Mohali, February 23
The police today claimed to have busted a multi-crore online trading racket being run from Panama that had its network across the country. A Chandigarh-based Keralite, Soman Sundaram, has been arrested in this regard. Over Rs 5 lakh has been recovered from him.

The SSP, R.S. Khatra, today said that the accused was the Punjab circle manager of Reymont Company that facilitated online trading from its website www.reymont.com <http://www.reymont.com>. However, the company is neither registered with the RBI nor approved by SEBI.

The SSP said the company was involved in illegal online trading across the country, adding that hundreds of those who had been trading through this site had lost crores.

He said a local resident, Nitin Sharma, approached the police some days ago and told it about Sundaram. He had met Sundaram in 2007 and alleged that he had given the accused Rs 6 lakh in lieu of which Sundaram gave him the password to trade through the website.

When Nitin invested about Rs 27 lakh in this trading, he was told by Sundaram that all the money had been lost as the investments done through this site had gone awry.

Nitin alleged that Sundaram set up another company Kerford Investments, assuring investors that this company was registered with the RBI and approved by the Government of India to trade in foreign exchange. However, it was later discovered that these companies were not functioning legally.

“Nitin stopped dealing with the company. He invested another Rs 2 lakh in the company for online trading using a pseudonym to help catch the accused. He then contacted the police,” said Khatra.

Information technology experts were called in following the expose and after two days of investigation, the police registered a case with the cyber crime cell.

Sundaram was arrested last evening and was sent to a two-day police remand today.

Two of his accomplices have also been picked up for questioning. “More arrests are likely to follow. The number of those dealing with these two companies is high as Sundaram was also running a customer care centre in Sector 44, Chandigarh,” Khatra said.

Chandigarh, February 23
In first of its kind experiment in the city, the forest department has transplanted 250 fully grown trees of shisham and other species in southern parts of the city. Such an experiment has been successfully tried by Delhi.

These trees which were to be cut to make way for different development projects, have been given a new lease of life. At a site in Sector 51, at least 33 shisham trees have been transplanted after these were removed from a proposed parking lot at the Sector 43 inter-state bus terminus.

A trench has been dug to save the trees from animals and slum dwellers.

A total of 970 trees are being cut at the proposed parking site but 33 were found fit for transplantation.

Deputy conservator of forests, Chandigarh, Ishwar Singh, said the department would have to wait for six months to see if the trees would survive.

Hailing the initiative, environmentalists say it is never too late. The initiative should be replicated in other parts of the city, they say.

The conservator said only trees with up to 60 cm girth and not too old can be transplantated. Reason, older trees have lesser survival tress. He said the high cost involved in transporting trees was often considered a deterrent in taking such an initiative. Such transplantation required a lot of nurturing so as to enable the trees to grow again.

The adviser had advised the departments to be judicious while giving permission to cut trees for private and government projects. It had been stressed that planning should be done to save maximum number of trees and counting of trees should be done at a senior level while examining the request for cutting trees.

Chandigarh, February 23
Two persons in a Maruti van fitted with an LPG cylinder had a miraculous escape today when the vehicle caught fire due to a short circuit.

The incident took place right next to the petrol station of Sector 34. Tragedy was averted since the fire station of Sector 32 was nearby.

At first there was a blast, said Gurmeet Singh, driver of the van. He was on his way to office when the van broke down. Soon, the engine was up in flames and smoke engulfed the vehicle. There was, however, no loss of life or property as fire engines from Sectors 17 and 32 immediately controlled the fire.

Panchkula, February 23
Her concern for the children in Russia earned her the honour of taking over as the first woman trustee of the board of directors of the Rotary Foundation.

Carolyn E. Jones, known as Mother Teresa, while sharing her experiences with Rotarians, said today that the service of mankind required hard work.

Carolyn, who is here to preside over the two-day conference as a representative of Rotary International president Wilf Wilkinson, made history in 2005 when she became the first woman trustee of the foundation. In fact, her ability to raise money for the Rotary was remarkable.

This led this former assistant attorney general of Alaska to reach this prestigious position in the history of the foundation.

Sharing her experience with her project, ‘Children of Russia’, and how her commitment brought together the Rotarians from five countries to join together to fight the leukemia-affected children in Russia, she said: “There is a huge task that needs to be tackled since there are thousands of children who are mentally challenged, homeless and live a pitiable conditions.

“During a visit to Russia in 1997, it was found that children were dying of cancer as the hospital did not have the facility of chemotherapy. I was told that there was no money available for the purpose.

“We started working for the cause and within six months the Children of Russia project was launched. In 1999, the Rotary adopted 110 children from an orphanage in Tomsk.

