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Property worth lakhs gutted
Lalru, December 26 The fire, which broke out around 4 pm in the mixing section of the factory, quickly spread to the store, the R and D section and the personnel section of the factory. Attempts by the factory workers to put out the blaze with the help of sand and water failed following which the police was informed. The Lalru SHO, Mr Rupinder Kumar Bhardwaj, reached the spot along with police force and the ambulance. Ultimately fire engines from Ambala, Dera Bassi and Dapper were called to extinguish the fire. Machinery and raw material worth several lakhs of rupees was destroyed in the fire though there was no loss of life. The new machinery acquired for the expansion of the plant was also destroyed. The fire engines battled for several hours to put out the blaze. But before that a thick smoke engulfed the adjoining villages spreading panic among the population. The company is into production of rubber products and a major supplier to such big automobile companies as Maruti, Mahindra and Mahindra, Tata and Hindustan besides being a major exporter. The head of the Personnel Department, Mr B.M. Sharma, informed that the extent of loss would be known only after an inquiry. The exact cause of fire could not be known immediately.
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Cops ram jeep into traffic rule violator
Panchkula, December 26 The incident took place this evening, when Sumit and his cousin, Samita, were coming home on a motorcycle. Sumit was not wearing a helmet. A police Sumo signalled the violator to stop, but he did not pay heed. As the police followed him to his home, they rammed the Sumo into the motorcycle. While Sumit escaped with minor injuries, Samita received injuries on her legs. Incidentally, the president of the Municipal Council, who stays nearby, was passing by, and he rushed the victims to hospital. They were later discharged after medical aid. THEFT: Two gas cylinders were stolen from the house of Mr Ramneek Kaushal in Sector 11 on the night intervening December 24 and 25. The miscrenats had reportedly sneaked into the house by scaling the gate. Mr Kaushal alleged that this was the third time that a theft had taken place in his house. “Three years ago, someone broke into the house and took away cash and valuables worth Rs 1 lakh. Three months ago, two folding beds kept on the terrace were also stolen” he said.
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Triangular contest likely for Mayor’s post
Chandigarh, December 26 While the nominated councillors in the Municipal Corporation House hold the key to the final outcome of the elections this year, the Opposition by fielding its candidates has created hurdles in the otherwise smooth election of the official Congress nominee, Mr Surinder Singh. The Congress has an absolute majority in the 30-member House, having a total strength of 16 members, including the local MP. On the last day of filing of nomination papers today, Mr Surinder Singh (Congress), Ms Kamla Sharma (BJP-SAD) and Mr Jitender Bhatia (CVM) filed their nominations for the post of Mayor. There will be a straight contest between Ms Shayama Negi of the Congress and Mr Rajesh Gupta of the BJP-SAD combine for the post of Senior Deputy Mayor. Similarly, Mr H.S Lucky of the Congress and Mr Vijay Rana of the CVM will also have a direct contest for the post of Deputy Mayor. Earlier in the day, all three Congress nominees accompanied by the local MP, Mr Pawan Bansal, the outgoing Mayor, Ms Anu Chatrath, and the party president, Mr B.B Bahl, filed their nomination papers before the Secretary of the Municipal Corporation, Mr S.K Setia, before 12 noon. Mr Bahl accompanied by Mr Chandermukhi left soon after filing the nomination papers. Party workers and supporters of the candidates in the fray were present in good strength to cheer the candidates. Two sets of nominations were filed by each of the candidates to rule out the possibility of any error. In the first set, the name of Mr Surinder Singh, was proposed for the post of the Mayor by Ms Anu Chatrath and seconded by Mr Subhash Chawla. Mr Pradeep Chhabra and Mr H.S Lucky were the proposer and seconder of his name in the second set. In the case of Shayama Negi , Ms Kamlesh and Ms Pushpa Sharma were the proposer and seconder in the first set; Mr Balraj Singh and Ms Harpreet Kaur Babla signed the second set of the nominations for the post of the Senior Deputy Mayor. Mr Kuldip Singh and Ms Kamlesh were the proposer and seconder for Mr H.S Lucky as he filed