The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Couple drugged, robbed
Tribune News Service

Dera Bassi, September 1
A PGI employee and his wife, residents of Dera Bassi, were robbed of cash and jewellery worth lakhs of rupees by three unidentified persons, including a woman. The accused offered the victims cups of coffee laced with sedatives on August 30. The couple has regained consciousness today.

Mohinder Kumar Sharma (58), a PGI employee, and his wife, Sushila Sharma (52), are residents of Gulmohar City in Dera Bassi. Narrating the incident, Sushila said about two months ago she came across an advertisement in a newspaper. The advertisers were looking for a maid in Canada.

“I contacted a man named Hitesh through phone. He promised to send me to Canada for the job. Hitesh asked me to complete paperwork and other formalities for the visa. Hitesh also directed me to open an account at Induslnd Bank’s branch in Sector 8, Chandigarh. I had opened an account with the bank and also deposited an amount of Rs 4.30 lakh in the account,” she said.

On August 30 a man along with a girl and a driver reached their residence in a white Indigo car. “I and my husband were in Zirakpur and reached our residence after a few minutes. They asked us to come to McDonalds for talks. We spent about half-an-hour there. They also offered us cups of coffee. I didn’t feel good after taking a sip of the coffee and I refused to drink it, but that man insisted,” Sushila said.

“After finishing our coffee the man drove us in our car to our house. After reaching home, we fell unconscious.

“It was only today that we have regained consciousness and found ourselves locked inside the house. Almirah in our room was open and goods were scattered. It was then we realised that we were robbed of gold, cash, debit cards, identity cards and other important documents. With the help of our neighbours we managed to open the door. Our neighbours took us to a private hospital,” she claimed.

Sushila said she is afraid that the accused might have withdrawn the cash deposited in Sector-8 bank.

A team of police and fingerprint experts reached their house for investigation.

Man commits suicide

Kalka: A 40-year-old man committed suicide in Kalka today. Yashpal ended his life by hanging from a ceiling fan around 2pm at his house near Main Bazaar, Kalka.

The police has recovered a suicide note from the spot, which stated that Yashpal was fed up with his illness. The deceased was into some courier services business. — OC

COURTS

Five convicted in dacoity case
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 1
A local court here today convicted five persons in a case of dacoity that took place in December 2009. The convicts were identified as Abrara Khan, Kayuum, both residents of Uttar Pradesh, and Veer Bahadur, Gaurav and Som Bahadur, residents of Nepal.

The convicts had looted Attar Singh Chauhan, a deputy commandant of the CRPF, who was posted at Jammu and Kashmir, in the wee hours of December 9, 2009. According to prosecution, Attar Singh had reached the Ambala railway station and thereafter he had hired a private taxi for Chandigarh. All five accused, who were already sitting in the taxi, took the vehicle to a secluded place. Thereafter, the convicts beat him up and took away his purse and an ATM card. The convicts, later withdraw Rs 40,000 from Attar Singh,s account .

CRIME

Woman arrested for forcing minor into prostitution
Tribune News Service

Mohali, September 1
The police arrested a middle-aged woman, Gurmeet Kaur, on the charges of forcing her maid, a minor girl, into prostitution here today. She was produced before the court today that ordered to send her for two days remand in police custody.

Giving details, Dharam Pal, station house officer of Mataur police station, said the minor girl, from Uttar Pradesh, was forced into the illegal trade by Gurmeet Kaur about four or five months ago.

“The victim was brought here by her uncle. Earlier, she used to work at Phase XI from where Gurmeet Kaur took the girl to her house. She then forced her (minor girl) to do be a part of the illegal trade,” said Dharam Pal.

The police has registered a case under Section 376 of the IPC and Sections 3,4,5 and 6 of the Immoral Trafficking Act. It said a probe was on into the matter.

Elderly woman robbed

Chandigarh: A 60-year-old woman was robbed of cash and jewellery amounting to Rs 10,000 after a man on the pretext of checking the water meter entered her house forcibly and held her hostage. The victim, Pyari Devi, is a resident of Sector 28, Chandigarh. Though the woman tried to resist, yet the miscreant fled after hitting her.

Devi was alone as her son and daughter-in-law had gone out.

“The incident occurred in the evening. When the man was refused entry to the house, he pushed the woman and asked her to give him cash and jewellery," said Anup Singh, SHO, Sector 26.

Pyari Devi alleged when she tried to shout, he thrashed her badly and tied her with a rope.

“We have told the residents to fence the area a number of times. Pyari Devi had left the door open," added Singh.

SPORTS

Ranjit claims boys U-18 title
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 1
In a match that lasted for more than two hours, CHART trainee Ranjit Singh defeated CLTA trainee Paramveer Singh Bajwa, to the lift title of boys U-18 category during the CLTA-AITA Championship Series Tennis Tournament being held here. In the final, Ranjit won the first set by 6-2 while Paramveer fought back and took the second set 6-4.

In the final set, Ranjit was taking a hard lead of 4-1, but Paramveer made a comeback and saved two match points 4-5. Ranjit on his fifth match point closed out the final set at 6-4.