“In fact, it was our goal that every new club in Russia would be eligible for a $20,000 grant to do something in their community to help the children. In 1997-98, we raised $620,000 and financed 30 projects in 22 communities to help kids.”

Asking the Rotarians to serve the mankind, she said “such problems are found every where and we need to help these children anywhere”. 

Mohali, February 23
Notwithstanding the fact that development of the town is suffering, the government has once again granted a stay on estimates for development works worth around Rs 2 crore cleared by the municipal council at a meeting held last month.

Although a letter regarding the stay orders had not been received by the office of the civic body so far, a council official confirmed that the office of the director, department of local government, Punjab, had stayed the estimates of development works such as strengthening of roads, providing road gullies, repair of streetlight points, providing an independent booster system for water supply from Sector 64 to Sector 63, sinking of a deep tubewell in Phase III B 1 etc.

Sources said that councillors of the opposition group had met the cooperation minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh and complained that council president Rajinder Singh Rana was allegedly indulging in discrimination and not including estimates from their wards for various development works.

Earlier also the government had stayed estimates for development works worth about Rs 7 crore, cleared at meetings held on March 22 and August 31 last year, after councillors of the opposition group complained to the principal secretary of the department concerned that discrimination was being done against their wards.

However, the council president made efforts and got the stay on estimates worth over Rs 2.50 crore vacated in the last week of December. As such, tenders for the works cleared in March last year were floated this month causing a delay of almost one year. A stay on estimates for works worth more than Rs 4 crore, cleared at a meeting held on August 31, 2007, still existed, adversely affecting development of the town.

Chandigarh, February 23
The second day of the 36th Chandigarh Rose Festival witnessed heavy rush today. UT home secretary Krishna Mohan claimed that over 1.5 lakh people had already visited the Rose Garden in the first two days.

Rose prince and princess competition for children below three years was organised and the president of the Indian Council for Child Welfare, Jean Rodrigues, was the chief guest.

Results:

One year to one and a half year (Rose Princess): 1 Ridhi Sharda, 2 Asmi Kanwar; Rose Prince: 1 Drhavit Bali, 2 Stanzir.

One and a half year to two year (Rose Princess): 1 Adaa Singh, 2 Deeksha Sharma; Rose Prince: 1 Arav Gupta, 2 Udayveer Sahani.

Two to three year (Rose Princess): 1 Poornima Seth, 2 Meera Singh; Rose Prince: 1 Mihir Dodani, 2 Harshit Dhawan.

A special team was brought in from Jaipur for showcasing their skills of kite flying.

The final round of the Antakshree was also held in which Charru Sharma and Rachna Garg of Government College of Education, Sector 20, won the first position.

Seema Sharma and Sukhwinder Kaur of Government College of Education, Sector 20, got the first position in the Rose Quiz competition.

A classical music performance by Pandit Sugatu Bhaduri and a Punjabi pop night with Jelly and troupe were the highlights.

Chandigarh, February 23
Refusing to comment on the controversy generated by television interviews on the role of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in the Indo-Pak war, his daughter Maja Daruwala today simply dismissed it as baseless and crap, based on hearsay.

In Chandigarh for attending a penal discussion on “Impact of 1984 carnage on Punjab”, Daruwala said she did not wish to make a statement on the defamatory issue, but added former Pakistan president Field Marshal Ayub Khan’s son Gohar Ayub Khan had made vague references and was himself not clear about her father’s role.

Manekshaw had “led the Army to victory” in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Doubts had been cast on the Field Marshal’s real contribution to the victory during a television programme.

Maja Daruwala, a barrister, has lived and worked in England, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Back in India, she practiced for a short while in the Supreme Court and has been heading Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, an international NGO based in New Delhi that works for practical realisation of human rights.

She has concentrated her energies on issues of accountability, particularly promoting police reform and the right to information.

Talking to The Tribune on the issue of police reforms and related issues soon after the discussion, she said the Punjab Police Act was weak and designed in a way that it defeated the main objectives of a Supreme Court order on the issue of police reforms.

“The Act goes up to the extent of saying in case any difficult arises, we won’t implement it. Besides, additional powers have been given to the police as if they were required,” she said.

Daruwala added the Act did not make a clear mention of “internal redressal system” required for solving within-the-organisation disputes and clash of interest of police personnel. Even the police hours had not been specified in the new Act.

Moreover, it categorically stated police personnel were not to form a union or an association.

Describing it as uncalled for, she questions what were the authorities concerned afraid of?

On non-compliance of Supreme Court directives issued from time to time to check human rights and other violations, she said: “When it comes to enforcing directions, we are champions of disobedience, not realising that the inaction was frustrating the intention behind the directions.”

Suggesting solutions to the problems currently afflicting the police force, she said the leader of opposition should be included in the decisions of making appointments. Moreover, there should be well-defined method of challenging the appointments made without following the prescribed procedure.

