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Two collisions, 1 death and callous police
Chandigarh, October 5 The deceased has been identified as Ajay Gautam, a plus II student of Guru Gobind Singh Collegiate School in Sector 26. He was the only son of his parents, who are living in Manimajra’s Darshni Bagh area.
The relatives of the deceased and the injured are in Chandigarh Police. Though the policemen initially said both riders were underaged, they went back on their statement later. The police has registered a case of causing death due to rash and negligent driving against Gurjeet Singh. Gurjeet was riding the other motorcycle. He is a son of a head constable of the Chandigarh Police. The other victim, Parminder Singh, resident of Phase-I, Mohali and SGGS student, had reportedly banged his bike with the stationary ITBP van. He was struggling for life at the PGIMER at the time of filing the report. A case of rash and negligent driving has been registered against him also. In a state of shock even after an hour of the incident, eyewitnesses said the accident happened at about 12.05 p.m. Helmetless Ajay was coming from the Manimajra side on his motorcycle. He was caught unawares as Gurjeet, unable to control his motor cyclecame in his way after taking a turn. In the head-on collision, Gautam lost control over the motorcycle and fell down on the road. In the process the clutch lever of a motorcycle pierced his throat, which later proved fatal, the eyewitnesses said. A student standing nearby told Chandigarh Tribune that Gautam kept on lying the road unattended for about 15 minutes although the policemen were informed about the mishap almost immediately. Even after reaching the spot, the police failed to arrange for a vehicle for shifting injured Gautam to the hospital. In fact, they kept on asking passersby to take the injured to the hospital. “Even though time was running out, the police remained a silent spectator,” the student said, adding that seeing the callous attitude of the policemen, another student of the SGGS College Arshdeep Singh came forward and took the victim in an autorickshaw alone to the Sector 16 General Hospital. Arshdeep told Chandigarh Tribune at the General Hospital that the victim died on way to the hospital. He was of the opinion that Ajay could have been saved had the police arranged timely treatment. The doctors on duty refused to comment on the issue, saying that it was too premature for them to say anything. In Sector 26 traffic came to a standstill as passersby being curious stopped their vehicles as the damaged motorcycles had been parked right in the middle. Even before they could comprehend what had happened, a deafening sound filled the air as Paraminder Singh rammed into an ITBP van entering Sacred Heart School. He too was not wearing a helmet. The sources add that in this case also the police, already present at the spot, failed to shift him to the hospital. After waiting for over 10 minutes, the ITBP driver, Mr Sharif Mohammad, bundled the victim into the vehicle and rushed him to the PGIMER, all alone without any assistance. Eyewitnesses said the accident could have been averted had the policemen swung into action against traffic rule violators soon after the first mishap. Even after an hour of the accident the police did not have any information about the whereabouts of Parminder Singh and the ITBP driver. It was only later they came to know that Parminder had been taken to the PGI.
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PGI van caught dumping biomedical waste at Dadu Majra
Chandigarh, October 5 The van carrying the waste was impounded, but was later let off after a warning to the PGI against following the practice. In a separate letter to the Pollution Control Board, the corporation has recommended initiation of prosecution proceedings against the PGI. They will also be required to give an undertaking that biomedical waste would not find its way into solid waste, failing which their vans would not be allowed at the site. Sources in the MC said they had received a complaint against the PGI for flouting the rules of biomedical waste management and Environment Protection Act. To verify the complaint, Mr H.S. Khandola, Joint Commissioner, and Dr G.C. Bansal, Medical Health Officer, today, reached the site to verify the contents of the waste being disposed of. To their surprise, they
found bags labelled PGI which were containing solid waste mixed with biomedical waste. The vehicle was then impounded. The Deputy Medical Superintendent, PGI, was also called on the spot. Councillors have been repeatedly highlighted that biomedical waste was being dumped at the site without permission. However, the health and sanitation wing had dismissed the allegation. The Chairman of the Sanitation Committee, Mr Pradeep Chhabra, said despite having highlighted the problem, the sanitation wing failed to take any action against the PGI. “Now that they have evidence, action must be initiated against the guilty even if it includes securitymen employed at the site who allowed medical waste inside,” he maintained. Officials of the PGI were not available for comment.