the first set of papers for the post of Deputy Mayor. Ms Lalit Joshi and Mr Surinder Singh were the signatories on the second set. Taking advantage of the factionalism in the local unit of the Congress, the BJP-SAD combine also decided to contest the election. Accompanied by their supporters former Mayor Kamla Sharma and Rajesh Gupta of the BJP-SAD combine , filed their papers for the posts of Mayor and Senior Deputy Mayor, respectively, in the afternoon. While the former ’s name was proposed by SAD councillor, Harjinder Kaur, it was seconded by Mr Rajesh Gupta. And the name of Mr Rajesh Gupta was proposed and seconded by Ms Kamla Sharma and Harjinder Kaur. The BJP candidates are banking on the support of some of the ‘‘unhappy’’ Congress councillors, the SAD councillor and a majority of the nominated councillors. Even Mr Jitender Bhatia of the CVM joined the race to contest for the Mayor’s post. Mr Vijay Singh Rana, otherwise an independent, filed his nominations for the post of the Deputy Mayor as a CVM candidate. Both filed their papers in the presence of the CVM leader, Mr Harmohan Dhawan. According to the Secretary, the nominations filed today can be withdrawn by 11 0’clock on January 1, the scheduled day for elections. The request for withdrawal can also be made after the meeting for election of the Mayor commences to the presiding officer. Maj-Gen ( retd) A.S Kahlon will be the presiding officer. The new Mayor will later hold the election of the Senior Deputy Mayor and the Deputy Mayor. The Congress has fielded Mr Surinder Singh, a neutral candidate, who was acceptable to both Mr Bansal and Mr Bahl, for the post. The claims of both the groups to the coveted post were ignored in view of the prevailing factionalism in the local unit, this was disclosed by sources in the party. But the prevailing resentment among a section of councillors in the party may gives rise to the possibility of cross-voting on the election day. Mr Bansal, however, ruled out any such possibility and said the party councillors would support the official candidates and lauded the selections made by the party observer yesterday. Even Mr Bahl had asked the councillors to vote and support the party candidates. It being the election year next year, the Congress councillors will not take chances by going against the party for they have to take ticket from the party only. Of the nine nominated councillors, Mr P.K Sahni, will not be present in the voting on that day. But still their votes will be precious in deciding who will be the next Mayor of the city for the last term of the Congress-led MC House. Sources add that the UT Administrator, Lieut Gen S.F Rodrigues (retd), may also play a role in guiding the nominated councillors in choosing the right candidate for the post. He is apparently not too happy with the Congress candidate, Mr Surinder Singh, who had at a public meeting called him General Dyer. Following this, the Governor had at the inauguration of the Town Park recently not allowed the local MP, Mayor and Mr Surinder Singh to speak. Thus, votes of nominated councillors will hold the key to the selection of the Mayor on the D-day.
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Bhavana crowned Ponds’ Googly Woogly Princess
Chandigarh, December 26 A second year B Sc Medical student at GCG-11, Bhavana’s winning Googly Woogly contest entry was her special moment when a friend complimented her saying “there’s something unique about your beautiful face that makes you more beautiful than anyone else.” Happy to have won the contest, Bhavana was accompanied by her parents and
sister who had come down for the ceremony. A hosteller, it was “by chance” Bhavana informed that she entered the contest. “The pamphlets for the Ponds’ Googly Woogly contest were distributed in our college during a fest at our college and I just filled it up by chance.” Though excited, Bhavana has her feet firmly on the ground and is keen to pursue her studies and not any beauty pageants. “I am happy having won the contest, but I would like to pursue my studies.” The Ponds’ Googly Woogly contest started on October 25 where women above the age of 18 were asked to write in the best compliment that they had ever received. As many as 15 women across India have been chosen as Ponds’ Googly Woogly princesses; four of them will be crowned Ponds’ Googly Woogly queens and will get Ponds’ diamond crowns with Ponds’ beauty range and Ritu Kumar’s designer outfit. Over one lakh entries poured in from across the country and the first 2000 entrants won a Ponds’ stunning silver tulip pendant.
