NEIGHBOURHOOD

IET Bhaddal student goes missing
Had messaged brother saying he would commit suicide
Tribune News Service

Ropar, April 24
Nineteen-year-old Gaurav Wahi, a first-year student of the IET Bhaddal, went missing today.

Earlier in the morning at 11 am, Gaurav had sent a message to his brother Shammi stating that he was going to commit suicide.

The police has recovered his Bullet motorcycle (PB 12 J 3887) along with the vehicle keys from near Behrampur Bet village where the Bhakhra canal flows. Marks of his shoes have been found around the area. Divers are at work searching for the body.

Gaurav's father Ashok Kumar Wahi is the former president of the Ropar
municipal committee.

Gaurav's fellow students said he had been subjected to humiliation by some college lecturers and was unable to bear this insult.

Meanwhile, as many as 300 students of the college went on a strike today late in the evening. They sat on a dharna on the institute's main gate.

Ropar SDM Kavita Singh, too, reached the spot to control the law and order situation and convince students to call off their dharna, but to no avail.

The students were demanding suspension of department head Sarabjit Singh and EME lecturer Nitin Shyam. Students alleged that these two teachers had insulted Gaurav in the class.

Institute principal Dr V.P. Singh said three days ago, Gaurav had come to class in an inebriated state. Following this, the college authorities had asked him to call his parents to the college, which he did not.

He was also told to deposit Rs 10,000 fine and an affidavit on behalf of his father that he would not repeat the same incidence in future.

"The security was refundable. Moreover, the students’ demand for the teachers' suspension is not justified. We are looking into the matter," the principal added. Students were on dharna till the filing of this report.

SP Sharma said Joginder was handed over to his family members after medical examination. No case has been registered against him keeping in view his state of mind.

Patiala, April 24
The marriage palaces, which had been served auction notices by the local municipal corporation for non-payment of house tax dues, have been granted stay by the court of the Jalandhar divisional commissioner.

Mayor Ajit Pal Kohli confirmed the development. The municipal corporation had served an auction notice on the three marriage palaces in the city sending shivers down the spine of scores of defaulters, who had not paid house tax to the corporation.

The auction notices had been served on Lakshmi Palace, Raj Kamal Palace and Shyam Bagh Palace, all located in the posh 22-number railway crossing area.

Peeved at the way the corporation officials were handling things, the owners of the marriage palaces claimed that their case was sub judice and hence the corporation had no jurisdiction to move the matter.

The case pertaining to the marriage palaces was being dealt by the then MC commissioner S.K. Ahluwalia, who is the Patiala divisional commissioner at present.

When the marriage palace owners approached the Patiala divisional commissioner seeking an appeal on the corporation’s auction notices, Ahluwalia marked the case to the Jalandhar divisional commissioner.

Ahluwalia contended that since it was he who had passed the orders he was not in a position to hear the appeal and hence marked the same to Jalandhar divisional commissioner.

Sources in the MC disclosed that the palaces had been served the notices as they had to pay nearly Rs 2.45 crore as house tax. Patiala mayor Ajit Pal Singh, on numerous occasions, had already sounded a warning to house-tax evaders.

The corporation had earlier also given some time to the tax defaulters. On the repeated requests made by people, the corporation had even extended the last date for submitting the dues till march 31 just to ease the load on people, who had got big house tax bills for this year.

A top MC official revealed that a total amount of Rs 24 crore was due from the city’s residents on the account of house tax.

The official also said a majority of people had paid their house tax on time, but there were many defaulters, who took absolutely no interest in paying their dues following which the corporation decided to take stringent action against the defaulters.

Bassi Pathana, April 24
A social worker and senior most SAD(B) leader of the town had to face humiliation at the hands of Fatehgarh Sahib DSP (HQ) when he went to her office along with the villagers to settle an anonymous complaint.

Not only this, the reader of the DSP demanded gratification of Rs 6,000 to settle the matter. The matter was brought to the notice of the SSP, who marked an enquiry.

While talking to The Tribune, Kulbhushan Malhotra, husband of the council president and member of the District Grievances Committee-cum-Planning Board, said someone filed an anonymous complaint against Sewa Singh of Wazidpur village alleging that he got heavy dowry in the marriage of his son.

