Chandigarh, November 7
High drama prevailed at the Sector 17 Plaza, here this afternoon when sleuths of
the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a decorated (recipient of
President’s Medal) sub-inspector (SI) Sanjiv Kumar, in-charge of the Neelam
Police Post and Subhash Kataria, a representative of traders in the Sector 17
market, in a corruption case.

The SI found support from unusual quarters as irate shopkeepers dubbed the arrest as a “frame-up” and prevented the CBI officials from taking him away for almost four and a half hours. The police had to resort to a mild cane charge to make way for escorting Sanjiv Kumar to an awaiting police bus, amidst a battery of media personnel from print as well as TV.

But this was not before the public, primarily shopkeepers, virtually tore down the makeshift police post in the plaza, opposite the Neelam Cinema Hall, demanding an explanation from the CBI officials about the circumstances leading to Sanjiv’s arrest.

A CBI officer, who identified himself as ASP P. Upashak, was at pains to explain the arrest but maintained that “no recovery” had been made from the arrested SI.

Finding himself cornered by the media personnel and irate shopkeepers, Upashak literally ran away when he failed to answer the barrage of questions. It was a comic scene as media personnel, with cameras, mikes and notebooks in their hands, chased Upashak around the plaza, much to the amusement of the shoppers, who didn’t know what was happening.

CBI officials on the spot claimed that Sanjiv was arrested on a complaint lodged by a bookstore owner, Arvind Kumar Pandey who had alleged that Kataria and Sanjiv had demanded Rs 50,000 from him as a “kickback” for evicting his ‘tenant’ from his shop in bridge market.

Officials said since Pandey could not have rented his leased shop as per rules, he had given it to one D N Mishra, a garment dealer, by showing him as his employee in records.

The CBI officials first nabbed Kataria with the amount and then went to the police post to nab Sanjiv Kumar. According to eyewitnesses, Sanjiv was standing outside the police post, when the sleuths pounced upon him. The money fell down in the process and he had clenched his fists. The CBI officials forced him inside the post and locked it from inside.

Within minutes the news spread in the plaza, following which shopkeepers of the market, media persons and police officials thronged the place. It was the first time that such a protest was witnessed on the arrest of a policeman by CBI in a corruption case.

He was the investigating officer of the sensational assault and sexual assault case of a German tourist, which the police was able to crack within days by arresting all the five accused.

When asked, DIG, CBI BL Soni, told TNS that a case was registered against SI Sajiv Kumar and Kataria and the amount was recovered from Kataria. About the allegation of a false case, he said if anyone has anything he should come out with a representation, which would be looked into. He added that when asked about whether the CBI had call details in which the sub-inspector demanded bribe, Soni held that the CBI had no grudges against the accused police officer and they had strong evidence against him.

He also stated that the decision to arrest the police officer was taken on the spot by his team and he fully endorsed their action.

Meanwhile, Kulbir Singh and Jagdishpal Kalra, representatives of the traders, maintained that Sanjiv Kumar was a good officer and the way he was arrested gave rise to doubts. They held that the matter should be properly probed in a fair manner to dispel the doubts.

Chandigarh, November 7
The anti-encroachment wing of the UT Estate Office and the Municipal Corporation today jointly removed encroachments in Colony No. 4 adjoining the Industrial Area-Phase I.

The drive was conducted under the supervision of P.K. Sharma, additional commissioner, and Parminderpal Singh, assistant aommissioner, MC, along with DSP (East) and other officials of the Municipal Corporation and the Estate Office.

The teams, along with a police posse, swooped on Azad Market at Industrial Area and removed the encroachments by scrap dealers, dhaba owners and vegetable vendors. As many as 200 illegal structures were removed and five truckloads of articles were confiscated.

The UT Estate office chief inspector Ashok Kumar Bisht said the site had been taken over by the engineering wing. This move was initiated on the instance of the press site owners who have already filed a suit in the High Court against these illegal encroachments.

The squad has also demolished the nearby "jhuggi" colony. Residents argued that they had got proper ration cards made in their names and the administration had issued them voters’ I-card on this address. “How come they say that we have occupied the land illegally when the administration has accepted this place as our residential address while issuing us voter I-cards and ration cards”, said the residents.

The Chandigarh Press Sites Welfare Association criticised the administration for not removing the encroachment as well as kundi connection problems in the area permanently. “This is a temporary phase. The encroachers will appear again and will hinder our trade”, said NK Chawla, the president of the association.

