected behind the threatening message, he said nothing could be said.

The police has registered a case under Section 506 of the IPC for threatening the MP in the Sector 26 Police Station. The police has asked the MP to take precautions and reviewed his security.

The letter says: “Ardas ho gai hai, jo khana pina hai kar lo, Sodh Deyange.” The sources said the language used in the letter seems really threatening as these words were used by militants at the height of turmoil in Punjab.

The police says that it seems the person who has written the letter is semi-literate and might have played a hoax as the MP is already engaged in a pitched twin political battle with his detractors in the party as well as the Chandigarh Administration.

Chandigarh, April 29
On the day of his release from jail, Narayan Singh Chaura, the alleged main conspirator in the infamous Burail jailbreak case, today fired another salvo at the investigating agencies alleging that he was tortured at the instance of the senior Chandigarh and Punjab police officials.

Chaura, who was released from the high-security Burail jail today, following the acceptance of his bail bond by a local court in an arms case, alleged torture at the instance of a former Chandigarh IG, Mr R.P. Singh, a Punjab police IG, Mr Sumedh Singh Saini, the UT SSP, Mr Gaurav Yadav, the Fatehgarh Sahib SSP, Mr Shiv Kumar, and a UT police Inspector, Mr K.I.P. Singh.

It may be recalled that on April 11, a local court while dropping sedition charges against Chaura and other accused, had ordered that they should be tried under bailable offences.

Claiming that he had been acquitted in over a dozen cases filed by the successive Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress governments since 1989, Chaura alleged vicitimisation for his “anti-establishment” stance.

He alleged that he was given electric shocks to extract confession for his alleged role in the jailbreak case, in which three alleged assassins of late Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh tunnelled their way out of the high-security Burial jail here on the night of January 21 last year.

Though the experience of claiming compensation for “illegal detention” by the investigating agencies had not been very encouraging, yet they would file a petition for compensation after the acquittal, counsel for Chaura, Mr Rajvinder Singh Bains, informed.

Meanwhile, Chaura was given a rousing reception outside the Burail jail by activists of the Shiromani Khalsa Dal and the Akal Federation. Prominent among those present were Mr Surinder Singh Kishanpuri, Mr Sewak Singh, Mr Mandhir Singh, Mr Jaspal Singh Manjpur, Mr Paramjit Singh Gaji and Mr Kanwar Singh Dhami of the Guru Asra Trust.

Chandigarh, April 29
The Deputy Commissioner-cum-Estate Officer, Mr Arun Kumar, said today that lal dora was a term used in consolidation process during the 1950s and was the outer boundary of the existing population (abadi) living in a village.

Beyond the lal dora, there is a concept of ‘phirni’, which is the outer ring-road, and the space between the lal dora and phirni was used as ‘bara’ i.e. for parking cattle, cow-dung, manure pit and compost.

The Estate Officer further revealed that at the time of creation of Chandigarh the need for regulating the growth of human settlement was felt and thus the Punjab Periphery Control Act was enacted. Any construction used for residential, commercial or any other purpose beyond the lal dora was an unauthorised structure and was violative of the Periphery Control Act.

In all villages in the periphery of Chandigarh, falling within the limits of the city, according to a detailed survey by the Estate office, the number of such structures was around 2,300 and the area occupied by such structures was around 177 acres. He said that it was also important to note that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered suo-moto that the registration of land less than 1,000 sq.mt. beyond the lal dora was not allowed.

The Estate Officer said that getting an electric connection did not endow the right for change the land use as it was violation of the Periphery Control Act. He added that in such cases those land dealers who indulged in such practise were being booked. Recently six such dealers had been arrested.

Panchkula, April 29
Girls outshone boys in the Class VIII results of the Haryana School Education Board, declared here today. Komal, Sapna Yadav and Priyanka Gupta, the three toppers in Panchkula are girls and students of New India Senior Secondary School, Sector 15.

Komal has topped the examinations by securing 93.3 per cent marks, followed by Sapna Yadav (92.3 %) and Priyanka Gupta (91.8 %). The overall pass percentage in the district has also improved (57.22 per cent) as compared to a pass per centage of 48 per cent last year.

