Chandigarh, August 23
A day after senior officers of the Chandigarh Police announced the beefing up of security at Sukhna Lake for preventing suicides, cops remained elusive. In fact, police officials were not seen even at the “observation post” erected at the tower.

A team of the Chandigarh Tribune today remained near the lake’s regulatory end for over two hours from seven to eight in the morning and from one to two in the afternoon. Just one cop on a cycle was seen at around 1.30 pm.

Even though senior officers of the Chandigarh Police had claimed on Monday that the patrolling party would look for “depressed” persons, the cop — accompanied by a person in plain clothes on another cycle — casually went down the path without even glancing in the direction of the visitors.

Interestingly, the cop did not even stop to check the movement of a group of school students sliding down the slope towards the deep murky waters of the Sukhna Lake.

“If no one attempted suicide at the lake today, it was not because of enhanced efforts on part of the Chandigarh Police, but sheer luck,” commented a frequenter, Darshan Singh. “Anyone could have jumped into the lake without the cops even knowing about it. They would have only discovered the body floating after a day or so.”

A visit to the tower in the afternoon revealed that there was nothing in the name of an observation post. Rather, the narrow bridge leading to the tower top was locked at two different places, as always.

Though cops were present in the police post, none of them was seen making use of the “high-powered” binocular sets provided to them for maintaining a strict vigil at the lake.

A senior police officer, when contacted, denied the allegations of maintaining poor vigil at the lake. He added that the cops on duty at the lake were in the process of “streamlining things”. The security arrangements at the lake would improve within a day or so, he insisted.

The officer reiterated his earlier stand that maintaining vigil at the lake was not an easy task as there were as may as six entry points, besides the regulatory end. 

Chandigarh, August 23
Even as the October 31 deadline to complete the first phase of the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link is approaching fast, the Railway authorities have noticed that a small section of the raised earthen foundation of the track near Jagatpura village was sinking due to the recent rains.

A JCB removes earth from a section of the Chandigarh -Ludhiana railway line near Jagatpura village. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Chandigarh, August 23
Precious lives do not matter. Nothing else can explain the presence of gaping manholes, open storm water drains and dug-up trenches in the city even a week after Constable Jaswinder Kaur killed herself by falling into one such trap.

Though senior officers of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh claim that a massive operation was launched to cover up the manholes and trenches soon after the tragedy, little has been done.

Go to the congested southern sectors or the posh northern ones in the city, you will still find death traps all around. If the open manholes do not threaten your safety, naked electricity wires expose you to the perils of electrocution.

To make the matters worse, the powers-that-be have hardly done anything to warn the residents about the danger lurking around these spots, specially around the storm water drains being constructed throughout the city. At most of the places, mounds of lose earth are the only indicators.

Even though a retired civil engineer had recently recommended the segregation of under-construction areas with the help of luminous tapes, the authorities have apparently not taken his suggestion seriously.

Although a yellow tape with word “caution” printed in bold letters has been tied around a portion of dug-up road being widened in Sector 15 just opposite the Panjab University campus, it is conspicuous by its absence at other places.

Drive down the road separating Sector 24 from Kumhar Colony in Sector 25 and you will find open manholes and drains threatening with impunity the safety of commuters. One wrong step and you will find yourself in deep trouble.

Kumhar Colony residents claim that only recently a five-year-old boy fell into one such drain along the roadside. Fortunately, they managed to pull him out before it was too late as his friends, playing along with him, raised alarm.

The residents add that at that time the Municipal Corporation authorities visited the spot and promised “to do the needful, but nothing was done later on”. “Ï think we will have to launch an agitation,” says a dweller.

Things are hardly different on the road dividing Sector 11 from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Sector 12. Or the road dividing Sector 29 from 30. Travel along the roads and you will receive several invitations to death.

In Sector 11, the Municipal Corporation authorities have dug up trenches at least six-feet long, five-feet wide and four-feet deep in the green belt along the road dividing the area from Sector 10. Reach the Golf Club and you will find another gaping manhole.

Leave the area and reach Sector 16. You will still find an open manhole right in front of Rose Garden. Just two months back, a pedestrian injured himself while walking down the road late night. He was rushed to the Sector 16 General Hospital where he was treated for a fractured leg. Similar sights can be seen in Sector 20 and road dividing Sector 17 and 18.

