Chandigarh, June 7
The Bhiwani police has busted a notorious inter-state gang of vehicle snatchers with the arrest of five persons.

They recovered seven stolen vehicles - one Triverra, two Santros, one Scorpio, one Zen, one Indigo and one Innova.

Inspector-general of police, Hisar range, Yash Pal Singal told TNS that two vehicles were recovered from Orissa and one from Srinagar today.

Ajay, Ravinder, alias Lucky, Naveen, alias Munna, Niran, alias Nittu, and Pawan have been arrested.

Ajay, who was carrying a reward of Rs 20,000 on his head, was allegedly the leader of the gang.

Two mousers, two pistols, one toy pistol and ammunition were recovered from them.

Singal said six persons had snatched a Triverra owned by a Delhi-based printer on May 2 on pistol point near Imlota village in Dadri.

Complainant Rajinder Kumar was seriously injured by the snatchers.

A special team was constituted under CIA inspector Ram Avtar. Working under the supervision of SP, Bhiwani, Subhash Yadav, the team cracked the case and arrested the suspects.

During sustained interrogation Ajay and Ravinder admitted that the Trivera had been sold to a resident of Srinagar for Rs 90,000. They also admitted the snatching of the other vehicles.

Singal said Ajay was a terror in the area. He was allegedly involved in a murder case, three cases of robbery, and a case of attempt to murder, besides several other crimes.

On April 1 last he and his gang members made a murderous attempt on a doctor of Dadri after he did not pay them the ransom amount.

After nine days, the criminals demanded Rs 5 lakh from the owner of an oil mill.

Karnal, June 7
An expert on tectonic studies has successfully identified ‘Jayanti Devi fault,’ a region highly vulnerable to earthquake and posing a serious threat to the unchecked trend of multi-storeyed buildings in Chandigarh and the surrounding areas.

The study favours ‘seismic hazard microzoning’ of the tricity to categorise the entire area according to the threat perception from earthquake damages.

Experts have further cautioned that the defence installations should also take into consideration the earthquake hazard that the region is prone to.

Dr A. R. Chaudhri, reader in the Department of Geology, Kurukshetra University, conducted the study.

It was focused to study the seismic hazard in the vicinity of Chandigarh in view of the strategic importance of the city and reported tectonic activity witnessed near Nada village, Panchkula district in 2001.

Sharing the details of his first-phase study exclusively with The Tribune today Dr Chaudhri said that the satellite imageries of the region and extensive geological investigations confirmed Chandigarh and the surrounding areas as a ``Jyanti Devi Fault’’, the major active fault in the region.

This fault is offsetting the path of nearly all the water channels in the vicinity of Chandigarh, namely the Jainti Devi Ki Rao, the Patiali Rao, the Kansal stream and the Sukhna stream.

He said due to constant northward drift of the Indian Plate at a rate of about 50 mm per year, as revealed by GPS measurements across different sectors of the Himalayas, tremendous stress is building up in the lithospheric plates in the region.

When this stress exceeds the limit, rupture takes place and the stored energy is released in the form of vibrations or earthquakes.

Tectonic geomorphic studies have revealed that at present the terrain around Chandigarh, Panchkula, Nada, Ramgarh, Pinjore, Baddi, and Nalagarh is tectonically active.

Dr Chaudhari said there was an immediate need to check the construction of high-rise buildings.

He said that the authorities should ensure that proper earthquake-resistant building codes were followed strictly.

Several IT units and private builders have set their massive multi-storeyed structures in and around the tricity.

Studies revealed that southern sectors of Chandigarh and adjoining areas of Punjab have shallow water table, which increases the seismic vulnerability.

Le Carbousier, the architect of Chandigarh, had also designed single-storeyed or duplex masonary houses, except for a few government buildings, he added.

The expert stressed the need to have low height masonry buildings with foundation structures capable of withstanding the seismic shocks.

On October 19, 2005 the aftershocks rocked the city six times.

Hisar, June 7
The Haryana Sahitya Academy awards announced recently have sent literary circles in a tizzy.

Among the most controversial awardees is an official of the state Excise Department undergoing trial in a graft case.

