The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

2 held for selling sub-standard fertiliser
Our Correspondent

Bassi Pathana, May 10
The police here have arrested two salesman-cum- secretaries of Co-operative Agricultural Societies, Damheri and Harlalpur, in a case registered under Section 7 of Essential Commodities Act, 1955, against them.

However, the manager of Bassi Pathana Co-operative Agricultural Marketing and Processing Society, who is also accused in the case, is still at large. DSP Rajwinder Singh Sohal said a case of selling sub-standard DAP fertilizer at the Co-operative Societies was registered against these persons on the complaint of Chief Agriculture Officer, Fatehgarh Sahib, after the samples taken from these societies were found below specifications.

He said the DAP fertiliser supplied by IFFCO’s main depot at Khanna was being sold at these societies and the farmers filed a complaint against selling of sub-standard fertilizers. The CAO took the samples and sent them for investigation at Fertiliser Quality Control Lab, Ludhiana, and the samples were found below specification. The staff of the Societies again requested the CAO for re-examination and the latter sent the samples to Fertilizer control Labs at Faridabad and Chennai where they were again found sub-standard.

On getting the report, the CAO forwarded it to the police for registration of a case. The SSP marked the enquiry to the economic offences wing and after an investigation, a case was registered.

The DSP informed that police is raiding the suspected hide-outs of the manager and he would be arrested soon.

5 booked for murder after nine months
Tribune News Service

Kharar, May 10
One person has been booked in murder case after nine months of the incident. The case has been registered on the the orders of SP (head quarters), Mohali, on the basis of viscera report of the deceased.

In his complaint to the SSP on April 29, Laxman Singh Godhra, brother of deceased Bharat Singh Godhra, of Nokha village (Bikaner) said one Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Sector 27, Chandigarh, met Bharat in Bikaner and persuaded him to come to Kharar for job and securing college admission for his daughter.

Accordingly, Laxman and Bharat came to Chandigarh on July 15, 2007 and stayed at Raj Bhawan. Thereafter, next day Gurpreet took Bharat to Kharar to meet some Akali leader. But four hours later, Gurpreet called up Laxman and informed that Bharat had died due to a heart attack.

When Laxman reached Mohali civil hospital, the cop on duty Satwinder Pal Singh said deceased Bharat’s relatives had denied to send viscera for examination. Laxman informed him that he was Bharat’s only relative present in Chandigarh and he had not made any such request to the police.

Thereafter, the viscera were sent for examination. Its report was received on April 28 wherein it was found that Bharat had not died of heart attack but due to poison. Laxman then approached SSP, Mohali, who directed SP (headquarters) to investigate.

Based on investigations, Gurpreet Singh was booked for murder along with four unknown persons.

Major traffic snarl at Kalka
Tribune News Service

Kalka, May 10
Hundreds of tourists and other commuters had a torrid time due to a major traffic jam after two trucks broke down on the Chandigarh-Shimla highway, here today. The traffic jam lasted for over six hours.

It was around 7 am when a truck coming from Parwanoo had to stop due to a technical snag at the ‘Shimla Morh’. Before the vehicle could be removed from the road another truck going towards Parwanoo broke down at a nearby spot near Kali Mata Mandir cause a major traffic snarl.

Following the blockage, vehicles were lined up along either side of the highway starting from Kalka to Jabli and till the railway crossing on the downward side of the town.

While passengers travelling on long route vehicles were the worst affected, local residents had to also walk down to Parwanoo as thousands of people from the town and adjoining villages are employed at the factories in this industrial town of Himachal Pradesh.

Though both the trucks were removed from the road by 10.30, potholes on the road near Kali Mata Mandir forced the vehicles to move slowly. Traffic was restored to normal only by the late evening.

Baby delivered amid traffic jam
Tribune News Service

Pinjore, May 10
A couple of the town was forced to carry out the delivery of their baby themselves and that also on the road when their vehicle got stuck in the traffic jam here yesterday. The wife of Dinesh, a resident of the town, was under treatment at Panchkula civil hospital.

Doctors had advised Sarita, the would-be mother, to reach the hospital whenever she would start feeling labour pain. On Friday, when Sarita asked her husband to take her to hospital, he arranged Tata Safari to take the patient to the hospital, which was around 15 kilometer away.

