Chandigarh, August 27
Claims of “We care for you” by the Chandigarh police fell flat. Instead, their callousness came to the fore with two incidents that took place in the city today.

In the first incident, a badly injured Suresh Bhardwaj was made to wait for around 12 hours before he could lodge a complaint against three robbers, while in the second case, Kamlesh Devi accused the police of being biased and not registering a case against her husband for beating her up.

Suresh, a Markfed employee, was robbed of his two mobile phones, an ATM card and Rs 2,000 cash by three robbers today around 4 am in Sector 49. He was also brutally beaten up by the robbers, who also put red chilly in his eyes. The victim went to the Sector 45 police post immediately, but only to hear “Come after 10”.

“I again went to the post at 12 noon and then, they told me to go to the Sector 34 police station. After waiting for two hours, I came back as it was not possible for me to sit there due to my injuries. I could get my complaint registered only after 5 pm,” lamented Suresh.

In the other incident, Kamlesh Devi alleged that her husband, who was a head constable in the Chandigarh police, had been beating her up for the past few years. “Despite approaching the law enforcing agency a number of times, the police never helped me thus encouraging their colleague (her husband) to continue with his illegal act,” alleged Kamlesh, who is working as junior assistant in the Chandigarh health department.

Narrating today’s incident, Kamlesh alleged that her husband beat her up when she was about to leave for office. After seeing bruises and torn clothes, her colleagues immediately called the police.

“The matter comes under Sector 22, so you should go to the Sector 22 station,” was a piece of advice from the cops, who turned up to inquire into the matter.

When the employees of the office argued that how would she go to the police station with torn clothes, the cops didn’t have an answer. 

Chandigarh, August 27
Even though heavy rains have flooded the city, the residents of Hallo Majra are fighting to get back the water supply in their area.

They took out a protest rally today and blocked the road against the acute shortage of water in their village. It has been disconnected with water supply since the last three months.

“We have been relying on water tankers as we have no water in our homes and nobody is even ready to listen to our complaints,” said Vijay Kumar Goel, a resident of the colony.

The residents of this village are finding it difficult to carry out their daily chores in the absence of portable water. “Our children have not gone to school for so many days as there is no water even to carry out routine activities,” said Pushpa Rani, one of the residents of the village.

According to the residents, they are agitated over the rude behaviour of the corporation as their complaints, since the last one month, have fallen on deaf ears. “We complained to the corporation around one month back. Just yesterday they came to check the pipelines after which the situation has turned even worse,” said Geeta Rani, another resident.

The rally, mainly comprising ladies, raised slogans against the municipal corporation of Chandigarh and gheraoed the vehicle of the junior engineer.

“The corporation ill-treats us, there are no civic amenities in our area like in the rest of the city.

Panchkula, August 27
In order to give facelift to the town and providing better facilities to residents, a high-powered committee has approved many projects, including an ISBT in Sector-1A, at a meeting held at Chandigarh today.

During the meeting held under the chairmanship of Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan with officials of the Haryana Urban Development Authority, the Urban Local Bodies Department and the Panchkula administration, it has also been decided that a bridge to connect Sectors 24 and 25 would be constructed.

Financial commissioner and principal secretary, Urban Local Bodies, S.C. Choudhary, commissioner and secretary, Town and Country Planning Department, D.S. Desi, director, Urban Local Bodies, Mahavir Singh, DC R.K. Kataria, chairman, Municipal Council, Panchkula, Ravinder Rawal, executive officer MC, Panchkula, O.P. Sihag, and other senior officers were also present on this occasion.

After the meeting, Chander Mohan said the existing bus stand in Sector-5 would be utilised for the local purpose. After the shifting of Chandigarh bus stand to Sector 43, the Panchkula ISBT on Majri chowk would be a boon for residents of Panchkula and Chandigarh as they would be able to board buses for Himachal from here only.

Chandigarh, August 27
Thanks to Gurgaon and Faridabad, Chandigarh region, comprising Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, is in the list of the ‘top 10’ cities paying the highest income tax.

