Chandigarh, October 22
Student violence raised its ugly head once again on Panjab University campus here, when two groups of students assaulted each other in a brawl that lasted for over half-an-hour this afternoon. The clash took place in full public view at Students’ Centre immediately after lunch hour.

According to eye-witnesses, two groups of students armed with sharp-edged weapons clashed with each other. The incident is said to be the outcome of an old rivalry between two groups. Even outsiders were invoved in the clash. Two students were seriously hurt in the scuffle, with one of them receiving head injuries.

It all started when a group of at least 25 armed students belonging to Haryana Students' Association (HSA), along with some activists of Indian National Students Organisation (INSO) reached the Students’ Centre, following an argument. They parked their vehicles near the Botany Department. At the same time, another group belonging to Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) also reached there.

The clash took place at around 3.15 pm. It was free for all, with armed youngsters assaulting each other. By the time the police reached the spot within 10 minutes, the assaulters tried to flee from the spot, thereby causing panic at the Students’ Centre, what with students running in all directions.

In an attempt to nab the miscreants, the authorities closed the gates of the university, which only resulted in further creating chaos due to traffic-jams.

The police rounded up two students. One of the injured, Sanjay, was rushed to the Sector 16 Government Multi-Specialty Hospital for first-aid.

Those booked by the police later include the most talked about “kingmaker”, Brinder Dhillon, Ankush Sharma, Sahil Nanda and Uday Bhan all belonging to SOPU and one Chhaju Khan, whose identity could not be established. The students were booked under Sections 145, 147, 148, 149, 323 and 506 of the IPC at the Sector 11 police station. The medical report of Sanjay was still awaited till the filling of this report.

Chandigarh, October 22
Tall claims of Panjab University authorities regarding the strengthening of university security arrangements fell flat today when a group of students, including some outsiders, indulged in a brawl at the Students’ Centre right in the heart of the campus. The incident took place in broad daylight at the time when the Students’ Centre is most crowded.

What makes this incident all the more shameful is that it happened at the time when the NAAC team is visiting Panjab University after five years for grading it.

Surprisingly, the incident involves more outsiders than students of the university. According to sources, all of them were equipped with sharp-edged weapons, including kirpans and even rods and batons.

It has brought to focus the indifferent and callous attitude of university authorities in keeping a check on the outsiders entering the campus. Many months ago university authorities had constituted a committee to review security arrangements on the campus. It was then decided to do away with the private security on campus, which was costing the varsity Rs 4 lakh. Later, the university authorities decided to utilise their own guards for security purposes. In fact, some of them were kept on security duty on an experimental basis too. Apparently that too didn’t work.

Also, a series of meetings were held to work out the modalities of installing drop gates at all the three entry points of the university. “Time offices” were also in the pipeline at all the three gates of the university. These time offices were planned to have security personnel to keep a check on the entry of the outsiders on the campus. Any outsider entering the campus would be required to deposit the documents of the vehicle with the security men in the time office.

The aforesaid aim of the ‘time-offices’ was to restrain outsiders from loitering around the campus. But so far all this exists only on paper. Today’s incident has also exposed the university officials laxity over “regular checking of vehicles”. Officials claims that each and every vehicle, which enters the campus, is thoroughly checked. Given that, it is questionable that how come the students could take weapons inside the campus?

“The security is beefed up only during the time of students’ elections. Otherwise there are hardly any checks conducted on vehicles entering the campus”, admitted a university official on condition of anonymity.

When contacted, Dean students’ welfare, Naval Kishore, said, “We will review the security system”. The VC could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Mohali, October 22
The failure of GMADA authorities to regularise 10-year-old illegal water connections occupied by senior officials has resulted in arrears to the tune of over Rs 1 lakh piling up. The two one-kanal houses (3501 and 3502) in Sector 52 were occupied over the past more than eight years by officials holding posts ranging from additional chief administrator (GMADA) , SDM, chief engineer (GMADA) and SSP. However, none of them bothered to inquire why bills for the consumption of water were not being received by them.

