NEIGHBOURHOOD

3 differently abled take CAT
Tribune News Service

Kharar, December 4
A scrap dealer’s godown in Azad Colony of the Balongi area was reduced to ashes, as 66-kv high-tension wires fell on it at around 7:30 am today.

The mishap led to power failure in many areas of Chandigarh and Mohali. However, no loss of life or injury to anybody was reported.

This is the second such incident in less than a month’s time. Earlier, a high-tension wire had fallen at Ekta Colony in Balongi on November 6.

Firemen douse flames at the scrap dealer’s godown; and (right) a view of high-tension wires at Azad Colony in Balongi. Tribune photos

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 4
The health authorities have suggested devotees not to attend the three-day Jor Mela to be held in Fatehgarh Sahib on December 24.

The mela is held every year in memory of Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh.

“We have suggested devotees not to attend the mela and tried to convey the message through various advertisements, including pamphlets, banners and meetings,” said officials of the health department.

District health officer Dr Jagpal Singh said, “We have chaired various meetings with rural and private doctors in this regard.”

In a recent meeting with Deputy Commissioner Yashvir Mahajan, it was revealed that nearly 11 lakh devotees visited the mela last year and the same number is expected this time as well, Jagpal added.

“Any person having flu-like symptoms should not be allowed to attend the mela. Since we do not have proper facility of providing masks to devotees visiting the mela, they are suggested to stay away from large gathering,” said Jagpal.

He said doctors, who would distribute medicines, would wear masks during the mela. Doctors said temporary clinics would be set up in Fatehgarh Sahib wherein doctors would be available round the clock. Doctors and volunteers will screen devotees for any flu-like symptoms.

Besides, six ventilation machines have been arranged for emergency cases. Senior health department officials have also been informed about the problem of lack of medicines. A team of 70 doctors and officials will supervise medical arrangements during the mela.

Meanwhile, about 15 samples of water have been taken by the health department from various places of Fatehgarh Sahib, including religious places. Samples of food have also been taken from Sirhind, Khamano, Sanghol, Kheri Naudh Singh and Bassi Pathana.

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 4
A man and his son died after sustaining injuries in a road accident here today. According to the police, Hari Chand and his son Charanjit Kumar from Burail in Chandigarh were going on a motorbike to attend a wedding at Manhera Jattan village. When they reached near Chunni village, an unknown vehicle hit them.

Badali police station officials said the father-son duo was brought to the Fatehgarh Sahib Civil Hospital, from where they were referred to the PGI. Charanjit died on way to Chandigarh at night and his father was declared dead in the wee hours today. The bodies were handed over to the family after a post-mortem.

A case has been registered by the police. 

Chandigarh, December 4
The District Consumer Disputes and Redressal Forum has directed AUSCAN Education and Immigration Consultant to pay Rs 50,000 compensation to a complainant for causing him physical and mental harassment.

The complainant, Deepak, had approached the consultancy for migration to Australia for employment under the Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) Visa Scheme called “SIR” and filled in the prescribed application form on advice of a staff member for assessment of his eligibility for permissible occupation of a marketing specialist.

The complainant entered into an agreement on January 2, 2007 with the service provider, which was duly witnessed by the staff member of the firm. The skilled migration assessment as the marketing specialist got done on January 22, 2007 by the company about the eligibility of the complainant.

The complainant was assessed suitable and eligible as the marketing specialist after the positive result and his sponsorship for the said Visa was approved by the Government of South Australia to migrate and live in South Australia for at least two years. The complainant was assisted in the completion of the prescribed application form for the state sponsorship under “SIR” for migration to Australia.

Through a letter to the company, it was informed therein that the complainant was not granted Visa for Australia. A copy of the letter along with its enclosure containing “decision records” was handed over to the complainant in March, 2008 when the complainant visited the office of the consultancy to know the progress of the said Visa application.

On personal queries from the company about Visa refusal, the complainant was informed that the Embassy people had picked up wrong category of profession.

Later, the company started giving assurance to the complainant for again taking up the matter with the Embassy concerned by way of an exercise of the “review rights”. The complainant made several visits to the office of consultancy to know the progress of the “review rights”, but did not get any satisfactory reply and gave a cheque of Rs 20,000 with an understanding to return more and adequate compensation was promised to be paid in the near future.

The forum in its orders observed that the complainant was assessed suitable and eligible for the post of marketing specialist. But due to the incorrect processing of his case by the consultancy with the Australian Embassy, the complainant was not cleared for the Visa. It is evident that the service rendered by the consultancy in obtaining the Visa to Australia was wholly deficient due to which the Australian Embassy picked up the wrong category of profession in the case of the complainant.

