Chandigarh, December 7
In a bizarre incident, a bag containing the mortal remains (ashes) of a person went missing from the cremation ground in Sector 25 here today.

The matter seems to do with a family “dispute”.

Members of a Sector 22-based family were in for a shock when they found several old locks lying in the locker instead of the bag containing the ashes of the family’s head, Harbans Lal Sehgal, this morning.

Pandits who performed the last rites said they were not responsible for the security of the lockers and the family informed the police.

“It is shocking. How can someone take away the ashes of someone?” Arun Nath, a relative, asked.

The remains were put in a locker after the cremation of Sehgal, an octogenarian, who died on December 3.

“We reached here at 6.30 am today to pick up the ashes for performing the last rites at Hardwar, but we were stunned to find another lock on the locker allotted to us. After breaking open the locker, we found old locks instead of the ashes,” Arun Nath said.

The pandits said they were not aware of it. “We are here to perform the last rites of the dead. Those who want lockers here are being provided with the facility, but keeping a vigil is not our responsibility. Everybody has been told clearly to put their own locks,” said Sham Lal, a pandit.

He said the “theft” could be the handiwork of some family member due to a “dispute” in the family.

“The pyre was lit by the son of the daughter of the deceased instead of his son’s son, who was also present during the cremation,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, anxious family members remained at the cremation ground for over five hours. Finally, on the advice of the pandits, they left for Hardwar with five body parts made from silver to perform the last rites.

Meanwhile, the police claimed that a family member, Harjinder Kumar, had given in writing that they did not want any legal proceeding in the incident.

The pandits said this was the first such incident here. “We have been working here for the past 40 years, but we have never heard of something like this,” said Sham Lal, adding that sometimes tantriks tried to steal “special” bones for performing puja.

Photo on P5 

Indirect support is being extended to candidates as the Panchayati Raj Act does not allow political parties to field candidates on party symbols for these elections

Chandigarh, December 7
In the backdrop of the Lok Sabha elections early next year, it is going to be a proxy war among the Congress, BJP and BSP in the panchayat elections scheduled for December 14.

Though the elections are not held on party symbols, the parties are leaving no stone unturned to get candidates of their choice elected to the posts of 10 sarpanch (Sarangpur and Khuda Jassu sarpanches have already being elected unopposed) and panch in 12 villages.

With several activists of parties, including second-rung leaders, contesting, the parties are extending “indirect” support to the candidates. The Panchayati Raj Act does not allow political parties to field candidates on party symbols for the panchayat elections.

BJP leader Satya Pal Jain and BSP convener Harmohan Dhawan have already gone on record pledging support to like-minded candidates. Party affiliations are also reflected in groupism in villages.

“Being a grassroot party, the Congress usually dominates politics in villages and this would be proved again in the coming panchayat elections,” claimed Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Badheri.

The other parties also claim that the lopsided policies of the UPA government, particularly poor land compensation to UT villagers, would swing voters in their favour.

Observers feel that a good show by parties in the panchayat elections would be a morale booster for them in the Lok Sabha elections. That is perhaps why the main parties have put their prestige at stake in the panchayat poll.

Meanwhile, as many as 225 candidates are in the fray. Six candidates are contesting for the post of sarpanch at Daria village while two candidates each are contesting from Behlana, Kaimbala, Raipur Kalan and Khuda Lahora.

For the post of panch, Daria tops with 40 candidates and Sarangpur has a minimum of eight candidates. 

Panchkula, December 7
New methods should be adopted for making the aids lighter and durable so that the handicaps of north India could make the best use of workshop in Saket. This was stated by Dr Dharminder Kumar, director National Institute of Physical Handicap Institute, New Delhi. He was the guest of honour of a symposium on orthotic and prosthetic sciences at Saket auditorium of Haryana Saket Council, Chandimandir here today.

Dr Dharminder delivered lectures on magnitude prevention and early intervention in locomotor disability, and aids and appliances on locomotor disability to the students.

Dr Shivender Singh Gill, vice-chancellor Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, was the chief guest.

This college of physiotherapy was inaugurated on December 4 by Haryana Governor A.R. Kidwai.

Dr J.S. Bhatia, director, Haryana Saket Council told that expertise has been sought from prof Shivender, and prof Mohammad Farroque, founder director of Saket College of Physiotherapy.