As soon as they came out of their locality, the vehicle stuck in heavy traffic jam near Rathpur. Meanwhile, the baby was born. Fortunately, a private medical practitioner Dr V P Singh at Pinjore, who was also stuck in the jam, reached the spot and provided some medical aid to the mother and newly born daughter.

Civic Poll
138 booths in Ropar, 8 in Kharar sensitive
Tribune News Service

Ropar/Kharar, May 10
As many as 138 polling booths in Ropar and eight in Kharar have been declared sensitive and super sensitive for the forthcoming civic polls.

In Ropar district, there are 133 sensitive and five super-sensitive polling booths. The sensitive polling booths include 17 in Anandpur Sahib, 19 in Nurpur Bedi, 32 in Ropar, 27 in Chamkaur Sahib and 18 in Morinda.

There are four super-sensitive booths in Nurpur Bedi, including at Jhajj village, Jhandiyan Kalan and double booth at Thana and one in Ropar in Bhakhu Majra village. There are total 671 polling booths.

Similarly, in Kharar, there are five sensitive polling booths, including those at Majat, Kurdi, Sahauran, Daun and Balongi villages. The super-sensitive ones include Jhanjheri, Manauli and Kumbaran.

2 killed in accidents
Our Correspondent

Derabassi, May 10
Two people were killed in two different accidents in parts of Derabassi here yesterday night.

Rohit Kumar was found dead near the railway track at Lalru Mandi. The victim was a Punjab Police commando. The police found the driving licence, an ATM card and telephone diary near the body.

The body of the victim was handed over to the family after the postmortem here this morning.

In another incident, Malkit Singh, a resident of Ibhrahimpur village near Derabassi, was crushed to death in an accident near Mubarikpur road.

The 24-year-old boy was coming back from Panchkula to his home when the incident took place.

Man booked in dowry case
Tribune News Service

Kharar, May 10
Sukhjit Singh, a resident of Sotal village, has been booked for beating up his wife Gurpreet Kaur and demanding Rs 5 lakh dowry.

In her complaint to the Mohali SSP, Gurpreet Kaur stated that she got married to Sukhjit on March 8 this year. Soon after marriage, she came to know that Sukhjit was a drunkard. Sukhjit even used to force Gurpreet to drink liquor. He allegedly used to beat her often and threatened to get remarried.

He beat up Gurpreet with iron rods a week ago and demanded Rs 5 lakh as dowry. Gurpreet left his house and went to her parents in Kotla village, Samrala.

The police has booked Sukhjeet.

Guard held
Labels of liquor bottles seized
Tribune News Service

Ropar, May 10
A wildlife guard Jasbir Singh, resident of Power Colony in Ropar, was arrested today with a large number of liquor bottle labels.

Acting on a secret tip off, the Ropar police raided the residence of Jasbir. The Police recovered 12,960 labels of Malwa number 1, three labels of Officers Choice, 3,200 labels each of Patiala Rose and Gadar.

Jasbir used to buy liquor in bulk from Chandigarh as it was cheaper than Punjab and sold the same under new labels. He removed the labels on bottles and put up his own label and sold them in market for a very high price.

The police also recovered two horns of an animal from his place. SSP P.K. Sinha said he has been booked under the Excise Act and Section 420 of the IPC.

He added that the district forest officials will be apprised of horns recovered from Jasbir’s place.

19 students found infected by measles
Our Correspondent

Bassi Pathana, May 10
Nineteen students of the Government Elementary School, Ladpuri, a nearby village, were found affected by measles during a check up conducted by a special team deputed by the civil surgeon after getting information that many students of the school were not attending their classes since the last three days.

Dr S.M.S. Sidhu, civil surgeon, said a team led by him carried out a check up at the school today. However, he said there was no scare as the children would recover in 10 days.

May 12 exam postponed

Patiala, May 10
All examinations of Punjabi university, which were scheduled to be held on May 12 have been postponed, declared Dr Gurmail Singh, coordinator, examinations of the university. New dates for these examinations have been fixed at the end of the date-sheets, which will be available with the concerned centre superintendents. The place and time schedule of these examinations, however, will remain the same. — TNS

HEALTH

City kids battle bulge
Anuja Jaiswal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 10
The battle of bulge is taking its toll on the health of adolescents of the city. Sedentary life style, coupled with excessive diets of junk food and sitting in front of computers have made these adolescents susceptible to premature heart disease and type-II diabetes.

