The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Coloniser refuses to pay power bill
75 households face shortage of water
Tribune News Service

Kharar, February 10
The power connection to the tubewell at Janta Nagar Colony was cut off owing to non-payment of the bills.

Area residents blamed the colony developer Kulwant Singh from JTPL, Mohali, of not paying the bills in time leading to such inconvenience. Area residents SP Jolly, Gurdeep Singh Matharu, Harjit Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Naresh Singla and others said the coloniser was harassing people since long.

They said the area residents have paid water and power bills to coloniser JTPL, Mohali. Janta Nagar is the maiden colony of Janta Land Promoters Limited (JTPL, Mohali).

The coloniser has been allegedly harassing people since July last year by threatening that he would not deposit power bill of the tubewell as well as that of streetlights installed in the colony.

There are around 75 households in the colony that faced acute shortage of water today. Area residents said as per the rules, the coloniser should hand over the colony to the Municipal Council, Kharar, but nothing has been done in this regard so far.

Resident Satpal Sharma said the coloniser had sent a bill of Rs 80,000 to the area residents stating that area residents should pay it themselves. “This is illegal and a harassment of public. The colony is sill under the coloniser and he should pay for the same,” he said.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Kulwant Singh washed his hands off the issue saying that he had no concern with the colony. When apprised that the colony was still under him, Kulwant Singh said, “Twahda jo likhan da dil karda hai likho (write whatever you want to),” and abruptly disconnected the phone call.

8-yr-old kidnapped in Ambala
Attar Singh
Tribune News Service

Ambala, February 10
An eight-year-old child was kidnapped from the Defence Colony area, here today, by some unidentified miscreants.

Acting swiftly, the top police brass rushed to the spot. An alert was sounded and nakas put up all over the town.

According to preliminary reports, Vanish, a student of Class II of Army Public School, Ambala Cantt, alighted from the school bus near his residence in Defence Colony.

His grandmother was waiting to take the child home. However, as the child alighted from the bus, a white-coloured car appeared on the spot and vanished with the child, sources said.

An eyewitness narrated the incident to the parents of the child. This created panic in the family and the child’s father, Ashish Sharma, regional head in a marketing company, immediately informed the police.

Senior police officials, including the IG and the SP, rushed to the residence of the victim. Family members refused to talk to mediapersons. There was no information available if the family had received any ransom call.

Meanwhile, the incident has triggered panic in the town.

Unofficial sources later in the day said a police party had managed to intercept the car carrying the child at Barwala in Panchkula district. Senior police officials were said to have reached Barwala. However, no senior police officer confirmed the development.

Chartered train for Shimla from tomorrow
Our Correspondent

Kalka, February 10
The Kalka-Shimla rail section, which has already made its presence on the World Heritage Map, is now all set to introduce a special train for Shimla from February 12.

Informing this Ajay Kochhar, station superintendent (SS) of the Kalka Railway Station said the department of Railway Ambala Division has commenced “Chartered train” especially for foreign tourists. He said Northern Railway, New Delhi, has made an agreement with a Delhi-based company RK Associates and Hoteliers.

The deed, which has been finalised for February to December, will include around 92 trips.

With this contract, the Railways is expected to earn around Rs 40 lakh, as the company has already deposited Rs 36 lakh.

RK Associates will manage to bring foreign tourists from Delhi to Kalka and from Kalka they will board the Chartered train, which will depart from Kalka at 12.30 pm and 4 pm. From Shimla, the train will depart for Kalka at 8 am.

The company will also bear all the expenditures of the tourists on catering and stay etc.

COURTS

HC raps admn for filing 'frivolous' appeal
UT sought reduction in land compensation, which was never given Court allows to withdraw the appeal, imposes cost of Rs 10,000
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 10
Incredible, but true! The UT administration had filed an appeal seeking reduction in compensation, which was never given to a landowner - an action now decried by
the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Virtually rapping the administration on its knuckles for filing a "totally frivolous" appeal and "non-application of mind", Justice Rajesh Bindal has allowed it to be withdrawn, but not before imposing a cost of ` 10,000.

Justice Bindal also gave the administration the liberty to recover the cost from the 'guilty official'.

Taking up the appeal filed against Mohinder Singh, Justice Bindal asserted: "Union Territory, Chandigarh, is in appeal against the award of the court below, seeking reduction in the amount of compensation awarded by the court below to the respondent on account of superstructure existing on the acquired."

Going into the background of the matter, Justice Bindal asserted: "Vide notification dated January 15, 1999, issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, 1.862 acres in Dadu Majra village was sought to be acquired for development of major institutions in Sector 38 West, Chandigarh. The same was followed by notification dated July 27, 1999, issued under Section 6 of the Act. The Land Acquisition Collector awarded compensation of ` 4,01,896 per acre for the acquired land."