The forum also directed the company to pay to the complainant a sum of Rs 1,13,845 along with the amount of compensation.

Chandigarh, December 4
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today made its intentions clear of considering the feasibility of handing over the Sector 20 NRI property scam to “some independent agency”.

As the bail plea of an accused in the case came up for hearing this afternoon, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted, “The feasibility of transferring the investigation to some independent agency would also be seen in case the investigation is not being done in a proper and fair manner.”

The observations came soon after Justice Ranjit Singh fixed December 9 as the next date of hearing on the petition filed by OP Mittal. He was seeking directions to the arresting official to release him on bail in the event of his arrest in FIR dated July 22, 2009, under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC at the vigilance police station.

Claiming to have been implicated, the petitioner said he was 85-year-old and was acting in a bonafide manner.

The controversy pertains to a shop-cum-flat in Sector 20. Owned by Bachan Singh, it was rented out to Mittal. The petitioner claimed that after the owner’s death, his son Tara Singh executed a power of attorney in favour of brother Jaswant Singh, who later approached him with an offer to sell the property and an agreement was entered into on February 28, 2006.

But complainant Tara Singh filed a complaint that Mittal had forcibly taken possession of the property. Mittal added he came to know that the complaint had been filed through Harnek Singh, who claimed to be the general power of attorney (GPA) holder of Tara Singh.

It was then the petitioner came to know that the complainant had cancelled the GPA executed in favour of brother Jaswant Singh. Mittal added Harnek Singh got the property transferred in Tara Singh’s name and in pursuance to a compromise, Harnek Singh applied for a NOC for executing a sale deed in his favour.

In April this year, he came to know that Harnek Singh had executed a sale deed on the basis of a forged GPA.

The complainant had, on the other hand, alleged that he executed a GPA in favour of Harnek Singh without sale power. But in the first week of April, he came to know about the illegal sale by Harnek Singh and others.

Chandigarh, December 4
Three unidentified persons stabbed a Kajheri resident in the Sector 26 Grain market. The victim, Shiv Kumar, alleged that three unknown persons stabbed him near the market committee office in the Grain Market on Thursday.

He suffered injuries on the arm and was rushed to the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital. The victim is working as a sweeper with a private contractor and the dispute started with a hawker.

Mohali, December 4
A Phase V resident, Gurpreet Singh, was booked for damaging the guardroom of security personnel attached with AIG (Welfare) SS China, in Phase V here on December 2.

In a complaint lodged with the police, Gurmel Singh, the cop, said he was on duty from 10 pm to 2 pm when a car hit the guard box.

The police, however, failed to take note that the AIG had encroached upon public land by placing the guard box on footpath opposite to his house No. 1195, Phase V.

The police official has also encroached upon the green belt adjoining the house and GMADA has failed to take note of the encroachment. 

Panchkula, December 4
The Netherlands team defeated Blue Star Cricket Club by four wickets in the Twenty-20 match of the first Shaheed Udham Singh Memorial Cricket Series being played at Tau Devi Lal Cricket Stadium, Sector 3, in a day and night encounter here late last night.

Batting first, Blue Star Cricket Club was able to muster 133 for 7 in the allotted 20 overs. Highlight of the innings was a knock of 69 runs off 50 balls by opener Mandeep Singh (7x4s and 3x6s). Hari Krishan Kali with 18 and Amit Uniyal with 12 were the other two contributors.

The running between the wicket of Blue Star batsmen was very shoddy, as five of them got run out. The Netherlands team bowlers were also wayward as they bowled as many as 19 wide balls. M Bhukhari (1 for 24) and M Jonkman (1 for 16) were the two wicket takers for the Netherlands Team.

In reply, the Netherlands team chased the target of 134 in 19.1 overs for the loss of six wickets. They were well served by their opener E Szwarczynski, who scored a strokeful 46 with the help of 4x4s and 3x6s before Satbir ran him out from a direct throw. The visitors were helped in their cause by an unbeaten stand of 22 for the seventh wicket between P Borren and M Bonkman. P Borren remained unbeaten at 17 with the help of 3x4s. Blue star bowlers were wayward in their direction, as they bowled 18 wide balls. Ankush Handa (2 for 21), Harikrishan (2 for 18) and Ishan Malhotra (1 for 22) were the main wicket takers for Blue Star Cricket Club.

