NEIGHBOURHOOD

Pbi varsity’s media workshop from today
Tribune News Service

Ropar, November 24
Victim in the case of the sexual harassment in the hands of an employee of Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) posted at Chamkaur Sahib, has alleged the police of harassing her witnesses.

In her letter to the Punjab DGP, the lady has alleged that police is trying to influence and threaten two witnesses in her case. She said on November 8, two of her witnesses Manjeet Singh and Gurpreet Singh had been called to the city police station, where officials had forced them to write against her and in favour of accused, Pradeep Kumar Sharma. "The police succeeded in getting something in favour of the accused," she alleged.

She added that even the other witnesses were being harassed on the workplace on the behest of the accused.

The accused, Pradeep Kumar Sharma, was booked on October 24 for sexually exploiting the victim on the pretext of getting her a permanent job. He is working as the project coordinator for SSA. After his arrest, he was remanded in 14-day judicial custody and was later released on bail on November 6.

The victim alleged that despite the fact that the accused had been remanded in the judicial custody for 14 days, the department had not taken any action against him. Instead he had been reinstated on his earlier post.

Ropar SSP Rajendera Dhoke said the inquiry was being conducted under the supervision of assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Dhanpreet Kaur. "The ASP has directed SHO to get victim's medical examination conducted to verify charges of rape. In the investigation conducted so far, it has been found that this is a case of molestation under Section 345 of the IPC. The victim is not cooperating with us in getting her medical examination conducted," The SSP added.

He added that the police had called the victim many a times for conducting an investigation, but she had never turned up, and instead had been filing replies through her lawyers.

Kalka, November 24
Various link roads of the Railways have been turned into deplorable state for last more than two years, due to the apathetic attitude of the department of IOW, despite the fact that R. Velu, minister of state for Railways, has recently visited the railway station in connection with the Heritage Festival.

The Railways authorities did not bother even for the maintenance and re-carpeting of these link roads, the work of which is lying pending for more than last two years.

The deteriorating condition of these roads has caused some serious accidents.

The link road from the railway station to NH-22 has turned into bad shape. The link road from the railway station, which connects the Narrow Gauge Railway colony via RPF office, Railway Institute and Railway Diesel shed, has been in the worst condition, especially at the Kalka-Shimla railway crossing with big potholes. The condition of the road is a serious threat to accidents, as throughout the day, there remains a heavy traffic on this road.

The link road from the GRP police station to the main bazaar, NH-22, and road from NH-22 connecting the Broad Gauge Railway colony is totally in neglected state, causing inconvenience to the passersby. The internal link roads connecting the NG Railway colony to Northern Railway Workshop is also in pitiable condition.

A visit by The Tribune to the NG Railway colony and Broad Gauge colony revealed that the department of IOW had not taken any initiative for the maintenance and re-carpeting of the link roads for more than five years. The residents of the Railway colony had urged the DRM, Ambala, to issue directives to the concerned department soon.

Chandigarh, November 24
To generate awareness among residents about the mega lok adalat being organised on December 20 and 21 here, an agenda item will be tabled in the upcoming house meeting of the Chandigarh municipal corporation.

This will enable area councillors to acquaint residents with the lok adalat and encourage them to utilise this forum to get their pending disputes resolved amicably. The general house meeting is scheduled for November 27.

The two-day lok adalat is being organised in all-district and subdivision courts of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The initiative is part of the High Court’s endeavour to minimise pendency of litigations in the lower and district courts.

MC officials stated that the purpose of tabling the agenda in the house was that councillors were in direct touch with people of their areas on regular basis and most of the times they preferred to discuss their cases with councillors and file an appeal in the court.

The agenda would discuss ways to inform people about the type of cases to be heard during the lok adalat.

The lok adalat would cover cases pertaining to Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, motor accident claim cases, compoundable criminal offences, matrimonial disputes, petty offences under special enactments, disputes under the Hindu Marriages Act and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.