As per study of PGIMER (diabetic medicine), which had published last year, some adolescents in Chandigarh may be at risk due to the prevalence of a metabolic syndrome (Having any three out of five, obesity, hypertension, hyper TG, low HDL, high BP) that places them at a high risk of type-II diabetes and premature heart disease. The age group at risk is between 12 and 17 years of age.

Earlier, type-I diabetes, formerly known as “insulin-dependent diabetes” or “childhood diabetes”, is most commonly diagnosed in children and adolescents, but can occur in adults, too, was common among people below 19 years of age.

But, recently more and more young people are being detected with type-II diabetes (a condition wherein body cells do not respond appropriately even when insulin is injected externally) says, Rama Walia, assistant professor, department of endocrinology, PGI.

In study, experts found that out of 1,083 children, 108 were overweight, risk factor for contracting the disease. Experts at the PGI warn that the syndrome is on the rise among schoolchildren of Chandigarh. In contrast to the developed world, the children in the higher socio-economic strata are even at greater risk.

Dr Anil Bhansali, head of the department of endocrinology, PGI, blamed the fast-track lifestyle of the people, especially the youth for increasing incidence of diabetes. "Less physical activity, intake of fast food which is not nutritious and more of mental stress adds to the risk," he said.

He added couch potatoes and potbellies must watch out, especially for diabetes. It is fast taking toll on adolescents and the youth. Quoting a recent American study, expert in endocrinology said, "An obese person who spends an average of two hours watching television and spends less than an hour in active sports is at the risk of developing diabetes."

So what is the way out? "The message is clear, get out of the unhealthy regime and put on your jogging shoes to burn the excess sugar and get rid of those tires around your stomach," said Dr KP Singh, senior consultant, endocrinology department, Fortis, while warning that if care is not taken, the land of milk and “honey” might be sucked into a diabetes quicksand.

298 donate blood
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 10
The Thalassaemic Children Welfare Association (TCWA), Chandigarh, organised its 98th blood donation camp today at Zakir Hall, Block-A, PGI.

More than 298 donors donated blood at the camp. This was the first camp in a series of six blood donation camps. Dr KK Talwar, director, PGIMER, inaugurated the camp. He congratulated and praised the efforts of TCWA in saving the lives of serious patients especially during summer months when there is an acute shortage of blood.

He congratulated the donors hailing from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh for contributing to this noble cause. Dr KK Talwar is also the chief patron of the association.

CRIME

Lawyer cheated of Rs 4,00,000
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 10
Lakinder Vir Singh, an advocate, has filed a police complaint against Clifford Michal and Kamra Ali, both residents of Delhi.

The complainant has alleged that the accused cheated him of Rs 4,12,930 that he had deposited in ICICI Bank in Delhi. The accused allegedly lured the complainant to win a jackpot through e-mail lottery.

He told the complainant to deposit the money, a “tax” on the amount won. The complainant deposited the money, but never got any money.

The case is under investigation with the Crime Branch.

In another incident, Randhir Singh, a resident of Sector 37 here lodged a complaint against Rajinder Kumar. The complainant alleged that the accused took money from him for the purpose of employing his son, which he never did.

A case has been registered at the police station, Sector 39.

Stolen

Om Parkash, a resident of Sector 32 here, has lodged a police complaint alleging that his Honda Activa (CH-01-V-9052) was stolen from outside his home on May 9. A case has been registered at the police station, Sector 34.

In another incident, Naresh Kumar, a resident of Sector 56, has reported that his household items were stolen from his home on May 9.

A case under Section 380, IPC, has been registered at the police station, Sector 39.

Parkash Singh of Buterla has alleged that his scooter (CH-0-P-3289) was stolen form Mani Majra. A case has been registered at the Mani Majra police station.

Arrested

Umesh Kumar, a resident of Sector 56, has been arrested by the police. The police has recovered eight bottles of country-made wine from him. A case under the Excise Act has been registered at the police station, Sector 39.

BUSINESS

Nationalised banks need to be upgraded: Bankers
Aarti Kapur
Tribune News service

Chandigarh, May 10
In order to face stiff competition with private banks, nationalised banks of the country will have to think of having better connectivity among their branches and make the system people friendly.

The issue was discussed in the 26th Management Research and Development Programme (MRDP) of senior executives of the nationalised banks, which was organised by the Chandigarh Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, here today.

In the five-day programme, 18 representatives of 10 banks, including the RBI participated. Showing concern, a number of bank representatives pointed out that the rate of clientele would be affected if the banks did not take timely steps to upgrade their system.