The police summoned him and he had been visiting the DSP’s office time and again. Today they took Kulbhushan Malhotra along with them.

The villagers alleged that her reader Dilbagh Singh demanded Rs 6000 from them to settle the complaint.

The delegation met the DSP Balwant Kaur and complained against the reader. They alleged that instead of giving them a patient hearing, she humiliated and insulted Malhotra and asked him to get out of her office.

The villagers and the SAD(B) leader brought the matter to the notice of local SAD(B) MLA Didar Singh Bhatti.

The villagers, along with Malhotra, also lodged a formal complaint with the SSP in this regard, who marked an inquiry.

Malhotra and villagers said that if the officers gave this treatment to the ruling party workers and leaders what the common man should expect.

SSP Dr Kustubh Sharma said he had received a complaint in this regard. He said as the matter was related to an officer, he had deputed the SP (HQ) to look into the matter. If the allegations were found true, action would be initiated accordingly.

Despite best efforts neither the DSP (HQ) nor her reader could be contacted as their cell phones were switched off.

Both were presented in the court. The court has ordered to send the boy to the Nabha jail and girl to Nari Niketan Jalandhar.

Chandigarh, April 24
Playing under windy conditions where it was difficult to keep the ball in play, Chandigarh's Harjinder Singh Kang faltered to return a five-over par 77 card.

He slipped to the eighth spot at 221 after the penultimate round of the LG ITC Classic Open Amateur Golf Championship on the par-72 greens of the Jack Nicklaus-designed Classic Golf Resort in Gurgaon today.

But Kang did not blame the weather. He said: "It happens. Too many bogeys on the front nine. Besides, I kept missing the greens."

But the hostile conditions could not dampen the spirits of Saurabh Bahuguna. The overnight leader fired yet another sub-par card to consolidate his lead to three shots. He added a 70 to his overnight 140 to be six-under par 210 after 54 holes.

If Bahuguna is to realise his dream of breaking a title draught in more than a year and half, he has to confront a fast-improving Abhishek Jha who shot the day's best card of three under par 69 to move into second position with a total of 213.

Pawan Kumar was third at 215 while Vikram Rana and Rahul Bajaj were tied for the fourth spot at 219. The young duo of Kapil Kumar and Amanjyot Singh were tied for the sixth place at 220.

Bahuguna could not have asked for a better start than a birdie on the opening hole where he drained a 30-footer.

This was followed by another birdie on the par-3 second. However, he lost the touch with his putter as he missed at least three birdies from short distance.

A couple of consecutive bogeys on the seventh and eighth was followed by a good birdie on the ninth. "I nailed it to five feet amidst strong winds," said Bahuguna.

Despite the hostile conditions, Bahuguna found the fairways and greens for most part of the game and in fact, flirted with birdies before finally converting on the par-3 17th to finish the day at 2-under.

"I am happy to end with a 70, although I missed some birdies," said the 29-year-old who is employed with ONGC. "I am hitting the ball really well and I hope that my putts fall in on the final day to clinch the issue," added the leader.

Scores (after 54 holes): 210 Saurabh Bahuguna (70, 72, 68); 213 Abhishek Jha (69, 73, 71); 215 Pawan Kumar (73, 73, 69); 219 Vikram Rana (76, 77, 66), Rahul Bajaj (75, 74, 70); 220 Kapil Kumar (75, 71, 74), Amanjyot Singh (74, 72, 74); 221 H.S. Kang (77, 72, 72); 222 L. Selvadurai (78, 77, 67), Jasjeet Singh (77, 74, 70), Rudresh Sharma (73, 72, 77), S.K. Lakra (71, 73, 78).

Mohali, April 24
Government Senior Secondary School, Phase 3B2, Mohali, beat APJ School, Kharar ‘B’ team by four wickets in the APJ U-16 Mohali Cricket Tournament being held at YPS grounds here today.

Batting first, APJ made 137 runs in the allotted 35 overs. Sarthak Grover (32) and Kinderpreet (36) helped the team to reach a respectable total.