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City set to host galaxy of leaders
Chandigarh, October 5 It is for the first time in the history of the city that it will witness so many national leaders coming here together. Besides Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi and 15 chief ministers will attend the conclave under tight security. Besides politicians, the city will also host many senior bureaucrats and technocrats from the participating states. Thirteen chief ministers from the Congress-ruled states will arrive here tomorrow while those from Punjab and Haryana will receive them. The two-day conference gets under way on Friday morning and will conclude after Dr Manmohan Singh’s address on Saturday afternoon. About six Congress leaders, including Ms Gandhi and Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Andhra Chief Ministers are protected by the Z-plus security cover. In Chandigarh, many parts of Sector 10 and Sector 3, including Leisure Valley and Bougainvillaea Gardens, will be unavailable for walkers and other city residents from midday tomorrow for 48 hours. Hotel Mountview and its surrounds have been put under surveillance and
most areas around it will become unapproachable for most period of the conclave, even though the city police claims that it will try to ensure least inconvenience to the public. Senior officer of the Special Protection Group (SPG), that looks after the PM’s security, has already surveyed the area and asked all occupants of high-rise building not to use the roofs and keep the windows closed. As many as 145 rooms have been booked in the hotel for the stay of the VIPs, including Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Brand new Toyota Camry cars, bought by the Punjab Government for its ministers this week, will ferry the chief ministers and other VIPs around the city. Journalists will not be allowed inside the conference hall though the inaugural ceremony will be telecast live. Haryana Nivas will serve as the media centre for the event. The lunch and dinner will be served at Haryana Bhavan, the venue of the conclave, even though most of the VIPs are staying in the hotel. Hotel Taj is the official caterer for all three days. While, Friday will be the busiest day with the Congress leaders, huddled in the conclave from 7 am to 11 pm, the conclave will be declared closed around midday on Saturday. While Ms Gandhi will inaugurate the conclave, the PM is expected to address the party leaders on Saturday. Ms Gandhi will stay at Haryana Raj Bhavan, while the PM will shuttle between Delhi and Chandigarh on both days. Over 2,000 armed police personnel, nearly 250 officers, several jammer-fitted vehicles, bullet-proof cars, sharp shooters and commandoes with bullet-proof vests will be stationed in and around the venue. The CMs to participate in the conclave include Dr Y.S Rajashekhar Reddy (Andhra Pradesh), Ms Shiela Dixit (Delhi), Mr Dharam Singh (Karnataka), Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh (Maharashtra), Mr N.D Tewari (Uttaranchal), Mr Gegong Apang (Arunachal Pradesh), Mr Tarun Gogia (Assam), Mr Partapsinh Rana (Goa), Mr Oommen Chandy (Kerala), Mr Okram Ibobi Singh (Manipur), Dr D.D Lapang (Meghalaya), Mr N. Rangaswamy (Pondicherry), Captain Amarinder Singh (Punjab), Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Haryana), and Mr Mangat Ram Sharma (Dy CM, Jammu and Kashmir).
Combing drive
Massive combing operations to flush out anti-social elements have been launched by the police in connection with the Congress Chief Ministers’s conclave scheduled to begin in Chandigarh from October 7. Sources in the police said the antecedents of 521 persons were verified during the operation today. Over 270 officers and other personnel took part in the operation. They added that officers from all police stations carried out search at the Inter-State Bus Terminus in Sector 17 and 43. Besides this, special checks were carried out at the railway station, hotels, motels, guest houses and even dhabas all over the city. The sources further added that they were also keeping a tab on the movements of certain persons who had settled down in the city during the recent months. A senior officer added that snipers, belonging to the operation cell of the Chandigarh Police, along with Home Guard personnel and other cops, had been deployed. Meanwhile, passengers getting ready to board buses were thoroughly frisked by police personnel at the two bus stands. Their bags and baggage were also searched. The police also stopped people travelling by auto-rickshaws for “routine checking”, besides checking the antecedents of people living in the slums and colonies in and around Chandigarh.
TNS
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Brigadier in dock for professional impropriety
Chandigarh, October 5 The CoI was ordered after the Army received a written complaint, supported with documents, against the accused. The complaint, according to sources, is believed to have been written by a JCO who retired recently. It has also been sent to the Discipline and Vigilance Branch at Army Headquarters as well as Headquarters Southern Command, Pune. Meanwhile, the brigadier is said to have ordered his own court of inquiry to ascertain as to how documents and other information pertaining to the aforementioned issues were leaked. Sources said as per the complaint, the officer used to take large sums of money on "loan" from the CSD canteen located at Brigade Headquarters. Hand-written notes made by the canteen NCO in this regard, are understood to have been made available to the Army authorities. When asked to return the money to the canteen, the officer allegedly used to take some money from the Commander's welfare fund to make part payments. It is also alleged that the officer bought a house in Panchkula recently, but failed to report it as required by Army regulations. Prior to being posted as the Brigade Commander, he had served in the Rashtriya Rifles as well as a Branch Recruiting Office. The CoI is also investigating the officer's numerous trips to New Delhi for apparently official work. According to the complaint, he used to travel to Delhi by First Class AC train, but also used to send his own car ahead for travel in Delhi. He is further alleged to have obtained extra travel warrants. The visits to Delhi, sources said, were sanctioned by the Directorate General of Mechanised Forces at Army Headquarters. The CoI, sources said, is also looking at allegations listed in the complaint that the officer used to patronise call-girls in hotels during his visits to Delhi.
