NEIGHBOURHOOD

Sahil was abducted, alleges father
Tribune News Service

Rajpura, August 17
The parents of Sahil Sharma (19) today alleged that all six accused friends of their son, who got drowned in Bhakra-Narwana canal, had kidnapped his son from the college.

Mohan Lal Sharma, father of Sahil, said the boys were in an inebriated condition and kidnapped his son outside SD College in Sector 32.

Suspecting the role of police officials, who were investigating the case, he alleged that the police was deliberately not arresting the accused. “Since the car of my son was found parked outside the college, he was surely taken away by the other boys forcefully with an intention to kill him,” he said.

Sahil was reported missing since August 10 and his body was found floating in the river near Ghanaur on Friday. The police has refused to arrest the accused over the pretext of lack of evidence even as a case in this regard has been registered.

Zirakpur, August 17
Encroachments along the road leading to Baltana have become the order of the day, resulting in accidents. The suppliers of brick, stone-dust and other construction material have encroached the area around the roadside.

Ironically, the illegal activity is going on right under the nose of the MC authorities. No action has been taken yet despite residents complaining about the same to the MC officials.

Last night, a motorcyclist was injured when he failed to notice a car coming from Kalgidhar Enclave as the visibility of the road had been blocked due to heaps of construction material. The motorcyclist, however, sustained minor injuries.

Residents alleged that a large number of trolleys loaded with stone-dust, bricks and other construction material were parked on the roadside and also in front of commercial showrooms causing traffic problems. The road is also leading to a private school and creating nuisance for the schoolchildren during daytime, they added.

Shopkeepers of Kalgidhar market also complained that the trolleys loaded with sand and other construction material in the parking area were affecting their business and customers were facing problems while parking their vehicles.

Pardeep Passi, a resident of Kalgidhar Enclave, said vehicles pose a threat to pedestrians’ lives, especially school students, as there was no space vacant to walk on this road. He added that it was a serious matter and the authority concerned should take action immediately.

Zirakpur Municipal Council executive officer Sukhjinder Singh Sidhu said the matter was in his knowledge. He said, “We would check the records and strict action would be taken against the violators.”

Kalka, August 17
The department of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will introduce its 3G mobile services at Kalka.

VP Dhiman, SDO of BSNL Kalka, said the department has decided to launch 3G mobile services at Kalka and its vicinity by next month. Latest equipment for this service has been installed at Kalka Telephone Exchange. He said the BSNL had already started 3G mobile services in three cities in Haryana, including Ambala, Karnal and Hisar, following which the other cities of Haryana would also be connected with the services under which the BSNL subscribers of Kalka were also being provided with the service.

He said after the start of this service at Kalka, the BSNL subscribers would be facilitated with facilities like high speed broad band facility, live TV, video conferencing, net surfing, movies and music download, online games and online business facility.

Under the Black Berry services, the BSNL subscribers of Kalka could also avail the instant e-mail facility. Various pre-paid and post-paid plans with nominal tariff have also been introduced under the 3G services, added Dhiman.

Chandigarh, August 17
The days are gone when court staff of 11 different courts would sit in the afternoon on almost every floor and continue to deal with traffic challans long past the scheduled hours. While success of the Special Traffic Court with nearly 300-400 traffic challans being disposed off in a day, court it is evoking a mixed response both from the violators as well as the court visitors.

SP(Traffic), HS Doon said the Special Traffic Court is of great convenience to the people, who now need not go from one court to another for their traffic challans.

Special Judicial Officer Deepak Raj Garg has already disposed off more than 4,500 different traffic violations under the Motor Vehicle Act and is still counting. Police sources claim that this is definitely helping in curbing the menace of habitual offenders in offences like jumping the red lights and not wearing seat belts and helmets.

The Special Traffic Court was started to ease out the burden on other courts and also to do away with the hassle of shuttling between courts.

