The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Youth’s mother cries foul
Drowning of youths in Narwana feeder
Attar Singh
Tribune News Service

Ambala, June 8
The mother of one of the youths, who were reported to have drowned in Narwana branch near Jansui Head, expressed apprehensions about her son having been done to death or kidnapped by one of his friends.

Suman Kapoor told The Tribune here today that she had given a representation to the police that she suspected the role of one of Sahil’s friends from Ludhiana who had got money from Sahil in two instalments on the pretext of getting him a second hand car and a mobile phone.

Two youths Sahil and Nitish had reportedly drowned in the Narwana branch near Jansui Head on May 28. A massive hunt for the bodies was launched. Mukesh Ahuja, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Ambala, said divers from Madhuban and Nangal were pressed into service to look for the bodies of the two youths who were believed to have been washed away in the water of Narwana feeder. The two boys hailed from Chandigarh and had gone for a drive. They had decided to take a dip in Narwana feeder near Jansui and the two were washed away, according to three of their friends.

Suman Kapoor, mother of Sahil, said it was strange that even after over 10 days, there was no trace of the bodies of her son and Nitish. She said a massive hunt had been launched by professional divers over long stretches of Narwana branch, but it had failed to yield any results.

She said the district authorities had told her that the bodies generally surfaced after 48 hours of drowning. But in this case there was no trace of the bodies. She expressed doubts over the conduct of Sahil’s friend from Ludhiana and feared that her son might have been kidnapped or done to death elsewhere.

She recalled that Sahil came to her office around 4 pm on the fateful day and asked for Rs 500 saying one of his friends had met with an accident. She said she called him up around 6.30 pm and the call was answered by Abhinav, one of Sahil’s friends. Suman said Abhinav told her that Sahil had drowned in the Narwana feeder.

Five boys, three from Chandigarh and two from Ludhiana, had gone in a car from Chandigarh to Jansui near Ambala. Sahil and Nitish had drowned in Narwana branch 18 km from Ambala. Naggal SHO Randhir Singh, when contacted today, confirmed that he had received a complaint from Suman and that it had been forwarded to the Superintendent of Police.

50 pc buses remain operational despite employees’ strike
Attar Singh
Tribune News Service

Ambala, June 8
Following the call given by the Haryana Roadways Employees Union, employees of the Haryana Roadways went on a day-long strike here.

Even as officials claimed that buses plied on some important state and inter-state routes, people were stranded at various bus stands.

When contacted, Ashwani Kumar Dogra, general manager, Haryana Roadways, Ambala, today stated that buses were plying on inter-state bus routes. He claimed that 50 per cent of the buses of Ambala depot were operational today.

The strike by the roadways employees was in support of their demand for cancellation of permits issued to private operators to ply buses in the state. Leaders of the Haryana Roadways Employees Union said they were against giving permits to private operators. The leaders warned that if their demands were not met, they would intensify the protest with an indefinite strike.

Students and office-goers were partially affected by the strike as not many alternatives were available to reach their respective destinations.

Private taxis and buses cashed in on the strike by charging higher prices from commuters.

Breaches in Bhakra Canal
Surinder Bhardwaj

Bassi Pathana, June 8
Panic gripped the town when some passersby noticed breaches in the Bhakra Canal near bridge no 115769 on the Khamano road. Timely action by the authorities and people saved the situation which would have led to great damage to life and property. The passersby informed SDM Ravinder Kumar, who along with DSP SP Singh and police officials, reached the spot and started the rescue work. Officials of canal department also reached there. People used sand bags to plug the breaches.

Interestingly, the repair work of Bhakra Canal was completed just a month ago and the flow of water was stopped for the purpose. Regular breaches in the canal have raised a doubt among people regarding the quality of material used for the repair.

Protest against police’s crackdown on Baba Ramdev
Our Correspondent

Dera bassi, June 8
Various social organisations here staged a protest against the police’s crackdown on Baba Ramdev and his followers in New Delhi recently. Markets in the town remained closed.