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Theory may explain why Indians have potbellies
Chandigarh, October 5 Western scientists are working on a theory that certain people in the world such as South Asians and some tribes in the Pacific islanders may have a gene that scientists at this time like to call the 'starvation' or 'selfish' gene. This gene rather than using up good food for the building of the body prefers to store it for times such as 'famines'. Even though, the scientists are yet to discover and identify it, Western scientists further believe that this gene has become redundant in Europeans. Talking to The Tribune, Dr Gautam Chaudhry, Executive Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), said the theory propounded by Jared Diamond at the UCLA might have a solution to problems like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Explaining the theory propounded by Diamond, a UCLA professor of geography and environmental heath sciences, Dr Chaudhry said "he thinks that the gene allows storage of adipose tissue to come in hand during starvation and famine. It is a protective mechanism evolved by the human body to come in handy during difficult times". "Putting on weight is explained by the presence of this gene in the body. This relates specially to the obesity and that too in the frontal abdominal region. This has a direct relation with diabetes and cardiovascular disease", Dr Chaudhry said. The India-born US physician was in the city as part of the US delegation of scientists to participate in a scientific session on 'Maternal health and infant mortality'. He disclosed that scientists took the theory of Jared Diamond, who won a Pulitzer for his book 'Guns, Germs and Steel', quite seriously as this may further lead to research that shows a way to the cure of diabetes and heart ailments. Even as Dr Chaudhry simply explained the theory of Jared Diamond without making any personal observation, among other western scientists, some are sceptical about Diamond's theory on human genes. Their main objection is that even though Diamond has suggested that it is genes that pre-dispose people to diabetes, he has failed to explain "why, for instance, only 2 per cent of Europeans contract the disease as opposed to 13 per cent of African Americans, 17 per cent of U.S. Latinos and up to 50 per cent of Native Americans" Jared Diamond had propounded, "Immediately following Europe's last widespread famines centuries ago, a diabetes epidemic appears to have killed a large number of Europeans with these genes before they could be passed on to successive generations……….Meanwhile, traditionally poor or rural non-European populations have not experienced a diabetes epidemic -- until lately. So these people still carry the genes in large measure, and as a result they become highly prone to diabetes when they move into urban or westernised settings where the disease's risk factors are more common." Scientists suggest that if proved accurate, Diamond's theory means "today's soaring diabetes rates will continue to mount as people whose ancestors were never exposed to the epidemic adopt the disease's twin
risk factors: abundant food and more sedentary lifestyles. Already, the disease affects 150 million worldwide". Scientists are also, therefore, trying to establish a co-relation between the 'starvation' gene and diabetes.
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At 73, he can give complex
to youngsters
Chandigarh, October 5 Pritam Singh hails from Hoshiarpur in Punjab. Pritam, who was in city today, said it was in 1993 when his name was included in the Guinness Book of World Records for covering 5,000 km from Mumbai to Hoshiarpur and back in 14 days. This was recommended by the Cycling Federation of India. A baptised Sikh and a retired headmaster from the Punjab Education Department, he belongs to Bohan village in Hoshiarpur district and it was only 13 years back at the age of 60 when he actually took to competitive sport. His past record is very impressive with the first gold medal coming in 1994 in the World Masters Games, Brisbane, Australia. The second gold medal came in 1996 in England, the third in 1997 in Canberra (Australa), fourth in 1998 in Dunedin, New Zealand, fifth in Portland, USA, in 1998, sixth in 1999 in Adelaide and seventh in 2002. All the above medals he secured in World Masters Games. Recalling his other challenges in life, Pritam said he had once given an open challenge to the English people to have a non-stop cycle race from London to Glasgow (Scotland), which was accepted by an Italian. This race was also won by Pritam Singh in 13 hours and 19 minutes and he beat Charles, the Italian, by 20 minutes. Pritam Singh was all praise for the
94-year-old Fauja Singh, a UK-based non-resident Indian and said he would continue with this for another 25 years. But the only impediment was the huge finance for going abroad as he has so far spent around Rs 8 lakh entirely from his savings on his tours. He is hopeful of some commendation from Punjab, with the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, being a sports lover. Pritam has two sons, two daughters and eight grand children. His daily schedule involves getting up at 3.30 am and after one hour of meditation, he drinks 2 litres of milk. He also has desi ghee, almonds, honey. He says he can cover the distance in eight hours from Hoshiarpur to Chandigarh.
