NEIGHBOURHOOD

Man who attacked on suspended VC released on bail
Surinder Bhardwaj

Patiala, August 10
Perturbed over the locking of main gate leading to the Patiala-Rajpura road during night hours from 10 pm to 5 am, a few residents of Urban Estate Phase-III have filed a complaint with the Patiala Deputy Commissioner, who is also the Chief Administrator of PDA, demanding the opening of gates.

Gurbax Singh, a resident, informed that they face extreme difficulty during night hours in case they have to travel out of their locality. “The Residents Welfare Association passed a resolution that all the gates be locked at 10 pm sharp but this is totally unjustified as in case of an emergency situation, locking the main gate can lead to any unpleasant situation.”

He said he had requested the association members to depute a security guard on the gate to ensure that he could open it up during emergency situations. “They said they were planning to construct a small room where the guard can sit and I have proposed them that I alone would pay half the amount required for the construction but now they are not even willing to do that,” added Gurbax.

“We have requested the PUDA authorities time and again to ensure that at least the gate leading to the Patiala-Rajpura road is open during night hours to avoid any emergency but to no avail. Though the Additional Chief Administrator (ACA) of the Patiala zone, PUDA, had ordered in February that the gates towards Patiala-Rajpura road should be kept opened during night yet the decision was not implemented,” informed Jaskirat Singh and Sarabjeet Singh.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner, GK Singh, when contacted said, “The matter has been brought into my notice and I will direct the ACA to ensure that the free access to all residents is available. A few people cannot take the decision for the entire locality. If residents want that the gate should be kept open, it will be done,” he added.

Dera Bassi, August 10
Stray animals have been becoming the cause of accidents at Dera Bassi town and other adjoining areas. The animals can be seen moving on roads and streets. The Municipal Council, Dera Bassi, had constructed a Cattle Pond to protect the stray animals. But the pond was now lying in a neglected state and was proving a white elephant. Residents of the city demanded that the cattle pond should be properly maintained so that accidents could be avoided by saving stray animals in this pond. Few days ago, a stray bull fell on the car of a local resident, and damaged his car.

Block Congress president Harbhajan Singh expressed the concern over the increasing accidents caused by stray animals. He said municipal council should arrange proper arrangements for stray animals by maintaining the cattle pond that was lying in neglected state.

Meanwhile, executive officer Varinder Jain said council had passed a resolution to save stray animals by making payments to the owners of these places. He further informed that cattle pond could be turned in to a parking place near tehsil because the parking problem was rising.

Fatehgarh Sahib, August 10
The district police has tightened the security in the district keeping in view the Independence Day, which is celebrated with much fanfare at the grounds of Mata Gujri College Fatehgarh Sahib.

The recovery of dead body of a Nepali woman at a Dhaba adjactant to the District Administrative complex and MG College has spread panic among public and the police, which led to more preventive measures. The SSP, Hardial Singh Mann, who has just taken over as the SSP after addressing the police officials told that all the SHOs have been directed to intensify checking of vehicles and night patrolling.

He added that district has been divided into sectors and 11 special teams have been constituted to maintain law and order and to keep vigil on anti-social elements. He said that during Independence Day celebration all the participants will be provided fool proof security and police camps will be set up.

He said all the SHOs have been directed to book all those dhabha, hotel owners and land lords who have not provided information to the police about their employees and tenants. Hardial said similarly, the special police officials have been deputed to conduct surprise checking of hotels, dhabas, sweet shops and in villages where migrant laborers work.

As per orders of the District Magistrate, it is mandatory to inform the police about their employees' and tenants.

Meanwhile, permanent nakas have been erected on all the main roads and high ways passing through the district and more than 100 vehicle owners were challaned for violation.

Chandigarh, August 10
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has set a four-month deadline for the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and other authorities to consider the regularisation claim of 1984 anti-Sikh riots' victims who are currently in unauthorised occupation of residential flats.

The directions came on a petition filed by Amarjeet Kaur and others against Punjab government and other respondents. In their petition placed before the Division Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice RP Nagrath, the petitioners had earlier contended that their victimisation has been accepted by the competent authority by issuing red cards to them. They were entitled for regularisation of possession over residential flats constructed initially by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority.

