The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Private schools oppose EWS quota
Our Correspondent

Ambala, February 17
Private schools and public schools affiliated to the CBSE went on a strike today to protest against the imposition of Section 134-A of the Haryana Education Act. As per the Act, these schools have to reserve 25 per cent seats under EWS quota.

A large number of teachers took out a rally in Ambala City this morning and later the Federation of Private School Association led by its president Kulbhushan Sharma submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Shekhar Vidyarthi.

In the memorandum it was stated that the enforcement of rule 134-A would badly affect the private and public schools. It would not be possible for those schools to accommodate 25 per cent students under EWS quota as it would be a burden on the remaining 75 per cent students. The association members demanded that the rule 134-A should be terminated with immediate effect.

Man stabbed to death in Ambala
Our Correspondent

Ambala, February 17
Owner of a chemist shop Arvind, alias Ribbu, was stabbed to death at Ambala Cantt last night. The shop is located close to the Civil Hospital on the Ambala-Jagadhari road.

As per information, about 10 persons carrying sharp-edged weapons stabbed Arvind (37) and fled.

Arvind was rushed to a hospital, where doctors referred him to the PGI, Chandigarh. He succumbed to his injuries this morning.

The deceased is survived by a son and a daughter.

On the complaint of his father, the police registered a murder case against a few persons.

The police conducted a raid at several places.

The reason behind the attack could not be ascertained.

Complaint against YPS teacher
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, FEBRUARY 17
The father of a 15-year-old student has lodged a complaint with the police that a teacher of the YPS School had allegedly beaten up his son for disturbing his teacher while he was talking on his mobile phone. Dr Gautam Mittal alleged that after his son (name withheld) was beaten up, he got mentally upset that had to be taken to a doctor. However, YPS Principal Stanley Vinod Kumar said he had asked the vice-principal to conduct an inquiry. The SSP has also marked an inquiry into the matter.

COURTS

Khushpreet case
UT told to pay Rs 3 lakh relief to family members
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 17
Negligence of the police in handling the Khushpreet kidnapping for ransom case has cost the Chandigarh administration dear.The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Delhi, has directed the Chandigarh administration to release Rs 3 lakh compensation money to family members of five-year old Khushpreet Singh, who was kidnapped and murdered in January, 2011.

The administration was instructed to file the reply on the orders before the commission on March 14, 2012.

The commission had issued a show-cause notice to the administration last year for its lapses in handling the case.

Apart from directing the administration to release compensation money to the family of Khushpreet, NHRC has justified the unrest in public after the recovery of Khushi’s body in January, 2011.

The commission has also observed that there is a lack of liaison between the police and the administration.

Five-year old Khushpreet was kidnapped from near his residence in Burail in December 2010 and his body was recovered from the adjoining Mohali district on January 5, 2011. Two of the kidnappers had managed to take the ransom money under the nose of the Chandigarh police and Khushi’s death had led to a widespread protest across the city. Three policemen, including former SHO of PS 34, Inspector Udaypal Singh, then in-charge of police post, Burail, Inspector Narinder Patial and investigating officer sub-inspector (SI) Balraj Singh were held guilty for negligence and their services have been forfeited for four years.

Earlier, family members of Khushpreet had refused to accept a compensation of Rs 1 lakh from UT Administrator Shivraj Patil on January 21, 2011.

Court poser to state govts on speed governors

Chandigarh, February 17
The Punjab and Haryana High Court wants to know whether the bus drivers can steer clear from speed governors.

Taking up a petition filed in public interest on installation of speed governors, a Special Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ajay Tewari, asked the heads of the technical wings of Punjab and Haryana to remain present in the court to explain whether the speed governors can be easily removed. The directions came after counsel for the petitioner pointed out news reports to say speed governors were being misused and some vehicles had been registered on the basis of only one speed governor.

The Bench observed that the counsel for the petitioner was unable to answer whether speed governors, once fitted, can be easily removed or tampered with. The case will now come up for further hearing on March 16.

During the hearing of the case, the State of Punjab also informed the Bench that speed governors were installed in as many as 19,483 medium and heavy vehicles registered in the State up to November 30 last year. As many as 1,021 Punjab Roadways buses too were equipped with speed governors till the same time. — TNS

Man acquitted of murder

Panchkula, February 17
As the prosecution failed to produce sufficient evidence, a local court here today acquitted Dharam Pal, resident of New Indira Colony, in connection with a murder case that dates back to July last year.