Mohali, August 23
A sense of fear and anxiety has gripped the family of Makhan Singh, who was allegedly kidnapped in South Africa.

Relatives gathered at Makhan Singh’s house in Kambra village here today to console his family members.

Tension in the family has increased to such an extent that even the telephone line in the house has been disconnected to avoid anxiety.

“We want our son back safe and sound,” says Karam Singh, father of Makhan Singh, helplessly. Makhan’s mother, Mrs Surinder Kaur, keeps on breaking down every now and then. “Last time I had talked to my son was on August 14. He said that he was fine and was going out to work,” she said.

Two phone calls were received from the alleged kidnappers of Makhan Singh today. While one call was made on the mobile phone of a friend, Sanju, around 9.30 am, the second call was made on landline phone at Makhan Singh’s home around 12.40 pm. The alleged kidnappers kept on demanding the ransom and even threatened that if the amount was not paid Makhan Singh would be killed.

The second telephone call was attended to by his brother-in-law, Mr Surinder Singh, in the presence of The Tribune team. Mr Surinder Singh was heard making repeated requests to the alleged kidnappers to bring Makhan Singh on the telephone line but this was not done. He even told the callers that members of the family had arranged Rs 5 lakh and gone to Delhi to deliver the amount but no one was available at the meeting point to receive the money.

Mr Bhupinder Sharma, a family friend of Mr Karam Singh, today made frantic efforts to talk to the alleged kidnappers on the telephone numbers from which calls were coming but no one picked up the phone.

Mr Sharma, however, was able to get in touch with Mr Robin Singh, a police official in South Africa. Mr Robin Singh told Mr Sharma that a case (336/08/2005) had been registered in connection with the alleged kidnapping at Stanger City, Durban state police station.

Mr Sharma also got in touch with Mr Sanjay, an official working in the office of a Commissioner in South Africa. Mr Sanjay was provided with a number of details regarding the case. The members of Makhan’s family were disappointed with the local police which, they said, failed to provide any help.

An agitated Mr Gurmeet Singh, maternal uncle of Makhan Singh, said had a child of some influential official or a politician been kidnapped the government would have taken immediate action. “We do not expect any help from any quarter in India. We are hopeful that Interpol would come to our rescue,” added Mr Gurmeet Singh.

Mr Sukhdev Singh, brother of Makhan Singh, suspected that there was a gang of three to four persons who had allegedly kidnapped his brother. He said the gang leader had identified himself as Wasim Akram. However, the family members did not rule out the possibility of the friends of Makhan Singh being involved in the alleged kidnapping.

They alleged that Makhan Singh was being tortured by the kidnappers. Makhan Singh was made to talk to his family members once or twice. He asked them to make the payment. He had even reportedly questioned saying that “is money more important than my life”.

Makhan Singh had left for South Africa about 11 months ago. It is alleged that the kidnappers of Makhan Singh had initially demanded Rs 15 lakh as ransom and the amount was to be paid in New Delhi.

However, when Makhan’s family repeatedly expressed their inability to arrange such a huge sum, the kidnappers reduced the amount to Rs 7 lakh. Yesterday was the deadline for the payment but the family received no phone call from kidnappers. Mr Bhupinder Sharma said the family had also received a call from Mr Tejinder Luthra, DCP, Crime, New Delhi, in the evening for meeting him. They would be going tomorrow and would also be meeting Mr Hargobind Singh, another DCP, posted at Delhi, in connection with the case.

However, there is another angle to the story. There are rumours that Sukhdev Singh, brother of Makhan Singh, had played a role in enacting the drama of kidnapping to get a visa to go to South Africa.

Mr Sukhdev Singh brushed aside the allegation saying that he was no longer interested in going abroad as he was doing well in his new cable TV venture which he started here few months ago. He said he had earlier made a lot of efforts to get a visa for South Africa but he could not succeed.

Tell us about your visit to Chandigarh?

John Williams, Professor of American Government and Law, Principia University, USA

Chandigarh, August 23
Sending strong signals to those stealing power, the Electricity Department of the Chandigarh Administration has recovered more than Rs 70 lakh as fine from city residents, particularly industrialists, for tampering with their power meters.

The amount of more than Rs 70 lakh has been recovered in the first four months of the current financial year alone. The department has detected nearly 50 cases of power theft, both in the residential as well as the industrial sectors. The fine is more than Rs 1 lakh in a number of cases. This category of offenders also includes those using power load more than that has been sanctioned to them, reliable sources in the department said.