Cases relating to road accidents except those coming under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC, petitions under Sections 18 and 19 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, petitions for custody of children, civil suits for the recovery of money as well as possession of immovable property, suits for injunctions, rent cases and civil and criminal cases relating to electricity would be dealt with in the lok adalat.

Besides, certain categories of cases could be settled at the pre-litigation stage too. These are cases relating to the recovery of loan advanced by financial institutions and nationalised banks, road accident cases except those coming under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC, compoundable criminal offences, domestic violence cases and cases relating to matrimonial and family disputes.

Mohali, November 24
Brother of a Punjab police constable, posted at Mohali, has been arrested for possessing opium worth Rs several lakh.

The suspect, Gulshan Kumar, was riding on a Bullet motor cycle (PB 565 E 8866), along with Pardeep Kumar, when a team of the CIA, Mohali, intercepted them at Sectors 70-71 T-point last evening. Around 2.220kg opium was seized from them.

Sources in the police said it was not the first time that Gulshan had been arrested by the police. A case against him had been registered at Kharar. The main accused, Gulshan, generally used a TATA 407 or an Esteem car to carry out his trade.

During the checking of vehicles on the route, the CIA team asked two persons riding on a motor cycle to stop. During the questioning, the duo could not furnish satisfactory answers that made the cops suspicious.

When their belongings were checked, cops found 2.220kg of opium concealed in two packets. The accused were identified as Gulshan Kumar, a resident of Mundi Complex, Kharar, and Pardeep Kumar of Mauli road, Sohana.

Pardeep is brother-in-law of Gulshan. While 820g opium has been shown from the possession of Gulshan Kumar, 1.4kg opium was seized from Pardeep Kumar's possession. Both accused were presented in a court on Monday.

They were remanded in one-day police custody.

On being asked whether more quantity of the narcotics had been seized from the suspects, J. S. Aulakh, SSP, Mohali, said though there was no such possibility, still the suspects would be thoroughly questioned to ascertain more details.

Mohali, November 24
Due to the lack of patrolling because of the shortage of police in Zirakpur, thieves decamped with goods worth lakh of rupee in two separate incidents of theft in MS Enclave, Dhakoli, Zirakpur, on November 22.

In both the incidents, the residents of the houses were away when the burglars struck. Pryankur Bhardwaj, a resident of house no. 173, MS Enclave, told The Tribune he, along with his wife and mother, had gone to Haridwar on November 20. He was informed about the theft by his neighbours on November 22.

On reaching home, he noticed that Rs 70,000 cash and gold jewellery worth Rs 30,000 had been taken away, and the entire house had been ransacked.

On the same day, another house in the same locality was burgled.

The police has expressed its inability in patrolling the area as there are just eight constables for the area.

Chandigarh, November 24
The Chandigarh police arrested a Maloya resident minutes after he allegedly stole a scooter from Sector 24, here this afternoon.

According to police station-36 SHO Anokh Singh, Harvinder Singh, alias Sonu, was arrested while he was selling a helmet to a roadside vendor on the road separating Sectors 35 and 36.

Sonu, a drug addict, who was released from jail just five days ago, stole a Kinetic Honda scooter (CH 01 Y 2883) from Saini Bhavan.

Scooter owner Ashok Kumar Arora had gone to Saini Bhavan to attend a marriage and when he came out, he found his scooter missing.

Sonu had stopped to sell the helmet attached to the scooter and was in the process removing the battery from the scooter when he was nabbed following information.

A case has been registered in this connection, said the SHO.

Chandigarh, November 24
Top golfers of the country, including PGTI’s top-ranked Mukesh Kumar, will slog it out on the greens of the Panchkula Golf Club for cash prize of Rs 20 lakh in the HUDA-GTPL-Unitech Haryana Open from November 26 to 29.

