NEIGHBOURHOOD

Motorcyclist crushed to death
Our Correspondent

Kalka, August 24
A recklessly driven truck crushed a motorcyclist here today. According to police, the accident occurred in afternoon on the NH-22 near Surajpur, when Kirti Mohan (35), a resident of Jalandhar, was coming from Ambala from his sister’s place on his motorcycle PB-08VN-4828 and was going to Baddi, when the truck hit his scooter.

Kirti Mohan died on the spot. The body was sent to Kalka Civil Hospital for autopsy. The truck driver, however, fled. The police has registered a case against the absconded driver. The victim was working as a manager with a rubber company in Jharmajri near Baddi in Himachal Pradesh. 

Kalka, August 24
A tussle between the management of Hindu Girls Senior Secondary School, Kalka, and three science lectures led to the closure of science wing in the school.Sources in the District Education Office, Panchkula, confirmed that the science wing in the school had been closed from this session and the school management had recently relieved the three science teachers on August 6.

The three lecturers- Sudha Agnihotri, Minni Khanna and Minakshi have challenged the management’s decision in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and have got a stay. They have resumed duties.

The three lectures alleged that the school administration had been harassing them since long. The administration had intentionally not given admission to the science students this year and shifted the science labs. Their salary of more than 16 months is pending.

The school management committee, however, said science wing had been closed on the directives of Education Minister of Haryana on May 27.

The managing committee, which is facing acute financial crises, had met Education Minister recently and was in touch with the Education Minister Haryana, director senior secondary education, through DEO, Panchkula, to shift science wing.

The strength of students in Class XI is nil and in Class XII its only seven students, which is too less against the norms of the education department of minimum number of 15 students in each department.

Dera Bassi, August 24
The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (Powercom) today suspended a junior engineer (JE) posted here over graft charges.XEN Major Singh said JE Krishan Kumar was suspended on orders of the Chief Engineer (Operations South) at Patiala after some farmers repeatedly complained against the JE. Some farmers of Paragpur village, near here, alleged that after they got approval from the department for installation of transformers, Krishan Kumar had demanded bribe for carrying out the work.

The farmers had then approached the higher authorities and complained against the JE. After they protested for several days for strict action against the JE, he was transferred.

This did not cool tempers, with the farmers demanding his suspension. They threatened to bring the issue to the notice of the Chief Minister during his visit here on August 26. Buckling under pressure, Powercom issued orders for detailed verification of the matter and suspended the JE till the submission of the investigation report.

Ambala, August 24
Lives of hundreds of devotees visiting the ‘dargah’ of Pir Baba Mama Bhanja at Ambala Cantonment are at risk as an 80-year-old tree has fallen on it and no one is ready to remove it due to litigation.

The Army authorities and the civilian staff of the military farm have a case pending in the local court on responsibility for the functioning of the ‘dargah’.

The civilian staff of the military farm has a committee, registered under the name of the Pir Baba Committee Military Farm, Ambala Cantonment. It has been functioning for over four decades, looking after the functioning of the ‘dargah’.

A year ago, the Army sealed the money donation box and decided to take charge, to which the employees protested and filed a case in a local court.

The ‘dargah’, situated beside the trunk of the tree, has a make-shift roof of tin sheets. After heavy rain over a month ago, a major portion of the tree, including branches, broke and fell on the tin sheets.

The tin sheets are now barely a few feet above the ground due to the weight. Devotees visiting the ‘dargah’ every Thursday face danger as the structure can give way any time. The money donation box at the ‘dargah’ is full and the money being offered now lies in the open.

Talking to the Chandigarh Tribune, Nandu Yadav, a committee member, said neither the committee, nor the Army was doing anything due to the pending case. The committee had written to the Cantonment Board and the District Forest Officer to remove the tree, but no action had been taken so far.

Chandigarh, August 24
On the eve of ‘Raksha Bandhan’ yesterday when women thronged markets to select ‘rakhis’ for their brothers, a retired army colonel was booked by the police for allegedly defrauding his sister and ailing father of Rs 2.25 lakh by fraudulently obtaining the latter’s ATM card.

Anupamdeep Kaur, a resident of Sector 38 West, accused her brother, Col (retd) Amardeep Singh, a Sector 9 resident, of withdrawing the money from a joint account she had opened with her father in State Bank of Patiala’s Sector 8 branch.

She alleged Amardeep got hold of the ATM card belonging to their 92-year-old father, who is bedridden. She further claimed her brother kept on withdrawing money fraudulently even as their father was in coma and battling for his life.

The economic offences wing of the Chandigarh police has registered a case of cheating under section 420 of the IPC against Amardeep on Monday after investigating the matter for the past six months. Anupamdeep had filed a complaint with the UT inspector-general of police on February 8.

In her complaint Anupamdeep had alleged her brother had invented a “unique device” to withdraw funds from her bank account. She said her brother knew fully well about her joint account in which all the funds were exclusively meant for her.

Anupamdeep accused her brother of obtaining an ATM card issued in their father’s name against the advice of the bank’s officials as their father was suffering from mental as well as physical ailments.

She alleged the fraud came to light when she found out a substantial amount of money had been withdrawn from her account from August 17 to December 16, 2009. She maintained as her father was not in position to operate his ATM card it 
was fraudulently used by her brother.

Anupamdeep told the police she obtained bank records that showed her brother had withdrawn the money using the ATM card.

A police officer said a local court had given directions to issue a three-day notice to the suspect before arresting him. 