With an 18 per cent increase in its target, the region made it to the list with a collection of Rs 9,724 crore, edging out Bhopal that occupied the number 10 slots for the past two years.

According to statistics compiled by the Income Tax Department, Chandigarh region has left behind fancier cities like Jaipur, Bhopal, Kochi and Bhubaneswar in the race.

According to officials, the collection in the region has grown by 39 per cent to Rs 9,743.96 crore in 2007-08 against Rs 7,007.74 crore in 2006-07. Officials said the primary reason for this record performance was due to increased realization of corporate tax from two Haryana cities, Faridabad and Gurgaon.

“The growth in Haryana's direct tax collections had been mainly fuelled by massive increase in corporate tax collections which had grown by 87 per cent at Rs 2,532.60 crore in 2007-08, against collections of Rs 1,358.10 crore in 2006-07," revealed a senior income tax official.

As Haryana posted a whopping 65 per cent growth in direct tax collections in 2007-08, which is way ahead of the national average growth of 38 per cent, Chandigarh zone entered the ‘top 10’ lists. Haryana commanded 54 per cent share in the overall tax collections of the region.

On the other side, Mumbai and Delhi continue to occupy the top two slots with revenues of Rs 1,14,161 crore and Rs 46,865 crore, respectively. The traditional big hitters Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai continue to lead the 2007-08 list, followed by Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Meerut.

The cities, which have done remarkably well in terms of positioning themselves are Hyderabad and Pune.

While Hyderabad has risen from number seven to the fifth position this year, Pune is placed at number six, better than its number nine slot last year.

Quite unlike its UP’s city image, Meerut's economic health is visible as this is the third year in a row that the town has figured on the top ten list.

In fact, two years ago, it had made it to the fifth slot, just behind the traditional big hitters Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai. 

Chandigarh, August 27
Surveys conducted by the Income Tax Department on the city-based Vardhman Chemitech and Anmol Watches have unearthed unaccounted income to the tune of Rs 6 crore.

With the two companies “surrendering” unaccounted income of Rs 5.50 crore and Rs 50 lakh, respectively, the haul is one of the highest in the city. The department has already recovered Rs 2 crore from them.

Vardhman’s managing director Suyog Jain was not available for comments.

According to the commissioner, Income Tax I, G.S. Randhawa, Vardhman’s surrender amount of Rs 5.5 crore includes unaccounted excess stocks of drugs and raw material. He said the survey had revealed unexplained investments in new factory building at Nimbua village, Derabassi, and in plant and machinery in new factory building.

Anmol Watches admitted to evading tax on an excess income of Rs 50 lakh. The owner will have to cough up almost one third of it as tax.

A team led by additional commissioner, Income Tax, range III, Ajay Sharma, started the survey around 12 pm on Wednesday and continued till 8 am on Thursday. The survey, said sources, was conducted on the basis of a tip-off regarding the discrepancies in the accounts.

Chandigarh, August 27
Continuing its drive against malpractices by the allotees of slum rehabilitation colonies, a team of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) today detected 31 more cases of the licensees having illegally sublet their pre-fabricated shelters in Sector 52.

In an earlier verification drive conducted on August 22, the teams of the CHB had detected five cases of subletting of shelters. Many shelters had then been found locked.

According to the CHB officials, all the defaulters stand to lose possession of their pre-fabricated shelters. Such defaulters will not be allotted any dwelling units under the slum rehabilitation project in future, they said.

Under the Chandigarh Small Flats Scheme-2006 for the rehabilitation of slum dwellers, those allotted pre-fabricated shelters on rental basis are not permitted to sell, sublet and assign by way of general power of attorney (GPA) or otherwise part with the possession of the dwelling unit.

Under the scheme, as many as 1,782 pre-fabricated shelters in Sector 52 were allotted on rental basis to the slum dwellers of the notified colonies. It had come to the notice of the CHB that some allottees had started renting out their dwelling units and were even trying to sell the flats allotted to them by way of GPA.

