The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Final voter list out by July 30
Youth called upon to get their names registered
Surinder Bhardwaj

Bassi Pathana, May 27
Work for the addition and alteration of names in the voter lists of the Bassi Pathana (reserved) Assembly constituency is in progress. It will be completed by July 30 and booth-level officers have been appointed at every polling station for the purpose.

This information was given by Yashveer Mahajan, Deputy Commissioner-cum-district election officer, in a press note here yesterday.

He said as per directions of the Election Commission, anyone who had attained the age of 18 years on January 1 this year, but did not figure in the voter list, could be registered as a voter.

He or she should fill in forms 6 and 1-A and submit those, along with two passport-size photographs, with the booth-level officer at the polling station concerned.

He said only those who had voter identity cards would be allowed to cast their vote in the 2012 Assembly elections.

To ensure their participation in the Assembly elections, he called upon the youth to get their names registered in the voter list.

He added that students and hostel inmates who had not got themselves registered at their permanent residence could get themselves registered at the present address.

He also said if a voter wanted to correct any mistake in name, address or age in a voter card, he or she should fill in form 8.

He said the final work of preparing voter cards would be completed by July 30 as voters would be photographed from July 1 to 30 at the polling stations concerned.

Child abducted on May 16 recovered
Was sexually exploited by kidnapper
Tribune News Service

Kurali, May 27
The Kurali police has recovered a 12-year-old child of ward number 2 area, who went missing on May 16. The child’s parents complained of their missing son to the police on the same day. The child was recovered today with the help of people from Himachal Pradesh.

Back home now, the child told the police that he had gone to play videogame, when a man approached him. The accused, identified as Sanjeev Kumar of the Railon Road area, Ropar, told the child that he could play more videogames if he accompanied him.

The child followed Sanjeev, who made him inhale something that made him unconscious. Sanjeev boarded a bus to Anandpur Sahib with the child from Kurali toll barrier. When the bus reached Anandpur Sahib, the child regained his senses and tried to raise the alarm.

Sanjeev allegedly threatened to kill him if he raised any alarm. The child told the police that in the past 10 days, Sanjeev took him to different places such as Naina Devi, Chintpurni, Baba Vadh Bhag Singh, Jwala Ji, Talwara and Pathankot. During the stay, Sanjeev violated the child, making him perform unnatural sexual acts. He also made the child work at various roadside eateries.

When Sanjeev was taking the child to the Jasur area of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh in a bus, a fellow passenger saw them and grew suspicious. He informed the Himachal Pradesh Police, which further informed the Kurali Police and the child was recovered.

The Kurali Police has arrested Sanjeev. He has confessed to committing the crime. Police officials said that Sanjeev was a habitual offender and had criminal cases lodged against him at Ropar police stations as well. The police was further investigating the case.

Patients examined at eye camp
Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 27
More than 600 patients were examined and 25 free phaco-surgeries were done by Dr Sukhdip Singh Boparai and Dr Anuradha Raj from Patiala Eye Hospital and Lasik Laser Centre at a free eye operation camp at Sanaur, near Patiala.

Surgeries on 25 patients identified at the camp were done at the Patiala Eye Hospital. The camp was organised by Patiala Medical Hall. Free medicines and prescription glasses were provided by Gurpreet Singh Sanaur, Harminder Singh Jogipur and Kuldeep Singh.

Former councillor arrested
Tribune News Service

Ambala, May 27
The police today arrested Naveen Yadav, a former municipal councillor of Ambala Cantt, in connection with a case registered against him a few days back when he, along with some residents of Tibetti Colony, locked the public health office at Ambala Cantt.

Sources said he went to the Housing Board police post and surrendered before the police. Later he was released on bail. The case was registered by the SE, public health, on May 19.

A large number of agitated residents carrying bottles of contaminated water in their hands from Tibetti Colony, Behari Lal Building, Lal Kurti Bazar and railway road went to the office of the public health department on May 19, in protest against the acute shortage of water and supply of contaminated water in these residential areas.

But none of the officials, including the superintending engineer, executive engineer and the SDO, were available in the office. The protesters locked the main gate of the public health office, which was got opened with the intervention of the police.

