The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

8 booked for social worker’s suicide
Surinder Bhardwaj

Bassi Pathana, March 1
Panic and chaos prevailed in town as the Mohali police registered a case against eight industrialists and prominent people of the town, including two PSEB officials, after recovering a suicide note from a social worker Kali Charan’s pocket, who allegedly committed suicide in Mohali, yesterday.

In the suicide note he mentioned names of certain industrialists of the town and also the cause of suicide.

His body was brought from PGI and cremated by the workers of Hindu organisations today.

Kali Charan who was also a worker in an industrial unit, sought information under the RTI Act from the local council, and lodged a complaint about irregularities in certain development works.

Sources said a few days back he complained against certain industrialists to the local Punjab State Electricity Board from his cell phone. He alleged that small units had been forced to close down but certain big units were working irrespective of the ban imposed by the department in connivance with some officials.

The department passed on the cell number to these industrialists and it is alleged by the members of Hindu organisations and his family members that he was threatened or mentally tortured by these industrialists, which forced him to commit suicide.

Sources said he made a call to these industrialists and some members of his organisation before committing suicide.

According to the police, a case has been registered against Sat Pal Panesar, industrialist, Gurdeep Singh, councillor-cum-industrialist, Mansa Singh, industrialist, Ashok Dhiman, former president of council and an industrialist, Gurmel Singh, industrialist, Sat Pal, JE PSEB, and Balram.

On the other hand the residents of the town alleged that he was a black mailer and was used as a tool by certain vested interests. They demanded a thorough probe into the incident.

Tribune Impact
Himachal Exp to halt at Bassi Pathana again
Our Correspondent

Bassi Pathana, March 1
The Northern Railway has approved the demand of Bassi Pathana residents and restored the stopover of the 4553, 4554 Himachal Express, at Bassi Pathana from today onwards.

The other demand of the residents to restore the old route of 1CNA, 2CNA passenger train, running between Ambala and Takrala via Bassi Pathana, would be accepted shortly.

The residents of this town, under the banner of Hindu organisations, had observed a complete bandh against the withdrawal of the stopover of the train launching an agitation.

Manoj Banda, general secretary of the Hindu organisations, who was leading the agitation, welcomed the decision and he thanked all those who supported the cause.

B.B. Verma, advocate, Kirpal Singh Sethi, Ashok Tulani, press secretary, Rajesh Singla, commission agent, Amardeep Singh Dharni, advocate, Jagdeep Singh Cheema, Rajesh Pal Singh Lalli, senior SAD (B) leaders, Sushil Singla of the BJP, congratulated the citizens and distributed sweets at the railway station.

Council passes Rs 12.27 crore budget
Our Correspondent

Ambala, March 1
The Ambala City municipal council passed its annual budget of Rs 12.27 crore on Friday for the year 2008-09. The president of the council Harish Sashan presented the budget. Congress and opposition councillors were present in the meeting. The budget was passed almost unanimously.

The total expenditure shown in the budget was Rs 12.20 crore. The opening balance was Rs 2.39 crore. Rs 2.87 crore approved for conservancy removal while Rs 3.50 crore for paving and Rs 16 lakh had been approved for drainage and Rs 20 lakh had been approved for street lighting.

SPORTS

India, Oz should sink differences: Kapil
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Budget ignored sports

The government has allocated Rs 1111.18 crore for sports in the Budget. What they have allocated is not even one per cent of the total Budget. Forget about winning Olympic medals, the Budget is not even sufficient to plan for the development of sports
— Kapil Dev, former Indian skipper

Chandigarh, March 1
The Indian and Australian players should sink their differences before taking to the field in the finals of the ongoing Triangular series, said former Indian skipper Kapil Dev.

“Both the teams should concentrate only on the game as people want to see cricket, not the disputes”, said Kapil. While talking to mediapersons, he said, “The recent step of barring the ICL players in county cricket by the England Cricket and Wales Board on ICL was a dirty move. Some selfish people (referring to BCCI) did not want the game to thrive under others’ wings. “Their aims are different. And their aspirations have also become clear”, said Kapil, saying that queuing up top class players for an open bid definitely was not in a good taste.

“On the other hand, we are going ahead step by step to promote cricket”, asserted Kapil, who termed the formation of two new teams-‘Lahore Badshahs’ and ‘Allahabad Rockets’- a step in the direction.

“Having a team consisting all Pakistani players would add an extra zing in the forthcoming edition of the league, which would make the competition tougher”, said Kapil.

When asked about his plans of opening a cricket academy in the city, Kapil shifted the blame on the Chandigarh administration.

“I always wanted to give back to the city what I have achieved from the game but it seemed that administration does not want me to work here. There is a lot of difference in their sayings and actions.

“As the sports administration is being run by non-sportspersons, pinning hopes on them for welfare of sports as well as sportspersons would be a folly”, lamented Kapil.

BCCI controls world cricket: Heath Streak
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 1
With its financial might, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been controlling the cricket in world, felt former Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak.

Noted all-rounder Streak, who will be a part of the newly formed team ‘Ahmedabad Rockets’ in the forthcoming edition of rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), reached the city today to join the preparatory camp that started at Tau Devi Lal Cricket Stadium in Panchkula.

“As the richest BCCI plays major role in generating income, it has been definitely, dominating the cricketing matters”, said Streak.

Expressing unhappiness on the bans being imposed by various cricket boards of different counties on ICL players, Streak hoped that the better sense would prevail and things would be sorted out over the course of time.

“My contract with Warwickshire has just finished. So, the England Cricket and Wales Board’s (ECW) ban does not affect me”, said Streak on the decision of barring the ICL players in county cricket by ECW.

