NEIGHBOURHOOD

Day 21: Farmers burn Sukhbir’s effigy
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, February 13
People residing near the Ghaggar have a reason to cheer as they will soon have a bridge over the river between Amlala and Krala villages.

Amlala residents besides those of the adjoining villages held a meeting with Sant Meeraji Ghramwale and decided to construct a bridge over the river soon with the support of people.

Farmer leader Balihar Singh Bally and sarpanch Sitar Mohammad said Sant Meeraji, who had already constructed bridges over the river at some other places, had promised to construct a bridge over the river between Amlala and Krala villages soon.

A drive to raise funds would soon be launched after the Rabi season. Dera Bassi MC former president Amritpal Singh had also promised a financial help of Rs 1 lakh for the construction of the bridge.

The bridge will facilitate easy mobility to the people of Dera Bassi, Lalru, Banur and Kharar.

Patiala, February 13
Gender equality is not only a moral and rights issue but is also a question of economic growth and social development, even as it contributes to high economic performance and underpins any nation’s social and environmental sustainability. This was stated by Byrganym Aitimova, permanent representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, in her address on the inaugural day of the two-day international conference on “Women and child issues: National and international perspectives” being organised by the Punjabi University’s Women’s Studies Centre (WSC) recently.

Aitimova advocated the cause of ensuring higher visibility to improve connection between normative framework and their implementation on the ground at the country level.

Punjabi University’s Registrar, Dr Manjit Singh in his presidential address highlighted the poor plight and discriminatory attitude of the male-dominated society against women at the global level. He advocated launching literacy movement on priority basis to improve the conditions of women.

Noted political scientist, Dr Manorma Kohli in her keynote address said women had remained a deprived segment of society with social practices and prejudices playing a negative role.

There would be 21 technical sessions during the two-day conference dealing with various issues concerning women and children development.

Mohali, February 13
Punjab forest minister Tikshan Sud has taken a serious note of forest department officials being falsely implicated in a case of assault and intimidation of certain persons named in different cases of sand mining in the Naya Gaon and Nadha area.

On Friday, the police had booked forest range officer Gurman Singh, guards Devinder Singh, Sahib Singh and Amrik Singh along with six others for allegedly threatening and assaulting Varinder Singh, a suspect in a sand mining case.

The police, on the other hand, said the case was registered after the victims moved court alleging non-registration of a case.

The minister said it was a serious matter and he had directed the Secretary Forest to probe the matter. “I have also talked to the Mohali SSP, who has assured of fair inquiry into the matter,” said the minister.

Meanwhile, senior officials of the forest department are up in arms against the Mohali police for implicating the department’s officials in the allegedly false case at the behest of the sand mining mafia.

Reacting to the development, the Indian Forests Service Association, while condemning the registration of the case, said instead of taking action against habitual offenders, the police had booked officials who were trying to enforce the environment protection laws.

Residents of Nadha and nearby areas, in a representation to the Forest Minister, stated that the police was hand in glove with the sand mining mafia.

Despite instructions to keep a check on the activities of the mafia, the police was mum on the issue.

Divisional forest officer Vishal Chauhan said those who had lodged the case with the police were habitual offenders.

An official in the forest department alleged that it had been pointed out that ever since they had lodged a complaint with the police, officials from the Naya Gaon police had been repeatedly calling them to reach a compromise with the opposite party. “Is it the role of the police to probe a matter fairly or to pressurise people to reach a compromise?” he added.

Mohali, February 13
Holding HDFC Bank responsible for harassing its customer on account of demanding an outstanding amount of Rs 35,254 for using a Visa card, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the financial institution to pay a compensation of Rs 2,000 to the complainant and withdraw the demand notice issued to him.

While handing down the judgment on a complaint filed by Daulat Singh, a resident of 1711, Phase-3B2, Mohali, the forum comprising BS Mehandiratta, president, Dr SS Dhaliwal and HK Ghuman, both members, observed that the demand made by HDFC Bank was illegal and amounted to deficiency of services.

The complainant alleged that he had an account with the bank since 2006 and had never applied for the credit card facility.

However, he received a Visa Gold card from the bank and after some days the bank asked him to pay an outstanding amount of Rs 23,924 by November, 2009 for using Visa Gold credit card.

Despite informing the bank about the anomaly, the bank threatened to include his name in the defaulters’ list and share his account with other banks and financial institutions and also to refer the account to outsource associates for collection of funds.

The bank continued to send him letters to pay the outstanding amount and threatened to debit it from his HDFC Bank account.

He then received a communication that his account had been frozen and that payment of his two installments of the car loan out of that account had been stopped despite the fact that Rs 18,634.54 was still lying in credit in his account.

He further alleged that the bank threatened to recover the alleged outstanding amount by other means.

On October 23, 2009, he received a call from Balwant Singh from the Delhi Police, informing him that his arrest warrants had been issued.

The bank authorities denied the allegation made by the complainant. It claimed that an investigation carried out by it had established that someone in the office of the complainant had misused that card.

But the bank failed to prove the point before the forum.

In the judgment, the forum observed that the demand of Rs 36,254 made by the bank was illegal and amounted to deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.

Chandigarh, February 13
The UT police arrested nine persons under the Excise Act and the Gambling Act from various places across the city last night.

Panchkula, February 13
The local police claims to have solved a mobile snatching case by arresting two persons and recovering a stolen mobile phone from their possession after they allegedly committed the crime in Sector 9 here today.

Chandigarh, February 13
Saneev Garg (74 off 51) and Kamal Mehra (2 for 29 and unbeaten 22) guided Kapsons XI to defeat Kundan International Cricket academy by two wickets in the ongoing Puma League Cup Cricket Tournament being played at Kundan International School, Sector 46, here, today.

