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NEIGHBOURHOOD

Child dodges abductors
Tribune News Service

Dera Bassi, August 13
A 12-year-old child from Mubarikpur managed to free himself from the clutches of four unidentified persons from near the railway station here today. The victim was put in a sack and dumped into a stationery train yesterday.

The family lodged a complaint with the police after the child reached home. The security in the village has been increased and investigation ordered.

Avesh, a Class VII student of Shishu Niketan School, Chandigarh, said he was going to his friend’s house yesterday when four persons forcibly pulled him inside a Maruti van. He regained consciousness and found himself in the sack. But, he managed to come out of the sack and escape from the clutches of the accused who were standing on the other side of the train.

Suicide

A 25 year-old-girl allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in her Phase 7 house in Mohali this morning. The girl was disturbed after she came to know about the poor financial health of the family. Though she was rushed to the hospital, doctors at the GMCH, Sector 32, declared her brought dead.

Booked

The Mohali police has booked a senior assistant in the GMADA’s estate office for misplacing the official record. After investigating the case, SP (City) SS Gill has registered a case under Section 409 of the IPC at the Phase 8 police station. Earlier, the estate officer had lodged a complaint. The police was investigating more such cases. 

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16-year-old gangraped
Tribune News Service

Kharar, August 13
A 16-year-old girl from Kharar was allegedly raped last night. In her complaint to the Kharar police, victim’s mother alleged that four youths took away her daughter fraudulently.

As per the FIR, the youths took her to some secluded location and raped her. The victim has identified one of the accused as Paramjit Singh Pamma, who lives near Sainiyan Di Chakki in Kharar.

Investigating officer ASI Ramji Dass told TNS that Pamma had an affair with the victim for the past some time. He had promised to marry the girl and took her in an abandoned building at the Badala road towards the railway station. “Three other youths were already present there. First Pamma raped the victim and then the others,” said Dass.

He added that some vehicle approached the area and all accused feared that they had been discovered. They fled from the scene leaving behind their car and motorcycle. They took away the girl’s clothes.

The victim reached her home around 2 am and narrated the incident to her mother, who approached the police. The medical check up of the victim was conducted this morning wherein rape was confirmed.

Dass said the police was investigating the case and had conducted raids to nab the accused.

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YPS student admitted to Rajindra Hospital
Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 13
In yet another case of suspected swine flu, Mallika (12), who just returned from the USA after spending her holidays, has been admitted in Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, with the symptoms of the flu. Mallika is Class VII student of YPS School, Patiala.

Mallika was normal when she reached here, but soon got high fever. Suspecting it to be a case of H1N1 virus, the parents took her to the hospital. She is admitted in an isolation ward and her samples have been sent to Delhi for reports.

District Health Officer Charanjit Singh, who is also the district coordinator for swine flu, said Mallika had been administered flu tablets since she was admitted and did not have fever any more. However, her reports were still awaited. “We can say something only when we get the reports,” he added.

This is the fourth such case in the district. Earlier, Kabir Bawa of Buddha Dal School, Patiala, was tested positive for the virus, but he has been completely cured now. Sukhman Deep of YPS and Nitin Mukherjee of Tangori College, Banur, were the other victims who got their treatment done at Delhi and Chandigarh, respectively.

Charanjit Singh also met various school and college principals today to control the panic situation and gave certain tips about the preventions. He also instructed them to watch out carefully for any such symptoms and take immediate action. After the Independence Day, a meeting of all educational institutions would be called to check further spread of the flu, he added.

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Canadian held with 2.4 kg of charas
Tribune News Service

Lalru, August 13
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) today arrested a Canadian citizen in his mid-fifties and seized contraband from him at Dappar toll plaza near Lalru.

According to NCB sources, Milstein was a resident of Montreal, Canada, and had come to India on holidays.

Sources revealed that he was returning from Kulu-Manali and going towards New Delhi to board a flight back to Canada in a Maruti car driven by himself.

The NCB sources said they got a tip-off and arrested Milstein around 12.30 pm near the plaza and seized 2.4 kg of charas (cannabis) from him which he bought from Manali. He had concealed a bag containing contraband in the boot of the vehicle, the sources added.

Confirming his arrest, Zonal Director of NCB S.K. Sekhri said the interrogation was on and more information regarding this matter would be come in picture by tomorrow.

“After carrying out proper interrogation from the Canadian citizen, we hope to come out with other major leads,” Sekhri added.

Meanwhile, the sources added that Milstein might have linkage with other drug smugglers in Kulu. An official of the Dappar toll plaza said the NCB kept him for over three hours at toll plaza before taking him to Chandigarh.

