NEIGHBOURHOOD

Newly wed woman ends life

Rajpura, August 13
Two people in separate incidents were crushed under speeding trains in Rajpura. The deceased have been identified as Joginder Singh (55), resident of Focal Point, Rajpura, and Varinder Kumar (45) of Gandhi Nagar, Rajpura.

While the body of Joginder was found near the railway crossings in the wee hours today and the police said that it seemed that the man had committed suicide by jumping before the train.

Varinder Kumar got crushed under a train when he was trying to cross the railway lines near platform number one at the Rajpura Railway Station.

Eyewitnesses said that Varinder instead of using the over bridge tried to board a train by crossing the railway lines. He was to visit Hardwar along with some other Rajpura residents.

Bodies of both the deceased have been handed over to their families after conducting a postmortem examination at the Rajpura Civil Hospital.

Chandigarh, August 13
Open Hand monument — built by city's founder-architect Le Corbusier — will be thrown open to the general public on the Independence Day, with the Punjab and Haryana High Court today ruling: “We are of the view that the citizens of Chandigarh must be free to celebrate the day”.

The function, however, will commence an hour after the conclusion of the ceremony at the high court on August 15. The orders were passed after the high court witnessed heated debate for over half-an-hour.

The directions came on a petition filed by Dr Gaurav Chhabra against the UT Administration. In the petition filed in public interest, Dr Chhabra had raised “various issues arising from their proposal for holding a National Anthem ceremony at the Open Hand memorial in the Capitol Complex on August 15”.

Directions were also sought to allow the “petitioners and other citizens to sing the National Anthem and other patriotic songs at the monument”.

Taking up the petition filed through counsel Harish Mehla, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Ajay Tewari observed: “The main grievance of the petitioner arises from the restrictions imposed by the respondents in and around the Open Hand monument and in particular from the order dated August 9”.

The order had stated that the permission could not be granted as the high court function was being organised at the same time. “They are advised to organise the ceremony to pay tributes to the martyrs at the war memorial at the Bougainvillea Garden, for which the administration will extent all co-operation,” it was asserted in the order.

The Bench asserted: The high court function will start at 9 am and will be over by 10.45 am. The counsel for the administration, Sanjay Kaushal, has stated that they would require an hour after the completion of the function for security purposes and to sensitise the place of function at the monument, particularly when a large number of people are likely to visit the place….

“We cannot lose sight of the authorities perception of security requirements. This court is required to balance the rights of the citizens to express their nationalistic sentiments and emotions on the Independence Day and the security concerns of the state….

“An hour after the closure of the high court function and the clearance of those who attended the function i.e. anytime after 11.45 am, the petitioner will be permitted to organise the ceremony for which the permission was sought”.

Chandigarh, August 13
A Panchkula resident allegedly tried to commit suicide by slitting his throat and wrist veins at a guesthouse in Sector 24 here.

The police said the incident came to light this afternoon, when the man identified as 38-year-old Sandeep Kumar of Sector 11, Panchkula, broke open the door after getting information that the occupant of the room was not opening the door despite repeated knocks. He was rushed to the PGI, Chandigarh, where his condition was stated to be critical.

The SHO of the Sector 11 police station, Inspector Sukhbir Rana, while ruling out foul play behind the incident, said the door was locked from inside. There was no other entry point to the room. However, we are yet to record the statement of Sandeep to ascertain the events that led him to take such a step.

Sources said Sandeep was found with his throat slit in the room. A broken glass with bloodstains on it was found in the room, which was apparently used for inflicting injuries. Sandeep had hired the room along with his friend Bobby.

A police officer said it appeared that Sandeep, who ran a readymade garment shop in Burail village, had come to the place for gambling. The SHO said the matter is being looked into.

Panchkula, August 13
Unable to cope with the defeat, supporters of a defeated panchayat candidate brutally attacked four supporters of the winning candidate in Baghwali village near Barwala late last night.