Dr Gill along with Dr Dharmender inspected the artificial limb centre of Sake Hospital.

Dr Diganta Borah, assistant professor PGIMS, Chandigarh, also delivered a lecture on prosthetic and prosthetics in rehabilitation sciences.

Chandigarh, December 7
The fourth weeklong TFT national theatre festival commenced at the Tagore theatre here today with the immaculate staging of a play “Antar Yatra” in monologue format by Kolkata-based Rangakarmee under the direction of playwright and thespian Usha Ganguly.

After the overwhelming response to the similar CSN Akademy fest largest audience for this mega theatrical bonanza, organised by the Theatre for Theatre, NZCC, DPR Haryana and Chandigarh, established beyond doubt that there is no dearth for art aficionados for a meaningful theatre. Besides, their love was perceptible while following an abrupt unprecedented power cut the audience provided sufficient light with their mobile phones to ensure that show must go on.

Seized with the problem of the situation chief guest K.K. Khandelwal IAS, who inaugurated the festival, too made a follow up. In view of the claims of the administration for a back up of power supply provisions in the theatre obviously the organisers were expecting the eventuality that later provided the candlelight to facilitate the continuity of the play.

The monologue performance by Usha Ganguly was in fact a creative confrontation of the soul and mind with the world at large especially focus on the predicaments of the womanhood across the centuries.

She raised many other issues of social relevance relating to woman who had been extolled as an angel as per our old epics and scriptures.

Usha employing her mind, soul and body perfectly portrayed the characters with brilliance.

Chandigarh, December 7
The choice of the Congress candidate for the post of the mayor of the municipal corporation of Chandigarh (MCC), election to which is slated to be held on January 1, is proving to be a Gordian knot for minister of state for finance Pawan Bansal.

With Balmiki versus non-Balmiki debate raging again in the party circles, the minister, who would have a deciding say in the selection of the party candidate for the top post, faces a tough choice particularly in the wake of the forthcoming elections to the Lok Sabha.

Of the four candidates — Kamlesh, H.C. Kalyan, Sheela Devi and Manjit Singh -- only Kalyan belongs to the Balmiki community, which reportedly forms majority in the city. The Balmikis have long resented the dominance of the minority non-Balmiki community in the local Congress politics. “It is our turn to claim our pound of flesh and the party leadership should nominate a Balmiki for the mayor’s post this time,” a Congress leader belonging to the Balmiki community told Chandigarh Tribune.

While Bansal cannot overlook the candidature of Kamlesh, a former mayor, he would have a tough time in placating the Balmikis in case she is nominated for the prestigious post. In fact, Bansal would have to make sure that the choice does not boomerang in the forthcoming Lok Sabha poll.

Party sources, however, claimed that a “consensus” would be worked out before December 26, the last date for filing nominations. Though the Congress high command sends an observer to select the candidates for the post of the mayor, the senior deputy mayor and the deputy mayor, Bansal’s choice usually prevails as has been the case in the past.

In fact, the Congress can draw consolation from the fact that the BJP-SAD alliance had also nominated a non-Balmiki for the mayoral post. This would at least blunt the criticism of the BJP-SAD alliance that the Congress was giving a raw deal to the Balmikis.

The SC voters play a crucial role in the Lok Sabha elections in the city and all major political parities try their level best to win over the Dalit voters, which used to be the vote bank of the Congress at one point of time.

Chandigarh, December 7
For some it is “map of Chandigarh”, others say it signifies its “genuineness”. That is what majority of the Chandigarh traffic cops say about the Smart Card Operating System for Transport Applications (SCOSTA) enabled smart driving licence. Talking about the micro memory chip inscribed on this smart card, the cops said, “If the surface of the chip feels rough then it is genuine, otherwise fake.”

This card was introduced by the administration around five years back. However, the administration has failed to procure the readers for this card till date, which apparently makes this exercise a dumb accomplishment.

SCOSTA is a high-security feature-enabled operating system developed by IIT, Kanpur. This card needs specific handheld card readers to view the data stored in the microchip about the vehicle as well as driver’s history. But the registering and licensing authority, Chandigarh, is finding it difficult to obtain the readers for this card.