Academy sources justify the selection on the grounds that when the book entitled Parwaz-e-Ahsaas was submitted, the official had not yet been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Besides, the details of the author are not known to the persons who review the book and recommend it for any award. The third plea is that the academy has awarded a book, not an author.

Several eminent writers, however, disagreed with this justification. One of them quipped on condition of anonymity "by this analogy the academy may well award a book by Dawood Ibrahim! ".

The academy has also awarded a former member of its governing body who has penned a novel called Astitva.

Although he is reported to have quit the academy's governing council before the award was announced, the fact remains that he was a member of the governing body during the year for which the award was given.

Sources said this particular author was nominated for another prestigious award of the academy.

However, several members raised objections after which the matter was reverted to the academy from the highest levels with the remarks that someone else be nominated in his place as a member of the governing body should not be selected for an award in the interest of transparency.

The academy was especially kind to a Rohtak-based author who won an award for his short story and also a book. He was also given a grant for publishing a manuscript.

Rohtak, June 7
The superintendent of police, Dr C.S.Rao, today ordered an inquiry into the non-registration of a complaint at Urban Estate police station here.

The Tribune had carried a news report in these columns.

The SP himself visited the said police station this afternoon and asked the SHO and other personnel present there to explain the delay.

The complainant, Amit Sharma, was also present on the occasion.

After listening to the version of both sides, Dr Rao ordered a preliminary inquiry into the matter.

He directed the DSP (Detective), Rohtak, to conduct the inquiry and submit the report within a day.

Meanwhile, the complaint has been registered and a copy of it was handed over to the complainant in the presence of the SP.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr Rao said a thorough probe would be conducted and strict action taken against the personnel found guilty.

He admitted that negligence and insensitive approach of the official on duty was evident.

The complainant, Amit Sharma of Sector 1 Housing Board Colony here, had lost his wallet containing some cash and important documents and cards.

He had approached The Tribune when he failed to get his complaint registered despite repeated attempts.

As the matter came to notice of the police authorities following the publication of the report, they swung into action.

Khanpur Kalan (Sonepat), June 7
With teething troubles in abundance, the optimism of people in the rural heartland of Haryana over the setting up of the first women university here is worth appreciating.

It is the determination to succeed that makes staff and students of the Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishvavidyalaya (BPSMV) jubilant.

The existing infrastructure does not give the semblance of a university to the group of seven existing institutions functioning here.

After the Haryana legislature enacted a law last November, announcing the formation of the women university, it was decided to continue with the admissions in the existing courses.

Suddenly, the available infrastructure has become grossly inadequate for the regions first women university.

“Every institution has to face problems in the beginning. But the staff and students don’t seem to mind it because they know it will soon be over,” said Pratima Ranga, officiating principal of the Law College at the university.

“With the institution graduating to be a university, the atmosphere is bound to change, existing teachers feel more secure as they will get UGC grades, the curriculum will be changed to meet a university standard improving things for both the students and the teachers,” she adds.

Registrar Sumedha Kataria disclosed that Rs 75 crore has been sanctioned by the government to improve the infrastructure.

“The initial focus is to build three new girls hostels, 75 staff quarters, 100 faculty houses, two new teaching blocks, one floor for law faculty and one campus school for children of the university staff. In the second phase, attention will be paid to other issues,” she said.

But as of today, the accommodation for girls is inadequate. There is no guest room and students receive their parents under a tin roof without any facility of a canteen or drinking water.

Six to seven girls are packed in one room. It is almost impossible to reach the institutions from Sonepat without travelling several kilometres on roads that exist only on government records.

The university already has about 5000 girls enrolled in various courses (in the seven existing colleges) on campus that lead to BAMS, B.Ed, D.Ed, diploma in electronics and communication, computer eng, pharmacy, lib and information science, MLT, IT and modern office practice. Girls Law College is currently conducting five-year and three-year LLB courses.

Pooja Sharma, a student of first-year Information Technology (IT) diploma student, said even before the first admission here after the institutions elevation to the status of a university, those studying here could feel that extra emphasis being laid on the development of three core areas; communication skills, personality development and computer efficiency.

This would help scholars to achieve the all-round excellence in their pursuits after they pass out.

The BPSMV has formed a vision group that will help the institution achieve its desired objectives.

