Poor Result
Polytechnic students protest, block road
Our Correspondent

Ambala, March 19
Girl students of Kalpana Chawla Polytechnic, Ambala City, broke windowpanes of the institution's building to protest against the poor result of diploma examination here today.

They also damaged the glasses of principal's office. The students alleged that a large number of students had been declared failed.

Later, hundreds of students took out a protest rally and blocked the Ambala-Hisar road. The girl students forcibly entered the Government Polytechnic for Boys on the Ambala-Hisar road and asked the boys to support them, but they did not support them.

However, it was a tough time for the female police constables to control the agitated girl students and later two SHOs reached the spot with police force.

Meanwhile, an agitated student Mamta cut the nerve of one of her hands with a blade and was rushed to a local civil hospital.

Two girl students got unconscious during the protest and were admitted to the hospital. The students demanded that if the result was not revised, they would again protest on Saturday.

Polytechnic principal RC Jindal said the result of various diploma courses was declared today. He the result was poor as compare to last year, but in some of the diploma courses the result was around 70 to 90 per cent.

He said the result was prepared on merit basis and change of question papers’ style this year had also affected the result.

MP Gupta, director of Technical Education, Haryana, took serious note of the incident and directed the principal of polytechnic to look into the matter and send him a report.

Interestingly, this polytechnic is one of the best girls polytechnic in the state and as many as 2,500 girl students are studying here.

Patiala, March 19
The workshop on throws, sprints and hurdles for coaches entered the fifth day today. The workshop is being held at the Auditorium of Gymnasium and Swimming Pool Complex at the NIS, Patiala.

MD Ranga, SO (biomechanics), NIS, Patiala, threw light on biomechanics of selected athletics events for the Commonwealth Games.

Dr Yuri Ogrodoonik demonstrated specific drills for sprinters and hurdlers.

Prof Arnold Stasuik demonstrated teaching drill show techniques. He also threw light on rhythm throws. — TNS

Chandigarh, March 19
Now, cars will not carry the names or designations of “high-ups” allocated to the vehicles; government buildings will accommodate the automobiles; and cars will not dot the roadsides. Notices will announce “no parking” in front of the malls; and tow trucks will be stationed there to drive home the message. This is not all. Handcarts will be pushed off the roads in the congested areas of Amritsar.

The directions by Justice Rajive Bhalla of the high court came on a contempt petition by city-based advocate Ajit Singh. The instructions are aimed at ensuring free flow of traffic in Chandigarh, Amritsar and Gurgaon.

The petition also saw Justice Rajive Bhalla come down heavily on the police. The Judge verbally asked the Chandigarh Police to elaborate on the challans issued on the basis of close-circuit television cameras, installed on the rotaries. Justice Bhalla told the police to prevent wrong parking in the industrial area, particularly in front of the Centra Mall. The cops were asked to station tow trucks and erect boards. Directions against mentioning of names on the vehicles too were issued.

Justice Bhalla also issued directions against the plying of handcarts. The judge also called for details of liquor vend in front of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s palace. Besides, directions were issued to ensure no vehicles were left behind along the roads in Gurgaon, and vehicles were parked inside the government buildings like the Gurgaon Municipal Corporation and HUDA.

Alleging non-compliance of the directions issued in 1998 in traffic regulation and pollution control case, Ajit Singh had asserted the situation had turned from “bad to worse”, as the homes secretaries had failed to initiate effective steps to control the chaos on the roads.

Chandigarh, March 19
Acting on a petition by missing Panchkula-based realtor Deepak Rai Sagar’s son Sameer, Justice Daya Chaudhary of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the police to file an affidavit on the evidence gathered for conducting a narco test on the the petitioner and his brother-in-law.

The directions come soon after Panchkula DSP Virender Singh sought directions for a narco test on Sameer Sagar, his brother-in-law SS Monga and three others.

Deepak Rai Sagar went missing on the night of June 1 last. The police insisted that he went missing soon after he received an income tax notice on alleged undisclosed income to the tune of about Rs 2 crore.

During the hearing before the Panchkula additional district and session judge, three of the accused had agreed to undergo polygraph and narco tests if Sameer and his close relatives also agreed to it.

Sameer did not agree, the police stated. The circumstances and behaviour of Sameer gave the impression that he was not sharing information with the special investigating team set up for the purpose.

Chandigarh, March 19
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association today submitted in the CBI court the evidence on which it had relied for taking cognisance of offences made out against the accused in the cash-at-judge’s-door case.

A CBI court of special judge Darshan Singh asked the association to submit the evidence at the last hearing, held on March 13.

Anupam Gupta, counsel for the association, had moved a protest petition against the CBI’s closure report, saying the agency came under pressure from forces outside it.

The court asked the counsel to provide the evidence on which it had based the arguments. The case would come up for hearing tomorrow.

Chandigarh, March 19
A swindler posing as a bank employee duped an elderly man of Rs 40,000 on the pretext of changing a soiled note in Sector 17 here today. Sources said a senior citizen, Des Raj of Sector 18, reported to the police that he went to the Sector 17 branch of the State Bank of India this morning.

He withdrew Rs 40,000 from his wife’s account and returned home. While checking the notes, he found that one note was worn out and was fixed with an adhesive tape. He decided to get it changed and went back to the bank.

Des Raj told the police that a well-dressed man at the bank came to him on seeing him taking out the soiled note. The man introduced himself as an employee of the bank and offered to get the note changed.

Des Raj gave him the soiled note, but the man took the wad from him, saying he would get all notes changed for him. The man went upstairs, asking Des Raj to wait for him.

