MC chief’s poll today
Sukhbir meets warring factions
Surinder Bhardwaj

Bassi Pathana, July 20
Tomorrow would be a politically crucial day for the warring factions of SAD led by former minister R.S. Cheema and MLA Didar Singh Bhatti as the elections to the posts of office-bearers, including those of council presidents at Bassi Pathana and Sirhind and zila parishad chairman at Fatehgarh Sahib, would be held tomorrow.

As the Congress is not in a position to put forward its claim on any elected body, the contest is between the warring SAD factions.

Hectic political activity was witnessed throughout the day. Though the number game for all three bodies at present is in favour of Bhatti, the intervention of SAD president Sukhbir Badal has led to speculations in the area.

The sources said leaders of the warring faction Bibi Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, in charge, Amloh constituency, and Surjit Singh Rakhra, observer of Fatehgarh Sahib, had a joint meeting with Sukhbir Badal yesterday. He directed all SAD factions to work unitedly.

The sources said he sought the lists of office-bearers of all three bodies from both Cheema and Bhatti. The council presidents and chairman would be elected as per the directions of Sukhbir Badal, the sources added.

There was a speculation that two elected bodies might go in favour of Bhatti and one in favour of Cheema. But councillors in Bassi Pathana and Sirhind were in a rebellious mood.

A number of councillors in both the towns told The Tribune that, if the candidates of their choice were not elected, they would protest. SAD and BJP could not get majority in any of the councils, so the office-bearers would be elected with the help of Independents and they are not in a mood to oblige even Sukhbir Badal.

The elections would also decide the political fate of both factions and their supremacy in the district administration besides casting its shadow on the coming parliamentary elections.

Matchmaking: Parents turn to detectives
Gurdeep Singh Mann
Tribune News Service

Fatehgarh Sahib, July 20
The match-making in Punjab is heading towards a new trend with parents of would-to-be-brides hiring detectives before giving final nod to matrimonial alliances.

The past and present of prospective partners comes under scanner with scores of detective agencies engaged in providing information. In the times of online matrimonial alliances, which allow for high degree of anonymity leading to fraud and deception, such agencies are proving useful.

Earlier, family members or parents of a bride or groom hunted for prospective partners with the help of their social networks and relations, said owner of a private detective agency in Nakodar.

"We are getting different cases from all over Punjab. Earlier, only rich and high-profile families were taking our services, but now even middle-class families are approaching us," said Bikram, a private detective near Khanna.

These agencies charge anything above Rs 8,000 depending upon the status of their client and person under surveillance. "In many cases, where people demanded for documentary evidences such as photographs etc, the rate further increased," he added.

For premarital investigations, people from various villages and urban areas approach these agencies to know if a groom is an addict, debt-ridden, has an affair etc. "We take at least two weeks to one month for proper verification with proofs. Likewise, the character verification, education, career and financial position are enquired about bride and her family members," he added.

The agency operators explore character verification of boy or girl, verify family's social reputation and background, educational background, criminal records (if any), past marriage, separation, divorce, number of kids (if any) etc, past or present affairs, property and assets possessed by the family employment status, detailed reports about their activities through secret surveillance.

"Hiring a private detective has proved handy for us. We were considering an alliance of an NRI doctor for our daughter. But before giving the final nod, we hired a detective to know social status and other details of the groom in Canada," said Tarsem Mangla, an industrialist.

Sanjeev, a private detective dealing in matrimonial cases for the past three years, said they took up cases of domestic services, corporate services, criminal services, NRI services and others.

4 new locomotives for Kalka diesel shed
Hemant Kumar

Kalka, July 20
The Railway Board would soon provide four new locomotives to the narrow gauge diesel shed at Kalka. This was revealed by the members of the Parliamentary committee during its recent visit to Kalka railway station and Kalka NG workshop for inspection.

They told The Tribune that these locomotives were being made by Barel Workshop, Mumbai. Two of the locomotives were expected to join the Kalka stable in September and the other two would be sent till December, they added

The official sources at Kalka diesel shed said the arrival of the new locomotives would ensure smooth running of trains on the Kalka-Shimla section besides increasing the frequency of the service.

For the past couple of years, the Kalka railway authorities had been sending proposals to the Northern Railway Headquarters at Baroda House, New Delhi, asking them for 10 new locomotives as the old ones completed their tenure of 36 years in 2007 (1971-2007).

At present 14 locomotives are running on the Kalka-Shimla track. It is pertinent to mention here that during the peak season, these locomotives usually develop snag resulting in a great inconvenience to the passengers and tourists. These problems occurred frequently due to non-availability of spare parts of these locomotives, sources said.

Each new locomotives would cost around Rs 2 crore, sources said adding that these were of the latest technique and design with cabin on both sides.

