The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Encroachments galore at busy market
Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 5
Illegal encroachments under Bridge no. 22 is a cause of concern for city residents. While the entire walking path is encroached upon by shopkeepers by placing their tandoors and cooking stoves, others have also left no space for the passersby.

While the traffic bottlenecks have increased tremendously due to the menace, the entire district administration has failed to remove these encroachments despite repeated requests by city residents.

“Shopkeepers fry fish and keep gas cylinders openly on the pavements, due to which it is next to impossible to walk,” said social activist Ravee Singh Ahluwalia.

“The administration should look into it, as the entire stretch was once considered to be the pride of Patiala and several film shootings had also taken place”, he said.

While the traffic problem has increased due to encroachments, it’s the common man who has to bear the brunt. A senior resident further alleged that despite a gurdwara in their vicinity liquor and non-veg was being openly served and consumed.

“Devotees who go to pay obeisance in the gurdwara feel disheartened at the scene outside,” he added.

Notably, the entire stretch from Leela Bhawan to City Centre has been illegally occupied by the shopkeepers due to lack of initiative from authorities concerned.

The bottleneck for others commuters mean that regular traffic jams and parking vows has become a common feature.

"This is a part of our shop and we are paying thousands of rupees as bribe every month,” said a shopkeeper, who accused MC officials of accepting bribe.

MC officials claim that they have tried to remove the encroachments several times, but things are back to square one.

Municipal Commissioner MS Narang said he would initiate a drive against the violators. “We do keep a check on encroachments, but shopkeepers just don’t budge,” he said, adding that they would soon challan shopkeepers for encroachments.

Raids to detect misuse of LPG cylinders
Attar Singh/TNS

Ambala, January 5
The Ambala district administration has launched a campaign against the use of domestic LPG cylinders for commercial purposes. Raids were conducted at a number of places in the Ambala Cantonment today, wherein domestic LPG cylinders were seized from commercial establishments.

Deputy Commissioner Sameer Pal Srow told The Tribune that there was no shortage of domestic LPG supply in the district. He said he had issued instructions to all three executive magistrates in the district to conduct the raids to detect the misuse of domestic LPG cylinders.

He said instances had been brought to his notice where domestic gas cylinders were being used at marriage palaces, restaurants and roadside dhabas.

Officials of the district food and supply department said the raids had been conducted at several places in Mahesh Nagar area of Ambala Cantonment and seized three domestic LPG cylinders from “Chinese Hut” and “Ashu Naan”.

It was found that the domestic LPG cylinders were being used at these establishments. Cases against them had been registered at the Mahesh Nagar police station under the Essential Commodities Act and the cylinders had been impounded.

These officials said there was a spurt in the demand of LPG during winters. Keeping this in view, the civil supply department was regularly monitoring the situation about the availability of LPG cylinders. They said efforts were being made to ensure that there was no black marketing of LPG in the district.

Players honoured

Ambala, January 5
Police DAV Public School, Ambala City, honoured the upcoming players of the school at a function organised to celebrate the first anniversary of its boxing ring here today. Ambala SP Shashank Ananad was the chief guest. The chief guest honoured boxers, including Gourav Atwal, Rahul Bhagal, Rahul Singh, Dipanshu, Sidharth, Ashirwad, Ankit Saini, Nishan Sandhu and Akhilesh.

Lawn tennis players Devnder, Sahil, Yogender, Rahul, Vijeta and Amandeep and players of table soccer Devnder and Kulkin were also given appreciation letter. School principal Vikas Kohli was also present. — OC

Tae Kwan Do
Kavita clinches black belt

Kalka, January 5
Kavita Rani, a resident of Kalka, has brought laurels by clinching black belt in the 25th National ITF Tae Kwan Do Championship, which was recently held in New Delhi.

Kavita’s coach Sanjay Kumar said Kavita, who is a student of Class XII, has won bronze medal in the age group of 13 to 18 was also honoured by school principal RC Sharma. — OC

COURTS

Plea for shifting SSP’s residence
HC asks admn to furnish list of houses
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 5
Justice Surya Kant of the Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday asked the UT administration to submit a list of occupants of type 5 and 6 houses, while taking up a petition for shifting Senior Superintendent of Police Naunihal Singh’s official accommodation.

The administration had moved the High Court, as a house open from three sides was not considered safe for the SSP.

Directions were sought to shift the official accommodation from house No. 1 to No. 12 in Sector 7.

UT Inspector General of Police had earlier written to the Home Secretary to shift the official residence earmarked for the SSP three months ago.

The administration had, during the previous hearing, expressed “urgency” in requesting the court to decide the application moved by it, demanding shifting of house.

CRIME

Molestation Case
Chargesheet filed against teacher
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, January 5
The police today filed a chargesheet against the music teacher of Army Public School, Chandi Mandir, Sham Bahadur Thapa, who is accused of molesting four students of Class V.

