The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Biometric facility for pension disbursal
Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, July 24
The Government of India has chosen Fatehgarh Sahib as the pilot district for implementation of a newly developed project under whichvarious types of pension would be credited to bank accounts of beneficiaries directly by using their UID (Aadhar) number.

The banks have been directed to open the bank accounts of all beneficiaries by putting their UID numbers, said Additional Deputy Commissioner Parveen Kumar Thind while presiding over a meeting of consultative committee of various banks organised by the State Bank of Patiala here today.

The meeting was called to review the progress of various government-sponsored schemes for agriculture, industrial sector and weaker sections of society.

Elaborating the scheme, he said it would ensure timely distribution of pensions to the beneficiary in a transparent manner and now there won’t be any middle man to grab the pension of any beneficiary. He said under the newly developed system, the representatives of the banks would visit the beneficiaries along with handhold micro ATM having biometric facility and the pension would be delivered in cash on the spot by taking their thumb impression on the machine.

He directed all banks and officials to fulfill the economic needs of the underprivileged and below poverty line section of society to make them self sufficient.

They should work in coordination, so that they may get the benefits of all government-sponsored schemes and may not face any difficulty in getting the financial assistance in the form of loans from the banks.

He also directed them to implement the DRI scheme and to make self employment credit cards. He directed bank officials to organise camps to distribute loan to the tune of Rs 15,000 at the rate of 4 per cent interest under the DRI scheme to all those whose income is less than Rs 18,000 in rural areas and Rs 24,000 in urban areas.

I-T services on the doorstep
Dept to have mobile vans, kiosks to help taxpayers file returns
Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, July 24
To facilitate taxpayers in filling their income tax returns as well as to encourage people to pay taxes voluntarily, the income tax (I-T) department in the district has decided to introduce mobile vans and to set up kiosks at various places, including remote areas in the district.

Rahul Bhandhari, Commissioner, income tax, Mandi Gobindgarh zone, said this innovative step was an attempt to provide services at their doorsteps and to save the taxpayers from visiting the income tax office, which causes inconvenience at times.

He said the mobile vans would be stationed in designated residential areas and public places and act as a single window for salaried class and other tax payers.

He said the department would not only accept the income tax returns but also assist taxpayers in filling their returns.

He said on July 26, the mobile van would be stationed at the municipal council, Mandi Gobindgarh; GPS campus and GT road from 10 am to 1 pm; at Desh Bhagat College, Mandi Gobindgarh, from 2 pm to 5 pm; and at Khamano market committee from 2 pm to 5 pm.

On July 27 at the municipal council, Bassi Pathana; main bus stand, Chuni Kalan, from 10 am to 1 pm; on July 30 at Dayal Puri School, Sirhind; Jakhwali village and Chorwala from 10 am to 5 pm and on July 31 at RIMT College, Civil Hospital, Mandi Gobindgarh, from 10 am to 1 pm.

Council approves Rs 8 cr for development
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, July 24
The Dera Bassi municipal council has approved Rs 8 crore for various development works. This was approved at the monthly meeting of the municipal council yesterday.

The meeting was presided over by council vice-president Harjinder Singh Rangi. MLA NK Sharma and executive officer Varinder Jain were also present at the meeting.

The development works include developing a park near bus stand, setting up of underground water storage tank in Shakti Nagar and widening of Government College road and Issapur road.

The council had also decided to develop six parks in the town.

Thieves decamp with cash, jewellery
Suman Bhatnagar

Ambala, July 24
Thieves decamp with cash and jewellery worth Rs 20 lakh from two houses located in Naya Bans area at Ambala City late last night. Owners of the houses, who also are brothers, came to know about the incident early this morning.

One of the brothers, Surender Pal, had gone to Chandigarh and came this morning, while the other, Shyam Sunder, was home at the time of incident.

They took away cash and jewellery kept in a locker in a room. The police was informed about the incident early this morning.

Cuts cause inconvenience to residents
Parmod Mehta

Dera Bassi, July 24
Unscheduled power cuts of nearly 8 to 10 hours have been causing inconvenience to consumers of both domestic and farm sector. The water supply was also badly affected due to the power cuts. Farmers of Dera Bassi, Lalru and Banur rued over poor electricity supply during the paddy season. They said they had been facing the problem in irrigating the paddy crop.

