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NEIGHBOURHOOD

After rains, bacterial leaf blight attack on paddy
Gurdeep Singh Mann
Tribune News Service

Farmers spray on paddy crop in Fatehgarh Sahib. A Tribune photograph

Fatehgarh Sahib, August 30
Rains have wreaked havoc for farmers here, as bacterial leaf blight attacked paddy crop in Fatehgarh Sahib and adjoining areas.

After shelling out money for running diesel to irrigate farms, farmers are now spending huge amount on chemicals and other sprays to save their crop from the attack.

Farmers from several villages have complained of the attack and said it was assuming the alarming proportions with the passage of day. After power cuts, this attack has completely upset the budget of farmer community.

“Besides making a whole in our pockets, this attack will also badly hit the paddy yield in quality as well as quantity,” said Sarwan Singh, a farmer in Bassi Pathana village.

The farmers from villages, including Baina Buland, Tibbi, Lohar Majra, Kheri Naudh Singh, Hargana, Mullanpur, Manipur, Sidhupur Jallowal, Kheri Naud Singh, Udalpur, Sahnipur and Sidhupur villages in Bassi Pathana, Khamano and Amloh blocks rued that their crop had been affected by the blight after change in the weather due to rains.

Farmers said most damaged varieties of paddy affected by the attack were basmati and PUSA-44.

The agriculture experts said though this problem could not be solved completely, however, agriculture department officials were encouraging farmers to use various chemicals to get rid of the blight.

Chief agriculture officer Sarabjit Singh said he was aware and special surveys were being conducted in this regard.

He said farmers were told to spray particular chemical for foot rot disease found in basmati 1121 variety.

“Farmers are told to immediately drain off stagnant water from their fields and those who have not treated seeds before sowing, must spray medicines recommended by the experts to get rid of the blight,” he opined.

Residents resent frequent transfer of cops
Our Correspondent

Bassi Pathana, August 30
Residents of the town have strongly resented the frequent transfers in the police here.

They alleged that higher police officials were not concerned about the security of life and property as well about maintaining law and order in the town.

They said in the past one-and-half month, five Assistant Sub Inspectors (ASI) heads of the city police post had been transferred. They said ASI Ram Krishan Singh was transferred on July 10. He took the charge and was transferred the next day, then ASI Baljit Singh took over and he was transferred on July 20. ASI Mohan Lal was made head, he remained in the office from July 21 to August 24 and now ASI Rajwant Singh has been posted as head of the city police post. The residents apprehend that he would also meet the same fate.

The town had been witnessing several crime incidents. The sale of drugs, thefts, eve-teasing and snatching are common.

Manoj Banda, secretary of Hindu organisation, and Ashok Tulani, member of police advisery committee said on one hand crime was on the rise and on the other hand higher officials make transfers or the city police head or they manage their transfers.

They said Bassi Pathana being a small town doesn’t interest police officials for getting a posting here. They said till the in charge understands the area, prominent persons and criminals, he was transferred elsewhere.

They demanded that permanent police post in charge should be posted to ensure the residents that the police was serious about the life and property of the residents and committed to maintain law and order.

Road show, medical camp at Dera Mir Meeran
Our Correspondent

Bassi Pathana, August 30
Mehar Baba Charitable Trust organised diabetes, blood pressure awareness and women empowerment camp-cum-road show at Dera Mir Meeran village today.

It was the fifth camp in a row organised in this month. HS Mejie, patron MBCT, inaugurated the camp, while Amarishwar Singh, adviser presided over.

A team of doctors and field workers of MBCT took the blood samples and majority of the persons were found diabetic.

HS Mejie said MBCT had been organising such camps in all the 135 villages of the district adopted by the trust, with the aim of making the villagers aware of the disease.

The specialist doctors briefed the villagers about the symptoms, causes and remedies of the diseases.

Trust also arranged a meeting of women and girls under its empowerment of rural women programme and they were asked to join training classes in needlework and garment manufacturing free of cost, after which they could form self-help group under the MBCT umbrella.

Zirakpur MC to launch website
Our Correspondent

Zirakpur, August 30
The Zirakpur Municipal Council is going to launch its website. The website will provide information about council’s working, details of MC records, various new projects and general public information.

The details of all wards, municipal councillors with their contact numbers will also be available on the website.

Sources in the MC said a proposal in this regard would be tabled in the coming MC-meeting after seeking approval of the higher authorities. The website address being considered was www.mczirakpur.com. The sources said the website would help NRIs who were living aboard and having properties in Zirakpur, they would get information about their properties. They would be able to check the status of their lands in Zirakpur through data provided by the MC on the site.

Information about new housing projects, commercial projects, hotels and multiplexes in Zirakpur would also be available.

To have the public interface, the MC officials were contemplating to extend to the residents the facility to submit their complaints regarding roads, public health, sanitation and any other problem through various hyperlinks, sources added.

Zirakpur executive officer Sukhjinder Singh Sidhu said: “We are planning to launch the website to make people friendly with the MC.”