But like every other initiative, the special court has also invited criticism from different quarters. While the litigants in other courts believe that the long queues right at the small entry point is a lot of nuisance as one has to scramble through the crowd to reach the ramp and the courtroom.

“It is so difficult to reach the first floor as people in numbers gather right in front of the small court room making it difficult to reach the other floors. Why cannot the court be shifted to a bigger courtroom when the authorities know that there are going to be so many people every day? The pushing and jostling has become an everyday affair”, rued Sita Devi, a litigant.

The special court has also drawn the ire of many staff members of the different courts who also believe that the single traffic court has only added to the chaos already existing at the courts.

At present there are two other courts apart from the special court to deal with the traffic violators.

Chandigarh, August 17
The high court wants to know from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh whether a regulatory mechanism has been evolved to check the activities of unscrupulous elements involved in sending gullible people abroad.

The directions follow a bunch of regular bail petitions filed by accused in immigration racket. Taking up the petitions, Justice Rajan Gupta verbally asked the states to inform the court on regulatory mechanism to keep under check the activities of elements exploiting innocent people with the promises of sending them abroad.

Justice Gupta made it clear that focus of the information had to be on travel agents and asked the states to also inform the court whether any such machinery, if not in existence, could be put in place. The Bench also issued notice of motion for August 31 on one such petition.

The high court had earlier also called for the intervention of the chief secretaries and had ruled the authorities concerned should explore the feasibility of using the print, audio or the electronic media for educating the masses about the pitfalls.

Justice Amar Dutt in April 2003 had, in fact, asked chief secretaries to look after the “interest of poor prospective non-resident Indians, rather than confining their concern to those well-settled migrants, who had already made a fortune abroad, so as to avoid repetition of Malta boat tragedy.”

Dismissing a bunch of 25 petitions filed by travel agents, Justice Dutt also asked the authorities to also consider the advisability of taking steps for educating the masses after consulting the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Labour.

Possibility should also be explored to prevent the middlemen from making unwarranted profit by regulating the recruitment and letting everyone know about the demands sent by different countries for skilled and unskilled labour, the 
Judge asserted.

Chandigarh, August 17
A local court today dismissed the anticipatory bail application of Ajay Arora, owner of Guru Dronacharya Institute, Sector 36, who was held for allegedly impersonating as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge RS Attri rejected the bail application.

On August 8, Ajay Arora, owner of Guru Dronacharya Institute, Sector 36, had allegedly asked the Vice-Chancellor of Maulana University for a “special” admission, impersonating as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

According to the police, Sikander had lodged a complaint that Ajay had struck a deal with him claiming that he was friends with the Chief Justice and would get his daughter admitted to the college.

According to officials, the college authorities received a call on August 7 from a person claiming to be the Chief Justice and asked them to consider an admission.

However, when the Vice-Chancellor called up the Chief Justice to confirm it, he found out that the latter had made no such call.

Ajay had struck a deal with Sikander to get his daughter admitted to the college on the payment of Rs 5 lakh. He had taken an advance of Rs 1.5 lakh and asked for the remaining amount after the admission. However, after learning his game plan, Sikander lodged a complaint with the police.

Chandigarh, August 17
The mother of Rajwinder Singh Attwal, who died under mysterious circumstances on August 11, today raised doubts over his death alleging foul play.

A board of doctors conducted a post-mortem examination at the PGI amidst heated arguments between Attwal’s mother and his wife over the cremation of the body.

The police intervened and resolved the issue after placating both sides and it was decided to cremate the body at the Cremation Ground, Sector 25.

Earlier, Attwal’s wife and his elder son Navjosh insisted on taking the body to their Sector-37 residence, while his mother and sister wanted to take the body to Sector 23, where they were staying.

Harbhajan Kaur Attwal, 62-year-old mother of Rajwinder Singh Attwal had come to India from Canada along with her two daughters, Rajwant Kaur and Paramjit Kaur, on August 13.

They told the TNS at the PGI that they came to know about the death on August 11 and reached India suspecting foul play, as Rajwant used to call them saying that he was upset with his family life.

