NEIGHBOURHOOD

Manual scavenging on despite ban
Gurdeep Singh Mann
Tribune News Service

Heritage walk on April 18
Tribune News Service

Ambala, April 7
To mark the World Heritage Day, the Ambala Chapter of Indian National Trust and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is going to organise a heritage walk on April 18.

A march will also be organised, which will start from the Cathedral Church and about 200 students will participate in the march. Ambala chapter convener GS Lamba disclosed this here recently.

He said the chapter was organising painting competitions on Ambala heritage and winners would be awarded prizes on April 18 in the function to be held at the Patel Park, Ambala Cantt, after the heritage walk.

Brig Lamba told the members that the main motive of INTACH this year was to protect environment, including old trees, ponds, lakes, parks and forests, etc. He informed the members that there were three “kos minars” in a dilapidated condition in Ambala area, which needed repair and the chapter had identified 25 heritage sites in Ambala. He also requested the members to spread the message to the rural areas by forming rural chapters.

Ranjit Singh told the members that the national office would look after the cost of renovation of all heritage sites. He said Dr Jyoti Chandra would be in charge of the campaign and efforts were going on to undertake the revival of “Raja Ka Talaab” and “Rani Ka Talaab” shortly.

HS Purewal, Vivek Sharma, Jasmer Chand, Lalit Chaudhary, Dr Desh Bandhu and Dr R S Dhillon were also present on the occasion.

Banur, April 7
A team of four students of sixth semester mechanical engineering of Shaheed Udham Singh College of Engineering and Technology, Tangori, participated in “Robosapiens”, at the technical festival “Cognisance” organised by IIT-Roorkee at Roorkee.

The competition was held to carry out a military exercise of bridge building and passing on the mines/bomb diffusing kit loaded on to the other robot.

This was a two-robot-team work. The robots were to be designed and fabricated by participants themselves.

A total of 85 teams from all over India participated. After preliminary round, only 32 teams were left for the knockout round.

SUSCET team comprised of Parwinder Singh Mehrok, Lakhvir Singh, Sushant Khanna and Manjot Singh who demonstrated their robots in performing the assigned tasks.

One of the robots was installed with capability of increasing its height during the operation.

Design by SUSCET, Tangori, was declared the best design and won first prize. It won the second prize in performance missing the top slot by a narrow margin.

Team was honoured at Shaheed Udham Singh College of Engineering and Technology.

Patiala, April 7
World Kabaddi Cup has caught the fancy of millions of kabaddi lovers all over the world, who are praying for the victory of their teams everyday. This initiative of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has got thumbs up from sports lovers.

The Patiala administration had put in a lot of efforts for the success of the opening ceremony and the first match played between India and USA in which the administration undoubtedly succeeded. But something that went unnoticed was the negligence of the medical team formed by civil surgeon at the YPS Stadium that failed to attend an injured USA player during the inaugural match.

While an injured player was waiting for their help, the entire medical team was allegedly busy enjoying the match without realising that they were deputed for the safety of the players and any negligence on their part could be risky for players.

The incident occurred during the match when one of the players of the USA suffered a shoulder injury and was suffering from pain in the ground, but no medical expert came to his aid.

His fellow players and organisers supported him and took him out of the ground. He had to walk out of the game and another player replaced him because he was not given timely medical assistance.

Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal had ordered an inquiry asking Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti to prepare a report.

The DC then marked an inquiry to SDM Gurmeet Singh, the reports of which were submitted today evening.

Though the civil surgeon team had blamed the police department during the preliminary investigations stating that they were not allowed to go in the ground by the on-duty cops despite repeated requests, the police department had defied their allegation stating that no such request was made to them.

According to sources, five-page report that has been submitted to the DC hinted action against the civil surgeon team, which has been found at fault, but the inquiry is still to be made public.

Chandigarh, April 7
A city-based advocate today moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the death sentence awarded to 17 Indian nationals in Dubai for a Pakistani’s murder.

In his petition against the states of Punjab and Haryana, the Union of India, the Union Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Ambassador in Dubai, advocate Hari Singh Nagra has sought directions for protecting the human rights of the Indian nationals. Asserting they had been implicated, the advocate has also demanded an inquiry into the murder. Directions to provide them with an opportunity to defend themselves too has been asked for. The petition is expected to be taken up by the Bench of the Chief Justice.

Chandigarh, April 7
The CBI court of special judge Darshan Singh today adjourned the ongoing case of fake encounter of Kulwinder Singh by seven Punjab police personnel stating that the revision is pending in the high court. It will now come up on May 7.