Ajay Pal jumps to victory
Our Correspondent

Patiala, July 20
Ajay Pal Singh of Punjab Police won the high-jump event (1.90 meters) on day two of the Punjab State Athletics Championship being held on the Punjabi University campus here today.

Ajay Pal was followed by Vipul Tyagi of BSF and his Punjab Police colleague Ajit.

Other results: High jump (u-20): Jagdeep Singh (Amritsar) 1, Kamaljit Singh (Jalandhar) 2, Sewak Singh (Ludhiana) 3; triple jump (u-20): Navjot Singh (Patiala) 1, Rajbir Singh (Sangrur) 2, Gurpreet Singh (Sangrur) 3; 10,000m (u-20): Manjit Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib) 1, Jangsher Singh (Sangrur) 2, Varinder Singh (Ropar) 3 800m (u-18): Jagjit Singh (Sangrur) 1, Satwant Singh (Sangrur) 2, Ramandeep Singh (Barnala) 3; 800m (u-18): Gagandeep Singh (Gurdaspur) 1, Loveinder Singh (Gurdaspur) 2, Deep Singh (Patiala) 3; hammer throw (girls, u-18): Sharanjit Kaur (Ludhiana) 1, Jagroop Kaur (Taran Tarn) 2, Ramanpreet Kaur (Muktsar) 3; hammer throw (senior women): Harinder Kaur (Kapurthala) 1, Kamaljit Kaur (Hoshiarpur) 2, Sarabjit Kaur (Patiala) 3.

Lovers attempt suicide, girl dies
Tribune News Service

Ropar, July 20
Two lovers jumped into a river near Bunga Sahib late last night. The girl drowned while the boy is still struggling for life. The incident took place at 11.30 pm when Mandeep Singh and Rashmi Sharma, both residents of Sector 23-A, Chandigarh, were returning from Naina Devi.

They parked their scooter near the river, removed their shoes and jumped into the river. Due to high flow of water, girl drowned while the boy raised a hue and cry. On hearing his cries, nearby villagers came to his rescue and threw a rope into the water. He managed to grasp hold of the rope and was fished out.

The Ropar police booked Mandeep for attempting to commit suicide while the girl’s body was handed over to her parents after a post-mortem today. Rashmi was an MBA student of Gian Jyoti Institute, Mohali, while Mandeep worked as a salesman in Sector 17.

SPORTS

Kapil’s advice to Yuvraj
Utilise energy on field
G. S. Paul
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 20
“No organisation is bigger than the game. The self-centred administrators should be shunted out in the better interest of cricket,” opined Kapil Dev.

The cricketer of the millennium has a feel of aversion for Chandigarh administration. Kapil expressed his dislike for not providing Sector 16 Stadium for the ICL tournament.

The administration, which controls the ground, had earlier seemed willing to host the ICL matches but decided against it after the BCCI had directed all its affiliates to stay clear of the ICL.

“It was quite disheartening for me when the administration officials turned down my proposal of setting up an academy at Chandigarh. Still I would like to have a new beginning with Chandigarh administration. I am ready to forget the past and inclined to do something for the local budding players. I would still like to start all this on the same Sector 16 Stadium where I learnt the finer nuances of the game.”

Praising the infrastructure available in Chandigarh, Kapil said, “Had I not been born in Chandigarh, perhaps I would not have reached the highest level of cricket.”

About Yuvraj’s dropout in the India-Sri Lanka series and his recently being in news for beach partying, Kapil advocated that he should perform and take out the best out of his immense talent. “If he could work hard just 50 per cent of what his father Yograj Singh has done in his times, Yuvi can be the best player of the world. There is no dearth of energy in him but I advise him to utilise the energy more on field than anywhere else.”

Kapil remarked that Board of Cricket Control for India (BCCI) is like a parent body for him but the discrimination towards the ICL players was unjustified. Kapil insisted that his organisation (ICL) wanted to proceed with a true sportsman-like spirit with the motto of promoting the budding players, but also expressed that he would never want to be on the “borderline”.

“The board officials like the people with ‘yesman’ tendencies and I do not have that kind of attitude. I think this is not acceptable to some selfish people in the board. Don’t you think we have persons in our country who can do better coaching assignment with their expertise,” he said.

“We have launched the ICL for providing a platform for the budding players who seldom get chance to make big in the game. Our endeavour is to set up programme where the younger generation would get a chance to make their life better through cricket. I hope that some day these players would be given chance to play for the country,” he expressed.

Going back into the nostalgia of ’83 World Cup, Kapil told that after losing five wickets for just 17 runs, it was just the determination and aggression which helped them fetch the World Cup for India.