Dera Bassi, August 24
The police has registered a case against M/S Nahar Industrial for making false documents of a van and not submitting tax to transport department.This case was registered on the recommendation of district transport officer, Mohali, under Section 420, 465, 467 and 468.

According to the report of the district transport officer, company’s Maxicab Pb65 f 1255 was running without submitting tax of Rs 45,000.

Some false documents were formed in which it was shown that some tax money was submitted to the office of district transport officer, Ludhiana, but this information and documents were found false after inquiry, DTO, Mohali, added.

The factory van was raided near Lehli by DTO, Mohali.

Chandigarh, August 24
Both local outfits, Chandigarh Hockey Academy and Shivalik Public School won their respective matches in the 9th SN Vohra Sub-Junior (U-14) Hockey Tournament at the Hockey Stadium, Sector 42, here today.

While Shivalik Public School, Mohali, thrashed Swami Vivekanand Hostel, Palwal, by 7-0, the Chandigarh Hockey Academy beat BUSH Academy, Tarn Taran, by 4-0.

In the first match between Shivalik team and Vivekanand team, the former dominated the proceedings throughout the game.

Sahil opened the account for the winner in the sixth minute following a beautiful move after which there was no looking back. Gursewak converted the penalty corner in the 13th minute to extend the lead to 2-0.

In the span of four minutes, the team witnessed three more goals through Sukhjit (16th), Harjot (18th) and Manjinder (20th).

During the lemon break, the score was 5-0. The Vivekanand team tried hard for a breakthrough, but were not allowed by the solid defensive line of the rivals. In the second half, Arvinder sounded the board, while taking the penalty corner in the 43rd minute.

The 7-0 victory was sealed by Gursewak in the 50th minute with his second goal in the game. In the second match, Harmeet scored two goals to help Chandigarh Hockey Academy to register 4-0 win over BUSH academy.

Harmeet provided a big boost for the team with his first goal in the fourth minute of the game. The goal was a result of successful conversion of penalty corner by him.

The second chance in the shape of penalty corner came in the 15th minute and this time Hartaj rose to the occasion and made the score 2-0. Powered by the lead, Harmeet again struck in the 33rd minute through a beautiful field goal, while Gurjit made it 4-0 in the 45th minute. The match between BMS Lobana Academy, Baba Bakala and Surjit Academy, Jalandhar, went in favour of the former by 5-1.

For the winning team, Bramdeep (3rd), Shamsher (6th), Harmanpreet (29th), Inderjit (43rd) and Harmanpreet (58th) were the scorers.

Tomorrows’ Fixture

Match 1: Shivalik Hockey Academy, Mohali vs Malwa Khalsa School, Ludhiana, 3.30 pm Match 2: Mehta Gurukul Academy, Doraha vs MRS Hockey Academy, Amritsar, 4.45 pm 

Chandigarh, August 24
Panjab University, Chandigarh, got the better of Guru Gobind Singh College (GGSC), Sector 26, by 27-10 to lift the Panjab University Inter-College Netball (women) Championship on the university campus here today.

In powerlifting (women) championship, Government College for Women, Ludhiana, won the top honours. The winners made total 11 points while GGS College, Sector 26, finished second with 10 points. PU Campus and MTS Memorial College for Women, Ludhiana, were declared third jointly.

Results

Netball final: Panjab University Campus bt GGS College for Women, Sector 26, 27-10.

Match for third place: PG Government College, Sector 11, bt PGGCG, Sector 42, 28-21.

Mohali, August 24
Punjab team managed to reach the semifinal round of the Buchi Babu Tournament at Chennai.Due to rains, no pool match of the tournament could be completed and draw system was adopted for the semifinal round.Punjab was lucky to enter the semifinal round where the team will take on Kerala on August 26 and 27.

Earlier, the final league match between Punjab and Vidarbha, which started yesterday, was reduced to 73 overs each innings due to rain.

Batting first, Punjab put on 250 for eight in 73 overs before the rain interrupted the proceedings. A knock of 72 runs by Bipul Sharma and Vishwas Bhalla’s 65 runs were the highlight of the innings. The other notable contributor was Sarul Kanwar, who chipped in 27.

Sandeep Singh emerged as the main wicket taker for Vidarbha with his three-wicket haul.

After the match was called off, both the teams split one point each. At the end of the league stage, Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad, Vidarbha and Punjab were at three points each. 

Chandigarh, August 24
Panjab University authorities today honoured the members of its swimming team, who had won overall championship in the All-India Inter-University Swimming (Men) Championship, concluded at Kolkata last week.

PU Vice-Chancellor Prof RC Sobti patted the sportspersons for their achievement, while PU sports director Dr CS Grewal was also present. “Our swimmers have brought laurels to the university. Soon we will have all-weather pool here on our premises to facilitate our swimmers,” said Dr Grewal.

The names of the achievers are:

4X100 m free style relay: Amarpal Singh Grewal, Rajbeer Singh, Harinderjit Saini and Jashandeep Singh, first.

50 m breast stroke: Jashandeep Singh, first.

100 m breast stroke: Jashandeep Singh, first.

200 m breast stroke: Jashandep Singh, first.

100 m frees style: Rajbir Singh, second.

4X200 m free style relay: Rajbeer Singh, Kamaljeet Singh, Amarpal Singh and Jashandeep Singh, second.

4X100 m medley relay: Rajbeer Singh, Amarpal Singh, Harjinderjit Saini and Jashandeep Singh, second.