The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

COURTS

Rape victim moves HC, seeks CBI probe
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 16
Less than a month after she was allegedly raped by a Sector 22 jeweller, the victim today moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the ground that she was being pressured to compromise the matter even by a general hospital doctor.

In her petition placed before Justice Mahesh Grover, the victim in alternative sought directions to the Union Territory, the Senior Superintendent of Police and another respondents to constitute a special investigation team “to be headed by an officer not below the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police”.

Taking up the petition filed through counsel Sandeep Gahlawat, Justice Grover issued notice of motion to the respondents, including the jeweller, for November 22.

Going into the background of the case, the victim alleged she was raped by Umakant Verma on July 17 on the pretext of giving her a job. She became unconscious after he offered her a cold drink laced with an intoxicant. The petitioner added she was medically examined at the Sector 16 Government Hospital after the matter was reported to the Sector 22 police post.

After the medical examination, the investigating agency arrested the accused and on July 18, she was called to the police station for identifying the accused.

But on July 20, she was called by sub inspectors Ram Parkash and Mehar Kaur to the government hospital for blood test and another medical examination again. On August 10, she received yet another call from Mehar Kaur, asking her to visit the government hospital for obtaining her signature on a “CFSL” form.

She was taken to Dr Parminder Kaur by the two sub inspectors present there. “Instead of conducting any medical examination of the petitioner, she was pressured to compromise the matter with the accused. Dr Parminder Kaur specifically told the petitioner there was nothing in her medical reports and she would get nothing.”

She was also told by the cops and the doctor that the accused was “an influencing man and having links with high-ups”. After she refused to agree, she was allegedly threatened that the relatives of accused may cause physical harm also to her, the petitioner alleged, adding “the attitude of the investigating agency has shocked the petitioner and constrained her to file the present petition”.

Her counsel added she “has full belief that now with such investigation as being conducted by the two cops, she will not get justice”.

Assault on naib court
14 advocates granted bail
Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 16
More than three months after a Chandigarh Police constable posted as naib court in the district courts was assaulted in a courtroom by a group of lawyers, a local court today granted bail to 14 advocates. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMIC) SK Sharma today granted bail to the advocates after they furnished bail bonds of Rs 50,000 each.

The incident took place on May 14 when constable Ram Karan, who was posted in the court of JMIC Parinder Singh Gill as naib court, was attacked by a group of advocates.

The court granted bail to advocates Ashok Chauhan, Ajay Sood, Harinder Singh Thakur, Malkit Singh Jandiala, Baljeet Singh, Munish Dewan, Gagan Aggarwal, Jagtar Singh, Satinder Singh, Munish Chaudhary, Satinder Basia, Gaurav Kathuria, Parminder Singh and Vipin Negi.

The advocates had allegedly assaulted the naib court to avenge an earlier assault by him on an advocate. Though an FIR was registered, the police failed to arrest a single advocate.

On July 1, the UT Police had filed a chargesheet under various sections of the IPC for rioting, causing hurt, obstructing public servant from performing official duty and criminal intimidation. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had also ordered a fact-finding inquiry into the incident and the Registrar (Vigilance) had indicted the advocates.

paid parking
Home Secy, Mayor told to file reply
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 16
A local court today directed the UT Home Secretary, the Mayor and the Commissioner of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to file a reply on September 12 on a PIL filed by advocate Pankaj Chandgothia, seeking solutions to the paid parking chaos in the city.

Chandgothia had filed an application seeking interim relief that till the case was finally decided, the parking contractors should be asked to charge the parking fee at the exit point instead of entry points. He has also sought that the traffic police should not challan vehicles for wrong parking till the parking problem is resolved.

CRIME

Cheating case: Accounts clerk held after six months
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 16
Six months after the UT Police registered a case of cheating against an accounts clerk in the office of the State Project Director, Haryana Prathmik Siksha Pariyojna Parishad, the accused was arrested today.

