NEIGHBOURHOOD

Republic Day rehearsals on Jan 24
Tribune News Service

Ropar, January 20
Rehearsals for the Republic Day celebrations would be held at the Nehru Stadium on January 24. Deputy Commissioner Arunjit Singh Miglani and other district administration officials today visited the stadium to oversee arrangements for the function.

He said on the Republic Day celebrations, the Punjab Police, Punjab home guard, NCC (senior/junior), St John ambulance, ex-servicemen contingent and school students would present the parade. Students from Shivalik Public School, DAV Senior Secondary School, RTP Power Colony, Satluj Public School and Gurmat Model School, Ropar, would present a cultural programme. Girl students of Government College, Ropar, would present giddha.

Employees of the police department, health, revenue, Markfed, animal husbandry, horticulture, Powercom and other departments would present the tableaux. 

Ambala, January 20
A workshop for teachers about various teaching learning problems was organised at DHD SD Public School here yesterday.

Shefali Ray, the resource person in the workshop, apprised the teachers about various methods to make teaching and learning interesting.

She told the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) scheme referred to a school-based evaluation of students that covers all aspects of a student’s development. Continuous means regular assessments, applying corrective measures and giving feedback to teachers and students for their self-evaluation.

Comprehensive on the other hand attempts to cover both scholastic and co-scholastic aspects of a student’s growth and development, she added.

School principal Neelinderjit Kaur Sandhu said about 150 teachers from different schools attended the workshop.

Patiala, January 20
A five-day workshop on “Capacity Building for Women Managers in Higher Education,” being organised by the Punjabi University’s Women’s Studies Centre got underway on the university campus here recently.

On the first day, the speakers called for making concerted efforts in order to ensure gender equilibrium in the society. University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh, in his presidential address, urged to adopt “Inclusive than exclusive approach” to bring about systematic and structured changes in the area of women empowerment.

Director from the UGC Dr HK Chauhan stressed upon holding residential and non-residential workshops for promotion of women interests. She advocated the cause of making efforts to motivate women to take initiative to explore the possibilities of entering into the decision-making bodies. — TNS

Ambala, January 20
On the direction of Praveen Gupta, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ambala, medical examination of the rape victims was conducted at the civil hospital in Ambala City in the presence of a senior police officer today. The court also recorded the statements of the rape victims.

The women had written a letter to Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court alleging that Baldev Nagar SHO and a police official had raped them while they were in police custody. A few days ago, the High Court had directed Ambala SP to investigate the matter and send the report to the court with in a week.

The rape victims had alleged that the police had arrested five men, three women and a child suspecting them to be the members of Bawaria gang from railway station. They stated that they had come from Rajasthan and sold balloons in the city.

They alleged that they were kept in an illegal custody for several days and were physically abused. The police officials raped two of the three women for several days. The third woman was spared as she was already pregnant. The victims also alleged that one of the women got pregnant after she was repeatedly raped.

Meanwhile, several leaders of the BJP, Congress, HJC and BSP met Deputy Commissioner Samir Pal Saro today and submitted a memorandum. Several office-bearers of social organisations also accompanied them. In the memorandum, they stated that the SHO could not be involved in such a heinous crime as his past record was clean. 

Patiala, January 20
After coming under fire for ignoring violations of building bylaws in the city, senior officials of the municipal corporation have issued strict instructions to its town planning and building branches to ensure buildings that do not comply with MC bylaws or have been built in contravention of the approved plans are not allowed to come up.

Sources close to the local bodies department confirmed its senior department officials in Chandigarh had taken serious note of the widespread violations of bylaws at buildings under construction in the city. “The department have issued verbal instructions to MC commissioner Manjit Singh Narang to set the record straight or else erring officials would have to face action”, the sources added.

Springing into action, Narang issued a notice to a relative of ward no 7 councillor, Sarita Gera of the BJP, directing him to demolish the illegal portion of his shop being built in the area within three days. The notice, issued on November 18, stated in case the needful was not done the MC would itself raze the illegal structure.