Suspecting something wrong, Des Raj followed the man upstairs, but could not trace him. He came downstairs and started searching for the man, but in vain.

The swindler met him around 12 noon when and after searching for him for two hours, Des Raj called the police at 2 pm and informed it about the incident.

The in charge of the Neelam police post, Lakhbir Singh, said CCTV footage available at the bank showed that the man entered the bank two minutes before Des Raj and went out after five or six minutes.

The police said it would examine the footage to identify the swindler. A case of cheating under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code was registered.

Chandigarh, March 19
Sixtytwo-year-old Sham Singh was killed in an accident when a Maruti van rammed into his scooter from the rear near the Attawa chowk here in Sector 36 here this afternoon.

The police said the victim, a resident of Mohali, was returning home when the mishap occurred. He had retired as executive engineer from Punjab.

The victim was seriously injured in the mishap and was rushed to the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, where he was declared brought dead.

The police informed his family about the incident, which initially refused to get a case registered. He is survived by his wife and three sons.

“The family requested us to hand over the body to them without any formalities. We made them understand the complications that might arise at a later stage. It is not possible to hand over the body without a post-mortem examination in an accidental death case”, said the SHO of the Sector 36 policed station, inspector Anokh Singh.

A police officer said the Maruti van which knocked down the victim had been identified and efforts were on to trace the vehicle and its driver.

Chandigarh, March 19
The rally’s team No 1, comprising defending champion Suresh Rana and Ashwin Naik, had a narrow escape when their Gypsy overturned while taking a sharp turn during the super special stage at Exhibition Ground, Sector 34, here today.

Acting swiftly, the Gypsy was back on its wheels just in 30 seconds by SJOBA Quick Reaction Team.

Showing the true adventure sports spirit, Rana and Naik completed the lap in 2:02:01.

Earlier, a total of 71 vehicles, including Gypsies, cars and bikes zipped around the specially-created track at the venue, where the 23rd SJOBA-Thunderbolt Sub-Himalayan Rally kicked off.

While some onlookers raised points on holding the event along the main road, Pavan Khaitan, president, SJOBA, said they had taken all precautionary measures. “Safety standards have always been a priority of SJOBA. We place FIVs (first intervention vehicles) and ambulances at each competitive stage with SJOBA marshals,” said Khaitan.

In Gypsies, the team of Sandeep Sharma and Rashid Raza stood first by completing the lap in 1:33:28 minutes. The team of Sunny Sidhu and Surender Kumar Nandal remained second at 1:33:73, while the team of Harpreet Bawa and Inderpreet Singh Brar clocked 1:35:17 for the third spot.

In cars, the team of Jagbir Singh Nirwan and Shivkaran Singh Mokha remained on the top with 1:37:92, while the team of Udaibir Sangha and Jagmohan Singh clocked 1:39:69 for the second spot. The third place was occupied by Samrat Yadav and Varun Sachdeva with 1:39:98.

In the bikes category, Maninder Singh Prince was the fastest with 1:42:72, Rajan Sidhu finished second with 1:43:16, while Saajanpreet Singh stood third with 1:48:49 seconds.

Chandigarh, March 19
Madhurima Awasthi stormed the male bastion by participating in the two-wheeler category of SJOBA rally this season. This “daring decision” of the 20-year-old has made her the first-ever woman participant (two-wheeler category) in SJOBA rally since its inception in 1981.

It will be a first-ever venture for Madhurima, who started riding her bike only eight months back.

For organisers and co-participants, Madhurima Awasthi might have zoomed in on her Hero Honda Glamour bike as a pleasant surprise, but the determined lass, who is also a yellow belt in karate, is all set to challenge all.

“Participation in the male-dominated rally is my decision,” said Madhurima, a BTech third year student of Chandigarh Engineering College, Landran.

Madhurima has had a recce of the fast-paced route all alone a week back.

“I know it could be a bit difficult for girls, but I am ready to face the challenge. At the moment I am thrilled,” said Madhrima while getting ready for the super special stage at Exhibition Ground, Sector 34, here today.

Madhurima, who also loves horse riding, used to go to her college on her bike. “I am the only girl in my college, who comes on a motorcycle,” she added proudly.

A total of seven women, including Madhurima, will slug it out for the top honours. While four women are participating in TSD (time, speed, distance format), the other two are participating in the four-wheeler category.

Chandigarh, March 19
The Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association’s Digvijay Singh Mehta and Mandeep Singh Gill, along with Ronak Manuja and N Vijay Sunder Prasanth, have been given wild cards in the main draw of USD 10,000 India 2 Futures ITF Men’s Circuit, commencing tomorrow at the CLTA Stadium, Sector 10, here.

N Vijay Sunder Prasanth has replaced Vishnu Vardhan.

According to organisers, 15 Indians figure in the men’s singles main draw roster, while the Commonwealth Games 2010 probable, 751 ranked Vijayant Malik, a trainee of CLTA, is at the eighth position among 24 direct entrants.

Other Indians in the fray are Rohan Gajjar (second highest ranked with 460), Ranjeet Virali-Murugesan, Rupesh Roy, Divij Saran, Aushutosh Singh, Vivek Shokeen, Yannick Nelord, Sriambalaji and Karan Rastogi.

Foreign challenge will come from Roman Jebavy (Cze), Nathan Thomas (USA), Almog Maschiach (Isr), Ruben Gonzales (USA), Christopher Racz (USA) and Huang Liang-Chi (Tpe).

In a qualifying draw of 48, 17 players are foreigners and the remaining 31 are Indians.