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Two youths killed in accidents
Tribune News Service

Fatehgarh Sahib, August 13
Two bodies were found lying on railway tracks at different places today. GRP police station SHO Sanjiv Kumar said the body of an unknown youth was found on Mandi Gobindgarh-Sirhind tracks. The deceased was about 25 years of age. He had apparently been hit by a vehicle and died.

Similarly, on Sirhind-Sadhugarh tracks, near Brahman Majra railway over bridge, another body was found. As per an I-card recovered from his pocket, he has been identified as Manish Kumar. The card was issued by the health department, Sampol. Police officials also got two visiting cards of doctors. They called up at these numbers and informed about his death.

This youth was bound for Ludhiana and was travelling in deluxe train. Driver of another train had seen Manish falling from the train and informed the police. He was rushed to the Civil Hospital, Fatehgarh Sahib, where he died.

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KU extends admission date
Our Correspondent

Kalka , August 13
Kurukshetra University has extended the date of admission for various classes in Govt PG College up to August 31.

S.K.Manocha, principal of the college, said earlier, the last date of admission was July 15 and with late fee of Rs 50 and Rs 400 was July 31.

He said now the university has extended the admission date up to August 17 with late fee of Rs 600, and August 31 with late fee of Rs 800.

On the other hand, students have urged to the Education Department to increase the numbers of seats in BA Ist year of arts stream, as all the seats have been fulfilled.

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Power Cuts: Ambala residents block highway
Our Correspondent

Ambala, August 13
Hundreds of residents of Ambala City blocked the Delhi-Amritsar National Highway last late night for two hours to protest against the erratic power supply and unscheduled power cuts.

The protesters raised slogans against the power department and state government. They alleged that the frequent tripping and insufficient power supply had upset the routine working.

The blockade was lifted only after the intervention of SDM, Ambala, Arvind Sharma, who reached the spot along with the police.

Meanwhile, residents of Shazadpur village aso blocked the National Highway No. 72 last night to protest against irregular power supply. INLD leader Ram Singh Kodwa, who was leading the protest, said they were hardly getting electricity for six hours.

The blockade was lifted only after assurance by SDM, Naraingarh OP Sharma.

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Body found
Tribune News Service

Lalru, August 13
An unidentified body was found on Dappar-Ghaggar railway track this evening. According to the railway police, they got the information around 8 pm that a body of man was lying at the railway track. Sources said he was wearing a purple shirt and blue trousers. The body has been kept for identification at the Civil Hospital, Dera Bassi, for 72 hours. A case has been registered.

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COURTS
 

Nari Niketan Case
Cops submit 499-page charge-sheet
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 13
The Chandigarh police filed 499-page charge sheet in the Nari Niketan rape case today. The charge sheet that was submitted in the court of Judicial Magistrate Anshul Berry today is based on the circumstantial proofs, documents, statement of the accused and witnesses and the proof collected in the course of the investigation.

DSP (Woman and Child Support Unit) and in charge of the special investigation team probing the case, Kulwant Singh Pannu, told The Tribune that charges of rape were framed against Bhupinder Singh and Jammna Dass and for abetting the rape against Maya and Kamla.

The police has slapped Section 376 (g) (gang rape) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC against the accused. According to it, Bhupinder, a security guard at Nari Niketan in Sector 26, had raped the 19-year-old mentally challenged victim in March. Her medical examinations confirmed pregnancy on May 16. He was arrested after the victim was tested positive for pregnancy and his name emerged in the preliminary investigation on May 18.

Jammna Dass (52), an ex-serviceman and one of the accused, was working as a watchman in Nari Niketan. He allegedly raped the victim on numerous occasions. About the role of Maya, a nurse attendant, the police said she was instrumental and abetted the crime by helping Jammna Dass. She was also accused of destroying crucial evidence by tearing away a register’s page, in which the record of the menstrual cycle of every inmate was maintained.

The police charged Kamla with abetting the crime by taking the victim to Bhupinder. The victim was shifted to Aashreya in March, where she complained of abdominal pain, which ultimately led to the detection of the heinous crime.

Investigation later got embroiled in rigmarole between Nari Niketan and the Aashreya authorities on the issue of where the alleged crime had taken place.

The girl was shifted from Nari Niketan to Aashreya on March 13; the count of days from the detection of pregnancy had created the confusion. Matter subsequently reached the High Court after the UT authorities decided to seek approval for the medical termination of pregnancy of the victim.