In the absence of card reader, this smart card is nothing more than a plastic tag as neither the history of offences committed by a driver can be read nor information about any fresh traffic violations in the memory chip of the card can be stored.

SSP (traffic), Chandigarh police, H.S. Doon, admitted that the card readers were not yet available with the police department and the matter had been brought to the notice of the administration. “Indeed the purpose of introducing such high-tech cards gets defeated without the readers. We have already submitted a request in this regard with the administration,” Doon said.

Home secretary Ram Niwas was not available for comments despite repeated attempts.

According to experts, the new smart card, with an enhanced memory - from 1 kb to 4 kb, has a micro memory chip and its data is available in an encrypted form which rules out the possibility of any kind of tampering.

The administration, under the traffic education-cum-enforcement drive, had initiated to introduce such high-tech cards to ensure proper following of rules and updating vehicle registration database so that current address of all registered vehicle owners was readily available.

Nevertheless, the Society for Promotion of IT in Chandigarh (SPIC) was entrusted with the task of procuring and printing the card and the registering and licensing authority was to provide the necessary software ‘Sarathi’ to the Chandigarh police for entering challan history in the driving licence of the offender.

Thanks to my better half - literally better because she gets a fatter pay packet and many opportunities to travel abroad in her job, unlike mine- I recently visited Beijing, China. This was my second trip with her on her official assignment, the first being to Singapore. I was thoroughly impressed with Singapore but not enough to provoke me to pen my thoughts.

However, the China visit has turned out to be an all together a different ball game. And there are several reasons for it.

I joined journalism in mid 1980s and like all newcomers reading newspapers in detail, while giving special emphasis on foreign and national news rather than your own local beat, was a routine affair. So the events of May-June 1989 - when Chinese tanks crushed the biggest uprising for a change in that country at the Tiananmen Square - were quite clear in my memory. I vividly remember those black and white pictures of gun totting Chinese army personnel arresting agitating students at the Monument of the Heroes of the People that appeared in newspapers then.

In addition to these memories, my inquisitiveness about China, I think had something to do with to my upbringing and my father, an admirer of Karl Marx and Mao Zedong, is perhaps responsible for it. And like all Indians, who have grown up learning that China is the only country that is more populated than ours and the tales about 1962 Chinese aggression, I too had some fixated notions about the land of the dragon and Feng Shui.

Though I had read a lot about China's transformation and the Olympics makeover, I never imagined that it would be so much. It is said that seeing is believing and I must admit that this is true.

Undoubtedly, the infrastructure created by the Chinese is just amazing. Their airport, their stadiums, their malls, their subway stations and roads are just excellent and I don't think, though I hope otherwise, that many people of my generation (presuming the average age to be 65 years) will see such a transformation happening here in India in the next two decades or so.

But what impressed me the most there was the discipline among the people. And I think that is what we totally lack in our country. From the moment I stepped on the Chinese soil - the sight of the off duty airport staff walking out smartly in columns of two - and till the time I left- the cab driver stopping at every red light on deserted crossings during the wee hours of the morning- it was sheer discipline that left me dumbfounded and wondering that why can't we do this.

Like India, China too has a mixed ratio of vehicles on roads and cycles, two wheelers and even cycle carts (rehras) are visible in great numbers. However, there are no traffic jams owing to these slow moving vehicles criss-crossing the busy streets as they remain in their lanes, which have been meticulously designed and are maintained.

In contrast, back home in this well planned city beautiful we do have cycle tracks but they are used more by scooterists and even motorists for their wrong side driving rather than the cyclists. They have potholes, are littered with leaves and dirt and leaning trees, with branches overgrowing awkwardly, sometimes making even walking a taxing task.

Talking about trees, I was surprised to see that the thousands of trees that dot the Beijing roads have iron and wooden supports to ensure their straight growth. And the result is mesmerising - miles long tidy and beautiful straight file of trees, pruned to perfection. And as for the strewn fallen leaves, I always saw people with what can be called as a longer version of wooden chopsticks or a 'chimta' to pick them up and collect them in a bag rather than making a huge pile of them on the roadside.

Another thing that attracted me there and made our planners look like novices was the large number of pedestrian bridges on roads. While all two-way roads are barricaded with iron railings, at the center, there are numerous pedestrian over and under bridges at short distances for the people to cross. And incidentally all of them have small ramps on the sides for cyclists to help drag their cycles over it rather than picking them up.

