NEIGHBOURHOOD

Two held for taking bribe
Our Correspondent

Ambala, December 16
The vigilance bureau, Ambala, has nabbed two employees of the Regional Transport Authority, Ambala, for taking bribe of Rs 1,000 from a cloth merchant Ashwani Kumar.

Ashwani had filed a complaint with the bureau that a clerk of the RTA, Rakesh Kumar, and an assistant, Sunita, had been demanding Rs 1,000 from him for renewing his driving license.

According to information, a vigilance team, led by inspector Nirmal Singh, raided at the transport office this noon and nabbed the two employees while taking the bribe.

Nirmal Singh said a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against both officials and they would be produced in the court tomorrow.

Ambala: MM Engineering College, Mullana, is organising “Hydro-2010”, a three-day national conference on hydraulics, water resources, coastal and environmental engineering. The conference, which is being organised under the aegis of Indian Society for Hydraulics, Pune, and International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research, Spain, will conclude on December 18.

AK Kheterpal, engineer-in-chief, public health department, was the chief guest, while Harmail Singh, engineer-in-chief, irrigation department, was the guest of honour. — OC

Patiala: The second edition of chrysanthemum show at Punjabi University witnessed a huge turnout. A number of varieties were displayed during the show. The university authorities have decided to set up a flower valley on the campus covering an area of 10 acres around the university guest house, Waris Bhawan and university observatory.

The university will involve experts from the horticulture and botany departments.— TNS

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 16
A one-year-old girl and her father were killed in an accident, near Jakhwali village, here this evening. The mother of the girl was critical and was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Patiala.

The deceased have been identified as Harpreet Singh (25) of Dadu Majra village in Fatehgarh Sahib and his one-year-old daughter Gurkirat. Surjit Kaur, wife of Harpreet, was admitted in Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala.

As per police officials, Harpreet was on his way from Patiala to Sirhind, along with his family, on a motorbike when a speeding car hit his bike. The car driver fled from the spot, leaving behind the injured.

The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital with the help of area residents where the Harpreet and his daughter were declared dead.

Police officials said a case in this connection would be registered after recording statements of Surjit Kaur. Efforts were on to identify the accused and trace the relatives of the victims by the police.

Chandigarh, December 16
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has found fault with the Centre’s claim of reconsidering an NRI’s case against deportation; and has summoned an officer not below the deputy secretary’s rank from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Taking up a petition filed by Dr Anil Bansal, Justice Surya Kant observed in the open court that on November 30 the Union of India was directed to reconsider the whole matter on humanitarian and sympathetic consideration.

In response, the High Court was informed by Centre’s standing counsel Onkar Batalvi that a letter dated December 13 had been received from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Reproducing the contents of the letter in the order dictated in the open court, Justice Surya Kant observed that the communication stated that the matter had been reconsidered.

But the original record produced by Batalvi before the High Court on the directions from the Bench did not indicate any reconsideration.

Fixing January 17 as the date of hearing in the matter, Justice Surya Kant directed that let officers not below the rank of deputy secretary from the Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreign Division) and Ministry of External Affairs be present before the court during the hearing.

Before parting with the order, Justice Surya Kant again asked the Union of India and other respondents to comply with the November 30 directions to reconsider the matter.

In his petition filed through counsel Anil Malhotra, Dr Bansal had earlier moved the High Court for setting aside the order of September 8 and September 13, vide which it was directed by the respondents that he should not remain in India and should be deported.

Dr Bansal had left for the US in 1992 and had carried a research there. In 1999, he decided to return to India with his family-a decision which did not find favour with his wife and led to the initiation of divorce proceedings.

Dr Bansal was asked to send children after she moved a court in Florida. But Dr Bansal was granted custody of his children by a Delhi court.

He was, however, arrested in the US, where he had gone to take some examination.

But, he managed to find his way back to India, only to find himself facing deportation proceedings.

Chandigarh, December 16
The statements of the doctor in the eight-year-old gangrape case involving former UT Home Secretary NK Jain as the accused were recorded in the court today. Dr Avneet Kaur, the doctor who medically examined the victim, failed to identify the clothes of the victim.

