NEIGHBOURHOOD

NRI assaulted
Tribune News Service

Ambala, December 22
Scores of residents of Sonda village, near Ambala City, protested at the civil hospital late this evening against the alleged negligence of a doctor after which a six-year-old girl had to be taken to the PGI, Chandigarh.

Girl’s father Ravi Kumar said his daughter, Neha, had sustained a minor injury after suffering a fall while playing two days ago.

She was taken to the local civil hospital where the doctor on duty administered some injections to her and discharged her after giving some medicines.

He alleged that his daughter had a swelling in the arm the next day and when the arm turned black, he took her back to the civil hospital.

The doctor referred the girl to the PGI, telling the relatives that the hospital would bear the expenses of ambulance besides others at the PGI.

After examination by doctors at the PGI, they were told that the arm of the girl had to be severed.

He alleged that the civil hospital had not provide him with any financial help for the treatment. Due to their poor financial health, they had to bring back the girl to Ambala.

Civil Surgeon VK Sharma, who reached the hospital after learning about the protest, said there was no negligence on part of the hospital doctor.

Neha’s relatives demanded that the hospital administration should make arrangements for Neha’s treatment and initiate action against the erring doctor.

The agitated relatives were still on protest at the time of filing of the report.

Lalru, December 22
An ex-serviceman was killed after being hit by a speeding truck on the Ambala-Chandigarh highway here this afternoon.

The victim has been identified as Balbir Singh (45), a resident of Sarseri village, Mahesh Nagar, Ambala district.

Balbir was working as a security guard at a Lalru-based factory situated on the highway.

The incident took place around 1.40 pm when Balbir Singh was on his way to work on a motor cycle. As he approached his factory, a speeding tipper laden with sand hit the motor cycle from the rear.

Passersby took the victim to the Civil Hospital, Dera Bassi, where the doctors declared him brought dead.

The investigating officer said the body of Balbir Singh would be handed over to the family after conducting a post-mortem examination tomorrow.

Chandigarh, December 22
The police has arrested a Sector 22-based shopkeeper and seized pirated CDs from his possession. A raid was conducted on his shop following information provided by the Indian music industry that pirated CDs were being sold there. The police seized around 3,000 CDs, including over 1,200 blue films.

Zirakpur, December 22
The police today arrested three of the 11 accused in a forgery case. Complainant Gurjant Singh, a resident of Moli Baidwan village, Sohana, alleged to the police that the accused had duped him of Rs 11.60 lakh.

The arrested accused have been identified as Kulwinder Singh, alias Kala, Lalu and Somnath, all residents of Banur. The three accused were produced in the court and sent to police remand for one day.

Gurjant Singh alleged that the accused had called him on his mobile phone two months back and said they had gold in large quantity. They told him that they were ready to sell the gold at the rate of Rs 11,000 per tola. The complainant said he reached near the bus stand at Chhat village along with Rs 3.60 lakh and handed over the money to the accused.

The police said on December 19, Gurjant Singh met the accused at the gurdwara in Chhat village and handed over Rs 8 lakh to Kala and his accomplices. After giving him a fake gold brick, the accused fled from the spot along with their accomplices who were waiting in a car.

Chandigarh, December 22
Traditional rivals St Kabir High School and St John’s High School, both of Sector 26, stormed into the final of the Under-13 St Kabir Football Trophy at St Kabir School ground here today.

Cheered on by the home crowd, St Kabir played an organised game to outplay New Public School, Sector 18, 3-0, while formidable St John’s School faced little resistance from the newly raised football team of Ashiana School, beating them 5-0.

St Kabir School enjoyed the territorial supremacy and had better control of the ball. Udey emerged their star performer with a brilliant brace. Kabir could have won by a bigger margin but for New Public School goalkeeper Vikas, who put up a fine display and saved at least six goals.

Playing on their home turf, St Kabir forged ahead in the seventh minute. Getting possession of the ball from the centre line, Udey dashed into the box dribbling past two defenders.

Before NPS advancing goalkeeper Vikas could thwart Udey’s attempt, St Kabir striker dispatched the ball into the rival goal.

Three minutes later, Udey increased the margin 2-0. Rahul initiated the goal-bearing move and passed the ball to Aman who further passed it to Udey to drive home the second goal.

The winners crossed over with a 2-0 advantage. On resumption, the NPS defence contained St Kabir strikers with quick clearances and alert goalkeeper Vikas also showed good anticipation. But NPS goal fell again in the 43 rd minute. Following a goalmouth melee, Rahul placed the ball in the right corner of the goal.

In the second semifinal, winner of the St Soldier’s International School Football Trophy St John’s School dominated their opponents Ashiana School. After wasting a number of chances with their forwards misdirecting their shots, they got the lead in the 10th minute though Nitin.

After tasting success, St John’s School did not look back. Krishna and Sufi contributed one goal each in the 22nd and 30th minutes, respectively. Maintaining their pressure, St John’s added two more goals to their kitty through Harshal who struck in the 28th and 35th minutes.