Protesters complained of the supply of contaminated water, which resulted in large number of diarrhoea and jaundice cases. They said the DC, Ambala, had assured pure drinking water to the residents and warned to take action against the officials concerned in the case of supply of contaminated water in the town.

Constable booked for helping two convicts
Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 27
The Patiala Police has registered a case against two under trial convicts and a police constable for allegedly conspiring together and beating up another policeman on duty after he objected to their conduct during a court case hearing.

According to police sources, accused constable Harbhajan Singh was on duty in the “bakhshikhana” in the court premises where all convicts were lodged during their trial in the court.

“The accused police constable took away two under trials, Bhag Khan and Harman Singh, to the courtroom for their hearing in the morning and arrived after lunch,” said sources.

“Later, when another on-duty constable Buta Singh questioned Harbhajan about his delayed arrival after trial, the accused constable and the convicts overpowered Buta Singh and allegedly beat him up,” read the FIR.

The police has registered a case and was further investigating the matter.

Farmers end 3-month-old dharna
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, May 27
Farmers of Bhankarpur village, who had been protesting for the past three months seeking restoration of ownership rights of a piece of land that had been under their cultivation for 50 years, ended their dharna today after the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued status quo on the issue. The farmers had been staging the dharna against the decision of the director, panchayat, who had declared the land measuring 5,200 kanal as common land, which was provided to farmers under a consolidation scheme. Eighty-four tillers and four nambardars were shown as owners in the record of the revenue department.

After ending their dharna, the farmers said they would continue their struggle to get justice. The farmers alleged that the state government had not addressed the issues of farmers and made only false promises.

The farmers had earlier submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard. They had filed a case in the High Court, which accepted the plea and ordered status quo on the issue.

The farmers would continue to possess the land till the next date of hearing.

During their struggle, the farmers had approached the Punjab Chief Minister but to no avail.

Farmers leaders hoped that they would get justice in the High Court.

COURTS

HC raps admn for not formulating policy
for night food streets
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27
The Chandigarh Administration’s failure to spice up the lives of city residents in the hours of darkness by coming out with a bright policy on the setting up of night food streets in Chandigarh today saw the Punjab and Haryana High Court virtually admonish the powers that be.

Coming down heavily on the administration for its inability to initiate steps for formulating a policy on setting up of night food streets in the city beautiful, the High Court gave the authorities concerned the last opportunity.

The directions and observations were made orally in the open court and cannot be construed as the final opinion on merit by the Bench. At the most, the directions and observations indicate the Bench is not prime facie satisfied with the steps initiated by the administration in this direction.

The special Division Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ajay Tewari verbally observed that it would be constrained to call the Home Secretary in person if he failed to initiate appropriate action on the issue.

At the very onset of the hearing, the Bench made it clear that it was not happy with the progress made by the administration in the matter and its failure to come out with a policy on the concept of nigh food street in city.

Speaking for the Bench, Justice Surya Kant observed delay in formulating policy was resulting in a loss to the marginalised class. “I have serious doubts that your bureaucrats have any time for this,” verbally observed Justice Surya Kant. The Bench also questioned why since October 2010 the administration had not taken a policy decision?

The high court had earlier also made it clear that it wanted the authorities concerned to ensure the ingredient of reasonableness was added to the dishes served on the platter in the Sector 14 night food street.

After taking suo motu cognisance of a news report on high prices being allegedly charged by the shopkeepers at the night food street, the High Court had earlier issued notice of motion to the UT Administration.

Placing on record the news report, the then Chief Justice had asserted: “If the facts appearing in the news item are correct, the matter deserves to be looked in the public interest jurisdiction of the court. The night food street had come into existence some three years ago and was providing foodstuff at nominal rates to attendants of patients at the PGI and to Panjab University students. But the rising prices had left the residents bitter,” the Chief Justice had observed in reference to the news report.

Commission sets aside arrest warrant order
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27
The UT Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission has set aside the forum’s
order issuing non-bailable warrants against a Panchkula resident.

In District Consumer Forum, 14 consumers had filed a complaint against Sanjeev Walia and Lavlesh Lala where they were jointly directed to return Rs 9,000 to each of the complainants along with interest at the rate of 8 per cent per annum with effect from the date of institution of the complaint, September 6, 2005 till the date of payment. The forum had also directed them to pay Rs 50,000 and Rs 5,000 towards costs to each complainant.