For Mohali, Munish took 2 wickets for 14 runs. In reply, the Government School team registered victory by slamming 138 for 6 in 29 overs. Manpreet and Pardeep were the main scorers with 25 and 22 runs, respectively.

In the second match being played between Paragon School and APJ School, Kharar, team A, at MCA grounds, APJ thrashed the rivals by 33 runs.

Riding high on two tons by Prateek Deswal (143 off 66) and Ankit Pursharthy (101), APJ set a target of 291, piling up 290 in the stipulated overs. Chasing the target, the Paragon team was wrapped up on 157 runs.

Brief Score:
APJ School 137, Sarthak Grover 32, Kinderpreet 36, Karam 18, Munish 2 for 14 and Manpreet 1 for 22 runs.

Govt Sr Secondary School, Phase 3B2, Mohali: 138 for 6 wickets in 29 overs (Manpreet 25, Pardeep 22, Karanveer 2 for 23).

APJ School, Kharar, team A: 290 runs (Prateek Deswal 143, Ankit Pursharthy 101, Paramdeep 8 not out, Tej 2 for 50 and Vikas 1 for 47 runs).

Paragon School: 157 runs (Manpreet 47, Vikas 55 n.o., Manul 13 no, Sreejan 2 for 26, Navjot 2 for 20, Bir 1 for 51).

Chandigarh, April 24
Continuing their winning spree, Ryan International, Sector 48 team, thrashed Banyan Tree, Sector 49 team, by 6-0 in the ongoing Coca Cola Inter-School Football (U-16) Championship at Football Stadium, Sector 17, here, today.

Striker Rishang Singh and Karan Singh scored two goals each whereas Armaan Raj Singh and Piyush Dhingra contributed one goal each for the winners.

In another match between Bhavan Vidyalaya and Moti Ram Arya School, the latter got the walk over to move ahead.

In the tournament, as many as 24 local school teams are participating. Results:

IPS, Kurali, b Vivek High School, Sector 38, by 2-0; Doon International, Mohali, drew St Xavier’s, Mohali; St Xavier’s, Sector 44, b Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 20, by 1-0; Tribune Model School, drew AKSIPS, Sector 41, (0-0); Saupins School, Sector 32, b AKSIPS, Mohali, 5-0.

Chandigarh, April 24
Sarabjit Singh Kahlon, whose budding cricketer son Vishawjeet Singh Kahlon was allegedly ignored by Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) officials for some vested interests, today made many serious charges against the PCA top authorities.

Addressing mediapersons at Chandigarh Press Club, Sector 27, today, Kahlon, a resident of Bhatiabet (Ludhiana), alleged, “the working of the association is not transparent”.

“When they (the PCA) want to get privileges from the government, they represent the association as a public body, but when someone asks to share the huge profits being incurred by the association from international matches, they show themselves as a private body,” alleged Kahlon.

He also alleged that all norms and rules had been flouted while building the stadium but there was no one to check the menace.

He demanded that the court should take suo motu notice of the issue and come to the rescue of the common man as well as the game in Punjab.

Panchkula, April 24
The police has booked two brothers Anil and Kaka of Sector 7, Panchkula, for attacking and injuring 55-year-old woman Sunita Devi and her son Praveen Bansal here today.

According to the police, the accused entered the house of Sunita Devi in Sector 12-A last night and ransacked the house.

They damaged two cars of the family and other articles before hitting the woman and her son.

Praveen, who is under treatment at the civil hospital, said the accused were the sons of the landlady and wanted them to vacate the house.

A case under Sections 148, 149, 452, 323, 506 and 427 of the IPC has been registered against the accused.

Chandigarh, April 24
The police have arrested four persons, including two juveniles, and claimed to have recovered five stolen motorcycles and a car from them, here today.

Sources in the crime branch said Sachin Nagar and Ravi Kumar, both residents of Sector 52, were arrested on the basis of a tip-off on April 20.

The two were sent to juvenile home the same day while the other two were presented before a local court, which remanded them to police custody.

The police said six cases of thefts have been solved with their arrest. The police recovered a Maruti Zen car, three motorcycles stolen from various parts of the city.

Two other motorcycles, about which the accused failed to provide information from where they had stolen them, have also been recovered. Besides, two stolen batteries were also found from them.