According to information available, 6,387 students studying in 132 government schools, private schools and schools recognised by the board, had appeared in the examinations conducted in March this year. Two schools in the district, Government Senior Secondary School, Karanpur, and Government Middle School, Kiratpur, have achieved 100 per cent result.

Though the pass percentage of private schools in the district had shown an increase over the past few years (71. 95 per cent students in private schools have cleared the examinations), the performance of government schools in the district has remained average. None of the students at Government Middle School, Thattar, in Morni block passed the examination, as there was no teacher throughout the year.

The pass percentage in government schools here is about 53 per cent. In fact, in one of the schools, of the 48 students who had appeared in the examinations, 43 have failed and only three have passed.

Poor performance by government and recognised schools last year had shaken the district administration. It was the decided to ensure that teachers were appointed for each school and it was decided to keep a check on their attendance in schools to improve the results. But this apparently did not improve the results. Even now, there are several schools in the district, especially in Morni and Barwala blocks, that have only one teacher.

Three toppers in the district, Komal, Sapna and Priyanaka, say that regular learning and self study was the key to their success. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, they said they had been studying for three to four hours daily, after completing the routine homework. None of them took any tuitions, and were being taught at home by their parents. So what does the future hold for them, we ask? “We want to become teachers,” they say in unison.

Chandigarh, April 29
How many of you would think of inviting dogs to your wedding? Not many equate pet dogs with guests when the function is as solemn as a wedding.

But city-based dog trainer Vinod Kumar, has decided to do away with social norms and give the dogs “their due” when he weds tomorrow. Dogs will be special guests at his wedding. A Labrador, Mastiff, Sniffer, Pug dogs and Golden Retriever will give an extra “pomp and show” to his wedding.

The dogs will be among his honourable ‘baraatis’’ as they will accompany him in his ‘baraat’ too.

He has invited his clients along with their dogs. A special menu has been planned out for the dogs. They can gorge on their favourite dishes, that include feed, eggs, chicken and special pudding.

His Patiala-based would-be bride, Manu, is equally happy to host the canines.

“Whatever I have achieved in my life is because of the dogs. They are the source of my livelihood. Ignoring them at my wedding would have been very hard for me,” Vinod said.

He has been training dogs since 1994 and is running a dog centre in the city. The centre is named after his most adorable dog, Sheena, a Labrador.

By making them his ‘baraatis’, he wants to convey the message that if you love your pets then don’t ignore them during important moments of your life.

His pride is a pair of pug dogs — Shaggy and Taquila. Excitement is writ large on his face when he fondly recalls how he nurtured them and made them a part of his family.

“I hate the idea of locking dogs at home when you have to attend a party. I think they should be counted”, he said.

At last, dogs are getting their due.

Chandigarh, April 29
The local unit of the BJP today organised a dharna outside the office of the Municipal Corporation in Sector 17 here against the “anti-people” policies of the Congress-led UPA government and the local corporation.

Addressing the dharna, a former MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, alleged that the citizens were at the receiving end of the “lopsided” policies of the Central Government and the Congress-led corporation.

While houses of various sections of society, including the religious places, were being demolished by the Chandigarh Administration, the Congress was remaining a silent spectator. The Congress, Mr Jain alleged, had failed to oppose various “anti-people” decisions of the Chandigarh Administration.

The civic amenities were going from bad to worse in the city and the Congress had gone back on its various pre-poll promises. Mr Jain warned the administration not to hike the electricity charges otherwise the party would launch an agitation.

Prominent among those who addressed the dharna included Mr Yash Pal Mahajan, local unit president, Mr Davesh Moudgil, president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Ms Kamla Sharma, and Mr Kewal Krishan Addiwal, both former Mayors.

Chandigarh, April 29
With an aim to develop Kalagram located on the busy Chandigarh — Panchkula as a major hub, the Chandigarh Administration is shortly undertaking the construction of a new approach road to Kalagram which will remove the present difficulty being faced to gain entry to the Kalagram complex from the Chandigarh-Panchkula road.

At present anyone going from Chandigarh to Kalagram has to go right up to the traffic lights at Panchkula and then take a u-turn. This increases the distance by 4 km. Now the administration plans to build a road which will connect Kalagram complex with the traffic lights at the railway station crossing, hardly a distance of 500 m.

Also, a display board is being planned, which shall prominently display the activities being held in the complex.

