NEIGHBOURHOOD

Students bring laurels to academy at science fair
Tribune News Service

Ropar, December 8
Students of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Academy (SASA), Ropar, brought laurels to the academy by winning top positions in the State School Science Fair-2009 held at Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School, Ropar.

The year’s motto was science technology and society. During the four-day science competitions, Ludhiana bagged the overall position, Mohali secured the second place and Amritsar bagged the third position.

The working model titled, “Climate changes, its causes and consequences”, by Shivam Gupta, a SASA student, in the senior secondary category got the first position and in the secondary school category, the model of SASA student, Ravinder Kaur, under the sub-theme, “Biology in human welfare”, bagged the third position. In the declamation contest, Jaspreet Kaur of SASA bagged the first position in the state-level contest.

These students would be participating in the all-India model making and declamation contest. Academy director Sukhjinder Singh appreciated the winner students along with their teachers in charge, Kavita Verma and Bhawandeep Kaur, for preparing the students.

Recently, Suhana, a SASA student, was selected among 24 students for the All-India national science quiz programme .

The NCC air wing cadets won the overall trophy in the Punjab state annual training camp organised by the 3 Punjab Air Squadron, Patiala.

Patiala, December 8
The Patiala Health Foundation (USA), Patiala chapter, here announced its decision to introduce a free emergency ambulance service.

Announcing this at a news conference, Dr DC Bansal, Dr RL Mittal and Col Karaminder Singh, all senior functionaries of the foundation, said the ambulance service would be flagged off by Dr Jai Kishan, director of research and medical education, Punjab, at a function to be organised in the auditorium of Government Medical College.

They said the aim of the project was to serve people of the town by launching a state-of-the-art emergency ambulance service, which would be coupled with a motorcycle emergency service.

The project is supported by the alumni of the Government Medical College, Patiala, and the aim is to provide an ambulance service equipped with all lifesaving systems.

It would also be fitted with monitoring equipment. The ambulance would be accompanied by a doctor, if required.

The foundation functionaries said a sum of Rs 18 lakh had been spent on the project so far and it would be formally inaugurated tomorrow.

Patiala, December 8
On the call given by the Technical Services Union and PSEB Employees Federation, around 20,000 PSEB employees along with their families gathered in front of the PSEB’s head office and protested against privatisation of the board here today.

The employees, family members and farmers assembled in front of the PSEB’s office early morning.

They criticised the government on the issue of privatising the PSEB and said they would oppose its implementation.

Various leaders addressed the protesters and asked them to support them to fight the atrocities of the government.

Gurdayal Singh Bhangal and Sukhdev Sharma, district president and working president of the employees, respectively, addressed the protesters and said they would stage another dharna on December 10 to press for their demand.

The protest continued till 2 pm and was followed by a march held throughout the city before culminating at Phowara Chowk.

Patiala, December 8
Armed Forces Flag Day was celebrated here yesterday. Patiala DC Deepinder Singh (IAS) informed about the sacrifices of Punjab soldiers in different wars.

Deputy director of Sainik Welfare, retd Col Harvinder Singh, led the soldiers. While talking about the bravery of Punjab soldiers, DC said he was proud of various soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation and common man.

He informed that around 105 soldiers of Punjab sacrificed their lives and 181 got injured during the Kargil war.

Also, Punjab soldiers had won four Paramvir Chakras, eight Ashoka Chakras, 48 Mahavir Chakras, five Kirti Chakras, 233 Veer Chakras and 119 Shaurya Chakras till date, he added.

Kharar, December 8
Robbers struck at a Nokia godown in the Badh Majra area on Monday night, decamping with mobile phone handsets worth lakhs of rupees after drugging the three security guards. The suspects, who arrived after midnight, reportedly drugged the guards at gunpoint, rendering all three semiconscious. One of the guards who was injured, Inderjeet Singh, is undergoing treatment at PGI, Chandigarh.

