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Hawara to be present in Beant case trial daily
Chandigarh, August 6 Directions to this effect were passed by Mr M.M. Sharma, Special CBI Judge, today on an application filed by Hawara’s defence counsel. The counsel argued that since Hawara was lodged in Burail Jail after judicial remand on August 3, the jail authorities should be directed to ensure Hawara’s presence during the trial. It may be recalled that the Chandigarh Administration had imposed Section 268 of the CrPC on all accused involved in the Beant Singh assassination case. Under this provision, the accused could not be taken outside the jail premises for trial in this case. The defence counsel also wanted the resumption of the trial at the earliest since several accused were languishing in jail for several years now. The Punjab and the Haryana High Court had directed CBI Special Judge to conduct trial in the case on day-to-day basis. After the transfer of the then CBI Special Judge, Mr Balbir Singh, the trial in the case had not been held for several months now. Sources said ideally the application for resumption of the trial should have come from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). However, even after three days of the judicial remand of the dreaded militant, the CBI failed to move any application forcing the defence counsel to approach the court. The trial in the case had been hanging for over nine years and Hawara’s escape from Burail Jail, along with three of his accomplices in January last year, only delayed it further. Now the CBI would have to re-work its strategy in the light of the new evidence that might now come to light.
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13 hurt as 2 buses collide
Chandigarh, August 6 The accident happened at about 6.15 am. The CTU bus (CH-01-G 5735), was on its way to Pinjore-via-Kalka when it collided with the bus belonging to the BRC Dental College. It was on its way from Mani Majra to Sector 41 for picking up the students. The eye witnesses said though the drivers of the two buses realised that they were on collision course but it was a bit too late. Some passengers blamed the CTU driver for jumping the red light, while others said “they were in no position to comment as it all happened suddenly”. The police removed the vehicles within an hour of the mishap, resulting in the resumption of normal flow of traffic. A case of endangering human life by rash and negligent act was registered against the driver of the college bus. A senior police officer added that soon after the accident a special drive was also launched by the police to check violations of traffic rules by bus drivers. He added that a number of challans were also issued to the erring drivers.
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Rape of minor: 4 more held
Mohali, August 6 The four have been arrested for allegedly harbouring those absconding in the case and helping them with ill-gotten money. An amount of Rs 43 lakh was seized by the team from the bank locker of one of those arrested. The team is investigating the rape and abduction of a minor girl of Nayagaon following orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The team led by the IG (special operations), Mr Sumedh Singh Saini, has already arrested nine persons, including a woman, in connection with the case. The four arrested yesterday evening include Surinder Mohan, a property dealer from Nayagaon, Satpal Singh, a resident of Kansal, Ram Singh, a resident of Mullanpur Garibdass, and Rajwinder Singh, a resident of Dehlon, Ludhiana. Members of the investigation team raided Allahabad Bank in Sector 17, Chandigarh, this morning and seized Rs 43 lakh from the bank account held by Surinder Mohan’s wife. Sources in the team said while the property dealer was allegedly “managing” the ill-gotten money of the group wanted in the case, the others were also allegedly harbouring and helping them. The four have been booked under Sections 212, 216, 412 and 414 of the IPC. The case has been registered at the Kharar Sadar police station. They were produced in a Kharar court this evening and have been remanded in police custody for two days. They would be produced in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Ranjan Khullar, on August 9. Out of the five accused of the rape, Kesar Singh, Rinku and Tari, alias Avtar Singh, have been arrested, while Ramkesh, alias Kesha, and Gurdhian are absconding. Gurbachan Singh, a cousin of Gurdhian, is wanted for a subsequent incident of alleged abduction of the victim, her parents and brother. Babu Ram, Jyoti Sharma, Ramesh Handa, Ram Singh, Shyam and Amarpreet Singh have also been arrested by the SIT.
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UT
programme on IT workforce goes regional Chandigarh, August 6 The colleges are the RIMT Institute of Engineering and Technology,
Mandi Gobindgarh, the Guru Gobind Singh Institute of Engineering and
Technology, Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda), Chandigarh Engineering College,
Landran (near Mohali), the Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa Institute of
Engineering and Technology, Malout, and the Swami Vivekanand Institute
of Engineering and Technology, Banur, all in Punjab, the MS Institute
of Communication and Management, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, the
Dronacharya Institute of Management Technology, Kurukshetra, and GVM
Girls College, Sonepat, both in Haryana.