“It is really sad that Narang is adopting a pick and choose policy on demolishing illegal structures just to impress his bosses. A letter pertaining to the matter was sent to the concerned wing of the civic body some seven months ago. It said the owner is ready to pay the compounding charges for the structure under question as per the municipal laws”, Sarita, a city resident, told The Tribune. She added MC officials had yet not replied to the letter.

She claimed she has been “deliberately targeted” because she was the one who “kept raising her voice” against illegal structures coming up in the city. “The MC’s selective policy on demolishing such structures results in sheer harassment of city residents,” she added.

When contacted, Narang claimed he was “busy in an official meeting in Chandigarh” and could not comment on the matter.

Chandigarh, January 20
In the line of fire on the issue of law and order, the Chandigarh Police today defended its force by saying there was no laxity in conducting medical examination of Sukhmani Brar and BS Gill.

UT Senior Superintendent of Police Naunihal Singh told the High Court that in both the cases, the police officials got the accused medically examined immediately after their arrest.

Gill was arrested before the death of Dr VN Singh. Brar too is an accused in an accident case.

“In other cases as well, keeping in view the rights to privacy of the citizens under article 21 of the Constitution of India, that the accused of the accident or to that matter even the driver of any car or two-wheeler is under the influence of alcohol, the police officials get them medically examined immediately and file the reports accordingly.”

The SSP added that in case of Sukhmani Brar, the police officials did not deliberately fail, nor did they avoid to arrest her, after the accident. “But for the fact that the offence registered against was bailable, and under Section 46 (4) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, a woman cannot be arrested after sunset without permission of the Judicial Magistrate of First Class,” he added.

In the PIL, advocate HC Arora had earlier sought appropriate directions to the Chandigarh Police to invariably conduct the medical examination of all accused who caused accident due to rash and negligent driving.

The instances of accused Sukhmani Brar and BS Gill were given by the petitioner to bring home his allegation that the Chandigarh Police was not diligent in getting the medically examination of the accused done immediately after the accident, and that with lapse of considerable time, the traces of alcohol disappeared from blood and urine of the accused.

Chandigarh, January 20
The Court of District and Sessions judge, S K Goel, today awarded seven years imprisonment to a youth on charges of killing his friend accidentally.

The UT police had booked Vinod Kumar, who worked as a body guard was arrested on allegations of firing a gunshot at his acquaintance Vijay Prakash which later led to his death.

As per the prosecution, deceased Vijay Prakash on the night of December 22, 2008 was drinking at a tavern in Mani Majra with his friends Kuldip, Deepak, Nanda and Ajay.

As per the prosecution theory, accused Vinod Kumar walked in and entered into a scuffle with the deceased following which he fired at him.

The police had booked him on the charges of murder.

The court had convicted Vinod Kumar for culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 (II) of the IPC as the charges of murder were not proved in the court.

Chandigarh, January 20
Chandigarh girls displayed a spectacular show in the recently-held 56th School National Lawn Tennis Championship 2010-11. The meet was organised by the directorate of sports and youth, Pune.

In the U-17 and U-19 individual events, Nikita Bishnoi and Ravnoor Kaur from the city clinched second and third places, respectively, while in the team event, girls teams (U-17 and U-19) finished second.

Nikita Bishnoi lost to Nehel Sahni from Delhi 2-4, 2-4 in the final. In the match for third place, Chandigarh’s Ravnoor Kaur got the better of Doondi Priya from Andhra Pradesh 2-4, 1-4 in the U-19 category.

The U-19 team consisting of Sania Chibber, Ravnoor Kaur, Bhavita Wadhwa, Harnoor Kaur Mann and Nikhita Sharma finished as runner-up. The team lost to Gujarat 0-2 in the final round.

In the girls’ U-17 final, Delhi team trailed Chandigarh team, comprising Nikhita Bishnoi and Sonali Bansal 0-2.

In the boys’ section, the city’s U-19 team secured the third position. Ajay Yadav, Gurwinder Singh, Digvijay Mehta, Bhavcharan Singh and Garry Singh were the members of the team.