The deceased was killed in a “fake encounter” on the intervening night of July 23 and 24, 1989, by seven Punjab police personnel, including SP Surjit Singh Grewal, on the Tangori Kurda road in Mohali.

In 2002, the District and Sessions Judge, Chandigarh, had framed charges of murder and abduction against the police officials. A CBI probe had also held them guilty under Sections 120-B, 302, 364, 201 and 218 of the IPC.

According to information, Surjeet Singh Grewal and Amarjeet Singh, along with some other CIA personnel, had raided a kothi in Mohali in search of terrorists Dhyan Singh, Kulwinder Singh, alias Kid, and Jagbir Singh, alias Panjola, on July 22, 1989.

During the raid, Kulwinder Singh was picked up by the raiding party. Later, Kulwinder Singh was killed by Birbal Das, the then SHO of the Sohana police station, Gurcharan Singh (head constable), Nikkaram (head constable), Chanan Singh (ASI) and Dayal Singh (constable).

Trilochan Singh, father of the deceased, had moved a writ petition against the police personnel in the high court. Acting on the petition, the court had directed the then Sessions Judge, MS Lubhana, to inquire into the case and submit a report. He submitted the report on April 24, 1995. After the receipt of the report, the court directed the CBI to register a case against the police personnel.

The CBI’s investigation had revealed that Kulwinder Singh was picked up by Surjit Singh Grewal and Amarjeet Singh and five CIA personnel.

Trilocahan has claimed that in spite of having sufficient knowledge about the identity of Kulwinder Singh, his body was cremated as that of an unidentified extremist.

Chandigarh, April 7
The Additional District and Sessions Judge today recorded the statements of two of the witnesses in the infamous Anuradha murder case.

Ram Narayan, brother of Sunil Kumar, who was allegedly killed by Vijay Pal Singh, alias Nikku, to fake his death, submitted before the court that he was working as a servant at Baljinder’s house along with his brother. He wanted to leave the job but Baljinder increased their salary and they stayed back.

On the other hand, Gurbaksh Singh, who owns a farmhouse, submitted before the court that Baljinder use to visit his farmhouse on regular basis with his family.

It may be recalled that Anuradha Sandhu (35), a boutique owner and wife of Baljinder Singh, a leading property dealer from Mohali, was found brutally murdered in her Sector 38 (West) residence on the intervening night of May 17 and 18, 2008. Barely hours after the discovery of the murder, the Ropar police had found the body of her servant, Vijay Pal Singh, alias Nikku, who was initially suspected to be behind the killing. But later arrested Vijay Pal Singh, who attempted to fake his death by killing his friend, Sunil.

The next hearing of case has been scheduled for April 24.

Chandigarh, April 7
The CBI court of Special Judge Darshan Singh today awarded two years of rigorous imprisonment to Sub-Inspector Ved Prakash, who was held guilty in a graft case. He has also been slapped a fine of Rs 12,000. Ved Prakash was later released after filling a bail bond of Rs 50,000.

The CBI sleuths has caught the sub-inspector red-handed on June 22, 2007, while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 on the pretext of “saving” Harpal in a case of drug peddling.

The CBI laid the trap on the complaint of Harpal, who is allegedly a drug peddler. He told CBI officials that Ved Prakash had threatened to slap a case against him and had demanded Rs 30,000 for saving him.

The CBI officials have also seized packets of smack from Ved Prakash’s office drawer. He has been booked under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Narcotics Act.

Chandigarh, April 7
The police booked a 26-year-old man for suicide bid at his residence at Bapu Dham Colony here last night.

The police said the victim Vikas was an alcoholic and had consumed some poisonous substance after having an argument with his father. He was rushed to the Sector-16 Government Multi Specialty Hospital, where his condition was said to be stable.

Chandigarh, April 7
Thirtytwo-year-old Anjali, mother of five, was allegedly burnt to death after she caught fire from a stove while cooking at her residence in Bapu Dham Colony here this morning.

Ruling out foul play behind the death, the police would wait for her parents to arrive from Uttar Pradesh to conduct further proceedings.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 10 am, when Anjali caught fire from a stove. Her husband, Satya Dev, a porter at the transport area, was not at home at that time.

The fire reportedly spread within minutes and a bottle of kerosene, which was lying beside the stove, fuelled the fire.

The woman cried for help, as her children were playing outside. People rushed to the hut and tried to douse the flames.

Sub-inspector Jasminder Singh, in charge of the Bapu Dham Colony police post, reached the spot and assisted the people in extinguishing the fire.