The positive response from the region spoke volumes about the
success of the C-TOSS programme of the IT Department, a senior
official said. C-TOSS is currently being run in at least 20 government
schools in the city and seven colleges. The colleges on the list
include the Government College for Men, Sector 11 , GCG, Sector 11,
GCG, 42, and GC, Sector 46.
One of the important features of the programme is development of
communication skills and English language. These two features are the
most effective tools in communication between service providers and
seekers.
The programme in schools is attempted at making a strong foundation
for the line they could pursue in the future.
The programme design has the Society for Promotion of Information
Technology in Chandigarh at the top of the set-up, which has employed
private agencies for dissemination of practical knowledge.
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Postal Dept puts embezzled amount at 22 lakh
Chandigarh, August 6 Initially, the department had estimated that the loss was around Rs 18 lakh. Sources in the Ludhiana circle of the department said since investigations were still on, the amount involved might go up by another few lakhs. It may be mentioned that in the last week of July, the department had got an FIR lodged against the assistant, Jyoti Bala, after detecting the fraud. The employee, who has been remanded in judicial custody after being arrested, had allegedly siphoned off the amount of hundreds of persons subscribing to various savings schemes of the postal department, at Jagraon. The misappropriation was detected when the employee was on leave and her work was being handled by another employee. She allegedly withdrew money from the accounts of over 200 subscribers. This she did over a period of four months. Sources said she had denied the involvement of other employees in the fraud. The department had already intimated the subscribers concerned and their claims were being verified before the restoration memo was issued to credit the required amount to their respective accounts. Whenever subscribers came to deposit money in their savings bank accounts, term deposits and monthly income scheme accounts, the official use to make entries in the passbooks possessed by the subscribers, but the voucher that recorded transactions was not deposited with the department. “If any subscriber came to the post office to withdraw money or in connection with some other transaction, she would credit the money in the records of the Postal Department from a back date,” sources said. About six years back, a Sub-Post Master in Ropar had sold NSCs worth Rs 13 lakh and had siphoned off the money.
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Baratis return, but without bride
Mohali, August 6 The incident occurred in Phase X here today. Tempers ran high after some of the relatives of the bridegroom, Sukhwant Singh, started claiming that the bride was not the girl shown to them earlier. Some of the baratis entered the house of the bride and allegedly started beating up some relatives, including the mother of the girl. Scuffles and exchange of abuses followed. The police reached the scene and tried to pacify the baratis. The baratis and some members from the girl’s side were then called to the police station. The bridegroom told the police that the girl he was to marry today was not the one he had been shown by the family. He refused to get married. Mr Gurjit Singh,
SHO, Phase VIII police station, said by the evening both parties had reached a compromise. The bridegroom’s father, Mr Charan Singh, had agreed to pay the expenses borne by the girl’s side in holding the marriage function. Expenses on the marriage function made by the girl’s father, Mr Gyan
Chand, were around Rs 30,000. It is learnt that the baratis, around 40 in number, reached Phase X here for the marriage ceremony in the afternoon from Changeran village, near Banur. They were offered refreshments soon after their arrival. This was followed by other rituals. Before the ‘anand karaj’ was
organised, the bridegroom’s sister, along with some other relatives, entered the house of Mr Gyan
Chand, to meet the bride. When they came out after meeting the bride, some relatives of the bridegroom started claiming that the girl that Sukhwant Singh was to marry was not the one shown to him earlier. The marriage was finally called off.
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Passing Thru
How did the Haryana unit of Bharatiya Grameen Mahila Sangh come into being?