Two bills, each for Rs 51,480, were sent by the department of public health to GMADA for payment. The bills included security fees and supervision charges (Rs 1,650), fine (Rs 1,000) , charges for water consumed for the construction of the ground floor (Rs 4,050) charges for the construction of first floor (Rs 3,600) and charges for consumption of water and sewerage cess (Rs 41,180) . GMADA was asked to clear the outstanding dues by October 10, failing which the water connections would be cut.

Sources said a meeting was held by the chief engineer of GMADA, Rajiv Moudgil, on October 6. At this meeting the issue of illegal water connections and the outstanding payment to the department was discussed. The assurance was given that the payment would be made the next day. However, the GMADA authorities have so far failed to clear the outstanding water consumption bills and regularised the connections.

Moudgil is himself occupying one of these houses since October 3, 2003, while the second one is in the possession of a senior superintendent of police, Jatinder Singh Aulakh. Earlier, additional chief administrator (ACA) Dipinder Singh, ACA Yashvir Mahajan, SDM Jaipal Singh and chief engineer Tarlochan Singh have also occupied these houses from time to time.

Executive engineer of the water supply wing of the public health department, A.S. Kalsi had written a letter to the GMADA authorities on April 3. In the letter, he stated “Water connections to both the houses are running without any sanction from the department and this needs to be regularised”. The letter also said formalities regarding the sanction must be completed to regularise the water connections.

Chandigarh, October 22
“Papa I will come with a medal” were the last words of Navjot Kaur when she left her house this morning to participate in youth festival in her college. But destiny had something horrible in store for her.

Navjot, a student of Government College-46, was run over by a truck on the dividing road of Sector 51-52. A speeding truck, coming from Mohali, hit her Scooty, which the 21-year-old girl was riding, from rear.

“Navjot lost her balance and fell and was crushed under the vehicle’s rear wheels. She died on the spot”, said sub- inspector Baldev Kumar.

Eyewitnesses said she wasn’t wearing helmet.

According to eyewitness, truck driver Bharpoor Singh, who was later arrested, fled the spot. However, when he was nabbed by some persons, who chased him, he claimed that he hadn’t even realised that he had hit someone.

A pall of gloom descended at her Phase VII residence, which till was bustling with activity and the excitement of her play, "Ek bechari maa" earlier in the morning. “She was too excited and was only talking about the play that was to staged in the evening,” said her inconsolable father, Balwinder Singh Sandhu. “I wanted her to concentrate on her studies but she had a passion for acting,” he said.

Normally, she used to leave the house around 8 am but today she went late due to the festival, added the father.

A case under Sections 279, 304, IPC has been registered at Sector 36 police station. With this accident the death toll on the city roads touched 122 till date this year.

See also P5"Ek Bechari Maa" was the play that Navjot Kaur was to enact today as part of the youth festival in her college. The play was performed but as a tribute to her after she died in a road accident this afternoon.

Though, the play was staged in time with a replacement of her character, participants were in a great shock since they had been rehearsing together for months. “We were all confused whether to perform the play or not but then it was decided that we should go on,” said Prashant Gaurav, director of the play. Navjot Kaur was to play the role of a girl child which was later enacted by Akanksha.

“She had seen the play since beginning and was familiar with the dialogues, so she was given the role but the eyes of the participants were tearful while acting on the stage,” he said. 

Chandigarh, October 22
The three-judge committee set up by the Chief Justice of India for looking into the cash-at-judge’s doorstep case is going deep into the Solan land deal. It has called a revenue officer from Solan for re-examination.

The committee is yet to interact with Justice Nirmal Yadav of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who was involved in the land deal.

Available information suggests that Justice Yadav was informed about the committee’s desire to speak to her for knowing her side of the story, but, so far, she has neither been intimated the time and the date for meeting the panel members.

It seems that the committee will talk to Justice Yadav after re-examining the revenue department officer tomorrow. Justice Yadav is expected to be asked about the land deal in detail.

The committee so far has spent more than two days of hearing on it and has interacted with the Solan deputy commissioner and other officials, besides the land owners.

Permission was reportedly granted to 18 persons, including Justice Yadav to buy land at Rihun village near Solan. The committee is possibly looking at the deal as the motive behind the alleged transaction of money.

Justice Yadav has so far been insisting that the Solan land deal was absolutely clean, all persons involved in the deal were genuine and it was struck after seeking due permission, and following the procedure. Moreover, the property had not been undervalued.