Referring to the government policies, the petitioners said their grievance was that GMADA has not taken any action, despite the directions issued by the High Court in the case of similarly placed riot victims.

Appearing before the Bench, the counsel for the petitioners contended that order rejecting or accepting the petitioners' claim had not been passed by the competent authority.

Taking note of the contention, the Bench asserted under these circumstances and without expressing views on the entitlement of petitioners, it was deemed appropriate to dispose of the writ petition with a direction to GMADA and another respondent to consider petitioners' claim and pass an appropriate order in accordance with the government policies within a period of four months from the date of receiving a certified copy of this order.

The High Court, in a similar matter pertaining to accommodation for riot victims in Ludhiana, has already ruled:"No one, including the riot victims, is above law, nor any other person whosoever he may be can be allowed to take law in his hands."

Taking up the issue of unauthorised occupation of flats in Ludhiana, the Bench had also directed Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner of Police "to proceed in the matter in accordance with law forthwith and ensure that the unauthorised possession is removed and the vacant flats are delivered to those, who have been found entitled to and eligible for allotment as per the Government policies."

At the same time, the Bench had added that the directions in no way would cause prejudice or affect the rights of the unauthorised occupants, in case their claim as the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots is found to be genuine.

The Bench had added,"If it is found that they too are genuine and bona fide 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims, suitable steps for their rehabilitation and to extend the benefits flowing from different government policies, including allotment of dwelling units, other than the flats in dispute, shall be taken at the earliest." 

Chandigarh, August 10
The police has booked the owners of a Sector 22-based recruitment firm for allegedly duping at least five persons of Rs 1.5 lakh each on the pretext of providing them jobs.

Kulwant Singh of Nabha, Anil Thakur, Kamal Kapoor, Gaurav and Saroj Kumari alleged that a woman duped them of Rs 7.5 lakh. The complainants alleged that the woman, who managed World Job Recruiter, SCO number 2408, Sector 22-C, took Rs 1.5 lakh from each of them for arranging jobs. The complainants alleged they were neither provided jobs and nor were returned the money. 

Panchkula, August 10
In yet another robbery in Panchkula, Rs 48,000 and mobile phones were looted at gunpoint from three persons early this morning. Four youngsters, who were posing as government officials deputed for a checking drive near tank chowk, Panchkula, stopped the victims and robbed them of the cash and mobile phones after threatening them with a gun.

The victims, Visheshar Pandey, Rohan and Munna Pandey, hailing from Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, were on their way to the subzi mandi, Sector 26, Chandigarh, to buy vegetables.

“It was around 4.30 am in the morning when four youngsters, who were in a pick-up van, signalled us to pull over near the tank chowk at Sector 6. Two of them came outside and snubbed us saying that why we did not stop our car at once when they signalled to pull over. Posing as the officials of the police or excise department, they asked us where we were going and directed us to follow them,” said Vishesher, one of the victims, in his complaint to the police.

The miscreants were in the age group of 25 and 30 and were reportedly conversing in Punjabi.

The victims said the miscreants took them to an isolated place near old Panchkula and asked them to stop the car. All of them alighted from the car and one of them trained a pistol on them (the victims). They were so scared that they handed over all the cash to the miscreants, the victims added.

Vishesher had Rs 12,000, Munna Rs 16,000 and Rohan was carrying Rs 20,000.

“All three of them used to regularly come to the grain market, Sector-26, Chandigarh, from Baddi to buy vegetables in order to sell them at their place. We have registered a case of robbery and our investigation is on,” said Mange Ram, in charge of the Sector-7 police post. 

Panchkula, August 10
Panchkula District Cricket Association will hold the trials for selecting the under-25 district cricket team on August 12 at 3:00 pm at Doon Public School, Sector-21, Panchkula.

According to Sandeep Moudgil, secretary of the association, the team will play its first match on August 18 against Ambala at the JR Institute of Cricket Technology, Panchkula. The match will be organised by the Haryana Cricket Association.

Players born on or after 01-09-1987 are eligible to participate in the trials. Aspirants must report at the venue of the trials at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time to get themselves registered. No player will be allowed to participate unless he comes in the proper white kit prescribed for the game.