The Bharatiya Grameen Mahila Sangh is a voluntary welfare organisation. This was established in Haryana in year 1979, under the Presidentship of the then Governor’s wife, Mrs. H.S. Brar. The idea was to introduce income generating activities for rural women. What are the various activities being done by the sangh? Since the organisation aims at the uplift of rural women by teaching various economic activities, we have set up 29 craft centres and three training centres in Haryana. We had begun by teaching them simple skills like candle making, chalk making and soap making, besides teaching stitching and embroidery. What are the future projects to be undertaken by the sangh? We have just set up a hostel for working women at Panchkula, where preference will be given to women who come from rural areas for their livelihood. This hostel also has a day care centre. We now plan to expand this hostel and introduce single rooms here. — Ruchika M. Khanna
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Blame game on as residents reel under power cuts
Panchkula, August 6 Officials in the UHBVN say that HUDA had laid down undersize conductors in Sector 21, which disrupts the power supply. Officials in the electrical wing of HUDA, however, maintain that they laid down conductors according to the specifications given by the Power Department. The problem was discussed during the open darbar organised by the UHBVN at the Industrial Area substation this morning. The Superintending Engineer, Ambala Circle, Mr M.R. Murari, listened to complaints and asked officials to take immediate action. Over the years, as the habitation in the sector has increased, the problem has gone from bad to worse because of pressure on the undersize conductors in the power transmission system, say UHBVN officials. They say that though they have installed an independent feeder for Sectors 20 and 21, from the Sector 3 sub-station, the load in Sector 21 was about 250 amperes. “We have sent a proposal to the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam for augmenting the transformer from 7.5 MVA to 16 MVA, which will help solve the problem. We are taking up the matter of undersize conductors with HUDA,” they say. Residents of the sector say that though they have made numerous complaints to the UHBVN, their problem has not been solved. “Every night, the power goes off, and we are forced to spend hours in the heat,” alleges Mr Ram Prakash. During this open darbar, about 200 residents of Raiwali village near Raipur Rani came here and complained that the SDO got a false FIR of cable theft registered against some villagers. Mr Murari assured them of all possible help and said the matter would be taken up with the Ambala police. Residents of Bitna Colony, Pinjore, requested that the 11 KV transmission line running along their houses be shifted. They were asked to deposit the cost of shifting the lines and assured that the work would be executed soon.
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Earmark ‘malba’ dumping sites, say residents
Panchkula, August 6 The programme was organised on the directions of Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, who chairs the District Grievance Committee meeting. He has asked the MC to conduct public grievance meetings in each ward to sort out problems related to civic amenities on the spot. Other than the MC President, Mr Tarun Bhandari, Executive Officer, Mr Rohtash, and other officials, the SDM, Panchkula, Mr Virender Dahiya, listened to the public grievances of residents of Sector 4. A total of 22 complaints were received at the meeting of which 14 related to the civic amenities being provided by MC. Members of Resident Welfare Association, Sector 4, complained that the toilets in most of the gardens remained locked. They said ever since the eatery at the Vatika garden had closed down, the toilets attached with the weatery had been locked. Morning and evening walkers were inconvenience. They urged the officials that the matter be taken up with the HUDA authorities at the earliest. The residents also complained of the Congress grass menace and dumping of debris in vacant plots. They demanded that ‘malba’ dumping sites be earmaked by the MC, and the ‘rehri wallahs’ be issued numbers so that the dumping of malba on roadside or vacant plots could be checked. Complaints about poor development of parks and jhuggis coming up in vacant plots, were also made. The officials said the problems would be sorted out at the earliest.