Sufiana ‘bandgi’ for senior citizens
Our Correspondent

Pinjore, August 30
The upcoming brothers duo of accomplished Sufiana singers of the region Anup Kumar and Hemant Kumar, popularly known as Kumar Bandhus enraptured the audience with their melodic yet serene spell of Sufiana kalaams at the forest department auditorium here today.

The concert aptly titled “Bandgi” organised by SL Foundation, Kalka, was dedicated to senior citizens.

Bal Kishan Bansal, an eminent social activist of Panchkula, was the chief guest and Vijay Bansal, former secretary state Congress, was the guest of honour.

Atul Sharma, a music director of the region who also hails from Kalka, was honoured by Vijay Bansal for his contribution to the field of music.

Kumar Bandhus commenced the programme with a traditional invocatory Ganesh Vandna before spelling the Sufiana fervour with Amir Khusro’s classic kaul “Chhap Tilak sab chheeni”. The divine utterances of Mirabai “Mein toh sanvre ke rang rachi” and “Saawan ki bheegi raaton mein” were well received.

The singers brought alive the mysticism of Baba Farid and Baba Bulle Shah in “Saade val mukhda moad”, “Ni mein kamli haan”, “Nit khair manga” and many more.

Prof Murlidhar Soni on harmonium led the musicians Prakash Nepali (flute), Debashsish Dhar on tabla and Dharmpal on dholak.

Sex racket busted; 7 arrested
Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 30
Civil Lines sub-inspector Ajit Singh, along with constable Bikram Singh and Sneh Lata, raided a house opposite Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib, Patiala, and rounded up Amarjeet Kaur, from Sri Niwas Colony, whose house was used for prostitution.

Amarjeet Kaur is a retired nurse from Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. Three men in the age group of 23 to 28 and three unmarried women all around 20 years were also rounded up.

The police received information about the thriving prostitution this evening and arrested all of them.

People living in nearby houses on the condition of anonymity revealed that the lady had been indulged in such an immoral practice from past several years. It was about 12.30 in the night when the police were tipped-off by their source who said immoral activities were being carried out at the flat.

A police team led by sub-inspector Ajit Singh verified the information, contacted the residents, and thereafter conducted the raid. The three arrested men were Gurpreet Singh and Meant Sharma, both from Mohindra Colony, Patiala, and Ajit Singh from Lahori Gate, Patiala, and the women were Neha from Urban Estate, Namandeep Kaur from SST Nagar and Mandeep Kaur from Anand Nagar, Patiala. A case has been registered against all of them.

500 boxes of liquor seized
Tribune News Service

Lalru, August 30
The police today seized 500 boxes of liquor being smuggled from Chandigarh to Delhi. According to police, they received information that a truck containing liquor had left Chandigarh. In an attempt to nab them, the police set up a naka on ITI Chowk and intercepted the truck containing 500 boxes of English liquor. The truck was moving towards Delhi.

The police has arrested driver Narinder Singh, a resident of Jhhajjar. SHO, Lalru, Sanjeev Kumar Bhatt said the vehicle was impounded and a case under the Excise Act was registered against the accused.

Robbery at jewellery showroom
Police releases sketches
Our Correspondent

Ambala, August 30
The police has released the imaginary sketches of the robbers who were involved in the Jewellery showroom robbery of Ambala City and the Punjab National Bank branch robbery in Nayola village a few days ago here today.

The police has got theses sketches done after acquiring information from the bank employees and the owner of jewellery show room.

Additional SP, Ambala Balbir Singh Beniwal said the police would give Rs 10,000 to the one who gives information about the robbers.

He said the police suspected that the robbers might have belonged to Punjab area. He said several police teams had been constituted to find out the robbers.

CRIME

Car rams into tree
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30
A Burail resident had a miraculous escape when his speeding car rammed into a tree on the road separating Sectors 32 and 33 here this evening.

According to eyewitnesses, Hyundai Santro car (CH 03 K 6596), which was travelling at high speed, rammed into the tree after its driver lot control of the vehicle.

The car caught fire due to short-circuit and its front portion got damaged in the accident. Onlookers reached for help and doused the fire before it could spread further.

The fire brigade was also informed about the incident.

The card driver, 26-year-old Amit Kumar, a shopkeeper in Sector 22, was taken to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32.

He escaped with minor bruises and an injury to his eye, Amit’s brother Sumit told the TNS. The police was investigating the matter.

Man run over by train
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30
Four persons died in various parts of the city in the past 24 hours. The victims included a mechanic who was crushed under a train and a servant who fell to death at his Sector 20 residence here this morning.

According to the police, Devinder Singh of Sector 52 was killed after he was run over by a train on elevated track near Sector 48 market on Saturday.

The death came to light around 9.30 pm. The police said the victim was an alcoholic and was in his 40s.

In another incident, 18-year-old Partap, a servant working at a paying guest in Sector 20, was found dead early this morning. He hailed from Nepal.

Ravi Kumar, the victim’s employer, told the police that the death came to light when the milkman came and found his servant lying on the floor.

They took the victim to the hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

Sources said an empty liquor bottle was found on the second floor of the house from where Partap was suspected to have fallen last night.

Similarly, the police found the body of an unidentified rickshaw-puller on the Chandigarh-Ambala road in Phase II, Industrial Area, here.