Baldev Singh, senior tennis coach, who accompanied the team, said he was satisfied with the performance of the teams. “Undoubtedly, the school national championship was a tough competition. I am happy with the show put up by my players, especially the girls,” said Baldev Singh. 

Chandigarh, January 20
With his unbeaten 106, Gaurav Gupta helped Chandigarh beat Ropar by three wickets on the opening match of Inter-District Cricket Tournament for FC Mittal Trophy at Ropar.

Batting first, Ropar scored 294 for 8 in 50 overs and Chandigarh achieved the target with one ball to spare. Chandigarh team were penalised for 30 runs for bowling three overs short in the given time. Chandigarh scored 295 for 7 in 49.5 overs.

Earlier, Ropar innings was sustained by Michal Vishal (58 off 73), Amrinder Brar (89 off 76) and Ravinder Singh (34 off 31). Amit Uniyal (2 for 61) and Siddharth Kaul (2 for 55) were the main wicket takers for Chandigarh.

For Chandigarh, Gaurav Gupta slammed a blistering unbeaten century (106 off 87), studded with five boundaries and four sixes. Amit Prashar (57 off 58), Gurkirat Walia (52 off 78) were other notable contributors.

Arshdeep (2 for 32) and Gurpreet (2 for 51) were the main wicket takers for Ropar.

Score

Ropar: 294 for 8 in 50 overs including 30 penalty runs (Michale Vishal 58, Amrinder Brar 89, Ravinder 34, Amit Uniyal 2 for 61 and Siddharth Kaul 2 for 55).

Chandigarh: 295 for 7 in 49.5 overs (Gaurav Gupta 106 n o, Amit Prashar 57, Gurkirat Ahluwalia 52, Arshdeep 2 for 32 and Gurpreet 2 for 51). 

Panchkula, January 20
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation bagged the team championship trophy, whereas Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Indian Oil finished as first and second runners-up, respectively in the XXXI PSPB Inter-Unit Athletics Meet that concluded at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Sector 3, here today.

Siddhanth Thingalaya of the ONGC was declared the best athlete, while Suresh Kumar from the same unit lifted the individual championship trophy. Dr Vizia Saradhi, director, HPCL, gave away trophies to the winners.

Chandigarh, January 20
Gujarat has to chase a victory target of 204 runs by Punjab on the final day of the final match of the Under-19 Cooch Behar Elite Trophy being played at Valsad.

Being trailed by 85 runs in the first innings, Punjab batsmen today hit a total of 288 all out in 73 overs at the close of the third day play.

Earlier, resuming from their overnight 283 for eight in 114 overs, Gujarat batsmen could accumulate just 34 runs today in their yesterday’s total as the team was all out at 317 runs. The bowling honours for Punjab were shared by Gurkirat Singh (four for 77), Gurinder Singh (three for 91) and Sandeep Sharma (two for 59).

The Punjab second innings mainly relied on Anil Sihag and Gurinder Singh’s half centuries. First, Anil Sihag and Gurinder Singh stitched a valuable partnership of 52 runs for the seventh wicket before Anil Sihag was bowled by BH Marai after hitting 58 runs in 111 balls. Gurkirat Singh joined Gurinder Singh when the scoreboard read the total 254 for eight and the two put on 25 valuable runs for the ninth wicket before Gurinder Singh was castled by Marai after scoring run a ball half century (51).

For Gujarat, Marai finished as the highest wicket taker (four for 31), followed by RB Kalaria, who took two wickets for 67.

Brief scores:

Punjab (1st innings): 233 all out in 73 overs.

Gujarat (1st innings): 317 all out in 128.4 overs (Abhishek 66, AA Barot 54, MD Patel 54, AR Patel 23, RB Kalaria 27, KD Patel 23; Gurkirat Singh 4 for 77, Sandeep Sharma 2 for 59, Gurinder Singh 3 for 91).

Punjab (2nd innings): 288 all out in 73 overs (Pargat Singh 42, Mandeep Singh 30, Anil Sihag 58, Love Kumar 24, Mohit Handa 40, Gurinder Singh 51; BH Marai 4 for 31, RB Kalaria 2 for 67).