Earlier during the day, the committee, comprising Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Hemant Laxman Gokhale, Gujarat High Court Chief Justice K.S Radhakrishnan and Delhi High Court Justice Madan B. Lokur, began its probe by examining Ravinder Singh. This examination, which started in the morning, continued till about 4 pm.

His wife too was called by the committee this morning. She reportedly requested the panel to defer Ravinder Singh’s examination as he was not in a position to give a clear picture. He was presently in custody. As such, the documents he could rely upon for explaining his stand were not in his possession. The committee, however, continued with the examination. Later during the day, Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association representatives met the committee to give their point of view.

Chandigarh, October 22
Separated from his family on Raksha Bandhan in September this year, six-year-old Ankit was delighted to see his father at Juvenile Home, Sector 25, here today.

Tears rolled down Ankit’s face as he hugged his father. He was eagerly waiting to go home after the formalities were finished. The child went missing from Nayagaon on September 26.

Talking to TNS, Ankit’s father Ram Bharose said: “I contacted the Juvenile Home authorities after they informed me that my son was with them.”

Narrating the sequence of events, Madhu P. Singh, a member at the Child Welfare Committee, said: “Lost in the crowd at the bus stand, the child was spotted by one Ashu, who informed the UT Police on September 28. Thereafter, he was brought to the Juvenile Home and the officials here tried to trace the family of the child.”

After the child went missing, Ram Bharose’s wife suspected that he might have sold Ankit to someone. Initially, the couple left for their hometown in Uttar Pradesh in search of Ankit. With no ray of hope, Bharose’s wife started living with her parents in UP.

Ankit told the superintendent at the Juvenile Home that his father used to work close to a gurdwara. Subsequently, a team of officials at the Juvenile Home along with the child visited several gurdwaras. Finally, the workers at a gurdwara at Dhanas recognised Ankit.

However, Ankit’s parents were away to their hometown so the child could not meet his family. As soon as Bharose returned, he was informed about the whereabouts of Ankit. 

Chandigarh, October 22
On October 29, Chandigarh will get its third lake in Sector 42, here. In fact, taking care of the religious sentiments of the people, the Chandigarh Administration had developed this lake for performing religious rituals besides giving a place for relaxation to the residents of the southern sectors.

Developed at a cost of Rs 3.1 crore and spread over an area of 3.25 acre, the lake will be dedicated to the general public by UT administrator S.F. Rodrigues. A six-feet wide walking track on interlocking paver blocks and two entry pavillons have been developed at the lake, besides two decks for performing rituals, UT engineering department officials said.

The outlines of the lake have been protected by constructing retaining wall with stone masonry to retain the earth and water. Four toilet blocks and six changing rooms both for men and women have been provided for the people performing rituals. It will prove to be a boon for the people performing rituals on Chhat Puja on November 4 and other festivals, including Ganesh Puja, the officials added. “The lake had been developed to cater to the entertainment needs of people of the southern sectors, specially thousands of residents of the group housing societies. Besides it will decongest the Sukhna Lake and Dhanas Lake and help check pollution in these lakes as the rituals had been allowed here,” UT chief engineer Krishanjit Singh claimed.

In fact, the development of the lake was seen as an initiative by the administration to provide entertainment facilities to the “hitherto-neglected” southern sectors. The administrator will also inaugurate the library building of the Beant Singh Memorial and Centre for Performing and Visual Arts, Sector 42, on October 29.

In seems that stung by the media criticism that major portion of the budget was spent on the entertainment spots(mostly in the northern sectors), the administration seems to have woken up to the necessity of the development of the southern sectors. 

Zirakpur, October 22
All entry and exits points to the Zirakpur-Ambala flyover were opened for vehicular traffic for trial basis yesterday. It is a big relief for those who commute through Zirakpur daily.

Sources in GMR, the company which had undertaken the construction for the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), disclosed that the Zirakpur-Ambala flyover would be completely functional in November after the receiving complete test reports.

GMR officials said the work on the flyover was almost complete. He said the work under the flyover would be completed by the end of this month.

“Levelling of sand and cleanliness of space under the flyover was going on”, said GMR officials on the site. He also added that safety railing on the side walls of the flyover and wiring of the streetlights would be completed soon.

