The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

COURTS

Ex-policeman loses 7-yr-old court battle
SC upholds order of then SSP to discharge constable
Aneesha Sareen
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 3
Fighting to remain in the UT police for the last seven years, a UT constable has lost the battle in court as the Supreme Court, in a recent order, has dismissed the appeal of the constable, challenging his dismissal.

The constable was discharged of his duties in 2005 for not disclosing to the department that a criminal case was registered against him with the Haryana Police prior to his joining the force.

The petitioner, Kuldeep Singh, was enrolled as a constable with the UT police in March 2005 after 17 years of service as ‘hawaldar’ in the 18th Sikh regiment.

His wife had lodged an FIR against him under Sections 406 and 498 of the IPC earlier that month. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had later granted bail to the constable.

The constable had then moved an application for leave to join the investigation in the case and it was only then that the UT police came to know that the constable was involved in a criminal case.

At no point of time did the constable bring his involvement in the criminal case to the notice of the authorities concerned.

The then UT SSP, exercising his powers under statutory provisions of the Punjab Police Regulations, discharged the constable of his duties.

As per the rule, a constable unlikely to prove an efficient officer might be discharged at any time within three years of enrolment and there would be no appeal against an order under this rule.

After he was discharged, Kuldeep had moved the Central Administrative Tribunal, which dismissed his application.

The constable had then moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the civil writ petition was dismissed and the order upheld by the high court in 2010.

The constable had then moved the Supreme Court, which dismissed his petition last month and ruled that the facts of the case were sufficient for forming an opinion by the SSP that the constable would not prove an efficient police officer.

Samjhauta blast hearing deferred to April 17
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, April 3
The special NIA court deferred the hearing for April 17 as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) sought more time to produce supplementary challan in the Samjhauta blasts case.

Sources said the NIA has demanded more time to produce the supplementary challan against Lokesh Sharma who along with Kamal Chauhan, who was arrested by the investigating agency from Depalpur town in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on February 13 last. Lokesh is presently lodged in the Ambala Jail.

On June 20 last year, the NIA had filed a chargesheet against Swami Aseemanand and four others in the Panchkula NIA court. In the chargesheet, the agency had accused Aseemanand, Lokesh Sharma, Sunil Joshi (now dead), Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalasangra alias Ramji of hatching a criminal conspiracy, which resulted in blasts in the cross-border train near Dewana railway station in the Panipat district in February 2007. The blasts resulted in the death of 68 persons. A majority of those killed in the blast were Pakistanis.

CRIME

Two STA employees surrender, arrested
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 3
Two employees with the State Transport Authority (STA), booked in a cheating case in 2010, have surrendered. While senior assistant Ravinder surrendered before the police yesterday, cashier Sushil Kumar surrendered in court today.

Inspector Dulip Rattan said they arrested Ravinder yesterday and procured one-day police custody while Sushil was arrested today.

The vigilance department of the UT police had booked them in January, 2010, after a complaint had been lodged by Deshraj Guleria of the Punjab Chemicals Crop Protection.

According to vigilance sleuths, Ravinder had reportedly taken Rs 25,000 as counter-fee for a minibus from an official with the Punjab Chemicals Crop Protection, Sector 35, on January 11, 2010, instead of Rs 470.

The senior assistant had kept the receipt with him and given a photocopy to the man depositing the cash. The applicant who did not know about this left with the photocopy of the receipt.

A day later, when Sushil returned to work, Ravinder asked him to cancel the original receipt and issue a new receipt for Rs 470. They allegedly embezzled the remaining amount.

When Punjab Chemicals Crop Protection officials came to know of this, they took up the matter with RLA officials. An inquiry was conducted by the vigilance department, which found the two officials guilty.

A case of cheating, criminal conspiracy, fraud and forgery and under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act was subsequently registered against them.

Man succumbs to injuries
Tribune News Service

Zirakpur, April 3
A migrant labourer, Pradeep Kumar (32), who was bashed up badly by his five friends during night of April 1, died, today, at Government Medical College Hospital, Sector 32, here.

