NEIGHBOURHOOD

Three arrested for planning robbery
Our Correspondent

Kalka, December 14
The CIA staff, Panchkula, nabbed three looters yesterday night from a village of the Pinjore Block, who were planning a robbery. Official sources said on a tip-off on Thursday evening, a team of the CIA staff, headed by sub-inspector Deepak Kumar, conducted a raid at Bakshiwala village of the Raitan area of the Pinjore Block, where six persons were planning to commit a robbery at the house of one Kehar Singh of Bhagwanpura village of the same block.

During the raid, three looters, out of the six, managed to flee from the spot.

The sources said the arrested robbers were identified as Mahavir of Bangala Basti of Pinjore, Surajpal of Lohgarh village of Zirakpur, Punjab, and Sheeshpal of Zirakpur.

The trio had a criminal background and was involved in several looting incidents in the area. During the investigations, a country-made 315 pistol and live cartridges were recovered from Mahavir, who is already wanted by the police and is a proclaimed offender.

Mahavir was also involved in a major robbery, which was committed at Bal Yogi Ashram at Madhan Wala village of the Pinjore Block on the NH-21A (Pinjore-Nalagarh Highway) on April 19, 2010.

The trio had been sent to 3-day police remand, the sources added.

Mohali, December 14
The charge of attempt to murder has been dropped against six suspects arrested by the local police in connection with the attack on Punjabi singer Babbu Chandigarhia. They were presented in the court and released on bail here today. The arrested persons, Ameek Singh, Amritpal Singh, Amanpreet Singh, Sandeep Singh, Gurmit Singh and Gurpreet Singh, were presented in the court of SDM Lakhmir Singh, who released them on bail and fixed January 8, 2013, as the next date of hearing.

According to reports, the police, after investigations and on the basis of the medical report of the victim, dropped the charge under Section 307 of the IPC. The suspects now face charges under Sections 323, 506 and 34 of the IPC and Section 107/151 of the CrPC. The police had earlier registered a case under Sections 307, 323, 506, 148 and 149 of the IPC. Babbu Chandigarhia was attacked on December 10 during a marriage function at the PCA Club in Phase IX here.

Chandigarh, December 14
The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Shalini Nagpal today sentenced three persons including two women to 10-years rigorous imprisonment in a case of dowry death.

The court held that a young life was lost due to cruelty inflicted by her husband and in-laws, and thus maximum sentence should be awarded to all the accused.

The court convicted the victim’s husband, 25-year-old Pankaj, mother-in-law Sunaina and sister-in-law Babita under Sections 304-B, 34 of the IPC. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 each on the trio.

On July 2, 2010, Rinku (23) was found lying unconscious at her residence in Mauli Jagran around 9am. She had consumed a poisonous substance. The police registered a case after questioning Rinku’s parents, hailing from Bihar, who told the police that she was being harassed for dowry. Pankaj is an auto-rickshaw driver. — TNS

Chandigarh, December 14
High drama was witnessed outside the parking lot of Punjab and Haryana High Court this afternoon when a former chairman of Bar Council was allegedly beaten up by an advocate.

The police control room first received a call at 2 pm about a scuffle between two advocates. Both the police as well as the PCR did not find anything untoward on the spot and the mobile of the complainant failed to respond.

At 3.30 pm, police again got a call from the Government Multi Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, that Lekhraj Sharma, former chairman, Bar council of Punjab and Haryana, had visited the hospital for a medical examination and had sustained injuries.

As per the complaint, an advocate, DS Rawat, had a heated argument with Sharma over some issue in the parking lot. Both exchanged several blows and other advocates present on the scene intervened to sort it out.

Police said the council had cancelled the license of Rawat because of misconduct and he had moved to Bar Council of India against the decision. His appeal was still pending.

This had led to his being disgruntled as he alleged that Sharma was behind it.

Chandigarh, December 14
About 150 racing car drivers as well as dirt bikers will flaunt their adrenaline power at the 4th edition of Autocross and Motocross-cum-Off-road Challenge 2012, starting tomorrow at the YPS Grounds in Mohali. The participants will feature in 13 different categories.

The scrutiny of all the vehicles participating in the event was held at the venue today. These included four-wheelers, two-wheelers and specialised All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). The vehicles were scrutinised as per the norms of the Federation of Motor Sport Clubs of India (FMSCI).

The specially created dirt track features inclines, slushes, pits and other off-road thrills.

Gulpreet Aulakh, founder of Team Chandigarh Adventure Sports, organiser of the event, said the event boasted of a twin dirt track with a bridge cross. Some of the finest motor sport champions who will participate here, include yesteryear's champion Bobby Bhogal, Philip Mathaia, Harpreet Bawa, Anil Wadia, Rubin Grewal, Sunny Sidhu and Raj Singh Rathore, he added.

As per information, the qualifying rounds in all 13 categories will start tomorrow morning and on December 16, the top six qualifiers in each category will vie for the top honours. 

Chandigarh, December 14
Saupin's Chandigarh defeated Chandigarh Baptist in the final match of the Edmund Rice Cricket Tournament (under 14) and lifted the trophy. The match was held at St John's, Sector-26.

Winning the toss, Chandigarh Baptist chose to bat first but none of the batsmen could stay at the pitch, except Karan who made 21 runs off 25 balls. The team posted a total of 90 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 18.3 overs.

Prabhjit from Saupin's took 4 wickets at a loss of 10 runs. Saupin’s boys proved their mettle by scoring 96 runs at a loss of 5 wickets in 18.1 overs. Varun scored 38 runs off 28 balls. Satyam delivered a handsome 19 runs off 28 balls.

In the tournament, Angad from St John's was declared man of the series, Varun and Prithvi Lohtiya from Saupin's Chandigarh were declared best batsman and best fielder respectively, while Hritik from Chandigarh Baptist was declared the best bowler. — TNS