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Excise Dept notice to organisers of exhibition at PU
Chandigarh, December 26 Sources in the Excise Department here stated that a team of excise officials conducted a surprise check at the museum in the university where the sale and purchase of coins and other antique items was going on. The notice issued to the organisers asks them to furnish complete details of the various transactions that took place at the university in the past two days. These would include information about the Todywalla auctions and the sales that took place at the exhibition. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr R.K. Rao, confirmed that the Excise and Taxation Department had conducted a check at the university following complaints of pilferage of
sales tax. Excise officials said VAT at the rate of 12.5 per cent has to be paid on every transaction that took place at the university during the time the exhibition was on. While excise officials confirmed that the notice had been issued to the Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology who is also the general secretary of the Numismatics Society of India, the university professors involved in the hosting of the conference had made it clear yesterday that their department was in no way connected with either the auctions or the selling and buying of coins and other material that was going on the campus.
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Blanket for python, heaters for lions
Chandigarh, December 26 Two lions that are above the age of 20 are enjoying the comfort of heaters. Most of the time they are in night shelters. However, only on Monday, when the zoo is closed for the public, they are released in the enclosures. While the average age of a lion in the wild is between 18 and 20, the zoo has two lions with the age around 22. The python is also being given special care. It has been “hospitalised”. From its enclosure, it has been shifted to the veterinary hospital in the zoo itself. A special wooden box has been made for the 10-foot-long python with a blanket as its bedding. A round-the-clock heat convector has been installed near its box so that it can hibernate naturally in the chilly weather. It will come out from hibernation only when the natural temperature reaches above 20°C. However, large voracious crocodiles do not need much care. During the sunny days, the crocodiles enjoy basking in the sun. During night or foggy days they usually take refuge in the deep water where the temperature is higher. Inside their enclosure, sand has been spread as it heats up faster than soil. Similarly, the hippopotamus enter deep water to protect themselves from the cold. For herd animals like the spotted dear and sambar, special thatched shelters have been made. These have paddy straw beds. They normally live in groups and share their body warmth with each other, but some younger and old ones need extra care. The enclosures of avian species are covered with plastic and jute sheets. Special attention is being paid to the chicks of the Sarus crane that were born in the captivity and pheasants. At present the zoo has six adult Sarus cranes and two chicks.
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MC proposal on water charges rejected
Mohali, December 26 The council received a letter from the Director-cum-Secretary Local Government, Mr G Vajralingum, which stated that the proposal of the civic body was rejected as it was against the financial interests of the council and also a violation of the decision taken by the government to hike water and sewerage charges. The resolution was rejected under Section 236 of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911. As the proposal got rejected the council today directed, through a letter, the local unit of the Department of Public Health to make collections from the residents according to the revised rates. The council had cleared the proposal to hike water and sewerage charges in the town at a meeting of the general house held on July 29. The then president of the civic body, Mr Kulwant Singh, had said that the council had to clear the proposal because the government had directed the Executive Officer to implement the revised rates. Moreover, an incentive in the form of funds was to be given to civic bodies that implemented the hike. Soon after clearing the hike the civic body had to face protest from municipal councillors of the opposition group and representatives of welfare bodies. In Phases III A and XI residents had blocked traffic on roads in protest against the hike in water and sewerage charges. Dharnas were also organised outside the office of the civic body against the hike putting a lot of pressure on the council to withdraw the increase in charges. Ultimately the council had to take a U-turn on the controversial issue at a meeting of the general house held on October 18 and decided to go back on its earlier resolution of implementing the hiked charges. It then urged the government to impose a stay on the increase and reconsider the decision.
