Chandigarh, October 1
Manvir Singh Jolly and Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, another suspects in the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a German tourist, today surrendered before a local court. The court of chief judicial magistrate (CJM) Kanchan Mahi remanded them, along with Harpreet Singh Dali, another suspect arrested yesterday, to two days of police custody.

The trio was produced before the court. The police sought seven-day remand of the accused urging the court that the suspects would be taken to spots for identification. The prosecution stated that Dali disclosed during his interrogation that he, along with Sukhi, Jolly and Sompal, left for their hideout in Gurgaon after dropping the victim at Chandigarh. The hideout, a farmhouse, belonged to Jolly’s friend.

Dali claimed that the victim was forcibly taken on the other hand Sukhi stated that she accompanied them on her own. Sukhi told the probing officials in the court that the German woman told them to take her for a joyride and also asked them to drop her at Ambala. He further stated that the woman asked them to buy a bottle of liquor at Ambala. Meanwhile, the counsel for Jolly moved an application in the court, stating that the police had conducted raids at Jolly’s residence and seized a licensed .32 bore revolver from his residence. The defence counsel expressed apprehension that it could be planted against Jolly as no intimation about this had been made about the recovery.

Chandigarh, October 1
In an effort to get vital clues in the kidnapping and attempt to rape of a German national, a team of Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) visited the crime spots at Ambala today.

According to police sources, the CFSL team, being accompanied by Chandigarh police personnel, went to a house at Kardana village in Ambala where the victim was taken after kidnapping from the city in the wee hours of Sunday. “From the spot, the investigating team collected some samples and condoms, cigarette butts and some hair.

Sources added that forensic experts would match the DNA profile of the suspects with the samples drawn from the condoms and cigarette butts and hair recovered from the spot, as semen and saliva could easily be lifted from condoms and cigarettes. The samples would help the police in establishing the presence of the victim as well as of the suspects on that place. Meanwhile, the police confirmed that the kidnapping was not planned as the suspects had come to the city for revelry. They displayed a fake registration number only to dodge the traffic police in case of being caught for traffic violation. Three suspects have shady past as Jolly was reportedly involved in two cases of rioting and hurt while Dalli and Sompal are also having a criminal past.

Chandigarh, October 1
The convenient plastic carry bags will be a thing of the past in Chandigarh. In fact, taking another step towards becoming an "environment-friendly" city, the administration today geared up to enforce the ban on polybags from tomorrow.

In fact, the decision will spell inconvenience to shoppers and visitors, who will have to rely on costly paper bags and jute bags to ferry goods from the markets. There is a complete ban on the use of plastic carry bags in the UT and strict action under various provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act,1986, will be initiated against the violators, official sources said.

"No person, including shopkeeper, vendor, wholeseller, retailer, trader, hawker or rehriwala, will be allowed the use of polythene/plastic carry bags for supply of goods in them," the sources said. Moreover, no person will manufacture, store, import, sell or transport polythene/plastic carry bags in the UT.

Meanwhile, DC RK Rao and the member-secretary of the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) PJS Dadwal today constituted various teams to effectively implement the ban.

The Act specifies imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years with fine which may be Rs 1 lakh or both. However, if contravention continues, an additional fine to the extent of Rs 5,000 per day will be imposed. If the failure continues beyond a period of one year after the date of conviction, the offender will be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may be extended to 7 years.

On July 30, this year the administration issued a notification banning polybags of all thickness. The decision came under attack from the Chandigarh Plastic Manufacturers Association, which termed the ban as "illogical and illegal". However, the association received no immediate relief from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Officials, however, clarified that the packaged commodities, including milk products and grocery items, would not be covered under the ban.

Chandigarh, October 1
A public relations officer of the Punjab government, Naginder Singh, in the docks following a complaint of sexual harassment filed against him by four nurses of the Regional Spinal Injury Centre, Mohali.

The four contractual nurses have accused the officer of drawing obscene sketches and attempting to take their photographs from his mobile phone during his physiotherapy treatment at the centre last month. The centre’s project director Dr Raj Bahadur, who is also the director principal of GMCH-32, has forwarded the complaint to the director, Public Relations, Punjab.