About the future plans of ICL, Kapil said the forthcoming league would be scheduled in the month of October and kept the preparations as “surprising”. On being asked about the cheerleaders and brand ambassadors being engaged during the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kapil remarked, “Keeping aside everything, this should not be forgotten that cricket is the base which takes you to the ground.”

Improve hockey at junior level: Balbir Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 20
“If we want to regain the past glory, we have to make our national game strong at grass-root level,” feels veteran hockey player Balbir Singh Senior.

Giving his suggestions to lift the standards of the game at Chandigarh Press Club, Sector 27, here, the three-time Olympian gold medallist Balbir Singh said the game was being neglected at the junior level which was the root cause of today’s pathetic condition of the game.

"In our time, majority of the players in the national teams of both India and Pakistan were from Punjab University. But nowadays, there is hardly any team worth mentioning from school, college or university level, which is sad. There is a drastic need to rectify the things at lower level," said the Padma Shri Awardee.

Lashing out at the players, Balbir said that even during national competitions, the players were not fully prepared. “Ninety per cent of the teams participating in the prestigious meet come without preparation, as they are more keen on travelling to a new place than playing serious hockey," he said.

On the other hand, he was all praise for the BCCI for its marketing strategies as well as the presentation of recently held Indian Premier League.

“The hockey authorities should follow the ways of the cricket board for Premier Hockey League to make it more attractive. Besides, the league should be taken to more cities instead of restricting it to only two-three cities,” viewed Balbir.

Favouring the Asian style of hockey, the veteran exhorted the sub-continent players not to forget their own style while following the European style.

GNPS-36 win Oojam cricket tourney
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 20
A superb knock of 64 runs off 76 balls by man of the match Shubaham Mahajan and excellent bowling by Gurinder and Newab guided Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, to a 185-run victory over DAV School, Sec 8, in the final of the Inaugural Oojam Invitaional Inter-School Cricket Tournament. The tournament concluded at Sector 16 Stadium, here today.

Electing to bat first, GNPS team posted a huge score of 262 runs in allotted 45 overs. Besides Shubham, Gourav and Gurinder also chipped in with 37 runs and 31 runs, respectively, for GNPS. Sahib Mal was the main wicket-taker for DAV-8, taking 3 wickets for 41 runs in 9 overs.

While replying, DAV team were bowled out for 76 runs in just 26 overs. Prashant and Rahul were the only batsmen to reach double figures for DAV. Newab and Gurinder, with their excellent bowling, did not give the DAV batsmen a chance to settle at the crease. Newab and Gurinder both ended up with 4 wickets each.

Shubham Mahajan of GNPS was declared the man of the match while Shahnawaz Mirza of DAV-8 was declared the man of the tournament.

91 amateur caddies to tee off today
Our Golf Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 20
As many as 91 caddies will battle it out for the three titles at stake in the biggest golf tournament for amateur caddies to be hosted by the Punjab Golf Associaton (PGA) on the par-72 greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club here tomorrow.

And the man behind this tournament for caddies is Col H. S. Baidwan, PGA general secretary, who organised the tournament for caddies at the Chandigarh Golf Club for the first time in 2002 when he was the course captain. It is a virtual revival of that tournament on a much larger scale. The competition will see the caddies playing in three handicap categories. They are 0 to 6, 7 to 12 and 13 to 18.

With so many participants teeing off in the one-day competition the tournament will go a long way in tapping talent among the amateur caddies.

There will be three prizes in each category. Besides, there will be special prizes for the longest drive, nearest to the pin and for scoring the maximum number of birdies. The tournament will be teed off from tees one and 10 at 11.55 am on July 21 with Chandigarh Golf Club president D. S. Bains inaugurating the tournament. The PGA will also be honouring two caddies who did well in the ninth PGA Cup.

41 to participate in CFI camp
Tribune News Service

Vivek school wins opening match
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 20
Vivek High School, Sector 38, Chandigarh, beat Paragon Senior Secondary School, Mohali, by 183 runs in the opening match of Vivek Trophy Twenty20 Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2008. The tournament was organised by Twenty20 Cricket Association of Chandigarh and Asian Cricket Academy at Vivek High School Sector 38, here today.

Brief Scores:

Vivek High School: 197 runs for 2 in 20 overs (Shivam Bhambri 120, Anek 15, Vikram Brar 21,

Simarjeet 1 for 32 runs, Charanjeet 1 for 21 runs).

Paragon Senior Secondary School: 14 runs all out in 8.3 overs (Vishavjeet 5, Kamal 2, Parvesh Sharma 3 for 5 runs, Vikram Brar 3 for 5 runs, Viren 2 for 1 run).

Man of the Match: Shivam Bhambri.