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Rid Army of political interference
POLITICAL interference in the Army started when Mr Krishna Menon was the Defence Minister in the 1950s. Its shattering fallout in the 1962 war was too obvious to be missed. This interference coupled with favouritism continued to grow over the years. But the country was lucky to have a Prime Minister in Mr Lal Bahadur Shastri who stood by the Army in the 1965 war. If the 1971 war was a big success, it was because of the then Army Chief General (now Field Marshal) Sam Manekshaw, who could convince the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi conclusively that delaying of the war till December, 1971, was essential for the country’s success. If we could hold our heads high in the Kargil war in 1999, it was due to our junior leadership. Having once taken roots, political interference and favouritism have kept on denting the reputation of the Army. Almost every second year, some promotion at the higher level is made either by the Ministry of Defence or is manipulated by the Army Headquarters by twisting the rules to favour or disfavour some one. Do we need any better proof of this that the growing dissatisfaction in the Army, which reflects itself in the court cases and representations against denial of promotions? That sizeable number of senior officers have started going to courts does not speak well of the justice in the Army. Those who continue to feel that the malady of political interference and favouritism will not affect the fighting potential of the armed forces are deceiving the country. Sehjra Memorial
It was 48 Infantry Brigade of Golden Arrow Division that captured a strategic area of 52 km in the battle of Sehjra bulge in the 1971 war. In this daring action in the Ferozepore sector, five officers one JCO and 24 other ranks sacrificed their lives. For their success in this historic battle, the formation and its units were awarded the battle honour of “Sehjra” and theatre honour of “Punjab 1971”. The units of 48 Infantry Brigade also won six Vir Chakras six Sena Medals and one Atti Vashisht Seva Medal for their bravery in the battle. The Sehjra Memorial, which commemorates the supreme sacrifice made by the men of 48 Infantry Brigade, was raised in Ferozepore in 1999.
Abdication of
command responsibility
If 10 Army men were detained illegally for eight days in Jalandhar cantonment police station, as reported, the blame should go to the Army unit of these men. A defence spokesman is reported to have said that initial interrogation of these men by Brig Zile Singh, Commandant of Military Hospital, Jalandhar, pointed to their involvement in the disappearance of an eye-operating machine from the hospital. It was for this reason, the report says, that Brig Zile Singh allegedly handed over these men to the police. The Army is a unique organisation where as a leader you have the powers to order your men to face bullets in battle without reasoning. And this is why the powers to reward and punish them are vested in you. This brings one to the question: Why were these men handed over to the police when it was not a civil offence? The men involved in disappearance of the equipment were under the Army Act and the equipment also belonged to the Army. The right action would have been to investigate the case by holding a court of inquiry to pinpoint responsibility for the disappearance of the equipment. Thereafter, the culprit/culprits should have been tried under the Section 52 or 54 of Army Act, as applicable, or under another appropriate section, if a different offence was made out. It was totally wrong for the commandant to hand over his men to the police. By abdicating his command responsibility, he has proved that he was hesitant to deal with his men whom he “commands”. — Pritam Bhullar
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Electric poles pose danger
to motorists
Mohali, December 26 The poles already existed before the road was constructed to link Kambali and other villages a few months ago. The poles along with metal stay wires now occupy a large portion of the road proving to be a bottleneck to the traffic in the area. During the day vehicle drivers have to exercise extra caution to avoid hitting the poles and wires. One can well imagine the danger the poles pose to drivers at night. The Senior Executive Engineer of the PSEB, Mr H.S. Boparai, said the work of shifting the poles got delayed because PUDA had not deposited the required charges for the work for a long time. The PSEB, in fact, had to issue notices in this regard. As the funds had now been deposited, the work of shifting the poles would be completed soon.
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IInd phase of Raen Basera opens
Chandigarh, December 26 The wife of the UT Administrator, Ms Jean Rodrigues, who was the chief guest, appreciated the new facilities provided by the Chandigarh Administration. After renovation, the capacity of the Raen Basera has been increased to 105 beds from the 45
beds.