"Vide supplementary award, the collector declined to award any compensation on account of superstructures existing on the acquired land. Dissatisfied with the award of the collector, the landowner filed an objection petition. On reference, the court below upheld the award of the collector," Justice Bindal asserted.

"Advocate PC Dhiman, present in the court pointed out that in the present case, the respondent, in fact, had not been awarded any compensation for the superstructures by the collector and the reference filed before the court below was dismissed. Meaning thereby, the respondent-landowner had, in fact, not been awarded anything. But, still the Chandigarh administration filed an appeal against the award of the court below," the court observed.

"He submitted that appeal filed by respondent Mohinder Singh is pending in this court seeking compensation on account of superstructures existing on the acquired land, wherein it has specifically been mentioned that no amount of compensation was awarded to the landowner on account of superstructures existing on the acquired land," Justice Bindal asserted.

Justice Bindal concluded: "Considering the fact that the appeal filed by the Chandigarh administration was totally frivolous, the appeal is permitted to be withdrawn, however, considering non-application of mind at the stage of filing of appeal, the appellant is burdened with cost of `10,000, which shall be deposited on or before April 30 with the Mediation and Conciliation Centre in this court."

CRIME

Three held for carpenter’s murder
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 10
The police today booked four persons for the murder of a carpenter in Mauli Jagran yesterday and arrested three persons identified as Ajay, Deepak and Ravinder after the victim Vipin succumbed to his stab injuries at a hospital here today.

Another accused Ravi is still absconding, the police said.

All the four accused are residents of Mauli Jagran.

Vipin, who worked as a carpenter, got involved in a scuffle with the four accused over a financial dispute yesterday.

Inspector Rajesh Shukla, Station House Officer (SHO) of the Mani Majra Police Station said they got involved in scuffle earlier also.

The police said they also had a scuffle over a girl, who was known to the victim.

The four accused stabbed Vipin several times in the upper thigh and on his head. They fled and the profusely bleeding Vipin was taken to a hospital by the police.

The police said the knife cut his veins following which it was difficult for doctors to save him and he died at 4 am.

Vipin (35) hailed from Uttar Pradesh and is survived by his wife and a minor daughter.

The three arrested were produced in a court and remanded in police custody till February 12 as the fourth accused is still at large.

The police had initially registered a case under Sections 307 and 34 of the IPC, which was changed to Section 302 of the IPC (murder) after the victim’s death.

3 killed in road mishaps
Tribune News Service

Mohali, February 10
One person was killed in a head-on collision between Tata 207 and Indica car near Mullanpur Garibdas School yesterday. The deceased was identified as Param Singh, a resident of Basantpura village, Rajpura. He had come to meet his uncle in Chandigarh.

Police official stated that the incident took place when the deceased was going towards Rajpura in his car and his brother, Gurpal Singh, a resident of Basantpur village, was also moving towards Rajpura in a separate car. Gurpal told the police that when Param Singh reached near the school, a speeding canter rammed into his car harshly. Param sustained serious injuries and immediately being rushed to the Civil Hospital, Kharar, where he was declared brought dead.

The police said the body of the deceased has been handed over to the family after conducting a post-mortem. A case has been registered against Sanjeev Kumar, a resident of Hoshiarpur, on the complaint of Gurpal Singh.

In another incident, an unidentified person was killed in a road accident yesterday. According to the police, an unidentified person was crossing the road where an unidentified vehicle hit him. The victim, however, could not be identified and the body has been kept at the Civil Hospital mortuary for identification. A case has been registered.

Husband booked for dowry

The Mohali police has registered a case under the Dowry Act against Kuldeep Chand, a resident of Lalru. Complainant Renu Bala, Kuldeep’s wife, alleged that her husband harassed her to bring more dowry. The woman also stated in her complaint that she got married to Kuldeep Chand six years back.

Zirakpur: One person was killed and another injured in a road mishap that took place near KK Brick Kiln on the Zirakpur-Patiala highway, here, last night. While the deceased was identified as Jinder Singh (40), a resident of Kurli, the injured has been identified as Malkit Singh (38), a resident of Kurli.

The police official stated that the incident happened when they were going towards Banur side from Chhat bus stop on their motorcycle. When they reached near the brick kiln, an unidentified vehicle rammed into the motorcycle from rear and they fell on the road.

A passerby informed the police patrolling, which took them to the GMCH-32, Chandigarh, where doctors declared Jinder Singh dead on arrival while Malkit Singh was admitted in a serious condition.

The body of the deceased was handed over to the family after conducting the postmortem. The police said after recording the statement of the injured, a case was registered against the driver of the unidentified vehicle and further investigations were on.