The core team shaping the future of the university include Padmashree Sudha Murty, chairperson, Infosys Foundation, Padmabhushan Prof P.C. Indresan, former director, IIT, Madras, Ranjana Kumar, ‘India’s turn around queen’ of the banking sector, Dr Manju Sharma, executive director, Indian Institute of Advance Research, Gandhinagar, Subodh Bhargava, former chairman and chief executive, Eicher group, Prof Amrik Singh, former vice-chancellor, Punjabi University and Dr Ranbir Singh, vice-chanellor, NALSAR, Hyderabad.

To be continued

Chandigarh, June 7
Swami Agnivesh, a veteran Arya Samaj leader, today said the popular desire for peace in Punjab had played the most important role in preventing the rift between Dera Sacha Sauda and the Sikh clergy from snowballing into a riotous situation.

Agnivesh, who played the role of a mediator to bring the two parties of the rift to negotiating table, said the problem between the dera and the clergy was not threatening to lead to a law and order situation any more.

Addressing a press conference here today, he said an atmosphere of religious tolerance and reform had been always part of the culture of Punjab because of the works done by the Sikh Gurus.

He said the founder of the Arya Samaj movement, Swami Dayanand Saraswati was a Gujrati but had chosen Punjab because of receptiveness of the people of Punjab toward social reforms.

Agnivesh also announced holding of an "Arya mahasammelan" in Rohtak on June 12 to recall the contribution of Dayanand Saraswati to the first war of independence in 1857 and the role played by other Arya Samaj leaders in the freedom struggle.

Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar would inaugurate the conference while Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda would be the chief guest, he said.

“We had been visiting the UHBVN offices for the past several months but officials do not give us satisfactory replies,” complained farmer Ramesh of Sadikpur village.

The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) has threatened an agitation. if the connections were not released at the earliest.

Ambala, June 7
The postponement of the Ambala Sadar municipal council meeting for no-confidence motion today led to strong protests by a section of the councillors this afternoon, who opined that it seemed to be a "deep-rooted conspiracy".

The councillors raised slogans and strongly demanded that the meeting be held at the earliest.

Apparently, a message was received at the municipal council office today stating that the meeting was postponed as deputy commissioner R.P. Bharadwaj was out of station.

The councillors were divided on the issue, with different groups trying to work out its own strategy.

While a few Congress councillors held a meeting at the Congress Bhavan in support of MC president Neelam Sharma, rebel Congress councillors stated that they would strongly oppose her and would also go to the extent of defying the party whip.

Vikas Parishad councillors abstained from the meeting.

An emergency meeting of the District Congress Committee was held at the Congress Bhavan under the presidentship of Narinder Pal Singh Shera. Shera stated that to prevent the number of municipal councillors from reaching 24, which is the requirement for the no-confidence motion, all the Congress councillors would abstain from voting.

Four other Congress councillors were also present at the meeting at the Congress Bhavan: Nisha Parmar, Vikas Bhateja, Mahesh Goyal and Ved Prakash.

A fifth Congress councilor, Sudhir Jaiswal, was initially present, but later left the meeting.

Incidentally, Jaiswal was also present at the MC office in the afternoon when rebel Congress councillors and others were holding their meeting.

When asked about whom he was supporting, Jaiswal stated that he was trying to ensure that the matter was amicably resolved. He skirted the query on whether he was for or against the no-confidence motion.

The rebel Congress councillors stated that they were not ready to accept any whip issued by the district president.

"We are ready to face dismissal but will not extend support to MC president Neelam Sharma who is involved in irregularities," they said.

Congress councillor Omkar Nathi said they had apprised the senior leadership about the entire matter but no action had been taken in this regard.

"We had complained to the Chief Minister on April 12, 2007 and an enquiry had also been initiated. However, there is hardly any progress in the matter and the enquiry officer has also been changed," he said.

Councillor Kamal Kishore Jain strongly opposed the postponement and opined that the strong possibility of losing the no-confidence motion led to the conspiracy.

BJP district general-secretary Ravinder Dhawan observed that instead of postponing the meeting, the DC should have appointed some other officer for the task.

He demanded that the meeting be called at the earliest. He added that the postponement showed weakness in the Congress.