While on one side, delay in the monsoon had affected the crop, on other hand, absence of electricity is harassing the farmers.

Meanwhile Xen, electricity department, HS Oberoy, said the cuts were being imposed due to the shortage of power.

The SDO Lalru said the cuts were being imposed by the department. SDO, Dera Bassi, Mohinderpal Singh, did not respond despite repeated calls made to him.

COURTS

Medicity Project under HC scanner
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24
The much-hyped Medicity Project in the Eco City today came under the Punjab and Haryana High Court scanner. Acting on a petition against the setting up of Medicity in a “residential zone”, the High Court this morning put the State of Punjab, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority and other respondents on notice.

The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice R P Nagrath also fixed August 14 as the next date of hearing in the case. In his petition, Saroop Singh of Mullanpur Garibdass in Mohali district claimed that GMADA was planning to establish Medicity with medical institutions on 150 acres. But the area in the master plan was reserved for residential purposes only.

On the other hand, the area for setting up health and medical institutions was reserved in Ferozepur village in the master plan. “The setting up of the Medicity in the residential zone is not permissible,” the petitioner asserted.

He added that GMADA’s “shocking and arbitrary approach” was worse than that of a private builder. Alleging that GMADA was trying to “usurp the rights of the landowners”, the petitioner added that his land measuring 1.6 acres was acquired for setting up Eco City.

Subsequently, GMADA sold 740 plots, worth Rs 413 crore, by holding a draw of lots on October 28, 2011. Saroop Singh added that he opted for land pooling scheme and was offered 1000 square yard of residential and 100 square yard of commercial area in the Eco City.

But, he has not received even a single penny as compensation even after eight months.

Arguing on his behalf, counsel Balram Singh sought directions to the respondents for granting compensation to the petitioner for the loss suffered due to eight months' delay “in giving his rightful and due share as promised under the land pooling scheme”.

Balram Singh added: “The GMADA has earned crores of rupees at the cost of poor farmers, including the petitioner, who has been left in a lurch.”

He added that the land owners were kept in the dark about the exact details regarding the total developed area available area under residential and commercial categories.

He added that the legal points involved in the petition were whether the rights available to the land owners opting for land pooling scheme could be infringed by arbitrary and illegal actions; and whether the authorities could be allowed to deviate from the master plan of SAS Nagar, Mohali 2006-2021, and violate the land pooling scheme formulated by the state government itself?

Trial begins in court
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24
The trial in the siblings double murder case began in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Shalini Nagpal today. The court recorded statements of two experts of Central Forensic Science Laboratory and two doctors. The next hearing in the case will take place on September 5.

Gaurang Sahu and his sister Kavita Sahu were brutally murdered at their residence in Sector 41 on December 15 last year. Police had arrested the maternal uncle of the two, identified as Rahul, for the gruesome murder of the siblings. The accused allegedly killed the two because Kavita objected to his advances due to which Gaurang had a scuffle with him. The accused allegedly killed the two with a sharp-edged knife.

CRIME

2 held in Tao molestation case
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24
A week after registering the case, the UT police has arrested two youths for molesting a 25-year old IT professional outside Tao discotheque in Sector 26 on July 15.

The police arrested Gagandeep Singh, a resident of Fatehgarh Sahib, and Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Faridkot. Both accused were identified by the victim in the police station today.

Three other accused in the case are still at large and raids are being conducted to nab them. The accused are employed with a private company and were bailed out.

The girl was chased, abused and molested in Sector 26 in full public view, as she came out of the discotheque.

The UT police had failed to register any case at that time and it was only after the incident was highlighted in these columns that a case was registered. The police seized Ford Fiesta car of the accused. The car was registered on the name of Balwinder Kaur.

Last week, the victim had met UT SSP Naunihal Singh requesting for speedy justice. The SSP reportedly pulled Inspector Anokh Singh, SHO, Sector 26 police station, for his failure to make arrests.

Residents help police nab snatchers
Tribune News Service

Mohali, July 24
Two alert citizens of the town helped the police in nabbing two snatchers in two different incidents that occurred in the town today. While Kulbir Singh, a resident of the town, not only rescued the victim, identified as Gagan, a staff nurse, from the snatcher, identified as Jatinder Kumar, but also caught him after chasing him for about 15 minutes this afternoon.