It was only after a series of stories by The Tribune highlighting the shoddy investigation by the police and the UT standing counsel in the court dittos the same, an SIT was formed with directions to keep the court informed about the developments in the case.

The SIT investigations went on smoothly and led to the arrest of three more accused, Jammna Kumar, Maya and Kamla.

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2-day police remand for Saji
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 13
A local court today remanded former zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Saji Mohan in two-day police custody in connection with a case of stealing heroin from the NCB.

The NCB team from Chandigarh had on Tuesday obtained permission for police custody of the official from a Mumbai court as he was lodged in Arthur Road Jail after being nabbed by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Mumbai Police while “smuggling” heroin. The ATS had recovered 12-kg of heroin from him after arresting him on January 24.

Seeking a four-day police remand of Saji, special public prosecutor Kailash Chander said the accused had sold the heroin stolen from the NCB during his tenure here. A case was registered against him on the basis of the inputs given by the ATS and on the statements of the four other accused.

The NCB had registered a case under Sections 8-A, 21, 28, 29 and 32-B of the NDPS Act against Saji, former deputy superintendent of NCB, Chandigarh, Balwinder Kumar, two gunmen of Saji, Davinder Pal Singh and Naveen Kumar and a narcotic smuggler Nasib Chand on March 14, 2009.

The other accused named Saji Mohan as the conspirator behind the pilferage of the contraband. The public prosecutor claimed that the verification of the unclaimed seizure of 60-kg of heroin made by the zonal unit, Jammu, in 2007, which was headed by Saji then, it was found that the contraband was misappropriated.

The probe hinted that Saji Mohan had conspired with Balwinder Kumar and other three accused and pilfered 30 kg of heroin out of the total seizure. Saji was also booked and interrogated by the Chandigarh Police in a case of embezzlement of Rs 13.8 lakh earlier this year.

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PEC teacher faces bailable warrants

Chandigarh, August 13
Justice Permod Kohli of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the issuance of bailable warrants to ensure the personal appearance of Punjab Engineering College’s head of the civil engineering department.

The directions came after UT senior standing counsel Anupam Gupta informed the court that the respondent head has refused to file an affidavit in a petition filed by student Shekhar Sharma for directions to the institute to register him for the summer term.

Justice Kohli observed it was a serious matter and clearly a case of defying the order of this court. The Judge directed the respondent to appear in person to show cause as to why proceedings under the provisions of the Contempt of Court Act should be not initiated. Justice Kohli clarified for appearance in the court, the respondent be not treated on duty. He would also not claim any travelling or daily allowance. — TNS

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CRIME
 

Man arrested for rickshaw-puller’s murder
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 13
The local police has arrested Rajesh, a resident of Sarangpur village in Chandigarh, for the murder of a local rickshaw-puller.

Rajesh allegedly drugged the deceased Mohammad Immamudin before robbing him of his money, a watch, and a mobile phone on July 29 and dumped him on the raodside in Sector 14.

That day, the area was inundated due to heavy rains in the night and Imamudin suspected to have died as he could not get up and kept lying, while the water had been flowing upon his body. Before this, Rajesh robbed off Buddhan, another rickshaw-puller on July 27.

The police has seized around a dozen of wrist watches and half a dozen mobile phones from Rajesh. It was suspected that the goods belonged to his victims.

Rajesh used to hire rickshaw in the town and offered the rickshaw-puller the drug-laced “bidis”.

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Cyclist hurt in mishap
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 13
A cyclist was seriously injured while his pillion rider sustained minor injuries when a speeding car rammed into the cycle here this evening near Housing Board Chowk.

The car (HROD-0577) was in such a high speed that it dragged the cycle to a distance. Seeing this, the passersby thrashed the driver of the car on the spot and called up the police.

The victim was taken to the PGI where he was operated.

According to the police, Ajay Kumar, a peon, and pillion rider Bitu were on their way to Indira Colony when the speeding vehicle hit them from behind. Later, the car driver Abhishek Sharma was arrested by the police.

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Bikers snatch gold chain
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 13
A day after the robbery at the liquor vend, two bikers snatched a gold chain from a woman in Sector 15 here today. The victim identified as Sudesh, a resident of house No. 2303, was going towards the market when this incident took place.

Sudesh told the police that when she reached near her house, two youth on a motorcycle snatched her gold chain.

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Nayagaon man booked

Mohali, August 13
The police has booked a resident of Naygaon on charges of cheating.

According to police, Chote Lal of Janta Colony, Nayagaon, had got married to a widow, Gian Mati, a resident of Adasrh Nagar, Nayagaon. He had promised her that he would be purchasing a house and land for her and would give her Rs 40,000.