Now coming to Chandigarh, there are no over bridges in the city even though our planners want to implement road dividers on all major roads. If you remember, they mindlessly barricaded the entire road from Sector 22-35 roundabout to Sector 36 sometime back and people ended up twisting the metal dividers to make way for themselves, their scooters and cycles. This is a common sight at almost all road dividers in the city. While we residents can't escape the blame for breaking rules and taking these shortcuts, what option do even the law abiding ones have?

Though Beijing has a population of about 17.5 million, it's an impeccably clean city. The cleanliness at its national monuments - Mao's mausoleum, Tiananmen Sqaure, Ming Tombs and the Great Wall - visited by thousands of people everyday will put even those managing the affairs of our government secretariats, not to talk about public places, to shame.

But for paucity of space and the fear of boring you, I can go on and on raving about these small things that make Beijing a beautiful city to be in. However, its depressing when one thinks what prevents us from implementing such small things here, which I presume requires neither a mammoth engineering task nor trips of our bureaucrats or politicians to access these 'marvels'. It only requires a little imagination and a will to bring about a change, which undoubtedly those at the helm here sadly lack.

Write to cityeditor@tribunemail.com

Chandigarh, December 7
High drama prevailed in Sector 19 here this morning when a woman caught her husband with another woman in a house allegedly in a “compromising position”.

Renu Malhotra had been suspecting her husband, Rajesh, of having an affair with a 22-year-old Ropar-based woman, Manpreet.

She reached the house, reportedly owned by a widow, Ravinder Kaur, after a tip off. According to eyewitnesses, trouble began when she demanded an entry into the house despite Ravinder Kaur’s attempts to stop her, claiming that Rajesh wasn’t there.

Not convinced, Renu forcibly gained entry into the house by breaking the windowpane of a room.

In a fit of rage, she reportedly hit Manpreet and in the melee that ensued, Rajesh hit Renu. Neighbours said Ravinder Kaur also joined the fistfight and all four sustained injuries.

Neighbours claimed that Renu had been shouting that Rajesh had been missing from his house for the past four days.

The police took the four to the Sector 16 Government Multi Speciality Hospital and got them medically examined.

The SHO of the Sector 19 police station, inspector Ram Gopal, said Rajesh, Ravinder and Manpreet had been booked on the charges of causing injuries and criminal intimidation under Sections 324, 506 and 34 of the IPC.

Meanwhile, Ravinder Kaur’s neighbours alleged that her house was being used for “immoral purposes” and questioned Rajesh’s presence there when he was not related or known to her in any manner.

Mohali, December 7
It was certainly not the way Dalbir Singh had planned to adieu his two daughters, Simarpreet and Ishpreet, who were killed by a recklessly driven car with an allegedly drunken cop at the wheels.

A doting father had big dreams to educate his daughters and marry them off. Tears rolled down his face as he set off for the final journey to bid farewell to the mortal remains of his daughters.

After the post mortem, the mortal remains were consigned to flames at the Mohali crematorium here this evening. The family had recently shifted to their Phase XI residence.

But the grief was punctuated with signs of anguish against the police for not taking strict action as the head constable, Parminder Singh, who was at the wheels when the accident took place. The family was waiting for an auto rickshaw after returning from Phase 1 when the mishap took place near the roundabout of Phase 2 and 4 here.

In the accident, three members of the victim’s family, Dalbir, father, Swara, mother and brother, Gurkirat had a miraculous escape.

At the time of autopsy, agitated relatives of the aggrieved family and residents had planned to block a road in a protest against the police. But when Harbir Singh, SHO, Phase 1, assured required action the agitation was called off. The relatives had alleged that blood samples of the constable had not been taken and the case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was not registered against erring driver. On the basis of negligence, the cop had been bailed out after being arrested. A second blood sample of the constable was taken today and depending upon the result, more section would be added to the FIR.

The SSP, Mohali, J.S. Aulakh, said charges against the erring driver would be probed.

Panchkula, December 7
While the house of Chander Mohan, local MLA, bore a deserted look after the news of his second marriage to a woman from Chandigarh appeared on news channels, the development attracted criticism from various quarters here.

