NEIGHBOURHOOD

Body found
Tribune News Service

Lalru, December 7
An unidentified body of a man was found near Jharmari barrier at Lalru this morning.

According to the police, a passerby informed that a man, in his mid-forties, was lying dead on the roadside. The police said he might had died due to cold or hit by some unknown vehicle.

There were no sign of injury over his body, the police added.

The deceased could not be identified and his body had been kept in the mortuary at the Civil Hospital, Dera Bassi, for the next 72 hours.

The reason behind the death would, however, be made clear only after the post-mortem report, the police said.

The police has initiated inquest proceedings in the case.

Patiala, December 7
Enthused students showcased their talent with soulful presentations like giddha, bhangra, group dance, solo dance and modelling at the annual function of the Vaishnoo Maa Computers, regional centre of Punjab Technical University.

Besides, a singing competition was also held. Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna was the chief guest and distributed prizes among students for excelling in exams.

SK Ahluwalia, regional project director, Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab, presided over, while Dr Deepak Garg, member of the Distance Education Council, Punjab Technical Univeristy, Jalandhar, was guest of honour.

Bassi Pathana, December 7
Local rice millers staged a dharna in front of the FCI depot here today. They were protesting against the dictatorial attitude of the local AG (depot) staff.

The protesters raised slogans against the local FCI staff and sought action against erring officials.

Talking to mediapersons at the FCI depot, Narinder Singh, Satinder Singh Saini and Nakesh Jindal said rice millers had been delivering custom milling rice at the depot for the past few days and the work had been going on smoothly.

However, the local depot staff started subjecting rice millers to undue harassment.

They alleged that a majority of the staff were new and wanted to dictate their terms. When rice millers refused to tow their line, they allegedly started harassing them.

They alleged that depot staff were not allowing the weighing of trucks carrying rice consignment after 2 pm and its dumping after 4 pm. Earlier, there was no time limit and work went on till the time rice was stored in godowns, they added.

They alleged that the staff had started imposing weighing cut. They said they had been facing harassment for the past 10 days and their repeated requests for justice
had been turned down by the authorities concerned.

They alleged that the staff wanted to increase “gratification fee” but they had refused to do so.

Tirloki Nath, Pal Singh and other millers also addressed.

Janak Singh, assistant manager (depot), refuted the allegations and said he was surprised to see them resort to dharna.

He said they were entitled to weigh 10 per cent of the delivered rice and if it was found underweight, weighing cut was imposed.

He refused to comment on the allegations of “gratification fee”. He said they worked under the rules.

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 7
The local traffic police has pocketed over Rs 21.46 lakh realised from traffic offenders challaned for violating the rules this year.

Of the 9,663 challans issued, 2,536 were challaned for not wearing helmet while driving. Another 934 offenders were found driving without a valid driver’s licence.

Strictness was imposed on commuters in various parts of the district during February and March wherein maximum challans were issued.

Beside, challans were issued during special checkings on the GT Road, at entry points of the district and in busy areas of the town.

Interestingly, in spite of hundreds of overloaded trucks doting the roads, especially during paddy and wheat procurement season, only three were challaned for overloading.

Many trucks bound for the industrial town of Mandi Gobindgarh are often seen overloading but are rarely challaned.

Similarly, the police remained lenient on reckless drivers as only eight persons were issued challans for speeding.

Also, same numbers of persons were fined for drunk driving. Two challans each were awarded for smoking while driving and misbehaving with traffic policemen.

Another 461 individuals were challaned for wrong parking and 851 for exceeding the limit on number of persons on a vehicle.

The police even fined those using pressure horn on motor cycles, buses and trucks. Ninety-six were challaned for the offence.

Also, 302 challans were issued to individuals for not installing the requisite number plates on vehicles and 220 for jumping traffic lights.

Another 284 were challaned for not using safety belt in four-wheelers and 207 for invalid insurance.

Thirty were challaned for using black films on four-wheelers and 25 for running vehicles without reflectors.

Ambala December 7
Former union minister and local MLA Venod Sharma today said he would focus on industrial development of the constituency during his current tenure.

Redressing public grievances at his residence here, he said he would make efforts to create job opportunities for the unemployed youth of the town. Also, priority would be given to providing basic amenities to the urban and rural areas.

He said Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had assured him of extending every possible assistance for carrying out development works in Ambala.

He asked party workers not to indulge in groupism and work for the strengthening of the party.