In a majority of the cases of theft, the consumers remove the ‘steel lash wire’ in the power meters that is installed in order to prevent the tampering with the meter readings. Certain consumers using heavy load of power open the ‘steel lash wire’ and tamper with the meter readings. Raids are conducted by the department officials based on comparisons with past track record of bills of the consumers and often on basis of differences between the load supply and the power bills.

A consumer in Kaimbwala was fined Rs 15,000, a few days back, the official said. In case of power thefts in the domestic connections, the department levies a fine of Rs 1000 per kw. The fine in case of industrial units is Rs 1500 per kw.

A senior official of the Electricity Department said one big category of offenders was those who did not write to the department regarding permission for using air conditioners in their houses and in the industry. AC lent a very heavy load on the power supply lines. This led to heavy load on the power supply system. The enhanced load was one of the biggest reasons for frequent power tripping in the supply lines.

Sources said that there was no evidence yet to support allegations of power tampering in cases where electronic meters had been installed. The department has said that “theft of electricity is a punishable offence”. In order to curb the menace of electricity theft, the Chandigarh Administration has created an “Enforcement Cell” to catch hold of unscrupulous people who engage in the theft of power. Power is stolen either by having power supply by by-passing of meters or tampering the meters.

The administration has sought public cooperation in identifying the power thieves. The department said that “the informer will be suitably rewarded and if allegations proved correct, the identity of the informer will be kept a secret”. The department conducts regular surveys to update data of power supply and the revenue receipts, sources added.

Chandigarh, August 23
Nominations have been invited for the Godfrey Phillips Bravery Awards (formerly known as the Red & White Bravery Awards) from those in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The awards are presented in two categories — Physical Bravery and Social act of courage.

The closing date for receiving entries from residents of Himachal Pradesh is September 4, and from residents of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh must be submitted by September 20, 2005. The awards will be given at a function to be held in October this year at Chandigarh.

The award aims at paying a tribute to the unsung heroes, who have made a difference, through their selfless acts of courage. “Since a selfless act of courage rarely advertises itself, we at Godfrey Phillips make a special effort to reach the deepest interiors to seek out true, real life heroes- year after year. These real life heroes set an example for others to emulate and in the process help in promoting a braver, more socially responsible nation”, CEO of the company, Mr. Surinder Seru said while announcing the nomination.

“Over the years the Awards have gained recognition both at the state and the national level. Our efforts have been greatly appreciated as a laudable effort towards nation building. As in the past we again seek the participation of the people of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to send us nominations for the awards”, he said.

Each category has a gold medal, silver and bronze medal with a cash prize of Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000. Eligibility criteria for entries require that the nominee be an Indian national (not from the uniformed services) and above the age of 18 years.

The award for ‘Physical Bravery’ acknowledges those occasions where a person at great risk to himself, saves another from a possible threat to life, or by virtue of his actions prevents extensive damage to valuable property. The physical act of bravery needs to have taken place from July 1, 2004, to June 30, 2005. And for the ‘Acts of Social Courage’ award acknowledges the role of people who have adopted a bold stance and opposed social evils such as dowry, child marriage, illiteracy and environmental concerns among others.

The authentication of the cases is vital, to ensure that only deserving heroes are awarded. Therefore, all entries are to be attested by a gazetted officer. As part of the selection process all short-listed entries are further verified at the place of the incident, in person, and finally a panel of judges selects the winners.

Nominations should be addressed to: The Secretary, Godfrey Phillips Bravery Awards, P.O. Box No.4233, New Delhi-110048

Chandigarh, August 23
When Daisy left India for a job in Muscat, she had everything going for her. A well rated paramedic, she became in charge of her section and rose to the level of a lab technician. Money was flowing in without a problem and was being redirected back home in Tamil Nadu, until one day a nightmare struck. Daisy discovered she had been HIV + for three years.

From that day in 1997 to date, Daisy has been fighting the system to restore her dignity. First she fought her husband who transferred the infection to her and never asked for forgiveness; then she fought her family which called her names and disowned her.