Protesters marched from Dera Bassi to Bhankarpur to express solidarity with Baba. Among others present included Venod Bhardwaj from Patanjali Yoga Samiti, Chandigarh, and Harmesh Kaur from Zirakpur.

Haryana Police to be hi-tech in a year, says DGP
Electronic traffic surveillance to keep eye on traffic violations, especially on NH-1
All cops to be able to work on computer within two years
Suman Bhatnagar

Ambala, June 8
Haryana DGP Ranjeev Dalal has said the Haryana Police will be completely hi-tech within one year and the working of all police stations will be computerised through the crime and criminal tracking network system.

Inaugurating the new administrative office of the Ambala police and the Baldev Nagar police station, he said electronic traffic surveillance had been set up in various police stations in the state to keep an eye on traffic violations, especially on the National Highway No. 1.

Talking to mediapersons, he said ‘best’ police officers had been appointed in various districts to strengthen the law and order situation. He said senior police officers had been directed to listen to grievances of the people and resolve those at the earliest.

Referring to the recent Naraingarh incident, in which two youths were killed in a road accident, following which an agitated crowd burnt police Gypsies, he said people should not take the law in their own hands. He stated that the Ambala police had restrained itself a lot, due to which the matter had been resolved in a peaceful manner.

He said most police officials had been undergoing training in computers and all officials of the department would be able to handle computers within two years. He added that transparency would be brought about in their working and disputes could also be settled on the spot.

Addressing police officials later, he said most police stations in the state had been renovated and all amenities required provided for the general public as well as police officials. He appealed to the people to obey traffic rules.

He asked police officials to have cordial relations with mediapersons. He asked mediapersons to cooperate with them so that they could face the challenges of anti-social elements in a better manner. Ambala Range DIG KK Sindhu and Ambala SP Shashank Anand were present.

CRIME

Pedestrian hit by car, dies
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 8
An unidentified pedestrian was hit by a car near the Shani Dev mandir at Phase II, Industrial Area, here yesterday. The victim was admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, where he was declared brought dead.

The driver sped away from the spot. A case under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC was registered at the Sector 31 police station.

Mobikes stolen

Deepak Kapoor of Kajheri reported that someone stole his Pulsar motorcycle (CH03W-6602) from the ISBT, Sector 17, on Tuesday. A case under Section 379 of the IPC was registered at the Sector 17 police station.

Rajinder Kumar of Phase II, Industrial Area, reported that someone stole his Hero Honda Passion motorcycle (CH03J-8105) from in front of his house on June 1. A case under Section 379 of the IPC was registered at the Sector 31 police station.

Satish Kumar of Sector 37 reported that someone stole his Caliber motorcycle (CH03R-9678) from his house on the night of May 30. A case under Section 379 of the IPC was registered at the Sector 39 police station.

Held for theft

Mahesh Kumar of Sector 49 alleged that Mohamed Tasleem of Sector 25 stole his three-wheeler (CH04L-6754) from the road separating Sectors 17 and 22 on Monday.

The three-wheeler was later recovered from his possession and the accused was arrested. A case under Section 379 and 411 of the IPC was registered at the Sector 17 police station.

Assault cases

Anil Kumar of Mauli Jagran reported that Ravi Kumar, alias Robin, a resident of Kajheri, and Gaurav Sharma of Ram Darbar attacked him with swords and an axe at Mauli Jagran on May 30, following which he was admitted to the PGI. A case under Sections 307 and 34 of the IPC was registered at the Mani Majra police station. The accused were arrested.

Guddi of Dadu Majra Colony reported that Ravi and his wife Asha of the same colony threatened and beat her and her daughter-in-law Geeta up near the taxi stand in the colony on Tuesday. A case under Sections 323 and 506 of the IPC was registered at the Sector 39 police station.