Meanwhile, the Industries Association of Chandigarh appreciates the action taken by the administration to remove the encroachment in Industrial Area, Phase-I, Chandigarh. “It has given some relief to the occupants of the factories near that area. Earlier, it was nearly impossible for the commuters to reach their premises. This action will help in the free flow of traffic and other road accident hazards, said Pawan K Aggarwal, president of association.

Chandigarh, November 7
Even as the motorists are using Purv Marg from the Tribune Chowk to Sector 47 and Vikas Marg from Sector 47 to 39 as the bypass, the UT administration is yet to remove obstructions on the way, hampering smooth flow of traffic.

With the administration’s failure to remove a structure set up by a religious institution on the Purav Marg, zigzag turn near the Kalibari temple and congestion near the Colony No. 5, the flow of traffic is slow that virtually comes to a halt during rush hours.

Sources in the accident cell of the Chandigarh Police reveal that five fatal accidents have been reported on the Vikas Marg, while eight such mishaps were reported on the Purav Marg in 2007. The figures exclude mishaps between the Tribune Chowk and Faidan Barrier.

“A large number of road accidents involving economically weak residents of the colony usually end up in forced compromises. This is one of the reasons that a large number of accidents remain unreported, otherwise the rate of accidents on the road is on the higher side,” said a police officer.

A traffic police officer said as the stretch was among one of the busiest in the city catering to heavy motor vehicles, including the long-route buses heading for Sector 43 ISBT, it has a number of bottlenecks and congestions making it an accident-prone zone.

Sources in the accident cell of the Chandigarh Police reveal that the stretch near the Colony No. 5 is the most accident-prone zone as the residents have to cross the road to go to the mobile toilets stationed across the street. Adding to this is the location of the Labour Chowk near the intersection in front of the colony, they added.

Sources said the that SP (traffic) H.S. Doon had sent a letter to the commissioner, Municipal Corporation, urging him to shift the mobile toilets to the other side of the road, but to no avail.

In another letter to the UT chief engineer sent on October 13, the SP asked him to install rumble stripes on all the intersections on roads leading to the Vikas Marg, making of a cycle track along the road, installation of speed limit boards and terming the stretch near the Colony No. 5 as an accident-prone zone. Besides this, the police also suggested installation of six-feet-high railing along the road in front of the colony.

A senior police officer added that even these proposals are not adequate to make the stretch free of obstacles as removing of religious structure and straightening the zigzag near Kalibari temple are not easy. He added that the authorities concerned are not keen to remove these obstructions to make it a proper Chandigarh-Ludhiana bypass.

Panchkula, November 7
Putting the lives of thousands of people at risk, two chemical units in the Industrial Area here continue to cock a snook at the authorities concerned by continuing the production of inflammable industrial thinner despite being sealed by the Haryana Pollution Control Board following a devastating fire that raged in one of the units for 17 long hours in August this year.

Despite the factories, Gaurav Industries and M/s Colour Udyog being “sealed” on records, activity was going on a full swing when The Tribune team visited the site this morning. Even truckloads of drums filled with thinner and other chemicals were being dispatched, without any hitch.

The area was full of chemical fumes as labuorers were busy diluting the chemicals in plastic drums after pouring them from a big tanker. What made this more dangerous was the absence of any fire-fighting arrangements.

The units still did not have adequate clearance from the fire department as it continues to be “non-operative” in the official records. Even no license has been issued to the Gaurav industries under factory Act from the Labour Commissioner’s office, inquiries revealed.

According to A.S Chahal, Chairman, Haryana State Pollution Control Board, (HSPCB), the factories were sealed when a fire erupted and it was found that the the rules and regulations of the board were not complied with. As they have yet to comply to the satisfaction of the board, the units were not allowed to run, said Chahal.

The factories were sealed on August 24 by the HSPCB for storing hazardous materials. Gaurav industries was not even issued a no-objection certificate by the fire brigade officer, Panchkula, when the mishap occurred.

In fact, it was a nightmare for the residents living at Harmilap Nagar situated near the factory on August 20 when all the people had to rush for safety as hundreds of drums full of chemicals were blowing into the air amid flames were falling in the adjoining area like bomb shells.

Even the police reports mentioned that fortunately wind conditions were in favour otherwise there could be a big loss to the adjoining locality as hundreds of plastic drums and cans full of chemical as well as empty ones were lying in the factory at the time of the incident. It took more than five hours for the fire brigade to control the fire using 12 fire tenders and three water dowsers.