Dharam Pal, a drug addict, was arrested for murdering Prem Pal, a resident of New Indira Colony, whose body was found near the railway underpass in the Mansa Devi Complex area on July 5 last year. The police said there was an old rivalry between Prem Pal and Dharam Pal. Dharam Pal had first drugged Prem Pal and then hit him with a brick which led to his death on July 4. Before his arrest, Ganga Bishun, father of the deceased, had alleged that Dharam Pal, had murdered his son as both had a verbal dual about eight months ago. He said Dharam, a drug addict, had been threatening to eliminate his son. — TNS

Four let off in kidnapping case
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 17
A local court today acquitted four accused in a case of kidnapping and rape of a Dhanas resident reported last year.

The court of Additional district and sessions judge Preeti Sahni acquitted Udey Bhan, Naresh, Phulwati and Seema of the charges. One other accused Raj is a proclaimed offender.

The incident was reported on January 3, 2011 when a girl was kidnapped while she was working at her father’s tea stall. As per the prosecution case, the accused kidnapped her and took her to a deserted location where she was raped.

Phoolawati and Seema had left her back at her location and changed her clothes thus destroying evidence and they were booked for common intention.

However, the prosecution failed to prove the charges and all the accused were acquitted.

CRIME

Trader receives kidnap threat via SMS
Told to pay Rs 10 lakh else his children would be kidnapped
Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, February 17
Close on the heels of the kidnapping of seven-year-old Vijay of Ramgarh, a Panchkula-based businessman today received an SMS on his mobile, threatening him to hand over Rs 10-lakh ransom else his two children aged five and eight years would be kidnapped.

Shocked, the family approached the police and got an FIR registered. “Though several incidents of people receiving ransom calls have been reported in the town, it is for the first time that the caller sent an SMS,” a senior police officer stated, adding that they were suspecting the involvement of professional criminals.

Sources said the person who had sent the SMS had not disclosed the place where the money had to be delivered.

This is for the first time in Panchkula that criminals have demanded ransom on an SMS. In September last, a property dealer, Anil Bhalla, a resident of Sector 4, had got a ransom call for Rs 10 lakh from Kuldeep, a gangster lodged at Ambala Jail. When Bhalla refused to do so, a shot was fired at his car parked at his residence within minutes of the call. The police had arrested Kuldeep and other members of the Nishan Singh gang, infamous for kidnapping and robberies.

Recent Incidents

January 26, 2012: Seven-year-old Vijay was kidnapped from Ramgarh. The kidnappers had sought a ransom of Rs 5 lakh. Four accused, including two women, were arrested.

December 6, 2011: Two women had stolen a newborn from General Hospital, Sector 6. The accused were arrested.

September 29, 2011: 10-month-old Nishant was kidnapped from Mansa Devi Temple. Last month, the police arrested the kidnappers and rescued the child.

2 women robbed of gold bangles
Tribune News Service

Zirakpur, February 17
An unidentified man posing as an employee of the electricity department robbed two elderly women of gold bangles here today. Champa (65) and Vidya Devi (90), both residents of Balaji Enclave, Zirakpur, were admitted to the GMCH-32, Chandigarh.

The accused entered the house of the women and on finding them alone robbed them of gold bangles.

Girl dies under mysterious circumstances

A 15-year-old girl died under mysterious circumstances at Sada Shiv Enclave, Baltana, here today. The body was handed over to the family after conducting an autopsy.

20 rehris removed

Mohali: The enforcement wing of the Mohali municipal council today carried out an anti-encroachment drive in Industrial Area, Phases I, VII and VIII. On the directions of the Administrator of the council, GC Sabharwal, the enforcement staff removed 20 rehris and two illegal taxi stands.

PGI employee held for fraud
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 17
Sanjay Throp, a male staff nurse at PGIMER, was arrested today for duping a Fatehgarh Sahib resident of Rs 4,85,000, promising him a job for his two daughters.

According to a complaint filed by Baljit Singh, Sanjay took cash from him and gave him an affidavit promising job for his daughters as nurses. He further alleged that Sanjay not only failed to get his daughters the promised jobs but also failed to return his money. A case has been registered.

“ We are probing the fact whether he has been involved in any such case earlier or has got some body a job in return of money, said Gurmukh Singh, SHO , of Sector 11 police station.

Clerk caught accepting bribe
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 17
The Central Bureau of Investigation today nabbed Jaswant Singh, a clerk in the electricity department, for accepting a bribe of Rs 2,000. Jaswant Singh was caught red handed on a tip off of Mastana Singh, a supervisor with a private firm.

