NEIGHBOURHOOD

MUNICIPAL POLL
Endless wait for people’s mandate
71 per cent polling witnessed in three wards, no untoward incident reported
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Exercising their right Residents line up outside polling booths in Ropar on Thursday. Tribune photos: Vicky Gharu

Ropar, June 7
The Roopnagar municipal corporation by-elections passed off peacefully, witnessing 71.03 per cent polling.

Ropar’s SDM-cum-returning officer Ravinder Kumar said as many as 4,490 voters out of the total 6,321 in all three wards-10, 13 and 17- today turned up to vote for their favourite candidates.

Ward number 13, where two members of a family-uncle and nephew-were contesting against each other, witnessed huge turn out of 71.33 per cent, with as many as 1,221 voters out of the total 1,579 exercising their right. Ward number 10 remained at the second place, with 70.44 per cent polling (a total of 1,823 votes were polled out of the total 2,588 votes) while with 67.13 per cent polling, ward number 17 finished third. Here, as many as 1,446 voters out of the total 2,154 showed up.

Today, the polling began at 8 pm under tight security. About 100 policemen were deputed outside the polling booths at three different places in the town.

A youth with a fractured leg comes out of a booth.

SSP Jatinder Singh Aulakh said the police did not receive any complaint from anyone regarding elections.

However, sources claimed that heated arguments between the supporters of rival groups took place at ward number 13, but nobody approached the police.

Madanmohan Kapila, a BJP candidate, and his nephew Hemant Kapila, a Congress candidate, contested against each other.

Meanwhile JM Balamurgan, the election observer, also visited all booths this afternoon.

“I am happy with the smooth conduct of elections," said Murugan.

On being asked about the last day’s ‘drama’ when Congress candidate Rajinder Bhanwra from ward number 10 had alleged that he was forcibly taken away by certain leaders of a rival group for some ‘deal’, Murugan claimed that he was not aware of any such incident. “I have not received any written complaint. So I don’t know anything about the incident”, said the observer. Rajinder Bhanwra said he had informed the police and media about the incident last night.

The result will be declared at 6 pm on June 10.

Patiala, June 7
Cashing in on the anti-UPA sentiment on account of skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, a majority of the SAD and BJP candidates are primarily focusing on the issue of inflation during the election campaign for 50 municipal wards of Patiala.

Speeches being delivered by the Akali-BJP leaders during the area-wise meetings and election programmes clearly reflect that the candidates are mainly targeting the Congress-led UPA government.

Though, the corporation elections are mainly contested on the local issues, a major chunk of the Akali and BJP leaders have made the corruption and price rise as the main election issue.

While addressing most of the election gatherings Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Surjit Singh Rakhra, Education Minister and in charge of Patiala SAD election affairs Sikander Singh Malooka and Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli keep launching scathing attacks on the Centre.

"People in Punjab are not able to provide three meals a day to their children because of the price rise. By bringing the SAD-BJP government to power in the state for the second consecutive time, the people of Punjab have vindicated our stand. Now, we want that the electorate should vote for the SAD-BJP combine in the civic poll as well," said Rakhra, Malooka and Kohli while addressing gatherings.

As this correspondent attended some of the ward wise election rallies, it came to light that after criticising the Congress-led coalition government at the centre, the candidates and the Akali leaders dwelt upon the local civic issues. When asked the reason behind emphasising the failures of the Union government and not laying focus on the civic issues, a majority of the Akali leaders, including SAD general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra, said, "Since, during the past five years, the SAD-BJP government was at the helm of affairs and the municipal house in Patiala was also of the Akali-BJP, there was so much development that there are hardly any serious civic problems that need to be addressed."

Meanwhile, the BJP leaders, including the Senior Deputy Mayor, Anil Bajaj, while addressing one of his election gatherings, also lambasted the UPA government.

"Cast your vote in favour of the SAD-BJP for the overall and sustainable development in the royal city," he said, while flaying the Congress on the issue of scams being unearthed in the recent past. However, in comparison to the SAD-BJP campaign, the electioneering by the Congress leaders was not much impressive. However, with the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, Capt Amarinder Singh, reaching the city in the evening, the Congress rank and file accelerated the canvassing. 

Dera Bassi, June 7
Due to a shortage of LPG cylinders at Dera Bassi, residents have been facing a tough time.

They said managers of various gas agencies were harassing them by not providing cylinders on time.

They said it took the agency 30-40 days to deliver a cylinder.

They alleged that the cylinders were being sold on the black market.

"Owners of gas agencies provided illegal gas connections to their relatives and even supplied domestic cylinders for commercial purposes," they added.

Block Congress president Harbhajan Singh said residents had been facing a harrowing time as they did not get the supply on time.

He added that managers of Balbeer Singh gas agency were selling cylinders for Rs 800 to Rs 900. He demanded an inquiry into the matter.

He said cylinders should be provided to consumers on time. Karmchand Gholumajra, a resident, expressed concern over the shortage.

He said the system needed to be streamlined so that residents were not made to suffer.

Meanwhile, the district food and supply controller, Lavkesh Sharma, said there were loopholes in the functioning of gas agencies and he had taken up the matter with the higher officials.

An official of Balbeer Singh gas agency, Gurvinder Singh, said the company that supplied cylinders to the agency had failed to meet the deadline.

Ambala, June 7
Additional Sessions Judge of Ambala Sandeep Garg today awarded life imprisonment to 90-year-old Lal Chand, his wife Omwati and his son Deepak on the charge of murdering their tenant.

As per prosecution, Asha, a resident of Jharkhand, who was a labourer, was staying in Lal Chand's residence. They would often enter into scuffle over drinking water supply.

