NEIGHBOURHOOD

Tipsy girl gives cops the slip
Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 25
Violent clashes rocked the walled city of Patiala when a team of Municipal Corporation (MC) tried to raze an illegal structure in the heavily-populated Lahori Gate area of the town today afternoon.

Employees of the Patiala Municipal Corporation raze an illegal structure at Gandhi Nagar Market on Monday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

The clashes left four MC employees injured, one of them seriously. The seriously injured, Gurdial Singh, a driver with the MC, has been admitted to the emergency ward of the local Rajindra Hospital. The other injured have been identified as Baldev Singh, also a driver, Nanha Ram and Ram Singh, both MC labourers.

The incident took place when a team of MC officials, led by MC executive engineer and a sub-divisional officer, arrived at the disputed site at Gandhi Colony in Lahori Gate area to demolish an illegally-constructed shop. Opposing the move, the locals pelted stones and bricks at the MC team. They also damaged the MC’s JCB machine, a truck and a private car.

Eyewitnesses said that the MC officials, accompanied by a posse of policemen, ran helter-skelter following the violent protest.

A local leader said that the plot on which the illegal structure was constructed belonged to a religious body, a statement that was contested by the MC officials.

Irked by the incident, the MC employees resorted to a pen down strike.

Addressing a press conference later in the evening, MC Commissioner S.K. Ahluwalia said that he would inquire into the incident and would take action accordingly.

Patiala Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli, who is camping in New Delhi, issued a press note from Patiala saying: “The attack is not on the MC employees but on him as all the Corporation employees are part of his family.

Patiala, August 25
The union government’s department of science and technology has sanctioned Rs 81 lakh for a research project named ‘Preparation of silicon sheets by capillary action shaping technique’ (CAST) for solar cell application to the physics department of Punjabi University, Patiala. This was stated by Dr Tejbir Singh Sandhu of the physics department here today.

He added that the research project planned to develop new technology for preparing silicon sheets at a much cheaper cost, which would lead to cheaper solar cells. Principal investigator of the project Prof R.C. Verma, who is also dean, science department, Prof V.K. Mittal and Dr Anup Thakur from Punjabi University informed that this project was the first-of-its-kind in the region.

This project is a joint venture with Dr S.M.D. Rao from Taiwan, scientists from Guru Gobind Singh Inderprasth University, New Delhi, and Instapower Limited, New Delhi.

After this project succeeds to establish the new technology, the next phase of the project would involve fabrication of solar cells and silicon material to generate cheap solar cells.

Patiala, August 25
Presence of renowned Punjabi folk singer couple Sardool Sikandar and Amar Noorie, to mark the first anniversary of the BIG 92.7 FM in Patiala, converted the celebrations into a big event for residents of Patiala today.

Claiming to be country’s most popular FM radio station, the network boasts of its presence in 44 cities across India since its launch in September 2006. The Patiala station was launched after Chandigarh, Jalandhar and Amritsar stations in the Punjab cluster.

The celebrations took off with Sardool Sikander and his wife Amar Noorie cutting the cake alongwith radio jockies including, Simran, Rohit, Anshu and Lucky. “The listeners will get a chance to win gold of Rs. 10,000 everyday. Winners would get a coupon to buy some gold from Jagdeesh Jewellers, Patiala,” said BIG 92.7 FM’s spokesperson Shailja Sharma.

Since its launch, the station, according to Shailja, had given a new meaning to the word ‘entertainment’ in the city and had been instrumental in bridging the social gap and creating awareness among the people of the city.

Bassi Pathana, August 25
Following the publication of news item regarding the demand of residents to open sub-treasury office at subdivisional headquarters in The Tribune, Ashok Singla, DC, today directed the local SDM to provide a room in her office and start sub-treasury office.

Ashok Singla said the sub-treasury office would be made operational at Bassi Pathana immediately. He said he had directed Poonam Deep Kaur to make arrangement for the accommodation and staff. He said the district administration was committed to sort out the problems of the people on a priority basis.

Sub-treasury office for the town had been sanctioned with required infrastructure but due to lack of space and staff, the office could not be made operational as yet.

The Tribune had highlighted the problem and with the opening of this office, the residents of the town, particularly employees, pensioners and others who had to travel to Fatehgarh Sahib, would avail the services at their doorsteps.

Zirakpur, August 25
Three unidentified youths snatched a bag from a businessman while he was closing his shop late last night.

According to the police, Sham Lal, a Zirakpur-based businessman alleged in his complaint that three unidentified scooterists snatched his bag from his hand. The bag contained around Rs 1.80 lakh and other documents. He told the police that he was coming from his shop towards his car, when one of the boys hit him on his head with a rod, while another boy snatched his bag and ran away from the spot. At the time of incident, one of the youths kept the scooter engine running. The two after snatching the bag sat on the scooter and the trio fled, he added.

A case has been registered in this regard. 

Chandigarh, August 25
Harjinder Singh Kang, fifth ranked in the order of merit, will lead the Chandigarh challenge in the LG Northern India Amateur tomorrow when the cream of the country's amateur talent will tee off on the greens of the Delhi Golf Club.

Seasoned golfer Kang is all set to take on the challenge after missing the qualifying target for the Eisenhower Cup by just one stroke.

Fourth-ranked Manav Das of Ambala has decided to skip the Delhi Tournament, which comprises the fifth leg of the LG Indian Amateur Golf Tour 2008-09 season.

The Amateur Golf Tour touches 11 cities incorporating 13 events, making it a truly nation-wide tour. The tour will culminate with the LG 108th All India Amateur Open which will see the participation of international teams in Kolkata in February.