Ruling out any foul play behind the death, the police said no visible injury mark was found on the body.

Also, an unidentified man, apparently in his 60s, was found dead in Sector 48 here this afternoon.

The police said no external injury marks were found on the body. Both bodies were shifted to the hospitals for post-mortem examinations.

The police has initiated inquest proceedings at various police stations.

Vehicle stolen from Sector 29
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30
An Innova (CH04 7087) belonging to a Panchkula resident, Rajiv, was stolen from Sector 29 here today.

He along with his wife had come to the city to visit a relative in Sector 29 this afternoon.

When they came out of the house after an hour, they found the vehicle missing.

A complaint was lodged with the police, which was yet to register an FIR.

The vehicle is registered in the name of M/s Rajiv Steels with its office at 123, Industrial Area Phase-II, Chandigarh.

SPORTS

Cricket
Harpreet fashions Godrej CC win
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30
Harpreet Singh Harry slammed a breezy half-century to help Godrej CC beat City CC by 34 runs in the 2nd Prakash Devi Arora Memorial League Cricket Tournament being organised by the Chandigarh Sports Club here today.

Batting first after winning the toss, Godrej CC were given a fine start by openers Amit and skipper Vaneet Chawla.

While, Vaneet Chawla dealt in singles, Amit was a bit more aggressive, hitting five boundaries in his innings of 32 runs that came off 40 balls.

Chawla’s innings of 35 runs off 38 balls, included a six. Both batsmen put up a 75-run stand for the first wicket in 10 overs.

Harpreet hit three sixes and two boundaries to score a quick-fire 56 runs off 21 balls.

His innings enabled Godrej CC get to a score of 141 runs, which proved to be a formidable one keeping in mind the conditions.

Godrej CC finished the innings at 141 for 3 in 20 overs.

In reply, City CC had a bad start to their innings, as they lost their first wicket in the second over when Ajay Malik clean bowled Pawan for 4 runs.

Thereafter, Madan Joshi also fell in the sixth over, with the scorecard reading 20 for 2.

Manjit Negi tried to steady the innings, but failed as he could score only 25 runs off 36 balls.

After his dismissal, the team crumbled like a pack of cards.

The bowlers struck in quick succession and cleaned up the whole batting lineup in 18 overs.

Manjit Negi was the highest scorer with 25 runs.

Harpreet Singh showed prowess with the ball picking up two wickets for 8 runs in his only over.

Ishan Ali picked up three wickets in his first and only over to bowl out CC for 107 in 18 overs, giving Godrej CC a comfortable win.

BCCI Corporate Cup
Rain hits practice session
Tribune News Service

Amay Khurasia of Indian Revenue practices in an indoor facility at PCA Stadium, Mohali, on Sunday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Chandigarh, August 30
Weather played truant as three outfits for the Sahara BCCI Corporate Cup — Air India Blue, ITC Ltd and Indian Revenue — came out for their practice session at PCA Stadium today.

Intermittent rain put brakes on their practice schedule and after a long wait, the teams drove back to their hotel in Chandigarh.

The teams will now hold practice session tomorrow afternoon and the fielding session under lights in the evening.

Old warhorses Amay Khurasia of Indian Revenue and Vijay Dahia, Parveen Amre, Sameer Dighe of Air India Blue have already arrived along with Mohd Kaif, J Arun Kumar, Pankaj Singh, Reetinder Sodhi and Gagandeep Singh.

Also, confirmation of the arrival of India’s Test captain MS Dhoni and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been received and both are likely to reach by afternoon. They will be seen in action for their team Air India Blue’s opening match slated for September 1 against ITC limited starting at 2.30 pm.

Dev Samaj eves grab basketball title
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30
Dev Samaj Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, won the girls’ title in the 10th Pandit Mohan Lal Memorial Basketball Tournament at SD Public School, Sector 32, here today.

It was a one-sided match as Dev Samaj thrashed Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, 50-5. Dev Samaj players dominated the match right from the start. Manpreet topped the score chart with 20 points. Manpreet was supported by Sushma, who scored 17 points. Sandeep and Kiran chipped in with two points each for Dev Samaj. In the boys’ category, SD School defeated Sri Guru Harkrishan Model School, Sector 38, 33-22 to clinch the title.

Amjyot emerged as the top scorer with 12 points. Deepak, Ravi and Rohit contributed 10 points each. Winners in each category pocketed Rs 5,100 each, while runners-up got Rs 3,100 each. Top five players took home Rs 500 each.

In yoga, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, secured top spot in the boys’ category.

GGHS-35 finished second, while Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, came third.

In the girls’ category, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 37, emerged champions.

GGHS-25 had to content with second spot, while Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, attained third spot. In the sub-junior boxing championship, hosts SD School emerged champions with 29 points.

GNK-30 collected 20 points to secure second spot.

Indeerjeet Singh (SD-32) and Barinder (GMSS-33) were named best player and lucky loser, respectively.

DR Yadava, joint secretary, regional officer, CBSE, Panchkula, was the chief guest, who gave away prizes and trophies to the winners. Cash prizes worth Rs 40,000 were given to winners.