As many as 420 shelters were checked at random today, out of which 31 licensees were found to have rented out their shelters.

Chandigarh, August 27
The district magistrate today issued several orders, including banning the sale of correction fluid to the minors.

According to official sources, the order banning the sale of correction fluid will remain in force for a period of 60 days from September 2 to October 31.

Similarly, the administration has extended the Section 144 of the CrPC. The assembly of five or more persons within the sectors falling north of the Madhya Marg i.e. Sectors 1 to 12, 26 and on the Jan Marg stretch and from the cricket stadium chowk to the Housing Board chowk has been banned. This order will remain in force till October 28.

Through another order, the landlords have been ordered to furnish the particulars of their tenants to the SHOs concerned. 

Chandigarh, August 27
The first phase of Panjab University (PU) Senate polls concluded here today with Naval Kishore and Keshav Malhotra registering record wins from their respective faculties.

While Prof Naval Kishore from the science faculty defeated G.S. Gill by a huge margin of 77 votes, Keshav Malhotra from the language faculty trounced Akshay Kumar Gupta by 52 votes.

Meanwhile, Ashok Goel, G.K. Chatrath, A.K. Saihjpal and Rajinder Bhandari also won elections from their respective faculties.

In all, 116 votes were polled in favour of Ashok Goyal while his opponent Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh managed to get only 83 votes. G.K. Chatrath from the faculty of medical sciences defeated S.S. Virdi by a margin of 12 votes.

Chanidgarh, August 27
The staff of Government Model High School-29B may not get this month’s salary on time. Reason: Lack of coordination between the principal and the school staff.

The tiff between principal Saroj Bhasin and the dealing hand clerk Savita Verma came out in open today when the formalities of preparing salaries of the staff was not completed on time.

While Savita alleged that she was disturbed following the rude behaviour of the principal and had to visit a doctor, the principal charged her with laxity in work.

“I was disturbed due to continuous interference of the principal in my work. Since I was not well, I had asked for a half-day leave, which she objected to,” Savita said.

When Savita’s conditioned deteriorated, she was taken to doctor by her colleagues. Meanwhile, her husband Ravinder Kumar also reached the school. “Her condition deteriorated as she was mentally tortured by the principal,” he alleged.

Denying the allegations, the principal said: “I was concerned as the salaries of the staff were not prepared on time just because of Savita’s laxity. She remained on continuous leave and the work suffered. Despite the fact that I have no alternate arrangement to do the accounts job, I accepted her half-day leave.”

The principal and the clerk also blamed each other for claiming allowances illegally. The principal alleged that Savita had been claiming the typing allowance of Rs 75 per month for the last many years, Savita alleged that the principal was claming the science practical allowance of Rs 200 per month which she was not entitled to.

“Whatever I am claiming is in according with the guidelines of the Chandigarh Administration. Instead, the principal is claiming unjustified allowance. I also warned her about the audit objections, but she did not pay any heed to it,” said Savita.

The staff members of the school said the situation arose due to “inflexible” attitude of the principal. They alleged: “The principal has the drawing and disbursement powers since May 29. But till date, there has not been a single transaction in the school funds. That’s why there is poor upkeep in our school. The salary of the staff is also being delayed for the last three months due to the principal’s non-cooperative attitude”.

The school staff said the matter had been brought to the notice of DPI (Schools), but to no avail. “We have to waste a lot of time to get clarifications either from the office of the DPI or DEO for petty matters. Even for withdrawing small amounts or for sanctioning of leave, we have to ask the Education Department because the principal is not competent enough to take decisions on her own,” some of the staff members alleged.

When contacted, DPI (S) S.K. Setia said that he would look into the matter.

Mohali, August 27
With a view to check the working of drug de-addiction centres, the Mohali district administration has constituted a committee to see the inmates get proper facilities.