The police said Thapa was molesting students since one month. The police further said two victims were molested during the lunch break, while two other victims were abused during the music period.

Mother of one of the victims reported the shameful act to the school principal after the students brought the matter to their parents’ notice. Thereafter, other parents also complained to the principal in this regard.

A case under molestation was registered after school principal Lt Col (Retd) NR Baberwal filed a case with the Chandi Mandir Police Station. The principal had also conducted an internal inquiry before filing the complaint.

After finding Thapa guilty, the school lodged an FIR against the teacher.

Thapa had fled after the police raided his house in Sector 25 after registering the case. However, the accused surrendered before the local court on December 6. He was released after furnishing a bail bond of Rs 10,000.

The music teacher had alleged that two teachers of the school had hatched a conspiracy against him, as he had refused to teach the ward of one of the school teachers.

Case filed in gangrape of mentally challenged girl
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, January 5
The Chandimandir police station filed a case against unidentified suspects for allegedly raping a mentally challenged and blind girl here late Tuesday night. According to sources the police acted on the directions of deputy commissioner Ashima Brar after residents of Ramgarh village accompanied by the victim’s mother and brothers accused the cops of trying to “shield” the suspects under “political pressure”. They victim’s relatives had told Brar when they had approached the in charge of the police post the official present there did not accept their complaint, the sources added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the victim’s brother, Parveen, a resident of Ramgarh, had in his complaint to the police alleged two youths had gangraped his sister on December 2. He had stated his mother, Krishan, along with my sister had gone to the nearby forest area to attend the call of the nature.

“My mother, who was surprised to see her daughter missing from the scene, searched for her and returned home after failing to find her. I along with my brother and mother again searched for her and found the girl abandoned in a deep gorge with her clothes removed”, Parveen alleged.

Confirming a case of rape had been registered under section 164 of the IPC, Chandimandir police station SHO Jangsher said the victim’s statement had been recorded.

FIR registered in missing girl’s case
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 5
The Chandigarh police has registered an FIR on the complaint of its own constable Sadashiv Tripathi, whose minor daughter Pratima went missing from his house on October 10 last year. The FIR was registered on December 20, four days after Tripathi approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court through his wife Rajeshwari Tripathi

Taking up the matter, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur had on the previous date of hearing directed the UT Administration and the Senior Superintendent of Police to file their response to the petition. As the case came up for resumed hearing on Wednesday, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur was informed by the UT crime branch that the police had recovered the girl on January 3 from Gandhi Colony in Sector 4, Panchkula.

Giving details of the progress, the police said after receiving Tripathi’s complaint on October 12, 2010, investigation of the case was handed over to the crime branch. The police registered a case of kidnapping and criminal conspiracy on December 20 under Section 363 and 120B of the IPC at police station Sector 26.

Pratima was found to be living with one Pradeep as his wife. Pratima claimed she had not been kidnapped, but was in love with Pradeep. The Bench was also informed the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate directed that the girl be sent to Nari Niketan, Chandigarh, till January 6.

As Tripathi’s elder daughter Garima’s whereabouts are also unknown, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur directed the investigation officer to trace out Garima and file a status report.

Four held for begging
Our Correspondent

Mohali, January 5
The police has arrested four persons, wearing saffron-coloured clothes, who were found begging in the market at Phase III B 2.

According to the police, the arrested persons were Yamla, Jaspal, Jaikara, residents of Ahmedgarh village in Sangrur district and Mali, resident of Spera Colony in Ludhiana.

A case under Section 3 of the Punjab Prevention of Begging Act, 1971, was registered against them.

SPORTS

Cooch Behar Elite Tie
Punjab take 100-run lead
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 5
The Punjab team took 100 runs lead in the first innings after it bundled out the UP Cricket Academy (UPCA) under-19 team for 309 runs in 101 overs on the third day of the Cooch Behar Elite Tie quarterfinal being played at the Holkar Ground in Indore today.

Resuming at 197 for six, UP lost their seventh wicket at 239 when overnight batsman Saurav Kumar was snapped by wicketkeeper Mohit Handa of the bowling of medium pacer Sandeep Sharma.

The seventh wicket stand was worth 54 runs. JK Singh did not last long and chased away swinger from Sandeep Sharma into the gloves of wicketkeeper Handa. AS Rajput, who joined Shivansh, added 30 runs for the ninth wicket before Shivansh, who had been batting with great application, became the next victim of Sandeep, Mohit Handa combine for 84.

Rajput then combined with last man SH Malik added 32 runs for the last wicket before a strong throw from the deep by Pargat Singh caught.

For Punjab, Sandeep Sharma four for 92 and Gurkirat Singh two for 49 were the main wicket takers. Mohit Handa gave a slick display behind the stumps by taking six catches.