Brief scores :

Blue Star Cricket Club: 133 for 7 in 20 overs (Mandeep Singh 69, Hari Krishan Kali 18 and Amit Uniyal 12, Bhukhari 1/24 and Jonkman 1/16).

The Netherlands team: 134 for 6 in 19.1 overs (Szwarczynski 46, Borren 17 not out, Ankush Handa 2/21, Harikrishan 2/18 and Ishan Malhotra 1/22).

Chandigarh, December 4
Harpreet Singh and Satwant Kaur of JC DAV College, Dasuya, and SGGS Khalsa College, Mahilpur, secured the first place in 400m hurdles event during the Inter-College Athletics Meet being held at Panjab University here today.

Results:

20 km walk (men): Pardeep Kumar, SGGS College, Chandigarh, (1::42:54.0sec) 1, Jagseer Singh, SGGS, (1::44:25.0sec) 2 and Tejbir Singh, SGGS Khalsa College, Mahilpur, (2::11:05.0sec) 3.

Hammer throw: Mandeep Singh, BSSG Government College, Sidhsar, (53.70m) 1, Manish Sharma, SGGS, (52.89m) 2 and Gurpreet Singh, GN College, Narangwal, (50.26m) 3.

400m hurdles: Harpreet Singh, JC DAV College, Dasuya, (57.2sec) 1, Aman Tanwar, SGGS, (58.3sec) 2 and Sitenderdeep, GN College, Narangwal, (59.4sec) 3.

High jump: Sunil Kumar, SGGS Khalsa, (1.74m) 1, Paramjeet Singh, SGGS, (1.72m) 2 and Manoj Kumar, SGGS, (1.67m) 3.

4x100m relay: Amandeep, Inderjit, Harpreet, Sagar Jha KL SD College, Ludhiana, (43.8sec) 1, Aman, Amarpal, Manpreet, Manjit, SGGS, (44.1sec) 2 and Rajesh, Akhil, Hardeep, Gurpreet, SGGS Khalsa, (44.2sec) 3.

5 km walk (women): Mamta, DAV College, Chandigarh, (28:22.24sec) 1, Harmanjit Kaur, National College, Machhiwara, (33:48.2sec) 2 and Kamalpreet Kaur, Khalsa College (W), Sidhwan Khurd, (34:46.4sec) 3.

Hammer throw: Gaganpreet Kaur, GN Kb College (W), Ludhiana, (33.35 mts), Ramanpreet Kaur, Dashmesh Girls College, Badal, (32.34 m) 2 and Barinder Kaur, GCG-42, Chandigarh, (22.87 mts) 3.

400m hurdles: Satwant Kaur, SGGS Khalsa, (1:04.29sec) 1, Mandeep Laur, GGS College, Chandigarh, (1:14.3sec) 2 and Amandeep Kaur, MRS College, Malout, (1:30.30sec) 3.

1,500m: Kulwinder Kaur, SGGS Khalsa, (5:18.2sec) 1, Pooja, GGS, (5:19.7sec) 2 and Ramanpreet, GTB Khalsa College (W), Dasuya, (5:22.0sec) 3.

High jump: Manpreet Kaur, KCW, Sidhwan Khurd, (1.34m) 1, Sukanya Thakur, GGS, (1.32m) 2 and Prem Kaur, GGS Khalsa, (1.20m) 3.

Heptathlon: Shiksha, GGS, (3095 points) 1, Jasvir Kaur, GGS, (2287 points) 2 and Rekha Rani, Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, (2136 points) 3.

4x100m relay: Satwant, Palak Rana, Rajni, Rattan Kaur, SGGS Khalsa, (52.4sec) 1, Gurpreet, Kamalpreet, Manpreet, Sandeep, KCW, (56.2sec) 2 and Gurpreet, Priyanka, Kavita, Manisha, Dashmesh Girls College, Mukerian, (59.9sec) 3.

Evening and education (men)

High jump: Anil Kumar, MD College of Edu, Abohar, (1.52m) 1, Randheer Singh Lala, JN College, Jalalabad, (1.52m) 2 and Harvinder Singh, Bhutta College of Edu, Bhutta, (1.48m) 3.

1,500m: Jagdish Kumar, Surjeet Mem Of Edu, Malwal, (4:50.5sec) 1, Harjeet Singh, LJNC, (4:55.5sec) 2 and Sandeep Singh, JD College of Edu, Mukatsar, (4:56.8sec) 3.