An inquiry was ordered and the HSPCB sealed the machinery and generator sets and the electricity and water supply departments were asked to disconnect the supply to the unit.

The owner of the industry, Varinder Jindal, when contacted, however said they had not tampered with the seals of the pollution control board. “Neither we are creating any pollution,” he said. Moreover, the direction of the authorities have already been complied with as per rules and regulations, he claimed.

On the running of chemical unit in the proximity of residential area, Ashwani Jindal of Colour Udyag said, it was the fault of the Punjab governetment that had allowed illegal construction to come up during last few years even as they had set up the factory in approved industrial area in 1992.

Chandigarh, November 7
The fire department of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has finally woken up to the safety of 75,000-odd students studying in private coaching centres and has issued notices to over 100 such institutes asking them to follow the laid down fire safety norms on their premises.

The move is being viewed as a follow up of the fire department’s bid to rein in errant institutes that was initiated after the department’s bitter experience in carrying out the rescue work at a coaching institute in Sector 19 where a fire broke out last year. The firemen had a tough time rescuing the trapped students as the access to the building was too crowded and there were no emergency exists.

Commenting on the existing fire safety measures at such coaching institutes, a senior officials of the department admitted that the warning letters issued after the last year’s fire have had a little impact on those centres.

Chandigarh, November 7
The recent controversy surrounding the inter-faith marriage of Manoj who was booked by local police on the charges of kidnapping an allegedly minor girl, whom he claimed to have married last month, brings a feeling of deja vu to Rizwana and Vijay Kumar.

This couple too had faced similar circumstances-Rizwana’s parents had objected to the inter-faith marriage and she was literally ‘gheraoed’ by her parents and relatives when she was leaving the court after recording her statement on July 24.

Rizwana’s parents asked her to change her statement in the court while they surrounded the police gypsy in which she was travelling. They kept on pressurising her to state in the court that she was a minor. However, the girl stood by her statement.

With all this behind them. the couple is happily married. However the fear of attracting a controversy still lurks in their minds. Rizwana’s parents have not given acceptance to the couple as yet.

While talking to the TNS, Rizwana, who married Vijay on June 19, said, “My family does not react to our marriage any longer. When we decided to get married we knew that our families would not accept us, so we eloped. Two months after our marriage, my in-laws accepted us but my parents still have not.”

Rizwana’s father Abdal Latif, got a complaint registered at the police station in Industrial Area yesterday stating that his daughter was a minor and the said marriage was illegal.

However, Rizwana decided to depose before the local court on July 24 and recorded her statement under Section 164 of the CrPC wherein she stated that she was an 18-year-old adult and had married Vijay of her own sweet will and had not been forced to do so.

Shyly narrating their love story, Vijay asserted, “I met Rizwana at a friend’s place when she had visited Shivalik School to appear in her Class X exam. We became good friends and after a while realised that we understand each other well and can spend a lifetime together. Initially, I was scared that a controversy might erupt because of our respective religions. The fear, however, evaporated with time.”

Still waiting for her parents to accept her wedding Rizwana dressed in a red suit asserted, “I hope my parents accept us one day.”

Chandigarh, November 7
The university authorities were back to putting in place corrective measures after the attack on SOPU president yesterday in front of the VC’s house.

The authorities swung into action what with beefing up security, checking cars etc, the different students’ organisations thought it to be the best opportunity to make their presence felt by submitting memorandums to VC and demanding inquiries.

Meanwhile, the university authorities have finally implemented the decision to make Students’ centre a “no-vehicle zone” today. Following the directions issued by the vice-chancellor, no vehicle was allowed beyond the Library.

All the vehicles entering the campus were stopped and were checked before they were allowed entry. Meanwhile, PUSU in a press conference demanded proper security for students urging the VC to issue a fair and unbiased statement denying the involvement of Sandhu in the incident, as it was the issue of rivalry between HSA and SOPU.

PUSU has urged the VC to join the police inquiry and help the investigating authority, being an eyewitness to the whole incident.

Cheema, addressing mediapersons while mentioning last evening’s incident, accused SOPU leader Brinder Dhillon of falsely implicating Simrandeep Singh Sandhu. Cheema said that Sandhu is still recovering from injuries sustained by him after he was stabbed in examination room early this year by SOPU campus President, Brinder Singh Dhillon, Harpreet Mulatni and others.

Cheema said, “Dhillon is making false statements alleging the involvement of Sandhu. This is due to the fact that Brinder is out on bail in the attack case against Sandhu. The reason of the false implication is Sandhu has applied for the cancellation of this bail. Therefore, SOPU president is using this incident to pressurise Sandhu for a compromise, he claimed.