The case dates back to August 14, 2002, when a Shimla-based girl was raped and thrown out of the car near a petrol station in Sector 33 here. The accused, NK Jain, Ram Lal, Surinder Sharma, Baldev Kumar and head constable Narvir Singh, were booked under Sections 376-G (gang rape), 389 (putting a person in fear of accusation of offence in order to commit extortion), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC. During preliminary investigation, the girl had allegedly at NK Jain’s instance charged MK Jain, an industrialist and resident of Sector 8, with raping her. The police had booked MK Jain for the same. However, during investigation it was revealed that MK Jain had been framed in the case by the former Home Secretary and four others. The police had arrested NK Jain following a tip-off on December 23, 2002. He was arrested from outside the Sector 30 office of the CBI, where he had gone in connection with a corruption case against him.

While deposing before the court today, the doctor said she was not sure whether the clothes shown to her were the same that the victim was wearing when she was first examined by her. — TNS

Chandigarh, December 16
The Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, GC Garg, awarded life term to four youths in a murder case.

The accused, Rajinder, alias Bhura of Maloya, along with his accomplices Mandeep, alias Gaggi, Avtar and Gurpreet, alias Babbu, all residents of Saini Majra village, Mohali, had murdered 25-year-old Navin John in Maloya last year. The deceased was their neighbour. The police had arrested the accused on October 8, 2009, on the complaint of deceased’s brother Namlesh John who had stated that it was a revenge killing and the youths had murdered his brother on the night of October 7, 2009.

As per prosecution theory, Rajinder had nursed a grudge against Navin John, as he (Rajinder) feared that Navin would spoil his brother. Rajinder claimed that his younger brother Vikram had taken to drugs and was involved in petty crimes after he came in the deceased’s contact. On seeing his brother with the deceased, Rajinder and his three friends stabbed Navin in his chest. Navin collapsed on the spot and was rushed to the PGI, where he was declared dead on arrival. Relatives of the accused had gathered in large numbers in the courtroom, following which additional police was pressed into service.

Chandigarh, December 16
Nearly a decade ago, the state of Punjab announced its decision of making Mohali a knowledge city; and promised state-of-the-art facilities to multinational giants setting up their businesses. But, after coming to the city, they found pollution and even “ash in the air”.

One of the much-purported achievements in pursuance to the announcement was the coming of Quarkcity. But even the privately held development company with substantial backing from the US investors found itself coping with toxic ash. In fact, the company found itself knocking on the doors of the Punjab and Haryana High Court against pollution allegedly spread by a manufacturing unit.

Though the problem has on the face of it been solved, it has underscored the need for providing better environs to organisations.

In its petition placed before Division Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Quarkcity India Private Limited had sought directions to the State of Punjab and others respondents “to ensure a pollution-free environment by preventing or restraining Crown Milk Specialties Private Limited from creating a dangerous health hazard by releasing suffocating toxic ash in the air”.

This, the organisation had contended, was “in total disregard to the environment norms”.

It was also “blatant infringement of the categorical undertaking inked by the State of Punjab in the agreement dated November 3, 2003, with the petitioner.

Elaborating, the organisation had asserted that the State of Punjab, at the time of attracting foreign direct investment, had undertaken the obligation to ensure the existence of only non-polluting industry in the vicinity of the project.

Quarkcity had also sought directions to the official respondents “to get forensic examination conducted on the toxic ash, being strewn by Crown Milk Specialties Private Limited in the entire area”.

The company had added that it was “much to the discomfort of the residents/workers in the area, for whom the intake of the toxic ash illegally emitted by the respondent had become not only a health hazard, but also an impediment in the smooth working of the construction activities being undertaken by the petitioner, in accordance with the agreement with the State of Punjab, in which time was the essence”.

The Bench noted that status report filed on behalf of the Punjab Pollution Control Board “indicated that the premises of Crown Milk Specialties Private Limited had been inspected on November 30 and it was found that the industry had raised the sidewall around the ash storage area to prevent the particle of storage ash to become air borne and had also replaced the filters of the bag house, air pollution control device, attached with the trema cyclone and thus it had made the compliance of the directions issued by the Punjab Pollution Control Board and no pollution was being caused by the respondent now”.

