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Our Correspondent

Mohali, October 4
A local court today withdrew the case by Anuradha Bali, aka Fiza, against former Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan in which she alleged rape, cheating, defamation and criminal intimidation against him. The case had come up for hearing before the court today.

The case was withdrawn following the statement of Fiza's counsel Rohit Mahajan in which he stated that his client and complainant in the case had died. Mahajan stated in the court that owing to the demise of his client, he did not want to pursue the case.

Notably, Fiza had filed a police complaint against Chander Mohan with the Mohali Police in February 2009 when the latter deserted her a month after their ‘nikah’ in December 2008, and accused him of "rape, hurting religious sentiments, cheating, defamation and criminal intimidation".

She had also sent copies of the complaint to the National Women Commission, Punjab State Human Rights Commission and Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Panchkula, October 4
In a major development in the Ruchika Girhotra case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today filed its reply with the court today stating that Anand Prakash, father of Ruchika’s friend Aradhna, is a third party in the case and only the complainant has right to challenge the closure report.

The case had come up for hearing today before the CBI special judge. It was after the special judge had sent notice of motion to the former DGP, SPS Rathore and CBI, the investigating agency on August 31 that the CBI filed its reply today. It was after Anand Prakash, father of Ruchika’s friend, Aradhna challenged the CBI’s closure report and filed an appeal that this action was taken.

It was also stated by the CBI agency that the investigations done by them were totally right and based on evidences.

It was on June 1 when the Panchkula special CBI court accepted the closure report given by the CBI in November 2010 in two cases-forgery of documents and harassment to Ashu against Rathore.

The day when the closure report was accepted, Ruchika’s father SC Girhotra and brother Ashu were also present before the court but they raised no objection on the acceptance of the report and said that they were fine with it. The court had issued notices to Girhotra and Ashu in April.

Ruchika’s family had given up fight. According to the relatives, the family had given up saying that they know that the CBI agency did not verify the facts and despite giving proofs was adamant to save Rathore.

A 14-year-old tennis player, Ruchika Girhotra, had committed suicide three years after her alleged molestation in 1990 by the former Haryana Director General of Police(DGP), SPS Rathore.

Panchkula, October 4
In a major development in the mother-daughter poison case, Reena Garg, the mother, has been booked for the murder of her 10-year-old daughter. A case has been registered under Section 302 of the IPC. She is accused of poisoning her daughter and making attempt to suicide.

It was on Tuesday evening when 32-year-old Reena poisoned her 10-year-old daughter Ameesha and then consumed the poison herself. Tragically, Ameesha died and Reena was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh.

The post-mortem of Ameesha was conducted yesterday.

Meanwhile, the condition of Reena is said to be stable now but unfortunately she had lost her mental balance and was behaving abnormally.

“She gained consciousness for a while and got angry with us. She created ruckus in the whole ward. After some time she fell unconscious again,” said Dinesh Kumar, a relative of Reena.

The police is also coordinating with the Chandigarh police in order to get some clues from the suicide case of Mohit Garg, husband of Reena. Incidentally, Mohit Garg too had committed suicide after consuming pesticide at Leisure Valley, Sector 10, Panchkula, three months ago.

“The relatives had requested us that Reena did all that in a fit of extreme depression so no case should be registered against her but whatever the cause might be, an innocent child lost her life,” a police officer said.

The mother-daughter duo was staying alone in a rented accommodation in Sector 8, Panchkula. Ameesha was a student of class IV in St Kabir school, Sector 26, Chandigarh.

Mohali, October 4
High drama was witnessed here on Thursday when a family of a girl thrashed her husband and her in-laws. The Parents of the girl, who is under treatment in a hospital, alleged that their son-in-law Lovekesh Kumar and his parents had tried to kill their pregnant daughter.

Ajay Marwah, the father of the girl and a resident of Faridabad, alleged that his 22-year-old daughter Parul got married to Khanna-based Lovekesh last year.

"They were harassing her for dowry and had tried to kill my daughter by strangulating her and she is critical now. You can see the strangulation marks on Parul's neck," alleged Ajay Marwaha.

He added that a case in this regard has been registered with the Khanna Police.

Meanwhile, the in-laws have been taken into custody.

Chandigarh, October 4
The police today rounded up a swift Car number PB48-C-4056 on Madhya Marg near Grain Market Sector 26 who tried to flee after eve-teasing. The occupants of the car were identified as Jagdeep Singh and Arshid Deep Singh, both are the resident of Barrian Charn, Fatehgarh. The other two occupants were identified as Gurcharan Singh resident of Lakhmeerpur village, UP, and Jagmeet Sing, a resident of Fazilka in Punjab.

A case has been registered in the police station Sector 26.

Chandigarh, October 4
The ongoing inter-school hockey tournament for boys’ is turning out to be a sheer mockery of the national game by the officials and the participating teams, at the Hockey Stadium, Sports Complex, Sector 42.

Short duration matches, players playing without safety gears, no proper football shoes, no changing numbers for substitutes, no team’s dug-outs, female umpires wearing suits to organise boy’s tourney, all this is happening, in all categories of inter-school hockey competition. The tournament has also raised questions over the level of hockey in all the local based schools. The teams are merely participating on formality basis and section of players does not even know the name of opponent team leaving asides basics of the game.

On an average, every match is being played for a duration of 20-5-20 or 25-5-25, in the ongoing tournament. Whereas, as per rules, a basic match should be conducted for a duration of 35-10-35. According to on-field umpires, the step has been taken after a written consent by both teams. “It is after mutual consent that the match was reduced to such duration. Sometimes, coaches say, their players have no stamina to play and the team gives up in front of strong opponents,” said an umpire.

Assistant Education officer, Rajeev Tandon, said, “The pool-stage matches can be organised under any duration after taking a written mutual consent by both the teams,” said Tandon. Although when asked, did the officials asked for the mutual consent before match, the official said, “Yes, they do ask the teams.”

It has come across for the first time that the officials are asking the teams, for the duration they wanted to play. The move clearly indicates the level of hockey in various schools and the approach of officials.

Players were seen playing without shin guards and in absence of proper shoes. Although, as per rules a player should wear a proper kit along with safeguard equipments. But nothing has been seen during the matches. “I have cross-checked it with the officials. It is the duty of the field umpires to ask for proper kits. But the coaches should also take initiative to provide possible equipment to their player. Players’ safety is a priority for us. In rest of the matches, the teams will be asked to wear proper kit,” said Tandon.

Moreover, the female field-umpires were seen wearing suits, with no pocket to carry the caution cards. It was after the correspondent asked an official about umpires carrying cards, an umpire out of two, was asked to carry the cards in hands.

As per rules, a female umpire must wear a proper outfit including skirt, socks and tucked T-shirt. “We have asked them to wear suits (of one-color) or T-shirts if not comfortable. We cannot ask them to wear skirts and organise matches. We cannot be so hard and fast,” said Tandon. When asked if the department is facing any shortage of male umpires, he added, “No, they are qualified PTI teachers. Moreover, both males and females have been asked to organise the tourney,” said Tandon. Asking about their qualification, he added, “They do not hold referees’ license. But they fulfill academic qualification, to organise these matches,” said Tandon.