In their written complaint, the nurses have alleged that on August 14, Naginder had dropped obscene sketches in the basket of the scooter of one of the nurses. They have also claimed that when he was dropping the paper, one of the staff members had noticed it and had even tried to stop him but he left in his car.

They have also mentioned that Naginder was trying to click their photographs on his cellphone. Their letter also refers to an incident that occurred in the conference hall on August 13, where he made similar obscene sketches on the wall before the visit of the Punjab minister of social security, women and child development. To avoid embarrassment, the centre's staff had covered the sketches with Punjab government's official calendar.

Demanding strict action against the officer, the nurses had approached Dr Bahadur, who forwarded the complaint to the Punjab DPR on August 19. Dr Bahadur said the case had come under sexual harassment and appropriate action should be taken against the officer.

Confirming the receipt of Dr Bahadur's complaint, director Public Relation, Punjab, Tejveer Singh, said an inquiry was initiated after the receipt of the complaint. He said the officer had been asked to respond to the allegation, which he had completely denied.

Official sources said the officer's response had been sent to Dr Bahadur and in case he's not satisfied with it, a joint inquiry, with one officer from the centre and one from the Punjab government, would be initiated against Naginder. Naginder has stated "no such allegations have been levelled against him in his 20 years of service".

Dr Bahadur said he had received no response yet. "I'll be able to say anything further once the reply is in front of me", said he.

Chandigarh, October 1
Business and commercial interests must give way to larger public interest, especially in the matters of environment protection, said the Chandigarh administration on the eve of declaring the city “poly bag-free”.

In its reply before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the administration said the challenge to the ban was actuated and motivated purely by business consideration.

The ban, it was asserted, was constitutional, legal, fair, reasonable and valid. It had been imposed by the administration as a matter of conscious policy in the interest of the present and future generations.

It insisted that in spite of the establishment of garbage processing plant, there was urgency and necessity to impose a complete ban on polythene and plastic carry bags in the city.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice of motion to the Chandigarh administration for October 22 on a petition challenging the move to completely ban polythene and plastic carry bags.

In their petition, Jarnail Singh and Karnail Singh had challenged the very basis on which a public notice notification in this regard was issued by the administration.

The petitioners, through advocate Anil Pal Singh Shergill, contended that the administration, vide notification dated December 6, 2005, had expressed its intention to ban plastic bags. But it later withdrew the same.

Again, a notification was issued on February 11 on the administration’s intention to completely ban polythene. The petitioners said the notification was the repetition and reproduction of the 2005 notification.

The petitioners said the notifications under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 issued by the Chandigarh administration had been promulgated by the administrator, acting as the Central Government. Such an action was absolutely illegal and bad in law.

The administrator, even though acting as the Central Government and representing the Central Government, could not undertake Acts requiring legislative action, which fell within the preview of specialised part of the government — the “ministry of environment”.

The said action of the administrator and some executive officers of the Chandigarh administration was illegal.

The petitioners said the “Environment (Protection) Act 1986” provided only for regulation of pollution causing industry and did not provide for regulating, controlling and closing small shops and outlets or controlling articles legally in circulation.

Chandigarh, October 1
The repatriation of former UT chief architect Sunita Monga to her parent state of Haryana and posting of a Punjab-cadre officer in her place has kicked up a storm with the Haryana government crying foul over the decision.

The alleged “under-representation” of Haryana in the UT administration has prompted Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to send a letter to UT administrator S.F. Rodrigues to review the decision and post a Haryana-cadre officer on the crucial post.

At the time of reorganisation of Punjab and Haryana in 1966, a broad consensus on having Punjab and Haryana officials and employees in the ratio of 60:40 was reportedly worked out.

However, with the central government posting UT-cadre officers on crucial posts, the balance between the Punjab and Haryana officers was disturbed.

The Punjab and Haryana governments had gone on record alleging “under-representation” in key UT departments.