He asked municipal councillors and party workers to help the administration in the survey of old age pension.

Talking to mediapersons, he said the state government had launched a number of welfare schemes during its last tenure and it would carry forward the agenda of welfare of people during the current tenure.

He said the state government was committed to providing fearless and corruption-free atmosphere in the state.

Criticising the BJP and the INLD, he said leaders of these parties were exposed in the recent Assembly elections.

People of the state had discarded them as they were aware of their reality, he added.

He said the Hooda government was would complete its full tenure.

Chandigarh, December 7
The defence counsel today examined two witnesses in the trial of Lior Avi Ben Moyal in the court of RS Attri, special court judge (NDPS). The court now fixed December 15 as the next date of hearing and the defence was likely to rest its case on that date.

Israeli national Lior was allegedly found in possession of 154.5-kg contraband along with two others and was arrested on February 9, 2005, for drug peddling. The recording of evidence was completed on May 6. Earlier, in a statement recorded under Section 313, Lior had stated that he had been kidnapped from Panipat, as claimed in a sting operation conducted by a convict, Ajay Malik.

The operation showed the then investigating officer, Ravi Kant Pawar, confessing on video that Lior was abducted from Panipat and not caught red-handed from Chandigarh. Pawar had given his voice sample after the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed him to do so. In the footage, Pawar claimed that he had all necessary details of telephone records that could establish that he was at Panipat at the time of Lior’s arrest. This conversation was between Pawar and Malik.

Chandigarh, December 7
Failing to install new LCD television bought by a complainant, the District Consumer Disputes and Redressal Forum has directed Goldline Electronics, Sector 35, to pay a compensation of Rs 5,000.

The forum has also directed the shop to immediately install the LCD television without further delay.

The complainant, HC Gupta, a resident of Panchkula, bought Samsung LCD 32” Model LA32B450C on October 13 for Rs 31,000 from Goldline Electronics.

At the time of purchasing the LCD, it was assured by the shop that the LCD would be installed/demonstrated next day, but nobody came for the installation/ demonstration of the said LCD till date.

The complainant further stated that they contacted them a number of times, but nobody responded positively for the installation of the said LCD and further gave contact numbers of other persons to be contacted for the installation/demonstration, but even contacting them was of no use.

In their reply, the shop stated that they repeatedly called upon the complainant for the purpose of demonstration of the LCD, however, the complainant refused for the demonstration of the LCD.

In its orders, the forum observed that due to festival season, the shop owners remained busy in selling the LCDs and neglected to install the same after its sale.

Chandigarh, December 7
A local court today remanded all four suspects arrested yesterday in connection with the murder of a Sector 20 financer to two days’ police custody.

The cops had nabbed the four - Manpreet Singh alias Manu of Fatehgarh Sahib, Surinder Singh alias Maana, Amrik Singh and Kuldeep Singh of Ludhiana - near the Sector 25 cremation ground. They are said to have accompanied the prime suspect, Davinder Singh alias Whiskey, at the time when the latter allegedly shot dead the financier, Harjinder Singh Dhillon, on November 25.

Earlier, while seeking a three-day remand for the four suspects, the police stated the weapon used to commit the murder along with the mobile phones that were snatched from the victim have yet to be recovered. The police further stated the Skoda car involved in the crime had not yet been recovered, and the two co-accused in the case - Munish and Ravinder - have still to be apprehended.

The prosecution further stated sustained interrogation of the four arrested men was required to establish the hideouts of the other suspects and also whether the crime had been committed individually or jointly.

It must be recalled that, acting on a tipoff, a special crime investigation cell team had nabbed the four suspects. During their interrogation they had disclosed that on November 25 they and ‘Whisky’ hatched a plan to take away the Ford Fiesta car being used by Dhillon. They said they went to Sector 20 in a Ford Endeavour SUV and, while Amrik remained near the vehicle the others went to Dhillon’s office, where they had a scuffle. Dhillon raised the alarm after which ‘Whiskey’ pulled out his illegal weapon and fired a shot at him.

The four suspects also admitted to have snatched the mobile phones belonging to Dhillon’s employee, Simmi Sharma, and State Bank of India manager Rajiv Sharma. They drove away in the Skoda, which belonged to a friend of Amrik. However, they claimed they were not old associates of ‘Whiskey’ and did not know much about him.

The police said the suspects were coming from Ludhiana in a Ford Endeavour SUV when they were nabbed.