The Bench concluded: “In view of the matter, no further action is called for and the petition is disposed of.

However, it will be open for the petitioner to challenge the findings arrived at by the Punjab Pollution Control Board before the appellate authority in accordance with law, if it still feels dissatisfied with the same.”

Chandigarh, December 16
The police has booked five persons, including Haryana Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner in connection with the leakage of question papers of the Haryana excise department exam for the promotion of inspectors.

On the complaint filed by KL Sharma under secretary, Haryana Committee of Examination, the police has registered a case of cheating, criminal conspiracy and breach of trust against KS Malik, Haryana Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner; Inspector Suresh Sharma posted at Palwal, Inspector Joginder Dhaka posted at Faridabad, Inspector Ranjit Singh posted at Rohtak, and Inspector Pawan Kumar posted at Panipat.

The promotion examination was conducted by the Haryana Committee of Examination at the Lajpat Rai Bhavan, Sector 15, from December 7 to December 15.

On December 14, the exam of sales tax law was scheduled and during the exam, Suresh Sharma was caught with answers of all 13 questions in a serial order. He was hiding a copy of the question paper with answers in Bare Acts book, which they were allowed to consult during the examination.

Thereafter, they searched all candidates and three more were found with answers in the serial order.

In his complaint, KL Sharma said KS Malik was selected from a panel to set the question paper for the sales tax law. The question paper was sent for printing on December 4.

Chandigarh, December 16
Two persons were arrested with 20 kg of poppy husk in a Punjab Roadways bus here today. The bus driver and conductor caught them, who then handed them to the police.

The accused have been identified as Vijay Kumar (22) and Divinder Kumar (22), both residents of Hoshiarpur. Both accused were coming from Jaipur with the contrabands in the bus.

In their complaint to the police, Parlad Ram, driver, and Sarabjit Singh, conductor of the bus, said both accused hired the bus from Jaipur for Chandigarh and were carrying three bags with them. The bus was stopped at Ambala at a barrier set up by the police. The accused stepped out of the bus on seeing the police, raising suspicion in the mind of the conductor.

The conductor asked the driver to take the bus to the Industrial Area Depot. They then searched the bags and found 20 packets of poppy husk. The police was informed and a case under Section 15 of the NDPS Act was registered at the Industrial Area police station.

Chandigarh, December 16
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Chief Justice Mukul Moudgil and Justice Ranjan Gogoi today issued notice of motion to the Chandigarh Administration, Home Secretary and Inspector-General of Police (IGP) on a public interest litigation by Advocate HC Arora seeking immediate action in hit and run cases.

The petitioner alleged that the Chandigarh Police either does not arrest the accused in the hit and run case promptly or does not conduct their medical examination at the earliest opportunity. As a result, alcohol content from the blood and urine samples of the accused disappears at the time of medical examination.

The invariable consequence is that the accused succeed in getting bail. Arora asserted that if the medical examination is conducted promptly after the accident and if alcohol is traced in the blood or urine samples of the accused, it becomes a case under Section 304 Part II, which is a non-bailable offence.

Zirakpur, December 16
The Zirakpur police has booked Deva, who was working in Satyam Motel situated on Pabhat road on charges of criminal breach of trust. The case has been registered on the complaint of Gurcharan Kaur, a resident of Shimla, Himachal Pardesh.

According to police sources, many incidents of thefts in marriage palaces and hotels have been reported in the recent past. A police official stated that in the absence of CCTV cameras at few hotels and marriage palaces it was found difficult to nab the accused.

However, the suspect was arrested by the Zirakpur police and produced in a local court that remanded him to judicial custody.

In her complaint to the police, Gurcharan Kaur stated that she along with her family members had come to Zirakpur to attend a wedding ceremony on December 12 and stayed at Satyam Motel. She said that a worker of the motel named Deva was coming into her room frequently to count the blankets.

On the morning of November 13 she returned to Shimla where she found that the ornaments were missing from the bag. She along with her family returned to the motel and informed the motel manager about the theft. She suspected that since Deva had visited the room many times he must have taken the jewellery. The manager told them that Deva was missing from the past two days.

“We have to watch video films provided by family members about the reality of the crime,” says a police official.

