Dehradun, November 23
The city police today busted a gang of chain snatchers and arrested Karamchand and Irfan, alias Motu and Patlu, from Haridwar. They were involved in 20 incidents of chain snatching in Haridwar and Dehradun. The police recovered three gold chains and a motorcycle from their possession. Their third accomplice Vipin Verma, a jeweller from Roorkee, is absconding.

SSP Kewal Khurana told mediapersons here that both accused hailed from Haridwar and criminal cases were registered against them at Kotwali, Nehru Colony, Dalanwala and Vasant Vihar.

The accused had been active in Dehradun and Haridwar since 2004. Irfan, who earlier worked at BHEL, Haridwar, was sacked in 2004 after he was arrested by the police for chain snatching. They were also arrested in 2007.

The accused said once out of jail they committed nine crimes in Dehradun thinking that the police would not suspect their involvement.

The accused also revealed that they were about to commit a crime on GMS Road two days ago but had to run away after realising that the police was conducting intense checking at barriers. They, however, were nabbed near a dhabha in Haridwar.

Vipin Verma, alias Babla, who owned jewellery shop ‘Munni Lal and Sons’ at Roorkie, was actively involved with the accused in the chain snatching incidents. The police is hoping to recover more gold chains from him. Manju Bhatt and Vijaya Sharma, two of the victims of chain snatching who were also present at the press conference, recognised the accused.

Manju, a resident of Navya Colony, said the accused, who were riding a motorcycle, snatched her chain when she was bringing her daughter back from the school on September 29. Vijaya showed injury marks on her neck and knees that she sustained after the accused snatched her gold chain and pushed her hard. She said her disabled son too tried to overpower them.

The DIG and the SSP gave a reward of Rs 5,000 to the police team led by Dhara police post in-charge PD Bhatt for arresting the accused.

Dehradun, November 23
Deputy Mukhya Nagar Adhikari of the Dehradun Muncipal Corporation (DMC) Sadia Alam Khan was attacked by owners of Madhuban Hotel, SP Kochar and his son Hemant Kochar, when she gave orders to remove the hoarding of the hotel installed on Rajpur Road.

Khan was rescued by some persons in the public. The police, which was standing behind, also ran to protect her. The attack scene was also videographed. An FIR against the Kochars was registered in the Dalanwala police station. Senior Superintendent of Police Kewal Khurana also reached the site.

It was when Khan ordered to remove the massive hoarding of Madhuban Hotel, owner SP Kochar and his son Hemant Kochar came out of the hotel and began misbehaving with her.

They called her cheat and began to assault her. It was then the two men among the public held the hands of the Kochars. Meanwhile, policemen standing at a distance also reached quickly and intervened. The Kochars quarreled with Khan. The hoarding was, however, removed as per the direction of the High Court in the matter.

Khan said the Kochars were highly arrogant and abusive and had no regard for government machinery or officers.

Mayor Vinod Chamoli has condemned the incident and demanded a strict action against the Kochars for assaulting the DMC officer.

Now it will be seen whether the Kochars who enjoy political patronage in the city will be punished or not for attacking a government officer and interrupting the execution of the High Court orders.

Khan today removed 10 hoardings of big commercial companies on posh Rajpur Road.

Dehradun, November 23
Chandigarh-based advertising agency Media Professionals Advertisers, which enjoyed easy money by putting advertisements of various commercial companies on 41 police posts in the city without paying advertisement tax to the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) for seven years, is set to lose its monopoly.

DMC officials, who were also trying to benefit in the bargain by making owner of the agency Manhar Sharma guilty for averting tax all these years, have also been pulled up by the state government. Now this entire matter pertaining to holding fresh tenders, selection of new advertising agency and framework of a policy with regard to charging annual entertainment tax on police posts will be decided by the state government.

Manhar Sharma said, “It was the then Garhwal Commissioner seven years ago who permitted us to build the police posts in the city. The DMC has no policy on entertainment tax on police posts nor quoted us the tax. On receiving a letter from it eight months ago, I submitted Rs 50,000. The DMC has neither accepted it nor returned it but has attached it in file. I also offered them any sum of money as annual tax to compensate the loss of all these years.” He said it was not fair that some other company would now enjoy the advertisement rights over the posts built by them. Sharma said he also provided CCTV camera on Eucalyptus Crossing and in police line canteen free of cost.

Mukhya Nagar Adhikari, DMC, Ashok Kumar, who came under the scanner for settling down the matter with Manhar Sharma without holding fresh tenders, said, “The letter of Garhwal Commissioner shown by Sharma has clearly laid out condition that his company will not display advertisement of other companies, which he offended and made fat money out of it without paying any tax to the DMC. I tried to reach on an agreement with the company over annual tax, but now this issue will be handled by the state government.”

Some big advertisement companies and politicians are involved in the profitable business of putting advertisements on hoardings and electric poles in the capital city are shouting for their share, hence working secretly to sideline Sharma’s company.

Dehradun November 23
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kewal Khurana today included the connecting roads in Paltan Bazar as well as a long stretch of Dhamawala bazaar in the zero-parking zone in the evening.

Notwithstanding the pressure mounted by traders and public representatives, Kewal Khurana today expanded the zone. He said, “The residents, who live behind Dhamawala bazaar, will be allowed to take their vehicles to their houses only if they could produce voter I-card. Besides this, the offer of parking at the MDDA shopping complex, two or three places around the Clock Tower and Kotwali are already available for shoppers. The MDDA has agreed to give monthly pass of Rs 100 for parking facility in the shopping complex to those who live or work in the no-parking zone.”