Ajay Shukla clinches golf title
Donald Banerjee

Chandigarh, March 1
Ajay Shukla clinched the title in the 0 to 9 handicap category logging 38 points in a keenly contested battle on the greens of the Panchkula Golf Club on Saturday in the Axis Bank Golf Amateur Golf Challenge in Panchkula today.

Played on the Stableford basis, Ajay Shukla edged out his nearest rival Raman Kumar, who plays with a handicap of 4, by a slender margin of just one point.

In fact, the margin of victory in all the handicap categories was very slender. In the 10 to 14 handicap category, M.S. Punni and S.S. Bajwa were tied with 39 points each but the Peoria system of handicapping saw Punni take the winner’s seat with Bajwa finishing runner-up.

Captain Balwant edged out Akhil Bhardwaj by one point to clinch the title in the 15 to 18 handicap category.

In the 19 to 24 handicap category, Jagmohan had a field day as he logged 29 points defeating D.S. Dhesi by a margin of six points.

Col I.J.S. Grewal returned the best card among the senior citizens with Asha Chopra scoring the best among the ladies. Captain M.L. Mehta had the longest drive and Sudarshan Goel was Nearest to the Pin.

D.S. Dhesi, vice-president of the Panchkula Golf Club, teed off the tournament and Promilla Issar, president of the club, gave away the prizes.

Results (with points): 0-9 handicap: Ajay Shukla 38, Raman Kumar 37; 10-14 handicap: M.S. Punni 39, S.S. Bajwa 39; 15-18 handicap: Capt Balwant 42, Akhil Bhardwaj 41; 19-24 handicap: Jagmohan 29, D.S. Dhesi 23.

Best card (senior citizen): Col I.J.S. Grewal; Best card (ladies): Asha Chopra. Longest drive: Capt M.L. Mehta; Nearest to pin: Sudarshan Goel.

YPS Meet
Tagore House best in athletics
Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 1
Patiala House won the best marching contingent trophy on the concluding day of the 29th Annual Athletics Meet of Yadavindra Public School, Mohali, held at the school premises here today.

The day began with the march past by the five marching contingents, Patiala, Aitchison, Tagore, Nalagarh and Ranjit House, which was lead by girls’ sports captain, Vasundhara, and boys’ sports captain, Mohammad Wasim.

Results: Boys: 100 m (U-16): 1 Ankit Saini, 2 Kabir, 3 Jagnoor; 100 m (U-14): 1 Kirtanbir, 2 Dityan, 3 Simran Singh; 4X400 m (above 16): 1 Aitchison House, 2 Nalagarh House, 3 Tagore House.

Best athletes (U-10): Gurkaran Singh (Patiala House); (U-12): Siddhartha (Tagore House), (U-14): Prithviraj (Tagore House); (U-16): Ankit Saini (Nalagarh House), (above 16): Mohammad Wasim (Tagore House).

Girls: 100 m (U-15): 1 Harkiran, 2 Mannat Dhaliwal, 3 Eshleen Sodhi,

100 m (above 15): 1 Aanchal Bajwa, 2 Vasundhara, 3 Ravinderpreet,

Best athletes: (U-13): Simarata (Aitchison House), (U-15): Harkiran (Tagore House), (above 15): Aanchal Bajwa (Nalagarh House). Best house (athletics): Tagore House; March past (running trophy): Patiala House; overall house point: 1 Tagore House (1237), 2 Patiala House (1073), 3 Nalagarh House (1034), 4 Aitchision House (795), 5 Ranjit House (730).

HEALTH

Alarming rise in hypertension, says doc
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 1
Even as India is facing the pandemic threat of cardiometabolic dieases, it is equally important to talk about the preventive measures for ischemic heart diseases, Dr DK Shukla said on the second day of the joint meeting of the International Society of Heart Research, International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences and the Heart Failure Society of India at the PGI here today.

The role of lipids as signalling molecules in heart health was suggested by Dr Surinder Cheema from Canada since bad cholesterol has the main role in initiating coronary artery disease. As there is an alarming rise in hypertension and associated cardiovascular diseases in India, increased role of aldosterone and rennin in plasma and nitric oxide levels seems to be on the higher side in these patients, Dr MA Qadar Pasha said.

Akira Matsumori from Japan discussed the role of Hepatitis C virus in cardiomyopathies in Japan and various other continents, including Pakistan and some parts of Europe. He suggested that besides cirrhosis caused by this virus, it is cardiomyopathy which was equally important.

Meanwhile, the conference was formally inaugurated Dr AR Kidwai, Haryana Governor. Dr NK Ganguly received the award of eminent scientist working in the field of infections and cardiovascular medicine. Prof RC Sobti was the guest of honour and released the scientific abstract book formally.

Vote of thanks was delivered by Dr Yash Paul Sharma, organising secretary.

CRIME

2 killed, two hurt in accident
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 1
Two persons were killed and two injured when a canter collided with a truck near Saket hospital, Chandimandir, here tonight. The deceased could not be identified till the reports last came in.

Two injured — Kuldip and Pradeep — who, along with the deceased, were earlier shifted to civil hospital, Panchkula, have now been referred to the PGI, and are said to be in a critical condition. All the victims were travelling in the canter; the truck driver, however, escaped unhurt. The accident was noticed by the personnel in the PCR vehicle stationed along the road. The police immediately shifted the injured to the hospital.

Shopkeeper held for power theft
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 1
The local police arrested Naresh Kumar, a shop owner, for stealing electricity at Burail here today.

A joint raid was conducted by the police and the electricity department, UT, at Balmiki Mohalla in Burail village here.

During the raid, the police nabbed the accused, who runs a ‘karyana’ store, on the charge of stealing electricity.