Dera Bassi SDM Puneet Goyal stated that in a recent meeting with the marriage palace and hotel owners they were strictly told to install CCTV cameras in their hotels and marriage palaces in order to provide security to the visitors. He said the violators would be challaned if anybody failed to install the CCTV cameras in their resorts.

Chandigarh, December 16
Seasoned Smriti Mehra from Kolkata survived a brace of double bogeys on the last two holes to clinch the seventh leg of Hero Honda Women’s Professional Golf Tour on the par-72 greens of Chandigarh Golf Club here today.

Smriti carded a five over 77 on the last day for a three-day tally of 229, to edge out young Neha Tripathi, also from Kolkata, by a one-stroke margin. Neha, who was trailing the leader by five strokes yesterday, fought back with a one over par 73 card, the best of the tournament, but ended up occupying the second slot just one stroke behind Smriti.

Local favourite Saaniya Sharma and 18-year-old pro debutante Taanya Wadhwa shared the best back nine scores when the two fired two-under 34 scores in the final round, with Saaniya firing an eagle on the par-4 10th hole.

Saaniya came back after being four over par 40 at the turn. Tanya fared even worse in the first nine, a five over par 41, due to a triple bogey on the fourth.

Smriti lost a stroke each on the first and fourth before birding the seventh to be one over par 37 at the turn.

The seasoned golfer seemed well on her way to clinching the title. At this stage, Neha Tripathi had erased three strokes from the five-shot deficit margin sinking birdies on the 12th, 14th and 15th.

Smriti conceded a double bogey on the 17th. Neha bogeyed to cut down the margin to just one stroke.

Chandigarh, December 16
Paramveer Singh Bajwa and Udyan Bhakar set up the title clash in the boys’ under-12 category in the AITA Talent Series Tennis Tournament for U-12 and U-16 boys and girls at the CLTA, Sector 10, here today.

Bajwa beat Sumitpal Singh in straight sets 6-1, 6-3 in the first semifinal, whereas Udyan got the better of Param Pun 6-0, 6-4 with quite ease.

All final matches of both singles and double categories will be played at the CLTA Complex tomorrow from 10.30 am onwards.

Other results:

Boys’ U-16 (semifinals): Ranjeet Singh bt Pranav Suri 6-2, 6-3; Hardeep Singh Sandhu bt Jajbir Singh 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Girls’ U-12 (final): Prinkal Singh bt Saumya Saxena 6-1, 2-6, 6-1.

Girls’ U-16 (semifinals): Prabhuti Singhania bt Charvi Saxena 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; Bhavya Wadhawan bt Nikita Bishnoi 6-0, 2-6, 6-1.

Boys’ U-12 doubles (semifinals): Rohit Kumar & Calvin Golmei bt Ankrish Khanna & Naval Avasthi 6-1, 6-3; Rishabh Sharda & Rishi Khirwar bt Himanshu Bansal & Gaurav Seth 6-2, 6-0.

Boys’ U-16 doubles (semifinals): Sachin Kumar & Ranjeet Singh bt Ishaque Eqbal & Nishat Eqbal 6-0, 6-3; Hardeep Sandhu & Jajbir Singh bt Uday Singh Mann & Pranav Suri 6-4, 5-7, 11-9.

Chandigarh, December 16
A superb unbeaten ton (107 runs off 167 balls) by Kunal Mahajan steered Panjab University (PU) team to register five-wicket win over Kurukshetra University (KU) in the ongoing North Zone Inter-Varsity Cricket Tournament at Kanpur today.

The win also enabled the team to secure their berth in the semifinal round.

Earlier on the second day of the match, PU were at 183 for five when the match ended.

In reply to KU’s 182 all out in 82 overs, Kunal Mahajan spearheaded the batting front, displaying top class form. Facing 167 balls, he smashed three sixes and seven boundaries to complete his ton. He was well supported by Ankit Kaushik, who chipped in 55 runs.

Brief score:

KU: 182 all out in 82 overs (Mandeep Singh 65 not out; Robin 4 for 35, Harpreet Singh 3 for 37, Gurpreet Singh 3 for 39).

PU: 183 for 5 (Kunal Mahajan 107 not out, Ankit Kaushik 55). — TNS