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Badal flays amendments in education board Act
Mohali, October 5 In a press released issued here, Mr Badal said that the board was an educational institution which had been given the status of a university by the SAD government by making it an autonomous body. Mr Badal said that the ordinance issued by the Governor in connection with the board Act would adversely affect the interests of the institution. He said that the SAD strongly condemned the move of the government of carrying out amendments which affected the autonomy of the board. He said that if SAD came to power in the state it would withdraw all the amendments and once again make the board an autonomous body. The SAD would be supporting the agitation of the employees in every way. The Punjab School Education Board (non-teaching) Employees Association held a protest and raised slogans against the government. It demanded that the amendments should be withdrawn at the earliest.
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Passing Thru
What changes you see in home-furnishing trends?
Home furnishing has come a long way from just hanging curtains and upholstering the sofas. Now it is as much a fashion statement as the designer clothes with new collections being launched every couple of months. Along with this the trends are more global, in nature. What is the current status and future focus of the company? The company, with an annual turnover of Rs 21-25 crores, is one of the most popular furnishing fabrics brands in India. It has a well entrenched retail network in India with three flagship stores in Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh and retails through as many as 40 prime home-furnishing stores in metros like Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and other major cities. We are also exporting furnishing fabrics to France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, the USA etc. We will be introducing home linen also soon to cover the entire home-furnishing segment. We are aiming at 20-25 per cent growth this year. Do you see any change in customer preferences? Surely, actually there has been a sea change in the customers’ preferences in the last five years. People are ready to spend more and go in for change more frequently now. People are going in for coordinated look as the concept of designer homes is catching on. — Geetu Vaid
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PSIEC flat allottees meet Dullo
Mohali, October 5 Stating that they had been allotted residential plots under the industrial housing policy of the PSIEC, UDHYOG in March 2004, the member told Mr Dullo that such plots had also been advertised and given by PSIEC in Patiala and Ludhiana. “Although there was no such indication in the application from that a reference is pending with the state of Punjab for their approval, suddenly a mention appeared in the newspapers that that the draw is being held provisionally and the applicants declared successful will be placed on a provisional list for plot allotment subject to the final decision on the aforesaid Industrial Housing scheme at Focal Point Mohali,” they pointed out. According to a press note issued by Mr Harnaib Singh, convener of the association, a recent decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had been given in the case but PSIEC had not announced its final decision in the matter.
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Cops sleep as students ‘drive’ to death
Chandigarh, October 5 Senior police officers refuse to comment on the issue. Sources in the police headquarters admit that the number of accidents involving students — both major and minor — are on the rise in the city due to “poor awareness” and lack of regular challans. The sources claim that once in a while the police does hold nakas outside the school complexes. The mass challaning of youngsters during these “nakas” is a testimony to “intense traffic violation” by the student community. Recently one such “naka” was organised by the traffic wing of the Chandigarh Police outside a school in Sector 15. Besides under-age drivers and listening to mobile phone by
students while driving, over 50 students were challaned for riding without helmets and other offences. Otherwise, also just drive down the road leading to any college in the city and you will see three persons on a scooter, riding without helmets. The fear of men-in-white is the last thing on their mind as they zip down the roads at break-neck speed. The sources admit that regular “nakas” can go a long way in preventing the mishaps, but sadly nothing is done in this regard.. Though exact data is not available with the police, the sources say that everyday one or two accidents, involving students, take place in the city. Of course, all mishaps are not brought to the notice of the Chandigarh Police as in most of the cases the matter is resolved amicably. Quoting rough figures, the sources say 1,633 accident were reported to the police from January 2000 till April this year. In 2004 alone 396 accidents were reported to the cops. Out of these, 141 were fatal. In a substantial number of these mishaps, the students were directly or indirectly involved. Among the victims was a Sector 10 college student. Though his parents had warned him against riding a bike, he borrowed his friends motor cycle two months back and died during a test ride in Sector 11. The sources assert that the student could have survived the mishap had the traffic police succeeded in making him wear the safety helmet while riding the bike.
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Panel to lose Dasehra site next year
Mohali, October 5 This was stated by Mr Madhu Bhushan, president of the committee, at a press conference here today. He said that for the past many years Dasehra was being celebrated in Phase VIII but it would become difficult to hold the function here next year after development was carried out in the area. He said that Dasehra would be celebrated in the town on October 12 in Phase VIII. Preparations for the celebrations were going on at full swing. The size of the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnadh would be more than 65 ft high. The work on the effigies was being done by skilled workers from Uttar Pradesh.