The other plan is to invite reputed food-chains to set up their outlets. CITCO has been asked to develop food courts which will offer a variety of ethnic fare in a rural ambience.

For making Kalagram a hub of artistic excellence by 100 per cent utilisation of its land, the Chandigarh Administration has decided to organise cultural and artistic programmes, workshops on dance, music, theatre and rangoli, carnivals, weekend acting classes and tourism promotion shows, painting competitions and yoga classes, etc, at various locations of the city from May 1.

A sound and light show to showcase the heritage of Chandigarh is being planned.

Initially, such activities will be held in the Fragrance Garden, Terrace Garden, Rose Garden, Shanti Kunj, Nehru Park, Sukhna Lake and Plaza, Sector 17, where the MD, CITCO-cum-Director Tourism and Director Public Instruction (Schools) shall coordinate the activities.

A rangoli workshop by renowned artist Vandana Joshi will be held from May 6-12, at Kalagram. The North Zone Culture Centre (NZCC) alongwith the Chandigarh Institute of Performing Arts (CIPA) will organise Kalagram Carnival on every Saturday and Sunday at Kalagram from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm, besides daily cultural evening by the NZCC from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm.

Renowned artist Shyam Juneja will hold weekend acting classes at Kalagram on every Saturday and Sunday at Kalagram from 5.00 pm to 7.30 pm, besides painting competitions to be organised daily from May. Yoga classes will be held from May 4-8, at Kalagram from 6 am to 9 am.

Chandigarh, April 29
The war of words between two dissenting groups of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee today took a new turn when the president of the local unit was asked to clarify his stand over the market committee yesterday.

The faction led by Mr Ram Pal Sharma, vice-president, said according to certain reports Mr Arun Kumar, the Deputy Commissioner, yesterday said that the election had been won by Mr Sita Ram, a Congress candidate.

It has been pointed out that an FIR was lodged recently against Mr Sita Ram by the Deputy Commissioner office for violation of the Periphery Control Act. Mr Subhash Chander, a candidate backed by Mr Bhupinder Singh Badheri, a former chairman, bagged only three votes.

Mr Bhupinder Badheri, president of the District Congress Committee (Rural), was removed from the committee following a vote of no confidence earlier this year.

The President has also been asked “whether Mr Sita Ram, who along with BJP members, moved the vote of no-confidence against Mr Badheri had his approval.

The point needs an urgent clarification because otherwise the Deputy Commissioner will be able to paint a ‘false’ picture that it was some Congressmen involved in making illegal sales of land” the letter added.

The letter has been signed by Mr D.D. Jindal, President of the DCC-I, Mr Pawan Sharma, president of the DCC-II, Mr Badheri and Mr H.S. Lucky, President of the Chandigarh Youth Congress.

Panchkula, April 29
As many as 600 jhuggis were razed and over 12 acres of land was freed from encroachers today.

The third day of the anti-encroachment drive, launched by HUDA, saw some resentment by jhuggi dwellers in Sector 3, but the drive was more or less peaceful. The drive was carried out under the supervision of five Junior Engineers of HUDA, alongwith 15 men of the anti-encroachment wing of the Estate Office.

Since the drive was launched on a massive scale, an earth mower and three trucks were used. However, no police force was employed and after the encroachers had moved out, the jhuggis were razed to the ground. The encroachments were removed from HUDA land near Majri Chowk upto Devinagar area in Sector 3.

About five kiosks that had come up on the green belt in the area and some meat shops on the road were also razed by the demolition squad.

The drive lasted for several hours and HUDA officials say that they were able to recover most of the land for development of a market place and parking in Sector 3. 

Chandigarh, April 29
Two cars and a motorcycle were stolen from the city during the past 24 hours, the police said, today.

Ambala, April 29
Unable to bear separation from his wife and unhappy with his mother-in-law’s alleged interference, a youth of Ambala city committed suicide yesterday.

Manish Verma, a resident of Darjiyan Chowk in Ambala city, had married Indu, a resident of Saha in February 2004. They were blessed with a daughter three months back.

According to family members of Manish, when Manish went to Saha to bring back his wife, his mother-in-law refused to send her with him. Instead, she allegedly pressurised Manish to settle down with them. Manish was said to be under considerable stress due to this.