NEIGHBOURHOOD

Non-payment of salaries
Forest dept workers gherao DFO’s office
Tribune News Service

Employees of the forest department raise slogans against the Punjab government for not releasing their salaries for the past eight months at Fatehgarh Sahib on Thursday. A Tribune photograph

Fatehgarh Sahib,September 3
The office of the district forest officer (DFO) was gheraoed by a large number of workers this evening as they failed to get their salaries for the past eight months.

Irate over the lackadaisical attitude of the officials of the forest department, workers raised slogans against the Punjab government and demanded immediate release of their salaries. They did not allow any of the officials of the forest department, including the DFO, to leave the office even after the duty hours after 5 pm.

The workers said their department released salaries in the month of November last year. “Despite repeated attempts, no action has been initiated to release salaries by the senior functionaries of the department,” said the 50 odd workers, including women.

The state secretary of the Forest Workers Union, Shiv Kumar, said no salary was pending in any of the other district of the state except Fatehgarh Sahib.

Agitators included the Forest Mazdoor Union’s president Major Singh, secretary Prithvi Raj and other leaders.

DFO Daljit Singh Brar said the salaries of workers would be released for three months now and the rest of salaries be given after sanction of senior department officials.

Ropar, September 3
The irate engineers of Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant, who had been agitating against outgoing general manager of the plant KK Sood for spoiling their ACRs for the past over a month, today greeted him with black flags.

Sood arrived at the Nuhon colony in the plant this morning to collect his belongings and vacate the quarter, along with police protection.

When the engineers learnt this, they gathered at the road crossing near his house waving black flags as a mark of protest against Sood for having downgraded their ACRs.

Agitating engineers alleged that Sood had spoilt their ACRs on personal grounds and ignored their performance and assessment of engineers by their immediate superiors. They also raised slogans against him.

They alleged that in one of the cases, Sood, as reviewing authority, had given additional superintending engineer 39 marks against 80 marks given by his superintending engineer (as reporting authority). This wide variation is typical in almost all cases of engineers who have got their ACRs disclosed under the RTI Act.

Engineers declared that they would hold a demonstration at the Mani Majra residence of Sood after taking permission from the UT administration. In case the issue was not settled within 15 days they would resume agitation in front of the gate of the plant, they added.

Bassi Pathana, September 3
The police arrested two youths with a Bullet Motor Cycle stolen from Sector 37, Chandigarh, during a naka at Chuni Morinda road.

The youths identified as Ajay Pal Singh alias Rimpal of Bhatinda and Sonu from Moonak. The police has registered a case under Section 379, 411and 34 of the IPC.

According to SHO Devinder Singh, the police had erected a naka on Chuni- Morinda Road, two motorcycle borne youths were stopped for routine checking. The police demanded for documents but they could not produce any. The police got suspicious and they were taken to a police station.

He said during interrogation they revealed that they had stolen the bike from Sector 37, Chandigarh.

Dera Bassi, September 3
Two unidentified youths allegedly snatched cash and a motorcycle from a factory employee near police station at Dera Bassi on the Ambala-Chandigarh highway this morning.

The incident took place around 5.45 am in front of ICICI Bank, here, when Nutan Kumar, a resident of MS Enclave Dhakoli, Zirakpur, was on his way to attend his duty at Samrat Fording factory at Gholu Majra on his motorcycle.

On the way the two youths sought lift from him. He slowed down the bike and one of the youths asked Nutan to drop him near Jawaharpur village. An accused pointed a gun at him and demanded cash. Nutan refused and raised the alarm. Meanwhile, a security guard of the bank rushed to help him.

However, the robbers took Rs 500 from the pocket of the victim and drove away with his motorcycle. A case has been registered.

Panchkula, September 3
A Panchkula court today turned down the anticipatory bail plea of Vishavjit Arora, husband of Chandigarh State Transport Authority (STA) secretary Vandana Disodia, who has been accused of duping a man of Rs 5 lakh.

The public prosecutor told the court that a similar case had been registered against the accused, who had defrauded some people of Rs 36 lakh two years ago at Panchkula, the investigation against which was going on.