In the last four events held thus far in the current season, there have been four different winners, a proof of the depth the tour has achieved. Leading the challenge in the LG Northern India Amateur will be the in-form and top-ranked Gagan Verma and fifth ranked Saurabh Bahuguna who emerged as the leaders in the recently concluded trials for the Eisenhover Cup, an international team event to be held in Australia. The Indian team will be soon announced.

The other contenders include the likes of defending champion Abhishek Jha, who shares the top spot with Gagan on the Order of Merit, third ranked Vikram Rana and fifth-ranked H.S. Kang. In fact, all top 20 players on the Order of Merit, barrring Manav, have confirmed their participation. The total field consists of 80 players - 40 from the Order of Merit and 40 from qualifying round. A record number of 123 qualifiers are vying for 40 spots in the ensuing LG Northern India Amateur.

Delhi Golf Club, the host venue which is considered to be the Mecca of Indian golf, is all geared up to host the LG Northern India Amateur. The par-72 6888-yard long course is in pristine condition. The DGC is an exciting course which provides a true test of golf.

Chandigarh, August 25
Games like kabaddi, wrestling and kho-kho may not be popular in urban areas, but people in rural areas still enjoy them. The presence of more than 10,000 spectators at Guru Dronacharya Stadium in Dadu Majra to enjoy the two-day Annual Rural Sports Meet yesterday was a testimony to the fact.

President of Guru Gobind Singh Sports Club, Dadu Majra, Baljeet Singh said: “People from all parts of Punjab, including Sangrur, Ropar and Bathinda, came here which indicates that the rural games are, indeed, a people’s sport.”

“These games are popular in countries like Australia as well but here, the government's indifferent attitude towards the games comes in the way of their promotion,” he quips.

Kuldeep Singh Saini, adviser, Guru Gobind Singh Sports Club, Dadu Majra, said: “We started organising the rural games here to promote these games and now, other clubs are also following suit.”

“Rural games have lost popularity in the recent past because there are some clubs in rural areas which supply drugs in order to attract more and more players to their clubs to earn money. Moreover, in villages, parents hesitate to allow their girls to play games,” says Kuldeep Singh.

“To play games like cricket, you got to have money while rural games like kabaddi requires well-built body. This is one of the reasons these games are not much popular in urban areas,” he added.

Chandigarh August 25
Hosts St Xavier's High School of Panchkula went down fighting to Mount Carmel of Chandigarh in a tie-breaker by 3-4 in the quarterfinal of the 2 nd Chairman's Cup Soccer Tournament being organised by St Xavier's High School, Panchkula, at the Satluj Public School ground today at Sector 4, Panchkula.

After the teams were locked one-all in the regulation period, the tie-breaker rule was applied to break the deadlock. In the tie-breaker, Mount Carmel-47 converted their penalties through Parmesh, Jashanpal Singh Randhawal and Arshdeep.

In the regulation period, St Xavier's forged ahead as Rishab found the Mount Carmel defence snapping. On crossing over, Mount Carmel neutralised the lead through Jashanpal Randhawa in the 31st minute.

The semifinal line-up is: DPS Pinjore vs Ryan International, Chandigarh, and DPS 'B' vs Mount Carmel, Chandigarh. Both semifinals will be played in morning while the final is slated to be played on Tuesday at 12.30 pm. Ryan International defeated Saupin's School, Sector 32, Chandigarh, by 2-0 in the quarterfinal match.

In another match, DPS, Pinjore proved too strong for Yadavindra Public School of Mohali whom they handed out a 5-1 drubbing. Qazi and Sachit contributed a brace each. Earlier Mudit Gulati had given DPS the lead with a sixth-minute goal. The lone goal for YPS came from the boot of Mridul in the fifth minute. DPS 'B' Pinjore stormed into the semifinal at the expense of Saupin's School of Panchkula whom they beat by 2-0.

Earlier, pre-quarterfinal round matches were played. Saupin's School of Chandigarh eked out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over St Anne's School, Chandigarh. Saupin's School, Panchkula scored a facile 3-0 victory over St Xavier's, Panchkula. Akshay Gulati (3rd), Shanu Goel (20th) and Maninderjit (22nd) were their scorers.

YPS, Mohali defeated St Xavier's, Chandigarh with an aggregate 4-3 margin in a tie-breaker after sharing two goals in the regulation period.

Scoring one goal in each half, Ryan International defeated Little Flower by 2-0. Delhi Public School A team routed Satluj Public School Panchkula by 5-0. DPS B team got the better of Holly Child of Panchkula by a lone goal scored by Aditya Vats in the 12 th minute.

Results: Q-finals: DPS B Pinjore bt Saupin's School, Panchkula, by 2-0. DPS Pinjore bt YPS Mohali by 5-1. Ryan International, Chandigarh, bt Saupin's School, Chandigarh, by 2-0. Mount Carmel, Chandigarh, bt St Xavier's Panchkula by 4-3.

(Pre-Quarterfinals): DPS Pinjore 'B' bt Holly Child, Panchkula, by 1-0. DPS 'A' Pinjore bt Satluj School, Panchkula, by 5-0. YPS Mohali bt St Xavier's Chandigarh by 4-3 on penalties. Ryan International, Chandigarh, bt Little Flower Convent School, Panchkula, by 2-0.

Saupin's School, Panchkula, bt St Xavier's Mohali by 3-0. Saupin's School, Chandigarh, bt St Anne's Chandigarh by 1-0. St Xavier's, Panchkula w/o St Peter's, Chandigarh.