On May 31, 2010, Lal Chand and his family, set her on fire. Asha suffered serious burn injuries and was shifted to the PGIMER, Chandigarh, where she succumbed to her injuries. Later, the police registered a murder case against Lal Chand, his wife Omwati and his son Deepak. 

Chandigarh, June 7
The local cricket team trounced Patiala by an innings on the final day of the Inter district cricket tournament for boys (U-22) being held at Dhruv Pandove Satdium, Patiala.

Chandigarh's bowlers started off the fourth day well and defeated Patiala by innings and 31 runs to secure 6 points, including a bonus. Resuming from their score of 197 for 6, the Patiala team was bowled out for 237 in 82.3 overs.

Patiala lost their opener Robin Dhillon with the team's total reading 219 for 7. Robin Dhillon along with Amaninder Singh put on a 54-runs partnership for the seventh wicket before Robin was caught by Gurinder off Aman Bharti for 37 off 22 (which included six boundaries).

Later, Amaninder Singh was run out for 29-runs. Patiala innings finally folded for 237 in 82.3 overs. Aman Bharti and Abhilash Sharma were the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets, while Naveen Dhiman claimed 2 for 22.

Brief scores: Patiala (First innings)- 178 all out

Patiala (Second innings)- 237 all out in 82.3 overs (Himashu Chawla 45, Karan Kaila 42, Vikrant 31, Amaninder Singh 29, Robin Dhillon 21, Aman Bharti 3 for 67, Abhilash Sharma 3 for 52, Naveen Dhiman 2 for 22).

In the second match played at the Gandhi Grounds, Amritsar, the local team scored 271 runs, losing 7 wickets in 92 overs, in their second innings against Ludhiana. After the last day's play, the Ludhiana team secured 3 points for their first innings lead of 58 runs while Amritsar failed to add any point to their point's tally.

For Amritsar, batsman Arush was the only main scorer, making unbeaten 102 runs off 263. Earlier, he was involved in a partnership of 67 runs for the seventh wicket with Mohit Handa scoring 35 off 61, hitting five boundaries. Later, Vinay Chaudhary joined Arush to stitch-up an unbeaten 103 run partnership for the eighth wicket.

Vinay Chaudhary completed his unbeaten half-century (53 off 111, eight boundaries). For Ludhiana, Sukhjinder bowled a tidy spell and claimed six wickets for 87 runs.

Brief scores: Amritsar (First innings)- 378 all out

Ludhiana (Second innings)- 436 all out in 151.2 overs

Amritsar (Second innings)- 271 for 7 in 92 overs (Arush 102 not out, Vinay Chaudhary 53 not out, Mohit Handa 35, Sukhjinder Singh 6 for 87).

Panchkula, June 7
On the first day of 16th All India Ranbir Singh Hooda Cricket Tournament, the Bangladesh team defeated Jharkhand, while CFI XI overcame Sri Lanka at Tau Devi Lal stadium.

In the first match of the day, bating first, the Bangladeh team posted 173 runs with Shafiul Hayat scoring a quick fire 41 off 30. In reply, the Jharkhand team failed to achieve the target and bundled out for 72 runs. For bangladesh, Mulsimuddin took 2 for 2.

Brief Scores:

Bangladesh - 173 for 9 in 25 overs (Sahfiul Hayat 43, Abdul Kayum 41, Saeed Sarkar 29, Shahrukh Khan 4 for 14, Ashif Kuch 2 for 21)

Jharkhand - 72 all out in 20.3 overs (Mohit Raj 16, Mohit Verma 16, Mulimuddin 2 for 2, Abu Mollah 2 for 11, Saeed Sarkar 2 for 2).

In the second match of the day, CFI XI defeated Sri Lanka by 7 runs. CFI bowlers managed to hold their nerves to break down Sri Lankan batting line up. Batting first, the CFI XI team scored 136 runs, with Jai Sachdeva (41) contributing the most runs. Chasing the target, Jai Sachdeva took 3 for 13 runs to bundle the visiting side.

Brief scores:

CFI XI- 136 all out in 24.4 overs (Jai Sachdeva 41, Nishant Rana 31, Ankit Laller 20, Rasanka Daharmasena 5 for 28, Keshawa Wijewendra 3 for 16).

Sri lanka- 129 all out in 24.4 overs (Minoi Anjula 33, Pawan Dilshan 24, Jai Sachdeva 3 for 13, Rahul Tomer 2 for 19).

Chandigarh, June 7
The Chandigarh Amateur Boxing Association (CABA) has selected the 16-member squad to represent the city in the upcoming 19th Senior Men and 7th Senior Women Northern India Boxing Championships to be held at Shimla from June 9 to 11.

Teams:

Mens: 49 kg-Vijay Kumar; 52 kg- Sunil Kumar; 56 kg- Anil Kumar; 60 kg- Ashish Singh; 64 kg- Naresh Kumar (Gold Medalist National Federation Cup, 2012); 69 kg- Deepak Sura; 75 kg- Jaspreet Singh; 81 kg- Tejpartap Singh; 91 kg- Vijay; +91 kg- Baljeet Singh. Officials: Manager- Sohan Singh Rana; Coach- Varinder Dangi; Time Keeper-Announcer- J D Singh; R/J- Balkar Singh.

Womens: 51 kg- Sunita; 54 kg- Satbir Kaur; 57 kg-Kanchan; 60 kg- Diksha; 81 kg- Tejinder Kaur; +81 kg- Amrinder Kaur (Captain & National Medalist); Officials: Manager- Shelja Walia; Chief Coach of Men & Women Team- Varinder Dangi (NIS Boxing); R/J- Dr Sonia Kanwar.