Chandigarh, August 2
Just over a year after a shopkeeper in Naraingarh, Pankaj Khanna, blamed MLA Ram Kishan and two others in his suicide note, Justice Jaswant Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice of motion to the state of Haryana for October 28 on the MLA’s plea.

The summoning order was issued on July 10. Khanna had committed suicide by consuming poison. In his suicide note, he had blamed the MLA, along with two others Ajit Aggarwal and Vijay Aggarwal. Khanna had alleged he was being harassed and humiliated by the two at the MLA’s behest. Soon after the incident, Khanna’s relatives had blocked the state highway demanding the registration of a case against the MLA and others.

In his petition through counsel Sanjeev Bansal, Kishan said he was being falsely dragged in the case dated June 11, 2009, registered under Sections 306 and 34 IPC at a police station in Naraingarh.

Bansal said: “After the registration of an FIR, the police investigated the complete matter and filed challan dated July 15, 2009. In the final report submitted by the police under Section 173 CrPC, the petitioner was kept in column number two as he was found innocent and the allegation levied against the petitioner were found to be baseless. The conclusion was based on the inquiry conducted by DSP, Naraingarh, dated July 1, 2009.

“It was found that the FIR dated August 24, 2008, against now deceased Pankaj Khanna was registered as he had misbehaved under the influence of liquor with a woman outside a temple at Naraingarh on the eve of Janmasthmi. Later, he picked up a quarrel with members of the temple trust and police officials on duty. Therefore, the petitioner was found to have no involvement in the registration of the FIR,” it was added.

Seeking the setting aside of the summoning order, he said it was illegal as the summoning order was passed solely on the basis of the examination-in-chief of the complainant’s father, who had only restated the allegation made in the FIR. All these allegations had already been thoroughly investigated by the investigating agency and the petitioner had been found innocent after analysing facts on record.

Mohali, August 2
In the case of “cloning” of ATM cards in the tricity leading to fraudulent withdrawal of card holder’s money, the police today recovered Rs 67,000 which had been withdrawn by the suspects using the cloned ATM cards.

The money was recovered from Kamaljeet Singh, one of the suspects. The police is on the lookout for the Ukraine-based NRI Shinderpal Singh who is the main suspect in the case.

Sources said the NRI had brought the device and technology for ATM cloning from a Southeast Asian country and used to cheat people here. Raids were being conducted to nab the prime suspect.

So far at least two major cases of fraudulent withdrawal of about Rs 3 lakh have been traced to the two thugs, who had kept the Chandigarh police and Mohali police on its toes for the past two months.

Chandigarh, August 2
A resident of Ambala who claimed to have been kidnapped from the Punjab and Haryana High Court and later managed to jump from the vehicle of his abductors, kept the police on toes for hours this morning.

The police is looking into the allegations in the wake of certain “missing links” in the account of events narrated by the victim, identified as, Ajit, a resident of Ambala. Ajit told the police that four persons kidnapped him and bundled him into a car, even as the police failed to trace a single eyewitness to the incident in the high court.

Though the victim claimed to have jumped of the moving car near museum roundabout, police said no visible marks of injuries were found on his body. A police officer said the complainant was reeking of liquor.

Ajit told the police that he had come to the high court to submit a writ petition. He had moved the court in 2006 alleging corruption by some military officials. The court had rejected his petition, which was later dismissed by the Supreme Court in 2007.

He alleged that he was kidnapped from the entrance of the high court, where he had come to file another petition.

Inspector Mahavir Singh, SHO of the Sector 3 police station, said Ajit’s statement had been recorded and his medical examination report was awaited after which they would take action.

Chandigarh, August 2
An unidentified man in his mid-forties was run over by the Kalka-Chandigarh train at Mani Majra level crossing here this evening.

Sources said the railway police had received information about the accident at 7.50 pm and rushed to the spot. A quarter of a liquor bottle was recovered near the victim’s body.

A tattoo “Naresh” was found on his arm.

The body was sent to Sector 6 Government Hospital for an autopsy.

Panchkula, August 2
Ankur Nanda and Aneesh Saini beat Deepak Mighlani (3-1) and Vikas (3-0), respectively, in the senior section to storm into the semifinal of the Haryana State Billiards and Snooker Championship in Sector 11, here today.

Sameer Bhalla and Parteek Thakral have already made it through to the semifinal in the section.

Showing good control, Ankur Nanda put up a sterling performance to defeat Deepak Mighlani 3-1.