What she could not fight was her daughter’s hatred for her. “My husband vitiated her mind and distanced her from me. The chasm was too huge to bridge and I was too tired to try. I resigned to my fate and preferred to help others of my kind,” said a determined Daisy, who was recently in Chandigarh to attend a workshop organised to help HIV + people understand their legal rights. Daisy now works for the rights of HIV + women in Chennai and heads the state level unit of Indian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS.

“We have 200 registered members in Chennai and we work to secure the human rights of HIV infected. We have been demanding ban on discriminatory practices adopted by hospitals against us. Invariably wards are earmarked for the HIV +, hurting their sensibilities. There are enough symbols in hospitals to show how they discriminate against us,” tells Daisy.

Back home in Chennai, Daisy remains busy networking with infected people and bringing them under the fold of INP +. “When I got infected, there were no referral services available. So I made it a point to ensure there were enough over the years. Now I work on the all India level to make life better for the carriers of the AIDS virus. It is impossible in India to get a medical termination of pregnancy conducted on an infected woman. Also there are no insurance facilities for us under the mediclaim policies,” rues Daisy.

On the personal front, her trauma remains. “My daughter still hates me for no fault of mine. My husband died some years ago and left a lifetime of drudgery for me. I don’t know how to escape my destiny. My group is my only family now,” Daisy says, recalling how her infection became known in the first place.

“We had an old lady from Oman admitted to our hospital. She needed blood and stocks were unavailable. It was when I offered to donate my blood that I discovered my HIV + status. For some time I was too numb to react. I had been loyal to my husband. No one but he had infected me,” Daisy unwound.

What followed was a struggle she was barely trained to cope with. Her husband charged her with adultery and ensured she did not get a job anywhere. Says Daisy,” He was too insecure to let go of me. But I could not have continued living with a man who condemned me to a life of misery. I wonder how our child escaped the deadly virus!”

Panchkula, August 23
The district administration has deferred the opening of tenders for various development works by the Municipal Council. These tenders for works worth Rs 2.53 crore, were to be opened and allotted today and on August 26.

Deputy Commissioner, Mr Brijendra Singh, informed TNS that the inquiry report submitted by the City Magistrate, Ms Vandana Disodia, had pointed towards procedural lapses and bias in carrying development works.

“The report points out that the estimates for various works were not prepared, when tenders were invited. Some wards had been ignored and no development works were listed for these wards. We have asked the MC staff to ensure that proper estimates are prepared for each work order before allotment,” he said, while adding that tenders would be allotted after the procedural lapses were rectified.

Ten Municipal Councillors, belonging to the BJP and those affiliated to the Chander Mohan camp of the Congress, had yesterday asked Mr Brijendra Singh, to hold an independent probe into the alleged lapses in floating tenders for various development works by the Municipal Council.

The Councillors — Mr V.K. Kapoor, Mr V.K. Sood, Ms Renuka Rai Walia, Mr R.K. Kakkar, Ms Amoljeet Kaur, Mr Monhinder Singh, Mr Randhir Malik, Mr C.B. Goel, Mr N.K. Rawal and Ms Manvir Gill — had demanded that the tenders should be cancelled.

They also alleged that proposed expenditure was on higher scale in certain wards, while few wards like Ward No 2 and 12 were ignored. They alleged that the approval of the House was not sought for the terms and conditions mentioned in the tenders. They said some tenders were floated for works which had already been undertaken or completed, like fencing of Olympic Bhavan and construction of boundary wall in Sector 15. Tenders for certain works which are under HUDA, had also been floated like work for channelisation of storm water.

Meanwhile, the MC President, Mr Tarun Bhandari, alleged that the councillors were indulging in petty politicking, thus interfering with the development of the town. He said tenders had been floated on the basis of estimates, but the exact cost of works had not been worked out.

Chandigarh, August 23
The national seminar on “400 years of Sri Guru Granth Sahib’’ concluded today at Panjab University. Today’s session began with Delhi-based Prof Swinder Singh Uppal’s paper on “Vishavvad aur Guru Granth Sahib”. According to him Sikh religion is a complete religion and no other religious book respects other religions as much as the Guru Granth Sahib.

Prof Amarjeet Kang, a scholar from Kurukeshtra University, focused on the eternal value of Gurbani. He said that Gurbani showed us the right path to follow in this materialistic world. Another speaker on the occasion, Dr Jagir Singh, Deputy Director, Punjab Education Board, highlighted the importance of music when he spoke on the theme of “Guru Granth Sahib sangeet vidhan”.