A member said, according to the database of private banks, one would find that younger generation preferred to invest their money in private banks. The reason being quick service, transparency and easy accessibility to banks.

On the other hand, in nationalised banks, the clientele was mostly of the middle and old-aged people, who were used to that system and did not like to change. Most of the bankers were of the opinion that if timely steps were not been taken for better connectivity of nationalised bank, these banks would not be able to compete with international banks.

Beside this, the panel also discussed the risk management, people management and co-operate governance in the banks. The representatives exchanged ideas on how to minimise the risk of money, which they gave on credit to their clients.

Union minister of state for finance Pawan Kumar Bansal, who was the chief guest for the valedictory function asked banks to focus on current issues like lending under differential rate of interest (DRI), organic farming, SMEs investments.

He appealed bankers to facilitate the finance under DRI up to one per cent of their total advance. He said the income criteria for DRI beneficiary had been increased to Rs 18,000 for rural beneficiaries and Rs 24,000 for urban beneficiaries.

While clarifying the government’s stand on mergers, Bansal said it had left to the discretion of the boards. He said the government would never reduce their holdings below 51 per cent, as the banks would loose its public sector status.

CULTURE

Zila Khan entrances with Sufi compositions
S.D. Sharma

Chandigarh, May 10
The serenity, grandeur and vitality of mysticism were brought alive in an entrancing Sufaina spell by classical vocal maestro Zila Hussein Khan here at PGI Bhargava auditorium.

The captivating musical soiree organised by the Sufi Foundation of India commenced after its chairman Dr A.A. Sidiqui welcomed chief guest Pawan Kumar Bansal who lighted the traditional lamp.

Virtually revelling in the glory of the Almighty and established in humility, Mascat-based maestro took centrestage only to mesmerise the elite audience who apparently did not pay heed to the delayed start of the programme.

Zila Khan doled out an invocatory Persian composition ‘Ziaaley miskin mukum tabaqul brai naina banao bataiyan’. She delved deep into the ‘khiarz’ and upper octave in an ecstatic mood as if in communion with God like a typical ‘jogan’. The Sufi romanticism was amply pervasive in her next ‘Aah ko dard chahiye, nagme ko saaz chahiye’.

Eulogising the omnipresence of 'Khuda', she dedicated 'Koi to hai jo nizaame hasti chla rha hai'. The entire hall reverberated with applause as she doled out Bulle Shah's 'Ishaq di navion navi bahaar'.

The maestro extracted full pleasure from her poetic renditions and immaculate performance while using different tal patterns and modulating her voice to suit the lyrical intent of the kalaams.

An array of accomplished musicians, including Ghulam Ali, Shabbir Hasan, Nafees Ahamed, Lovely Sharma and Rakesh Kumar supported her vocal recital. Dr Nasher Naqvi conducted the programme.

Seminar on Sufism
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 10
The essence and philosophy of Sufism strongly advocates the ideas and practices of focusing on the cultivation of social, moral and spiritual values and inculcation of a sense of social responsibility.

This was discussed in a seminar on mystical dimensions of religions in India ‘Peace through Sufism’ organised by the Sufi foundation of India in Chandigarh here today.

Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Gen (retd) S.F. Rodrigues, PVSM VSM was the chief guest.

Various speakers raised the point that the goal of realisation of God was closely linked with our social life and the concept of serving our needy brethren, to establish equality, peace and harmony in our society.

Painting workshop concludes
Our Correspondent

Panchkula, May 10
Around 300 students participated in the painting competition as a part of the four-day painting workshop, which concluded at the Indradhanush auditorium here yesterday. The first ever state-level workshop organised by the Haryana Kala Parishad had ‘Cultural heritage of Haryana in all manifestations’ as the thematic content, disclosed Usha Sharma, the Parishad director.

Each of the 16 leading painting artists of Haryana created two art works mostly in the oil medium during the workshop, which were displayed for viewing at the venue. The artists virtually depicted the soul of Haryanvi pastoral culture in their paintings. The concluding ceremony was marked by a cultural programme by school students. Chief guest K.S.

Bhoria, IAS, honoured the artists Mohinder Tuli, Shakti Singh, Mahesh Dalal, S.L. Dewan, Arika Kapur, S.K. Batish, Dr Rajni, Usha Banmali, K.R. Kholi, Bhim Singh, Gagandeep Kaur, Pawan Kumar, Bhushan Saini.