Chandigarh, November 7
One of India’s biggest inter-college annual festivals, “PECFest 2008”, being organised by Punjab Engineering College, in association with Vodafone, began with zeal today.

The three-day fest, to be continued till November 9, will see 20,000 enthusiastic students from more than 75 universities across India competing in various cultural, technical and literary events.

The piece de resistance was ‘The Treasure Hunt’ that had hordes of avid code -crackers-- swarming all over the campus in search of their elusive treasure. The MTV team was witness to this keenly contested battle.

At Scrabble, the world-builders descended onto the scrabble arena, while the “sangeetkar” were all ears at the “Antakshari”.

The fun stalls were choc-a-bloc with students from all over the region longing to experience “The Fun Fiesta”, while debaters duelled it out at “CrossSwords”. There was a slice of the PECFest pie for everyone in search of fun.

According to Dr Manoj Datta, director, Punjab Engineering College, “PECFest is the most awaited inter-college festival in the region. It is about celebrating the exuberance of youth.

It will be an unforgettable cultural extravaganza for all the students coming from various universities as they will interact, compete and enjoy with each other.”

Chandigarh, November 7
In a development that may sound musical to the ears of the artist community, the Chandigarh administration today effected a major rollback in rents of the Tagore Theatre here.

A day after the Chandigarh Tribune highlighted the revised exorbitant rates for the renovated Tagore Theatre, a high-level meeting of the managing body of the theatre, presided over by adviser to the UT administrator Pradip Mehra, decided substantially to reduce the booking charges much to relief of the artistes and general public.

The rates announced by the administration are quite reasonable and aimed at giving a boost to the art and culture in the city, home secretary Ram Niwas said.

At the initiative of the home secretary, it was decided to appoint a professional with a background of theatre, art and culture as the full-time director of the theatre to develop it as the fulcrum of social, cultural and literary activities. It was also decided that the director, public relations, will act as the coordinator for booking of the events till the appointment of the director.

The new rates for the functions by the government organisation and amateur artistes will be Rs 3,000, excluding 12.36 per cent service tax and education cess. This is down from Rs 5,000 proposed by the engineering department.

For non-government cultural programmes like mushaira, kavi sammelans and musical events, which are neither sponsored by the government nor ticketed an amount of Rs 10,000 would be charged, the proposed rate was Rs 25,000.

However, the major concession seems to have gone to the private and public schools, colleges, semi-government organisations, autonomous bodies, NGOs and the charitable organisations, which will have to shell out Rs 15,000 as against the proposed amount of Rs 30,000. Before the renovation, the rates were in the range of Rs 1,500 to Rs 15,000.

The organisers of the commercial shows will continue to pay Rs 50,000 per show. The booking for rehearsal hall, equipped with AC, will cost Rs 3,000, while the hall without AC will cost Rs 1,000.

Meanwhile, the representative of the director, public relations, of the Haryana government said the government had increased the grant-in-aid to the theatre to Rs 5 lakh.

Mohali/Zirakpur), November 7
In a far-reaching order protecting the rights of investors in private colonies, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has given 15 days time to the promoters of Silver City, Zirakpur, to fulfil the promise of providing basic amenities to the residents.

Coming down heavily on the promoters, the GMADA chief administrator, while exercising the powers under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (PAPRA) Act, has directed them to immediately close all the three roads that had been illegally opened to an adjacent colony, Nirmal Chhaya project of Pearl Township Developers Pvt Ltd.

The directions have been passed after the resident welfare association, Silver City (main), approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking action against the builder for violations of the terms and conditions.

While handing down the order, the chief administrator also directed the promoters to use the building of community centre for the residents of the colony and stop its commercial use in the name of Ricchmond Garden. Finally, the community centre would have to be transferred to the residents when the developer exits from the project after discharging his responsibility.

The regulatory wing of GMADA has also been directed to carry out a technical audit to check any violation. The additional chief administrator, Mohali, has further been directed to initiate action against the builder under the PAPRA Act as the extension to the approved colony have been made without taking permission from the competent authority.

Earlier, the Resident Welfare Association, Silver City (Main), had filed a writ petition against state of Punjab, GMADA, Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA), Silver City Construction Ltd., Silver City Housing and Infrastructure Ltd., Pearl Township Developers Pvt Ltd and Municipal Council, Zirakpur.