It must be pointed out that a day before, MLA Rajpur Road, Rajkumar, met the SSP and argued to keep connecting roads such as Ghosi Gali free of parking limits.

It was also seen that after the enforcement of parking restriction in Paltan Bazar, these connecting lanes of the bazaar had become easily available for the customers to park their vehicles. This has led to further constriction of these narrow roads.

The SSP said the traders would feel inconvenience for a few days as they were used to parking their vehicles just in front of the shops.

Nevertheless, Paltan Bazar continued to remain spacious without any obstruction of space by encroachers for the third consecutive day. The customers were seen enjoying shopping on the road.

Dehradun, November 23
A delegation of Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha called on Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna here today and invited him to the Gurpurb celebrations to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev on November 28 at Race Course. Bahuguna said the state government believed in marching ahead in the path of development taking all communities along.

He said a separate ministry had been set up for the welfare of the minority communities. The delegation put forth demands, including the establishment of Punjabi Academy, filling vacant posts of Punjabi teachers and the identification of Sikh majority villages in the minority areas.

Bahuguna assured the delegation of considering their demands seriously and do the needful. The delegation was led by Rajendra Singh Rajan. Also present on the occasion was Vice-President of the state unit of the Congress Suryakant Dhasmana.

Dehradun, November 23
The two-day annual cultural festival of the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), 'Uurja', concluded on its campus here today.

Over 5,000 students from 20 institutes situated across the state and from other states participated in the festival.

Earlier, the event was inaugurated by Chancellor, UPES, SJ Chopra in the presence of Pro-VC Utpal Ghosh, Dean, College of Management, Dr Sengupta, Director, Administration, Brig SS Dhillon (retd), Director, Student Affairs, Brig AK Sharma (retd) and other senior dignitaries on November 22.

Arun Dhand, Director (Govt and Media), said 33 events were held during this festival which included solo performances and group performances in various performing arts viz music (instrumental and vocal), dance, drama, skits, face painting, model making, collage making and a number of games.

Interesting captions were given to some of the events by students like "Battle of friends" , “Atulya Bharat”, “Food graveyard”, “Gutergoon”, “Born amigos”, “Sansani”, “Logo-X”, "Thirkan”, “Swagger shock”, “Goonj of silence”, “Ping pong”, “Funk with junk”, “Artomatic” etc.

On the concluding day of the festival today, rock band “Astitava" held the audience spellbound.

'Astitava' is also the official partner of the Government of India for the project - Save the girl child - and has also to its credit the creation of Delhi Anthem for the Delhi Tourism.

Dehradun, November 23
Kriti Sharma, a class X student of Kendriya Vidyalaya Upper Camp, stood first in the English essay writing competition organised by ONGC Ltd here.

A total of 200 students participated in the competition.

Dehradun, November 23
The Uttarakhand State Science and Technology Congress being organised at Graphic Era University in Dehradun concluded today.

Addressing the valedictory session, Prof P Banerjee, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology, said there was a need to use science to better the life of a common man. He added, “Science gives a right direction to society to make right changes.”

He also called for efforts towards popularising science. He said research linked to power, environment and health care sectors was needed the most for Uttarakhand.

Vice-Chancellor of HNB Garhwal University Prof SK Singh said quality in science research works needed to be improved. Vice-Chancellor of Doon University Prof VK Jain expressed happiness at a large number of young scientists taking part in the congress.

Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand Technical University Prof DS Chauhan stressed on efforts towards encouraging women to work in the sphere of science in a big way.

Dr Rajendra Dobhal, Director General of the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology, said 594 research papers were presented in the congress. He added 217 women scientists presented papers.

Fifty-one young scientists were given the Young Scientist Award at the conclusion of the congress.

Dr Rashmi Singh, a scientist of the Forest Research Institute, was presented with the Innovator Award for 2012.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Garhwal University Prof AN Purohit, Chairman of Graphic Era Prof Kamal Ghansala and Vice-Chancellor of Graphic Era Hill University Prof Sanjay Jasola were present on the occasion.

Mussoorie, November 23
The police today launched a verification drive to prevent thefts in the town. More than 20 rag-picking shops were identified and details of workers and their movements were also gathered.

The police also searched the shops and checked the electronic items and other goods and enquired whether it was stolen or not. Sub-Inspector Sohan Singh Rawat, later speaking to the media, said the shops were searched and the goods present in those shops documented by the police. —OC

Mussoorie, November 23
The police, with the help of local residents, today foiled a theft attempt in a house near Bala Hissar here and arrested a youth.

The police said the accused seemed to be under the influence of drugs.

According to police station in-charge DS Kohli, a local cable operator mechanic was on his regular round in the area and stopped by a locked house after hearing some commotion. Suspecting a foul play, the mechanic entered the premises and found that a youth was trying to commit theft in the house. After a struggle, he caught hold of the miscreant and raised the alarm. The neighbours, on hearing the cry for help, surrounded the thief and immediately summoned the police.

The police recovered several chairs and the bronze pipes from the youth and brought him to the police station for further investigation. A case has been registered against the miscreant on the complaint filed by neighbour Neeraj Mittal.

Mittal said the owners of the house were out of station for the past several days.