While R.K. Kakkar, Congress leader, termed it as an unfortunate event for the party, BJP leaders said it was another chapter in the history of the Congress, claiming that it was replete with such “incidents”.

Kakkar, who was at loggerheads with the former deputy Chief Minister since long, said it was unfortunate that a person of this stature took a step which was not expected from people involved in public life. “When a person holding the post of deputy Chief Minister takes such a step, it confirmed that he was not worried about his image as well as that of the party’s,” he said.

Chandveer Hooda, a councillor, condemning the decision of Chander Mohan, said the deputy CM had only used the religion to marry another woman. This was a farce, he said.

The BJP also did not lag behind in criticising its bete noire on the occasion.

State party president Atam Parkash Manchanda said it would send a wrong signal to the youth that was already “on the verge of forgetting cultural values”.

INLD district president (youth), too, expressed shock over it said it would leave a bad impression on the youth as they tried to emulate their leaders. The residence of Chander Mohan was thronged by mediapersons in the evening as soon as the interview of the newly married couple appeared on a news channel. However, the mediapersons had to return after waiting for some hours as nobody, except a few security guards, were present there.

Chandigarh, December 7
“I feel the need to pass on whatever knowledge I possess to poor kids,” says “Ankur sir”, as he is fondly called by his students hailing from slums as this enthusiastic 19-year-old ushers them to their ‘open’ class at a park in Sector 18.

A student himself, he started taking classes a few months ago in the premises of a temple, but was soon moved out by the temple committee. However, the classes went on uninterrupted as the students continued to pour in.

“Earlier I was little uncomfortable teaching in the open. Gradually the thought stopped perturbing me,” says Ankur. It is not only him, but also the students who refuse to be defeated by their destiny.

“I love to study but can’t go to school so I come here everyday. I like attending classes in the garden,” says Rani (10), a labourer’s daughter. “It is nice and warm and there is more place for us to play during our break. I also get to bring my little brother along and can baby-sit him while I study,” she adds.

Sunil (12), a sweeper’s son, says, “I was working as a domestic helper before I started coming here. I used to work for 12 hours in a day and my employer ill treated me. Her kids were always rude and called me names.”

Coming from a modest background, Ankur, a son of a tailor, says that he understands the hardship these children have to go through in their day-to-day lives. This encourages him more to impart education to these children and make a niche for them in the mainstream. “It looks like a distant dream, but our will might make a way,” says the young, fervent teacher. 

Chandigarh, December 7
They might stink, look horrible because they are usually packaged in cheap quality tins or bottles and have horrible creatures printed on them like rats and bollworms but still pesticides remain the “favourite choice” (perhaps due to easy availability) of those committing suicides in the city.

A study conducted by the PGI recently reveals that nearly 60 per cent of suicides reported in the city are due to consumption of the pesticides. Other chemicals used for committing suicide include rat poison and household insecticides, including organophosphate, and aluminium phosphate.

“We come across at least three cases of attempted suicide? by poisoning every day. Unless we restrict and regulate the sale of pesticide in the market, we cannot stop these suicides?,’’ said Dr Ashish Bhalla, the internal medicine department, PGI.

“A study on motivation for suicide? showed that only 15 per cent of people who had attempted suicide? were genuinely inclined to it and the rest admitted it was an impulsive act. Any small interception during those impulsive moments, or tough norms that deny people easy access to poison, can save lives,’’ explained Dr Ashish.

Dr Ashish said a policy of removing the most toxic pesticides should be formed and properly enforced as this would result in a reduced number of deaths from acute poisoning. Also, it is important to promote less toxic agents.

The annual conference of the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Toxicology, which will start from Monday, is also aimed at the development of formulations of specific pesticides with less acute toxic effect. According to experts, in poisoning cases, first aid involves a thorough stomach-wash using a nasal gastric tube, monitoring pulse and blood pressure.

The patient can then be rushed to a bigger centre.

Chandigarh, December 7
Despite tall claims by the municipal corporation (MC) of removal of encroachments, the mushrooming of roadside motor mechanics is on a rise.

During a visit to motor markets at various sectors by this correspondent, it was found that a number of mechanics had blocked the corridors with vehicles that had come for repair to their shops. In most of these markets there was no parking space left by the mechanics, which caused traffic jams on these roads.