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Flights to city resume
Chandigarh, December 26 Authorities at the airport informed that the flight had already been cancelled yesterday “due to a technical snag”. Meanwhile, though the Indian Airlines and Jet Airways flights came to the city, they were late. The Indian Airlines flight arrived around three and a half hours late. Its scheduled time is 5.30 pm. The Jet Airways flight was half an hour late from its scheduled time and arrived at about 2.15 pm. Trains, however, were on time today.
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NRI’s purse stolen
Chandigarh, December 26 Car, scooter stolen
Ms Natasha of Sector 44-B lodged a complaint with the police, alleging that her car (CH-03-U-4144) was stolen from in front of her residence on Sunday. In another incident, Ms Rajnish Kaur of Sector 27-D filed a complaint with the police, alleging that her Kinetic Honda Scooter (CH-01-Q-1684) was stolen from Sector 26 on Sunday.
Gambling
The local police has arrested Surinder Kumar, a shopkeeper in Sector 17, ISBT, on the allegations of indulging in gambling at A public place on Sunday. The police recovered Rs 415 from his possession and registered a case under the Gambling Act in the Sector 17 police station.
Accident
Three youngsters suffered injuries after a truck collided head-on with the motor cycle they were riding near the Dhillon traffic lights point here late last night. The injured were identified as Parveen Kumar of Old Panchkula, Kuldeep Singh and Ganesh. They were shifted to the PGI, where their condition was stated to be stable. A case under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC has been registered against Rajesh Kumar, the truck driver.
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3 CTU conductors held for assault
Chandigarh, December 26 Giving details of the matter, sources in the Industrial Area police station said a case has been registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by Ms Amar Singh, a senior assistant of CTU. Mr Amar Singh had alleged that on December 12, Devinder Kumar, Gurraj Singh and Girdari Lal, all conductors of CTU assaulted him. Devinder Kumar is also a general secretary of the CTU Employees Union (United). He further alleged that his two teeth were broken in the assault. The police today registered a case after the medical examination reports confirmed the injuries. It may be recalled that the CTU employees joint action committee had threatened to go on strike in case the administration failed to take action against the accused.
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Burglar nabbed; stolen cars recovered
Panchkula, December 26 Addressing a press conference, Mr Balbir Singh, Superintendent of Police, said as many as 39 cases of car lifting and chain snatching, too, had been solved with the arrest of the gang member. He lauded the efforts of the special staff in capturing the high profile burglar Ravinder Singh, alias Dolly, after four months of chase. Terming him as the ‘catch of the year’ Balbir Singh disclosed that so far stolen articles including gold and silver ornaments worth Rs 27 lakh, have been recovered from Ravinder Singh. His interrogations is still in progress, he added. The special staff led by ASI Surjit Singh and Head Constbale Jagdish Chand, had nabbed the notorious thief on December 10, from Kurukshetra. The SP Panchkula disclosed that Dolly worked as a labourer in Mohali till 1991, before resorting to petty thefts and gradually targeting the posh urban areas for burglaries. The district police chief has recommended befitting rewards to the special staff officials for rendering meritorious service to apprehend the notorious criminal.
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Money stolen from van
Mohali, December 26 It is learnt that the Qualis van bore a Chandigarh registration number and the owner had parked the vehicle near the Phase IV rehri market when the incident had taken place.
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1 hurt in mishap
Panchkula, December 26
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Global warming has taken its toll even on a city like hours lying at feel of the Shivalik hills. Winter now takes a long time to come here. But Christmas morning was certainly a foggy one in the city. Instead of grumbling about the fog, Chandigarhians are actually welcoming it. This so because the song of the seasons would not be quite complete without a cold winter in the north. So people are making the most of winter by wearing their special woolies, eating rich food and having more than a drop or two of their favourite spirits without any qualms because one has to keep warm. Well, there is more to the cold season than just that. Philosophically, it is the time to look inwards ho and get ready to take spring and summer by the horns. Thinkers even in regions where winter is far harsher have said this. Albert Camus said: “In the depth of winter, I finally learned within me there lay an invincible summer.” Pietro Aretino said: “Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.” So let us celebrate the cool clime and move onto the next year.