Ankur clinched the first frame by hitting breaks of 28 and 26. In the second frame, Ankur did not give any chance to Deepak to win it with ease.

Deepak Mighlani bounced back and hit a break of 47 in the third frame to stay in the game. But Ankur, who was in his elements, powered back to win the fourth frame and the game.

In the second quarterfinal match, Aneesh Saini had an easy sailing over his rival Vikas from Gurgaon 3-0.

Vikas, who had been sharp in his previous outings, was out of touch today and gave too many opportunities to his opponent.

Capitalising on the chances that came his way, Aneesh hit breaks of 39, 37 and 32 to win the match.

In the senior billiards league, Sameer Bhalla topped his pool, defeating all four opponents, while Anil Sharma remained second, winning three out of four matches.

The results: Senior snooker: Ankur Nanda b Deepak Mighlani (3-1); Aneesh Saini b Vikas (3-0); Sameer Bhalla b Punnet (3-0); Prateek Thakral b Divya Sharma (3-0).

Senior billiards: Anil Sharma b Ishaan (2-0), Anil Sharma b Gaurav Bharti (2-0), Himanshu b Anshul Mittal (2-1).

Chandigarh, August 2
Even as the Cricket Council of India today announced to conduct its ambitious Cricket Premier League (CPL) Season 1 this year-end, it left a lot of questions pertaining to its organisation and logistical support unanswered.

“Our aim is to bring talent to the fore,” said the organisers, who claimed that they had enough sponsorship for the ambitious project.

However, they were clueless about their plans for the project.

“We have worked out everything but cannot divulge the details at this juncture,” said Ravinder Singh Dandiwal, commissioner of the CPL.

He claimed that the council had got the nod of Neo Sports and Doordarshan to beam the live telecast of all matches. On being asked to show the related documents, he replied: “At the moment, we can’t show them (the documents).”

The claim about training of the selected players by professional coaches and auction for franchisees to represent states also did not stand ground, as the organisers again failed to divulge details.

The organisers claimed that the teams would be provided with the best of equipment, sporting material, air travel and board and lodging.

“The players for all eight teams will be selected by cricket professionals following trials to be held at over 50 venues across the country. Forms for the trials will be put on sale shortly,” Dandiwal added. The price of the forms would be decided soon, he said.

Panchkula, August 2
Chhattisgarh player Kavita claimed the top honours, pushing Trisha of Delhi to second place, in the aero squad (individual category) of the 11th Sub-Junior National SQAY Martial Arts Championship at St Teresa Convent School, Sector 25, today.

While the aero SQAY mixed title went to Delhi team, comprising Shivangi, Udit and Pratiyush, the sub-junior girls’ title (u-35) in the individual category was won by Hayika Hazir of Jammu and Kashmir. Delhi’s Ishita captured silver.

As many as 22 states participated in the Sub-Junior National Championship, which concluded today. — TNS

Chandigarh, August 2
The Air Force School, Hindan, beat Air Force School, Chandigarh, 2-0 in the inaugural match of the Western Air Command Inter-Air Force Schools Football Championship (2010-11) at the local Air Force Station here today.

As many as seven teams from Air Force schools, including Chandigarh, Ambala, Hindon, Pathankot, Jammu, Palam and Sarsawa, are participating in the championship.

The aim of this championship is to select WAC school football team for the Inter-Command Air Force Schools Football Championship to be held shortly.

Earlier, the championship was inaugurated by Air Commodore Rajeev Sachdeva, Air Officer Commanding 12 Wing Air Force, followed by a colourful march past by the participating teams. This was followed by oath taking ceremony by players.

The final will be played on August 4.

Chandigarh, August 2
Manik Kalara of DAV Model School, Sector 15, finished first by scoring 367/400 points in the air pistol (10 m) under-19 shooting event of the Inter-School Tournament at Patiala ki Rao Shooting Range, Sector 25, here today.

The second spot was grabbed by Akash, a student of the same school, who hit 357/400 points, followed by Pranav of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, in the third position with 346/400 points.

In air rifle u-19 (Boys) 10 m shooting event, Manoj Thakur of Government Model High School, Sector 37, clinched the top spot with 350/400 points.

His nearest rival, Vibhu of Government Senior Secondary School, Mani Majra, scored 303/400 points, while Vikas of GSSS-27 finished third with 285/400 points.

The tournament in various disciplines is being organised by the UT education department at various venues.

For various disciplines, including boxing, the weight of players has been measured today.

The organisers said the competitions would take place tomorrow at 9 am.