Punjab after getting a lead of 100 runs in the first innings started on a dismal note when their opener Manan Vohra was castled by Rajput for two with the team’s total reading 12 for one. Pargat, too, added 28 runs for the second wicket with Ankit Pursharthy before being snapped by wicketkeeper JK Singh off Rajput for 12. At this stage, skipper Mandeep Singh joined Ankit and the two took the total to 74 when Mandeep Singh was cleaned up by Saurab Kumar for 20 of 32 balls reducing Punjab to 74 for three in 22.3 overs.

Anil Sihag (39 not out) and Ankit Pursharthy (58 not out) stitched an unbeaten partnership of 72 runs for the fourth wicket taking the team’s total to 146 for three in 58 overs at the close of the play. Punjab took their overall lead to 246.

For UP, Rajput two for 56 and Saurab Kumar one for seven were the main wicket takers. Saurav Kumar returned the astounding figures of 17-13-7-1.

Brief scores

Punjab 1st innings: 409 for all out in 108.3 overs (Mandeep Singh 104, Anil Sihag 107, Manan Vohra 43, Love Kumar 43, Pargat Singh 26, Mohit Handa 50; SH Malik 5 for 123, AS Rajput 3 for 106.

UP 1st innings: 309 for all in 101 overs (Ashish Singh 70, Prakshan Farazm 41, Shivansh Sharma 84, Aman Litt 22, Saurab Kumar 19, AS Rajput 42; Gurkirat Singh 2 for 49, Gurinder Singh 1 for 76, Kamal Passi 1 for 84, Sandeep Sharma 4 for 92.

Punjab 2nd innings: 146 for 3 in 58 overs (Ankit Pursharthy 58 not out, Anil Sihag 39 not out; AS Rajput 2 for 56 and Saurab Kumar 1 for 7).

Harpreet fashions Mohali Orange win
Tribune News Service

Mohali, January 5
Quick fire 86 of 73 balls by Harpreet Sunny helped Mohali Orange beat Mohali Blue by 16 runs in a match held at PCA Stadium here today. After winning the toss, Mohali blue elected to field first.

Put into bat Mohali Orange scored 220 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their stipulated 35 overs. Harpreet Sunny 86, Sumit Ohri 30 and Sukhdev 26 were the main scorers. For Mohali Blue Barnder Singh was the pick of the bowlers as he scalped three wickets giving away 33 runs. Harmeet Bansal was the other bowler who took one wicket for 46 runs.

Chasing the victory target of 221 runs Mohali blue scored 204 runs for 9 in 35 overs. Thus the team fell short of 16 runs despite 108-run partnership between Mayank and Yuvaraj for the third wicket. Mayank Sidana 87, Yuvraj Sngh 32 and Lucky Channi 21 were eh main scorers. For Mohali Orange, Parminder and Gurkirat were the main demolishers of the opponent team as they scalped three wickets each giving away 42 and 15 runs, respectively. Manpreet Gony was the other bowler who took one wicket for 16 runs.

Brief scores

Mohali Orange: 220 for 7 in 35 overs (Harpreet Sunny 86(73), Sumit Ohri 30( 46), Sukhdev 26 (28), Barinder Singh 3 for 33, Harmeet Bansal 1 for 46).

Mohali blue: 204 for 9 in 35.0 overs (Maayank Sidana 87(70), Yuvraj Singh 32 (48), Lucky Channi 21(23), Parminder 3 for 42, Gurkirat Mann 3 for 15, Manpreet Gony 1 for 26).

Tricity Premier League
Jaswinder, Parvesh script Pace Riders win
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 5
Jaswinder Saini and Parvesh Sharma helped the Pace Riders beat Punjabi Tigers by eight wickets in the Tricity Premier League being held at the BTS Academy grounds in Sector 48 here today.

After winning the toss, Punjabi Tigers elected to bat first and scored 175 for the loss of five wickets in 35 overs. Vaibhav Sharma (80 in 91 balls) and Mayank Sidhu (37 in 70 balls) were the main scorers. For Pace Riders, Parvesh Sharma was the pick of the bowlers, who took three wickets giving away 38 runs.

In reply, Pace Riders achieved the target of 176 runs losing only two wickets in 34.1 overs. Jaswinder Saini (80 in 105 balls) and Parvesh Sharma (59 in 77 balls) were the main scorers. For Punjabi Tigers, Shubham Arora was the only bowler, who impressed with his bowling figures of one for 15.

Brief scores

Punjabi Tigers: 175 for 5 in 35 overs: Vaibhav Sharma (80 in 91 balls), Mayank Sidhu (37 in 70 balls), Parvesh Sharma (3 for 38).

Pace Riders: 176 for 2 in 34.1 overs: Jaswinder Saini (80 in 105 balls), Parvesh Sharma (59 in 77 balls), Shubham Arora (1 for 15).

Tomorrow’s fixtures: Modgill Challengers vs Punjabi Tigers at 9.30 am at BTS Cricket Academy, Sector 48.