While talking to The Tribune, some of the mechanics of Sector 28 motor market stated that they had approached the authorities to remove these illegal motor mechanics from their area as they created a mess in the market. They said on one side the corporation claimed that they had equal norms for every encroacher in the city and on other side they ignored the encroachment of motor mechanics, which was increasing in number every month. The shop owners alleged that though the authorities had constituted special teams for Sectors 17, 22, 19, 34 and 35 to check encroachment, the other parts of the city had been left out.

Balbir Singh, president of Sector 38 motor market, said it was strange that the enforcement team had never visited their market to check the encroachment. Interestingly, the councillors had taken up the issue of motor markets encroachment in the House meeting a number of times, but in vein.

Additional commissioner P.K. Sharma, in one of the meetings, had stated earlier that the enforcement department would speed up the anti-encroachment drive in the motor markets of the city after Diwali. He also stated that special teams would be constituted by the department for the removal of illegal motor mechanics.

MC commissioner Dr Roshan Sunkaria also informed the House that the authorities were now taking strict action against the violators. 

This refers to “We can’t leave security to God” in City Scope, Chandigarh Tribune, by Raveen Thukral on December 1. The terrorists attacks on Hotel Taj, Oberoi and Nariman House, Mumbai, the financial capital of India have left a deep impact on the minds of people. The terrorists with lethal weapons killed about 180 people, including police officers, commandos and foreigners. The security has been beefed up across the nation following the terror attacks in Mumbai.

The security arrangements should be reviewed by the police after the attacks.

The UT police should guard the bus stands, air force station, railway station, Rajiv Gandhi Information Technology Park, hotels etc.

There is also a need of upgradation of medical and fire services.

Chandigarh, December 7
In an unprecedented victory, ‘Chatrath’ group has swept over the 15 seats in the PU syndicate elections held today. In addition to declaring representatives of the various faculties on the syndicate of the Panjab University, unopposed candidates for posts of deans and secretaries of Law, Medical Sciences and Animal Husbandry were also declared elected.

Along with key players like Ashok Goyal and Gopal Krishan Chatrath, the first-timers like Dalip Kumar, Malwinder Singh Kang, Dr Kuldip Singh and Kamaljit Singh came out with unexpected flying colours.

“It’s really a great victory. What made the largest impact on the elections was the fact that the nominated members of senate had no fixed political ideology and that helped in gaining recognition and acceptance of the sole motto of our group that is to ensure welfare of students and university staff.” an elated Ashok Goyal said.

Amongst deans, while Gopal Krishan Chatrath has been elected the dean of law, prof KK Talwar stands elected for the faculty of medical sciences and Raj Bans Gill has been elected the faculty of dairying, animal husbandry and agriculture.

The following have been elected representatives of the various faculties on the syndicate of the Panjab University for 2009

Faculty of Arts

Dr. Gurdip Kumar Sharma; Dr. I.S. Sandhu; Prabhjit Singh

Faculty of Science

Dr Dalip Kumar; Jagpal Singh alias Jaswant Singh ; Dr Satish Kumar Sharma

Faculty of Language

Dr Kuldip Singh (Elected unopposed); Malwinder Singh Kang (Elected unopposed)

Faculty of Laws

Gopal Krishan Chatrath (Elected unopposed); Prof S.K. Sharma (Elected unopposed)

Faculty of Medical Sciences

Ashok Goyal alias Ashok Kumar (Elected unopposed); Jarnail Singh (Elected unopposed)

Combined faculties

Dr Kamaljit Singh (Elected unopposed); Prof Naval Kishore (Elected unopposed); Prof Shelly Walia (Elected unopposed)

The following have been elected deans and secretaries of the various faculties of the Panjab University for the term 1.2.2009 to 30.1.2010 at the meetings of the faculties in the Senate Hall, Panjab University:

Faculty of Laws

Dean - Gopal Krishan Chatrath (Elected unopposed); Secretary - Profe P.S. Jaswal (Elected unopposed)

Faculty of Medical Sciences

Dean - Prof K.K. Talwar (Elected unopposed)

Secretary- Dr Raj Bahadur (Elected unopposed)

Faculty of Dairying, Animal Husbandry and Agriculture

Dean - Dr Rajbans Singh Gill (Elected unopposed); Secretary - Dr Kamaljit Singh (Elected unopposed)