He said that the bani and music were inseparable. He explained that how various ‘ ragas’ expressed different feelings, which appealed to the common man. 

Chandigarh, August 23
In a major anti-encroachment drive, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) today challaned 320 persons in various parts of the city.

According to official sources, the sectors targetted during the drive included Sectors 7 to 11, Sectors 26 to 30, Sectors 15 to 21, Sectors 31 to 49 and the Industrial Area (I and II).

As many as 11 truckloads of items were seized from encroachers.

Meanwhile, the drive faced resistance from the residents of the Pushpac Complex in Sector 49. Hedges, kitchen gardens and plants grown by the occupants of the ground floors were uprooted by the civic body staff with a help of a JCB machine and the enforcement staff.

While the authorities concerned stressed the need for greening the city beautiful, the plants and hedges, grown by residents to beautify the area, were removed by the MCC, complained a Pushpac resident.

The team was headed by Mr O.P. Popli, Additional Commissioner, and Mr H.S. Kandohla, Secretary.

The Tehsildar, Mr B.D. Bishnoi, and the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) also accompanied the team with a strong posse of the police force.

Panchkula, August 23
The Municipal Council President, Mr Tarun Bhandari, today held an open darbar at Abheypur village, and assured residents that civic amenities would be improved at the earliest.

The residents complained that the roads in the village were in a bad condition, as these were not made of concrete. They said that as a result the roads remained filled with slush during the rainy season. They also complained of defunct street lights and of vacant plots being used as garbage dump.

It was also pointed out that the main problem in the village was that the sewerage system was choked, and sewage continued to flow in the open. They said they had made numerous representations to HUDA, but to no avail.

Mr Bhandari assured the residents that the MC would take up the matter of sanitation and streetlight maintenance.

Chandigarh, August 23
A 55-year-old Ambala district resident, in city to visit his daughter-in-law at Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital, was killed this evening after being hit by a motorcycle.

He was crossing the road to board a bus when the mishap occurred.

The sources in the police said the victim had been identified as Raula Singh. They added that the motorcyclist, a Milkfed employee, was arrested for causing death due to rash and negligent act under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code. He was later bailed out by the police.

Giving details, the sources said the victim had reached Chandigarh in the morning for visiting his expecting daughter-in-law. He was accompanied by his son Ashok Kumar when the accident took place. A senior officer said further investigations in the matter were on.

Mohali, August 23
Major confusion has erupted regarding the development of proposed Sector 82 here. Yesterday, Janta Land Promoters Limited (JLPL), a company owned by the Mohali Municipal Council Chief, Mr Kulwant Singh, had advertised that they were developing 300 acres of land in the sector for a world class industrial estate. However, early last month the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) had announced that it would develop the entire 850 acres in Sectors 82 and 83 for an integrated mixed-use industrial park.

While Mr Kulwant Singh claimed that his company has bought over 100 acres in the area already and had the requisite permission of the state government to do so, sources in PSIEC pointed out that the two sectors had been set aside by the government for development by PSIEC.

JLPL had yesterday, through an advertisement, offered freehold industrial units for sale in Sector 82 as part of its mega industrial project approved by the empowered committee of the state. “We are buying 180 acres of land in Sector 82 for the industrial component of the project, out of which we have already bought 100 acres. The rest of the sector is free for PSIEC or any other agency to develop,” said Mr Kulwant Singh.

On the other hand, the PSIEC had also started the land acquisition process in the area. Officers had visited the area with the SDM Mohali and the land records had been collected for the issuing of the notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act. (First stage for land acquisition)

According to Mr Gurdeep Singh, Chairperson of the PSIEC Officers Association, the Industries Department had given a go ahead to PSIEC to develop these two sectors. “The Industries Department had given PSIEC approval for the project in writing. Now JLPL has encroached upon our jurisdiction. PSIEC was to develop industrial zones, residential plots and commercial complexes, including shopping malls, multiplexes, in a time schedule of one year here,” he said.

Mr Kulwant Singh said according to the MOU signed by JLPL and the Punjab Government, JLPL was free to choose the land it wished to develop while conforming with the Mohali Master Plan. “Sector 82 is an industrial use area laid down by the Master Plan and we chose it first,” he said adding that they had made their intentions clear to the Industries Department.