The police arrested Sanjay Chandel in a case under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC. The case was registered on February 16 this year at the Sector 17 police station. He was arrested today following information from the airport as he was trying to flee.

PK Dass, State Project Director had reported to police that Chandel, a resident of Panjokhra Sahib in Ambala district, was working as an accounts clerk in his office. As per the complaint, the accused stole the cheques of the office account and forged the signature of authorised signatory and encashed Rs 31,25,583 in his personal account and fraudulently embezzled government money thus causing wrongful loss to Haryana Prathmik Siksha Pariyojna Parishad.

During investigation, original cheques alleged to be forged by Sanjay Chandel were obtained from the bank. The record regarding appointment and delegation of the duty of Sanjay Chandel was obtained from the complainant.

The accused was declared a proclaimed offender by the court.

The police received information from IGI Airport, Delhi, that accused Sanjay Chandel has been detained. The police party reached the Airport and arrested the accused.

Two youths arrested for rape
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 16
The police arrested two persons for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl in Burail village. The accused have been identified as Babu Lal, alias Kaka (20), and Narinder, alias Bunny (20), both residents of Burail. The police said the victim worked as a maid. Narinder took her to his residence on the pretext of hiring her for household work.

Babu Lal was already waiting for them in Narinder’s house. When she reached Narinder’s house, Babu Lal gagged the victim with a cloth. Narinder repeatedly raped the victim and later released her after threatening her of dire consequences.

The victim approached the police and her medical examination confirmed of rape.

Cash, cell phone snatched

An unidentified miscreant snatched Rs 1,000 from an auto-rickshaw driver today. The victim, Sunil Kumar, a resident of Badheri village in Chandigarh, reported that an unidentified person boarded his three-wheeler (PB-65-L-1853) from near Sector 43. When they reached near Sector 20-30 light point, the passenger asked him to stop the vehicle and he snatched Rs 1,000 from him and fled. A case under Sections 356 and 379 of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 19 police station.

In another incident, unknown pedestrians snatched cash and mobile from a Sonipat resident. The incident took place near Indra Colony, Mani Majra.

The victim, Ayodhya Parshad, told police that two unidentified pedestrians snatched Rs 7,000 and a mobile phone. A case under Sections 356, 379 of the IPC has been registered at the Mani Majra police station.

Couple killed in accident
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 16
A couple was crushed to death by a speeding truck near Barwala on the national highway 73 today. The deceased have been identified as Pardia Ram and his wife Mamta of Sunderpur village.

The police said the couple was coming towards Panchkula on a motorcycle when a truck hit their bike near Barwala. While Mamta was killed on the spot, Pardia Ram died in the PGI, Chandigarh.

A case has been registered against the truck driver.

SPORTS

Local player among Indian women’s kabbadi probables
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 16
Her friends and coach call her as fast as ‘bijli’. She has proved them right with her selection in the list of probables for the Indian women’s kabbadi team. Having impressed selectors with her swift moves to dodge opponents, Moti Chandan has won best catcher and best raider titles during various tournaments.

A product of the Sector-42 Sports Complex kabbadi centre, she has been called to a month-long camp. It began at the Sports Authority of India centre in Bhopal today.

During the camp, the authorities would select the team for the Senior Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship.

“This is like a dream come true. I will give my best. In this one month, I have to overtake other contenders to see myself in the team,” she said.

A final-year student of the Dev Samaj College at Sector 45, she played an important role to guide the college team to the gold medal in an inter-college tournament past year.

The 5’2” player had represented Panjab University in an all-India inter-university competition. She had won a prize of Rs 11,000 during a meet in Himachal Pradesh.

“She has been attending regular practice sessions for the past two years. I am sure that she will make it to the team. If she continues to sweat it out, she may make it to the Asian championship team,” said her coach Davinder Singh Kohli.

Unlucky one

y According to officials, a local player was selected in 2005, but she was not able to attend the camp, making Moti Chandan the first player to make it.