Chandigarh, December 7
A schoolgirl today had a narrow escape when an overloaded motorcycle rammed into her scooter on the road dividing Sectors 32 and 46 here early this morning.

The girl lost her balance after being hit by the motorcycle and fell on the road. She sustained injuries on her face.

The Tribune lensman, who was coming behind the girl, chased the motorcyclist, nabbed him and informed the police about the incident.

Meanwhile, a few passersby helped the girl and took her to her residence. When contacted, the Sector 34 police station SHO said the victim refused to lodge a complaint against the motorcyclist saying she escaped with minor injuries. Meanwhile, the police has booked the motorcyclist under the Motor Vehicle Act for rash driving.

Panchkula, December 7
The Rolling Tigers won 92 medals in the 15th Panchkula District Roller Skating Championship organised by the District Roller Skating Association, which concluded here yesterday.

The Rolling Tigers have won 42 gold, 28 silver and 22 bronze medals in the championship. Over 300 skaters from all over the district participated in the two-day event held at the Skating Rink, Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15.

Coach Chander Singhal is hopeful that the players of the academy would make their place in the state team.

In the sub-junior rolling hockey, team B of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, bagged the first position, while team A of the same school and Manav Mangal School, Sector 11, secured the second and third position, respectively.

In the girls’ section, teams A and B of Bhavan Vidyalaya secured the first and second position, respectively.

Similarly, in the junior boys, Blue Bird School, Sector 16, bagged the first position, while team B of Bhavan Vidyalaya and Manav Mangal School secured the second and third position, respectively.

Results:

Under-4 boys’ category: Tejas Bhardwaj gold rink 1 & road race, Ishpreet Singh silver rink 1 and gold rink 2, Vihaan bronze rink 1 & silver rink 2, Samarveer bronze rink 2, Shaurya Raj silver road race and Vaibhav bronze road race.

Under-4 girls’ category: Hargunn Mumick gold rink 1 & road race, Desna Jain silver rink 1 & gold rink 2, Pulkita Jain bronze rink 1 & silver road race and Palak silver rink 2.

Under-6 boys’ category: Raghav Vashishth gold rink 1 & 2, Bhavandeep silver rink 1 & bronze rink 2, Aneesh Sood bronze rink 1 & silver road race, Saarthak silver rink 2 & gold road race and Ansh Verma bronze road race.

Under-6 girls’ category: Sakshi Grover gold rink 1 & bronze rink 2, Harshita Paul silver rink 1 & bronze road race, Swarnima bronze rink 1 & bronze road race, Katrina gold rink 2 & road race and Himanshi silver rink 2 & road race.

Under-8 boys’ category: Aryanpal Singh gold rink 1 & 2, Saurabh silver rink 1, Arshdeep bronze rink 1, Adhiraj silver rink 2 & gold road race, Akshit Kharab bronze rink 2 & silver road race and Ayush Bhatt bronze road race.

Under-8 girls’ category: Divya Dhawan gold rink 1 & silver rink 2, Sakshi Yadav silver rink 1 & bronze road race, Akshita Shourie bronze rink 1 & silver road race, Shirin Middha gold rink 2 & road race and Khyati Jain bronze rink 2.

Under-10 boys’ category: Uday Magoo gold rink 1 & rink 2, Prabhav silver rink 1 & road race, Vaibhav Arora bronze rink 1 & road race, Danish silver rink 2 & gold road race and Abhinav bronze rink 2.

Under-10 girls’ category: Priyanka Gupta gold rink 1 & rink 2, Upasana silver rink 1 & bronze rink 2, Esha Verma bronze rink 1, Karen silver rink 2 & gold road race, Mrinal silver road race and Honey Joshi bronze road race.

Under-12 boys’ category: Aditya Gandhi gold rink 1 & silver road race, Anmol Nayyar silver rink 1 & 2, Mukul bronze rink 1 & 2 and Siddharth Jain gold rink 2 & road race.

Under-12 girls’ category: Meghna Bisht gold rink 1 & 2, Akrita silver rink 1 & 2, Hema bronze rink 1 & gold road race, Komal bronze rink 2, Akriti Sood silver road race and Shobhna bronze road race.

Under-14 boys’ category: Siddhant Gulati gold rink 1 & 2, Deepak Bajaj silver rink 1 & bronze road race, Sudhanshu Jain silver rink 2 & gold road race and Aryan Abrol silver 
road race.