The forum had held that in case the amount was not paid within 30 days from the date of receipt of a copy of the order, the parties would be liable to pay the same along with penal interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum from the date of order till realisation and also be liable to punishment as provided under Section 27 of the Act.

The forum subsequently issued a show-cause notice to Sanjeev Walia for making payment of the amount, failing which he was to make himself liable to be sentenced to undergo imprisonment up to three years and to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 or both.

The show-cause notice was not ordered to be issued against Lavlesh Lala, as the proceedings against him were stayed by the commission.

The show-cause notice sent to Sanjeev Walia (OP/now appellant) was received back with the report of “refusal”. The district forum took a view that non-appearance of Sanjeev Walia amounted to willful disobedience to the orders issued on December 17, 2007 and February 15, 2008 and that he had nothing to say against the passing of sentence against him.

Sanjeev Walia filed an appeal before the commission. The counsel for the respondents stated that amicable settlement had been arrived at between the parties. He also submitted that all respondents furnished their affidavits, which had already been taken on record, certifying the amicable settlement between the parties and now no dispute survived between the parties.

The commission stated that since the amicable settlement had already been arrived at between the parties and the entire amount had also been paid by the appellant, no useful purpose would be served by sending the appellant/OP to jail.

CRIME

Laptop, cash stolen from cars
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27
Thieves decamped with laptop and cash after breaking windowpanes of two cars in separate incidents in the past 24 hours.

Khush Bhalla, a resident of Sector 23, was on his way to work in this morning when he stopped at Santan Dharam Mandir. He returned to find the windowpane of his car broken and laptop and Rs 18,000 missing. He reported to the police and a case has been registered at the Sector 17 police station.

In another incident, Ravinder Kumar, a resident of Sector 61, reported that someone took away his bag containing Rs 50,000, four mobile phones and some cloths from his car (HR-51-U-9720) parked near the Sector 27 post office, after breaking the windowpane of the driver side.

In a separate case, thieves decamped with Rs 2 lakh after conning the driver of a car parked in Industrial Area here this evening. Sanjeev Jain, owner of a factory in Industrial Area, said his driver was sitting in the car when a person approached him and said oil is leaking from his car. “As my driver got down and began to look under the car, the miscreant fled with a briefcase containing cash,” he said.

20-yr-old ends life
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27
A 20-year-old youth committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence in Sector 41 late last night. The victim, Davinder Singh, who was working with a Mohali-based call centre and pursuing graduation, was found hanging from a fan at around 11 pm.

According to the police, the victim was alone at his home when he took the extreme step. No suicide note was found from the spot. The body has been handed over to the family members after post-mortem. Family members of the victim told the police that he returned home at around 6:30 pm from his work and they left home. The police has ruled out any foul play behind the incident and said the victim was suffering from depression.

Graft case
FIR against officers of Directorate of Defence Estate
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against former principal director of the Directorate of Defence Estate, Western Command, VK Srivastva and chief executive officer (CEO) Ramandeep Singh for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 3 lakh during the recruitment of sub-divisional officer (SDO).

The bribe was demanded and accepted in 2009 and the case was registered after an inquiry into the case. CBI sleuths said Srivastva and Singh failed to adopt the set procedure in the appointment of the SDO. The role of some other former officials of the Defence Estate, Western Command, is under scanner but their names could not be revealed at this stage, said the CBI.

The FIR was registered under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. A copy of the FIR has been submitted in the special court of CBI judge Ritu Tagore.

SPORTS

Dhruv Pandove Trophy
Chandigarh enter third round
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27
Overnight rain delayed the start of the second day’s proceedings of the match between Patiala and Chandigarh by two hours in the Punjab State Under-19 Dhruv Pandove Trophy at the Dhruv Pandove Stadium at Patiala today.

Patiala batsmen found it difficult to negotiate the Chandigarh attack right from the outset. They were bundled out for 109 in 43.3 overs. The only resistance came from Mehjot Sodhi who scored a valiant 61.

Chandigarh bowlers bowled a steady length and were richly rewarded. The bowling honours were shared by Gaurav Singh 3 for 39, Rajpal Singh 2 for 25, Bir Karan Goel 2 for 1 and Naveen Dhiman 2 for 23.