Deputy Commissioner Rahul Bhandari today spelt out a number of regulations which the owners of drug de-addiction centres will have to follow. He said that a committee had been set up for the purpose.

The SDM of the sub-division concerned will be the chairman of committee with the DSP and an assistant civil surgeon as its members.

The Civil Surgeon had brought to the notice of the DC that several drug de-addiction centres were allegedly meting out inhuman treatment to inmates and were deprived of basic amenities.

A few days back, 20-year-old Surinder Singh, a resident of Phase III B-1, Mohali, had died three days after he was admitted to a drug de-addiction centre at Balongi. Surinder’s mother had alleged that he was tortured to death at the centre.

According the district administration, the de-addiction centres will now have to provide clean and healthy living conditions to the inmates, qualified doctors, yoga teachers, psychiatrists, staff nurses and pharmacists. These centres will also make arrangements for outdoor games, TV sets and newspapers to the inmates. A list of doctors treating the inmates will have to be displayed and the treatment record maintained.

Moreover, the inmates will have to be provided clean drinking water and proper food. A record will have to be maintained regarding the inmates specifying the admission time as well as the time when they were discharged from the centre.

According to the orders issued by the Deputy Commissioner, legal action would be initiated against the management of the de-addiction centre that fails to abide by the rules. 

Chandigarh, August 27
The young boy who switched over from being a casual hacker to an ethical hacker is now all set to start a certification programme on ethical hacking. He has tied up with Reliance Communications to start the Ankit Fadia Certification Program in Ethical Hacking at Reliance World outlets across the country.

This computer wizard, who wrote the worldwide best selling book on ethical hacking at the age of 14 and worked with several governments on ethical hacking, will be launching his certification programme in over 100 cities. “This one month online course will be run in more than 100 cities at Reliance World outlets simultaneously and would cost Rs 6500,” he said.

He said the growth in internet users had created a demand for ethical hackers - people who can hack computer security systems on behalf of the companies to check how secure the system is. “With demand of ethical hackers exceeding the supply, professionals who are certified by us will be recruited by us. There is no eligibility criteria to pursue this course. We have people of all age groups and after doing this course one can secure his personal data and account information on computer,” he added.

Fadia is currently doing his Bachelors in Computer Science from California, USA. He recalled that it was his hobby to learn about hacking, which later became his profession.

He has authored 11 international bestsellers on computer security selling a record of two million copies across the world. One of his books, “The Unofficial Guide To Ethical Hacking,” which he wrote at the age of 14, had such an impact that in November 2001 he was consulted by the CIA for breaking an encrypted message sent by one of Osama Bin Laden’s men.

Chandigarh, August 27
Bhateri Devi, an elderly woman of the New Indira Colony, has been running from pillar to post for the last four weeks to find her missing daughter Sonu.

Though the local police have registered a DDR in this regard, Bhateri Devi alleged that the police were not making serious efforts to trace her daughter, who had given birth to a baby girl just two weeks before she went missing. “I am not even sure whether she is alive or dead,” Bhateri Devi said with tears in her eyes.

A mother of two, 26-year-old Sonu was married to Dharamvir of Bhaskar Colony eight years back. According to Bhateri Devi, Sonu’s in-laws had deserted her on July 31. Unaware of this, she said: “When I went to meet my daughter, she was not in the house. Her brother-in-law Dilbagh Singh told me that she had left for my house two days back. She alleged that Sonu’s in-laws seemed least bothered even after hearing that she had gone missing under mysterious circumstances.

Sector 24 police post sub-inspector Gurdial Singh said efforts were being made to trace the girl. “We have also flashed a photograph of the missing girl on City Cable. As per her in-laws, she is mentally upset,” he said. 

Mohali, August 27
The Plot Allotment Sangharsh Committee of Sectors 76- 80 staged a protest outside the office of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) on Wednesday. They were protesting against the failure of the authority to hold a draw of lots in connection with the plots allotted seven years ago.