A security guard at the scene, Vijay Shankar Tiwaru, said he was on duty along with his companion Dharmendra, who guards a nearby construction site. “A few paces ahead of us stood Inderjeet, guarding the Nokia godown. At around 1 am a group of about eight men approached us wielding pistols, rods and other sharp-edged weapons,” he stated.

The suspects reportedly forced Vijay and Dharmendra to consume some drugs after threatening them with their weapons. Then two of the robbers pushed them into a room and, after tying them up, stood guard over Vijay and Dharmendra while the other suspects moved towards the Nokia godown.

They then assaulted Inderjeet, who was also forced to take the drug. The suspects then broke into the godown and stole the cellphones. Before leaving the scene they laid all the three semiconscious security guards on the ground in front of the godown and fled in a vehicle.

The suspects took with them six live cartridges of Inderjeet’s rifle’s as well as his mobile phone. They also took away Vijay’s cellphone.

When security guards on the morning shift arrived on duty, they found the semiconscious security guards lying on the ground and immediately informed the police.

SP (D) Arun Bakshi, City 1 DSP SS Bains, Kharar DSP SPS Dhindsa, the Kharar SHO and other senior cops later arrived at the scene. The police team accompanied by a dog squad conducted investigations for around two hours and collected evidence.

Instead of registering a case based on the complaint filed by the injured security guards, the police have filed a case against unidentified persons based on the statements of Kuldeep Kumar Sharma, an accountant with HCL Infosys Ltd.

Inderjeet was first taken to the Mohali Civil Hospital and then referred to PGI. The other two guards were given medical help only in the afternoon when their condition began to deteriorate.

DSP Dhindsa said the police has sought a list of IMEI numbers of the stolen mobile phones. “The company has yet not informed us about the precise number of handsets stolen,” he added.

Chandigarh, December 8
The CBI special court of Darshan Singh today convicted a UT cop in a graft case dating back to 2007, but acquitted his brother, also a cop. The court held SI Ashok Kumar guilty under various Sections of the Prevention Corruption Act and acquitted his brother, Surinder Singh, a traffic constable, as no evidence was found against him.

The quantum of sentence would be pronounced on December 10. The CBI had nabbed Ashok Kumar and his brother while accepting Rs 5,000 from Pravesh Kumar, a typist operating outside the DC’s office. Ashok Kumar, who was posted at the Industrial Area police station, had reportedly told Parvesh that he (Parvesh) had signed as a witness on a fake power of attorney in connection with a plot in the Industrial Area. He threatened Pravesh that he would implicate him in the case if he did not give him money.

He had demanded Rs 20,000. Pravesh reported the matter to the CBI, which asked him to strike a deal with the accused. The SI told him to meet him at the Sector 42 market, where the CBI had laid a trap. When the accused arrived along with his brother on a motorbike and took the money, the CBI caught them. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act had been registered against them.

Chandigarh, December 8
The Chandigarh police has arrested a Ludhiana-based man for allegedly displaying a registration number allotted to a private vehicle owned by Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. The accused has been identified as Manminder Singh of Ludhiana, in his mid-twenties. He was flouting his links with the Badals when asked to produce documents of the Tata Safari he was driving on Monday night. The police stopped the vehicle during patrolling on suspicion.

The police said the accused was displaying the registration number CH03J-0001 on his white Tata Safari, which was later found to be allotted to Sukhbir. During a search, the police recovered two plates displaying the number PB10VZ-8746 from the vehicle.

The identity card of an assistant sub-inspector of the Punjab armed police carrying the photograph of the accused was recovered, which on inquiry was found to be a fake one. The investigating officer, sub-inspector Tilak Raj, said the accused was a law graduate. About the identity card, he told the police that he had applied for a job with the police under the sports quota and received a call letter from the police. He did not join duty and obtained a forged identity card.

He was booked on charges of displaying a fake registration number and impersonation. He also tried to intimidate the policemen while flouting his links with the Badal family. The police today produced him in a local court, which remanded him in one-day police custody. It also gave permission to the police to verify the signatures on the identity card.

Chandigarh, December 8
A local court today convicted three persons under section 302 of the IPC of murdering a teenager in Sector 7 in 2002.