Recently, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had gone on record staking Punjab’s claim to the post of SSP when there was a move to post a UT-cadre officer in the wake of repatriation of Gaurav Yadav to Punjab. However, later a Punjab-cadre IPS officer, S.S. Srivastava, occupied the post.

Official sources said the posting of officers from the two states was the prerogative of the UT administration. In fact, a fine balance is being maintained by the administration in seeking officials on deputation for senior posts. Repeated letters to the administration by respective states staking their claims to certain posts were merely “pressure tactics”. The appointment of the new chief architect was final and there was no scope for its review, an official added.

Meanwhile, new chief architect Sumit Kaur joined office here today.

Chandigarh, October 1
The Chandigarh Senior Citizens Association organised a Seniors’ Day function at PGIMER, Sector 12, here today.

Haryana Governor Dr A.R. Kidwai was the chief guest. “Senior citizens are a vast reservoir of knowledge and expertise that must not be allowed to go waste. While the government must evolve schemes to utilise this talent, senior citizens, both individuals and groups, must also strive to remain useful to society,” said Dr Kidwai.

He also released the association souvenir and honoured 19 persons for their contribution to welfare programmes. The function was followed by a musical programme by Dolly Guleria, daughter of renowned singer Surinder Kaur.

Meanwhile, Punjab Governor and UT administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) has announced a proposal to construct another senior citizens’ home in the city on the pattern of the one in Sector 43 keeping in view the growing demand.

Chandigarh, October 1
‘A world without boundaries’, ‘Peace should be the only passport or visa required to cross territorial borders’ were some of the messages that the peace delegates from different regions and countries scribbled on a long seamless cloth at DAV College, Sector 10, before bidding adieu on the last day of the Peace festival today.

After jotting down these smart one-line mottos, the students tore the scroll and retained one message each as a remembrance of their stay here.

While the unique initiative mesmerised one and all, the newly appointed UT DPI (s) Samvartak Singh appreciated the endeavour. “The values of peace and non-violence are getting lost in today’s world and the only way to upkeep them is to have such initiatives and include more and more students in these. We have also started non-violence week in city schools and firmly believe that if school kids imbibe these values, world can get rid of all strife,” he said.

The girls coming from Pakistan were exceptionally excited today as they will head to Delhi tomorrow.

“We have formed a unique bond with the city and people here. We have made best of friends and experienced life that we just heard of. These four days were full of fun and frolic,” said Goudnil Gill.

For some like Laila Sheraz, being here on Gandhi Jayanti is a unique opportunity. Back in Pakistan, though Mahatma Gandhi is not revered equally, but whenever non-violence is mentioned, nobody abstains from quoting him. I feel honoured to be present here on his birth anniversary,” she said.

Chandigarh, October 1
UT district education officer Khushinder Sharma today launched non-violence week to be celebrated across the city schools at a function held at GMSSS, Sector 35. The week started with all students pledging to take their initiatives towards non-violence. This was followed by an informative play.

All city schools will highlight various Gandhian activities all through the week in the form of songs, dances and plays.

“The only way to establish peace and keep up Gandhian values is to inculcate them in students. Though through education, we ensure that our students learn about them, this week will encourage them to inculcate non-violence as part of their lives,” said Khushinder Sharma.

Chandigarh, October 1
Nikita Bery and Ruchira Bahugana of Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Sector 27, bagged the first prize in the inter-school debate competition organised by Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust at the Press Club today. While Ishrat Singh and Ishaan Gulati of GMSSS-35 stood second, the third prize was awarded to Neelesh Arora and Inderdeep Paul of KBDAV-7.

The views of the participants on the motion ‘Mahatma Gandhi's policy of non-violence is valid in today's troubled times also’ impressed all present. Rama Bhanot, managing trustee, Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust, congratulated the winners saying: "Non-violence is the need of the hour and the way these youngsters think is quite encouraging."

The trust awarded the first prize of Rs 10,000, second prize of Rs 5,000 and third prize of Rs 3,000 to the winners. An inter-college debate will be held on Friday October 3.