The accused has been identified as a polytechnic student. Gagan, the staff nurse was on her way to the Fortis Hospital, Mohali, when the incident occurred. According to the victim, she was going to her workplace on foot when the accused caught her from behind and snatched her purse, bangles and chain. Kulbir Singh, who was passing nearby, challenged the snatcher, who tried to flee from the spot. After a chase of about 15 minutes, Kulbir nabbed Jatinder and brought him to the police station.

Similarly, in another incident, Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Mohali, caught Narinder Singh, alias Neetu, red-handed when he was trying to snatch a purse from Jaspreet Kaur, a resident of Phase X.

DSP Darshan Singh Mann said the victim, who worked as a teacher in Khamano, was about to alight from a three-wheeler when the accused snatched her purse.

Gurpreet Singh came to her rescue and caught the accused, who turned out to be a habitual criminal. We have recovered an Activa scooter, an ATM card, a N-70 mobile phone and a purse, belonging to Jaspreet Kaur, from his possession, said DSP Mann, adding that he has already facing a theft case in Chandigarh.

Appreciating the efforts of Gupreet Singh and Kulbir Singh, DSP Mann said both had extended a big help to the police and society as well. “I have written to the senior authorities to honour them soon for their brave act,” said DSP Mann.

While Kulbir Singh, a local resident, not only rescued the victim, Gagan, a staff nurse, from the snatcher, identified as Jatinder Kumar, but also caught him after chasing him for about 15 minutes this afternoon. The accused has been identified as a polytechnic student. Similarly, in another incident, Gurpreet Singh, a resident, caught Narinder Singh, alias Neetu, red-handed when he was trying to snatch a purse from Jaspreet Kaur, a resident of Phase X.x

Man booked for rape

Chandigarh, July 24
The Chandigarh Police has booked a city resident in a case of rape. The woman, a resident of Patiala, filed a complaint against Harnek Singh, an employee at the office of Accountant General.

The woman alleged she was raped in a hotel room at Kajheri last night. The complainant is the owner of a private laboratory in Patiala, and is an estranged wife of a policeman.

The police said a medical examination of the woman confirmed the rape allegations. The entry register of the hotel at Kajheri also established presence of the accused, the police said. No arrests have been made so far. A case has been registered at the Sector 36 police station.

Woman accuses father-in-law of molestation

A resident of Sector 22 has accused her father-in-law of molesting her. The UT police has registered a case of molestation against the accused. The woman alleged that her father-in-law Ramesh Verma molested her in the presence of all family members. Verma is an employee of Haryana government. A case has been registered at the Sector 17 police station. — TNS

One more arrested
Tribune News Service

Mohali, July 24
The Kurali police arrested another person, Yogesh Rana, in the Kurali case involving around 12 youngsters in eve-teasing followed by an attack on the parents of victims.

Rana, a resident of Kurali, is the third accused, who has been arrested in the case. The police has already arrested two persons, Vishal Kumar and Chandan Kumar, while the rest are still at large.

Notably, last week a group of about 12 youngsters, mostly drug addicts, had attacked Manoj Kumar and Sunil, who had raised objections following eve-teasing of their daughters by them.

Manoj and Sunil, who were thrashed by the youngsters, carrying swords and rods, were shifted to a hospital.

The police said Rana was arrested from Kurali on the charges of attempt to murder. Other culprits have fled to other states. We are conducting raids to nab them, said the police.

SPORTS

Dance sports association honours couples
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24
Chandigarh Dance Sports Association honoured three couples, who clinched two gold medals and one silver medal in the recently concluded 6th National Dance Sports Championship held in Patna.

The function was organised by the Chandigarh Dance Sports Association in collaboration with the Dance World, which has been training budding dancers.

Bandeep Rekhi and Soma Rekhi (gold), Madhav Banati and Deliya Kaur (juniors) and Madhav and Samia Rekhi (juniors) won the top honours.

The association also honoured the duo of Madhav and Tanaya who won gold medals in 2010 and 2011 nationals in three dance categories. The dance sports has emerged as a major event in the international arena.