Paramjit Kaur alleged that they had seen several injury marks on the body and insisted that the post-mortem examination be conducted at the PGI.

She alleged that the body bore injury marks on the neck, arms, chest and lips were swollen. She added said the eyes were bulging out, indicating that he was assaulted.

Rajwant Kaur said they had sent a representation to senior police officials through speed post seeking a fair and speedy probe into the mysterious death of their brother. DSP (south) Jaswant Singh Khaira said the post-mortem report was awaited and doctors had taken the viscera samples to ascertain the exact cause of the death. He, however, added that he had not received any complaint from Attwal’s family.

On August 11, the police after conducting preliminary inquiries into the death had said that Attwal had died due to excessive drinking and had initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Chandigarh, August 17
Two youngsters, including a juvenile, were caught red handed while snatching a chain and a mobile phone in Sector 27 here this afternoon. Apart from this, two incidents of snatching were reported from various parts of the city in the past 24 hours.

According to the police, 16-year-old Deepak of Sector 19-B reported that four youngsters snatched his mobile phone and a silver chain and fled. He raised an alarm and some policemen, who were on patrol nearby, gave a chase to the miscreants and managed to nab two of them.

One of the youngsters nabbed has been identified as 22-year-old Jaswant Singh of Sector 30-B while the other accused was sent to juvenile home.

Jaswant was recently released from jail in an attempt to murder case and the remaining two accused who are from Mauli Jagran were also involved in a criminal case and were released recently.

In another incident, Dr Inderjit of Sector 24 filed a complaint alleging that two unidentified motorcyclists snatched his wife’s purse containing Rs 7,000, a mobile phone, an identity card and artificial jewellery near Sectors 16 and 23 rotary last night.

Similarly, Samir Midha of Sector 33 reported that occupants of Mohindra jeep (HR-70-A-3886) and a Mitsubishi Lancer bearing Ludhiana’s registration number snatched his gold chain and a locket behind the Police Lines in Sector 26 yesterday. He was sitting in his Maruti Swift at that time.

The police said the victim knew the accused and they had an altercation over some issue.

The SHO of the Sector 26 police station said the address of the owner of the vehicle registered at Haryana could not be verified today as it was a holiday in Haryana.

Two separate cases have been registered into these incidents at various police stations in the city.

Chandigarh, August 17
Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) claimed an overall championship with 117 points on the final day of the 35th Men and 27th Women Senior Powerlifting Championship-2009 organised by the Chandigarh Powerlifting Association at Weightlifting Hall of Sector 42 Sports Complex.

Kerala bagged both men and women championships by scoring 72 and 58 points, respectively. Besides this R Murugan of the Railway Sports Promotion Board and AB Manju of Kerala were declared strong man and strong woman of India, respectively.

Earlier in the 110 kg category, Udaya Kumar of the board created two new records in squat by lifting 361 kg and 848.5 kg.

Shanavas M and Amarjeet Singh of the board won the gold medal by lifting 857.5 kg and 942.5 kg, respectively. Harinarayan of Chandigarh also bagged the gold medal in the bench press by lifting 195 kg.

Results:

110 kg (Men): Udaya Kumar (RSPB) 1, Kanwaljit Singh (IPF) 2 and Jaswinder Singh (Punjab) 3; 125 kg (Men): Shanvas M (RSPB) 1, Dharmender Singh (IPF) 2 and Jimson NJ (Kerala) 3; 125 kg (Men Open): Amanpreet Singh (RSPB) 1, Amandeep Singh (Chhattigarh) 2 and Rajesh Kumar (Harayna) 3.

Chandigarh, August 17
Around 27 teams, including 16 in the boys section, are participating in the Chandigarh Mini State Netball Championship for St Soldier Trophy commencing tomorrow on the St Soldier International School ground in Sector 28.

“Both boys and girls teams are divided into two groups,” said Anand Singh Rawat, general secretary of the association.