The court of additional district and sessions judge Raj Shekhar Atri convicted Rakesh Ramola, Vishal Bhadhari and Umesh Gupta. The quantum of sentence would be pronounced on December 12.

The brutal killing of 19-year-old Kewal, a Kaimbwala resident, followed an old dispute. Kewal was stabbed to death on the night of October 12 in 2002.

The victim, along with his friends, went to attend a ‘jagrata’ organised by mechanics of the market in Sector 7-A that night. Devinder Kumar, along with Gurdev, Jaspal, Somnath and Kewal, went to the ‘jagrata’, when they were attacked by three others present at the ‘jagrata’.

Kewal received a knife injury near his heart, following which he died on the spot, while the other persons also received injuries.

While the police had arrested three accused and a juvenile, trial proceedings in the case were stayed by the high court for five years following the filing of a petition by one of the accused, who was later discharged.

The stay on proceedings was lifted last year when hearing was resumed. During proceedings, the prosecution had produced 11 witnesses while the defence counsel had examined seven witnesses.

Mohali, December 8
The body of Priyanka Singh, an LLB student at Army Institute of Law, Sector 69, who allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself in her hostel room late last night, was handed over to her family after conducting the autopsy at the civil hospital, Phase 6, here today.

The victim’s father, Lt Col Arjun Singh, is currently posted at Jammu. She had returned from home on December 5.

The victim had left behind a suicide note saying: “Sorry mummy, papa”.

The suicide came to light when her classmates went to call her for dinner. Inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC have been initiated.

Thefts

Thieves struck at three shops in Sector 70 and Phase 11 and decamped with goods worth lakhs of rupees late last night.

In Sector 70 market, burglars struck at adjoining showrooms — cloth shops and a computer shop — and caused heavy loss to the shop owners.

In Phase 11, thieves broke into a confectionery shop and decamped with goods worth lakhs.

Chandigarh, December 8
The police arrested two Bihar residents and seized over 11 kg ganja from their possession.

Chandigarh, December 8
Sharmila Nicollet, the teenaged big-hitter from Bangalore, fumbled on the opening day as Nalini Singh Siwach carded a seven over par 79 to take a one-stroke lead in the third leg of the Women’s Professional Golf Tour, that got under way on the par-72 greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club here today.

Sharmila could not get into her stride as she dropped six strokes, including a hat-trick of bogeys on the fourth, fifth and sixth, to be six over 42 at the turn.

She managed a birdie on the par-5 16th for an eight over 80 card. Nalini conceded two double bogeys in her seven over par 79 card.

Local player Saaniya Sharma had a bad start. She double bogeyed on first and fifth and dropped shots on the second, third, fourth and sixth to be eight over after six holes.

She birdied the seventh and parred the eighth before losing another stroke on the ninth to be eight over 44 at the turn.

Then the tall Chandigarh girl came back with some good play on the back nine, playing an even par till the 17th.

She bogeyed the 18th to finish with the best back nine of one over 37 for the day. She finished with a card of 81 to tie with Nikki Ponappa from Bangalore.

Preetinder Kaur of Chandigarh occupied the fifth slot at 85. With another two days to go, the stage was set for a keen contest between Nalini, Sharmila, Nikki and Saaniya.

Panchkula, December 8
An excelling bowling spell by Nakul Sood helped Bhawan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, beat Little Flower Convent School, Sector 14, by eight runs in the Bhavan Blaster Trophy for under-10 age group played at Bhawan Vidyalaya School, Sector 15, here today.

Deadly bowling spell by Nakul - who was adjudged man of the match for his five-wicket haul, including a hat-trick - enabled Bhawan Vidyalaya record win over Little Flower in the inaugural match of the tournament.

Winning the toss, Bhawan Vidyalaya elected to bat first but their decision proved wrong as they lost two wickets in the very first over of the innings. Bhawan needed a steady partnership, which came in the form of Nakul Sood (28) and Vivek Gupta (21), who played steadily and took singles with occasional boundaries.

However, spinners Saksham (3 for 18) and Lavanaya (2 for 4) ran through Bhawan’s batting lineup.