Under-14 girls’ category: Tanya Verma gold rink 1 & 2, Kriti Jagga silver rink 1 & 2 and Shreya Bhatia bronze rink 2 & gold road race.

Under-16 boys’ category: Kunal gold rink 2 & road race, Satvik silver rink 2 & road race, Anshul Sharma bronze rink 2 and Aakash Sangar bronze road race.

Above-16 boys’ category: Rajat Verma gold rink 2 and Rohit Bajaj gold road race.

Inline Results:

Under-6 boys’ category: Udayveer gold rink 3, silver rink 4 & bronze rink 5, Anannay silver rink 3, bronze rink 4 & silver rink 5, Harshil Gupta bronze rink 3 and Sanyam gold rink 4-5 and gold road race 2.

Under-8 boys’ category: Ashley Dahuja gold rink 3 & bronze rink 5, Amandeep silver rink 3, bronze rink 5 & silver road race 2, Harsh Sehrawat bronze rink 3, silver rink 4 & road race 2, Daksh Jaaglan gold rink 4, 5 & road race 2 and Shaan Raj bronze road race 2.

Under-8 girls’ category: Raisa gold rink 3, 4 & silver rink 5 and Navya Ohri silver rink 4, gold rink 5 & road race 2.

Under-10 boys’ category: Harsh Gupta gold rink 3, Tushar Mahindra silver rink 3, bronze rink 5 & road race 2, Saksham Rajpoot bronze rink 3 & bronze road race 2, Gaurav Bishnoi gold rink 4, 5 & gold road race 2 and Hardik Sethia silver rink 4, 5 & silver road race 2.

Under-12 boys’ category: Rushat Parihar gold rink 3, bronze rink 5 & silver road race 2, Sanyam Sethia silver rink 3, 5 & silver road race 2, Anuj Sud gold rink 4, 5 & gold road race 2.

Under-12 girls’ category: Chhavi Bishnoi gold rink 4, 5 & road race 2.

Under-14 boys’ category: Anshul Sood gold rink 3, 4 & gold road race 2, Arshmeet Singh silver rink 3, 5 & road race 2 and Shubham bronze rink 3, 4 & gold rink 5.

Chandigarh, December 7
As many as 15 golf clubs of Punjab, including five from the Army, will participate in the second BS Kahlon Memorial Inter-Club Golf Tournament to be played on the greens of the BEPTA Golf Club in Patiala on December 13.

Organised by the Punjab Golf Association in memory of its late general secretary, the tournament was organised last year at the Panchkula Golf Club.

Each club will field a four-member team in which the best three gross cards will be considered to decide the team standings.

As many as 72 golfers are expected to tee off in the one-day event in which the top three clubs will be given prizes.

Besides, there will be individual prizes in the gross and nett divisions. Golfers will also be eligible to claim special prizes for the straightest drive and nearest to pin.

The tournament will start at 9 am with a gunshot tee off. Lt-Gen. Chetinder Singh will inaugurate the tournament and distribute prizes.

Panchkula, December 7
The team A of Satluj Public School has entered the finals of the Satluj Under-17 Winter Champions Trophy Cricket Tournament beating APJ, Kharar, by five wickets on Satluj Public School grounds, Sector 4, here today.

Despite fine batting performance by Sarthak, who scored 102 runs, the APJ team, who had put a total of 214 runs, lost the semifinal match due to the excellent line and length bowling of Karanveer Brar and Vishwas Khatak, who took four and three wickets, respectively.

After winning the toss, APJ, Kharar, elected to bat and was bowled out for 214 runs in 30 overs. No other batsmen except Balwinder Singh, who scored 27, could support Sarthak in putting up the huge total.

In reply, Satluj team achieved the target in 29 overs with five wickets in hand. Abhinav Goel set up the tone for his team by laying the foundation of the run trail, as he scored 54 runs.

Srijan two for 38 was the main wicket taker for the APJ team.

Brief scores:

APJ, Kharar: 214 all out in 30 overs (Sarthak 102, Balwinder Singh 27, Karanveer Brar 4/41, Vishwas Khatak 3/35); SPS (Team A): 217 for 5 in 29 overs (Abhinav Goel 54, Ankush Dhariwal 43, Ashok 33 not out, Srijan 2/38).

The second semifinal between DAV School, Sector 15, Chandigarh, and St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, would be held tomorrow at 12.30 pm.