Tarini wins chess tourney
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 20
Tarini Goyal and Kashish Kaushal of Sacred Heart School, Sector-26 came first and second, respectively, in girls’ under-7 category during the Chandigarh Chess Championship that concluded today at St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Sector-44, here today.

In the boys’ category, Jaskeerat and Rishi came first and second, respectively. In the boys’ under-17 category, Shirish and Ameek Malhotra came first and second, respectively, while in the girls’ group Arunima Goyal got first position and Simranjeet Kaur came second. All these winners will be representing Chandigarh in the forthcoming nationals.

Sepak takraw trials
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 20
Chandigarh Sepak Takraw Association will be conducting trials to select Chandigarh junior under-18 boys’ and girls’ teams.

The trials will be held at Mount Carmel School, Sector 47, at 4.30 pm on July 21.

The selected players will represent the city in the 12th Junior National Sepak Takraw Championship (Boys & Girls) to be held at Bangalore (Karnataka) from August 11 to 14. Players, born on or after January 1, 1990, are eligible to take part in the trials. Interested players have to report to Inderjit Kumar, DPE of the school.

Constable recruitment test: 2 held for fraud
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 20
The local police today arrested two youths on the charges of fraud and conspiracy from Police Lines, Sector 26, here this morning.

The accused have been identified as Mohit, a resident of Rothak and Ujjal, a resident of Karnal. Mohit was caught red-handed while appearing in a constable recruitment test in place of Ujjal.

The police said Sohan Lal, superintendent at the examination center, reported the matter to the police after he had doubts over the antecedents of a candidate. The police reached the spot and verified the documents. During the verification, the accused failed to give satisfactory answers and his photograph also did not match with that of Ujjal. He was identified as Mohit Kumar, hailing from Kanhi in Rothak. Mohit is working as a trainee in the Indian Army.

During investigations, the police even managed to nab Ujjal who was hiding behind the Police Lines. He was taken into custody after registration of a case of criminal conspiracy and forgery.

In another incident, Rubbi, a resident of Muzafarnagar who was appearing on roll number 100679, was given a misprinted question paper. She got only 46 questions to answer instead of 60. Rubbi immediately informed the superintendent, who bluntly refused to help her.

After giving the exam, she approached the higher officials of the UT police, who again failed to solve the problem. Rubbi has now threatened the UT police that in case the police officials failed to initiate an inquiry, she would approach the court for appropriate action.

5 hurt in accident
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 20
A Maruti Swift car rammed into a tree on the road dividing Sector 17 and 18, here tonight, leaving all five occupants, including two girls, seriously injured.

The police said one of the critically injured victims Mehga, living in a paying guest accommodation in Sector 34, was referred to the PGI from Sector 16 Government Multi-Specialty Hospital.

Meanwhile, the police has arrested Rajiv Gandhi, a resident of Ludhiana, on the charges of rash and negligent driving.

The police said Rajiv, son of a Ludhiana-based industrialist was driving the car. He had come to Chandigarh along with his two friends Munish and Ashish, also residents of Ludhiana, to meet their acquaintances Gurtej and Megha. The police is yet to contact the girls’ parents.

According to eyewitnesses, the mishap occurred when the car (PB 10-BR-1001), which was coming from press light point and was being driven at high-speed on road dividing Sectors 17 and 18, swerved to left side of the road after the driver lost control over the vehicle. The car rammed into a tree and got toppled.

All the five occupants of the vehicle were pulled out by passers by and police. They were rushed to GMSH. The occupants were said to be under the influence of liquor, said a police officer.

The police said the occupants of the car were coming from Arizona, a Sector 9 discothèque. They were on their way to Sector 34 to drop the girls at their paying guest accommodation.

95 teams participate in folk music contest
Our Correspondent

Panchkula, July 20
As many as 95 folklore teams from all districts of Haryana are taking part in a state level folk song and raagini contest underway at the Inder Dhanush Auditorium here. The mega event organised by the Haryana Kala Parishad is aimed at preserving the folk music tradition and rejuvenating the folk cultural potential which is under threat from the pop and DJ culture, said Parishad director, Usha Sharma.

She reiterated that folk musical arts are the living and integral part of any culture as these constitute a bond of union between people of diverse levels and culture. To encourage the artistes, prize money of Rs 30,000, 20,000 and 10,000 will be awarded to the winners. Besides, a special award of Rs 5,000 will be given to one artist by public voting.

All the twelve winners from three-day contest in age-groups of 15-20, 21-25 and 26-30 years will be awarded cash prizes besides one artist to get 11,000 rupees through public voting tomorrow at the concluding session.

Kailash Verma of AIR Delhi, Ramphal Chahal of AIR Rohtak and Gulabh Singh form the panel of judges.