“Improper appointment is no appointment at all,” she asserted. 

Mohali, February 23
Seven jhuggis were gutted at village Matour, near here on Saturday. However, no loss of life has been reported.

Lakhwinder Singh, assistant divisional fire officer, said two fire tenders were dispatched to the spot when the information was received. They brought the flames under control, but not before seven jhuggis were totally destroyed. The cause of fire has not been ascertained as yet. 

Chandigarh, February 23
The department of biotechnology, DAV College, Sector 10, organised a farewell ‘ADIEU-2008’ for B.sc (Biotech) honours students. Karan Sharma was declared Mr Biotech and Himshikha Bhutani was Ms Biotech . Karan was also awarded with student of the year award.

Seminar: A seminar on ‘Women shackled in NRI weddings’ was organised in Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26. S.S Baari, registrar of Panjab University, was the chief guest and IG Suresh Arora was the guest of honour.

Exhibition: An art and craft exhibition was organised by the students of Green Castle Public School, Sector 47. The items at this exhibition were gift boxes, dolls, file covers, wall paintings, pots clay models, and kites.

Prize distribution: The annual prize distribution function of St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School was conducted today. The chairman Andrew J.Gosain and Merlyn Francis gave away the prizes to meritorious students.

Environment day: Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, organised an environment protection day by the Eco-Club students .The programme started with the telecast of children’s environmental film called Chaka Chak .The students took active participation in cleaning the school compound and in tree plantation programme.

Annual Day: The pre-primary and junior wings of Stepping Stones, Sector 37, held their annual day function today. The students also showed their skills in gymnastics, karate and skating. The chief guests Bonny Singh and Ashok Verma gave away the prizes.

Valediction: A valediction party was organised by the students of Sanjay Public School, Sector 44. The ceremony started by lighting of the lamp and recitation of Sanskrit shalokas. Heena Raheja and Sayeed Ahmed were adjudged as Miss and Master Sanjay Public School, respectively.

Farewell party: Varun and Diksha were adjudged Mr SD and Ms SD at a farewell party which Pandit Mohan Lal S.D. Public School organised for students of Class X and XII. Various titles like Mr Handsome, Ms Simple, best hairdo and best dressed were also given to students. Principal Manju Bhardwaj gave away the prizes.

Campaign: During a campaign started by the UT education department to check 15% reservation to the students of economically weaker section of the society, four private schools were inspected. According to the officials of the department, 15% reservation condition was fulfilled in St Mary’s School, Sector 46. 

Mohali, February 23
Swami Ram Tirtha Public High School formed a new school cabinet. The perfects of the newly elected cabinet, head boy Amanpreet Singh, head girl Jaspreet Kaur, sport’s captain Kumar Rana and house captains of all the four houses took oath at the investiture ceremony.

Principal Kiran Bhandari pinned the badges. Members of the old cabinet lit candles as a symbol of handing over their responsibilities to the new members.

Annual day: Manav Mangal Smart School celebrated annual day at their auditorium, which was inaugurated yesterday evening. Director Sanjay Sardana said he was happy to provide an auditorium to the school.

Convocation: Maj Gen G.M. Nair, at the OSSIM, a security and intelligence education and training institute, ceremonially inaugurated the institute’s convocation.

Nair, additional director general (CAB), Ministry of Defence, graced the occasion as the chief guest with Dr. Rakesh Khurana, founder chairman AIMATS, former pro vice chancellor IGNOU, chairman Knowledge Network India and and B.R. Magu, former DIG and CMD Fireball Group as special guest at the ceremony.

Chandigarh, February 23
The national seminar on the theme “Indian Ideas of Freedom” organised by the department of political science, PU, concluded here today. Prof Valerian Rodrigues and Prof Gopal Guru, both from JNU, New Delhi, focused on the theme of Ambedkar, Dalits and freedom.

Chandigarh, February 23
The case related to the alleged bungling Rs 42 lakhs at the Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, has taken a new turn with the management of Sikh Educational Society (SES) slapping a show-cause notice on the former principal Kuldeep Singh.The management has also sent a letter to the DPI(C) apprising him about the issue. Sources said a thirty-day time period has been given to Kuldeep to file his reply on why he should not be dismissed from services.

Earlier, the management had transferred Kuldeep to a college in Kadian and he had challenged this decision in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court had stayed his transfer but curtailed his powers.

During his tenure around an year ago one of the chequebooks of the college was lost and money to the tune of Rs 42 lakhs was withdrawn from the funds account. An enquiry was marked and Kanwar Gunwant Singh, a retired IAS officer was the enquiry officer. After he submitted his report, the management served a notice to dismiss Kuldeep.