In this case, complainants Yogesh and Amit Mahajan alleged that Arora and his accomplice struck a deal with them to sell a piece of land at Haripur village for a sum of Rs 1.21 crore last year and a cheque for Rs 12 lakh had been handed over to Arora as advance money, but he returned it. Arora had agreed that the possession of the land would be given when he received the final payment on or before February 5.

Arora reportedly also obtained their signatures on blank papers on the pretext of getting permission for the transfer of land in their name. After some days, he started making excuses. It was also found out that there was no such land in his name at the said location, they alleged.

Panchkula, September 3
The local police has slapped a case of rape against a property dealer of Zirakpur here today. The accused has been identified as Sandeep Gupta, a resident of Mamta Enclave, Zirakpur.

According to the police, a woman from Kalka has alleged that she engaged Gupta to purchase a house for her. A deal was struck for Rs 10 lakh for a property at Zirakpur against which a sum of Rs 4 lakh was paid to the accused.

Gupta, however, could not transfer the property in her name following which she demanded her money and Gupta issued a cheque, which was dishonoured by the bank, she alleged.

Later, Gupta, on her repeated demands of returning money, told her to reach his office at Swastik Vihar where he thrashed her before raping, she alleged.

Following the complaint the police has registered a case under Sections 406, 420, 376, 511 and 506 of the IPC and got the victim medically examined.

One injured

Chandigarh, September 3
The police, along with wildlife officials, arrested a Sector 37-based shopkeeper on the charges of turtles protected under the Wildlife Act.

The police recovered 15 turtles and eight conchs, worth several lakh of rupees, from Mayur Kumar, the shopkeeper, and registered a case under Sections 45 and 50 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

The SHO of the Sector 39 police station said Mayur runs a meat shop, Fresh Chicken Corner, in Sector 37 and a raid was conducted on the information provided by the wildlife officials.

Sources said Saurabh Gupta of Delhi had reported the matter to the police. He was associated with the People For Animal and had earlier busted a gang involved in illegal trading of certain species of turtles, which are on the verge of extinction.

Saurabh told the police that they had caught a person, Shabir, in Delhi who revealed his network and named Mayur. He said turtles were found in the southern part of India in the sea and are considered precious as rich people pay huge amounts to buy them. 

Chandigarh, September 3
In a lapse of security, an “outsider” damaged the car of a university employee with a helmet today. The incident happened just a stone’s throw away from gate No. 3, where securitymen have been deputed.

The car (CH 03W 6575), belonging to Radha Dayal, superintendent in University Institute of Legal Studies, was damaged as the rear glass was shattered when a two-wheeler (CH 03L 5224) hit it with a helmet.

“A girl on her scooter was in front of our car when she lost balance. She stopped her scooter by the roadside and we came out of the car to enquire about the matter. A two-wheeler suddenly hit the car from behind,” said KC Dayal, car driver.

“The scooterist started arguing with us and told us that he had come to drop his child to school. Instead of being apologetic, he banged his helmet on the car glass and entered into a scuffle,” he added.

The car owner has lodged a compliant with the police station-11.

Chandigarh, September 3
The police booked a Mohali resident on the charges of sending vulgar emails to his boss regarding a female colleague to tarnish her image.

According to police, the accused was stung by professional rivalry and wanted his colleague to be ousted from the institute.

The police said the employer Dr SPS Grewal, harassed by the frequent emails carrying vulgar material about his employee, reported the matter to the cyber crime investigation cell (CCIC) of the Chandigarh police.

The police after verifying the matter registered a case against the accused Kushwant Singh of Phase IO, Mohali. Raids were being conducted to nab him, the police added.

The police said the accused created a fake id and started sending emails to his boss telling him that the girl was indulging in immoral acts and would bring a bad name to the institution. He had started sending such emails about a month-and-half ago. He was sending the emails from different cyber cafes in the city.

A police officer said the accused committed a mistake and checked the status of emails that he had sent to his boss from his residence, which ultimately led them to him. The police tracked him down through the Internet connection and the IP number of the computer.