The protesters raised slogans against the authority and urged the Punjab Chief Minister, who is also the chairman of GMADA, to intervene and get a date fixed for the draw of lots for the remaining plots failing which the agitation would be intensified. 

Mohali, August 27
Mohali residents, who had a brief relief from power cuts, are facing the crisis once again.

While a three-hour power cut was imposed (3 pm to 6 pm) yesterday much to the shock of the residents, the number of cuts doubled today. Residents said the weather was humid and it was very diffic’ult without electricity. Moreover, various kind of works also came to a standstill when there was no power supply. Chaos prevailed even on roads during power cuts as traffic lights stopped functioning.

Officials of the Punjab State Electricity Board said orders for power cuts were received from Patiala and they could not do anything in this regard. Power cuts were being imposed as the demand had gone up.

Zirakpur, August 27
With mercury rising again, power cuts are back to haunt the residents of Zirakpur, Dera Bassi and Lalru.

The residents are once again reeling under acute power crisis, which incidentally had lessened due to widespread rains in the region. However, with the city witnessing almost no rains in the past 72 hours and the mercury rising, the demand of electricity has increased.

The residents claim that besides the unscheduled power cuts, tripping and voltage fluctuation has also become a norm for the past couple of days.

According to Punjab State Electricity Board officials, "Power cuts are ordered by the Power Controller. We get instant order to cut the power supply over telephone."

The residents of Zirakpur have been facing a severe electricity crisis. The supply of water to the area has also suffered with tube wells becoming non-operational during power cuts. According to information, the worst affected is Lalru, besides some areas of Derabassi, where cuts ranging between seven to nine hours have become a routine.

“With school exams round the corner, these power cuts will ruin my studies,” says Harpreet Singh, a Class X student of Derabassi. Invertors, too, are not functioning and most of the time voltage is also very low, he adds.

“We are forcibly living without power supply in this summer,” says Amrik Singh, a shopkeeper in Lalru. He says, “The government never listens and all our complaints are ignored.”

Slapping of a class IX student by a teacher of Kendriya Vidyalaya had been highlighted in the Chandigarh Tribune. Apart from the corporal punishment being given to a class IX student, who must be quite grown up, I wish to draw the attention of people towards the knowledge standard of English language of a teacher teaching high school classes of a reputed institution like Kendriya Vidyalaya managed by the Central government. The text of the apology letter by the defaulter teacher published with the story read, “By mistake I slaped Rishab. I sorry for that. I will not do again. Please fargive me.”

As you see, there are four sentences made of three-five words each. Note the number of spelling and grammatical mistakes. This is the standard of our teachers. If this is the case of a teacher of a highly reputed school like Kendriya Vidyalaya, what can be expected from the teachers of other small schools?

J. R. Garg, Chandigarh.

Readers are invited to write to us. Send your mail, in not more than 200 words, at news@tribuneindia.com or, write in, at: Letters, Chandigarh Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh – 160 030

Chandigarh, August 27
Taking cognizance of cruelty towards students by teachers, the Chandigarh Education Department seek explanation from guilty teachers.

The DPI (S) today called up principal of GMSSS-32 to explain why over 50 students were made to stand in the scorching heat and marked another inquiry against a teacher at GMSSS-40 who beaten up a student of class III yesterday.

DPI (S) SK Setia said, “It has been noticed that teachers are under stress. One reason is that the teacher-taught ratio is very high and it becomes difficult for teachers to control them. We are putting the teachers under stress-free programmes”.

About the slapping incident at Kendriya Vidyalaya-29 , the DPI (S) said since KV, being the Central Government institute, did not come directly under the jurisdiction of the Chanidgarh administration, he cannot take action. But the teacher at GMSSS-40 has been asked to submit her reply.

The parents of the student yesterday complained that their child, Kumar Gaurav, was slapped by her teacher Kanika, which left lashes on his face.

Kanika, on the other hand, replied that she just scolded him and the pencil in her hand accidentally hit his face. "We are conducting an inquiry and if the teacher is found guilty, she will be punished."