He had sold the house in which she was staying but gave her nothing in return. The police has registered a case under Section 420 in this regard. — OC

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SPORTS
 

St Soldier’s win, surrender title to St John’s after protest
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 13
Hosts St Soldier’s International School won the final match against St John’s School, Sector 26, but later surrendered the title as a goodwill gesture to avoid any controversy in the Chandigarh Sub-Junior Football Championship for St Soldier Trophy played on the school premises in Sector 28 here today.

St John’s School protested to the organising committee, the Chandigarh Football Association, alleging that the hosts had fielded overage players. The school management decided to award the match to St John’s School to avert the controversy.

St John’s School also decided to withdraw the protest after the final was awarded to them.

CFA general secretary Rakesh Bakshi said after receiving the protest, the issue was referred to the Jury of Appeal.

With the withdrawal of the protest, the CFA closed the issue.

However, they issued a stern warning to all participants to refrain themselves from fielding overage players or face disciplinary action, including debarring the individuals or institutions from participating in the recognizing tournaments.

The final match was a hotly contested affair. St Soldier’s International drew the first blood in the seventh minute. Arshdeep sent a measured flag kick which Anuj Yadav headed it with professional efficiency.

Pressing hard for the equaliser, St John’s restored parity in the 40th minute when Chander converted a free-kick from 28 yards.

St Soldier’s School then snatched the match-winner in the 57th minute. Following a defensive lapse on the part of a St John’s defender, Arshdeep got possession of the ball and dribbled his way into the box before shooting the ball into the goal.

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Total Tennis
Top four seeds enter quarterfinals
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 13
LD Kapoor Memorial Total Tennis Championship for juniors commenced today at Total Tennis Academy’s YMCA, Sector 11, premises. About 200 players are participating in this championship. The boys’ under-16 matches were played today.

Top seed Aviraj Kamboj beat Jaspreet Singh in just 30 minutes by 8-2. Second seed Anvit Gupta of Total Tennis also defeated Chirag with an identical score, by 8-2.

Third seed Arshbuland Aulakh had easily got the better of Barinder Singh 8-1 and fourth seed Parminder Singh beat Ankush Thakur 8-1 in just 35 minutes.

Results: Boys’ under-16 first round: Aviraj Kamboj bt Jaspreet Singh 8-2; Prabhsimran Bal bt Manjot Singh 8-3; Utkarsh Khosla bt Ratik Setia 8-4; Arshbuland Aulakh bt Barinder Singh 8-1; Parminder Singh bt Ankush Thakur 8-1; Badal Sahni bt Harmal Singh 8-1; Anish Goel bt Rajat Pahwa 8-0 and Anvit Gupta beat Chirag 8-2.

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Himanshu claims billiards title
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 13
Himanshu Aggarwal from Kurukshetra claimed the junior billiards title defeating three opponents in the semifinal league of the Haryana State Billiards and Snooker Championship-2009 being held on the premises of Haryana Billiards, Sector 11, here.

In the senior snooker semifinal league, defending champion Sameer Bhalla won from Aman Goyal 3-0. Sameer played his game with consistent potting and cue ball control. He hit breaks of 38, 36 and 41 in the three frames.

Anil Sharma, Divya Sharma, Ankur Nanda and Ashok Sharma reached in the semifinals of senior billiards event.

Results: Senior snooker: Sameer Bhalla bt Aman Goyal 3-0; Ankur Nanda bt Aseem 3-1.

Junior billiards: Himanshu Aggarwal bt Chirag Arora 2-0; Himanshu Aggarwal bt Karan Dhir 2-1; Himanshu Aggarwal bt Bharat Sharma 2-0; Chirag Arora bt Bharat Sharma 2-0; Karan Dhir bt Bharat Sharma 2-0.

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Friendship cup begins today

Chandigarh, August 13
Six teams have staked their claim for the top honours in the Inter-School Under-13 Cricket Tournament for the friendship cup being organised by the St. John's Cricket Academy, Sector-26, from August 14 on the school campus.

The participating teams are St. John's High School, APJ School, Kharar; Greenfield Public School, Mohali; YPS, Mohali; St.Anne's Convent School and DAV SSS-8.

A total of 16 matches will be played on league basis. Each match up to the final stage will be of 25 overs whereas the final will be of 30 overs. All matches will be played on turf pitches but as the rainy season is set in a matting can be used. On the opening day, Green Field School will clash with APJ Kharar at 10:30 am whereas hosts St.John's will lock horns with St. Anne's School at 2pm. — TNS

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