Players during a match at the Sector 17 Football Stadium in Chandigarh. Tribune Photo: Manoj Mahajan

Chandigarh, September 3
On the third day of ongoing 7th Administrator’s Challenge Cup All-India Football Tournament, Indian Football Association of Kolkata hammered Indian Tigers, Mumbai, by the huge margin of 12-0 in their second encounter played at the Football Stadium, Sector 17, here.

It was just a cakewalk for IFA lads as Swarajit Dass scored two goals for the team in the ninth and 71st minute, Amit Roy scored three goals for the IFA in 29th, 38th and 49th minute of the match, Mithun hit four goals for his team in 34th, 41st, 43rd and 51st minute, while Deepankar Sarkar scored two goals in 44th and 63rd minute and Lab Mandal scored one goal in the 90th.

In the second match of the day, Football Academy, Mahilpur, edge past Madhya Pradesh Football Association (3 -0). Gur Lal Singh, Onkar Singh and Sarabjit Singh scored one goal each for Mahilpur in the 20th, 35th and 70th minutes, respectively.

In another match played at Sector 42 Sports Complex, Rohit Football Academy, Orissa, blanked Daman and Dieu by the margin of 7-0. The first goal for Rohit Academy was scored by Chander Shekhar Behra in the ninth minute, while the second goal was scored by Abdul Kadim in the 42nd minute of play, the third goal was scored by SK Amitiaz Ali in 45th minute of the match. Rohit Academy was leading by 3-0 at the breather.

After the break Rohit Academy pumped four more goals. The fourth goal was scored by Chander Shekher Behra in the 68th minute. It was Abdul Kadim, who scored last three goals for his team in 81st, 83rd and 88th minute.

In the last match of the play, New Public School overpowered SSA Mizoram by the margin of 3-0. Sachin scored first goal in the 25th minute, Manpreet scored second goal in the 45th minute, Sat Pal Scored third goal in the 70th minute.

Chandigarh, September 3
Satluj Cricket Academy, Panchkula, has defeated Holy Child School, Morni, by 123 runs in the Under-14 T-20 Cricket Tournament, being held at Kundan Cricket Academy, Sector 46, here today.

Satluj players entered the final by winning all three league matches against Kundan Cricket Academy, APJ Kharar and Holy Child School.

Satluj players won the toss and opted to bat first. They scored a huge total of 178 with a loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs.

Karanveer Singh played brilliant and scored 68 runs in 21 balls with six sixes and seven fours. He was supported by Harpreet Singh (28 not out) and Vishwas (22).

Brief scores:

Satluj Cricket Academy 178/7 in 20 overs. Karanveer Brar (68), Harpreet Singh (28 not out), Vishwas Khatak (22), Kawish (4-27-02), Raghu (4-35-02) and Nikhil (2-15-02).

Second innings: Holy Child School, Morni, (55 all out).

Pranshu (20), Vishwas Khatak (4-10-3), Harpreet Singh (4-12-02) and Gagandeep Singh (4-15-2). 

Chandigarh, September 3
Sixteen golf teaching professionals from all over the country are going through the grind of practical and theory classes in their bid to acquire Grade C status at the National Golf Academy of India which is housed in the CGA Golf Range in Chandigarh.

Ever since its inauguration about a year back the Academy has been grooming teaching professionals to become categorised coaches. So far the CGA-run academy has groomed about 170 categorised coaches.

At one time the country did not have any Grade A coaches. Today we can boast of having 13 categorised Grade A coaches.

The only Grade A coach in the north beyond Delhi is Chandigarh’s Jessie Grewal, who is also the director of the academy.

Teaching professionals, who have already done Grade D, are honing their skills under the watchful eyes of Kolkata’s Indrajit Balotia and Delhi’s Anitya Chand. The one week grooming session will conclude with an examination on September 5 and those making it will get the Grade C status.

According to Jessie Grewal those aspiring to become teaching professionals have to pass a seven over par handicap test on two successive days to become eligible for appearing in the Grade D examination.

The examinations become tougher, as the teaching professionals compete for the next Grade status. The practical quotient goes up to 70 per cent.

The grooming gets still tougher as they appear for the national Grade A coach examinations. Here the practical quotient, goes up to 80 per cent, with theory taking up a mere 20 per cent.

Jessie Grewal was among the country’s first seven Grade A coaches in 2004.