The police has arrested three persons namely Babu Ram Yadav and his brother Raju and Paltu, all hailing from UP and presently residing at Pabhat Godown area in Zirakpur, in this connection. The two accused are yet to be arrested.

Parmod, who originally hailed from Gonda village in Uttar Pardesh, was admitted in the hospital on Monday morning in a critical condition following a sever bash by the accused over an issue of vacating a house.

SPORTS

Dosti Cup
Bilal, Parul hog limelight
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 3
Silence in the badminton hall of Shivalik Public School, Phase VI, Mohali, had something to attract not in terms of its well equipped centre but it exert a pull on the spirit of hearing and speech impaired players from both Pakistan and India, who are here to play the 1st International Dosti Cup Tournament being held across Punjab these days.

The 40-member contingent might not have words to share their happiness but their gestures and smile says it all. As soon as this correspondent entered the complex, the scenario was same as of any normal badminton tournament with players warming up and preparing themselves for their next clash, but the situation became clear when the chair umpire used sign language for explaining rules to the players.

The ongoing sports festival is being organised by the Punjab Deaf and Dumb Sports Association along with Lahore Deaf and Dumb Sports Association under the aegis of Indian Deaf and Dumb Association.

However, all of them wanted to visit the City Beautiful but due to the non-extension of visa, they are deferred from visiting here.

“No one can dampen their sprits, winning and loosing is one aspect of the sports but the effort made by these players is appreciable. This is not the first tournament for these special children but it is the first effort to bring closeness between the two countries through special kids,” said Virender Sharma, one of the organisers.

“For them, this is the only way to tell the world about their capabilities. They are being trained to excel and moreover they are on the right path. To be depressed is quite obvious but their interest in playfield makes them strong and boosts them to earn fame through it,” said a member of the Lahore contingent.

The principal of Shivalik Public School, Mohali, added, “This is the first time that our school is hosting such cup. These players might not be able to speak properly but they can express it and that expression is priceless. We hope we will get another opportunity to host such tournaments soon,” said Dr BS Bedi.

Result:

Badminton boy’s single: Bilal Tahir (Pakistan); 2. Bilal Ateeq (Pakistan); 3. Gurpreet Singh (India). Doubles: Bilal Ateeq-Bilal Tahir (Pakistan); Manjit Singh-Gurpreet (India).

Girls’ single: Parul Gupta (India); 2. Farah (Pakistan); 3. Aish (Pakistan).

Doubles: 1. Aish-Farah (Pakistan); 2. Reetu-Parul (India).

Mixed doubles: 1. Bilal Tahir-Farah (Pakistan); 2. Manjit Singh-Parul (India); 3. Sammar-Aish (Pakistan).

Standing tall against all odds
Hearing impaired girl bags top spots in badminton
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 3
Few people in this world have the moral fiber to boldly face every situation and come over it like a real winner. Parul Gupta might be taken as another name in the world of tennis and badminton but this hearing impaired girl has made it big after displaying her class in many national-level tournaments.

In Chandigarh for playing the 1st Dosti Cup between Pakistan and India, she has bagged all top positions in the badminton category.

Parul wanted to excel in both games and shine like her favourite sportspersons, Saina Nehwal and Sania Mirza. A Class X student of a Patiala-based school, she has represented the state in about two national games organised by SGFI (School Games Federation of India) and also played state championships for about three times.

“Parul is the only special kid of the family and every time she made us proud. Moreover, we want her to excel in all aspects of life. She had represented her state twice in the national championship and played state-level championships. She is good in her studies also,” said Avinash Gupta, her father.

“I wanted to achieve laurels in the world of sports. It’s been 10 years that I am giving my best in tennis and all I wanted is to see my parents proud and happy after watching my performance. My family supports me in all ups and down, which encourages me more,” said Parul.

Achievements

Among the probables of 56th Lawn Tennis National Competition for Girls (U-17) at Pune; silver medal in 57th Lawn Tennis National Competition for Girls (U-17) at Delhi; bronze medal in 57th Punjab State School Games for Girls (U-17) at Ropar; silver medal in Punjab Women Tennis Tournament at Ludhiana; gold medal in 2010-2011 national-level games at Chennai.