Women (BEd)

High jump: Bhinderjit Kaur, Dashmesh Girls Edu, Badal, (1.18m) 1, Parminder Kaur, Babe Ke College Edu, Daudhar, (1.14m) 2 and Lovepreet Kaur, BKC, (1.12m) 3.

Chandigarh, December 4
Government College for Girls, Sector 42, emerged victorious with 210 points in the 13th Senior Women Chandigarh Weightlifting Championship held at Weightlifting Coaching Centre, Sector 42, here today.

Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, secured the second position with 81 points, while Dev Samaj College, Sector 45, finished third by securing 48 points.

Results:

48 kg: Preeti, GGSCW-26, 86 points (snatch 38 and clean jerk 48) 1, Babita, GCG-42, 75 points (35 and 40 points) 2 and Asha, Chandigarh, 65 points (30 and 35 points) 3.

53 kg: Renu, PUC, 120 points (50 and 70 points) 1, Renu, GCG-42, 100 points (45 and 55 points) 2 and Preeti, WCC-42, 72 points (32 and 40 points) 3.

58 kg: Arshdeep, GGSCW-26, 111 points (51 and 60 points) 1, Asha, GCG-42, 85 points (40 and 45) 2 and Kanchan Rani, GCG-42, 80 points (35 and 45 points) 3.

63 kg: Rajwinder, GCG-42, 93 points (42 and 51) 1, Jyoti, GGSC-26, 75 points (35 and 40) 2 and Kirandeep, Chandigarh, 67 points (32 and 35) 3.

69 kg: Dawinder Kaur, GCG-42, 109 points (45 and 64) 1, Geetanjali, DSW-45, 106 points (47 and 59) 2 and Inderjeet Kaur, DSW-45, 58 points (23 and 35) 3.

75 kg: Jot Parkash, GCG-42, 79 points (45 and 64) 1, Mandeep Kaur, Chandigarh, 70 Points (30 and 40) 2 and Seema, Chandigarh, 67 points (32 and 35) 3.

75 kg plus: Jasbir Kaur, GCG-42, 55 points (25 and 30) 1, Palvi Sharma, Chandigarh, 51 points (23 and 28) 2 and Sneh Lata, Chandigarh, 45 points 45 points (20 and 25) 3.

Chandigarh, December 4
Divanshi Mishra of Ajit Karam Singh International Public School-41 claimed top position in the classical dance competition during the sixth Chandigarh Youth Festival organised by the sports department, Chandigarh, at the Skating Rink, Sector 10, yesterday.

Chandni of Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, and Neha of Nehru Yuva Kendra, Sector 23, were declared joint runners-up, while Mandeep Kaur of Government College, Sector 46, bagged a bronze medal.

In the folk dance competition for boys, Government College, Sector 46, and Government College, Sector 11, shared the top honours. Government College of Art, Sector 10, and International Folk Cultural Club, Sector 37, finished second and third, respectively. Chandigarh sports director ML Sharma was the chief guest and gave away prizes to winners.

Results:

Classical dance: Divanshi Mishra (Ajit Karam Singh International Public School-41) 1, Chandni (Sacred Heart School-26), Neha (Nehru Yuva Kendra-23), 2 and Mandeep Kaur (Government College-46) 3.

Folk dance (boys): Government College, Sector 46, and Government College, Sector 11, 1, Government College, of Art, Sector 10, 2 and International Folk Cultural Club, Sector 37, 3. Folk dance (girls): MCM DAV College for Girls, Sector 36, 1, Postgraduate College, Sector 11, 2 and Government College, Sector 46, 3.

Consolation prize was awarded to the department of social work, Panjab University.

Patiala, December 4
Players of MM Modi College, Patiala, have won the Punjabi University Inter-College Championship in Powerlifting (men). The championship, which was held at SGTB Khalsa College, Anandpur Sahib, concluded yesterday.

Results:

In the 56 kg category, Sandeep Kumar won a gold medal, while in 60 kg Laddi bagged a silver medal.

In 67.5 kg, Snehspall clinched a gold medal, while in 82.5 kg, Manpreet Singh won a gold medal, Jujhar Singh bagged a silver medal in 5.90 kg, Karanpreet Singh won a gold medal in 100 kg, while Yogesh Kumar clinched a silver medal in the same category. In the 110 kg category, Jaswinder Singh won a bronze medal, in 125 kg Satnam Singh won a gold medal, while Jagjiwan Singh bagged a silver medal in the same category. College principal Dr Satish Bhardwaj and chairman Dr Rashpaul Singh honoured winners.