Though ‘inexperienced’ Ashiana School made their exit, they were not disgraced as in their maiden appearance in a state-level tournament they left their impression by reaching the semifinals.

Tomorrow’s fixture (final): St Kabir High School versus St John’s School (11 am).

Chandigarh, December 22
AICF Chandigarh and AICF Haryana will clash in the final of the T-20 Champions Trophy organised by the All-India Cricket Federation at The Banyan Tree School Cricket Academy ground in Sector 48 B here today.

Both teams qualified for the final by recording two victories each.

In a low-scoring third match of the day, Chandigarh beat Haryana by four wickets. With this, Chandigarh topped the table in four-team league programme. Haryana finished runners-up.

Today, they registered their successive victories. AICF Chandigarh handed out a seven-wicket drubbing to AICF Delhi, while AICF Haryana accounted for AICF Punjab by an identical margin of seven wickets.

An unbeaten knock of 80 by opener Pradeep powered Chandigarh to a facile triumph over Delhi.

Delhi won the toss and decided to bat first. With the help of a 36-ball knock of 61 by Sachin, the team from the National Capital scored 141 for 7 in their stipulated 20 overs. Delhi suffered two early wickets as their openers Kamal (10) and Ankit Pawar (3) returned to the pavilion without making substantial contributions.

However, Sachin held the fort and played a defiant knock to rescue his team from abject surrender. He flayed the Chandigarh bowlers.

However, he could not get enough support from his colleagues. Only Anil (17) and Kunal Goswami (12) put up some resistance to reach the double figure.

Aman was the pick of the bowlers for Chandigarh, claimed four for 31. Navdeep (3 for 12) and Avish (1 for 28) were the other wicket-takers for Chandigarh.

Chandigarh overhauled the Delhi total in 16.4 overs by scoring 142 for 3.

Opener Pradeep batted with confidence and piled up an unbeaten 80. He executed well-timed boundaries and hoisted two sixes.

Aman remained not out on 20. Gursimran made 11. Kunal Goswami captured two wickets for 26 runs.

In another league match, Punjab batted first against Haryana and posted 107 all out in 18.2 overs. Piyush (23, 4x4s) and Mohit Garg (21, 3x4s, 1x6) were the main scorers. Harman (12), Deepak (13) and Karandeep (12) also reached the double figure mark. Anish (4 for 20) and Jasmeen (3 for 20) were pick of the bowlers.

Haryana replied with 108 for 3 in 15.5 overs. After losing opener Arun (6) early in the innings, opener Japdeep (22) and Deepanshu (32) steadied Haryana innings. Japdeep’s knock contained three fours in 27 deliveries, while Deepanu hit half a dozen boundaries. Sunil and Yatish remained not out on 22 and 13, respectively.

Brief scores: first match: AICF Delhi: 141 for 7 in 20 overs (Kamal 10, Sachin 61, Kunal Goswamy 12, Anil 17; Aman 4/31, Navdeep 3/12, Avish 1/28).

AICF Chandigarh: 142 for 3 in 16.4 overs (Pardeep 80 not out, Gursimran 11, Aman not out 20; Kunal Goswami 2/26, Devand 1/20).

Second match: AIFC Punjab: 107 all out in 18.2 overs (Piyush 23, Mohit Garg 21, Harman 12, A. Deepak 13, Karandeep 12, Anish 4/20, Jasmine 3/20).

AICF Haryana: 108 for 3 in 15.5 overs (Japdeep 22, Deepanshu 32, Sunil not out 22, Yatish not out 13; Karandeep 1/21, Mohit 1/12).

Haryana: 58 all out in 14 overs (Prince 13, Aneesh 20; Krishna 3/14, Anish 2/1, Navdeep 2/4, Gaurav 1/10, Shekhar 1/9).

Punjab: 59 for 6 in 13.1 overs (Anish 22 n.o., Pardeep 10 n.o.; Sunil 3/17, Shubham 1/13, Surinder 1/5).

Bassi Pathana, December 22
The Indian hockey will regain its lost glory. The only thing holding it back was red tape, said Pargat Singh, sports director of Punjab, after inaugurating Mehar Baba Charitable (MBCT) Hockey Nursery here today.

“It is unfortunate that the Indian team could not qualify for the Champion’s Trophy. We could not properly utilise the services of foreign coaches. We spend huge amounts on them but utilise their services only to train the national team, instead of taking them to the grassroots.”

Highlighting the efforts of the state government in promoting hockey, he said there were only 25 hockey teams in the state when he joined the post. The number had gone up to 250 now.

He said the sports department had started three well-equipped regional hockey centres for Malwa, Majha and Doaba regions with Astro Turf facility.

These centres had started producing good stuff. He urged parents to encourage their children to take to hockey.

MBCT patron Prof HS Mejie said they had selected 52 boys and girls between the age group of five and 10 years. Specialised coaches had been engaged and children had been given hockey kits.