The four injured, identified as Sunit Kumar, Rambir, Surjit Singh Baghwali and Rampal, who were admitted to a hospital at Barwala, were rushed to the Sector 6 General Hospital here today. However, Rampal was immediately referred to the PGI as his condition was stated to be serious.

The Mouli police post falling under the Raipur Rani police station has registered the case against Jaswinder Singh, Ravinder Kumar and Raj Kumar under Sections 148, 149, 323, 326, 348 and 506 of the IPC. However, the accused were still at large till the filing of the report.

Giving the details of the incident, Rambir, one of the injured, said they were going to pay obeisance at the Lalawala Peer situated in the village at about 8 pm last night when the accused attacked them with sharp-edged weapons. He said when they raised their voice, the village residents immediately rushed towards them. However, the accused managed to escape from the site.

Rambir said they had supported Bala Devi in the panchayat election held on July 6 last. He said the accused had been pressuring them to vote in favour of the opposition candidate, Kanta Rani, who lost the election, or face dire consequences. He further said since then the three accused had been after them and had been threatening to eliminate them.

Meanwhile, the residents of Baghwali village are up in arms against the police for its failure to nab the culprits. The residents claimed that they had informed the police, but it had failed to arrest the accused. They said they would be forced to launch an agitation if the police failed to nab the culprits. 

Mohali, August 13
A woman, resident of Phase-VI, Mohali, alleged that her in-laws tried to murder her by pouring kerosene oil on her to set her on fire because her parents failed to meet their dowry demands.

According to the FIR registered at the Phase-I police station, Ranjit Kaur complained to the police that on August 6, she was allegedly locked in a room by her husband Jagmohan Singh and members of his family beat her up.

She said her brother-in-law and sister-in-law allegedly poured kerosene on her clothes. To hear her screaming people in the neighbourhood gathered and her in-laws couldn’t set her on fire.

She further said her in-laws then called the police. The police allegedly kept pressuring her parents to reach a compromise. She said there was a threat to her life from her in-laws, but the police had failed to take any action. A case has been registered.

Chandigarh, August 13
Dhruv Agarwal, a CLTA trainee, clinched a thriller beating Pradeep Reddy of AP 6-4, 6-7 (8) 5-4 in the under-18 singles tournament held at the CLTA grounds here today.

Pradeep’s style of play did cause a bit of trouble for his opponent. The variation in pace and direction was handled well by Dhruv, who kept the pressure on rushing the net and winning the crucial points.

Having broken Pradeep in the ninth game of the final set, Dhruv, while, serving for the match squandered three easy match points in the match, which lasted for about 20 minutes with eight deuces. Finally, Pradeep collapsed to ground with cramps and conceded the match.

In another match, Sachin Kumar defeated second seeded Gagan Sharma of Rajasthan in two straight sets 6-3, 6-3 to win the boys’ under-14 singles title.

Another CLTA trainee, Bhavya Wadhawan lifted the trophy in the girls’ under-14 singles category defeating Delhi’s Simran Wadha. Bhavya was leading by 7-5, 6-5 when Simran conceded the match.

Results

Boys’ U-14 singles: Sachin Kumar (CHD) bt Gagan Sharma (RAJ) K6-3, 6-3.

Boys’ U-14 doubles: Vikas Berwal (CHD) & Rahul Seth (CHD) bt Param Pun (CHD) & Shrey Gupta (HAR) 4-0, 4-5 (3), 10-7.

Boys’ U-18 singles: Dhruv Agarwal (CHD) bt Pradeep K Reddy (AP) 6-4, 6-7 (8), 5-4 (concede). Girls’ U-14 singles: Bhavya Wadhawan (CHD) bt Simran Wadhwa (DLI) 7-5, 6-5 (concede).

Girls’ U-18 singles: Jaspreet Kaur (PB) bt Seeulee Upadhyaya (ORS) 6-7, 3-6, 6-3.

Girls’ U-18 doubles: Jasmine Kaur Bajaj (DLI) & Seeulee Upadhyaya (ORS) w/o Aashima Garg (HAR) & Bhavya Wadhawan (CHD).