Snatching bid

Harpreet Kaur of Sector 44 reported that an unidentified person on a Pulsar motorcycle tried to snatch her purse near the RK mandir in the same sector on Tuesday. A case under Sections 379, 356 and 511 of the IPC was registered at the Sector 34 police station.

Theft cases

Jasbir Inder Singh of Sector 8 reported the theft of a silver flower vase, two silver bowls, a silver pen, three small silver boxes and two small silver trays from his house. A case under Section 380 of the IPC was registered at the Sector 3 police station.

Bharam Pal of Sector 25 reported that someone stole an LPG cylinder from his house on Tuesday. A case under Section 379 of the IPC was registered at the Sector 11 police station.

Held for drinking

The police arrested Dinesh Partap of Sector 7 from the market in the same sector while consuming liquor in his car (CH01D-5355) on Tuesday. A case under Sections 68, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act was registered at the Sector 26 police station. The accused was later released on bail.

One killed in road mishap
Tribune News Service

Zirakpur, June 8
A 27-year-old cyclist, identified as Papu Kumar, a resident of Pabhat village, hailing from Bihar, died after being hit by an unknown vehicle near the Gurdwara Nabha Sahib on the Zirakpur-Patiala highway today. The incident took place at 10 pm when Papu, who was working as a labourer, was going towards Pabhat village from Chhat side on his bicycle. While he reached near the gurdwara, an unknown vehicle hit him from the rear. He fell down on the road and sustained serious injuries.

A passerby immediately informed a patrolling team, who took the victim to GMCH-32, Chandigarh, for the treatment where he succumbed to his injuries. Police official stated that the body of the deceased was handed over to the family after conducting a post-mortem.

Man held with stolen car

The CIA staff, Kharar, today arrested Ajay Thakur, a resident of Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, and recovered a stolen car from him. The police said a team of CIA staff had put up a naka near Nabha Sahib Gurdwara on the Zirakpur-Patiala highway. They stopped a car coming from Delhi side and during investigation it was found that the accused had come to sell the stolen car.

Stolen

Ambala: Jatinder Pal, a resident of Ambala, lodged a complaint with the police that someone had stolen his tractor from Dev Market, Ambala Cantt. A case has been registered at the Mahesh Nagar police station in Ambala Cantt.

SPORTS

Navneet hammers 143, helps Amritsar post 465 against Mohali
Four-day final of Dhruv Pandove Under-19 Cricket Trophy
Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 8
A brilliant unbeaten ton by Navneet Singh helped Amritsar build a defendable total against Mohali on the second day of the four-day Dhruv Pandove Under-19 Cricket Trophy final at the PCA Stadium here today.

Navneet remained unbeaten on 143 off 319 balls. For Mohali, medium-pacer Gurpreet Singh took a five-wicket haul.

Navneet and Vikramjit Singh started the day from the overnight score of 255 for 4 in 100 overs. Vikramjit (8) was the first to depart, caught by wicketkeeper Shine Sharma off Gurpreet, with the total on 284.

Navneet was joined by Vinay Chaudhary and the pair added 62 runs before Anmoljeet got the better of Vinay, who contributed 26 runs with the help of four boundaries.

Kamal Passi scored 47, with five boundaries and two sixes. Losing their last three wickets for just seven runs, Amritsar folded up for 465 in 173.5 overs. Gurpreet took 5 for 133 and Gurpartap Singh 2 for 69.

In reply, Mohali were 40 runs without losing a wicket in 19 overs at close of play. Kinderpreet Singh (26) and Pukhraj Singh (8) were at the crease.

Brief scores: Amritsar 465 all out in 173.5 overs (Navneet Singh 143 n.o., Shivlove 84, Rohan Marwaha 55, Kamal Passi 47, Mohit Handa 46, Vinay Chaudhary 26, Gurpreet Singh 5 for 133, Gurpartap Singh 2 for 69); Mohali 40 for no loss in 19 overs.