“Mastanas Singh approached us against Jaswant alleging that he had demanded Rs 5,000 for rectifying the bills submitted by him. We laid the trap and caught him red handed taking Rs 2,000 from Mastana Singh,” said an official.

SPORTS

Annual athletics meet at Yadavindra school
Tribune News Service

Mohali, February 17
Tushar Thakur (Aitchison House) bagged the first prize in the high jump (U-19) boys at the annual Inter-House Athletics Meet at Yadavindra Public School here today. Jigisha Dosanjh (Nalagarh House) was declared first in broad jump (U-17) among girls. The results of the different field and track events that took place on the day are as follows:-

High Jump (U-19) boys: Tushar Thakur (Aitchison House) 1, Subeg S Brar (Ranjit House) 2, Rainer Singh (Nalagarh House) 3.

100 Metre (U-19) boys: Rainer Singh (Nalagarh House) 1, Chirag Teja (Tagore House) 2, Miljot Singh (Patiala House) 3.

Broad Jump (U-10) boys: Abhiraj S Virk (Nalagarh House) 1, Jasmol Arora (Patiala House) 2, Gurmehar (Ranjit House) 3.

4x400 Metre (U-12) boys: Aadesh Pratap (Nalagarh House) 1, Chitranshu Gulati (Ranjit House) 2, Kaman Singh (Patiala House) 3.

200 metre (U-14) boys: Jashanpreet Randhawa (Ranjit House) 1, Jaesal Singh (Ranjit House) 2.

800 metre (U-17) boys: Anmol Sandhu (Tagore House) 1, Parth Kohli (Ranjit House) 2, Tegbir R S Chawla (Tagore House) 3.

Discus Throw (11/2 kg) (U-17) boys: Gurasis Singh (Patiala House) 1, Bikram Pannu (Nalagarh House) 2, Jaideep (Nalagarh House) 3.

4x400 relay (U-10) girls: Sania Chaudhary, Upasna Khurana, Bismanjot, Manhar Sandhu (Ranjit House) 1, Agampreet, Irvenshi Gupta, Harnoor Bhalla, Sehar Kiran (Tagore House) 2, Ikroop Sandhu, Ekjot Khosla, Khushi Dhanoa, Sejal Trehan (Aitchison House) 3.

800 Metre (U-14) girls: Khushnaaz Brar (Tagore House) 1, Gureet Kaur (Nalagarh House) 2, Gurleen Shergill (Nalagarh House) 3.

1500 Metre (U-17) girls: Jigisha Dosanjh (Nalagarh House) 1, Daanish Ghuman (Ranjit House) 2, Harleen Deol (Patiala House) 3.

Broad Jump ( U-17) girls: Jigisha Dosanjh (Nalagarh House) 1, Harleen. K. Deol (Patiala House) 2, Kanika Chaudhary (Aitchison House) 3.

Discus Throw (1 Kg) (U-19) girls: Kritendeep Kaur (Aitchison House) 1, Jasleen Kaur (Ranjit House) 2.

Top seed Vishnu Vardhan to lead Indian challenge
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 17
Top seeded Vishnu Vardhan (318) will lead the Indian challenge in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Men’s Futures US $10,000 Tennis Tournament at Tennis Stadium, Sector-10, to be held here from February 20.

CLTA chart trainee Vijayant Malik (472), seeded second, would be among the nine players from the country to vie for the top honours in the tournament.

Arata Onozawa (487) from Japan is the third seed. Players from 17 countries are participating in the tournament. India has 9 participants in the main draw while Japan has 3, and Great Britain 2. Ireland, Germany, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Taiwan have one participant each in the main draw.

The qualifying rounds will be played on February 18 and 19 and the main draw will have 32 participants in singles event. Singles qualifying round will have 32 entries. The sign-in deadline for qualifying rounds ended today, with a total of 37 players registering.

Eight players will qualify for the main draw from the qualifying rounds along with four wild card entries, which will make total of 32 players for the main draw matches which would be held from February 20.

Three Indian players - Ranjeet Singh, Abhijeet Tiwari and Sidharth Rawat - and Antonio Los Santos from Malaysia and CLTA Trainee have got the wild card entries in the men’s singles main draw.

Similary, Dheeranush Singh Bhatti, Suraj Beniwal, Fatehdeep Singh and Ronak Manuja from India and Dinesh Thangarajah from Sri Lanka have got the wild card entry into the men’s singles qualifying round in the tournament.

Patron-in-chief Rajan Kashyap stated that Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, will be the chief guest during the semi-finals while, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator will be chief guest during the final match.