The main grievance of the association was that the coloniser had not fulfilled the promises regarding various services and living conditions in the colony.

Wg Cdr S.S. Savant (retd), president, Silver City (Main) Residents Welfare Association, said they raised the issues of three roads of the colony have been connected with adjoining colony, the site reserved for community centre in the plan a banquet hall by name of Ricchmond Garden along with lawn and residential plot has been using as commercial usage.

Out on bail in the alleged cash scam, Bansal had recently resumed practice by appearing before a three-judge Bench. He was booked initially by the Chandigarh Police, and then proceeded against by the Central Bureau of Investigation, after his clerk had erroneously delivered Rs 15 lakh at the residence of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur. 

Chandigarh, November 7
Vice-Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen M.L. Naidu today inaugurated the married accommodation constructed for inmates of the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre (PRC) at Mohali. He also presented an air-conditioned ambulance to the PRC.

Terming his visit to the PRC as "enlightening experience", he said he was happy to see the sprit of the inmates and their families. He also appreciated the management for its efforts and dedication.

The Vice-Chief was briefed about the functioning of the Center by its director. Later, he was shown all production units of the centre which includes printing press, knitting and stitching garment sections, candle manufacturing unit and other departments which are being run by the inmates and their families.

A basketball exhibition match comprising teams of the inmates was played and Gen Naidu later interacted with the inmates. The aim of the PRC is to provide rehabilitation to disabled paraplegic and tetraplegic soldiers with a view to install an urge to live and motivate them to become self-supporting citizens by providing vocational training appropriate to their medical fitness.

Chandigarh, November 7
The general elections to the UT gram panchayats will be held in the second week of December next.

The Chandigarh administration is in the process of forming the Chandigarh Rotation of Reserved Offices of Sarpanches of Gram Panchayats Rules, 2008, governing the rotation of offices of sarpanches reserved for categories of the Scheduled Castes, including Scheduled Caste (women), and women.

The interested persons can see the draft of the Rules in the office of block development and panchayat officer, Old Architect Building, Sector 19-B, Chandigarh, or the website of the administration www.chandigarh.gov.in or the website of the department www.chdruraldevelopment.gov.in and raise objections, if any, and suggestions in writing by November 13.

Chandigarh, November 7
As many as 500 members from the Aero-Space Clubs of nine schools in the city participated in several competitions organised by the local chapter of the Aeronautical Society of India here today.

Chairman of the association, the director, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Dr Satish Kumar, who is also the chairman of the chapter, was the chief guest on the occasion. He highlighted the avenues for youngsters in the fields of aviation and space.

He said the idea behind such competitions was to encourage students to go in for these fields, which generally did not attract talent.

He also gave away the prizes. The first two winners in each category are - Essay (English ) : Rishabh Kochhar (St John’s High School); Jayantika (Ajit Karam Singh School).

Essay (Hindi) : Neha; Urvashi (both St Vivekanand Millennium, Pinjore).

Aviation-Space quiz : Rohan and Yuvraj (Ryan International); Mansher and Angad (Vivek High).

General knowledge quiz : Harjas and Tushar (St John’s); Shubhpreet and Nazish (Ajit Karam Singh).

Scrap Book : Rashi and Aleesha (Carmel Convent); Ojasav Sherawat (St John’s); Megha Bhatti (St Xavier’s).

Solar Panel: Akshat Singla, Shivam Goyal and Siddharth Garg (St John’s).

Painting : Ashish (St John’s); Sanyam Mittal (St John’s).

Sketching :Nishsnat Chhatwal (Mount Carmel); Mansher Singh (Vivek High).

Panchkula, November 7
In order to cash on advanced educational requirements, Dikshant International School, Zirakpur, has decided to extend its operations with launching its global school here today.

Dikshant Global School set up in Sector-2 will be a digitally-advanced school in the region with all smart "technology enabled" classrooms, said Mitul Dikshit, director, Dikshant International School.

The classrooms will have electronic displays for internet access, videos and equipments for connecting with other classrooms around the world, he said.

Students from nursery onwards would follow the laptop programme having smart cards, electronic ID badges that register attendance, open lockers, he added.

The air-conditioned building will be equipped with rainwater-harvesting system, fire-sprinkler controllers, solar panels and a weather centre.

Chandigarh, November 7
The 34th State Science Exhibition at State Institute of Education, Sector 32, concluded today with Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector-19, receiving first prize in the category of senior secondary schools.

The last day of the exhibition saw UT home-cum-education secretary Ram Niwas evaluating the exhibits.