Chandigarh District Education Officer Chanchal Singh will inaugurate the tournament. Groups:

Boys- Group A: Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 20, DAV Model School, Sector 15, 4, Government Senior Secondary School, Mani Majra Town, Friends Club, Sector 21, Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, Government Model High School, Sector 26, St Soldier School, Sector 28.

Group B: Government Model High School, Sector 28, Golden Club, Sector 18, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 33, St Marry School, Sector 46, SS Club, Sector 28, Government Model School Club, Sector 20, Mount Carmel School, Sector 47.

Girls- Group A: Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, Government Model Senior Secondary School , Mani Majra Complex, DAV Model School, Sector 15, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 33, 5, Government Senior Secondary School, Mani Majra Town. Group B: Mount Carmel School, Sector 47, Government Model High School, Mani Majra, St Marry School, Sector 46, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 20, Government Model

Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, Government Model High School, Sector 28.

Chandigarh, August 17
Col Iqbal Singh and Ranbir Singh clinched the prestigious Independence Day Cup defeating the twosome of Col Sema Singh and Rohit Dagar in a thrilling final which went up to the 17th hole on the par-72 greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club here today.

The 2-0 triumph for Col Iqbal’s team came after a thrilling final in which lead changed sides. But the better team got the two-stroke margin for victory at the 17th hole. The Independence Day Cup competition is held throughout the year culminating in the final. 

Chandigarh, August 17
Varun (55, 4 for 13) of Ajit Karam Singh International Public School defeated Shivalik Public School B team, Sector 41, by four runs in the first match of the Inter-School Shivalik Trophy on the SPS-41 ground here today.

After winning the toss , AKSIPS decided to bat first. Their team scored 119 for 9 in stipulated 20 overs. Varun remained not out on 55, while Anesh contributed 16 runs. Karan (3 for 13) and Pranav (2 for 14) were the most successful bowlers for SPS team.  In reply SPS 41 B Team scored 115 in 20 overs.Tenzin , Guransh and Pranav scored 32, 17 and 14 runs, respectively.

Varun captured four wickets for 13 runs. Piyush bagged 2 for 20. 

Chandigarh, August 17
Param Pun, sixth grader of Saupins High School, Sector 32, claimed both under-12 and under-14 singles titles for boys on the concluding day of the Sh LD Kapoor Memorial Total Tennis Championship on the premises of YMCA, Sector 11.

In the under-12 singles final, second seed Param slammed top seed Karandeep Singh of Ludhiana in straight sets by 7-5, 6-4, while in the under-14 singles final, top seed Param Pun defeated fifth seeded Barun Gill of the CLTA by 6-2, 6-3.

Aviraj Kamboj bagged the under-16 title for boys by surpassing Parminder Singh in straight sets by 6-1, 6-3.

In the under-12 singles for girls final, top seed Sabreena Gill performed well against unseeded opponent Rubani Ahluwalia. The final score was read in favour of Sabreena Gill 6-0, 6-2.

Results:

Boys under-12 semifinal: Karandeep Singh bt Sachit Malhotra 4-0, 5-3 and Param Pun bt Paras Mittal 5-3, 4-1; under-12 final: Param Pun bt Karandeep Singh 7-5, 6-4; under-14 semifinal: Param Pun bt Birgurman Singh 5-3, 5-3 and Barun Gill bt Rahul Seth 0-4, 4-2, 4-0; under-14 final: Param Pun bt Barun Gill 6-2, 6-3; under-16 semifinal: Aviraj Kamboj bt Arshbuland Aulakh 4-0, 4-0; Parminder Singh bt Anvit Gupta 4-0, 4-2;

under-16 final: Aviraj Kamboj bt Parminder Singh 6-1, 6-3.

Girls under-12 final: Sabreena Gill bt Rubani Ahluwalia 6-0, 6-2; under-14 final: Karishma Mehta bt Neamat Aulakh 5-4 (1), 4-1.