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Chandigarh-Morinda rail line in sight
Chandigarh, August 6 The remaining stretch of around 65 km between Morinda and Ludhiana will take a while as land is yet to be acquired at some places. This was disclosed by the Northern Railway General Manager, Mr V.N. Mathur, after inspecting the ongoing work on the link. The completion of the Chandigarh-Morinda section of the Chandigarh-Ludhiana project may not be of much help to commuters travelling to Ludhiana, but it will certainly help commuters on the Chandigarh-Anandpur Sahib route by providing a shorter and direct link between the city and the birthplace of the Khalsa. Though initially sanctioned in the 1997-98 Railway Budget, the Budget estimates for 2004-05 for the Indian Railways tabled before Parliament by the Railway Minister, Mr Laloo Parsad Yadav, put this project on priority. The projected figures at this time estimate that the link will cost around Rs 140 crore if completed on time. According to railway sources, the Chandigarh railway station is on the priority list of the Northern Railways as platform numbers 1, 2 and 3 have already been extended to accommodate a 24-coach train, while work on platform numbers 4 and 5 has started. A complex for the maintenance of coaches is proposed for Chandigarh. Due to an increase in revenue from the passenger traffic, especially through Shatabdi Express trains, the Northern Railways has begun the process of expansion and upgradation of the station, including a ‘budget hotel’ by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation
(IRCTC). The Chandigarh railway station is being developed as a model station, having facilities which the Railways claims are the latest and user-friendly. A second foot bridge, inter-linking all five platforms, including the two proposed, will be constructed at the other end of the station — towards the Ambala side. The existing foot bridge links platform numbers 1, 2 and 3. A senior officer of the Northern Railways said priority was being given to user-friendly facilities. A new reservation facility, adjoining the parking area, was expected to be inaugurated before the end of this month. The reservation counters are presently housed in a clogged space at the entry to the station. After the announcement of a link express between Chandigarh and Chennai, the length of the platform numbers 2 and 3 had been extended to 600 metres to accommodate a 24-coach train. The length of platform number 4 and 5 will be 525 metres. On the completion of the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail ink, the Railways expects a phenomenal increase in the passenger traffic. After commissioning of a washing line, a sick line shed to repair and maintain locomotives and coaches has been constructed towards the southern end of the station. A “shunting neck” to enable locomotives and rakes to switch tracks is being laid. The ‘power cabin’, a room housing the signalling room of the Assistant Station Master
(ASM), has already been constructed.
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Manna’s works for Maneka’s cause
Chandigarh, August 6 The show is being organised by Maneka Gandhi’s People for Animals. The raison d’etre for the show, featuring 200 photographers from different parts of the country, is to raise funds for the 19th hospital of her organisation. Since 10 works by each artist are to be exhibited, the number of works on display will be 2,000. So, has Manna gone around training his lens on cats and dogs to be part of this show? Replying in the negative to this, he says: “Certainly not. I would never go shooting to be the part of this or any other show. I create to reflect on life and people my way. While the show espouses a cause there was no thematic restriction of any kind but the size.” Because of the restriction on size he could not send his larger conceptual works in colour and instead chose photographs from his different series taking care that the works would be the kind that would find more takers, he said. Fifty per cent of the proceeds from the sales will go to the People for Animals and the remaining 50 per cent to the photographers. All big names in photography are featuring in the show, including Raghu Rai, Prabudha Dasgupta, S. Paul and Dayanita Singh. Alongside there are some young ones and a few students with the choice having been made on the quality of the work. The photographs Manna has chosen for the show include a fine frame from of his “Dhaba” series done at Chandigarh. One of his photographs shows women in front of the towering Buddha at the Borbudur Temple in Indonesia while another shows a street entertainer at Hounslow East in England. The happy news is that some of the works have sold out even before these were put up. Well all for a good cause and a good photograph.
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Drive to make city greener
Chandigarh, August 6 As a special drive to rid the city of foul smell and pollution, saplings of ornament trees and flower plants were planted around the dumping ground, near Dadu Majra. To maintain a balance between northern and southern sectors, trees have been planted on V3 roads. Trees like schleichera trijuga (kusum), alstonia scholaris (chhatun), terminalia arjuna (arjan), cassia fistula (amaltas), callistemon lanceolatus (bottle brush), terminalia balerica (bahera) etc were planted on roadside. More plants are being planted to give more colorful touch to the city. To make parks, gardens and green belts more people friendly, saplings of flower plants, ornament trees were planted. Climbers were also planted in green belts in Sector 23, 37 and 46. There is a proposal to sink shallow tubewells for providing irrigation facility at gardens and the green belts. In the first phase, tubewells in the green belts of Sector 24, 22, 52, 32 and 29 will be taken up. Out of a target to plant saplings of 10,500 trees, 3,000 shrubs and 1,500 climbers along roads, parks, green belts, rehabilitation colonies and city center in Sector 17, Mani Majra complex, Dadu Majra dumping ground during the rainy season, the Horticulture Division of the corporation has planted 9,600 saplings including 2,800 shrubs and 600 climbers so far. The target will be achieved by August, 2005.