The pro-golf creamy layer of Rahul Ganapathy, Ashok Kumar, Gaganjeet Bhullar of Kapurthala and Shamim Khan will face a tough challenge from the Chandigarh stalwarts like Harendra P. Gupta, Harmeet Kahlon, Gurbaaz Mann, Uttam Singh Mundy, Sujjan Singh and Ajeetesh Sandhu.

With the Shivalik Hills providing a picturesque backdrop and situated on the banks of the Ghaggar, the ambience of the Panchkula Golf Club is just perfect.

The sand-kissed greens and the windy conditions make it a tough course 
that boasts of the longest three-pars.

The pro-am event tomorrow will see 31 groups teeing off in two sessions. In action will be 31 professionals and 93 amateurs.

Panchkula Golf Club vice-president D.S. Dhesi, who is the commissioner and secretary to the Haryana government, said: “The design, layout and good condition of the course will challenge the golfing prowess of the golfers. It will allow those in form to score well”.

He further said Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda wanted the Panchkula Golf Club course to become the best in the country.

Brig I.S. Punia, general manager of the club, said within the next 12 months the golf course would be upgraded once the unauthorised encroachments were shifted. He also promised special lights at the driving range.

PGTI’s Padamjit Singh Sandhu said talks were on to make the tournament an annual feature and Deshi promised a higher prize money in future tournaments.

Some of the top professionals had an interaction with the media. Top-ranked Mukesh was all praise for the greens.

Gaganjeet Bhullar said: “The layout is beautiful, but the course is tough”.

Second-ranked Rahul Ganapathy was of the view that the contouring on the greens would make putting difficult.

Mohd Siddikur Rahman from Bangladesh said he was looking forward to play on the challenging course.

Arjuna awardee Harmeet Kahlon hoped the tournament would become a permanent feature.

He was all praise for the club house.

Padamjit Sandhu said sponsors like the HUDA, GTPL and Unitech had helped the PGTI to create another great tournament. “We are confident that over the years we will be able to develop this tournament into a prestigious event on the Professional Golf 
Tour of India.” 

Chandigarh, November 24
Over 80 golf teaching professionals from all over the country besides two each from Pakistan and Sri Lanka are attending a week-long special IGU workshop at the CGA Golf Range here today.

The workshop attains importance, as the golf range has been selected to house the country’s first National Golf Academy, which will be inaugurated by the Punjab Governor on November 26.

Indian Golfing Union secretary-general Satish Aparajit was busy finalising the inaugural event with CGA secretary J.S. Cheema.

The teaching professionals were attending a lecture by Grade A coach Romit Bose at the basement of the main clubhouse. Chandigarh’s Jessie Grewal could be seen giving tips to the teaching professionals at the CJA’s old clubhouse.

Romit’s subject today was the turfgrasses and the warm season. A big screen was the ideal backdrop for the lessons as eager professionals had a number of questions.

Satish Aparajit said the country’s top Grade A teaching professionals were conducting the workshop.

They included Romit Bose, Jessie Grewal, Inderjit Balotia, Karan Bindra, Vijay Divesh and the only lady Grade A coach, Nonita Lal Qureshi.

Jamal Badshah of Karachi said such workshops helped improving our skills. “Every day we are learning a new thing,” he said. Omar Ghias, also from Karachi, was also of the same view.

“Don’t go in for last-minute changes before a major event," Jessie Grewal told the professionals.

Aparajit was happy for there would be one spot, where the golfing activity would be centred.

The first National Golf Academy of India would be the venue for the conditioning of the national team before any major event. 

Chandigarh, November 24
As many as 30 probables, including 16 girls, are attending a coaching camp at Sector 46 Sports Complex in preparation for Chandigarh's participation in the 54th National School Games to be held in Patiala from November 26 to December 1.

The assistant sports director, K.S. Bharti, said the education department, Chandigarh, is fielding the teams in basketball (under-17), hockey (under-19) and judo (under-14, under-17 and under-19). Competitions in weightlifting will also be part of the Patiala National School Games.