Chandigarh, April 24
Four vehicles, including three cars, were stolen from various parts of the city here today. Four different cases of thefts have been registered.

Shiv Parkash of Sector 22-C reported to the police that his Maruti car (PB-27-7392) was stolen from Sector 7 on Wednesday.

Kewal Kumar Garg of Sector 7 lodged a complaint alleging that his car (CH-01-0664) was stolen from his residence.

In another incident, Madhu Verma of Sector 44-D reported to the police alleging that her Maruti car (CH-03-V-8064) was stolen from her residence on April 21.

Similarly, Munish Kumar of Sector 15 reported to the police that his motorcycle (PB-07-N-9148) was stolen from Sector 15 on April 18.

Chandigarh, April 24
The bilateral trade between India and Canada has reached $3.7 billion and has a huge potential to grow further.

With an estimated 9,00,000 Punjabis settled in Canada, the region has a great potential for trade ties with Canada.

This was stated by M.N. Chaini, president (elect), Indian Merchants Chamber, and president, corporate affairs with Reliance Industries, while addressing an interactive session with local businessmen, here today.

The session was held by PHD Chamber and Indian Merchants Chamber, which will be taking a delegation of businessmen to Canada in June this year. Addressing the gathering, he said India and Canada had much in common.

The India Calling Summit was being organised to strengthen the existing links between the two countries and explore newer ways to make the relationship stronger in the future.

Chaini informed the house that the major focus areas in Toronto were bio-fuel, zero energy efficiency, hydro-power, trade and investment opportunities, education, auto components and infrastructure; while Vancouver had vocational training and research, biotech, life sciences, alternative energy and power as major areas to offer.

He called on the members to be a part of India Ca ling Summit at Canada and seek trade opportunities therein.

He said there was lot of scope in finding business in education, alternative energy and information and communication technology. He also called on the industry for mergers and alliances with their counterparts in Canada.

Chaini was confident that the association of the two chambers can influence the market trends and policy making conducive to trade and industry in particular and society in general.

Among others present on the occasion were G.S. Sobti, trade commissioner, consulate general, Canada, and Subhash Kohli, co-chairman, Chandigarh committee, PHD chamber.

Chandigarh, April 24
"Qawali is a judicious mixture of melody and sufiana spirit of a devotional music depicting the seeker, virtually transcending the intellectual revels in the glory of the divine preceptor,” observed Nazimuddin, the foremost qawal of Pakistan who is based in Karachi.

A chartered accountant by profession and a qawal by passion, Nazimuddin, accompanied by his five brothers, was here to present a sufiana concert at Rock Garden today as part of the Intach Crafts Festival.

The globe-trotting qawali maestro maintained that while this devotional music form had still retained its pristine purity in Pakistan to an appreciable extent, it had been largely influenced by the filmy style and glamour in India.

“Qawali presentations by artists with inadequate knowledge of pure qalaam, musical nuances, adab and tauheed compensate the renditions by attiring in dazzling costumes, lyrics with gestures of vulgarity in the so called 'Qawali Muqabla' aimed at sheer entertainment. All my brothers Saifuddin, Zafeeruddin, Mughisuddin, Abdul Qadir are graduates while Ehtesmuddin is an IT professional. We all are trained in classical music by our father Ustad Bahuddin who migrated to Pakistan from Hyderabad way back in 1954. Having established our group in 1986, we have been extensively performing abroad,” he remarked.

The qawali concert commenced with an invocatory Naat Sharif "Ya Habibi Ya Mohammad" which melted into Amir Khusro's classic Kalams like "Mera Piya Ghar Aayaa", "Phool Khilay Bhagian", "Hum Payo Aaj", "Main Jana Yogi De Naal". The artists were at their best while presenting "Chaap Tilak Sab Chinni", the most popular classic of Amir Khusro besides the boisterous "Dhama Dum Mast Qalandar” when the audience, virtually entranced clapped in unison with the qawaals.

V.K. Kapoor, convener, INTACH, welcomed chief guest S.K. Misra, chairman, INTACH, and Vivek Attrey, director, tourism. Ghazal and thumri maestro Shanti Hira Nand will perform tomorrow at 7 pm at the same venue.