Vaibhav Ranjan (20) tried to increase the scoring rate towards the end. The team were bowled out for 90 runs in 13.2 overs.

Chasing the target, Little Flower started disastrously, losing their opener Varun without opening the account to Saksham Sharma (3 for 8).

However, Saksham (35) on the other end remained unmoved and punished the bowlers. He was supported by Meher (10) and at one point it looked the two would take the team to an easy win.

However, Saksham played a loose shot and was scalped by Alankrit Kamboj (2 for 10). Nakul Sood (5 for 8), bowling a perfect line and length, ripped through the opponent’s batting lineup.

With Little Flower needing just eight runs to win with three wickets in hand, Nakul took charge of the bowling and claimed a hat-trick on the first three balls of his over to take his team to an eight-run victory.

Brief scores: Bhawan Vidyalaya: 90 all out in 13.2 overs (Nakul Sood 28, Vivek Gupta 21, Vaibhav Ranjan 20, Saksham 3/18, Lavanaya 2/4, Varun 2/8); Little Flower 82 all out in 13.3 overs (Saksham 35, Meher 10, Nakul 5/8, Saksham 3/8, Alankrit Kamboj 2/10).

Panchkula, December 8
St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, and Satluj Public School would clash in the final of the Satluj Under-17 Winter Champions Trophy, as the former beat DAV School, Chandigarh, by 61 runs at Satluj Public School grounds, Sector 4, here today.

Abhilash Sharma, who scored 111 runs and punished the bowlers all around the field, was the top scorer for the St Stephen’s team and helped his team to post a healthy total of 234 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the stipulated 30 overs.

Abhilash was supported by Udit Hari Mehta 34 and Guraunaq Singh 34 (not out), while Harshank three for 32 and Karan Thakur two for 40 were the main wicket takers for the DAV team.

In reply, DAV team started the innings with restraint, as St Stephen’s bowlers did not allow the batsmen any liberty to score at will and were bundled out for 173 runs in 27.3 overs.

Abhinanda 53, Sachit Nayyar 30 and Shivadeep Singh 25 were the only batsmen who were able to score at will, but their efforts went in vain, as the other batsmen failed to put any resistance to the fine line and length bowling of Gaurav Singh and Udit Hari Mehta who took three wickets each of 24 and 32 runs, respectively.

Brief scores: St Stephen’s School: 234 for 8 in 30 overs. (Abhilash Sharma 111, Udit Hari Mehta 34 and Guraunaq Singh 34 (n.o), Harshank 3/32 and Karan Thakur 2/40. DAV, Chandigarh: 173 all out in 27.3 overs (Abhinanda 53, Sachit Nayyar 30, Shivadeep Singh 25, Gaurav Singh 3/24 and Udit Hari Mehta 3/32).

Tomorrow fixture: The final match between St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, and Satluj Public School would be played at Satluj Public School grounds, Sector 4, at 11 am.

Panchkula, December 8
Manav Mangal School table tennis team clinched the overall trophy in the girls’ under-12 and under-17 category for the second consecutive time in the 43rd Haryana State Inter-District and Open Table Tennis Championship held at Jagadhari.

In the cadet girls’ team championship (under-12), Kanchi Gupta and Radhika of Manav Mangal guided the Panchkula table tennis team to win the championship.

The members of the girls’ team (under-17) were Anu, Aastha, Komal (all from Manav Mangal) and Meghna. Anu Saini, an unseeded player in the sub-junior girls’ team (under-14), also made her presence by her performance.

She reached in the final but lost to top seeded player Pallavi Rana (Sonepat).

In the cadet girls’ singles (under-12), Kanchi Gupta (Manav Mangal) won the silver medal.

In the cadet boys’ singles (under-12), Shashwat Somani of Manav Mangal became Haryana champion.

Stating this in a press note, Sandeep Sardana, principal Manav Mangal School, Sector 11, and president of Panchkula District Table Tennis Association, said exceptional performance by the cadet girls’ team (under-12) and the girls’ team (under-17) had won the gold medals for Panchkula.