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Train cancelled
Chandigarh, October 5
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Probe ordered into cop’s death
Chandigarh, October 5 The Chandigarh police said that it was not hushing up the matter as alleged by the family of the deceased and assured that on the basis of the findings of the probe action would be taken against the guilty. In a press release a spokesman of the Chandigarh police said that the representations received from the next of kin have been referred to DSP (Central) P.K. Dhawan, for conducting an independent probe into the circumstances as mentioned therein. The probe would be separate from the inquest proceedings being conducted by the Sector 3 Police Station.
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Ramzaan from today
Chandigarh, October 5
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Power cut in Mohali today
Mohali, October 5
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2 held for 11 snatchings
Mohali, October 5 According to a press note issued by the SP, Mr Varinder Pal Singh, here today the arrested persons were Pushpinder Singh, a resident of Phase III, and Ramdin, a resident of Mohali village. He said that keeping in view the cases of snatching a team headed by Mr Gurcharan Singh, SHO, Phase VIII, was constituted to nab the snatchers. The two arrested persons used to roam on a motor cycle in the evening and targeted women coming back from offices and those near the markets and allegedly snatched purses and gold chains from them. He said that Pushpinder Singh used to drive the motor cycle while Ramdin sat pillion and allegedly snatched purses etc. The SP further alleged that they used to change the number of the motor cycle now and then and even covered the number plate of the vehicle at times. Pushpinder Singh had studied till Class XII and now had allegedly fallen prey to drugs. He became friendly with Ramdin, who used to sell eatables outside a hospital in Phase IV. The two of them then started committing crimes. They allegedly used credit cards, found from snatched purses for buying petrol, TV sets and CDs. Many items were recovered from them. They had admitted that they had indulged in 11 cases of snatchings. The SP said that two or three more groups of snatchers were active in the town and the police was making efforts to nab them also.
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Rs 1 lakh snatched in Sector 8
Chandigarh, October 5 Police sources said Vinod Kumar and Manish Kumar employees of a Sector 22-based money transferring company, were going on their motor cycle after withdrawing Rs 1 lakh from a bank in Sector 9. When they reached near Sector 8 temple two unidentified motorcycle-borne youths snatched the bag from Manish, who was riding pillion. Manish reportedly fell from the vehicle. In other incident, Mr Banwari Lal told the police that two unidentified scooterist snatched his purse containing Rs 3,500 from near gate number 3 of the Panjab University this morning. Two separate cases have been registered.
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Old man jumps to death at GMCH
Chandigarh, October 5 According to the police, a teacher by profession Avtar Singh of Chamkor Sahib in Punjab had come to the hospital for treatment of a throat ailment. He was to be operated open. Last night he was noticed jumping from the third floor by a watchman, but by the time the watchman could reach Avtar Singh he allegedly jumped to death. Later, the police handed over the body to the family as they refused to get a post-mortem examination done.
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2 held in cheating cases
Chandigarh, October 5 Police sources said that acting on the basis of complaints made by the Land Acquisition Officer, two cases had been registered in the Mani Majra police station while another was registered in the Sector 39 police station. The sources added that Sushil Kumar of Panchkula was arrested on for allegedly selling a 5 marla plot in Mani Majra, while another resident of Mani Majra Pardeep Kumar was also booked on similar allegations. Raj Kumari of Dadu Majra Colony was booked for cheating and violating the Punjab New Capital Periphery Act, 1952 by making a sale agreement of Rs 15 lakh for an un- allotted plot.
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Store launched
Chandigarh, October 5 Mr Mandeep Singh Wadhwa, MD said, “We are offering a comprehensive home furnishing package to the customers as our in-house team of designers develop designs along with colour, pattern and texture coordinates so the customer doesn’t have to worry about mismatched furnishings. We are also offering ‘Seasons on call’ concept under which our experts will provide complete furnishing advice at the customer’s doorstep’’. On display in the store is a range of almost 15,000 designs in various textures from sheer to silk to jacquard and leather in the price range of Rs 150 to Rs 5,000 per metre.
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At 73, “young’’ veteran cyclist Pritam Singh Khalsa, is a force to reckon with in the world of cycling. The man who has the stamina to paddle 270 km in eight hours, which is a normal routine for him. This grey haired bravado has won his eight gold medal in the 100 km cycle race in the World Masters Games held in Edmonton (Canada) in July.
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