Trailing by 200 runs, Patiala were forced to follow on and were 114 for nine in 49 overs. Vikrant Sirohi (23), Mehjot Sodhi (22) and Bhupinder Singh (20) were the main scorers for Patiala.

For Chandigarh, Rajpal Singh (2 for 12), Vir Karan Goyal (2 for 20) and Naveen Dhiman (3 for 30) were the main wicket-takers.

Brief scores: Chandigarh: 309 for 9 in 95 overs (Manan Vohra 116, Udit Hari Mehta 81 not out, Sumit Hudda 41; Sandeep 4 for 46 and Sukhminder 3 for 92).

Patiala (Ist innings): 109 all out in 43.3 overs (Mehjot Sodhi 61, Vikrant Sirohi 14; Gaurav Singh 3 for 39, Rajpal Singh 2 for 25, Vir karan Goyal 2 for 01 and Naveen Dhiman 2 for 23).

Patiala (IInd innings): 114 for 9 in 49 overs (Vikrant Sirohi 23, Mehjot Sodhi 22 and Bhupinder Singh 20; Rajpal Singh 2 for 12, Vir Karan Goyal 2 for 20 and Naveen Dhiman 3 for 30).

In the second match of the day between Jalandhar and Mohali, Jalandhar, while resuming at overnight total of 23 for 1 in 9 overs, received an early setback as their opener Anmol Luther was dismissed with addition of just two runs to the scorecard. Thereafter, some rearguard action by overnight batsman Mansab Gill and Bhupinder Singh saw the team reach 171 before Mansab was caught by wicketkeeper Shine Sharma off the bowling of Gurketan Singh for 88.

Bhupinder Singh followed, getting stumped off Gurpartap for a resolute 67 with the team’s total reading 171 for 4. Thereafter, Love Kumar Singh and Vaibhav Sharma stitched a 48-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Vaibhav was run out for 22. After Vaibhav’s departure, Tarun Sareen joined Love and the two took the team past the Mohali’s score of 253 before Tarun was snapped by Maninder off the bowling of Bir Kanwar Singh for 21.

Love completed an unbeaten half century (53). Jalandhar were 268 for 6 in 82.2 overs when the stumps were drawn. Jalandhar by virtue of their first innings lead got two points.

Brief scores: Mohali: 253 all out in 84.2 overs (Sachin Sohal 110, Subeer Hayer 38, Gurpartap Singh 32; Sahil Malhotra 5 for 39 and Arun Chauhan 3 for 75).

Jalandhar: 268 for 6 in 82.2 overs (Mansab Gill 88, Bhupinder Singh 67, Love Kumar Singh 53 not out, Vaibhav Sharma 22, Tarun Sareen 21; Ishat Singh 1 for 27, Amoljeet Singh 1 for 27, Bir Kanwar Singh 1 for 62, Gurketan 1 for 56, Gurpartap Singh 1 for 53).

In the third match played at Gandhi Grounds, Amritsar, hosts defeated Bathinda by innings and 40 runs and in the process pocketed three points for an outright win.

Resuming at 30 for 3, Bathinda were bowled out for 164 in 83.4 overs. Their innings was sustained by Kamaljeet Singh Sidhu 29, Arjun 23 and Ramesh 33.

For Amritsar, Rahul Kanojia (3 for 32), Vinay Chaudhary (3 for 19) and Ashwani (3 for 54) were the main wicket-takers.

Brief scores: Bathinda (Ist innings): 68 all out in 25.2 overs (Ramesh 12, Vinay Chaudhary 4 for 13, Rahul Kanojia 3 for 4 and S.Khanna 2 for 23).

Amritsar: 272 for 3 in 54 overs and declared their innings (Mohit Handa 153 not out; Karan Sharma 41, Rohan Marwaha 51, Pawan 2 for 102).

Bathinda (IInd innings): 164 all out in 83.4 overs (Kamaljeet Singh Sidhu 29, Arjun 23 and Ramesh 33; Rahul Kanojia 3 for 32, Vinay Chaudhary 3 for 19 and Ashwani 3 for 54).

Third round matches: Chandigarh v Jalandhar at Jalandhar, Bathinda v Mohali at Mohali and Amritsar v Patiala at Amritsar. All matches will be held on May 29-30.