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Tributes paid to Sohan Singh
Zirakpur, August 6 Those who spoke on the occasion appreciated Hans for his fair and bold writing. They called him a philosopher and a great human being who cared for the weaker section of society. Mammohan Singh Daun, president of the Puadhi Manch, said the government should either set up a library, develop a park or rename some school after Hans. A former Finance Minister of Punjab, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, SAD (L) leader, Prof Balwant Singh of the Communist Party, Mr Deepinder Singh Dhillon, vice-chairman of the PSIDC, and Mr P.S. Johal of the MC Ludhiana, also spoke on the occasion. Those who attended the bhog include Mr Amrit Pal Singh, president of the Dera Bassi Municipal Council, Mr Narinder Sharma, president of the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat, Mr Prem Singh, City Congress president, Mr Bhupinder Singh Saini, chaiman of the Dera Bassi Rotary Club, and Krishan Pal Sharma, president of the Dera Bassi Press Club. Hans has written eight novels, including “Kaare Hathi” and “Banto” in Punjabi. The hit feature film “Waris” was picturised on the Hindi version of his novel “Kaare Hathi”. He also received many awards for his novels and writings.
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Govt to provide power to farmers
Mohali, August 6 She said that during the tenure of Akalis, farmers had to resort to protests to get a fair price for their produce. As the Akalis were now left with no issues they had started indulging in levelling baseless allegations. The OSD said that with the efforts of the Chief Minister Punjab was able to get the status of being the best state in country. Now investors would happily like to set up their projects in the state generating employment opportunities for the youth.
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Armymen scale Leo Pargial peak
Chandigarh, August 6 The members had successfully scaled the 6,773-metre high peak on July 9. The expedition was launched by the Third Battalion of Fifth Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) on June 18. For some of the members, it was their first mountaineering expedition, a statement issued here said. The expedition flag was handed over to the Corps Commander by the team leader, Lieut-Col S S Yadav. Three officers and eleven other ranks had participated in the expedition.
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Kidwai lauds Unity Foundation
Chandigarh, August 6 Dr Kidwai honoured Dr Bhisham Narain Singh and Mr R.N.Anil. Dr Anmol Rattan was given an achievement award by Dr Kidwai.
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One booked for abduction
Panchkula, August 6 In a complaint to the police Mr Chhote Lal alleged that Sudhir, hailing from Rajasthan, eloped with his minor daughter after luring her on pretext of marriage. He alleged that his daughter had been working as a servant with the house where Sudhir was a tenant. The girl left for work on August 3 but did not turn up. The police has started investigations after registering a case against Sudhir.
Car recovered
The police has recovered a Maruti car (CH-01N-6465) that was stolen from near Yavnika Park in Sector 5 on Friday. The car owner, Mr Manjit Singh, a resident of Sector 20, had complained about the theft of the car to the police.
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No headway in Food Inspector’s murder
Chandigarh, August 6 A senior police official said police parties were dispatched to his native place in Khanna and Sirhind, besides other places in an attempt to get some clue, but in vain. Several persons were questioned in this connection, he said. The place where he had drinks in the evening of the fateful day has been identified, the official added. Maskeen Singh had reached Chandigarh for attending a court case. His body was identified with the help of documents in his motorbike parked next to his body. Ruling out the possibility of old enmity as the reason behind the crime, sources said in all probability a quarrel between acquaintances lead to the incident.
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Buffaloes’ death: contractor, truck driver held
Chandigarh, August 6 The preliminary investigation carried out by the police revealed that the vehicle, coming from Nadaun in Himachal Pradesh, was heading towards a mandi in Saharanpur. A senior police official said further investigations in the matter were on.
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Rs 5 lakh snatched from businessman
Chandigarh, August 6 Sources in the police said Mr Sethi, who runs a shop in Sector 26 grain market, was coming out of a bank with cash. He was just about to enter his car after throwing in the cash, when someone pushed him aside and decamped with the money. After handing over the stack to two men on a scooter, he escaped on foot even before Mr Sethi could realise what was happening.
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Tata Safari DICOR launched
Chandigarh, August 6 Available in three trim levels , the Safari DICOR is priced between Rs 7.79 lakh and Rs 12.65 lakh ex-showroom price in the city. It compliments the existing SUV range, currently comprising of Endeavour (Ford), Tuscon (Hyundai) and CRV (Honda). The company is also working on the much-talked about Rs 1 lakh car.
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