Illegal access to NH-22
35 cars challaned, 2 marriage palace owners booked
Tribune News Service

Zirakpur, February 10
Continuing with its drive to ensure smooth flow of traffic on Zirakpur, Parwanoo, Ambala Highways, the police booked owners of two marriage palaces for disobeying the orders of Deputy Commissioner last night. The police also challaned 35 cars parked outside the marriage palaces.

This is perhaps the first time in recent past that the police, on a complaint made by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has taken action against the owners of marriage palaces for not ensuring parking of vehicles within the premises.

The police registered a case yesterday against political bigwigs and others for disobeying the prohibitory orders of Mohali Deputy Commissioner on direct access of their marriage palace, hotels and commercial establishments to the highway.

A police team, while patrolling, found the vehicles parked outside the marriage palaces in violation of the DC orders. The official said a case under Sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 283 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation) of the IPC was registered against the owners and managers of Sekhon Banquet Hall and Grace Marriage Palace.

The police challaned 35 cars after video graphing the vehicles that were parked outside the marriage palaces.

In another case, the police also booked two bus drivers, including a driver of a school bus of the DPS, Pinjore, for obstructing the smooth flow of traffic on the Zirakpur-Ambala highway, near Richmond Garden.

The police also booked a Dadua-based Universal DJ for playing loud music at Laguna Marriage Palace on the Zirakpur-Ambala highway after 10.30 pm.

A police official said the drive would continue and vehicles would be impounded if found parked along the highways.

Abduction case registered after 2 months
Tribune News Service

Mohali, February 10
The police has registered a compliant of a forest official, Balwinder Singh, Range Officer of the Forest Department, who was detained by unscrupulous elements while he had gone check a complaint of stone quarrying near Tanda village on November 13 last year.

Though the complaint was filed soon after the incident, the police took more than two months to lodge the case.

Balwinder was detained for about 45 minutes. After probing the matter, the police has registered a case under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and the Punjab Land Preservation Act and Sections 342, 349, 353, 186 and 506 of the IPC.

Vegetable vendor stabbed, robbed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 10
A vegetable vendor was stabbed and robbed of cash in Maloya village here this evening. The victim, Kamlesh, sustained grievous injuries and was admitted to the Sector 16 hospital.

The incident took place around 8 pm when four unidentified assailants first stole some tomatoes from his rehri. After a verbal confrontation, the vegetable vendor moved ahead following which one of assailants stabbed him in his back. They then robbed him of Rs 1,800.

The police have registered a case at the Sector 39 police station. The victim told the police that he would be able to identify the assailants.

Head constable suspended
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 10
A head constable was suspended after Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Roshan Lal found him in an inebriated state on duty during a routine check late last night.

Head constable Surinder Singh, posted in the PCR, was suspended and subsequently transferred to Police Lines in Sector 26. The errant cop was posted as the in charge of PCR vehicles and was on flying duty last night at the Hira Singh roundabout around 11 pm.

The medical report of the cop confirmed alcohol in his blood.

SPORTS

610 Punjab sportspersons for National Games

Chandigarh, February 10
Raja KS Sidhu, secretary general, Punjab Olympic Association, will lead the Punjab contingent of 610 sportspersons for the forthcoming 34th National Games to be held at Jharkhand from February 12 to 26. After a delay, the Jharkhand government finalises the dates for the games from the mid week of this month.

The Punjab Olympic Association president has requested the Punjab government for grant-in-aid for preparing the contingent, as time for the preparation for the games is short and the grant-in-aid was only released a few days back.

As the Punjab Olympic Association is racing against time to prepare the contingent, which require training camp/kitting/travel plan/insurance and other formalities for the participation of the athletes in the games.

A total contingent of 600 athletes and officials will be participating in the event. Punjab will be participating in 25 different events of aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling, kayaking and canoeing, fencing, football, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, kho-kho, kabaddi, karate-do, rowing, shooting, table tennis, tae kwon do, triathlon, volleyball, wrestling and wushu.

Whereas in the earlier tournaments, Punjab had attained first position in 2001 games held in Punjab, second in 2003 games held in Hyderabad, while in the last edition of the games held in 2007 in Guwahati, Punjab achieved the seventh position. “We are expecting that we will attain a better position in Jharkhand as a majority of the shooters, who had skipped the Guwahati edition will be participating where Punjab won only one gold medal in shooting,” stated Raja KS Sidhu. Also, international shooters Manavjit Sandhu, Ronjan Sodhi (Asian gold medallist and world record holder), Smit Singh, Sorab Singh and Asian medallist Harveen Sarao and Heena Sidhu will lead the challenge in Jharkhand.