Girls: Sushma, Manpreet, Parminder, Navdeep (IS Dev Samaj School-21), Neha, Smiti (New Public School-18), Rupandeep, Naina (St Kabir-26), Niharika, Kurtu, Aman (St Anne's-32), Jigmet (St Joseph-44), Mankanwar (St Xavier's-44), Anmol (Sishu Niketan-22), Anmol (Sacred Heart-26), Yogita (Tribune Model). Coach: Paramjit Kaur, manager: Navdeep Malhi.

Boys: Amit, Jagjit, Mohinder (Guru Harkishan Public School), Simerdeep (St Anne's-32), Digvija, Jivtesh (DAV Public-8), Amrinder, Ajay, Vikas (Moti Ram Arya-27), Sumit (NPS-18), Gurjot (St Xavier's-44), Jaspreet (St Joseph's-44), Mohit (SGGSCPS-26), Rohit (GHS-38). Coach: Amarjit Singh, manager: Paramjit Singh. 

Chandigarh, November 24
The Institute for the Blind, Sector 26, athletes won the championship for the third time in the past 8 years in the National Sports Meet for Blind, held at Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana, from November 17 to 20.

About 900 athletes along with coaches and officials from all over India participated in the tournament. There was also a contingent of nine participants from Mauritius.

Out of 17 students of this institute, five bagged gold, six scored silver and seven bronze medals besides annexing the overall championship.

The principal-cum-honorary-secretary, KR Sood, said, “We are proud of these children and their hardwork has really paid off.”

“When we won the championship for the first time, Sunil and Mandeep were selected for international events and had gone to Manchester for that. Thus, I believe such national-level competitions provide future avenues to the young champions,” he added.

Elated on the success of the students, Major General Rajendra Nath, chairman of the institute, gave a cash prize to the winners, Rs 500 to gold medalist, Rs 300 to silver medalist and Rs 200 to bronze medalist.

The winners:

(B-1) Senior:

Mamta: Gold medal in 800m and 400 m race, Silver medal in 200m race.

Ashma: Silver medal in discus throw.

Naginder Yadav: Bronze medal in 1500 m race.

Ram Saran: Bronze medal in discus throw and shot put.

B-2 Senior:

Ram Dai: Gold medal in 800 m race, silver medal in 400 m and bronze medal in 200 m race.

Mamta Priya: Silver medal in discus throw and bronze medal in javelin thorw.

B-1 (Junior):

Halima: Gold medal in shot put and bronze medal in javelin throw.

B-2 (Junior):

Rohit: Silver medal in 800 m and 400 m in gold medal.

B-3 (Junior):

Kuljit Singh: Bronze medal in long jump. 

Chandigarh, November 24
Continuing their winning spree, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, outplayed GADU of V. Se. Ludhiana 50-13 in the second round of the North Zone Inter-University Basketball (Men) Championship held at Panjab University grounds here today with Saadulla K (16 points), Ajay (13 points) and A. Kamal (7 points) being the principal scorer.

In the second match, Devinder (17 points) and Pramod (16 points) played a pivotal role in the victory of the Kumaun University over CSKHPKV, Palampur, 65-35. Lovely University, Phagwara, trounced Jammu University, Jammu, 70-57.

In another lopsided match, Narinder with 25 points, was the high scorer in the triumph of Delhi University, Delhi, over PAU, Ludhiana, 73-24. In a well-contested encounter, PTU, Jalandhar, got the better of Amity University, Noida, 36-24.

Dr BR Ambedkar, Agra, defeated Dr RML Avadh University, Faizabad, 65-32. The last match of the day was a close encounter, in which Sumit (19 points) and Sunil Singh (12 points) guided MJP Rohilkhand, Bareilly, to an empathic win over CSJM University, Kanpur, 44-41.