Batting first Kundan International Cricket academy made 166 runs for the loss of 9 wickets while chasing the target, Kapsons XI won the match with two overs left for the game.

Dhanwant (23) Nitish Parihar (20) from Kundan International Cricket academy built a 56 runs partnership for the first wicket. Whereas, Jonny Singh contributed 32 runs to the teams total. For Kapsons XI, Kamal Mehra, Joginder Malik and Sunny got two wickets each.

Chasing the target, Kapsons XI won the match in the 18th over . Sanjeev Garg made 74 off 56 balls studded with 5 towering sixes and 3 boundaries. Kamal Mehra (22) and Sunny Singh (14) remained unbeaten.

Brief score

Kundan International XI :166 for 9 in the 20 overs ( Dhanwant 23, Nitish Parihar 20,Jhonny Singh 32 Kamal Mehra 2 for 29, Joginder Malik 2 for 26, Sunny Singh 2 for 34)

Kapsons (XI) :168 for 8 wickets in 18 overs ( Sanjeev Garg 74, Kamal Mehra 22 N.O Hari Singh Bhandari 24, Sunny Singh 14 N.O Dhanwant 2 for 25,Gaurav Sharma 2 
for 28)

Panchkula, February 13
After a fine spell of 3 for 28 and contribution of 30-runs, Madan Lal helped HDFC Bank XI to lift the title of the second Proflex Cup League Cricket Tournament, being organised by the Cricket Federation of Haryana at Tau Cricket Stadium, Sector3, here, today. HDFC Bank XI defeated Godrej and Boyce XI in the final clash.

Batting first, Godrej and Boyce XI made 178 runs in the restricted 25 overs. Both openers Jai Kapila and Sanjay Ahuja built 78 runs partnership for the first wicket before Sanjay lost his wicket on the score of 35runs.

Next batsmen Vaneet Chawla added another 40-run partnership with Jai before being bowled out by Vipan Chauhan in the 18th over.

Chauhan for the winners took a 5-wicket haul and restricted the Godrej and Boyce XI team on 178 runs.

In reply, HDFC Bank XI got off to a poor note as they lost their openers in quick succession.

Batsmen AP Singh (50) and Madan Lal (30) played sensibly and helped the winning team to achieve the target. Madan Lal for his contribution of 30 runs and 3 wickets was declared the man of the match. From Godrej team Kulwinder Rambo took 3 for 32.

Brief Score:

Godrej and Boyce XI: 178 for 9 in 25 overs. (Jai Kapila 48, Sanjay Ahuja 35, Vaneet Chawla 29, Kulwinder Romy 21, Vipan Chauhan 5 for 12 , Madan Lal 3 for 28)
HDFC Bank XI: 179 for 8 in 24.5 overs. (AP Singh 52, Anupam Gambhir 31, Madan Lal 31, Kulwinder Rambo 3 for 32, Naresh Dhingra 2 for 25)

In the post match ceremony, Vijay Arora, chairman, Cricket Federation of Haryana, and Secretary, Zirakpur Lions Club , distributed the prizes to the winners and runners 
up teams.

Chandigarh, February 13
Harry Jindal and Shashank Sharma cleared the final qualifying round in the under-18 age group in the ongoing Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association-AITA Championship Series Tennis Tournament (for under-16 and under-18) at the CLTA courts, Sector 10, here today.

Harry Jindal got the better of Mayank Sharma 8-1 while Shashank Sharma beat Gagan Sharma 8-5 to sail into the main draw matches.

Earlier, the inclement weather delayed the remaining final qualifying rounds matches today.The matches could start at 5 pm. Tomorrow, the main draw first round matches will be played at CLTA courts and the Lake Sport Complex from 8.30 am.

Results

Boys under-16

Hardeep Singh Sandhu bt Adhhayan 8-1

Aman Rawat bt Digvijay Partap Singh 8-2

Ishaque Eqbal bt Mohit Dahiya 8-4

Ranjeet Singh bt Santbir Singh 8-4

Manish Drall bt Mayuk Rawat 8-1

Allen Johnson bt Param Pun 8-2

Dushyant Agrahari bt Jagtar Singh 8-2

Boys under-18

Harry Jindal bt Mayank Sharma 8-1

Shashank Sharma bt Gagan Sharma 8-5.

Chandigarh, February 13
The Chandigarh Golf Club will hold a five-day women’s golf coaching camp from March 1 to 5 in which members and non-members will be imparted basic training on the club premises.

The coaching will be imparted by EGT certified coach Ajay Gujral who is also the joint director of the Chandigarh Golf Club

Gill said, “Our intention is to show the ladies the foundation for a good golf swing which will enable them to hit the ball into the air with confidence. At the end of this programme our qualified coach will assess their level and recommend them the next step”.

"We will provide the ladies with all the necessary equipment, including golf balls and clubs”, said Gujral.

In addition to this, a fun competition will be held on the last day in which a prize will be given to the winner. Those interested to enroll in this coaching programme can contact Ajay Gujral at Chandigarh Golf Club or at 9814356013.

Chandigarh, February 13
Intermittent rains forced the organisers of the CCA Under-16 Cricket Tournament to postpone the final match between GNPS-CCA Academy and DAV-8 teams at Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36 ground, here today.

The match, scheduled for today, will now be played on February 20 at the same venue. Earlier, the host team seemed to be in a strong position. Batting first, GNPS team accumulated 292 for 7 in the allotted 50 overs today. Anmolpreet hit brilliant ton (102 off 101) with the help of 10 fours and a six. He was supported by Arjit Singh (30), Kapil Poonia (53) and Arpit Singh (30).