Out of four paddlers of the city team, three were from Manav Mangal School in each team.

Results:

Under-12: Panchkula beat Bhiwani by 3-0 in the final: Kanchi (MMS, Pkl) bt Manya (Bhiwani) by 11-7, 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, Radhika (MMS, Pkl) bt Tanya (Bhiwani) by 11-8, 11-8, 11-13, 10-12, 11-7 and Kanchi and Radhika (MMS, Pkl) bt Manya and Tanya (Bhiwani) by 11-9, 11-7, 11-8.

Under-17: Panchkula beat Gurgaon by 3-0 final: Anu (MMS, Pkl) bt Saayna (GGN) by 11-9, 9-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, Meghna (MMS, Pkl) bt Pragati (GGN) by 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 and Anu and Meghna (MMS, Pkl) bt Saayna and Pragati (GGN) by 11-9, 11-9, 13-11.

Sub-junior under-14 girls’ singles: Anu Saini (MMS, Pkl) lost to Pallavi Rana (Sonepat) by 2-3.

Cadet boys’ singles under-12: Shashwat (MMS, Pkl) bt Ayush Tayal (Sonepat) by 3-2.

Cadet girls’ singles under-12: Kanchi (MMS, Pkl) lost to Rachna (GGN) by 1-3.

Chandigarh, December 8
Government College for Girls (GCG), Sector 42, won the teamchampionship trophy by obtaining 50 points in the Senior Women

Chandigarh State Powerlifting Championship organised by the Chandigarh Powerlifting Association on December 4, the results of which were declared here today.

The second position was bagged by Weightlifting Coaching Centre (WCC), Sector 42, while Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, finished third by obtaining 12 points.

Results: 52 kg: 1st Preeti WCC-42, 2nd Babita GCG-42 and 3rd Anita, Chandigarh.

56 kg: 1st Arshdeep Kaur GGSCW-26, 2nd Renu and 3rd Asha (both GCG-42).

60 kg: 1st Rajwinder Kaur GCG-42, 2nd Surinder Kaur and 3rd Anu (both Chandigarh).

67.5 kg: 1st Davinder Kaur GCG-42, 2nd Ushma and 3rd Jasvir Kaur (both Chandigarh).

75 kg: 1st Jot Parkash GCG-42 and 2nd Gurinder Kaur Chandigarh.

+75 kg: 1st Jasbir Kaur GCG-41 and 2nd Reshma WCC. — TNS

Patiala, December 8
Patiala shooters keeping up their winning spree won seven medals in the Punjab School Inter-District Shooting Championship, which was held at Baba Farid Public School, Faridkot, from December 4 to 6.

District education official Surinder Kaur Verma congratulated the winners and coach Swaranjeet Kaur.

She informed that Patiala district had outclassed others and won the maximum number of medals in the championship.

Results:: Jasmine Kaur won gold in U-17 air rifle event, Reet Pal Singh, Guru Nanak Foundation Public School, won gold in U-17 pistol shooting, Akashvir Singh won gold in U-19 category and Surinder Singh bagged another gold.

Sukhvir Singh won a silver medal in the U-19 air rifle event. Gurnadveer Singh and Gurkamal Singh won two bronze medals in the U-19 category.

Patiala, December 8
The selection trials for trap shooting began at the New Moti Bagh Gun Club, Patiala ranges, here today.

Amarjung Singh, organising secretary of tournament, informed that men would fire two more rounds tomorrow for complete ranking.

Results:

Women: Shagun Chowdhary 65, Shreyasi Singh 62, Seema Tomor 62 and Varsha Tomor 52.

Men: Birendeep Sodhi 72, Mansher Singh 71, Manavjit Sandhu 70, Anirudh Singh 70, Zoravar Sandhu 67, Darius Chenai 66, Vikram Deo Singh 65, Sultan Anwer 65, Chenai Kynai 64, Thondiaman 64, Nayab Khan 62, Rizvi Rayyan 61, Filler3 60, Raninder Singh 59, Filler2 47 and Filler1.