SDM Derabassi Sohan Lal Bhumbak said the flyover had opened for traffic now and regular test drives were going on. He also said: “We were daily watching the flow of traffic. We have given strictly instructions to traffic in charge to check the flow of traffic and it must be go smoothly”.

Zirakpur traffic in charge Sanjeev Kumar said, “Now its relief time for us, the traffic is going on smooth and traffic chaos is out of our problem list.” 

Baltana, October 22
A 21-year-old resident of Ravindra Enclave, Baltana, here allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan of his house last night. The victim, Ajay Kumar, was under depression and not keeping well from past two months.

The deceased was married about a year ago, the police said. The police said Ajay Kumar hanged himself from the ceiling fan with a dupatta while he was alone at home.

The police stated that when his wife and mother came back from the market, they found the door locked from inside. The door was broken to open and they found Ajay hanged. He was breathing that time and was immediately rushed to GMCH-32, where doctor declared him brought dead.

Chandigarh, October 22
To mark the World Osteoporosis Day, the Western Command Hospital organised several events in the Chandimandir military station that included a series of lectures on Osteoporosis over the past three days.

A bone density estimation camp was also organised at Zirakpur as well as at the hospital, in which about 400 ladies were screened for calcium deficiency.

Speaking on the occasion, Maj Gen Shamsher Singh, the hospital Commandant, stressed upon the importance of good diet, regular exercise and periodic check ups, especially for ladies above the age of 35, in the prevention of osteoporosis.

Heartiest congratulations to the Team India to win the second Test against the world champion.

Mohali has proved to be a historical place for the Indian team. All the cricket fans taken it as a Diwali gift.

The credit for the victory goes to all the players of the team. Sachin’s record has made the match as memorable event. India registered their biggest Test match victory ever in terms of runs, and it tastes sweeter as it has come against Australia.

Keep it up Team India!

Dilbag Rai, Chandigarh

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From Schools and Colleges
Musical fest at Small Wonders ends
Our Correspondent

Mohali, October 22
A three-day musical fest at Small Wonders School ended here today as the little children conjured up a poetic aura with their sweet verses on the final day of the event. During the musical extravaganza tiny tots presented poems on issues ranging from themes like ‘family’, ‘gardens’, ‘seasons’, ‘animals’ and ‘festivals’.

Fancy dress competition: A unique fancy dress competition was organised at The Millennium School here to reinforce the classroom lessons.

The colourful competition, which was held as part of school activity, saw excited kids of nursery and KG classes fervently participate in the form of shapes and as animals.

Art exhibition: To celebrate the onset of festive season, Yadavindra Public School (YPS), had an art and craft and performing arts exhibition in the junior school building here today.

The musical notes of the harmonious orchestra (O Susanna and Rag Bilawal) played by the students of both Indian classical and western music clubs greeted the parents. The rhythmic dance steps to the beat of bhangra, Rajasthani folk-dance and a fusion of salsa and hip-hop further stimulated the senses. Personality development through uninhibited expression of emotions and feelings was the motto of the theatre workshop. The ‘Green Club’ spread a message to save animals through their performance, “polar bears in arctic animals”.

Working skillfully at the potters’ wheel, the students churned out a variety of hand made articles like jewellery, animals and diyas. “best out of waste” was the mantra.

Appointed: A US drug manufacturing firm, Eli Lily, today made selections from the final year students of the Chandigarh College of Pharmacy here today. Those selected would be designated as trainee managers at a starting salary of Rs 2.95 lakhs. Representatives of the company further said 500 students from various colleges in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal took part in the selection process.

Chandigarh, October 22
The peace club of Moti Ram Arya Senior Secondary Public School, Sector 27, in collaboration with YUVSATTA, organized an inter-faith dialogue on the theme of ‘We Are One’ as part of the ‘Moral Education Week’ planned by UT education department. 

Around 800 students participated in the programme. Prominent among those who addressed the students were Harjinder Kaur, ex-mayor, Mulana Ajmal Khan, imam, Jama Masjid, Father Thomas, administrator, Simla-Chandigarh Diocese, Dr Manisha, principal, Brahmrishi College of Education, and Prof Anil Sarwal, former secretary general, National Assembly of Bahai's in India.