The victim was brought out and rushed to the PGI, where she was declared dead on arrival. The body was kept at the hospital mortuary. The entire hut was gutted.

Mohali, April 7
A sum of Rs 32 lakh was allegedly misappropriated by employees of a private bank from the account of a customer.

The alleged fraud came to light when the customer Surinder Singh a resident of Anandpur Kalour , wanted to withdraw the amount for getting a plot registered on his name.

The police has rounded up a former manager of the bank for questioning . Statements of Surinder Singh were also recorded and further investigations were on.

Surinder Singh said he had opened an account in Kotak Mahindra bank in Phase III B 2 here about four years ago. From time to time he kept depositing money in the bank, totalling Rs 32 lakh .

He said on March 28 he talked to the bank manager for withdrawing the amount as he needed it for the registration of a plot but was told to approach the bank only on April 1, as the amount could not be withdrawn due the closing of the financial year. He again went to the bank on April 3, but to his shock he was told that there was only Rs 12,000 in his account. Arguments followed after which the bank manager told him that he would look into the matter.

Later, three employees, including former manager Ram Preet Singh , came to his house assuring him that the money would be made available to him and he should not go in for any action against the bank. Today when he was waiting in the bank he got a phone call and was asked to meet the former manager near Gurdwara Sacha Dhan Sahib. There the bank employees allegedly started blaming one another for the alleged fraud . They later tried to run away from there but were overpowered by persons accompanying Surinder Singh. The police was also informed in this regard which rounded up the employees.

Chandigarh, April 7
The police today recovered one of the 11 water pipes that were stolen from Hallo Majra on Sunday from the premises of a Ram Darbar-based junk dealer and arrested one person in this regard.

The police said the junk dealer had cut the pipe into three pieces. The police arrested Babu Ram of Baltana village last night when he was cutting the pipe in a plot at Ram Darbar, Phase I. Amit Kumar and Parveen, both brothers, are owners of the junkyard.

Babu Ram told the police that Amit had given him the pipe and told him to cut into pieces. Both the owners are still absconding.

The contractor who was allotted the work of laying water pipes in Hallo Majra had reported the matter to the police yesterday. The pipes were stolen on Sunday afternoon. The police said the miscreants used a crane to lift the pipes weighing between two and four quintals.

Chandigarh, April 7
For Sachin Tendulkar’s fans, it’s no less than good news that the Master Blaster is fit and fine and all set to play the next match at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on April 9.

“Yes I am perfectly all right”, said Tendulkar soon after his arrival from Chennai, along with his Mumbai Indians team here this evening at Hotel Mountview in Sector 10.

Speaking about yesterday’s match against Chennai Super King, Sachin said, “I was dehydrated but now I am all right,” said Sachin.

Sachin had to leave the field midway after he suddenly felt unwell while playing the match in Chennai. However, he returned to the field after the fall of seventh wicket.

Sachin enjoyed a tea at Hotel Mountview before going to his room. “We served him tea, along with several types of snacks,” said Vijay Sharma, Corporate Executive Chef of the hotel.

Earlier, all team members, including Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Saurav Tewari and D Bravo reached the hotel around 4 pm.

Immediately, the team held a meeting before leaving the venue for their evening practice session at the PCA Stadium, Mohali.

The team will lock horns with the local outfit Kings XI at the PCA Stadium, Mohali, on April 9. The match will start at 8 pm under floodlights.

Panchkula, April 7
Aman Parmar’s quick fire of 67 runs off 47 balls helped NICS Cricket Academy, Patiala, beat Little Flower Convent School Cricket Academy, Panchkula, by 20 runs to enter the final of the first U10 T20 League Cricket Tournament being held at Hansraj Public School Cricket here today.

After winning the toss, NICS Cricket Academy elected to bat first and scored 140 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their stipulated 20 overs. Aman Parmar (67) and Arshdeep Singh (27) were the top scorers for their team. For Little Flower, Sanveer Singh and Mehar Bedi were the pick of the bowlers, as they scalped three wickets each giving away 17 and 19 runs, respectively. Hanish Sharma took two wickets for 16 runs.

Chasing the target of 140 runs, Little Flower Convent School Cricket Academy, Panchkula, fell short of 20 runs, as it could score only 120 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs.

Sanveer Singh (34), Hanish Sharma (25), and Varun Gautam (20) were the top scorers. For NICS, Jasan Singh and Arshdeep Singh took three wickets each giving away 30 and 18 runs, respectively. Navdeep Singh was the other bowler, who took two wickets for 12 runs.

Aman Parmar was declared man of the match.